Heart Of Darkness Essays (3810 words) - Congo Free State

Heart of Darkness Heart of Darkness Conrad's novel, Heart of Darkness, relies on the historical period of imperialism in order to describe its protagonist, Charlie Marlow, and his struggle. Marlow's catharsis in the novel, as he goes to the Congo, rests on how he visualizes the effects of imperialism. This paper will analyze Marlow's "change," as caused by his exposure to the imperialistic nature of the historical period in which he lived. Marlow is asked by "the company", the organization for whom he works, to travel to the Congo river and report back to them about Mr. Kurtz, a top notch officer of theirs. When he sets sail, he doesn't know what to expect. When his journey is completed, this little "trip" will have changed Marlow forever! Heart of Darkness is a story of one man's journey through the African Congo and the "enlightenment" of his soul. It begins withCharlie Marlow, along with a few of his comrades, cruising aboard the Nellie, a traditional sailboat. On the boat, Marlow begins to tell of his experiences in the Congo. Conrad uses Marlow to reveal all the personal thoughts and emotions that he wants to portray while Marlow goes on this "voyage of a lifetime". Marlow begins his voyage as an ordinary English sailor who is traveling to the African Congo on a "business trip". He is an Englishmen through and through. He's never been exposed to any alternative form of culture, similar to the one he will encounter in Africa, and he has no idea about the drastically different culture that exists out there. Throughout the book, Conrad, via Marlow's observations, reveals to the reader the naive mentality shared by every European. Marlow as well, shares this naivet in the beginning of his voyage. However, after his first few moments in the Congo, he realizes the ignorance he and all his comrades possess. We first recognize the general naivet of the Europeans when Marlow's aunt is seeing him for the last time before he embarks on his journey. Marlow's aunt is under the assumption that the voyage is a mission to "wean those ignorant millions from their horrid ways"(18-19). In reality, however, the Europeans are there in the name of imperialism and their sole objective is to earn a substantial profit by collecting all the ivory in Africa. Another manifestation of the Europeans obliviousness towards reality is seen when Marlow is recounting his adventure aboard the Nellie. He addresses his comrades who are on board saying: "When you have to attend to things of that sort, to the mere incidents of the surface, the reality-the reality I tell you---fades. The inner truth is hidden luckily, luckily. But I felt it all the same; I felt often its mysterious stillness watching over me at my monkey tricks, just as it watches you fellows performing on your respective tight ropes for---what is it? half a crown a tumble---(56)." What Marlow is saying is that while he is in the Congo, although he has to concentrate on the petty little everyday things, such as overseeing the repair of his boat, he is still aware of what is going on around him and of the horrible reality in which he is in the midst of. On the other hand, his friends on the boat simply don't know of these realities. It is their ignorance, as well as their innocence which provokes them to say "Try to be civil, Marlow"(57). Not only are they oblivious to the reality which Marlow is exposed to, but their naivet is so great, they can't even comprehend a place where this 'so called' reality would even be a bad dream! Hence, their response is clearly rebuking the words of a "savage" for having said something so ridiculous and "uncivilized". Quite surprisingly, this mentality does not pertain exclusively to the Englishmen in Europe. At one point during Marlow's voyage down the Congo, his boat hits an enormous patch of fog. At that very instant, a "very loud cry" is let out(66). After Marlow looks around and makes sure everything is all right, he observes the contrasts of the whites and the blacks expressions. It was very curious to see the contrast of expression of the white men and of the black fellows of our crew, who were as much strangers to this part of the river as we, though their homes were only eight hundred miles away. The whites, of course greatly discomposed, had besides a curious look of being painfully shocked by such an outrageous row. The others had an alert, naturally interested expression; but their faces were essentially quiet. .

