Digital Technology Has Ruined How People Entertain Themselves Essay

Digital Technology Has Ruined How People Entertain Themselves - Essay Example The digital technology has ruined the film industries in various ways. The traditional films had the ability to show the objects as real through a connection of similarity. Films no longer work as before after the introduction of the digital technology. For example, the cameras’ functions and variables of film stocks are no longer important in determining the final look of films. These changes have also affected the viewers of the films. Examples of the digital technologies affecting filming entail the image enhancement and editing. These technologies have affected the final products because they only focus on the postproduction phase that culminates to an additional reduction of the traces of photographic indexical contingency in the product (Detweiler, 2008). Several aspects in movies or the films are exaggerated since all the cinematographers are using the digital technology. For example, the colors are too deep and the images are not promotional to their natural sizes. Thi s concept is applicable in all the films and movies today. They make the movies appear the same because the cinematographers use the same colors and lighting effects. Consequently, the audiences no longer feel the sense of seeing the actual world when watching the movies (Bodrogi & Khanh, 2012). The cinematographers should know that every movie must have a different look to prevent monotony in the film industries. There were no shortcuts in the traditional filming because cinematographers applied their craft to bring out emotional response in films. Films cannot produce images exactly as the naked eyes can see; however, the pseudo realistic looks are no longer produced and the images look unrealistic when using the digital cameras (ADC, 2009). The film cameras were used in the film industries in the past; however, the digital cameras have substituted the film cameras. According to researchers, the film camera generated better quality images. For instance, the film camera had better resolution compared to the digital ones (Bodrogi & Khanh, 2012). Researches show that the quality of images produced by the 35mm film cameras are many times better than the pictures produced by the best digital cameras (Bodrogi & Khanh, 2012). This may not affect the photographers but it will affect the individuals who want to see the textures of their images in the photographs. The images produced by the film cameras can be rescanned using the modern scanners because they are very clear. Additionally, more details are visible compared to the images produced by the digital cameras. This is because of the high resolution that favors the film cameras. For instance, the past movies such as â€Å"It’s a Wonderful Life† can be rescanned many times with the modern scanners. This is because the analogues cameras that had very high resolution first produced these products (Abrams, 2003). Additionally, the analogue cameras have a higher photo speed compared to the digital camer as. One can experience delays when using the digital cameras because they record information slowly compared to the traditional cameras. An individual can shoot another photo immediately when using the â€Å"SLR film cameras† because the process only requires the movement of the shutter to complete an exposure to move to another one (Bodrogi & Khanh,

Suburbs and the use of space Essay Example for Free

Suburbs and the use of space Essay A suburb is a residential place or a district that is situated a round a city, a central business district or a town (Kruse Sugrue, 2006). Also the suburbs can be defined as the communities that live around the cities and town centers with time the urban centers and cities have been experiencing rapid growth and this has led to development of new modern residential places around the cities and towns. The suburbs offer a bigger space for living at a lower cost than it would be in towns. The availability of residential space at a lower cost makes many people opt go live in the suburbs (Newman, 1991). In regard to this the suburbs have been found to accommodate a higher population of the people unlike the neighboring cities and town centers. Suburbs are seen to spread over a large geographical area than any other living environments. A good transport system and infrastructure and the clean environment makes people to avoid living in the city centers so that they can avoid the untidy conditions and the high density (Jahn Frances, 2006). Living in a suburb offers the resident with the freedom and independence as people are able to decide for themselves what rules to govern them and how to live. The people in suburbs are able to even come up with bodies that govern their welfare. These bodies include those that deal with matters concerning the housing among other things (Head and Pat, 2007). Suburbs have become popular because the research shows that most people in a given suburb come from the same ethnic group or same community. This makes people feel more secure as they will always have a common way of life (GarciÃŒ a, 2003). The suburbs developed due to the development of transport system. Good transport system and infrastructure is one of the key factors that leads to development and establishment of the subur bs around the cities and towns. The evolution of transport technology for the ancient time where animal were used an a means of transport up to today where we have better automobiles such as busses ,cars ,ships and even airplanes which offer the people with the fast and convenient way of transport.(Kruse and Sugrue, 2006). Transportation in urban center and cities defined the size of the geographical area where people worked from. The growth of urban centers for the ancient time has directly influenced the development of the suburbs. In New York the establishment of the Levittown after the First World War in 1944 was the first suburbs in United States. The development of the Levittown was due to high number of people and this caused the shortage of houses. Due to high demand of housing facilities Gl bill in 1944 gave people money to start building houses for the soldiers who were returning form the war. It was at this time where a man named William Levitt decided to buy thousands of acres of land outside cities such Philadelphia and New York. He then constructed houses and living areas which were fully fabricated. Later in 1946 the first Levittown community was started in a town known as Hempstead. The firm owned by the Levitt sons funded this town by providing a lot of housing facilities. On top they offered and rented the homes at an affordable and low cost. The homes in this town had a lot of shopping centers, the playground for the families and even swimming pools. This developed to a bigger suburb. Suburbs have led to the sustainability of the towns. The high demand for good housing at an affordable cost has geared the and promoted the establishment of businesses that offer this services most entrepreneur take this chance to invest in housing industries among other ventures. Due to this the construction of better houses and homes has taken place. This leads to overall development in the suburbs. Through this the cities and town are gain the capability to hold the high population of the people around. This is one of the facts that we can say that through the suburbs the cities sustainable in terms of holding the population living there without constrains. The transport and infrastructure have been developed to meet the high demand of the people living in the suburbs. The automobiles have played a very crucial role in the transport system (Newman, 1991). The easiness of the movement of people to the places of work and other places is one of the reasons the suburbs are sustainable. In suburbs also one can easily transport his goods in and out due to better road and transport system. The issue of security also makes the suburbs to be termed as the most sustainable places. This is due to the fact that most suburbs are occupied by the communities of the same ethnic groups and the people living there have a common factor that unites those (Mees, 2010). The good measures taken in maintaining the clean environment in the suburbs makes them more sustainable. Policies that regulate environment have been used .for instance proper mechanisms to regulate the greenhouse gases and maintaining general cleanliness of the suburbs. Another factor that m akes most suburbs more sustainable is the good health systems. The quick access to medical care and heath surfaces is usually available. Good medication ensures that people are prevented from the dangerous diseases. Education of the public for proper health activities and protective measures vacillates this (Bridgman et al., 1995). On the other hand some suburbs can be seen as the limiting factor toward the country achieving sustainability. For instance some suburbs may suffer economic problems due to increased number of unemployed people in the society. This lead to poor living standards due to lack of sufficient funds to sustain the living requirement of the people. The architectural view of space is quite different to other peoples’ perception and understanding about the space. In architecture the great concern when we talk about the space is how the design of a house should be. Considering the environmental factors and social-cultural factors is put in place by most architects in viewing the space of a building. In design space is used in programming that is architects conduct the space survey and planning. This is a very important task in architectural planning (Newman, 1999). The architects also collect data and information from the clients and decides on the proper space allocation standards to be used (Jahn and Frances, 2006). In the house the family space is necessary. These are rooms in a house that are used by the family members this includes the bed rooms and kitchen. During the design the architect must include this space (Newman, 1991). The suburban houses are usually big than those in the city or the central business district s. This house are characterized with a large size which include a garden in them. However it is important to note that space is an important aspect in every design. Space utilization and management need to be observed in order to ensure that there is maximum utilization of space without wastage. Space in homes inside the suburbs is managed in various ways. So many people around the cities reside in suburbs so we find that the suburbs become densely populated. To accommodate the large population the house are designed in apartments therefore saving on space (Head and Pat, 2007). The suburbs also develop gardens cities to ensure that the space is profitably used. The gardens cities offer quality and sustainable places. The new garden cities are the places where one can get facilities that provide good transport low air pollution due to carbon energy, leisure and cultural services and also the green infrastructure and network. All this facilities are available at place near the homes. With time the space of the house in Australia has evolved and changed abundantly. Most houses in the Australian suburbs were consisted of a three bedroom, a bathroom and separate living area. This has transformed so much where you find the modern houses have extra rooms such a kitchen, walk-in wardrobes among others. This is due to the increased sizes of new residential building and houses. The use of space in the houses in Australia has been of great concern. The floor space of a house, is designed in respect to the amount of space available. When a lot of space is available the floor space may include a walking path in the house. However when there is limited space such a design cannot be implemented (Bamford, 2009). The space inside the house can be used for several purposes. In a story building some space can be used for stairs and even the lift to take people from one floor to the other. In broad spectrum, questions about the realism of space in the fields the fields of engineering, physicality and architecture have been raised since time immemorial. Essentially, this happens because the human diversity is basically surrounded by space and matter in all spheres (Brayn, 2004). As a matter of fact, space in architectural terms is a flexible and ubiquitous aspect that creates the flow of architectural activities that include the designs and the real structuring. In housing, space is defined by different phenomena that range from walls, column as well as windows among many other features which conceive space. It is worth noting that space in the built environment language refers to what cannot be seen. In other words, space refers to the neutral and the subjective part of the built environment and is what human beings conceive in the event when spaces are created for specific purposes. For instance, a staircase is a good example of the most used space in the built enviro nment as it is commonly used for moving up and down in storey buildings (Bamford, 2007).Since this research paper focuses on the architectural space, it is worth noting that only thorough use and not design that space becomes architectural space not only in how the space is used but how the structures are designed. In practical terms, space in the built environment is most not given the required concern in most of the architectural designs hence posing the greatest problem of how some pieces of designs in the architectural field are viewed as artistic while others are viewed as social objects (Head and Pat, 2007). The greatest aspect that leads to such an issue with respect to space in the built environment is the connection between people and the realism of the desired architectural space as well as the relations of space themselves. To create reliable spaces in regards to structures in the environment, individuals should focus on majoring on the intuitional aspects of space by focusing on the natural strategies as well as respecting the cultural and environmental factors. Most importantly, human beings tend to divide most of their time into sections as well as dividing space into locations an endeavor that separates activities in similar architectural spheres into physical diversities in the similar environment. The locations created after dividing space in the built environment are what human beings use as a means of spontaneously allocating the necessary space for a particular activity thus easing the daily human life (Brayn, 2004). In architecture, structural designers should work towards designing the most sustainable built environment through allocating each space activity as a means of differentiating space into many pieces thus making the final product fit for human use. In this way, it is therefore significant to acknowledge the importance of space with respect to the benefits that result from architectural and planning space in the housing units, neighborhoods as well as in the suburbs in general. When this is acknowledged the critical role played by architectural space in all built environment dimensions will be cognizable to all. Structural designs in the suburbs are essential in that they create a bio directional dialogue in any design off architecture in recognition of location of the particular space, the desired movements, the utility created as well as the incorporated symbols. This allows for proper planning and design of suburbs within the context of providing the best architectural plans for the benefits of the targeted population (Hayden, 2004). In the case of the Australian suburbs, the general economic, cultural and social significance of the suburb built environment in the space perspective. Irrespective of the radical changes of the suburb life over the last few years, little changes have been realized in the structuring of the space in suburbs by the professionals in the field of planning and architecture. As a matter of fact, the role of the public spaces in the suburbs has been ignored (Ellegood et al., 2002). If these professionals can be briefed of the importance of the inclusion of the most important dimensions of social open spaces in suburbs environment as well as considering spatial architectural characteristics. According to Bently (1993), spaces in suburb gardens acts as a potential center of the entire community life as well as serving a sustainability maintenance role in its own. In addition, the spatial planning for the suburb spaces is a critical aspect as it brings people together by encouraging a social interaction. Therefore, the responsible bodies should be advised to work towards creating more spaces for the as a means to serve the economic, social, cultural and environmental purpose. Creation of more effective policies in the Australian suburb environments can serve as basic foundation for the effective inclusion of the spaces in architectural and planning designs hence serves as a key catalyst in ensuring economic and environmental sustainability (Bentley et al., 1993). The philosophy of the privacy of the Australians life’s can be greatly dealt with through the creation of more public spaces in neighborhoods, gardens and housing structures in the Australian background. To sum up, the efforts in leaving major spaces in the suburb areas has suffered a major blow as a result of the recent changes in road network expansion approaches in planning, changes in housing structuring designs as well as the diversity in housing units development. The major issue is the difference between the architectural designs adopted in the suburbs to those adopted in the high and the medium density areas an aspect that brings in confusion in relation to planning and architectural variance. References Bamford, G.(2007) ‘The Rules of the Game’, Landscape Architecture Australia. Bamford, G.(2009). Spooked by Sprawl. Architecture Australia Bentley, Ian. ‘Community Development Urban Design’. In R. Hayward S. McGlynn (eds.). 1993. Making Better Places: Urban Design, Oxford: Butterworth Architecture. Besley, J. (2002) ‘Home Improvement: Suburban Works-in-Progress.’ Paper presented at Suburbia, National Trust of Australia (NSW) conference, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Observatory Hill, Sydney. Brayn. B. (2004). Good Deeds, Good Design: Community Service through Sustainable Architecture. New York: Princeton Architectural. Bridgman, Howard, Robin Warner and John Dodson 1995 Urban Biophysical Environments. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Ellegood, A., Howard, R. L., Wigley, M., New Museum of Contemporary Art (New York, N.Y.), Henry Art Gallery. (2002). Out of site: Fictional architectural spaces : New Museum of Contemporary Art, New York, 6.27.2002-10.13.2002 : Henry Art Gallery, University of Washington, Seattle, 11.8.2002-2.2.2003. New York: Published by the New Museum of Contemporary Art in association with the Henry Art Gallery. GarciÃŒ a, M. R., International Association for People-Environment Studies. (2003). Culture, environmental action and sustainability. Cambridge, Mass: Hogrefe Huber. Hayden, D.( 2004).Building Suburbia: Green Fields and Urban Growth. 1820-2000. New York: Vintage Books. Head, L. and Pat M. (2007).Backyard: Nature and culture in suburban Australia. Wollongong: University of Wollongong Press Jahn, G., Frances, S. (2006). Contemporary Australian architecture. Sydney: State Library New South Wales Press. Kruse, K. M., Sugrue, T. J. (2006). The new suburban history. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Mees, P. (2010). Transport for suburbia: Beyond the automobile age. London: Earthscan. Newman, P. (1991). Sustainable Settlements: Restoring the Commons. Habitat Australia Newman, P.(1999). Sustainability and Australian Cities. Australian Planner . Source document

