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Impact of Income on Purchase of Luxury Fashion Products Free Essays

string(64) possibly purchase extravagance style items when they have a high income. Official Summary The current paper is an outline ...

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Roles And Responsibilities Of A Trainer - 1496 Words

Roles, responsibilities and relationship in education and training. The aim of this assignment is to identify and understand the teaching role, responsibilities and relationships in education and training in relation to the teaching cycle, by summarising codes of practice and legislation that relates to the roles and responsibilities of a trainer with an airfreight industry. Also, understanding the importance of Equality and Diversity and how this is vital to learners and teachers in meeting the needs of learners. Furthermore, to understand the trainers’ responsibilities in building and maintaining a safe learning environment, promoting appropriate behaviour and building respect for others. The assignment also aims to understand professional relationships between the trainer and other specialists involved in learning, through analysing boundaries between the teaching role and other professional roles. Finally, identifying and describing points of referral to satisfy potential needs of learners. The role of a trainer is primarily to pass knowledge of a given subject to another person. To achieve desired results a trainer needs to adapt to different roles and understand relevant responsibilities. This statement is especially relevant during execution of the training cycle where each step (Identifying Needs-Planning-Facilitating-Assessing-Evaluating) requires different approach. For instance, during the first step a trainer must perform as an accessor and identify learnersShow MoreRelatedDescribe What Your Role, Responsibilities and Boundaries Would Be as a Teacher or Trainer in Terms of the Teaching and Learning Cycle. How Might â€Å"Equality†, â€Å"Diversity† and â€Å"Inclusion† Impact on a Learner’s Experience?1081 Words   |  5 Pageswhat your role, responsibilities and boundaries would be as a teacher or trainer in terms of the teaching and learning cycle. How might â€Å"equality†, â€Å"diversity† and â€Å"inclusion† impact on a learner’s experience? Give examples from your own experience and research to support your assertions. â€Å"This submission is entirely my own work unless I have used quotation marks to indicate my reference to the work of others† As a teacher or trainer, there are a variety of roles and responsibilities that areRead MoreModule 7 – Reflective Practice and Professional Development Essay1243 Words   |  5 PagesReport to compare teaching roles In any organisation there must be some structure and it is this that leads to a selection of teaching and management roles within education. All roles are focused on the quality of service provided to not only the learners but to the community, our stakeholders, awarding bodies, funders and parents. The 3 roles I have chosen for comparison are Team Manager, which is my role at NN, a Trainer on the foundation learning programme at NN and the role of Learning Support AssistantRead MorePtlls Level 4 Assessment Question 1796 Words   |  4 Pagesbelieve are the main roles and responsibilities as a teacher/trainer in relation to the teaching and learning cycle and in particular when meeting the needs of learners. How far do your responsibilities as a teacher/trainer go and how do these work in relation to other professionals you may encounter both internally and externally? What boundaries are there with your role and between that of other professionals? As a teacher/trainer, there are certain roles and responsibilities that you have whenRead MoreExplain Own Role and Responsibilities in Identifying and Meeting the Needs of the Learners664 Words   |  3 PagesExplain own role and responsibilities in identifying and meeting the needs of the learners As a teacher and trainer I have found that one of the simplest ways to make learning accessible to both myself and to those I am teaching is by relating to real-life situations and circumstances that I have faced. If one takes the approach of trying to memorise lists of facts of how to deal with First Aid situations the information becomes more difficult to absorb and less likely to be retained. Context canRead MoreDescribe What Your Role, Responsibilities and Boundaries Would Be as a Teacher in Terms of the Teaching/Training Cycle763 Words   |  4 Pages Brenda Diskin Describe what your role, responsibilities and boundaries would be as a teacher in terms of the teaching/training cycle – theory assignment 1 (23/09/09) Roles, responsibilities and boundaries are qualities which the teacher/trainer incorporates into the teaching/training cycle; the cycle consists of identifying needs, planning and designing, delivery, assessment, and evaluation. My role as a teacher/trainer is to first identify what needs to be taught by myselfRead MoreCase Study : Customer Service Skills1440 Words   |  6 Pagesall the company’s staffs, senior managers and customer service trainers. Task breakdown Task 1: Find out the poor customer service areas need to get better for the company’s staffs Task 2: Discuss with the company’s owner and tell him how important to train staffs for customer service Task 3: Make company’s owner agree with the customer service training and issue fund for the training Task 4: Find the experienced customer service trainer to have the customer service training Task 5: Start the customerRead MoreChildren s Engagement And Level Of Positive Experience And Inclusive Relationships Educators960 Words   |  4 Pagesspace and resources are used by children. iii. Resources and materials carefully chosen by Educators, adequate in number, contribute to each child’s sense of belonging and challenge them to explore new possibilities. iv. Children take increasing responsibility for their own health, hygiene and personal care when they can choose what they do. Educators need to provide a secure and predictable environment with adequate space and appropriate facilities and resources. v. When Educators arrange the spaceRead MoreStatement of Purpose for a Career as an Architect or a Personal Trainer1115 Words   |  5 Pagesfactors in the matter are as follows. The education required to enable a job opportunity is the career paths most essential element. Along with the necessary schooling, one must possess or build the skills needed to complete the choice careers responsibilities. Although money may seem greedy and narrow-minded I want to be positive; I will have the ability to care for other and myself with ease, and will remain one of my key focuses. An architectural position requires rigorous educational programs;Read MoreHarrison Brothers Corporation Case Study1570 Words   |  7 Pageswas prepared by Team 4 in response to the Harrison Brothers’ Corporation case from the course text, Human Resource Management Applications: Cases, Exercises, Incidents, and Skill Builders, located on page 13. The Role of the HR Manager Brenda McCain views her responsibilities as challenging given that multiple areas of the corporation’s operation need improvement in order to better align with the updated store business strategy. She clearly expresses several areas of need that fall withinRead MoreTeacher, Trainer, Assessor, Reviewer1557 Words   |  7 Pages Teacher, Trainer, Assessor, Reviewer. It will be important to identify the needs of the learners so that you can plan / design the course to meet the individual requirements of the learners, this may be carried out through interview prior to the course taking place or through an application process where the learner needs can be identified, these could include social, physical intellectual, cultural, and emotional issues. Planner, Organiser ,Reviewer. Responsibilities; the course should be designed

Monday, December 16, 2019

The Federal Minimum Wage Should Have Negative Effects On...

Courageous people have been publicly coming forward to tell their stories of personal pain, indignity, and frustration in the interest of creating the will to increase the federal minimum wage. Stacey Brundson, a single father of two, said he has donated blood to bring in extra cash just to help his family afford the basics. â€Å"Sometimes there’s not enough in my paycheck to make it through the month,† said Brundson (qtd. in Harris). Although numerous conservatives and business owners believe that a modification in the current federal minimum wage will have negative effects on employment, on low-skilled workers, and on consumer’s prices, increasing the federal minimum wage and eliminating the subminimum wage is one potential policy option for†¦show more content†¦Unfortunately, adjusting the minimum wage is not always the case since the federal minimum wage has been frozen at $7.25 for over 21 years, and the federal minimum tipped wage has been frozen at $2.13 for almost five years (History). The minimum wage has been an important element on the United States labor system and has sparked debates between employers and workers to this day. The main argument against raising the minimum wage is that the harmful effects raising the minimum wage would create do not justify the small-scale benefits generated by the raise. Business owners and conservatives claim that raising the minimum wage will result in job loss, hurt low skilled workers, and may result in higher prices for consumers. In a 2012 paper published in the peer-reviewed Industrial and Labor Relations Review (ILRReview), economists Richard Burkhauser, Benjamin Hansen, and Joseph Sabia, state that while some low-skilled workers living in poverty do see their incomes rise when the minimum wage increases, many others lose their jobs or have their hours significantly cut. Their study concluded that New York’s 2004-2006 $1.60-per-hour minimum wage hike was associated with a 20.2 to 21.8 percent reduction in the employment of younger, less-educated individuals, with the largest effects for those ages 16-to-24. Conservatives believe that even though teenagers areShow MoreRelatedDoes the Minimum Wage Increase the Standard of Living for Low-Income People?1391 Words   |  6 PagesThe United States has maintained a minimum wage which was enacted since 1938. At the present time there is much political debate in regarding to increase the minimum wage to levels at the federal level, state, and local levels of government across this country. There are various theories regarding the minimum wage. Some believe it would circulate money into the economy faster which would negate and negative effects on employment, or even improve unemployment rates. Others point to the economic theoryRead MoreThe Minimum Wage Policy During The United States1714 Words   |  7 Pagesincrease the federal minimum wage. Headlines throughout the country highlight recent minimum wage policy changes in major cities such as Los Angeles and Seattle. Last month, Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York announced an approved minimum wage increase to $15 an hour for all fast food workers in the state (McGeehan). Even the website for the White House has a separate page, â€Å"Raise the Wage,† advocating for Congress to increase the federal minimum wage to $10.10 an hour (Raise the Wage). The mostRead MoreRaising The Federal Minimum Wage889 Words   |  4 Pagesraising the federal minimum wage would positively effect the economy. In doing so, I will be discussing how an increase in the federal minimum wage would make a vast improvement on the way many low income families live, and also how raising the federal minimum wage would boost the economy as it desperately needs. In raising the federal minimum wage, one might argue that it would cause a spike in the unemployment rate. The reasoning is that it would force employers to balance the increase in wages thatRead MoreThe Effects Of Minimum Wage On The United States1168 Words   |  5 PagesResearch shows if minimum wage was to climb that it would hurt the least skilled and the least experienced people trying to seek a job the most. There are different of opinions people believe in about the positive and negative aspect of minimum wage. Supporters argue that such a boost will shrink poverty without plummeting jobs and that it will boost confidence, increase the normal living, and cut inequality and have businesses to be well-organized. Opponents that are not for minimum wage say it will increaseRead MoreThis Study Focuses On How The Minimum-Wage Serves As A1162 Words   |  5 Pages This study focuses on how the minimum-wage serves as a place for prime age workers, those between the age of 25 and 54, to get stuck. For the purpose of this study, minimum-wage was established as anyone earning less than or equal to $1.00 above the 1997 wage of $5.15, as adjusted by inflation. While minimum-wage was developed as a floor for wages, this study asserts that a worker with one child will be nearly $3,000 below the poverty line even if they work full-time, full-year. It was concludedRead MoreMinimum Wage Should Be Increased1057 Words   |  5 PagesRebecca Nevins Meredith Sides English 101 16 November 2015 Minimum Wage Should Be Increased Congress enacted the federal minimum wage in 1938, during the Great Depression. Congress had two goals; keeping workers away from poverty and boosting consumer spending for economic recovery. Today, there is a debate, whether we should increase the minimum wage again. Increasing the minimum wage is useful for several reasons. First, the current minimum wage has failed to keep up with inflation. Second, a higherRead MoreSunday, July 24, 2016, Marks Seven Years Since The Last1539 Words   |  7 Pages marks seven years since the last time the federal minimum wage was raised (U.S. Department of Labor). Since raised, the cost of living has increased by nearly 12 percent. When President Obama called for an increase in 2013 19 states, have raised their minimum wage between $8.15 and $11.00. But is the hike beneficial to everyone? According to conventional economic analysis, increasing the minimum wage reduces employment in two ways. First, higher wages increase the cost to employers of p roducingRead MoreEssay on The Minimum Wage Should Be Increased1048 Words   |  5 Pagesthe federal minimum wage in 1938, during the Great Depression. Congress had two goals; keeping workers away from poverty and boosting consumer spending for economic recovery. Today, there is a debate, whether we should increase the minimum wage again. Increasing the minimum wage is useful for several reasons. First, the current minimum wage has failed to keep up with inflation. Second, a higher income level reduces employee turnover and increases efficiency and ultimately, raising the minimum wageRead MoreA Full Time Worker Earn $ 5.15 An Hour1378 Words   |  6 Pagesearning $7.25 an hour will make approximately $15,080 a year (â€Å"Minimum Wage†). That’s barely more than what students pay for housing and food at some colleges, and we expect a family to live off of this? The poverty line is at $20,000 for a family of four, so how are these people supposed to raise their childr en in a healthy environment while working full-time to not even be on the poverty line? If this raise is done correctly, employment and prices won’t be hurt, and we will only be helping our nation’sRead MoreMinimum Wage Should Be Legal1156 Words   |  5 Pagesbusinesses argued about minimum wage. Whether it should be raised or leave it the way it is. But, what exactly is minimum wages? Minimum wage is the least amount of money per hour that must be paid to a worker after surrounding a service according to the law. Many working class families’ lives depend on this minimum wages. There are few families who make less than $15000 a year who feed their families on this salary and still pay bills from it. Over the past year, the federal government has been working