Free Essays on To Autumn

In the poem â€Å"To Autumn†, by John Keats, there are three stanzas, which are almost like three different poems in one. The first stanza describes summer, the next fall, and the last is looking for spring. In the first stanza, Keats begins to describe summer. He doesn’t tell you this right away, but from the wording and the metaphors you can figure it out. â€Å"Seasons of mists and mellow fruitfulness,† which is summer, â€Å"Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun,† which is saying that summer and sun go together. The entire wording in this first stanza makes summer sound like a person and really gives it a personality. Saying that summer and the sun are going to decide how and how much each plant will grow or bare fruit. They are the bestest of friends and will decide the fate of how nature is going to happen. Will this plant bare the most fruit, or will this one? But then they will decide when summer will end, â€Å"For Summer has o’er-brimmed their clammy cells.† When nature has had too much, that is. In the second stanza of John Keats’ poem â€Å"To Autumn†, the topic switches to autumn. How ironic. â€Å"Who hath not seen thee†¦Ã¢â‚¬  he asks. Where is Autumn? â€Å"Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind,† is such a greatly worded line. Here, the author is talking about Autumn, again like a person like he did with Summer. Keats is saying he Autumn has hair, and that Autumn’s hair is a billowing cloud of straw. Now, this isn’t what he is saying that happens really, it’s just a metaphor. But such a beautiful way to describe a season! Autumn is surrounded with the smell of poppies, and twined flowers. Autumn lays its head across a brook, or on a cider-press, and watches as it slowly fades away and becomes the next season, Spring. The last stanza, Keats describes the songs of Spring. A little different than the first two stanzas where he was describing the actual seasons. Instead of the season Spring, it’s the son... Free Essays on To Autumn Free Essays on To Autumn In the poem â€Å"To Autumn†, by John Keats, there are three stanzas, which are almost like three different poems in one. The first stanza describes summer, the next fall, and the last is looking for spring. In the first stanza, Keats begins to describe summer. He doesn’t tell you this right away, but from the wording and the metaphors you can figure it out. â€Å"Seasons of mists and mellow fruitfulness,† which is summer, â€Å"Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun,† which is saying that summer and sun go together. The entire wording in this first stanza makes summer sound like a person and really gives it a personality. Saying that summer and the sun are going to decide how and how much each plant will grow or bare fruit. They are the bestest of friends and will decide the fate of how nature is going to happen. Will this plant bare the most fruit, or will this one? But then they will decide when summer will end, â€Å"For Summer has o’er-brimmed their clammy cells.† When nature has had too much, that is. In the second stanza of John Keats’ poem â€Å"To Autumn†, the topic switches to autumn. How ironic. â€Å"Who hath not seen thee†¦Ã¢â‚¬  he asks. Where is Autumn? â€Å"Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind,† is such a greatly worded line. Here, the author is talking about Autumn, again like a person like he did with Summer. Keats is saying he Autumn has hair, and that Autumn’s hair is a billowing cloud of straw. Now, this isn’t what he is saying that happens really, it’s just a metaphor. But such a beautiful way to describe a season! Autumn is surrounded with the smell of poppies, and twined flowers. Autumn lays its head across a brook, or on a cider-press, and watches as it slowly fades away and becomes the next season, Spring. The last stanza, Keats describes the songs of Spring. A little different than the first two stanzas where he was describing the actual seasons. Instead of the season Spring, it’s the son...

Peer pressure Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Peer pressure - Essay Example In most cases, a young person’s personal values  are altered  and shaped by his peer group so as to increase his  similarity  with the other group members. Peer groups are usually well established in most high schools, workplaces and members of the  group  exert pressure to the new members joining the group. Friendship among teenagers is one of the most  important  factors during development. Friendship gives them  secure  venue to discover their identity and experience a sense of belonging. It also cultivates their social skills  relevant  for their future success. On the contrary,  friendship  can  influence  them negatively or positively whereby they end up submitting to negative or positive peer  influence. Young people  become  influenced because of their self-image and self esteem. This serves as a  motive  for them to  identify  with groups that they  fit  or groups that will  accept  them. Those dimensions of the  self  that  are valued  by one’s own peer group become  very  outstanding  in each young person’s self-assessment.   Some peer pressure can be  good. This  is measured  by their outcome whereby positive  influence  of friends  is seen  to play  important  roles among the lives of peers. Positive peers  set  good  examples among themselves, and they tend  to become  good  role models for each other. They can influence each other on goal oriented activities such as working together in  school  work, discussing problems and personal issues together that can help one to make  good  decisions, listening to each other, offering  good  advice and developing a positive  culture  among others. Positive peer pressure can be used to encourage and promote social behavior, because as observed peers can have a  powerful  effect  on self-esteem. Well accepted children can  display  positive  academic skills, social behavior and even

Management Accounting Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Management Accounting - Assignment Example Each of the method has a different approach to evaluating the worth of an investment or project for an organization. Whereas the last three techniques focus on cash flow, the first technique (the accounting rate of return (ARR) also called return on investment (ROI) uses accounting profit during its appraisal calculation, offering a view of the general profitability of the investment project. 1. The accounting rate of return The accounting rate of return also referred to as the return on investment method calculates the estimated general profit or loss concerning an investment project and connects that profit or loss to the amount of capital injected in the project as well as the period for which that investment is required to go. The profit referred to in the appraisal process here is the one that is directly linked to the investment project and, therefore, costs or revenues made elsewhere in the business are not included. There is a minimum rate of return required for any investmen t that a business wants to undertake. This is connected to the business’s cost of capital. ... r the years of life of the investment project and dividing the total life of the investment project in years and the average investment is found by adding the investment in the first year to the remaining value at the end of life of the project and dividing by two. With these two values, we can comfortably calculate the ARR. This calculation gives the uniqueness of product as well as its drawbacks as we can see in the subsequent discussions and comparisons. The main advantages of accounting rate of return are: Accounting rate of return considers the general profitability of the investment project. The method is simple to understand as well as easy to use. The method’s end outcome is expressed in form of a percentage, permitting projects of varying sizes to be compared. The major drawback is: The method is based on the accounting profits and not the cash flows. Calculation of profit as well as capital employed is based on expenditure items, which are treated as revenue (those a ppearing on the profit & loss account) and as capital (appearing on the balance sheet). Even though there are guidelines relating to this area, this practice can be quite subjective. Various accounting policies, for instance, relating to depreciation can generate different figures of profit and capital employed, therefore permitting the profit as well as balance sheet numbers to be manipulated in some way. This is why capital projects are also appraised in terms of cash flows. Accounting rate of return method does not consider the timing of cash flows of the project. For instance, we may have two projects M, and N. Project M may result in an accounting rate of return of 19 percent whereas project N may have ARR of 17 percent. Nevertheless, investment M may be a six year investment whilst