The Religion of Money in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby - Essay

The Religion of Money in The Great Gatsby      Ã‚  Ã‚   Near the beginning of George Bernard Shaw's Major Barbara, Mr. Undershaft exclaims in retort of another's question, "well, I am a millionaire, and that is my religion" (Shaw 103). Many people look toward the heavens in search of the power to enable them to live in the world. Others, like Shaw's Mr. Undershaft, look toward more earthly subjects to obtain their power and symbolize their status. Often these subjects, such as money, wealth, or physical beauty and ability, give their owners an overbearing sense of power and ability in all of that they do. Some people become so obsessed with their materialistic power that it becomes their religion and leads them in everything that they do. In F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, the character of Tom Buchanan is introduced and portrayed as someone who has allowed his physical abilities, money, and wealth, become his religion and lead him in his actions, perceived thoughts and beliefs, and speech.    Nick, the first person narrator of The Great Gatsby, introduces Tom as a "national figure in a way, one of those men who reach such an acute limited excellence at twenty-one that everything afterwards savours of anti-climax" (Fitzgerald 10). In college at New Haven, Tom relied on his physical abilities, as "one of the most powerful ends that ever played football" (Fitzgerald 10), as well as inherited wealth to give him the power and prestige to be perceived as better than the best. In the beginning of his college career, as Nick seems to suggest, it was this supreme physical ability on the football field that allowed Tom to have supreme reign over all off the field. But, after college, the football legacy ended, and with it, Tom'... ...lected to "make a short deft movement [that] broke her nose with his open hand" (Fitzgerald 41) rather than admit that the other party could do something without his explicit permission.    From his first introduction early in the first chapter of The Great Gatsby to the end of the second, Tom strives to constantly remind everyone around him of his power through his actions, thoughts, and speech. Like royal subjects loyal to their king, he believes that everyone is under him and should respect and obey his every wish. Through the mastery of Fitzgerald's poetic hand, a character has been created to which wealth has become a religion and god has become a personification of himself.    Works Cited Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Scribner-Simon, 1992. Shaw, George Bernard. Pygmalion and Major Barbara. New York: Bantom Books, 1992.

Who is watching us on the web? :: China Censorship Internet Papers

Who is watching us on the web? I. Background P.R.China is a communist country with rather strict control over its citizens' political activities. The decentralized Internet - which is growing extremely quickly in mainland China - puts a new challenge to our Chinese government, who was used to have fully control over newspapers, television, and any other media. In 2001, approximately 52.38 million Chinese visited world famous searching websites google and AltaVista according to CNN. In Jun 2002, China blocked Google and AltaVista along with other famous Chinese websites hosted in the United States like Wenxuecity, Chinesenewsnet, and Dajiyuan. Chinese officials announced that Google logs all search terms together with the IP number, a time stamp, an unique cookie ID, and browser information. Current U.S. laws require Google to provide the information to the feds. If the information is available to the National Security Agency from Google, especially when the Internet user is a non-U.S. citizen in a country that is of national security interest to the U.S, China has to block the use of U.S. engines to protect their own national security. Was that true? The privacy policies of search engines generally do not cover items such as IP number and storage of search terms. In the case of portals that use Google results, it is important to know the portal do NOT forward the IP number to Google along with the search terms. Interestingly, China unblocked the U.S. searching websites a few months after. Like many people, I may never know the true story behind China's blocking and unblocking U.S. searching websites. However, we can learn the truth from Xiao Qiang, the executive director of New York-based Human Rights in China. He said, "Our Chinese government was deluged with outcries from the nation's 46 million Internet users when access to Google was cut off. Internet users in China are an apolictcal crowd. They tend to be people who are doing well, and they do not usually voice strong views. But this stepped into their digital freedom." Well, what is the workaround then? The quick workaround is that Chinese authorities tweaked the national firewall, making the new Google China different from the site that was turned off. Today, Chinese who use Google to search on terms like "falun gong" or "human rights in China" receive a standard-looking results page.

