Essay about Equality Is the Center of Society - 703 Words

People of the Revolutionary generation frequently spoke of equality and how the concept related to their own lives. Noah Webster stated that â€Å"equality†¦ is the very soul of a republic† (Webster) and this thought was echoed by many of his contemporaries, but their statements were not in favor of full equality. When most people of the Revolutionary generation spoke in support of equality they spoke about equality for the group they belonged to, not full equality for all people in all ways. They partially agreed with Webster’s statement, but this disjointed approach may have slowed the progress of reforms such as abolition and equal suffrage. The rights of women before the law began to be discussed after the publication of the†¦show more content†¦African Americans were another group who were obviously not treated equally in the Revolutionary generation. The majority of African Americans in America were slaves; were held to have no rights and only c ounted as three fifths of a person when being counted for census. The slaves understood what was meant in the Declaration of Independence and began seeking freedom from their masters before the American Revolution was won. In 1777 a group of slaves petitioned the Massachusetts Legislature to declare them free, stating that slaves â€Å"†¦have in Common with all other men a Natural and Unaliable Right to that freedom.† They continue by pointing out that they never gave up their rights as free men, but were captured and forced into slavery (Natural and Inalienable Right). Slaves were not the only African Americans who had fewer rights than white Americans. A group of free African Americans petitioned the Senate of South Carolina to repeal the Negro Act which unconstitutionally prevented them from testifying in court. Their petition showed how they were law abiding and tax-paying citizens, and even stated they did not want â€Å"†¦equal footing with the Free whi te citizens of the State in General†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Bricklayer, Mathews and Butchers) but their petition was rejected (A Memorial). I addition to minorities some white men were discussing the issues ofShow MoreRelatedEquality Is The Central Point Of Discussion928 Words   |  4 PagesEquality In America Throughout the history of America, equality has always been the central point of discussion in society. Many believe that America has reached the point of equality where everyone is equal. Obviously this is not the case, but we have made great strides to reach a world where everyone is equal. However, America has made great improvements in making equality relevant in todays society. Although contemporary society has succeeded in making â€Å"equality† a reality, I claim that it hasRead MoreThe Downfalls of Egalitarianism and Television989 Words   |  4 Pagesemperor, only later to be killed by the handicap general Diane Moon. In â€Å"Harrison Bergeron,† Kurt Vonnegut satirizes the movement toward egalitarianism and the effect of television on people. Egalitarianism can be absurd and detrimental to American society. In the story, heavy weights are put on strong people, and grotesque masks are put on attractive women. Harrison straps are guaranteed to hold, â€Å"five thousand pounds† (6). Also, many other people who have an above average intelligence often listenRead MoreCase Analysis : Plainfield Healthcare Center Essay1455 Words   |  6 PagesPlainfield Healthcare Center, is a nursing home in Indiana that cares for an elderly women with frail health. The center has a black certified nurse name Brenda Chaney who works diligently every single day for her assigned patients. All nurse in the center have a duty to keep records of the patients’ conditions and any special request from them. In accordance with the Indiana state law where the nursing home has to accommodate any patient who had decided to live in the center with the right to chooseRead MoreThe Downfalls of Egalitarianism and Television964 Words   |  4 Pagesemperor, only later to be killed by the handicap general Diane Moon. In â€Å"Harrison Bergeron,† Kurt Vonnegut satirizes the movement toward egalitarianism and the effect of television on people. Egalitarianism can be absurd and detrimental to American society. In the story, heavy weights are put on strong people, and grotesque masks are put on attractive women. Also, many other people who have an above average intelligence often listen to loud noises which render them from completing a thought (5-7). Harrison’sRead MoreWeek 7 Diversity Organizations Paper Eth/125895 Words   |  4 PagesPaper 7/21/2013 Women have had a rough way to go for many years when it comes to equality. They face many negative things in today’s society and that is the way it has been for many years. History shows that women have been fighting for equality for decades, because many people believe they just can’t do the things that men can. There’s a website that has been helping women fight for that equality since 1966. That website is www.now.org. Before then women never really had any help. TheyRead MoreEssay about Is Equality Truly Equal?1311 Words   |  6 Pagesbreadwinner†¦When women’s wages are lowered due to gender discrimination, their families’ incomes are often significantly lowered as well† (Glynn). This is a problem that is constantly being ignored, but no more, it must be addressed in order to make equality equal. Because employers assume that women are prone to focus more time on their family and less towards furthering their own career, therefore we should pass the Paycheck Fairness Act of 2013, since the law would provide the same pay to women asRead MoreThe First Half Of The 19th Century1497 Words   |  6 Pagesindependent based on the nature of reality, rather than having society tell people what they ought to do. The transcendentalists were involved deeply in a form of philosophy known as idealism. The basic belief of idealism is that the world is made up of ideas or consciousness. The real importance of everything, the philosophy suggests, is the universal mind. Only the enlightened individual has the ability to see reality as it really is. â€Å"At the center of their critique was a concern for the quality of lifeRead MoreThe Role Of Traditional Household Gender Roles1710 Words   |  7 Pageswithin the household. Women are traditionally homemakers and men assume the sole status of breadwinner. However, in modern day society men are becoming more open to the idea of gender equality in regards to family ro les. Mothers and society are socializing individuals with this norm. Currently, there is a gradual transition from a male dominant society to gender equality. This paper will look at the impact of traditional household gender roles by analyzing the following questions: 1. Why is thereRead MoreTheme Of Larisa Shepitkos Wings825 Words   |  4 PagesThe Soviet Gender Equality Paradox In the 60s, Soviet films begin to interpret WWII as a tragedy and a triumph (23). Larisa Shepitko’s Wings (1966) is about a female war veteran’s identity crisis in the post-war society. It depicts the ambivalent treatment of women in the patriarchal society, in which women who experience greater freedom in wartime and are expected to assume a more restrained domestic role. The film shows this internal conflict of the protagonist, Nadezhda Petrukhina, through aRead MoreAnthem Analysis722 Words   |  3 PagesThe dystopian novella, Anthem, is set in an age in which every aspect of life is controlled by oppressive leaders. In this society, everyone was deemed equal to each other, meaning no new ideas were allowed and the past could not be discussed. Individuals are told they exist only for the sake of serving society and have no other purpose. Strict rules were put in place involving everyone’s daily lives, their partners, and even when they were allowed to smile. The goal of this controlling environment

