Problem Solving Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 4

Problem Solving - Essay Example From this paper it is clear that the author overalls initial plan is to investigate the major root course of the problem. He will focus on comparing his performance to that of the overall best student. The reporter will review his studying plan and culture to determine the possible deficiencies that may be present. He will also consult with his teachers for each and every subject to get an opinion from them on his performance and what may have been the possible causes.As the discussion highlights the author will analyze his options. Among the possible solutions would be borrowing some reading strategies from those of the best student, setting out a new time table, improving the time spent for personal or private studies especially in the library, and focusing more on consulting with his teachers on those particular academic areas that he does not understand well. The author's main focus would be to implement these strategies to his level best. Committing to them will at least provide some impacts to his academic performance, which will largely determine the last stage of the problem solving. The last phase would be to measure the impact of the strategy. This will entail the comparison of his academic achievements of this term with those of the previous term. Any significant improvement will mean a successful implementation of the problem. If there is no improvement, he will repeat the whole process of problem solving again.

Opportunities & Threats Essay Example for Free

Opportunities Threats Essay The changing demographics of the American population will provide Walgreens with several opportunities to increase their sales. By 2010, the American population over 50 years of age is expected to reach 95 million (SIC 5912, 2006). This increase in the number of elderly Americans will provide Walgreens with an increased demand for prescriptions and thepotential to increase sales and revenue in that category. The aging American population will greatly impact the pharmaceutical industry. In 2002, 30% of Walgreens’ prescriptions and 42% of prescription sales were derived from older Americans. Recent changes in Medicare plans allow Medicare participants to pay the same no matter where they shop, which will benefit not only Walgreens, but other companies that sell prescription medication, as well as the manufacturing companies of prescription drugs. This category is especially important as pharmacy sales rose 12% in the last quarter, significantly more than the 5. 2% increase in non-pharmacy sales (Miller, 2006). Prescription drugs currently constitute nearly 64% of Walgreens sales (Biesada, 2006). Despite this, Walgreens should also recognize the opportunities that lie in non-pharmacy related goods. Though Walgreens currently sells several goods other than prescription drugs, the overall company sales do not reflect successful sales in these categories. According to the National Association of Chain Drug Stores the greatest growth opportunity for stores like Walgreens is increasing non-pharmacy purchases that existing shoppers make. It is interesting to note that the number of customers shopping at drug stores is generally declining. Even so, the frequency of returning customers has risen. Customers often visit drug stores to fill prescriptions, but also purchase cosmetic products and over-the-counter drugs. These categories comprise 80% of purchases on these trips, but only 30% of these shoppers make impulse purchases. As such, Walgreens is presented with an incredible opportunity to increase sales revenue by using marketing strategies to increase the number of sales made for non-prescription drug products. In 2001, the average non-pharmacy drug store purchase was $19. 38. An additional $2. 00 for every purchase made would increase the average sales by nearly 10% (NACDS/American Greetings Research Council, 2002). Another opportunity for Walgreens that could potentially lead to company growth lies in expansion to international markets. Today, Walgreens remains a domestic corporation, and as such, its target market is limited only to residents of the United States. However, as the United States market becomes saturated, Walgreens has the opportunity to expand to other countries. Although cultural differences and government regulations may necessitate changes in the Walgreens’ product line and business practices in other countries, the quality service and products provided by Walgreens will be universally recognized and will help to ensure the company’s success. In choosing to expand internationally, Walgreens would be the pioneer and market leader, as its largest competitors, such as CVS, have yet to enter international markets. Due to the fact that the majority of Walgreens’ sales are derived from prescription drugs, intertype competitors are a large threat. In an effort to attract customers by providing a convenient, one-stop-shop, grocery store chains and discounters have ventured into the prescription drug market. Furthermore, the average American visits a grocery store 2. 2 times per week, but a drugstore only once a month (SIC 5912, 2006). Discounters such as Wal-Mart emphasize low cost, making it difficult for Walgreens to compete. These retailers also offer a broader range of products, and have a larger customer base. 138 million Americans shop at Wal-Mart every week and many may find it tempting to fill their prescriptions in the stores in which they already shop. Another threat to Walgreens is the rising cost of health care. The high cost of health care has motivated more and more people to search for lower cost alternatives outside of traditional drug stores. These include the purchase of prescription drugs over the internet, particularly from countries such as Canada, where they are less expensive. For example, of the top 100 branded prescription drugs in Canada and the United States, 93% were less expensive in Canada, and in Canada the average branded prescription drug costs 43% less than in the United States (Skinner, 2005). Furthermore, there is a shortage of pharmacists, which is an additional threat to the continued success of Walgreens. Studies estimate that there are currently 8,000 unfilled pharmacist positions and predict that there will be a shortage of 150,000 pharmacists by 2020. If Walgreens is unable to hire qualified pharmacists, the quality of service provided will definitely decrease, which will negatively impact the company’s sales. IV. Strategies Walgreens has traditionally followed an organic expansion strategy. This has recently changed through the acquisition by Walgreens of other companies such as Happy Harry’s and Mermark, a specialty pharmacy. (Walgreens Corporation, 2006). In order to exploit its opportunities and neutralize the threats, Walgreens must focus on customer convenience. The quality of service traditionally provided by Walgreens is what made it a household name, and the factor that distinguishes it from competitors. Improved and more frequent training of current Walgreens staff and changes to store design are ways in which Walgreens can provide a more convenient shopping experience to customers. Another strategy would be to improve Walgreens’ online services. This will not only allow Walgreens to expand to international markets, but will also reduce the need for pharmacists. Discounts and free shipping could be provided to online customers in order to allow Walgreens to be more competitive with other online drugstores. References: Biesada, A. (2006b). Walgreen Co. Hoovers. Retrieved May 16, 2009 from http://www. hoovers. com/walgreen/ID__11601/free-co-factsheet. xhtml Miller, J. P. (2006, September 26). Walgreens net climbs 25%; drug sales jump. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 16, 2009 from http://www. chicagotribune. com/business/chi- 0609260258sep26,1,5174751

The Most Important Qualities of An Outstanding Educator Essay -- essay

The Most Important Qualities of An Outstanding Educator   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  An outstanding educator possesses unique qualities that set him or her apart from others in the field. Ask any student about a favorite teacher and listen intently as he or she describes that person with a smile. Ask a parent of a child who will enter first grade in the fall about the teacher choice for their child. The parent would describe the outstanding educator in their desire for that special teacher. The qualities of an outstanding educator are easily recognized by those whose lives they touch, shape, and change on a daily basis. It is in this writing piece that they will be described and discussed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Outstanding educators are caring. While most educators possess this quality, it is the notable teacher that is able to transcend his or her feelings into concrete and measurable ways that demonstrate an investment in the individual student. The outstanding educator asks and continues to ask; what can I do for this child? What does this child need? How will I deliver? What resources are available? The student’s progress and goals are constantly assessed and evaluated. Outstanding educators care about the whole child- academically and socially.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another important quality of an outstanding educator is competence. Outstanding teachers are highly capable. They know how to do their job, and they do it very well. They are smart, well ed...

Purpose and Time Management

When purpose is not defined, abuse/misuse is inevitable' life would be lived to the fullest potential if its purpose is well defined. It does not only stop at defining the purpose of your existence, it is way more than that, you have got to have a ‘clear purpose'. A purpose driven life would definitely be an new of all eyes, such a life would affect and impart others positively and so also would be success personified.A life with a clear purpose would readily surmount challenges and turn them into gold mines, how you might want to ask? When you discover the purpose of your existence and stay glued to it, you have not only succeeded in winning your first battle in life, so also you have succeeded in separating yourself from the crowd, in that you know where your passion lies, you have discovered your potentials/ strengths/ capabilities and you would channel all you have got: your inner drive/ will power/ passion/ vision towards maximizing your strengths.Defining a clear purpose gets you only half way, you need stay within the confines of your purpose to get to the dream land, whereby oh can replicate success bearing in mind John Maxwell nugget- ‘ success without succession is a failure' .There are essential ingredients in staying aligned to the right path: focus would make you strong while weathering the storm of life because success comes at a price, good ideals will not make you lack encouragement while the struggle lasts because you are on a cause you believe in and it is a prize worth dying for, this in turn would make you resilient and you will never relent until you achieve your set goals. Time management is of most importance if you desire to leave your foot on the sand of time, you have got to get your priorities right, be assertive and do things as and when due.The only resource God has given all creatures in equal proportion is time knowing full well that we vary in potentials, motivation, encouragement to say but a few. If you maximize you r time to the fullest and see procrastination not Just as a thief of time but also as an enemy of destiny and progress, then you would not allow this vital resource escape from your grasp and management. Proper scheduling skills is important, coupled with adequate discipline, you will not allow events and circumstances to plan your time but vice versa will be the case, if and only if you have got the assassination that whatever takes your time, makes your life. Genius is 10% aspiration and 90% perspiration†. Time management requires discipline, focus, resilience, and it is painstaking, that I am not disputing, but with these inherent attributes, your equation of success is almost complete because the afore mentioned re core values of success and would help you up the ante of your accomplishment/ breakthrough/emergence/ victory by keying into this principle of management.Show me a man with adept time management skills and there you have got a man who can control all the other r esources required for success. A clear purpose plus proper time management will set you far above the crowd, time. Both run simultaneously, better put hand-in-hand and not independent of each other if ‘awesome success' that would bless and change lives even after you are long gone is all you crave for.

