How central is Mercutio to the readers enjoyment of Romeo and Juliet Essay Example

How focal is Mercutio to the perusers satisfaction in Romeo and Juliet?â Essay Romeo and Juliet is an awful story of a couple of bound sweethearts who originate from contradicting families. Because of the progressing quarrel between their kinfolk, they are compelled to wed stealthily and from here; one of the most critical love of accounts ever unfurls. Its ageless story has sprung various understandings, both in the theater and on the cinema. Be that as it may, everything being equal and plays that have been made, Baz Luhrmans rendition is by a wide margin the best. He has modernized Shakespeares magnum opus to suit the cutting edge crowd, and where as in many film forms the genuine quintessence of the story is lost, Luhrman figures out how to keep Romeo and Juliet just as charming as it was when Shakespeare previously put pen to paper. When perusing the content of Romeo and Juliet, there is a lot to appreciate, the epic story of adoration, the delightful language and the arresting activity scenes. In the film, a portion of the language is lost, at the same time, in its place comes some noteworthy firearm battles and numerous amusing appearances, seeing Mercutio in drag being something that numerous watchers recollect in the wake of having watched the film, and all things considered, it is a truly interesting second. Despite the fact that a portion of the aesthetic language is lost during the interpretation to film, the topic of sentiment stays steady all through. If one somehow happened to break down both the play and the film altogether they would in all likelihood make a note of the way that one character is fundamental to building up all topics, regardless of whether they be normal between the play and the film or remarkable to every introduction. That character is Mercutio. We will compose a custom exposition test on How focal is Mercutio to the perusers pleasure in Romeo and Juliet?â explicitly for you for just $16.38 $13.9/page Request now We will compose a custom paper test on How focal is Mercutio to the perusers satisfaction in Romeo and Juliet?â explicitly for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Recruit Writer We will compose a custom paper test on How focal is Mercutio to the perusers satisfaction in Romeo and Juliet?â explicitly for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Recruit Writer When Mercutio first enters the play he is with the Montagues when they are about enter the Capulets party, he instantly affects Romeo by endeavoring cheer him up by helping him disregard Rosaline. Mercutios character likewise gets clear in his first scene in the play. Initially, plainly Mercutio is threatening towards adoration. At the point when Romeo will not move, Mercutio ridicules him, advising him to, acquire cupids wings. Romeo excuses this comment and says that affection is, excessively unpleasant, and that it pricks like thistle. Mercutio answers by saying, if love be harsh with you be unpleasant with adoration. This is an extremely weird remark to connect with something as delicate as affection and shows that Mercutio has some negative emotions towards adoration, however what they are and what the reason is, we will never know. This topic of contempt of affection is obvious all through Mercutios time in the play. Shakespeare additionally utilizes poetic pattern to show the profound companionship among Mercutio and Romeo. This is finished by making them finish every others Iambic Pentameter. For example, on line 50-51, Romeos discourse has six beats and Mercutio closes it with four beats. At long last, Shakespeare flaunts Mercutios knowledge as the Queen Mab discourse. There are at present no records of an anecdotal dream pixie called Queen Mab thus we can expect that it is a fantasy of Mercutios creative mind. His sublimely itemized portrayal is stunning considering the speed at which he has thinks of it. He by and large uses upscale language with analogies having a huge impact in his portrayal of Queen Mab. She is the pixies birthing assistant. This by and by shows Mercutios knowledge. When introduced in front of an audience during the fifteenth to sixteenth century this kind of keen language would have a solid intrigue to the privileged societies. This isn't the main time that Mercutio utilizes his language to grandstand his knowledge. In Shakespearean occasions, utilizing unknown dialect is an extraordinary indication of knowledge and Mercutio does this by utilizing French words, for example, Bonjour. Mercutio likewise shows his adoration for being the focal point of consideration. In the content, this is fundamentally appeared by giving Mercutio the vast majority of the discourse at whatever point is in a scene. For example in Act 1 Scene 4 he takes up in excess of a page with his Queen Mab Speech alone. In any case, while introducing this equivalent scene, Baz Luhrman chooses to utilize Mercutios appearance and activities to show what his language does in the content. The primary thing that strikes the watcher about Mercutio is that he is dark. This may appear glaringly evident however generally, individuals of color don't show up in any of Shakespeares plays. This was basically the situation during the fifteenth to sixteenth century, notwithstanding, even in present day times an individual of color featuring in an understanding of Shakespeares plays is exceptionally phenomenal. This makes Mercutio the focal point of consideration from the moment that he is presented thus it has a comparative impact to that of his mastery of text. Another striking element of Mercutios introduction is that he is in drag. This is an exceptionally intense and remarkable approach to present a character and indeed interfaces in with Mercutios love of being the focal point of consideration. Sadly, the brilliant Queen Mab discourse to some degree loses its capacity and claim in the change to the cinema. Where as the content puts the discourse down to Mercutios unusual yet canny silliness, the film demonstrates it to be a consequence of medications. I accept this is a bogus translation, be that as it may, it contributes vigorously to another piece of Mercutios character. His capacity to help the state of mind and be interesting. His discourse makes everybody around him, including Romeo, chuckle and unwind and this is essential to the watchers delight in the film. After entering the gathering, Mercutio gives no indication of easing back up thus he starts moving in drag. By and by he is the focal point of consideration yet his humorous move is entirely pleasant and engaging and is absolutely crucial to the crowds pleasure in the film. Mercutio likewise carries silliness to both Baz Luhrmans and Shakespeares forms yet make discourteous, explicitly orientated jokes, for example, gracious that she were an open arse; thou a poperin-pear. In the event that these jokes were to be introduced during Shakespearean occasions, at that point they would unquestionably engage the lower classes. In any case, Mercutio isn't the main character to make discourteous jokes. The medical caretaker additionally makes the periodic joke. For example, thou wither fall in reverse when thou comst old enough. These rough jokes may not be as clear as Mercutios however they would unquestionably furnish the crowd with a couple of snickers. Indeed this will speak to the lower class crowd of Shakespearean occasions just as the more youthful crowd of today. Luhrman additionally decides to make Lady Capulets activities hilarious by accelerating her development and making her demonstration insane. Shakespeare even makes the engaging workers toward th e beginning of the play make impolite jokes in order to engage the groundlings. I am a pretty bit of substance. Likewise the way that the workers are battling advances to the groundlings while the passageway of Benvolio and Tybalt, both of whom are of a higher status, pulls in a privileged crowd. Up until now, I have talked about how Mercutios interesting character interests the watcher, and furthermore, how different things may have a comparable impact. In any case, I am yet to talk about a piece of the story that is totally fundamental to the crowds happiness. A perspective that would leave the story level and exhausting were it to be evacuated. This is the magnificent battling scenes. Mercutio is an extremely lively individual who wants to mix and who might happily battle to guard the respect of his companions, and this is the thing that he does. In Act 3 Scene 1, Tybalt looks for Romeo for retaliation in the wake of having recognized his interruption of the Capulet party. Before the battle (Act 2 Scene 4), we see Benvolio and Mercutio examining Tybalt and when Mercutio is gotten some information about Tybalt he marks him the Prince of Cats. Despite the fact that this may some to be nothing, it enables Mercutio to utilize some extremely smart language when he faces Tybalt later. The scene stays unaltered in the film. In Act 3 Scene 1 we see Mercutio and Benvolio are talking when Tybalt shows up looking for Romeo. Tybalt attempts to talk with Mercutio however he persistently makes jokes. This is exceptionally fascinating that even despite foe; Mercutio can stay loose and hilarious. In the end, Romeo shows up. Tybalt challenges Romeo yet Romeo calls it quits, saying that he cherishes the name Capulet as beyond a reasonable doubt as his own thus he ought to be fulfilled. Mercutio is offended by Romeos activities, O quiet, contemptible, shameful accommodation! Mercutio then continues to flaunt his knowledge by utilizing Italian fencing language, Alla stoccata, to name Tybalt. Mercutio then difficulties Tybalt to a battle. Now Romeo attempts to intercede, however he can't stop Mercutio getting injured. Benvolio then inquires as to whether he is harmed and he answers, a scratch a scratch. This is surprising. A man on his demise bed is as yet ready to make canny jokes. For this situation, the scratch is identifying with the name of Prince of Cats that was given to Tybalt beforehand by Mercutio himself. Mercutio then proceeds to discuss how he is going to bite the dust, Ask for me tomorrow and you will discover me a grave man. In any case, he never evades his smart utilization of language and this recommends he has a ton of pride. Mercutios last words then prophesise the disaster that is going to occur for the two family units. A plague on both your homes. This demise scene is conceivably the best in the whole story. It has everything, activity, catastrophe and diversion. These perspectives are expected to Mercutio. Had he not battled Tybalt, there would have been no activity, had he not been murdered, there would have been no catastrophe, and above all, had he not been available

An essay on ecotourism

An article on ecotourism Ecotourism Essay Ecotourism includes mindful heading out to delicate, immaculate and for the most part ensured zones. This happens for various purposes, from teaching the explorer, cultivating regard for various societies to straightforwardly profiting the monetary and political strengthening of neighborhood networks (Garana, 2008). In a perfect world, ecotourism fuses the accompanying measures; advance organic and social assorted variety, visiting pristine regular natural surroundings, and the principle attractions being nearby culture, vegetation. To put it plainly, ecotourism activities are characterized by their pledge to the earth, training, nature and culture. The fundamental targets of ecotourism are giving nature-based, ecological training encounters for guests and dealing with this in a manageable way (Badan the practical utilization of biological assets, expanded natural and social mindfulness, protection ethos, backing of nearby economies through expanded income from guest s and the utilization ofâ neighborhood supplies and administrations.