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Restorative Justice and the Criminal Justice System free essay sample

Mennonites and other practitioners in Ontario, Canada, and later in Indiana, experimented with victim offender encounters that led to programs in these communities and later became models for programs throughout the world. Restorative justice theory developed initially from these particular efforts [ (Zehr, 2002) ]. The restorative justice movement originally began as an effort to rethink the needs which crimes create, as well as the roles implicit in crimes. Restorative justice advocates were concerned about needs that were not being met in the usual justice process [ (Zehr, 2002) ].The criminal justice system’s approach to justice has some important strengths. Yet, there is also a growing acknowledgment of this system’s limits and failures. Victims, offenders, and community members often feel that justice does not adequately meet their needs. Justice professionals, who make up the core components, such as: judges, lawyers, prosecutors, probation and parole officers, and prison staff frequently express a sense of frustration as well. We will write a custom essay sample on Restorative Justice and the Criminal Justice System or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Many feel that the process of justice deepens societal wounds and conflicts rather than contributing to healing or peace [ (Zehr, 2002) ].Interdisciplinary study and research in public safety and restorative justice is very important. Restorative justice at this day in age will not replace the current court system, but it offers an alternative resolution service for people who want to try another approach. For example, some places are offering mediated victim and offender community conferences. These conferences provide facilitators to help victims and offenders seek reconciliation and resolution. Restorative justice seeks alternatives to continue to put more and more people in jail.Restorative justice seeks sentences that make amends to the victim of crime and to the community as a whole [ (Zehr, 2002) ]. Restorative Justice 3 My related feel of study is criminal justice. The criminal justice system is not a perfect system by far. The criminal justice system is concerned about holding offenders accountable, but that means making sure offenders get the punishment they deserve. The restorative justice approach focuses on the harm that has been done to people, individually and as a community.Restorative justice recognizes that crime is wrong and should not occur and also recognizes that after it does, there are dangers and opportunities. Restorative justice has brought an awareness of the limits and negative byproducts of punishment. Beyond that, however, it has argued that punishment is not real accountability. Real accountability involves facing up to what one has done. It means encouraging offenders to understand the impact of their behavior, the harms they have done, and urging them to take steps to put things right as much as possible [ (Zehr, 2002) ].Restorative justice and the criminal justice system are two systems that have different views. Restorative justice focuses on harm that has been done to people, individually and as a community. It recognizes that crime is wrong and should not occur, and also recognizes that after it does, there are dangers and opportunities [ (Kelly, 2001) ]. The criminal justice system has three core components, police, courts, and corrections. Each core component has a different function in the criminal justice system. The police functions are to enforce specific laws, investigate specific crimes, earch people, vicinities, buildings, arrest or detain people. The police function is primarily a function of cities and states (Overview, 2008). The courts functions are broken down into prosecutors, judges and magistrates. The prosecutors file charges or petitions for adjudication, seek indictments, drop cases and reduce charges. Restorative Justice 4 The judges and magistrates set bail or conditions for release, accept pleas, determine delinquency, dismiss charges, impose sentences, and revoke probation (Overview, 2008). The corrections components are correctional officials and paroling authorities.Correction officials assign to type of correctional facility, award privileges, and punish for disciplinary infractions. The paroling authorities determine date and conditions of parole and revoke parole. Corrections are a primary function of the state and government (Overview, 2008). Throughout the United States the criminal justice system is in a state of crisis. The public is fearful and angry. Practitioners are weary and frustrated. Criminal justice policy is driven more by anecdote than systematic information. Costs of current policies are not sustainable over long periods. Victims are often re-victimized in the process.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Parasitic Wasps Essays - Health, Nutrition, Biomolecules, Biology

Parasitic Wasps Malaria is one of the most prevalent and dangerous diseases known to man. It has existed for centuries and affects a myriad of people in the tropical region. Even today, with our newly discovered treatments for many of the tropical diseases, over 10% of the people that are infected with malaria each year and do not receive proper treatment die. In Africa alone, over 1 million children die each year because of malaria and new cases are reported frequently. Malaria is very dangerous and harmful to man. However, the protozoan that causes malaria has existed since man came into being. Fossils of mosquitoes that are 30 million years old contain the vector for malaria. After written history, many civilisations have known about malaria. The Greek physician Hippocrates described the symptoms of malaria in the 5th Century BC The name malaria is derived from the Italian words, mal and aria, meaning "bad air", because people of earlier times believed that the disease was caused by polluted air near swaps and wetlands in Europe. The scientific identification of malaria was not found until 1880. The French army physician, Charles Laveran, while stationed in Algeria, noticed strange shapes of red blood cells in certain patients and identified the disease scientifically and linked to a certain protozoan. Although the disease had been identified, it was not until 1897, when British army physician, Ronald Ross studied birds and discovered that the malarial protozoan was transmitted through mosquitoes. Soon after, two Italian scientists noted that mosquitoes spread malaria to humans as well. Many attempts have been made to try to eradicate the disease. As early as 7 AD, in Rome, swamps were drained to try to prevent the "bad air" from reaching nearby cities. Recently, in the 1950's and 1960's, about 25 years after the development of DDT, the United Nations World Health Organisation tried to wipe out the disease through the use of DDT. Although, the number of cases was reduces in many areas, they started again. Scientists today believe that malaria can never be eradicated due to the fact that the protozoan can manipulate easily and become resistant to a drug that is overused. The mosquitoes that spread malaria are also becoming resistant to insecticides. Malaria can be treated on an individual basis and treatments and medicines can be used. To understand these treatments however, one must understand what happens to a malarial protozoan. The disease, malaria, is cause by the protozoan, Plasmodium, which lives in tropical regions all around the world. There are only four species of this protozoan that cause malaria in humans, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium malariae, and Plasmodium falciparum. These protozoans are spread from infected to healthy people through the bite of the Anopheles mosquito, blood transfusions, or through hypodermic injections. This makes malaria one of the most easily communicable diseases in the world. 1.Sporozoites in salivary gland. 2.Ocysts in stomach wall. 3.Male and female gametocytes. 4.Liver phase. 5.Release of merozoites from liver. These enter red cells where both sexual and asexual cycles continue. Malaria is spread only through the females of the 60 different types of the Anopheles mosquito, as the males do not feed on blood. The symptoms of this disease are many, however a physician must be consulted to avoid risk to a person. To treat malaria, many drugs are used today. Forms of these drugs date back to the 1500's and 1600's. Physicians diagnose malaria by identifying Plasmodia in a patient's body. Once identified, malaria can be treated with chloroquine and primaquine. Since some forms of Plasmodia falciparum have become resistant to these, quinine, mefloquine, or halofautrine are used. Almost all of the cases of malaria can be treated if done in the proper way. However, to suffer the pain and illness of malaria, people can use many preventive measures. All swampy areas must be avoided as well as tropical water that may be contaminated or local food. People should just protect themselves from mosquitoes and risk of infection will be tremendously lowered. This can be done by impregnated bednets. These involve surrounding the bed with a curtain that is sprayed with certain compounds. These are normally pyrethroids or organophosphates, which create an effective barrier between the mosquito and its blood meal. Alternative 'barrier' methods are insect repellents. These are certain chemicals that that when applied to the skin as a spray or lotion is quite effective at deterring the mosquito from landing on a person in order to feed. Other methods of controlling malaria are the use of insecticides and vaccines. Insecticides are chemicals such as