Rhetorical Analysis Mary Oliver

Period 4B In this very lyrical excerpt, Mary Oliver has a great attraction to nature because of its paradoxical yet balancing form. By being both terrifying and beautiful, nature fills the world with contrasting entities that can be â€Å"death-bringers† or bring â€Å"immobilizing happiness. † Oliver uses imagery, parallelism, and contrasting to express her swaying emotions of fear, awe, and happiness towards nature. The imagery creates the very distinct contrast between terrifying and beautiful parts of nature. The frightening great horned owl has â€Å"razor-tipped toes† that â€Å"rasp the limb† and a â€Å"hooked beak† that makes a â€Å"heavy, crisp, breathy snapping. † The physical form is rough and rugged, reminiscent of a terrifying being. The owl is presented with characteristics of the â€Å"night† and â€Å"blackness,† The flowers, on the other hand, are like â€Å"red and pink and white tents. † The color contrast reinforces the complete oppositeness of the flowers and the owl. Contrasting continues throughout the excerpt to display the conflicting character of nature. Nature is so complex that even very similar animals have very differing aspects. Oliver can â€Å"imagine the screech owl on her wrist† and she can learn from the snowy owl, but the great horned owl will cause her to â€Å"fall† if it â€Å"should touch her. † Even though this great horned owl is terrifying, Oliver still is in amazement of it. She says it would become the â€Å"center of her life. † While â€Å"the scream of the rabbit† in â€Å"pain and hopelessness† is terrible, it is not comparable with the â€Å"scream of the owl† which is of â€Å"sheer rollicking glory. † Nature has extremes, and the owl is the extreme of terror. The flowers, however, represent the extreme of happiness. Through parallelism, Oliver exemplifies the happiness given by the fields of flowers. The flowers have â€Å"sweetness, so palpable† that it overwhelms Oliver. She uses phrases continually beginning with â€Å"I’m† and then a verb, to show how the fields engulf her like a â€Å"river. † She is then â€Å"replete, supine, finished, and filled† with an â€Å"immobilizing happiness. † The continual use of adjectives reinforces how the field is so vast and â€Å"excessive† that it creates an almost surreal feeling of satisfaction. Parallelism is also used to describe the great horned owl. The merciless elentlessness of the owl is so great that it hunts â€Å"even skunks, and even cats†¦thinking peaceful thoughts. † Its â€Å"insatiable craving for the taste of brains† is so excessive that the owl is â€Å"endlessly hungry and endlessly on the hunt. † The uncontrollable, terrifying nature of the great horned owl fu rther emphasized because â€Å"if it could, it would eat the whole world. † The owl causes so much terror that soon enough the terror becomes â€Å"naturally and abundantly part of life,† any life of any world. The terror even fills the â€Å"most becalmed, intelligent sunny life† that Oliver lives in. Despite the massive contrast between the two extremes of nature, there is still a universal concept of nature. Both the owl and the field of flowers are overwhelming, vast and â€Å"excessive. † The owl is so overpowering that â€Å"if it could, it would eat the whole world. † The fields â€Å"increase in manifold† creating an â€Å"immutable force. † Oliver asks two rhetorical questions, â€Å"And is this not also terrible? † and â€Å"Is this not also frightening,† to describe the excessiveness of the fields and also the owl. But, even though Oliver is frightened, she is also amazed. While continuously describing the owl as terrifying, Oliver still acknowledges that the owl is â€Å"perfect† and â€Å"swift. † Even though the fields of roses seemingly engulf in a terrifying manner, it still creates a feeling â€Å"full of dreaming and idleness. † The combination of opposites, the owl and the field of roses, shows how nature can be seemingly paradoxical by being both cruel and sweet at the same time. By being so complex, nature also requires a complex response. Oliver’s emotional and sensuous response is filled with conflicting feelings of fear, happiness, and amazement to show her attachment to nature.

Five ways tools can help you tackle Twitter - Emphasis

Five ways tools can help you tackle Twitter Five ways tools can help you tackle Twitter The basic Twitter.com platform is surprisingly inflexible. For example, it doesnt allow you to schedule tweets for later, monitor how many people have clicked on your links, combine multiple accounts or view more than one stream of information at a time. So most people who embrace Twitter use a variety of tools and apps to improve their experience. 1. Dashboard Two of the most popular dashboards are Tweetdeck (which started out as a separate entity but was bought by Twitter in May 2011) and Hootsuite. Both are free and let you view several streams simultaneously (for example your own tweets, replies to your tweets, direct messages or your timeline) in adjacent columns. Theyre also good for managing multiple Twitter accounts at the same time, and scheduling tweets. The main difference is that Tweetdeck is a desktop app so its not ideal if you hotdesk or work from several locations, while Hootsuite is browser based and therefore more portable. 2. Scheduled tweets Buffer offers even easier tweet scheduling, where instead of programming in a time and date for each tweet, you simply set a pattern. For example, you could program it to send two tweets a day, at 12.30pm and 3.30pm, Monday to Friday. Then you just fill up the dashboard with your tweets and drag and drop them into the order you want. It also tracks the performance of tweets sent through Buffer, letting you know how many clicks, retweets, replies and favourites they received, as well as their potential reach. 3. Collaborative tweeting If youre setting up a Twitter account that several people will contribute to, GroupTweet is well worth a look. It allows multiple users to post tweets to one account, either through the GroupTweet dashboard, or via their personal account using the relevant @ address or hashtag. The basic version is free, but if you want to be able to moderate and schedule tweets, youll need to upgrade at a cost of $4.99 a month. 4. Collating tweets On Twitter.com, your tweets dont stay around for long. If you need to retrieve something that you tweeted, or was tweeted to you, more than a couple of weeks back, youll be lucky if you can still find it. Searching in Google can help, but it depends how far back you want to go. Rather than digging around to try and find important tweets after the fact, favourite them at the time. Or if youre having a discussion and you want to save all of it, use Storify. Its great for saving brainstorming sessions for later heres one of mine discussing the differences between lunch, tea and dinner (a brainstorm of such epic dimensions that I still havent written the article I intended to). 5. Performance analysis It can be tempting to try to measure your Twitter performance, but proceed with caution. Basically, youre already doing it right if people are talking to you, RTing you or opening your links, and if your number of followers is growing. However, if you do want a little feedback, there are services available. Just remember to take what they say with a pinch of salt, and not get too caught up in the idea of performance after all, its about communication and relationships, not numbers. One interesting service is Crowdbooster, which shows you which of your tweets have been most popular and how many people they have potentially reached (it calls these impressions). It also reminds you about tweets you havent yet replied to, offers you the opportunity to schedule tweets for later and even advises you about what it thinks is the best time of day to tweet to your followers. If you just want to use it with one Twitter account, its free. To add more, youll have to pay ($39 a month for ten accounts, $99 a month for 30 accounts). A more controversial service is Klout, which scores your social influence between 1 and 100 based on data such as follower and following numbers, retweets and interactions. Its accuracy, however, is debatable. For example, it thinks I am influential not just about Brighton (fair enough, I live there) but Afghanistan and the Chicago Bears (neither of which I recall ever tweeting about). Over to you What tools do you use and recommend, and why? Well be writing more about Twitter in the new year, so wed love to hear your tips. You can either comment below or tweet us on @EmphasisWriting. Want more guidance on how to write for Twitter? See our Four tips for effective tweeting.

Prison Prevents Violence Essays - Behavior, Dispute Resolution

Prison Prevents Violence Essays - Behavior, Dispute Resolution Prison Prevents Violence Prison Prevents Violence Violence is a major concern amongst the youths of this generation. It is an important issue that is being neglected. Several causes that may lead to this behavior would be the surroundings the youths are brought up in, or the image they wish to present themselves as - macho, tough, and untouchable. However, the causes are not important. What is important is the solution we can provide in order to help these youths stop violence. One solution to prevent youth violence would be to take them on a field trip to the local prison to spend a day as a prisoner. According to West Midlands Police Museum, spending a day in jail would mean eating repetitive, unappealing food such as oatmeal, bread, and potatoes. Daily chores include laundry, yard work, and general maintenance. However, the worst experience of going to jail would mean having freedom taken away. If the youths spent a day living behind bars, they would hopefully learn to cherish freedom more. By going to jail, the students would realize this and change their violent behaviors. Another reason that going to jail may prevent youth violence is that the prisoners in there doing time already can tell them nonfiction, breath-taking stories. This would be a memorable experience that would linger within the youths. Stories might include how the trial impacted their families, the regrets that they have (if any), or how guards treats them. It is not the outside world where orders from parents could be disregarded. The prisoners have to listen to every order that is given to them, or a severe punishment would be the outcome. One story that might be of interest belongs to J.J Maloney, an ex-prisoner of Missouri State Penitentiary. He stated that [s]tabbings and killings, robberies and rapes were common (1). Every time youths choose violence as the answer to their problems, they could think of how the prisoners are treated in jail and how much pain they are living with. Furthermore, spending a day in prison can be a solution for youths to stop violence because delightful activities are limited - no more video games, no more long conversations with friends on the phone, no more parties to attend. The guilty have nothing to show for themselves; they are shameful and prideless individuals who have lost their souls. However, a negative factor of this field trip would be the exposure and easy access of drugs. Maloney adds that even captains on the guard forceowed their souls to certain convicts that sold them the drugs (1). He further elaborates: in a one-week period, one inmate smuggled in 14 ounces of amphetamine, another inmate 2 ounces, and another four ounces. So much dope was available, in so many hands, it was almost impossible to sell all of it. Then, in one 24-day period, four inmates were murdered (Maloney 2) It is evident that only one day is enough for youths to spend at the prison for violent behaviors to stop. Longer visits would likely cause another major concern in youths the use of drugs. The opportunity to take a prison fieldtrip would be very unusual, but it would give the youth a chance to have a taste of the consequence without actually committing the crime. This may not help all of the students, but if one would change their violent behavior because of this field trip, then the time spent in organizing it would already be worth it.

