Haematology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Haematology - Essay Example Once these mechanisms fail and the cells reproduce without control, cancers are the resultant to a deadly organism as a whole. (Mutimer, 2000, p. 59) Proliferation can be understood by two characteristics 1) Cell growth and 2) Cell division. Both occur as a result by increment in number of cells. Proliferation, as appropriated within the study of cancer, refers to an autonomous process of growth and spread, internally driven but externally controlled. Danger arises when the controls fail and the natural proliferation of cells produces excessive reproduction. Young, immature (unspecialised) cells take on individual characteristics and reach their mature (specialised) form and function". (Cancer2006) Dr. Anderson describes that "correct differentiation of embryonic cells is essential in order to structure the cells associated with the complex environment of embryo. Failing to replicate the full range of normal developmental signals is likely to have disastrous consequences. Providing some but not all of the factors required for embryonic stem cell differentiation could readily generate cells that appear to be normal (based on the limited knowledge scientists have of what constitutes a "normal cell type") but are in fact quite abnormal". (Condic, 2002) Maureen (2002) in her article further talks about differentiation in terms of differentiated cells that transplant incompletely while runni

Hospitality Essay Example for Free

Hospitality Essay I. Case Background Serving people is the foremost activity in hospitality, and being expertly served is the reasonable expectation of a guests. If theres any place where customers are likely to be paying attention to the type of service they receive, its within the hospitality industry. From restaurants to hotels, it is the job of the hospitality service provider to maintain customer happiness and satisfaction. Nowadays, it is not enough for a hospitality business to know that their guests were happy just receiving â€Å"thank you† or getting service with a smile, although it is the proper etiquette. Customer satisfaction isn’t just about the service. Satisfied customers are looking for a memorable experience and a dynamic service from the establishment they visited. Customer service begins the moment an individual calls your business, either to make a reservation or to gather information. High quality service means meeting and exceeding your guests expectations to feel warmly welcomed. While high-quality customer service requires that employees interact with guests in a friendly manner. They must perform their daily duties with a smile, responding appropriately to the guests needs. Complaints must be handled in an empathetic manner. When the guest is satisfied with his experience, the company earns revenue, return visits, new clientele and positive recommendations. One good thing if an establishment was able to exceed the expectations of the guest is customer loyalty. Customer loyalty is one of the most important keys to the restaurant’s success. Happy customers are the loyal customers. Not only is it important for a hospitality establishment to provide stellar service, but awesome products as well. A customer who has to continuously wait for a restaurant or a hotel, for example, to do their part may grow tired, no matter how loyal, and venture off to their competition. Keep customers loyal by focusing on them at all times. Customer loyalty leads to higher customer retention rate and to continuous business success even in situations where failure to satisfy customers would normally cause an early termination of business. Therefore the restaurant operation must focus not only on attracting first-time customers but also on developing long term relationship with customers. One of the negative results of an unsatisfied guest is the customer complaint. This is one thing that hospitality businesses try to avoid. Fairness is typically the biggest concern of customers who have lodged a service complaint. Because a service failure implies unfair treatment of the customer, service recovery has to re-establish justice from the customers perspective. Handling customer complaints doesnt have to always be a battle, with the right tools and responses an establishment can use complaints to their advantage. A hospitality establishment should always know how to properly handle customer complaints, this is to assure that the complaint of the guest was addressed properly and they will still be considered a repeat customer on their establishment. Giving the customers an outlet for telling the establishment about their poor experiences is one thing they could do. And make it a point to correct issues that went wrong and look into those that could stand some improvement. II. Time Context A week after the appointment of the new General Manager of Pauli’s Restaurant and Brewery, they received a comment in their corporate Web site from one of their customers. The problem takes place when one of the loyal customer experience lousy service when they dined in one Saturday night before they went into a theater and have a movie night. After experiencing that kind of service, they posted a comment in the customer feedback section of the website of the establishment so that they could address the problem immediately. III. Viewpoint In any establishment, managers should always take charge when there is problem regarding the guests. They should act immediately to the complaint of a guest to reduce the occurrence of much bigger problem that could hurt the operation of the establishment. After the manager did the first step, the staffs of the establishment should support the action of the manager to ensure that the problem can be avoided in the future. The overall in charge of the problem is the whole team in the establishment. If they don’t work and help one another, surely the problem they encounter in the past would still occur. IV. Problem Statement Pauli’s Restaurant and Microbrewery is a famous pub in the city. It has established a good position in the market. They have loyal customers who are repeatedly coming back to their establishment. The establishment operates a corporate Web site; one of its features is a customer feedback section that is sent directly to the corporate Vice President and to the appropriate general manager. Once they received a feedback from a customer where they complained about the lousy service they experienced when they dined in at the restaurant one evening. The guest was really disappointed because it is their first time to experience that kind of ridiculously slow service from the establishment usually they do not experience from their past dine in.

Life, Death, and Cancer :: Essays Papers

Life, Death, and Cancer The vast majority of people go though life taking things as they are; they seem to never want to know how things work or why something happens the way it does. Think about it, how does a plan fly, or how does an engine run. These innovations were discovered many years ago and took much time and effort to discover and perfect. If a person were to look at the world, there is not much that they could say â€Å"I know how this works†, rather they say â€Å"I wonder why this happens as it does†. Well one of the most important things in the world is medicine, or the medical world. Without the past works of doctors, surgeons, and those who have helped pave the way, the world would be devastated. One of the most important and dangerous areas of surgery is that of the brain. The brain is one of the most complex parts of the body and takes much time and effort to understand. If a part is so complex that is controls actions, thoughts, feelings, contains knowledge and facts , just think about how hard it would be to really understand what this part is capable of doing. Such complex things such as the brain require more effort and time to understand than any engine or plane could ever have. Without the dedication that these people had, the information that we have today would never be possible. The technology that was present back in the day was nothing more then steel, a mirror, paper, and a pen. The way that this information was received is amazing; to just imagine what the possibilities are for the future is going to be outstanding and the risks will become nothing of the past. The past generations have set a standard for excellence and a need of knowledge; what the future holds is even greater. History is one of the most important things in success of surgery but to be better educated on the topic of cancer one must know what cancer is, the types of cancer, and the solution s to eliminate cancer in general. One of the most exciting things about the discovery brain cancer is the history behind the complex operation. To think that back in the eighteen hundreds physicians and doctors had the capability to open the human brain and surgically remove the tumor in the brain.

My Teacher is my Muse Essay -- narrative, descriptive

So I took the class because there was nothing else offered that semester that seemed even remotely interesting. My choices were slim. I mean it was Advanced Latin for Geeks, Bowling for Advanced Dorks, or this: The Creative Self. Even though I had always looked upon poetry as a non-serious art, a flaky girly thing to do, I had done my fair share of writing, mostly put into teenage angst ridden song lyrics, but still, how different could this be--I could probably just use my old songs and hand them in as new poetry. It was senior year in High School, and frankly, I was sick of being part of this innovative new humanities based school where everyone was almost too bright for me. I just wanted at least on easy class, and this sounded like the key to a class where I wouldn’t have to think too much. Instead, it turned me into one of those creative writing whores I had always made fun of. It was solely her doing, Ms. R, the orange headed teacher that became my mentor, my muse, my su bject. From the second she walked in, she began to inspire me. She shuffled with her papers in a way that made us all wonder whether it was pure disorganization or classical genius. Her hair aflame spirals of pure citrus fruit, her long flowery skirt welcoming every bored teen aged eye; she woke me up. The woman woke me up from the longest sleep I had ever had. R, R, Ms. R. I remember her icy blue eyes and how she almost flew up at times when she got really excited about some poem or character sketch. She walked in and immediately asked us what we thought about poetry, about fiction, about the world, about ourselves, about love and sex and how we wanted to express that to the world. And so for a first assignment, she asked us to write about something we lo... ...ld not write. And this has been the case since high school. When I have an stimulating teacher, one who praises me, who lets me be open, I excel. When I not taking writing classes, my writing is poor, stagnant, void of any originality. And let’s take this past year while I was working on Wall Street (can you say the coldest place on earth when it comes to the arts or even real human compassion, let alone inspiration?)--I wrote about 3 pages all year, all consisting of complete crap. But this past week alone, first week of grad classes, I’ve written more, and maybe not better yet, but at least more, than I have this entire past year. Now does this make me a dependent writer. A writer that cannot function without a muse? That will be my next exploration..... Can I survive as a writer without a Ms. R by my side, breathing literary genius into my otherwise ordinary words?

