MOTIVATION Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

MOTIVATION - Research Paper Example Thus Motivation or Motives act as a set of psychological catalysts that contribute in converting the needs, wants and desires of an individual into effective drives to help achieve end goals and incentives. Henceforth motivation also helps an individual in effectively reducing the tension gained from the growing set of desires and wants to achieve or accomplish ends and goals (Bowkowski, 2011, Ch.5). The inner drive of an individual to satisfy the emerging want or need can be reflected as follows. Figure 1 (Bowkowski, 2011, Ch.5) Difference between Traditional and Current Approaches to Motivation Different sets of Motivation Theories have gained emergence from the traditional to the modern managerial periods. These different theories related to the Traditional and Modern context owes some specific differences that can be highlighted as follows. The Traditional Theories related to motivation focus on rendering an effective analysis of the job environment or work atmosphere of an indiv idual and the different types of rewards needed to enhance the performance levels of the employees. Here rewards act as intrinsic motivators to help an individual generate the needed drive to achieve the end goal. On the contrary the Current Approaches to Motivation rely mainly on three types of theories like Content, Process and Reinforcement that contribute in shaping the motivational behavior of an individual to achieve the end goals. Identification and Description of Content Theories of Motivation based on Employee Needs The Content Theories of Motivation tend to operate based on a premise that certain factors are responsible in creating an inner drive in an individual to generate a desire to achieve end goals and thereby satiate the gamut of needs and wants emergent in one’s psychological level. Thus through the use of Content Theories the managers tend to gain an understanding of the factors that tend to drive or kindle the energy in an individual to achieve desired end s. Content Theories being related to the unsatisfied needs or wants of an individual is also referred to as Needs Theory (Bowkowski, 2011, Ch.5). Identification and Explanation of Process Theories of Motivation The Process theories of Motivation relate to the Cognitive elements used by an individual to decide on the behavioral process or attributes needed to specifically fulfill a desired set of objectives or accomplish the goals set. Herein the person needs to effectively evaluate whether the factor choices for motivation are resultant or effective to achieve end objectives. Thus herein motivation depends on factors like the attributes of the goals set to achieve, secondly in whether equitable access is existent in helping an individual gain the required opportunities in achieving desired ends and finally in whether one possesses the required level of potency in helping to raise the expectation for meeting end goals. Significant Process Theories relate to Expectancy, Equity, Satisf action-Performance, Goal-Setting and Reinforcement (Bowkowski, 2011, Ch.6). Description of Reinforcement Theory of Employee Motivation The Reinforcement Theory of Motivation works mainly along four parameters: Positive and Negative Reinforcements and Punishment and Extinction. Positive and Negative Reinforcement criteria generally focus on motivating an individual’s performance through the generation of rewards and also

Critical Success Factor Analysis Essay Example for Free

Critical Success Factor Analysis Essay This wasnt the case for AA. They had clear Organisational vision and views set out from the beginning. Their reason for the new system was to improve the standards of customer service for customer loyalty and to reduce their cost which is their organisational strategy.  This resulted in three main business requirements for the new IS. Development of a nationally-based system   Separation of the functions   The provision of a base for new products or services  AAs system was definitely a business-led system. They had the idea for AAHELP long before technology caught up enough for the system to be implemented. Their IS system was led by a long-term vision from way back. A lot could be contrasted during the implementation phase also. In AAs case, they used a phase-by-phase approach. Each phase would have a business case. This was to make the job of convincing the board easier. This proved useful not only in convincing the board, but also in that it allowed a certain degree of flexibility, as the system could be adapted in order to deal with the changes in the organisation more generally. This gradual incremental approach to the development meant that even though the overall time of the project took longer, the system was checked more thoroughly, and thus was much less likely to have problems later on when it would cost a lot more to fix.  This is shown very clearly in the Symons case. They hired ProSys to deliver the full system in one go. During implementation, they found a lot of costly errors such as differences in Numbering Systems, and changes to the system which cost them an additional à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½15,000. IT TEAM There were some differences between the two even in their I.T Team. Firstly, AA had their personal in-house I.T staff while Symons hired programmers. There are several benefits of in-house I.T staff. It takes shorter time for problems to be sorted out. Another difference was that the IT Team all worked in one location only. This built team spirit and encouraged formal and informal communications. Working so close together also meant that problems would be noticed, and sorted out much faster. Strategic Information Systems Planning Methodologies  The task of strategic information systems planning is difficult and often time organizations do not know how to do it. Strategic information systems planning is a major change for organizations, from planning for information systems based on users demands to those based on business strategy.  Vitale, et al. (1986) classifies SISP methodologies into two categories: impact and alignment. Impact methodologies help create and justify new uses of IT, while the methodologies in the alignment category align IS objectives with organizational goals. Impact Methodologies  Value Chain Analysis  A form analysing business activities. It helps in devising information systems which increase the overall profit available to a firm and identifying the potential for mutual business advantages of component businesses, in the same or related industries, available from information interchange. It concentrates on value-adding business activities and is independent of organizational structure. Strengths: It concentrates on direct value adding activities of a firm and thus pitches information systems right into the realm of value adding rather than cost cutting  Weaknesses: Basic concept of a value chain is difficult to apply to non-manufacturing organizations where the product is not tangible and there are no obvious raw materials. It also fails to address the developmental and implementation issues. Critical success factors analysis can be considered to be both an impact as well as an alignment methodology. Critical Success Factors (CSF) in the context of SISP are used for interpreting more clearly the objectives, tactics, and operational activities in terms of key information needs of an organization and its managers and strengths and weaknesses of the organizations existing systems. Critical success factors are limited areas of the business where if the result is satisfactory, will ensure successful competitive performance for the organisation Strengths: CSF analysis provides a very powerful method for concentrating on key information requirements of an organization, a business unit, or of a manager. This allows the management to concentrate resources on developing information systems around these requirements. Also, CSF analysis is easy to perform and can be carried out with few resources.  Weaknesses: CSF analysis by itself is not enough to perform comprehensive SISP because it does not define a data architecture or provide automated support for analysis. CSFs also focus primarily on management control and thus tend to be internally focused and analytical rather than creative

Documentary on Newfoundland :: essays research papers

Canada is internationally recognized for its excellence in documentary film, and in recent years several of Canada's finest documentary makers have come from this province. Some of them work primarily in Newfoundland and Labrador while others take their cameras around the world. Their films often tell highly personal stories that reflect universal themes, and many are characterized by an unmistakable passion for grass-roots politics, social change and human rights. For most of this century Newfoundland and Labrador stories and events were interpreted through the eyes of visiting filmmakers. Producers from Great Britain and the United States arrived as early as 1907 to do brief pieces about hunting, fishing and wildlife. The National Film Board of Canada (N.F.B.) made several short films here in the 1940s and came regularly after Confederation, eventually building a library of over 100 films about the province. Local directors and producers did not contribute to that library until the 1980s. A few Newfoundlanders were shooting footage in these early years, but usually out of personal interest and with no intention of creating narrative films. Finished projects by local cameramen and editors began to appear after the second World War. They included The Golden Jubilee of Archbishop Roach (1947) by W.J. Ryan and The Land We Love (1955), a travelogue of the Avalon Peninsula by Len Earle. By the late 1960s the CBC and CJON television stations were filming news, entertainment and information programs. Memorial University's Extension Service established a "media unit" to make educational films and documentaries and record significant public events. The unit also worked with the NFB on several projects, including a series of short films on Fogo Island that incorporated input and feedback from local residents. CJON at Buckmaster's Circle, 1952. Jack Squires loads CJON's mobile transmitter van in preparation for an important outside broadcast. Photo by C.F. Ruggles. From Newfoundland Radio in Pictures, 1952 (St. John's, Nfld: Guardian Press, Â © 1952) 43. (51 kb) In the early 1970s the first generation of independent filmmakers was beginning to emerge. Fourteen of them formed the Newfoundland Independent Filmmaker's Cooperative (NIFCO) in 1975. although dedicated to the making of dramatic and artistic films, NIFCO has also been vital to the development of a home-grown documentary industry. The early NIFCO documentaries focus on the province's history and heritage and are only a few minutes long. Stone's Cove (1980) profiles a resettled community through contemporary footage and old photographs. Dig At Cow Head (1982) is a brief portrait of an archaeological dig.

Stalking Celebrities Essay -- essays research papers

The Stalking of Celebrities Stalking remains Hollywood's recurrent celebrity nightmare.1 Never before have we been able to know as much about a star as we do about a close pal. Thanks to publications and TV shows that cater to the public appetite for celebrity news, there's little privacy for stars. We learn the minor details of their lives--from an early schooling, to first kiss, last divorce, drug problems, hopes and fears.2 Celebrities on their own property are not safe from high-powered lenses, I will discuss what celebrity stalking is, why we should have harsher laws against stalking, and what the difference is between photojournalism and the paparazzi. I will prove that stalking celebrities just because there rich or famous is wrong. The law defines stalking as placing a person in fear of his or her safety, even without intent to carry out the threat.4 Being famous increasingly means living in fearSeventeen percent of the stalker's victims are celebrities.6 â€Å"Stalking of celebrities is not done by yo ur average autograph hound.7 The stalking behavior due to delusional disorders affects 3 out of every 10,000 people and only 1%-2% of all mental patients,† Dietz says. â€Å" But it is increasing as our culture promotes celebrities as the religion of the day.†8 â€Å"The knowing of the habits and secrets of celebrities has become a national obsession,† says James Swanson, a lawyer and author.9 There is roughly a dozen types of stalkers. Obsessive love motivates most celebrity stalkers, followed by erotomania--a person believing that he or she is loved by someone famous. Can't celebrities just put in a security system, hire a few body guards, have their fan mail checked and relax?10 It's not that simple. â€Å"There's a lot of terrorism involved in stalking that is life-altering,† Lane says. â€Å"Once you live in fear, you lose trust in people and become more isolated. It hangs with you for the rest of your life. That's a very high price to pay for fame.à ¢â‚¬ 11 Where stalking is concerned, society, it seems, wants to keep it a personal matter. Perhaps due to the mostly domestic context of the crime, most people rely on the out of sight, out of mind approach where stalking episodes are concerned. Cases are viewed as â€Å"lover's quarrels† or â€Å" personal matters,† and other people (often including law enforcement officials) choose to turn a blind eye--usually until it is too late to he... ...pers and magazines. This requires lying, bribing, and getting the photograph by any means necessary.22 A photojournalists is journalism in which news stories are presented mainly through photographs. This requires getting assignments from reporters, listening to scanners, and going to games or press conferences. They are there to summarize events and emotions through the lens .23 It's a lot of money when one considers that hundreds of photojournalists struggle to find jobs that average around $20,000 a year. Maybe a little more money could keep the press more focused on what is news?24 Not every news event is pleasant. There are times when people don't want to be photographed. Fires, car accidents, shootings--they are not pleasant, but they are news. I have discussed what celebrity stalking is, why we should have harsher laws against stalking, and what the difference is between photojournalism and the paparazzi. I have proven that stalking celebrities just because of their riches or fame is wrong. If you support my thesis you will go to http://www.soshelp.org/ and expand your knowledge about stalking. Celebrities' lives are like a diary open to the public, supplied by the press.