The Socio Economic Impact Of Credit Environmental Sciences Essay

Low productiveness coupled with corruptness in the executing of authorities policies and the trouble by aquaculture fish husbandmans to entree recognition which is an of import ingredient for development, increased productiveness and improved supports necessitates this survey. The survey will be conducted to measure the Socio-Economic Impact of Credit on Aquaculture Fish Farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria. This is with the position to measure the consequence of the fish husbandmans ‘ socio-economic features and institutional factors that could impact fish production from aquaculture in the survey country. Primary informations will be generated through the disposal of semi-structured questionnaires on indiscriminately selected aquaculture fish husbandmans who benefitted from recognition and those who did non ; such that they are equally spread over the 20 ( 20 ) Local Government Areas of Ogun State, Nigeria. The husbandmans will be stratified into donees of recognition ( 40 ) and non-beneficiaries of recognition ( 60 ) , sampled on the footing of three ( 3 ) aquaculture fish husbandmans who benefitted from recognition and three ( 3 ) aquaculture fish husbandmans who did non profit from recognition per Local Government Area ( LGA ) . The primary informations generated will be scored and the per centums of the parametric quantities will be calculated suitably and presented in frequence tabular arraies. The chief statistical tools that will be employed are average, per centum, whole norm and frequence counts. Descriptive statistical method and illative statistics will be employed to discourse consequences. The consequences would be used to proffer recommendations for betterment, based on findings. Introduction. The general aim of this survey is to find the consequence of the fish husbandman ‘s socio-economic features and institutional factors that could impact fish production from aquaculture in the survey country Figs. 1, 2 and 3 ) . The major purposes of the survey are as follows: I. Measure the socio-economic features of fish husbandmans who benefitted and those who did non profit from recognition. two Evaluate the impact of recognition usage on the productiveness of aquaculture in the survey country. three. Measure the degree of production of fish husbandmans who benefitted from and those who did non profit from recognition. four. Identify the jobs and/or factors that militate against the coveted impact of recognition on fish husbandmans in Ogun State, Nigeria. v. Identify the beginning ( s ) of recognition and form of expense to the fish husbandmans. six. Proffer recommendations for betterment, based on findings. In order to accomplish the above enunciated major purposes of the survey, the research inquiries for this survey are therefore formulated as follows: I. â€Å" Do aquaculture angle husbandmans with entree to recognition have a better socio-economic life? † two. â€Å" Does entree to recognition impact on the productiveness of aquaculture fish agriculture? † three. â€Å" How does the beginning and form of recognition disbursement impact on the overall socio-economic life of aquaculture fish husbandmans? † In Nigeria, agricultural funding has long been considered a tough nut to cleft. Even when available, entree to recognition is hard for husbandmans. However, there has been renewed involvement by the Federal Government in get the better ofing the obstructions that hinder entree to agricultural obstructions, as finance is an of import ingredient for development, as it allows agricultural communities to go successful in making supports and better nutrient security. Despite assorted attempts by the Nigerian authorities at doing good agricultural policies ; through strategies, programmes and establishments, with agricultural recognition strategies, which has been working for many old ages, the public presentation of the sector has non fared better than it was before independency. This has been diversely blamed on the authorities ‘s inability to supply equal budgetary allotment and funding, coupled with corruptness in the executing of the policies ( Eze, C. et Al. 2010 ) . It is hence pertinent to determine the impact of recognition strategies on the donees, and in peculiar the piscaries sector. It is against this background that this survey is designed to measure the socio-economic impact of recognition on aquaculture fish husbandmans in Ogun State, Nigeria.Relation to Previous Research.Though modern aquaculture in Nigeria is of recent pattern, artisanal fishermen and angling communities have for coevalss practiced traditional methods of fish nurturing in tidal pools and inundation fields ( Dada 2007, 1975 ) . FAO, 2003, reported that Nigeria contributed 6.4 % to agricultural production in Africa in twelvemonth 2000, with domestic fish production from aquaculture increasing from 4.5 % in 1999 to 5.5 % in 2000 ( Table 2 ) . Although there is considerable possible for aquaculture in Nigeria, the present part to domestic fish production from this sector is instead low. Out of the estimated one-year production of 467,098 dozenss in 2000, less than 10 % ca me from aquaculture ( Federal Department of Fisheries, 2003 ) . In malice of the potency of aquaculture, there are tonss of jobs militating against its development. Prominent among these are hapless choice fish seed and provender, hapless substructure, unequal proficient know-how and recognition ( Olaoye et al. , 2011 ) . Credit which is of great importance to the nutriment of fish agriculture and agricultural development in Nigeria is nevertheless missing in the strategy of things ( Onwuka, 2006 ) . Even when available, entree to recognition is hard for husbandmans in the rural countries despite the fact that it is an indispensable input in agricultural production ( Olaoye, 2010 ) . This could be attributed to miss of information and indirect securities among husbandmans and administrative bureaucratic bottle cervixs. Out of despair to transform the state ‘s agricultural sector, the Federal Government of Nigeria has since the early 1970s, embarked on significant capital investing programmes in agribusiness, based on the belief that recognition is the â€Å" all in all † productive input required by husbandmans to transform their productive capacity ( Olowa et al. , 2011 ) . In position of the failed yesteryear recognition strategies and acknowledgment of the of import function recognition dramas in agricultural development and sustainability, prompted the Federal Government of Nigeria to set up recognition strategies such as ; the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme ( ACGS ) and Agricultural Credit Support Scheme ( ACSS ) , amongst others ; to guarantee husbandman ‘s entree to recognition. The constitution of these new recognition strategies notwithstanding, entree to recognition by husbandmans has non well improved. Based on the 2006 Core Welfare Indicators Questionnaire Surve y, it is estimated that merely 18 % of farm families ( chiefly small-scale husbandmans ) have entree to fiscal services ( Akramov, 2009 ) . It is frequently really hard to quantitatively show the impact of recognition on small-scale husbandmans, because it is hard to capture and analyze all of its benefits ( Accion International, 2010 ) . However, Okojie et Al. ( 2010 ) in an interview of freelance workers in Edo State, Nigeria found that micro-credit had a positive impact on the concern and household life of rural inhabitants that had entree to NGO-MFIs. Feijo ( 2001 ) besides found that there was a positive impact on the lives of husbandmans who benefited from the recognition installations of the Program to Support Family agriculture ( PRONAF ) in Brazil, based on the measuring of productiveness growing of their chief harvests. In the same vena, Oyeyinka et Al. ( 2009 ) , analyzing the impact of donees and non-beneficiaries of the NACRDB smallholder loan strategy in Oyo State, Nigeria, found that the output, income, and entree to improved farm inputs of donees were higher compared to that of non-beneficiaries. Other impacts include betterments in easing economic minutess, pull offing daily resources, accessing services that improve quality of life, protecting against economic exposure, doing productiveness sweetenings and leveraging assets. Finally, participants in the FGD posited that timely recognition proviso facilitates the timely acquisition of farm inputs, which help husbandmans better their support. Traditional aquaculture system and gaining control piscaries have socio-economic impacts on angling communities in Nigeria. Harmonizing to Federal Department of Fisheries ( 2000 ) , traditional aquaculture systems and gaining control piscaries provide employment for over 1 million people in Nigeria. These systems account for 70 – 90 % of the one-year income of angling communities in Nigeria ( DFID-FAO, 2002 ) . The writers nevertheless pointed out that the income is instead low and can barely prolong them and their households. Gwomna ( 2006 ) submitted that angling communities in Nigeria are socially disadvantaged and lack comfortss like lodging, good imbibing H2O, healthful installations and instruction, therefore compromising their nutritionary security. He besides posited that the socio-economic state of affairss of these angling communities therefore have an impact on the quality of their support. In this survey, I am adding a new dimension of looking at the socio-economic impact of recognition on aquaculture fish husbandmans in Ogun State, Nigeria from the point of position of multi-credit lines instead a individual recognition installation. This is with the position of highlighting, if any, the interplay of multi-credit lines on the demographics of adoption and its attendant effects on the aquaculture fish husbandmans.Proposed Methods.A multi-stage and simple Random Sampling ( SRS ) technique will be used to bring forth primary informations from the field, utilizing sets of structured and pre-tested questionnaires. Aim trying technique will be used to choose three ( 3 ) aquaculture fish husbandmans in each of the 20 ( 20 ) Local Government Areas ( LGAS ) of Ogun State, Nigeria who benefitted from a recognition or loan strategy, while another three ( 3 ) aquaculture fish husbandmans who did non profit from any recognition or loan strategy would be sampled in each of the 20 ( 20 ) Local Government Areas ( LGAs ) . A sum of One hundred and 20 ( 120 ) aquaculture fish husbandmans will be sampled for the survey, with accent on husbandmans that keep reasonably good and accurate records of their operations. The husbandmans will be divided into two ( 2 ) groups, viz. ; husbandmans that had entree to recognition or loan ( whether ball or informal beginnings ) for aquaculture fish agriculture and the 2nd group, husbandmans who did non entree any signifier of recognition or loan. Sets of questionnaire would be administered on the sampled aquaculture fish husbandmans between the 1st of November 2012 and 16th December 2012. Effort will be made to guarantee equal spread and representation of each Local Government Area. The primary informations would be generated on the socio-economic features of the aquaculture fish husbandmans, such as ; age, pool size ( s ) , provenders, gender, extension services, rank of Fishermen Co-operative Societies, fish inputs, quality of fish gimmick and income, educational background, recognition beginning ( s ) and form of expense, experience and family size of the husbandman, and jobs restraining aquaculture fish agriculture in Ogun State, Nigeria, etc. , utilizing structured questionnaires. The secondary informations would be extracted from archived paperss of recognition facilitators, oversing authorities bureaus and relevant published research work and documents. The information would include, the entire one-year fish production and entire aquaculture fish production in Ogun State and Nigeria for the last five old ages ; list of aquaculture fish husbandmans in Ogun State, and list of the different types of aquaculture fish pools, their size and locations ; and relevant literature on aquaculture fish production in Ogun State in peculiar and Nigeria in general. Besides, informations on the sum of loans, figure of loan donees, loan public presentation and the demographics of adoption, etc. The administrations from whom these informations would be extracted from their archives, include ; Ogun State Agricultural Development Project, Ogun State Agricultural Management and Credit Scheme ( OSAMCA ) , Nigeria Agricultural Credit and Rural Development Bank ( NACRDB ) , Ogun Sta te Ministry of Agriculture, Federal Department of Fisheries ( FDF ) , University of Agriculture, Abeokuta and any other relevant bureaus and establishments. The primary informations generated from the questionnaire will be scored, and the per centums of the parametric quantities will be calculated suitably and presented in frequence tabular arraies. The chief statistical tools that will be employed are average, per centums, and whole norm and frequence counts. Descriptive statistical methods and illative statistics will be used to discourse the information. The descriptive analysis will be used to foreground the nature and frequence of informations and jobs encountered by the aquaculture fish husbandmans in the province. To buttress the choice of the interview method for informations coevals for the survey, Hirsjarvi et Al. ( 2009 ) and Hirsjarvi ( 2008 ) opined that the interview method is a good method of informations coevals, as it allows for the enlargement of information, clarify desired replies, and acquire exemplifying illustrations. Hirsjarvi and Hume ( 2008 ) define interview as a tool, proposing that the interviewers ‘ talk is to intercede the image of respondents ideas, sentiments, experiences, and feelings. A semi-structured interview type will be chosen for this survey as it is the most suited, sing the nature of the topic. Contemplations. This survey is of great importance and involvement to me because it forms portion of what I intend to make in the hereafter and besides its ability to add to the bing organic structure of cognition. It is anticipated that the survey would besides assist broaden my cognition on aquaculture fish agriculture. The survey has the ability to bring forth critical and utile information that could help policy preparation. Though the survey can be clip devouring, dashing and frustrating, it is every bit rewarding. In transporting out a survey of this nature, there are normally built-in jobs that would necessitate to be addressed in order to carry on a qualitative research that can adequately lend to the bing organic structure of cognition. Some of the awaited jobs and intended solution would be highlighted. The most awaited challenge is that of the moralss of the respondents, peculiarly in a underdeveloped society like Nigeria, with a reasonably low literacy degree and official corruptness ; makes people leery of each other and apathy towards the behavior of study. This ethical consideration demand to be considered as many of the respondents may be loath to take portion in the survey or may non be really willing to unwrap critical and personal information to an unknown beginning. This is attributable to the uncertainness of what the divulged information will be used for, who might come in contact with such information and how the information would be used. In position of the high prevalence of crisp corrupt patterns in the society and public establishments, entree to secondary informations from public and private establishments could be hard, and if provided, they may non be a true contemplation of what obtains on land. To work out this job therefore, I intend to guarantee all those that would necessitate to supply information for the survey of their confidentiality and namelessness, while besides acquiring a missive of debut from the University. I besides intend to acquire the consent of respondents before interview and guaranting that they are adequately educated on the intent of the survey and that the information provided will be used strictly for the exclusive intent of survey. The usage of multi-stage and simple random sample ( SRS ) technique to bring forth primary informations utilizing sets of structured and semi-structured inquiries comes with its ain attendant restrictions, such as the debut of the research workers ‘ prejudice in the class of interview. The prejudices of a research worker on a subject tend to on occasion play itself out on the manner the interview inquiries for the survey are structured. I hence would guarantee that I am as indifferent and open-minded as possible. This is besides pertinent in position of the fact that the survey could assist clarify some salient issues which could assist construct on my cognition of aquaculture fish agriculture. Finally, to accomplish a research work of high quality, I would use myself to the survey with much diligence, difficult work, committedness and unfastened head.Decision.In reasoning this survey, inferals from the analysis of the information generated will be used to proffer recommendations for the betterment of the socio-economic features of the aquaculture fish husbandmans and the ability of the husbandmans to entree recognition, its form of expense and degree of public presentation. On the whole, all issues that come up from the survey as respects the socio-economic features of the aquaculture fish husbandmans and their entree to recognition will be discussed and recommendations proffered for their betterment. The survey will be concluded by associating the subject with all the findings of the survey vis-a-vis the aims of the survey.Timetable.A. 1st November 2012 to 16th December 2012 Polish of questionnaire and disposal. Primary informations assemblage through questionnaire disposal. Expansion of Review of Relevant Literature and Secondary Data Gathering. Draft write-up of Chapter 1. B. 17th December 2012 to 13th January 2013. Extraction and bite of information ( information ) from questionnaire. Analysis of collated information ( information ) . Presentation of analyzed information ( information ) Draft write-up of chapter 2. C. 14th January 2013 to 28th March 2013. Draft write-up of thesis. Submission of bill of exchange transcript of thesis. Submission of concluding transcript of thesis. Mentions. Accion International. n.d. Measuring the impact of microfinance: Our Perspective. hypertext transfer protocol: //www.accion.org/Document.Doc? id=794. Accessed July 30, 2010. Akinbile, L.A. ( 2007 ) . Standardization of socio-economic Status ( SES ) graduated table for farm households in South West Nigeria. Journal of Social Sciences, 14 ( 3 ) : 221-227. Akramov, K.T ( 2009 ) . Decentralization, agricultural services and determiners of input usage in Nigeria. Discussion Paper 941, Washington, D.C: International Food Policy Research Institute. Dada, B.F. ( 2007 ) . Fisheries Development in Nigeria. The challenges and chances of accessing fund. The president ‘s reference delivered by Otunba Bamidele Dada ( OON ) at the public talk organised by the Fisheries Society of Nigeria ( FISON ) in Lagos, Nigeria. Dada, B.F. ( 1975 ) . Present Status and Prospects for Aquaculture in Nigeria. Symposium on Aquaculture in Africa. CIFA/T4, Rome: FAO. DFID-FAO ( 2002 ) . Contribution of Fisheries Research to the Improvement of Livelihoods in West African Fisheries Communities: Case Study of Nigeria. Rome: DFID-FAO. Available: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.sflp.org/eng/fr/003/doc/rpniga2.doc. Accessed 19th March 2005. Eze, C. , Lemchi, J.J. , Ugochukwu, A.I. , Eze, V.C. , Awulonu, C.A.O. , and Okon, A.X. ( 2010 ) . Agricultural Financing Policies and rural Development in Nigeria. The 84th Annual Conference of the Agricultural Economics Society, Edinburgh. 29th to 31st March 2010. Food and Agricultural Organisation ( FAO ) ( 2003 ) . Review of the State of World Aquaculture. FAO Fisheries Circular No. 886, Rev.2. Rome: FAO. Federal Department of Fisheries ( FDF ) ( 2003 ) . Domestic Fish production by sectors ( 1991-2000 ) . Lagos, Nigeria: Federal Department of Fisheries. Gwomna, A. ( 2006 ) . The Role of Traditional Aquaculture Systems and Fish in Food Security and Livelihoods of Fishing Communities in two States in Nigeria. Ph.D. Thesis Submitted at The Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland. October 2006. Okojie, C. ; Monye-Emina, A ; Eghofona, K ; Osaghae, G ; and Ehiakhamen, J.O ( 2010 ) . Institutional environment and entree to microfinance by freelance adult females in the rural countries of Edo State.NSSP Brief No. 14. Washington, D.C: International Food Policy Research Institute. Shimang, G.N. ( 1999 ) . Status Review of Aquaculture Development in Nigeria ( 1940-1998 ) , Abuja, Nigeria. Federal Department of Fisheries.