5 Reasons Why Every Author Should Start a Journal

5 Reasons Why Every Author Should Start a Journal Considered one of the most important 20th-century writers and a master of the stream of consciousness narrative device, Virginia Woolf was an avid diarist. Having experienced a traumatic childhoodâ€"including the death of her mother when Woolf was only 13 years old, a mental breakdown, and sexual abuseâ€"the diaries she left behind give us an extraordinary glimpse into the life and mind of one of the most influential authors in 20th century British literature. Without these journals, much of Woolfs influence on narrative style, particularly stream of consciousness as a narrative device and early feminist thought, would not have happened.Woolf was also aware of how much the process of journaling affected her life as a writer. From a diary entry dated April 20th, 1919, she writes:I got out this diary and read, as one always does read ones own writing, with a kind of guilty intensity. I confess that the rough and random style of it, often so ungrammatical, and crying for a word altered, afflicted me somewhat. I am trying to tell whichever self it is that reads this hereafter that I can write very much better; and take no time over this; and forbid her to let the eye of man behold it. And now I may add my little compliment to the effect that it has a slapdash and vigour and sometimes hits an unexpected bulls eye. But what is more to the point is my belief that the habit of writing thus for my own eye only is good practice. It loosens the ligaments. Never mind the misses and the stumbles. Going at such a pace as I do I must make the most direct and instant shots at my object, and thus have to lay hands on words, choose them and shoot them with no more pause than is needed to put my pen in the ink.From A Writers Diary by Virginia WoolfVirginia Woolf was not the only writer who developed much of her writing style via journaling. Before her and after her, writers have used the process of keeping a journal as a way to develop their craft and look deeply into themselves as creatives. Simply put, if you are a writer and do not keep a journal, you are missing out on a valuable tool that can help you in your personal and creative life.Lets discuss some of the many ways keeping a journal can help you as a writer.Photo by Hannah Olinger on UnsplashYou learn your personal thought and behavior patternsWhen we journal as writers and authors, we take a moment to get to know ourselves on a deeper level. Thoughts that might be otherwise fleeting (if not written down) are saved and kept, to be revisited laterâ€"whether as self-reflection or measuring the changes that have occurred in ones mind and life.In the process of journaling, we find ourselves looking at our own nature. We examine the things that make us afraid, the things we try to hide from the rest of the world and our families, and even the things we have thought that would never make it past our lips in words to someone else. A journal, in this sense, is like a dear, nonjudgmental friendâ€"someone t o whom we can tell anything and everything and not feel as if the words will be held against us in any way.It is free therapyIf youre a writer, you already know that along with the ability to craft a great poem or story is a disposition that leans toward feeling too much. The same trait that makes you the writer you are can also make you struggle in a world that weighs heavy on the creative soul. Journaling, in this sense, becomes a form of free therapy in which you can explore the traits youve carried that youd like to be rid of, or the reoccurring problems in your life that youd like to move past.Consider this entry, taken from The Diaries of Franz Kafka 1910-1913One advantage in keeping a diary is that you become aware with reassuring clarity of the changes which you constantly suffer and which in a general way are naturally believed, surmised, and admitted by you, but which youll unconsciously deny when it comes to the point of gaining hope or peace from such an admission. In th e diary you find proof that in situations which today would seem unbearable, you lived, looked around and wrote down observations, that this right hand moved then as it does today, when we may be wiser because we are able to look back upon our former condition, and for that very reason have got to admit the courage of our earlier striving in which we persisted even in sheer ignorance.The Diaries of Franz Kafka 1910-1913It helps you develop your voiceThe simple act of writing daily will do wonders for developing your voice as a writer. Accessing your thoughts, feelings, trepidations and memoriesâ€"then putting them in written formâ€"allows you to practice a narrative voice that is uniquely yours. This daily practice will develop into a clear, distinct, voice that can then be used in your fiction, even though it is rooted in a nonfiction world.Anaïs Nin, a French-American essayist, short-story writer, and diarist, put it like this: The diary taught me that it is in the moments of emo tional crisis that human beings reveal themselves most accurately. I learned to choose the heightened moments because they are the moments of revelation.Photo by Hannah Olinger on UnsplashThere is an emphasis on process over productWhen you journal, you dont do it with the intention of it being read by an audience. Although, lets face itâ€"if you ever become a famous writer, your journals are likely to be published (think…Anaïs Nin, Sylvia Plath, Virginia Wolf, etc.) Since its not written for an audience and there is no one to judge what is being written as good or bad (or just mediocre), the emphasis then is on the process of writing versus the product that results.As with anythingâ€"the more you practice, the better you become at whatever you are practicing. While journaling might be different than writing a novel, it is still practice in the process of writing. You are still putting words on the page and finding your voice through a wide spectrum of thoughts, feelings, and emo tions. This adds to your experience as a writer, even if the product (or journal) is never published.Joan Didion, an American journalist, novelist, and screenplay writer, puts it like this:Why did I write it down? In order to remember, of course, but exactly what was it I wanted to remember? How much of it actually happened? Did any of it? Why do I keep a notebook at all? It is easy to deceive oneself on all those scores. The impulse to write things down is a peculiarly compulsive one, inexplicable to those who do not share it, useful only accidentally, only secondarily, in the way that any compulsion tries to justify itself. I suppose that it begins or does not begin in the cradle. Although I have felt compelled to write things down since I was five years old, I doubt that my daughter ever will, for she is a singularly blessed and accepting child, delighted with life exactly as life presents itself to her, unafraid to go to sleep and unafraid to wake up. Keepers of private notebook s are a different breed altogether, lonely and resistant rearrangers of things, anxious malcontents, children afflicted apparently at birth with some presentiment of loss.On Keeping a Notebook by Joan DidionIt encourages personal growthIn much the same way journaling makes space for therapeutic self-discovery, it also creates room for personal growth. In the process of writing down the events of your lifeâ€"whether insignificant or significantâ€"and analyzing those events (as well as your reaction to them), youll start to see patterns emerge. If those patterns continue to bring toxic people or thoughts into your life, it will become clear eventually, and youll begin to see the necessity of breaking them. If those patterns bring positive relationships and events to your life, youll see the necessity of keeping them. In doing so, this part of journaling encourages personal growth and the removal of negativity from your life.Jonathan Franzen, an American novelist and essayist, explains the process like this:I had started keeping a journal, and I was discovering that I didnt need school in order to experience the misery of appearances. I could manufacture excruciating embarrassment in the privacy of my bedroom, simply by reading what Id written in the journal the day before. Its pages faithfully mirrored by fraudulence and pomposity and immaturity. Reading it made me desperate to change myself, to sound less idiotic. As George Benson had stressed in Then Joy Breaks Through, the experiences of growth and self-realization, even of ecstatic joy, were natural processes available to believers and nonbelievers alike. And so I declared private war on stagnation and committed myself privately to personal growth. The Authentic Relationship I wanted now was with the written page.From The Discomfort Zone: A Personal History

Doc on Terra - 626 Words

Running head: DOCUMENTARIES ON TERRORISM Documentaries on Terrorism by Donna Browne A Paper Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for CJ 212 Heroism Saint Thomas Aquinas Collage Fall 2011 How is Terrorism Financed Introduction As we live is this world we are faced with all types of diversities. However the main diversity that the world has been facing is terrorism. Within the last decade, terrorism has hit the United States hard. Before the last ten years, The United States have seen signs and acts of terrorism. Before September 11, The United States law enforcements and security forces where not on the same sheet of music of getting information or sharing†¦show more content†¦At least, that was the impression it gave, even if it was illegal and causes the braking of some laws. This documentary clearly shows that the amendments rights where broken. This was done by tapping into phone calls and getting access to everyone’s personal life. There were a lot of civilians where not in agreement with being spied on by the Government. The president at the time, made it seem like he was doing his job and that was what he needed to do to protect the citizens of United States. The documentary showed proof that the CIA was using cell phones companies to tap into citizen’s phones lines and getting banking information from casino’s when people are on vacation such as Vegas. This was not only illegal, but was not constitutional. Laws were broken and no agency wanted to take responsibility for their actions. Conclusion A lot has changed over the past years when it comes to the government agencies. The governments are working together, sharing critical information, not worried about the fame and are more concern about the welfare of the citizens. However, terrorism well never stop because someone will always have motives as long as The United States are a super power country. 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Analytical Study Of Tribal Behavior And Body Ritual Among...