Internet Censorship Essay

WebInternet censorship (Is it possible to keep children safe from potential internet dangers? ) by: Eko Setiyo Utomo The Internet has become a part of modern life style for most people. In developed countries, most people use the internet at home. Children can access the internet for everything, from playing games, to doing schoolwork, to chatting with friends via e-mail, to surfing the web. Most online services provide children with a vast range of resources such as encyclopedias, current events coverage, and access to libraries and other valuable material. However, there can be real risks and dangers for an unsupervised child because most materials on the Internet are not only uncensored but also unedited. Adults can be expected to make their own evaluations of what they find. Children, who lack experience and knowledge, can not do this. Strohm (n. d. ) claims that the essential issue in the internet is internet pornography, which is a topic debated by many experts, but many other issues dangerous to children are of concern too. Children who have access to the internet can easily be lured into something dangerous. As stated by Manista (2002), â€Å"censorship on the internet has become an issue for a number of very specific reasons†. Parents should not assume that their children are safe online from internet dangers; and they should not just rely on soft ware to protect their children. According to Schwartz (2004), using filters to block access to undesirable materials may never prove to be the solution. In addition, governments should have the power to decide what is not acceptable for the minds of children. In contrast, it is argued by some people that supervising access to the internet could limit the creativity of children. n addition, according to Males (2000), statistical evidence does not support to filter the internet. He describes that several kinds of sex offences has declined since period internet (1990s) access in America. This essay will investigate the unsuitable nature of much of the material on the internet for children. It will also examine the devastating and lasting e ffect of pornographic images on children. Thus, parents must play a key role to keep children safe from potential internet dangers. Finally, it will suggest that parents should teach children how to choose suitable materials on the internet. The first section of this essay will explain why internet pornography and some of the various resources unsuitable for children can have a harmful effect on children. The next section will maintain that soft ware is essential to protect children from site danger. Finally, this essay will argue that parents themselves should be aware of the dangers on the internet. It is important to recognize that pornographic images on the internet can have a devastating and lasting effect on children. Children using the internet unsupervised can view free pornography pictures through accidental accessing. Strohm (n. d. ) has claimed that it is a commonly held belief that pornography on the Internet presents a serious danger to children online, and that the effects of pornography are progressive and addictive for many people. He further points out that most pornography sites are very easy to find. These sites always invite children and teens to take part in exposure. Children using internet chat rooms are the main target of sexual predators, often with traumatic results (Nuss 1999). Pornography isn’t the only thing parents don’t want their children to see on the Internet. Parents are also concerned about anarchist, Neo-Nazi, and all sorts of other propaganda, as well as information on computer hacking and building explosives. There are hundreds of thousands of web sites promoting illicit activities. However, many individuals and organized groups at the same time are attempting to protect children from information on homosexuality, violence, drugs and alcohol, hate speech, and the environment. In addition, according to Males (2000), children can become victims of internet crime, such as pedophile contacts with children and child pornography distribution. It is possible that some children may be visiting internet sites and communicating with potential internet predators without parent know. Otherwise, some pornographers argue, â€Å"In the right hands porn has its place. As anyone in the industry will readily proclaim, millions of men and women enjoy Web erotica harmlessly, and some couples turn to porn to enhance their sex lives† (Jerome et al. 2004). Children may have the opportunity to become informed about adult lifestyle. Pornography materials on the internet or ther media can be a valuable educational tool for children to understand about the concept of sexuality (Reisman & Ray 1999). Furthermore, according to Males (2000), the internet access period (1990s) does not seem to have brought about any particularly bad effects. Nonetheless, children have access to computers and the internet not only at home, but in many other places, what they choose to view is very difficult to control. It is a concern of many parents that fr eedom of information presented by the internet can pollute their main of children. Many kinds of methods have been implemented to avoid some of these negative effects of the internet. First of all, â€Å"School on the Web†, for example, is a program has been developed by Microsoft and MCI to assist many schools attending information about education world on the internet. Moreover, Cyber Patrol, a popular soft ware, is a soft ware program that contains a twofold filtering technique. It can block unsuitable sites from a list of restricted web addresses (Reeks 2005).. Others products are Bess/N2H2, CyberSnoop, I-Gear, Internet Filter, Library Channel, NetShepherd. On Guard, Parental Discretion, Rated-PG, SmartFilter, Tattle-Tale, WebSense, and X-Stop. These soft ware are designed to present at one or more many kinds of computers. According to Schrader (1999), these products offer five basic approaches – bad word, bad site, bad topic, site content rating systems and bad service – to control expressive content on the internet which may be set by the individual user or built into the program. In addition, children using the internet can also be prevented from disclosing their personal details via e-mail or chat room with the application of soft ware, such as Net Nanny. Meanwhile, The Platforms for Internet Content Selection (PICS) provides particular-labeling vocabularies, which work in different way to filter, to block inappropriate materials. According to Resnick and Miller (1996) the parent, as a user, can select every material in the certain label that is provided by software to block unsuitable sites. Nevertheless, it is an impossible task to be able to censor everything on the internet because the internet is an infinite global network. Males (2000) maintains that the internet would be a useless tool for students if it is blocked, or filtered. Filters can easily block student out of websites that they need to access for research simply because they contain words that have been flagged as inappropriate. He also believes that People who worry about the internet have a phobia or anxiety disorder which is not concerned about real problems. However, using appropriate soft ware can help to minimize the negative effects of the internet, even if many weaknesses exist in various software. Parents can play a key role in helping young people to be aware of the dangers and can get practical help on keeping children safe online. Governments especially, which have the power to decide what is not acceptable for the eyes of children, should make many regulations to help parents to keep children safe from potential internet danger. In late 1999, the Australian Government established NetAlert to provide independent advice and education on managing access to and usage of the Internet (NetAlert 2005). First of all, parents need to build trusting relationships with children and set a good example. Most parents teach their children not to give out information to strangers, not to open the door if they are home alone (AACAP 1997). As a result, it is hopped that children never give their name, phone number, e-mail address, password, postal address, school, or picture without their parent permission. Furthermore, parents should also teach children how to search and find many materials that are suitable for young people (in Healey ed. 2002). Parents are strongly encouraged to speak openly with their children about online dangers and monitor their online activities. Moreover, it is important for parents to be aware that they can not assume that their child will be protected by the supervision or regulation provided by the online services. Only parents can judge when a young person is mature enough to access the internet. Nuss (1999) also claims that children will be much safer accessing the internet if parents take the time to learn to use the internet first. However, children often feel that as Internet users, they know how to make a decision about what materials are harmful. Moreover, when students are exploring the Net for different kinds of materials, they are essentially exploring the real world (Singhal 1997). The internet is one of the contexts in which young people can discover themselves, what is normal and abnormal in their behavior (in Healey ed. 002). However, because most children do not understand what materials on the internet are real or just imagined, parents should not trust children to use the internet without supervision. In conclusion, the internet is a valuable tool for assisting in the education of children. However, when children are online, they can easily be lured into something dangerous. Children have access to online information that promotes hate, violence and pornography. These can influence their behavior and even be harmful. Filter soft ware is the most effective way to protect children from inappropriate materials on the internet. Therefore, parents, who play a key role, should talk to their children about what is online and what might happen online. Finally, the government should use its power to control those sites that provide unsuitable material for young people.

Human Responses to Features of Insects and Impact on Media on Image Representation

Human Responses to Features of Insects and Impact on Media on Image Representation The fact that most people express their negative attitudes to some insects is culturally and historically predetermined. Most of the fears that people experience are associated with insects and the consequences of dealing with these creatures. However, these biases are premised on the images and experiences of previous cases of encountering insects.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Human Responses to Features of Insects and Impact on Media on Image Representation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In fact, many insects are considered the carriers of dangerous diseases and infections that can put human life under the threat. At the same time, some of insects are used in cuisine of certain cultures. The existence of many meanings and contexts in which insects are represented relates to the images in medical journals, mass media representations, or rituals of certain tribes. These shifts are especially important because th ey outline two features of insects – representation of insects as monstrous taboo and that of eating insects for survival. In some cultures, humans consume insects because they are nutritious and they help them to survive. In modern Western society, insects are consumed for entertainment and for the spectacle. As a result, people face their fears while eating insects, but their fears are imposed by the media images that consider this species a threat to human life. The changes in perception of entomophagy demonstrate the promotion of new contextual meanings of consuming insects that play a crucial role in representing the concept of fear in cinematography. Many thrilling and horror movies are premised on the human disgust of insects that are now represented as catalysts of panic and trepidation. In fact, cinematography has become the trigger of new perceptions, and viewers perceive insects not as gustatory experiences, but also as the entertaining ones. The modern concept of entomophagy involves both nutrition meaning, as well as the function of horrifying or pleasing the spectators. The evolution of this discipline also relates to the constantly changing patterns of communication and social interaction. Consuming insects is not only a physical act of food intake.Advertising Looking for essay on biology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Rather, it is an experience of eating that is accompanied by communication, audience, and rich experiences. Therefore, the emphasis placed on experience and image introduced by popular culture changes the initial meaning of the ritual of consuming insects. More importantly, it produces new connotations and discourses in which entomophagy embodies new paradigms and transgressions. The tacit meaning can differ due to the diverse cultural orientations and emergence of visual and textual contexts. The spectacle does not only alter the interpretation of entomop hagy, but also introduces new dimensions of research. Mass media promotes destructive and thrilling images and imposes passive influence on audience’s experiences. On the one hand, the created images may either provoke disgust while viewing insects as food or human can become more curious about the insects as objects of fear. On the other hand, stimulating a range of new emotions plays an important role in creating new meanings and dimensions of entomophagy. In conclusion, media images of insects promoted in the past century and at the beginning of twenty-first century have had a potent impact on shifts in understanding science of entomophagy. In particular, insects have now been perceived not only as objects of nutrition and tribal rituals, but also as the objects of entertainment. Emergence of horror pictures of spiders and bugs in cinema industry passively influences human consciousness and makes people create new contextual meanings and roles of insects in a contemporary life.