The History Of Jazz Music Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The History Of Jazz Music - Essay Example The genre is said to have taken roots in New Orleans because of its port, which was one of the important terminals in the New World. This port not only facilitated trade and commerce but also served as the meeting point of many cultural influences. Besides, slave culture was still prevalent in New Orleans and African Americans and slaves and free people used to gathering for an evening of music and dance. Despite the fact that elements that shaped jazz such as blues, Ragtime Brass band music, hymn and spiritual music, minstrel music were simultaneously prevalent in other cities of United States, it was the Creole population in New Orleans who played a crucial role in the development of jazz. (Weinstock.L ) The Creole population after living under the French and Spanish rule came to be known as Americans after the Louisiana Purchase and Louisiana statehood. The sect rose to the highest levels of the society in the 19th century and had an impact on the economic and cultural influences of that period. Creole musicians played at the opera and symphony halls and formed some of the best society bands of that time. These bands characterized the style of the upper classes with its precise technique, formal knowledge of European music and soft tone, embodying the upper class cultural values. On other end of the spectrum, an impoverished section of blacks lived in the Westside Street of New Orleans, newly freed but deprived of economic and cultural benefits. The musicians hailing from this section of the society drew inspiration from blues, gospel music and work songs. While the Creole bands reveled in correct rendition, the Westside bands used improvisation to mark their performances. The bands played music was inspired by Ragtime era but included elements of European music and brass bands playing funeral music. These bands were popular since their songs were about the highs and lows of life. This gave rise to a new genre altogether, which was based on creative expression, imagination and blues. Though it was called as the "local flavor" of Ragtime, it did not have much similarity to Ragtime music and was played by small marching bands or solos with pianos or banjos. The turning point occurred in 1894 when a racial segregation law placed a lot of restrictions on the Creole people and they were forced to live with Westside blacks. But they soon overcame it and got back at the helm of musical leadership of American section. This clash of cultures is the underlying theme of many songs composed by Jelly Morton, an important development in jazz history. Morton added a swinging syncopation to music such as Ragtime, Opera, French songs and dances. He also improvised on music from opera to blues, which soon came to be known as "Hot Jazz", one of the first styles of the genre. Thus jazz originated from the strong underlying beat provided by the African music and the dance rhythms provided by the European music, which gave Jazz its characteristic swing. Together with the scale of the blue notes and with the socio-cultural influences of that era especially in New Orleans, jazz got its character- freedom of expression. Joe Oliver and Louis Armstrong were some of the early Jazz musicians during the period who were known for their "Dixieland" style of music."Hot jazz" became more popular after musicians moved to Chicago from New Orleans after pubs in Storyville in New Orleans, the main venues for this music, closed down. Musicians from Midwest now began gravitating towards Chicago because of better