The Effectiveness of Study Habits Essays

The Effectiveness of Study Habits Essays The Effectiveness of Study Habits Paper The Effectiveness of Study Habits Paper Students must know how to analyses the lesson and participate in their class or them to have knowledge. They need to have reference book like textbook, dictionary as well as the e-book but one of the problems that students face while studying is the ability to absorb the information in their minds, especially when to have a good academic performance Study Habits involves activities that require mental alertness, concentration, reflection and analysis. It also requires the ability to select and organize ideas or concepts to be studied. When the topic of study habits mentioned, the next question that is raised by those involved in the education of our young people is whether our students today o possess study habits. This is because it cannot be denied that generally, todays students do not seem to appreciate studying their lessons the way the idea is traditionally understood to mean a regular and consistent way of studying and fulfilling of school related tasks both at home and in school. (See, 1999) With regard to this problem, the researchers want to find out the effectiveness of the study habits developed among the freshmen students here in PUC. Background of the Study All educational organizations aim to develop its learners academic competence and facilitate to achieve the finest learning. It is always an achievement for schools to be able to deliver quality education. In the same manner, a teachers effectiveness can also be measured by how much a students a school has. Policies, curriculum, books and even the selection procedures of teachers and students are formulated with this in view. Total development is the greatest concern of every school. The concept of totality implies personal development of all areas such as intellectual, social, physical, spiritual and emotional aspect. (Canada, 2007) The child is the center of the teaching-learning process and the strongest inundation of developing the childs study habits usually starts in the elementary grade should be sensitive to the needs of pupils, their interest, likes and dislikes. They should be motivated so as to develop and be accustomed and correct study habits. A Study Habit is generally understood as a regular systematic effective way of doing related responsibilities and obligation. See (1999) in is study described study habits as a generic term which refers to the attitude, study materials, study techniques, study environment and actual study time that will described the study habits as a very good, good, fair or poor. Et al. Gonzales 2011) Student Involvement: A Developmental Theory for Higher Education (Alexander W. Satin) A student development theory based on student involvement is presented and described, and the implications for practice and research are discussed. Even a casual reading of the extensive literature on student development in higher education can create confusion and perplexity. One finds not only that the problems being studied are highly diverse but also that investigators who claim to be studying the same problem frequently do not look at the same variables or employ the same methodologies. And even when they are investigating the same variables, different investigators may use completely different terms to describe and discuss these variables. My own interest in articulating a theory of student development is partly practical?I would like to bring some order into the chaos of the literature?and partly self-protective. I and increasingly bewildered by the muddle of findings that have emerged from my own research in student development, research that I have been engaged in for more than 20 years. The theory of student involvement that I describe in this article appeals to me for several reasons. First, it is simple: I have not needed to draw a maze consisting of dozens of boxes interconnected by two-headed arrows to explain the basic elements of the theory to others. Second, the theory can explain most of the empirical knowledge about environmental influences on student development that researchers have gained over the years. Third, it is capable of embracing principles from such widely divergent sources as psychoanalysis and classical learning theory. Finally, this theory of student involvement can be used both by researchers to guide their investigation of student development and by college administrators and faculty to help them design more effective learning environments. The Cognitive Learning Theory Definition: Cognitive theory is a learning theory of psychology that attempts to explain human behavior by understanding the thought processes. The assumption is that humans are logical beings that make the choices that make the most sense to them. Information processing is a commonly used description of the mental process, comparing the human mind to a computer. Pure cognitive theory largely rejects behaviorism on the basis that behaviorism reduces complex human behavior to impel cause and effect. However, the trend in past decades has been towards merging the two into a comprehensive cognitive. This allows therapists to use techniques from both schools of thought to help clients achieve their goals. Social cognitive theory is a subset of cognitive theory. Primarily focused on the ways in advertising campaigns and peer pressure situations. It is also useful in the treatment of psychological disorders including phobias. The Cognitive Learning  Theory explains why the brain is the most incredible network of information processing and interpretation in the body as we learn things. This theory can be divided into two specific theories: the Social Cognitive Theory (ACTS), and the Cognitive Behavioral Theory (CAB). When we say the word learning, we usually mean to think using the brain. This basic concept of learning is the main viewpoint in the Cognitive Learning Theory (CLC). The theory has been used to explain mental processes as they are influenced by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors, which eventually bring about learning in an individual. Cognitive Learning Theory implies that the different processes concerning learning can be explained by analyzing the mental processes first. It posits that with effective cognitive processes, learning is easier and new information can be stored in the memory for a long time. On the other hand, ineffective cognitive processes result to learning difficulties that can be seen anytime during the lifetime of an individual. Social Cognitive Theory In the Social Cognitive Theory, we are considering 3 variables: environmental factors (extrinsic) personal factors (intrinsic) behavioral factors These 3 variables in Social Cognitive Theory are said to be interrelated with each other, causing learning to occur. An individuals personal experience can converge tit the behavioral determinants and the environmental factors. Social Cognitive Theory Illustration (Pajamas, 2002) In the person-environment interaction, human beliefs, ideas and cognitive competencies are modified by external factors such as a supportive parent, stressful environment or a hot climate. In the person-behavior interaction, the cognitive processes of a person affect his behavior; likewise, performance of such behavior can modify the way he thinks. Lastly, the environment-behavior interaction, external factors can alter the way you display the behavior. Also, your behavior can affect and edify your environment. This model clearly implies that for effective and positive learning to occur an individual should have positive personal characteristics, exhibit appropriate behavior and stay in a supportive environment. In addition, Social Cognitive Theory states that new experiences are to be evaluated by the learner by means of analyzing his past experiences with the same determinants. Learning, therefore, is a result of a thorough evaluation of the present experience versus the past. Figure 1 Input Process Output Figure 1 shows the conceptual framework of the study. The input consist of the hurry (Student involvement and cognitive learning theory), used in the study. The demographic profile of the freshmen students were concerned such as: age, gender, religion, types of residency and types of school graduated for the process. The proponents gave questionnaires to float to the selected freshmen. They used statistical treatment and analyzed the data that gathered. For the output, the researchers are going to conduct a seminar entitled: Benefits of acquiring good study habits so that our respondents will gain knowledge and be benefited from this study. Statement of the Problem The Effectiveness of the Study Habits to the Freshmen students of PUC Academic year 2012-2013 What is the demographic profile of the students in terms of: Age Gender Religion Types of residency Types of school graduated What are the factors that affect the study habits of the freshmen of PUC? What are the effects of the study habits to the freshmen students of PUC? Scope and Limitation This study focused on the effectiveness of study habits in the Academic Performance of the Freshmen Students of PUC. The scope of this research is based on six different courses for the total of 498 freshmen students in the school year Assumption The Researchers conducted this study entitled: The Effectiveness of the Stud Habits to the Freshmen students of PUC Academic year 2012-2013, and come up on the following assumption: 1. The demographic profile such as age, gender, religion, types of residency, and types of school graduated affect the students study habit. 2. The factors affecting ones study habit are study environment, time management and different skills such as listening, speaking, reading, writing or note- taking. Significance of the Study This study would show the different kind of study habits that affects the academic performance of the students. This research will be beneficial for all freshmen students for them to realize the importance of having a good study habits and for them to value the education that they have. It will not only give information about Education, but it will also give them sort of knowledge and benefits of acquiring good study habits to achieve their high performance in school. For the students For them to have a future reference in making up their own thesis For the Professors They need to observe first in order for them to know whether they are having difficulties in it comes to studying. For them to know what strategy are they going to SE in order to eject that knowledge in the students. For the Parents. This study can serve as a guide for them in order to take their child in the right track of learning. Definition of Terms: Assignment- refers to conceptually task given by the subject teacher before the last period of the student in the learning center in the library or at home. Education- it is the process of acquiring knowledge, skills and attitudes that makes man do better and it is the right of an individual to attain progress in life. Effectiveness- means the capability of producing an effect. Any result of another action or circumstance. Habit- retains to an act, movement or pattern of behavior that through practice and training has become an easy manner of behaving without hesitancy or concentration. It is the way of living that has become learned. Habit in their totality makes up the characteristics of the individual as he/she appears to other people. Material tools- order to achieve their goals. PUP Q. C. it is the University along Commonwealth Eave. And wherein the study conducted. Academic Performance- it refers to academic grades of the students for the whole semesters as used in the study by getting all the final grades of all Freshmen Students. Study Habits- pertains operationally to habits into which the students accustom themselves, this are methods of approaches with the units of learning by ignoring abstraction, paying attention to specific material being studied and concentrating in the learning process. Review of Related Literature The related literature provided the proponents a substantial background on this study. On the other hand, the review of foreign and local studies provided the proponents with other findings, which could help in the analysis of the study. Foreign Literature 5 Bad Study Habits and Effective Solutions (Grace Fleming) Have you ever wondered how you can bomb a test after studying for hours? A poor test result after many hours of faithful studying is a real confidence buster! If this happens to you, its possible that your current study habits are failing you! But you can turn it around. The process of learning is still a little mysterious, but studies do show that the most effective process for studying involves highly active behavior over a period of time. In other words, to study effectively, you must read, draw, compare, memorize, and test yourself over time. The following study habits are least helpful when used alone. Taking linear notes Linear notes are lecture notes that students take when they attempt to write down every word of a lecture. Linear notes occur when a student tries to write every word a lecturer says in sequence, like writing a rambling essay with no paragraphs. You may be wondering: 1. How can it be bad to capture every word of a lecture? Its not bad to capture every word of a lecture, but it is bad to think youre studying effectively if you dont mess with your linear notes in some way. You must revisit your linear notes and make relationships from one section to another. You should draw arrows from one elated word or concept to another, and make a lot of notes and examples in the margins. Solution: To reinforce information and to make it sink in, you must also recreate all your class notes in another form. You have to revisit the information and put it all into a chart or shrinking outline. Right before every new lecture, you should review your notes from days past and predict the next days material. You should reflect and make relationships between key concepts before you sit down for a new lecture. You should prepare for your exams by creating a fill-in-the-blank test from your notes. 2. Are you guilty of highlighter abuse? Reckless highlighting is the root cause for many bad test grades! Bright colors on a page make a big visual impact, so it seems like a lot of good studying is oing on when you read and highlight. Highlighting does make important information stand out on a page, but that doesnt do you much good if you dont do something active with that information. Reading highlighted words again and again is not active enough. Solution: Use the information you highlight to create a practice exam. Put highlighted words onto flashcards and practice until you know every term and concept. Identify key concepts and use them to create practice essay questions. You should also develop a color-coded highlighting strategy. Highlight new words in one color and new concepts in another, for example. You could also highlight separate topics according to a color code for more impact. 3. Rewriting notes Students rewrite notes under the assumption that repetition is good for memorization. Repetition is valuable as a first step, but its not that effective all alone. You should rewrite your notes in the shrinking outline method, but follow up with self-testing methods. Solution: Switch class notes with a classmate and create a practice exam from his/her notes. Exchange practice exams to test each other. Repeat this process a few times until you are comfortable with the material. 4. Rereading the chapter Students are often encouraged to re-read a chapter on the night before an exam to reinforce what theyve learned. Rereading is a good tactic as a last step. Just like the other study habits mentioned above, rereading is only one part of a puzzle. Solution: Make sure to use active steps like charts, shrinking outlines, and practice tests and follow up with rereading your chapter 5. Memorizing definitions Students spend a lot of time using flashcards to memorize definitions. This is a good study method, as long as its a first step in the process of learning. As students progress through the grade levels, they are expected to progress in cognitive skills. Once youve exited middle school, you cant expect to do well on an exam by memorizing the definitions to terms. You must learn to memorize a definition and then define the significance of the new vocabulary terms you encounter. If youre in high school or college, you should be prepared to explain how terms are relevant in the subject, compare them to similar concepts, and explain why they matter at all. Heres a real life example: In middle school you might learn to memorize the definition of propaganda. In high school you might encounter this as a term, but youll need to memorize the definition and learn to recognize propaganda materials from World War II and other times. In college you should be able to define propaganda, come up with examples from the past and from today, and explain how propaganda has affected different societies at different times. Solution: Once you have memorized the definitions of your terms, give yourself a short essay practice test. Make sure you are able to define a term and or someone of similar significance. The act of testing and retesting yourself somehow makes the information stick. (10 Highly Effective Study Habits Noon M. Growl, Sys. D. ) Students grapple with many issues in their lives, and because of all of the competing things for your attention, its hard to concentrate on studying. And yet if youre in school, you have to do at least a little studying in order to progress from year to year. The key to effective studying isnt cramming or studying longer, but studying smarter. You can begin studying smarter with these ten proven and effective study habits. 1 . How you approach studying matters Too many people look at studying as a necessary task, not an enjoyment or opportunity to learn. Thats fine, but researchers have found that how you approach something matters almost as much as what you do. Being in the right mindset is important in order to study smarter. Sometimes you cant force yourself to be in the right mindset, and it is during such times you should simply avoid studying. If youre distracted by a relationship issue, an upcoming game, or finishing an important project, then studying is Just going to be an exercise in frustration. Come back to it when youre not focused or obsessed! By something else going on in your life. Way to help improve your study mindset: Aim to think positively when you study, and remind yourself of your skills and abilities. Avoid catastrophic thinking. Instead of thinking, Im a mess, Ill never have enough time to study for this exam, look at it like, l may be a little late to study as much as Id like, but since Im doing it now, Ill get most of it done. Avoid absolute thinking. Instead of thinking l always mess things up, the more objective view is, l didnt do so well that time, what can I do to improve? Avoid comparing ourselves with others, because you usually Just end up feeling bad about yourself. 2. Where you study is important A lot of people make the mistake of studying in a place that really isnt conducive to concentrating. A place with a lot of distractions makes for a poor study area. If you try and study in your dorm room, for instance, you may find the computer, TV, or a roommate more interesting than the reading material youre trying to digest. The library, a nook in a student lounge or study hall, or a quiet coffee house is good places to check out. Make sure to choose the quiet areas in these places, not the loud, central gathering areas. Investigate multiple places on-campus and off-campus; dont Just pick the first one your find as good enough for your needs and habits. Finding an ideal study place is important, because its one you can reliably count on for the next few years. 3. Bring everything you need, nothing you dont Unfortunately, when you find an ideal place to study, sometimes people bring things they dont need. For instance, while it may seem ideal to type notes into a computer to refer back to later, computers are a powerful distraction for many people because Web, and answering emails are all wonderful distractions that have nothing to do with studying. So ask yourself whether you really need a computer to take notes, or whether you can make do with the old-fashioned paper and pen or pencil.   Dont forget the things you need to study for the class, exam or paper youre focusing on for the study session. Nothing is more time-consuming and wasteful than having to run back and forth regularly because you forget an important book, paper, or some other resource you need to be successful. If you study best with your favorite music playing, make sure your pod is with you. 4. Outline and rewrite your notes Most people find that keeping to a standard outline format helps them boil information down to its most basic components. People find that connecting similar concepts together makes it easier to remember when the exam comes around. The important thing to remember in writing outlines is that an outline only words as a learning tool when it is in your own words and structure. Every person is unique in how they put similar information together (called chucking by cognitive psychologists). So while youre welcomed to copy other peoples notes or outlines, make sure you translate those notes and outlines into your own words and concepts. Failing to do this is what often causes many students to stumble in remembering important items. It may also be helpful to use as many senses as possible when studying, because information is retained more readily in people when other senses are involved. Thats why writing notes works in the first place it puts information into words and terms you understand. Mouthing the words out loud while you copy the notes before an important exam can be one method for involving yet another sense. 5. Use memory games (mnemonic devices) Memory games, or mnemonic devices, are methods for remembering pieces of information using a simple association of common words. Most often people string gather words to form a nonsense sentence that is easy to remember. The first letter of each word can then be used to stand for something else the piece of information youre trying to remember. The most common mnemonic device example is Every Good Boy Deserves Fun. Putting the first letters of every word together GIBED gives a music student the five notes for treble clef. The key to such memory devices is the new phrase or sentence you come up with has to be more memorable and easier to remember than the terms or information youre trying to learn. These dont work or everyone, so if they dont work for you, dont use them. Mnemonic devices are helpful because you use more of your brain to remember visual and active images than you do to remember Just a list of items. Using more of your brain means better memory. 6. Practice by yourself or with friends The old age adage, practice makes perfect, is true. You can practice by yourself by testing yourself with either practice exams, past quizzes, or flash cards (depending what kind of course it is and whats available).