The 7 Things That Really Look Good on a College Application

The 7 Things That Really Look Good on a College Application SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips What looks good on a college application? It’s the question nearly every high school student will ask at some point while applying to college. But is there a clear answer? Fortunately, theanswer is yes! Read onto learn what colleges look for in applicants, what looks really good on a college application, and what kinds of myths there are about good things to put on a college application. What Are Colleges Looking for in Applicants? Everyone applying to college has wondered, "What exactly are colleges looking for in applicants?" In other words, what looks good on a college application? While all colleges are different, of course, with some valuing certain qualities or skills more or less than other schools, allcolleges generally look forsmart, studious, ambitious, and passionate students. Therefore, your college application should emphasize your best, most impressive qualities. For example, if you play the violin and want to study music in college, you’ll want to touch on this interest you have in different areas of your application. A good college application will also showcase your sincere interest in the school.You wouldn’t be applying to a college unless you had a reason to want to go there, right?Make sure to explain (especially if you need to write a "Why This College" essay) exactly how you became interested in the school and why you think it's a good fit for you and your goals. You don’t need to be the next Marie Curie or Stephen Hawking (though it certainly doesn’t hurt if you are!), but you should be open to new opportunities and willing to challenge yourself. Overall, the basic point of a college application is to make you stand out from other applicants in a positive, memorable, and unique way. This fact is especially important in light of how many first-year applications colleges receive each year.According to the 2018 report by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), the number of first-year applications received by US colleges increased by 4% from fall 2016 to fall 2017. The report found that "the average number of applications for each admission office staff member (excluding administrative staff) for the Fall 2017 admission cycle was 791 for public institutions and 426 for privates." These trends indicate that your application will definitely need to leave a lasting impression on the admissions committee if you hope to get into that school. The degree by which you must stand out from other applicants will depend on how selective a particular school is.In general, the more selective a college is, the more impressive and unique your application will have to be. Finally, what looks good on an application will vary depending on the college and what the college values.For instance, at colleges that don’t place a big emphasis on standardized tests, a high SAT score likely won’t be much of a factor in admissions. This is just a general overview of what colleges look for in applicants. So what looks really good on a college application? Up next, we look at the specific qualities you should strive to include on your application so you can raise your chances of getting accepted. What Looks Good on a College Application? 7 Key Elements In addition to key personality traits, such as ambition, passion, genuine interest, and academic curiosity, what looks really good on a college application? In general, a great application will have most or all of the following elements: A high GPA (relative to what admitted students have) and a rigorous curriculum Strong test scores (relative to what admitted students have) A specific, honest, and well-written personal statement A unique extracurricular interest or passion (a "spike," as we like to call it) Volunteering experience with measurable impact Compelling letters of recommendation written on your behalf Work experience, particularly jobs related to your academic or professional interests It’s OK if you don’t have every single quality listed above, but if you do, your chances of getting accepted to the college of your dreams will go way up! Now then, let’s take a look at each of these qualities in more detail. #1: Excellent Grades in Challenging Courses The first important part of the college application is the transcript, which consists of your GPA and the names and types of classes you’ve taken in high school. Most people believe a high GPA (the definition of which can vary at different colleges) will make an application stronger.And this is true! According to NACAC, 80.9% of colleges ranked grades in high school classes considerably important.In fact, this factor was ranked the most important of any in the report. What’s truly important, though, isn’t that you simply have a high GPA overall but rather that you have a GPA that's higher than the average GPA of admitted students at the college you're applying to. To find a college's average GPA, search "[School Name] PrepScholar admission requirements" on Google and then click our database link to that school.This page will show you what the school's average GPA is, in addition to other admission requirements. For example, if you want to apply to Notre Dame, you would search for "Notre Dame PrepScholar admission requirements" and click the link to our Notre Dame admission reqs page, which looks like this: As you can see, Notre Dame's average (weighted) GPA for admitted applicants is 4.04.As a result, if you're applying here, you’ll want to have a GPA of at least 4.04, preferably higher so you will be an above-average applicant. It’s not just about getting a high GPA, though; you must also take a range of challenging courses throughout high school if you really wish to impress an admissions committee.This means you’ll want to take not just basic-level classes but also someAP, honors, and/or IB courses, particularly in subjects you are good at and might want to continue to study in college or major in. The 2018 NACAC report found that a whopping 80.6% of colleges ranked an applicant’s rigor of curriculum moderately or considerably important. Think about it: though a perfect 4.0 might look great at an initial glance, if you got this high GPA by only taking the easiest classes available and didn’t challenge yourself with higher-level coursework, your transcripts aren’t likely to impress college admissions officers that much. Even if you started high school with lower grades, an upward grade trend is a great point to emphasize on your application.This suggeststhat you’re capable of bouncing back from any difficulties you might face and are willing to put in the work necessary for excelling in college. #2: High Test Scores Test scores, mainly SAT/ACT scores, are another key part of college applications (unless, of course, you’re applying to colleges that don’t require test scores). On the NACAC report, 83.1% of colleges believe admission test scores are at least moderately important.This is why it’s vital that you try to get as high an SAT/ACT score as you can, ideally one in at least the 75th percentile for your colleges. The 75th percentile means that 75% of admitted students at a particular school achieved this score or lower. Reaching (or surpassing)this threshold means that you’re scoring higher than most other admitted applicants are- and well above that college's average score. To find the middle 50% (that is, the 25th and 75th percentile SAT/ACT scores) for a school, search on Google for "[School Name] PrepScholar admission requirements."Click the link to our page for the school to see its requirements, including its average SAT/ACT scores. For example, say you’re planning to apply to NYU.Here's what the SAT scores section on NYU’s PrepScholar admission reqs page looks like: Here, we can see the average SAT score for NYU is 1410- that’s pretty high, in the 95th percentile! To really stand out as an applicant, though, you’ll want to aim for at least the 75th percentile. For NYU, that's1500, whichcorresponds to the 99th percentile, or the top 1% of test takers. Since you’re likely applying to more than just one school, you’ll need to set an SAT/ACT goal score, that is, a score high enough to get you into all the colleges you're applying to. To set a goal score, start by making a chart of all the schools you're applying to.You can make your own chart or download a blank template. Below is a sample SAT goal score chart: School Name 25th Percentile Score 75th Percentile Score Marquette University University of Wisconsin- Madison Michigan State University University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Next, look up the 25th and 75th percentile SAT scores for each of the schools you’re applying to using our PrepScholar admission requirements pages. (Follow the steps above for NYU to learn how to do this.) Once you've got these scores, write them in your chart as so: School Name 25th Percentile Score 75th Percentile Score Marquette University 1140 1370 University of Wisconsin- Madison 1280 1470 Michigan State University 1050 1310 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 1310 1480 Now, look at all the 75th percentile scores in your chart.The highest score will be your goal score, as this is the one most likely to get you into all the schools you’re applying to. With our example chart, the highest score is 1480, or the 75th percentile score for the University of Illinois.By getting a 1480 or higher, you’ll be getting an impressive score not just for this school but also for Marquette, UW Madison, and MSU, thereby raising your chances of getting into all colleges you’re applying to. #3: Sincere, Specific, and Well-Written Essays The personal statementis an important part of your college application as it’s one of the only areas where you can really showcase your personality. According to the 2018 NACAC survey, 53.6% of schools consider application essays moderately or considerably important.While some colleges don’t require essays, those that do usually place at least moderate importance on them. So how can you ensure your essay will impress the admissions committee? Generally,colleges are looking for three main qualities in a personal essay: Honesty: What you write about should have actually happened to you and should be how you actually feel. Exaggerating details and outright lying are big no-noes here! Specificity: Using concrete details to effectively convey your thoughts, view, and experiences will make your essay a lot more memorable, personable, and- most importantly- unique. Eloquence: Don’t expect to get accepted anywhere if your essay is poorly written and full of grammar and spelling errors. A great personal statement has a sensible organization, tells a compelling story, and is completely free of technical errors. Below are some steps you can take to guarantee that your essay will have all three qualities. Step 1: Brainstorm Significant Moments From Your Life What you write about for your college essay will vary depending on the prompt(s) you’re given from your school or the prompt you choose (for example, the Common App and Coalition App allow you to choose from among several prompts for your essay). In general, you’ll want to pick a topic that meets the following criteria: It really happened and was significant to you: If you’re writing about a specific incident, it should be something that actually happened and that had a large impact on how you define yourself, your goals, and/or your interests. It’s specific and interesting: Don’t write about a broad, universal topic that can apply to tons of other applicants as well. Instead, focus on an event, issue, person, or struggle that’s unique to you and your life. It reveals something important about you: The essay is meant to highlight something you think the admissions committee should know about you, such as a personality trait you have, how you overcame some sort of challenge, or how you became interested in a field of study. It has a positive lean: While you don’t need to pick a topic that’s overly light or cheery, it should still have an ultimately positive lean that reveals something good about you rather than something bad, controversial, or immoral. Step 2: Write Your Essay The next step is to actually begin writing your essay.Don’t worry too much about grammar and flow at this point; just get down your ideas and start deciding which details and examples might work well in your essay. As you write, remember to channel your inner voice.This essay should sound like the real you, not an imitation of what you think colleges want to hear.So if you’re the sarcastic type, you might want to include a joke or two, for instance. Don't forget that the essay is a way for the admissions committee to learn more about you, so don’t shy away from your true self! On that same note, it’s OK to get creative here. The essayisn't an academic essay you’d write for English class- it's a story. Feel free to inject your writing with various literary techniques, such as a non-chronological organization, realistic dialogue, and memorable imagery. Lastly, make sure you’re sufficiently answering the prompt and are abiding by all technical requirements (such as length).You can check a college's essay requirements by referring to its application requirements page or by reading the instructions on the Common App, Coalition App, or