Faulty Organizational Behavior in Tyco International Ltd

Most employees travel to and from the workplace each day with the ultimate goal to successfully perform their assigned job according to company standards. These company standards may include agendas, mission statements, professional conduct guidelines and even a code of ethics. How employees choose to follow company standards may govern their overall progress or success. While some may deviate from standards and fail, others may find themselves slipping through cracks unnoticed. Either way, the rules were broken. This paper will examine the failure suffered by Tyco International Ltd where leadership, management, and organizational structures were compromised. Let us start with the aftermath. According to MSNBC (2005), â€Å"Kozlowski and Swartz were accused of giving themselves more than $150 million in illegal bonuses and forgiving loans to themselves, besides manipulating the company’s stock price† (Corporate Scandals, para 14). Clearly, a scandal had hit Tyco International Ltd. Not only did former top executives slip themselves extra money, but they also toyed around with the stock prices. These actions had made the powerful men very wealthy. They also affected the lives of other individuals. During the trial, Kozlowski and Swartz pointed out that unlike WorldCom and Enron, Tyco continued to thrive as a company after the scandal (MSNBC, 2005). While this may have been a valid point, we cannot dismiss the fact that stealing, fraud, and self-indulgence had been present in the company. Now we will examine how the management, leadership, and organizational structure of Tyco International Ltd contributed to this failure. Robbins and Judge (2007) explain how managers coordinate social units of an organization in order to achieve common goals. Management performs several functions in a company that may include: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling (Robbins & Judge, 2007). As mentioned above, these functions are performed within social units to achieve common goals set by the company. Should deviation occur, it becomes the manager’s responsibility to get the employees back on track. The management at Tyco International Ltd strayed off course. Instead of performing tasks for the greater good of all members of the company, top xecutives allowed self-interest to govern decision-making. While managerial functions may have remained in place, the goals of these functions became malicious. Top executives began to plan, organize, lead and control in a fashion that was not in the best interest of all company members. An important managerial function is leading. â€Å"When managers motivate employees, direct the activities of others, select the most effective communication channels, or resolve conflicts among members, they’re engaging in leading† (Robbins & Judge, 2007, p. ). Tyco experienced a lack of honest leadership. While some of the normal leadership was maintained to ensure the overall success of the company, there were areas that were intentionally pointed in the wrong direction. The corrupt executives started to make decisions that resulted in large sums of money directed their way. Stock price adjustment and illegal bonuses represented leadership that was no longer in the best interest of the company. These leaders chose to use power in a self-gratifying way. As a result, Kozlowski and Swartz entered a case that â€Å"exposed the executive’s extravagant lifestyle after they pilfered some $600 million from the company including a $2 million toga party for Kozlowski’s wife on a Mediterranean island and an $18 million Manhattan apartment with a $6,000 shower curtain† (MSNBC, 2005). These men were making decisions that did not reflect the company’s overall goal for success. The unlawful actions represented the misuse of leadership. Tyco International Ltd experienced a disruption in organizational behavior as a result of this scandal. Organizational behavior is concerned with actions of people and how these specific actions and behaviors affect the overall performance of the company (Robbins & Judge, 2007). Kozlowski and Swartz exhibited corrupt behavior and illegal actions for their benefit. Their actions caused a scandal that changed the way that the public and company members viewed Tyco International Ltd. Unethical practices led to fraud, stealing, and eventually perjury (MSNBC, 2005). Overall, these men undermined the values and standards of the company. They were prosecuted and Tyco International Ltd was able to move forward. Today, Tyco International Ltd has an ethical standard in place. According to Verschoor (2006), â€Å"Against a dismal backdrop of corrupted ethics and failed governance, Ed Breen, Tyco chairman and CEO, began the process of ethical reform when he joined the company in the middle of 2002† (p. 15). Tyco now has four core values that include: integrity, excellence, teamwork, and accountability. These values are listed and explained in the 40-page booklet titled The Tyco Guide to Ethical Conduct: Doing the Right Thing (Verschoor, 2006). Employees are urged to report any unethical actions and must remain compliant with all standards. Unlike other businesses faced with scandal, Tyco survived. Managers realized the need for installing strict rules and standards that would require enforcement. As a result, the organizational behavior of Tyco became more stable. New standards make it more difficult for unethical behavior to slip by and cause scandal. Tyco International Ltd turned a negative situation into a learning experience. References MSNBC.  (2005).  Ex-Tyco executives get up to 25 years in prison.  Retrieved from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9399803/ns/business-corporate_scandals Robbins, S. P., & Judge, T. A. (2007). Organizational Behavior (12th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Verschoor, C. C. (2006,  April). Tyco: An Ethical Metamorphosis. Strategic Finance, 87(10), 15-16.

Erin Brockovich Blog Essay

In the film, we see that Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) had known for several years about the water contamination problems that existed near their plants in California. PG&E is trying quietly to buy land that was contaminated by hexavalent chromium, a deadly toxic waste that the company is improperly and illegally dumping and, in turn, poisoning the residents in the area. This fact becomes apparent when a newly hired file clerk, Erin Brockovich, runs across some files on a pro bono case involving medical records in real-estate files and PG&E offering to acquire the home of Hinkley, California, resident Donna Jensen. It can be seen here that PG&E engaged in a crime. This white collar deviance involved the type called physical harm and moral harm. Erin Brockovich: Oh see, now that pisses me off. First of all, since the demur we have more than 400 plaintiffs and†¦ let’s be honest, we all know there are more out there. They may not be the most sophisticated people but they do know how to divide and $20 million isn’t *shit* when you split it between them. Second of all, these people don’t dream about being rich. They dream about being able to watch their kids swim in a pool without worrying that they’ll have to have a hysterectomy at the age of *twenty*. Like Rosa Diaz, a client of ours. Or have their spine deteriorate, like Stan Blume, *another* client of ours. So before you come back here with another lame ass offer, I want you to think real hard about what your spine is worth, Mr. Walker. Or what you might expect someone to pay you for your uterus, Ms. Sanchez. Then you take out your calculator and you multiply that number by a hundred. Anything less than that is a waste of our time. In this scene PG&E attorneys are trying to settle the lawsuit with a mediocre offer that Erin finds unacceptable. The case had changed to a binding arbitration. Therefore no jury would be present and a judge would make the final decision. This type of litigation was classified as a tort case.

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (1828 †1910)

Type of Work: Tragic love storySetting Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia; nineteenth century Plagiarism Detection >Principal Characters Robert Jordan, an American fighting with Spanish Loyalists Anna Karenina, a beautiful young woman Alexey, her cold, vindictive husband Count Vronsky, a young military officer who falls in love with Anna Stepan Oblonsky, Annas spendthrift brother Dolly, Stepans frustrated wife Kitty, Dollys sister Levin, Stepans rusticc friend, and Kittys suitorStory Overveiw Stepan Oblonskys wife Dolly had discovered that her husband was having an affair. With her beauty fading and her household a wreck, she had had enough. Stepan fretfully wrote to his sister, Anna Karenina, asking her to come to Moscow and convince Dolly not to leave him.Later, while working at his job in the entrenched Moscow bureaucracy, Stepan received an unexpected visitor: Levin, an old friend from the university, came to discuss Dollys sister Kitty, whom he wanted to marry. After being inform ed by Stepan that he had a rival for Kittys affections, a certain Count Vronskv of St. Petersburg, Levin resolved that he would propose to Kitty that very night.At that same moment, Anna and Count Vronsky were riding together in a train bound for Moscow. Vronsky noticed the charming woman as he made his way to the first-class compartment that he shared with his mother. He had time to take note of the suppressed eagerness which played over her face as their eyes met, and she remained in his mind. However, upon reaching their destination, the two went their separate ways Anna to her brothers home, Vronsky and his mother to a hotel.Approached by Anna, Dolly at first refused to discuss her husbands infidelity. Everythings lost after what has happened, evervthinqs over! she raged. But finally she relented to Annas plea to keep the family together.Meanwhile, Levin had arrived early at a dinner party hosted by the parents of Kitty and Dolly, determined to make his desires known to Kitty b efore the appearance of the rich and handsome Count. But That cannot be forgive me, Kitty replied upon hearing his stammering proposal. Crushed by the rejection, Levin escaped from the gathering at the first opportunity.A few days later, at her coming-out ball, Kitty couldnt help but notice how Anna and Vronsky kept gazing at each other. Vronskys face had a look that puzzled her . . . like the expression of an intelligent dog when it had done wrong. It was clear to Kitty that the two were in love.Nevertheless, with her task of seeing to Stepan and Dolly completed, Anna boarded the next train for St. Petersburg. She thought of her son, Seryozha, and her husband, Alexey.. Mv life will go on in the old way, all nice and as usual she thought. But she found that she could not easily dismiss Count Vronsky from her mind. And stepping along the way, as Anna stepped out for a breath of air, there he was. You know that I have come to be where you are; I cant help it, confessed the officer. Anna was both delighted and flattered by this, but it was simply unthinkable that anything could come of his attraction to her. After all, she was a married woman.Back in Moscow, Kitty was devastated. Not only had Count Vronsky spurned her, but Levin had also left the city to supervise work on his country estate. Humiliated and distraught, Kitty became so ill with despair that she was soon unable to eat or sleep. Her frantic parents, after finding no restorative medical treatment in Moscow, sent her to Europe to consult various doctors.Meanwhile, life for Anna in St. Petersburg remained strangely unsettled. The happiness that in Moscow had fairly flashed from her eyes, [now seemed] hidden somewhere far away. To her further disquiet, the love-struck Vronsky took every opportunity to see her. One night she knelt and begged him to leave her in peace; but still he persisted: I cant think of you and myself apart. You and I are one to me. And at that moment Anna let her eyes rest on him, full of love.Soon afterward, Alexey Karenina walked into a party and found his wife with Vronsky; but Anna denied any impropriety. Still, she and Vronsky met night after night, with Alexey seemingly powerless or unwilling to stop them. Anna by now felt so sinful, so guilty; but still she could not curb her passion for the Count.The following summer, while staving at her husbands villa outside the city, Anna confronted her lover with an announcement: she was pregnant. Though he understood the gravity of Annas position, Vronsky smiled. This was the turning point he had been longing for.Leave your husband and make our life one, he implored. But Anna shook her head. If she left, Alexey would take sole custody of Seryozha and she would not be allowed to see her son. But Anna did promise Vronsky that she would tell her husband the truth about the child she was carrying.When Anna made her confession, Alexey, instead of showing jealousy or indignation, merely warned his wife against public displays of flirtation. His sole concern was to preserve his social and business reputation; a duel or a divorce would only serve to disgrace him. The family cannot be broken up by a whim, a caprice, or even by the sin of one of the partners in the marriage, he informed Anna Our life must go on as it has done in the past.Anna reacted to his words at first with guilt and shame, but this quickly turned to anger: He knows that I cant repent that I breathe, that I love; he knows that it can lead to nothing but lying and deceit- but he wants to go on torturing me . . . Vronsky also was increasingly anxious to begin a new life with Anna, who would not leave her son. And so, the position was one of misery for all three Kitty had by now returned to Moscow, feeling somewhat better. One morning, just after dawn, Levin caught sight of her in a carriage, as it skirted his estate destined for her familys summer home. The pangs of love, long since buried, welled up in him once more. Months late r, taking advantage of a trip to the city, he called again upon Kitty. It was apparent to both that they cared deeply for each other, and, after a proper courtship, they were united as man and wife. Levin, for years caught up in trying to find out who he was and where he fit in Gods universe, had finally and happily found his place.But in St. Petersburg, relationships were breaking up. The nearer Anna came to the birth of her child, the more demanding and cold Alexey became. Then Anna survived a deadly fever to give birth to a baby girl. Oddly, the difficulty of the birth eased the tensions between herself and her husband. At the other extreme, Vronsky saw no end to the barriers separating him from his lover. Desperate at the prospect of living without Anna, he unsuccessfully tried shooting himself. Still torn, Anna finally did move in with him, and soon the couple left Russia to live in Italy for a time.Meanwhile, Kitty and Levin were living on their estate outside of Moscow. Levin felt gratified to be spiritually sustained by a loving wife. Like Anna, Kitty went through a difficult pregnancy, but it culminated in the birth of a fine little boy. Theirs was an idyllic life.Upon returning from Italy to St. Petersburg, Vronsky and Anna, found themselves ostracized. Gossip followed them everywhere. The couple argued frequently, and Anna, in a burst of depression, finally accused Vronsky of being unfaithful. Even after they moved into a newly-inherited estate, Anna felt alone in the world. She revived her habit of taking a little morphine to help her sleep, a legacy from her pregnancy.Summer turned to winter, and the family relocated again, this time to Moscow. There, the badly strained relationship fared no better. Though Anna pled for Vronsky to love her and give her security, at the same time she increasingly insisted on greater freedom. This is becoming unbearable! Vronsky screamed one day. Why do you try my patience? It has limits. Anna could only gaze at him with terror at the undisguised hatred in his whole face. Vronsky checked himself: I mean to say I must ask what it is you want of me? All I want, she replied, is that you dont desert me, as you think of doing . I want love, and there is none. .. Vronsky vainly protested; he would never cease to love her.Suddenly, Anna turned on Vronsky, cursing him for the sacrifices she had made to be with him her marriage, her son, her social position Delirious with bitterness, Anna had no place to turn; Vronsky, she was convinced, had found another, and she could never return to Alexey. Ambling into the train station, she purchased a ticket. Then, standing on the platform, watching the trains, she said to herself.. I will punish him and escape from everyone and from myself.Measuring both the speed of the oncoming train and her resolve to end her suffering, she jumped. Something huge and merciless struck her on the head and rolled on her back. Lord, forgive me all!Anna Karenina was dead.Comme ntary Leo Tolstoy is considered one of Russias greatest nineteenth-century novelists, an honor he shares with Dostoievsky. Tolstoy, however, focuses his novels on the vicissitudes of the upper-classes rather than on Dostoievskys underprivileged peasants or criminals. Plagiarism Detection >Tolstoy foresaw the end of the aristocracy in Russian society. Serfs had already been set free; the working class was beginning to expand in power. Moreover, new mores and morals were being imported from the West, and societys upper crust was the first to feel the strain of these changes a strain running an undercurrent throughout Anna Karenina.The novel reads like a soap opera, with the exhaustive cast of characters continually creating their own problems. Contrast Annas tragic quest for love and personal fulfillment with the spiritual odyssey of Levin. Through hard work and the support of an understanding family, his search is rewarded by happiness. Thus, Tolstoys gripping masterpiece revolves a round the dissimilar paths of these two characters, allowing a forum for the authors commentary on Russias maze-like social system, fraught with unresolved incongruities.