In this week’s assignment, we will discuss Horace Miner’s analytical study of tribal behavior and Body Ritual among the Nacirema tribe by answering the following questions. First was I surprised when the true identity of the Nacirema tribe was revealed? Then how does Body Ritual among the Nacirema help us understand our own view of other cultures and how we are viewed by other cultures? Next why do some of the practices and rituals of other cultures seem odd or foreign to us? Finally, how do our own cultural norms affect our understanding and perception of other cultures? The Identity of the Nacirema Tribe To start off we were assigned to read the research paper written by Horace Miner Nacirema tribe and the first question to answer is was I as the author of this paper surprised by the true identity of the tribe? The answer to that question is no I was not surprised by the tribe’s true identity. I do not consider myself a super smart person or really knowledgeable in the field of sociology but I believe I have a good knowledge of basic American history. With this background I was able to decipher the clues that Horace Miner put in his paper about the true identity of the Tribe. Some of these clues included the location of the tribe being in North America between Canada and Mexico (Miner, 1956). Another clue was the description of one of the tribe’s heroes that in his lifetime chopped down a cherry tree of truth and crossed a great river (Miner, 1956). For me both of these

Code-switching The Effects for Students and Teachers Free Essays

Introduction In the current global economic climate, the ability to speak English has become an important business tool. English has essentially become the â€Å"universal second language† of the international labour market, and the socio-economic significance of this cannot be overstated (Light, 2007: 9). It is now commonplace for many universities across the world to teach courses in English as well the native language of their country. We will write a custom essay sample on Code-switching: The Effects for Students and Teachers or any similar topic only for you Order Now One of the most apparent consequences of this has been the widespread use of code-switching, where multiple languages are spoken in everyday communication. As such, code-switching is often seen as a social as well as a linguistic medium. This paper will attempt to demonstrate the causes and effects of code-switching in bilingual classes. The Definition of Code-switching Code-switching involves the use of multiple languages, where speakers of additional languages incorporate alternate linguistic elements into their source language. As such, two or more languages may be spoken alternately during a conversation. Chan et al (2009) usefully describe code-switching as â€Å"the intra-sentential switching of two different languages in a spoken utterance† (Chan et al, 2009: 281). The Causes and Effects of Using of Code-switching in an Academic Context The academic use of code-switching involves a more complex and random effect than can be fully explained by a students ability to speak in a certain language. Recent (debatable) research has identified reasons behind the occurrence of code-switching and the extent to which the process of learning has been affected. A large number of situations are considered to be causes of code-switching, one of which is linked to gaps in students’ linguistic ability. As a result, students may engage in code-switching in order to overcome linguistic shortcomings; however this cause may be considered a weak justification. In other cases, a lack of one or more words in either language may lead to code-switching. That is to say, bilinguals make clear that they code-switch when they cannot find the correct expression or term. Often the target language simply does not have the exact word needed in order to maintain a discussion smoothly, and code-switching is necessary. In addition, code-switching can have a positive impact in an academic context. An important teaching skill is the ability to transfer knowledge to students in a clear and efficient manner, and so code-switching can be a useful tool in the classroom for both teachers and students (Bista, 2010: 1). Code-switching may also be used to emphasize a point, or to add more force to a phrase. On a psychological level, learners often code-switch when they feel tired or angry. For example when the speaker is in a good mood, the appropriate word or expression in their second language is easily identified. However if the speaker is distracted in any way, they may find it difficult to grasp the correct word. In a purely linguistic capacity, code-switching may be used to compliment a statement, where it can particularly reinforce an intention or meaning of the speaker. Although sometimes viewed as linguistic incompetence this is not always the case. Code-switching will often occur when the speaker wishes to compensate for a lack of a verbal equivalent in the second language. Baker (2007) describes this well: â€Å"Words or phrases in two languages may not correspond exactly, and the bilingual may switch to one language to express a concept that has no equivalent in the culture of the other language† (Baker, 2007:108). There are also personal and social reasons for code-switching in that one’s choice of words can represent an expression of their personality. Allatson (2007) suggests factors that can lead to code-switching as location, class, gender and age. In addition the relationship between the speakers; the formal or informal nature of the conversation and the social status of the speakers can also be factors (Allatson, 2007: 73). Another social explanation is that speakers tend to code switch to attract attention. In Saudi Arabia, for example, code-switching is often used among teenagers to draw the attention of their colleagues. Furthermore they switch from Arabic to English to show that they are confident about themselves. In general, code-switching effects are widely perceived as negative. Namely, there is a tendency to view code-switching as barrier to learning and as being disruptive to the learning environment. Accordingly, the practice has been considered as a sign of linguistic deficiency. Li (2008) notes that despite code-switching being commonplace in both the speech and writing of multilingual societies (often with English as the second language), it is usually frowned upon by multilingual speakers within these societies. (Li, 2008: 76). In an academic context, studies by Arrifin and Husin (2011) have observed that learners with a greater linguistic ability often see code-switching as and obstacle to becoming fluent in a second language. Their findings indicated that students with a degree of competence in English found it difficult to make progress in an environment of code-switching (Arrifin et al, 2011: 221). Other studies have reached similar conclusions. Bista (2010) conducted a study in the US which found that code-switching not only had a negative impact on the linguistic learning ability of students, but also highlighted lack of ability in the second language as a primary cause of code-switching (Bista, 2010: 1). Others have a different view however, in particular that code-switching may be perceived as ‘linguistic resourcefulness’. Baker (2007) argues that users of code-switching show impressive cognitive, linguistic, and social skills. In his view code-switchers may be preserving the meaning of their original statement by overcoming the lack of a suitable word in the second language (Baker, 2007: 56-57). Surveys of a number of English language students have reported that they view code-switching as having a considerable influence on the learning process. From their perspective, code-switching assists in understanding the more complex linguistic elements of the second language. It may also help in the translation from their first language to the target one. Conclusion It may apparently be concluded that the impression of code-switching as a barrier to learning seems to be the prevalent view amongst both learners and teachers, and that any positive effects of code-switching are not yet widely recognised. As a consequence of this, it would be reasonable to assume that the attitude of both teachers and students towards code-switching may have been somewhat influenced by this common viewpoint. In the near future however, signs are that code-switching may possibly be seen as a tool for learning. In that event, some restrictions on the use of code-switching must be established by teachers in the classroom, and learners should code-switch only when there is an in urgent case. Eventually, it might yet become a beneficial tool for both learners and teachers. References Allatson, P., 2007. Key terms in Latino/a cultural and literary studies, Oxford: Blackwell. Baker, C., 2007. A Parents’ and Teachers’ Guide to Bilingualism, Clevedon: MPG Books. Light, I., 2007. ‘Global Entrepreneurship and Transnationalism’. In Ed. L. Paul Dana. Handbook of Research on Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship: a Co-evolutionary View on Resource Management, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing. pp.3-15. Arrifin, K. and M. Susanti Husin, 2011. ‘Code-switching and Code-mixing of English and Bahasa Malaysia in Content-Based Classrooms: Frequency and Attitudes’. The Linguistics Journal, June, pp.220-47. Bista, K., 2010. ‘Factors of Code Switching among Bilingual English Students In the University Classroom: A Survey’. English for Specific Purposes World, Volume 9, pp.1-19. Chan, J. Y. C., H. Cao, P. C. Ching, T. Lee, 2009. ‘Automatic Recognition of Cantonese-English Code-Mixing Speech’. Computational Linguistics and Chinese Language Processes, September, pp.281-304. Li, D. C. S., 2008. ‘Understanding Mixed Code and Classroom Code-Switching: Myths and Realities’. New Horizons in Education, December, pp.75-87. How to cite Code-switching: The Effects for Students and Teachers, Essay examples