Universal College App websites (if submitting your application through one of these platforms). An essay that's too long might get cut off when you submit it electronically, so be sure it adheres to all the requirements. Step 3: Edit and Proofread Several Times Once you have a rough draft of your college essay, it’s time to polish it up for submission. The best way to edit is to put your essay away for a few days.This will give you some distance away from your writing, allowing you to look back at your essay later with a fresher perspective. As you reread your essay, mark any areas in it that are unclear, awkward, or irrelevant to the main point you're trying to make with it.You should also correct any obvious typos or errors,such as mistakes in grammar, spelling, or punctuation. Once you’ve done this process a few times, give your essay to someone to read.Ideally, this will be a person you trust, such as a parent, teacher, counselor, or tutor.Have the person you choose offer clear feedback on your essay and check that you've met all requirements.Edit your essay as needed in accordance with the comments you get. After you’ve finished all of this, you should now have a perfect college essay to submit with your application! #4: A Spike in Your Extracurriculars Almost every college will want to know what kinds of extracurricular activities you do or have done in your spare time. Indeed, 38.5% of colleges surveyed regard students' extracurricular activities moderately or considerably important.Ask yourself: what are your interests outside of school and how do you engage in them? The trick here is to provide not a list of all the random activities you've done but rather a detailed overview of one to two of your most passionate interestsand any big achievements you've made in them. In other words, you need to figure out what your "spike" is, a concept which PrepScholar co-founder and Harvard alum Allen Cheng describes in his expert guide on how to get into the Ivy League. To put it simply, aspike is deep accomplishment in and knowledge of a particular field. As an example, say you plan to major in biology. You’ll stand out as an applicant if you have tons of biology- or science-related experiences under your belt.Maybe you’re part of your school’s biology club, or maybe you volunteered at a local research lab, which taught you the basics of handling lab equipment. In addition to having a variety of experiences and sufficient background knowledge in the field, you want to highlight any relevant major accomplishments you have.For instance, maybe you won a science fair your sophomore year of high school; most recently, you submitted an award-winning invention idea to a national contest As you can see, this concept of the spike is the opposite of being well rounded, which most students assume they need to be (read the next section to learn more about this myth). If you’re not sure what your spike is just yet, take some time to try out new activities and explore any interests you have, both in and outside of school. Over time you should start to get a feel for what you're passionate about and what you can see yourself committing to in the future. #5: Compelling Letters of Recommendation Most colleges require at least one letter of recommendation from either your high school counselor or a high school teacher (or both). The 2018 NACAC survey indicates that 53.5% of colleges consider teacher recommendations at least moderately important, while a higher 56.9% consider counselor recommendations the same. Therefore, we can say it’s pretty important to secure great recommendation letters for your application. If you’re asking for a letter from a teacher, make sure tochoosesomeone whose class you got a high grade in (ideally an A) and who is familiar with your abilities, ambitions, and interests. Typically, you'll need to submit at least one letter from a teacher who taught a core class (so math, English, science, or social studies/history). It’s a good idea to also get a letter from a teacher who works in the field you plan to major in.So if you got an A in AP English and plan to major in English, asking that teacher for a recommendation letter would give a great boost to your application. While you don’t have to be best buddies with the teacher you ask, they should definitely know you well, beyond the classroom, so they can effectively explain to admissions committees what makes you special, that is, what makes you worth admitting. For example, if you did research with a particular teacher, are part of a club this teacher coaches or leads, or helped out this teacher with a project, this would be a good person to ask to write a letter for you. Once you’ve secured a recommendation letter writer, be sure to provide them with any materials or information they might need to help them craft a compelling letter. #6: Volunteering Experience With Measurable Impact Colleges love it when an applicant has not simply volunteered but has also made a measurable impact with their volunteering efforts.What does this mean exactly? If you have volunteered somewhere or for an organization, your assistance should have resulted in a noticeable, positive change to the group, community, or area you were aiming to help. For instance, say you volunteered at a local library.Maybe the library was struggling to get funds to continue operating, and you came up with the idea to hold a 24-hour reading marathon in order to raise money.The fundraiser ended up making more than $5,000, a figure that would be a concrete indicator of the positive impact your service had on the library. Withyour college application, then, you could specifically mention how your initiative allowed the library to remain open. Note that you don’t need to have assumed a leadership role in order to have made a positive impact through your service. That said, college admissions committees are often very big fans of students who show evidence of their budding leadership skills. #7: (Relevant) Work Experience Although you’re certainly not required to work a part-time job in high school, having some work experience on your college applications, especially any jobs that are related to what you want to study or do professionally, will help you stand out in a positive way. Even if your job isn't connected to a long-term academic or career goal you have, any (part-time) work experience you have will be great to put down on your application because itemphasizes your sense of responsibility, maturity, and willingness to work for your goals,key qualities that are usually considered important for success in college. Also, if you have any room on the application to elaborate on your job, I suggestexplaining why you initially took the job and what values or skills it's taught you, such as the importance of responsibility or how to work with certain equipment that you’ll likely use again in the future. 4 Myths About What Looks Good on a College Application What looks really good on a college application?Many students think they know, but the truth is that there are a lot of myths out there about what you should include on your application. Below, we introduce to you the top four myths about what looks good on college applications. Myth 1: Being Well Rounded Is Critical for Success One of the most pervasive myths out there about what looks good on a college application is the idea of being well rounded. Many students assume they'll need to have tons of extracurricular activities on their applications; this, they believe, will emphasize their array of interests as well as their knowledge of a variety of fields. But all this really tells admissions committees is that you’re stretching yourself too thin and (most likely) lack focus on a specific endeavor in your life. What colleges actually want to see is a spike,that is,a single passion. This allows colleges to get a clearer feel for who you are, what you’re interested in, and what your goals are. Having a spike lets you stand out in a truly meaningful way, whereas being well rounded will make you forgettable and seem too similar to other applicants. Spikes are especially important at highly selective colleges and universities, such as Harvard, Yale, and other Ivy League-level schools. You can read more about how to develop a spike in our guide to getting into the Ivy League. If you aim for well rounded, you'll start to look like everyone else. Myth 2: Essays Aren’t That Important After Time published a 2014 article onwhy college application essays don’t actually matter all that much, students began to fear that all their hard work on their statements wouldn’t mean much in the end, if at all. But while some colleges don’t require personal essays, most colleges do require at least one or two essays- and will place a decent amount of emphasis on it, especially if it is being used as a deciding factor between two otherwise equally qualified applicants. Even though you should approach the essay seriously, it’s still generally rare for an exceptionally well-written essay to make up for tons of low grades and poor test scores.On the flip side, if you have a great application but a badly written essay, that essay alone could get you rejected! Therefore, make sure that you’re following all the steps listed above so you can craft the perfect statement for your application. Myth 3: An A in an Easy Class Is Better Than a B in a Hard Class Many students believe it’s better to stick to the classes you know you’ll get As in, but this piece of advice is misguided when it comes to college applications. In general, colleges prefer students who challenge themselves by taking an array of difficult classes, such as AP and honors classes. And you don't have to get perfect grades in them.If you get a B in a tough AP class, for example, this will emphasize to the admissions committee that you are willing to take on new challenges and test your limits, traits that are necessary for succeeding in and after college. On the other hand, getting As in all easy classes, though not totally unimpressive, is not nearly as interesting to colleges, as it suggests you’re unwilling to push yourself and further hone your higher-level critical thinking skills. All of this being said, try to avoid getting very low grades in any classes you take (regular or honors/AP). C and D grades obviously won’t look great to an admissions committee, even if you got these grades while challenging yourself in AP classes. If you can’t get at least a B or B+ in a difficult class, it’ll probably be better for you to drop it and switch to either the regular version of that class or an entirely different class altogether. Myth 4: Only Perfect Applicants Get Admitted Many students assume that if they have one little flaw in their application, such as a below-average test score or slightly low grade in a class, their chances of getting admitted to college will be slim to none. This just isn’t true. Yes, a very low test score or a very poor transcript may cause you to get rejected from a college, but many colleges use a holistic admission process, meaningthey look at and consider each individual applicant as a whole. So even if your application has a not-so-stellar component on it, this doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be a reject. In fact, at particularly selective colleges, such as the Ivy League, you’ll often hear of cases in which ostensibly "perfect" applicants got rejected. This is most likely because they didn't have a spike in their applications (i.e., something that made them stand out). Overall, just try your best to produce the best application you can, and then hope for a good result! Takeaways: What Looks Good on a College Application Applying to college is tough, and knowing what to put on your applications to make yourself stand out is even tougher.What looks really good on a college application? Generally speaking, colleges want to see your passion, intellectual curiosity, willingness to challenge yourself, and academic accomplishments. More specifically, though, colleges typically prefer applicants who have most or all of the following characteristics: Good grades and a challenging course load Strong test scores Honest, specific, and eloquent essays A spike in your extracurricular activities Compelling letters of recommendation Volunteer experience with clear impact on the groups or places you’ve helped Any relevant or impactful work experience Finally, as you apply to college and try to think of good things to put on a college application, make sure you’re aware of the following truths about the application process: It’s better to have a spike than to be well rounded Essays are important! A B in a hard course is more impressive than an A in an easy course You can still get into your dream school even if your application isn’t perfect What’s Next? A great college application will get you admitted.Use our college acceptance calculator to get an estimated percentage of your chance of getting into your dream school, based on your SAT or ACT score and GPA. One thing a great college application can have is a high SAT or ACT score.Get expert tips in our guides on how to get a perfect 36 on the ACT and how to get a perfect 1600 on the SAT. Need help figuring out which colleges to apply to? Our guide teaches you how to narrow down your college choices so that you're applying to the best schools for you. Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