Torvald Helmer Essays

Torvald Helmer Essays Torvald Helmer Paper Torvald Helmer Paper As soon as Nora speaks those words, she transforms into an independent woman, quite different from the doll (Ibsen 1017) that Torvald has made her out to be. Torvald, too, cannot escape his own reality. Torvald. Through most of the exposition, seems like a loving, devoted husband and father. He seems to be strong, virtuous, ambitions, and a man of integrity. After the party, Torvald makes a show of his devotion, telling Nora that he has wished [Nora] was in some terrible danger, just so [he] could stake [his] life and soul and everything for [her] sake. (Ibsen 1011) This illusion of devotion is quickly dissipated, however, after he gains news of Noras folly. His demeanor switches entirely from the loving husband to a cold, petulant man who cares only for his social image. He laughs at the possibility of losing his reputation to save Nora, saying that theres no one who gives up honor for love. (Ibsen 1017) Torvald, like Nora, is not the strong husband he was made out to be. Rather, he is a puny, egotistical man bound by the conventions of the society to which he belongs. Yet another character not to be taken at face value is the purported family friend, Dr. Rank. A kindly old friend of the family, Dr. Rank seems to be a wise, trustworthy advisor to Nora. He knows his place in the house, as a trusted companion to Nora. With knowledge of his impending death he even goes so far to say that [Mrs. Linde] will be my successor here in the house. (Ibsen 995) Despite his place in the household as a dependable friend, Rank is hiding something much more sinister. Rank has an ulterior motive in his frequent visits to the Helmer household. The lonely old doctor is too lonely for his own good. So lonely, in fact, that he lusts after Nora. He admits to her that [hes] loved [her] just as deeply as somebody else. (Ibsen 996) Dr. Rank, the supposed comrade and compatriot, is nothing more than a covetous false suitor, trying to steal Nora away from Torvald. Though the script calls for three actors to play Rank, Torvald, and Nora, it may have been more appropriate to call for six, one for each of their guises, and one for their realities. The three characters had ulterior motives abound. They were false to others, and to themselves, which is not unlike modern society. Today, there is still a mentality of publicly smiling while privately frowning that has only grown since the publishing of A Dolls House. It is a shame, really, that more people have not taken the advice Ibsen has given through Dr. Rank and Nora and Torvald Helmer.

Definition of Chunking in Language Acquisition

Definition of Chunking in Language Acquisition In studies of language acquisition, the term chunk refers to several words that are customarily used together in a fixed expression, such as in my opinion, to make a long story short, How are you? or Know what I mean?  Also known as  language chunk, lexical chunk, praxon, formulated speech, formulaic phrase, formulaic speech, lexical bundle, lexical phrase, and collocation. Chunk and chunking were introduced as cognitive terms by psychologist George A. Miller in his paper The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two: Some Limits on Our Capacity for Processing Information (1956). See Examples and Observations  below. Also, see: Lexical ApproachBinomialClichà ©Ã‚  and PlatitudeCompound NounIdiomLanguage AcquisitionListemePet PhrasePhrasePhrasal VerbSnowclone Examples and Observations Here is one that got away, and lived to tell the tale.(Red Riding: In the Year of Our Lord 1983, 2009)Oh, by the way, hows the Florence Henderson look working for you?(Matthew Morrison as Will Schuester, The Power of Madonna. Glee, 2010)Once upon a time, there was a lovely princess. But she had an enchantment upon her of a fearful sort, which could only be broken by loves first kiss.(Shrek, 2001)The only thing Junior Singleton reads cover to cover is a matchbook.(The Red Green Show, 1991)It may be that across the immensity of space the Martians have watched the fate of these pioneers of theirs and learned their lesson, and that on the planet Venus they have found a securer settlement. Be that as it may, for many years yet there will certainly be no relaxation of the eager scrutiny of the Martian disk, and those fiery darts of the sky, the shooting stars, will bring with them as they fall an unavoidable apprehension.(H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds, 1898)Do you know the phrase water shed moment, buddy?I nodded. You didnt have to be an English teacher to know that one; you didnt even have to be literate. It was one of those annoying linguistic shortcuts that show up on cable TV news shows, day in and day out. Others include connect the dots and at this point in time. The most annoying of all (I have inveighed against it to my clearly bored students time and time and time again) is the totally meaningless some people say, or many people believe.(Stephen King, 11/22/63. Scribner, 2011) Uses of Prefabricated Chunks- It seems that in the initial stages of first language acquisition and natural second language acquisition we acquire unanalysed chunks, but that these gradually get broken down into smaller components . . .The prefabricated chunks are utilised in fluent output, which, as many researchers from different traditions have noted, largely depends on automatic processing of stored units. According to Erman and Warrens (2000) count, about half of running text is covered by such recurrent units.(J. M. Sinclair and A. Mauranen, Linear Unit Grammar: Integrating Speech and Writing. John Benjamins, 2006)- If I find an especially felicitous way of expressing an idea, I may store up that turn of phrase so that the next time I need it it will come forth as a prefabricated chunk, even though to my hearer it may not be distinguishable from newly generated speech. This . . . kind of expression, then, not only is completely analyzable by the grammar of the language but as a result of its transparency has a dual status for the speaker: It can be handled either as a single unit or as a complex construction with internal structure (e.g., words can be inserted into or deleted from the phrase, or the grammatical structure can be changed as needed).(Ann M. Peters, The Units of Language Acquisition. Cambridge University  Press, 1983) Formulaic Phrases vs. Literal Expressions[T]he formulaic phrase has unique properties: it is cohesive and unitary in structure (sometimes with aberrant grammatical form), often nonliteral or deviant in meaning properties, and usually contains a nuanced meaning that transcends the sum of its (lexical) parts. The canonical form of the expression (formuleme) is known to native speakers. This is to say that a formulaic expression functions differently in form, meaning, and use from a matched, literal, novel, or propositional expression (Lounsbury, 1963). It broke the ice, for example, as a formula, differs regarding meaning representation, exploitation of lexical items, status in language memory, and range of possible usages, when compared to the exact same sequence of words as a novel expression.(Diana Van Lancker Sidtis, Formulaic and Novel Language in a Dual Process Model of Language Competence. Formulaic Language, Vol. 2., ed. by Roberta Corrigan et al. John Benjamins, 2009)Criticism of the Lexical-Chunk ApproachMichael Swan, a British writer on language pedagogy, has emerged as a prominent critic of the lexical-chunk approach. Though he acknowledges, as he told me in an e-mail, that high-priority chunks need to be taught, he worries that the new toy effect can mean that formulaic expressions get more attention than they deserve, and other aspects of languageordinary vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation and skillsget sidelined.Swan also finds it unrealistic to expect that teaching chunks will produce nativelike proficiency in language learners. Native English speakers have tens or hundreds of thousandsestimates varyof these formulae at their command, he says. A student could learn 10 a day for years and still not approach native-speaker competence.(Ben Zimmer, On Language: Chunking. The New York Times Magazine, Sep. 19, 2010)

