The Autocratic Leader

1. Introduction to Autocratic Leadership There are several effective leadership styles used to run organizations. The autocratic style basically tells employees what to do. This style is defined as excessively demanding, with one way of communication-from management to employee. Managers possess the power to coerce â€Å"subordinates† to accomplish the mission. Decision making comes from the leader(s) and the opinion or input of the employee is not considered. Nevertheless, autocratic leadership can be useful in certain situations or types of businesses. At times, management must utilize this type of leadership to achieve important goals. 2. Martha Stewart – An Autocratic Leader Autocratic leadership is a management style that places pressure on employees to produce a product, service or image. This style is reminiscent of a dictatorship but in some businesses or military organizations, this type of leadership is necessary. Many employees have worked with an authoritarian manager and are used to it, require it, and even expect it. A good example of an autocratic leader is Martha Stewart who has built an empire based on her teaching techniques for simplicity and creativity in the home: cooking, crafts, finding the perfect housewares, etc.; all accomplished with great attention to detail. Whether people have admired Martha Stewart or not, one cannot argue that she has remained careful, consistent and demanding of her employees. She's very successful in nearly all of her endeavors, and often, if not always, has used an autocratic management style. It's common knowledge that it's her autocratic leadership style that has made her a success in nearly every form of media. Martha Stewart's critics (who are many) argue that she would have found even more success had she not relied so heavily on the autocratic style of leadership. 3. Autocratic Leadership in the Group Project Setting Another circumstance where autocratic leadership can be helpful is while working on group projects. When a group has no designated leader, a project can fail. When each group member expresses their own opinions and tenaciously holds to them, conflict is sure to arise. In this circumstance, project quality may suffer or literally come to a standstill. Groups need an autocratic leader who can hold to the decisions made by or for the group. The leader should seek for solutions to problems that arise in the project and then delegate the task to the members of the group. Steve Jobs, founder of Apple, Inc., was a very successful autocratic leader. He was typically authoritative and made every major final decision for Apple. Some argue that autocratic leadership can never lead to success – it's controlling and solely based on the personality and style of the manager. But an effective autocratic leader can achieve great success in bringing a project to completion. During the first stages of developing an entrepreneurial organization, implementing an autocratic leadership style will enable the company to have and keep direction and momentum. A leader who is autocratic should apply his/her style wisely and with trepidation.

