Extensive Reading Essay

There are many experts who give the definition of reading. One of them is Aebersold and Field. They say: â€Å"†¦ , reading is what happens when people look at a text and assign meaning to the written symbols in that text, further, the text and the reader are the two physical entities necessary for the reading process to begin (1997: 15). † It means that when someone sees written symbols in a text, there will be something visualized on the reader’s mind. This process is called reading. Another expert, Williams (1999: 2) states that reading is a process whereby one looks at and understands what has been written. In line with Williams, Heilman (1961: 8) says that reading is a process of getting meaning from printed word symbols. It is not merely a process of making conventionalized noises associated with these symbols. In line with them, De Boer and Dallmann (1982: 23) say that reading is a process involving meaningful reaction to printed symbols. Wallace, in his book entitled â€Å"Reading† adds that reading is interpreting which means reacting to a written text as a piece of communication (1996: 4). These four definitions have the same point. The point is that reading is a process of getting the meaning of written text and giving reaction of it as the form of communication between the reader and the writer. Different from some experts above, Davies defines reading from the other point of view. He says that reading is a private. It is a mental or cognitive process which involves a reader in trying to follow and respond to a message from a writer, who is in distant space and time (1995: 1). It means that reading activity connects the reader and the writer although they live in different places and life in different period. Reading is a mental cognitive process, so as the result of this activity the reader is able to give responses about the text’s message. Because reading is a private activity, the process of reading and responding is not directly observable. Most events told in written texts are past experiences; either it is the writer’s experiences or the others’. The success of reading activity is depending on the reader’s ability to visualize it in order to be able to understand and interpret its meaning. Dealing with this fact, Kennedy says: Reading is ability of an individual to recognize a visual form associate the form with a sound and/or meaning acquired in the past, and on the basis of past experience, understand and interpret its meaning (1981: 5). Another expert, Grellet (1981: 7), defines reading as a constant process of guessing, and what one brings to the text is often more important than what one finds in it. It means that before the reader reads the text, he guessed the content of the text and he had already had his own concept. After he reads the text, the reader relates his own concept with the text’s message. Based on some definitions above, it can be concluded that reading is the process of bringing a concept to the text and relating it with the meaning got from the text, in which it is usually a past experience, visualizing it, understanding it, and giving responses as interpretation of this process. Kennedy (1981: 188) says that comprehension is the ability of one to find, interpret, and use ideas. Then, in Oxford Advanced Learner’s dictionary, comprehension is defined as a power to understand something (Hornby, 1995: 235). According to these two definitions, it can be said that comprehension is the ability to understand something through finding interpreting, and using ideas. In line with the statement above, it can be concluded that reading comprehension is the ability to get the meaning of written symbols, visualize it, and give responses as the interpretation of this process. Narrative text There are some approaches in teaching reading; one of them is genre based approach. According to Hartono (2005:4) the term â€Å"genre† is used to refer to particular text-types, not to traditional varieties of literature. It means that genre is a type or kind of text, defined in terms of its social purposes; also the level of context dealing with social purposes. Based on the communicative purpose, Pardiyono (2007:93-98) classifies the text into eleven types, they are; description, recount, narration, procedure, explanation, discussion, exposition, news item, report, anecdote, and review. However in this study, the text will be focused on the narrative text. Considering the social function, generic structure, and language features of narrative text, narrative text can be defined as a text which tells about past activities or event which concerns on the problematic experience and resolution in order to amuse and even give the moral messages to the reader. The explanation about social function, generic structure, and language features of narrative text is as follow: 1. Social function The social function of a text is quite similar with the purpose of the text. Related to narrative text, the social function is to amuse, entertain and to deal with actual or various experience in different ways. 2. Generic structure The generic structure of narrative text consits of three parts, those are orientation, complication, resolution, and sometimes completed by coda. The further explanation about these parts of narrative text is as follow: a. Orientation Orientation is the introduction of the text. It includes what is inside the text, what the text talks in general, who involves in the text, when and where it happen. b. Complication. In complication, the text talks about what happens with the participants. It explores the conflict among the participants. Complication is the main element of narrative. Without complication, the text is not narrative. The conflict can be shown as natural, social or psychological conflict. c. Resolution Resolution is the end of narrative text. This is the phase where the participants solve the problem aroused by the conflict. It is not matter whether the participants succeed or fail. The point is the conflict becomes ended. 3. Language features According to Hartono (2005:7), the language features used in narrative  text are: a. Focus on specific participants b. Use of past tense c. Use of temporal conjunction d. Use of material (or action) processes Video as Media in Teaching 1. Media a. The Definition of Media Etymologically, the word â€Å"media† comes from Latin language â€Å"medius†. Literally, it means mediator or companion. Media is the messages mediator or companion from the sender to the receiver (Arsyad, 2005:3) Association for education and communication technology (AECT) in Sadiman (2002:6) defines media as all forms and lines which are used by people to convey information. According to Gagne, media is many kinds of components in students’ environment that can stimulate them to study (Sadiman dkk, 2002:6). Based on those definitions above, it can be concluded that media are all things that can be used to deliver the message from sender to receiver so it can stimulate the mind, feeling, attention, and students’ interest in order to attain the teaching and learning process. b. Kinds of Media Media can be classified into three categories: visual, audio, and audio visual. (http://edu-articles. com) 1) Visual media. There are two kinds of visual media; those are unprojected media and projected media. a) Unprojected media Unprojected media can be divided into: (1) Realia or real thing. The object must not be presented in class, but students should be able to see and observe them. For example the students observe the ecosystem, plant, the diversity of living thing, et cetera. This media is able to give real experiences to the students. (2) Model. Model is the imitation of real thing presented in three dimension form as substitution of the real thing. This media helps the teacher to present the object that cannot be brought into the class, for example digestion system, respiration system, excretion system, et cetera. (3) Graphic. The functions of graphic are to catch the students’ attention, clarify the lesson, and illustrate the fact or forgettable concept. There are many kinds of graphic, such as picture, sketch, scheme, chart, and graph. b) Projected media There are two types of projected media: (1) Transparency of OHP. This is stated as the real media because the teacher must not change the lay out of the class and still able to face the students. Transparency media includes software (OHT) and hardware (OHP). (2) Bordered film or slide. This is a transparent film that usually has measurement of 35mms and border 2Ãâ€"2 inches. The use of this media is the same as OHP, but the visualization of this media is better than OHP. 2) Audio media There are two kinds of audio media that are commonly used: a) Radio. Radio is electronic tool that can be used to listen to the news, new important events, life problems, et cetera. b) Audio cassette. This tool is cheaper than the other because the supplying and the treatment cost are relatively cheap. 3) Audio visual media There are many kinds of audio visual tool: a) Video. This is one kind of audio visual media, besides film. In learning process, this tool is usually presented in the form of VCD. b) Computer. This tool has all the benefit of the other media. Computer is able to show text, picture, sound and picture, and can also be used interactively. Even, computer can be connected to internet to browse the unlimited learning sources. c. The Characteristics of Education Media Gerlach and Ely in Arsyad (2005: 12-14) propose three characteristics of education media; those are fixative property, manipulative property, and distributive property. 1) Fixative property This characteristic explains the ability of media to record, save, continue, and reconstruct an event or object. The event or object can be put in the right order and rearranged using media such as photograph, video tape, audio tape, computer disc, and film. By this characteristic, an event that just  once in a life time can be perpetuated and rearranged for education 2) Manipulative property This characteristic enables an event to be transformed, so the event that needs long time can be shorted in order to be showed in class, for example the process of metamorphosis, the record of motion in sport class, the plant treatment, et cetera. 