We See and Understand Things Not as They are But as We are Essay

We See and Understand Things Not as They are But as We are - Essay Example But they often arrive at different conclusions because of different abilities of perceptions by different people. For example consider the consumer habits. Same product might be perceived differently by even siblings or twins. It is not necessary that two people making a purchase of mobile phone from a supermarket may opt for same brand or model even if their financial abilities are the same. Both of them may purchase different cell phones because of their difference in perceptions. In this paper I will investigate why we see and understand things not as they are but as we are. Furthermore, I will investigate whether the sight is the only way of perception that relates to how we understand things; and whether â€Å"things† is an indication of physical or abstract objects, theories and ideas. The perception of an object is actually the interpretation and sensation of the object’s reality that may be affected by our beliefs and expectations. It is therefore, important to analyze human behavior in terms of actions that are based on rational or irrational decisions. Various philosophers and social scientists have propounded theories that try to explain human behavior under normal and extreme circumstances. But they agree that the rational or irrational behavior is subjective to one’s approach and understanding of the issue that broadly confines to individual’s choice and thereby his or her actions. Hence, whatever we do, it is based on reasoning or motivating forces that influence the way we think. For example, a lady perceived as a beautiful angel by a male might be a devil for another male because of their changes in the way of thinking. Here same object, the lady, perceived differently by two persons even though the lady did not undergo any changes. Although, we react according to our individual perception of the event, it is equally true that our reactions are also influenced by the manipulations of the information that are retained in the

The project initiation document focused on a work-based enterprise Essay

The project initiation document focused on a work-based enterprise - Essay Example The tools that will be used to control the project include a Gantt chart and a network diagram. It is recommended that project leadership be at a high level to facilitate the successful completion of the project. Introduction Projects are a part of the ongoing activities in an organisation. Projects will facilitate the growth of Bryson Motors Co Ltd. Schwalbe (2009) indicates that a project is a temporary endeavour which aims to create a new product, service or result. This project is temporary and aims to create a new result at the company. The company already has a customer service department but this project aims to improve it so that customers’ needs can be better satisfied in an efficient and effective manner. The current situation is that there is a lack of regular updates in relation to shipping and document processing. The company does not have the staff and other resources to fully satisfy some of the needs of customers. Projects typically go through a cycle and this project is no different. The standard cycle of a project consists of four phases. They are initiation, planning, execution and closure. The main emphasis in this paper is on the initiation phase. In some cases changes will be required to the original plan and so this will therefore require adaptation. Initiation represents the first phase and during this time the scope and objectives of the project are determined and outlined. The planning stage sets out the human resource plan, the financing plan, the communication plan, and the risk management plan. In some cases there may be a need for a process of adaptation. This will be determined from the monitoring activities of the project manager. If changes are necessary then the plan will be adjusted in order to facilitate the implementation of these changes. The results of the project – in this case the implementation of a computerised system to facilitate the transportation management system. If every thing is satisfactory and o bjectives are achieved then closure of the project is in order. Aims and goals It has been identified that Bryson Motors Co. Ltd is having problems in the provision of quality customer service. The aim of this project is to improve customer service at the company through the implementation of transportation management system software. This will facilitate growth and development of the organisation as customers will be attracted to the quality of the company’s customer service. However, before this can be done a computerised system needs to be put in place to capture all the activities that takes place between the company and its customers as well as the company and its suppliers. The formation of goals and objectives includes a definition of the scope which indicates the actual work that needs to be done; the unique product, service or result that will be delivered as well as the result that is expected (Schwalbe 2009). Customers will be able to access information on their sh ipment (order) from the web instead of having to call Bryson Motors directly. This will free up sales staff to the extent that they will then be able to spend more time getting more customers and therefore earning more income for the company and for themselves. Scope of project This project will involve the work of an external contractor setting up a computerised system that will be able to incorporate transportation management system software. This will enable the tracking of shipment and documentation of

Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 13

Marketing - Essay Example At the apex are vital corporate decisions dealing with the firm's mission, visualization, goals, and the allocation of resources in the midst of business units. Planning at this stage involves decisions concerning the divestment of the business units themselves. These decisions drop down the corporate constitution to the business-unit level, where planning is mainly focused on achieving the objectives inside defined product markets. Planning at this stage must consider and be regular with decisions prepared at the corporate level. However, single business unit organizations, corporate and business unit approach are the same. Crucial planning and decision making usually originates at the bottom of the structure. It is at this stage where firms put into operation the planned decisions regarding marketing strategy as well as marketing plans. This report seek to identify the role of marketing during strategic planning in building profitable customer relations. Also, it will highlight on negative impacts of a biased marketing plan. For a long time now, managers and academics have tried to differentiate productive from unproductive companies. The answer lies in the firm’s ability to bring greater customer significance, thus outperforming the competitors in the view of the customer. Within the limitations of corporate and   business strategy, strategic marketing is the instrument for making choices with regard to the client value for a target audience. By the use of segmentation and positioning, strategic marketing assist in targeting a company's marketing tools to achieve the market and marketing objectives formulated. Kotler defines Customer value as customers' feelings about the products received from a firm including the  risks related to that product. The key point is the identification of opportunities for consumer value. It also involves the process of analyzing the external and internal company atmosphere. The intention is to improve opportunities f or value formation and counter threats that may expose the use or authority of the present value generators in the future. The recognition and assessment of means to value creation are also fundamental as it is the capability to devise and realize plans based on the value invention decisions (Kotler, 2009). The Role of Marketing The planning process begins with an examination of the firm's internal and external entities creating a situation analysis. Based on a comprehensive review of these applicable issues, the firm establishes its operation, strategy, objectives, and more than a few functional plans. Planning efforts pertaining each functional area will generate strategic plan for that area. Although it is pertinent to note that the processes apprehended with developing a customer-oriented marketing strategy and marketing plan, should pressure that firm to develop effective marketing plans that are conversant with the business's goals. Senior management must synchronize these fun ctional plans in a way that will achieve a firm’s mission and business objectives. The Marketing Plan is a written document providing the layout of the firm’s marketing activities that involve execution and control of those proceedings. A marketing plan generates a number of purposes. For one, the marketing plan distinctively depicts how the firm will achieve

Poverty and Discrimination Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Poverty and Discrimination - Research Paper Example Poverty is not a disease, rather a condition which can be overcome if proper steps are taken by the policy makers of a country. Furthermore, it’s not only even up to the policy makers alone to alienate poverty, it needs the contribution from people of all walks of society including technocrats, rich and the poor alike. People often argue that poverty isn’t really a problem as such and that the poor are poor as they don’t do much effort to get out of the vicious chain of poverty. Just mentioning a few facts and figures at this stage would give an idea of how widespread this cancer actually is. According to a research carried out by an agency of the United Nations, about three million people (or almost half the population of the entire world) thrive on less than $2.50 a day. According to yet another research, if the wealth of seven of the world’s richest men is combined, it would be much greater than the overall gross domestic product or GDP or 41 of the world’s most indebted and poor countries. Just to give a rough estimate, the population of these 41 countries combined stands at around five hundred and sixty seven million people (National Bureau of Economic Research & National Bureau of Economic Research, 2000). Yet another research goes on to say that there are almost a billion people in the current century who are so poor and illiterate, that they’re even unable to cast their signatures or read a book. Poverty is one of the most major economic issues of the current times since it involves so many people. A solution needs to be discovered not only to manage this problem in the short term, but to eventually alienate it in the longer term. Addressing the issue of poverty would mean a lot more people would gain employment, they would be able to live a healthy life style, be able to finance their own day to day expenses, be able to achieve their basic necessities and finally be

Fatigue Risk Management in Aviation Maintenance Term Paper

Fatigue Risk Management in Aviation Maintenance - Term Paper Example Maintenance personnel, have to endure significant fatigue risks. However, there are several characteristics of aircraft maintenance that provide chances of reducing the hazards created by fatigue. In the first place, maintenance work should be internally rather than externally paced. Maintenance should not be performed under pressure. The maintainer conscious should be able to stop a task and consider aiming for accuracy rather than speed. Where possible, methods of performance of a maintenance task should be modified. For example, tasks cards can be modify and secondary inspections and operational functional checks introduced to serve as errors capturing barriers. Where maintenance organization has the flexibility to choose when certain maintenance tasks can be performed, it is necessary to schedule the most risk susceptible tasks at a time when employees are less likely to be fatigued. Finally, maintainers should rarely be required to travel across different time zones performing their duties. This assists in preventing aircraft lag and circadian rhythm disruptions, which are key considerations or flight, crew FRMS. Effective fatigue management requires partnerships with shared responsibility between the employers and the employees. Fatigue does not only originate from the workplace but also from the personal life of the employee. Personal factors that can lead to fatigue include social and family commitments, medical conditions and second jobs. Therefore, it is the employee’s responsibility to ensure that they have enough rest fit for duty before assuming for work. The employer has an obligation to ensure that working hours are reasonable, availability of rest break periods and adequate staffing. However, the International Federation of Airworthiness asserts that the responsibility to control working hours is not solely the mandate of the employer. Employees have a responsibility to take advantage of opportunities & facilities for rest sessions provided. Further, it is also an employee’s responsibility to plan and use the rest periods appropriately in order to reduce incurring fatigue.

The Piano Lession Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Piano Lession - Essay Example Berniece is very stalwart in upholding family traditions. She has been very close to her father. She and her father had developed an obsession for the piano. Berniece’s perspective on piano shows her being very keen to preserve the past of her family. She resents racism too but protests against it within the limits of reasonability. The piano has the carving of her family’s history in the shape of pictures, blood and tears. These are invaluable for Berniece and she does not want to let go any part of that. In her point of view, her father stole the piano because he wanted to get close to the engravings that were on it. It shows that she has great love and respect for her family’s past and history. She also respects the feelings of her ancestors. She acts as a guard for her family’s past. She does not want the piano to be sold and thinks that her father would have approved her intentions. Berniece is a cleaning lady and she accepts the world the way it is. She has lost her husband and she blames Boy Willie for that. She has lost very much and all she is left with is the pleasant memories of the past. She chose to live close to the piano just like her mother, Mama Ola. She goes through almost the same type of tragedy that her mother had faced. She loves her mother very much which is shown by her cleaning of Mama Ola’s picture with love (Act 1, Scene 1, Part 1). Her decision of not agreeing to sell the piano shows that she is very attached to the memories of the past and the legacy of her family. She is so much attached to her past that she does not heed to the offer of Avery to court her (Act 2, Scene 2). She does not want her daughter, Maretha, to suffer from a similar nostalgia which is why she has not told her anything about what the carvings on the piano mean (Act 2, Scene 5). Boy Willie wants to sell the antique piano to buy the land in which his ancestors worked as slaves. His perspective on the piano describes his nature. He shows utter disregard for the family traditions. He thinks that if he sells the piano and is able to purchase the Sutter’s land, he would avenge his father and live at the â€Å"top† of life. His father was also as reckless as he is. He thinks that if he is able to sell the piano, his father’s wishes would be immortalized. It also suggests that his father is somewhat responsible for instilling a rash behavior in him. He looks at the piano as an object that can fulfill his desire to become rich. He thinks that his father would have done the same (Act 1, Scene 2, Part II). He does not care about what his family wants and upholds. He completely rejects the wishes of sister, Berniece. His decision to sell the piano shows his negative approach towards life which has made him a person who looks at easy ways to get rich rather than by working hard. Boy Willie thinks that the only way to stand neck to neck with the white people is to become wealthy. This is a common belief among the suppressed races of the world that they can get respect if they become wealthy. Boy Willie thinks that the white people have no right to look down on him and must treat him with respect. He can get his due respect by becoming rich and selling the piano is his only chance at that. He is a person who has received a lot of mental suffering due to the racism between blacks and whites. He has a lot of hatred for white people. His father worked for the white people all his life. He holds the

