Comparison Of Methods Of Research Education Essay

In this chapter the writer attempts to discourse the research methods required in the context of survey and besides warrant its usage and restrictions. This survey was undertaken to analyze the impact of mega-events and the promotional schemes undertaken to shift a finish ‘s touristry industry. While carry oning this research it was indispensable that a methodological analysis be chosen to outdo suit the survey. Harmonizing to Howard and Sharp ( 1996 ) , the pick of research methods is considered to be an built-in portion of any research undertaking, which greatly influences the consequences obtained. Since the purpose of the thesis is to show the importance of mega-events and the demand to be after for these events, more self-generated and flexible attack was required to develop the apprehension of Sydney ‘s image in the touristry industry. Second, the informations had to be gathered from different beginnings, both primary and secondary, to to the full understand the phenomenon. Finally, the writer besides attempts to offer practical value and thoughts which could be utile in this issue. Based on these considerations, the research was conducted utilizing qualitative research design. Qualitative research allows the topics being studied to give much ‘richer ‘ replies to inquiries put to them by the research worker, and may give valuable penetrations which might hold been missed by any other method. It besides provides valuable information to certain research inquiries in its ain right. Robson et al. , in 1992 stated qualitative research to be ‘A wide-ranging trade embracing many different attacks, and can run from big, time-consuming Government/Social research contracts to pre-testing of consumer advertisement ‘ ( Chisnall, 2001, P195 ) . Harmonizing to Chisnall, the kernel of qualitative research is that it diagnostic ; it seeks to detect what may account for certain sorts of behaviors like trade name trueness. Qualitative research normally has no measurings or statistics but uses words, descriptions and quotation marks to research significance. Qualitative methods aim to do sense of, or construe, phenomena in footings of the significances people bring to them Qualitative research may specify preliminary inquiries which can so be addressed in quantitative surveies ( Greenhalgh & A ; Taylor, 1997 ) One of the cardinal differences between qualitative and quantitative research is that qualitative research attempts to generalise comparatively simple information by executing statistical analyses, whereas qualitative research attempts to larn about a complex phenomenon by seeking penetration. In simple words quantitative research replies ‘how many ‘ of a inquiry whereas qualitative research replies ‘why ‘ of a inquiry. Quantitative research begins with an thought ( hypothesis ) , which is converted into informations through measurings and this at the terminal helps the research worker to pull decisions. Qualitative research, in contrast, begins with an purpose to research a peculiar country, collects â€Å" informations † ( observations and interviews ) , and generates thoughts. The strength of the quantitative attack lies in its dependability ( repeatability ) -that is, the same measurings should give the same consequences clip after clip. The strengt h of qualitative research lies in cogency ( intimacy to the truth ) -that is, good qualitative research, utilizing a choice of informations aggregation methods, truly should touch the nucleus of what is traveling on instead than merely planing the surface ( Greenhalgh & A ; Taylor, 1997 ) . Of the assorted methods of qualitative research, instance survey was found to the best suitable attack for this thesis. In most of the researches undertaken, if the research involves ‘how and why inquiries, they are more explanatory and likely to take to the usage of instance surveies. This is because instance survey trades with the operational links necessitating to be traced over clip, instead than mere frequences or incidences. For illustration, if one wanted to analyze how a community successfully thwarted a proposed main road ( lupo et Al, 1971, cited by Yin, 1994 ) , it is less likely to trust on a study or scrutiny of the records and might be better off making a instance survey. Harmonizing to Yin ( 1994, P13 ) : A Case Study is an empirical enquiry that investigates a modern-day phenomenon within its real-life context, particularly when the boundaries between phenomenon and context are non clearly apparent. Harmonizing to Schramm ( 1971 ) , the kernel of a instance survey, the cardinal inclination among all types of instances survey, is that it tries to light a determination or a set of determinations: why they were taken, how they were implemented, and with what consequences ( cited in Yin,1994, P12 ) . Harmonizing to Stake ( 1994, P236 ) , a instance survey is non a methodological pick, but a pick of object to be studied. As a signifier of research, instance survey is defined by the involvement in single instances and non by the methods of enquiry used. For the writer to accomplish the purpose of this thesis, a instance survey attack was utilized. this was achieved by making a instance survey on the Sydney 2000 Olympics. The ground behind taking the Sydney 2000 Games in peculiar is due to the congratulations Australia received from the universe ‘s touristry and featuring leaders for its attack to maximizing the touristry chances presented with Sydney ‘s theatrical production of the 2000 Olympic Games. The president of the International Olympic Committee ( IOC ) , Juan Antonio Samaranch, said the Olympic games had helped get the better of perceptual experiences that Australia was excessively far off for a vacation. It provided a sporting and cultural phase for all of the continents and boosted touristry in Australia. The type of instance survey used was explanatory instance survey as bing theory was used in order for the research to understand the planning and schemes used by Sydney for the games to advance it as a finish .Restrictions of the Case Study ApproachCase surveies can be both descriptive and explanatory and are therefore considered a good attack for transporting out qualitative research. However, there are besides a few restrictions of the method attached to its usage. Yin ( 1994 ) states that instance survey ‘s findings can be generalised to theoretical propositions but non to recite frequences. Thus it is difficult to do general reappraisal from one instance survey. Yin provinces â€Å" possibly the greatest concern about the usage of instances is the deficiency of cogency of the instance study research † ( Yin, 1994, P10 ) . There ever remains a hazard of excessively much informations being gathered which may non be of existent relevancy to the survey. Case survey informations is time-consuming to roll up, and even more time-consuming to analyze. Hence, there is a reluctance to fund such a research if undertaken on a big graduated table. A Yet cutting corners on either of t hese aspects is likely to earnestly weaken the value and credibleness of any findings produced. As yin ( 1994 ) pointed out instance surveies most frequently do non impart themselves to numerical representation. Hence the in deciding grounds and colored findings may act upon the waies of the findings and the decisions. Looking at both the strengths and failings of the instance survey method, and to obtain a clear apprehension of the instance, the writer besides collected informations utilizing primary research informations aggregation methods. This was done to obtain balanced descriptive and explanatory information for the research supported by grounds of informations collected through primary research.Primary ResearchPrimary research is research used to roll up informations for a specific undertaking. Primary research involves really traveling out to the field and carry oning some type of study or fact finding probe among the existent people. Primary informations are normally gathered by the research worker via studies, experiments or observation methods. However, interviews and questionnaires are most popular and normally used methods of primary informations aggregation. The information therefore collected may be qualitative ( in the signifier of words ) or quantitative ( in the signifier of figu re ) . Primary research was used in this undertaking to place the cardinal schemes of Sydney 2000 Games and the impact of these schemes on Australia ‘s touristry. Primary research was one of the most hard facets of this thesis. To roll up primary informations, the research worker used questionnaire technique to finish this thesis. The research worker explains below the different option techniques that were considered to roll up informations before zeroing down on the questionnaire technique.InterviewsVeal ( 2006 ) is of the sentiment that interviews are likely the lone manner of obtaining a realistic image of the manner people view the topic of research. Howard and Sharp ( 1993, P139 ) suggest that most scientists would see the interview as supplying higher quality information that is free from bias than many other methods available to them. Types of interviews range from a to the full formal structured interview to an informal unstructured interview and semi-structured interviews. Structured interview A to the full structured interview is when the research worker has drafted a elaborate questionnaire. The inquiries are asked as per their order for every interview so as to follow a common form and guarantee that all the subjects have been covered. This method is like utilizing a questionnaire but by being face-to-face with the interviewee and there is besides a range of some personal interaction. However, due to a stiff construction and the form of inquiry that the interviewer follows, the interviewee has less range to set forth extra information. Unstructured interview An unstructured interview is based on a more flexible and adaptable attack. In simple words it is a little more than a conversation. In this method the research worker refrains from seeking to construction the interview. The interview keeps the conversation unfastened in order to derive more information. This method besides follows a fixed lineation but is non driven by prepared inquiries. There is a range for interview to spread out the issues or supply information of related issues as there is no limitation on the type of information provided. Semi-structure Interview This type of interview provides a balance between the other two signifiers of interview. It is basically conducted with the interviewee possessing and following a list of inquiries but at the same clip gives the interviewee the chance to show positions freely. A major advantage of this type of interview is its adaptability. Veal ( 2006 ) suggests that the usage of a checklist is more practical than to the full elaborate inquiries as the latter can disrupt the flow of interviewThere is a possibility that the interviewee might touch upon an of import and untapped facet of the researched issue and may alter the class of research in order to look into them. Bryman ( 2001, P313 ) suggests, â€Å" qualitative semi-structured questioning tends to be flexible, reacting to the way in which interviewees take the interview and possibly seting the accent in the research as a consequence of important issues that emerge in the class of interviews. † Interviews may be conducted face-to-face, via telephone or mail questionnaires. The method in which the interviews can be conducted depends on assorted factors like budget and clip. The research worker was in England to make the research between December and May, but the interviewees were from Sydney. Thus, sing the clip and budget restraint, the research worker used e-mail questionnaires as a method of carry oning the research. the research worker contacted the respondents via mail saying the intent of thesis and the method that will be followed to roll up informations. After a positive answer from the respondents, a questionnaire was prepared and was e-mailed to the research workers. Over a period of 5months from January 2010 to may 2010 assorted e-mail were exchanged back and Forth to roll up as much information as possible. The respondents were besides happy to give entree to assorted studies and paperss sing the subject researched. The type of inquiries that were usages were non-directive and unfastened to let more latitude for response, generalized and probed to do the respondents experience more comfy to talk freely. Questionnaires Questionnaires are a popular agencies of roll uping informations. They are utile when the research is to be undertaken on a big graduated table. They can be easy posted e-mailed and faxed and hence, have a broad geographic coverage. They are peculiarly utile when the respondents are willing to supply information but want to keep their namelessness at the same clip. Unlike other research methods, the respondent is non interrupted by the research instrument. Questionnaires reduceA interviewer biasA because there is unvarying inquiry presentation ( Jahoda, et al. , 1962 ) However, it may be hard to obtain a good response rate as frequently there is no strong motive for the respondents to react. It could be a delayed and a boring method when the research worker has to wait for the responses to be returned. One of the chief drawbacks of this method is that there is no control over who completes the questionnaire. Furthermore, respondent can read all inquiries beforehand and so make up one 's mind whether to