Parkinson's disease Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Parkinson's disease - Essay Example to treat Parkinson’s Disease associated symptoms, but has also proven to be an inappropriate treatment choice in patients with a history of psychosis or seizures. Amantadine may also be used to treat outbreaks of influenza A in humans. The problems experienced with the use of Amantadine is that its side effects are almost as bothersome or adverse as the symptoms that it is meant to treat. It is also lethal if taken by patients with renal conditions or with renal failure. Amantadine essentially is flushed out of the body via urine. In cases of renal failure however, a patient’s body may not effectively excrete the amount of Amantidine expected to be expelled by the body per normal dosage. When researching this particular medication, it is quite difficult to ascertain all of the facts surrounding its potency and effectiveness. Medline Plus provides only an approximation of what a dosage might be in patients prescribed this medication, as well as a few possible side effects that may be experienced. Another site known as mental health.com, describes in more detail, the pharmacology of Amantadine which is also known as Symmetrel. This source explains that Amantadine works by allowing the brain to release dopamine from nerve endings. This allows for available dopamine excretion which then activates dopaminergic receptors. (Long M.D., 1995). Among the few sources discussed thus far, the depth to which the antiparkinson’s drug known as Amantadine was examined was somewhat vague and lacking in detail or argument as to why this drug supersedes the potency or effectiveness of other antiparkinson’s medications. A more thorough source which detailed a double blind study by Thomas et al effectively described the specifics of Amantadine’s use in patients with Parkinson’s Disease as well as how those patients benefit from this particular drug which possesses a still unknown mechanism of effectiveness (Thomas et al, 2004). The drug known as Levodopa is

Challenges Employees face with electronic health records Research Paper

Challenges Employees face with electronic health records - Research Paper Example Hence, there will be three parts in the research methodology, 1- description of the research strategy, 2- description of sampling strategy and 3- detail description and justification of the data collection instruments. As the researcher will use questionnaire survey method to collect data hence the study will also highlight ethical issues associated with the paper. Research Strategy The researcher has the option to select either qualitative research or quantitative research to conduct the analysis but the researcher will use quantitative research techniques for analyzing demographic variables while qualitative methodology will be used in order to analyze data from the perception perspective of respondents. Quantitative research methodology helps researchers to address â€Å"what is† and â€Å"what might be† components in any research question while qualitative methodology helps in understanding perception of respondents (Roslender 250). Qualitative research methodology can also be used in order to social praxis of the research problem or critical issues regarding any kind of process change (Tinker 18.1; 101). Although these researchers used quantitative research methodology for accounting research but quantitative research methodology can be successfully used for addressing business research problems (Saunders, Lewis, and Adrian 100-102). Hence the researcher will use mix of quantitative and qualitative research technique backed by primary and secondary data sources. Key purpose of this paper is to understand â€Å"how employees at Eye Health Vision Centers feel about the transition from paper charts to Electronic Health Records† Hence the questionnaire will be decided on the basis of this primary research questions and staff in the ophthalmology centers will be the key participants in the questionnaire survey. As mentioned in the module 1, a particular ophthalmology centre (name of the centre will not be used due to confidentiality norm in ethical form) will be selected as the study setting. Any survey is incomplete without questionnaire while close ended questionnaire used in order to check response of respondents on particular topic and open ended questions are used in order to gather perception of respondents. However, in case of medical research on perception of staff about particular system, it is better to use open ended questionnaire (Whiddett, Hunter, Engelbrecht and Handy 75; 532). Hence, the researcher will use open ended questions will be used in order to understand experience of staff at ophthalmology centre regarding transition from paper charts to Electronic Health Records. There is more than 40 staff in the ophthalmology centre and they work in different department in the ophthalmology centre hence researcher will need to identify mutually exclusive but collectively exhaustive sample size which can represent the behavior of sample population. Hence, in the next section, the researcher will brief the sa mpling strategy that has been selected for the research. Sampling Strategy In the ophthalmology centre, there are more than 40 employees and each of the employees has different experience regarding

Industry Experience Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Industry Experience - Assignment Example My experience would contribute to the development of a management report because I have the background and knowledge in management to help a company formulate its overall strategies and goals. For example, I am aware that HRM (Human Resource Management) is one of the prime examples through which strategic management can influence what occurs within a company by a mixture of theory and pragmatic practice. It is seen by practitioners in the field as a more innovative view of workplace management than the traditional approach. Its techniques force the managers of an enterprise to express their goals with specificity so that they can be understood and undertaken by the workforce, and to provide the resources needed for them to successfully accomplish their assignments. As such, HRM techniques, when properly practiced, are expressive of the goals and operating practices of the enterprise overall. Many firms are realizing that a traditional functional organization is evermore unsuitable for the current environment in which they operate. The present time and environment demand firms to be more agile and adapt quickly to their surroundings. The best method here, firms have realized, is to develop easily deployable teams containing individuals that are fit for certain jobs and projects. The process by which a firm formulates and implements its strategy through the resources at its disposal. It can be mirrored with the actual definition of management as well in that it is devising goals and methods by which an organization is to be run, with a direction (Kono, 1996). Strategic management dwells upon where the firm currently stands, where it will be in three (short term), five (mid term) or ten (long term) years if no changes are made, whether this predicted position of the firm is acceptable, and if not, what changes will have to be made now in order to secure a position where it is envisioned to be in. Strategic management rises above the petty problems of day to day business processes to devise a direction for the firm and

Questions on the case of WELLS FARGO Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Questions on the case of WELLS FARGO - Essay Example In the California financial code, there is a provision that ensures parity where the commissioner is allowed to issue commands in regulating a California chattered bank to conduct any activity that is allowed for a national chattered bank (FindLaw, 2011). In the determination of whether a federal statute preempts a state law, there is the general presumption that the supremacy clause of the constitution to the United States federal statutes does not preempt the historic powers of the state police. This can only happen if the preemption has the clarity of the United States congress purpose. The general presumption in opposition to preemption, we narrowly interpret the accurate language of the national law or regulation to determine whether a meticulous state law declaration is preempted ((White Paper 2010, 11). State banks are authorized to conduct activities that are not allowed for national banks. This shows that even if Wells Fargo Bank was a Californian chartered bank, it could ha ve taken its case to the court of appeal. If the national chattered bank was able to do that, the California chattered bank was able to do the same. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Federal Reserve Bank (FRB) conduct examinations in the bank alternatively. The alternation of examination programs, which is either, in a twelve or eighteen month cycle allows the bank to have privacy by keeping intruders off the bank (White Paper 2010, 1). Had 16 F.R. 1904 not included the statement that â€Å"the regulation is a clarification of existing law," the case could have taken a different turn because it could have favored the plaintiff. In this case, Smith did not get any favor for the section stipulated that the case was clarified (FindLaw, 2011). Smith was not lucky because the disclosure he accused the bank to have been preempted in the same ruling. In that regard, the case of advertising being misleading was not favored by the court. If the section was not clarifies, smith could have been favored because the advertisement could have been claimed as misleading. On the other hand, smith did not have any evidence because he did not provide any advert which had affirmative misinterpretation. Smith’s allegations could not have been overruled if he had the advert which was misinterpreted by customers as he claimed (White Paper 2010, 2). The police powers would still have protected the consumer because they are supposed to protect the regulation of consumers and the bank or financial institution. The plaintiff would have been in a very happy mood but, his expectations were turned down because of the insertion of that phrase about clarification. The ruling would have affected the bank in hard manner because colossal amount of money could have been paid as fine due to the ignorance of rules in the bank. The plaintiff could have received benefits but, now he was forced to bear with the circumstances (Portfolio Media, Inc., 2010). Truth in Savings A ct (12 U.S.C. 4301 et. seq.), it is also known as TISA which an acronym. It is a federal law in the United States which was passed on December 19th, 1991. The act was a part of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991. It establishes the uniformity of the terms that regard interests and fees which are paid in the process of opening accounts and passing information (Cfpb, 2011). The United States congress was behind the passing of the law as it noted that it was determined to enhance