Fatigue Risk Management in Aviation Maintenance Term Paper

Fatigue Risk Management in Aviation Maintenance - Term Paper Example Maintenance personnel, have to endure significant fatigue risks. However, there are several characteristics of aircraft maintenance that provide chances of reducing the hazards created by fatigue. In the first place, maintenance work should be internally rather than externally paced. Maintenance should not be performed under pressure. The maintainer conscious should be able to stop a task and consider aiming for accuracy rather than speed. Where possible, methods of performance of a maintenance task should be modified. For example, tasks cards can be modify and secondary inspections and operational functional checks introduced to serve as errors capturing barriers. Where maintenance organization has the flexibility to choose when certain maintenance tasks can be performed, it is necessary to schedule the most risk susceptible tasks at a time when employees are less likely to be fatigued. Finally, maintainers should rarely be required to travel across different time zones performing their duties. This assists in preventing aircraft lag and circadian rhythm disruptions, which are key considerations or flight, crew FRMS. Effective fatigue management requires partnerships with shared responsibility between the employers and the employees. Fatigue does not only originate from the workplace but also from the personal life of the employee. Personal factors that can lead to fatigue include social and family commitments, medical conditions and second jobs. Therefore, it is the employee’s responsibility to ensure that they have enough rest fit for duty before assuming for work. The employer has an obligation to ensure that working hours are reasonable, availability of rest break periods and adequate staffing. However, the International Federation of Airworthiness asserts that the responsibility to control working hours is not solely the mandate of the employer. Employees have a responsibility to take advantage of opportunities & facilities for rest sessions provided. Further, it is also an employee’s responsibility to plan and use the rest periods appropriately in order to reduce incurring fatigue.

A7-Chpt 9 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

A7-Chpt 9 - Assignment Example 1-8). For example, Facebook and other social media sites allow users to design their own page. Wikipedia, on the other hand, allows users from all over the world to make changes to the pages where they perceive necessary. There are limitless applications of Web 2.0 to business organizations. For example, the interactive feature of the websites allows businesses to obtain feedback from their clients and thus tailor their products to suit the specific needs of their customers (Chui et al. 1-8). For example, most business websites and blogs allow the readers to leave comments, a feature that was only enabled by Web 2.0. In addition, Web 2.0 is a platform that can be used by business employees to share information among themselves (Chui et al. 1-8). This is a very important feature of business because it lowers the costs of communication and allows workers to have interactive forums where they can all participate in sharing and distribution of information. Web 2.0 also has applications in marketing. For example, all social networking sites use Web 2.0. Businesses use these sites to connect to customers and advertise new products. In fact, social networking sites are merging as the best advertising platforms (Chui et al. 1-8). They increase the application of Web 2.0 to

Shooting an Elephant by Rebecca Bonner Essay Example for Free

Shooting an Elephant by Rebecca Bonner Essay Choose an essay which puts across a strong personal belief in a clear and convincing manor. George Orwell’s ‘Shooting an Elephant,’ is an essay which takes place in imperial Burma where he is a police officer working on behalf of the British Empire. He is resented by the people who pressures him into shooting an elephant, where he describes himself as being a meaningless puppet in front of the Burmese crowd. Throughout this essay he also delivers his strong personal beliefs towards his hatred of imperialism, despite working for the colonies, he mentions several times of how much he despises it and sees it as ‘evil. ’ We first capture his opposing view of it when he is discussing his job in Burma, he detests it and hates the way in which it oppresses the native people, ‘at that time, I had already made up my mind that imperialism was an evil thing.’ He voices his disapproval of it and it is very reactionary, the word ‘evil’ is used without qualification, this shows a perhaps lack of detailed knowledge of the political issues, or maybe he just feels so disgusted by it, he uses such a devilish word to describe his view. He then goes on to describe how he is against his own government and was on the Burmese’s side, despite his hatred for them, ‘Theoretically – and secretly, of course – I was all for the Burmese and all against their oppressors, the British.’ Here he shows his true opinion of the Empire, though with the use of the hyphens, adding in how he kept it a secret, showing his lack of courage to publicly oppress the Empire. Even although he has very conflicting views towards the native population, there is also times we see him appearing deeply sympathetic towards the Burmese and their suffering, ‘all these oppressed me with an intolerable sense of guilt.’ The interesting use of the word ‘oppression’ suggests he is feeling the same way as the natives and in some way shares their pain. His sympathy and description of the Burmese people is the main factor of why he thinks imperialism is an evil thing, by mentioning this often, it helps him back up his opposing view in a clear and convincing manor. He then goes on to say how he is stuck between his hatred of the Empire and for the native people, ‘With one part of my mind I thought of the British Raj as an unbreakable tyranny, as something clamped down, in saecula saeculorum, upon the will of prostrate peoples;’, This part of his mind directly opposing the Empire and continuing upon his strong belief, this unbreakable dictatorship suggesting  that they could never win against the British, giving them a helpless and sorrowful status. Orwell uses his incident with the elephant to illustrate the power relationship which exists between the colonizer and the colonized, ‘It was a tiny incident in itself, but it gave me a better glimpse than I had had before of the real nature of imperialism – the real motives for which despotic governments act.’ The elephant’s actions are described in a comical, hyperbolic tone, ‘raided’ juxtaposed with ‘fruit stalls’; ‘inflicting violence’s’ upon a ‘rubbish van,’ which evoke a degree of affection and sympathy for the elephant. The uneven balance of power with also the sympathy towards the elephant describes what imperialism has caused within the town, evidence in which helps back up his opinion of the wrong-doings of imperialism its consequences. Orwell is then forced upon to kill the harmless beast, he shoots the animal using a gun that is not suitable for an animal of its size, in a slow agonising death, ‘the thick blood welled out of him like red velvet, but he still did not die.’ He wants the reader to engage with the terrible suffering that the animal has to endure as a result of his weak decision, to show the meaningless barbaric acts that can arise from a tyrannical government, ‘afterwards I was very glad that the coolie had been killed; it put me legally in the right and it gave me a sufficient pretext for shooting the elephant.’ Orwell leaves the scene and shows his guilt and self-disgust also that he is weak-willed, leaving the scene before the elephant is dead. The elephant could be seen as a symbol of the British Empire, once a vast powerful force, now a small, weak position. Using this powerful use of emotive language of how the poor beast died, he tries to convince the reader to agree with him that the whole idea of imperialism is wrong and does this rather successfully through his various techniques of emotive and sympathetic language throughout the essay. In conclusion, Orwells style is a major key factor on putting across his strong personal belief of his opposing views towards imperialism. He uses powerful word choice in a personal tone in order to try and convince the reader of why he was forced to make the decisions he made due to the consequences that had to do with imperialism and does so very successfully.