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Macbeth Essays - English-language Films, British Films, Free Essays

Macbeth Essays - English-language Films, British Films, Free Essays Macbeth Macbeth: a Tragic Hero A tragic hero is a person whos life is determined by four elements: fate, weakness (in Macbeths case, fear), poor decision making, and the realization of flaws with inability to prevent the oncoming tragedy. First of all, fate is defined as the power or force held to predetermine events. Fate makes its first appearance in the play when Lady Mac receives Macbeths letter which tells of the witches prophecies. At this point, Lady Mac is stricken with fear because she is afraid that Macbeth will not utilize his opportunity to seize the crown, Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem to have thee crowns withal (1.5 29-30). In the end, Macbeth will have to come face to face with his fate and deal with it accordingly. Secondly, Macbeths weakness (fear) is another element in his being a tragic hero. This weakness is portrayed often in the character of Macbeth. Oftentimes, tragic heroes must contain the element of fear, because it is a very humanizing element, so therefore without it, they would be some sort of superior human, which they are not. They are still human, even though they are heroes. In the case of Macbeth, his fear was created by himself due to the situations which he has involved himself with. Eventually it is this self-induces, self-produced fear which eats Macbeth from the inside out. In the end, Macbeths fear becomes a totally all-inclusive, all- consuming creature which takes his life and virtually rapes him of his unlawfully obtained position of king. Bibliography 1) Aspects of Macbeth, Kenneth Muir, Philip Edwards, Cambridge University Press1978 2) The New Varioum Shakespeare, Macbeth, Horace Howard Furness, New York American Scholar, 1963. 3) Shakespeare: The Tragedy of Macbeth, John Russell Brown, Barons Educational Series, Inc. 1963. 4) Double Profit in Macbeth, H. L. Rogers, Melbourne University Press 1964. 5) Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary, Lippincott & Crowell, Publishers 1980

Friday, November 22, 2019

The Holly Tree

The Holly Tree When I built my house almost nine years ago (friggin wow), I planted holly trees on two corners of the structure, one to the left of my study window. Because I love birds, I yearned for the day the tree grew tall and thick enough for me to see its bird visitors from that window. You see, my window is fifteen feet off the ground. I planted a three-foot tree. It would be a while. But I watered the tree, did some serious pruning on it every couple of years to shape it, and made sure it was free of disease. Its a beautiful plant with its shiny, deep green leaves and occasional berries. It grew, but I could only see it when I went outside and stood next to it. Sometime during 2013, I heard a mockingbird outside being particularly loud. On occasion a bird, usually a tiny wren or house finch, or even a rare goldfinch, will perch on my window sill seeking bugs. Since I write late into the night, my window holds the only light in the cove. Being in the country, we dont do streetlights, so dark is DARK out here. The bugs flock to my window, unfortunately for me, but fortunately for the birds that gobble them up the next day. Anyway, the mockingbird song puzzled me. Sliding to my window, I listened hard for the direction. Sure enough, he perched atop the holly tree. I could see him! I could hear him. It had been so long since I tried to see the tree from my window that Id forgotten it was even there . . . except when I went outside and watered it, and pruned it. I hope you can see that the point is obvious. We plant our butts in the chair and we plant words on a page. We keep at it, writing, creating, editing, even submitting. We do it, knowing it might be a long while before its matured. Then one day, and it might be several years from when you started, you look up and there it is. Your work has grown into mature, viable, and gorgeous stories. I hear so many writers talk about waiting for the right moments to write, or getting depressed about rejection, or reading so many ridiculous blog posts that tell them how long their odds are to get published. They write in spurts. They forget writing for the summer, or the winter, or the holidays. They are forgetting to water and prune their holly tree. Even if you cannot imagine success, you keep writing. Just as we love gardening, we love writing, and we tend them religiously, just the same. Because one day, well look up, and there it will be . . . that story we always imagined, sitting there, singing to the world.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Data Structures and Algorithm Lesson Plan Essay

Data Structures and Algorithm Lesson Plan - Essay Example Vocabulary reinforced are: Reading skills: Listening skills: Library skills: collecting and abstracting information: Speaking skills: Writing skills: analyzing tasks, panning, drafting and editing various types of writing skills: Study techniques: Planning work, organizing, storing and retrieving information. Students will be expected to: †¢ Demonstrate capacity to obtain information from listening. †¢ Demonstrate ability to obtain and synthesis information on a subject from various written sources. †¢ Demonstrate ability to communicate in writing. †¢ Demonstrate ability to make oral presentations Materials: Textbook: Data Structures and Algorithms Analysis in C by Mark Allen Weiss Introduction to Algorithms, Second Edition By Thomas H. Cormen, Charles E. Leiserson, and Ronald L. Rivest and Clifford Stein Computer Software: Java SDE software will be pre-installed in the Computer lab that will be in use during Practical lessons. WISE The Web-based Inquiry Science E nvironment (WISE) provides a platform for creating inquiry science projects for middle school and high school students using evidence and resources from the Web.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Declaration of Independence- Thomas Jefferson Final Term Paper

Declaration of Independence- Thomas Jefferson Final - Term Paper Example Distinctively enumerated into exceptional divisions, the writer demonstrated some rare writing skills that make it one of the best literal state papers. The Declaration of Independence can be divided into an introduction, a clearly developed preamble, a section describing the indictment of the Crown, denunciation of the American oppressors (the British) and a good conclusion. Any paper passing the test of good writing must at least show such organization. Throughout the document, artistic or literary devices (rhetoric devices) can be pointed out to prove the fact that the writer must have had tremendous proficiency with the topic of artistic discourse. With the topic of the Declaration of Independence at hand, this paper will tackle Thomas Jefferson’s rhetoric and the play of words he had used in the formation of this historical document. With the basis of textual analyses of the Declaration of Independence, historical interpretations will be conducted in order to explain the American context under the British colonial government. This paper will also explain the educational background of Thomas Jefferson – one that honed him as an eloquent writer of the mentioned document. Before going into the analyses of the Declaration’s text, it is important to give light to its author Thomas Jefferson. Although history has had laughable doubts of according Jefferson the credit of the text authorship, controversies of such nature are interesting to tackle. One good example of a weak school of thought that the authorship of the Declaration of Independence could be not of Thomas Jefferson is the belated publication of Mecklenburg Declaration. Mecklenburg Declaration which was allegedly duplicated by Jefferson. But as the proponents of this thought steadfastly argued, the controversy was later found out to be a â€Å"hoax†. It was disproven by Jefferson himself. Scholars

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Personal Financial Advisors Essay Example for Free