finish or non. For illustration, possibly because it is excessively long, excessively complex, uninteresting, or excessively personal. They do non give the respondents the freedom to set forth their positions and sentiments on the subject researched. Hence, it is hazardous and non wholly fruitful to utilize this method on its ain for informations aggregation. Recording Recording is a technique in which the research worker uses a tape recording equipment to enter the informations to be gathered. One of the of import things to retrieve in this method is that recording equipments can be used by the research worker merely if the interviewee/respondents agree to its usage. Gillham ( 2000 ) justifies the usage of tape-recorder as a method strongly recommended if the interviewee agrees. This helps the research to maintain a word by word history of the information the interviewee provides so as non to lose out any of import information. although it is said that the interviewee might experience uncomfortable with the usage of tape recording equipment, taping the interview aids the hearing procedure and provides an indifferent record of responses. Harmonizing to Gill and Johnson ( 1991 ) , in contrast to observe pickings, after a few proceedingss of taping, respondents become unaware of the recording equipment. However, one of the most of import grounds for the research non following this technique is due to the boring, time-consuming and dearly-won techniques of transcripiting the information recorded. Furthermore, Some people are really self-aware in forepart of cameras or audio recording equipments. Recording the session may make a barrier between you and them, and do them less blunt than they would otherwise be. Sampling Roll uping informations is clip devouring and expensive, even for comparatively little sums of informations. Hence, it is extremely improbable that a complete population will be investigated. Because of the clip and cost elements the sum of informations you collect will be limited it is really of import to take a little sample to roll up the information from. Harmonizing to Fink ( 1995, P1 ) ‘the best sample is representative, or a theoretical account, of the population ‘ . A right taken sample of an appropriate size will give consequences that can be applied to the population as a whole. Due to the characteristic and nature of this research, the writer chose to concentrate on the sentiments of the people who were in any manner involved with the 2000 Games. These were people in cardinal places from the Australian Tourism Commission, Tourism New South Wales and the Sydney Olympic Park Authority. The respondents were encouraged to talk as much, or every bit small as they wi shed bout the issue. One individual from the Australian Tourism Commission, two from Tourism NSW and one from the SOPA were interviewed. Besides in order to derive penetration on the research subject from an academic point of view, a A professor in the school of leisure, athletics and touristry at the University of Technology was besides interviewed. The research worker is of the sentiment that the respondents have provided the thesis with sufficient qualitative information to pull decision and the signifier recommendations. Not merely did the respondents respond to the inquiries e-mailed to them but they were really accessible and flexible in their attack and provided the research worker with a figure of of import paperss and studies which proved to be truly of import for the research. As the subject that the writer has undertaken to research is an event which has occurred in the yesteryear, there is already huge and utile stuff available through assorted beginnings like, journal articles, newspapers, media and cyberspace which can turn out every bit of import to the thesis. At this phase the usage of primary research methods is limited and the research had to utilize assorted beginnings of informations. This is called secondary research.Restrictions of primary researchPrimary research is considered to be one of the most widespread and effectual ways of garnering reliable informations. However, there are a figure of possible jobs and restrictions to utilizing primary research as a exclusive method of informations aggregation. The most of import job faced by the research worker was of clip money and distance. the research worker was based in Sheffield during the clip of this thesis and the respondents were from Sydney, hence, the research worker found it really expensive to really go to Sydney to carry on the interviews in individual and had to therefore usage alternate methods. Furthermore, clip restraint was another job the research worker faced. The research worker besides had troubles in contacting and acquiring the right people for garnering the information from. Sometimes it was non possible to speak to the right people and this created troubles in making a program for informations aggregation. And in conclusion, the research worker ain deficiency of experience in be aftering the research and the inquiries as good. If the inquiries did non cover all the of import issues, if they were non good phrased or if the research did non win to obtain the right replies and relevant informations, so the research would non supply qualitative informations and the research worker would hold to get down the whole procedure once more from abrasion. In malice of all these jobs, the research worker managed to garner the relevant information required. The contacts were obtained from an extended hunt and the respondents were besides really helpful and accessible and provided with a huge sum of informations to the research which proved really utile for the thesis.Secondary ResearchSecondary research occurs when a undertaking requires a drumhead or aggregation of bing informations. As opposed to primary research informations, secondary research informations already exist. in simple words, Secondary research is where you use information that other people have gathered through primary research. Normally, secondary research is used in order to place what earlier research workers have done and it besides helps to supply countries of possible probe which would be interesting and valuable. It helps to place possible spreads or logical extensions between old and bing work. . Sometimes secondary research is required in the preliminary phases of research to find what is known already and what new informations are required, or to organize research design. Harmonizing to HHHHHH Howard and crisp ( 1996 ) , secondary research means to seek for information that is given by other research workers and published in some signifier that is already accessible. The secondary beginnings could include old research studies, newspaper, magazine and journal content, and authorities and NGO statistics. In order to acquire a elaborate apprehension of the research issue information was gathered from newspaper articles, diaries and books which were available at the Sheffield Hallam university library. Besides on-line diary articles, intelligence web sites and computing machine database was besides used to garner information. The bing literature enabled the research worker to place any repeating issues or subjects. The books and diary articles, in peculiar, helped the research worker to make a background for theoretical cognition.MediaEvents like the Olympic games are a universe phenomenon and are therefore captured by the universe media. These events attract a batch of promotion from the imperativeness. For this ground, newspapers, magazines and telecasting were of great significance to the research, non merely because they provided with tonss of up -to-date information but besides because they contained interviews, and articles with different attacks on the research topic. These interviews provided information on how the games were perceived by the locals, the promotional schemes adopted.Books and DiariesBooks and diaries in general are considered to be a good beginning of information in any research. They are utile in peculiar to organize the theoretical background of the research. The diaries contain documents written by pervious research worker on the researched subject. They form a background for research and are besides utile in taking any irrelevant points or issues in the bing research worker and frailty versa. In this research besides, the research worker has made extended usage of book and diaries in every phase and chapter of the thesis. It helped the research worker to acquire a good apprehension of the subject. These were readily accessible at the Sheffield Hallam university library.Computer Data Base ( Internet )H armonizing to Howard and Sharp ( 1996 ) , computing machine database is a beginning of considerable importance. There are a figure ofA hunt enginesA that can be utile in seeking the cyberspace, The cyberspace has the advantage that it is easy to entree, it has tonss of information, and it is sometimes the most up-to-date beginning of information.A Databases for merchandises and services are available online. These databases like EMRALD are maintained by dedicated international organic structures and are besides developed straight by universities and other research establishments. The subject of this thesis is an event which occurred in the yesteryear ; hence, the electronic database was of huge aid for this thesis in peculiar. The research worker used Emerald and Google Scholar to entree online articles and documents of trade diaries. Handiness to the information was reasonably easy. However, due to the huge sum of relevant and irrelevant informations available online it was necessary to be critical of the cogency of any information available online.Restrictions of secondary researchIn malice of the easy handiness and the sum of informations available through these secondary resources, there are some restrictions to this signifier of research as good. The most of import is the inquiry on the quality and relevancy of the available informations. Data available through these resources is of the work and researches done in yesteryear and might non be up-to-date information. There are besides several contrasting informations available online which make it more har d for the research worker to critically analyze the information and rely n his inherent aptitudes with respects to the usage of this information. This can sometimes take to irrelevant information being included in the research and the research might besides lose its path. Many times a research worker finds that research that appears assuring is in fact a â€Å" teaser † released by the research provider. This frequently occurs when a little part of a survey is disclosed, frequently for free, but the full study, which is frequently expensive, is needed to derive the full value of the survey. Keeping all these facets in head, the research worker has tried her best to utilize the most recent publications and articles from books, diaries and magazines in order to cover all the facets of the subject researched. The research worker tried to look for the most up-to-date information available.Datas AnalysisSum uping and analyzing the information was one of the most hard parts of the thesis. Harmonizing to Veal ( 2006 ) the research worker is faced with practical jobs of how to pull off the pile on interview notes and transcripts. There are many different types of qualitative informations analysis methods. The type of analysis used depends on the information collected, the purpose of research and the clip and fundss available. For the informations to be analysed, it must be put in simple words which can be easy analyzed. This might be in the signifier of transcripts from the interview, notes and replies from the open-ended questionnaires and the journals and diaries maintained b y the research worker. When multiple instance surveies are used to roll up the information and where the research worker has to happen and analyze recurrent subjects in each survey the research worker can utilize thematic analysis. However, where the focal point is on secondary stuff in general and media analysis in peculiar, content analysis method is used. Contented analysis is a technique that has applications in touristry research ( Finn et al, 2000, P135 ) . It is a technique that is applied to non-statistical informations and allows analysing it in a systematic manner. A Using this method the research worker surveies the transcripts in item and assigns codifications ( figure or words ) , to specific characters within the text.. The research worker may already hold a list of classs or she may read through each transcript and allow the classs emerge from the information. This type of analysis can be used for open-ended inquiries which have been added to questionnaires in big quantitative studies, there fore enabling the research worker to quantify the replies. This is farther supported by Finn, who states that content analysis is a quantitative agencies of analysing qualitative informations ( Finn et al. , 2000, P134 ) .DecisionThe chapter has discussed the informations aggregation procedure and methods used by the research worker to garner information. In order to garner the most relevant and appropriate information, the research worker has made usage of both primary and secondary methods of research. This has helped the research worker to cover all the of import facet and to derive both practical and theoretical cognition. The research was completed in a period of four months. The following chapter take a expression at the consequences and analysis of the information gathered.