Most popular selection methods

Most popular selection methods In this assignment the two most popular selection methods i.e., Panel Interviews Assessment centres, will be discussed as both of them are widely used and are quite efficient methods of selection. The limitations of each selection method will be discussed and their role in the formation of psychological contract will also be defined. Later on, towards the second half of this assignment there will be a comparison in between different views that the selection methods just perform predictivist objectives the view that they can help in the formation of a viable psychological contract. In the end there will be a conclusion, which would discuss the inference drawn from the study of selection methods their contribution in formation of a psychological contract. I have chosen this assignment as being a masters student of H.R employee relations, it is very important to have a deep understanding of the first step or base of H.R, which is employee selection. This study will help me in understanding the drawbacks shortcomings of the selection methods would also help me in understanding the Psychological Contracts formation and its implications. If the psychological contract is well understood if it is transparent, then I think most of the issues related to H.R employee relations will be dealt with there would be no absconding by staff, no strikes, no clashes in between management employees no problems in the functioning of the organisation which would further lead to profit maximisation, employee satisfaction would make work place a better place to be in. PRESENTATION OF VIEWS: Definition of psychological contract: The psychological contract can be defined as the exchange relationship that exists in between the individual employee and their organisation. It is not a formal written contract on a paper but a relationship based on mutual contributions (Rousseau,1985 cited in Muchinsky,1999). Psychological contracts are of two types, Transactional contracts are short term contracts which are explicit have an economic focus. Relational contracts are long term contracts which are implicit have a socio-emotional focus(Rosseau,19 90). SELECTION METHODS Selection method is not a gate that must be crossed to form a relationship with the organisation, but it in itself is the part of that relationship. It helps applicants know how the organisations deal with people once theyre hired, how they view their social responsibilities, and how worthy their products employees are to them. This process gives both the candidates the organisation, their first opportunity to craft a deal between themselves (Davenport,1999). Personnel assessment and selection is one of the most important ways available to organisations to ensure that they have efficient workforces (Smith Robertson, 1993). PANEL INTERVIEWS: Panel Interviews are widely used method for the selection of candidates. For the candidates it presents an opportunity to show their ability in front of the assessors, to seek answers for their questions, to know how the organisation is structured and managed, its organization chart, current initiatives etc. Such questions help the candidates in fitting himself in the picture of the organisation; this in fact is the first step in the formation of the psychological contract (Tolleywood,2010). For interviewers it gives an opportunity to assess the candidate on the basis of work values which are: achievement, honesty, fairness and concern for others. Recruiters carry with them criteria based on which they decide a candidates employability and match it with the organizational values. Interviewers in panel interviews get a chance to convey the broad outlines of the organisations psychological  contract (Davenport,1999). In general, three interviewers are there as panel members (including line manager) who are seated right in front of the candidates vision, so that the candidates feel exposed and vulnerable. It is done to see if the candidates can deal with pressure, on the assumption that they will be able to transfer that ability to the workplace, as dealing with pressure is a major criterion of the organisations psychological contract. In such interviews one person asks the candidates questions around an area of competence, another one probes into some aspect of their CV such as their previous work experience, qualifications, interests. Similarly, candidates can ask what an organisation produces or what services it provides; its origins and history, the place on the training course that is on offer (TolleyWood,2010). There are behavioural situational variety of questions asked that help the organization in creating psychological contract (Redman Wilinson,2006) for e.g. Past experience questions (Situational) Many interviewers ask candidates to tell them about their previous job challenges in other organization also ask them to cite an example wherein they handled a difficult situation the outcome of that situation. It helps the organisation in knowing the calibre of the candidate and ensuring that he wouldnt be a misfit as per their psychological contract Hypothetical question (Behavioural) The interviewer describes a situation to the candidates and asks them what they would do in those circumstances. For e.g. How would they deal with an irate customer? Such kinds of questions help in determining the situation handling skills of employee foretell whether the candidate has managerial traits or not (TolleyWood,2010) Contribution of Panel Interviews towards creating psychological contract by the candidate (this part is entirely based on general knowledge personal experiences) Panel interviews contribute the most towards the formation of psychological contract on the end of the candidate as the candidate has the maximum opportunity of asking questions to the management, other types of selection methods like bio data, presentations, group activities dont encourage the candidate to ask questions. Certain questions that the candidates use in forming psychological contract are: Q: What is the hierarchy in the organisation? By asking this the candidate does not want to know who does what but he is interested in knowing the time required to reach the next level so that he can know when can he reach the next level if selected this is a common part of every candidates psychological contract i.e. promotion.. Apart from asking indirect questions the employee can bluntly ask questions that can help him in forming the psychological contract. For e.g. what is the career progression plan in the organisation? Or How often is the appraisal done for an employee? Or What are the added benefits of working with the organisation? Such questions are the best questions that put forward clear picture of the organisation if a candidate asks such direct questions, instances of psychological contract breach will be minimized. Critical Analysis of Panel Interviews: In spite of the evidence for the great predictive validity of panel interviews, organisations still largely prefer unstructured or one-on-one interviews (Graves Karen, 1996, cited in Hough Oswald, 2000). It is because of the managements reliance on intuition to make decisions (Beach, 1990; Dawes, 1988, cited in Dipboye, 1997) and a tendency for interviewers to have faith in the accuracy of their own judgements. A panel interview has been viewed as deskilling the role and reducing it to merely a monotonous exercise (Dipboye, 1997); less structured interviews appears to be more attractive to managers because it gives them great authority (Torrington et al, 1991). Applicants generally prefer one-on-one interviews over panel interviews because they give them more control over the situation (Schuler, 1993, Latham Finnegan, 1993, cited in Dipboye, 1997). Panel Interview has a limited usage and is generally used in business government sectors (Milia,2004). In the 1970s and 1980s, it was common for management selection to depend on the assessment of candidates made by interviews but a research found interviewer decision to be doubtful of reliability and validity (Keenan,1975, 1977). Moreover, in interviews candidates can use impression management technique to form an influential bias which can undermine the accuracy of interviewer outcome decisions(Anderson,1992). ASSESSMENT CENTRES (AC) As seen in The Advertiser, when employers are judging a candidate for a job, they are looking for more than just a resume and the interview process, hence, the need for assessment centres developed(Jinarek,2004). An  assessment centre, also called the Rolls-Royce of selection methods, gives the candidates unusual care, hence they start forming a psychological contract thinking that an employer who takes pains to find the right people will take equal pains in their training and career development (Schofield,1998). Assessment centres use a range of selection