Different Family Values Between China and America

The family education is related to a person†s life. Nowadays, social development needs high qualified talents and good family education is the key point to the high qualified talents. Because of the different social systems, culture backgrounds, education aims and so on, family education for the children is different in many aspects between China and America. In the education projects of training new century talents in the world, all the countries put family education in a very important position.Although family education now attracts social circles’ attention, especially educational circles’ attention, Chinese family education still had a lot of problems. This paper first introduces the definition of family education. Second, this paper points out the main problems in today’s Chinese family education. Third, by comparing, this paper points out the different family education between China and America (mainly on aspects of family education’s contents, aims and methods). Family education aims for training the children into what kind of person that the education contents and methods choose according to the aims. After comparison, the paper interprets the reasons of these differences. Finally, the paper puts forward some methods that suit Chinese family education. [Key Words] family education; comparison; American; Chinese 1. Introduction Entering twenty-first century, as one of the hottest spot, family education is becoming more and more important in people’s life. Family, as the cell of society, is the first place that children receive education and the first unit that the children get in touch with the society. Education is a highly complicated process which is connected with families, schools and society throughout one’s whole life. A modern society, whether it can present its special education function, which is already the base of the power to push the society and creation of family happiness. In modern society, family education contents become various, it includes not only family life education, family relation education, family morality education, but also children education, parents education and so on. In this paper, I will discuss the education of the children.2.The definition of family education â€Å" Harry Chester’s Schools for Children and Institutes for Adults (1860) says, ‘Education is the development and training of the human being in all his capacities, spiritual, intellectual and physical†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢Ã¢â‚¬ [1]P148 In the dictionary, the definition of family education explained in this way: Parents or elder generation educate the child or teenage in family. Different society needs different family education. â€Å"Zheng Qilong, in his work family education, explained it in another way: Education is a society use to educate new generation with aims and systems†¦Ã¢â‚¬ [2]P6-7 Family education is parents educate their children, it is an important part of t he whole education system.For the sake of the changing situation, the definition of family education should be extended: â€Å"(i) Family education is not only the action of family but concerns the whole society. (ii) Family education’s aims are not only studying the family relation and living skills, but also the physiology and psychology of every family member and family members all-round development. (iii) Family education is not only the way that parents or elder generation educate the child or teenage in family, but all the family members educate each other. (iv) Family education is not only the education of the pre-school education, but also all life education.†[3]P523.Main problems in today’s Chinese family education 3.1 Parents’ mistake in conception of value and wrong activities leading A child’s conception of morality and value orientation learns from acquistion, especially from his parents. So parents affect the child’s mind great ly.â€Å"(i) If parents always say some positive view, such as, ‘Money makes the mare go’ or ‘Money talks.’†[4]P23 The child may form a conception that people live in order to make money which is a wrong view of value. (ii) Parents sometimes endorse some wrong behaviors, the child may form an idea that those wrong behaviors are right. 3.2 Utopian expectation of children’s educationChinese parents produce a great impact on children’s future. When a baby born in a Chinese family, his parents often design a future for him, no matter the child likes it or not. That is to say, Chinese parents would enforce their children living under the designed future instead of considering children’s feelings and abilities. â€Å"Just as Phierbaha says ‘Parents’ biggest  false is they stand in their position and interfere children’s nature development.’†[5]P24 In China, we can find the following scenes easily: Pa rents take their children to various kinds of lessons after school. Children would be punished if they didn’t get a good mark in examinations. 3.3 Harmful types of family education3.3.1 A utocratic type of family education In some Chinese families, parents require their children should do whatever they want their children do. If the children didn’t do as their order, they will scold the children, even worse, they will punish the children. â€Å"A questionnaire of 300 students in a middle school shows: Ninety percent of the students had been punished!† [6]P24. They can’t bear that children did’t obey them. They restrict their children. They check their children’s cellphone. 3.3.2 Indulgent type of family educationParents’ love is very important for the psychology development of teenagers. However, in modern China, a child is probably the only child in a family, and parents give too much love to the child. It leads to a situation that t he child can’t live without their parents. They seldom run into troubles because their parents had already solved the problem for them before they meet the problem. This kind of children can’t get along with other people very well. They consider themselves as the most important ones. Even worse, they may not have enough independent ability to live in the society without their parents’ help. When they go to society, they will feel depressed. â€Å"In a investigation of 4000 youth criminals, 16.3% of them receive this kind of family education. †3.3.3 Careless type of family education It usually refers to parents who lack of responsibility to take care of their children. Young parents are working hard to make money. They don’t have enough time to get along with their children. According to a survey, the children whose parents are individual entrepreneur, taxi driver or labor contractor, break the law easily. The main reason is the parents mentioned ab ove, who have few time at home. Even they are at home, they seldom put their hearts on their children. They simply think if they provides a good living condition for their children, who will become a talent. This type of  family education is dangerous. Children’s thought is not mature enough to judge all the things in a right way. It is easy for children to choose the wrong way to go.3.3.4 Changeable type of family educationThe children had been influenced greatly by this type of family education. For parents, the way to present this kind of education is self-contradictory. In other words, one parent is severe, another indulgent. Or the same behavior, is allowed today, but is forbidden tomorrow. A great number of research proved that children’s behaviors have a close connection with the changeable type of family education when they are young.3.4 Bringing up by elder generation show more disadvantagesBringing up by elder generation means more chance to spoil the child ren. The popular situation is that children raised by grand-parents. In this way, there are more disadvantages than advantages. Grand-parents used the traditional view to teach their grand-sons or grand-daughters. The result of this will destroy the children. 4.Main problems in today’s American family education4.1 Indulgent type of family education Different from Chinese family education, Ameirican indulgent type of family education had more harmful effection. Because over indulgent, it made a lot of social problems.Such as, teenage crime. In radio or TV, we sometimes can get a information that a 15-year-old boy shot his friend in the middle school.4.2 lack of communicationAmerican think that every member in a family, he or she should had his or her own space. In their opinions, they can†t interfere each other even they are in a family. And when a person is 18 years old, he may leave his parents. It means his has little time to stay with their parents. So they has less resbosibility to their parents. But, in Chinese people’eyes, it’s no a good idea to leave their parents. It may lose the chances to communicate with each other.4.3 pay too much attention on happy learningAmerican take happy learning serious. But, in fact, happy learning is good when children are young. Only pay attention to happy, parents may find that children’s learning levels are declined. For example, some students who get used to happy learning, can’t calculate without calculator.5.The comparison of the family education’s process between China and America From the results of the family education, we can find, in the process of family education, although it is not a kind of systematic education, it still has its educational aims, contents and methods, like the schools, which play an important role in the educational system. The aims of education are the most important ones which determine family education’s contents and methods.5.1 The c omparison of the contents of family educationThe aim of education determines the content of education. â€Å"The contents of American family education are very plentiful. American parents pay attention to their children’s all-round study.† We called â€Å"qualified education†,which includes physical strength, cognition, social ability, emotion and so on. To enhance children’s physical strength, children do outdoor exercises, such as, playing on a swing, hiking. On the development of cognition, parents train children’s sense organs, enlarging their culture view and hobby. For example, when parents go to library for study or borrow some books, they always take their children with them. In this way, they can stimulate children’s interest. On the development of social ability, children are required to enjoy themselves and share things with their friends. On the development of emotion, with the help of the parents, children learn to enjoy music, art or dancing etc.Although the contents of Chinese family education are divided into morality, intelligence, physical, art etc. However, when the child at school age, intelligence is the most important. The contents of education become imbalance. In physical, Chinese parents pay more attention to children’s nutrition, they make great effects to prevent their children from diseases. Compared with American parents, this kind of education is a protection which is defensible, static and passive. Greenhouse-training can train a person strong; On intelligence, children are given knowledge, skills, such as, the books that are full of knowledge and interesting things, at the same time, they learn the skills of reading, writing and counting.When the children begin their school  education, family education are inclined to the tendency of school education: parents supervise children’s study, check their homework, buy extracurricular exercises for the children. On art education , more and more parents realize the important professional skills. So they request children to learn drawing, dancing without children’s willingness. It is a blind action, it may kill children’s talent, even worse, they may pay a good deal of money and a lot of time but without good results. And doing this willgive too much pressure to children. By comparison, American family education’s contents are substantial and scientific. On the contrary, Chinese family education’s contents are narrow, limited and not scientific. For example, in Chinese family education, physical is less important than intelligence.Chinese parents pay more attention on children’s health from which is the low-level content. Children ignore physical training, lack of outdoor exercises, stay at home to watch television. Then the number of getting adiposity become larger. Intelligence includes practical ability and latent capacity. Practical ability is what you know, what skills and knowledge you should master. Chinese family education always ignore skills, such as, living skill, working skill, communicative skill etc. American people take these skills seriously instead of ignoring them. In their opinion, these skills are the basic quality to stand on the social stage.Chinese family education ignore not only some practical abilities, but also latent capacities which are divided into study ability and creativity. Chinese parents seem to think highly of knowledge study, in fact, they only pay attention to the low-level knowledge which just can deal with school examinations. In a questionnaire called â€Å"how to train teenagers’ creative ability.† There is a question , â€Å"If you find your children trying to take a clock apart, what will you do?† 40% of parents will scold the children. 48% of parents will use a way without patience.From this questionnaire, we can find out Chinese parents’ ideas of training creation should be impr oved.By comparison, American parents pay attention to children’s multi-hobby and creation-consciousness training. Most American experts adviced that not to learn knowledge without comprehension study. When children come back home from school, Chinese parents always ask a question â€Å"Do you remember what the teacher teach?† or â€Å"Do you get a good mark on today’s test?† Yet, American parents will ask â€Å"Do you ask teacher some questions?† or â€Å"Is the lesson  interesting today?† This present the different opinions on intelligence between Chinese parents and American parents. 5.2 The comparison of the aims of family educationFamily education’s aims determine it’s direction. So the aims of family education are the core, which is the basic reason of the different family education between Chinese and American. Family education’s aim is to train a child with some characteristics through family education. Once the aim is determined, education contents and methods should be chosen according to the aims. So what’s the different aims of Chinese family education and American family education, or we can say the different expectations of the parents in the two countries.American family education’s aims are to train the child into a social man, who can deal with all kinds of events and own independent ability. It is not a high expectation. â€Å"Social man† is not an utopia idea, but a requirement which is practical and easy to achieve. So American parents have a relaxed attitude to educate their children. They are good at finding out the active parts from their children’s individuality. And the children can find their value from family education. In fact, this kind of education can achieve good results.According to this aim, they can train their children’s independent ability. Let’s see American children in different periods. When they are still a baby, th ey sleep alone; When they can walk by themselves, they seldom ask parents for help; When they grow up, they own their rooms and they should clean the rooms by themselves; They do what they can do from childhood to make money. For example, they do house cleaning, be a baby sitter, send newspapers; When they go to senior middle school or university, they do part-time jobs to make money for the cost of living. By comparison, Chinese family education’s aim is to train the child into a talent, who has a bright future. A bright future means to get a good job and to lead a simple life all their life time.First, this aim is high and full of utility. It is hard to achieve, because â€Å"having a bright future† is not an ordinary aim. Because of the aim, Chinese parents especially concern about children’s study achievements. Their only requirement is that their children can concentrate all the attentions on study. At the same time, they ignore their children’s extr aordinary abilities, damage their imaginations. At the end, parents would kill the talents before the children  become qualified persons. Although Chinese children study very hard, and get good achievements. They lack of abilities to suit this society. Sometimes, parents’ expectation would come to nothing.5.3 The comparison of the methods of family educationThe methods of family education are the concrete measure of education contents. The choices of which education methods are connected closely to a nation’s custom, culture and history. At the same time, it is restricted by education aims. Conversely, whether the parents can use the scientific education methods properly is connected to the realization of family education’s aims and contents. Generally speaking, in American families, â€Å"parents mainly use an equal way to educate their children.They respect children’s personality and rights. Children, in the family, are treated as independent individ uals. Parents and children are equal.†By comparison, Chinese family education’s methods lack of equality. Chinese parents don’t treat their children on the same level as themslves. Instead, parents stand for the elder generation and the children stand for younger generation. American parents advocate the open education:First, they pay attention to practical training, emphasis on training children in practice instead of preaching. In American’s opinion, if the children can do the work, let them do it. Through the process of doing the work, they can improve their recognition of things, accumulate experiences, master skills, enhance capacities, develop hobbies and consolidate self-confidence and responsibility. We can say, American parents give the key of the door to children instead of opening the door for the children.Second, American parents think play and game are very important. They think play is the most important thing when children are young. In Amer ican, children take part in all kinds of activities, do a lot of outdoor exercises. There are a lot of good places for them to do exercises. On the weekend, parents go out for tour with children. In the process of playing, the children develop their intelligence, such as imagination, judgement, communication with other people and emotion adjusting and so on.. Chinese parents advocate the close education:First, they ignore the importance of practical training, instead they pay attention to preaching. The requirement to children is study. All the things, including what the children can do by themselves, are done by their parents. It is the reason why Chinese children learn a lot of knowledge but can hardly do anything when they enter the society. Second, they lack of outdoor exercises because Chinese children have endless homework. They live under the pressure of a lot of examinations. At the same time, they can’t find a good place to do outdoor exercises. Because of different education types, American family education and Chinese family education show different methods. So, we can try to turn our close education into open education. American family education methods present in four aspects:First, children have their right to speak, in other words, they can show their opinions on family affairs. American parents inspire their children to say what they want to say . Second, American children have right to choose, when the children start to show their ability to cognize things, they would like the children to choose by themselves. The children can choose games, books, friends, jobs and so on. American parents wouldn’t put their opinions on their children. Most of the time, their role is to lead the children to choose, or they only stand behind the children, to give them confidence.Third, American parents can make friends with their children, they can communicate on the base of equality. Fourth, American parents respect children’s rights of pri vacy. Chinese family education methods also present in four aspects: First, children have less right to speak, that is to say, Chinese parents require their children to obey the rules, and have few different ideas. As the American president Nixon said â€Å"The task of Chinese education system is to train children into a person who is docile, completely listen to elder generation. In this way, they lose Chinese Darwin and Einstein.