A Study On Seismic Wave - 4065 Words

CHAPTER -2 REVIEW OF LITRETURE 2.1 Introduction Most of today’s producing naturally fractured reservoirs were discovered accidentally, they were found by somebody who are looking for some other type of reservoir. Significant volume of hydrocarbon resides in these reservoirs. But these are abandoned particularly in fields because improper testing and evolution or because the wells did not intersect the natural fractures (Aguilera, 1998). Attempts have been made to quantify properties of such reservoir (Chaki et al., 2014). It has been long recognized that the presence of naturally occurring fracture network can lead to unpredictable heterogeneity and anisotropy within many reservoirs. In past geophysicists acquired and processed P-wave reflection data at short offset, which automatically implied relatively small angular ray coverage. So seismic anisotropy, which is defined as directional dependence of elastic properties of earth remains unnoticed. But with the advance of methodologies, acquiring long offset and multi-compone nt data become feasible and cost effective, anisotropy showed up. Seismic wave propagation in heterogeneous medium is discussed by Chabak et al., 2012. On a smaller scale, stresses in the Earth can cause rock to fracture in a consistent manner. If these fractures are aligned, the rock will be anisotropic with the fast direction parallel to the fractures and the slow direction perpendicular to them. In ideal cases, these observations can provideShow MoreRelatedA Study On Seismic Waves1888 Words   |  8 Pagesabout Seismic waves in relation to Earthquakes. In other words, we’ll be looking at Seismology, which is the study of the passage of elastic waves through the Earth. Seismic waves are waves of energy caused by the sudden breaking of rock within the earth or an explosion; these waves are the energy that is transmitted through the earth which is recorded on seismographs, which measures, amplifies, and records the motion of the ground (Endsley, 2016). Many different processes generate seismic waves, includingRead MoreThe 3d Seismic Survey Of East Godavari Mangrove Area1336 Words   |  6 PagesThe 3D seismic survey in East Godavari mangrove area has short-term effects on the environment. The surveyed area includes the main six reserved mangrove patches in East coast of India and the process of lying of geophones cables and shoot hole drilling for 3D seismic exploration may lead to the destruction of habitat through clearing the vegetation. Primary sources of disturbances associated with exploration include equipment transportation inside the mangrove, vehicle traffic, shot hole drillingRead MoreEarthquake Literature Review911 Words   |  4 Pages energy causes the seismic waves that make the ground shake. When two blocks of rock or two plates are rubbing against each other, they stick a little. They don’t just slide smoothly; the rocks catch on each other. II. Earthquakes Recordings Earthquakes are recorded by instruments called seismometers, also know as seismograph. These instruments measure the motions of the ground generated by earthquakes, explosions and other seismic sources. TheRead MoreThe Effects Of Seismic Surveys On Fauna1144 Words   |  5 PagesThe present study monitored the direct and indirect Impacts of seismic surveys on fauna of the mangrove using Birds Insects, Crabs, Reptiles and fishes as representative taxa. During the 3D seismic survey, tools, labour and machineries were used inside the mangrove forests. Major sources of faunal impacts observed during the seismic survey operations were from, 1) Physical presence and movement of the labour and machinery within the forest and 2) Noise and vibration generated from shooting (undergroundRead MoreA Brief Note On Seismic Hazard Analysis On The Event Of A Disastrous Seismic Event1225 Words   |  5 PagesSummary of proposed research Seismic hazard analysis is an important tool in mitigating risks in the event of a disastrous seismic event like an earthquake. This can be done by studying the behaviour of the soil in locations that are within seismically active regions using several geophysical methods. This project employs the use the cost-effective microtremor method in studying the site response in Kathmandu, Nepal, following the April 25, 2015 M7.8 Gorkha. Analysis of the field data will yieldRead MoreElectrical Design And Seismic Design Codes Essay1196 Words   |  5 Pages FACULTY OF SCIENCE, ENGINEERING COMPUTING School of Civil Engineering Construction BEng (Hons) Degree in Civil Engineering A Study of Seismic Design and Seismic Design Codes Interim Report Syed Bahrami K1355168 Supervisor Dr Hamid Jahromi Abstract Earthquake engineering is a subject where a person can be overwhelmed with information but still crave for knowledge due to its unpredictable nature. Earthquakes are a natural repetitive occurrence on planet earth, whichRead MoreApplication Of An Aid For Hc Exploration1723 Words   |  7 Pagesexample of aki richards approximation results and conclusions (10-12) results for different methods in class 1 to 4 type sands conclusions Abstract Amplitude-versus-Offset (AVO) inversion has been used to invert seismic reflection data to identify gas bearing sands. There are a number of relations which have been proposed to do this inversion. These relations have been derived from the basic Zoeppritz equations which are nonlinear. In order to be efficiently incorporatedRead MoreSudden and Violent Shifting of Tectonic Plates Cause Earthquakes929 Words   |  4 PagesEarthquakes are a natural phenomena caused by the violent and sudden shifting of plates along tectonic boundaries. Movement of tectonic plates releases stored energy producing seismic waves, which travel through the solid rock of the upper layers of the earth’s crust. Earthquakes occur along belts, circum-Pacific or Alpine, located near the edges of tectonic plates. Energy released by the interaction between two plates can produce severe damage to the surrounding environment. Earthquakes occur alongRead MoreMy Experience On My Life1719 Words   |  7 Pagesplates meet is a hot zone of seismic and volcanic activity. As you can imagine a large amount of tension is created where plates rub, subduct, or separate as the plates get caught on each other and eventually build up stress. Earthquakes happen when this stress releases, or when a sudden shift on the fault line occurs. The place where the movement takes place is known as the focus. This is where a large amount of energy is released in the form of a series of seismic waves (Earthquake). There are twoRead MoreThe Chile Of Peru And Chile1149 Words   |  5 Pagesthat happen due to human cause or are a direct result of a natural event. As a whole, the Peru-Chile Trench has had a huge effect on both timelines, as there are two massive tectonic plates, one being subducted in an ocean. Therefore, there are many seismic events that have taken place on our geologic timeline and at the same time shaped our his toric timeline. The most recent large-scale earthquake along the Peru-Chile Plate was the 16 September earthquake, which happened in 2015. It measured an M 8