The Kea speaks from Dunedin Botanical Gardens Essays

The Kea speaks from Dunedin Botanical Gardens Essays The Kea speaks from Dunedin Botanical Gardens Paper The Kea speaks from Dunedin Botanical Gardens Paper In The Kea speaks from Dunedin Botanical Gardens written by Janet Frame, an idea worth learning about is how people, including the readers, will not or do not reach their full potential due to being trapped or restricted. By using the kea in the text, Frame Is able to show the significance of the Idea as the Kea compares the life of the readers to itself. Frame portrayed the importance of this idea through the use of connotative language, metaphors and contrasting language. Frame shows how people, including the readers, will not or do not reach their full attention due to being trapped or restricted Is an Important Idea through connotative language. Connotative language was used in the text to portray and enhance the negative meanings and ignorance within the text. Connotative language Is used throughout the poem but a specific example of Its use may be found within the sentence: While the peach-faced lovebirds huddle together close to the earth In this sentence, the words with connotations are huddled and close. The word huddled refers to the contact between the two birds and close to the distance or pace between those birds and the earth. In context, the words may seem positive, but are negative because the Minimal meaning Is of how people solely stay nearby each other and will only keep notice of, as well as keep close to, the ground. Through deeper meaning, this means that even though people may be trapped, they have chosen to, pretended to, or do not notice themselves being imprisoned and will tolerate the conditions they are In. Their Ignorance is what limits and encases them, whether or not they are aware. Negative connotations used within the text may also e found in the first stanza as while my neighbor three cages away cries, Woe O Woe. This example consists of connotative words, including cages, cries and woe. All these words have negative meanings attached to them as cages imply Imprisonment and restrictions, cries imply deep sorrow and troubles, and woe with grief and distress. The meanings of these words are relative to the idea of being unable to reach our full potential or aspirations as the words include meanings that would restrict an average person from fulfilling his/her goals. Frame portrays the Idea with the thoughts of how being trapped also means to be limited and all the negativity of the feelings involved will bring a person from achieving and reaching their own best. By being unable to distinguish whether or not they are free, it will either bring confusion to the person affected or go by unnoticed and is another reason as to why the mall idea of limitations Is worth learning about. By using connotative language such as those In the examples shown, Frame Is able to implement more negativity into the text so the reader is able to truly grasp how readers being trapped is. This feeling will then enumerate with the feelings the reader will have when questioning his/her own freedom. Through Frames use of connotative language, she has shown the Importance of the Idea and why It was 1 OFF poem. Janet Frame used also used metaphors as a technique within the text. By using this technique, Frame is able to show the comparison between the kea and the readers/ people. An example of the use of metaphors may be found within the beginning of the second stanza: l too, like you, have a ceiling of wires to my aspirations. Through this example, Frame is able to give the readers a sense of imprisonment and limitations of their freedom and choice. Frame purposely used metaphors for a psychological reason; to make the readers question their own freedom as well as others. Through the strategic use of the seas current state, Frame makes a direct comparison and portray the significance of the idea by the use of metaphors so the readers would recognize the mutual states between the kea and herself/himself. Frame also used a metaphor in the last stanza of the text to enhance and deepen the dead and its significance by the lines If you were to write a poem about me you would say, Pity the seas imprisonment. But it would be yourself you pitied in your own prison. This metaphor develops the idea of the readers and people being caged and restricted, therefore not being able to reach their full potential or aspirations and adding to the idea of limitations. This metaphor also compares the mutual states between the readers and people, and the kea. These metaphors are worth learning about as they may be related back to modern society because many people, including he reader, have restrictions and limits to their full potential and aspirations, whether or not they are the cause of it. There is a vast range of factors that limits us as humans, such as family, friends, culture, religion, our surroundings, educations, wealth, health and even ourselves. Within peoples everyday life, these restricting factors may occur, but may go unnoticed by those affected by it. Another notable technique used by Frame was contrasting language. Contrasting language was used to deepen the comparisons between the readers and people, and the kea. It was also used to deepen the significance of the idea and develop the thoughts of the readers and his/her freedom. In the first and last line of the poem, l have learnt how to walk upside down like a fly and you have not yet learned to walk upside down like a fly, Frame deliberately used contrasting language so the reader would have closure that would have been linked with the beginning. This adds to the structure of the text, therefore the readers would be more considerate of the poem as a whole and acknowledge the main idea and significance of the poem while reading links and connections between the multiple language features. In this example, you are able to notice that she has shown the idea of restriction by comparing the difference in skill between her readers/people and the kea. In the poem, this shows that even though we seem to be free and the kea trapped, the kea has gained more skill than we have. The thoughts the readers would have when reading the contrasting language and meaning behind it, make it an idea worth learning about. Contrasting language was also used later in the first stanza, as well s the last as l can sense, though not see, the sky. And you can both sense and see the sky. By this example, Frame expresses the senses and the limitations of them. Another sense, is able to recognize where it is, whereas the readers are able to both sense and see the sky. This reinforces the idea of how we are free but also trapped. Frame has used contrasting language here to provoke the thoughts of the readers about their freedom and choice. This technique relates to the idea worth learning about beca use through the use of contrasting language, Frame influences he idea of imprisonment and limitations. People of modern society will assume they are free because they can both sense and see the sky but are actually controlled by limiting factors in their lives that prevent them from reaching their aspirations and reach their full potential. In Frames mind, she created this commendable poem to compare and contrast the differences and similarities between the readers and people, and the kea. The idea of how the people, including the readers, can not reach their full potential due to limitations is definitely an idea worth learning about in The Kea speaks from Dunedin Botanical Gardens by Janet Frame. Frame emphasizes this idea through the use of connotative language, and by adding deeper meaning to her text, is able to show the significance of the idea. She also used metaphors by making direct comparisons for the reader to develop more of an understanding. To then further develop the idea, Frame used contrasting language, in order for the reader to consider more carefully the idea. By using these techniques, Janet Frame is able to portray the significance of the idea and why it was worth learning about.

Alcoholism diseases for mankinds Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Alcoholism diseases for mankinds - Essay Example ic, and environmental factors that influences its advancement and manifestation and it is associated with many possible causes and numerous detrimental effects on the alcoholic. Some of the alcoholism diseases of mankind are liver cirrhosis, schizophrenia, and hepatitis C infection. According to MedicineNet (2014), liver cirrhosis is one of the most severe forms of alcoholic related liver diseases especially amongst people drinking excessively. The disease normally see the healthy cells of the liver tissue replaced by scar tissue in the process known as fibrosis thus making the liver tissue to become lumpy and hard instead of smooth. Some of the early symptoms of alcohol induced cirrhosis include loss of appetite, feeling sick and vomiting, itchy skin, and weight loss. However, when the conditions progresses the symptoms may include yellowing of skin, swelling in the abdomen, muscle wasting, bruising and bleeding easily, confused feeling, or having poor memory and sexual changes. It is worth noting that liver always has significant function of processing alcohol one drinks. Conversely, it can only handle a specific amount of alcohol and therefore heavy or regular drinking puts strain and eventually damages the liver. The damage on the liver makes it less able to perform the function of processing chemical substances, which is a risky because the gradual damage on the liver may finally make it stop working properly (MedicineNet, 2014). Many alcoholics have ended up dying because of inappropriate medication or fatal cases of alcohol induced liver cirrhosis. The damage caused on the liver is irreversible although further damage may be stopped if individuals stop drinking. There a number of heavy drinkers who have undergone liver transplant because of their damaged livers. Additionally, the second disease caused by alcoholism is schizophrenia mostly because alcohol is highly abused apart from nicotine. People suffering from schizophrenia consume alcohol for same

Human Rootedness and Its Importance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Human Rootedness and Its Importance - Essay Example By establishing a hierarchy in the appreciation of the senses though, there is also the propensity for man to detach himself from his inherent humanness. Apparently, it is not just vision that makes a human being; it is also the other four senses. Aside from sight, man can only enjoy his existence and make it relevant if he has the senses of hearing, touch, scent, and taste. In fact, he can even discern further on the existence of other things by using not just his eyes but all the other faculties related to the other four senses. This is the point raised by Juhani Pallasmaa in the book The Eyes of the Skin: Architecture and the Senses. In Vision and Knowledge, which is a definitive portion of the book, the renowned architect provides valuable philosophical inputs on the dominant mode of thinking regarding the designs of buildings and other works of architecture. Pallasmaa categorically expresses the perspective that the overemphasis on vision and the tendency to set aside or to rele gate the other senses to a minor role can be seen in the very architectural designs that are prevalent. As a consequence, building designs too are no longer anchored on comprehensive humanness but only one aspect, vision, which is often associated to aesthetics when it comes to architecture. Pallasmaa’s view, however, is not only relevant to architecture. It may even be considered as a current truth seen in how human beings actually treat themselves and everything else that surrounds them. By ignoring the importance of the other four senses, people are predisposed to lose their human rootedness. By losing such rootedness, they drift towards the creation of objects that are not really founded on the most positive and innate characteristics of humans. The feeling of the alienation and detachment not just from others but from one’s own humanness can be attributed to environmental factors. Ironically, such external conditions are not natural but are made by man too. As an architect, Pallasmaa points out that the man’s own products in building design and construction have led to such situation. He writes that â€Å"the growing experiences of alienation, detachment, and solitude in the technological world today, for instance, may be related with a certain pathology of the senses.† (284) It is clear that technology is a product of man’s ingenuity. Since it is always associated with the future, technology is a product of man’s vision. The other senses could only appreciate the present; it is vision that is capable of grasping the things that has yet to come. However, alienation and solitude are obvious symptoms of the lack of human rootedness. Human rootedness is the condition in which an individual is in touch with himself and with the world around him. This can only be achieved by relying on all his senses and not just sight. Sight can take one’s attention away from objective conditions but the other senses would cert ainly keep him grounded. It is true that having sight means having sense of direction. With it, man is able to build and travel from the present to the future. However, â€Å"the art of the eye has certainly produced imposing and thought-provoking structures, but it has not facilitated human rootedness in the world.† (Pallasmaa 286) There are beautifully designed buildings that satisfy the sight but have failed to provide contentment to the individual. There are structures that may be visually appealing but also strike a feeling of loneliness and of isolation. There are imposing buildings that convey authority but these also trigger the sense of isolation of those who do not own or control it. All these are proofs that the neglect of other senses and the overemphasis on sight can adversely affect