Biography of Bartolomé de Las Casas, Spanish Colonist

Biography of Bartolomà © de Las Casas, Spanish Colonist Bartolomà © de Las Casas (c. 1484–July 18, 1566) was a Spanish Dominican friar who became famous for his defense of the rights of the native people of the Americas. His brave stand against the horrors of the conquest and the colonization of the New World earned him the title â€Å"Defender of the Native Americans. Las Casas efforts led to legal reforms and early debates about the idea of human rights. Fast Facts: Bartolomà © de Las Casas Known For: Las Casas was a Spanish colonist and friar who advocated for better treatment of Native Americans.Born: c. 1484 in Seville, SpainDied: July 18, 1566 in Madrid, SpainPublished Works: A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies, Apologetic History of the Indies, History of the Indies Early Life Bartolomà © de Las Casas was born about 1484 in Seville, Spain. His father was a merchant and was acquainted with the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus. Young Bartolomà ©, then about 9 years old, was in Seville when Columbus returned from his first voyage in 1493; he might have met members of the Taà ­no tribe that Columbus brought back with him from the Americas. Bartolomà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s father and uncle sailed with Columbus on his second voyage. The family became quite wealthy and had holdings on Hispaniola, an island in the Caribbean. The connection between the two families was strong: Bartolomà ©s father eventually interceded with the pope on the matter of securing certain rights on behalf of Columbus’s son Diego, and Bartolomà © de Las Casas himself edited Columbus’s travel journals. Las Casas eventually decided that he wanted to become a priest, and his father’s new wealth allowed him to attend the best schools of the era: the University of Salamanca and the University of Valladolid. Las Casas studied canon law  and eventually earned two degrees. He excelled in his studies, particularly Latin, and his strong academic background served him well in the years to come. First Trip to the Americas In 1502, Las Casas finally went to see the family holdings on Hispaniola. By then, the natives of the island had been mostly subdued, and the city of Santo Domingo was being used as a resupply point for Spanish incursions in the Caribbean. The young man accompanied the governor on two different military missions aimed at pacifying those natives who remained on the island. On one of these trips, Las Casas witnessed a massacre of poorly armed natives, a scene he would never forget. He traveled around the island a great deal and was able to see the deplorable conditions in which the natives lived. The Colonial Enterprise and Mortal Sin Over the next few years, Las Casas traveled to Spain and back several times, finishing his studies and learning more about the sad situation of the natives. By 1514, he decided that he could no longer be personally involved in the exploitation of the natives and renounced his family holdings on Hispaniola. He became convinced that the enslavement and slaughter of the native population was not only a crime but also a mortal sin as defined by the Catholic Church. It was this iron-clad conviction that would eventually make him such a staunch advocate for fair treatment of the natives. First Experiments Las Casas convinced Spanish authorities to allow him to try to save the few remaining Caribbean natives by taking them out of slavery and placing them in free towns, but the death of Spains King Ferdinand in 1516 and the resulting chaos over his successor caused these reforms to be delayed. Las Casas also asked for and received a section of the Venezuelan mainland for an experiment. He believed he could pacify the natives with religion rather than weapons. Unfortunately, the region that was selected had been heavily raided by slave traders, and the natives’ hostility to the Europeans was too intense to overcome. The Verapaz Experiment In 1537, Las Casas wanted to try again to demonstrate that natives could be controlled peacefully and that violence and conquest were unnecessary. He was able to persuade the crown to allow him to send missionaries to a region in north-central Guatemala where the natives had proved particularly fierce. His experiment worked, and the natives were peacefully brought under Spanish control. The experiment was called Verapaz, or â€Å"true peace,† and the region still bears the name. Unfortunately, once the region was brought under control, colonists took the lands and enslaved the natives, undoing almost all of Las Casas’ work. Death Later in life, Las Casas became a prolific writer, traveled frequently between the New World and Spain, and made allies and enemies in all corners of the Spanish Empire. His History of the Indies- a frank account of Spanish colonialism and the subjugation of the natives- was completed in 1561. Las Casas spent his final years living at the College of San Gregorio in Valladolid, Spain. He died on July 18, 1566. Legacy Las Casas’ early years were marked by his struggle to come to terms with the horrors he had seen and his understanding of how God could allow this kind of suffering among the Native Americans. Many of his contemporaries believed that God had delivered the New World to Spain as a reward of sorts to encourage the Spanish to continue to wage war upon heresy and idolatry as defined by the Roman Catholic Church. Las Casas agreed that God had led Spain to the New World, but he saw a different reason for it: He believed it was a test. God was testing the loyal Catholic nation of Spain to see if it could be just and merciful, and in Las Casas’ opinion, the country failed God’s test miserably. It is well known that Las Casas fought for justice and freedom for the New World natives, but it is frequently overlooked that his love for his countrymen was just as powerful. When he freed the natives working on the Las Casas family holdings in Hispaniola, he did it as much for the sake of his soul and those of his family members as he did for the natives themselves. Though widely disparaged in the years after his death for his critiques of colonialism, Las Casas is now seen as a significant early reformer whose work helped pave the way for the liberation theology movement of the 20th century. Sources Casas, Bartolomà © de las, and Francis Sullivan. Indian Freedom: the Cause of Bartolomà © De Las Casas, 1484-1566: A Reader. Sheed Ward, 1995.Casas, Bartolomà © de las. A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies. Penguin Classics, 2004.Nabokov, Peter. â€Å"Indians, Slaves, and Mass Murder: The  Hidden History.† The New York Review of Books, 24 Nov. 2016.

International Comparative Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

International Comparative Analysis - Essay Example This essay focuses on analyzing and presenting of the international comparative analysis, that is highly relevant in today’s growth-oriented societies in which problems can crop up when large concentrations of people are put within a relatively small area such as in highly-urbanized cities of the developing countries. In particular, urbanization continues to pose serious challenges to country planners who have to contend with limited and finite resources while populations continue to expand. This paper discusses some approaches applied to the urban renewal efforts of cities suffering urban decay. The theories from comparative analysis are useful when explaining new patterns of spatial development, like uneven or unequal development such as the new poly-centric patterns of urban growth. The practical application of comparative analysis is to learn from the de-industrialisation taking place in cities like London and New York and apply them to waves of industrialisation taking pl ace in China and the Asia-Pacific. An interesting use of international comparative analysis will be determining which of the two largest nations in the world can pull off an economic miracle. It is concluded by the researcher that theoretical and practical applications of international comparative analysis will guide modern city planners when drafting country policies for development. It will let the countries to maximize all the resources they have and avoid the mistakes of the past because it is very hard to undo them in future.

Annotated Bibliography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 13

Annotated Bibliography - Essay Example The source further reveals that self service automated customer care need not be low quality now that they are often low cost. From the source, it emerges that Google needs to do a lot in terms of improving its customer service including making better designs of its products. This web article provides a detailed analysis of the strategies used by Google to position itself in the market. Among other issues that the article discusses is Google’s positioning with respect to Google branded smartphones, notebooks, and tablets. It emerges from the source that one of Google’s supply chain objectives is to commoditize sectors that it cannot dominate cheaply. Nassivera, J. (2014, June 12). Google introduces My Business service to improve company and customer relationship. HNGN. Retrieved from http://www.hngn.com/articles/33621/20140612/google-introduces-my-business-service-to-improve-company-and-customer-relationship.htm In this web article, Nassivera discusses about Google’s innovative product that goes by the name â€Å"Google My Business†. The product is dedicated to improving customer relations and is targeted at businesses across all economic sectors. The product makes it possible for businesses to identify and serve loyal customers though such services as Hangout and Google plus. Apart from the information that the source provides in respect of Google My Business, the business provides vital statistics related to the number of small businesses that own websites. Shwartz’s article reveals the thoughts of a Googler, DeWitt Clinton, on why it is not feasible for Google to maintain a customer support team. The article reveals that on a global scale, Google has billions of users every day, only a very minute percentage of this population requiring support. The organization would need roughly 20, 833 people to work as part of its support team to meet the global demand for support

A Simple Surgery Checklist Saves Lives Case Study

A Simple Surgery Checklist Saves Lives - Case Study Example They do not initiate for vital steps in the regular process but attempts to identify failures of the process. Based on the four flow charts, the system has much duplication of activities or redundancies in time especially on the number of times the patient has to give his consent. The patient consent is required in more in six scenarios in the system, from the holding room, anesthesiologist to the surgeon. The timing is such that they occur at a period when it is not late to correct the problem. This helps to ensure and further improve the safety of the patient. WHO Surgical Safety Checklist recognizes three stages of an operation, in each stage, the operation coordinator must check the completion of the task before embarking on the next stage (Szalavitz, 2009). The patient has three separate interactions with the health providers in the following phase of the WHO surgical safety checklist: During the Sign In stage (before the administration of anesthesia), the patient is identified, location, informed consent, and the procedure of operation are confirmed. The location/site marking is established and the finishing point of the anesthesia safety measure is done (Cavoukian, 2009). A confirmation of whether a functional pulse rate meter is present in the patient is done. Several other issues of concerns are addressed such as allergies, aspiration risk, air path risks, loss of excess blood, and the availability of effective tools and equipment for operation purposes. The Time Out stage is performed before the incision of the skin. Everyone involved in the operation introduces themselves to real names and their functions in the operation. They then confirm the patient once again, the identity/name of the patient, location/site, and procedure and deliberates on expected critical situations. Antibiotic prophylaxis, scheduling, and presentation of imaging studies are also confirmed at this stage.

Management accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 3

Management accounting - Essay Example A higher actual purchase cost is depicted by the adverse material price variance. The prices of raw materials may have increased in the overall market. Moreover, this may be due to inefficient buying by the company. The procurement staff may have ordered the materials in small quantities that did not attract any discount. The material usage variance also is unfavorable. The materials purchased may have been of a lower quality than the standard. In addition, the company may have employed unskilled labor. The favorable labor rate variance affirms that the company may have employed un-skilled labor. In addition, the overall wage rates in the industry could have increased. Ultimately, it may have resulted due to poor planning by the management of Geeta. In contrast, the labor efficiency variance is unfavorable. It may be because of the company hiring un-skilled labor than the standard. Increased cost of services used may have made the variable overhead expenditure variance unfavorable. A rise in the statutory minimum wage rate may be a possible cause of the adverse variance. The adverse variable overhead variance is a result of more time used in the manufacturing process than the standard time. In addition, it could have resulted due to use of cheaper materials, use of unskilled labor and decline in the efficiency of machines used. Variances are interrelated when one is unfavorable while the other is favorable. This is demonstrated in the labor variances. The favorable labor rate variance indicates that the company may have employed unskilled labor, which resulted in unfavorable labor efficiency variance. Costing systems help a company to determine the relevant cost of a product. The traditional costing and activity based costing are the two common costing systems used. Activity based costing is a replacement to the traditional costing method. It divides production into major activities and then assigns costs to the activities based on the