Personal Financial Advisors Essay I want to live the good life. By that I mean a life of wealth, privilege, loving family relationships, and warm friendships. At the end of my life I will be satisfied if my spouse and children are still by my side and if I have a close circle of friends. I intend to earn a lot of money and I intend to give generously to charity. To achieve this, I need time and money. I intend to marry and have three children. My spouse and I, who are still passionately in love with each other, are building an art collection. Both sets of grandparents live no more than an hour away. We visit frequently and the kids adore them. I own my own hedge fund and earn $25 million a year. My spouse owns a business—maybe an art gallery or a professional practice. We live in a spacious penthouse apartment, probably in New York. We have floor to ceiling windows, views in every direction, a clean, sleek, modern decor, with lots of space for entertaining, which we do frequently. The kids each have their own bedrooms and share a playroom. We have a live-in nanny for the kids, a live-in cook, and help with the cleaning. We have a beach house, probably in South Hampton. We go there most weekends by helicopter. We all have busy lives so the quality time we spend together on the weekends is incredibly important to us. We take exotic vacations two times a year as a family—usually involving some kind of adventure travel pertaining to my love for scuba diving and for studying the ecology of coral reefs. Once a year my spouse and I go some place romantic on vacation together. Each year I take a vacation with one of the kids, just the two of us. The kids go to great schools with small classes and a progressive curriculum that lets them follow their own interests: there is no teaching for the exams in this school. The kids are learning to ride, and to play tennis, squash, and polo. I play these sports regularly. I have a lot of physical energy so I run or bike each day. I also work out every day in the gym in our apartment. I have given up smoking. My spouse and I are active in charity work. We are each on the board of a prestigious charity and when we go to their annual fundraising events we get our pictures in the gossip columns. We give 10% of our income to charity each year. I am a member of the Explorer’s Club because I have contributed something important to the scientific study of coral reefs. I spent a year studying the coral reefs in the Similan Islands in Thailand before starting my career. While there, I also studied Vipassna meditation, which I still practice. I am confident and gregarious. I don’t sweat the small stuff. I plan for the future and I work my plan, but I am flexible enough to enjoy surprising opportunities when they come along. 2. Career goals My long-term career goal is to own my own hedge fund and earn at least $25 million a year. The top hedge fund owners can earn considerably more than this (Story B1). To achieve this I need three things: proven skill at investing (or the skill to hire someone with skill at investing), connections to the kind of wealthy investors who put their money in hedge funds, and the ability to convince potential clients to trust me with their money. 3. A Strategic Plan for My Future I have four major goals: to stop smoking, to learn more about coral reefs, to start a hedge fund, and to find the right spouse and start a family. I can quit smoking this year. I have decided to join a smoking cessation program at a local hospital this summer. I have consulted with my doctor and he thinks this is a good option for me. I am determined to succeed. I don’t know how long, or if, I will, as a devoted amateur, ever be able to make a scientific discovery significant to earn me admittance into the Explorer’s Club, but I intend to proceed as though this is possible (Explorer’s Club). So far, my experience with scuba diving and studying coral reefs has only been as a tourist and an avid reader. I would very much like to participate in a real scientific research expedition. One of the world’s leading organizations for research into the ecology of coral reefs is the ARC Center for Excellence in Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University in Townsville, Australia (ARC Center of Excellence). My plan is to contact the scientists at the Center to learn what kind of opportunities there are for amateurs to participate in research projects. I am also considering participating in a research expedition, sponsored by the Earthwatch Institute, to Thailand’s coral reefs in December 2009 (Earthwatch Institute). I have another motive for doing this, which is that I can imagine meeting my future spouse on such an excursion. I would like to meet someone with whom I have interests in common. I think it will take me ten years to get the experience and contacts I need to start a hedge fund. I would like to apprentice myself to a leading hedge fund operator such as James Simons of Renaissance Technologies, John Paulson, or John Arnold of Centaurus Energy (Story B2). I am pursuing an education in finance. I have also been studying investment methods and I seem to have an affinity for technical analysis. I am managing a fictional portfolio as if it were real—tracking trades and so forth—and I am doing reasonably well. I am planning to join the Marketing Technicans Association and to earn the CMT credential. This involves a course of self-study and passing three challenging exams (Marketing Technican’s Association). Preparing for all three tests is said to take a total of 400 hours of study (Marketing Technician’s Association). I also intend to be active in the association—to meet others in the field and hopefully to network my way into a job in finance. As everyone knows, this is not an ideal time to be looking for a job in finance. The sector has cut 400,000 jobs in the past two years (Bowley Story). I plan on being persistent. To start a hedge fund, I will need clients. To find them, I need to go where rich people and people who manage portfolios for large institutions go. I plan to be active in fundraising for our alumna association. I play squash and tennis. I plan to learn to play polo, an expensive sport. I also plan to be active in several charitable organizations. I hope this networking will put me in touch with the right people. Salesmanship is very important in the hedge fund business. Why should a potential client trust me with their money? I intend to build a reputation as an ethical, dependable, solid person. People will trust me because I will be trustworthy. This may sound obvious, but one thing that is sorely missing right now in the financial community is trust. Too many people have been too badly burned by the people they trusted to give them financial advice. Probably the goal that matters most to me is meeting a life partner. I hope I can do this in the next five years. I know how to meet people—that’s easy. But what I want to do is form strong, lasting relationships based on honestly knowing each other. The best way for me to do that is to be considerate and honest. In the past I have noticed in myself a tendency to play to the crowd. I will do what is necessary to get a laugh or to make someone like me, even if it means saying something about my thoughts, feelings, or opinions that isn’t really true. This is not going to work when it comes to finding a life partner. I need to be funny, considerate and honest at the same time. I am somewhat afraid of doing this. 4. A Strategic Plan â€Å"B† for My Future What if my plans don’t work out? I find this very hard to imagine. If I put myself in the right place, frequently enough, I know something good will happen, even if it isn’t exactly what I have in mind now. There are always options. I intend to follow my heart so I make the right choices. Suppose I can’t get a job in finance when I want to? I will probably consider going to work for one of the government regulatory agencies; they will probably be hiring. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is one possibility, especially since the CMT credential takes me part of the way towards the FINRA Registered Research Analyst credential (Marketing Technicians Association). This would open more doors. I am very ambitious, but if ten years pass and my dream of starting a hedge fund begins to look like an impossible goal, I will probably consider starting my own personal financial advisor practice. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is forecasting that demand for personal financial advisors will increase by 44% over the next seven years (Bureau of Labor Statistics). I am very interested in the idea of starting my own business, even if it can’t be a hedge fund. Right now, I can’t say what other kind of company I might start but it could be anything. I believe that I have to put myself in the way of opportunities. I will do this by becoming an avid watcher of the economy and an avid investigator of business conditions. I know what I am looking for: a product or service that is necessary and nonexistent. This is how the great fortunes are made. In a general sense, I am most interested in ways in which the internet can be used to deliver new services. Netflix is an inspiration. The question to ask is how could computing and networking be applied to get people this service. If you are talking about a service or product that can be delivered globally over the internet, so much the better. Amazon changed the way people shop for books. Fresh Direct has changed the way New Yorkers shop for groceries. Seamless Web has changed the way people order meals in from restaurants. I see the world as being endlessly full of possibilities. I know my dream is of extreme wealth and privilege. Maybe it is more of a fantasy than something that can be planned for. But I know all the steps I take in pursuing my dream—networking, CMT certification, building a reputation as trustworthy—will open opportunities for me. I can’t know what these opportunities are in advance. My plan â€Å"B† really is much more strategic than tactical. My plan â€Å"A† is tactical. But for plan â€Å"B† I intend to do things that I am really interested in, to take advantage of all opportunities to meet others with similar interests, especially those with a track record of achievement, and to continue studying and learning. There will be opportunities and I will have my eyes open so I can see them. The CMT isn’t the only certification I can pursue; it is just the one that interests me the most right now. The CFA Institute offers the CFA certification which is one of the most prestigious on Wall Street (CFA Institute). This is another course of self-study followed punctuated by three exams (CFA Institute). The more I try to make a plan for the future, the more convinced I become that preparation is the most important thing I can do. This is regarding my love life, my family life, my interest in coral reefs, and my career. If I study and if I seek out other people, I will discover opportunities. You can’t study for love, but you can understand yourself and what you desire. The more I learn about who I am and what I have to give to a life partner, the more likely I will be to find that special someone. I want intimacy, depth, and trust. I want to know and be known as much as possible. I don’t want secrets and I don’t want lies. I am convinced that the only way I will find a person who wants what I do, and with me, is if I give these things first. Works Cited ARC Centre of Excellence. Coral Reefs on Brink of Disaster, Scientists Urge Action Now. Science Daily. 22 October 2007. 28 April 2009 http://www. sciencedaily. com ¬ /releases/2007/10/071021225256. htm. Bowley, G. Story, S. â€Å"Crisis Altering Wall Street as Big Banks Lose Top Talent. The New York Times. 12 April 2009. 27 April 2009 http://www. nytimes. com/2009/04/12/business/12wall. html? partner=rss. Bureau of Labor Statistics. â€Å"Financial Analysts and Personal Financial Advisors. † Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-2009 Edition. 27 April 2009 http://www. bls. gov/oco/ocos259. htm. CFA Institute. â€Å"What Is the CFA Program? † 28 April 2009 http://www. bls. gov/oco/ocos259. htm. â€Å"Coral Reefs of Thailand. † Earthwatch Institute. 28 April 2009 http://www. earthwatch. org/exped/heiss. html. Explorer’s Club. 28 April 2009 http://www. explorers. org/. Marketing Technicians Association. â€Å"CMT Program. † 28 April 2009 http://www. mta. org/eweb/DynamicPage. aspx? webcode=CMTProgram. Story, Louise. March, 25, 2009. â€Å"Top Hedge Fund Managers Do Well in a Down Year. † New York Times, p. B1.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Essay on Utopia - Constitution of the United States as a Utopian Propos

The Constitution of the United States as a Utopian Proposal   Ã‚  Ã‚   Few people would take issue with the statement that America faces monumental challenges both to its own well-being as well as to its self-imposed duty to become "a more perfect union". Over the years, many speakers, authors, and dreamers have used the dirty facts of this nation's (and its predecessors') seemingly unrepentant capitalism, paternalism, belligerence, and tendency toward cultural assimilation to declare the entire enterprise bankrupt and to focus, not on where, exactly, the USA went wrong, but instead on what the truly ideal civilization would look like. They have created, in speech or on paper, entire realms of happiness and harmony, free of injustice, crime, and any other negative social vice. They have failed, however, in most cases, to free themselves from the trap of the nature of the human animal and his uncanny ability to absolutely avoid accurate prediction or even adequate description. It is my suggestion that, out of the bulk of utopian proposals th e world has seen, the Constitution of the United States does, in fact, come the closest to creating "no place" for the greatest number of people through its pragmatism, its admission to not knowing the nature of every man, and, most importantly, its allowal of alternate visions of Utopia.       Of course, all one needs to do to get a glimpse of the monumental challenges the USA faces is open the closest almanac. Nearly half (49%) of all American marriages end in divorce. Some 700,000 high school students end up dropping out of school each year. There are nearly one million cases of child neglect and/or abuse per year and 2,700,000 cases of violent crime. Around 8.5 million individuals... ...ough a total change in the accepted social order. The framers of the Constitution were looking in the right direction; it is our legacy and responsibility to see that the essence of their vision is amended to accommodate the changes this nation has experienced since its founding and to provide the opportunity for every citizen to express, and possibly achieve, his or her own utopia.    Works Cited Bellamy, Edward. Looking Backward: 2000 to 1887. Internet text version copyright 1996 by Geoffrey Sauer. http://english-server.hss.cmu.edu/fiction/bellamy/contents.html Brunner, Borgna, ed. 1997 Information Please Almanac. Boston: Information Please, LLC. Constitution of the United States of America. http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.overview.html. Democratic Socialists of America. (1998). http://www.dsausa.org/dsa.html