People who want to migrate to a country , do so because they want to Essay

People who want to migrate to a country , do so because they want to live that country's lifestyle and culture - they should assimilate and fit in or leave - Essay Example In other words migrants are to face a dilemma and either assimilate and fir in new community or just leave and get back home to the old one. In the period between 1950 and 1965 thousands of Dutch migrants came to New Zealand with poor English language skills; and around 10 per cent of them got back home because they failed to assimilate and learn new language (Crezee, 2012). On the other hand, some researchers believe that behavior patterns incidental to a certain culture are the result of individual choice (Wallendorf, & Reilly, 1983). Certainly, in case migrant fail to assimilate and respect the lifestyle of the new community that they have chosen to be their home, there is a serious possibility such migrants are not going to become successful members of such community and might as well be driven out of it. According to Dustmann, the feeling of national identity and family context influence the integration ability of migrants more than any other factors (37). If a migrant is not re ady to accept a new lifestyle and fit in different cultural context, he or she is most likely to fail in terms of assimilation. Thus, social integration is more important than economic integration. The ability to socialize in new environment and acquire new friends is also an important precondition for successful assimilation of a migrant (Facchini, Patacchini, & Steinhardt, 2014). All in all, assimilation is the most important factor within the process of successful integration of migrants. Failure to integrate into a new community is predefined by the inability to get assimilated culturally and socially. Crezee, I. (2012). Language shift and host society attitudes: Dutch migrants who arrived in New Zealand between 1950 and 1965. International Journal of Bilingualism 16.4 (2012): 528-540. The British Psychological

Nutrition and fitness (answer the questions) Essay - 2

Nutrition and fitness (answer the questions) - Essay Example While exercising, muscular endurance is essential because the continual pressure exerted on the muscles makes it possible to carry out heavy tasks without becoming tired. There exists a relationship between muscular strength and muscular endurance because one cannot exist without the other. Muscles occupy forty percent of body mass. The body depends on muscles for movement and because of this mass they are responsible for a portion of the metabolism that takes place inside bodies. Strong, well toned muscles help make work that had seemed difficult become easy to do and complete. To increase muscle endurance, an individual has to have strength in the muscles. This is because if a person has the strength, then building up endurance will happen rather quickly while a person with little or no muscle strength may take longer to increase muscle endurance. The continual exertion of force on the muscle with much heavier loads over a long period causes the muscle to harden and expand thus increasing the endurance level the muscle has to stress. This goes to show that muscle endurance goes together with muscle strength. This means that these two processes depend on each other for optimum results. Training teenagers is usually very difficult since they are impatient. This is usually very difficult since they work on gaining muscle endurance without first putting on muscle strength and want results in the quickest way possible. They use any avenue to get the results they need. This is usually very difficult since they work on gaining muscle endurance without first putting on muscle strength. Such actions lead to catastrophic results and injuries such as strains, sprains, dislocations, fractures and tendonitis. Further disregard may lead to other chronic complications, for example, nerve damage, bone stress injuries, muscle overloads and rotator cuff

Medical Error Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Medical Error - Research Paper Example However, hospitals and medical practitioners have consistently showed unwillingness to perform their side of the bargain by making medical error disclosures and apology promptly and in a proper way. The hospital and the individual physicians who operated on Ms. W violated disclosure laws, requiring proper and constant revealing of information concerning treatments and their impacts on the patients to the principal (Gallagher, 2009). Apology laws were also broken. In addition, the organization failed to implement an internal reporting system for critical incidents as required by health regulations; this would have resolved the error before the patient could make contact with her attorney (Pozgar, 2013). In light of these breaches to the law, the hospital is vicariously liable for the medical error committed by its staff. The medical doctors are also liable in their personal capacities for their failure to observe patient safety. As Pozgar (2013) said, the provider failed to adhere to the ethical rules of informed consent, non-maleficence, justice, truthfulness and honesty. The hospital failed to provide the patient with a prompt, detailed confession of the medical error and a genuine apology followed by compensation. Such response could have improved her trust in the hospital and the medical staffs (Gallagher, 2009). This is especially true considering that in most cases, patients and their families regard disclosures as a bold step towards providing sufficient care and that cases of medical error are human. If the provider had observed the ethical rule, the patient would have been more relieved emotionally and. In addition a more effective follow-up treatment plan would have been achieved in a better way. As Gallagher (2009) noted, the ethical failure defined the provider’s hesitant release of information about the error to the family, possibly out of fear that they could initiate legal proceedings against the hospital and the staff for

Nutrition and fitness (answer the questions) Essay - 2

Nutrition and fitness (answer the questions) - Essay Example While exercising, muscular endurance is essential because the continual pressure exerted on the muscles makes it possible to carry out heavy tasks without becoming tired. There exists a relationship between muscular strength and muscular endurance because one cannot exist without the other. Muscles occupy forty percent of body mass. The body depends on muscles for movement and because of this mass they are responsible for a portion of the metabolism that takes place inside bodies. Strong, well toned muscles help make work that had seemed difficult become easy to do and complete. To increase muscle endurance, an individual has to have strength in the muscles. This is because if a person has the strength, then building up endurance will happen rather quickly while a person with little or no muscle strength may take longer to increase muscle endurance. The continual exertion of force on the muscle with much heavier loads over a long period causes the muscle to harden and expand thus increasing the endurance level the muscle has to stress. This goes to show that muscle endurance goes together with muscle strength. This means that these two processes depend on each other for optimum results. Training teenagers is usually very difficult since they are impatient. This is usually very difficult since they work on gaining muscle endurance without first putting on muscle strength and want results in the quickest way possible. They use any avenue to get the results they need. This is usually very difficult since they work on gaining muscle endurance without first putting on muscle strength. Such actions lead to catastrophic results and injuries such as strains, sprains, dislocations, fractures and tendonitis. Further disregard may lead to other chronic complications, for example, nerve damage, bone stress injuries, muscle overloads and rotator cuff

Art and Antiques Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Art and Antiques - Essay Example (MTI, 2005) The modern art market in the UK equals to 26% of the world market, and 50% of the European markets. Modern art includes the works dating since the middle of the 2oth century until the present time. It is notable, that with the changes of the surrounding in which we live, with changing quality and inner style of art, it is also becoming more marketing and some critics even state that modern artists work depending on the marketing conjuncture and the needs and demand at the market; moreover, with the development of media the popularity of selling art through Internet and online auctions acquires new meaning and can soon become the principal means of selling modern art all over the world. The demand for modern art, as well as the prices and revenues tend to go along with the economic cycles; moreover, through the periods of economic recession art appears to be one of the most vulnerable areas and is seriously damaged by financial losses and low demand. As it has been said, the main aim of the work is to conclude, whether the modern art in the market is an attractive object of investment; this is why it should be noted that art was always viewed as the means of investing finances, its profitability is much similar to that of the stock market. (Moore, 2004) Since much art and antiques are viewed as an investment, the art market index correlates approximately with that of the stock market; however, a healthy stock market and higher interest rates also attract capital away from alternative investments. This is because stocks and cash savings produce dividends and returns that are more attractive, when the stock market is buoyant and interest rates high, than the capital exchange value of art and antiques.' (Moore, 2004) It is notable, that recent years have become a landmark in the demand for modern British art - it was constantly growing. The works of art produced through the period of 1920 to 1980 (the period which is supposed to be contemporary) are selling well, and all styles of modern art from conservative realism to post-war abstraction are equally demanded. In order to understand the reason for the positive changes in the UK modern art market and to discuss the principal distribution channels about it, it is worth looking into the depth of the modern art market in the country. International art movements were traditionally much more popular than modern British art, making it come back to the background of the European art market and thus losing its popularity. 'The British have always been peculiarly apologetic about their hometown talents, preferring instead to extort the virtues of their European and American counterparts.' (Woolmer, 2004) Only the recent ten years have become the note of the shift towards the attitudes in the British modern art and the Cork street is now becoming the principal distribution channel, earning serious profits on promoting British art, though only now the British masterpieces start to catch up with the European works of the same level in financial estimates. British art has always been noted to be 'underpriced' and only now the prices for the works of British modern art start to reach the level of their quality. For example, the gentle oil of Sennen Cove by Laura Knight was the real stir at

The United States Annexation of Hawaii Essay Example for Free

The United States Annexation of Hawaii Essay The United States annexes Hawaii in 1900 is Imperialism.Because it had to do with hawaii and their economical power.It also had to do with them other countries fighting over them.It also had to do with Hawaii being scared of countries and their territory nations. The Untied States wanted Hawaii to become a state .In 1959 the Untied states government annexed Hawaii and was later declared a state. The reason why is because British and French governments negotiation on Hawaii for economic privileges. So Hawaii was fearful that it would become one of the territory nation . So the United States signed a treat with them. Which they decalred a friendly relationship. The United States attempts to mediate in the Venezuela -Great Britain dispute in 1895 is Intervention.Because it had ivolvement with foreign power in affairs for another nation.It achieve the stronger powers. There was a dispute between Venezuela and Great Britian. That even Cleaveland invoked the Monroe Doctrine. The United States secretary toke interpretation on the Monroe Doctrine when the dispute occurred between British Guiana and Venezuela.Monroe Doctrine gave United States the authority to mediate the border dispute on the Western Hemisphere.The reason why this was happening because Venezuela and Great Britian disputed over the boundaries deprarting the Venezuela and British Guiana.The bountries claimed gold was in their territory.So thats when United Stated sent a message to the world that they would enforce the monroe Doctrine.They made it clear to them that it was going to be enforced. The United States declines to give aid to Hungarian patriots in 1849 is Isolation.Because it was remaining apart from other nations affairs. Hungary was basically classfied as a national independent country. Note:There is like nothing on Hungarian and why the United Stated declines them Ive looked everywhere I asked my mom if you have any info I will be gladly to refix this one and resubmit it.