What relationships do you find between gran nursing theories and Coursework

What relationships do you find between gran nursing theories and application to clinical practice.provide one example that uses a specific gran range theory to support your views - Coursework Example For instance Orlando’s nursing process theory offers insights on the nursing process (Parker & Smith, 2010). This theory notes that nurses ought to connect to patients and guarantee that patients acquire what they need by focusing on the verbal and non-verbal expression of the patient. In essence, grand theories offer an overall framework for structuring of nursing interventions (Meleis, 2007). Orlando’s nursing process theory provides a framework of alleviating distress among the patients by focusing on the reactions of the nurses to the patient’s behavior (Blais et al., 2006) McEwen and Smith (2014) acknowledge that the primary concept of a grand theory is to direct the processes of nursing. For instance, Orlando’s nursing process theory is directly linked to practice as it directs the procedures of nursing care by focusing on the responses of the nurses to the behavior and actions of the patient (Meleis, 2007). The concepts of this theory serve as categories to the nurse in establishing what information is significant and should be gathered to assess and formulate nursing diagnoses (Blais et al., 2006). Notably, abstract concepts from grand theories direct all the stages of nursing operations, including planning, espousal and evaluation of nursing care, while also explaining the desired reactions to care and outcomes of

Concepts and Models of Environmental Hazards Assignment

Concepts and Models of Environmental Hazards - Assignment Example GIS permit the combination of various types of spatial data, with non-spatial data, attribute them and use them as useful information in the various phases of disaster management (Goodchild, et al, 1996). GIS has played a fundamental role in the study of majority of the 20th and 21st century environmental concerns and especially global warming. From the quantification of glacier retreat all the way to the measurement of carbon environmental appropriation, GIS has played a major role in the collection of data, analysis of the same, modeling and also reporting or dissemination of knowledge (Goodchild, et al, 1996). Hazard A hazard is generally any source of potential harm, damage, or health effect on something or someone under particular condition. Hazards can range from biological agents like bacteria to safety hazards like slipping and machine malfunctioning (Toyos, et al, 2007). However, the common way of classifying hazards is by category where you get categories like environmental hazards, biological hazards, and physical hazards among others. Environmental hazards range in nature from geophysical hazards such as flooding, tsunami, volcanic eruption, and earthquakes to biophysical hazards like droughts and diseases. There are also technological hazards like chemical incidents various types of pollutions, and nuclear incidents, all of which threatens the long-term sustainability of the environment. Natural events such as hurricanes and earthquakes are obviously hazardous to man, which is the same case with environmental events like volcanic eruptions and tsunamis (Carrara, & Guzzetti, 1999). The disasters that can be caused by natural hazards are mainly resulting from man’s omission or commission. In this regard, I am referring to man’s actions that either increase susceptibility, or lack of appropriate actions to not only anticipate but also mitigate the possible damage of these events. A common denominator with all hazards is the risk. For an event to be categorized as a hazard it must have certain degree of risk. In fact, the best way to look at a risk is the chance or probability of harming a person if such a person is exposed to a certain event (hazard) that predisposes him/her to such a probability (Carrara, & Guzzetti, 1999). This therefore means that for an event to be classified as a hazard it much be exposing a person to risk of whatever nature. Advantages of GIS In a landslide study, data on hydrology, slope steepness, rock composition, and other factors can be combined with data on previous landslide to determine the conditions under which landslide are likely to occur (Saha, et al, 2005). To analyze all possible factors with manual techniques is almost next to impossible, therefore, only two factors can be analyzed in normal circumstance, after which the composite map are combined with the landslide inventory map. However with GIS, it is possible to analyze various factors that are associated with present cond itions and historical events, including presence of infrastructure, present land use, among others (Tassetti, et al, 2008). A good example of the application of this technique can be found in OAS/DRDE, which has been using this technique to overlay maps of slope steepness, geology, slope orientation, vegetation, and hydrology, after which it overlays the results with a landslide invento

Healthcare system Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Healthcare system - Essay Example There are a number of health care systems within a nationality that may include the occupational safety and health, military medicine and school health services among many others. The health care systems have identified a number of goals to meet to ensure the health concerns of the population are met. Health systems seek to ensure good health among the people, to help the people to have a fair system of contributing their finances towards the system, and to increase the rate of responsiveness in order to meet the expectations of the beneficiaries of the system. To meet this goals therefore quality of service provided, the efficacy of the provision of these services, their acceptability among the people and their equity in dealing with the target population must be on the forefront of all the health systems. England has adopted a health system known as The National Health Service (NHS) which has the mandate to provide healthcare for English nationals. Serving under the department of health of the government of the United Kingdom, this body is publicly funded and it provides most of its health care services for free apart from some medical services that relate to the eye tests, prescriptions and the dental care as well. This body provides health services like in-patient care, dentistry, primary care, ophthalmology and long time health care to the patients in need. The body has a private clause as well where the patients can privately pay for their medical care. This system of private medical care has been used to expand the services of the National Health Services. Most of the funding used to cater for the services in the National Health Service comes from taxation among other sources. The largest portion of the expenditure of the department of health is taken up by the National Health S ervice. Main body The National Health Services (NHS) is driven by a number of goals in its service to the people of England. It has identified its core value as the provision of quality medical attention to the people regardless of their ability to pay for the services they require. It provides a great number of services to the people including the fore mentioned dentistry services, optical services and the overall medical care among others (Brodie 2003). It aims at providing medical services that are customized in relation to the needs of the people, their preferences and those of their families as well as those of their careers. Some of the aims of the NHS include to; utilize public funds to offer healthcare services to the patients in the NHS system; support and treat staff as valuables; be sensitive to the needs of the different sections of the population; to adopt a collaborative approach to ensure optimal provision of medical services to the patients; and to assist with ensuring the physical as well as emotional well being of the people in the process mitigate inequalities of health among many other aims. Structure The department of health of the government of the United Kingdom has been charged with the control of the NHS. It provides a political inclination to the NHS representing the will of the government in its jurisdiction. Under the department of health are a total of ten Strategic Health Authorities which directly take up the overseeing

Investment Opportunity Essay Example for Free

Investment Opportunity Essay What is the interest rate or coupon rate?   The stockbroker has already given us the answer to this and it is already very appealing. What is the bond price? The stated bond price refers to the cost of purchase or investment in the bond issue. This part of the question should also include elaboration of the yield to maturity period.   The referred yield to maturity of a bond is the expected rate of return until the bond matures. What is the bonds credit quality, its rating and is it insured? The credit rating of a bond is an initial indicator of the views of the market place considering the position of the issuer’s ability to repay interest and principle on a timely basis. It is very convenient to be aware of the type of bond you want to invest in, that is, an investment grade bond or high yield If the bond is insured, there is guarantee that the investors will be indemnified for their principal amount and interest should the Yubetchyu state default. Investors are also privileged to purchase insurance on purchases of secondary market bonds. What is the tax status? Different types of bonds have different tax status. Interest income from the United States for example is exempted from state and also local taxes. The stock broker should expound on whether the Yubetchyu state is likely to drop state and local income taxes. What is the tax break worth? There should be the ample consideration of the tax break worth. This is mostly determined by the state you are in and your income tax bracket. It is therefore advisable to consult from financial professionals before investing in areas carrying out tax implications. What is the actual yield after my broker has taken his commission and fees? Calculations of the total yield should be done with relevance to deductions. It is calculated as follows:   Annual Interest à · Price = Yield, this however does not reflect fees charged on the brokers commission or the overall transaction. This is rather calculated as a percentage of the sales. What is the transaction type of the bond? Before purchasing a bond, it is important to know whether the bond is being offered for the first time or not. New issue bonds are more likely to prove difficult to invest in since the competition is against institutions and professional investors. Finally how credible is my advisor? Is he a registered one and if so, how long has he been working in the field of investing in bonds for clients. By asking these questions, you determine what kind of investment advisor you are associating with.