†Second, Chinese children have limited right to choose and most of them would like to do things according to parents’ willingness. Third, Chinese parents always appear with a image of authority so their status are higher than their children at home. Fourth, Chinese parents always destroy children’s rights of privacy. For example , their school bags are searched; diaries are peeked. We can find that differet family education methods present in different aspects. American pay attention to the right  children own, but Chinese never thin k so. The democratic method of education which is a kind of loose and comfortable education, and presents a great deal of advantages: For one thing, it helps to train creative ideas. Loose and comfortable conditions are the most important to stimulate children’s creativities.Under high pressure, children’s creative ideas would be constrained. On the contrary, in a happy and calm family atmosphere, children can be stimulated easily. To produce a loose and comfortable atmosphere, parents should build a relationship equalled with children. For another, it helps to form healthy personality. Children would take part in family affairs actively, to express their own opinions, stop being afraid, and be full of self-confidence and responsibility if they are given the rights of speaking, attending and choosing. In addition, this kind of relation can inspire children to share their secrets to their parents. At the same time, parents can understand children’s thoughts. It u rges children to form a good personality. However, autocratic method of education presents a kind of restrained education, which constrains creation and the development of personality.6.The comparison of the family education†s results between China and America Different results of education are due to different contents, aims and methods, which can be discovered after comparison . Generally speaking, American children show distinguishing features when they are very young. For example, they show great enthusiasm, keep calm when they run into troubles, get on well with other people, have great power and are full of new ideas, strong independent ability and social ability. Because they are independent from parents when they are 18, they are full of more confidence and courage.Further more, they should do part-time jobs to meet their needs of money. Having the idea of suiting market economy, they take part in money management, at the same time, they learn how to promote sales and communicate with customers. They realize money is not easily earned by all these kinds of practice. Thus, they get into a habit of thrift. In a word, the outstanding characteristics of American children are their great abilities and the adaption to the society smoothly. However, Chinese children, teenagers, even university students, who do well in their studies, show negative tendency in their characteristics. In more details, they  behave in a passive way, such as timid, having deep-rooted dependent mentality, lacking of the ability to communicate with other people.Even worse, with poor independent viability, they can’t deal with money in a proper way. In short, they are lack of the ability to adapt to the society. All of these characteristics, which can be found from Chinese children, are due to Chinese â€Å"diploma-education†. Chinese parents expect their children to study hard in the school instead of taking part in the changeable society. Nowadays, what kind of the education results fits the society? Social development needs man’s activity, creativity and humanity’s liberation.As the civilization develops, more and more people need to focus on the development of humanity and the ability to do all kinds of things. So we can say today’s society needs active and all-round talents. Obviously, American family education can train a child, who is full of creativity and capability, by comparison, Chinese family education only can produce a â€Å"talent†, who is good at studying and obeying the rules. It is the result of â€Å"examination-center-education†, which can do harm to our teenagers’ body and mind. So Chinese family education needs a reform immediately.7.The causes of family education’s differences between China and America In modern society, parents take education seriously in Amreican the same as those in China. Why these two kinds of family education have so many differences? To sum up, the causes of different education are:7.1 The different history backgroundsAmerican, which is an emigrant country with a short history, has less old culture. Affected by multi-culture and multi-value, it can accept new thoughts and culture more quickly without restriction. So compared with Chinese people, they possess more adventure and creation sprits. However, China had a long history, at the same time, it reserves more old culture, especially is affected by feudal farmer’s idea for a long period. Its culture value is conservative and cautious, which lacks of adventure spirits and creation consciousness. Chinese people are educated to be obedient, comparative and lack of an environment to accept new ideas on the whole.7.2 The different economic patternsAmerican productive force is advanced. Its commodity economy is flourishing. There are a lot of opportunity to get jobs. The pressure of living are limited. Moreover, The United States is a society of capabilities, where the system of is perfect, staff are free. And they have a lot of opportunities of changing a job. It means there are various of jobs for Americans to choose. In American parents’ opinions if children can base themselves on the society, no matter the job is highly valued or not. Besides, commodity economy is changing in every minute, jobs are changing too. So parents never think their children can live a smooth life.Consequently, American family education’s aim is to focus on training children into â€Å"human† It seems more macroscopic and wide-ranged. It meets all changes by remaining unchanged. By contrast, â€Å"China is a developing country. The pressure of living is great. China is a society of diplomas. Jobs are stable, so Chinese always put all their happiness on a job. Their choosing are limited. Chinese parents think good study achievement can bring a good job for their children. It is a smooth way of life, and it is also the best way for a person.† Therefore, Chinese family education’s aim is to focus on training children into â€Å"talents†.7.3 The different social conditionsAmerican have good economic conditions, perfect old-age social system. American parents don’t have the idea that rearing children against old age. Instead, they think when they become old, they can go to old people’s home to live the rest of their life. So they rear the children to 18 years old, who become independent persons, and they finish their jobs without considering what the children will be in the future. They don’t care about whether the children will bring honor to them or not.By comparison, China, a nation which economic condition is poor, has incomplete social old-age system, and exists some old conception questions. Chinese parents consider that children’s education is connected with the rest of their life. They treat the children as their own property, require children to pay back for them. And the t hing that presents it in their ways is education. Many Chinese parents treat the thing of beating children as a personal affair. They think no one can interfere,let alone the law. 7.4 The different traditional cultures7.4.1 Different value orientationsAmericans pay attention to personality, their value orientation is based on the individualism. They lay stress on their own benefits, advocate individual improvement and find their own true value. It is the core of American culture. An American scholar pointed out: In a democratic society, every citizen has his own goal, which is himself. In the family, individual is the most basic one, which is the valuable, independent from his family relation and doesn’t depend on others. So in American family, parents used to treat themselves and their children as two separate individual. â€Å"Self† doesn’t only include parents themselves but the children selves. To carry out children’s self-value, parents should respec t children’s willingness, interest and hobby first. But American parents attach importance to enjoying their life.They wouldn’t give up to go to cinema because of the children. Chinese pay attention to general character. They have a conception, which is the most important. The conception is collective spirit. In other words, it means considering things as a whole. It emphasizes collective interest more important than individual interest. Chinese consider that a person is living in contrast with other people. From ancient time to the present, â€Å"self†, this conception results from contrast with other people, that is, individual value only can live with others’ relations in Chinese society. In Chinese family, parents lose themselves at the same time, they don’t respect their children.â€Å"The way that Chinese parents lose themselves presents as following: they consider children as their own, as a continuation of themselves; their children seems to be their whole lives and hopes; they put all their hopes on their children. This kind of parents would use their determination to replace their children’s.†[10] P62 They think from adult’s view. So we can find Chinese parents always set an impractical goal for their children. American pay attention to personality while Chinese pay attention to general character. It has its economic background. In the structure of modern capitalism, American’s commodity economy defeated nature economy. And it exists for more than a hundred years. In the condition of commodity economy, individual is independent relatively. One person, if he wants to develop in the competition of commodity economy, he must improve himself.Therefore, in the commodity economy society, people keep a tradition which is to value self the most important. By comparison,  Chinese’s nature economy existed for thousands of years. Chinese are get used to tying on the land. Individuals lack o f the condition of developing by themselves. Through dozens of years planned economy, even more than twenty years of market economy, Chinese can’t get rid of the dependency. Individual’s development often need other people’s help. Even evaluating an individual is carried out by comparing with other persons. So Chinese like taking part in community, in order not to be isolated. å’Å'Americans encourage rationalism. Their family education praise rationalism highly, which they treat as a basic principle to deal with family members and family affairs. Most of American parents consider the obligation of raising a child the same as the obligation to the society. It does stand not only in an individual position but the social position. In Americans’ opinions family education is considered as an obligation, so Americans never want to get something back from their children. They consider that they ought to go to the old people’s home. Of course, it is bas ed on American perfect social security system and their culture.Chinese encourage affection which is considered to be the most important thing in Chinese society. Chinese family education, human relation is the base and emotion is the rule to deal with the relation of family. Chinese parents consider the children as their own private property, from the angle of their honor. Chinese parents take the greatest care of their children but with a conception of getting back something from their children. From this point of view, we can understand why more Chinese parents expect their children to be talented than American parents does. They put too much material gain in the aim of family education.8 Suggestions This paper is comparing the vague generalization of family education between China and America. Chinese family education and American family education have their own characteristics. Furthermore, American family education has its disadvantage either. Apparently, the paper doesnâ€⠄¢t aim at denying American family education or Chinese family education. Through the comparison, this paper puts forward some suggestions that suit for Chinese family education.8.1 For education aims: turn â€Å"talent† education into  Ã¢â‚¬Å"human† education. Through the comparison, we can find, American family education’s aim more fits the development of society. At the same time, it can produce more creative persons. We can’t deny, in Chinese examination education, we kill a lot of talents .If we want to change the situation, we need family education’s help. Generally speaking ,as the enhance of social productive force, the society competition becomes more and more fierce. A person’s comprehensive quality becomes more and more important. In fact, this comprehensive quality is the basic human education. Using human education as our family education’s aim, Chinese will get rid of the mistaken ideas of family education.8.2 For educa tion contents: â€Å"turn ‘one-sided’ family education into ‘all-round’ family education. Today’s aim of family education is to teach intelligent knowledge. Because of the wrong aim, the intelligent education is the most important. This kind of education, will make children’s quality development unbalanced so that they can’t fit for this changeable society. After setting up â€Å"human† education as our family education’s aim, parents should improve children’s comprehensive quality. If we want to improve children’s comprehensive quality, we should turn one-sided family education into all-round family education, especially education of latent energy, morality and temper.8.3 For education methods: turn â€Å"restrained† education into â€Å"loose and comfortable† education, turn â€Å"closed† education into â€Å"open† education. Affected by Chinese culture, parents have more power than democracy. This kind of education is harmful for teenagers’ mature. Modern society should advocate loose and comfortable education and open education. 8.4 To set up a conception of qualified educationNowadays, education reform’s core is to improve education’s quality. â€Å"The main aim of education is to teach children to learn from how to live to care other people then responsible for others.† Concerning to family education, parents should set up a conception of qualified education. Qualified education is based on human’s physiology and psychology, which has nature peculiarity. It is a kind of education that can train teenagers all-round development. Furthermore, its goal is to fit the needs of the society’s development.Through qualified education, parents teach the youth playing, working and communicating which are the abilities a person should  own in modern society. Quality education aims to improve every aspect of quality a tale nt needs. It is not only a conception of qualified education but also a conception of value. Only when the parents set up the conception and use it as family education’s guide, can the children get used to this society quickly and smoothly. 8.5 To turn sole education into multiple educationIn Chinese, many parents aim the goal of education on intellective education. So they ignore non-intellective education which concerns children’s physiology health. Scientific family education should give first place to intellective education and in addition, take care of children’s physiology, psychology, knowledge. Besides, parents not only teach the children knowledge of culture, which is necessary in a person’s life, but teach other kinds of knowledge. Although to increasing knowledge of culture does good to intellective development, it is not sure it helps a lot.8.6 To turn knowledge education into capability educationIn today’s society, development of moder n science has put training ability in a higher position than teaching knowledge. Family education demands the parents not only to give children food but the skills to get food. Chinese should change the method which focuses on the knowledge, turn knowledge education into capability education. Ability is the intelligence that people finish a task or achieve their goals It is the result of psychology condition and physiology condition. It includes intelligence skill system, motivation structure system and operating skill system. These three systems connect with each other and inspire one by one. A person’s development level depends on the whole ability system which is formed by them.8.7 To use scientific mode of family education to speed the refrom of family education8.7.1 Creative type of educationâ€Å" This kind of education pays close attention to the development of children’s latent energy, which fixes eyes upon the use and training of intelligence. It advocates on creative study through active research and self improvement. â€Å"The basic education mode is: cognition-research-creation-application, which is people’s ability of  acquiring and using knowledge, and the wisdom that people show.† It includes observing ability, memorial ability, thinking ability, practical ability and so on. These abilities connect with each other and restrict each other. They are always considered as a whole. So intelligent education depends on all of the abilities mentioned above.8.7.2 Successful type of educationIt aims at creating the condition of success. It requires children to grasp the opportunities of success. It also requires children to hold the opportunities of success. In this way, children can improve self-confidence. Using this kind of education mode, children can develop themselves step by step on the way of success. â€Å"The basic education mode is aims-success-new aims.†8.7.3 Happy type of educationIt advocates parents to create a perfect education condition, which develop multi-ways and multi-form of education activity. â€Å"The basic education mode is action-master-application on action.†8.7.4 Qualify and special type of educationIt emphasizes on the basic requirement of the whole. In other words, it means to make sure the basic things in education. Besides, if the children have already learnt the basic knowledge, parents can make full use of the advantages of their children, encourage their children to develop in more aspects. â€Å"The basic education mode is base-multi-action-more aspects development.†9.Conclusion American famous writer John Brasal said in his best seller Family May Hurt You When a person grow up, all his behaviors are determined by the family environment when he was a child. Every child grows up under his parents’ family education, what kind a person will be, depends on what kind of family education he received. Children’s character and destiny are connected closely to family education. For the family, for the children, for the parents, we should change the wrong conception of family education and correct it at once.We, Chinese, should change utopian expectation of  children’s education. Give up the harmful types of family education. Pick up good idea from American’ family education. To turn â€Å"talent† education into â€Å"human† education.. To turn â€Å"one-sided† family education into â€Å"all-round† family education. To turn â€Å"restrained† education into â€Å"loose and comfortable† education. To use scientific mode of family education to speed the refrom of family education. If we can follow these changing, Chinese family education will go to a bright future. Ameircan also can get something they lack of from our family education.