Creating a Student Portal for Bataan Peninsula State University Essay

IntroductioN The project is to create a Student Portal for Bataan Peninsula State University. Its purpose is to raise the availability of certain students’ records like the grades, finances/billing, and curriculum checklist. Along with, is the process of encoding students’ final grades and the forming of the dean’s list. Using the student portal, data can be accessible at any time and location over the Internet. Background of the Study The Bataan Peninsula State University was established by virtue of Republic Act 9403, signed into law on 22nd of March 2007. It is a conglomeration of fine leading higher education institutions in Bataan seeking to contribute to the national and regional development through providing excellent quality of services in instruction, research, production and extension. Guided by one Vision of becoming a university of excellence acknowledged not only in the country but also in the Asia-Pacific Region, BPSU shall continue to gear toward the realization of its mission of providing quality and relevant education in order to contribute to the national and regional development. Before the conversion, BPSU used to have three campuses; two are located in the City of Balanga while the third is situated in Orani. The passage of RA 9403 resulted to the expansion of BPSU’s campuses as the said Act duly integrated the Bataan State College in Dinalupihan and its satellite campus in Abucay (forme rly Bataan National Agricultural School). The five campuses of the university have very humble beginnings and yet they all emerged with glorious histories to be proud of. More empowerment is expected to be bestowed to each campus as their strengths shall be utilized for the success of the 111 programs and other services of the university. On June 2008, the University made education more accessible to the residents of the towns of Bagac and Morong by establishing an extension in the Municipality of Bagac. The extension offers some of the most in demand courses in the country like BS Entrepreneurship, BS Hotel and Restaurant Management, first two years of Nursing, and General Engineering courses. Contributing to national development has always been the topmost priority of the university; therefore BPSU relentlessly keeps itself updated on the recent trends to be  responsive to the present and future demands of the community. At present university has three programs granted with Level 1 Accreditation from AACCUP. Fifty-six (5 6) programs are scheduled for accreditation from 2008 to 2012. Moreover, the university continues to equip itself with faculty and employees who have remarkable skills and knowledge in order to uphold academic excellence and maintain its capacity of producing quality graduates. At present, 6 percent of its faculty have Doctorate degrees and 31 percent have master’s degrees. The rest are still working on their post-baccalaureate studies. It is not surprising that the enrollment continues to increase over the years as the university has proven its capability to match and even to surpass the performance of other reputable universities in the country in various competitions and also in the licensure exams. Other than this, low tuition fee rates, and pollution-free and safe environment further encourage the Bataeà ±os and those from other nearby provinces to patronize BPSU. For BPSU, a life without challenges to conquer would be futile as the university always stretches the limit to adapt to the changes and to turn trials into opportunities. Even cuts in the budget will not impede BPSU from attaining its goals. Aside from relying on its several IGPs to augment the budget and sustain its programs, the university continues to strengthen and to establish partnerships with local and international agencies that are more than willing to work side by side BPSU as it continues its journey towards a more dignified future. [bpsu.edu.ph] Every educational institution has its sole priority to give the best learning out from their best performances of teachings, processes and resources to their students. And, BPSU which is one of these institutions had already proven that they can absolutely give it. In the University’s actual operation, there are lots of offices and departments that are responsible on producing, maintaining and keeping every student’s records. Two of these are the Registrar’s department and the Finance’s department. Along the Registrar’s department is where the student’s documents are piled. Student’s documents consisting of personal data and academic information from their previous schools and from BPSU itself which are produced due to the span of years of the student’s admission in the University, for instance, are the grades. Another department mentioned is the Finance’s department; this also conducts one of the main tasks required for tracking the admission of the student every school year. That task is to keep files with regards to all of their finances, including all of the payments that are made, balances and other financial issues. These certain information of a student can also be found in the enrollment system that was used by the Registrar’s Office, it is how the Registrar has the authority to view the financial status of a student. Students must know every transaction that was made in the University especially when it has to do with their own concerns. They must always be informed of all the latest records that were kept and reported to the offices responsible for their stay-in within the institution. On the registrar’s part, a student is not allowed to have an update or a look within their record every time they desired. Considering that the registrar is also busy for other major works assigned to him. Seemingly, it will just consume time and effort for finding a particular record in their repositories. A student can only be given the opportunity, which depends on the situation. Naturally, grades were available every end of the semester in a printed form, though, some of the instructors are considerate in informing a student of the grades as often as possible. While on the finance office part, the records kept are confidential. In order for a student to be informed of the balances remaining on their account, the student should ask the finance officer. But it’s not that simple, as the officer is not free to answer every student’s questions or uncertainties at anytime. At some point in a semester, the finance’s department issues the statement of account of each student that still has remaining balances that must be paid in order to be given a permit that is a requirement before taking an examination On pondering on these unwanted situations experienced by the students, the thought of having a medium that will grant access to student’s account as often as they want sprung up. The medium is what we called a Students’ Portal. A portal or a web portal, also known as a links page, presents  information from diverse sources in a unified way. Apart from the standard search engine feature, web portals offer other services such as e-mail, news, stock prices, information, databases and entertainment. Portals provide a way for enterprises to provide a consistent look and feel with access control and procedures for multiple applications and databases, which otherwise would have been different entities altogether. Some related studies are researched and included on the documentation for further comprehension of the proposed system. Orani Water District Intranet Based Public Information Kiosk This thesis is made by the IPiK Group, BSIT students of Colegio de San Juan de Letran – Bataan that aims to create an integrated public access information system to be used by employees and visitors of Orani Water District that will improve the current process of dissemination of information. Also, the developers target the replacement of old bulletin boards with digital ones. All the information contained and posted on a bulletin board will be encoded and displayed in a public access computer, with a web-based interface to access the information. The public access computer will be implemented in a client-server environment. A domain controller will be used to apply access control and policies to the public access computer. The officer-in-charge only has to encode the information on the system rather than printing it and then posting it on the bulletin board. The system will only be updated by an administrator. The company’s system administrator will handle the updates and backups. The backups will be made using MS SQL Server 2005’s automatic backup service. The backup files will be stored on a backup DVD-ROM. The system will not be available online, only through the intranet. It will be available only from 8 AM to 5 PM. The proposed system named as Letran-Abucay Students’ Portal has the same objective with the IPik Group thesis that is to render information for the users. The main users of the Orani Water District Intranet-based Public Information Kiosk are the customers, while for the Students’ Portal are apparently the students. What will be the difference of the two is that the  Students’ Portal will be a web-based application and is accessible using a web browser which is opposed to the public information kiosk that is a window-based application. Bataan Information System This thesis is made by the STI-Bataan students under the advisory of Ms. Cristina de Leon, who is now a Letran IT Professor. It is about the designing and developing of a Bataan Information System in a multimedia form and to solve the problems encountered by the provincial government in promoting Bataan. The Information System will be easy to access and directed to the end-user and will support an interactive environment with a user-friendly feature in promoting the province of Bataan. Information system is frequently used to refer to the interaction between people, processes, data and technology. In this sense, the term is used to refer not only to the information and communication technology (ICT) an organization uses, but also to the way in which people interact with this technology in support of business processes (Wikipedia) Giving information is how the two systems, which are the Bataan Information System and the proposed students’ portal, are similar. Both render numbers of information that are accessible by an authorized user in a computerized process. Campus Portals a Framework for Development Accommodating End-users’ Online Activities (an International Thesis) This thesis is about the development of a campus portal created for the University of Wollongong; thus was prepared by Tharitpong Fuangvut on 2005. A Campus Portal is an exciting recent phenomenon forming part of the new generation of online services for all stakeholders in institutions of higher education. Conceptually the general notion of a Portal should be to be distinguished from that of other Web- based applications and the traditional Intranet of the institution. The major objective of this research is to propose a development methodology specifically suitable for Campus Portal projects. While there are many accepted development methodologies for traditional and Web-based Information Systems, no clear body of knowledge on the development of Campus Portals has yet been recognized. Additionally, as this is a new area, the definitions, terms, concepts and important issues agreed to by academic researchers and practitioners, are still evolving. This research, therefore, needs to clarify and identify some important issues regarding Campus Portals and their development, prior to composing the development methodology. In the second and third phases of the research, two studies were carried out, a preliminary study and a case study. These generated more understanding of the issues and extended the body of knowledge on Campus Portals, especially concerning their development. The preliminary study explored and investigated the online services and Campus Portals of 40 higher education institutions’ sites in Australia, New Zealand, the USA, the UK and Canada. The findings of the preliminary study show that there are no standard patterns in the function of personalization and customization in Campus Portals. The case study was conducted in an Australian university among the major stakeholder groups, namely, the development team and the end-users (students and academic staff). Students were the primary focus of the end-user st udy, from which data was collected using a survey to build up usage patterns of their online activities. Statement of Goals Due to the data gatherings that the researcher had conducted many thoughts lead the proponent to know and study more of the certain dilemmas and inefficiencies that taking place within the process wherein the people affected perhaps are not aware. Currently, students are given limits on viewing their own records kept by the University due to several uncertainties it will cost, uncertainties that include lack of time and extensive work of the people involved. Furthermore, the proponent had also studied prior concerns which will benefit everyone that are included on the process once implemented on the system: Security of data that will ensure a protected system that traces and prevents unauthorized access; Encoding of the final grades that is one of the tasks of the faculty every end of a semester; Downloadable and printable documents such as the Grades Slip coming from the Registrar’s office and a variety of forms coming from the Dean’s office. Availability of students’ list with  final grades which will help the Dean to generate the Dean’s list. The following goals are made and collected by the proponent through the aim of resolving the concerns mentioned. The goals are as follow: General Goal To develop a Student’s Portal for Bataan Peninsula State University that will enable students to access their personal, academic and financial records. Specific Goal To implement an authentication of users through the use of ID no and password, as to prevent intruders and to assure the safety of all the data transmitted over the network. To incorporate a module for encoding the final grades of students every semester that the faculty uses. To provide downloadable and printable forms those are being retrieved from the Dean’s, Registrar’s and Finance office. To include a module that will enable the Dean to view the academic status of the students that she can use as basis for retrieving the Dean’s list. Significance of the Study For the Students Students are the ones that have a great benefit on the students’ portal because it will provide them quick access of their taken subjects prior to the curriculum they had enrolled with the corresponding final grades for each. Also, the system ensures the confidentiality and the update of records for each semester as long as new grades are issued to help the students be informed of their academic performance in the University. Aside from grades and subjects that can be viewed, a student will also have the privilege to view some his or her financial data that was managed by the finance office. For the Dean’s office Using the students’ portal, the Dean is able to view the academic status of the students that include detail such as the final grades and to gather the names of those that are included on the Dean’s list. And also, as the portal offers a module for downloadable forms that are coming from the office, the task for issuing these certain forms will be eliminated thus reducing the workload of the Dean. For the Registrar’s Office As the students will be provided of options on determining their academic records, whether to just view it on the portal or to still ask for a printed copy coming from the Registrar’s office, somehow there will be a lessening of task on the Registrar’s part. For the Finance Office The Finance office can gain benefit from the students’ portal since the students can already check over their financial records online reducing the printing of documents such as the statement of accounts if permitted. For the Future Researchers The future researchers can acquire fundamental knowledge from and be able to use this thesis documentation as basis of their own research study if it’s all about developing a students’ portal. For the Developer To the developer, this will also provide better comprehension of her proposed system that will lead her to the further understanding of the entire study that surely they can use on preparation of a brighter future that awaits her as IT professional. Scope and Limitations This study will focus on creating a students’ portal for Bataan Peninsula State University which is web-based where student records are the prior concern and accessible online. Student records that include: Student’s  personal information Curriculum checklist that comprises all the subjects taken and to be taken by the student based on the University’s curriculum and the final grades for each Grades records that consist of all the grades of the student for all his subjects that he can query through supplying of a school year or semester. Financial information that comprises the tuition fee with miscellaneous fees and discount fee, if there’s any, of a student. Subject offering that pertains to the schedule of each subject that a student had enrolled belongs. The student can use this link to plan for his schedule for the upcoming semester. Class Schedule encloses all the subject schedules of a student. As part of the authentication that was implemented on the portal, the users must provide an authorized username and password. On the system there will be four types of user’s account: the student the faculty, the dean, the registrar and the administrator. In the Student account, the authorized tasks that users can do are: Viewing of their records in through selecting from the following links: myProfile; myGrades that contains sub links such as Semester Grades, Curriculum Checklist, Collection of Grades; myFinance, mySubjectOffering and mySchedule. Viewing other student’s or faculty staff’s records through selecting mySearch link, sending and receiving of messages through myInbox which is a form of messaging. And, printing and downloading of forms such as Grades slip, curriculum checklist and forms issued by the Dean and Registrar(eg. Change of Grade Form) Second, in the Faculty account, the authorized tasks that users can do are: Entering student’s final grades for a particular subject, section school year and semester through the use of myClassRecord. Viewing other student’s or faculty staff’s records through mySearch. Uploading of lessons for the students Third, in the Dean account, the authorized tasks that Dean can do are: Viewing of the Dean’s list for the current and the previous school year and semester. Searching students to review their academic performance from the first year of his admission up to the present. Searching class schedules by entering the assigned beginning and ending time of a class, in order for the Dean to be informed of what particular class is was going on for a moment. Viewing faculty subject loads and schedules. Fourth, in the Registrar account, the authorized tasks that Registrar can do are: Viewing of student’s general weighted average. Updating the grades of a student that obtained a INC remarks from the past school year. And, selecting the students that will form the Dean’s List. Lastly, the Administrator account, the authorized tasks that Registrar can do are: Conversion of tables of records from MS Foxpro format to MS SQL. Setting the current school year and semester. Uploading of downloadable forms. And, reset users’ passwords. The following are the limitations of the Students’ Portal: Only the â€Å"Other Information† part and the password are the only records in the student’s page that can be altered. Only the administrator can convert the tables from MS Foxpro format to SQL/simply add records on the database, can set the school year and can upload forms. Only final grades are to be encoded by the faculty. Faculty cannot edit anymore the grades of the students that belong to the previous school year and semester. Only the faculty user and student users can exchange messages. Only the Registrar can update the INC remarks of students that completed the subject. Lastly, only the registrar can form the dean’s list. Definition of Terms Transaction – a transaction usually means a sequence of information exchange and related work. A transaction is a unit of work that you want to treat as â€Å"a whole†. It has to either happen in full, or not at all. Records – In computer data processing, a record is a collection of data items arranged for processing by a program. Multiple records are contained in a file or data set. The organization of data in the record is usually prescribed by the programming language that defines the record’s organization and/or by the application that processes it. Portal – a term, generally synonymous with gateway, for a World Wide Web site that is or proposes to be a major starting site for users when they get connected to the Web or that users  tend to visit as an anchor site. Web Portal – also known as a links page, presents information from diverse sources in a unified way. Apart from the standard search engine feature, web portals offer other services such as e-mail, news, stock prices, information, databases and entertainment. Links – Using hypertext, a link is a selectable connection from one word, picture, or information object to another. In a multimedia environment such as the World Wide Web, such objects can include sound and motion video sequences. Search Engine – designed to search for information on the World Wide Web. The search results are usually presented in a list of results and are commonly called hits. The information may consist of web pages, images, information and other types of files. Database – is a collection of information that is organized so that it can easily be accessed, managed, and updated. In one view, databases can be classified according to types of content: bibliographic, full-text, numeric, and images. Client-server – describes the relationship between two computer programs in which one prog ram, the client, makes a service request from another program, the server, which fulfills the request. Web-based – refers to those applications or services that are resident on a server that is accessible using a Web browser and is therefore accessible from anywhere in the world via the Web. Technology – the usage and knowledge of tools, techniques, and crafts, or is systems or methods of organization, or is a material product (such as clothing) of these things. The word technology comes from the Greek technologà ­a tà ©chnÄ“ ‘craft’ and -logà ­a, the study of something, or the branch of knowledge of a discipline. The term can either be applied generally or to specific areas: examples include â€Å"construction technology†, â€Å"medical technology†, or â€Å"state-of-the-art technology†. Application – program or group of programs designed for end users. Software can be divided into two general classes: systems software and applications software Methodology Microsoft Solutions Framework (MSF) provides a set of models, principles, and guidelines for designing and developing enterprise solutions in a way that ensures that all elements of a project, such as people, processes and tools, can be successfully managed. MSF also provides proven practices for planning, designing, developing, and deploying successful enterprise solutions. The researcher had intended to use MSF for her methodologies especially because they are in use of Microsoft solution tools such as the Microsoft.NET Framework and the Microsoft SQL Server. MSF has five phases these are the: Envisioning, Planning, Developing, Stabilizing and Deploying. Envisioning Phase – This phase broadly describes the goals and constraints of the study. During this phase, the reseacher gathered necessary information and resources for developing a students’ portal. One of the activities that were conducted is an interview with BPSU’s database administrator to further determine what are the things and transactions necessary to put on the portal to satisfy the needs of the University and the predicted users. Some of the approved transactions are the viewing of student’s profile including the personal, academic and financial information; encoding of final grades and forming of the Dean’s list. Risk assessment regarding the developing of the system is also accomplished. On the process, the impact of the consequence is learned by determining the likelihood of its occurrence and the severity of the outcome relative to established project objectives. The envisioning phase culminates in the vision approved milestone. This milestone is the first point at which the project team and customer agree on the overall direction for the project, including what the product will and will not include. Planning Phase – This phase determines what to develop and how to develop it. The process of information is modified, gathered and undergoes three design processes namely conceptual, logical and physical perspective. During this phase, the researcher planned how to develop the Bataan Peninsula State  University students’ portal on the way its functionality can achieve the requirements of the educational institution. For conceptual design process, the expectations of the users or beneficiary of the study must be achieved like the proposal that students by using the portal can easily view their own records. For the logical design process, this meet the developer’s steps and requirements on how to develop the said system, like in an instance the system software solution will be developed using Microsoft Visual Studio and SQL Server Management studio. This solution is able to interact and communicate with other transaction processes, applications and data source. Lastly for the Physical design process, with the developer’s perspective, the development of the system will be a great help and ease not only for the students but also for the offices of the University that handles student’s information keeping considering the volumes of users and transactions. There would be a web-based implementation of a portal which will be used as the primary means for dissemination of the student’s profiles and information. The planning phase culminates in the Project plan approved milestone. This milestone is the point at which the project team, the customer, and key project stakeholders agree on the feature set and the design of the application. The Project plan approved milestone is essentially the contract with the customer to proceed with the project. Developing Phase – During this phase, the solution is developed and optimized until it is deemed ready for production use. On this phase, the student’s portal is developed. The researcher experienced several revisions on the design, the basic functionalities and on the core transaction in order to follow the needs of the identified users. The development phase culminates in the Scope Complete milestone. At this milestone, all features are complete, and the product is ready for external testing and stabilization. This milestone is the opportunity for customers and end users, operations and support personnel, and key project stakeholders to evaluate the product and identify any remaining issues they need to address before it ships. Stabilizing Phase – This phase conducts testing of the complete solution. During this phase, the researcher focuses on resolving and prioritizing bugs and preparing the solution for release. The stabilization phase culminates  with the release of the product. The Release milestone occurs when the team has addressed all outstanding issues and shipped the product or placed it in service. At the Release milestone, responsibility for ongoing management and support of the product officially transfers from the project team to the operations and support organization. Deploying phase – the developer deploys the core technology and site components, stabilizes the deployment, transitions the project to operations and support, and obtains final customer approval of the project. After the deployment, the developer conducts a project review and a customer satisfaction survey. During this phase, the developer tested the usability of the students’ portal and determined whether it has achieved the requirements of the University that are identified during the envisioning stage by letting some selected persons from the proposed users/customers. The deployment complete milestone culminates the deploying phase.