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Ponyboy curtis

He matures throughout the course of the novel, a ND earning things about life, he's naive and inexperienced compared to the 10th errs. He's very thoughtful, and has good motives and intentions. He's a loyal person and always sticks up for what's right. He's not spoiled or selfish. He's grateful for what he has. PWS world has been turned upside down after his parents were killed in an AU automobile accident just eight months before The Outsiders story takes place. Do you area lies that he's an orphan and he just lives with his older brothers Darryl which is only 20 years old ND Soda who's 16.Lucky Darryl' has a legal custody of Soda and Pony boy. Pony wants there to be no fighting Beethoven the Soc and the greasers. pony likes sunsets, books and he also like poems which he always memoir zees. He lines at the movie house, † I had a long walk home and no company, but I usually lone it anyway, for no reason except that I like to watch movies† † and nobody in our gang di gs books and movies the way I do† Pony has a different attitude and behavior than the others in his gang.Greasers are almost like hoods, we steal things and drive old speedup cars and hold up gas stations and have gang fights once in a while . I don't mean I do things like that† The other greasers are tough/ rude while pony is sensitive,soft and also humble. He saved the kids from the church fire and doubt that the greasers would've do en that. Darryl always says that Pony has a lack of common sense. He can admit the at he isn't the greatest at school but that's because he's not that interested in shoo I.He can also have some lack of common sense when he's in trouble but even if he get s in to trouble a lot he still has he's feet on the ground. Pony has always been proud to be a greaser, even willing to rumble again SST a gang of Soc for the sake of his fellow greasers. He does not like few of the people in the his crew, particularly hazardous Dallas Winston, however he would do anything f or Dallas and would be protect him from the hazard whether it is possible. The bonus a accordance Pony is the thread that keeps his bunch along. It cuts across their different sees.Those are loyal to the one another because they are known each other well h as grown up along, and have enjoyed tough times along. In the case the Curtis boys is t heir allegiance in order to their brothers and of orphaned brothers. But to me, a loyal person is also just a someone we can or should admire. I be live we should admire Pony to resolve all the trouble he has and been through . S omen who is loyal is someone you can trust, takes care of you, is concerned about y defends you, helps you, and more importantly loves you. Pony is the prefer CT example of that.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Maintaining Job Descriptions

Writing and updating Job Descriptions is very important for the employer and the candidate. It allows the candidate to decide if the skills they have match the position they are contemplating on applying for. For the employer it helps them to get a clear picture of the ideal candidate and give their expectations for the candidate they are searching for. Companies undergo expansion, restructuring, downsizing and relocating, those things cause changes within the company such as departments and teams changing and business priorities. The reason we update and rewrite job descriptions is so that employees do not assume what to do on the job but know what to do. The employer needs for the job description to specifically state what is expected, such as travel, management, full time, part time and shift work. A Job description also helps the employer determine who can follow directions, and they also aid in evaluations, raises and promotions. Job descriptions are also an important part of the Benefits Specialist’s Job. They are also very essential in the development and implementation of Human Resource programs. When applying for a job always remember that a Job Description is a legal binding document and can be used as evidence in hiring disputes and labor negotiations. (Subramaniam, 2009) Whenever the job functions of an employee changes it is very important that their job description changes also. (Subramaniam, 2009) You cannot successfully manage performance by the use of outdated job descriptions that do not list the real functions of the job. Subramaniam, 2009) Many organizations in the past overlooked the importance of updating Job Descriptions but after several lawsuits I believe that a lot of companies today are a lot more careful in not just updating but in writing them and having them looked at and handled by qualified Human Resource personnel. Outline a process that will yield a set of thorough, current job descriptions. The process that I think will yield a set of thorough, current job descriptions would to first determine the needs of the company. This may ean getting with the decision makers to compare the responsibilities of current staff and to compare the responsibilities and competencies of current staff against all existing and possible needs. By doing this you can identify the gaps and consider looking at current employees who can be moved into need roles in place of looking to hire. (Developing a Roadmap for the Hiring Process) Gather information from your staff to help in the process ask them what they think you should be looking for or asking. The second step would be to start writing your Job Description and Job Posting. The job description document will list the responsibilities and qualification of the job. This will be used by the hiring managers to evaluate the candidates and by the position manager to set expectations for the new hire and for the evaluations and performance reviews. (Developing a Roadmap for the Hiring Process) Next would be to develop a recruitment plan, you can first start by Internal Distribution: this will allow current employee the opportunity to apply for the position if interested. And second they are the key source of referrals for any new positions. Next would be Distribution by net working this would be to send the announcement to friends, peer groups community partners etc. This will help in spreading the work of the position. Last would be External Posting, this would be online adds, news papers and even just posting the job on boards in different businesses like grocery chains. Your final stage would be setting up a screening process to view each applicant and make a decision. Be sure that everyone who is making a hiring decision is on the same page. You can start by deciding what information you want to view and how you want to obtain the information you are looking for. Three common stages of a screening process are Resume Screening, Phone Screening and Interviews. Before you view any resume decide what information you want to know from the resume and look at your job description and come up with a list of criteria, This will aide you in coming up with a Resume Screening Worksheet. Next would be a phone screening, sometimes it is hard to decide from a resume so you can come up with a few questions and do a phone interview. If after doing a Resume Screen and a Phone Screen your are still not satisfied then you can do an Interview. The in person interview allows you to fish for information that you did not gather during the resume and phone screen. Recommend a process to be used in the future for periodically reviewing and updating the new job descriptions. The process that I recommend be followed in keeping your job descriptions updated is to first let your employees know that their positions descriptions are subject to changes and that they know the difference between job description and position description. Because with is not in your job description could be in your position description. When discussing performance appraisals review your employee’s job description and discuss it with them to make sure that they haven’t acquired some extra duty that needs to be placed in their job description. You can also make sure to review the job descriptions once someone has left that position then before you rush to place an announcement for the position review the job description and make any changes need. Works Cited Developing a Roadmap for the Hiring Process. (n.d.). Retrieved April 25, 2011, from Common Good Careers: www.cgcareers.org Subramaniam, S. A.-M. (2009). A Review of the Need for Writing and Updating Job Descriptions for 21st Century Organizations. Retrieved April 25, 2011, from European Journal of Social Sciences-Volume 12, Number 2 (2009): www.eurojournals.com/ejss

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Free Essays on Revenge At Its Sweetest

Revenge at its Sweetest Only a few slow moving tumbleweeds occupied the desert terrain. The endless plain of dust and hot dry dirt seemed to have no occupants; it was as if the ground hadn't been walked over for years. Suddenly, the seemingly endless silence was broken by a gradual fade into a chaotic rumbling sound. The sound grew more ferocious and eventually became unbearably loud. Just then in the distance behind a cliff, a cloud of dust appeared and out of it raced seven cars racing at insane speeds. It looked as if the cars had been built from scraps of hard iron and metal for the sole purpose was to fight against other contenders in this barren wasteland. In front of the pack was a sleek fast car, being pursued by six other cars, but one could tell the leading car was an extremely experienced driver possessing total control of the vehicle. The dark and mysterious figure behind the wheel of the leading car sported a helmet, and painted in red lettering on the side of the helmet was the name "MAX†. Max reached across the seat and pulled out a sawed-off shotgun, and after putting it out the window shot a round back at the following pack of cars. Immediately, one car at the back swerved dangerously and rolled several times before bursting into flames broadcasting pieces of shrapnel across the barren wasteland. The pack of cars was quickly approaching a deep canyon; they would have to break hard immediately to avoid careening over the edge of it. Max didn't slow down, Max slammed the accelerator to the floor and gave it a shot of Nitrous, and then with such extremity and determination the car screamed as if in pain as it lurched forward, faster than ever. Then the car leapt off the canyon's edge and became airborne. Gliding through the air without any control of the car didn't seem to faze Max at all. The car seemed to delicately touch down on the other side as if there was a bridge. The following pack ended up being oblitera... Free Essays on Revenge At Its Sweetest Free Essays on Revenge At Its Sweetest Revenge at its Sweetest Only a few slow moving tumbleweeds occupied the desert terrain. The endless plain of dust and hot dry dirt seemed to have no occupants; it was as if the ground hadn't been walked over for years. Suddenly, the seemingly endless silence was broken by a gradual fade into a chaotic rumbling sound. The sound grew more ferocious and eventually became unbearably loud. Just then in the distance behind a cliff, a cloud of dust appeared and out of it raced seven cars racing at insane speeds. It looked as if the cars had been built from scraps of hard iron and metal for the sole purpose was to fight against other contenders in this barren wasteland. In front of the pack was a sleek fast car, being pursued by six other cars, but one could tell the leading car was an extremely experienced driver possessing total control of the vehicle. The dark and mysterious figure behind the wheel of the leading car sported a helmet, and painted in red lettering on the side of the helmet was the name "MAX†. Max reached across the seat and pulled out a sawed-off shotgun, and after putting it out the window shot a round back at the following pack of cars. Immediately, one car at the back swerved dangerously and rolled several times before bursting into flames broadcasting pieces of shrapnel across the barren wasteland. The pack of cars was quickly approaching a deep canyon; they would have to break hard immediately to avoid careening over the edge of it. Max didn't slow down, Max slammed the accelerator to the floor and gave it a shot of Nitrous, and then with such extremity and determination the car screamed as if in pain as it lurched forward, faster than ever. Then the car leapt off the canyon's edge and became airborne. Gliding through the air without any control of the car didn't seem to faze Max at all. The car seemed to delicately touch down on the other side as if there was a bridge. The following pack ended up being oblitera...