Methods of contraception used in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome Essay Example

Methods of contraception used in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome Essay Example Methods of contraception used in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome Paper Methods of contraception used in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome Paper Methods of contraception used in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome differed in their nature and degree of effectiveness. They ranged from scientific methods that are still used nowadays to quasi-scientific and barely effective to dangerous and futile. In ancient Egypt, females used a mixture of honey and sodium bicarbonate to irrigate their genitalia. Another invention was a tampon-like object with acid anhydride. Acid anhydride is still used as a chief component of contemporary contraceptive jellies. Manuscript titled Ebers Papyrus, from 1550 BC, contains an advice about mixing dates, acacia bark and honey into a paste to be placed the vagina. The effectiveness of this method was considerable for the reason that sugar ferments were converted into lactic acid, a spermicide (Chauhan, 2003). While some substances that were used did not have any specific qualities to have a chemical effect on the sperm, ‘the insertion of substances like honey or crocodile dung into the vagina could have effectively blocked a males semen because of its thick consistency’ (Habiger, 1998, ‘Pregnancy,’ para. 4). Barrier methods were also widespread: women in ancient Egypt used vaginal suppositories as a method of contraception (Hearthstone Communications, 2007). As for men in Ancient Egypt, in 1000 BC they used fabric condoms both to protect themselves from disease (which is believed to be the primary reason) and avoid having undesired children. Women used celery seed as an oral contraceptive, as a recipe written in the Berlin Papyrus from Egypts Nineteenth Dynasty (1300 BC) advices (Riddle, 1999). As concerns Ancient Greece, by the 2nd century CE, gynecologist Soranus developed a theory that female fertility was limited to ovulation period; however, he made an incorrect assumption that ovulation happened during menstruation, not before it. Yet the origins of the rhythm method that is still practiced nowadays and is proven to be effective (although not as effective as condoms or other newer methods) can be traced back to those times. Soranus also promoted a variety of ineffective quasi-scientific methods, such as holding the breath and drawing the body back during the intercourse to prevent the sperm from penetrating the mouth of the uterus, jumping backwards seven times after sex to dislodge the sperm by, or sitting down on bent knees to cause sneezing. Regrettably, some advices by Sofranus were not only inefficient but also detrimental to women’s health, like an advice to drink the water that blacksmiths used to cool hot metals (Nottingham, n/d). Squirting cucumber and pomegranate were other methods used, and, as recent animal tests show, they had a contraceptive effect (Riddle, 1999). While the aforementioned methods are connected to female contraception in Ancient Greece, men were also experimenting with some methods of birth control to avoid having illegitimate or undesirable children. Aristotle believed that homosexual relations could be regarded as a population control method. Two methods that are still used nowadays and can be described as having a limited degree of reliability were coitus reservatus (withholding ejaculation) and coitus interruptus (ejaculating outside the vagina) (Nottingham, n/d). Speaking of Ancient Rome, females also used a variety of ineffective methods that were, in fact, mere superstitions, like wearing a leather pouch with a cats liver on their left foot during the intercourse or spitting in the mouth of a frog three times. The Roman men wore condoms made of animal intestine (Nottingham, n/d). Both in Ancient Greece and Rome, the juice of the silphium plant was a commonly used method of oral contraception that enjoyed a certain degree of effectiveness. Women had to take it once a month. However, the plant grew in one place in Cyrene and was extinct by the 1st century CE because of over-harvesting and failure to cultivate it in other places, although attempts to do so were persistent. This plant is believed to be one of the most effective contraceptives used in the ancient times, as the contemporary research shows: ‘Modern researchers tested plants of the same genus (Ferula) and found anti-fertility effects ran in the family. Crude alcohol extracts of asafetida and a related plant (Ferula orientalis) were found to inhibit implantation of fertilized eggs in rats by 40% (asafetida) and 50% (F. orientalis)’ (Zeus, 2007, para. 5). Another method of female contraception was prolonged breast feeding, which can prevent ovulation, sometimes until a child was three years old (Nottingham, n/d). Therefore, it is possible to conclude that there was a variety of contraception methods known in the Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. Some of these methods were relatively reliable and are still practiced nowadays (like the rhythm method or interrupted coitus), whilst others were based on mere superstitions and had zero effectiveness or involved practices harmful for women’s health. References Chauhan, J. History of Contraception. 2003. November 12, 2007. mcmaster.ca/health/hwc/Student%20Writers/hx_contraception.htm Habiger, P. Early History: Menstruation, Menstrual Hygiene and Womans Health in Ancient Egypt. 1998. November 12, 2007. mum.org/germnt5.htm Hearthstone Communications Ltd. Birth Control Guide. 2007. November 12, 2007. epigee.org/guide/ Nottingham, V. History of Female Contraception. N/d. November 12, 2007. medhunters.com/articles/historyOfFemaleContraception.html Nottingham, V. History of Male Contraception. N/d. November 12, 2007. medhunters.com/articles/historyOfMaleContraception.html Riddle, J. M. Eves Herbs: A History of Contraception and Abortion in the West. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1999. Zeus, S. The Ancient Worlds ‘Birth Control Pill.’ 2007. November 12, 2007. sisterzeus.com/Silphio.htm