3) Distributive property This kind of characteristics enables an object or event to be transported through space and be served together in a number of students, in which each other get the same experiences. Once information was recorded, it can be reproduced for many times and be together in many different places. d. The Importance of Media in Teaching The importance of media can be seen from its roles and functions in education. As stated by Prawiradilaga and Siregar, media have two main roles, those are: media as AVA (audio visual aids) so it can give the students concrete experiences and media as communication so it can connect the students as receivers with the material in order that it can be received well (2004: 6). In the next pages, Prawiradilaga and Siregar (2004:8-13) explain the detail functions of media are: 1) Give the knowledge about the learning goals 2) Motivate the students 3) Present the information 4) Stimulate the discussion 5) Lead the students’ activities 6) Do the exercises and quizzes 7) Strength the learning process 8) Give the simulation experiences Meanwhile, Encyclopedia of Educational Research in Arsyad (2005: 25) elaborates the functions of media in teaching as follow: 1) Put on the concrete basics to think, so it decreases the verbalism 2) Improve the students’ attention. 3) Put on the important basics for the development of study, so it makes the lesson more steady 4) Give real experiences for the students so they can effort by them self 5) Emerge the regular and continued thinking, especially about life pictures 6) Help the emerge of understanding that can help the students’ language development 7) Give experiences that cannot be achieved by the other way and give the efficiency and variety in the way of study Besides, Nugraha adds the importance of media (http://yudinugraha. co. cc ), such as: 1) The presentation of the material becomes more standard. 2) The arrangement of the media that is structured and planned well helps the teacher teaches in the same quality and quantity for all classes. 3) The learning process is more interesting and interacting. 4) The students are more active. 5) It is efficient in using time. 6) The learning quality of the students can be improved. 7) Et cetera. e. The Ways in Choosing Media in Teaching Sudirman (1991) in Nugraha (http://yudinugraha. co. cc ) proposes three principles of choosing media in teaching as follow: 1) The goal of choosing media. The choosing of the media that will be used should be based on the goal of its choosing. 2) The characteristic of media. Each media has its own characteristic so it should be adjusted with the material. 3) Alternative choices. Choosing media is the process of making decision and many of alternative choices. Besides the principles above, according to Aristo, the factors that should be taken into account in choosing media are (http://aristorahadi. wordpress. com): 1) Objectivity. A teacher should be objective. It means that a teacher cannot choose the media based own his own. 2) Learning program. The media that will be used should be suited with the level of the students. 3) Technical quality. Technically, the media used should be checked whether it is filling the requirement or not. 4) The effectiveness. Are the media can help the students achieve the learning goal? 5) Time. How long time is needed to prepare and present this media? 6) Cost. The cost that should be paid to present this media must be adjusted with the budget. 7) Availability. The easiness of finding this media should be considered too. If the media we look for are not available, we can substitute it with other media that are suitable. 2. Narrative Video a. The Definition of Narrative Video Video is one of media used to convey the learning’s message. In Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, video is defined as type of magnetic tape used for recording moving pictures and sound (1995: 1327). It means that video has two elements, those are audio and visual. The audio enables the students to receive the message using their hearing and the visual enables the students to receive the message using their eyesight. According to Sadiman (2002: 76), the message presented in the video can be a fact or fictitious, can be informative, educative, or instructive. It is informative, it means that much information from many experts in this world can be recorded in video tape, so it can be received by the students everywhere they are. Video is also educative and instructive; it means that the message of the video can give concrete experiences to the students, so they can apply it in their daily life. Related to narrative, narrative can be defined based on its social function, generic structure, and language feature as a text which says the past activities or event which concerns on the problematic experience and resolution in order to amuse and even give the moral messages to the reader. Considering the definition above, narrative video can be describe as a certain kind of magnetic tape used for recording moving pictures and sound about past activities or event which concerns on the problematic experience and resolution in order to amuse and even give the moral messages to the reader. b. The Benefit of Using Narrative Video in Teaching Generally, the benefit of using narrative video in teaching is quite the same as the benefit of using other videos in teaching. According to Sadiman dkk, (2002:76-77) video has some benefits, those are: 1) It can catch the students’ attention easily. 2) Much information from many experts in this world can be recorded in video tape, so it can be received by the students everywhere they are. 3) The difficult demonstration can be prepared before, so the teacher is able to concern on his presentation. 4) It is more efficient in using time. 5) It can present dangerous object that cannot be brought into the class. 6) The volume can be adjusted. 7) The picture can be frozen so it can be inserted the teacher’s comment. 8) The light of the room does not need to be turn off. c. The Purposes of the Use of Narrative Video in Teaching Anderson (1994: 104-105) proposes some purposes of the use of video in teaching. These purposes are divided into three aspect, for cognitive aspect, for psychomotor aspect, and for affective aspect. These purposes are the same with the purposes of narrative video in teaching, those are: 1) For cognitive aspect a) Develop the recall and motion skill. For example, the observation about relative speed and a moving object. b) Able to show a series of motionless pictures, without sound, as photo or bordered film c) Able to give knowledge about certain laws and principles d) Able to show the right way in having attitude in a performance, especially about the students’ interaction 2) For psychomotor aspect a) Able to show the skill about motion well because it can speed up or down so the motion can be observed clearly. b) The students get the feedback directly and visually about a motion so they can repair their motion well. 3) For affective aspect Video can be a good media to influence the attitude and emotion. For example, play a short story that is suitable with the topic. BIBLIOGRAPHY Aebersold, Jo ann and Mary Lee Field. 1997. From Reader to Reading Teacher. USA: Cambridge University Press Anderson, Ronald. 1987. Pemilihan dan Pengembangan Media dalam Pembelajaran. Jakarta: Rajawali Press Arsyad, Azhar. 2005. Media Pembelajaran. Jakarta: Raja Grafindo Persada Brown, H. Douglas. 1994. Priciples of Language Learning and Teaching. New Jersey: Prentice Hall Inc. Burns, Anne. 1999. Collaborative Action Research for English Language Teachers. New York: Cambridge University Press. Dallman, Martha, Roger L.R. , Lynette Y. C. C. , John J. D. 1982. Reading . New York: CBS College Publishing Davies, Florence. 1995. Introducing Reading. England: Penguin Book Elliot, et al†¦ 1999. Educational Psychology: Effective Teaching, Effective Learning. Boston: Mc GrawHill. Grellet, Francoise. 1981. Developing Reading Skills: A Practical guide to Reading Comprehension Exercises. New York: Cambridge University Press Furchan, Arief. 1982. Pengantar Penelitian dalam Pendidikan. Surabaya: Usaha Nasional. Harmer, Jeremy. 1998. How To Teach English. Harlow: Longman Hartono, Rudi. 2005. Genre of Texts. Semarang: Semarang State University Heilman, Arthur W. 1961. Principles and Practices of Teaching Reading. Columbus: Charles E Merrill Books Inc. Hopkins, David. 1985. A Teacher’s Guide to Classroom Research. Philadelphia: Open University Press. Hornby, A. S. 1995. Oxford Advanced Learners’ Dictionary. New York: Oxford University Press Kartono, Kartini. 1983. Pengantar Metodologi Riset Sosial. Bandung: Penerbit Mandar Maju. Kennedy, Eddie C. 1981. Methods of Teaching Developmental Reading. USA: FE Peackock Publisher Inc. Nugraha, Yudi. _____. Media Pembelajaran dalam Pendidikan. Available at http://yudinugraha. co. cc Nunan, David. 1992. Research Method in Language Teaching. New York: Cambridge University Press. Pardiyono. 2007. Pasti Bisa! Teaching Genre-Based Writing. Yogyakarta: Andi Offset. Prawiradilaga, Dewi Salma dan Eveline Siregar. 2004. Mozaik Technology Pendidikan. Jakarta: Prenada Media Rahadi, Aristo. 2008. Bagaimana Memilih Media Pembelajaran. Available at http://aristorahadi. wordpress. com Sadiman, Arif S. Dkk. 2002. Media Pendidikan. Jakarta: Raja Grafindo Perkasa Wallace, Catherine. 1996. Reading. New york: Oxford University Press Williams, Eddie. 1999. Reading in the Language Classroom. London: Pheonix FLT Zainul, Asmawi and Noehl Nasoetion. 1997. Program Pengembangan Keterampilan Teknik Intruksional (pekerti) Untuk Dosen Muda. Jakarta: Universitas Terbuka Jakarta Press. Zuber, Ortrun and Skerritt. 1996. New Directions in Action Research. London: Falmer Press. www. smanbanyumas. sch. id www. youtube. com IMPROVING STUDENT’S READING COMPREHENSION ON NARRATIVE TEXT USING NARRATIVE VIDEO (An Action Research at Tenth Grader of SMA Negeri Banyumas in Academic Year of 2010/2011) PRI WAHYUDI HERMAWAN K2208043 ENGLISH DEPARTMENT FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION SEBELAS MARET UNIVERSITY 2010.