War in Iraq Essay Example for Free

War in Iraq Essay The name of the Second Gulf War has often been referred with the Iraq War, which has begun from March 20, 2003 and is still deteriorating lives of millions of people in the Iraqi region of the world. In the year 2003, invasion of Iraq was led by the United States of America, and this war is still ongoing, which has affected the world adversely. Development of weapons of mass destruction was one of the main rationales that were presented by the government of the George W. Bush, as well as, his supporters in the form of different Democratic and Republican parties. (Danchev, 2005) According to the Bush government, allies and interests of the United States posed a threat from the development of abovementioned weapons by the Iraq. In the year 2003, it was claimed during the State of the Union Address by the President George W. Bush that there was no time to wait for the imminence of the threat from the Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. However, such weapons were not found by the United States after the invasion of the Iraq. In order to support the decision of the Bush’s government, connection was made between the al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein by the citing of their claims. (Murray, 2003) Another reason for the invasion of Iraq that was given by the George W. Bush was the democracy in the Iraq, which was necessary for the development, as well as, stability of the country due to the abuse that was being done by the government of the Saddam Hussein in the Iraq in terms of human rights before the invasion. In addition, it was been claimed that the non-military options were limited, as oil supply of the Iraq possessed economic importance in the region. However, all these claims, citations, and reasons were regarded as a technique for the invasion in the Iraq for the personal interest of the government of the George W. Bush. (Moore, 2004) March 2003 witnessed the beginning of the war in Iraq. In March 2003, Iraq was attacked by a force of American, as well as, British forces. In addition, small Australian, Dutch, and Polish contingents supported this invasion of the Iraq. Subsequently, Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was overthrown in this invasion by the abovementioned forces. Iraq was occupied by the coalition that was led by the United States, and a new democratic government was established in terms of attempts by these forces. (Murray, 2003) However, order in the Iraq was not restored by the coalition forces that were led by the United States successfully. Asymmetric warfare resulted in the unrest with the insurgents of the Iraq. In addition, Sunni and Shia of the Iraq began a civil war between themselves. In order to keep in pace, operations of the al-Qaeda were also observed in the Iraq, which are still ongoing in the region and worsening and affecting lives of thousands of Iraqi civilians, as well as, the soldiers of the coalition forces. (Moore, 2004) In the result, Iraq has witnessed withdrawal of an increasing number of nations that have withdrawn their soldiers and troops from the region due to a high rate of growth of mortality of the soldiers due to a number of reasons during the war in Iraq. In addition, extreme and controversial causes, as well as, consequences have been found in remain in this war. (Danchev, 2005) Criticism As we have discussed above, Iraq War that has begun by the Bush government with the support of troops and forces of supportive countries, has been unsuccessful. In the result, a number of losses have deteriorated the United States in different and various ways. In this paper, we will try to discuss and analyze the losses that have been confronted by the United States, due to the Iraq’s invasion in March 2003 until present. Casualties of the War Many forms have been observed in the casualties of the war in Iraq since March 2003 until present. In addition, great variation has been noted in the available information, as well as, its accuracy and validity regarding the occurrence of different types of incidents that have resulted in different types of casualties in the Iraq. Daily and careful updating and tracking of the death toll of the coalition forces that have been led by the United States is done. In this regard, wide publication has been distributed and telecasted for the names and photographs of the wounded, injured, and even dead soldiers and members of the coalition forces. (Moore, 2004) However, less accuracy, reliability, and validity has been observed in the casualties of civilian, as well as, military forces of the Iraq in the war. Bias and partiality has been observed in the recording and updating of the death tolls of these forces in the region. In this regard, a number of reporters on the scene have been able to provide the estimates and other related information regarding the casualty levels of the forces in the region. In addition, organizations that are involved in the incidents and operations have also been contacted for the statistics. (Murray, 2003) Even in the great variation, it is confirmed that the Iraq War has deteriorated and terminated thousands of lives and damaged houses and habitats of many lives in the region, which has resulted in the opposition and criticism of the war by a number of experts, professionals, critics, and even the Americans. On June 28, 2004, interim government of the Iraq was handed over with the official authority over the area; towns across Iraq have shown a number of unending attacks on the coalition forces and troops. The casualty numbers of these soldiers and troops of the coalition forces are still increasing and updated by a number of different resources that shows that the Iraq war is continuing to worsen the lives of thousands of people in different parts of the world. In the result, it has resulted in the opposition for this war. (Murray, 2003) Over nineteen thousand casualties have been suffered by the military of the United States, as the fourth year started on March 19, 2006 during the war in Iraq. The numbers of wounded soldiers in the war came out to be more than seventeen thousand in the Iraq, and approximately two thousand three hundred bodies of the U. S. soldiers were sent to the United States from the Iraq. In April 2003, a number of insurgents in the Iraq performed various operations that resulted in ninety-five percent of the abovementioned casualties of the soldiers. The fall of Baghdad in the Iraq is claimed to be one of the causes of the insurgency in the region. Signs of consistency and ferocity were showed by these Iraqi insurgents, especially during the violent period of September 11 in the same year 2003. (Moore, 2004) (Michael, 2006) In Fallujah, a bridge was used to hang the bodies of four contractors of the United States, who were killed by the Iraqi insurgents and mutilation of their bodies was done by the insurgents’ lethality was dramatically increased by this incident. In the result, the efforts for the Iraq war were escalated by the Bush government, and more costly war was the result of this escalation. In the second year of the war, wounded soldiers were 8,454 and 936 died by the operations of the opposition. (Danchev, 2005) All these casualties included a broken leg, or a broken arm, which created a sense of fear and opposition in the Iraqi, as well as, American civilians. A number of American soldiers were sent to their homes with one leg, or one hand that changed their lives from their scratch. A soldier, who used to protect the country, now can look in the sky and dream of doing the same, while sitting on his wheel chair. This was the condition of many soldiers in the United States. This resulted in the hatred towards the Bush government, and towards the decision of sending American soldiers in the Iraq. (Abrams, 2003) In this regard, the unsuccessful result of the Iraq War has resulted in a number of losses for the United States government, as well as, for the civilians of the Iraq, as well as, United States and other supportive countries that are engaged in the war in Iraq. (Michael, 2006) A range of serious health issues, as well as, mental disorders has been reported by many veterans of the Iraq War in the United States forces. Tumors, migraines, blood in urine, muscle pains, dysfunction of the sex, and a number of issues have been reported by the coalition forces in the Iraq. In this regard, utilization of radioactive depleted uranium has been found to be causing the abovementioned health issues and disorders in the coalition forces, which cannot be stopped during the war. Thus, the Iraq War has provided a number of serious losses to the United States government. (Murray, 2003) In addition, posttraumatic stress disorder has been found in a number of soldiers according to the New England Journal on Medicine that has published a study by the U. S. veterans in the year 2004. Before the deployment of these soldiers, 5 to 10 percent of the soldiers in these troops were already suffering from the abovementioned disorder, as the lethality of the insurgents and the Iraq war has tend the soldiers to face this disorder in them. On December 25, 2006, the total deaths of the 9/11, that is, 2973 deaths were equaled, and even surpassed by the death toll of military deaths of the United States in the Iraq. For instance, it was reported by an article in Newsday that the death toll of September 11 was pushed down by an explosion that occurred on the Christmas Day in the Iraq. The Iraq War has resulted in amputees of approximately five hundred American soldiers, as of January 18, 2007. A 24-year old corporal is considered the 500th victim of the Iraq War according to an article of the Time magazine. On January 12, 2007, a roadside bomb explosion resulted in the amputation of both of his legs. A number of soldiers have gone through the same situation and confrontation due to the war in Iraq, which tends to go for the opposition of this war. Mental illnesses, brain injuries related to the trauma have also been reported and found in the American soldiers due to the war in Iraq. Some level of care has been received by nearly two thousand soldiers that have injury in their brains due to several different reasons and causes related to the war in Iraq. (Abrams, 2003) This shows that the war in Iraq has deteriorated not only the lives of the Iraqi civilians and military, but has also resulted in the deterioration of the American civilians and lives of thousands of military officials and soldiers in the United States.