Some Essential Concepts in the Analysis of Cohesion Essay Example

Some Essential Concepts in the Analysis of Cohesion Essay Example Some Essential Concepts in the Analysis of Cohesion Essay Some Essential Concepts in the Analysis of Cohesion Essay Some Essential Concepts in the Analysis of Cohesion A Note on Texture In Hallidays grammar, the analysis of cohesion is closely related to the analysis of theme-rheme and given-new, as all these features are connected to thetextual metafunction of language. Theme-rheme and given-new combine in the grammar of English to form what Halliday calls the structural component ofTEXTURE, which is defined as the property of being a text. The other component of TEXTURE is the cohesive, which is the non-structural component. The concept of TEXTURE should hus consist of the following features: (A) the structural component of texture 1 thematic structure: Theme Rheme (Chapter 3) 2 information structure and focus (Chapter 8) (B) the cohesive (non-structural) component of texture 1 reference 2 ellipsis and substitution 3 conjunction 4 lexical cohesion A Prior Note on Coherence Cohesion must be distinguished from COHERENCE. A cohesive text may not necessarily be coherent to the reader, and a text which is coherent to someone may be lacking in certain crucial cohesive elements. A text is cohesive according to the anguage it is written or spoken in, and it is coherent to the individual reader or hearer. Cohesion is thus dependent on the resources of a particular language, whereas relevant psychological and other variable extra-linguistic factors are needed for the realization of coherence. A physics text-book for example, may be written using all the necessary cohesive devices of the language, but it may not be coherent to someone who does not have the necessary background knowledge (which is needed for the realization of coherence) even if he has a very good command of the language. One problem that you may face when doing stylistic analysis, is the fact that your available linguistic concepts do not adequately deal with connections between sentences. The various rela tionships between the primary and secondary clauses discussed in the lectures on clause com plexing may be applicable to the analysis of more than one clause, but only if they exist within the boundaries of a single sentence. The analysis of theme-rheme in a passage, when combined with the concepts of given and new, can help you to examine the relationships between sen tences, but your analysis in this direction may not be as ulti-sided as you may have wished. In order to provide you with the tools for a more complete analysis, you have to turn to Halli days analysis of cohe sion. Hallidays Approach to Cohesion Cohesion in English, in Hallidays view, is achieved by any of the four ways below: 1) REFERENCE 3) CONJUNCTION 4) LEXICAL COHESION Referential Cohesion Halliday defines REFERENCE as a participant or circumstantial element introduced at one place in the text, which is either taken as a reference point for something that follows, or as a basis for comparison. There are three ways by which referential ohesion can be realised: 1) Through Personal Pronouns Personal pronouns may be DETERMINATIVE: Number Gender singular: he, him, she, her feminine she, her plural they, them masculine he, him neuter it, they, them or POSSESSIVE: singular: his, her, hers, its feminine: her, hers plural: their, theirs masculine: his neuter: its, their, theirs 2) Through Demonstratives Demonstratives can be SPECIFIC or NON-SPECIFIC: SPECIFIC NON-SPECIFIC near: this/these this/these here (now) no clear indication of nearness or remoteness it, the remote: that/those that/those there (then) 3) Through Comparatives General Identity Similarity Difference same as, equal to, identical to, identically, Just as, as, etc. similar to, similarly, additional to, additionally, such as, likewise, etc. other than, different from/than/to, otherwise, else, differently, etc. Particular more than, bigger than, better than, greater, more so, fewer than, fewer, less than, further than, so, so as, as much as Analysis of Referential Cohesion Some Important Terms In referential cohesion, one is not only interested on whether these items exist in the text, but also on whether they refer forward or backward to items within the text r outside the text, or whether it is self-referential or its reference is understood, given the contexts. a) Anaphora or Cataphora Backwards or Forwards A personal pronoun, demonstrative or comparative that refers to an item whose more detailed or precise description Is given earlier in the text: ANAPHORA Is given later in the text: CATAPHORA (b) Endophora or Exophora Inside or Outside If a personal pronoun, demonstrative or comparative refers to an item whose more detailed or precise description Is given within the text: ENDOPHORA Is given outside the text: EXOPHORA (c) Homophora You may encounter some problems however, in relation to a reference item which does not clearly or strictly speaking, refer to earlier or later items within the text nor to entities outside the text. Given the text, such an item appears to be understood or self-referential, given ones cultural knowledge or knowledge of the world. It is known as a homophora. Conjunctive Cohesion From a non-technical perspective, the term cohesion is occasionally understood in terms of the conjunctive linkages that a writer makes between the clauses of the text. We thus come to the third way, according to Halliday, through which cohesive djuncts, which consist of certain adverbial groups or prepositional phrases. The use of conjunctions to link clauses, or its lack, has a parallel in classical rhetoric with the concepts of polysyndeton and asyndeton. In polysyndeton, relatively many conjunctions are used to link clauses, but in asyndeton, conjunctions are avoided. Thus a link can be made between Hallidays approach to conjunctive cohesion and classical rhetoric, in the sense that polysyndetondepends quite a lot on conjunctive cohesion, but asyndeton avoids it. Like the tactic linkages between clauses within the entence in our study of clause complexing, the cohesive conjunctive linkages between clauses (which may extend beyond the sentence) can also be seen in terms of elaboration, extension, and enhancement. The conjunctive adjuncts which give rise to elaborationand extension are given in the first table below, whilst those which give rise to enhancement are given in the next table (adapted from section 9. 4 of the earlier editions of Hallidays Introduction; see also the slightly different tabulation in the third edition [section 9. ; pp. 542†3]). Like the table of modal adjuncts given n lecture notes no. 8, the lists of conjunctive adjuncts are not complete, nor are students expected to have a photographic knowledge of them in order to do stylistic analysis. It must also be noted that some of these adjuncts can also function as modal or circumstantial adjuncts, depending on the context in which they appear; some of the lexical item s given below, like actually, still, and yet, in fact appear in both the lists of modal and conjunctive adjuncts. In order to distinguish conjunctive adjuncts from the other types of adjuncts, you should keep the textual etafunction of conjunctive adjuncts uppermost in your minds: i. e. , is the primary purpose the linkage between one part of the text and another? DOMAIN TYPE MEANING EXAMPLES ELABORATION: Apposition expository that is (to say), in other words, I mean (to say), put it another way; exemplifying e. g. for instance, for example, thus, to illustrate; Clarification corrective rather or rather, at least, to be (more) precise; by the way by the way, incidentally; dismissive in any case in any case, anyway, leaving that aside; particularizing in particular in particular, more especially; esumptive to resume as I was saying, to resume, to get back to the point; summative in short briefly, to sum up, in conclusion; verifactive actually actually, in fact, as a matter of fact; EXTENSION: Addition positive and and, also, moreover, in addition, besides; negative nor nor; Adversative adversativ e but but, on the other hand, yet, however, conversely; Variation replacive instead instead, on the contrary except apart from that, except for that; alternative alternatively alternatively; DOMAIN ENHANCEMENT Spatio-temporal simple 1) following then, next, afterwards, first hen; 2) simultaneous just then, at the same time 3) preceding before that, hitherto, previously 4) conclusively in the end, finally; complex at once, thereupon, straightaway 2) interrupted soon, after a while; 3) repetitive next time, on another occasion 4) specific next day, an hour later, next morning; 5) durative meanwhile, all that time; 6) terminal until then, up to that point 7) punctiliar at this moment; simple internal next, secondly, my next point is, first ext; at this point, here, now; hitherto, up to now; 4) conclusive lastly, last of all, finally Comparative ikewise, similarly, in the same way; in a different way; expression of means in the same manner in the same manner; Causal-conditional causal: general therefore so, then, therefore, consequently, hence, because of that, for; causal: specific 1) result in consequence, as a result; 2) reason on account of this, for that/this reason; 3) purpose for that purpose, with this in mind/view conditional 1) positive then, in that case, in that event, under the circumstances; 2) negative otherwise, if not; yet, still, though, despite this/that, even so, all the same, nevertheless, however; Respective here ere, there, as to that, in this/that respect; as far as thats concerned; elsewhere in other respects, elsewhere; Lexical Cohesion To Halliday, lexical cohesion comes about through the selection of [lexical] items that are related in some way to those that have gone before (p. 310, 330). More specifically, lexical cohesion can be achieved through one of these means below. Do note that in the third edition of Introduction to Functional Grammar, Halliday and Mattthiessen divide up cohesion into paradigmatic and syntagmatic relations, with collocation being the only syntagmatic category, and synonymy treated eparately from hyponymy and meronymy, and not together under the more general category of synonymy (pp. 570†8). The choice is yours: you can either continue to treat hyponymy and meronymy as being generally connected to synonymy, or follow the newer configuration in the third edition of the book. 1. Repetition 2. Synonymy 3. Collocation. Repetition REPETITION, which involves the reiteration of a lexical item, is the simplest form of lexical cohesion. Hallidays example here is quite memorable: Algy met a bear. The bear was bulgy The lexical item which contributes to cohesion here is of course the word bear (not Algy and bulgy! ). Synonymy The next form of lexical cohesion involves the use of lexical items which are in some sense synonymous. The examples of SYNONYMY given by Halliday are the related words sound/noise and cavalry/horses in the shortened extract below: he was startled by a noise from behind him. It was the noise of trotting horses . The sound of the cavalry grew rapidly nearer Reference There may either be identity of reference or no identity of reference in Hallidays conception of synonymy as a contributing factor to lexical cohesion. Identity of In synonymy which involves identity of reference, we refer either to synonyms in the usual sense of the word, or to lexical items which are related in meaning to their referents by virtue of being at a higher level of generality. The usual sense of the word synonym should be clear to most of you. The word bachelor and the phrase single male, for example, are synonymous; so are the words leisurely and relaxed in He walked in a leisurely way and He walked in a relaxed way. Halliday also regards as synonymous meanings which are at a higher level of generality. A concept which is f a higher level of generality is also known as asuperordinate concept, whereas that which is at a lower level is known as a subordinate concept. We can see how these super- and sub-ordinate conceptsare related in Hallidays example of blackbirds †+ birds †+ creatures †+ they, which can be represented in the diagram below, As we can see, theyl is superordinate to creatures, which is in turn superordinate to birds, and which is finally superordinate to blackbirds. Any of thesesuperordinate concepts may be used to refer to blackbirds; each of them will be regarded as synonymous to blackbirds. In the analysis of lexical items which have identity of reference, the concept of synonymy, according to Halliday, can also apply to words which do not belong to the same word class, as in cheered and applause in Everyone cheered. The leader acknowledged the applause; and cried and tears in l wish I hadnt cried so much! I shall be punished for it by being drowned in my own tears! 2 No Identity of Reference In synonymy with no identity of reference, we refer either to hyponymy, where a cohesive relationship is established between a general (superordinate) concept and usually more than one) specific (or subordinate) concepts;3 or to meronymy, where a cohesive relationship is established between a concept and its parts. We are dealing with a hyponymous relationship when a cohesive linkage is established between trees and oak, pine, elm etc. s in fgure a) below; and with meronymy where there is a cohesive relationship established between trunk, branch, leaf etc and tree as in figure b) b elow: Hyponymy and meronymy are often regarded as figures of speech or tropes, where they are collectively classified under synecdoche, or more generally, nder metonymy. Antonymy In the analysis of synonymy, we finally have antonymy, where a cohesive semantic linkage is established between lexical items of opposite meanings. Collocation The final form of lexical cohesion is COLLOCATION. Halliday defines collocation as the tendency of certain lexical items to co-occur. Hallidays illustration ofcollocation through the example of the limerick A little fat man of Bombay is both typical and memorable: A little fat man of Bombay Was smoking one very hot day. But a bird called a snipe Flew away with his pipe, Which vexed the fat man of Bombay.

Free Essays on Analytical Essay

The question Putnam poses in reference to social isolation and social involvement is a very debatable topic in today’s society (Burns, 12). Today there is an abundant and growing presence of social isolation in terms of social capital. Social capital is defined as participation in voluntary associations that reinforce democratic and civic habits of discussion, compromise, and respect for differences (Burns, 10). Americans have recently shown a decline in their involvement in various activities, which would be beneficial as a group, not just on a personal level. According to S. Cohen & Wills when citizens are involved in civic life, their schools run more efficiently, their politicians are more open for response, and their streets become safer. The lower the crime rates the more cohesive the community (FBI/ UCR, 1995). Social capital has proven to be an empirical concept measured on certain variables. These variables include: community participation, proactively in a social context, feeling safe and trusting, connecting with neighbors, family and friend connections, diversity tolerance, valuing life, and work connections (Bullen and Onyx, 1998). On an individual basis, social isolation can be associated with poor quality of life and deteriorating physical and psychological health ( S. Cohen & Wills). A possible source of the lack of involvement may be a product of the uprise of technology such as the Internet. Scholars have been arguing that the Internet is causing social isolation and is cutting them off from the well-needed social relationships. The Internet also proved to provide an increase in depression and loneliness (Stoll, 1995; Turkle, 1996). Although changes in labor force participation of women and divorces account for some of the decline in social participation and an increase of depression since the 1960’s, technological change played a major role. Television, an earlier technology like the internet in some ways, r... Free Essays on Analytical Essay Free Essays on Analytical Essay The question Putnam poses in reference to social isolation and social involvement is a very debatable topic in today’s society (Burns, 12). Today there is an abundant and growing presence of social isolation in terms of social capital. Social capital is defined as participation in voluntary associations that reinforce democratic and civic habits of discussion, compromise, and respect for differences (Burns, 10). Americans have recently shown a decline in their involvement in various activities, which would be beneficial as a group, not just on a personal level. According to S. Cohen & Wills when citizens are involved in civic life, their schools run more efficiently, their politicians are more open for response, and their streets become safer. The lower the crime rates the more cohesive the community (FBI/ UCR, 1995). Social capital has proven to be an empirical concept measured on certain variables. These variables include: community participation, proactively in a social context, feeling safe and trusting, connecting with neighbors, family and friend connections, diversity tolerance, valuing life, and work connections (Bullen and Onyx, 1998). On an individual basis, social isolation can be associated with poor quality of life and deteriorating physical and psychological health ( S. Cohen & Wills). A possible source of the lack of involvement may be a product of the uprise of technology such as the Internet. Scholars have been arguing that the Internet is causing social isolation and is cutting them off from the well-needed social relationships. The Internet also proved to provide an increase in depression and loneliness (Stoll, 1995; Turkle, 1996). Although changes in labor force participation of women and divorces account for some of the decline in social participation and an increase of depression since the 1960’s, technological change played a major role. Television, an earlier technology like the internet in some ways, r...

Does the Internet make us smarter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Does the Internet make us smarter - Essay Example However, the various faces of the internet today are used by all kinds of people; both professionals as well as amateurs in every field. This has brought people to debate about the topic whether or not the internet actually makes an individual smarter, which has been further discussed within the scope of this paper. According to a news report, it was stated that ‘amid the silly videos and spam, the internet has been able to create a new reading and writing culture’, thus leading to making a person smarter. As per this report, the demerits of the internet have been highlighted in the form of the social networking websites as well as random videos that take up most of the time of a person browsing through the web. These appear as popups and distract a person from the work that he is actually supposed to do. For example, a student sitting down to finish a homework assignment would easily be distracted by websites like Facebook while trying to search for information for his work. This usually results in him spending three to four hours on the internet, wasting time looking at other people’s profiles and gallivanting across videos here and there. If this distraction was not present, it would have taken him an hour and not four of them to complete his work on an average basis. How ever, the internet still provides for a reading and writing culture because search engines help people to stumble upon interesting websites with good information. These days, most newspapers and magazines have also gone the ‘e-way’, that is, printing their news articles online instead of on paper in order to contribute to the environment in their own personal way. Thus, the information from these pieces of news is available to people around the world; where a man in one country was only reading the newspaper belonging to his country, he now has access to news from around the world. In much the same way,

How do theories of leadership provide practical advice on how to be an Essay - 1

How do theories of leadership provide practical advice on how to be an effective leader Discuss, with reference to at least two theories or models of leadership - Essay Example With these transformations, various leadership theories and models have been applied or used. Researchers and experts do not unanimously agree on a solitary leadership style that should be implemented in organizations to achieve success. Rather, they have argued that using or combining different theories based on the wants and needs of an organization will give out the best results. This paper will depict how leadership theories and models provide practical advice on how to be an effective leader. Moreover, transformational leadership theory and path goal theory will be incorporated in the essay. Philosophers and Researchers have studied or engaged in lengthy discussions about the nature of leadership. However, no conclusive facts and evidence exist as to what makes effective leadership (Judge, T. 2004, 36). The different perspectives advocated by researchers on leadership have led to examination of various variables. For example, characters of good leaders, the use of power, leadership models and theories, and the various leadership styles (Gillespie, N. 2004, 600). Historically, leadership definitions majorly focussed on the behaviours of leaders (Yukl, G. 2002, 56). For example, the conduct, values and behaviours of popular ancient Greek and Roman leaders were described in Plutarch’s Parallel Lives. The behaviours of these leaders were used as part of leadership training to subsequent leaders. Machiavelli provided Lorenzo de Medici in the early 16th century with a detailed prescription on how to become an effective leader in his book the prince. Lorenzo de Medici w as a leader in an Italian state/city. James Macgregor examined the leader follower relationship in his book leadership (1978) during the 20th century. The main goal of a transformational leader is to â€Å"transform† an organization or people (Nell, E. 2005, 98). The leader changes their heart, mind, insight, understanding and vision.