Kinship of two cultures

INTRODUCTIONâ€Å"Culture is a shared, learned, symbolic system of values, beliefs and attitudes that shapes and influences perception and behavior†(). Culture influences people and it shapes people in manifesting a particular identity. Every individual is greatly influence by his culture. When people see a man and the way he is living his life, he can easily be identified as part of a particular culture. People from a particular place are always intertwined with a particular culture as seen in their pattern of actions and beliefs and way of life in general.It is of an inevitable reality that cultures differ around the world. Every place and context has their own unique set of norms, beliefs and practices. These set of norms, beliefs and practices make up the identity of a culture. These make up the whole of their system. A particular culture produces a pattern of actions that a group of people will manifest as they live in this world. Because of the diversity of cultures of p eople from different places around the world, there exist conflicts due to differences if one culture is imposing its will to the other.In this paper, we will dwell on two rich cultures- the Dinkas and Amhara People. We will try to show their similarities and as well as differences. The two cultures that are the subject of this paper will be thoroughly examined. Therefore, without further delay, let us begin our discussion.THE DINKA CULTURE IN SOUTHERN SUDANThe Dinkas are found In Southern Sudan. It is the largest ethnic group region in the Nile Basin. The Dinkas have the population of 3-4 million people that comprises approximately 45% of the population of the whole country. The Dinkas are known to have beautiful women in their tribe and known to even grow up to seven feet tall. One of their famous tribe members is the former National basketball Association (NBA) player Manute Bol who stood for 7’7†. This tribe at the Nile River is also known to maintain a culture of m arrying people within their communities and even families.â€Å"Most of Dinkas beliefs that keeping cultures in our modern societies is beneficial enough to keep generations move successfully. The Dinkas believed that maintaining their culture amidst the changing world is the road to the next generation’s success†(http://www.madingbor.com/page/page/2064097.htm). This is the reason why even in the influences of many diverse cultures, the Dinkas still maintained and treasured the richness of their culture.Men in having their own families in the Dinka tribe, they must at least be eighteen years old and above. This age bracket is perceived by Dinkas as an age that can already be capable of providing for a family and considered as persons who can live with their own. The Dinkas live a pastoral life, relying mainly on livestock. In a Dinka family, the husband is the provider in the family. He brings something to eat for the family. The wife is the one who cooks for the famil y, the one in charge for preparing food for the whole house and in taking care of the children in the family. The wives in the Dinka communities are obedient and respectful women for their husbands. Despite the growing influences of other cultures in women empowerment, they remain in this family devotion of women.In cases of the death of the husband or absence for a long time, the wife is asked to remarry. Remarrying for the wife would mean marrying the brothers of his husband. If there is no brother available, the first cousins of her husband are the second option. This remarrying scheme is for the purpose of bearing a child that would be named after the deceased person. The culture believes that in doing such practice, they are maintaining the dignity of their generations from their fore-fathers to the grand children. The act is called â€Å"lahot† or entering the hut. The Dinkas give emphasis on the purity of their culture that is manifested in their practices of remarriag es.THE AMHARA CULTURE OF ETHIOPIAThe Amhara people of Ethiopia are one o the most dominant cultural and political group in Africa. Their population is at 15,000,000. These people live in the highlands of Ethiopia. The Amhara people are mostly farmers. The tribe can be traced back from Menelik I who is a child born of the King Solomon and Queen Sheba. â€Å"The Amhara appear to be descended from the same people group as the Tigray-Tigrinya people.   Their Sabaean ancestors came to the highlands of what is now Eritrea and Ethiopia from the Arabian Peninsula†(http://endor.hsutx.edu/~obiwan/profiles/amhara.html).The general situation in the Amhara farming society is very hard. They live in terrains and mountains because of wanting their place to be easily defended but at the same time making it hard for them to travel and move. They have the advantage in defense but also have the disadvantage in mobility. The location of their community is hard to reach by foreigners because of rugged mountain terrains.The people in Amhara believe that children must be breast feed in two years. No hard discipline is imposed to the children until the age of four. On the fortieth day after birth, the boys in the family will be baptized and the girls are on the eightieth day. As early as the age of five and six, the children are trained to watch their family animals such as sheep and goats. The boys are in charge in watching over the animals and the girls are in charge in accompanying their mother in gathering firewood to use in cooking. Girls of the tribe are allowed to get married in an average age of 14. The boys to be grooms are normally 3-5 years older of the bride.â€Å"Most marriages are negotiated by the two families, with a civil ceremony sealing the contract. A priest may be present. Divorce is allowed and must also be negotiated. There is also a â€Å"temporary marriage,† by oral contract before witnesses. The woman is paid housekeeper's wages, and is not eligible for inheritance, but children of the marriage are legally recognized and qualify for inheritance. Priests may marry but not eligible for divorce or remarriage† (http://www.africaguide.com/culture/tribes/amhara.htm). Women also banner the attitude of respect and to their husbands. Priests are only allowed to get married once. There is variety of religions present in the Amhara culture but the most dominant religion is the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.The Amhara people are not fond of trusting people coming from other places. They are people who are cautious in their relation to foreign people and things.COMPARISON AND CONTRASTThe two cultures highlighted in this paper (Dinka and Amhara) are two great cultures who have rich traditions. In looking at the two cultures, there are noticeable similarities and as well as differences.The Dinkas lived in the Basin of the Nile while the Amhara people are from high terrains and mountains. It is harder for the Amhara people to be acc essed by foreign people and even for them to travel. The two cultures rely more on farming and animal raising as the source of their subsistence but it was harder for the Amhara people to farm because of the location of their inhabited places while it is also harder for the Dinkas to defend themselves from foreign enemies because also of the location of their homes.The Dinkas however, are more conservative in their view of marriage. Though in both cultures, remarrying is allowed, the Dinkas only allow remarrying if the husband has already died or absent for a long time. In Amhara tribe, divorce is allowed and is done by negotiation. In the Dinka tribe, they are more giving emphasis to family dignity that is why they only allow women to get married again if she marries the brother or the cousin of the former husband. The Amhara tribe on the other hand, allows their priests to get married.The two tribes have the same view on the women in their families. Women are there to prepare food for the whole family and to take care of their children. Women have respect for their husbands in both of the tribes. The marrying age for men however differs for the two tribes. The Amhara tribe allows a lower marrying age at approximately at least 16 years old while the Dinka tribe allows men to get married at 18 years old.CONCLUSIONThere are a lot of different cultures around the world. No culture is exactly the same with another. It is of great reality that culture is different coming from different contexts. In the case of the two cultures examined and discussed I this paper, there are differences found and as well as similarities. This presupposes the richness of one’s culture. We cannot really limit the innovativeness of people’s minds. The only certain in this world is the constant development of cultures in their beliefs and practices and there is a constant change in it. The conception of people regarding families also evolves through time and differs in dif ferent cultures.May this paper remind us how rich people’s cultures and how they evolve and grow over time. Cultures are true manifestations of man’s richness in his mind and in his being because cultures are created from people’s discovery and thinking. The cultures of today may not be present tomorrow but it is of great significance in building tomorrow’s cultures.BIBLIOGRAPHYJenkins, Orville Boyd & Lundquist Robert. The Amhara People of Ethiopia. 2006. 10 Mar. 2007 Kuol, William. Dinka Religion and Culture. 10 Mar. 2007Dinka Background. 10 Mar. 2007African People & Culture. 10 Mar. 2007http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/anthropology/courses/122/module1/symbolic.html

Book Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Book Report - Essay Example Her failure to manage the employees would lead to cutting off some jobs of her current employees. This thought of managing the employees has been portrayed in the book as a very daunting task and she gets some idea of managing those employees once she visits the Fish Market in Seattle. The Fish Market, known as Pike Place Fish Market, in Seattle, seems to be the focal place in the book and it is that particular area where Mary witnesses the fish mongers to work in a jolly atmosphere and serving their customers with great sincerity. The fish mongers throw the fish at other fish guys, some of them are caught by them whilst some are dropped. This catching and fumbling is hugely entertaining for the crowd, the customers and the fish guys. Each catch is praised by either the crowd or some staff guy whilst any drops are treated sarcastically or with humour. All these events at the Fish Market made Mary Jane realise that there were two ways of doing any work, one being to conduct and finish of your work in good mood or to finish of your work with bad temperament. The main scope of this book was to identify that work has to be done by each and every employee. Hence it is upon that particular employee to do it with the frame of mind that he has. The main aspect of improving work at any particular job is to choose the right attitude towards the work. The four key concepts that Mary Jane derived from this encounter at the Fish Market were: The meaning of this concept is that the work performed by any individual at work should be in such a manner that it should promote his interest in the work i.e. as if he is playing at work. Each and every activity conducted should be done with fun and high energy. This means that employees should create a great bond amongst them i.e. every activity should be carried with team work and great aspiration. This activity helps in building a better and great team in any working atmosphere. As explained above, this means that each and

Case study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 26

Case Study Example There are appropriate strategies, times, and efforts that could instigate a more appropriate resolution to the problem in Darfur. 2. The dangers of delaying the prosecution of al-Bashir include the continued genocide within the country and the possibility of a civil war that could re-ignited as Arab militias continue to battle with the remaining members of the rebel groups. Likewise, as indicated by a member of the humanitarian organization, delaying prosecution is indicative of undermining the jurisdiction of the ICC and showing to the world that their sovereignty is being compromised. 3. One shares the same contention that the U.S. should take a softer approach in handling the Sudanese situation. The decision that was apparently arrived at could be deemed to go through a collaborative and comprehensive negotiation process; as such, the softer approach was deemed more beneficial to both countries in the long run. As disclosed, by taking a softer approach, there is more possibilities in arriving at a future negotiation with al-Bashir regarding disarming the Arab militia and bringing back humanitarian workers to provide the much needed humanitarian aid to their people. The strategy brought lesser bloodshed through peaceful techniques. 4. One strongly believes that there is a possibility that the United States and other governments would strive in restoring peace and security by negotiating directly with the government of Sudan. In more negotiation cases and scenarios, it is always ethically, morally, and legally viable to forge an agreement directly with parties that are involved in conflicts and dilemmas. Since leaders of the Sudan government were instrumental in creating conflict and chaos in their region, the resolution to these conflicts would also be decided by these leaders. Assistance would only be provided by other nations when solicited and approved by the Sudan government. As such, restoring peace and security should be worked out

Riordan Corporate Compliance Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Riordan Corporate Compliance Plan - Essay Example Riordan attracts customers from various industries including, electronic companies, household item producers, defense, bottlers, aircraft, and even software companies. The entire vendor management and human resource management systems that Riordan uses in its various branches in the United States are with an Oracle system. The Vendor management and the HR management system are available on the Riordan website and almost all the processes are done including, placing the orders, tracking the order, accepting delivery, and process management. The management system automatically delivers e-mails to the relevant persons once a transaction gets generated through the e-mail engine. The Riordan Corporate Compliance should be created and approved by the senior management or Board of the company and stick to the regulations that may be applicable in various states the company is functioning. Third, the Compliance plan should also give importance to monitoring and auditing the system and ensuri ng that enforcement and breaches are addressed appropriately. In such a manner, the legal compliance plan should meet the legal standards and be in line with the legislations of that particular nation. Legal Compliance Plan Introduction Riordan Production is a manufacturing and productions company concerned with the manufacture of plastics, polymers, electrical appliances, and household appliances. It will not only sell the appliances to other businesses but also to the end consumer. Initially, Riordan was a company that supplied other companies, and it has been recently until which Riordan has entered the relationship sector. Within the company, Riordan consider meeting certain legal and ethical obligation concerned with business and comply with the standard business practice. The legal compliance document of Riordan will not only ensure that the ethical and legal obligation of the company and the manner in which it functions is known to others. This also ensure that the various st akeholders concerned, including employees, other businesses, companies, partners, and the government, are aware of these standards and the manner in which the company functions. The Company compliance plan will chalk out the legal and the ethical commitments and the set of standards that has to be followed during the business practices. The important aspects of corporate compliance are †¢ Enterprise liability †¢ Tangible property and intangible property (intellectual property) †¢ Governance principles of regulatory compliance requirements †¢ The specific international laws This compliance plan created by the company senior management and approved by the Management Board of Riordan Productions. It sets the basic framework and the manner in which the business is conducted. It shall be binding on the company management, employees, contractors, and the third parties who do business with Riordan Productions. The compliance plan will also be binding on the managers and the supervisors. Some of the important set of functions includes Standard policies and guidelines to be adhered to concerned employee management, risk identification, risk management, evaluation, monitoring, implementing corrective processes, and managing the property/assets. Legal Standards Riordan Productions is a manufacturing hub and would be appointing, supporting, and using the services of the human