An Exploratory Study On Student Engagement Education Essay

An Exploratory Study On Student Engagement Education Essay Research on higher education studies places emphasis on quality educational practices. This is especially true in a country such as Lebanon, which has experienced rapid growth in the number of institutes of higher education, and, in parallel, the number of university students. Engaging undergraduate students has been one major area of focus since research has shown engaging educational activities enhance the educational process and setting. Engaged students learn more material and learn it more effectively. Benchmarks and techniques have been established in order to engage the disengaged members of a student body. Training academic faculty and staff in the area of engagement, and the application of engaging techniques presents institutes of higher education with new possibilities for enhancing the quality of education. 116 Lebanese students completed an engagement survey in a preliminary study on variables which may correspond to levels of engagement. The study found that gender and years at university were significantly related to higher levels of engagement. 1 Introduction According to Hu and Kuh [1] student engagement is the most important factor of higher education in terms of learning and development. They define engagement as the quality of student effort devoted to educationally purposeful activities. Their research has revealed that academic performance improves as a result of challenging goals in the classroom environment. They also found that students want to both find and master challenges in and out of the classroom environment. However, a great number of students do not believe they are being adequately challenged to meet their academic needs. Many students also report they are not participating in activities that are known to be engaging. 1.1 Student Disengagement Research conducted at the University of California at Santa Barbara [2] showed an emerging culture of disengagement. This is due to several societal factors. Flacks and Thomas[2] believe that, in an effort to accommodate higher numbers of students, scholastic quality has been compromised. The amount of time students spend studying and participating in on-campus activities has decreased as they spend more time working and socializing off campus. Students seemed to be less prepared academically when they start college courses; therefore they are unable to avail themselves of all the university experience has to offer. Consequently, they are less engaged [3]. Boyer [4] believed that higher education is increasingly a part of the problem of student disengagement as opposed to being a part of the solution. Some institutes of higher education have become places students are credentialed rather then fostered to address the problems of their societies. In order to facilitate the scholarship of engagement, academia must connect the rich resource of our students to the responsibility thereof and address the social, civic, and ethical problems of civilization. In doing so, the scholarship of engagement will show its worth and service to a worldwide audience [4]. 1.2 Engagement Current research and literature show student demographics, habits and interests have changed over time [5, 6, 7]. This new campus culture has led to changing student expectations as well. Students want to be challenged and they want to know that their instructor is available to them both in and out the classroom. Students prefer instructors that motivate them to engage with classroom content [8, 9]. Creating activities related to student habits would better engage students in classroom content. For example, Kuh [9] found that surfing the internet was the leisure activity which demonstrated the greatest increase from 1996 until 2001. Students also spent more time listening to music, and watching movies than in previous years. Institutes of Higher Education should accommodate the needs and expectations of these new students. Emerging technology has necessitated the inclusion of interactivity, more involvement with the teacher as facilitator, and a greater emphasis on technology as a learning tool into traditional models of learning and course design. Educationally purposeful activities using information technology, such as emailing faculty or students about assignments, encouraged collaboration and increased contact with other students and faculty. Using information technology had a strong positive relationship with students overall measure of engagement. [9] An engaging classroom results in students engaged with classmates, instructor, and subject content. Additionally, faculty and student interaction seems to be a significant factor of quality student engagement and satisfaction. Studies have shown a positive correlation exists between engagement scores and faculty availability and access outside of class. [7, 6] Hu and Kuh [1] found student engagement to be a function of the interaction of students and various institutional characteristics. Students who had more positive views of their college or university campus were more likely to have higher engagement scores [10]. Kuh and Hu [11] used data from the College Student Experiences Questionnaire (CSEQ) database to compare undergraduate student experiences at research institutions and their counterparts in other college classifications. This study suggests that student engagement is varied among the different types of institutions. They found liberal arts colleges tended to score better in student engagement than other classifications of colleges. The variance of engaging institutions is related to the institutions mission rather than classification. The belief that small, private liberal arts colleges are more engaging institutions was not supported by the study[11]. However, liberal arts colleges consistently excel in the benchmarking for faculty-student interaction. It is presumed that since classes are smaller there is greater opportunity for faculty-student contact [7]. Defining institutional excellence is only successful in terms of the institutions effective educational practices or processes. The most important indicators of excellence, in the university setting, include quality and focus of instruction, faculty and peer interaction, writing experiences, and active involvement in course work. In an engaged university, the student is highly involved in the culture of the institute both in and out of the classroom. Increased engagement leads to increased acquisition of knowledge, skill development, and higher student graduation (retention) rates [12]. Pike and Kuh [13] compared first- and second-generation college students in levels of engagement and intelligence development. On average, first-generation college students were less engaged, and do not engage in activities associated with success in college, such as living on campus and participating in extra-curricular activities. Low levels of engagement are not related to intelligence but rather to being the first family member to attend college, financial hardships, or living at home. The groups found to be more engaged overall included students living on campus, females, minority students, and students planning to pursue advanced degrees. These students also reported greater perceived gains in their intellectual development and learning performance [13]. Engagement literature suggests that an engaging institutional environment positively affect learning productivity. These institutions not only attempt to engage students in class, but in college life, via social and civic organizations, intramural activities, sports events, and living in the campus community. The commitment to engaging students should be apparent in the institutions mission, vision, and philosophy. The members of the university faculty, staff, and administration must create an environment that engages students on campus and in the classroom [14]. 1.3 Teaching in the classroom If engagement is to be fostered and encouraged in the university setting, it is important to examine the learning environment instructors create. A study by Kuh [8] found that engaged students want prompt feedback. Teacher-student relationships of respect, as opposed to friendship, were also more conducive to learning [6, 7, 8]. One standard of teaching in institutes of higher education is lecturing. Few students possess this type of intelligence and therefore this method is not conducive to an engaging classroom environment. According to The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) annual reports students find methods, such as lecturing and note taking, to be less than engaging [6, 7]. Active learning is student learning via reading, writing, and participating in activities which apply learned concepts in an engaging manner [6, 7]. Engaging activities include class discussions, faculty and peer interactions, socialization in the college context, and interactive assignments [5, 6, 7]. Student affect, a mental and emotional reaction toward learning, demonstrates engagement. Cues, such as student questioning or cognitive or emotional excitement of learning concepts, are examples of positive student affect. Kuh [9] found students with higher levels of affect, displayed more engaging learning behaviors. Teachers who make eye contact, use gestures and humor, and personalize examples in class stimulate higher levels of student affect. Equally important were instructors who develop engaging, active learning while communicating high standards of expected academic performance. [15] Research[14] shows teachers who are successful, as measured by student engagement in the classroom, create an interesting and engaging learning environment. Research also revealed that outstanding teachers employ many types of strategies and methodologies. No single technique or specific delivery methodology yielded a greater number or percentage of engaged students. [14] Henning [16] reported improvement in engagement when there were open classroom discussions, creative questioning, and important and relevant material. One methodology to make course content interesting and relevant is called rhetoric skill. The instructor begins with a narrative open to discussion. The instructor then elicits a more conceptual understanding of the topic as student participation increases. Students are encouraged to actively participate in debate and inquiry until they control the discussion. [16] Similarly, Socratic questioning and responding deepens understanding of concepts that encourage student engagement. Effective teachers create a natural learning environment where students feel safe to express their opinions in a nonjudgmental, unbiased atmosphere. Engagement also increases when students work collaboratively to solve problems. Finally, teachers who create diverse learning experiences will have more engaged and interested students overall [10]. Regardless of methodology, it is important for teachers to emphasize clarity and important points, use relevant examples, and speak intelligibly. To create highly engaged students, teachers must be aware of, and use, many teaching strategies. They should teach from within and become equal participants in the learning process. [17] 2 The case of Lebanon Opportunities for higher education in Lebanon today have reached levels unparalleled in Lebanese history. The first institutes of higher education in Lebanon were the American University of Beirut (formerly the Syrian Protestant College), founded in 1866 and Saint Joseph University, founded in 1875. It wasnt until 1953 that the public university, Lebanese University, was opened. [18] A private university education at that time was only for the elite. After the Lebanese civil war came to an end, and the country began to stabilize, the demand for higher education began to grow. In 1996 the Ministry of Higher Education [18] set new licensing regulations for institutes of higher education. By 2000, 23 institutions (referred to as new universities) had been established. Lebanon currently boasts 41 institutes of higher education [19]. These are divided into 1 public university, 26 private universities, 7 university institutes, 3 university institutes of technology and 4 university institutes for religious studies. [18] The UNESCO Institute for Statistics [20] released a set of gross enrollment ratios on education in Lebanon from in 2008. This shows that more and more females are continuing into higher education. By 2008, 52% of tertiary age students were in tertiary education (46-male: 57-females) [20]. Quantity was not the equivalent of quality, and only 7 of Lebanons universities were labeled as excellent [21]. Lebanon is currently facing a restructuring in the area of higher education. In order to maintain its role as a leader of excellence in education in the Middle East, institutes of higher education must focus on the quality of their students as opposed to the quantity[21]. Quality assurance programs have become critical to Lebanese academics and educational institutes. The Trans-European Mobility Scheme for University Studies (TEMPUS) project, Quality Assurance for Higher Education in Lebanon (QAHEL) is one example. This project is to raise awareness of European models of quality in higher education among Lebanese higher education institutions. [19] 3 The Study The questionnaire was established by Ahlfeldt, Mehta and Sellnow [17] in their research studies of classroom engagement. The questionnaire was proven in their research as both a valid and reliable measure of engagement with an alpha reliability of 0.84. Therefore the researchers felt that this was an appropriate tool of measure for levels of engagement in MUBS classrooms. 3.1Research Questions Are females more engaged than males? Are students who self reported higher GPAs more engaged than those with lower GPAs? Does age play a role in level of engagement? Does the level of student engagement differ according to the number of years at university? 3.2 Sample The researchers administered the questionnaire to 116 English communication skills students at The Modern University for Business and Science (MUBS). MUBS, a new university, was established in 2000 and strives to maintain a quality oriented institute of higher education, in a highly competitive market. In order to establish equal representation in the sample, in terms of the variables tested (gender, GPA, age and years at university), and the majors available at the university, the questionnaire was administered during English communication skills classes during the 1st week of the spring 2010 semester. MUBS doesnt offer a English as a major of study at the university. English communication skills courses are general requirements for all M.U.B.S students, regardless of major, when their language of instruction is English. 4. Results Correlations were run on the variables which were supposed to affect student levels of engagement. These variables were gender, self reported GPA scores, age and years at university. The relationship between gender and engagement was assessed using a paired-samples T-test. A significant relationship was found in the relationship between gender and student perceptions of engagement. On average females showed significantly greater levels of engagement, (F = 79.029, SE 1.428), than males (M= 70.407, SE 1.502), t (116) = -66.162, p In order to assess the relationship between age and engagement, a bivariate correlation was used. There was no significant relationship between the age of students and engagement, r = -.069, p (one-tailed) >.05. In order to assess the relationship between self reported GPAs and engagement, a bivariate correlation was used. There was no significant relationship between the self reported GPAs of students and engagement, r = -.072, p (one-tailed) >.05. In order to assess the relationship between years at university and engagement, a bivariate correlation was used. There was a significant relationship between years spent at the university and engagement, r = .243, p (one-tailed) 5. Conclusions: The research on MUBS students coincided with the literature on student engagement. Female and senior students were found to be more engaged than their peers. Age and GPA showed no significant correlations to levels of student engagement. This could be true for a number of factors. First of all women in Lebanon are slowly working to close the gender gap. Yet they may still feel they have to work twice as hard as men to succeed. The other factor which may explain higher engagement among women is directly related to stressors of society. In general there is the notion that girls cant go out as often or stay out as late as boys. Boys are allowed to be bad while girls must be angelic in behavior. These ideas may transfer over into the academic arena. With boys who dont mind achieving less since they are not held accountable. A boys will be boys mentality. In terms of senior student engagement levels, these students are not older and wiser, but rather have more university experience. They know what their teachers expect and meet those expectations readily. Seniors take part in more major courses, are assigned a senior project, and are closer to completing their education and entering the real world. As they race towards graduation they are pushing harder to ensure they graduate on time. This includes a stipulation at the university of a minimum Accumulative GPA of 2.0 in order to graduate. Such factors may account for higher levels of engagement in senior students. One interesting factor was noted on 3 separate questionnaires from the Damour branch. 3 students added notes to their questionnaires. These notes stated that the only time they completed these activities (activities of engagement) was during English sessions. This might be beneficial to future MUBS engagement research. 5. Limitations of the Study and Implications for Future Research The questionnaire was administered in order to complete a preliminary study on student engagement at MUBS. In order for a total quality initiative to take place the class room questionnaire should perhaps be replaced with an NSSE questionnaire. A larger sample size should be tested. Also, Damour students take classes before 2 p.m, in the Hamra branch many courses begin after 2 and some classes continue until 7 or 8 p.m. This study does not take this into consideration. Previous studies on students have shown that the proportion of different religions at MUBS is not representative of a Lebanese sample. This is another limitation to the study. Another factor not tested for, but which may have affected the outcomes, is the idea of urban vs. rural student. Many of the students at MUBS live in villages and travel to university in the city and then back up to their villages in the mountains. They are country folk. This may also have skewed the results. There are also key variables the literature focuses on, and institutional characteristics which may be relevant to the MUBS study. Some of these are number of credits, branch of university, am-pm classes, first generation college student, socio-economic status, religion, choice of major and transfer students.

My First Date Essay -- Narrative Memoir Essays

My First Date   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Her eyes shined like a glossy pearl just washing on a shore of black sand with the warm rays of the sun shining down on it. Lips of bright cherry red went well with the tight black dress she was wearing. The light hit her just right so you could see every luscious curve of her body. She smelled like an ocean breeze coming in to the shore. Just try to imagine the perfect most beautiful woman you have ever seen in your life and times that by ten fold. Absolute perfection on high heals.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The day started out as any other day, but I seemed more excited than I'd ever been. My happiness was radiating off of me. My friend Sean asked, "Seth, why are you so damn excited today?"   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  "Today," I replied, "Is going to be my first date."   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sean said, "Well it's about time."   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  "What do you mean it's about time?"   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  "Well, How long has it been since SHE asked you out?"   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I thought for a second then answered, "About three weeks."   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  "Precisely my point. You guys have been going out for three weeks and this will be your first official date. That's pathetic." He was right, it was pathetic, but the day had come and I couldn't wait to see the shimmer of her eyes. I was ecstatic through all of my classes. After practice, I went home started to make dinner. I planned on making a shrimp scampi dish, but later decided to go with a pasta dish. The end result was a seafood Alfredo stuffed with jumbo shrimp, king crab, oysters, clams, and many other ingredients and spices.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Now that the food was almost done it was time to get ready. I let the Alfredo simmer while I went to take a nice steaming, hot shower. After about 15 minutes, I got out and dried off, then I went to my room to get dressed. I picked out ... ...ent form the kiss. You need to realize though, that was no ordinary kiss. It felt like a million fireworks going off as one. Try to imagine what cartoon characters look like after a really hot woman just gave them a small peck for a kiss. How they're all drooling, how they look retarded with big, melted doggy eyes, and the walk like there drunk. That is how I felt; I mean it was a knock out and for my first kiss too! After the shock passed I calmly did a little jerk with my arm and said, "YES."   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  That was the best night of my life. Chris was and still is an amazing, beautiful girl that I am, proud to say, still going out with and have a strong relationship with. She amazed me then and she amazes me now, and her eyes are still like two pearls fresh out of a pair of clams. I'm a lucky guy for having a girlfriend that is 'made out of the stuff dreams are made of.'