techniques to test candidates intellectual, interpersonal, intrapersonal skills(which cannot be identified using other techniques). Candidates are asked to undertake a series of assessments that have been designed to reveal to the assessors if the candidate can: work effectively in the relevant job; benefit from a further training opportunity; or cope with the demands of an education programme (in short, forming psychological con tract). The assessment process can take anything from a few hours to a couple of days. In the latter case, both the candidates and the assessors are likely to be in residence at the same place. Assessment centres generally includes: an aptitude (ability) test; a personality questionnaire; a group discussion; perhaps a case study; an in-tray/in-basket exercise interviews(Tolley Wood,2010). Personality questionnaires Personality questionnaires are designed to measure personal characteristics or traits such as candidates motivation to work or how candidates handle their emotions. Contribution to Formation of Psychological contract: It helps the organisation in knowing how candidates personality is likely to affect their future performance. It checks whether the candidate can stay calm but alert in the conditions that prevail in a particular workplace, or have the ability to adapt to the culture of their organization (Tolley Wood,2010). Group discussion (GD): In GD candidates are given an open-ended or philosophical topic. All candidates join in a half-hour discussion are observed by the assessment panel. Contribution to Formation of Psychological contract: It helps assessors to notice candidates who take the lead, redirect the discussion, and contribute, this pro activeness shown in GDs is very essential ingredient in the organizations psychological contract (Lynn Et. al,1998). Case study It aims to test the ability to analyse information; think logically clearly; and make decisions based on the data provided. For example, candidates could be asked to read a business proposal or a set of documents present their analysis (Sunday Tribune,2007). Contribution to Formation of Psychological contract: It helps in checking the clarity of thought of candidates. If the candidate can think clearly in dealing with such problems he/she can definitely handle problems at workplace, it will give him confidence in accepting the job role forming the psychological contract. In-tray/in-basket exercises: In it the candidate is required to respond to organize materials typically found in a managers in-basket like letters, memos, phone messages etc (Smither,1997). Contribution to Formation of Psychological contract: It helps in boosting the confidence of employees and the organisation can be sure that they are hiring someone who will fit in their psychological contract (TolleyWood,2010). Critical analysis of Assessment centres: As per Kleinmann (1993) candidates can fashion their behaviour to impress assessors, especially when candidates are aware that their performance is being evaluated. So assessment methods may at times lead to selection of wrong candidate. Klimoski Strickland (1977) proposed that since assessors supervisors hold common stereotypes of the ideal employee, they may hire candidates who look like good company people, hence eventually the organisation will be filled with people who are mirror images of each other not with creative people who can go out of the way to innovate(Muchinsky,2003). Some candidates find assessment centres to be quite stressful, because they think that they are being assessed all the time, even during informal breaks in the proceedings. The use of tests in assessment centres is based on the assumption that there are stable job-related differences between candidates, which can be measured. The ability tests chosen for use are generalised and do not take into factor that every individual is different. Lastly, small companies cannot afford the expense involved for using different techniques in assessment centres (Tolley Wood,2010). SELECTION METHODS: Perform predictivist objectives Or form psychological contract Selection methods are they Predictivist: As per this approach the job is viewed as a stable entity into which the most suitable candidates need to be recruited. Person-job fit is of most importance (Cook,1993 cited in Chimel,2000) and the entire power lies in the hands of the recruiting organization (Anderson Cunningham cited in Chimel,2000). Predictive validity means the extent to which a selection method can predict the subsequent job performance (Smith et al, 1993) such as error rate, production rate, appraisal scores, absence rate, or other criterions important to the organisation (Feathers,2000). The predictivist approach is inappropriate because of its assumptions that individual differences can be assessed accurately and because it ignores the criteria for translating the decision into action. Successful performance on the job is dependent on ability motivation as well. An ideal person selected for a job but given no training or development opportunities is more likely to fail than a moderately suitable person who is given such opportunities (Redman Wilkinson, 2006). In the 1920s it was realised that different studies conducted on the same selection method gave different results. Predictive validity results for the same method and same job were very different for different studies. Later in the 1930s and 1940s the belief developed that this variation resulted because of certain differences between jobs that were difficult for job analysts and job analysis methods to predict. Therefore, researchers concluded that the validity of a given procedure was different in different settings for what appeared to be the same job, and that the conflicting findings in validity studies were just reflecting this fact of reality (Schmidt Hunter, 1977; Schmidt, Hunter, Pearlman, Share, 1979 cited in Schmidt Hunter, 1998). This led to the formation of view that selection methods help both the parties in forming a psychological contract, which keeps on getting evolved. Selection methods form viable psychological contract: As per Herriot(1989) during the selection process, expectations of the organization potential employee both build up they both use it to construct a viable psychological contract .Nowadays job roles are becoming flexible and organisations have become aware that they need to compete for best candidates. As per this approach selection consists of a series of social episodes providing an opportunity to both the organisation candidates to explore whether a future working relationship would be possible. Selection process provides an opportunity for information exchange and development of mutual expectations obligations. Hence selection not only aims at person-job fit but also at person-organisation fit person -team fit (Anderson Cunningham cited in chimel, 2000). The selection process provides information for decisions to both the employer and the potential employee (Torrington Hall, 1991). However, because of the predicted skill shortages and the fact that selection is also concerned with the future life plans of individuals, the predictive validity of selection methods is not valid anymore both for organisations and for individuals(Meijer, 1998 cited in Feathers,2000). Thesis to prove that Selection methods not just serve predictivist role but form a viable psychological contract: A thesis was done on the psychological contracts formed by higher education lecturers in a University Business School in the UK. Interviews were undertaken which allowed participants to provide life history accounts and the data suggested that each individual had analysed the extent to which a new employment context would deliver transactional, relational, and ideological reward and thus had formed their psychological contract. The notion that selection methods just perform predictivist role was not supported it was found that they help in the formation of psychological contract in higher education (Gammie,2006). CONCLUSION It can thus be seen that selection is a crucial step that leads to the formation of a psychological contract between the candidate the organization, however it is very important to use the correct selection method that would give maximum chance of interaction in between the management the candidate. By the use of correct selection methods like assessment centres panel interviews a viable psychological contract can be formed as in these selection methods both the parties are at each others display, asking questions setting expectations. It has also been seen that the thinking that selection methods just perform predictivist role has become obsolete because of the shortage of skilled labour approaches like person-organization fit selection methods serve the purpose of forming a viable psychological contract both for the employer the employee.