Security Measures and How Far They Should Go Coursework

Security Measures and How Far They Should Go - Coursework Example Like so many areas of IT, security would be invincible if it were not for letting people use the systems and applications, sadly this has to happen and so systems get corrupted, hacked and generally brought to their knees. Both by users and external attacks by hackers, etc. Security has been stepped up over many years as better understanding of where problems can come from and what must be done to stop them. But, now very often the very security is itself the biggest problem as it gets in the way of productive work and can cause major problems for IT personnel trying to control users and still give them sufficient mobility to do their job well. Problems come from areas such as giving someone permissions to do a task on a mission critical application, the person goes on holiday and gives another person in the department the passwords to get into the application, that person is not well trained and promptly crashes the system on Monday morning, what then? The holidayer and substitute person will be punished then they say â€Å"oh well its impossible to get permissions for something as short as a week off, but the reports have to be done† what should managers think, it has been done for the best of motives, but the outcome is a disaster for the company security systems and for productivity. Making staff aware there can be bad outcomes is all very well, but if they find they cannot work well then human nature says find a way around the problem system or process as it’s no good. The other way will be for staff to say well we cannot do it because of the system and then productivity takes a tumble. Managers are left swearing at the whole mess, which has an apparently impossible set of outcomes.   

Impact of Globalization on engenireeng industry Essay

Impact of Globalization on engenireeng industry - Essay Example It is evident from the study that the â€Å"new globalization of engineering† entails a proliferation of specialized firms across the globe. It seems as if the world has been undergoing a transition in its infrastructure and the traditional organizational boundaries have been expanding far beyond the concepts of physical proximity. The international trade barriers have blurred and the rapid advancement of technology and its geographical mobility has enabled the engineering industry to capitalize on low cost models and market growth in emerging economies like India, China and Brazil. And this transition is still on-going with its ramifications yet to be explored. This very new concept has been coined as â€Å"unlocking† of the organizational bonds. Whereas traditionally the manufacturing was bonded to the IT infrastructure within the same organization up until early 1990s, the new millennium saw this unlocking of these activities, keeping the core competencies unlocked t o attain competitive advantage. Globalization then can be described as augmentation of international integration of markets; an interconnectedness of cross border political, cultural, economic, environmental, and technological issues. Freidman describes globalization in respect to three eras; the era from 1492 to 1800 that marked America’s discovery by Columbus, the second era from 1800 to the new millennium, which was majorly characterised with dispersement of markets for cheap labour and resources. And the new era of globalization is the present era that has made the world shrink even further. (Giachetti 2010). Hence, companies have faced the pressure to make internal decisions consistent with global competition and incorporate these decisions into their business strategy. The engineering industry has undergone these changes in terms of investing in research and development, innovation, cost savings and making the production processes more efficient in order to create a com petitive edge in this highly competitive industry (Laudon 2007). Aims of the Study The aim of this study hence is to analyse the impact of globalization on the engineering ind

Exploring Your Ethnicity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Exploring Your Ethnicity - Essay Example This is rather sad given this is of postmodernity. Diversity can be sourced from gender, ethnic, culture and race. As such, given these numerous sources of diversity it is appalling to realize that some people have not adapted to the presence of other persons who are somewhat different. Such is the fate of people who do not conform to this status quo. True to this assertion, this paper endeavours to explicate on my ethnic diversity. This is in the sense that I am from Saudi Arabia. As such, I am well placed to expound on this subject of ethnic diversity. In addition, I will expound on my experiences in a foreign country. Ethnic diversity is an intrinsic element of society. As such, it should be placed in high regard. I am an Arab. More specifically, I am a Native Saudi Arabian. I was born in Saudi Arabia same as my whole family. Coming from a nation state that is largely, if not wholly, of Arabian descent, I rarely witnessed cases of diversity. This is because the variation in ethnic ity in Saudi Arabia is all but trivial. Additionally, the immigrants in Saudi Arabia are inconsequential in number. As such, all my life I have never found myself in a situation that offers me the opportunity to interact with various people of diverse origins. In such a circumstance, it is highly probable that the first interaction with an environment that is characterized by diversity and disparity will culminate in unwarranted reactions. However, this does not mean that I reacted harshly when I entered this country. Rather to the contrary, given the academic opportunity availed to me via the educational system existing in this country, I more than appreciate this country. Given this fact, it is sad to realize that the feeling is not reciprocated wholesomely. This translates to mean that, not all people react suspetingly to my presence. However, the select few are worth highlighting. Prior to coming to this country, I sought the input of my relatives. A majority of them were agains t this idea. However, head strong as I am, I ventured to partake in this journey of furthering my academic ambitions. This was made easier by the support of my direct family. On coming here, I began to understand the reservations harbored by my relatives concerning my journey to America. However, irrespective of this, I was not raised to be a passive individual. The fear of discrimination owing to my ethnicity should not impede on my academic ambitions. True to the characteristics of the Arab people, who traversed the globe in search of trading merchandise, I have in an intrinsic need to be oblivious of the element of distance. Given that I do not want to live in America on a permanent basis, this somewhat solidifies my beliefs on the importance of distance. As such, the negative assertions by strangers on the American streets will not deter or dissuade me from achieving the academic goals I have set for myself. Saudi Arabia is ethnically Arab. This ethnicity is the generalization o f people from, the Arab peninsula and their subsequent descendants (Lewis, 1993). Each region in the country has various variations of Arabs, albeit minimal variation. There are African and Asian people also living in Saudi Arabia (Hourani, 1991). However, a significant majority of these are Muslims. Unlike the ethnic variation that is significantly present in the United States, Saudi Arabia is by law, characterized by a purely natural Muslim population. So much

Role and purpose of HRM Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Role and purpose of HRM - Article Example In the rapidly commoditizing PC industry, Dell continued to be profitable with its direct selling approach while older rivals like HP struggled. Sun Microsystems, arguably one of the most innovative companies in the computer industry, found itself in deep trouble. Clearly what works and what does not in business remains as unpredictable as ever while some seemingly mundane businesses managed by 'ordinary' people rewarded share holders handsomely, many 'high-tech' businesses which showed great potential when they started off, folded up. Indeed the changing environment and the speed of changes posing greater challenges to organizations. Changes in every aspect of the organizations have increased the uncertainties. Discussion: Changes in technologies have increased access accessibility, visibility and connection. The connected world is smaller, changing rapidly and has more open information customer have become increasingly segmented and persnickety. Investors have become increasingly attended to and actively concerned not about financial results, but intangibles. Employees represent increasingly diverse demographic backgrounds including not only race and gender but personal preferences, global and cultural backgrounds and orientation to work, competitors come from both traditional large global players and increasingly smaller innovators. And all of these factors occur in the context of global business organizations where what happens in one corner of the world affects business throughout the world. Many spend enormous amounts of time specifying these trends and their implications on work organizations. Most of these trends are outside the control of anyone individual or any one organization. They occur in both predictable ways. They affect all aspects of work organizations from how to fund an organization to how to position the firm in customer minds and how to engineer and deliver products. Apart from affecting other aspects of the organization, changes affect the human resources. To be effective in this boundless world, organization members need to adapt to customers, systems and techniques different from their own. Human resources must ensure that employees with the appropriate mix of knowledge, skills and cultural adaptability are available to handle any work assignment with in the organization. HRM must also develop mechanisms that will help diversified employees work together. It is the duty of the overall HR managers to make every effort to acclimate different groups to each other, finding ways to build teams and thus reduce conflict. It is increasingly being realized now by working organizations that due to rapid changes in technologies, world moves towards bord erless economies, and as businesses become global, one of the successful business is to understand and manage its human resources strategically and competently. Today HRM has acquired and even more central role in building sustainable competitive advantage for the work organizations. As a result of these developments, HRM has become a major thrust area where, the focus is on synergizing and propelling organizations to seamlessly integrate with the macro environment changing environment and hyper competitive situation forced work organizations to adopt quickly and HR systems and roles play vital role in surviving in such situations. The traditional HRM has changes a lot due to change in macro environment of business, Many