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

SAT Subject Test Dates 2016-2017

SAT Subject Test Dates 2016-2017 SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips At PrepScholar, we use the best data to inform you about what the testing schedule and registration deadlines will look like in the future.When choosing your test date and Subject Tests, there are multiple factors to consider and it is vital to plan ahead. You can see the SAT test dates for previous years to get an idea of when the tests normally take place and how long after the test dates scores tend to be released. In this article, I’ll give you the SAT Subject Test dates for 2016-2017 and explain what you should consider when picking your test date and Subject Tests. Test Dates for the 2016-2017 School Year SAT Subject Tests are offered on the same dates and in the same locations as the SAT, but there’s an additional test date in March for the SAT that isn’t offered for the SAT Subject Tests. Subject Test Dates These test dates are listed by the College Board, but they’re still subject to change. Not all of the tests are offered on every date- the language with listening tests are only offered in November. Subject Test October 1, 2016 November 5, 2016 December 3, 2016 January 21, 2017 May 6, 2017 June 3, 2017 Literature X X X X X X US History X X X X X X World History X X Mathematics Level 1 X X X X X X Mathematics Level 2 X X X X X X Biology E/M X X X X X X Chemistry X X X X X X Physics X X X X X X French X X X X X German X Spanish X X X X X Modern Hebrew X Italian X Latin X X French with Listening X German with Listening X Spanish with Listening X Chinese with Listening X Japanese with Listening X Korean with Listening X You can only take Korean in November. Registration Dates The registration deadlines and score release dates are projected by PrepScholar. Test Date Normal Registration Late Registration Score Release Oct 1, 2016 Sep 2, 2016 Sep 16, 2016 Oct 20, 2016 Nov 5, 2016 Oct 7, 2016 Oct 21, 2016 Nov 24, 2016 Dec 3, 2016 Nov 4, 2016 Nov 18, 2016 Dec 22, 2016 Jan 21, 2017 Dec 23, 2016 Jan 6, 2017 Feb 9, 2017 May 6, 2017 Apr 7, 2017 Apr 21, 2017 May 25, 2017 Jun 3, 2017 May 5, 2017 May 19, 2017 Jun 22, 2017 How Accurate Are the Tables Above? The test dates are the anticipated dates provided by the College Board, and the registration and score release dates are our estimations. Even though all the dates are likely to be correct, because the test dates are provided by the College Board, those dates may be somewhat more reliable. However, the test dates aren't confirmed yet. If any of the dates change, they’ll probably be a week earlier or later than the anticipated date. You can use these dates to help determine when you'll take your SAT Subject Tests. If you know your available options, you can select the date that works best with your schedule. Also, you can factor in the specific tests you're taking and the amount of time you need to prepare for the them. How to Choose Your Subject Tests? Here’s what you should consider when selecting your Subject Tests: What Do Your Colleges Require? Know the specific requirements of the colleges you’re applying to or intend to apply to. How many Subject Tests do they require? Are you applying to a school or program that requires you to take science and math? Are you applying to colleges that want to see your skill level in a range of subjects? Are you applying to test optional or flexible colleges that allow you to use Subject Tests in place of the SAT or ACT? If you have any questions about a school's policies, call the admissions office. What Are Your Best Subjects in School? Generally, you'll do the best on the tests related to your best subjects in school. If you thoroughly enjoy physics and you're excelling in your AP Physics class, you'll probably do well on the Physics Subject Test. Are You Fluent in Another Language? Many native speakers of other languages take the Subject Test in their first language, even if they’re not taking a class in that language. Often, this is an opportunity to get a high score and show off your multilingualism. However, make sure you review the content for the Subject Test even if you're fluent. I scored higher on my Spanish Subject Test than some of my friends who are native Spanish speakers because I was more familiar with Spanish grammar rules and written Spanish while they were much more adept at conversational Spanish. Finally, read our articles on SAT Subject Tests for more guidance and to help you study. How to Choose Your Test Dates Review this article on how to select SAT Subject Test dates. Also, keep in mind that you can take one, two, or three Subject Tests on a single test date. WhatIs Your Class Schedule? Generally, you want to take a givenSubject Test when you’re studying the highest level of that subject. For example,If you're taking AP US History in your junior year, you may want to take the US History Subject Test in May or June of that year right after you've spent a full year studying US History and preparing for the AP test. When Are Your College Deadlines? For most schools, the December test of your senior year will be the last time you can take the Subject Tests, and if you're applying early, the October test may be the last possible date for you. Familiarize yourself with your deadlines and give yourself an opportunity to retake the tests in case you don't get your target scores. What IsYour Personal Schedule? Make sure you give yourself time to study and avoid taking the test when you have possible conflicts. If your'e particularly busy with school and extracurricular activities in a certain month, you may want to avoid taking your Subject Tests then. What's Next? If you're preparing for your SAT Subject Tests, you may want to check out our study guides for World History, Chemistry, Literature, or Biology. You can view study guides for additional subjects in our Subject Test articles. Not sure how manySAT Subject Tests to take? Check out our guide to deciding. Finally, learn more about what is a good SAT Subject Test score. Need a little extra help prepping for your Subject Tests? We have the industry's leading SAT Subject Test prep programs (for all non-language Subject Tests). Built by Harvard grads and SAT Subject Test full or 99th %ile scorers, the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics, then customizes your prep program to you so that you get the most effective prep possible. Learn more about our Subject Test products below:

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Effective Leadership Style in Controlling the High Employee Turnover Thesis

Effective Leadership Style in Controlling the High Employee Turnover Rate within Nursing Faculties - Thesis Example The nursing facilities in UK are experiencing a 12.2% reduction as of 2010 (Buchan and Seccombe, 2012, p. 21). In Canada, â€Å"a shortage of 20,000 nurses† was reported in 2012 (Coutts, Nursing faculty leaders in US, UK, Canada, and Australia are experiencing problems related to recruitment and retention (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2013a; National Black Nurses Association, 2013; Laschinger et al., 2009; Longley, Shaw and Dolan, 2007). To solve problems related to recruitment, nursing faculties in US, UK, Canada, and Australia are continuously hiring nurses from different counties around the world (Netzwerk Migration in Europa, 2013). In Canada, low salary is one reason why nursing educators in this area are looking for other more promising job opportunities (Cash, Doyle and Tettenborn, 2011). Nursing faculties in US, UK, Canada, and Australia are having problem retaining nurses in the field of education. Aside from unattractive payment scheme, other reasons that causes poor retention includes lack of trust and collaboration among the nursing staff, over-worked, absence of career opportunities, no proper recognition for good work performance, absence of control over job performance, and poor communication among the faculty members (Hunt, 2009, p. 2). To solve retention, problem, nursing faculties in US, UK, Canada, and Australia will have to use transformational leadership not only to help them create a healthy and attractive work environment which is necessary in increasing the work satisfaction of registered nurses who wish to pursue a career in teaching (Cummings et al., 2009; Nielsen et al., 2009; Raup, 2008). Furthermore, Nielsen et al. (2009) mentioned that there is a strong relationship between the use of transformational leadership style and the decrease in work-related stress and burnout. By solving problems related to stress, burnout and poor working environment, the nursing faculties in US, UK,

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Cultural diversity, multiculturalism and inclusion Essay

Cultural diversity, multiculturalism and inclusion - Essay Example On the other hand, inclusion denotes the embodiment of different groups of people that have special needs. Apparently, the proposition to engage multiculturalism, cultural diversity and inclusiveness in the education sector has not been implemented due to the divergent implications that have been expressed. Thus, this paper will focus on the positive and negative implications that have been mention in concern to the subject. Firstly, it is noted that to nurture human cohesion, all individuals need a glimpse of the historical background of all the groups that reside in an area. For example, America is considered one of the most diverse nations in the world because it has people from diverse origins. Notwithstanding, it would be prudent to engage all the population to afflict a unified society. Secondly, the inclusion of such approaches will guarantee that people will comprehend their diversity, which has not been acceptable in the past. Through such an understanding, different societies will express peaceful coexistence in the possible manner. Thirdly, the available documentations express the impressive performance of particular races. However, with the inclusion of other individuals with successful innovation, all the learners will appreciate the diversity of all the races (Grant 179). For example, the policy makers need to embrace African American who fought against the social ills as well as the white s that struggled for economic sustenance. Fourthly, the approach will enhance comprehension of collaborative methodology that expresses the concerns of all the groups that live in the region. Lastly, the execution of such an approach will lead to multicultural equity in the state. Evidently, some of the minority groups are not given identical treatment as the other majority groups, and this affects the livelihood of the marginal population. Thus, the inception of the

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Disneyland Paris & Legoland Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Disneyland Paris & Legoland - Essay Example Visitor attractions can easily be considered as one of the main economical and social matters in the world today, and this is speaking of theme parks especially particularly; Disneyland Paris and Legoland are two of the most recognized and well known theme parks in the world, and so in order to be able to understand the purpose and reasoning behind theme parks in general, as well as how these two in particular work and what they are all about, there are several questions in particular that need to be answered fully and thoroughly: 1.What is the historical development of Disneyland Paris and Legoland? 2What is the range of current position in the field for Disneyland Paris and Legoland? 3.How does the management and ownership and levels of provision work in Disneyland Paris and Legoland? 4.What is the market for theme parks in general and what is its potential for expansion as a market? 5.What are the key operational management issues? 6.What are some present and future trends and oth er key related issues that are involved here? By thoroughly and rather elaborately answering these questions, we will not only be able to come to a much more knowledgeable and understanding viewpoint on the subject matter at hand altogether, but as well, we will be able to understand theme parks as a whole in general, and furthermore, we will be able to see how they actually work, what type of market they refer to, what the issues are if any, and what trends are in relation to them

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Mission Statement Essay Vision Statement Essay