Competitive Strategy, Resources, and Competencies Assignment

Competitive Strategy, Resources, and Competencies - Assignment Example These analyses include SWOT, Pestle, and Ansoff matrix among others. This paper explores and explains the meanings of some of these analyses, including SWOT, pestles, BCG, Porter’s five forces, core competencies, industry life cycle, and Ansoff matrix. Sometimes referred to as PEST, PESTLE analysis is a tool used by businesses analyze their marketing competitiveness. Generally, PESTLE helps firms to study and track the environment in which they operate or are intending to venture into. It is thus a vital tool for any business intending to launch a new product/projector markets. Each letter in the word PESTLE stands for certain factors that are vital to business operations and viability. While the P denotes Political, E stands for Economic, S for Social, T for Technological, L for Legal and E for Environmental factors (Porter, 1998). To keep track of the environment in which it operates, a business should consider all the factors that affect its productivity and profitability and PESTLE comes in handy as a tool for analyzing the whole environment for business ideas or plans. In fact, in recent times, ethical concerns have been added to PESTLE analysis. In a PESTLE analysis, a business must recognize the political situation (governme nt influences), the prevalent economic factors (inflation rate, interest rates, foreign exchange rates,), the culture of a market (cultural trends, demographics, and population analytics), technologies (automation, research, and development), legislation (consumer laws, safety standards, labor laws), and the environmental concerns (climate, weather, geographical location) (Porter, 1998). SWOT analysis is perhaps the most common business analysis tool used in scanning internal and external environments for business strategic planning. These factors are categorized as internal: strengths (S) or weaknesses (W), and external, which are opportunities (O) and threats (T).  Ã‚  

Management accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 3

Management accounting - Essay Example A higher actual purchase cost is depicted by the adverse material price variance. The prices of raw materials may have increased in the overall market. Moreover, this may be due to inefficient buying by the company. The procurement staff may have ordered the materials in small quantities that did not attract any discount. The material usage variance also is unfavorable. The materials purchased may have been of a lower quality than the standard. In addition, the company may have employed unskilled labor. The favorable labor rate variance affirms that the company may have employed un-skilled labor. In addition, the overall wage rates in the industry could have increased. Ultimately, it may have resulted due to poor planning by the management of Geeta. In contrast, the labor efficiency variance is unfavorable. It may be because of the company hiring un-skilled labor than the standard. Increased cost of services used may have made the variable overhead expenditure variance unfavorable. A rise in the statutory minimum wage rate may be a possible cause of the adverse variance. The adverse variable overhead variance is a result of more time used in the manufacturing process than the standard time. In addition, it could have resulted due to use of cheaper materials, use of unskilled labor and decline in the efficiency of machines used. Variances are interrelated when one is unfavorable while the other is favorable. This is demonstrated in the labor variances. The favorable labor rate variance indicates that the company may have employed unskilled labor, which resulted in unfavorable labor efficiency variance. Costing systems help a company to determine the relevant cost of a product. The traditional costing and activity based costing are the two common costing systems used. Activity based costing is a replacement to the traditional costing method. It divides production into major activities and then assigns costs to the activities based on the

The impact of culture on entrepreneurial management Essay

The impact of culture on entrepreneurial management - Essay Example Hofstede defines culture as â€Å"the collective programming of the mind, which distinguishes the members of one human group from another†¦. Culture, in this sense, includes systems of values; and values are among the building blocks of culture† (Hofstede & Hofstede, 2005). Culture is learned and not inherited. Individuals are born into and shaped by that culture which has been existing. This culture influences the way we think, behave and act. Culture can be referred as the acquired knowledge that people use to interpret experience and to generate social behaviour (Rugman & Hodgetts, 2002). Cultural differences can be found at the regional, national, ethnic, and organizational levels. Hence, Hofstede (1991) suggested that cultural influences on organizations "are most clearly recognizable at the national level" (cited by Justin, 2002). This has been the most widely accepted definition of culture and this essay will determine the impact of culture on indigenous entreprene urs, immigrant entrepreneurs and women entrepreneurs. Culture influences attitudes and behavior, varies within and across nations and within and across ethnicities, and is strongly embedded in indigenous communities. (Lindsay, 2005). Culture influences the motives, values, and beliefs of individuals (Hayton, George, & Zahra, 2002) that reflects on their attitudes. In term of business, people would view and conduct their business differently according to their attitude, which is derived from their own culture. â€Å"If we learn anything from the history of economic development, it is culture makes all difference† (Landes, 1998). Maznevski et al., (2002) state that culture is a group-level phenomenon, but it influences individuals’ perception, values and behaviour, especially with respect to social interaction. It is thus evident that culture is an important factor of economic success. Culture is a big influence

The roles and impacts of computers and communications technology Essay Example for Free

The roles and impacts of computers and communications technology Essay What are the roles and impacts of computers and communications technology in the increase of trans-border economic activity? I am specifically going to speak about foreign workers handling UK consumer calls and IT jobs in general, better known as offshoring or out-sourcing. Below I have tried to out-line some of the good and bad points about the subject Benefits The advocates of offshoring describe it as having high potential; moving jobs to a low cost labour market will save money and provide a good source of employment for the local people. Also as developing countries become richer, they will also buy more from us and invest more in our economy. UK exports of goods and services to India alone are already worth around à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½2.5billion a year, securing thousands of UK jobs. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) believe that the UK also stands to gain from growing world prosperity and a bigger global market for British goods and services. Offshoring will allow Britain to remain competitive, ensuring that the UK economy continues to generate new and sustainable jobs and new business opportunities. There is also the opportunity to gain from global partnerships. Problems Offshoring can have a negative effect on the morale of remaining onshore staff; furthermore, the low wages offshore could put downward pressure on remaining workers wages. The company risks trade union and public criticism, which could affect customer loyalty and satisfaction. Overseas workers at call centres may be unable to help beyond their training script, so there could be a reduction in quality. There are a number of challenges the offshore workforce will face: cultural differences may create difficulties in forming relationships, managing remotely can be difficult and the service may require local knowledge, such as geography, or an understanding of British systems, i.e. NHS My personal opinion I am totally fed up with ending up in call centres in India. It makes the whole experience lengthy, stressful and frustrating. I hate not being able to speak normally, having to repeat and spell almost everything said and the whole experience is one I could do without. I already have changed a bank for this reason. It Is ridiculous. Why should people have to put up with it? It seems to me just a way to make companies have a healthier bottom line, also no executive wants to give up their perks! As a student soon to be looking for work in the UK, I am fully in support of those who hold the view that companies that served mainly British customers should support jobs in Britain. They should be punished if they dont, either by consumer boycotting or by government taxes or both. Since many corporations are copying each other due to corporate greed there is mass influx of unemployed highly skilled workers, without a place for them to go, it will only take so long of being unemployed for them to either move offshore themselves or move to another occupation. I think offshoring has a large share of the blame for the job shortage here in Britain. Its amazing to see how the definition of cheap labour has changed at first the term was only associated with people working in terrible conditions for next to nothing. But now it extends to multinational companies and corporations moving skilled jobs abroad to save money, all at the expense of the British people. Below is a couple of articles I found that I think compliment what I have written. Bank customers fury at India call centres 12:41pm 18th October 2005 Staff at Lloyds TSB are facing high levels of customer dissatisfaction about the banks policy of transferring work to India, a union has claimed. A survey of nearly 2,000 branch managers and staff found that 96 per cent of people thought customers werent happy dealing with staff in India, while 83 per cent thought customers received worst service as a result. More than half of staff claimed they received complaints or adverse comments about the Indian operation every day, and a further third of people said they received them at least every week. Nearly two-thirds of those questioned reported seeing significantly more errors and mistakes being made by the Indian operation, and 64 per cent said offshoring had made it more difficult to promote the banks products. Around 85 per cent of staff thought the bank would lose many customers because of its decision to offshore work to India, while a similar proportion thought people would be likely to switch to financial services companies that were committed to the UK, according to the Lloyds TSB Group Union. Lloyds ignoring concerns But the union said Lloyds TSB was ignoring these concerns and continuing to transfer back office processing and telephone operations abroad. Steve Tatlow, assistant general secretary at Lloyds TSB Group Union, said: The survey confirms what we have known all along. That staff dealing with customers day in and day out are having to deal with considerable customer hostility at having their accounts handled abroad. The results show that whatever Lloyds TSB might say about the customer service provided by its India operation, hordes of customers are complaining across the UK each and every day of the week. Senior Management will have to make a choice. Either to continue with cost cutting in the teeth of customer opposition to its offshoring plans, or else refocus its strategy towards putting customers first. A Lloyds TSB spokeswoman said: Customer service is essential to us. The call centre in Mumbai has taken seven million calls over the past year and we do monitor the quality and look at customer satisfaction. We have found that levels of customer satisfaction are as high on calls to India as to the UK. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/money/money.html?in_article_id=365776in_page_id=1804 The Impact of Global Sourcing on the UK Economy 2003-10, commissioned by the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM), an umbrella organisation for IT software and service organisations in India, estimates that by 2010 the UK could face a shortfall of 700,000 jobs as a result of an aging population and slow population growth. If the problem isnt addressed it reckons that economic growth in the UK could slow, leading to a loss of à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½113 billion. Outsourcing would not only bridge that gap, it would also help generate extra income. For the report claims that for every à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½100 of work outsourced offshore, up to à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½141 is re-invested directly back into the UK economy. This upbeat assessment of the benefits of exporting jobs comes even though the report acknowledges that more than 250,000 UK jobs would be lost as a result of offshoring. But it argues that while the impact of offshoring on the UK workforce is real and will lead to the displacement of workers, it insists that the UK labour market is flexible enough to deal with the problem. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/01/28/sending_jobs_overseas_could_boost/