Analysis of Respiratory Physiology Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Analysis of Respiratory Physiology - Lab Report Example   The necessity of breathing is well established in science. The significance of this act is well known to all. Without it any person is unable to live. This underlines the importance of the study of the respiratory physiology. Every medical professional, whether he is involved in internal medicine, surgery or even psychiatry has to have the basics of respiratory physiology. From the basic concept of gas exchange and its movement into the blood to the complex aerobic metabolism in the mitochondria and the excretion of the metabolic by-products, all of these hold an importance for a physician providing clinical care to patients. Respiratory physiology revolves around the respiratory system mainly, especially the lungs and bronchus. However without the support of musculoskeletal and nervous system lungs are unable to carry their function. The control of this process depends on a variety of factors which are spread out across different specialties (Schwartzstein & Parker, 2005). Diffe rent authors have reported different factors in different books and research articles. As Guyton and Hall, (2010) explain in their book that the different factors regulate each and every step of breathing which in turn are further regulated by the higher centers. Neural and chemical control is the highlight of this control. Breathing rate itself depends on the partial pressure of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Along with this the rate at which the alveolar air is removed from the lungs also affects the rate of breathing. On the other hand separate factors affect the diffusion of gas across respiratory membrane. These factors include the thickness and the surface area of the membrane and the diffusion coefficient of the gas. Among these factors there are some factors which can be controlled. However some factors are fixed and variability isn’t possible. Secondly the measurement of lung volume is also very significant. The lung volume has different components which need to be addre ssed. Inspiratory reserve volume (IRV), expiratory reserve volume (ERV), tidal volume (TV), residual volume (RV), inspiratory vital capacity (ITC), functional residual capacity (FRC), inspiratory capacity (IC) and total lung capacity (TLC) are the different static lung volumes (shown in figure -1). Their main use lies in the detection, characterization and quantification of the severity of any respiratory disease (Wanger et al., 2005). They also play an important part in the assessment of the prognosis and treatment of a respiratory disorder. TV = 0.644 L IRV = 1.615 L ERV = 1.079 L IC = 2.259 L FRC = 2.279 L VC = 3.338 L TLC = 4.538 L Figure – 1: Subdivisions of static lung capacity This lab report comprises of three different experiments, all done with the intention of investigating about respiratory physiology. The aim of the study revolves around the quest of the finding of different factors which regulate breathing, their respective effects, and their significance.  Ã‚  

An assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

An assignment - Essay Example The equipment in the trauma unit must be suitable for trauma imaging, and consequently, the radiographers must be aware of the differences between a trauma imaging unit and a general imaging unit. In a range of client groups, the techniques should be suitably adapted, and the equipment must permit this. The radiographers should be able to analyse trauma images, and if they deliver inadequate information, they must suggest complementary investigations to aid diagnosis and treatment. The anatomical knowledge should be thorough, so depending on the target area of imaging, there may be need for adaptation of position, and during trauma imaging, the radiographer should demonstrate these skills. Trauma patients are exposed to the risk of changing clinical situations even during imaging, and the trauma radiographer must demonstrate awareness about the dynamics of a changing situation during imaging (Murray et al., 2008, 289) Taking a detailed history and examination of the patient may provide a working diagnosis, so the radiographer is able to understand and deduce the mechanism of injury. In some cases due consideration must be given to the fact that sometimes imaging may not add value to the management of the condition but may aggravate the situation due to manipulation during imaging. In most cases there is significant time penalty, and thus delay due to unnecessary imaging may be avoided. Additionally, performing an imaging in an inappropriate indication leads to the breach of laws related to radiation exposure. Using the knowledge of anatomy and possible mechanism of trauma would lead to correct area, correct positioning, and correct view of the image. Sometimes, this approach would lead to a prediction about further views. It is important to focus on the correct area for imaging since large field of views may cause missing of subtle injuries. When a fracture is suspected always two views

Australian Taxation Law Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Australian Taxation Law - Assignment Example The $5,000 received after the trading period qualify as income for the period ended 30 June 2010. This is in accordance with accruals accounting method; income is recognized when it is earned. All this is in accordance with and requirements of section 6-5. The trading stock for Philip’s business has to be evaluated according to the general rule of accounting for stock-S70-35(1). The difference between the opening and closing stock is added to assessable income because the closing stock exceeds opening stock-S70-35(2). The allowable deductions (division 8) include the $2,000 which was an expense from the replacement of the air conditioner-S25-10. The amount is minimized to the cost that Phillip incurred since he resold the air conditioning system which generated back income-S6-5. W Thomas & co v FCT? bought a building and did not know that the building had damage when they bought it – the courts held that the ATO will treat expenditure that remedies defects, damage or de terioration to property as capital if the defect, damage or deterioration existed at the time of acquisition of the property, and did not arise from the operations of the person who incurs the expenditure. Note – the mere fact that the purchaser did not know that initial repairs were needed at the time of purchase is irrelevant. His interest accrued on a loan that was used in renovating the rental houses resulting in a generation of assessable income-S25-25(1). The $500 he used for replacing the light bulb is also a deductible income since it falls under repairs and replacement-S25-10. Fine paid by Phillip to the local does not qualify as a deduction as per the S26-5 stating that penalties are not deductible amounts. The expenses incurred in the manufacturing of the tennis racquet also, are a part of the deductible allowance as it is an expense incurred in generating an assessable income-S8-1. Under Division 30, donations are deductible allowances as long as they are voluntar y and, no collateral claimed. This can be related to the charity donation. However, the gifts he presented to family and the 5 racquets he took for personal use do not qualify as deductible allowance-S26-54. Paper 2 Joan’s total taxable income Joan’s income $ $ Salary 375,000 Home ware magazine 24,000 13,500 537,500 Agreement 230,000 Payment for damages through accident 360,000 590,000 Total assessable income 1,127,500 Allowable deductions $ $ Pain and suffering 10,000 University Union fees 650 Textbooks 750 Photocopying and writing aid 350 Travel 450 2,200 Total allowable deductions 12,200 Joan’s total taxable income Assessable income 1,127,500 Allowable deductions 12,200 Total taxable income 1,115,300 Joan’s total taxable income amounts to $1,000,300.  