Bank of Credit and Commerce International

The Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) was the world’s largest Islamic bank which involved in many criminals activities due to which the bank was eventually shut down and was perceived as the worst bank operated ever in the history of world banking sectors.Introduction The Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) was established by a Pakistani banker Agha Hasan Abedi in 1972. BCCI was registered in Luxembourg. It reached at height within a decade. It has more than 400 branches which were operated in 78 countries.It was among the world's largest private bank ranking 7th position due to its excessive assets of US$20 billion (History Commons). BCCI's Involvement in Criminal Activities BCCI became the target in 1980 during which an undercover operation (extending two-years) was held through the Customer Service of United Sates. A fake wedding was concluded through the operation which was attended by the drug dealers and BCCI officers across the world. These v iolators built a working relationship and personal friendship with the Special Agent (undercover) Robert Mazur.The key bank officers were put in trial in Tampa for six months after which, they were seriously charged and imprisoned for lengthy period. Many other crimes were revealed during cooperation between bank officers and law enforcement authorities (American Patriot Friends Network). Major Tips of BCCI's Criminal Activities A Congressman Charles Schumer conducted a Congressional investigation between 1979 and 1991 which revealed around 700 tips regarding criminal activities of BCCI.The following are the major tips which were received by the federal law enforcement commissions and the same visualized the BCCI involvement in criminal activities: 1. Promotion of political unrest in Pakistan. 2. Financial supporting to terrorist groups. 3. Smuggling weapons to numerous countries such as Iran, Libya and Syria. 4. Organized criminal linking in Italy and United States. The above are o nly the major tips but indeed, around 700 tips were revealed through the Congressional investigation (History Commons). CIA's Illegal Involvement in BCCI BankFor the last ten years, CIA had been paying to its 500 British Informants through BCCI Bank. The information of illegal overseas business deals and sales of British arms were reported to the CIA by some informants. The spectrum of CIA informants involved in criminal activities include: 1. 124 people in politics or government 2. 53 in banking, industry and commerce 3. 24 scientists 4. 90 in the media 5. 75 in academia 6. 124 in communications Although, individuals were not specifically named but few of them were in senior positions (American Patriot Friends Network).Closure of BCCI Bank The Bank of England shut down the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) on July 5, 1991 and the regulators shut down BCCI offices in dozens of countries and seize about $2 billion of the bank’s $20 billion in assets. Many milita nts including Bin Laden had operated accounts in BCCI. The President of UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan, owned 77% of BCCI shares and approx 1. 4 million accounts were operated by people who had likely lost their monies upon closure of the bank (History Commons).Conclusion Thus, the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) financially supported many militant organizations through the money which was generated through illegal activities including illicit drug trafficking and arms trafficking, therefore, it is right to claim that BCCI worked viciously, violently and criminally in favor of deadly terrorist service across the world due to which the BCCI deserved to be shut down and the criminals operating BCCI will never ‘Rest-In-Peace' (Ambit ERisk).References Ambit ERisk, Case Study: Bank of Credit and Commerce International, Retrieved on May 4, 2010 from http://www. erisk. com/learning/CaseStudies/BankofCreditandCommerceIn. asp American Patriot Friends Network, Bank of Cre dit and Commerce International, Retrieved on May 4, 2010 from http://www. apfn. org/apfn/BCCI. htm History Commons, Bank of Credit & Commerce International, Retrieved on May 4, 2010 from http://www. historycommons. org/entity. jsp? entity=bank_of_credit_and_commerce_international

Cath Kidston Limited company- Critically review that role of Essay

Cath Kidston Limited company- Critically review that role of enterprise in the social and economic development of a region. Include a comparison of different cultural contexts - Essay Example ording to the performance review estimates; the growth value that they have added in the United Kingdom economy is around 49.8 percent (Wang & Altinay 2012, 8). SMEs also contribute a great deal to larger companies, by providing vital resources and completing business functions that bigger enterprises are unable to complete. Such companies are better able to attract and train new talent to develop innovative products that are better targeted towards the needs of their local communities. However, these enterprises face a number of challenges as they are often overlooked by the policy makers. Information regarding them is often scarce; support and policy targeted to their needs are also a great challenge (Bravo-Biosca & Westlake 2009, Par 1). Many businesses start up as one’s person idea and the creator in most cases is often an entrepreneur who spots a gap in the market or an opportunity that they can engage in business. The entrepreneur will, therefore, seize the opportunity and start a business to fill the gap and will grow to a large enterprise with proper support and management (Barnes & Haskel 2002, par 1). With the a few exceptions, most of the world’s largest companies all started as small business enterprises and through the supportive economy, access to the right people and capital turn to become global corporations. In regards to this, this paper discuss the Cath Kidston limited company that started as a small sized enterprise and over the years the company has grown to be recognized as a global brand. The paper will analyze the company’s products, its targeted social class, growth and productivity, societal impact as well as its role in the social and economic development of the region. Cath Kidston Limited is a business of home furnishing retail shops that are located in England under the designer Cath Kidson, who opened her first shop in 1994 in London. The enterprise was opened as a small enterprise that initially used to sell hand embroidered

Lesson Plan Observation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Lesson Plan Observation - Essay Example Each student will initiate a conversation like this, â€Å"Hello, my name is Mario. I’m interested in listening to music. What are you interested in?† and the other person would say, â€Å"Hello Mario, I’m Luiji. I’m interested in dancing:. They are given two character cards, therefore they must find a good reason. The students joined in the small talk and demonstrated command of relevant conversational conventions and degree of politeness required from the conversational partners with unequal status, i.e. teacher and students. Students were able to identify the key phrases from Unit 4 when presented with textbook CD recording. They were able to reproduce the content of repetition drill in their conversations with classmates. By the end of the role play all students found their conversational partners using conversational patterns to elicit information about things other students are interested in. The lesson is aimed at developing speaking skills that focus on the exchange of information. In language education this function of human interaction is referred to as â€Å"talk as transaction† (Richards, 2008, p.21). The activities suggested in the lesson shift the focus from the social function of conversation, e.g. small talk or presenting oneself, to what is said and done, i.e. the content of interaction, e.g. things students are interested in. Following suggestions outlined by J.C. Richards in Teaching Listening and Speaking, the teacher can help students to understand the theme and objectives of the task by brainstorming ideas with the class, using pictures that illustrate key vocabulary of Unit 4 to introduce the topic. At the stage of brainstorming students can predict the content of the textbook CD recording or share ideas on the types of interests people may have. To keep track of student ideas teacher writes the words on the board. After students listen to the recording they discuss its content (in pairs or

Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 15

Accounting - Essay Example In the temporal method, accounts and cash receivables are the main and only assets changed in the current exchange rate. Longer term debt and accounts payable are also changed at the current exchange rate. Due to the reasons that polish zloty liability amounts change at exchange rate surpasses the zloty asset amounts changed in the exchange rate, there is an existence of a net liability exposure. Measurement loss in the third of part 1 increases due to two reasons: there a net asset exposure in the balance sheet and depreciation of the polish zloty against U.S dollar in the second year. Account and receivables accounts are the main assets changed at the exchange rate. As there is no longer term debt in this part, the only liability changed at the exchange rate is accounts payable. As the polish zloty assets amount changed at the exchange rate surpasses polish zloty liability amount changed at the exchange rate, there exists an exposure of net asset in the balance

Reflection on seminar Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Reflection on seminar - Essay Example , relaxed posture, as well as the management ability that is associated with power sharing, delegation of essential work, and involvement of employees (PREMA KUMAR, 2010). On the other hand, the aspect of immediacy was employed to a greater extent. It has to do with the sense of attention and interest. It leads to moderation of other people either as being persuasive or competent. For instance; the use of the other individual’s name tends to provide a sense of existing togetherness. This kind of feedback that is directed towards other people enhances the feeling of closeness, hence boosting morale and cooperation to a greater extent. This is mainly applied by managers who are fond of walking around the working place and interacting with employees while listening to their feedbacks and proposals. Interaction management on the other hand was witnessed in a number of ways. It is a situation whereby each and every individual have a feeling of interchange contributions. Based on this perspective, group leaders provided adequate non-verbal and verbal feedbacks (PUCHTA & SCHRATZ, 1993). It comprised of the sense of trust, interrogations, involvement, among others. Here, it was learnt that effective managers often take the responsibility and initiative for any occurrence rather than reacting to various circumstances in the course of their occurrences. In line with this, we also valued the element of expressiveness as an interactive management model. It provided non –verbal and verbal actions that show some sense of interest, engagement, and openness. Active listening is a good example of this concept. The other perspectives involved the ability of adapting to other people’s view-points. There is a display of empathy, attentiveness and interests. Based on all these, we had a better stand-off in our group towards ascertaining on the humanistic model. It generally set out basis on the aspects of Openness, empathy, supportiveness, positivity, as well as equality.

NIKE Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

NIKE - Case Study Example the years, Nike has not only augmented its technological expertise as well as marketing know-how to develop into the world’s biggest footwear and apparel business, but has also outperformed potential players like Adidas and Reebok (Keller, 2008, p.125). Being a colossal corporation it towers above every competitor in its sector with such a stupendous effect that regardless of the sport, it is likely that Nike along with its ‘swoosh’ logo will be there (Frisch, 2008, p.5). Taking into consideration Nike’s astounding track record, this report will aim at shedding light on various branding issues associated with it. Nike’s headquarters, located in Portland, provides a snippet view of the company’s strong brand image. The World Campus of the sports and apparel powerhouse that sprawls over an area of 75 acres does not have a nameplate on its entrance. The occupants of the site can be identified by the red ‘swoosh’ – Nike’s globally renowned logo – which also appears on all the physical entities within the premises (Stonehouse, Campbell, Hamill & Purdie, 2004, p.440). However, Nike’s outstanding stature may be justified by the fact that out of a strong sense of loyalty to this company, some of the employees have tattooed a ‘swoosh’ on their bodies. It goes without saying that Nike has a robust brand image which is bolstered further due to the company’s reputation for innovation as well as unmatched quality. Constant product development, which takes place at Nike because Knight considers that the industry has 7 year brand cy cles, makes the company outstanding (Stonehouse et al., 2004, p.441). The figure appended above illustrates the value chain of Nike in terms of its production and supply chain. While the research and development (R&D) functions of the organisation are centralised, most of its production facilities are located in Europe and Asia. However, during late 1990s, dubious employment practices coupled with low wages as well as

Economics Term paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Economics - Term Paper Example In various means, advertising and customer researchers continuously encounter the test of making images that depict respondents to marketing-related stimuli, this represents as a data for purposes of analysis. This data will incarcerate the fundamental nature of significant utilization practices; that will be communicated to research findings for interested audiences; or play a role in executing the pictorial components of marketing stratagem (Morris, 1997). Generic advertising was the common methodology used in enticing consumers to purchase a product or avail a certain service. This method captures the public attention in an instant, but this will not sustain if the advertisement is boring and dry. The generic approach is very important in preparing advertising messages that concentrates on the customer benefits that apply to all brands in a product category, as opposed to benefits that are unique to specific brands. Rather than being generic, companies and advertising agencies are finding effective means and faster communication of messages to the direct consumers. In the new millennium, the internet-based technology has played a key role in expanding a wide array of consumers in a small span of time worldwide. The potential of the World Wide Web on the Internet as a commercial medium and market has been widely documented in a variety of media. However, a critical examination of its commercial development has received little attention (Ricciuti, 1995). In this fast-paced environment, technology was always an important tool in spreading the good news and to easily communicate with direct customers. The development of internet-based technologies opened endless possibilities for Marketers. Marketing research can be carried out subtly by actively archiving the procedures that each individual undertakes on the Web, through Web tracking software (Culnan, 1999). When we make a whole new set of variables available to the marketer, the