Management 3000 Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Management 3000 - Term Paper Example However, achieving effective interpersonal skills is a process. The initial stage in the process of efficient interpersonal skills involves an individual’s understanding of self. It is common knowledge that, an individual cannot seek to understand others before effectively understanding self. After the individual has effectively understood self, the next stage involves understanding other individuals they work with. The next step involves understanding the team and its dynamics. Once an individual accomplishes these stages effectively, they are ready to manage and lead others in a workplace organization. In effect, the stages eventually lead to successful management and consequent productivity in the workplace. The journey to effectively achieving interpersonal skills starts with an individual developing self-awareness. Through self-awareness, an individual develops the ability to understand their own feelings, the reason for those feelings, and the impact of the feelings on their behavior (De Janasz, Dowd and Schneider 5). It is crucial to note that, feelings are crucial in guiding an individual to exhibit some reactions when they are in a situation. Case in point, in the movie Twelve Angry Men, one juror’s feelings about slum people as drunks and liars who fought all the time made him consider the suspect guilty since he was from the slum. In this case, the feeling about slum people this juror had, circumstantially led him to passing a guilty verdict without carrying out an effective and rational assessment of the evidence available. In a management career, self-realization and awareness are crucial and a manager should follow certain steps in order to achieve realization. The fundamental step towards the self-awareness process is creating a list of an individual’s strength. In effect, the individual should analyze and utilize these strengths in guiding their career

The Analysis of Boeing Corporation Implementing PCMM Essay

The Analysis of Boeing Corporation Implementing PCMM - Essay Example Critical issues can easily be recognized through the implementation of PCMM; it is the foundation of best practices. Organizations use PCMM for cost reduction, waste and employee’s turnover reduction. Boeing Company’s turnover was 7% in 1998, and it came down by 5% in 1999 due to the implementation of PCMM (Curtis, Hefley, & Miller, 2003). Since 1991, Boeing Company was using the SW-CMM framework for the improvement of software processes and more than eleven thousand people were trained with SW-CMM. Boeing company always attempt to increase its activities, and the business goal of Boeing Company is to improve the quality and reduce cost and for this purpose Boeing conducted the first joint evaluation for PCMM in 1996. The company started the usage of PCMM in 1997 as a framework for the improvement of practices related to workforce, after twelve joint assessments PCMM level 2 was achieved by four organizations (Curtis, Hefley, & Miller, 2003). Boeing improved its software processes, retained skill workers, attracted newly trained workers and attained its business goals. The level of extremely satisfied employees got the increase. The industry benchmark for employees’ turnover was 16% in 1998, and Boeing’s turnover was 10 to 12 percent. Boeing increased it employees’ satisfaction up to 15%; Boeing reduced its defects related post-release, variation in schedules reduced by 38% and efforts variations that occur in labor work got reduce by 35% (Curtis, Hefley, & Miller, 2003). After having the analysis of PCMM, it has been clear that this model should be used as an improvement strategy for all organizational activities. According to human resource department PCMM should not be used only for HRM, rather the utilization of this program should be for the improvement of operational management’s capabilities (Curtis, Hefley, & Miller, 2003). Meaningful early meetings should be fixed with sponsors.

Finance Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Finance Management - Essay Example A rising profitability is a good business feature whereas a falling profitability is a bad one. The net profit margin shows the profit that a business is able to generate after meeting the various expenses and costs (Gitman, 2007, p.32). For the four divisions of Jools Furniture Industries Ltd this margin reflects mixed signals. In the case of Quality products division the net profit margin has improved over the last three years. In 2007 the profit margin of this division was -9.90%. In the next year the management of the division was able to cut down on the unnecessary expenditures pushing the profit margin in the positive territory. This further improved to 3.36% in 2009. For the Kitchen and Office division the net profit margin reveals a declining trend. ... The ROI generated by all the divisions has been more than 10% for the last two years. Quality products division reported the highest ROI for the year 2009 at 18.99%. The division reported a negative ROI of 14.9% in 2007. Kitchen division reported a ROI of 12.75% in 2009. This figure was higher in 2007 at 17.97% and it dropped to 12.87% in the following year which is a fall of nearly 5%. Despite an increase in the turnover of the division the divisional management failed to sustain the profitability margin of the previous year. Bedroom division generated the second highest ROI for 2009 at 14.63%. The return generated by this division was even better in the previous years at 16.62% and 18.18% for 2007 and 2008 respectively. Office division reported the third highest ROI of the company at 13.48%. Even for this division the return generated has dropped as compared to the last few years. Efficiency- The asset turnover ratio is an important indicator of management efficiency. A high ratio implies that the company management has been able to utilise the asset base efficiently i.e. it has been able to generate more sales (Nelson, 2008, p.370). For Kitchen division this ratio has remained over two for the last three years. In 2007 this ratio was 2.14 and it increased to 2.19 in 2009. This shows that the management of this division has used the available asset base judiciously and efficiently. With the rise in the asset base in 2008 the management reported a higher turnover i.e. the division made optimal utilisation of the available resources. In the case of Office division this ratio has improved steadily over the last three years. It increased from 1.68 in 2007 to 2.10 in 2009 which is quite impressive. This suggests that the divisional managers are continually

The Analysis of Boeing Corporation Implementing PCMM Essay

The Analysis of Boeing Corporation Implementing PCMM - Essay Example Critical issues can easily be recognized through the implementation of PCMM; it is the foundation of best practices. Organizations use PCMM for cost reduction, waste and employee’s turnover reduction. Boeing Company’s turnover was 7% in 1998, and it came down by 5% in 1999 due to the implementation of PCMM (Curtis, Hefley, & Miller, 2003). Since 1991, Boeing Company was using the SW-CMM framework for the improvement of software processes and more than eleven thousand people were trained with SW-CMM. Boeing company always attempt to increase its activities, and the business goal of Boeing Company is to improve the quality and reduce cost and for this purpose Boeing conducted the first joint evaluation for PCMM in 1996. The company started the usage of PCMM in 1997 as a framework for the improvement of practices related to workforce, after twelve joint assessments PCMM level 2 was achieved by four organizations (Curtis, Hefley, & Miller, 2003). Boeing improved its software processes, retained skill workers, attracted newly trained workers and attained its business goals. The level of extremely satisfied employees got the increase. The industry benchmark for employees’ turnover was 16% in 1998, and Boeing’s turnover was 10 to 12 percent. Boeing increased it employees’ satisfaction up to 15%; Boeing reduced its defects related post-release, variation in schedules reduced by 38% and efforts variations that occur in labor work got reduce by 35% (Curtis, Hefley, & Miller, 2003). After having the analysis of PCMM, it has been clear that this model should be used as an improvement strategy for all organizational activities. According to human resource department PCMM should not be used only for HRM, rather the utilization of this program should be for the improvement of operational management’s capabilities (Curtis, Hefley, & Miller, 2003). Meaningful early meetings should be fixed with sponsors.

Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 6

Research Paper Example The procurement industry takes care of the acquisition process that is involved with the goods and services right from order placement down towards invoice and payments. It is also known as the sourcing industry. The important phases of a procurement industry bank on the purchase planning phase, the determination of the standards which essentially need to be followed, the development of proper specifications, supplier research and selection methodologies, the analysis based on the provision of value, the financing measures, the price negotiation terms and conditions, the eventual purchase, the supply contract administering, the inventory control and storage methods and lastly the disposals and related functions. There are certain specifications which essentially define the basis of process capital equipments. These requirements are specified by an engineer as he tries to bring forward a need and thus ask the vendors who are aspiring to sell him the goods and services. These vendors also suggest equipments that could fill the need which arises on the part of the engineer or the buying party. The process capital equipment therefore comes about in full circle when all the needs are fulfilled and met in a holistic way. This brings to light the notion of procurement which is deemed as very essential right from the outset. Process capital equipment touches the salient basis of procurement regimes and hence asks for the relevant equipments so that the pertinent needs and requirements could be met in a corrective fashion. This is important as it sets the ball rolling for the procurement process and indeed helps in completing the process capital realms as well. Bulk solids handling allows for provision of comprehensive knowledge as well as timely information regarding the different aspects of dry bulk materials that are essentially handled

Web site in relation to the eLearning age Essay Example for Free

Web site in relation to the eLearning age Essay Electronic Learning, which is frequently called as eLearning is a form of TSL (Technology-Supported Learning) in which the presence of computer technology system is compulsory as the mean of conveying a wide range of information. This paper aims to show advantages of this Web-based or online educational training system through one of the world’s famous wikis—the Wikipedia. Furthermore, it provides an outline with regard to the critical review on the eLearning along with selected empirical items of information or data. Wiki: A collaborative Web site in relation to the eLearning age Wiki (software), from its Hawaiian term for quick developed by Ward Cunningham, accumulates a variety of Web pages for a collaborative works on Web-based educational training or resources (Encyclop? dia Britannica Online, 2009). One of the world’s well-known wikis is a non-profit organization of Wikimedia Foundation—the Wikipedia. According to the official Web site of the Wikipedia, it is a â€Å"multilingual, Web-based, free-content encyclopedia project,† which is written by registered users (freelance writers and online editors) from different parts of the World. As its comprehensible representation in the world of information and communication technology, Wiki is a type of Web-based application (such as Web 2. 0), which is being edited by someone else such as freelance writers who contribute various articles on line and virtual editors who do the editing job anywhere in the real time. For a better comprehension with such a conceptualization, Rob Edmonds’s book entitled ‘Up from the grassroots’ shows the significant and real advantages of the Wiki (software) in the lives of the number of people during the digital era. Major Idea or Essential Part of the Book Through Wiki software, most companies whether for-profit or not-for-profit organizations are able to provide the most methodological and/or advantageous system of fostering a wide range of information from the various resources. Edmonds’s ‘Up from the grassroots’ shows the fact along with the comprehensive data and empirical bases that which concerns the beneficial factors of clinging to the modern style of collaboration. Wiki, according to the conceptualization and personal experience of the author, such a Web-based application or the online educational resources makes every thing easier—from contributing the written articles on line via the Wiki software of a particular Web site to conducting a research of what other members have made and uploaded on the Web site’s system, which uses Wiki. A Critical Analysis on the Conceptualization of Wiki As an analysis of the major points of the author with regard to ‘clinging on the Wiki for certain Web-based applications of eLearning,’ it becomes quite easy to distinguish its beneficial factors to the number of people around the world (â€Å"Up from the grassroots,† 2006). First, even though some of the Wiki applications help people collaborate with the various works on line such as fostering different items of information from published books in the library to digital copies on the Internet, yet, it is considered as â€Å"informal learning† for a reason that learning takes place anywhere. While formal education or learning is done in a school, most users/visitors who stumbled on the Web site, which provides a wide range of data or instructions, are able to learn in any convenient places anytime they want. Nevertheless, such concern does not give more troubles or disadvantages, as the issue with regard to informal learning is concerned; as long as it broadens the bounds of knowledge sharing, it may help support every individual to learn new information. Furthermore, Wiki does not only help support people in terms of online education or eLearning solutions, but it also provides interactive communications for software’s users. Additionally, most companies rely on the Wiki software to provide their clients with the easiest system of creating Web sites and online databases. Hence, as a critical review on the entire conceptualization of the author, it becomes quite easy to distinguish his point of view—the possibility to create a more strategic and systematic way of uploading information from an individual source via this web-based application software. Therefore, as an observation, it becomes quite easy for every individual (particularly the reader) to be well-informed, as the book provides with insightful information and ideas with regard to the Wiki (A collaborative Web site in relation to the eLearning age). Given those world-renowned Web sites and companies used in the book as the reliable sources to represent the author’s perspective, Edmonds’s ‘Up from the grassroots’ motivates every reader to delve into a deeper knowledge of clinging to the Wiki application resources, which provide the easiest way of collaborating with research stuffs such as articles, information, communication etc. Conclusion I have learned essentially from every concept or perspective of the author and it urged me to seek different ways to criticize its objective—why it is written and to whom it is written for. Upon a critical analysis of the entire book, the paper is intended to give more information with regard to the process of online collaboration. It is written for every individual, particularly the people whose passion is to collaborate with one another; conduct certain research strategies and work on various subjects in an easier manner. Moreover, given the insightful explication concerning the various enterprises such as the â€Å"Microsoft, CommSecure, Novell, Bank of America and GlaxoSmithKline,† which cling to this Web-based application software, it gives additional empirical bases on the reliable materials contributed by the book per se (â€Å"Up from the grassroots,† 2006). This means that the materials used in the book shows reliability as to the scholastic issues and contemporary concerns. Moreover, as an analysis of the contents of the book, this is still valid as the issue with regard to the current trends for online collaboration or wikis is involved. Nevertheless, there are changes happened since the book is first published; more Web sites existed and now are apt for discussing the author’s perspective. References Edmonds, R. (2006). Up from the grassroots. E. learning Age. ABI/INFORM Global, pp. 14-16 Wiki. (2009). In Encyclop? dia Britannica. Retrieved March 31, 2009, from Encyclop? dia Britannica Online: Babylon Dictionary and Translation Software Wikipedia: About. (2009) In Wikipedia. Retrieved March 31, 2009, from Wikipedia: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Wikipedia:About