Mission Statement Essay Vision Statement Essay Mission Statements Vision Statements Vision Statements and Mission Statements are the inspiring words chosen by successful leaders to clearly and concisely convey the direction of the organization. By crafting a clear mission statement and vision statement, you can powerfully communicate your intentions and motivate your team or organization to realize an attractive and inspiring common vision of the future. â€Å"Mission Statements† and â€Å"Vision Statements† do two distinctly different jobs. A Mission Statement defines the organizations purpose and primary objectives. Its prime function is internal to define the key measure or measures of the organizations success and its prime audience is the leadership team and stockholders. Vision Statements also define the organizations purpose, but this time they do so in terms of the organizations values rather than bottom line measures (values are guiding beliefs about how things should be done.) The vision statement communicates both the purpose and values of the organization. For employees, it gives direction about how they are expected to behave and inspires them to give their best. Shared with customers, it shapes customers understanding of why they should work with the organization Vision Statements are difficult to write they should short, clear, vivid, inspiring and concise without using jargon, complicated words or concepts. Successful Statements are memorable and engaging. A combination of both a companys mission and a companys vision of the future may be included in a Mission Statement. No wonder there is so much confusion between Vision Statements and Mission Statements! Sample Vision Statements Definition of a Vision A Vision is defined as An Image of the future we seek to create. Definition of a Mission A Mission is defined as Purpose, reason for being. Defined simply Who we are and what we do. What is the difference between Mission Statements and Vision Statements? A good definition for a Mission Statement is a sentence or short paragraph which is written by a company or business which reflects its core purpose, identity, values and principle business aims. The definition for Vision Statements is a sentence or short paragraph providing a broad, aspirational image of the future. Mission Statements therefore contain important information about a company in a nutshell. This should include the the company mission ( what the company does, its products, its services and its customers). These types of Statements focus on today Vision Statements therefore contain details of the companys future its vision ( the future plans with aims and objectives )These types of Statements focus on tomorrow. An organizational mission is an organizations reason for existence. It often reflects the values and beliefs of top managers in an organization. A mission statement is the broad definition of the organizational mission. It is sometimes referred to as a creed, purpose, or statement of corporate philosophy and values. A good mission statement inspires employees and provides a focus and direction for setting lower level objectives. It should guide employees in making decisions and establish what the organization does. Mission statements are crucial for organizations to prosper and grow. While studies suggest that they have a positive impact on profitability and can increase shareholder equity, they also support that almost 40 percent of employees do not know or understand their companys mission. Not only large corporations benefit from creating mission statements but small businesses as well. Entrepreneurial businesses are driven by vision and high aspirations. Developing a mission statement will help the small business realize their vision. Its primary purpose is to guide the entrepreneur and assist in refining the planning process. By developing a strategic plan that incorporates the mission statement, entrepreneurs are more likely to be successful and stay focused on what is important. The mission statement encourages managers and small business owners alike to consider the nature and scope of the business. Business Week attributes 30 percent higher return on several key financial measure for companies with well-crafted mission statements. COMMON ELEMENTS While mission statements vary from organization to organization and represent the distinctness of each one, they all share similar components. Most statements include descriptions of the organizations target market, the geographic domain, their concern for survival, growth and profitability, the company philosophy, and the organizations desired public image. For example: Our mission is to become the favorite family dining restaurant in every neighborhood in which we operate. This will be accomplished by serving a variety of delicious tasting and generously portioned foods at moderate prices. Our restaurants will be clean, fun, and casual. Our guests will be served by friendly, knowledgeable people that are dedicated to providing excellent customer service. This mission statement describes the target market, which are families and the geographic domain of neighborhoods. It clearly states how it expects to be profitable by offering excellent customer service by friendly, knowledgeable people. When defining the mission statement it is important to take into account external influences such as the competition, labor conditions, economic conditions, and possible government regulation. It is important to remember however, that mission statements that try to be everything to everybody end up being nothing to anybody. Companies should have mission statements that clearly define expected shareholder returns and they should regularly measure performance in terms of those expected returns. If the major reason for a businesss existence is to make a profit then it stands to reason that expectations of profit should be included in the organizations mission. This means that management should reach a consensus about which aspects of the companys profit performance should be measured. These might include margin growth, product quality, market share changes, competitive cost position, and capital structure efficiency. A mission statement sets the boundaries for how resources should be allocated and what strategic and operational goals should be set. The mission statement should acknowledge the companys strengths and then inform employees where to direct their efforts in order to take advantage of those strengths. Before writing a mission statement organizations should take a look at how they are different from the competition, whether it is in technology, image and name brand, or employees. It can often be thought of as a recipe for success because it not only defines the organizations accomplishments but it also provides employees with directions to help them develop plans and look for opportunities for improvement. The organization defines what is acceptable behavior through the mission statement. Values and beliefs are the core of a strong mission statement. For example: Quality and values will secure our success. We will live by our values, have fun, and take pride in what we do. Our values are to maintain a work environment where people enjoy coming to work, to serve our guests and exceed their expectations, and to be profitable and result oriented. This mission statement is simple and straightforward. It does not, however, specify the products or target market. The mission statement also provides meaning to the organization by stating not only what goals the company wants to achieve but also why it wants to achieve these goals. It is not effective unless it is challenging and forces workers to establish goals and means to measure the achievement of those goals. A mission statement should inspire employees and get them involved in the organization. It has been called the glue that holds the organization together through shared values and standards of behavior. A mission statement should be relevant to the history, culture, and values of the company. Many statements refer to the social responsibility of the organization. For example, a company can show their concern for the community in the following: To be involved as good corporate citizens wherever we are around the world. We will treat customers and distributors with honesty, courtesy, and respect. We will respect and preserve the environment. Through all of this we will prove to be the worldwide leader in industry trade. One important issue in organizations today is the concern with diversity. While it is not a traditional point included in mission statements, more and more companies are including it because of the globalization of the economy and the increased diversity of the workforce. Before writing a mission statement, leaders in the organization must have an idea of what is in store for the future. This vision is the foundation for the mission statement. The vision provides a strategic direction, which is the springboard for the mission and its related goals. A vision statement differs from a mission statement. Vision statements are a view of what an organization is striving to become. For example: To bring back to neighborhoods all over America the importance of family unity. We will view ourselves as a family so these attributes will be carried over into our service. They guide an organization into the future while mission statements are a reflection of the present. Because vision statements are a glimpse into the future, they are often not realized for several years. Organizations go through many changes and can face times of confusion and uncertainty. Changes are not always expected or easy, so a well thought out vision statement will help everyone stay focused and meet the organizations goals. Some examples of well-known companies mission statements: Wal-Mart: To give ordinary folk the chance to buy the same thing as rich people. 3M: To solve unsolved problems innovatively. Walt Disney: To make people happy. Historically, these may have seemed arrogant. But consider the outcome of the following mission statements from each companys early days: Ford Motor Company: Ford will democratize the automobile. Sony: Become the company most know for changing the world-wide poor-quality image of Japanese products. Wal-Mart: Become a $125 billion company by the year 2000. WRITING A MISSION STATEMENT When creating a mission statement there are a few simple guidelines that can be followed. It is important to remember the basics so the mission statement stays simple and straight to the point. Some researchers agree that it should be kept to between 30 and 60 words, while others believe it does not necessarily have to be that brief. Some organizations have mission statements that are only one sentence, while others are a paragraph. An example of a mission statement that is limited to one sentence is Our business is selling houses and our mission is total customer satisfaction. At a minimum, each mission statement should answer the following three questions: (1) What are the opportunities or needs the organization addresses? (2) What does the organization do to address those needs? and (3) What principles and values guide the organization? In other words, defining the organizations purpose, business and values. Avoiding jargon and buzzwords will keep the mission statement clear and easy to understand. It should be universal and simple to comprehend for all employees in the organization. It should be unique and identify the organization. A mission statement is often what sets one company apart from the competition. It should outline the organizations competitive advantages and differentiate it from everyone else. Specific products/services offered as well as markets or customers should be included. Also a general business definition, behavioral standards, and desired competitive position can be added to a strong mission statement. EMPLOYEE INVOLVEMENT It is often helpful to allow company-wide input when creating a mission statement. This bottom up approach results in greater commitment to the organization and a better understanding of the organization. Employees from throughout the organization can help identify the core values of the company. In order to encourage employee participation, many companies have created competitions inviting employees to submit suggestions. Cash prizes are sometimes provided as an incentive for creative and inspirational statements. Some companies find it useful to invite customers to assist in writing a mission statement because they can provide an honest perspective. Another option is to review mission statements from other companies. This can help provide ideas as the writing process begins. It is important to keep in mind that there will be a draft process involved in creating the mission statement. Employees can often provide invaluable insight on how to improve on each draft. In the end, the mission statement should reflect the personality of the organization. Thus, each company should be creative and unique in developing its own statement. Creating a mission committee that consists of members of management, frontline employees, and customers is another way to begin writing a mission statement. The major benefit of this strategy is the inclusion of all areas of the organization to ensure that everyone is represented. Another benefit is that employees will be more willing to work toward accomplishing the mission if they know they had a voice in its creation. A top down approach can be effective in smaller organizations or even sole proprietorships. There is less time involved in creating a mission statement when it comes from the top. Also, many times frontline employees and lower level managers lack the insight necessary to see the big picture. They may not be able to conceptualize the entire organization and therefore miss important aspects of the business. Participation may not always be a good option for small businesses. In small businesses that are started by entrepreneurs the mission statement is generally a vision of an individual and therefore may not be negotiable. When the mission statement comes from upper management, employees are more assured of the organizations commitment to the statement. A word of caution should be noted when deciding whether to adopt a top down approach or a bottom up approach. If the mission statement is to be created with a wide variety of input from both employees and customers then it will take longer than a top down approach. There must be a sharing of views and ideas with compromises made. A consensus should be developed without the problems associated with groupthink. There is always the possibility that too much compromise will distort the mission statement and the end result is something different from the original intent. The top down approach is not always effective because it rarely consults employees when making important decisions. Therefore, although it is the fastest route to take it isnt always the most effective. While the mission statement should be able to change with the times it is also understood to have a certain degree of permanence. As new businesses begin to grow and hire more employees the mission statement should provide a strong sense of stability and a clear definition of the culture. A mission statement is worthless unless it has the support of the employees in the organization. It will only be successful if each employee commits to its success and internalizes it. Once the statement is completed it is extremely important that the organization not put it on the shelf to collect dust. It should be shared with the entire company. The introduction of the mission