Reforming Global Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Reforming Global Finance - Essay Example The stability of the global market destabilized to an extent that the economy of the rest of the world, including Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, and South Korea went into economic meltdown. This was so severe that it called for the intervention of the humanitarian groups, like Jubilee 2000, who advocated for the cancellation of the debts owed by the poorest countries. The Central bank decided to chip in and try to resolve the situation therein. They worked for 24hours just to see the thing go back in order. Hazel introduces John Perkins, who is an economist and the author of â€Å"Confessions of an Economic Hit Man†, to discuss the history of economic theory and his involvement in the manipulation of the financial organizations like the world bank and the International Monetary fund (IMF). Perkins says that, during the past decades when ‘hot money’ was in circulation, he was actually seduced into luring the poor countries who had huge debts into further debts ( Henderson, Perkins, Rogoff, & Fukuda-Parr, 2005). This was purposed so that these countries would hold to the government policies of the United States. For instance, Indonesia became a victim when the United States loaned it billion of dollars, which was later taken by the US in the name of building for them projects back in the US. They continued paying back the loan with the huge interests until they could no more. This left Indonesia with a huge debt that they would never repay logically thus holding on to the US government. Therefore, this gave the US a chance to manipulate the Indonesians by fetching resources their country such as oil. Finally, Perkins confesses that whatever he was asked to do was technically politics and not assisting the poor countries to get out from their poverty (Henderson, Perkins, Rogoff, & Fukuda-Parr, 2005). I think this was an unfair way of trying to control the entire world. The US government went overboard in trying to exercise their superiority. Professor Kenneth Rogoff, who is the chief economist at the IMF, suggests that instead of giving out loans the US government would have given the underdeveloped countries grants.  Ã‚  

Law and Morality Essay Example for Free

Law and Morality Essay There has been an ongoing debate about the relationship between law and morality. Numerous writers and philosophers have proffered arguments on how law is affected by morality. The question it is believed is no longer if morality affects law, it is to what extent is law affected by morality? And should there be any limitations on the relationship between law and morality? The law and morality conflict has been persisting for many years. Both the natural law theorists and the positive law theorists would agree that there is a relationship between law and morality. The argument has now moved to what degree morality should play in law? The obvious indication that this has been laid to rest is HLA Hart’s concession made at the onset of his book, Law, Liberty and Morality. He said that there is a definitive answer of yes, that historically and casually law has been influenced by morality. In his book Hart focused on the legal enforcement of morality and likewise this essay is concerned with that question. It is believed this is the only debatable divide between law and morality. The debate became a hot topic in the 1950’s after the creation of a commission to investigate and report back on sexual moralities. The commission led to the publication of the Wolfenden Report in 1957. The report at it outset defined the purpose of criminal law as: .. to preserve the public order and decency, to protect the citizen from what is offensive and injurious and to provide sufficient safeguards against exploitation and corruption of others especially the vulnerable, that is the young, weak in body or mind, inexperienced or those in a state of physical, official or economic dependence. The Law should not intervene in the private lives of citizens or seek to enforce any particular pattern of behaviour further than necessary to carry out the above purpose. Before embarking on the discussion proper, a definition is required for morality and for what law is. Morality according to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary is (a) a doctrine or system of moral conduct; (b) particular moral principles or rules of conduct; or (c) conformity to ideals of right human conduct. Law on the other hand is defined as â€Å"a binding custom or practice of a community: a rule of conduct or action prescribed or formally recognized as binding or enforced by controlling authority. † That is morality is not enforceable by its definition while law is. Moralities are normative rules applied to a society or a sub-group of society that does not bind them in a court of law. The only enforceability of morality by its definition is from the group applying peer pressure. There are two main schools of thought in this divide between law and morality, the natural law theorists and the positive law theorists. The natural law school bases much of their ideas of law in their religious beliefs or other transcendental force such as nature. While positivists argue that law has no necessary basis in morality and that it is simply impossible to assess law in terms of morality. Opposition Supporters of the legal positivist school, such as Hart and Mills, purports that law should be in a different sphere from morality. Utilitarianism, a subgroup of the positivism, believes that laws should only serve for the maximization of utility or happiness for the majority. John Stuart Mills said that instead of society imposing morality on members of a society, the individuals should be free to choose their own conduct. Utilitarian’s are not concerned with the morality of law. They believe that law should only play a minimal role in an individual’s life. Persons should be free to do whatever they want as long as it does not harm another. This is referred to as the ‘harm principle’. Mills said â€Å"the only purpose for which power can rightfully be exercised over any member of a civilised community against his will is to prevent harm to others†. Mills went on and said that not even for the individual’s own good should such power be exerted. This argument is rebuttable in that not because there was no immediate physical harm to another, there was no harm. It could be argued that someone taking drugs or proliferating pornography causes ripple effects that may result in harm to others. Pornography promotes women as sexual objects and thereby promotes sexual violence against women. Drug users, by their combined effect, have led to the growth of large underworlds that not only supply drugs but commits direct victim crimes such as murder. If Mills theory is to be adhered to, this would mean that even in a situation of explicit sadomasochist sexual practices that could result in the injury to participants, the law should not get involved to prevent harm. This is because the individuals consented to such acts and no one will be harmed except the willing participants. In this light R v Brown would have been decided incorrectly. Hart said that the judges in Shaw v DPP, where the defendant was convicted for conspiracy to corrupt public morals after publishing a booklet containing details of prostitutes and their sexual practices, â€Å" seemed willing to pay a high price in terms of the sacrifice of other values for the establishment or re-establishment-of the court as custos morum. † The value Hart was referring to is the legality principle of Lon Fuller. He was suggesting the ruling made the law imprecise and thereby itself immoral. Fuller suggests that for law to be moral there must be eight elements referred to as the ‘inner morality of law’ or ‘principles of legality’ or ‘procedural natural law’. The eight elements are generality, promulgation, non-retroactivity, clarity, non-contradiction, capability of compliance, constancy and congruence. These elements Fuller suggests are what a good legal system should aspire for but no one system has or is expected to perfect all elements. However, significant lack of these elements may mean that a system is an immoral legal system and could support tyranny. Fuller said that tyranny is a result of the break down of the internal morality of law and was the case in Nazi Germany. Hart made that very connection between the principles of legality and tyranny when he suggested that there was no adherence to the principles of legality in Shaw v DPP and by extent was in itself immoral law. The central problem with morality is whose morality is the right morality to enforce. Nazi Germany is the best example of law enforcing morality. This is why caution must be used with the continued growth of the court making moral judgements and pronouncing itself as the custos morum. Hart said that there are several flaws with the use of law to enforce morality and if no such enforcement exists it would not necessarily lead to the disintegration of society. He said that society can support several different and sphere of morality. What is considered moral in one country is not necessarily the same in another. On a smaller scale, what is considered moral in one religion within a country may not hold true for another, yet they can exist in relative harmony through mutual respect. He also said that by using law to enforce morality will result in the stagnating of morals in time. It is evident that morality changes with time and what was immoral years ago would not be immoral today. Sometimes the existing laws do not match changes in societal. In the case R v R, where a husband was charged with attempted rape of his wife, the existing law at the time was outdated in respect of the current moral standards of society. If the courts had followed the law as was, they would directly contradict the will of society and the husband would not have done anything illegal. In that case the court made a value judgement, one based in morality to adapt to the change in the morality of society and found that a husband could in fact rape his wife. This case demonstrates the role morality plays in law. If courts did not have any moral basis, then this may lead to disconnect between the law and society. In R v R the courts had a choice either observe an immoral precedent or to adapt itself to the changing morality of the society. Although the judges may try to propound that they only declared what the law was, this judgement is one on moral basis. Should the judges have followed the law at the time that a man cannot rape his wife? Wouldn’t that have led to an infringement on the woman’s individual right? Are judges the right people to expound morality? Supporters The idea that morality has no place in law has been refuted by many theorists such as Hyman Gross and Lord Devlin. Gross contended that Law and morality are one and the same. Laws are inherently moral and that is why acts like murder, rape and theft have been made illegal. Law and morality cannot be separated as the society creates law based on the foundation that the behaviour being address has to be immoral or undesirable by the reasonable man. The problem with this view is that this cannot explain acts that are prohibited by law but not immoral or the reverse. Sex outside of marriage brings a very strong social scourge but no one believes that adultery rise to the level for legal reprimand. Devlin argued that there is an underlying moral web that keeps society together and it should be protected by law. His approach has some aspect of social contract theory, which suggests that everyone in society is there by agreement. He said that to exist in a society there must be some general principles that members have a consensus on. It could be said to be analogous to a family. In a family there may be several different personalities, but what keep them functioning like a unit is that there are underlying similar values that act as a cohesive bond between members. Devlin said in â€Å"The Enforcement of Morals† (1959) that: Societies disintegrate from within more frequently than they are broken up by external pressures. There is disintegration when no common morality is observed and history shows that the loosening of moral bonds is often the first stage of disintegration, so that society is justified in taking the same steps to preserve its moral code as it does to preserve its government the suppression of vice is as much the laws business as the suppression of subversive activities. Former Minister of Justice of Jamaica, Senator Harding, in his speech at the inaugural lecture at the Institute of Law and Economics said it would have been helpful if Lord Devlin had provided examples of some modern societies which have disintegrated because of the loosening of moral bonds. And it might be a better thing for some societies to disintegrate by loosening its moral bonds. Nazi Germany comes to mind; those societies disintegrate from within more frequently than there are broken up by external pressures†¦ Devlin said that it is morals that hold society together and should therefore influence the development of law. He goes further and said that even if private acts are considered to create sufficient public disgust, that is if the ‘reasonable’ man finds this act so unacceptable then it threatens the moral fabric of society and should be subject to criminal punishment. He describes a limit of tolerance as to how much of an immoral act society or the reasonable man can tolerate. Once society passes this limit then something must be done to intervene. Lord Devlin did not suggest that it is all immorality that should be sanctioned. He suggested that the ones that bring ‘right-minded man’ to disgust should be. It is not believed that Devlin was out of touch with the state of developing individual liberty. It is how far those individual liberties will be allowed to infringe on the general public morality and liberty? There needs to be a balance between the individual’s right and the general public’s. Lord Devlin asked if society has the right to make judgment on individual morality. He answered yes, and this seems to be the accepted approach in R v Brown and Shaw v DPP. There is no where in the past were law has developed in an abstract. Law has developed along with the social changes as R v R Devlin also proposed a guideline for the implementation of statutes. He supported individualism and suggested that persons should have the maximum amount of freedom to do as they wish, except when it conflicts with the society’s integrity. He also said that law should only be created to sanction behaviours that are gross, not just merely immoral. And finally, the law should only set the minimum basic standards expected of individuals. Conclusion Morality is important to the integration of society and if the mythical social contract theory has any weight it is in fact as Devlin suggest the web that holds it together. However, it can also be dangerous and may also be the underlying reason for actual disintegration of society as in Nazi Germany. There is no correct answer or side. The answer rest in the balance: the balance between the individual right and that of society, the balance between the positivist and the naturalist, the balance between the heterosexual and the homosexual. The individual should have the right to do as he feels but there has to be limitations. The extremes of either side of the debate are the danger zones but the answer lies in the indefinable, undiscoverable shadows of the gray that rest between the divide. Bibliography 1. MDA Freeman, Introduction to Jurisprudence 8th Edition (Sweet Maxwell) 2. Http:sixthformlaw. info/01_modules/other_materials/law_and_morality_/08_hart_devlin. htm 3. HLA Harts, Law, Liberty and Morality (University of Stanford Press) 4. Dwight Bellanfante, â€Å"Keep the law out of Gays Bedroom† (The Jamaica Observer October 31, 2004). 5. Elliott Frances Quinn, English Legal System 11th Edition (Longman-Pearson, UK), 6. ‘Criminal Law’, Clarkson and Keating, (Sweet Maxwell), 2007 7. Gary Slapper And David Kelly, The English Legal System 11th Edition (Routledge, UK) Page [ 1 ]. Law, Liberty and Morality, H. L. A Hart, Stanford University Press, 1963. Page 1 [ 2 ]. Catherine Elliott Frances Quinn, English Legal System 11th Ed (Longman-Pearson, UK), Page 657 [ 3 ]. http://www. merriam-webster. com/dictionary/morality, accessed 20th October 2010. [ 4 ]. http://www. merriam-webster. com/dictionary/law, accessed 20th October 2010. [ 5 ]. Gary Slapper And David Kelly, The English Legal System 11th Ed (Routledge, UK) Page [ 6 ]. Catherine Elliott Frances Quinn, English Legal System 11th Ed (Longman-Pearson, UK), Pg 655-656 [ 7 ]. Law, Liberty and Morality, HLA Hart Stanford university Press, 1963, page 3 [ 8 ]. Ibid [ 9 ]. Catherine Elliott Frances Quinn, English Legal System 11th Ed (Longman-Pearson, UK), Page 656 [ 10 ]. [1993] 2 All ER 75 [ 11 ]. [1961] 2 W. L. R 897 [ 12 ]. Law, Liberty and Morality, HLA Hart Stanford university Press, 1963, page 7 [ 13 ]. [1961] 2 W. L. R 897 [ 14 ]. Catherine Elliott Frances Quinn, English Legal System 11th Ed (Longman-Pearson, UK), Pg 658 [ 15 ]. Ibid [ 16 ]. [1992] 1 A. C. 599 [ 17 ]. [1994] 1A. C. 212 [ 18 ]. ‘Criminal Law’, Clarkson and Keating, sweet Maxwell, 2007 [ 19 ]. ‘Keep law out of gays bedrooms’ says Harding, Dwight Bellanfante, Observer staff reporter Sunday, October 31, 2004 [ 20 ]. [1994] 1A. C. 212 [ 21 ]. [1961] 2 W. L. R. 897 [ 22 ]. [1992] 1 A. C. 599 [ 23 ]. Catherine Elliott Frances Quinn, English Legal System 11th Edition (Longman-Pearson, UK), Page 658.