Reformists or Fundamentalists for Iran Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Reformists or Fundamentalists for Iran - Essay Example This difference leaves the citizen with a choice to make in a democratic nation like Iran (Koontz 98). No party is said to be perfect in their ideas since, in either side, there are both positive and negative effects. However, having compared the goals ideologies and their take on religion, I will advocate for the reformists. This paper seeks to examine the main agenda of the reformists compared to those of the fundamentalists by analyzing their respective ideology, theocracy and religion. The goals that the reformists seek to achieve make them distinct from the fundamentalists. Their main objective is to preserve theocracy in the country. They put emphasis on the need of bringing certain democratic reforms into existence (Koontz 25). Every Iranian should be aware of his or her right accordingly and no one should be discriminated in regards to the gender or the tribe. For instance, in this years elections’ campaigns the reformists who had found refuge in the West due to p ost-election repression of 2009, had come up with a competing discourses as to what reform should be composed of and how an Islamic Republic should look like (Seifzadeh 254). This, according to me makes reformists admirable than the fundamentalists, who base their theocracy on the belief that not all people are equal. To illustrate the theocracy of the fundamentalists, we examine on their belief about the nature of women and men and their roles in society. They argue that, in Iran, women are inferior to men both mentally and physically. Their duties were restricted to child bearing and nurturing prescribed by their biological determinism. They were also to ensure comfort and satisfaction to their husbands. The Fundamentalists sought to suppress the roles performed by women and enhanced control of men over women. They ensured that their visibility in public was not guaranteed. This is not a true picture of a democratic country

Performance appraisal Essay Example for Free

Performance appraisal Essay Performance appraisal has been one of the most-debated management practices for several decades. It has generated a wide variety of viewpoints. There are those who see performance appraisal as making an important contribution to human resource management, in that organizations require systematic information on how well employees are performing in their jobs as a key element in ensuring that human resources are used as effectively as possible. Employees at all levels experience a need to know clearly what they should be doing and what is expected of them in terms of quantity and quality of output. In addition most people want to be in a position where they can perform better next time around. A number of writers, especially during the 1970s, expressed pessimistic views about the future of performance appraisal schemes, and the assumptions on which they are based. Some have tended to write off conventional versions of performance appraisal as backward, simplistic and even counterproductive, arguing that conventional appraisal processes often lead both the manager and employee to approach the performance review with dysfunctional role stereotypes. The employee expects to hear what is wrong with his or her performance, while the manger expects to have to well the evaluation to a reluctant and possibly hostile member of staff. (Gordon Anderson 1996) In this case study, it present the issues that caused Xerox Company emerged as a result of their research. In a word, it is all about change. It is talking about the linked issues of visibility and growth, and the compelling need for a process or model to deal with the problems of increasing effectiveness in the midst of all the change. I discuss changing attitudes and HRD political relevance, and present evidence of concern for HRD effectiveness. In Xerox appraisal new system they use Mulit-appraisal which is 360-degree Appraisal. The limitations of conventional performance appraisal in placing considerable, and sometimes total, emphasis on the judgment of the employees manager have been identified and discussed by a number of  writers. A pioneering study carried out a number of years ago in Gulf Oil, and described by Stinson and Stokes (1980), highlights an alternative, multi-rater method, which overcomes a number of the deficiencies of conventional, manager-orientated appraisal. Probably the most significant development likely to influence the nature of performance appraisal in the future is the shift away from conventional appraisals undertaken typically by line managers towards the concept of 360-degree appraisal. The concept builds on multi-appraisal and refers to a situation where appraisal data is collected all around an employee, from his or her manager, subordinates, peers and customers, internal and external. A number of factors are encouraging organizations to introduce, or to seriously consider the introduction of, 360-degree appraisal. These include: ØFlatter, less hierarchical, more flexible, team-based organization structures; ØAwareness of the limited perspective of managers; ØRecognition of the value of contributions from other sources; ØThe advantage of a range of perspectives, given the increasingly complex roles many people play in organization. In research identified the need for building and maintaining close relationships with line and staff management as essential for a successful HRD organization. It is really depend on the organization and communication processes. A wide range of methods and criteria for appraising performance is used by organizations. The various ways of measuring performance stem directly form the different components of performance. We can see in the new system of Xerox, they are: Simple ranking, using this system the appraiser is called upon to make a judgment about the general level of the performance of each employee. Based on the appraiser ranks each employee from best to worst. Alternate ranking, this process involves a number of stages. While this approach may have some advantages in determining the ratings, it suffers from the same defects as the simple ranking approach. The HRD Function In effective HRD functions, staff development is built in to the annual operating plan as a requirement. It is not only supported by management, but also seen as essential to the continued effective operation of the HRD function, and adequate funding supports it. Another one is Feedback, It tells employees, How am I doing? and Where do I go from here? How would you like to be a member of a bowling team and go bowling every week, but only get your scores once a year? Coaching is the day-to-day effort to review work, answer questions, discuss progress (or lack of it) toward meeting standards, develop skills, and provide positive guidance. Is the supervisor the only person who can provide coaching to an employee? Coworkers, other supervisors, and even customers can often be in a good position to compare the employees performance to established standards and then give helpful feedback. As the articles shown that the core of any organization is its staff. Without workers, who is going to do the job? How come the goal is going to achieve? How effectively an organization maintains a quality team of employees is linked to its ability to manage its staff and recognize the contributions of each player. Effective performance management systems enable an organization to objectively and systematically rate employee performance, while providing the tools necessary to take that performance level and equate it to compensation actions. Employees have always expressed the desire for open feedback regarding their performance. More and more companies are embracing the pay for performance concept and its tie to compensation. A well-executive performance management plan enables an organization to achieve critical goals: ØRecognize the efforts and contributions of current staff ØReward staff with compensation directly linked to performance ØMotivate staff to improve performance ØOrient staff towards goal achievement ØRetain key employees through the use of competitive compensation programs ØAttract quality employees with an effective performance management system A necessary condition for the effective management of performance appraisal systems in any organization is the need to clarify and communicate to all concerned the objectives which the system is intended to achieve. Typically, performance appraisal schemes are expected to serve multiple objectives. This can often be strength in that several purposes can be achieved, but I can also prove to be a disadvantage if it leads to a dissipation of effort and lack of focus. It is obviously of crucial importance, and everyone in an organization especially the key decision makers should be fully aware precisely what objectives the system of performance appraisal is expected to achieve, and the priorities within these objects. Performance appraisal should lead to the identification of the training and development needs of employees. Indeed, it can be argued that without an appraisal scheme, it would be only accidental if training and development efforts were aimed in the right direction (Anderson 1980). Performance appraisal, by providing feedback to employees on job performance, creates a basis for improvement and development. The developmental function of appraisal is concerned with improving the performance of people by identifying areas for improvement, setting performance targets for the future, and agreeing plans for follow up action. This aspect also involves developing the capacity of people through formulation plans to develop their skills and careers, and helping individuals to reconcile their job and career aspirations with opportunities available in the organization. Furthermore, there is certain amount of overlap between the evaluative and development functions, in that the evaluation of past performance will often be an important influence upon the setting of future targets. Brinkerhoff  and Kanter (1980) contend that this function is both backward looking in the sense of evaluating past performance so as to establish standards and forward looking in that the established standards serve as incentives for future performance improvement through generating peer competition and the desire to best ones won past record. The argue further that an additional overlapping, but also overarching, purpose for performance appraisal is to ensure that managers are performing a critical management function. Managers should be paying careful attention to the assessment of the past performance of their staff against organizational requirements, and to the development of greater productivity of the human resources available. This function of performance of performance appraisal of encouraging careful and systematic approaches in assessing the performance of employees is of great importance for practicing managers, and they often recognize its value. The possible conflict between the evaluative and developmental dimensions has been much discussed in the appraisal literature. The central issue appears to be: can the manager, acting as appraiser, effectively be both judge and helper without experiencing role conflict? Since future decisions must be based, at least in part, on evaluations of previous behavior, it could be argued that this conflict is superficial rather than real, and that an effective manager should be about to cope effectively with both roles. When we looked further at the issue of growth. The Conference Board, in a study of trends in corporate education and training, found that the number of training professionals had increased in nearly two-thirds of the firms surveyed. The board cited the following as evidence of the enhanced role and status of HRD in many companies: ØManagement has become convinced that education drives the business. ØA stepchild until recently, the training function is now seen as essential to the companys strategic goals. ØDeveloping our people is now the heart of our business strategy. ØTraining departments used to be wiped out by recessions, but few were in the recent one (Lusterman, 1985, p.2). Affecting the growth of HRD is the increase in the overall number of jobs and the shifts from sectors such as manufacturing to service organizations. Newly created jobs require new skills training and workers being displaced need retraining. In addition, more workers are coming to expect training as part of the normal job environment, and will demand it if they dont see it. This is especially true in high technology, where employees want to stay on the leading edge-they cant afford not to. The negative factors are: ØPossible distortion due to popularity factors influencing peers; ØPossible negative reactions towards those who irrespective of this performance, are seen as unorthodox, inclined to challenge existing practices, and therefore perceived as threatening; ØFriendship rating; ØDistortions due to fear of retaliation; ØReliance of peers on stereotypes in making evaluation. Despite the risks evident from the number of possible negative factors, peer review may well have an increasing role to play in performance appraisal systems of the future, especially in non-hierarchical, team-based organizational structures in which peers are willing to give objective evaluations of one anothers performance, and where peers interact sufficiently frequently to be able to develop an informed view of the performance of colleagues. Conclusion Appraisal of employees tasks place whether a formal appraisal system is in operation or not. In small companies, formal systems are probably unnecessary; in larger companies, a formal system goes some way towards ensuring that decisions based upon judgments of employee performance are fair and just. However, the mere installation of an appraisal scheme does not ensure that appraisals are well founded. There are a large number of human tendencies towards error that must be recognized by those conducting appraisal. This recognition and ways to overcome the problems are best achieved through training. The appraisal of performance is useless unless the results of the appraisal are translated into action. This is the purpose of the appraisal interview. It is a mechanism for feedback of information to employees, and an opportunity for employees and their superiors to sit down and plan remedial action. Appraisal interviews involving problem solving, counseling and joint objective setting are essential components of a successful appraisal scheme. REFERENCE French,W. Human Resources Management 4th Edition, Houghton Miffin co, Boston, 1998. Graham, H.T, Human Resources Management, recruitment and selection, Britain ,1983. Leslie W. Rue, Ph.D., Lioyd L. Byors, Ph.D, Management skills and Application recruitment and selection, Australia,1997. Pearson, R., The Human Resources , Managing people and work, Australia, 1990. Kramar, R, Mcgraw, P Schuler, R. S., Human Resources Management in Australia. Longman. South Melbourne, 1997. Parry, K. W., Smith, D., Human Resources Management. USQ Press. Queensland, 1998. Dessler, Griffiths, Lloyd- Walker, Williams, Human Resources Management, Prentice Hall, Australia, 1999.