Bank of Maldives SWOT, Pestle and Porters Five Analysis

Bank of Maldives SWOT, Pestle and Porters Five Analysis Jump to: Mission and Vision of the Bank of Maldives SWOT Analysis PESTLE Analysis Porter’s Five Analysis GAP Analysis Segment Analysis BCG Matrix Porter’s Generic Strategy Ansoff Matrix Human Resources Introduction Bank of Maldives Overview On 23rd May 1982, Bank of Maldives was registered (Company Registry No. C-22/1982) with Ministry of Home Affairs as a company. On 10 November 1982 BML was registered at Maldives Monetary Authority and was given license to provide banking business in the Maldives. http://www.indexmundi.com/g/g.aspx?c=mvv=71 Joint venture with IFCI On November 11, 1982 Bank of Maldives Plc was inaugurated and started commercial operation as a joint venture bank with 60% shares held by the Government of the Maldives (including its Agencies and Maldivian Companies) and 40% shares owned by International Finance Investment Company Limited (later IFIC Bank Limited), Dhaka, Bangladesh. Until 31st December 1992, the Bank was managed by the professionals of IFIC Bank Limited and they were paid 10% of the Banks profit. During the tenth year of the Bank, the Government of Maldives decided to re-structure the Bank of Maldives as such requested the IFIC Bank Ltd to reduce the share holding and also the number of representation in the Board. Consequently IFIC Bank Ltd decided to dispose off its entire shares in the Bank of Maldives and terminate its relations with the Bank with the expiry of the Management Contract on December 31, 1992. Bank of Maldives Become Public Limited Company Government of Maldives purchased 40 per cent shares On 14 November 1992, held by IFIC Bank Ltd. As a result, 80 per cent of the share capital of the Bank of Maldives was owned by the Government while the remaining 20 per cent of the share capital was sold equally to the State Trading Organization and Maldives Transport and Contracting Company respectively. Company Shares Government decided and started, to sell Banks shares to the general public In December 1992, by way of a assessment to expand the Banks capital. From January 1, 1993, Bank of Maldives Plc has become, and since then remained, a bank fully owned by the people and the Government of the Maldives. The Bank of Maldives Plc issued shares during 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 and 2007. In 2007, Memorandum and Articles of Association of the bank was revised, shares were split and bonus shares were given to the existing shareholders. As a result the authorised caiptal of the bank was increased from Rf 300 million to Rf 800 million. The face value of BML shares stand at Rf 50/-. Bank of Maldives Branches Bank of Maldives has 25 branches in the country Maldives. Out of 25 three branches are in Male, the capital, and 1 branch in Male International Airport (Hulhule Island) and 01 each in both Villingili ward and Hulhumale. The other branches of Bank of Maldives are distributed amongst the atolls of the country, each with a chosen command area. Therefore, the Bank of Maldives Plc is able to serve the whole nation. Strategies for businesses The main business of Bank of Maldives is retail banking in addition Bank of Maldives handle most of the development banking activities in all the atolls of the Nation, Bank of Maldives PLC covers a variety of modern banking services online in a fully computerized environment and is proud to be serving the nation as the leading bank in the Maldives. http://ebanking.bankofmaldives.com.mv/page/view/n/company/o/introduction Businesses are often so preoccupied with immediate issues that they lose sight of their ultimate objectives. Thats why a business review or preparation of a strategic plan is a virtual necessity. This may not be a recipe for success, but without it a business is much more likely to fail. A business strategy is a pattern of decision and actions that are taken by the business to achieve its objectives. Business planning involves deciding what is to be done, setting objectives and developing polices to achieve them. Strategic process is steps taken to achieve those objectives. Frame Work of Business Strategy In practice, strategic management process has three main components, shown in the figure below. http://courseware.finntrack.eu/institutions/lectur_4.htm There is a number of stages involve in the planning process. These include Identifying the objectives Analalysing the positions of the business Deciding on suitable strategy Implementing a suitable strategy Evaluating its effectiveness Strategic Planning Process C:UsersAroonDesktopthe-strategic-planning-process-thumb.jpg Mission Mission statement includes descriptions of the overall aims of the business and they tend to be aimed at stake holders in the business. Stakeholders are those individuals or groups that affect or have interest in how the business is running and also what it achieves. Mission statement of business will include information for all key stake holders of the business including employees, shareholders, and also customers. Bank of Maldives Mission statement We will lead the way through quality of service and dedication of our staff. We will serve all our communities to the best of our ability, strive always to listen to your needs and so build total customer confidence and satisfaction From BML Mission statement I found that the mission that the company established is based on blending the various interest of range of stakeholder grouping. Example one of the objective mentioned in mission statement is to lead the way through quality of service and dedication of our staffs it will benefits many stakeholders because customers will receive high quality product and services, shareholders will receive high dividends, employee will receive good wages, and so on. Vision A vision statement is sometimes called a picture of your company in the future but its so much more than that. Vision statement is our inspiration, the framework for all our strategic planning. A vision statement may apply to an entire company or to a single division of that company. Whether for all or part of an organization, the vision statement answers the question, Where do we want to go. Vision statement of Bank of Maldives To be the leader in the financial industry in Maldives, spreading its presence in all key economic geographies in Maldives To be the leader in the financial industry in Maldives, inculcating a long term saving culture in the nation and promoting a cashless society To be one of the most Efficient, Profitable and Respected financial institutions in Maldives. Values http://www.bankofmaldives.com.mv/SiteCollectionImages/mission-statement.jpg http://www.bankofmaldives.com.mv/InvestorRelations/Pages/OurCommitments.aspx The bank values lot of things like innovation, giving respect to others and receiving respect from others, also communication, innovation and integrity. Stakeholders of the business Customers Customers are one of the key stakeholders of the business as they are vital to the survival of the business. Bank of Maldives provides excellent services to its customers and has excellent relationship through respects, friendly services and also greeting and so on. Shareholders Bank of Maldives try to give maximum benefits to its shareholders and also have good relationship with them. The Annual General Meeting of the company is used to have an effective discussion with the shareholders on matters and issues which are of relevance and of concern to the general membership. The Banks website also provides information for the shareholders of the business. Employees Employees are other key stake holders of the company. Bank of Maldives has various ways. Bank provides training programs to employees to familiarize them companys policy and working practice. Bank also provides many packages and development opportunity to its employees. Suppliers In todays environment it is very important for good relationship to exist between business and suppliers. Government Government can influence and affect business in number of ways. Bank of Maldives has to follow the rule and regulation that is made by the government. And also government is 51% shareholder of the bank. Therefore provide full support to the company. Hierarchy of Objectives There are two types of objectives, corporate and functional level objectives. At the top level of an organization will often create a vision setting what and where they want to be in long run or in future and also the top level of organization will often create mission setting out the purpose of the organization and also mission statement is a path way to achieve its vision and then Organizations will create a hierarchy of objectives. The hierarchy of objective is a breakdown of Mission Corporate Objective Functional/Departmental Objective Team objective Individual Objective the objectives and presenting in a more understanding and also able to manual to the operational/functional level of employees of the organization. This process is because organizations believe that each and every individual should be clear of what is expected from them in order to accomplish the corporate objective. Strategic analysis Strategic analyses is all about analyzing the strength of businesses position and also analyzing the weakness and understanding the important external factors that may influence and effect the business position. The business strategy of a company provides the big picture that shows how all the individual activities are coordinated in the organization in order to achieve a desired end result. It is through the strategy process that the overall direction of the company is established. This is based on the external opportunities and threats, outside the organization or external environment creates, also the internal strengths and weaknesses of the business. There are many tools for process of Strategic Analysis which we can use to analyze the business such as: SWOT Analysis PEST Analysis Scenario Planning Five Forces Analysis Market Segmentation Directional Policy Matrix Competitor Analysis Critical Success Factor Analysis SWOT Analysis We can use SWOT analysis as a tool to conduct a general or detailed picture of a companys health. SWOT analysis is quick examination of a business current position so that it can identify internal strength and weakness and also external opportunities and threats. (S)trengths Financial stability and bank is well capitalized and this has enabled it to perform relatively well with largest financial network of 25 branches and 37 ATMs in Maldives. Highest market shares/over 260,000 loyal deposit account holders/ Over 53,000 lending relationships Government helps since it has 51% their share power Most effective recruitment and selection process and over 748 dedicated employees Awarded for 3 years about their customer satisfaction methods. Easy transections for its customers Updated technology as leader in electronic banking in card issuance with a wide network of POS terminal Nations most trusted company with the highest transections and strong customer relationship 27 years banking service in the market and well branded in the country Annual report 2009 (W)eaknesses Less number of employees to deal with their daily transections and customers problems. Limited dollar providing Difficult to get loans compare to their competitors Maldives is facing shortage of US dollars these days and most of the Expatriate working in Maldives is paid in Rufiyaa. Even to buy dollars from Bank of Maldives is something impossible these days. Due to the shortage of dollars most of the businesses are facing problems since Maldives import almost everything and businesses need to transfer their money to their suppliers. Also the foreigners those who are working in Maldives are paid in Rufiyaa and they also face problem due to shortage of dollars. I think that the shortages of US dollars are due to the world economy experienced tremendous instability in the year 2009, due consequences were felt in the Maldivian economy as well. The depression in tourism industry and fisheries industry played huge role as it posed numerous effect while the US Dollar liquidity crisis contributed added to the challenges being faced by the Bank. (O)pportunities Since they have got a good financial stability they can expand their business to other islands Sell more shares to the public market. It will increase their customers and also will be able to have a better capital to provide a good service To deal with their daily transections and to get experience from developed banks like Swiss bank they can ask from the government talk about it with them. (T)hreats Recently have stopped providing any types of card to the customers Economic crises Competitors I think the strengths of the company can be assessed as companys resources and also the company capabilities which can be used as a root to achieve its objectives and goals and also for developing a competitive advantage. There are many external threats and opportunities which organization has to face. So that Business can try to maintain the strengths and try to overcome from the weaknesses as internal factors those can be controlled by the business, but external factors cannot be controlled by the business because they are independent. Therefore business can try to take advantages of opportunities so it can be key to be success in future and have to try to manage the threats as well. Or have to try to reduce its negative influences to the organization. PESTLE It is very important that an organization considers its environment before beginning the marketing process. In fact, environmental analysis should be continuous and feed all aspects of planning. http://imagetrail.net/image/5042061/PEST-Analysis.aspx (P)olitical In Maldives government doesnt influence most of the business. But Bank of Maldives is a government company so they take decisions according to their political decisions. Most of the businesses in this country are private business. Government helps to their business to carry it with the highest level they can and to expend it. However they have recently announced that they will make new rules to the tertiary sector business. So its important for them to update the changes and obey the rules and regulation of ministry of trade and industry. The political changes need to be monitored very often especially during these days. As there is changes in political system or due to the implementation of party system in the country and the new laws passed by the government plays a vital role in todays business climate. So, I feel that the management and investors needs to be cooperative with the new system and government in order to keep running in the market. Moreover, Bank of Maldives is one of the biggest service industry in the country and also it is central bank of Maldives so