Is Grendel Evil? Essay -- essays research papers

In a world of chaos, he who lives, lives by his own laws and values. Who is to say that the death of millions is any worse or better, for that matter, than injuring a cockroach. And in the case of an existing power in the form of God, who is presumed to be all which is good, presiding and ruling an organized universe, why then does evil exist? The prosaic response of â€Å"without evil, there is no good† no longer holds any validity in this argument as the admitted goal of good is to reach an existence without evil. So even if a God does exist, I think it is fair, at this point, to say that he is the embodiment of both good and evil. And if humoring those who would answer the previous question with the response that there can be no good without evil, then can we assume that evil is simply a subsection of a defined good? Or perhaps even a good thing? If it is essential, those who chose the side of evil are simply abiding by good values. In the case of a world ruled by Chaos, ev il is a non-existent word or value, rather. The system upon which a person’s actions are judged also disappears leaving nothing but an instinct for natural survival as basic and primary as the life within the forests which we tear down to build our houses. Ethics is a wide field of philosophical study to which the core of every question within falls to one side of a blurred line. On the right, is good; the value which is popularly believed to be the correct alignment for which a person should live their life according to. On the left, is evil; that which is the cause of most human misery, and prevents peace on earth. In John Gardner’s book Grendel, the retelling of the ages old story Beowulf, further blurs the line between good and evil. Circumstance and perhaps a confused view of reality allow the monster, Grendel, to conceivably defend his evil beliefs. In order to better understand evil, using Grendel as a guide, I intend to attempt to justify it. Grendel is born a neutral being, perhaps even good, but nevertheless, without hate. The transition which he undergoes to become evil is due to misunderstandings between himself and humans and also meeting with a dragon who is questionably evil. As a young â€Å"monster†, Grendel knew nothing other than the cave he lived in and his mother who could not speak any distinguishable language. He was a playful creature who seemed to be like a â€Å"bla... ...orals is an act of creation. A religious act. Murder and Mayhem are the life and soul revolution†¦   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The essence of good in evil is contained within this speech given by Red Horse. That which should be, will come from revolution. The people will fight for what they consider is the truth and if certain morals or institutions stand in the way of that, they must be torn down. The reason for destruction is to actually create anew what is better for existence. This is what I believe the old man is trying to say. That sheer brutality, and that which is considered evil, is the only way to achieve change and therefore a newer, better way of life. It is a concept which sounds harsh and uncompromisingly hurtful to those who are on the opposing end, but it is actually similar to sociology's conflict theory. Without conflict, and therefore the resolution of conflict, there can be no change. Without change, life remains stagnant and in the same cycle of trading one man’s pain for another man’s happiness. Therefore, without evil as a means to achieving good, the world would remain a constant struggle without advancements of living and without advancements of life.

Endeavour Journal Essay

This journey followed close upon the visit of the expedition on Tahiti to observe the transit of Venus. On 8 June 1769 the transit of Venus was successfully observed from three different points. After fulfilling his mission on Tahiti Cook resumed his voyage to fulfil the task given to him secretly by the Royal Society. On 7 September 1769 the Endeavour reached New Zealand, which had never been visited by any European after Abel Janszoon Tasman had discovered it on 13 December 1642. Tasman’s stay at New Zealand was not successful in the means of its discovery. No trading had been done between the native Maori and Tasman’s crew. The first discovery by the Dutch businessmen Tasman was only the western coastline of New Zealand, which had been mapped afterwards. The first seven days of the journal had been taking place at ‘Cannibals Cove’ where the HMS Endeavour anchored for about twenty-three days. James Cook has given the name after he had an encounter with indigenous people, which will be described in the following. During the stay Joseph Banks refers to several encounter with indigenous people of New Zealand. He describes the behaviour and findings in a large extend. As an example he describes the encounter of members of HMS Endeavour’s crew and a double canoe. They have been told that the indigenous people lost a female child that according to their narrative â€Å"had been stole and eat by some of their neighbours†. Another group of crewmembers reported that they have met people who told them that they ate a child the day before. As a result of these stories Banks describes the conclusions of the crew as thefts of this kind are common for those Indians. Afterwards he tries to analyse and evaluate these stories. He assumes that the crewmembers met the same people and interpreted the stories differently which have been told by the indigenous people. Nevertheless he does not exclude this either, since families that came of to the ship â€Å"often brought women and young children in arms as if they were afraid to leave them behind. † Banks’ interest in the indigenous people of New Zealand can also be illustrated by his encounter of an Indian family. He describes them as being affable, obliging and unsuspicious and observed any order or subordination. By making known his regret of not being able to stay with the family for one night his interest in people and their behaviour can be seen. On the following days Banks describes how the exploration of the Cook Straits took place. The officers’ spread their thought that the land they have been round might be an isthmus that is between their current position (Cook Strait) and the Cape Turnagain, which they have last seen 17 October 1969. To confirm this Cook ordered the crew to sail northward until the cape could be seen. Whilst sailing in this direction HMS Endeavour came across indigenous people which in Banks’ journal entries are described as richer and more cleanly than any people they have seen since their stay at the Bay of Islands 3 November 1769. This makes him believe that they might have met subordinates of the Dominions of Teratu. As it turned out they were not this kind of people and thus they had to go on sailing northward looking for a well-known part of New Zealand. On 9 February 1770 an important discovery had been made. Cape Turnagain came back into sight, which proved that the land, they had been visiting, is an island. Besides Banks’ depictions of the exploration of New Zealand and the description of the indigenous people in huge detail he described Albatrosses and other animals to a small extend. His task as botanist plays a minor part during these days. By shooting Albatrosses as often as possible he tries to nourish the crew with fresh meat. The last four days of the journal at hand take place at the east coast of the future southern island of New Zealand. On 16 February 1770 Banks reports the sighting of a new island. This island will be later called â€Å"Banks’s Island† according to the chart of New Zealand based on Cook’s mapping. The fact that this is not an island but rather part of the southern island of New Zealand will be unknown for the rest of the journey. This error happened because Captain John Gore believed that he saw land in south eastward direction. To pursue this Cook decided to follow this direction and validate Gore’s assumption so â€Å"that nobody should say he had left land behind unsought†. On 18 February 1770 Banks states that no land could be found and the voyage will continue in westward direction. In the journals’ last entry Banks describes the discovery of land that might be either part of the New Zealand or the beginning of the southern island, which they have long yearned for. What can be seen in this part of the journal is the personal conflict of Banks. Intelligence obtained by the Indians during their last anchoring stop tells them that this might only be an island, nevertheless Banks does not want to let go of the â€Å"strong hopes that we had at last completed our wishes and that this was absolutely a part of the Southern continent†. The journal at hand includes without limitation information on the discovery of the Cook Strait and exploration of New Zealand. The subsequent days of the journey will clarify if the land they have spotted is either part of the southern continent or an island on its own. Nevertheless an outcome of this journey so far is a detailed map of northern New Zealand and the discovery of the isthmus between the northern island and the southern part. The nature of this journal is a very objective description of the happenings during the voyage.