IBM Employees Welfare

IBM Employees Welfare Changes that have taken place in the organization IBM has been one of the companies that have been making good progress in the business world. This has been enabled by the strategies that the company has been taking in an effort to create a niche in the market. Operating in one of the emerging sectors in the world of ICT the company has been faced with competition in the market and therefore in the five years it has been carrying out critical evaluation of its operation procedure in order to come up with a more acceptable mode of operation that will help it to cut a niche in the market. (Clegg, 1999) As a result the company has engaged on changes in the workforce relations in order to create an effective working atmosphere for the employees. In this regard the company has realized that the most efficient way to create a competitive workforce only through massive investment in the employee. Employee can help an organization to create a competitive advantage in the market which may become difficult for other organization to replicate. Therefore one of the most important areas that the company has been investing on is in its employee. External influence in the organization In the last 10 years, there have been a lot of changes that have taken place in the organization which has been influenced by external factors. There have been several factors that have been influencing the changes in the organization that have been beyond the control of the organization. These changes have been emanating from the changes in the operation environment. One of the changes that have had a great impact on the industry has been the changes in the external environment. The landscape of technology has been changing and the company has not been left behind. The company has come up with several innovation that are likely to position it in the market in line with other competitors as we entered the new millennium the company came up with a new generation of servers which are all aimed at meeting the changing technology. This was also due to the changes in the demand for the underlying infrastructure that has been supporting e-business which has become the business model of the day. (IBM, 2008f) In the future the change in technology is likely to influence the operation of the company. Since it is operating in a field led by technology, the company is likely to make several changes in its operation in the future in a move that will position it in the market. Change in technology is the most probable external factor that will impact the operation of the organization. The changing concept of corporate social responsibility also had an impact on the company as it become more responsive to the needs of its consumers. As a result the company came up with various CSR activities which were aimed at improving the relationship with its employees. It put in place programs that would help it to respect it employees. The political environment was also changing and the company has to change with it. In this regard there were several rules and laws that were coming in place that were not there before. As a result the company had to adjust its operation and its workforce relations. There have been polices that have been put in place in order to give employees more rights and therefore the company has been forced to rhyme with the changes. Political a and legal changes in the further are likely to impact on the operations of the company in the future as the world moves to more converged world. There have also been environmental factors that have forced the company to enforce several changes in its operation in this regard there has been increasing attention that has been paid on the environment and therefore the company has been adjusting its operation in order to come up with policies that are expected to give respect to the environment. The company has been implementing several eco programs that are aimed at going with the demands on the changes in the environment. Internal influences There have also been several changes that have been implemented in the company in the last 10 years which have all been influenced by internal factors. Changes in the management have been one of the most important factors that have influenced several changes that have taken place in the company. The year 2000 marked a transition in the leadership of the company and it saw the coming of Samuel J Palmisano as the president and the chief operating offices and after two years, he was named the CEO of the company. This saw the exit of Lousi V. Gerstener who was the chairman of the company s up to 2002. The coming of the new CEO saw increase response to the environment factors and also a rise in the Corporate Social responsibility activities by the company. In 2003, the company also undertook an exercise to transfer more the 1,200 employee to IBM I a deal valued $1.1 billion from ABB. Human resources management factors has been another internal influences that has been causing a changing the in the organization. In this regard there have been several changes in the human resource management of the company that have resulted to other changes in its operation. Human resource issues have been given a priority in the organization in line with the changing human resources landscape in most organizations. In the future the human resources are expected to influence several other changes in the organization as well. The direction of the organization is the other factor that has been influencing changes in the organization. The company has come up with new growth strategies that are likely to position it in the changing global business environment and therefore it has carried out several other changes in its management and employee relationship. In next 10 years, the overall strategy of the organization is likely to lead to other several changes in the operation of the company. Employee relationship in IBM The company has come up with a human resource policy which has been integrated in it strategic growth strategy which has given the affairs of the employees a central place in the operation of the organization. As a result the company has been carrying out several strategies which are aimed at enhancing a good working relationship. The company has put in place several initiatives which are all aimed at ensuring that the employees are given their rights. The employee relationship has also been carried out as a part of the CSR activity of the organization. Therefore the company has set up human resource department that is concerned with the welfare of the employee. It has respected the rights of the employee to organization and all the managers have been given a notice on this issue as the most important factor in the human resource management strategy of the company. Therefore the company has been promoting an enabling environment for work in the company and has been encouraging direct communication with the employees. It has held a policy of promoting the welfare of the employees and maintaining a positive working relationship with the employees. There have also been effort that are aimed at fostering the development of the employees as one of the most important factor that can help the organization to come up with a competitive work force. (IBM, 2008d) The changing legal environment has had effects on the workforce relationship the organization. As the legal landscape changes, the company has been moving in line with these changes and therefore it has been putting in place measures that are aimed at ensuring that there is respect of the rights of the employees. It has been complying with the changes that have been taking place in the legal requirements worldwide in regard to the employee and involvement of a third party. (IBM, 2008e) Therefore the company has been putting in place measure that are aimed at ensuing that there is respect of the legal change and the environmental changes that have been taking place in regard to treatment of its employees. At the end of the 1990s the company put in place a policy that scrutinized all it employees even those on the supply chain with an aim of ensuring that there is respect of labor laws in the world. With his change there were several other changes that were made in the human resource department in order to make sure that the company was in line with the demand of the world labor laws. For example the company stopped its supply chain where there was suspicious of use of child labor and unfair treatment of employees. The evolution in technology has not left IBM employees in the cold. There have been several initiative that have been aimed at ensuring that employee share this revolution. Therefore the company has come up with portable computers like lap tops and other which are part of the ergonomics program which is aimed at ensuring the employees finds comfort in their work. Therefore the company has provided its employees with such advanced laptops in order to ensure that there is comfort and productivity for the employees. The company has been providing guidance which is aimed at helping the employees to assess their work environment and it has also been teaching them how to use these devices. It has been giving advanced training on its workforce on the use of these devices and giving them professional support to make it easier for them. These efforts have been directed towards making sure that employees have a good working environment. The ergonomics program was initiated at the turn of the millennium and was continued in 2004 with more focus on communication between employees. Through the use of remote and mobile gadgets, employees can even perform their normal office duties at the comfort of their homes. The company has continued investing in technology in order to enhance its relationship with its employees and in order to come up with a competent workforce. (IBM, 2008a) In line with the changing environment in political health care, the company has come up with incentives to health program which is aimed at ensuring the employee of the company have access to health facility. This was in line with the changing legal requirement of the company to take a more positive role partnership with the government on the health of their employees. Therefore the company has come up with programs that are aimed at ensuring that there is maximum observance of the health of the employees. In the United States the company has been offering Health Living Rebate program. It has also been carrying out several smoking cessation program that award employees who do not smoke with a $ 150 cash rebate. This program has helped to improve the health of its workforce. However the company has been criticized on it police to reduce pensions for the retirees. It has been shown the contribution of the company to the health of its retirees has been decreasing in the recent past. This follows the 2001 initiative which was aimed at cutting the pensions contribution of the company. (IBM, 2008b) The company has given the employee their freedom of association therefore they are allowed to join any union which they want like [emailprotected] This has been in sense of upholding the right of the individuals. This has been one of the most important steps that have helped to improve the relationship between the company and the employees. Currently the company enjoys a warm relationship with the employees. There has been no incidence of employee unrest in the organization. However there have been issues that have been expressed by the human resources department on the cutting of pension contribution by the company. But in general the relationship between the company and the employees is cordial. (IBM, 2008c) Recommendations There are several recommendations that the can be made to the organization in regard to its practice of human resource management. These recommendations are meant to improve the relationship between the organization and its employees. This is in realization that disgruntled employees is one of the worst arsenal that can attach the organization from within and which is likely to lead to underperformance of the word force. Therefore there is need for the organizations to come push for he implementation of the above recommendations. The most important the organist should look at now is the thorniest issue of the pension that has been a cause of dissatisfaction in the employees. Most employees and most workers union have expressed there concern about the way in which the company has been treating the employees especially on matters concerning the workforce and their pensions. Therefore the company should realize that one of the most important factors that it should currently look at is the way in which it will take care of its employee’s pension. The company has to carry out a review of it policy on the pension and come to an agreement with the demands of the employees. The issue of pension has been one of the thorniest issues in the world due to the response that way in which the government has been calling for partnership with the companies in meeting the medical cost of the retirees. It is shameful for any multinational company to have disgruntled retirese as this is likely to have an impact on the culture of the company. Once the retirees express their concerns on the way they have been treated by the company, there is likelihood of having other employee in the company who will also express their concerns which may affect the whole workforce. (Taggart, 2001) In its all branches in the world, the company has also been faced by a thorny issue of lying off its employees. In 2007, the company laid off 1315 workers in United States. There has been a concern with the way in which the company has been rewarding these employees for loss of their livelihood. As such there have been calls from the workers union for the company to make sure that it compensates all those who lose the jobs. There were many complains from the employees who argued that they were given a short notice before their dismissal from their jobs. Therefore it is recommended that the company gives it employees enough time in order to prepare them for any impending lay off. This would give the company credibility on human resource management issue and it will also help to have satisfied employees even if they are laid off. There has also been an issue in the way the company has been carrying out its recruitment. Though it has been working on the point of equity in recruitment there are concerns that have been realized that there are usually disparity in the workforce especially when it comes to the issue of gender balance in the workplace. It has been shown that the recruitment process in the company has also not given the youths enough chance to participate in the workforce and therefore there is a large proportion of the elderly workforce in the company that the young people. This is likely to have a negative impact not only on the society but also on the future of the company since there will always be a succession gap in the leadership and other sections of the company. Therefore it is recommended that the company should come up with a graduate recruitment process that will give young people more chance of participating in the development of the company. This would help the company to come up with a successive generation of workforces. (Hersh, 2000) There has also been an issue of motivation the workforce. Having motivated workforce is one of the most important factors that help an organization to increase its productivity and at the same time increase the productivity of the workforce. In this regard the company needs to come up with a clear program with will give ways in which it will motivate its workforce. The organization should come up with a more defined procedure which will be use to motivate the employee and reward them according to their performance. (Rupert, 2000) Conclusion Employee relation is an important aspect that helps an organization to create a competitive edge in the market. Most of the companies in the world have embarked on programs that are aimed at empowering their employees in order to have a competent workforce. IBM has also come up with several programs that are aimed at ensuring that the company cerates a competitive work force. In this regard it has taken several steps that have been aimed at addressing the welfare of the employees. In the last 10 years that have been many changes that have taken place in the organization that have been influenced by external and internal factors. External factors like the changes that have been taking place in technology have prompted the company to also integrate some technological aspect in the working process of its employees. Therefore it has come up with ergonomics to enhance the productivity the employees. The changes that have been taking place in the legal and political factors have also helped the company to make changes in the management of its workforce. In respect of human rights, the company has streamlined its operation to eliminate labor oppression like use of child labor, unfair working conditions and others not only in its plants but also in its supply chain. However there are some areas of concern that the company still needs to address as far as its relationship with employees is concerned. One of the most critical areas that it need to address is the area of pensions which as been one of the thorny issues in the company. There have been complaints on the way the company has reduced its level of contribution n to the welfare of the retirees. The company also needs to address the area of recruitment and rewarding of employees. References [emailprotected], (2008). IBM: Stop Pay Cuts. Retrieved from http://www.allianceibm.org/ on 9th May 2008 Clegg, S. (1999). Global human resource management issues. London: Sage Hersh, J. (2000). Globalization and social change in workforce. London: Rutledge IBM, (2008a): Employee well-being: Ergonomics. Retrieved from http://www.ibm.com/ibm/responsibility/people/wellbeing/ergonomics.shtml on 9th May 2008 IBM, (2008b): Employee well-being: work/life balance. Retrieved from http://www.ibm.com/ibm/responsibility/people/wellbeing/work-life-balance.shtmlon 9th May 2008 IBM, (2008c): Employee well-being: Incentives to health. Retrieved from http://www.ibm.com/ibm/responsibility/people/wellbeing/incentives-to-health.shtmlon 9th May 2008 IBM, (2008d): Employee well-being: Promoting health and well-being. Retrieved from http://www.ibm.com/ibm/responsibility/people/wellbeing/promoting-health.shtmlon 9th May 2008 IBM, (2008e): Employee well-being: Workforce Relations. Retrieved from http://www.ibm.com/ibm/responsibility/people/wellbeing/workforce-relations.shtmlon 9th May 2008 IBM, (2008f): About IMB. Retrieved from http://www.ibm.com/ibm/us/en on 9th May 2008 Rupert, A. (2000). Globalization and employee relations; Routledge Taggart, J. (2001). Multinationals in a new era: international human resource strategy. London: Palgrave