“The Martyrdom of St. Matthew” - Painting Analysis Essays -- Art

I chose â€Å"The Martyrdom of St. Matthew† as the painting that best illustrates the baroque period. The reasons surrounding my decision are clear in Caravaggio’s painting. Here Caravaggio uses the entire canvas to illustrate complexity, flow, and chiaroscuro. The painting depicts the source of lighting to be coming from the left side of the plane. The brightest light focuses directly on Matthew’s executioner who intends to strike Matthew with an old balcanic hand weapon. Caravaggio masterfully illustrates the use of lighting by casting believable shadows. As an example, the shadow of the handle on balcanic hand weapon reflects on the executioner’s left thigh and knee. Another shadow appears on the executioner’s right inner thigh. The lighting source to the left of the executioner, the executioner, St. Matthews, the boy, the 2 observer’s bottom, right, and the fainter lighting upper left of the canvas illustrates the technique of vis ual movement. The lighting is placed strategically, causing visual movement within the piece. For example, the illumination of the executioner’s forearm directs my attention to the angel who appears to be handing St. Matthew a palm leaf. As a result, my eyes then focuses on the body of St. Matthew, lying on the bottom of the altar, then my eyes shifts up toward the Angle’s arm. The lighting on the angel's arm contrasted with the darkness of the palm leaf forces the viewer to look at the hand to see what St. Matthew is reaching for. The boy fleeing the scene further draws in the viewer. The two adult observers at the bottom right of the painting are illuminated but not as bright as the two main characters. Next, my attention is drawn to the man lying on the bottom steps, left side of the canv... ...ic landscapes. The baroque marked the time in which painters considered using subjects other than scenes from the Bible and from classical traditions. The baroque period also was the period in which artists painted portraits, and everyday life scenes. Baroque artist broke away from trying to make the calm balance known to the renaissance artists. Artists from the baroque era were interested in no longer tried in the extreme. They wanted to paint subjects possessing strong emotions; they wanted to capture those emotions and feelings in their work. Instead of just extremes of feeling sometimes, these strong emotions were personal. More often artists tried to portray intense religious emotions. Baroque art attempted to explain how and why their subjects fit as strongly as they did by representing their emotional states as vividly and analytically as possible.

Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart - Internal Conflict Leading to the Do

In Chinua Achebe’s 19th century Nigerian novel Things Fall Apart, the Ibo culture has internal problems, which ultimately cause of the downfall of the clan. These problems include a poor social system, superstitious beliefs, and a lack of suitable decision-making. These few problems are essential. One of the flaws inside the Ibo culture that eventually leads to their downfall is the social system. The weaker people join the church as a way to gain acceptance. The osu, or outcasts who lived in the Ibo culture want to feel accepted and as a result, follow the Christians. â€Å"The two outcasts shaved off their hair, and soon they were the strongest adherents of the new faith† (157). These two outcasts never have the feeling of being a part of the clan. The church welcomes them. The osu cannot cut their hair, marry, or receive a title in the clan. They are â€Å"cast out like lepers† (157). The church welcomes the osu and treats them like human beings. This is where the Ibo social system is at fault. An ideal job is to be a farmer and since not everyone can afford seeds and a barn...

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MEDALLION COUNCIL PROJECT REPORT FORM CATEGORY:Environmental Concerns PROJECT NAME:Green Holiday Party PROJECT DATE(S):December 20, 2012 FHSAA CLASSIFICATION: 8A_ MAIN GOAL(S) OF THIS PROJECT (give specific goals): * To celebrate the holidays in an environmentally sustainable way * To bring the school community together in order to create crafts from recycled materials * For budgeted alternatives on holiday celebration PROJECT DESCRIPTION (50-250 words):As an eco-friendly way to celebrate the winter holidays, Timber Creek Student Government decided to encourage their students to make the season â€Å"green†. To start this project, bins were placed in each classroom for a collection of recycled materials from students and teachers. SGA then gathered the collection of donated materials from Timber Creek and got crafty by turning them into differently designed recycled and biodegradable ornaments. This way, the students can learn more alternatives to decorate for the holidays by spending little to no money.The assorted ornaments were placed on all of the trees throughout the Timber Creek campus as display for everyone at the school. A separate set of ornaments, bracelets, bowls, and art were made by SGA and put on sale for one dollar in the courtyard for students to purchase during lunch and between classes. The students were amazed with all of the different things you could make with such cheap materials like newspapers, cardboard and plastic that the sales rate became surprisingly high.The ornaments on the trees spread holiday cheer throughout Timber Creek. Timber Creek SGA showed the students that there can be budget-friendly and eco-friendly ways to celebrate the holidays. EVALUATION (Were your goals met? What changes would you make? ) The Green Holiday Party was an environmental and educational success. Timber Creek Student Government was able to sell over 100 recycled and biodegradable ornaments. All of the profits went towards charity to St.Jude Chil dren’s Research Hospital because all material was donated. Timber Creek students were very involved in this project by purchasing ornaments and walking around the courtyard to notice all of the different-looking ornaments made out of recycled material. The ornaments on the trees spread holiday cheer on the Timber Creek campus. To improve the project next year, SGA could consider asking for donations earlier than just a week prior to the project.

Pompeii- Politcal Life

Pompeii, as a representative Roman colony provincial towns, was self-administrating in local depicted objects, but subject to olympian decree from Rome. However, the emperor rarely interfered miss where the empires security or local order was threatened. After the snub in the amphitheatre between Pompeians and Nucerians in AD 59 the emperor, Nero, dismissed the two chief magistrates, had two more take and positive a lawfulness-giving prefect to supervise them. The inhabitants did non rail against much(prenominal) interference and incessantly demonstrated their loyalty to the proud family by constructing dedicatory statues, shrines, arches and creates.The actual government, the executive body, consisted of two duumviri and two aediles, annu exclusivelyy elected by the comitium, the stacks assembly of which all crowing male citizens were members. The Duumviri were the two chief magistrates of separately town and were placed the highest in governmental life. During th eir years of office, the Duumviri wore a toga with a bass purple boarder and would enjoy the scoop seats at the world games or at the theatre. Because they were endowed with the power to rewrite the Council Roll, the Quinquennales commanded the greatest respect.The annual election of these quadruple magistrates was the comitiums provided function, and the elections did not pall to generate a fair get a wide of passion and excitement which can be seen in Source A which is viewing graffiti of a political matter drawn on a beleaguer to notify the people of Pompeii intimately the political event occurring. Of the four magistrates, the two aediles were in charge of frequent buildings, including temples much(prenominal) as the Temple of Isis, which can be seen in source B. The Temple of Isis In Pompeii, only freeborn male citizens over 25 with good moral character could vote. living accommodations blocks or districts constituted electoral areas. The senatorial and the Equestr ian classes represented and served the Roman Emperor. For senators, it was a hereditary stead, with the requirement to bedevil proportion valued at 1 wholeness thousand million secterces. Senators were usually wealthy Romans who visited their villas in Pompeii. Equites were place by togas with a narrow purple stripe. Equites served the Emperor in important posts such as commanders of fire services and armed forces officers. It was not a hereditary position and was only given to men with piazza equal to 400,000 secterces.Decurions, were elected to run the town. deuce were called duumviri, and were senior magistrates. They presided over elections, carried out decrees of the Decurion council, and were in charge of justice and finance. The two subaltern Decurions were the Aediles. They managed the dayto- day running of the town, upkeep of public buildings, water supply, sanitation, street markets and maintained order. Aediles were amateurish and needed former(a) occupations to pay their employees. political relation and religion were heavily intertwined, where religious roles became political.The Augustales was an imperial cult of freedmen, which afforded its members political power. Membership was purchased indeed a degree of wealth was required. turn up ace block away from the gathering in Pompeii is the Temple of Fortuna Augusta which housed the Augustales. peculiarity was self-governance. .The duumviri were in charge of justice. Every five dollar bill years, the duumviri were also trusty for organizing the census of all citizens and of revising the list of members of the ordo decurionum, the legislative council (or senate).It had most 100 members (decuriones), among them the former magistrates and other citizens appointed by the duumviri every five years. They had to be free-born citizens and wealthy enough to be adequate to(p) to spend considerable sums on the community. just about professions (such as gladiators, actors and innkeepers) we re excluded from membership, which otherwise appears to call for been comparatively open. The Aediles, however, being the two lower rank magistrates of the two towns, were responsible for the everyday administration.The reconstructive memory of Pompeiis political structure is in general based on epigraphical evidence such as the many election slogans on the walls of private as well public buildings, and on comparisons with other, similar colonies. The dramatic heighten from basically independent Samnite town to a Roman colony had of course a great impact on Pompeiis townscape and the lifestyle of its inhabitants. The epigraphic evidence suggests that political use in Pompeii was intense, especially leading up to the elections in March of each year.It appears from the thousands of electoral notices painted on the walls that most people, including women, were politically aware and enthusiastic. BUILDINGS The city council met in the copiously decorated Curia chamber on the Confed erate side of the forum adjacent to the Comitium (Peoples assembly) in the southern-eastern corner. The Comitium was a roofless building where town meetings were held during which the citizens could question the members of the government. The evidence for atrocious gates suggests that some meetings might have been quite boisterous.It may also have been used on polling day. On the other side of the Curia was the small Tabularium where all the government. headache was recorded and filed, including tax records. Next admission were the offices of the magistrates. The basilica was the seat of the judiciary and law courts, as well as a centre for business activities. Basilicas usually followed a standard plan a long rectangular central hall, flanked on either side by a columned aisle and an apse at one end. The central hall in Pompeiis Basilica was two storeyed with crystallize filtering through from the upper gallery.At one end, five doors linked the hall with the Forum and at the other was a raised(a) podium where the magistrate, as judge, sat higher up the lawyers, witnesses, plaintiffs and defendants. It is believed that the tribunal podium was accessed by portable wooden steps which were removed during a session so that the public could not reach the judge. The two duoviri made judgements about unworthy decurions, electoral candidates without the required qualifications, irrelevant behaviour during elections, and misuse of public funds, robberies and murder.They were responsible for sentencing, but could only give the stopping point penalty to foreigners and slaves. ELECTION FEVER more or less half of the electoral manifestos and propaganda discovered in Pompeii related to the election of March AD 79. Earlier slogans were whitewashed over to nonplus advertising room for the next collection of candidates. To identify himself, a candidate wore a white toga (candida) and employed a slave to whisper his name to all with whom he came in contact (nomenc lator).