A Study On Special Events Management Management Essay

A Study On Special Events Management Management Essay This essay is aimed at addressing the aformentioned issue. In order to identify the skills and qualities that are of value to future leaders in special events management, the paper is first going to outline the scope of the profession. Next, the skills and traits that the leaders in special events management are expected to exhibit are going to be named. Then, the practical expectations of the employers in respect of these skills and competencies are going to be compared and contrasted with the theoretical concepts on leadership present in the subject literature. The conclusion is going to aggregate main points of the essay. First of all, it seems necessary to provide the definition of special events in order to establish the basis for greater understanding of what the managers and leaders in the field actually do. Shone and Parry (2004, p.3) define special events as () non-routine occassions, which have leisure, cultural, personal or organisational objectives set apart from the normal activity of daily life, whose purpose is to enlighten, celebrate, entertain, or challenge the experience of a group of people. From such description it is clearly visible, that special events is a capacious term encompassing affairs such as sport fairs, weddings, presentations, fashion shows, award ceremonies and many others. Therefore, the special events management can be most simply described as a process of effective and professional organisation of such happenings, so that their intended effect on the chosen audience is achieved (Getz, 2005). The information obtained from Prospects.ac.uk (2010) suggests that generic special event manager job description can be organised around the following clusters of duties: researching, planning, budgeting, coordinating, utilizing IT software to facilitate the process, marketing, arranging and overseeing the logistics side, people management, evaluating the success of events on completion. The aforementioned list of tasks is by no means exhaustive. As such, it is clearly visible that the position of the leader in the special events management industry requires the applicant to master a variety of skills that would be easily transferrible across such a wide spectrum of duties, eventually allowing for accomplishment of the chosen aim of the special event. Therefore, it can be said that excellent organisational aptitude, people management skills, communication skills, marketing abilities, adjustability to the changing environment, and lastly the ability to conceptualise and leadership skills consitute these valued features of the successful leaders in special events management (Perry et al., 1996 in Tassiopoulos, 2005). Moreover, it is justifiable to say that organisational skills and startegic thinking are the key elements to a successful career in special events management (Anderson, 2010). Excellent time management abilities, as well as the capacity to multitask and prioritize are crucial in the hectic environment, where many duties are carried out simultaneuously often under substantial time pressure (Wignall, 2008). Analytical competency and high numeracy are other desired traits (Eventjobsearch.co.uk, 2010a). People management skills constitute a second pillar to a prominent career in the special event management industry (Goldblatt, 2005). As the role of the leader in the field is primarly concerned with people: either through coordinating internal network of contacts or by engaging with external parties such as suppliers, proficiency in delegation of duties and effective supervision is certainly needed. Excellent communication skills are another must have for a special events management leader (Eventjobsearch.co.uk, 2010b). Ongoing exchange of information between the customer and the leader, or between the leader and other parties requires skillfullness in oral and written communication to ensure that leaders vision is announced in a coherent manner. Furthermore, the tactfulness in interpersonal contact as well as the capability to listen and recept followed by the negotiation and presentation skills are truly desirable (Worldevents, 2010). The special event industry is believed to be more about whom than what one knows, thus fostering for the communication skills seems exteremely relevant. Flexibility and open-mindedness are also certainly needed (INCA, 2010). The special event management is a constantly changing process requiring ongoing re-prioritizing and finding solutions to the problems arising on the spot. Thus, adaptability to the dynamic environment and the ability to utilize ones creativity and think outside the box is of utmost importance. Marketing edge is another sought-after ability (Goldblatt, 2005). As many events are developed with the profit-generating idea in mind, or require sponsor-/ funding- seeking it is necessary for the leaders to master the knowledge of marketing that will allow them to sell the event to potential parties. Last, but not least the future leaders in special events management industry need to possess the ability to infect the followers with enthusiasm and excitement about the project, in other words depict the charismatic persona (Wignall, 2008). Such capacities are extremely important, as they enhance staffs commitment and motivation to push towards common goal, therefore are essential for facilitation of the process and task accomplishment. Self-confidence and assertiveness are also of value (Wignall, 2008), as they allow the leader to gain credibility in the followers eyes, thus legitimizing the actions taken by him/her. Having identified the skills and aptitudes that are deemed of value to future leaders in special events management, it seems worthwhile to establish whether such choice of requirements is supported by the postulates of the theoretical developments in the leadership literature. Thus, this part of the essay is dedicated to comparing and contrasting the practice with chosen theoretical approaches to leadership: the traits approach, skills approach and contingency leadership concept. The traits theory originates from mid-20th century studies into the personalities of effective leaders in order to correlate their characteristics with successful leadership practices to produce a universally applicable set of must have attributes (Sadler, 2003). Subsequent reviews of the original studies however dismissed the postulate of unidirectional relationship between identified traits and successful leadership, further disregarding the possibility of producing a consistent set of traits typical for all leaders (Jago, 1982). Stogdill (1974, in Daft 2002) proposed an extensive list of attributes of successful leaders, further concluding that possession of the identified traits alone does not guarantee effectiveness in leadership, but is a function of those and contextual factors. Kirkpatrick and Locke (1991) describe the traits as potential only that needs to be activated by the leaders affirmative action in order for the leadership practice to be successful. Nevertheless, the main postulate of the traits approach that leaders do differ from other people in their personalities remains valid, therefore reassuring the application of the theory to business setting. Daft (2002) aggregating conclusions of Bass and Stogdills (1990, in Daft, 2002) and Kirkpatrick and Lockes (1991) studies identifies a set of personal characteristics of leaders that are believed to trigger effective practice. The author notes the importance of drive and desire to excel, motivation, honesty and integrity, self assurance, cognitive capacity and intelligence, knowledge of the industry, as well as to less extent charisma, flexibility and open-mindedness, enthusiasm and sociability as the activators of successful leadership. Looking at the proposed list it is easy to notice the convergence between the traits identified as necessary by the researchers and those previously described as of value to the future leaders in special events management. Nevertheless, it seems that the traits that are denied equal attention in ordinary business setting, i.e. flexibility, creativity and enthusiasm, in special events management find stronger appreciation. Furthermore, the traits theory fails to appreciate the importance of personal growth occurring throughout ones carrier thus denying the future leaders the option to develop the identified traits; what is more disregarding the importance of contextual factors. The unique nature of special events allows the leaders to gain experience through direct participation in the production process of every single event, as well as emphasizes the need to adapt to changing settings, therefore pointing out the weaknesses of the application of traits approach to the purpose of validating such choice of required traits and skills. The skills or otherwise known as capability approach seems to overcome the first of aforementioned drawbacks by focusing on the competencies rather than personal attributes that leaders ought to possess to deliver the appropriate performance (Northouse, 2004). The model sees leadership as concerned with solving problems arising in everyday organisational setting (Mumford et al., 2000a). The skills approach postulates that leaders performance is generated via utilization of three types of skills: problem-solving skills, solution generation skills, as well as social judgement skills subject to development throughout ones career under the influence of the individual attributes such as motivation and personality and the environmental context (Mumford et al., 2000b). Unlike traits theory this model appreciates that leadership potential that can be transformed into effective practice rests within everyone (Northouse, 2004). The skills model successfully provides explanation for the choice of some of the competencies deemed of value to potential leaders in special events management, emphasising the importance of motivation and enthusiasm, as well as people-oriented skills. However, similarly to the traits theory this concept presents some limitations in its applicability. Leadership in special events management requires exceptional organisation and strategic thinking abilities, which are denied sufficient importance by the skills model that sees the leaders as facilitators of quick solutions to arising problems rather than visionaries. Furthermore, the applicability of the model is believed to be limited by the specificity of the research setting (i.e. US army) (Northouse, 2004). The last model to be analysed against the practical requirements of future leaders in special events management is the contingency concept originally devised by Fiedler (1969, in Sadler, 2003). According to this theory the effectiveness of leadership practice depends on (i.e. is contingent on) three aspects of the situation in which it takes place: the nature of the leader-followers relationship (the loyalty, trust etc), the nature of the tasks (degree of clear indication of requirements) and the position power of the leader (i.e. authority available to the leader) (Sadler, 2003). Depending on the combination of the aforementioned variables the leader is believed to adopt a relationship-motivated or task-motivated behaviour that allows for either accomplishment of set goals or fostering for growth in interpersonal relationships (Torrington et al., 2005). However, this approach is also said to entice some limitations mainly concerned with the validity of the research methods in use an d the suitability of the concept in explaining actions to be taken in the event of a clash between the contextual factors and leaders personality (Northouse, 2004). Nevertheless, from the proposed description it is visible that the contingency model of leadership is highly relevant to special events management setting. By pointing at contingency of leadership on the context it provides the explanation for the large variety of transferable skills expected of the applicants in special events management: every event can be seen as a unique project, thus concerned with different people and contextual factors, therefore requiring distinct leadership practice. Furthermore, this approach overcomes the shortcomings of the previously discussed concepts by emphasizing the importance of the holistic appreciation of environmental context for the choice of most effective leadership practice and the need for the leader to flexibly adapt to the followers requirements, thus accentuating the leader-follower relationship as the core of the leadership concept (Northouse, 2004). To conclude, the conducted analysis of the practical requirements against the traits, skills and contingency theory reveals that despite identified limitations, the theoretical concepts on leadership originating from research in general business setting provide adequate rationale for emphasis placed on the problem-solving and people-management skills; as well as traits such as enthusiasm, charisma and creativity visible in the job advertisements for positions in special events management. Nevertheless, taking into consideration the total array of the practical requirements, it can be said that indeed, leadership in special events management is organised around a distinct combination of skills and traits that find complete explanation in the characteristics of the profession, rather than theoretical concepts.