Risk Management Insurance Industry in Queensland Australia

Introduction Risk management is a very crucial aspect in all fields of life. It is even more important when it comes to the business world that is faced by a variety of risks (both financial and non financial), which could lead to losses and to the extreme; it may lead to close down of business organizations.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Risk Management: Insurance Industry in Queensland Australia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Risk management entails the process of carefully identifying, assessing and prioritizing risk in a given setting, industry or business organization (Rowe, Mason, Dickel and Snyder 1989). It also involves the strategic application of the available resources in an effort to reduce, scrutinize, and manage the probability and effects of the risks while at the same time trying to maximize opportunities for better performance of a business (Chapman and Ward 1997). This piece of work will give an in depth discussion of the aspect of risk management in businesses. Much emphasis will be given to the issue of climate change and how it influences the flood risk in Queensland Australia and its effects to businesses affected. The insurance industry will be the main focus. Discussion There are various business risks with each being associated with different effects and hence necessitating different mitigation strategies. Climate change in any given part of the world could be linked to a variety of risk factors depending on the situation and the particular risk involved (NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change October 2007). Floods in Queensland, Australia are a major risk to not only personal lives but also to businesses and hence the need for effective risk management practices (Department of Finance1991). Transport is very much affected by the floods leading to delays, loss and damages of products in transits in a given business. Delays in delivery of the p roducts means delay in production processes and also delay in making deliveries to consumers (Grey 1995). Insurance industry is related to all forms of businesses where various activities and products are insured for instance against risks such as damages, floods, losses or fire.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In regard to flood risk in Queensland Australia, the insurance industry has had a rough time in the process of managing the risk for instance in terms of compensations. This is because the risk is so prevalent. All in all, the insurance industry has taken responsibility of providing maps of areas that are at high risk of flood. It also cooperates with the government in mitigating and managing flood (Cooper, Grey, Raymond and Walker 2004). Although it is hard to ascertain the risk caused or associated with floods in Australia, there exist some ways through whi ch it could be estimated, for example through the impacts suffered (Tweeddale 2003). The major problem of the insurance industry however comes in the process of ascertaining the real floods threats for the purpose of compensation. This is because there may be chances of people claiming compensation from insurance companies even when the risk suffered is not associated with floods. According to Anonymous (2011), revenue for different crops such as fruits and vegetables declined following floods in Australia. The insurance industry has been experiencing difficulties in understanding and pricing floods and this has led to obstacle in achieving market available for insurance cover (BTE 2001). According to Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (2011), it is evident that the risks linked to floods are very harmful to businesses. For this reason, there is dire need to come up with ways through which the risk can be managed. There are various strategies that could be applied in an effort to mitigate the risk including identification of threats and opportunities so as improve performance through maximizing opportunities and reducing threats (Vose 2000; The Royal Society of London 1992). It also requires rigorous thinking where the aspect of managing risk should be integrated with the overall decision making process in an organization (Coag 2004). An organization should also set up strategies that aim at being prepared for any form of risk so as to minimize the negative effects (The National Flood Risk Advisory Group 2008).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Risk Management: Insurance Industry in Queensland Australia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Effective communication is also a strategy that ought to contribute to better risk management. This is because risk management occurs in a social context and hence the need to involve all the stakeholders for effecti ve action to be taken (Sai Global 1999; Kaplan and Norton 2000). Cox, Gutteridge and Davey (2001) asserts that the task of managing flood risk is very much involving and for this reason, it ought not to be left for a single individual or party. Instead, various parties should join hands in making the situation better for the best of everyone involved. They include individuals, the government, non governmental organizations and other corporate bodies (International Standard ISO/FDIS 31000 2009). When all the above named parties are effectively involved in the process of risk management for instance the floods, there are usually fewer surprises due to preparedness and there is also exploitation of all the available opportunities due to proper understanding. The combined efforts also lead to improved planning, performance, and effectiveness. There is also the issue of enhanced accountability, governance and assurance due to transparency. Economy is also achieved in the course of risk m anagement (Arnold 2008; Insurance Council of Australia not dated). According to Department of Transport and Regional Services, Canberra EMA (1999), Climate change issue and its effect on floods risk in particular have played a great role in Tasmania. Tasmania is an Australian island that is very significant due to the wealth it holds in terms of natural resources, most of them being underexploited. The fact that this is an island makes the risk of flooding to be very involving mainly due to the aspect of mobility of people and goods from this place to the neighbouring areas as well as from the neighbouring areas to the island. In the recent past, Tasmania has been faced with a number of risks including the Tasmanian fires which claimed a significant number of lives and property. Floods are also a notable phenomenon in this island. The collapse of the main bridge, Tasman Bridge exacerbated this issue making crossing over to different directions difficult. This did not only affect the mobility of individuals but also of products and services thus affecting various businesses (Rawlings-Way, Worby and Mocatta 2008).Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Conclusion From the above discussion, it is evident that the risk of flood is very influential. It is associated with a number of losses and damages particularly in the contemporary business world. The insurance industry in Australia is very touched by the issue of floods due to the fact the risk is very prevalent and affects various sectors of the economy for instance agriculture and tourism industries. Reference List Anonymous, 2011. Economic impact of Queensland’s natural disasters, PWC. Arnold, M., 2008. The Role of Risk Transfer and Insurance in Disaster Risk Reduction  and Climate Change Adoption Available [online] from Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, 2011. The impact of recent flood events on commodities, ABARES Special Report BTE, 2001. Economic Cost of Natural Disasters in Australia. Report 103, Bureau of Transport Economics, Canberra. Chapman, C.B. and Ward, S.C., 1997. Project Risk Management: Processes, Techniques and Insig hts. Chichester, John Wiley Sons Coag, 2004. Natural Disasters in Australia. Reforming Mitigation, Relief and Recovery Arrangements. A report to the Council of Australian Governments by a high level officials’ group, August 2002 Cooper, D.F. Grey, S.J., Raymond G.A. and Walker P.R.,2004. Project Risk Management Guidelines: Managing Risk in Large Projects and Complex Procurements. Chichester, John Wiley Sons Cox, G, Gutteridge H and Davey, 2001. Analysis of Community Attitudes of Flood Related Risks Volumes 1 and 2, Hawkesbury Nepean Floodplain Management Strategy, Parramatta. Department of Finance, 1991. Handbook of Cost Benefit Analysis, Australia, Australian Government Publishing Service. Department of Transport and Regional Services, Canberra. EMA, 1999. Managing the Floodplain. Australian Emergency Management Series, Part 3, Volume 3, Guide 3, Emergency Management Australia, Canberra. Grey, S., 1995. Practical Risk Assessment for Project Management, Chichester, John Wil ey Sons Insurance Council of Australia, not dated. Flood Insurance in Australia – some useful Information, Current Issues Brief International Standard ISO/FDIS 31000, 2009. Risk management — Principles and guidelines, ISO/FDIS 31000 Kaplan and Norton, 2000. Having trouble with strategy? Then map it, Harvard Business Review, Vol. 78, No. 5, September-October 2000. NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change October, 2007, Floodplain Risk Management Guideline on Residential Flood Damages. Rawlings-Way, C., Worby, M. and Mocatta, G., 2008. Tasmania, New York, Lonely Planet Rowe, A.J., Mason, R.O., Dickel, K.E., and Snyder, N.H., 1989. Strategic Management: A Methodological Approach, Third Edition, Reading, MA Addison-Wesley Sai Global, 1999. Risk Management Guidelines Companion to AS/NZS 4360:2004. Standards Australia/Standards New Zealand The National Flood Risk Advisory Group, 2008. Flood risk management in Australia, The Australian Journal of Emergency Management , Vol. 23 No. 4, November 2008 The Royal Society of London, 1992. Risk: Analysis, perception and management. London, The Royal Society Tweeddale, H.M. 2003. Managing Risk and Reliability of Process Plants. Amsterdam, Gulf Professional Publishing Vose, D, 2000. Risk Analysis: A Quantitative Guide. Chichester, John Wiley Sons This research paper on Risk Management: Insurance Industry in Queensland Australia was written and submitted by user Iman1 to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