Satisfaction And Service Quality In Uk Budget Hotels Tourism Essay

Satisfaction And Service Quality In Uk Budget Hotels Tourism Essay The outline for the research is presented here. It includes Introduction to the topic and of the company. This is followed by Literature Review. Next comes methodology of research and then Analysis and Results. These are followed by Discussion and Recommendation. Finally the Conclusion and its contents are given. The budget hotels or low-cost hotels are in great demand today. This is because currently the world is facing the worst economic recession in decades, which has reduced the ability of people to spend on non-essential products and services like holidays. Also there have been huge cuts in the travel budgets of many firms as a result of which more and more companies are using budget hotels for business travel. Another key target market for budget hotels are the backpackers who stay in either youth hostels or budget hotels. This sentiment has been echoed by the author Fiorentino (1995) stating that budget hotels especially thrive in the recessionary environment. The author has further gone to say that, the budget hotel is not only a booming short-term phenomenon, but a major strategic development in the international hospitality industry that represents the introduction of the no-frills, purpose-designed and branded product concept in hospitality. However the quality of service and the level of satisfaction in such types of accommodation has been an area of interest for academics and hotel managers for a long time. But it is especially important in the current economic scenario and presents a great opportunity to study these. Background The concept of budget hotels originated in America but it is widely used in the developed world including the UK and many successful chains of such hotels are thriving today. Prominent amongst them are Travelodge and Premier Inn. With the exponential usage of the internet in the serach and booking of accommodation there has been an explosion of websites that offer value for money or budget accommodation and this is causing strong demand for such accommodations. Aims and Objectives The aim of this study would be explore the significance of the service quality and satisfaction in the budget hotels operating in the UK. The principal aim of this research will be met by following objectives: To identify factors affecting service quality in UK budget hotels; To explore the consumers perceptions of service quality in UK budget hotels; To explore the consumers expectations for service quality in UK budget hotels; To report the gap between the perceptions and expectations for service quality in UK budget hotels; To study the factors affecting the customer satisfaction in the budget hotels Literature Review Importance of Service Quality The effectiveness and importance of the service quality according to the academics and marketing experts will be researched and written Importance of Customer Satisfaction The effectiveness and importance of the service quality according to the academics and marketing experts will be researched and written Service Quality in Hospitality Industry The quality of service is a much researched subject in the hospitality arena. According to the authors Benà ­tez, Martà ­n and Romà ¡n (2007), Hotels provide an ample range of services to customers, including lodging services, reception, meals, room service, among others. Service quality can be regarded as a composite measure of various attributes. It not only consists of tangible attributes but also intangible/subjective attributes such as safety, quietness, which are difficult to measure accurately and usually studied throughout linguistic information. Thus details and expert views on what constitutes service quality will be researched here. Measurement of service Quality SERVQUAL instrument by Parasuraman, Zeithaml and Berry is the most popular one used in the measurement of quality of service today in the hospitality industry. This is the one which will be used here as well for the measurement of service quality Measurement of customer satisfaction The ways of measuring customer satisfaction are varied from periodic surveys to continuous ones. The best and most popular methods will be studied here. Methodology of Research To assess the service quality and customer satisfaction levels in the firm chosen a number of factors will have to be studied. Both primary and secondary data will be used to understand this. A budget hotel chain in the UK will be chosen and firstly secondary data will be gathered on that organisation to understand its marketing strategies and the overall strategic direction the firm has undertaken. Then a questionnaire will be developed for the survey that will be carried out to gather primary data on that organisation and its customers. Rationale for Research There has been tremendous increase in the number of budget accommodations in the UK and surge in demand created increase in the supply with lots of new budget hotels creeping up in the pre-recession growth years. This led the hotels to compete on prices and service quality was side-lined but the view today is changing and the hotels are feeling that there is a need to focus on the customer satisfaction and quality of service being offered in the budget hotels to gain a sustainable competitive advantage amongst the increase in the competition. However, globally the hotel sector is experiencing the decline in service quality and consumers satisfaction. Decline is perceived by the consumer, because in 1990s consumers expectations were raised to the standard that hotels couldnt sustain and exceed (Briggs, Sutherland, Drummond, 2007:1009). Similar pattern has also been noticed in relation to the budget hotels where, constant updates of tangible and intangible aspects in budged hotels resu lted to development of upper budget hotel type, with the provision of full-service three star hotel facilities (Fiorentino, 1995: 457). There has been a lot of research in the field of service quality and customer satisfaction in the hospitality sector but there is very little such research done in the budget hotel segment which is one of the fastest growing segments in the hospitality industry today. Hence this research attempts to study and evaluate the factors that affect customer satisfaction and service quality. Selection of Research Methodology Secondary data will be used to meet the research objectives. A range of academic journals and other literature will be used to understand the already published experts views and data on the subject. As author Churchill (2001) suggested the data to be collected for this research will be decided on the different aspect of the research and their importance and relevance to this study. Questionnaire Design A structured questionnaire will be designed for the purpose of this study. It will have questions relating to the customer satisfaction and service quality regarding the chosen hotel. The service quality will be based on SERVQUAL elements of Tangibles, Reliability, Responsiveness, Assurance and Empathy. The SERVQUAL is the most popular and commonly used tool for measuring the quality of service in the hospitality sector. The questionnaire will also include question on customer satisfaction. Analysis and Results The data gathered from the survey will be analysed to gain insight into the results and to find the levels of satisfaction and the quality of service offered by the company. The results will be given in both tabulated form as well. Discussion and Recommendation This chapter will discuss the results found and the insight generated by the analysis. It will then give the recommendations for managers Conclusion: This will list the findings of the study and the recommendations for the future studies as well as the limitations of this study

Utopian Visions in Love in the Ruins :: essays research papers

Walker Percy's Love in the Ruins presents a society that is a direct satire of our 21st century American society. Percy takes what he considers the negative elements and situations from our society, and reproduces them, distorting them in order to point out the negativity of them. It seems, then, that the society presented in the novel would be distinctly distopian. However, the view that Percy gives us includes many different segments and views of the society, some of which are very utopian. Some of these mini-utopias are actually in the society, but many more are only dreams of the characters. This is an accurate reflection of our society, there are many situations that are utopian for certain people, and every one of us creates utopia in our minds from time to time. Paradise Estates, where Thomas More lives, is aptly named. Paradise is a place where everyone gets along well, the liberals and conservatives, the unbelievers and Christians, the Northerners and Southerners. The distribution is not even, there are minorities, but the majority groups are open to the customs of the minorities. Paradise Estates is community at its best. It is not an intentional community, but rather everyone is free to do what they want and there is love and respect and little argument. Intentional community does have its place, however. The Honey Island Swamp is home to a variety of people, including guerrillas, college dropouts, draft dodgers, radicals, and beats. Some of these people, such as Chuck, came from the town, and have given up city, home, family, career, and religion to live in an intentional community. Chuck's community is different from the community of Paradise estates in that there is common ground that holds the community in place, rather than respect for differences. Chuck's community holds ideals of free love, freedom, peace, and God expressed everywhere. This community is very similar to many of the contemporary utopias that can be found in America today. Normally hospitals are not utopian, but this was not the case for More. More considered his time in the hospital to be "the best months of my life" (p. 90). In his fellow patients, More found love that he was not finding in his life outside of the hospital. Also, while in the hospital, he had the time and resources to do the breakthrough work for his lapsometer, which was his passion at the time. Utopian Visions in Love in the Ruins :: essays research papers Walker Percy's Love in the Ruins presents a society that is a direct satire of our 21st century American society. Percy takes what he considers the negative elements and situations from our society, and reproduces them, distorting them in order to point out the negativity of them. It seems, then, that the society presented in the novel would be distinctly distopian. However, the view that Percy gives us includes many different segments and views of the society, some of which are very utopian. Some of these mini-utopias are actually in the society, but many more are only dreams of the characters. This is an accurate reflection of our society, there are many situations that are utopian for certain people, and every one of us creates utopia in our minds from time to time. Paradise Estates, where Thomas More lives, is aptly named. Paradise is a place where everyone gets along well, the liberals and conservatives, the unbelievers and Christians, the Northerners and Southerners. The distribution is not even, there are minorities, but the majority groups are open to the customs of the minorities. Paradise Estates is community at its best. It is not an intentional community, but rather everyone is free to do what they want and there is love and respect and little argument. Intentional community does have its place, however. The Honey Island Swamp is home to a variety of people, including guerrillas, college dropouts, draft dodgers, radicals, and beats. Some of these people, such as Chuck, came from the town, and have given up city, home, family, career, and religion to live in an intentional community. Chuck's community is different from the community of Paradise estates in that there is common ground that holds the community in place, rather than respect for differences. Chuck's community holds ideals of free love, freedom, peace, and God expressed everywhere. This community is very similar to many of the contemporary utopias that can be found in America today. Normally hospitals are not utopian, but this was not the case for More. More considered his time in the hospital to be "the best months of my life" (p. 90). In his fellow patients, More found love that he was not finding in his life outside of the hospital. Also, while in the hospital, he had the time and resources to do the breakthrough work for his lapsometer, which was his passion at the time.