Realistic and romantic elements in essays

Realistic and romantic elements in essays Realistic and Romantic Elements of The Overcoat Gogols The Overcoat has many realistic and romantic elements. In my opinion there are more romantic elements. It seems that this is a type of bedtime story for a child. Its purpose conveys to me a lesson of treat everyone as equal or you will be humbled yourself. Some of the realistic elements I have picked up on are as follows: The compassion of the new clerk and the reaction of the person of consequence after his friend leaves seem somewhat realistic because some people feel sorry for those in compromising situations and feel regret after scolding someone who may not necessarily have deserved such intensity, but as did the person of consequence when he went to his friends house after learning of Akakys death, they get on with their lives. Unlike Akakys leisure time activities, the pastimes of the other clerks seemed realistic, for example, they played cards, went to movies and parties and gossiped with others. The timidity of Akaky seemed to be an exaggeration of realistic. I have known many people to be timid and to use vague phrases and unfinished questions, maybe not quite as much as Akaky, to get their points across. They also seemed incapable of asserting themselves or sticking up for themselves to a superior. Another realistic element was when the narrator claimed not to know what Akaky was thinking about the picture in the window made this absolutely true story seem more realistic. The person of consequences power happy attitude toward his subordinates seemed realistic; this is best exemplified by young police officers when dealing with teenagers. The main characters name being Akaky, resembling kaka or defecator is one of many romantic elements. Among others is the way he is treated by his coworkers, before he gets his new coat they pick on him as children might do to another, an...

The Market Research Analysts Approach to the Decision Making Process †Business Research Paper

The Market Research Analysts Approach to the Decision Making Process – Business Research Paper Free Online Research Papers The Market Research Analysts Approach to the Decision Making Process Business Research Paper As a market research analyst, the first step in my decision making process would be to analyze the situation. The problem is that my company has just created a new type of packaging product that improves the shelf life of food products, but the product development department does not know what to do with this novel product. The product could potentially be marketed to consumers and businesses, in which case it would be a convenience product (consumer) or a packaging/supply product (business). The problem is not only what to do with this new product, but who to market to and how to market it. Before performing any research on the potential market, I would test the product as extensively as possible to make sure that it is a quality product. The most important thing when selling a product is quality, and if they product is not up to company standards, I would throw the idea out, or perform research to make the product the best it could be. If the product was up to the company’s standards of quality, I would then move on to researching the market. After testing the product’s quality, I would also identify what the potential uses for the product are. Once I have identified my problem and thoroughly tested my product, I would perform as much research as possible. First, I would research my competition’s product development to determine if anyone else in the industry has created this new form of packaging as well. If they had created the product, I would research their product development and marketing strategies. If they had not created the product, I would research for other new and innovative technologies that could be potential competitors with my new product. After performing research on my competition, I would focus on the potential consumers for this product. For this particular type of product, I would use focus group research as my primary research tool for usage of this product. I would use the product in several different ways and test the reactions of the consumers to determine which would be best to market. In order to select people to participate in the focus group, I would choose people from many diverse demographic groups to determine whether the responses to the product would be similar in people from different age groups, education levels or ethnicities. After the focus groups are completed, I would follow up with a consumer survey to get the participants reactions to the product. Using this information gained from performing the focus groups and consumer surveys, I would be able to determine the potential consumer markets for this product. I would also have to take into consideration my potential customers, including existin g customers and unrealized customers. Once the consumer research has been completed, I would focus on the business market. Is there a need/desire for a product like this to be sold to other companies? Since the demand for industrial products is derived from the demand for consumer products, I would assume that there is a desire for business to use this product as well (given that based on consumer research, this product is something that consumers would be interested in using in their homes). When all the testing and researching is completed, it still must be decided what to do with this product, and in order to do so, the options must be considered. First, using my research on consumer and business responses to this new product, I could sell the product. If I am a producer of food products, it would make sense to market the new packaging product as well as sell more of my own food products. For example, if I sell dairy products, I would market my food products as usual, but I would emphasize the fact that my company is using new and advanced packaging technology that will keep the consumer’s food fresher for longer. If I do not sell food products, one of my options is to license my new product to permit another company to use the new technology. If I choose to license the packaging technology, it would limit my involvement greatly. Of course, I would determine the advantages and disadvantages of this form of business and weigh them against my other options. Another option for my new product is to form a joint venture with another company (regardless of whether I sell food products). In this case, I have a very useful product that my company would be contributing to the venture, so I would have to choose carefully before determining that this is where I want my new product to go. There are so many potential uses for packaging technology, and surely there would be great potential from food producers to get their hands on this product. I think this would be my last choice in deciding what to do with this product, but I need to weigh my advantages and disadvantages and determine what the risks are in going into this form of business. Once I have determined what my options are, the risks and advantages of each must be compared. Using this information, in addition to my research gathered, it will be easier to decide what to do with this product. In order to develop successful new products, there are three activities that must be completed: first, to uncover unmet needs and problems, second, to develop a competitively advantaged product, and third, to shepherd products through the firm. The first step in this process has already been identified: the new packaging technology increases the shelf life of food products, and that is the â€Å"unmet need or problem.† Developing a competitively advantaged product is much more complex. This step of the process involves: (1) input from customers, (2) input from marketing about what competition is doing about the need, (3) manufacturing input about what is being done to satisfy the need, (4) engineering input about additional technology that is available, (5) R and D input about new ways of addressing the need, and (6) financial input regarding costs. I have already received customer input by performing the focus groups and consumer surveys, but I do need to complete every ot her step before I can move forward in deciding what to do with this technology. It is important to consult with every department so that I can once again identify my risks and my advantages in each step of this process, before I can decide what to do with my product. Once i have consulted with each department and decided how to market this product, the objectives for selling the product must be established. Research Papers on The Market Research Analyst's Approach to the Decision Making Process - Business Research PaperMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductRiordan Manufacturing Production PlanBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaResearch Process Part OneOpen Architechture a white paperThe Project Managment Office SystemMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesGenetic EngineeringDefinition of Export Quotas