political factors may effect the business for some extent. (E)conomical After the tsunami the country was developing rapidly their business and starting new business. Inflation of country is controlled in recent years. Mixed economy is one of the key features of the country that take account of tourism, fishing and other industry. http://www.indexmundi.com/maldives/inflation_rate_%28consumer_prices%29.html Mixed economy plays huge role in businesses growth and is can be an important aspect of the Maldives economy hence for most of the company government helps and government have shares in most of the leading company such as State trade Organization plc., Bank of Maldives and so on, In 1989, the economic reform program implemented by the government lifted the import quota and encouraged exports to the private sector. Later on, the liberalized conventions allowed more foreign investments. Therefore I feel one of the targeted markets for Bank of Maldives that is foreigners became the customers of the business. http://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/maldives/ On the other hand, GDP reduced in 2007-08, then contracted in 2009 and the reason may be due to the worldwide recession. Falling tourist arrivals and fish exports, combined with high government spending on social needs, subsidies, and civil servant salaries contributed to a balance of payments crisis in 2009. Diversifying the economy beyond tourism and fishing, reforming public finance, and increasing employment opportunities are major challenges facing the government. Maldives GDP- Real growth rate (%) http://www.indexmundi.com/g/g.aspx?c=mvv=66 Therefor Bank of Maldives may face economic problems in upcoming years. So it is very important for BML to keep an eye on economic changes that comes every now and then. Taking in this aspect, interest rate and inflation plays a keys role. A very slight change in the interest rate brings a change in the price of product. So I would advise the management to observe the economic changes that comes very often. On the other hand most of the stakeholder of the company believes that in upcoming year economy will be favorable to the business. Moreover, in the market Bank of Maldives have got so many new competitors like HSBC and Bank of Ceylon. Most of the people still trust Bank of Maldives because of being the oldest Bank in the country and also its under the control of government. Most of the transaction are done in the capital city. So economically they will face much trouble from other business, Because HSBC can be a competitor who will be able to get market share. They have the best dollar providing service. When looking in to the people perspective, most of the people have bank accounts. And all most all the people are aware about the modern world (S)ocial Maldives economy is based on about the social could be their spending is higher and less saving. This way happens mostly with the youngsters. Everything for them is fun and enjoying. And each every of them has their own bank account. Thats why it increases the bank transection. Also government employees should have bank account in BML and most of the money transections of government are done through BML. Bank of Maldives caters to customers in unbanking islands through its Dhon services, Also facilitator of infrastructure development to enhance the living standard of local community. BML extends its support to various initiatives in view of the socioeconomic benefits. Among these initiatives BML cosponsored GCE High Achievers Award ceremony and worked alongside the Maldives Police Service to create awareness regarding counterfeit currency. Furthermore BML also extended its support through providing sponsorship for the Democracy Fair held during 2009 and the fishermans day activities. Further efforts to extend our corporate responsibility stance involved daily collection facilitation for state insurance scheme Madhana by all branches of the Bank. BML fully funded the acquiring of an ECG Treadmill for IGM Hospital for the benefit of patients utilizing the services of the hospital. BML is the pioneer and leader of microfinance facilities for rural development and to SME sector projects throughout Maldives. These loans significantly contribute to improving the livelihood of rural communities, alleviating poverty and creating employment opportunities. BML report 2009 (T)echnological Technology is vital to gain competitive advantage, and is a major driver of globalization. Changes in technology have also become mainly weighty in the world. This is for the most part true in terms of modern communication technologies todays environment. The creation of databases and electronic communications help to have easy communications and have enabled huge quantities of information to be shared and quickly distributed all around the world with cost reductions, and often improvements in service and product. Organizations need to be aware of the latest relevant technologies for their business and due to high competition in the market. Bank of Maldives use latest technology to implement business processes, manage risks and provide excellent customer service. Such as Online electronics banking, mobile banking and internet banking, ATM service etc. Also bank is fully computerized and provides almost all the banking services needed for the citizens and business establishments in Maldives. There for I suggest bank of Maldives it is very important to be in touch with new technology as the technology has brought the people together with the best, comfortable and convenient life. Also technology is one of the biggest issues in modern world and also to provide best services to its customer and to create competitive advantage against rivals in the market. Porters Fives Forces Five Force analyses assume that there are five important forces that determine competitive power in a situation. These are:http://www.tutor2u.net/business/images/five_forces.gif Threat of New Entrants The number of business in a market may not be always be a useful guide to completion in that market. New entrants to an industry can raise the level of competition, by this means reducing its attractiveness an also if it is easy for business to enter markets then the competition likely to be greater. The threat of new entrants largely depends on the barriers to entry. High entry barriers exist in some industries. Key barriers to entry include: Economies of scale The need of Capital or investment requirement Customer switching costs Access to industry distribution channels The likelihood of retaliation from existing industry players. Bank of Maldives is the only local bank in Republic of Maldives. There are other banks like State bank of India, Habib Bank, HSBC bank, etc in Maldives, but they do not have more than one branch. I am not sure if there is any restriction to open more than one branch for foreign banks in Maldives. Bank of Maldives has many branches in Male the capital of Maldives as well as in remote islands. In my point of views It is difficult for new entrants to enter in banking industry due to threat of new entrants largely depends on the barriers to entry. To enter in the banking industry in Maldives for local business it will be difficult due to capital requirement they need to invest on the business, and also it is difficult to gain economies of scale. Also Bank of Maldives is one of the highest distributors with 25 branches all over the country. Threat of Substitutes This depends upon the extent to which business can differentiate their products from those of competitors .The substitute products can lower industry attractiveness and profitability because they limit price levels. The threat of substitute products depends on: Buyers willingness to substitute The relative price and performance of substitutes The costs of switching to substitutes Bargaining Power of Suppliers Suppliers are the businesses that supply materials other products into the industry. Powerful suppliers can increase the cost of a business. If suppliers have high bargaining power over a company, then in principle the companys industry is less attractive. The bargaining power of suppliers will be high when there are number of suppliers and also when there are many buyers and also the importance of the product which is supplied or undifferentiated, highly valued products bargaining power of supplier will be high. For BML bargaining power of suppliers will be less due to more dominant supplier like Rainbow, all brothers business and so on. Bargaining Power of Buyers Buyers are the people / organisations who create demand in an industry. The bargaining power of buyers is greater when There are few dominant buyers and many sellers in the industry Products are standardized Buyers threaten to integrate backward into the industry Suppliers do not threaten to integrate forward into the buyers industry The industry is not a key supplying group for buyers For BML I feel bargaining power of buyer is less because BML is only a company that caters the customers all over the country and they have branches in many part of the country and also the other competitors such as HNB is have only one branch in the country which is also is located in capital Male. Intensity of Rivalry The intensity of rivalry between competitors in an industry will depend on: The structure of competition for example, rivalry is more intense where there are many small or equally sized competitors; rivalry is less when an industry has a clear market leader. BML is a market leader of Banks in Maldives. The structure of industry costs for example, industries with high fixed costs encourage competitors to fill unused capacity by price cutting Degree of differentiation industries where products are commodities (e.g. steel, coal) have greater rivalry; industries where competitors can differentiate their products have less rivalry . For BML the degree of differentiation is higher than the other competitors. Switching costs rivalry is reduced where buyers have high switching costs i.e. there is a significant cost associated with the decision to buy a product from an alternative supplier Strategic objectives when competitors are pursuing aggressive growth strategies, rivalry is more intense. Where competitors are milking profits in a mature industry, the degree of rivalry is less Exit barriers when barriers to leaving an industry are high (e.g. the cost of closing down factories) then competitors tend to exhibit greater rivalry. Having a good pricing strategy and a good customer care will enhance Bank of Maldives to catch up the marker easily and maximize the profit. GAP analysis Bench Marking Benchmarking is the process of measuring an organizations internal processes then identifying, understanding, and adapting outstanding practices from other organizations considered to be best-in-class. By Benchmarking the business can discover performances of the business compare to competitors or with the organization which the business is bench marking and also can identify the most compatible for the business to bench mark.. Source: http://www.benchnet.com/wib.html View date: 20 November 2009 Core Competency Core competencies are those strengths or abilities that are critical to a business achieving competitive advantage. Senior management cannot focus on all activities of a business and the competencies required undertaking them. So the goal is for management to focus attention on competencies that really affect competitive advantage. The Core competencies are the most significant value creating skills within Bank of Maldives and key areas of expertise which are distinctive to the business and critical to the Bank of Maldives long term growth. I believe core competencies are the thing that Bank of Maldives can do better than the competitors in the field. So there are competitive advantages in Bank of Maldives that is difficult to imitate by the competitors in the market to gain the core competencies. The loyalty customers had towards the Bank of Maldives is a core competency that business had, compared to the competitors, and is also high. Customer care had a great impact on the business as well since the employees services to the customer of human resource cannot be copied by competitors. Segmentation and Products and services of Bank of Maldives Segment Analysis By Geographical segment- Bank operate only in Maldives By business segment Retail banking Corporate banking Electronic banking Development banking Bank of Maldives Corporate Banking Loans and leasing Working capital facilities Working capital facilities Investment financing Credit card lines, electronic banking and foreign trade services and so on International Banking Electronic Banking Mobile Banking Online Banking ATM Services Development Banking For Bank of Maldives using technology such as ,Automated Teller Machine, online banking and Mobile banking will reduce the amount of transections of bank and customers can acquire services at their offices every day. Also the bank can gain from such services, is reducing their operational costs via decrease in tellers and cashiers, when less number of customers attend the bank to get the services. Right now the bank is charging Rf 2 per any transaction on an Automated Teller Machine (ATM), and Rf 1800 for internet banking services with account to account transfer services. For the Bank implementing such services incur a huge cost. BCG Matrix The BCG matrix technique is based on the product life cycle concept that can be used to determine how much importance should be given in the product portfolio of a business element. To make sure long-term value creation, a company should have a portfolio of products that contains both high growth products in need of cash inputs and low growth products that generate a lot of cash. It has two dimensions. The first one is market share and second dimension is market growth. The basic idea behind it is that the larger the market share a product has or the faster the products market grows the better it is for the company. http://cnx.org/content/m35356/latest/ Last edited by Jared Adler on Oct 6, 2010 1:05 pm GMT-5. The four categories are: Dogs Dogs have low market growth and low market share and do not generate any money or consume a large amount of cash. So they need to be killed Question marks Question marks are also called as problem child and might have future potential as they are in growth market, but the sales are not particularly good. Also with rapid market growth and also consume large amount of cash due to low market share they do not generate much money. Such as Online banking and Mobile banking are question mark products of Bank of Maldives. Stars star products are those who with a large share of high growth Cash cows As leaders in a mature market, cash cows exhibit a return on assets that is greater than the market