Fahrenheit 451: Books - A Part Of Our Past :: essays research papers

Fahrenheit 451: Books - A Part of Our Past   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the biggest issues raised in this book was the idea that people are starting to forget more about books and what they mean. People have started to take books for granted, instead of reading books they watch a movie or a program on the television. People do not realize that books, scrolls, manuscripts are a big part of our past.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Since the beginning of time, people have been recording things they saw, did and took part in on birch bark and later very primitive paper. People do not realize that without those scratching on the birch bark that we would have no recollection of the past. Sure there would have been word of mouth, but things would have gotten so turned around that it would not have been our past anymore, it would have been a made up one. In the time of Shakespeare there were no televisions, not even close to that technology yet. Who would we study and learn about, if no one had written things. Man kind would be studying the man who had invented the television because he would have been able to record himself, and then everything after that, which is only about fifty years. But without the recordings of Einstein and all the other famous scientists, television probably would not be invented that early.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In our day and age people are watching too much television. We figure that everything that is in books is on the television. If we need to learn about something we rent a movie about it or watch a show on it. No one reads books anymore just for the fun of it, or so they can read the paranormal, science fiction, horror, classics, fiction or non-fiction novel that surround our world. If we want to see stuff like that we will watch â€Å"The X-Files† or rent a Stephan King movie. Actually when you read books there is much more satisfaction about it. They help you develop your imagination which can be very good in many things. The description in them makes you use your brain to see the picture and the action behind it. The picture that comes into your head is more real than the picture on the television. It never seems like they just threw a dummy out the window, it actually looks real in your head. When you read stuff like â€Å"Moby Dick†, you actually see Captain Ahab and Ishmael and the rest of the crew trying to slay the great Sperm Whale, then you see the

David Brooks -One Nation Slight Divisible Essay

Brooks discussed the differences between the two groups. He described how â€Å"Red America† was made up of farmers and rural communities, while â€Å"Blue America† consisted of big cities with many stores and businesses. As Brooks looked at the red and blue sections of the electoral map, he was interested in the reasons behind the voting patterns. He chose two cities to represent these two sections: Franklin County in Pennsylvania for â€Å"Red America†, and Montgomery County in Maryland for â€Å"Blue America†. He lived in Montgomery county and spent time talking with different people in Franklin county. Brooks began to look deeper at the reasons for the differences between the two groups and wondered if America was really a united nation anymore. The first reason that Brooke considered was economics. He examined his theory that the rich and the poor have separated. The blue states had higher incomes, higher end stores, and jobs. Brooks asked people if they agreed that money was   what had divided the U.S. Although most people greed with that statement, most did not consider themselves the people with less, and it was the ones with less that seemed more content with what they had. As he spent more and more time with the people, he found that it was really not money that split the nation. . The next idea he had was religion. He found that the percentage of people involved in religion was higher in red states. There were more churches in Franklin, and more people attended a weekly religious service. Even with these statistics, Brooks again found it was not religion. He found there were still †bad people† and problems in both cities. Yes there were differences, but the differences didn’t seem to be enough to divide the nation. The final hypothesis Brooks dove into was self. Brooks saw that in â€Å"Red America† there was less striving to be unique and impress others. Humility was much more prevalent in the red states, while people in the blue states tended to place a larger focus on self. Brooke’s decided that this was a big difference, but not big enough to be the reason for division. After looking at all these thoughts, Brooks concluded that the U.S. is not divided, but instead it is a â€Å"Cafeteria Nation.† Brooks said that everyone has their own group to hang out with, just like what you would find in a school cafeteria. There may be differences between people, but in the end they all come together as a nation to help each other in times of trouble. Brooks used the example of 9/11, to demonstrate this principle and then concluded that our nation was not and is not divided after all.

African Literature Essay

Despite the ignorance of most so called â€Å"literati† to the domain of African literature, African literature in fact is one of the main currents of world literature, stretching continuously and directly back to ancient history. Achebe did not â€Å"invent† African Literature, because he himself was inundated with it as an African. He simply made more people aware of it. The Beginnings of African Literature The first African literature is circa 2300-2100, when ancient Egyptians begin using burial texts to accompany their dead. These include the first written accounts of creation – the Memphite Declaration of Deities. Not only that, but ‘papyrus’, from which we originate our word for paper, was invented by the Egyptians, and writing flourished. In contrast, Sub-Saharan Africa feature a vibrant and varied oral culture. To take into account written literary culture without considering literary culture is definitely a mistake, because they two interplay heavily with each other. African oral arts are â€Å"art’s for life’s sake† (Mukere) not European â€Å"art’s for art’s sake†, and so may be considered foreign and strange by European readers. However, they provide useful knowledge, historical knowledge, ethical wisdom, and creative stimuli in a direct fashion. Oral culture takes many forms: proverbs and riddles, epic narratives, oration and personal testimony, praise poetry and songs, chants and rituals, stories, legends and folk tales. This is present in the many proverbs told in Things Fall Apart, and the rich cultural emphasis of that book also is typically African. The earliest written Sub-Saharan Literature (1520) is heavily influenced by Islamic literature. The earliest example of this is the anonymous history of the city-state of Kilwa Kisiwani. The first African history, History of the Sudan, is written by Abd al-Rahman al-Sadi in Arabic style. Traveling performers, called griots, kept the oral tradition alive, especially the legends of the Empire of Mali. In 1728 the earliest written Swahili work,Utendi wa Tambuka borrows heavily from Muslim tradition. However, there are little to no Islamic presence in Things Fall Apart. The Period of Colonization With the period of Colonization, African oral traditions and written works came under a serious outside threat. Europeans, justifying themselves with the Christian ethics, tried to destroy the â€Å"pagan† and â€Å"primitive† culture of the Africans, to make them more pliable slaves. However, African Literature survived this concerted attack. In 1789, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustava Vassa was the first slave narrative to be published. Kidnapped from Nigeria, this Ibo man wrote his autobiography in Great Britain in English, and like Achebe used his narrative as a platform to attack the injustices of slavery and cultural destruction. Back in Africa, Swahili poetry threw off the dominating influence of Islam and reverted back to native Bantu forms. One exemplar of this was Utendi wa Inkishafi (Soul’s Awakening), a poem detailing the vanity of earthly life. The Europeans, by bringing journalism and government schools to Africa, helped further the development of literature. Local newspapers abounded, and often they featured sections of local African poetry and short stories. While originally these fell close to the European form, slowly they broke away and became more and more African in nature. One of these writers was Oliver Schreiner, whose novel Story of an African Farm (1883) is considered the first African classic analysis of racial and sexual issues. Other notable writers, such as Samuel Mqhayi and Thomas Mofolo begin portraying Africans as complex and human characters. Achebe was highly influenced by these writers in their human portrayal of both sides of colonization. Emerging from Paris in the 1920s and 1930s, the negritude movement established itself as one of the premiere literary movements of its time. It was a French-speaking African search for identity, which ofcourse took them back to their roots in Africa. Africa was made into a metaphorical antipode to Europe, a golden age utopia, and was often represented allegorically as a woman. In a 1967 interview, Cesaire explained: â€Å"We lived in an atmosphere of rejection, and we developed an inferiority complex. † The desire to establish an identity begins with â€Å"a concrete consciousness of what we are–†¦that we are black . . . and have a history. . . [that] there have been beautiful and important black civilizations†¦that its values were values that could still make an important contribution to the world. † Leopold Sedar Senghor, one of the prime thinkers of this movement, eventually became president of the country of Senegal, creating a tradition of African writers becoming active political figures. Achebe was doubtless familiar with the negritude movement, although he preferred to less surrealistic and more realistic writing. In 1948, African literature came to the forefront of the world stage with Alan Paton’s publishing of Cry the Beloved Country. However, this book was a somewhat paternalistic and sentimental portrayal of Africa. Another African writer, Fraz Fanon, also a psychiatrist, becomes famous in 1967 through a powerful analysis of racism from the African viewpoint – Black Skin, White Masks. Camara Laye explored the deep psychological ramification of being African in his masterpiece, The Dark Child (1953), and African satire is popularized by Mongo Beti and Ferdinand Oyono. Respected African literary critic Kofi Awoonor systematically collects and translates into English much of African oral culture and art forms, preserving native African culture. Chinua Achebe then presents this native African culture in his stunning work, Things Fall Apart. This is probably the most read work of African Literature ever written, and provides a level of deep cultural detail rarely found in European literature. Achebe’s psychological insight combined with his stark realism make his novel a classic. Post-Achebe African Literature Achebe simply opened the door for many other African literati to attain international recognition. East Africans produce important autobiographical works, such as Kenyans Josiah Kariuki’s Mau Mau Detainee (1963), and R. Mugo Gatheru’s Child of Two Worlds (1964). African women begin to let their voice be heard. Writers such as Flora Nwapa give the feminine African perspective on colonization and other African issues. Wole Soyinka writes her satire of the conflict between modern Nigeria and its traditional culture in her book The Interpreters (1965). A prolific writer, she later produces famous plays such as Death and The King’s Horseman. Later, in 1986, she is awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. African Literature gains more and more momentum, and Professor James Ngugi even calls for the abolition of the English Department in the University of Nairobi, to be replaced by a Department of African Literature and Languages. African writers J. M. Coetzee, in his Life and Times of Michael K. written in both Afrikaans and English for his South African audience, confronts in literature the oppressive regime of apartheid. Chinua Achebe helps reunite African Literature as a whole by publishing in 1985 African Short Stories, a collection of African short stories from all over the continent. Another African writer, Naguib Mahfouz, wins the Nobel Prize in literature in 1988. In 1990 African poetry experiences a vital comeback through the work I is a Long-Memoried Woman by Frances Anne Soloman. African Literature is only gaining momentum as time marches onwards.