Case Study on South West Airlines Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

On South West Airlines - Case Study Example The company is also a fun place for people to work and is regarded very highly by employees. There are many aspects of this success of Southwest Airlines. In this essay we will present a SWOT analysis alongside with an analysis of porter’s five forces. This will also include the financials of the company. The organizational culture of the company and its operations and leadership will be discussed. Issues the company is facing currently will also be discussed and recommendations will be made. SWOT Analysis Southwest Airlines Southwest Airline has displayed cost leadership in the airline industry by turning cost effectiveness into profits. The culture of the company is also in line with the core values of the airline. Below an in depth view of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats facing the company will be taken. Strengths The most impressive thing about Southwest Airlines is its financial records. The company is yet to report a loss on its balance sheets and this i s a big achievement considering the ups and downs airline industry in US faces. Since 1972 the company has given annual returns of around 25%. This shows the impressive performance of the company. The airline believes in friendliness and love in customer relationships as well as employees. One of the main reasons of success of the company is its employees. The friendly culture of the company illicit the best out of every employee of Southwest and that is why innovative ideas are given by lower and middle level employees. This is one of the reasons of Southwest Airline’s success. The management of Southwest Airlines has done an amazing job in crafting its company’s strategy. The strategy of cost leadership has done wonders for the company and I personally think that the idea of being cost effective in the airline industry great. Usually airlines have huge operational costs so they do not go for such a strategy but Southwest has shown the world that this can be done. Thi s strategy has proven itself to be a winning strategy. Southwest Airlines reported a profit of USD178 million in 2008 (Bloomberg, 2011). This was the time when recession had badly hit the US economy but still the company was able to reap profits. The operating expense of the company have not grown significantly even during recession. Operating expenses were $1,280 million in 2007 while in 2008 they grew to $1,385 million. Also the revenue in 2008 increased as compared to 2007. In 2007 revenue figure was $9,587 million and in 2008 it grew to $11,023 million. The CGS also has grown accordingly, in 2007 it was $7,235 million and in 2008 it was $8,590 million (Bloomberg, 2011). This shows that the costs of Southwest have not increased significantly. The company has tried to differentiate its policies from its competitors by doing everything in its own way. Employees were not fired in tough times, cost cutting was given attention rather than value addition, flights for shorter routes was started and a friendly work culture was introduced in the company. All this was not the usual trend in the industry but this became the basis for Southwest’s success. The company has proven that conventional thinking has led many airlines into huge loses (Freiberg & Freiberg, 1997). One of the operating practices in the company is to schedule more flights a day and pilots work an hour more than in other airline companies (Mouawad, J. 2010). The company also pays its

Discuss the socio-economic, philosophic and theological bases for the Essay

Discuss the socio-economic, philosophic and theological bases for the status of women in the middle ages - Essay Example The middle ages run from 1066 through 1485. The lives of women during these times were dependent on their roles and social status. It was a societal expectation that all women were subservient to men in their families and society. Women were required to serve and please men. The middle ages era was a male dominated one. The women were completely dominated by the men in their families. It was required of women to instantly obey their fathers, brothers and all other males in the family. Socially, women had no say over any matter. Any girl who dared to be unruly was beaten and forced into submission. In fact, disobedience was seen as a serious crime. The freedoms and entitlements for women and girls were grossly abused, suppressed or ignored in many places (Gordon, 2002). Economically, women were the least empowered humans. The English common law of the 12th century required that a wife submits all the property owned by her to her husband when she is married. All her property became the possession of her husband. Women’s wages and real estate were controlled by their husbands once they got married. In some regions, they were not even allowed to work outside their homes. They only remained at home to serve the males in their families. ... Women later on began to challenge this and demand for their property rights. Socially, women were not allowed to engage in politics or hold leadership position unless the belonged to royal families. Leadership and politics were male dominated. No woman could be allowed to stand against a man for leadership positions. Initially, women were also not allowed to vote or participate in making laws. According to ancient Roman law for example, women could only be citizens. They were not allowed to vote or run for political office. The women had no political freedom in their society. Women had no power to exercise their birth control rights like the contemporary woman. The number of children that a woman would bear would all depend on the choice made by their husbands. It was for the husbands to decide how many children they want (Gordon, 2002). The work of the women was only to sire and take care of these children. The situation later changed but there were still a lot of restrictions and r eservations from society. The women who dared to stand for leadership positions were viewed as rebels who had no respect for men. This took a different twist later on with more and more women seeking to empower and free themselves from bondage. Later on, women began to demand for their right to vote and participate in constituting of laws in their countries. Women’s legal rights were grossly abused and violated. Women could not defend themselves in courts of law without the consent of their husbands. Women could also not engage others in legal suits. French women who were married are known to have suffered from numerous restrictions on their legal capacities until recent reforms. In some parts of the East, women were treated as untouchable. They had little or no rights

Foundations of Tort Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Foundations of Tort - Essay Example There are also intentional torts where the person being accused harmed the other with the full knowledge of what harm they are causing, for instance defamation and finally there is strict liability tort which covers injuries people suffer from using products, for instance if a person is burnt with hot coffee from a company that did not provide this information, by writing, to the consumers (Butler 2000 162). Torts usually result in compensation of the accusers, rather than the accused facing a jail term or other punitive measures similar to those in criminal offences. Therefore torts are civil suits brought against other people. The plaintiff in a tort has to prove three things in order to be compensated. First, they have to prove that those standing accused have a moral and legal obligation to act in a particular way. Secondly, the plaintiff has to [prove that the accused did not fulfill their obligation. Finally, she or he has to prove that she or he suffered an actual loss because of the accused not fulfilling their duties. Only after these have been established does the plaintiff get punitive or compensatory damages. Torts usually arise from common law principles coupled with legal enactments. The tort rules on compensation in Australia, especially those arising from accidents have been seen as being outdated, therefore inefficient in the way in which they work. In addition, if the party being sued is a government or public entity, there are several possibilities that people could exploit loopholes to get huge and undeserving compensation for mistakes of their own doing. Parties such as local governments in cities and counties could be sued for negligence by their residents should the latter feel that they have suffered a loss, physical harm or otherwise because the local government did not play its part in some sector or service provision, hence the loss suffered. Australia does not have a general system of compensation for victims, except in some very spe cific cases, for instance in traffic accidents. Thus, there is no cap on the amount of money that should be paid out to victims, leading to huge losses in cases of other forms of ‘negligence’ by the authorities. However, due to the increase in law suits against authorities in Australia, there was a necessity to start reforming laws on lawsuits against authorities. This led to the Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation & Compensation Act 2001. However, the laws under this act are still taking a while to be implemented (Muirhead & Hocking 2001, p. 111). The primary focus of the Australian tort law reform focuses more on insurance premiums as opposed to the how deep taxpayers have to dig in their pockets to pay for the numerous lawsuits filed against the authorities. It is becoming a source of concern for many citizens as to the source of money used to compensate victims who think they have been wronged by the negligence of the authorities. A higher dependency on insurance prem iums rather than public coffers has seen insurance premiums skyrocket to unbelievable rates. This dependence has been brought about by the authorities using money in the public coffers as a last resort measure to compensate victims of the authorities’ negligence, leaving a bulk of the money going to compensate on the shoulders of insurers. Application of such overreliance on insurers in other sectors where the government was the underwriter, for instance in the provision of medical and health care, has led to the insolvency of some big insurance companies and the withdrawal of others, because of the unprofitability of such undertakings. The result is that, at the end of the day, it is the taxpayers of a country who end up

Managerial Decision Making Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Managerial Decision Making - Term Paper Example The studies that have been conducted by the bank are full of fuss, you can see that the bank is already putting a lot of money for conducting focus groups and collecting the business owners suggestions, it is all quite unusual and a big amount of risk is also involved here, the strategy that the company is applying is not a suitable one, there must be so many other alternatives for a much better data collection and analysis though it would require some more time and some human resources which would also have some investment but relatively less. The challenge is that the competitors are now quite aware of the fact that there is a new product going to be launched so they all know it and they must have also started making plans to ruin the scheme, though it is no longer remained to be an attack over competitors and most importantly the company itself can be under attack as the data collection is not very appropriate, the other challenges that might appear can be from the middlemen which in this case are people to whom the customer would bring the card and use such as the shop owners and other business owners, what they simply can do is that they can change their policies which would for sure ruin the entire scheme and also they can refuse to help the bank in their launching of such product. Another type of challenge is that the bank is unable to find the right target audience, it considers the entire population to be eligible to have this card, what should they have had done was that they should have asked their current customers to use their new product, on successful launching they would have been able to launch it nationwide, and most importantly they should try to convince each and every single departmental store or business owner as they are also unsure about which particular class uses which particular store.  Ã‚  