A Case Study Of Standard Chartered Bank

A Case Study Of Standard Chartered Bank This chapter provides an introduction of the study with the main areas presented including the importance of communication in an organisation, branding, intranet, the problem statement, purpose, research questions, limitations and assumptions that will govern the study. Background of the Study Communication is an organisational asset which has a big impact on the success of the business. Communication serves a number of important functions in an organisation such as sharing and clarifying goals, identifying how goals are to be achieved, exerting control, motivating others, developing a sense of community and commitment, sharing information and creating common understanding. It is estimated that employees spend about four fifth of their working life communicating (Ferreira, 2006). Communication in the organisation is central to the success of the business and must be taken into consideration in a quest to increase organisational competitive advantage. According to a study conducted in the U.S. by Watson Wyatt, a human resources consulting firm, companies that communicate more effectively with their employees have a lower turnover rate (on average 33.3 percent) than those that communicate less effectively (average 51.6 percent) (Ewing, 2007). Du Plessis and Boshoff (2008, p.3) defined internal communication as the communication between people working together to achieve individual or collective organisational goals. Internal communication, also referred to as organisational communication, is the process of communication between the people within the organisation (Scheffer Crystal, 2008). Internal communication process is used to maintain good relationships, describe tasks, give instructions and communicate the goals and philosophy of the organisation (Ferreira, 2006). Effective internal communication is a major contributor to the success of change initiatives in organisations. In particular, at the individual level, appropriate in ternal communication helps employees to understand both the need for change, and the personal effects of the proposed change (Goodman Truss, 2004). The study of internal communication is arguably one of the fastest growing areas within the field of communication, with a 25-30 percent growth rate in the past five years. In fact, studies indicate that organisations are pointing to effective internal communication as an influential factor in business success (Cees, Berens, Dijkastra, 2005; Holtz, 2006). Internal communication is defined as the formal and informal communication taking place internally at all levels of an organisation (Kalla, 2005, p.304). Research on internal communication is cross disciplinary, and the number of available definitions reflects this fact. Internal communication can be termed as internal marketing, organisational communication, employee relations (Quirke, 2000), management communication, internal media, cross-departmental communication (Greenbaum, Clampitt, Willihnganz, 1988), business or corporate communication (Kitchen, 1997), strategic communication (Argenti, 2007) or integrated internal communic ations (Kalla, 2005). Welch and Jackson (2007) view internal communication from a stakeholder approach and define it as the strategic management of interactions and relationships between stakeholders at all levels within organisations (p. 183). Literature spanning the last 10 years suggests that good internal communication management is one of the pivotal steps towards successful and productive communication within an organisation (Holtz, 2006; Karian Box, 2006; Cees et al., 2005; Quirke, 2000a; Tourish Hargie, 2000a). Welch and Jackson (2007) state that; internal communication management includes participation in communication, its direction and the content of communication (p.184). However, participation and direction of communication is strongly influenced by the hierarchical structure of the organisation where issues of status, power, rank and prerequisites often cloud the form and content of upward communication (Silburyte, 2004, p.192). Today, organisations are adopting flatter more dynamic structures which have more inclusive participation from all levels of the organisation (Silburyte, 2004) as well as varied content including new developments, organisational achievements, appraisal discussions and employee roles, noted previously in Welch and Jacksons four dimensions of internal communication (see Table 2.1). Similarly, Quirke (2000a) also suggests that internal communication can be shared across different organisational departments and likens it to a jigsaw where each section is responsible for a piece of the internal communication puzzle (i.e. the core departments within an organization). This metaphor suggests that internal communication is more than the realm of corporate communication and is involved in all areas of the organisation. Branding In the modern global competitive environment, corporate branding has become an important source of sustainable competitive advantage and a central element of corporate strategy (Balmer Gray, 2003). It includes core values cherished by a company, its corporate culture, identity, business model, people and it can be described as -the visual, verbal and behavioral expression of corporate identity and business model (CicvariĆ¡, 2006). The corporate branding strategy determines the manner in which a company will fulfill its mission and vision, and realize value for its stakeholders (Jarventie-Thesleff et al, 2011). It is most often expressed through the so-called brand promise which the company has to live and maintain in everyday business, to all stakeholders (Aaker, 2004). In delivering the value and brand promise, as well as in the application of each branding strategy, a strategic part is played by the companys employees (from top management to those on lower-level positions, who co-operate daily with different stakeholders. The employees role becomes clear when considered in conjunction with the corporate branding strategy framework, which is not only the products and services it sells, but it also represents what the company does and actually is, (i.e. a functionally and emotionally rounded unity). Due to intensive technological changes, the life cycle of products and services has a declining tendency, so corporate branding becomes the cornerstone for building and maintaining relations with stakeholders. One the other hand, the corporate reputation definition; describing reputation-as a set of relatively long-term impressions, attitudes and emotions of individuals or groups in respect of an organization, established through experience or partially credible indirect information, in the context of personal and social expectations, which impacts intentions or behavior of individuals or groups in connection with that specific organization (Vlastelica BakiĆ¡, 2012), helps to grasp the significance of employees in the establishment of beliefs and attitudes of the companys other stakeholders. The value of corporate branding and reputation yields benefits for the company which increases its financial performances and market value on the long run. This represents valuable reso urces which competitors cannot copy or imitate. Aside from reputation, being the organizations intangible capital, another precious resource that is unique and attributable to one company only involves its employees, their knowledge, abilities and skills. Kotler Wong, Saunders and Armstrong (2005) define a brand as a name, term, sign, symbol, or design, or a combination of these, that identifies the maker or seller of a product or service and seeks to differentiate them from those of competitors. The brand is more or less the essence of an organization that informs the customers choice to interact with one brand over another. It is therefore clear that by focusing more efforts on branding, organisations can attempt to differentiate themselves more in the minds of customers and potential customers by increasing the value propositions associated with their brands and create a strong brand image and presence in the market thus giving them a stronger competitive advantage. Fernandez (2004) defines a corporate brand as the institutions image, reputation, financial assets, performance and people. Thus, the corporate brand of an organisation tells us what to expect from the organisation as a whole the set of values, promises, standards and characteristics of an organisation as embodied in the brand. It is thus the totality of the organisation and what it represents and what it hopes to achieve through provision of goods and services in the ordinary course of business. A brand can thus be said to constitute the collection of associations in the mind of a customer connected to the brand e.g. quality, friendliness, added value, superior service among others and such are what can greatly differentiate between similar products and services. The value of these associations, their uniqueness and relevance are an indication of the power of the brand. The underlying brand promise is what many organizations are looking to further underscore and highlight in their increased branding efforts to retain existing customers and attract more customers. One key element of effective employer branding is internal branding. Internal branding is only effective when internal audiences are reached with the message of the organizations values, through effective communicational efforts and when top management also exemplifies the same. Employees cannot be expected to show what they do not know. The service sector particularly has woken up to the fundamental importance of engaging employee commitment in delivering customer satisfaction and loyalty. The service sector does not provide tangible products/output that customers can take away with them and experience on their own; their experience with an organizations brand is through interacting with the organizations staff. There has been a shift in the branding world as explained by Vargo and Lusch (2004) to a new orientation known as service branding which is more balanced in its outlook. It considers both brand identity (internal) and brand image (external); highlighting the importance of st aff in the service encounter. The banking sector is one area where service branding is very vital. Customers experience of the brand begins the moment they walk through the doors of the banking hall and in their dealing and experience with the banks employees. Thus, the way they are treated while in the banking halls, response to their queries, promises made and fulfillment of the same all contribute to their perception of the brand and indeed affect their loyalty to the brand. Hence, there is a need to have employees that fully understand the brand in order to deliver more superior and unique brand experience to the customers in line with the organizations mission and vision. Overview of the Banking Industry in Kenya The banking industry in Kenya is governed by the Companies Act, the Banking Act, the Central Bank of Kenya Act and the various prudential guidelines issued by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK). The banking sector was liberalized in 1995 and exchange controls lifted. The CBK, which falls under the Minister for Finance, is responsible for formulating and implementing monetary policy and fostering the liquidity, solvency and proper functioning of the financial system. As at December, 2012 there were forty six banking and non-banking institutions, fifteen micro finance institutions and one hundred and nine foreign exchange bureaus. The banks have come together under the Kenya Bankers Association (KBA), which serves as a lobby for the banking sectors interests (CBK, 2013). The KBA serves as a forum to address issues affecting members (KBA, 2012). Over the period between years 2006 to 2012, the banking sector in Kenya continued to grow in assets, deposits, profitability and products offering. The growth was mainly underpinned by; first; an industry wide branch network expansion strategy both in Kenya and in the East African community region. Second; automation of a large number of services and a move towards emphasis on the complex customer needs rather than traditional off-the shelf banking products (KBA, 2012). Players in this sector experienced increased competition over the period between years 2006 to 2012 resulting from increased innovations among the players and new entrants into the market. Key players in the early stages of the operation of the Industry were; Kenya Commercial Bank(k) Ltd. (KCB), Barclays Bank of (K) Ltd., (BBK), Standard Chartered Bank (K) Ltd.(SCB), National Industrial Credit Bank (NIC), National Bank of Kenya (K) Ltd. (NBK) a nd Co-operative Bank of Kenya (Co-op bank) ( KBA, 2012). Background on Standard Chartered Bank Ltd Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Limited was established in 1911 with the first branch opened in Mombasa Treasury Square. More than 100 years later, Standard Chartered Bank is one of the leading Banks in Kenya, with an excellent franchise. It has a total of 33 branches spread across the country, 90 automated teller machines (ATMs) and 1,698 employees. Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Limited has local shareholding of about 26%, comprising about 32,000 shareholders and it is a public quoted company on the Nairobi Securities Exchange since 1989. The bank offers a variety of local and foreign currency accounts, both deposit and loan, to its customers. It has a diversified portfolio cutting across select sectors that include business services, manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, transport and communication, real estate, agriculture, energy and water. Further underpinning its importance, Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Limited hosts the regional Shared Service Centre supporting the banks t echnology operations in Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia and Botswana and South Africa on a real time basis (Accessed from www. standardchartered.com/en/about-us). Statement of the Problem Despite its importance, few organisations devote enough time and resources to ensure that effective communication systems and processes are in place (Ferreira, 2006). Sanchez (1999) reported in the study conducted by Watson Wyatt Worldwide in cooperation with IABC Research Foundation that only 40 percent of 913 organisations which participated in the study, mainly from the manufacturing industry had formal communication strategies. Knowledge is important, not only between organisations, but also within the organisation. About 90 percent of the knowledge in any organization is embedded and synthesized in peoples heads (Smith, 2001). The transfer of knowledge is thus important in ensuring that organisational members learn from one another and also create new knowledge. Communication performance within organisations has been considered an understudied area and therefore poorly understood (Pandey Garnett, 2006) yet it is deemed a central component of effective business operations (Hargi e, Dickson, Tourish, 2004, p.5). Hargie et al., (2004) state that a lack of effective communication can contribute to a range of problems including at one end of the continuum, job dissatisfaction and stress, through to damaging strikes, operating losses, bankruptcies, production line injuries, shipwrecks, plane crashes and, at the other extreme, mass slaughter in the field of battle (p.5). Asif and Sargeant (2000) undertook a study of two major United Kingdom clearing banks to explore a range of internal communication issues. Literature specifically referring to the banking industry and internal communication is scarce; however, studies have been undertaken within the last few years that suggest there is growing recognition of the importance of internal communication within this sector (Moorcroft, 2006; Wadman, 2006; Sablosky, 2005; Lennon, 2003; Asif Sargeant, 2000). According to Bierly, Kessler Christensen (2000, p.596) success does not necessarily go to the firms that know the most, but to the firms that can make the best use of what they know. Hence, for knowledge to give competitive advantage, it must be effectively transferred within the organisation (Murray Peyrefitte, 2007; Watson Hewett, 2006). Communication plays a vital role in the knowledge transfer process within the organisation (Du Plessis Boshoff, 2008). One way of managing the knowledge-transfer process is to select appropriate communication media for the property or type of knowledge to be transferred (Murray Peyrefitte, 2007). Information about the employees preferred communication methods and technologies is important in ensuring positive and effective communication (Du Plessis Boshoff, 2008; Ferreira, 2006). Research suggests that intranets should be considered a mosaic of top-down and bottom-up communication with distributed ownership (Dasgupta, 2001). A study carried out by Papasolomou and Vrontis (2006a) on the UK retail bank industry concluded that the problems linked to the branding of intangible offerings can be overcome through an emphasis on the effective implementation of Internal Marketing (IM). The study found out that since employees play a valuable role in the delivery and strengthening of corporate service brands UK retail banks have placed greater emphasis on IM in order to deliver the brands promise. A blanket approach throughout the organisation, regarding regulations on intranet usage, may not be appropriate as different business units will have different requirements. Rather a collaborative and facilitative managerial style would acknowledge diversity and individual contributions (Dasgupta, 2001), thereby allowing individual units and teams to control their own information. Studies show that the versatility and multifaceted nature of intranets has seen an increase in research that is largely multidisciplinary (Lehmuskallio, 2006); however, research into the measurement of intranet effectiveness and perceptions of the employees towards the medium is still in its infancy and is seen as a fundamental shortcoming (Jacoby Luqi, 2007). This study will therefore focus on establishing the effectiveness of intranets to communicate brand message to its internal publics within SCB limited. Purpose of the Study The purpose of this study therefore is to establish the effectiveness of intranets to communicate the brand message to its internal publics within SCB limited in an effort to find out if banks are taking the time, effort and resources to sell the brand to their internal audiences and what strategies have been employed to achieve this. Objectives of the Study This study will be guided by the following objectives: To establish whether SCB Kenya limited has adopted internal communication strategies within its organization to communicate the brand message. To find out the effectiveness of intranets in communicating the brand message among internal publics within SCB Kenya limited. To find out how employees in SCB Kenya limited integrate the organizations brand values through internal communication. Research Questions This study will undertake to answer the following questions How has SCB Kenya limited adopted internal communication strategies within its organization to communicate the brand message? What is the effectiveness of intranets in communicating the brand message among internal publics within SCB Kenya limited? How do employees in SCB Kenya limited integrate the organizations brand values through internal communication? Justification of the Study Despite its importance to corporate communications, rigorous corporate communication research about the use intranets in developing nations is limited. Effective internal communication methods and media for knowledge transfer in the service industry are important for organizations to excel. Internal communication processes are therefore used to maintain good relationships, describe tasks, give instructions and communicate the goals and philosophy of the organisation. Effective internal communication is a major contributor to the success of change initiatives in organisations. In particular, at the individual level, appropriate internal communication helps employees to understand both the need for change, and the personal effects of the proposed change. This study will act as a benchmark to influence banks to adopt excellent internal communication strategies in order to better position their employees to deliver a more superior brand experience to the customers of the bank. Significance of the Study This study will add more knowledge in terms of academic contribution and knowledge which is limited in the area of internal communication within the Kenyan banking sector. This study will act as a platform through which the policy-makers within the banking sector can formulate policies to better enhance effective internal communication. The study will be able to provide recommendations and guidance on the effective internal communication strategies that can be put in place within the banking sector. Scope of the Study This study will be an overview of the internal banking environment in the Kenyan banking sector and will seek to undertake a case study of SCB Kenya limited. The subjects of the study will be the Public relations (PR)/marketing managers/Branch managers of the 20 branches in Nairobi and the customer service managers. Assumptions of the Study The assumptions that underlie this study are that: The selected institution for the study will have some form of internal communication strategy in place used to inculcate brand knowledge among their employees. The data required for this study will be available and that the researcher will receive maximum cooperation from the expected respondents to allow for a smooth, successful and timely completion of the study. Limitations of the Study Unexpected negative response from respondents due to the fact that they might be unwilling to give out sensitive personal information. This will be mitigated through counter-checking on organizational information manuals as well as service charters. Lack of local scholarly literature on the topic as relates to banks and internal branding means that the some of the methods, concepts and models used in this study are foreign and will be adopted to suit the local experience. Definition of Terms Brand Stern (2006, p.217) argues that the word brand can be classified as both an entity and a process, depending on whether it is used as a noun or as a verb. When expressed as a noun, it is connected to a person, place, or thing; as a verb, it refers to the process of making a product meaningful (i.e., the naming or positioning of a product). Dual-function brand concepts such as brand identity and brand reputation (both used as nouns) show the flexibility of this concept. The words branding and branded, on the other hand, are used as verbs to indicate how a brands meaning changes over time. Stern further comments that in the physical world, a brand is a name or mark associated to a product while it in the minds of people refers to a mental representation or perception of a psychological meaning. This study will adopt this definition in consideration to the fact that this holistic definition reflects the fact that the brand is expressed in numerous ways, not only through marketing. Brand commitment: Burmann and Zeplin (2005, p.284) define employee brand commitment as the extent of psychological attachment of employees to the brand, which influences their willingness to exert extra effort towards reaching the brand goals. It is the degree to which employees identify and are involved with their service brand, are willing to exert additional efforts (extra touch) to achieve the goals of the brand and are interested in remaining with the organisation. Corporate communication: Steyn and Puth (2000, p.5) define corporate communication as managed communication on behalf of the organisation, aiming to increase organisational effectiveness by creating and maintaining relationships with stakeholders. Internal branding: According Drake, Gulman, and Roberts (2005) and Thomson, de Chernatony, Arganbright and Khan (1999), internal branding is the practice of selling and promoting the brand to the internal audiences of an organisation, i.e. its employees in order to be instrumental in influencing employees attitudes and shaping their behaviours to be aligned with a brand, by creating employees understanding of brand values and engaging them in living brand-reality. Internal customers: This is the concept of customer-service provider relationships inside the organisation; employees providing a service to other employees or departments in the organisation as opposed to providing a service to clients external to the organisation. Services should be provided to fellow employees and departments with the same commitment to customer satisfaction as for external clients (Gronroos, 2000, p.307; Landman, 2005, p.7). Internal communication: Du Plessis and Boshoff (2008, p.3) defined internal communication as The communication between people working together to achieve individual or collective organisational goals. Internal communication, also referred to as organisational communication, is the process of communication between the people within the organisation (Scheffer Crystal, 2008). Intra-organisational communication: Intra-organisational communication is the channels and systems of communication within the organisation. It entails the continuous design of interaction between all members of an organisation forming an all-inclusive device that joins people and structures within that organisation. Intra-organisational communication forms part of internal communication. Internal communication includes many configurations and disciplines of communication, for example interpersonal communication, intrapersonal communication, intra-organisational communication and management communication (Van der Walt in Verwey; Du Plessis, Barker, 2006, p.264; Landman 2005, p.7). Service marketing: Gronrooss (2000, p.7) perspective on service marketing describes it as an organisation taking the view that an enhanced offering is required to support the customers value-generating processes and that the core solution of a physical product, service or combination of services and goods, is not sufficient to differentiate the offering from those of competitors. Landman (2005, p.8) defines service marketing as an approach to an organizations market that recognizes that the external customer becomes an active part of its processes, and that an organisation in its totality and in all its facets determines the quality of service delivered to the customer. CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW Introduction This chapter presents the review of related literature. According to Chandran (2004), the aim of literature is to provide the researcher with knowledge and understanding of the conceptual and analytical framework in their field of study. This chapter examines, analyzes and adds to the knowledge advanced by various scholars in regard to the effectiveness of intranets to communicate the brand message to its internal publics within Standard Chartered Bank of Kenya. It highlights various works in relation to the study. It looks into current literature on theory and practice in relation to internal communication strategies adopted by banks to its internal publics. Internal Corporate Communication Internal communication within an organisation is dependent on a number of factors including the type of industry; the structure of the organisation; organisational culture and managerial style (Kitchen, 1997; Quirke, 2000). Holtz (2006) noted that, in the past, company communication, typically in the form of publications, consisted of the four Bs: birthdays, babies, brides and bowling scores. In marked contrast, today, the function of internal communication includes the transmission of organisational goals, activities, new developments, achievements and personal contributions as well as strategic visionary messages (Welch Jackson, 2007). Welch and Jackson (2007) suggest the function of internal communications has four dimensions: (1) internal line management, (2) internal team peer communication, (3) internal project peer communication and (4) internal corporate communication (as illustrated in Table 2.1 on page 18). Table 2.1 Internal communication matrix Dimension Level Direction Participants Content Internal line management communication Line managers/ supervisors Predominantly two-way Line managers-employees Employees roles Personal impact e.g. appraisal discussions, team briefings Internal team peer communication Team colleagues Two way Employee-employee Team information, e.g. team task discussions Internal project peer communication Project group colleagues Two way Employee-employee Project information e.g. project issues Internal corporate communication Strategic managers/top management Predominantly one-way Strategic managers-all employees Organizational/corporate issues e.g. goals, objectives, new developments, activities and achievementsSource: (Welch Jackson, 2007, p.185) These four dimensions emphasize that the content of internal communication has moved from the four Bs into all areas of the organisation including strategic goals and personal development. In addition to the content, the four dimensions also highlight the two-way relationship between employees and managers at all levels of the organisation and the importance of internal communication to organisational success (Tourish, Wilson, 2002; Zetterquist Quirke, 2007) with effective internal communication leading to improved productivity, reduced absenteeism, increased levels of innovation, higher quality of services and products and reduced costs (Argenti, 2007). A 2002 study of internal communication in 100 leading blue-chip companies found that 38 percent of internal communication teams were governed by the human resources department (Quirke, 2003). Four years later a 2006 online survey of internal communications conducted by Melcrum, an internal communication research and training organisation, alternatively proposed that of the 1,149 respondents from different industries and locations, 44 percent state internal communication is the governance of the corporate communications department (Dewhurst, 2007). Kalla (2005) suggests that suggests that there are four domains of integrated internal communication; business, management, corporate and organisational. Business communication addresses the communication skills of all employees, management communication focuses on the development of the managers communication skills and capabilities, corporate communication focuses on the formal corporate communication function, and organisational communication addresses more philosophically and theoretically oriented issues Management Communication Business Communication Corporate Communication Internal Communication Organiz