psychological disorders, symptoms, and possible causes

psychological disorders, symptoms, and possible causes A psychological disorder can occur at any stage in ones life and to anyone. Much like a physical disease such as cancer, they do not discriminate. In our society, there seems to be certain stigmas and stereotypes attached to psychological disorders (although there is more understanding in recent years) and counseling for them, even though many may be overcome, or at least managed in this way, and this is needed for not just your mind or emotional health, but also for your whole self , as your physical wellness is directly related to your mind and emotions. Sometimes referred to as the Bible of Psychiatry, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is a manual that contains all the mental health disorders, the cause, prognosis, and treatment methods for each disorder. It is used to better understand the patients illness and needs, as well as treatment options. It is published by the American Psychiatric Association and uses a multidimensional approach to reach a diagnosis. The five dimensions are clinical syndromes, developmental disorders and personality disorders, physical condition, severity of psychological stressors, and highest level of functioning. The previous classification system, which is not current but still relevant to some classes, were two main categories: neurosis and psychosis. Neurosis is characterized by anxiety, often resulting from inner conflict. Psychosis is characterized by loss of contact with reality, delusional, irrational thoughts, and/or hallucinations. These have been replaced with specific classifications. The Anxiety Disorders, with the main feature in this category being abnormal or inappropriate anxiety which occurs when ones heart races, breathing increases, and muscles tense without any reason for them to do so, include the following: 1) Acute Stress Disorder- results from traumatic event in which the person responded with intense fear and helplessness. Symptoms include detachment, re-experiencing event, and significant anxiety. The disorder may resolve itself, or medication and therapy may be useful in preventing development of more serious disorder. Prognosis is very good. 2) Agoraphobia- generalized fear of being in places difficult to escape or embarrassing and without help is panic attack occurs. Prognosis is good when there is insight to development and with realization the fears are irrational. 3) Generalized Anxiety Disorder- overwhelming anxiety not related to specific event. Medication and therapy helpful to regain control over symptoms. Prognosis is good, however, underlying issues are more difficult to treat. 4) Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder- biological and psychological causes. Prognosis depends on response to medication and how deeply rooted the underlying issues are. 5) Panic Disorder- sudden attacks of intense fear. Treatment includes relaxation exercises and working through underlying issues. Prognosis is good if not left untreated to worsen and develop into Agoraphobia. 6) Phobias- extreme anxiety and fear associated with the object, situation, or avoidance that is disruptive to everyday functions. With behavioral therapy, prognosis is good. 7) Posttraumatic Stress Disorder- re-experiencing the traumatic event through nightmares, obsessive thoughts, and flashbacks, along with avoidance to anything that reminds the person of that event. Prognosis is moderate to good. Some can be treated with anxiety medication, but primarily psychological treatment. The category of Adjustment Disorders include Unspecified, with Anxiety, with Depressed Mood, with Disturbance of Conduct, with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood, and with Mixed Disturbance of Emotions and Conduct. All of these disorders relate to a more difficult adjustment to a life situation than would normally be expected. Another category is called Dissociative Disorders, including Amnesia-loss of memory due to psychological factors, Dissociative Fugue- person disappears, forgets identity and past and begins a new life, Identity (known formerly as Multiple Personality Disorder), and Depersonalization Disorder. These include a disruption in consciousness, memory, identity, or perception. Eating Disorders is another category of psychological disorders. They include Anorexia Nervosa, known for failure to maintain body weight of at least 85% of what is expected, fear of losing control over weight, and typically a distorted body image. Bulimia Nervosa includes bingeing and purging. Impulse Control Disorders include the failure or extreme difficulty in controlling impulses despite the negative consequences. Included in these disorders is Intermittent Explosive Disorder, Kleptomania (stealing), Pathological Gambling, Pyromania (fire setting), Trichotillomania (recurrent pulling out of ones own hair). Mood Disorders include Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depressive)- mania at one extreme to major depression at the other, cycling between two extremes for days, weeks, or months, Cyclothymic Disorder, Dysthymic Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder. The primary symptom in this category is a disturbance of mood which is inappropriate, and exaggerated or a limited range of feelings. Feelings are to the extreme, having excess energy where sleep is not needed for days at a time, and during this time the decision making process is hindered. Paraphilias and Sexual disorders involve distressing and repetitive sexual fantasies, urges and behaviors that negatively impact ones life as they feel they are unable to control them. These include Exhibitionism, Fetishism, Frotteurism, Pedophilia, Sexual Masochism, Sexual Sadism, Transvestic Fetishism, and Voyeurism. Sexual Dysfunctions is the impairment in normal sexual functioning. This includes Dyspareunia, Female Orgasmic Disorder, Female Sexual Arousal Disorder, Gender Identity Disorder, Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder, Male Erectile Disorder, Male Orgasmic Disorder, Premature Ejaculation, Sexual Aversion Disorder, and Vaginismus. Primary Sleep Disorders are divided into Dyssomnias (related to amount, quality, and timing of sleep) and Parasomnias (abnormal behavior or psychological events that occur during sleep or sleep-wake transitions). Dyssomnias include Primary Insomnia, Primary Hypersomnia, and Narcolepsy. Parasomnias include Nightmare Disorder, Sleep Terror Disorder, and Sleepwalking Disorder. The major symptom of another category called Psychotic Disorders is psychosis, or delusions and hallucinations. Included in this category is Brief Psychotic Disorder, Delusional Disorder, Schizoaffective Disorder, Schizpphreniform, Shared Psychotic Disorder, and Schizophrenia ( split mind)- not all symptoms are present at once, including hearing voices, hallucinating, disordered thought, attentional difficulties, delusions, and catatonia (person freezes and appears to be in a trance). Prognosis is dependent on the age of onset and ranging from good to poor. Somatoform Disorders are those where symptoms suggest a medical condition but where no medical condition can be found by a physician. Included in this is Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Conversion Disorder (hysteria), Hypochondriasis Disorder (hypochondriac), Pain Disorder, and Somatization Disorder. There are two disorders in this category: Substance Abuse and Substance Dependence. A substance can be anything that is ingested in order to produce a high, alter ones senses, or otherwise affect functioning. The most common substance thought of in this category is alcohol although other drugs, such as cocaine, marijuana, heroin, ecstasy, special-K, and crack, are also included. Probably the most abused substances, caffeine and nicotine, are also included although rarely thought of in this manner. Personality Disorders are mental illnesses that share several unique qualities. They contain symptoms that are enduring and play a major role in most, sometimes all, aspects of the persons life. While many disorders vary in terms of symptom presence and intensity, personality disorders usually remain constant. To be diagnosed with a disorder in this category, a psychologist will look for the following criteria: Symptoms have been present for an extended period of time, are inflexible and pervasive, and are not a result of alcohol or drugs or another psychiatric disorder. The history of symptoms can be traced back to adolescence or early adulthood. The symptoms have caused and continue to cause significant distress or negative consequences in different aspects of the persons life. Symptoms are seen in at least two of the following areas: Thoughts (ways of looking at the world, thinking about self or others, and interacting), Emotions (appropriateness, intensity, and range of emotional functioning), Interpersonal Functioning (relationships and interpersonal skills), and Impulse Control. Disorders in this category are Antisocial Personality Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, and Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Through the biological perspective that is adopted from a medical approach and typically regards a malfunctioning brain as the cause of abnormal behavior. Many factors are considered to be potential causes of biological dysfunction, ranging from head injury to poor