How to Become a School Principal

How to Become a School Principal Not everyone is meant to become a school principal. Some educators make the transition well while others figure out that it is more difficult than one might think. A school principal’s day can be long and stressful. You have to be organized, solve problems, manage people well, and be able to separate your personal life from your professional life. If you cannot do those four things, you will not last long as a principal. It takes a remarkable person to deal with all the negatives that you are forced to handle as a school principal. You listen to constant complaints from parents, teachers, and students. You have to deal with all kinds of discipline issues. You attend virtually every extra-curricular activity. If you have an ineffective teacher in your building, then it is your job to help them improve or get rid of them. If your test scores are low, it is ultimately a reflection of you. So why would someone want to become a principal? For those that are equipped to handle the day to day stresses, the challenge of running and maintaining a school can be rewarding. There is also an upgrade in pay which is a bonus. The most rewarding aspect is that you have a greater impact on the school as a whole. You are the school leader. As the leader, your daily decisions impact a larger number of students and teachers than you impacted as a classroom teacher. A principal who understands this reaps their rewards through daily growth and improvements from their students and teachers. For those who decide that they want to become a principal, the following steps must be taken to reach that goal: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree – You must earn a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. In some cases, it does not have to be an education degree as most states have an alternative certification program.Obtain a Teaching License/Certification – Once you have earned a bachelor’s degree in education then, most states require you to get licensed/certified. This is typically done by taking and passing a test or series of tests in your area of specialization. If you do not have a degree in education, then check your states’ alternative certification requirements to obtain your teaching license/certification.Gain Experience as a Classroom Teacher – Most states require you to teach a certain number of years before you are able to become a school principal. This is extremely important because most people need classroom experience to have an understanding of what goes on in a school on a day to day basis. Gaining this experience i s essential to becoming an effective principal. In addition, it will be easier for teachers to relate to you and understand where you are coming from if you have classroom experience because they know you have been one of them. Gain Leadership Experience – Throughout your time as a classroom teacher, look for opportunities to sit on and/or chair committees. Visit with your building principal and let them know that you are interested in becoming a principal. Chances are they will give you some increased role to help prepare you for being in that role or at the very least you can pick their brain concerning principal best practices. Every bit of experience and knowledge will help when you land your first principal’s job.Earn a Master’s Degree – Although most principals will earn a Master’s degree in an area such as educational leadership, there are states that allow you to become a principal with a combination of any master’s degree, the required teaching experience, along with passing the license/certification process. Most people will continue to teach full time while taking master’s courses part time until they earn their degree. Many school administration m asters’ programs now cater to teacher’s offering one night a week courses. The summer can be used to take additional classes to expedite the process.   The final semester typically involves an internship with hands-on training that will give you a snapshot of what a principals job actually entails. Obtain a School Administrator License/Certification – This step is remarkably similar to the process for getting your teacher license/certification. You must pass a test or series of tests related to the specific area you want to be a principal in whether that be an elementary, a middle level, or a high school principal.Interview for a Principal’s Job – Once you have earned your license/certification, then it is time to start looking for a job. Do not be discouraged if you do not land one as quickly as you thought. Principal’s jobs are intensely competitive and can be difficult to land. Go into every interview confident and prepared. As you interview, remember that as they are interviewing you, you are interviewing them. Do not settle for a job. You do not want a job at a school which you do not genuinely want with all the stress a principal’s job can bring.   While searching for a principals job, gain valuable administrator experience by voluntee ring to help out your building principal.   More than likely they will be willing to allow you to continue on in an internship type of role. This type of experience will boost your resume and give you terrific on the job training. Land a Principal’s Job – Once you get an offer and have accepted it, the real fun begins. Come in with a plan but remember that no matter how well you feel you have been prepared, there will be surprises. There are new challenges and issues that arise each and every day. Never get complacent. Continue to search for ways to grow, do your job better, and make improvements to your building.

About Richard Neutra and the Architecture of Modernism

About Richard Neutra and the Architecture of Modernism Born and educated in Europe, Richard Joseph Neutra helped introduced the International Style to America, and also introduced Los Angeles design to Europe. His southern California firm envisioned many office buildings, churches, and cultural centers, but Richard Neutra is best known for his experiments in modern residential architecture. Background: Born: April 8, 1892 in Vienna, Austria Died: April 16, 1970 Education: Technical Academy, ViennaUniversity of Zà ¼rich Citizenship: Neutra became a US citizen in 1930, as the Nazis and Communists rose to power in Europe. Neutra is said to have studied with both Adolf Loos as a student in Europe and Frank Lloyd Wright when Neutra came to America in the 1920s. The simplicity of Neutras organic designs is evidence of this early influence. Selected Works: 1927-1929: Lovell House, Los Angeles, California1934: Anna Stern House, CA1934: Beard House, Altadena, CA1937: Miller House, Palm Springs, CA1946-1947: Kaufmann Desert House, Palm Springs, CA1947-1948: Tremaine House, Santa Barbara, CA1959: Oyler House, Lone Pine, CA1962: Cyclorama Building at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania1964: The Rice House, Richmond, Virginia Related People: Le CorbusierWalter GropiusPhilip JohnsonLudwig Mies van der RoheAdolf LoosFrank Lloyd WrightRudolf Schindler More About Richard Neutra: Homes designed by Richard Neutra combined Bauhaus modernism with Southern California building traditions, creating a unique adaptation that became known as Desert Modernism. Neutras houses were dramatic, flat-surfaced industrialized-looking buildings placed into a carefully arranged landscape. Constructed with steel, glass, and reinforced concrete, they were typically finished in stucco. The Lovell House (1927-1929) created a sensation in architectural circles in both Europe and America. Stylistically, this important early work was similar to the work of Le Corbusier and Mies van der Rohe in Europe. Architecture Professor Paul Heyer wrote that the house was a landmark in modern architecture in that it showed the potential of industry to go way beyond mere utilitarian considerations. Heyer describes the Lovell House construction: It began with a prefabricated light steel frame that was erected in forty hours. The floating floor planes, constructed of expanded metal reinforced and covered by concrete applied from a compressed air gun, were suspended by slender steel cables from the roof frame; they express the changes of floor level strongly, following the contours of the site. The swimming pool, at the lowest level, was also suspended within the steel frame, from U-shaped reinforced concrete cradles.- Architects on Architecture: New Directions in America by Paul Heyer, 1966, p. 142 Later in his career, Richard Neutra designed a series of elegant pavilion-style homes composed of layered horizontal planes. With extensive porches and patios, the homes appeared to merge with the surrounding landscape. The Kaufmann Desert House (1946-1947) and the Tremaine House (1947-48) are important examples of Neutras pavilion houses. Architect Richard Neutra was on the cover of Time magazine, August 15, 1949, with the heading, What will the neighbors think?   The same question was asked of southern California architect Frank Gehry when he remodeled his own house in 1978. Both Gehry and Neutra had a confidence that many took as arrogance. Neutra, in fact, was nominated for an AIA Gold Medal during his lifetime, but was not awarded the honor until 1977- seven years after his death. Learn More: Neutra: Complete WorksThe Oyler House: Richard Neutras Desert Retreat directed by Mike Dorsey, DVD, 46 minutesRichard Neutra: And The Search for Modern Architecture by Thomas S. Hines, Rizzoli, 2006Neutra by Barbara Lamprecht, 2004Richard Neutra: Mà ¶bel Furniture by Barbara Lamprecht, 2015Life and Shape: The Autobiography of Richard NeutraThe Drawings of Richard Neutra by Thomas S. Hines, Architectural Digest, February 28, 1993

Chinese banking system Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Chinese banking system - Essay Example In the banking sector, Chinese financial system is by and large dominated by the large but underdeveloped banking system, which is mainly controlled by the four largest state-owned banks with a lot of non-performing loans. These state-owned banks will a lot of power by using the money injected into their business from the large foreign currency reserves to give out loans to selective borrowers, in particular, state-owned banks and to selective investment projects. But with the on going privatization in the banking sector, this will permit the entry into the sector of more domestic and foreign banks that will be of great importance since it will stimulate the banking sector and bring in more competitiveness and root out all the NPL.Chinese Financial markets have been characterized by speculation and insider information and have not been very successful in the effective allocation of resources as the banking sector. China has two main financial markets, the Shanghai Stock Exchange and Shenzhen Stock Exchange all established in 1990 and have been growing at a tremendous rate. But these markets have not been working at the rate which can bring in some improvements in the Chinese financial market sector. This is all due to encumbrances and poor regulation at the level of the regulatory environment particularly in the corporate and trading laws, legal protection of investors, and as well as institutions governing the enforcement of contracts that have all been poorly developed.

To what degree did Buddhism provide a basis for cultural exchange and Essay

To what degree did Buddhism provide a basis for cultural exchange and trade along the Silk Road - Essay Example On the other hand, the Silk Road, also known as the Silk Route, is comprised of a progression of cultural and trade conduction routes that extend about 4,000 miles (Whitfield 2004, p. 23). It got its name from the Chinese silk trade that was conducted along it from the 206 BC era of the Han Dynasty and greatly contributed to the civilization and development of China, Arabia, Europe, Persia and the Indian subcontinent. Silk was the main item of trade but, inadvertently, different cultures, philosophies and religions interacted as economic and political exchanges took place between different civilizations. The diversity of the cultures that interacted on the Silk Road is evident in the manner in which it linked China, India, Europe and the Middle East and facilitated Buddhism’s transmission to China from India and, consequently, Japan and Korea. Buddhist missionaries, travelers and merchants carried along their religious convictions, values and beliefs to distant territories, at tracting converts along the way. This paper will discuss the degree to which Buddhism provided a basis for cultural exchange and trade along the Silk Road. ... The roads and bridges may have had an underlying administrative and military objective, but they also opened up trade and encouraged exchanges between many diverse communities. The Silk Road was among the roads and routes built to expand the scope of trade and enhance its security, covering most of Eurasia and the northern part of Africa. With the Han Empire maintaining order in China and providing access to western markets and Bactria, merchants from different backgrounds interacted in trade, promoting the spread of their cultures. Traders from different regions exchanged ideas and customs as they traversed the land in search and sale of commodities. Therefore, the Silk Road promoted more than commodity exchange and included culture as well. Buddhism, for example, spread from the Kushan kingdom to other parts of Asia (Hill 2009, p. 69). The degree to which Buddhism provided a basis for cultural exchange and trade along the Silk Road is manifested by the way the faith spread within a ll cities, towns and centers along the trade route. Among the great missionary faiths, the first that took advantage of the Silk Road’s mobility was Buddhism, extending its reach beyond its indigenous grounds in the north eastern part of India within the first century BC. After Military conquests and trade, Buddhism is the next most notable factor that linked the regions of India, to Central Asia and the present-day Afghanistan and Pakistan as early as 206 BC upto the 8th century AD. The transnational link facilitated the establishment of a political empire by the Hephthalites, which covered the expanse from the northern Indian plains to Afghanistan. Politically, the empire