An Analysis of Walt Whitmans Song of Myself Essay -- Song of Myself Es

An Analysis of Walt Whitman's Song of Myself `Whitman was always asking questions. He believed that life's goal or cause was a mystery. He was surrounded by people who were drawing distinct lines between right and wrong, rejecting the things in the universe that were not a direct ticket to holiness. Whitman, unlike his contemporaries, embraced the beauty of everything. His mystical perception of the world ushered in the idea that God was to be found in every thing, and that He could never be fully understood. I think that section six of "Song of Myself" captures Whitman's quest for knowing, and his idea that our perceptions of what is, only scratch the surface. How appropriate that he starts this section with a question posed by a child, "What is the grass?" Whitman wants to answer, but realizes that he can't. Nature provides so many opportunities for interpretation. It is, on one hand, the abstract "flag of [his] disposition", but in the next stanza, the more tangible "handkerchief of the Lord." Notice that he "guesses" each time what the grass might be. Whitman would never be so strict as to impose his ideas or beliefs on anyone, or to assume that he was any more right than the next person. In line 110, he says, "O I perceive after all so many uttering tongues!" I love his tolerance, his ability to admit that everything is what we "perceive" it to be, in a world where everyone was bound by rules and laws. Who and where is God in this poem? His first direct reference to God is in the fourth stanza when he suggests that the grass may be a handkerchief of the Lord. He says that it is "A scented gift and remembrancer designedly dropped, / Bearing the owner's name someway in the corners, that... ...of the first self-professed homosexuals in America). The grass then becomes this nurturing thing, as it could be growing from the grave of a baby. He mentions that the grass is too dark to be from the heads or beards of the elderly, which says to me that they are living somewhere as a youth. He later says of the old men and women, "They are alive and well somewhere; / the smallest sprout shows there really is no death...And to die is different from what anyone supposed, and luckier." Whitman then sees the "uttering tongues...[who]...do not come from the roofs of mouths for nothing." This grass, again, is purposed. It is trying to tell us something. It is telling us something. Whitman has painted, for me, a picture of opportunity. Life is whatever you make of it. It is there, purposed, forever new, forever fresh, and it is up to us to learn from it. An Analysis of Walt Whitman's Song of Myself Essay -- Song of Myself Es An Analysis of Walt Whitman's Song of Myself `Whitman was always asking questions. He believed that life's goal or cause was a mystery. He was surrounded by people who were drawing distinct lines between right and wrong, rejecting the things in the universe that were not a direct ticket to holiness. Whitman, unlike his contemporaries, embraced the beauty of everything. His mystical perception of the world ushered in the idea that God was to be found in every thing, and that He could never be fully understood. I think that section six of "Song of Myself" captures Whitman's quest for knowing, and his idea that our perceptions of what is, only scratch the surface. How appropriate that he starts this section with a question posed by a child, "What is the grass?" Whitman wants to answer, but realizes that he can't. Nature provides so many opportunities for interpretation. It is, on one hand, the abstract "flag of [his] disposition", but in the next stanza, the more tangible "handkerchief of the Lord." Notice that he "guesses" each time what the grass might be. Whitman would never be so strict as to impose his ideas or beliefs on anyone, or to assume that he was any more right than the next person. In line 110, he says, "O I perceive after all so many uttering tongues!" I love his tolerance, his ability to admit that everything is what we "perceive" it to be, in a world where everyone was bound by rules and laws. Who and where is God in this poem? His first direct reference to God is in the fourth stanza when he suggests that the grass may be a handkerchief of the Lord. He says that it is "A scented gift and remembrancer designedly dropped, / Bearing the owner's name someway in the corners, that... ...of the first self-professed homosexuals in America). The grass then becomes this nurturing thing, as it could be growing from the grave of a baby. He mentions that the grass is too dark to be from the heads or beards of the elderly, which says to me that they are living somewhere as a youth. He later says of the old men and women, "They are alive and well somewhere; / the smallest sprout shows there really is no death...And to die is different from what anyone supposed, and luckier." Whitman then sees the "uttering tongues...[who]...do not come from the roofs of mouths for nothing." This grass, again, is purposed. It is trying to tell us something. It is telling us something. Whitman has painted, for me, a picture of opportunity. Life is whatever you make of it. It is there, purposed, forever new, forever fresh, and it is up to us to learn from it.

English Should be the National Language Essay examples -- Should Engli

From the time the Pilgrims landed in this great nation at Plymouth Rock, immigrants have been culturally diverse and have spoken many languages. When the Pilgrims arrived in the New World, they did not know how to communicate with the natives. Through intense study the natives learned the Pilgrims’ language. Even with the common language they were still a melting pot of different culture. Some would say that America has gotten over the language/ cultural barriers and now almost everyone speaks the common language of English, but there are still many immigrants who do not know English. Bilingual education is put into public schools for this reason, so that immigrant children can be assimilated to English gradually. The national language should be English instead of the official language because America has prided herself in being very diverse. If we take away the diversity, then we take away the core values that America has always had since her founding. Just as the Native Americans had to learn English from the Pilgrims, immigrant children need bilingual education to help them learn English. Everyone expects the immigrants to be able to speak English immediately, but that is rarely the case; they need time to learn our culture. In order for immigrants to succeed in this nation it is recommended that they learn English and every American should try to help them learn it. By immigrant children learning English through bilingual education they not only get keep their culture, but also learn the language to help them become successful in America. The Encyclopedia of Education says, â€Å"In most areas of the United States approximately 70 percent of the native-born currently are adopting English as their usual language† (Glenn). This ... ...nal language instead of the official language. Works Cited 1. CIlheran, Patrick. "YouTube - Obama; Americans Learn Spanish! I'm Embarrassed." YouTube – Broadcast Yourself. 10 July 2010. Web. 30 Mar. 2011. . 2. GLENN, CHARLES L. "Immigrant Education." Encyclopedia of Education. Ed. James W. Guthrie. 2nd ed. Vol. 4. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2002. 1097- 1106. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 14 Mar. 2011 3. "Language Acquisition | Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees – GCIR." Welcome | Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees - GCIR. 2008. Web. 17 Mar. 2011. . 4. U.S. English Inc. "States with Official English Laws." U.S. English. 2011. Web. 17 Mar. 2011. .

El Nino Essay -- Meteorology Weather Climate Essays

El Nino We live on an incredibly large planet. Even broader than the size of the planet are the amount of changes and relationships between humans, animals, environment, weather, and the effects of each. Many times with busy schedules and modern lifestyles we forget the interaction that goes on between any number of concepts or ideas. We fail to realize that a specific weather occurrence in the Pacific Ocean can have an effect on every day life in the United States. El Nino is one of the largest scientific phenomenons that scientists have ever explored. The main concepts of El Nino are very simple and there are many variations, causes, affects, and relationships to study. The main idea behind El Nino is that the wind changes direction across the Pacific Ocean. In a non El Nino year (normal), the trade winds blow from east to west across the ocean, from North and South America towards the tropical regions of the Pacific Ocean. In an El Nino year, the trade winds change direction and blow from Asia and the tropical Pacific towards North and South America (NOAA B, 2004). The changes in these winds, commonly called Southern Oscillation winds because the majority of activity happens in the southern parts of the Pacific, produce many other changes. In the final analysis, the winds are the root of this scheme. John Daly (2004) discussed how the winds produce major changes in the temperature of the ocean water. This is the second main concept of El Nino. In normal years, when the wind blows from east to west, the temperature at â€Å"Sea Surface† is about 8 degrees cooler in the west than in the east. During El Nino, the winds blow a certain amount of water towards the west, thus piling it up and making its depth approximately one half meter deeper. Because of the loss of water at either coast, the deeper ocean water rises to replace what is gone. The deeper/cooler water is the source of many incomes in North and South America; however, in an El Nino year, the warmer water sits on top of the ocean, which creates many tribulations relating to both income and weather. The last main point of El Nino is the weather that follows due to the changes in water temperature. Precipitation follows the warmer water, whichever direction it flows. During the normal wind patterns the rainfall in the southern Pacific islands is consistent and creates their tropical identity. Whe... ...lnino/history.asp. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Washington D.C. Last updated April 22, 2004. http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tao/elnino/el-nino-story.html. (A) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA). Washington D.C. Last updated April 22, 2004. http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tao/elnino/faq.html#what. (B) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Washington D.C. Last updated April 22, 2004. http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tao/elnino/impacts.html. (C) Redmond, Kelly. â€Å"El Nino, La Nina, and the Western U.S., Alaska and Hawaii.† June 16, 1998. http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/enso/ensofaq.html. United States Geological Survey (USGS). â€Å"1998 California Flood.† From News Release. Feb. 3, 1998, http://ca.water.usgs.gov/archive/floods/flood98/. University of Illinois, Champaign Illinois. Last updated April, 2000. http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/eln/rcnt.rxml. USA Today, by the Associated Press. â€Å"El Nino found to affect Antarctic Sea Ice.† 2004. http://www.usatoday.com/news/science/cold-science/2002-03-06-nino-ice.htm. Williams, Jack. USA Today. â€Å"Scientists Gather Information on El Nino Impact in Antarctica.† January 8, 2003.