Financial Instruments & Markets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Financial Instruments & Markets - Essay Example The existing stockholders are amenable to fund this amount. This can be done by issuing additional shares, and exercising the rights issue, wherein existing stockholders have the first prerogative to subscription rights; this means they are invited to subscribe cash for new shares in proportion to its existing shares. Rights issue simply means, for example: a one-in-four rights, is offering stockholders one share for every four shares they currently hold. Issuing additional shares of stocks to fund all the requirements is not advisable because of the difficulty with having too many stockholders. Too many stockholders make the complexity of direction and managing the governing board too difficult. It would be hard to make simple decisions because new stockholders may like to have their own positions in the company as there is also politics in directorship, thus the management lose a certain portion of its power. (Business Link) The beauty of equity financing as against bond and debentures is that it is devoted to the business or projects and company only pay investors if the business is doing well. It does not require monthly or periodic payments to investors, only periodic interests thru dividends. The company will not have to be burdened of servicing bank debts or debt finance for allowing use of their funds. The disadvantages seen in equity financing is this method is time consuming, demanding, and costly, and may take away the manager’s time away from the company; and the process will require the company to divulge to potential investors the company’s secrets such as background, programs, and forecasts (Barclay, Britt, 27 October 2011), 3. Installation of equipment in the amount of $150 million. This requires a long term financing, and since it fall s above the equity shares to be issued by the company, issuance of debentures is

Grimshaw V. Ford Motor Company Essay Example for Free

Grimshaw V. Ford Motor Company Essay Facts: 1. Ford developed a new model, later to be known as the pinto, changing the design drastically. 2. Ford discovered that the fuel tanks position was in a vulnerable place and the car failed to met crash safety standards. 3. Ford was aware of the small cost to help the fuel tanks meet standards but refused to use them due to the slight delay in production that might occur and approved production of the prototype. 4. A 1972 Ford Pinto was involved in a rear ending when it unexpectedly stalled causing the care (presumably the fuel tank) to burst into flames. 5. A Mrs. Lilly Gray was died as result and her son 13 year-old Richard suffered severe and permanently disfiguring burns to his face and entire body. Legal Procedure/History: 1. Grimshaw sued the Ford Motor Company for punitive damages. 2. Grimshaw awarded damages in the amount of about $3.5 million. 3. Ford appeals punitive damages. 4. Appeal is denied and decision to award punitive damages up held. Issues (Holdings): 1. Did Ford exhibit â€Å"malice† which is necessary to establish in order to award punitive damages? (Yes) 2. The punitive damages awarded are too high for current Californian law, is this unlawful? (No) Reasoning: 1. Malice has been also interpreted to mean â€Å"a conscious disregard of the probability that the actors conduct will result injury to others.† 2. Although higher than monetary penalties under government regulations, the punitive damages are to prevent firms in the future from disregarding safety and possible negative consequences. Rule of Law: 1. The primary reason for having and awarding punitive damages is to â€Å"punish and deter the conduct by wrongdoers and others.† Your Response: I completely agree with the decision. Questions 1. Punitive damages were awarded due to the fact that Ford was found to have acted with malice in regards to their production of the Pinto. It has been also interpreted to mean a conscious disregard of the probability that the actors conduct will result injury to others.† And this is exactly what Ford did when they disregarded the fuel tank findings and refused to add the safety precautions to the fuel tank. Although higher than monetary penalties under government regulation, the punitive damages were high in order to set an example so that firms in the future would be deterred from disregarding safety and possible negative consequences when producing their products. 2. Although the cost is higher than the saving in the short run I believe it would be to Fords benefit to take on the cost of adding the additional safety measures due to the fact that in the long run with more and more deaths attributed to what could be called the greedy, callous nature of Ford, sales could decrease. By absorbing the $137.5 million and allowing the public to know of Fords action (due to our concern over their safety) could possibly generate a good amount of future sales. On the other hand should the public discover that deaths could have been prevented public trust in the company could decline causing Fords sales to suffer the same fate. 3. First the actual cause of Holmes accident should be verified, if it was indeed due to the tires, then yes he should be allowed to appeal for a trial. 4. First of all, even though they bare the heaviest blame (in my opinion) they werent the only ones responsible for the advancement of the Pintos design. Putting them in jail would just make way for Ford to replace them with others who could potentially make the same decision. It would also be sending the message to other firms officers to make sure that they arent the ones holding the bag at the end of the day. This only put a few in the industry on guard. Having the entire company pay punitive damages causes the entire industry to be on guard and makes all within the company liable. On the other hand, having to pay such exorbitant amounts could potentially cause a company to go out of business or cause them to downsize (fire employees to save money) effecting all that work there, whether or not they were involved in the design and decision making process. (I.e. they could fire janitors that work at their offices.)