Managing An Overseas Branch Office Management Essay

Managing An Overseas Branch Office Management Essay Cabelas Inc. is a well-established specialty retailer of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, since its founding in 1961 by the brothers Dick and Jim Cabela, it has grown from a small company from their parents kitchen table into a 3 billion NYSE publicly listed company with 41 stores in the United States and Canada. In order to have better support and more effective communication with vendors, the Cabelas HK office had been started in 2005 to cope with the rapid increase in merchandise styles and the growing demand of an overseas quality assurance team. For the first 43 years Cabelas would only need to manage offices, warehouses and retail locations all inside United States, with the new HK office in 2005 and Canada office in 2009, and possibly an Australian store in the coming 2 years, it is time to identify the methodology of Managing an Overseas Office. 1.2 Rationale for Identifying the Issue At the beginning there was only 5 contract staff in the Cabelas Hong Kong office, as the company grew to a 25-employee office, to manage it becomes a challenge. As a member of the Cabelas HK office, seeing the differences between the US and HK team, and also the issues with communications with respect to differences in background, culture, language, knowledge, relationships, etc., its important to identify the issues and tackle them using the 3Rs Recognize, Remedy and Report. When interviewing our CEO and President Mr. Tommy Millner, he said, The challenges of running an international office are pure cultural in my view. Specifically, how do we get our employees in China to accept and embrace the values that were created in the farm lands of Western Nebraska? Whereas when interviewing the HK Office Manager Mr. Justin Gordon his view is very different, as he mentioned The main challenge for a manager is to ensure he /she gets clear instructions / directions / objectives from those he /she reports to. Without these it is virtually impossible for the manager to give clear instructions to those that report to him/her. This then results in what appears to be poor management. These would be 2 of the most important HR related issues with managing an overseas office Cultural and Communication. This document will discuss all the related challenges and provide recommendations for management on how to effectively manage an overseas office, in order to create a happy working environment that creates trust and value their employees, with responsible HR practices aligning to CSR values. 1.3 Recommendations for Management The question of how to better manage an overseas office has been a broad issue, there are many variables and could have a lot of ways to do it better, which should all be catered to a particular situation. The below outlines a few main concerns and recommendations to management to make a difference in the overseas office. Cultural Differences For urban dwellers it would be hard for them to imagine the life of people growing up in the nature while hunting, fishing, hiking and camping is embraced in their everyday lifestyle. It is not easy to change how employees think, except to fly them to Nebraska to really experience it, listen to stories how hunting should be done ethically, and why hunting is considered essential in some areas of the world. The reason for thinking it is cruel is that they are not exposed before and thus do not understand, by education and exposing them with the reality, this could be corrected in times. Of course for them to fall in love with hunting would not be very possible, but taking another direction and lead them to appreciating the nature could be a better approach. Cabelas has recently launched a new anthem Its In Your Nature. It has always been a controversial topic in the office where hunting equals cruelty. As the anthem suggests, its in your nature to respect for tomorrow, it could apply to hunting and fishing, and it could also apply to overseas staff with preserving the environment by less greenhouse gas emission, switching off the lights behind you, and printing conservatively. The difference in the traditional cultural background could also be creating issues at work. Nobody intends to offend anyone else, but may do so inadvertently if not educated in the cultures. For example Americans casually throw their name cards over their desks, while Asians considered that as rude. Relationships in Chinese context are very important in businesses, but westerners might see that as bribery in some ways. It would take both sides to learn each others culture, as a responsible corporate this difference must be respected and HR policies should be sensitive in addressing this through values, ideas and beliefs. It would also be HRs responsibility to educate employees about diversity, that different people would act differently for the same circumstances, and respect would be the key to work together. Suggestions to Management: Educating and exposing employees to company culture lead employees into appreciating the nature and wildlife HR policies should be sensitive in addressing cultural differences HR should educate employees about diversity Coordination between Corporate Office and Overseas Office As the HK Office Manager has identified, clear instructions from corporate office to overseas office would be essential for managers to communicate directions to employees. These would include long and short time objectives and goals, HRM initiatives as well as CSR commitments. Objectives and goals could assist employees recognize their value, have a target to look forward to, knowing what they are doing is making a difference, and would be contributing to the sustainable growth of the company. The current Employee Handbook is written for US outfitters, the Director of Human has commented that the company will follow the same HR practices for overseas outfitters where the policies are not otherwise dictated by local laws or customs. Of course ideally there should be a customized local version as the office grows, it would be the best if employees can be involved with setting the policy so that what they are looking for could be considered and included too. Whereas for CSR commitments, bear in mind that employees nowadays not only look for the salary, but also if they are working for a responsible employer with greater corporate disclosure  [1]  . With the cultural differences, it would not be surprising to see different expected CSR initiatives between US and overseas employees, and therefore staff involvement would be crucial to make sure HR is working on the focused areas when drafting the CSR commitments for overseas offices. It is important to keep your HRM initiatives and CSR commitments alive in your corporate communications on a regular basis. Very often employees of overseas offices would have a feeling that they are being neglected being far away. Semi-annual or even seasonal meetings with the corporate HR department could pull everybody together so that employees will get to hear first-hand updates and HR can hear about comments to policies and procedures. Either somebody from the corporate office visits the overseas office regularly, or the video conferencing system could be utilized, as face to face meetings create warmer atmospheres. Also whenever anybody from the senior management team visits the overseas office, make sure they schedule an hour to meet with the whole office and update them with what is happening at the corporate office, how is the business for the last quarter, new management level changes, exciting new store opening announcements, comments from US team to the work from the overseas team, etc., could be great information for the employees. Other than that, sharing corporate presentations, keeping employees updated through company announcements and regular newsletters are the instruments necessary to keep employees energized about the organizations socially responsible initiatives. Suggestions to Management: there should be a customized local version of the Employee Handbook with employee involvement when drafting CSR commitments for overseas offices take into account employees needs too regular meetings with the HR department from the corporate office keep employees updated whenever senior management team visits the overseas office Good communication within Teams Although emails would do for day to day routine communications, weekly departmental or whole office face to face meetings would also be a good way for the team to sit together and go through the agendas and projects to see if there are obstacles and any help could be provided. It would also be a good time for the HR manager to announce anything related to the office well-being, such as new medical care plans, job duties assigned, or new regulations imposed by the corporate office etc. Currently there is a lack of these weekly meetings in the Cabelas HK office for the office manager to know if there are any concerns with work, although the office manager usually keeps an open door policy, it would still be beneficial to start so that employees will feel warmer with the closer communications and a feeling that they are well taken care of with their job security and career progression  [2]  . Managers should also not be locked up in their room the whole day but to walk out and talk to the team more, through these day to day communications would the manager be able to know how employees have been working hard to gain the trust and advance on the targets. Managers could also be able to establish a loving environment and let the employees feel a sense of belonging through additional interactions. Whenever the office manager needs to make a big decision he should ask the employees for advises so that they feel respected and a better sense of confidence. Sometimes interdepartmental task forces would be created for special tasks, these groups could have members from both US team and overseas team. To ensure better communication web conferences on a regular basis could enhance the communication and grow the bond between the teams, as well as eliminating misunderstanding through email communications too. Suggestions to Management: More face to face meetings should be arranged between Office manager and all employees Manager should check with employees for comments before making major decisions Web conferences should be utilized for tasks forces to communicate with the US team The Role of HR Manager Talents that are well suited into a companys culture are hard to find but are the greatest asset any company can possess. In order to obtain and retain these talents, HR would need to make sure the company brand is well managed to attract talents, and competitive packages, rewards and incentives are offered to retain talents. Employees nowadays would also be looking forward to involvements in giving back to the society, the HR manager could send surveys and discuss with the staff what employee volunteering would they prefer, and work with social enterprises to arrange volunteer projects. At times of major disasters the company can setup donation boxes and send love to organizations that uses the money most wisely. Also working with employees to preserve the environment by switching off lights behind, printing less, and avoiding non-reusable utensils cold help too. Other than daily administration work, the HR Manager should also periodically hold workshops with employees to go through employee handbook and code of conducts and make sure everybody understands their rights and obligations. Employees also work happier in an environment without discrimination, one that promotes a diversity workforce and inclusion in the workplace. HR in US has recently employed a Senior Diversity Manager, whom would be planning events for diversity and inclusion. The HR manager could take the initiative and work with the diversity manager to create diversity programs specially catered for overseas office, especially with a big cultural difference in HK. Suggestions to Management: HR manager should hold workshops to go through employees rights and obligations HR should make sure company brand is well managed to attract talents HR should ensure there are competitive packages, rewards and incentives to retain talents Staff volunteering should be arranged for employees to give back to society HR should work with Diversity manager to promote diversity and inclusion in overseas offices Staff Involvement Employees nowadays look for working with a good and responsible company that they have pride working for, and not only for a stable income. Many CSR initiatives fail as a result of the lack of employees involvement and failure to embed the socially responsible values into organizational culture. Before policies are imposed, HR can set up a review committee to ensure staff involvement and to collect comments of what the employees actually want. In this way they will be more involved in the process and will actively follow up, thus internalizing corporate culture. Also try to get the staff involved as much as possible with every project that involves multiple parties, they will feel respected by their contribution and the knowledge they possess, higher morale leading to better results. Whenever employees take pride in their work strengthen employee identity, making them the brand ambassador. Although there are no retail stores in Asia, this brand ambassador will work with vendors and factories as well to be sending positive message to partners and ensuring them mutually benefits by working with Cabelas. Although taxidermies are mounted to make the office more Cabelas, its still difficult to feel the nature-loving culture with from overseas offices. To further enhance staff involvement management should send employees to the corporate office at their first year so that they can feel the passion of corporate employees towards outdoor living, going out to the fields to inhale the scent of nature, and stepping into the retail stores and be greeted by the outfitters, would they feel how enthusiastic customers would feel when they step into a Cabelas store and feel the sense of belonging. When the employee return, HR should also encourage them to share their experiences so that other teammates could feel the same too. With this sense of involvement, whenever employees identify risks at the factory they would know where to report so that the company can work on risk management remedies immediately, reducing the possibility of destroyed reputation if sweatshop factories being identified, child labor found, etc. Employees that are less involved might simply pretend not seeing the risks and give a pass to the factory audits in order to do less. Suggestions to Management: HR can set up review committee to ensure staff involvement in setting up of CSR policies send employees to the corporate office at last once when the employee returns arrange for experience sharing encourage staff involvement so that risks would be identified and reported Fair Employment Practices and Leveraging Diversity In job posted for openings