Organizational overview and goals Essay

Cadbury is one of the leading companies in ht world which marketing confectionaries. Ireland is one of the main market for Cadbury having Ireland Cadbury operating since 1932 and producing more than 200 brand distributed to over 30 countries. Cadbury’s goal is to create a way through for its white chocolate that will be introduced to the market targeting the adult female population. The target market for the product will be the female marketing pupation which is likely to make the purchasing decision for the whole family. The introduction of the product in the market will make use of a number of strategies which will involve below and above-the-line marketing tactics to take the product to the final consumer. This will involve the combination of strategic price, promotional activities, effective direct marketing, and other effective marketing tactics(Card bury, 2008) Effectiveness of the goals The Cadbury Company has a capability of achieving this goal as it has already identified the target market of its product. With the goal and the product in the market, there is a way as the company would use its strong brand that are existing in the market to market and introduce the new product. (Card bury, 2008) Planning for the achievement of the goals Cadbury has already laid strategies that will enhance the product has faired well in the market. This has started by identifying the target group that will ensure that the other groups would follow if the female population. The female population is the most preferred for they have to buy for their families and thus enabling the company to achieve its goals. On the other hand the new brand does not have much sugar as the brown chocolate thus disassociating the product with high health risks as most would claim that much sugar would spoil teeth therefore spoiling the chocolate market. Since the product is already in the market, this marketing strategy will be aimed at introducing the new brand which targets a different market segment from the existing brands. This will be achieved through the use of different marketing strategies. (Card bury, 2008)

Two Personalities, One Stripper

For the past two and a half years I have been living with my best friend, â€Å"Bailey†, who is like a sister to me in a lot of ways. This is especially true in regards to the way in which we are able to openly confide in each other about everything and anything, just like some sisters do. In fact, our relationship is so strong Bailey even feels safe enough to trust me with the intimate, detailed stories she brings home with her every weekend after working at Shot Gun Willie’s. If you haven’t guessed by now, my roommate moonlights as a stripper, and has been working as such for the past year. I chose to write about Bailey because of the various ways in which I have witnessed her having to mentally, and physically transform herself in order to cope with the trials and tribulations that come from working at a strip club. As well as the damaging repercussions this type of occupation has had on her overall perceptions of self, the world, and her relation to/in the world. It is also because of Bailey’s repeated exposure to the lustful, perverted, and greedy sides of people that the need to develop a completely new and separate persona arose, and Bailey’s alter ego â€Å"Kimber† was created. Throughout this semester, we have learned about many different theorists and their philosophies on the different, complex environments and experiences that help to contribute to the development of the human personality. For this paper I chose to use the concepts and ideas of Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, Melanie Klein, and Donald Winnicott. Soon after learning about the diverse beliefs each of these theorists attributed to the creation, enhancement, and hindrance of an individual’s personality, I started to see a correlation between them and the weekly conversations/stories my roommate and I had about her experiences working at Willie’s, and the psychological effects that were beginning to develop from constantly being in this type of environment. When looking at Bailey’s situation from a few of Freud’s perspectives we can see the development of defenses starting to take root. By this I mean that Bailey begins to unconsciously employ a number of â€Å"psychological means to help keep anxiety-provoking material out of her awareness in order to reduce or avoid anxiety† (Beneath the Mask, pg. 43). One of the ways in which Bailey does this is through what Freud conceptualized as being a type of neuroses he referred to as Defense Neuroses. To Freud, this type of defense originally arose from the ego’s attempt to protect our consciousness against threatening sexual thoughts. To e, this kind of neuroses is depicted in the formation of Bailey’s new belief that all men are lying, scummy perverts as a way of protecting herself against the idea that she is somehow dirty and perverted herself for being a stripper, and secretly liking to dance naked in front of strangers. This form of defense neuroses can also be seen through the way in which Bailey tries to keep her stripper life completely separate, and hidden from the rest of her life and the world by denying and suppressing any involvement in it, because of the fact that she feels guilty about finding some enjoyment in taking her clothes off for money. Bailey also uses another one of Freud’s neuroses techniques in order to avoid experiencing anxiety, called Obsessional Neuroses, which is a disorder that involves individuals engaging in ritualistic acts to help keep them from feeling anxiety. This can be seen through the way in which Bailey routinely comes home from work, and before doing anything else (i. e. taking off her makeup, wig, or stripper clothes) she must immediately sit down, and smoke one to two bowls of weed in order to forget, as well as dull the experiences of that night’s events. While still being a little high, Bailey must take two showers so that she can thoroughly clean her entire body with exfoliating soap and a scrub brush before going to bed. She referrers to these showers as her way of escaping from the people, mindset, and feelings work puts her in by watching all her problems being washed away and sucked down the drain. If Bailey does not perform one or both of these rituals she is unable to unwind from work, which in turn makes her become highly agitated, and overwhelmed with a sense of anxiety about being a bad person because of how she chooses to financially support herself. Bailey’s urge to incessantly scrub her body multiple times, represents her unconscious need to compulsively clean the outside of her body in order to no longer feel emotionally dirty or unclean on the inside. Another way in which Bailey uses obsessional neuroses to cope with being a stripper, and avoid the emotional anxieties that come with this occupation, is through her ritualistic preparation for work. As in, the way in which she routinely transforms herself from Bailey into the completely separate Kimber. The metamorphosis from Bailey to Kimber begins with a head to toe makeover so extreme Bailey becomes nearly unrecognizable. This detailed process involves such things as, the application of face makeup that is a few shades too dark for Bailey’s natural complexion, in turn making her look like she is tanner than she really is, followed by thick amounts of pink blush, heavy eye makeup, and fake eye lashes. Bailey then organizes an outfit for Kimber that contains such essential items as vibrantly colored fishnet stockings, eight inch silver platform stiletto high-heels, two G-strings, and last but not least a top and bottom set that barely leave anything to the imagination. The ritualistic transmutation into Kimber is finally complete when Bailey puts on her long platinum blonde wig, and modifies her voice to sound higher for the rest of the night until she removes the wig. Bailey routinely performs these practices in order to try and repress all the anxieties that arise from working in such an atmosphere, as well as maintain a level of disconnect from the kind of anxiety-provoking experiences that take place in the stripper world. If for some reason Bailey does not have the opportunity to change into her Kimber self, then she is almost instantaneously plagued with a sense of worry about not being able to make money because she is too much like herself, as well as the fear that someone will recognize her as Bailey, which to her signifies the end of her life and her world as she knows it. Through Freud’s perspective, both of these types of compulsive behaviors can be seen as a form of avoidance by means of distraction, as well as a type of self-imposed penance for â€Å"having engaged in behaviors that were pleasurable but deemed as being ‘bad’ † (Beneath the Mask, pg. 43). To me Bailey’s creation of â€Å"Kimber† represents a lot of different components to Carl Jung’s theories on personality, and its development. The first is Jung’s concept of the Persona Archetype, which is the â€Å"front we present to others, because social living makes demands for certain kinds of behavior† (Beneath the Mask, pg. 65). Society does this by establishing â€Å"certain expectations and certain roles around which we must hide our ‘private’ selves† (Beneath the Mask, pg. 165). It is in this way that Kimber has become one of Bailey’s more predominant personas, in that Kimber is the mask Bailey wears in order to hide her private self from the people she encounters while working in the strip club. At first, the construction of the Kimber persona seemed like a good buffer between the people at the club and Bailey’s private self, however this persona soon began to envelope Baily’s psyche. This happened because the Kimber persona was given the opportunity to take over the psyche through becoming too attached to certain aspects of the created persona, which was due to the need for its continual and constant use. It is in this way that Kimber’s experiences have altered Bailey’s views on life and the world. As a result of this, Bailey now perceives all of her interactions and experiences in the real world outside of the strip club too narrowly in relation to men, and their specific social role and function in the world. For example, Bailey cannot help but only see men in one of two ways. To her they are either a form of testosterone driven, easily accessible capitol, that takes little to no effort to manipulate and acquire, or they are cheap, dirt-bag assholes just looking to score with anything that walks. This type of black and white thinking is directly connected to the way in which Kimber categorizes, and views men at the club in order to make her nights there as lucrative as possible. This alteration to Bailey’s opinions of men represents just how strong and successful the persona of Kimber has become in taking over Bailey’s psyche. These changes in Bailey’s way of thinking have also coincidently led to a break in her Continuity of Self, which is the way she has perceived herself as being throughout her life up until this point. Meaning that because of the modifications to Bailey’s psyche that have developed out of the creation of her Kimber persona, Bailey now perceives her role within the world and society differently, due to repetitive personal and situational experiences in the club. For instance, Bailey now sees herself as having more personal power over men and people in general, because of the ways in which she has learned to use her sexuality as a manipulative tool. Conversely she now also has a lower sense of her overall self-worth, due to the fact that because she makes money solely off of her looks and nothing else, Bailey has begun to believe that this is all that she is with nothing more to offer the world. In turn this type of mindset has helped to create many diverse types of complexes ranging from the formation of different archetypal related complexes, as well as other male related issues. hen can also be seen in the reverse way Bailey has begun to see the role of women within the world, which is that they are either judgmental prudes or excepting sexual beings, in that they are either secure or not with their own sexuality enough to except or reject the fact that strippers are real people too, and that they shouldn’t be judged simply on the basis of occupational choices. terms of what her specific social role, and purpose is within society in relation to men, and their use in the world.