Societal Functions of Religion According to Emile Durkheim and the Essay

Societal Functions of Religion According to Emile Durkheim and the Decline of Religion in the United States - Essay Example The wealth that the U.S. has enjoyed over the past decades, the freedom of expression entrenched in the U.S. Constitution, and the acceptance of other religions into the American society have diluted the place of Christianity in the U.S. The decline of Christianity in the U.S. at the expense of other religions and secularism risks to threaten the American society if it fails to provide a compromise to people from other faiths or sharing other beliefs. Such risk exists because there could be clashes between people from different communities/ faiths (e.g. Northern Ireland). The situation, however, is not alarming because religion has been replaced in the U.S. by education and to some extent a sense of patriotism. To revert back to Emile Durkheim's theory of religion, patriotism, education, the "American dream", Hollywood, etc. now ensure some form of social cohesion in the U.S. through the sharing of common values. With regard to social control, the law enforcement system and the judic iary system are now recognized as legitimate institutions to deal with conflicts. In this modern U.S. society, religion has been relegated to the personal realm and people living in the U.S. now enjoy the freedom to choose the religion that will answer their existential thirst.

Children and Technology Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Children and Technology - Research Paper Example On taking Matthew’s history, the doctor learnt that Matthew has been in the habit of spending more than 7 hours watching the television and playing video games on the computer for the past 9 years or so. Matthew told, â€Å"I started gaining weight quickly from a very young age, and this, along with my poor academic performance, made me an easy target for bullies. I found it difficult to settle in school and to make friends. Excess playing of fighting games often got me into fights with the bullies of the class, often believing that I would be able to imitate the kung fu moves of my favourite video game character. With such a discouraging environment at school, my only resort was my mum’s computer and the television- something that has been my pastime as far as I can remember.† Matthew’s example shows a more deep-rooted problem. Years of computer and television use have taken their toll on him. This gives rise to the question that is use of technology just ified. Use of technology is common both at homes and schools. The primary element that the schools instil in children through the use of technology is the ability to adapt to change. For this purpose, technology has emerged as a saviour, affecting both the efficiency of pedagogical tools and the individualization of education for the students. However, the varied use of technology in various fields has led to negative impacts too- a topic that is the hotbed of debate for the past few years. The government and the media have strongly been favouring the use of technology in education. Most educationists are of the perspective that learning computer skills at an early age result in better performance in the workplace. However these claims are challenged by skeptics who believe that technology has little contribution towards the enhancement of learning and tends to affect not only the minds but also the bodies of the children. It impacts the imagination of children and initiates a proce ss of degenerative changes in the body. Also, increased use of technology takes time away for physical activities. According to Jane Healy, computers are not an essential part of the lives of young children and have a deleterious effect on the motivation and imaginations of the children. She argues that institutions should wait for children to attain the age of 7 before exposing them to computer use. Despite the benefits technology provides, such as being an interactive interface for learning, use of non-technological ways of learning should be encouraged for young children in schools. Excess use of technology adversely affects the bodies and imaginations of the children; thereby making it a viable solution to discourage the use of technology for children below the age of 7 and use non-technologies based methods to learn basic knowledge such as promoting play, using pedagogical tools to actively engage children in physical activities and mobilizing the media to promote reduced use o f technology in schools for children aged less than 7. In the early years of life, the child is in the process of learning and writing. He is undergoing a series of linguistic and verbal changes with the process of identifying letters, analyzing them and their sounds and then spelling them out being achieved by the age of 7. What would happen if this complex process is disrupted at some point by use of technological means, interfering with the natural order of learning. If a child is exposed to the computers even before they are able to write, it may have significant effects of his health and development. It is seen that gaming is the most popular use of computers for children aged