The Phenomenon Of Gated Communities Cultural Studies Essay

The Phenomenon Of Gated Communities Cultural Studies Essay This paper explores the subject of gated communities being a globally prevalent urban or quasi-urban form: which relatively recently have rapidly become widespread within Polish cities. The authors interest in studying the topic arose from a genuine concern over the future of metropolitan layouts and how they are worryingly being determined by the rising number of fortified enclaves. The tendency of enclosing communities does not only apply to new housing, but also existing streets, apartments built in the past, standalone buildings, and whole residential districts. Blakely and Snyder (1999) describe these communities as a new form of discrimination, an economical one. Earlier, ones social status has been asserted by the architectural density of parts of the city and architectural ornamentation of the buildings. However, gated communities are heading one step further underlining the economical segregation by creating physical barriers defending the accessibility, privatise the public space and social living aspects such as safety (private security instead of police care), educational and communal service. More often inhabitants of those housing estates sweep past through their secured public spaces to similar ones in their work place, mega stores, or recreational centres. Gated communities are creating a new, private world which turns into an insular environment (Zaborska 2006). Alternatively, Jacek GƦdecki (2009: 25) believes that a fine line should be established between global and local processes, as there are GC examples which faultlessly adapt to their local: urban, social, economic and cultural conditions and are frequently well perceived. Using both descriptive and predictive approaches the subject has been investigated through gathered literature, resident interviews, analytical research of existing gated communities in Poland and case studies of existing gated communities in Poland, which the author has personally examined through frequent site visits and numerous examples of daily press columns in which the discourse has grown greatly over the past decade. The reader has to acknowledge that the bountifulness and ambiguity of local and international discourses illustrate that Gated Communities come into existence from diverse rationales and are creating different types of social realities (GƦdecki 2009: 66) Therefore, the authors aim is to prove that living in an enclosed community in Poland creates only an illusion of safety, and that building fortresses is turning away from the real problem. The middle class living amongst themselves stops grasping concerns the whole society should deal with. Building an enclosed world, ghettos available for selected citizens, elite housing estates, where admission is forbidden to lower social classes, which in effect could lead to the growing frustration among the lower class. (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) I got a letter today, a letter from a friend He writes mate, youve betrayed, gained a pile of cash and weight You no longer travel by tram, times have changed so much I guess you dont remember me anymore, apparently you live in luxury You must have forgot, whats a crowded bus like (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) Staszczyk, Z. (1997): T.Love Komercja (Commercialism) PHENOMENON ORIGINS The common definition of gated communities refers to a physical area seceded off its urban context with fenced or walled barriers and access routes patrolled by an around the clock security (Landman 2000). Although the elements separating these enclaves from the outside world are comparable, the basis for this happening is not common and is directly related to its setting (GƦdecki 2009: 66). Blakely and Snyder (1999) describing the growing number of enclosed communities in USA, named three types, different because of the inhabitancy motif and type of habitants: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Lifestyle- inhabited by people living in a specified lifestyle (for instance: golf enthusiasts, retired people etc.)- designed for giving wealthier people amenities they could not find elsewhere à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Prestige- underlining the adhesion to a higher class à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Security- creating a feeling of physical and social safety GƦdecki (2009: 23) citing Landman uses the category of race and power when explaining the spread of GCs in apartheid. This is one of the most extreme examples, as these are a by-product of a totalitarian regime in which people were forced to separation rather than the indicated being a matter of choice. However, the appearance and investigation of gated communities does not relate solely to North American countries. In 1980s and 1990s this new movement started reaching large European cities of Spain, France and Portugal, as well as South African, Chinese, Central and Eastern European metropolises (PolaÅ„ska 2010: 423). In the latter, the reason for gating enclaves happening and the urban economic transformation had a close relation to the 1989 collapse of the Communist-led administrations and socio-political transformation to post-communist / capitalist systems. The economic conversion from command economy towards a free market orientated, thereby the upward importance and rapid enrichment of middle and upper class citizens and more visible cleavages between the rich and the poor (PolaÅ„ska 2010: 421), materialized in the ubiquitous quasi-urban form of Gated Communities. It has been over twenty years since the Capitalist system has been introduced in Poland. In numerous articles and publications, one can observe the tendency of typecasting the communist state as the bad and the capitalist as good, whereas good and bad sides can be distinguished in both. Therefore, the past two decades and the current states condition needs reflecting upon some unfulfilled expectations and unwanted changes in societys behaviours, inherently associated with its political transformation. Architectural propensities of XX century Poland, before the 1939 Third Reich armed conflict and immediately following USSR aggression under the Ribbentrop-Molotov alliance covenant, were not exceptionally different from European tectonic tendencies. Instantly after the occupation of Warsaw, Nazi Germany introduced the Pabst Plan. Performed under the leadership of the newly appointed Chief Architect Friedrich Pabst, the novel development plan anticipated demolition of the majority of the capitals built environment to transform it into a provincial town with the sole purpose of being a centre for the German elite and a strategic transport hub. The five-year German occupation led to the demolition of entire neighbourhoods and Polish cultural monuments (NDAP: 2011), as well as the destruction of communities by forcing certain members of society into enclosed ghettos and slums. The Countrys revival came with the end of II World War under the Soviet sphere of influence (Majewski, n.d.). This coincided with the introduction of socialist realism to Poland. Originated in 1930s the soviet art movement socialist realism became the only legitimate method of artistic creation exhibiting and applauding comrade ideologies, thereby becoming one of the main Communist parties propaganda tools (MordyÅ„ski 2006: 4). This politically radical movement has been initially introduced by BolesÅ‚aw Beirut the first leader of the Peoples Republic of Poland and the head of state from 1947 during the 1949 PZPR (Polish United Workers Party) Warsaw Conference, during which the Six-year plan for Warsaws reconstruction has been announced. The capital reconstructed during the interwar period has been described as unfortunate, because built to satisfy each tenement house owners lust of wealth, whereas the owner himself, as an exploiter and speculator, peoples antagonist opposing the forming of the new Warsaw as the capital of the socialist state. The proletariat supporters proclaimed patronage over the oppressed workers class by putting the perfect city plan into effect and improving their purportedly poor pre-war living conditions. States main objective became the salvage of its commons, forced to inhabit deprived of light basement apartments and top tenement stories facing gloomy courtyards in favor of the capitalist bourgeoisie all inclusive first floor flats. The establishment of the societys new socialist realism order depended upon undertaking drastic changes in the urban built form. A great number of survived historic tenement houses, which endured the II World War air bombardment of Nazi Germany planes and Pabst Plan cleansing, have been scheduled for demolition to make way for the implementation of realistic works of architecture, corresponding to the high culture and art of socialism, material and spiritual needs of the nations development (MordyÅ„ski 2006: 3-4). Interacting and radiating the whole country will accelerate and intensify the creative effort of socialist construction in the remotest and most neglected neighborhoods and parts of the state. BolesÅ‚aw Bierut From: Marzenie o idealnym mieņºcie Warszawa socrealistyczna (The dream of a perfect city social realistic Warsaw) (2006) (translation: Author) However, the decimation of a great part of eclectic, art nouveau and inter-war edifices was not the only transition the new socialist society had to face. Along with the introduction of the autonomous directive certain behavioural habits were planned to be imposed on future inhabitants. It was believed that the cities urban built form needed to fulfil solely the realistic needs of their occupants. The capitalist individualism has been openly criticized, which became most apparent in both city planning and individual residential layouts. The new Warsaw cannot be a repetition of the former. It cannot be only merely improved, or become a revised repetition of the prewar community of private interests of the capitalist society BolesÅ‚aw Bierut (1949) The dream of a perfect city social realistic Warsaw (2006) (translation: Author) In this manner, the socialist realism clique endeavoured to create truly inspiring urban settings, spaces of communal interaction filled to the brim with public squares, culture houses, public dining rooms, arcades and colonnades, opposed to cramped tenement houses apartments void of cooking, laundry and drying facilities emphasising the elevated ranks of its novel social movement with its monumentality, and at the same time despotically dictating national collectiveness. Therefore the quest for rooting the national familiarity met with great public criticism. The social realist vision of a unified state has been withdrawn when the communist demiurges realised their failure in communicating socialist characteristics of processes occurring in life, or life processes that are not perfectly socialist. (MordyÅ„ski 2006: 5-8). The social realist thaw in the communist bloc countries followed the death of Joseph Stalin in 1953. Stalinist dictatorship, cult of personality and the total submission of USRR polity have been criticized by the new The Central Committee of Polish United Workers Party leader- Nikita Khrushchev. Berated form of mastery has been sentenced to the Orwellian evaporation in the commanders 1956 Personality Cult and its Consequences paper, which called for the continuity of the autonomous state system, exclusive of the condemned citizen/fellow dignitary terror governance and courteous coexistence of communist and capitalist worlds. (Tomaszewska: n.d.) The reprove of the cult of personality along with the socialist functionalism ideology in search of an alternative to the extremely expensive architecture of socialist realism, unable to cope with the increasing demand for residential buildings, has found reflection in modernist planning and mass-produced prefabricated architecture. Thereafter, multi-storey concrete slab estates began to dominate the majority of Polish cities skylines, thus rising to the occasion and repairing the housing shortage situation, as well as becoming the novel urban form showcasing the socialist pursuit of civilians living conditions uniformity and standardization (Wieteska 2007). Ironically, the example comes from the top saying was not applied in spreading the social classless ideology, where the party nomenclature voluntarily isolated themselves from the rest of the society by inhabiting closed off palaces and fenced edifices (GƦsior-Niemiec: 2007 et al.). These estates were and still are in disrepute for their crowded layouts, poor quality concrete construction caused by the accelerated process of hardening and inefficient thermal properties (Semczuk: 2010). Despite this, one needs to acknowledge that its creation was the best solution at the time to the housing shortage in a country tumbled-down by perpetual wars and occupations. The hitherto flourishing construction sector stalled due to 80s economic crisis. Failure in repaying foreign loans taken in Western countries, by implication foreign debt growth, stalled a great number of domestic investments. Deteriorating housing market, working conditions and rocketing goods prices caused a flurry of protests, which subsequently led to the formation of the Solidarity union. This succession of events forced the Communist Party to conduct negotiations, resulting in the 1989 cessation of dominance and transfer of power to the reactivated chamber of deputies and presidency (Madej: 2005). Transformation of the political system, foreign capital inflow and newly introduced law amendments, mainly citizenship and establishment freedom, allowed the replacement of the heavily indebted state-building co-operatives with private property companies. Moving away from the ubiquitous communist times typification, the diversity of available built materials and developed technology has allowed for the implementation of various architectural concepts (Communist times construction: 2010). Majewski (n.d) distinguished three stages in the history of Polish architecture after the fall of communism. In the first period, a vast quantity of buildings designed by Western architects was built. The small group of emerged developers sought to achieve rapid return on their investment; therefore these buildings are characterized by poor quality of workmanship and the use of building materials. The second period was characterized by the growth and stabilization of the countrys economy. Hence the e mergence of many new development agencies and a range of architectural design companies to choose from. Third near the end of the 90s the economy continued to grow strong and became brimful of large scale developers. Companies exposed to construction sector competition were forced to introduce more attractive offers and marketing promotions in order to acquire new customers. PolaÅ„ska (2010: 427) remarks the stereotypical classification used: the tendency of negatively portraying the old as the time of contemporarily loathed prefabricated concrete slab estates and the new as the period of residential wealth and freedom. GƦsior-Niemiec (2007:6) on the other hand juxtaposes this fact with citizens growing income and statutory disparities, lack of confidence in the states inefficiency and inability to ensure security. As a consequence the capitalist system and its social stratification and secure lifestyle have been introduced in the form of Gated Communities. According to Katarzyna Zaborska (2006) the main reason for fencing the