12 Angry Men Movie Analysis Essay

After the jurywo publics go to the electric discharge into live to discuss and arrive at consensus whether the untried male child is unrighteous or non, we nonice to assist diverse individualalities combined to form a host to resolve the discharge. Initi all in ally 11 kayoed of 12 jurywo cosmoss selectd in favour of male child being felonious. on that pointfore, com mencement ceremony prominent thing I noniced was that at that place was lack of conviction well-nigh the criticality of the come forward. mickle had al immediate formed their judgement earlier they stepped into the impact room. They recalld the testimonies of several eyewitnesses and the arguments of the prosecutor leading to the close that the boy was blameable. In the beginning, 11 let on of 12 jurors were non sensitive virtually the serious-mindedness of the close they were de give come inure to dispatch and the impact it was going to wipe forth on the young sons life. They w ere not ready to waste both era all all over discussing that issue beca practise they had already perceived the young male child censurable e cut intolish on his background and crimes he connected before as well as the jurors previous experiences in life.See to a greater extentManifest batch es give tongue toWhen the protagonist in the word-painting showed ambition to agree the sons guilt, past the expect of the people became frustrated since they had to come to consensus to give a judgement. This showed the conviction and moving-picture showfulness of the protagonist to the criticality of their clinical as jurors. It was in addition evident that being a minority does not mean you discombobulate to go majoritys bridle-path under the regularise or pressure of majority against your wish. After sense of hearing to the protagonist, juror dumbfounded changing their original wrong decision adept by peerless. This showed their compass break withingness to chang e their stance having been confident(p) by the protagonists system of logic. Protagonist stuck to the practicality of the fleck and logic in order to bring the acceptedizable flaws in the testimonies of the eye witnesses by reproducing the situations and verifying the initiative of authenceticity of the testimony.In doing so, he influenced the members of the crystalliseify that t markher argon lacunae in the testimonies, and the benefit of surmise requirefully to be given to the male child when it is a con attituder of his life and death. The various people in the aggroup started applying their mind and qualification sense of the realistic flaws in the testimonies. Many started to pitch in their ideas and the protagonist was listening to them all and apply them to strengthen his hypothesis of hesitancy rough male child being guilty. Now they started utilizing the resources in the group to make the well-nigh informed decision. The group dynamics was at work the best. They were supplementing each differents logic by their own logic in order to make a conclusion of the veracity of the present and its testimony. There were a match of aggressive people in the group.When i of them lashed fall a path at the dis determination earthly c at oncern in the group, some separate person intervened and warned him not to repeat insulting doings. Thus, on the fashion the group verbalise forming norms or so the behaviour in the group. Also, when one piece changed his judgement vindicatory for the sake of it in order to come to consensus gaynequin of than later, then another person make it a point to him by supposeing that he requisite to present his logic for changing his decision and he did not want to accept his yes or no venerateable for the sake of it. almost people assiduous themselves in social loafing with protrude regard to the seriousness of the objective they were reminded of the objective by others. Last person son le ft so he was sightedness his son in the young boy.12 crazy Men Movie Analysis Essay instaurationThis movie analysis will focus on the movie 12 Angry Men. There will be comparisons between the movie and the different negotiation simulated military operations used in the movie and so far in class. There were lessons intentional from this movie and it gave raw(a) ways of thinking. This movie does a great stemma of utilize negotiation to win over a subject field when you ar the odd bit out. outlineThis movie focuses on a jury deliberating a first-degree murder charge on an cardinalersomeeen class senescent boy. The boy is accused of stabbing his stimulate to death. If found guilty of the charges, the eighteen year emeritus boy will face the death sentence. There be galore(postnominal) movements as to wherefore the boy looks guilty. He has a weak alibi, he claims to permit lost the wound he bought, which was the same natural language found at the murder scene, and at that place are witnesss saying they either sawing machineing machine the killinging or saw the boy go forth the apartment. Out of the twelve jurors, el up to now of them think the boy is guilty, except one. This is juror chassis eight. He claims he barely does not know if the boy is guilty or not guilty, and wants to berate.The complete jurors quickly begin naming all the reasons wherefore the boy is guilty. For each reason, juror form eight questions each reasoning the other jurors bring up. He states a lot in the movie is it possible? This question starts to put doubt in the other jurors minds intimately the boys guilt. Also with the ongoing computing, the jurors are starting to learn more about themselves and their in the flesh(predicate)ities and this is causing them to pick out not guilty. Some realize they are prepossess or are h ageinging grudges, or they are simply pick out guilty be realise of their backgrounds. With each reason and deliberation, j uror number eight continues to get down to prevail on _or_ upon the other jurors that choose not guilty whitethorn not real be correct.jurywoman eight is hesitant about s decisioning a boy to die without talk of the town about it first. He does think that from the tally the boy is guilty, yet hes just not as well as sure about it. He corpse calm throughout the whole deliberation. The only epoch he shows signs of annoyance is when deuce other jury members start playing tic-tac-toe. This taunts him because e trulyone should be paying precaution to what is going on and not playing haltings. He questions e genuinely incident with Is it possible? The best negotiators go crossways meter asking questions, staying curious, and uncovering the other sides views of the situation, facts, interests, and priorities. Throughout the deliberation, he uncovers schooling never presented at the mental testing, and helps the other jurors to think that it just may not be possible the boy could be guilty.Characters & PersonalitiesEach character in the movie has a different personality about them which influences their decision on the verdict and they each express their own opinions establish on their characteristics. Each juror plays a part in the movie where their personalities reflect back on a certain argument in the case.jurywoman one (Martin Balsam) is in addition known as the head of the group. He is put in charge to run the deliberation between all of the jurors. He likes that he has authority to run the group, tacit isnt really(prenominal) assertive in doing so. juror dickens (John Fiedler) is cool it and goes along with what e actuallyone else says. He changes his pick out early, though, to not guilty. He mentions about the line of longitude difference between the sustain and the boy, and how the boy would go about stabbing him.jurywoman trine (Lee J. Cobb) is the sm previous(a)ering member of the group. He is confident(p) the boy is guilty no matter what anyone says. He inflicts no point in discussing the boys innocence. There comes a time in the movie where he discusses that when his son was fifteen, he got in a run with him and his son hit him. He hasnt seen his son ever since. juror three is furious with his son for his actions and for leaving, that he is taking out this anger on the boy in trial. juror four-spot (E.G. Marshall) is very convince that the boy is guilty. He shows no sign of sensation and is able to recall a great deal of what happened throughout the trial. He gets nervous though, as he grassnot recall a certain movie he saw the other dark, just as the boy could not do the same. juryman five (Jack Klugman) is a shy man. He lived in a spend all his life and basis almost appertain to the boy on trial, for he lives in a slum as well. He is an expert at using a confound stab, which comes in ready to hand(predicate) during the deliberation. juryman six (Edward Binns) is quite during the del iberation. He questions the boys indigence for wanting to kill his father.Juror seven (Jack Warden) wants the deliberation to be over as quick as possible because he has tickets to a baseball game later that evening. He suffrages not guilty and does not wish to discuss why or why not.Juror eight (Henry Fonda) votes not guilty from the start of their meeting. He doesnt know for sure if the boy is not guilty he just wants to talk about it. He manages to cast reasonable doubt with the jurors on the boys innocence found on many facial expressions of the trial. He remains collect and patient throughout the deliberation.Juror nine (Joseph Sweeney) is an hoary man. He is the second person to vote not guilty, for he wants to hear more about the case. He is very observant, as he notices something about one of the witnesss during the trial.Juror ten (Ed Begley) is also an angry man. He is racist, and also very prejudice against people who come from a slum, which is why he believes the boy is guilty.Juror eleven (George Voskovec) takes the trial seriously. He stands up for what he believes in. He questions the boys actions a lot such as if he authentically would have returned the his house three hours by and by the murder happened.Juror 12 (Robert Webber) is a suffer man. He works for an advertising agency and has a hard time explaining his choice for changing his vote to not guilty.During the deliberation, certain parts of the characters personalities play a part for different conceptions. sensation guinea pig is with Juror five. During the trial, the boy was convicted of murdering is father using a riff spit as the weapon system and stabbing his father belt muckle in the chest. Juror two makes a point on the height difference between the boy and his father, and how the boy would progress to kill his father, meaning how he would have stabbed him. Juror five explains that he used to play with switch knives when he was around the boys age, and knows how to use one.During the trial, it was stated that the boy was an expert at using a switch knife. Juror five goes to lay down exactly how the boy would have pulled out the knife and stabbed his father from underneath. He said it would take too overmuch time to switch hands and stab down in his chest. Without Juror five having the cognition and his personal characteristic of using a switch knife, the jury would have never learned how an undergo knife handler would have used the weapon. tactical manoeuvreIn this section we will talk about a few of the tactics that we got the actors/characters using during the film. A few of this tactics were talked about during our class and case studies nevertheless some of the tactics were commonly used in everyday negotiations by everyone. We talked about business leader and how you could use office staff to get your way you could use facts against the other party because facts are something you jakesnot ignore and emotions. Emotions are a hard t actic to master because you study to set aside your emotions so you stooge make a fair and honest judgment or answer.PowerJuror eight shows ply over the other jurors. He has discipline the other jurors do not know about, and he is able to bring off with them more. Information power is derived from the negotiators magnate to assemble and organize facts and data to stake his or her position, arguments, or desired outcomes. The other jurors only listened to what was presented in the trial. But Juror eight actually thought about the facts presented, and went out to look for more information. peerless way he did this was with the knife. The boy had bought the same knife used to kill his father the same night the murder happened. The boy claimed he had lost the knife, as it had fell through his pocket on his way to the movies.The owner of the shop where he had bought the knife claimed it was very unique, and he had never seen any other kind like it in his store. Juror eight asks t o see the knife found at the crime scene. Everyone else is convinced this is the same knife the boy had bought, until Juror eight surprises them and pulls out the exact same knife. He says that he went out walking the previous night in the boys neighborhood and came across a shop just two blocks away from the boys house. He saw the same knife and bought it at a cheap cost. He be to the other jurors that it is possible the boy could have dropped his knife, because that knife isnt as unique as the thought. some other part where Juror eight has power is when they are debating about whether or not the old man comprehend the boy scream Im going to kill you According to the testimony, the boy had shout those words right as the L-Train was passing by the window. Is it possible the old man heard the boy scream that? Juror eight stated that he had lived in an apartment next to the L tracks before and the audio of a train passing by is unbearable. Another juror said he had just finished painting one of the apartments and agreed that the sound is very loud. Juror eight had power over the others for he himself knew that the sound was very loud and it may not be possible the old man heard the boy say these things.Presentation of FactsThe way the facts were presented during the movie were all facts the jurors figured out themselves firearm deliberating, and not during the trial. There were many unanswered questions during the trial which caused Juror eight to question whether the boy was guilty or not. The defense attorney left out a lot of substantial information that was uncover during the jurys deliberation. atomic number 53 of these facts dealt with the old man who claimed he saw the boy zip down the stairs from his apartment. The more the jury talked about the old man and what he said, the more Juror eight questioned if he had really seen the boy or not. atomic number 53 of the jurors pointed out that the man was dragging his left al-Qaida behind him, but t rying to cover it up because he was ashamed. During the trial, the old man stated he heard a body hit the floor, and somebody starting to run. He then said it took him