nutrition. Genetics, evolution, and viral infection are areas that have received a great deal of attention. Treatments by biological practitioners utilize psychotropic medications, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and neurosurgery. The psychodynamic theory regards human behavior to be determined by underlying psychological influences that usually are unconscious. These influences (also called forces) are dynamic -the relationship between them gives rise to behavior. Abnormal symptoms are created when conflicts arise in this relationship. This theory states that all behavior is determined by childhood events and past experience. Treatment then consists of psychoanalysis, which involves bringing into conscious awareness the traumatic childhood conflicts that have been repressed, and resulting in resolution. The behavioral model of psychopathology suggests that abnormal responses, particularly phobias, were formed through a conditioning process, and also can be treated through new learning- a process known as behavior therapy. Abnormal functioning, according to cognitive theorists, is explained by realizing that everyone creates their view of the world that comprises their reality. If the view of an individual is flawed then unhealthy thoughts create dysfunctional behavior. Treatment with this approach involves therapy sessions which work to change a clients self-defeating beliefs and behaviors by showing their irrationality. It is believed that through rational analysis, people can understand their errors in light of the irrational beliefs and then construct a more rational way of seeing themselves, their world, and the events in their lives. The sociocultural approach holds that abnormal behavior is caused by the role that society and culture play in an individuals life. It considers societal norms, roles in the social environment, cultural background, family, and views of others. Sociocultural theorists focus on labels and rules of society, social networks, family structure, communication, cultural influences, and religious beliefs. These are the signs of mental illness are arranged into six categories: thinking, feeling, socializing, functioning, problems at home and poor self-care. These are symptoms of psychological disorders and none by themselves mean necessarily there is mental illness, such as bipolar disorder or depression. However, two or three of these signs of mental illness may indicate a type of psychological disorder. Psychotherapy and psychiatric medication are the two major treatment options as are social interventions, peer support and self-help. In some cases there may be involuntary detention and involuntary treatment. Stigma and discrimination add to the suffering associated with the disorders, and have led to social movements for change. The field of Global Mental Health has recently emerged and has been defined as the area of study, research and practice that places a priority on improving mental health and achieving equity in mental health for all people worldwide. Diagnostic practice in mental health services typically involves an interview where judgments are made of the appearance and behavior, self-reported symptoms, mental health history, and current life circumstances. The views of relatives or other third parties may be taken into account. A physical exam to check for ill health or the effects of medications or other drugs may be conducted. Psychological testing is sometimes used via paper-and-pen or computerized questionnaires, and in rare specialist cases neuroimaging tests may be requested, but these methods are more commonly found in research studies than routine clinical practice. Extreme mental illness, insanity, or psychotic disorders are defined by actions that fall out of the realm of normal human behavior. Standards of acceptability for behaviors vary with culture. When trying to determine if an eccentricity is a psychological disorder or simply immature or odd behavior, it is compared to the four factors commonly used to establish psychological dis orders. They are as follows: 1. Atypical behavior -that is psychologically disordered is outside the range of normal human behavior, which is defined by the culture or community. Just being different isnt enough to consider insanity or a psychological disorder. 2. Disturbing others. People are usually disturbed by insanity or psychological disorders, whether its excessively worrying about your son or being directly affected by harmful behavior. Whether a behavior is disturbing or abnormal may be subject to the culture, situation, and even the decade or century. 3. Maladaptive thoughts or behavior-often behaviors that dont allow people to adapt to life successfully. For example, hearing voices or being unable to leave the house because of an extreme fear. 4. Unjustifiable behavior-Certain abnormal behaviors arent seen as possible, believable, or supportable which means a mental health problem may be present. If an abnormal behavior is unjustifiable, its more likely to be a psychological disorder. After proper diagnosis, prognosis depends on the disorder, the individual and a number of other factors. Some disorders are for a short while and others may last a lifetime. Some disorders may be limited in their functional effects, while others may involve substantial disability and support needs. The degree of ability or disability may vary across different life domains. Continued disability has been linked to institutionalization, discrimination and social exclusion as well as to the properties of disorders. Some disorders are linked to increased rates of attempted and/or completed suicide or self-harm especially if intervention does not take place. Even though often characterized in negative terms, some mental states labeled as disorders can also involve above-average creativity, non-conformity, goal-striving, meticulousness, or empathy. Also the way the public sees and responds to disorders can change.

Margaret Hilda Thatcher Essay examples -- essays research papers

Margaret Hilda Thatcher Margaret Hilda Thatcher's overwhelming sense of self-confidence and ambition ruled her life from the time she was a small child in Grantham, though her Oxford years and during her early years in politics. It led her to become the first female Prime Minister of Great Britain, and also helped through her difficult political years as "Attila the Hun". Britain's first female Prime Minister was born on October 13, 1925 in a small room over a grocer's shop in Grandham, England. Margaret Hilda was the second daughter of Alfred and Beatrice Roberts. She often stated that she was brought up very strictly: I owe everything in my life to two things: a good home, and a good education. My home was ordinary, but good in the sense that my parents were passionately interested in the future of my sister and myself. At the same time, they gave us a good education - not only in school, but at home as well (Gardiner, 1975, p.13). As a child, thrift and practicality were instilled in Margaret's character. The Methodist church played an active part in the lives of the Roberts. She attended good schools as a child and spent her years studying with the intent of attending Oxford. Margaret arrived at Oxford in the autumn of 1943. During her years here, Margaret worked in a canteen for the war effort, continued her interest in music by joining various choirs and joined the Oxford University Conservative Association where she became very active in it's political activities. After Oxford, Margaret became the youngest female candidate of the Dartford Association. She was unofficially engaged to Denis Thatcher at this time, and they married in December 1951. Twins were born the following year. During this period, she studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1954. In the same year she was a candidate for the Oysington Conservative Association. Margaret won in a Tory landslide at Finchley, a suburb of London in 1959. Her parliamentary career had begun. A stroke of good luck gave her the opportunity of presenting her first bill almost immediately. This bill was to allow the press to attend the meetings of the local councils. The bill was eventually passed and it greatly enhanced her reputation. In 1964 she was part of the opposition... ... "ideology is empirical and instinctive, but not the product of great study or reflection, and it amounts to a rather simple (though not unsophisticated) radical libertarianism"(Mayer, 1979, p.11). Mayer goes on to say that she is hardly a mother-figure for a nation. Though she is caring and considerate with close associates, she does not project warmth or humor. The public sees her as a strict nanny, not a loving mommy. She is tough minded and has great stamina and a tenacious spirit. Thatcher has stated that she has never doubted her fundamental convictions. Margaret Thatcher grew up in an era when women were not normally successful as politicians or as business women. Even so, she managed to transform her sex from a liability to a major political asset. She may have been unpopular at times due to her approach to life and politics, but a "softer" female Prime Minister might not have been as effective. Recognition was earned through her overwhelming sense of ambition and dedication to the job: "Thatcher, Milk Snatcher" was bestowed the title Baroness and there-by received the recognition that she had craved all her life.