Financial and Corporate Actions of Laird plc Essay

Financial and Corporate Actions of Laird plc - Essay Example Materials division manufactures equipment that shields electromagnetic interferences, thermal management systems, signal integrity equipment, etc (Laird, 2014c). The global electronics and instruments industry has seen a growth of 4.3 percent in the year 2011 and has been evaluated at $1,844.3 billion (MarketLine, 2012). This study is focused on the company’s financial details including the company turnover, industry performance, and market report and market share. It also includes the last few years’ financial performances of the company, its financial activities and its internal and external performance analysis. As stated in the above figure, the company had made the highest revenue in 2011, as it discontinued some of its operations that year, which added to the total revenue (Laird, 2014e). However the revenues generated from the continued operation has been increasing:  £491.3 min 2011,  £520.2 min 2012 and  £537 min 2013 (Laird, 2014d). The profitability has decreased severely in 2011 and again increased in 2013, but in the recent year, it has been seen to have a downward trend (Laird, 2014d). The downward trend is mostly because of the lower sales volume due to high competition and the high fixed cost of operation (Morningstar, 2014a). The operating profit has increased from 2011 and is almost steady in past two years. It is clearly seen that after discontinuing some of its operations, Laird has increased its profitability. In the last year, i.e.2013, the Performance Materials division made revenue of  £342.8 million, which is 6 percent more than previous year’s revenue that is  £324.7 million. The IT and Telecom sector made the maximum revenue of 35 percent, followed by the Smartphone business which made 24 percent. The Wireless Systems division made revenue of  £194.2 million which is 1 percent less than the previous year that is  £195.5 million.  

Professional Rounds in Education (Resources 7-12) Essay

Professional Rounds in Education (Resources 7-12) - Essay Example After the assessment, effective strategies observed can be borrowed and applied in bettering the education sector. The book describes the emergence of rounds as having been inspired by reflection. It is revealed that from the early 90s, educators used to come together and share issues which concerned their education at Harvard Graduate School of Education. These educators began visiting different schools, then sharing unique experiences collected by other schools. This idea was derived from medical schools in which apprenticeship was used to educate students. The learners would follow the doctors to patient wards and learn from seeing them execute their duties. Similarly, educators took to sharing their own experiences in rounds, and from which they would share and earn new ideas from fellow educators. It is the application of these new experiences which led to the realization that rounds were effective means of improving educational issues, or better still, solving problems related to the same. In a nutshell, Lyons sought to extend the knowledge regarding the power of reflection beyond professions such as medicine and law, and introduce it to the general teaching or learning. Apart from the history of rounds, the author brings out the application of reflection as applies across all professions as a means of bettering them. This source highlights the actual steps which an instructor (teacher) can apply in providing effective education. It provides three main applicable strategies and these are setting and communicating the goals of learning, analyzing students’ progress, and finally enjoying the success. It defines the issue of setting and communicating the goals of learning as the first step which has to be implemented. These steps are applicable both within and beyond the classroom for the establishment of effective learning. The author states that setting goals can be used to track

Shell Canada Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Shell Canada - Essay Example The company specializes in the production and sale of a number of products including natural gas, crude oil, solvents, diesel fuels, gas, ethane, butane, asphalts, propane, lubricating oils, greases, sulphur, gasoline and natural gas liquids, just to name but a few. Shell also provides a number of services which include refining, marketing, and transporting petroleum products (Shell Canada Limited, 2007). Value chain Shell’s value chain refers to all the activities that take place in the company with the aim of increasing customer satisfaction while managing cost of production effectively. In this regard, Shell has three key value chain components, including fuel supply, customer support, and maintenance. As such, once the petroleum products have been produced, Shell ensures that they are transported to the customers efficiently and timely. In addition, the company has an efficient customer support team whose mandate is to ensure that customer’s demands are met. The maintenance component of Shell’s value chain is concerned with ensuring that the plant and transport facilities are in good condition to enhance the production and supply of products to the customers (Shell Canada Limited, 2007). Competitors Shell Canada operates in a very competitive business environment. In fact, most of its strategies are aimed at ensuring that it competes favorably with other players in the industry. Currently, Shell Canada has three major competitors, which include Imperial Oil Limited, Suncor Energy Inc., and Canadian Natural Resources Limited. This company poses the greatest threat to Shell Canada in the oil industry (Shell Canada Limited, 2007). ... ive strategy The management of Shell Canada understands that, for the company to gain competitive advantage of its main rivals, it must improve the quality of product and service delivery to its customers. In this regard, the company focuses on the production of quality petroleum products that suit the needs of its customers. The company has also focused on the delivery of best customer service by establishing a customer support department that handles all customer queries and problems. In addition, the company intends to have a wide outreach by exploring and producing petroleum products in other countries. This will help increase its customer base, thereby according it a competitive advantage over its rivals. Further, the company is in the process of designing the most modern technology that will enable it conduct deep-sea exploration as a means of moving ahead of its competitors. At the same time, Shell intends to adopt a technology that will enable the company produces petroleum i n an environmental friendly manner. The company believes that reducing environmental pollution will enable it explore several markets without resistance from the governments and the locals (Shell Canada Limited, 2007). Q#2. The world has experienced rapid technological advancements over the past few decades. The new technological have had a huge impact in most business operations. In fact, no single company can compete favorably in the present business environment without the integration of technology. The same applies to Shell Canada, whose competitiveness depends on how well it introduces and uses technology. Currently, Shell can benefit significantly by introducing a number of technologies in its business operations. ERP Firstly, the implementation of ERP technology can be of huge

Balancing cooperation and competition. Strategic planning in the Assignment

Balancing cooperation and competition. Strategic planning in the public sector - Assignment Example Balancing cooperation and competition. Strategic planning in the public sector Today, organizations are focusing on how to survive amidst emerging challenges in their external environment. This has led to such organizations developing adaptability measures that facilitate their survival and success in the long run. In spite of this, organizations are forced to strike a fit between cooperation and competition, in the industry in which they operate in, as well as their own survival is to be sustained in the long run. This study explores how Microsoft has stricken a fit between cooperation and competition in its operations while at the same time collecting feedback to identify and support emergent behavior. In the past two decades, Microsoft has been faced by increasing level of competition in its software and web based solutions market. The organization understands that in the technology industry, cooperation is inevitable. For instance, the organization faced a lot of competition from SAP and Siemens. These two organizations went ahead and launched patent battles with Microsoft. While down playing their views and purely taking a legal and competitive approach could have granted Microsoft short term success, the organization opted to cooperate and collaborate with the rivals, resulting to a cross licensing arrangement. This significantly enhanced the ability of the organization to continue using such rights through cooperation while at the same time enhancing its competitiveness in the market. The experience boosted Microsoft’s ability to enhance cooperation in other areas of operation including marketing for mutual benefits. (Vidal, & Nossol, 2011). Microsoft has remained stead fast in promotion of cooperation with its customers. In 2006, the organization adopted a more collaborative approach in the industry, something that enhanced its access to unique technology from rivals while at the same time empowering them to establish more product lines that the organization was not focused on. One of the outstanding occurrences towards this end by Microsoft with competitor is the collaboration with Linux, a product developed by a competitor to the organizations Microsoft word among others. This increased interoperability of Linux with Microsoft word (Microsoft News Centre, 2008). This implies that Microsoft customers of windows could open Linux using such windows while Linux customers could enjoy Microsoft windows in opening of Linux documents. This resulted to mutual benefit between the two organizations and minimization of patent disagreements and legal battles between the firms. In the past two decades, Microsoft has relied on employee, customer and competitor feed back to enhance its success in the industry. By collecting feedback from its competitors such as Samsung and the Linux software developer company, the organization was able to identify emerging needs and opportunities that could be served through collaboration (Microsoft News Centre, 2008). The organization thus fostered a two way form of communication between such firms and the organization. In an effort to ensure that such viable environment positioning is sustained, the organization always focus at hiring the best employees in the industry in terms of skill and engages them in periodic appraisal (Tyler, & Blader, 2003). In situations where performance is found to be low, such employees are engaged in skills development. In fact, the organization has adopted a culture of continuous learning. All these moves have enhanced sustainability and success of the organization in its dynamic operating environment (Tjosvold, & Johnson, 2003). References Microsoft News Centre (2008). Mi crosoft’s collaboration imperative. Retrieved April 11, 2013 from http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/ofnote/04-01-08GutierezIAMArticle.mspx Tjosvold, D., & Johnson, D. (2003). Can interpersonal competition be Constructive within organizations? The Journal of Psychology 137(1), 63-84.