in the corporate office, it will quote Cabelas as an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE)  [3]  , this is not included in the job ads from the HK office and should be added to make sure eligible candidates know that the company is a responsible employer. The ads will also list the workplace as inclusive, embracing diverse background, life experiences and perspectives. This will be very important to send a message to candidates that this is the company that they would love to work for. From within, HR has to be living up with the promises and be fair with the selection, interview and recruitment process for new employees, not discriminating candidates with race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, etc. As the employee handbook clearly wrote, Cabelas is committed to improve the quality of life within our community. To be a fair employer all benefits should not be withhold for certain employees as well, therefore benefits including vacations, medical insurance, dental coverage, employee insurance, provident funds, etc should have the same treatment as US colleagues. As the Director of Human Resources has mentioned that The entire area of compensation and benefits must of course be administered based upon international differences. We do need to be aware of any differences by culture or customs. This fairness will also be enhanced when the group gains more awareness with diversity program being carried out both in US in overseas offices. By leveraging diversity, a company should respect and relate to people from varied backgrounds, see diversity as an opportunity, creating an environment where diverse people thrive, challenge bias and intolerance, and understand diverse worldviews and are sensitive to group differences. Cabelas has a moral and ethical commitment, as well as a legal responsibility, to promote equal opportunity within all operating units. Overseas offices should make sure employees understand their rights to be treated equally, if there is unlawful and discriminatory treatment, they should inform supervisor or HR manager immediately, and if they are the source of the problem, employees can utilize the Cabelas anonymous In-Touch Hotline to report concerns. HR should re-communicating this information to employees periodically. Corporate HR has been doing a good job last year with the Diversity week, arranging a diversity photo competition and inviting all employees to submit photos related to the Cabelas Core values. By taking part in the game employees go through self-evaluation to think what is important in their work that relates to the core values, thus promoting CSR initiatives from within. Management should be encouraging overseas employees to participate in living the company culture. Suggestions to Management: Job postings in HK should include Cabelas as an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) HR should be fair with the recruitment process for new employees make sure benefits provided to overseas team match with the corporate office make sure employees understand their rights to be treated equally encourage employees to participate in diversity competitions Recruitment, Retention, Redundancy and Performance Appraisal Many successful CEOs had identified the most important measure of corporate success and main business objectives as hiring and retaining of talents over profitability  [4]  , and treating the talented workforce as the most valuable asset, as Cabelas CEO has also stated that the right talents are often hard to find but are the greatest asset any company can possess. Employer branding is essential with attracting talents, recruiting the right person at the right time, retaining them and as a result, strengthening the employer brand.  [5]  Good CSR initiatives will attract good employees as candidates will look at a companys CSR policy before they apply. Employees that look for a responsible employer would at the same time be more committed in helping with improving the CSR policies after they have joined. With fair employment in mind, HR should be selecting, interviewing and recruiting new talents with an aim to attain a diversity workforce. Job advertisements should be posted in the main career newspapers and websites, as well as sending to agencies to recruit the best candidates available. For management posts head hunters could be utilized to capture the experienced. It is very important that we have leaders in place to manage the staff that understands the importance of the companys core values and treating everyone with respect, honesty, and integrity. Once talents have been obtained, the orientation programme for newly recruited employees should be designed in a manner that corporate philosophies will be well communicated, with CSR being highlighted. It would take a new person weeks or months to understand a companys culture by himself, so a thorough introduction would be beneficial, and managerial positions should be sent to the corporate office as soon as possible to learn the culture too. Good CSR leads to improved staff retention and better motivated and innovative staff and thus improving work performance and profitability of the company, therefore making sure employees are aware of the efforts done in CSR would help in building faith and trust with employees. Employees have a lower morale when there are other individuals not performing up to standard or have a comparatively smaller workload. HR would need to work with the manager to give him more responsibilities, or consider this as redundancy and let him go. Carefully handling this case could make sure a positive impact on the morale of other employees Given replacement costs is 100% to 250% of annual compensation, HR should investigate if this person is having a work life imbalance or not that result in lower performance and use the 3Rs to try and fix it. Current performance appraisals have been done annually, but to effectively manage and retain the talents, this should be done every 6 months to make sure employees are on track with their yearly planning and expectations. Senior managers can have a CSR bonusable goal, while employees could set personal CSR objectives to be reflected in their annual performance reviews. In Chinese society appreciation and incentives is a big push to better performance, if possible, mid and end of year bonuses could be motivations to better performances. Suggestions to Management: make sure the employer brand is established to attract and retain talents recruitment process should be fair and aiming at a diversity workforce orientation programmes should communicate corporate philosophies with CSR highlighted Investigate if an employee has become redundant and try to remedy before letting go. Performance appraisals should be done mid-year as well HR should assist employees in setting personal CSR goals Bonuses as incentives could better motivate employees Leadership Development and Mentor program Employees nowadays not only look for career advancement, but also how would the company assist them to step up to the next level, therefore leadership development and mentor programs are common staff requests. Cabelas CEO Mr. Tommy Millner has picked 24 managers from all locations to attend his From the Field Leadership trainings, which he would be talking about his own experience on various topics, through interesting work experience sharing, managers could learn to be a good leader and how to handle different situations. More of these leadership courses should be held through the Cabelas University, an online Learning Management System where courses are provided for various topics from policies explanation to how to be a good leader. HR should encourage overseas employees to attend as many courses so as to better equip themselves. The Women in Leadership council will also be working on mentor programs to train up potential women into higher positions. HR should work with the WIL council to make sure these programs will consider overseas employees as well. Suggestions to Management: HR should encourage staff to attend training classes on Cabelas University Make sure the Woman in Leadership program consider mentorship in overseas offices Staff Engagement and Development For employees to be more engaged in work and the company, one of the easiest ways is to make them satisfied and happy with their work and with their supervisors  [6]  . People tend to be happier when they feel the trust. The first office manager of the Cabelas HK office has returned to US after 7 years, upon re-joining the US team one of his responsibilities is to educate US team about the role and connection the HK team had played in the business, and how important it is to include the HK team when making important decisions. With involvement of more big projects, the overseas teams could all be more engaged. The management should also persuade directors to further empower the overseas team, like moving Quality Assurance and Sourcing to HK as the team is closer to the factories and suppliers. With each individuals vast knowledge of the industry and environment and also with the common language, work would be done more effectively and employees would love to be trusted by corporate office. As for staff development, internally, management should encourage employees in utilizing the Cabelas University for courses such as leadership, communication, process management, etc. to equip staff with the necessary skills and be more confident at work. Cabelas also has a Tuition Reimbursement Program where job related courses could have tuition fee reimbursed. Management should encourage employees to look for further education to increase their industrial knowledge, stay ahead of the trend, and to be more professional in their work. Suggestions to Management: Management should encourage US to get overseas team involved in projects. Further empowering the overseas office could increase staff engagement Encourage more internal training through the Cabelas University Encourage employees to attend external trainings and further education. Managing Work Life Balance Making sure employees has a balance between work and life is a very important task for the Human Resources team. Using the 3Rs, HR professionals should be able to easily recognize if an employee has too much stress at work or from life that has affected their performance. Once issues were identified they will also need to remedy or report it. In the US employees can enjoy a very flexible working hour system, they can shift their work given that they work 40 hours a week. Some prefer to start earlier at 6am and leave earlier by 3pm to fetch their kids from school. Some might need to take care of personal matters on Fridays, and therefore work a 10-hour per day schedule for 4 days only. This should be applied to the overseas office as well, where if employees prefer to stay late at night, they can go to work slightly later as well. This has traditionally been not accepted by the older generation managers since they look for punctuality, however flexibility is very important as well, if shifting work schedule slightly and start working at 9:30am could enable employees to take their kids to school they would be more happy with their managers. Too much overtime could be due to slow performance, but could also be due to too much work and understaffing. Managers should evaluate each employees workload and check if extra staffing will be necessary. Of course to be keeping a smaller team could save extra headcounts, however if employees are working late into the night, the next day they will come in with a lack of sleep and the possibility of incorrect calculations and human input errors would increase. If the manager could remedy the situation by increasing staff for the same amount of work, employees can leave work earlier, enjoy their own personal life, and come back with a fresh mind, increasing productivity and result in happier employees too. Suggestions to Management: Be flexible with working hours HR should assist employees reach a Work Life balance by recognizing stress. Make sure the teams are not understaffed to avoid excessive overtime. Managers and the Generation Y team Among the 4 managers in the Cabelas HK office, only one of them is from the Generation Y and at least 2 of the managers are still using the traditional way of managing their team. Generation Y employees are more diverse, achievement oriented, attention craving, confidence, collaborative. In order to keep them interested in their work, managers should periodically check with the team if they are satisfied with their current work, and if they have any suggestions to changes, the job nature, the way projects are handled, the way information is gathered, etc., anything that they could find challenges in, manager should evaluate and give it a try. Managers should also ask employees if there are any courses that theyd like to take to enrich their knowledge. In this way the employees will feel they are being respected with their ideas and needs and the manager has been an open minded one that they can continue to work for. Keeping the Gen Y employees busy is another key to managing them. Manager should be setting short to long term goals and targets with employees that are feasible and mutually agreed upon. New projects and challenges could keep the employees challenged and prevent them from feeling bored too. Another characteristic of Gen Y employees is they prefer to work anytime anywhere, this would require a change of mindset to traditional managers, but as long as they can deliver their work managers should give them the flexibility. Bear in mind that they are accustomed to multitasking, managers might see a surprising better result with the change! Newer generation employees like to be acknowledged, managers should be holding team meetings for them to share achievements, and everybody should be encouraged to praise good work done. This creates a sense of belonging to the company and further boost productivity. Suggestions to Management: Managers should be educated the characteristics of Gen Y employees Keep the Gen Y employees busy and entertained. Praise good work from the employees. 1.4 Conclusion The key to better manage an office is always, trust, respect and communicate. Managers that understand what the employees want and act upon them, know how to keep them happy, be innovative with providing little benefits, have CSR initiatives in mind, keeping the employees entertained, competitive and educated, assist with preparing for the next step, etc., could be good managers. To manage an overseas office will be very similar, add the ability to handle cultural differences and be able to communication well between parties, employees will stay happy and loyal. Think, decide and act, and managers would have a devoted workforce that drives better performance and profitability. (4992 words) 2a Question 1 Business Case for Diversity and Inclusion within Cabelas Established since 1961 in the farmlands of Western Nebraska, Cabelas has a large workforce of mostly white people at the corporate office, with male dominance in some departments a