Management Essays Key Communication Skill

Management Essays Key Communication Skill Key Communication Skill The ability to negotiate is a key communication skill and frequently takes place in the context of meeting. How can meetings be managed to ensure useful outcomes are achieved, particularly when the participants may have very different objectives? Use examples from real meetings where possible. Abstract Business meetings frequently take place with the view to allow executives to explore and achieve desired organizational objectives. They are to communicate of plans, updates, progress and outcomes of business strategies. At times these meetings are also between parties outside the organization. Whichever the case, negotiation skills are critical in helping managers to persuade other participants to change their views and accept the ones that are presented at the meeting. The ability to negotiate therefore is key to communication at meetings and required by chairpersons/leaders/participants to conduct successful business meetings. IntroductionMeetings can be frustrating and at times not necessary if the objectives of the encounter are not clearly identified. Business persons get frustrated at the frequency and quality of the meetings they attend (or conduct) declaring them a waste of time and resources. The value of such meetings is compromised when parties attending the meeting come out unsatisfied and frustrated by the decision reached. With the rate of meeting timings increasing everyday in organizations engaging executives 75 percent to 100 percent of their time, the success rate is diminishing day by day due to rapid decisions made and implemented (Timm 1997). Meetings participants are likely to feel disappointed and unsatisfied with the results of meetings especially when they spend less time in preparing and planning for meetings they attend. It is therefore not surprising to find that there are numerous documents and books published on meetings and how participants can engage in fruitful endeavours without compromising their own position. As a formal communication framework, meetings can make or break a business therefore consideration for its success is critical. Negotiation as a key to communication skills must be integrated along with other meetings strategies with the view to ensure outcomes are achieved to the desires of the participants without frustrating either party. Purpose Statement In the following report the researcher shall outline how negotiation as a key to meetings communication skill can be used to achieve business objectives despite participant differences in objectivity. The report shall first outline the purpose of meetings followed by how business meetings should be conducted and what elements are critical for its success. This is concluded with recommendations for successful business meetings. ReportPurpose of communication Building a corporate culture is pegged in the setting up of an effective communication system. Organizations shape and influence the behaviour of individuals through powerful communication strategies and culture so that they can help in achieving organizational objectives. When used appropriately, communication can offer insightful analysis of the organizations vision and mission, goals and objectives and more importantly how these may be implemented. To perpetuate conducive business environment, executives and management often engage in communication dialogues for numerous purposes and on a variety of occasions. According to Deborah J. Barrett (Oliver 2004) organizations engage in communication to mediate change management. Executives and top management uses its communication framework to communicate the need for change to cope up with the dynamic business environment. They engage in meetings with employees to communicate identification of roles in car rying out tasks required for the change management. Employees and employer meetings therefore is a top-down approach to communication with the purpose to form powerful coalition, creating vision, empowering workers to act on vision, carry out plans and consolidating efforts for change management (Barrett in Oliver 2004). However, often management in the flow of forming their objectives fail to recognize the objectives of individuals working within their organizations, resulting in ineffective and useless weekly meetings that achieve less and waste more time and resources. In another scenario communication through meetings among managers to discuss and generate ideas and feedback on work progress is also normal. Purely administrative communication of this nature is carried out with the purpose to analyze and update on organizational progress. Managers of various departments communicate their intent, delegate by expressing their proposals and establish chain of command of internalized processes for plan implementation purposes. They communicate with other managers and executives to update progress and express their desire for shared resources or to provide feedback to evaluate existing or forthcoming problems within and outside the organization. In such instances the climate of communication may not appeal to the participants as each attempt to put forth their ideas and expect acceptance from the others. For this reason resistance and barriers to communication are expected. The participants tend to bargain or negotiate their way with others with the hop e to elicit collaborative actions (Ramundo 1994). Another and perhaps the most important aspect of formal communication in meetings is the objective to elicit business outcomes from individuals outside the organizations like sellers, suppliers, unions, shareholders or directors where the basic premise of the meeting is to negotiate and come to certain winning outcomes. Meeting participants therefore come to the room geared to negotiate and to reject opponents proposals. The purpose of these corporate meetings therefore is to overcome the barriers to communication and come out as the wining party. Negotiations in business meetings Meetings in todays business world compromise of participants negotiating defensively (Foster 2004). Whether one is a buyer, a supplier, a union leader or a client successful meeting participants are those who negotiate before the contract is signed. Spending some time to communicate the details of the contract like clauses, agreed upon provisions, price or salary can help the negotiator in achieving the desired outcomes. Once a meeting is convened, the participants assume the roles of the negotiators engaging dialogues that elicit their objectives and purpose for participating. It is best that participants define the objectives and account for the desired outcomes. Successful negotiators usually plan their strategies before hand so that they can concentrate on non-aggressive yet succinct dialogues to persuade the opponent in accepting their terms. For instance a union leader and a company management will likely have their strategies written down before they enter the meeting room. They are likely to engage in dialogues that reflect clauses that they plan to negotiate upon. Such planning is critical as it helps the negotiators to direct the meeting and also to save time by concentrating on the objectives only rather than engage in meaningless communication. In such situations James Manktelow of Mind Tools (2005) is of the opinion that negotiation skills are essential in meetings and conflict situations where the participants need to appropriate their dialogues to seek wining negotiation. The participants who lose out tend to become confrontational or harbour a grudge against the wining party. Consequently the modern adage for negotiation is to create a win-win situation whereby both parties gain from the negotiation. this approach is not only critical for resolving disputes and have a lasting effect on the business relationship but it also open up channels of communication in the long term. Nevertheless, this is not to say that negotiation dialogues always result in win-win situations. In cases of policies making, or buying of a house or selling a product negotiation often result in one party losing and the other wining. For this purpose it is recommended that the situation is dealt with in an amicable manner through excessive planning for counter arguments without having to be aggressive to the other person. The key to such business meetings is to negotiate the terms of trade rather than focussing on defeating the opponent (Manktelow 2005). Consideration for trades terms, alternatives, expected outcomes, consequences, and possible resolutions are critical to the negotiation situation. Communication in meetings Meetings as discussed in the previous sections are formal communications in organizations and businesses carried out by participants with certain objectives expressed and negotiated in the course of the meeting. Successful meetings are those that engage negotiation strategies to focus and achieve desired objectives. These strategies need to be carried out in a very conducive manner so as not to offend opponent yet reach the end results amicably. For this purpose, Joan Mulholland (1991) recommends certain kind of speech acts chosen to represent a range of meanings and significance designed to represent and develop negotiation content. These acts should be considered often and may be integrated in negotiation dialogues to express certain context and performance of certain actions. Mulholland posit that communication during a negotiation meeting entail the use of body language as well as speech specification. Careful use of language notations and sentence structure can greatly influence the results of the encounter. For example one of the most important parts of meetings is the participants acceptance or rejection of proposed ideas. Depending on the individual perception offer or proposal can be accepted, rejected or reach a compromise. Depending on how the proposal is presented the response from the participants can damage cooperation behaviour and result in conflict situation if it is rejected. To mediate and elicit a positive response even if the participant is hesitant about accepting the proposed idea should demonstrate a cooperative attitude by acknowledging the ideas without acceptance by saying Thats an idea worth consideration; given general acceptance like we would be keen to do something along those lines on day. or set up a response from other participants or voice hesitation before acceptance (Mulholland 1991). On the other hand in cases of real acceptance of ideas participants should not hasten to communicate acceptance immediately but should ask for additional information and reports to reach to informed decisions. The important aspect of the meeting is to show to the participants that the outcome should be mutual. Furthermore, acceptance in situations of business meetings should be entirely separate from the person who has communicated and negotiated the deal. The communicator should communicate the fact that the organization or institutions with which he is associated and himself are two different entities and any personal remarks should not constitute as business dialogues. The content or objectives of the meeting should also be separated from participants who attend it. These considerations are important for participants to be objective in their decisions whether it is a rejection or acceptance or something in between (Mulholland 1991). Hence, a human resources manager conducting a performance appraisal (a type of meeting) should communicate its objectivity and his/her role as the mediator and the organizations requirement. He/she should also communicate the separation of the employees records and performance outcome from himself the evaluator. Any negative outcome from the performance appraisal meeting should not be associated with the ill-will of the appraiser. This can be expressed through verbal communication between the participant s. Effective meetings The above dynamics are critical for influencing the progress of meetings in the desired direction of organizational objectives. However, implementing these dynamics does not necessarily guarantee efficacy of meetings. Instead there are certain procedures that need to be followed and managed for meetings to achieve its objectivity. Adair and Thomas (2003) prescribe preparation and the following formality:  ¢ planning  ¢ Informality  ¢ Participation  ¢ Purpose  ¢ Leadership They also outline the importance of purpose in meetings:  ¢ To pool available information  ¢ To make decisions  ¢ To let off steam/tension  ¢ To change attitudes  ¢ To instruct/teach Gathering information, reports, agendas and laying out technical data or equipment in advance are helpful. Meetings should be purposeful so that the information relegated is meaningful for the participants to absorb, analyze and make decisions. Whether it is a meeting of signing contracts, an employee-employer appraisal meeting or a purchase of an asset, advance planning is critical in enabling the participants to focus on the objectives. Since meetings are of groups of people from different background, different meetings tend to develop personalities of its own. Leaders or the chair persons must make efforts to understand the personality of the participants conformity, values, attitudes, prejudice or power so that they can effectively communicate in a certain manner to influence participants thinking (Adair and Thomas 2003). Furthermore, Kellie Fowler (2005) is of the opinion that running effective meetings is inherent in the skills of the leader who is managing the meeting. The leader should: Generate an agenda to all involved in the meeting Start the discussion and encourage active participation Work to keep the meeting at a comfortable pace not moving too fast or too slow Summarize the discussion and the recommendations at the end of each logical section Circulate minutes to all participants (Fowler 2005) But perhaps the most important aspect is the fine tuning of negotiation skills so that outcomes can be achieved. The first step is to choose the right participants to contribute to the decision making and problem solving initiatives. The key is to try to keep the number of participants to 12 and ensure that they are knowledgeable in the issue under consideration. The leaders role in enumerating on the agenda, guiding the participants and direct them towards it, and summing up of the debate is critical as he/she is the one who rounds up the various views to resolve the issues discussed. Confusions, misunderstanding and mix-up of any sort should be clarified before decisions are made. The basic premise for such meetings often stem from the debates or negotiating points presented by the participants. The leader or the chairperson acting as the mediator must keep the above communication principles and dynamics in mind to guide the participants in taking part in the decision and not feel neglected or lose out in the negotiation. Conclusion The above report on meetings enumerate on the process and management of effective meetings. It also outlines the importance of negotiation skills in contributing to successful business meetings under certain circumstances. The purpose of meetings as discussed is to focus on planned agenda and achieve desired outcomes. Many business meetings deviate from this focus and tend to result in inefficacy and waste of time. For this reason it is recommended that meeting participants develop planned agendas, focus on objectives and agenda, and direct the flow of communication dialogues in the same direction. More importantly, for business meetings to reach its desired conclusions, participants should engage in amicable negotiation strategies in which both parties attain a win-win situation. This adage has proven beneficial and fruitful for meetings participants as it relegated non-aggressive business conduct and communication yet at the same time achieves the desired corporate objectives. Successful meetings therefore are those that engage in extensive preparation, allow time for participants to understand agendas and purpose of the meeting and equip themselves with information for debates and discussion. Meetings that elicit positive response engage participants in positive and non-aggressive dialogues by allowing them to communicate their ideas and reservations. The leader or the participant has the choice to reject or accept or compromise but these should be communicated in an amiable manner without offending the opposing parties and at the same time do not compromise ones own position. Overall successful meetings are those that influence the objectives which the participants had before they entered the meeting room and persuade them to see ones own point of view and adopt it. References Barrett, D. J. 2004, A best-practice approach to designing a change communication programme from Sandra Oliver, A Handbook of Corporate Communication and Strategic Public Relations: Pure and Applied. Routledge: New York. p20. Foster, J. Jul 2004, Negotiate Defensively, Successful Meetings. Vol.53, Iss. 8; pg. 24 Manktelow, J. 2005, Win-Win Negotiation: Finding a fair compromise. Mind Tools, Accessed on 26-11-2005 from: http://www.mindtools.com/stress/cwt/TeamNegotiationSkills.htm Mulholland, J. 1991, The Language of Negotiation: A Handbook of Practical Strategies for Improving Communication. Routledge: New York p137. Ramundo, B. A. 1994, The Bargaining Manager: Enhancing Organizational Results through Effective Negotiation. Quorum Books: Westport, CT. p85. Timm, P. R. 1997, How to Hold Successful Meetings: 30 Action Tips for Managing Effective Meetings (30-Minute Solutions Series), Career Press.