statement should come directly from top management in order to set the example. Organizations should be creative in making employees aware of the mission statement. Placing it strategically in locations where employees gather will increase awareness and remind them of the goals of the organization. Videos outlining the details of the new mission statement are often useful; however, it is critical that employees have the opportunity to discuss the statement with members of management. Setting up meetings with members of management and frontline employees can often help uncover areas where the company does not meet the standards set by the mission statement. Communicating the mission statement to customers will make them feel valued and important. It can be sent to customers in a mass mailing or posted on signs in areas those customers frequent. It sets forth the goals of the organization so customers know what to expect when doing business with the company. SWOT ANALYSIS SWOT is an acronym for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. SWOT analysis is a strategic planning tool that helps an organization match its internal strengths and weaknesses with external opportunities and threats. SWOT analysis is important and useful in creating and executing the organizations mission statement. Often the best strategies for accomplishing the organizations mission are revealed through the SWOT analysis. The best strategies are those that take advantage of strengths and opportunities, offset threats, and improve weaknesses. Organizations should first begin by reviewing internal strengths and weaknesses. When analyzing an organizations strengths it is important to identify distinctive competencies or strengths possessed by only a few competing firms. These distinctive competencies often become the competitive advantages that are included in the mission statement. Distinctive competencies can be found in financial resources, quality products and services, proprietary technology, or cost advantages. Organizational weaknesses are skills and capabilities that prevent an organization from implementing strategies that achieve its mission. They can be problems with facilities, lack of a clear strategic direction, internal operating problems, too narrow a product line, weak market image, or the inability to finance changes. The next step is to identify external opportunities and threats. Organizational opportunities are circumstances in an organizations environment that if capitalized on will result in above normal increases in economic performance. Examples of opportunities are related to the possibility of adding a new product line, increasing market growth, or diversifying into related products. Threats are viewed as circumstances that give rise to normal or below normal economic performance. They can be found in the ease of entry of competitors, increased sales of substituted products, demographic changes, slowed market growth, or increased competition. EVALUATION Evaluation of the mission statement is necessary to ensure the organization is meeting its goals. If needed, new goals may have to be created in order to accommodate changes in the organization. It may be time to reevaluate what the organization is doing or where it is headed. This is a good time to think about entering into new areas or to begin doing things differently by rewriting part or all of the mission and vision statements. In evaluating an organizations performance, management must look at several different aspects of the organization. First, managers need to determine if the organizations plans are clearly linked to its mission statement and related goals. Plans should be developed for both the short run and long run. Secondly, assigning jobs that are directly related to the achievement of organizational goals will help ensure they are attained. The goals should be communicated clearly so employees understand what tasks need to be carried out and what the rewards will be. Finally, when evaluating individual performance, the information gathered should be recent and compared to established standards. Mission statements are often difficult to evaluate because they are written in a somewhat abstract form. They are, many times, not directly measurable and vaguely worded. 1 presents an example of how mission statements can be measured from the top of the organization to the bottom. Strategic goals are directly tied to the organizations mission statement and apply to the organization as a whole. Tactical goals are departmental goals that support the strategic goals. Finally, operational goals are written at the individual level. Each one of these makes it possible to measure the organizations mission statements. An organizations likelihood of accomplishing its mission is increased as it creates strong and measurable goals at each level. It is not necessary that the mission statement be measured in quantifiable terms. It may also be measured qualitatively. For example, We will answer all of our customers questions and if we dont know the answer, we will find out. While this is not a quantitative statement it can be measured by monitoring customer service calls and setting operational goals for employees that revolve around follow up and thoroughness. Mission and vision statements give organizations a focus and a strategy for the future. According to Bart and Tabone, they have become the cornerstones of organizations. They contribute to organizations success and can lead to increases in productivity and performance. They do not have to be reserved for the entire organization—each department or division can benefit from developing a mission statement, as long as they are not in contradiction to the companys overall mission. Preferably, an individual departments mission links it to the fulfillment of the overall company mission. Mission statements for functional departments provide the same benefits as they do for the entire organization. In conclusion, mission statements provide a sense of direction and purpose. In times of change and growth they can be an anchor and a guide in decision making. The benefits far outweigh the disadvantages and challenges when looking at the potential for increases in profitability and returns. Defining an organization by what it produces and who it satisfies are major steps towards creating a sound and stable mission statement. Setting a company apart from the competition is probably one of the biggest advantages. Whats the benefit of a mission or vision statement? What is a mission statement? According to Bain Company, mission statements are one of the most frequently used management tools. Organizations spend thousands of hours and dollars developing mission statements and then more resources again on public relations to unfold them to their stakeholders. This is not surprising when you review the often-stated benefits of mission statements: To communicate the direction of the organization. To help make day-to-day operating decisions. To keep the organization focused. To motivate employees. Many authors have a variety of beliefs of what should be included in a mission statement. Ireland and Hill (1992) state that the mission statement should include the organizations goals, purpose, product and market scope and philosophical views. Davies and Glaister (1997) believe that it should include the organizations statement of purpose and inspirational view for the future. While Jamieson and Justice (1999) state that the framework for the development of a mission statement should begin with the organizations primary purpose, target market, core products or services, critical values and measures of success. One of the better practical definitions has been provided by Bartkus, Glassman and McAfee (2000) who basically state a mission statement is a statement to communicate a description of the firm to its current and prospective stakeholders to determine if they want to be involved with it. The reality is, there is no one agreed definition of what should and should not be included in a mission statement. We believe a mission statement is a simple, short statement that clearly communicates the purpose of the organization to its stakeholders. Nothing more, nothing less. For practical purposes, many of the other aspects of mission statements cited above are actually found in other sections of an organizations planning documents. What is a vision statement? The delineation between vision and mission statements is far from clear. This is understandable when many of the benefits attributed to mission statements are also attributed to vision statements. Like mission statements, there are many definitions for vision statements. Warren Bennis describes a vision as something youll never forget. Tom Peters, in his book Thriving on Chaos, describes a vision statement as inspiring, clear and challenging, makes sense to the marketplace, stable but challenged, a beacon and control, empowering, prepares for the future, honors the past and is lived in the details. Both are useful definitions. We like to describe a vision statement as a picture of the future. While a mission statement talks about the organizations purpose, (i.e. direction), a vision statement talks about what the organization would like to be. The easiest and most practical way of simply delineating between a mission and vision is to describe the mission as the journey and the vision as the destination. How useful are these definitions? Although we have found these definitions to be simple and practical, there are two points to remember when discussing mission and vision statements during your strategic planning process: 1. There is no one accepted definition. 2. Agreement on the definition you use is more important than the definition itself. Do you really need a mission and vision statement? It depends. What you do need is to ensure that the organization has a direction and goal(s), that your key stakeholders support that direction and goal(s), and that your structure, resources and skills are aligned to facilitate moving in that direction and maximize your opportunity to achieve those goals. If you believe you need a mission and/or vision statement, then you probably do. However, just having a mission and/or vision statement, even if they are included in a planning document, posted on a plaque on the wall or provided to employees on business cards certainly does not, unto itself, ensure success. Mission and vision statements are management tools that if used appropriately, have the potential to help improve your organizations probability of success. However, its important to keep in mind, that these are only two of the many tools available to your organization in the development of your strategy. Many small business owners never take the time out to explore their reasons for being in business. They are so caught up in day-to-day activities they fail to see the big picture. So what are the benefits of having an articulated Vision, Mission and Objectives for your business? Actually, it all starts one step removed from this. It really starts with establishing your core values. Lots of people in their middle years instinctively know what their core values are but they cannot tell you what they are when questioned about it. Core values are what get you up out of bed in the morning; a strong work ethic; a desire to contribute; the need to support your family; respect for your fellow workers or subordinates. They are the driving force in your life. They are immutable and do not change over time. Once you have gleaned what your core values are, then you can move on to establish what your Vision is. Your Vision is your long term goal. It can embrace your business and your personal life. It may be something like building your business into a $10 million asset that you can sell aged 60 and retire to a beach house in Florida. It could be to create something of value that you can pass on to your children. It might even be to create something that offers benefits to your community that will outlive you. It can be deeply personal. Your Mission flows from your Vision. Your Mission is a written statement that provides a clear sense of direction to all of the stakeholders in your business. It embraces the commitment of the company to staff, customers, and the community at large. It may articulate the company ethos, core beliefs of the owners, service levels, quality, excellence, training and commitment. It should be a shared set of standards and beliefs that all of your staff buy into and live every day. Setting objectives is the next stage of the process. It is all about how you deliver on the promises made by your Mission. If you have clarity in both your Vision and Mission, it is easy to decide on the objectives. Objectives may be set for each key area of your business along with a time-line for completion. They may be corporate, product, market, sales, financial, operations, or staff related or any combination of these. As you can see, this is a trickle down system with higher level aspirations that flow down to every level of the business and become the glue that holds everything together. The benefits are clear and unambiguous. It is a team building exercise that creates focus and commitment that can drive a business forward. Every step you take is in pursuit of your articulated end game. In just over a decade, CN Rail has gone from money-losing crown corporation to one of the top railroads in North America. Employees follow a strong company culture incorporating five values that revolve around customer service, balancing service with cost control, and the safety and development of its employees. Not surprisingly, corporate culture starts with president and CEO Hunter Harrison and works its way down through the companys 22,000 employees. In the 2006 Canadian Corporate Culture Study conducted by executive search firm Waterstone Human Capital, 92% of executives defined corporate culture as the behaviours of people and the values of the organization. The leaders of these major Canadian corporations almost universally agreed that a healthy corporate culture is critical to success and that culture has an impact on organizational health and financial performance. In our last article we wrote about the three-stage process of defining that corporate culture. In this weeks article well look at the importance of aligning your corporate culture with your business strategy and how to communicate that throughout your entire organization. At CN, values are a core part of the companys corporate culture. These values, along with behaviours such as passion and integrity, run throughout the organization and CN regularly communicates them to all its employees. One way Harrison did this was by publishing How We Work and Why, a hardcover distributed to all employees two years ago. The railroad also regularly runs three-day motivational retreats for executives called Hunter Camps. Led by Harrison and Les Dakens, SVP people, the Hunter Camps not only teach leadership skills and reward managers for a job well done, but they also serve to reinforce the companys values and employee behaviour. The goal, says Dakens, is to have 2,000 employees go through these camps by the end of 2008. In addition, CN last year introduced performance scorecards for all its employees. The performance appraisal recognized and evaluated employees against the companys values. A lot of these people have never had this formal kind of written recognition that they do a good job, says Dakens. According to the Corporate Culture study, 51% of organizations surveyed use everything from company events and town hall meetings to intranets and informal gather