communities in Poland is the exigency of security. Enclosed fenced enclaves could be the reaction to long years of regnant communism, when personal ownership was stigmatized, and is coming back in an exaggerated form of fortified apartments. The propensity of Communist Poland was to merge social layers in communal apartments, which fuelled growing frustration and could be another factor that triggered the exigency of isolation and underlining affiliation to a higher social category. Coexistence of areas inhabited by people with different incomes results in the feeling of endangerment within wealthier citizens. (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) When Im looking in your eyes, which are so tired as mine Im loving this city, which is tired as I Where Hitler and Stalin did their stuff (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) Staszczyk, Z. (1994): T.Love Warszawa (Warsaw) URBAN SUSTAINABILITY AT RISK The public realm is defined as all those areas that are publicly owned and unreservedly accessible to citizens, generally at all times of the day and night (Ritzer: 2007). Tridib Banerjee (2007: 155) citing Lynch defines these territories as ones being accessible both physically and psychologically, consecutively underlining how vital such spaces are in creating successful urban environments, merrily and constantly occupied by the public. In this context and specifically with regard to the fact that a great deal of human occupation and interaction occur around and within: streets, lanes, routes, paths, parks, open spaces as well as public and civic buildings, one would anticipate coherent and legible movement strategies within and across urban blocks. Unfortunately, in the absence of adequate capital funds, by implication failure to provide sufficient city expansions, the majority of Central and Eastern European states had to rely on private sector financial support. (GƦdecki: 2009 et al.) In her paper, PolaÅ„ska (2010) aptly grasps the lost boundary between public and private spaces in connection with Polands socio-political and economic revolution. The abolishment of the Communist regime inevitably transformed the heretofore equal societys social status to a novel social stratification. This public cleavage profoundly underlined public position inequalities between individuals, consequently stretching social distances, in effect: triggering the feeling of hostility amongst lower and upper class citizens. In this manner, Jane Jacobs (1961) social capital theory relating to the significance of relationships and interactions in order to create a strong sense of community has been altered significantly. The term social capital refers to a network of collective bonds inscribed in the social structure of a community. The author stresses the importance of these social interactions and their contribution to shaping neighborhood connections, trust, everyday sociability and most importantly diversity (Jacobs: 1961). In the case of gated communities, the spread of this citizenship co-operation and collective responsibility is being limited spatially, by detaching whole residential districts from their urban fabric with the creation of a physical barrier in the form of a fence, as well as mentally by limiting the development of social diversity through the creation of enclaves only available to higher social status representatives. (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) Our neighborhood stands as it used to So many of us became poor herein Our city stands as it used to Busy by day, few by night Separately rather, yet collectively In one apartment, like kamikaze We dont suffer from money or power Yet this collectively does our heads in Staszczyk, Z. (2006): T-Love Ã…Å ¡cierwo (Carcass) The rapid social class transformation in terms of cultural preferences, work, consumption and rest models of the neo-liberal middle class citizens has been widely described by GƦdecki (2009: 103) whilst analyzing the swift widespread of Gated Communities in Poland. To describe these changes the author refers to the processes of gentrification and suburbanization. The first term has been originally used in American urban sociology to depict the prompt economical, social and cultural character change of a citys section, usually from a residential area inhabited by a miscellaneous range of tenants to an area predominantly occupied by higher class individuals. The latter relates to the middle class depopulation of city centers in favor of the expansion of suburban areas resulting from the development of transport infrastructure and the perception of suburban modernity in contrast to city centre lower class orthodoxy (GƦdecki: 91). Curiously, GƦdecki (2009 : 106) citing Neil Smith considers that the driving forces of these processes are not so much class transformations, but discrepancies between actual and potential land values (GƦdecki citing Smith 2009: 106). These discrepancies gave development agencies the opportunity to seek reimbursement for the expansion of otherwise derelict city parts. The author noticed that publicly funded urban development of cities serves to mobilize and develop the real estate market (GƦdecki citing Smith 2009: 106), as well as that these processes have no affect on social diversity, but instead allow to take control of citys political and cultural economy (GƦdecki citing Smith 2009: 106) and take the attention away from fundamental issues such as: land ownership and property value speculations (GƦdecki citing Smith 2009: 106). This free market opportunity, lack of adequate planning regulations, increasing fear of crime, caused by the lack of confidence in the capacity of the state to protect its citizens, consequently amplified protection endeavour, has been spotted and exploited by housing developers and relapses in the shape of private clubs for selected citizens. Increasing validity of development companies involvement and contribution (Madanipour: 2007 [1998]) together with failure in introducing reputable Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) programme as well as theories such as Oscar Newmans Defensible Space (1996), has led to privatisation of space at unprecedented before scale. Over the past decade the increasing privatisation of space in the form of gated enclaves has been one of the main discourse topics amongst architectural, urban and sociological loops of Polish society. In many instances it has been pejoratively compared to a contemporary form of ghettos (GƦdecki: 2009, Zaborska: 2006 et al.). This rundown section of cities has been extensively depicted in Martyna Obarskas essay (2008), in which the author uses Calimanis The History of Venetian Ghetto (2002) and eventually San Gerolamo as an example of a space completely separated from the citys context , where admittance was supervised by specially hired forces. Interestingly, not all inhabiting Jews negatively perceived the forming of ghettoes. On many occasions a closed off district has been associated with security, protecting the occupants from Christians discrimination, and where individuals choices have not been stigmatized. All Jews should live together in a housing quarter, such as the Ghetto near San Gerolamo. They should not walk around by night too. From inside of the ghetto, where the small bridge is positioned and its opposite side, two gates will be erected. They will be open able at dawn at the sound of the Maragon and closed by night, at midnight. The inhabitants will need to designate and pay a fee to four Christian guards to operate these [gates Author] San Gerolamo, Ghetto Decret: 1515 Calimani, R. The History of Venetian Ghetto (2002) Historically and conceptually closer to Poland is the Warsaw Ghetto the symbol of oppression and suffering of the Warsaw Jews. Formed within allocated city districts and separated from the rest of the city with an elevated wall during the II World War by the Nazi occupational authorities. This is the time when ghetto became the synonym of ignorance, filth and squalor and the thought horizons narrowness. Castellino (2005) remarks how the meaning of the term ghetto changes dramatically at different points of history. Although this words undertone has always been pejorative, the rationale behind forming ghettos in early Venetian times cannot be put on a par with them being ingloriously created during the governance of the Nazi regime during II World War. The Author believes that the term gated communities needs to be assessed against local rationales, as its undertone can recall more affirmative connotations in some urban settings, similarly to the two presented ghetto precedents. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the passion for improvisation, which demands that space and opportunity be at any price preserved. Buildings are used as a popular stage. They are all divided into innumerable, simultaneously animated theatres. Balcony, courtyard, window, gateway, staircase, roof are at the same time stages and boxes. Walter Benjamin One Way Street, 1924 THE NEW TREND (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) Concrete slab estates Everyday I stand stock-still How can you build this s*** How can you breed And than not reign Over this bunch, that snuffels the same (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) Staszewski, K. (2000): Kazik Chcem piwa! (I want beer!) The fashion for enclosed communities seem to gain new believers. Quiet green, The beech manor, Sky blue cirque, Sunny slope, Green apartment- these are some names that the developers want to lure their potential customers with, names that conjoin with a safe and happy living, a green garden, fun circus for your children and an equivalent comrades. But are those expectations being fulfilled? Or is this only a catchy marketing slogan that the developers happily use? According to the internet site Tabelaofert.pl the majority of new apartments on the market are situated on enclosed areas. Only in Warsaw (1.7 million citizens) on 106 available estates, 81 are fenced (69 of them are being guarded round the clock). The case looks differently in other large cities. In Wroclaw (0.8 million citizens) 18 in 31 investments are enclosed, Gdynia (0.4 million citizens)- 9 out of 16, Gdansk (0.6 million)- 11 out of 24 ( Poznan (0.8 million)- half of 16 new investments. Surprisingly, in the cultural capital of Poland, and the second largest city- Cracow (population of 1.2 million)- only 3 out of 14. These numbers actually confirm the states capitals citizens snobbish mind-set, feeling of being above other parts of the country and by implication- having the necessity of guarding their belongings from the conquest of citizens originated in other parts of Poland. Is there a new trend? Which social layers inhabit gated communities? How gated communities are being perceived? How gated communities in Poland are being advertised / marketed? Sympathetic naming of these developments to be highlighted (Quiet Green, The Beach Manor, Sky Blue Cirque, Sunny Slope, Green Apartment etc.) Costs of living in gated communities in Poland / How does it compare to the per capita income of an ordinary citizen? Does it exclude some social layers right from the start? Affordability It is enough to compare the appearance of neighbourhoods that are gated and non-gated to understand the reasons behind restricting access to several public spaces. Well-taken-care-of, carefully maintained, clean and well managed- it is almost exclusively those [neighbourhoods (PolaÅ„ska: 2010)] gated by high fences or watched over by guards. Devastated, worn-out, trampled, decorated with daubes on their walls, with cars parking wherever its possible- these are those opened to the public, where the order is theoretically supposed to be protected by the police, but nobody is protecting in practiceà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ PiÄâ„ ¢kno Kapitalizmu (The Beauty of Capitalism) Majcherek, A. Gazeta Wyborcza, November 15, 2007 (translation: PolaÅ„ska: 2010) SOCIO-URBAN IMPACT OF GATED COMMUNITIES ____ (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) Ajajajaj I think Ill leave the house Have a wonder around the city Ajajajaj Ajajajaj My estate is guarded Sometimes I feel here Like in Auschwitz Or in custody But I like it here I live here a while Although I wasnt born here Ive been always a visitor Ajajajaj (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) Staczyk, Z. (2001): T-Love ZÅ‚y Wtorek (Bad Tuesday) THE SOLUTION (CASE/COMPARISON STUDIES) CASE STUDIES: Two Gated Estates in SÅ‚upsk / Poland: Two estates situated in authors home town, which have been gated after the proposal put forward by the housing association has been voted for. One with a higher crime figure than the other. The author believes that the crime figures differ because of the setting of both of these enclaves. The fence creates only an aura of security. Estate 1: suburbs / surrounded by single family homes / new built hospital on the other side of the street / greenery well groomed (small patches of green space within) / no security (Defensible Space Theory O. Newman milieu- proof of frequent appearance of inhabitants) / one local shop, accessed from within the gated community (from residents interviews the gates had to be opened to the wider public [pedestrian access], as the local shop could not be supported by the clients from within the community only. The same problem has been encountered in Marina Mokotà ³w. -Estate 2: city centre / surrounded by various types of housing blocks / no local shop within gated community / local park possible thieves hide out? / no security (approx 200m) From residential interviews: both of these communities suffer from lack of internal open green / play space, mainly used for car parking shared Dogs not allowed to be taken for a walk within the gated blocks. Children play space: within the community (shared surface) or outside the gates. Comparing to Marina Mokotà ³w: Size of the gated communities 1 2 occupy one city block -Marina Mokotà ³w Warsaw / Poland KuryÅ‚owicz Associates Biggest new built gated community in Warsaw (22 ha). Number of units: 1500 (residential buildings, houses, residences). Overall green / play space within gated community: approx. 60%. From Architects interview (found on the web) original design: whole land to be fenced. Result: whole land fenced + individual buildings within the gated community fenced additionally. Highest quality materials used throughout / gardens, alleys, squares, fountains, waterfalls, pergolas, lake, internal roads within GC (city within a city?) / ground floor uses: trading posts, restaurants, bars, shops etc. (again, gates had to be opened to the wider public [pedestrian access], as the local shops could not be supported by the clients from within the community only: Crisis In Marina Mokotà ³w: barriers up Gazeta StoÅ‚eczna. 17 September 2009) encountered huge dissatisfaction / opposition from local residents. Off street car parking (insufficient number ) / underground car parking (additional fee) Bibliography_V3: Atkinson, R., Flint, J., Blandy, S., Lister, D. 2003. Gated Communities in England, New Horizons project: University of Glasgow and Sheffield Hallam University Bartoszewicz, D. 2009. Kryzys w Marinie Mokotà ³w: szlabany w gà ³rÄâ„ ¢ (Crisis In Marina Mokotà ³w: barriers up) Gazeta StoÅ‚eczna. 17 September Blakely, J., Snyder, M. 1997. Fortress America: Gated Communities in the United States, Washington, D.C. Brookings Institution Press Blandy, S. 2007. Gated Communities in England as a response to crime and disorder: context, effectiveness and implication