Consider how Shakespeare presents madness Essay

Consider how Shakespeare presents madness in the play and explain whether you think it does illustrate how, â€Å"something is rotten in the state of Denmark. † One of the main themes in Hamlet is that of madness. Shakespeare conveys madness through not only Hamlet but through other characters as well, such as Ophelia, to covey that that the state of Denmark is rotten. At the beginning of the play, the first thing introduced are the night watchmen seeing the ghost. This is at the beginning because it is the first event in the chain that eventually leads to Hamlet seeking revenge for his father’s death. Although he was upset by his father’s death and his mother’s ‘o’erhasty marriage’, it was the revelation that his father was murdered that he thinks that he must take revenge. When Horatio first speaks to the ghost he recognises that it is unnatural for it to be there; â€Å"What art thou that unsurp’st this time of night†, illustrating that he feels that the ghost has ‘wrongfully seized’ the night. The atmosphere is unsettling and the ghost’s unnatural appearance is a sign of the bad things going on in Denmark, especially the court; â€Å"This bodes some strange eruption to our state. † During the times that the play was written, unusual things that happened were seen as a sign that something was not right in the courts; â€Å"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark†. This could be referring either to the whole of Denmark, or just the courts. It is after Hamlet sees the ghost that he decides that he will pretend to be mad; â€Å"put an antic disposition on†, but he does not want his friends to tell anyone what they have seen or that he is feigning madness; â€Å"Never make known what you have seen tonight†, as he believes that this way he can find means to exact his revenge on Claudius for killing his father; â€Å"And thy commandment all alone shall live within the book and volume of my brain†, meaning that all he shall have in his thoughts is how the ghost of his father told him to exact revenge on Claudius. This is the first step in the theme of madness for the play. Although Hamlet clearly says that he will be putting on his madness, it is uncertain whether actually he does go mad during the play, as illustrated in his outbursts towards his mother and Ophelia, and the murder of Polonius. There is much deception during the play, such as Claudius trying to gloss over the fact that he knows that his marriage to Gertrude could be seen as incest by the Church and that Hamlet should have been the rightful heir to the throne; â€Å"Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature that we with wisest sorrow think on him together with remembrance of ourselves. † He says that he is mourning and feels that mourning is appropriate for the old king, but he must think of himself, perhaps hinting at the fact that the death was convenient for him and he has had enough of mourning. This is characteristic of him throughout the play as all he has done and will do is for his own self interest, as when Hamlet asks if he can leave the castle, Claudius refuses, saying; â€Å"And we beseech you, bend you to remain here in the cheer and comfort of our eye†. He appears to be asking him to stay for his comfort, but he actually wants to keep an eye on him because he knows that he is still a threat to him and the throne. He at first seemed to want Hamlet to become like a son to him, but that changes as soon as he realises he could be a threat to him. He also continually uses the words ‘we’, ‘our’ and ‘us’ to establish himself as the husband of Gertrude and the King of Denmark. Polonius comments; â€Å"with pious action we do sugar o’er the devil himself†. To which Claudius replies as an aside; â€Å"The harlot’s cheek, beautied with plastering art, is not more ugly to the thing that helps it than is my deed to my most painted word. † Claudius admits that he is covering up the truth, continuing the theme of deception, adding to the audience’s awareness of the rottenness of Denmark. As there becomes more deception and secrecy throughout the play, it seems that the imagery in the language reflects the deception, and images of disease are used; â€Å"For the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a good kissing carrion†. This could be language to refer to how that state of Denmark is rotting, but also Hamlet’s language seems to reflect his turmoil as he tried to decide what to do about Claudius, and as he gets more frustrated with himself he becomes more abusive towards his mother and Ophelia; â€Å"You are keen my lord, you are keen. † â€Å"It would cost you a groaning to take off mine edge. † He is taunting Ophelia using double meaning. Hamlet is very good at creating double meanings, like when he says to Claudius; â€Å"I am to much i’th’sun†, which he says as if he is in too much sunshine but also he is saying that he feels too much like Claudius’s son. Later in the play the text says; â€Å"It will but skin and film the ulcerous place, whiles rank corruption, mining all within, infects unseen. † He is saying that corruption, like infection starts within, and the corruption of Denmark will begin with the court. This also links in with madness because madness also starts from within – within the mind, and perhaps it is saying that just one unstable mind could bring down all the state. Another way that Shakespeare presents madness in the play is through Ophelia. She goes mad after Hamlet kills her father, but also because of the way Hamlet treated her – cruelly. He said to her that he loved her, and there were some hints that he had been intimate with her, but he treats her badly and even tells her that he does not love her. She has been a victim of a corrupt society – from Hamlet leaving her and from her father, such as using her as a pawn to spy on Hamlet. After she has become mad, she sings many songs. The first one that she sings is, ‘How should I you true love know’. This song could be her recalling the death of her father; â€Å"He is dead and gone lady, he is dead and gone. † This is the first thing that comes into her mind to sing about, so it must be the thing that is foremost in her mind. It could also be that she is recalling how Hamlet is now lost to her, and she is still looking for her true love, because it seems obvious that she has not found him yet. However, the rest of the songs seem to be about Hamlet, as they are about lost love and some of them imply that Ophelia had been sexually intimate with Hamlet; â€Å"Quoth she, before you tumbled me you promised me to wed†. It seems that both her father and Hamlet are responsible for Ophelia’s madness, and this is reiterated by what Ophelia sings about. Ophelia was controlled all the men in her life, and this was customary for the time, but it seems that they took too much of a hold on her, with none of them considering her feelings, for her father told her to no longer speak to Hamlet as it could affect his career, Laertes also told her to stay away from Hamlet and Hamlet was cruel to her. She also says, after her first song; â€Å"They say the owl was a baker’s daughter. † This could just be nonsense, but it could also be referring to her father, saying that once she was the daughter of a man in the court, but now she is just the daughter of a dead old man. Polonius did help the corruption in Denmark, such as spying and trying to make sure his own career was safe, and because of him Ophelia is mad. Hamlet also said that he loved Ophelia, and whereas before he was tender, due to the corruption around him and his succumbing to it, he was a factor in Ophelia’s madness, which eventually led to her suicide. By the actions of people around her, Ophelia is tainted by the corruptness around, as Hamlet says in the beginning of the play says that she is pure, but later on says she is wanton like all women, and tells her; â€Å"to a nunnery go. † This could be to send her to be protected, or it could be a sarcastic remark telling her to go to a brothel. One of the other reasons that cause Hamlet’s torment is his indecisiveness. He says during one of his soliloquies: â€Å"O what a rogue and peasant slave am I! † He is berating himself for not taking action when his father has been murdered, while the player can make himself cry for a fictitious character. He could also be saying that he is not worth anything in the court now, as his father is dead, yet he is not king when he should be. When Claudius is attempting to pray in the Church, Hamlet says that he did not want to kill him until he was sure that he would be sent straight to hell with no hope of being sent to heaven, for example if he was laying in ‘incestuous sheets’. However, this could have been just another excuse at putting the task off, for he seemed to offer no resistance when Claudius sent him to England. This may not have been his fault, as Claudius shows himself throughout the play as being a very manipulative person. He has taken the throne and Gertrude. He has Polonius spying for him, and he also gets Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, who are Hamlet’s friends from school to spy on him and eventually gives a letter to the English King requesting that he murder Hamlet. Perhaps Hamlet is even jealous that Claudius, who he hates, can take such action when he himself cannot. It seems that Claudius is the main source of corruption in the play, and also he is the reason that Hamlet decides to pretend to be mad, for it was Claudius that started off the chain of events, with killing Hamlet’s father. It was he that murdered Hamlet the king, corrupted Gertrude, encouraged Polonius to spy and eventually murdered which in turn caused Ophelia’s madness and Laertes’s downfall. He is described by Hamlet as a; â€Å"Smiling damni d villain†, picturing Claudius as full of deception where he is hiding his evil deeds. This has had an effect on the whole court, and indeed the whole of Denmark, for the text says; â€Å"This heavy-headed revel east and west makes us traduced and taxed of other nations. They clepe us drunkards, and with swinish phrase soil our addition. † The Danish are said to be drunks, and later Claudius himself describes them as ‘false Danish dogs’, for he believes that they are still only loyal to Hamlet. Hamlet acknowledges all of this corruption, even in the beginning of the play when he says; â€Å"’tis an unweeded garden that grows to seed. Things rank and gross in nature possess it merely. † Hamlet sees at the very beginning that things are starting to turn bad, and he can feel, like the attendants at the beginning, that something is not right. Hamlet feels surrounded by madness around him, and he feels that the only way he can make sense of all this and to find means for his revenge is to put on an â€Å"antic disposition† and pretend to be mad. This seems to be a reflection of the state around him – that something is not right, however towards the end of the play it is unsure whether he has actually gone mad, being affected by his surroundings, for his actions do change dramatically, and although he does not act in the way Ophelia does when she is mad, he is a changed person. All of the other main characters are corrupted, and Hamlet despises this. One of the reasons that he puts off killing Claudius could be that it goes against what he knows is right. He wished that he would have the strength to avenge his father; â€Å"Now could I drink hot blood and do such bitter business as the day would quake to look on. † He was born a thinker, but he asks that; â€Å"My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth! † He wishes that he were able to have passion like the player and act like Fortinbras. Eventually this does happen, as Ophelia comments on; â€Å"O, what a noble mind is here overthrown! The courtier’s, soldier’s, scholar’s eye, tongue, sword, th’expectancy and rose of the fair state, the glass of fashion and the mould of form, th’observed of all observers. † Ophelia sees how has changed, and believes that he truly has gone mad, for he has changed into what he hated most. He kills Polonius, with no real regret, disregards Ophelia’s feelings and his mother’s, sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to their deaths without regret and does in the end kill Laertes and Claudius. However, there still is some of the old Hamlet left in him, for after Ophelia has died he says that he always did love her, so perhaps he shunned her so that he would have a clear mind to be able to think about his revenge. Also he apologised to Laertes before they fight, perhaps seeing something of himself in him, for his father was murdered as was Hamlet’s. This shows that Hamlet has not yet completely given way to the corruption of Denmark. Just before Hamlet dies, he claims that the throne should be given to Fortinbras. Hamlet admired Fortinbras for his action, and he was quite like Hamlet, his father being killed and he being usurped from the throne. Fortinbras accepts the throne and orders that Hamlet’s body be treated with respect; â€Å"Let four captains, bear Hamlet like a soldier to the stage, for he was likely, had he been put on, to have proved most royal†. Fortinbras believes that Hamlet would have been a good king, and perhaps he might have had he have not been corrupted by the state of Denmark. Fortinbras survived, seemingly because he came from outside Denmark, and as did Horatio, not only because he was a good friend to Hamlet, but as Hamlet said; â€Å"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy. † Hamlet believed that Horatio was unable to see the corruption that infected Denmark, and because of this he was untainted by it, this perhaps being a reason why Horatio does not die in the play. Bibliography Cambridge School Shakespeare – Hamlet by William Shakespeare, edited by Richard Andrews and Rex Gibson. Longman 1988, critical essays, Hamlet – The State of Denmark by Alan Gardiner, editors – Linda Cookson and Bryan Loughrey.