Sears V.S Walmart

1. What ratios are MOST important in assessing current and predicting future value creation for Sears? For Wal-Mart? Sears Sears grew up to the world’s largest retailer by expanding annual sales through diversifying sale products, such as apparel, cosmetics, jewelry, electronics, household appliances, cookware, bedding and hand-tools. This article shows that Sears suffered from a cost increase in 1997, including lawsuits, credit collectibles and sales in Mexico. Besides, the flexible payment facility that Sears offered is also a reason for cost increase. These problems brought Sears with bad debt and hence decreased the cash flow. The problems of the company came from the liquid market security, so I emphasize the flowing concepts: 1. Profit Margin, ( Net Income / Total Revenue) â€Å"It measures how much out of every dollar of sales a company actually keeps in earning. † This concept is effective to compare similar companies in an industry; a higher profit margin indicates a better leading position in the industry. It is an indicative factor for Sears to forecast its position in this industry 2. Asset Turnover rate ( Revenue/ Asset) This ratio can measure how efficient Sears uses its asset to chase for revenue. . DEBT to Equity Ratio ( Total liability/ equity) (5. 6 in 1997, 6. 3 in 1996) The ratio of debt to equity measures the risk of the corporation’s creditors and its prospective creditors 4. ROA (Net Income/Total Asset), Since the company has a higher sales in 1997 than the past 2 years but lower net income. To evaluate the performance of the company, we must know how profitable Sears is relative to its total assets. 5. ROE (Profit Margin * Assets Turnover * Leverage Ratio) which is more accurate way to evaluate the performance of Sears in the retailer industry. . Days of receivable Since Sears have a big issue about the credit collection, we need to think about the days of receivable. 7. Liquidate ratio * Cash ratio * Current ratio ( Current Assets / Current Liabilities) (1. 94 in 1997, 1. 90 in 1996) the current ratio is about 1. 9, it indicate Sears is using its liquidity to grow up. * Quick ratio Wal-Mart Wal-Mart was founded in 1962 and has the ROE of 20%. Wal-Mart also offers store Credit Card, but unlike Sears, it is Chase Manhattan Bank rather than its own credit company. Wal-Mart also boosts the annual sale by diversifying products as Sears does, but Wal-Mart also has different stores to target at the customers of various market segments, such as Wal-Mart Discount Store, Wal-Mart Supercenters and Sam’s Clubs. In order to measure how the performance of the Wal-Mart now and in the future, (Wal-Mart wants in low price and low cost) we need to analysis some financial ratio from the number on books. 1. Profit Margin, (Net Income / Total Revenue) 2. Asset Turnover rate (Revenue/ Asset) this ratio can measure how efficiency Sears to use its asset for revenue. 3. DEBT to Equity Ratio ( Total liability/ equity) . Leverage Ratio ( Long Term Debt / Shareholder) 5. ROA (Net Income / Total Asset), 2. Do you agree with Ravi Suria's analysis of the credit risks associated with Amazon bonds ? 1 In Ravi Suria’s analysis, â€Å"we believe that the current cash balances will last the company through the first quarter of 2001. † According to Exhibit 12c the cash flow statement, in contrast, the cash balance could last for the first quarter of 2001, when it suffered from 407 losses in operating activities, though positive in investing and financial activities. In summary, Amazon experienced 375 losses in the first quarter in 2001. Just from the number on the accounting book, we cannot see whether it is wrong or right. We must see the business strategy and where they spent the money, which is the key of the company for the long term. 2 I personal calculate the working capital of the 2000 and 2001 | Working capital ($M)2000| Working Capital 2001| March | 704| 205| Jun | 559| 87| Sep | 504| (21)| Dec | 386| (38)| His analysis was based on the working capital is shirking. The Working Capital table shows a decreasing trend since 2000. I don’t think amazon can still cover the cash flow in 2011 and use its capital efficiently. However, we cannot only use assumption of Working Capital to analysis a company, we need to look at the strategy, inventory, and so on. As this point, we will know Suria’s analysis is not proper. 3 Suria calculated the inventory as the stable mumble and use the revenue instead of Cost Goods Sold. But the revenue record as the market value, not as cost goods sold can indict the cost for the inventory. Amazon’s revenue varies season by season. We can use COG / average of the inventory to include the seasonal factor, instead of revenue/ inventory. 4 As for the inventory, I think, Suris is misleading by another point. He only thinks the inventory turnover is very low. However, amazon increases its inventory at the beginning year (from the case, the company only have 4000 books, but later on it run CDs, video, and movie. That’s why amazon has a very low inventory turnover at the beginning years. 5 Suria thinks the Amazon has low â€Å"cash flow per unit of product sold†, and he shows us some calculation about his conclusion on page 10. However, this is already a great business mode and strategy in the market. And it has already been proved from the success of Wal-Mart and Costco retailer, which is called â€Å"low gross margins†.