The Importance Of Interpersonal Communication Cultural Studies Essay

The Importance Of Interpersonal Communication Cultural Studies Essay Taking this class has really opened up my eyes on just how important communication skills really are whether it be verbal communication or non-verbal communication. In this paper I am going to focus on the interpersonal relationships. I think for me this was the most helpful for me with everything I have learned on communication. With writing this paper I understand interpersonal communication a little more than I did before. Everyone should be made to take a class so they actually understand communication and a way to just not have and I dont care attitude. Today many people still lack the ability to communicate effectively with in interpersonal relationships. It is through cooperation and collaboration that effective communication occurs. By analyzing and studying the communication process we can improve our ability to communicate effectively between one another. To have a successful interpersonal relationship one must first interact with others in an informal setting, which is called interpersonal communication (Hybels pg.156). Recognizing emotions in other is a very important first step to building a relationship. If you cant feel what someone else is feeling then you cant connect with them on a personal level and that can hinder your relationship process. Interpersonal communication is important because of the functions it achieves. Whenever we engage in communication with another person, we seek to gain information about them. We also give off information through a wide variety of verbal and non-verbal cues. Verbal communication has huge effects on many aspects of life, including interpersonal relationships. Speaking and telling our needs and wants verbally or non-verbally is a necessity for daily life. Verbal communication is organized by language; non-verbal communication is not. Most of us spend about 75 percent of our waking hours communicating our knowledge, thoughts, and ideas to others. However, most of us fail to realize that a great deal of our communication is of a non-verbal form as opposed to the oral and written forms. Non-verbal communication includes facial expressions, eye contact, tone of voice, body posture and motions, and positioning within groups. It may also include the way we wear our clothes or the silence that we keep. In person-to-person communications our messages are sent on two levels simultaneously. If the nonverbal cues and the spoken message are incongruous, the flow of communication is hindered. Right or wrong, the receiver of the communication tends to base the intentions of the sender on the non-verbal cues one receives. Before a person makes an attempt to form an interpersonal relationship they must decide what attracts them to that person. There are many factors that make up attraction to others. Physical attraction, perceived gain, similarities, differences, and proximity are some of them (Hybels, 2007). Most people are first attracted to others because of the way they look. Some people might have distinct characteristics that one might be attracted to such as; blues eyes, short hair, or even a small space between their teeth. If a person is not attracted to your appearance they are not likely to come up and carry on a conversation with you. For example, if an individual, who dislikes tattoos, is taking a class and has to choose a partner for a project, but there are only two people left and one of them has tattoos he or she will mostly likely choose the individual without tattoos, even if the person with tattoos is a very intelligent individual. There are many cases where we are attracted to someone because of the perceived gain associated them for example, one might become friends with an employee at a restaurant in hope of having discounted meal when they eat there. The similarities and differences are a major factor in determining if the relationship will be right for you. Often we find ourselves attracted to people that share the same beliefs, values, and religion. Most people are also attracted to people who enjoy the same activities as they do. Contrary to the similarities people may also be attracted to the differences. For example, person who doesnt like making decisions might be attracted to a strong decision maker. Because these characteristics complement each other, they might help strengthen the relationship (Hybels, 2007 pg161). Proximity is a valuable factor also when it comes to evaluating the pros and cons of a relationship. Proximity is the close contact that occurs when people share an experience such as at work, school, or play (Hybels, 2007 pg161).If a person does not want to have a long distance romantic relationship and their partner moves away to attend college in another state, then it is most likely that the relationship will not last. Moving on to the next steps of forming an interpersonal relationship would be our motives for communicating. We are motivated to form relationships for many different reasons such as, pleasure, affection, inclusion, escape, relaxation, control and health (Hybels, 2007 pg162-163). If an individual is motivated by pleasure he or she might just want someone to go to the movies or discuss politics with. Maybe we might be motivated by affection; many people are looking for someone to give them attention; a pat on the back or a little kiss every now and then. Many marriages end in divorce because of the lack of affection from their partner, but if they could have communicated effectively to each other that they needed more affection the relationship might not have ended. But no matter what might motivate us, once we have started developing a relationship we have to decide how much of our selves we want to disclose to the relationship and at what point in the relationship. Self- disclosure is a process in which one person tells another person something he or she would not reveal to just anyone (Hybels, 2007 pg168). Self-disclosure is not simply providing information to another person. Instead, scholars define self-disclosure as sharing information with others that they would not normally know or discover. Self-disclosure involves risk and vulnerability on the part of the person sharing the information. Self-disclosure performs many functions. It is also a way of gaining information about another person. We want to be able to predict the thoughts and actions of people we know. Self-disclosure is one way to learn about how another person thinks and feels. Once one person engages in self-disclosure, it is implied that the other person will also disclose personal information. Mutual disclosure deepens trust in the relationships and helps both people understand each other more. You also feel better about yourself and your relationship when the other person accepts what you tell them. While self disclosure can strengthen a relationship it can also damage it. A relationship can be damaged if the person you are pouring your soul out to do not like what they are hearing or if self-disclosure comes too early in a relationship it can be damaged. Thus, while self-disclosure is useful, it can also be damaging to a relationship. There are five different stages that we progress through while deve loping and strengthening our relationships, these are the coming together stages. No matter what type of relationship it is; romantic, platonic, or same gender relationship each kind still goes through each stages. The first stage is the initiating stage. The initiating stage is characterized by nervousness, caution, a bit of hesitation, and risk of being rejected (Hybels, 2007 pg186). Although one might proceed with caution, this stage can be very joyful experience and the outcomes can be great. Most people leave this stage with a new friend. The next stage is the experimenting stage. In this stage people make an effort to seek out common interest and experiences (Hybels, 2007 pg186). One might express a love for children and hopes of being a parent one day. This would be an important topic to discuss for a romantic relationship; each person needs to be aware of what the future might hold for them if they continue with the relationship. When experimenting with each other by discussing important topics and seeing the reactions of other, one can make a valid decision based on their knowledge of the other person to continue the relationship to the next stage. The intensifying stage is the third s tage that we go through. Self-disclosure becomes more common in the intensifying stage. The relationship becomes less formal and statements are made about the level of commitment each has to the relationship. In this stage individuals might have nick names for one another or inside jokes. A statement about attending a vacation next summer in France is an example of the commitment one might have for the relationship. But while self-disclosure becomes more common and makes the relationship stronger it can also make the participants vulnerable to each other. The integrating stage is the fourth stage. This is the point where personalities are beginning to merge; people are expecting to see them together (Hybels, 2007 pg187). The individuals become a pair. They begin to do things together and, importantly, others come to see them as a pair. A shared relational identity also starts to form in this stage. By the end of this stage individuals should know how to communicate and responds with ease and understanding of the other persons feelings. The final stage of coming together is the bonding stage. At this point, the participants make some sort of commitment that announces their relationship to those around them (Hybels, 2007 pg 188). Two girls friends might say they are now best friends to announce their comment to their relationship or a couple might announce they are getting married or buying a house together. This stage involves a lot of commitment and dedication to the relationship and to each other. In all of the stages discussed we all have decision to make. We can either progress forward to the next stage, stay in the same stage we are in, move back a stage or exit the relationship all together. No matter what we as individuals choose to do we need to know how to communicate effectively to that next stage and we need to know how to handle conflict or resolve conflict in our relationships. We can do this by conflict resolution, which is negotiating to find a solution to the conflict (Hybels, 2007 pg202). Depending on how a conflict is resolved it can produce a positive or negative result. For example if two sisters are fight over a dress to wear on the weekend, they have two choices: one wear the dress and the other one does not, which leaves one sister unhappy (negative outcome) or neither of them wear it, so both are satisfied and neither of them are jealous of the other (positive outcome). It also helps to take a positive approach to conflict resolution, where discussion is considerate and non-confrontational, and the heart of the matter is on issues rather than on individuals. If this is done, then as long as people listen carefully and explore facts, issues and possible solutions properly, conflict can often be resolved effectively. In conclusion, communication is the key to everyday life. You have to communicate on a daily basis so why not learn some skills that are going to help you communicate more effectively so you are understood instead of misunderstood. Your body language is also an important key, you need to show that you have good body language and you can gain more positive friends and more people will be willing to walk up to you and talk. Everything now a day is based on how you present yourself to someone you meet.