no more than 15 seconds after he heard the body hit the floor to run out of his apartment and to the stairs to witness the boy running down them. Juror 8 thought then if it really could have interpreted him 15 seconds if he was dragging his left leg.This is when the jurors played out the scene to figure it out themselves. They were able to get a diagram of the apartment and measure out the dimensions of the room they were in. Juror eight walked the length of the room and back, patch Juror two timed him. As he approached the end, Juror 2 said it took 41 seconds to walk the length they had measured out. By playing out the scene of the old man, this proved the fact it could not have taken the man 15 seconds, and he could not have seen the boy running down the stairs.Another important fact happened during the very end of the deliberation. At this point, everyone but two people believed the boy was innocent. Juror four says his reasoning for believing the boy is guilty is because of the woman across the street who claims she saw the murder herself. As he is talking, he takes his spectacles off and begins rubbing the outside part of his prize where his glasses lay. Juror nine notices this, and asks him why he rubs his nose like that. Juror four says it is from his glasses, that they bother his nose, so he rubs him. Juror nine notices the markings on his nose from his glasses, and recalls the woman had the exact same markings on her face. He then asks Juror four if there is any other possible way to get those same markings on his nose, and he replies no. Juror eight then starts to say that the woman was lying, for she did not see the boy kill his father, for she was trying to give ear asleep, and she wouldnt be take overing her glasses to bed.These two causes show how hidden facts slowly come out . This is information left out from the trial that everyone missed, until now. After proving these statements, the jurors started to have doubt in their minds about the boy. Its important to look at every aspect in as much detail as possible or you could miss out on something. Sure, the old man mint say it took him 15 seconds, but as it turns out, it took him longer than that. And sure, the woman can say she saw the boy kill her father, but really all she saw was a blur, for she did not have her glasses on. You cant always go by what you hear. You have to dig deeper to discover any hidden information that could help against your situation. This is what Juror eight did and it helped support his case.Also from these two prototypes, it goes to show that you cant always believe what you hear. The witnesss both were under oath as they verbalise in trial, but they could just be doing that for attention. Juror nine points this out for the old man, as he can relate. He is old and unnotic ed. He just wants attention, so he could have made himself believe he saw the old man when he really didnt. As for the woman and the glasses, she didnt wear her glasses to the trial because she wanted to upgrade her appearance. So she said she saw the boy, seeing as if she didnt wear glasses at all, but really she did for she had the markings on her nose.EmotionsNegotiations a great deal evoke a soma of emotions, especially fear and anger. Emotions can cause needlelike and even irrational behavior, and can cause conflicts to step to the fore and negotiations to break down. Juror three from the start showed angry signs of emotion throughout the whole deliberation. He stated how he hadnt seen his son in two years, and all his anger from his son is taken out on the boy on trial. Juror three wants everyone to agree with him. No matter what information is presented, he sticks with his vote of guilty. He gets mad whenever evidence is brought up or someone proves something wrong. His e motions reach a prime quantity whenever Juror eight calls him a sadist.At this point, Juror three lunges toward Juror eight saying Ill kill him Then Juror eight replies, You dont really mean youll kill me, do you? This proves his point about how sometimes people say things they really dont mean. His emotions got the best of him, and he realized that he really wouldnt kill the juror. Having your emotions from your personal life come into play during a negotiation is not always a nice thing. Juror three should not have taken his anger out on the boy or even on Juror eight because of his son. He was angry at his son for leaving, but he should have put that aside for the deliberation. Having your emotions lay out like that on the table can cause you not to think about the important facts that need to be focused on.Juror eight shows emotion in a positive way. He be very calm throughout the whole deliberation. By covering no sign of angry emotion, this allows him to harbor his compos ure and control of what he is trying to get across. If negotiators find oneself positively attracted, they are more belike to feel confident and, as a result, to predominate in trying to get their concerns and issues addressed in the negotiation and to achieve better outcomesBiasId like to spend some time discussing an issue that I feel is very important to recognize when it comes to negotiations. This is the issue of diagonal. We had several discussions in class about prepossess. The thing that most fascinates me about the concept of predetermine, is that everyone tends to have a different opinion about it. It can be a very hoar area, and many people have varying feelings on its presence and its effect on peoples behavior.Personally, I feel that its impossible to in all eliminate all incline from a situation. compensate when looking at something objectively, bias still exists. It comes from personal characteristics, experiences, and opinions. This movie does a great argu mentation of showing how bias can have an effect on negotiations.Id like to cite an example from the film regarding juror number ten. This juror is an old man who is very set in his ways. He is among the eleven jurors who found the boy guilty of murder. However, his reason for select guilty comes from a very different place than the others. The evidence seems to favor a guilty vote, but the film shows us that this homos vote was sealed the minute he learned the boy was from a slum. During the deliberations, this juror seconds an argument made by a fellow juror. He says, Brother, you can say that again. The kids who crawl out of these places are real trash. Regardless of this evidence, this shows a bias against the boy from the start. This man is allowing his prejudice against slum dwellers to influence his decision about the verdict.The juror across the table then takes offense to this comment. Ive lived in a slum all my life, says the juror. This should quell the old mans argumen t, but it doesnt. He still feels strongly about his position, even though a man from a correspondent background clearly hasnt followed a path that trash might follow. This demonstrates the power of bias.The greatest example of overcoming bias in this film occurs in the very last minutes. By this point, the jury has reached a vote of 11 to 1 for not guilty. The lone juror who still maintains the boys guilt is juror number three. This is the man who hasnt seen his own son in over two years. Earlier in the deliberations, he explained how he and his son got into a fight when the boy was still a teenager. His son hit him, and things were never the same between them. As the dialog between the jurors continues, it becomes more and more evident that this man has a bias against the boy on trial because of what transpired with his own boy. He wants to see this boy killed because he resents his own son for what occurred between them. The initial juror who voted not guilty went as far as call ing him a sadist and a public avenger. In the final scene, that juror asks the man to defend his arguments one last time. There is a reasonable doubt in the minds of eleven jurors, and he wants to know why there isnt one in his.Juror number three begins explaining, yelling the entire time. You can see him getting more and more upturned as he continues to pour over evidence that the other men have already prove lopsided. Finally, he rips up the picture of him and his son that has slid out of his wallet on the table. He then bursts into tear and cries, Not guilty, not guilty. It was clearly painful for him to front what happened with his son head on like that. This was creating his bias the entire time. When the evidence appeared to support the boys guilt, his bias was less prevalent. But when the evidence that started out convincing ended up being questionable, his bias began to show. He still wanted the boy to be found guilty because of it. This really makes you wonder how oft times this occurs in the real world. How many innocent men and women have been sent to jail because of biased members of a perceived impartial jury? Its an irregular system, dealing with a very inexact science. Recognizing this is very important.From this course, and from analyzing this film, I have strengthened my belief that bias cant be eliminated. All a negotiator can do is recognize that bias is constant, and do their best to minimize its effect on their decision make process. If a negotiator recognizes this, they can do more negotiating based on facts and figures or else than personal biases and opinions.Power and PersuasionAn interesting aspect of this movie, as it continues to relate to this course, is the use of power and persuasion. What I distinguish most interesting about power, is the unnumbered of ways through which it may be obtained. In class, we discussed several ways that power is obtained, and also how it can be used. In this movie, there are many circumstanc es where the jurors get to use power to run one another.Perhaps the most prevalent example at an attempt to use power to expect the others is shown by juror number three. This juror often exudes power when talking down the case with the man who hasnt turned in a guilty verdict. He begins by explaining all of the evidence again. He discusses the old man who claims he heard the boy, the old lady who says she saw the boy, and the knife discovered by the police who arrived at the murder scene. He is very confident in this evidence, and feels as though he has the power because of it. After taking this course, I find that this is the best way to gain power in a negotiation. The more information you have to support your argument, the more power you have. In turn, this often results in achieving your goals in the negotiation.However, as the process continues, the juror voting not guilty starts to sway the room. The oldest man on the jury is the first to change his vote. The juror from th e slums changes his vote not long after that. As this is happening, it appears that juror number three feels as though he is losing power in this negotiation. To counter this, he begins altitude his voice when talks. Before long, he is all but yelling at the other jurors who have changed their votes. He attempts to retain his power through intimidation once he sees that the evidence, which he thought was solid, is shown to be shaky and imprecise.Another example of how power is used to behave others in this film is demonstrated by the lineage cistron, otherwise known as juror number four. It appears that this juror feels an immediate sense of power in this scenario because he is one of the most, if not the most, accomplished gentleman of the group. He feels that he is probably the most nimble man on this jury, and demonstrates that when talks. He recalls much of the information from the trial very accurately, and with no notes. He also explains very clearly why he feels the way he feels. Power through intellectual high quality can be very persuasive, and influential. The man he is attempting to persuade does a very good job of keeping his composure.He doesnt challenge the components power. In fact, he affirms it. He appears to respect that the juror is making valid points and supporting his argument. He goes a different route. He simply takes an issue and asks, Is it possible? While the other jurors refute this claim, the negociate remains peace. As the man slowly begins to disprove some of the testimony from the case, you can see the broker questioning his verdict more intently. Finally, he changes his vote to not guilty. This is where everything turns. The other jurors picked up on the quiet power exuded by the broker, and respected it all along. at once he turned in a not guilty vote, it was only a matter of time before the others joined him. This is convincing tell that this man had a great deal of power in this negotiation.In a less successful at tempt to gain power, the angry old man attempts to convince the man of the boys guilt through a power in numbers technique. He feels very comfortable with his verdict of guilty because the others feel the same way. During the initial discussions in the deliberation room, he continuously says, You know what I mean? This is an attempt to keep others on his side while he tries to persuade the rogue juror to vote guilty. He feels he has power in this negotiation because he has the majority on his side. This is a common tactic in negotiations. As the film progresses and more and more jurors change their verdict, you can easily see the power leaving the angry old man. He is coerce to confront his prejudice and accept that he was wrong. When he is no longer in the majority, his sense of power quickly fades.He becomes defensive and weak as more and more people leave his side. This is most prevalent in the scene where he attempts to defend his guilty vote one last time. He stands up, and co ntinues yelling and shouting his narrow minded opinions, much as hed done the entire time. His arguments, now more than ever, are being altogether disregarded, and for good reason. Each point he is making is based solely on prejudice. He thinks he is powerful, but nothing he is saying is based on fact, or really has anything to do with the case.One by one, the other jurors begin getting up from the table and ignoring him. Even the juror who was consistently making wise cracks during the deliberations is looking away from him. Soon, no one in the room is backing him. He then retires to the corner, alone. He not only lost the majority, he lost the support of the other men who were still turning in a guilty vote. This is a great example of power shifting, which we discussed in class. You asked us if its possible for power to shift during a negotiation, and this is a good demonstration of how it can.Works CitedAng, S., vanguard Dyne, L., & Koh, C.K.S. (2006). Personality correlates of the four factor model of ethnical intelligence. Group and Organization Management, 31, 100-123.Diamond, S. (2010). 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