Mediating Role of Performance Measurement †Free Samples to Students

Question: Discuss about the Mediating Role of Performance Measurement. Answer: Introduction The report takes an honest attempt to analyze and evaluate remuneration and performance of the company executives. For this reason, three of the major banks of Australia are taken into consideration; they are Commonwealth Bank (CAB), Macquarie Group and Bendigo Bank. This report has significant importance. The report examines the performance of executives of these three companies in compared with the remuneration of them. It can be seen that every company has their own structure of remuneration of the company executives and this remuneration structure one of the major forces behind the performance of the executives as well-structure remuneration packages are prime motivational factors for the company executives. In this report, after the review of selected companies, a comparison is conducted among the remuneration structure of these three companies. After that, based on the summary of findings, the used methods for executive remuneration are analyzed and evaluated. Based on the whol e discussion, some recommendations are provided. Thus, it can be seen that the report has a fare scope to know the method of analyzing and evaluating the executive remuneration report of the companies. Lastly, based on the whole discussion, a conclusion is drown that includes the major results of the report. Regular and purposeful evaluation of the company executives is one of the major features of the effective governance in the companies (Bititci et al. 2012). According to most of the studies, it has been seen that most percentage of the companies use to evaluate the performance of their company executives on the yearly basis. There are some companies that evaluate their executives performance on a more frequents basis (Searcy 2012). However, it needs to be mentioned that performance evaluation of the executives is crucial for the overall performance of the companies (Melnyk et al. 2014). In this regard, a major aspect is the evaluation of the executive remuneration structure of the companies. It can be seen that different companies have their own structure for executive remuneration. The evaluation of executive remuneration and performance is not an easy task for the companies (Teeratansirikool et al. 2013). A responsible and fare executive remuneration structure is considered as one of the major fundamentals for the creation of long-term corporate values (Bugeja et al. 2012). In the last few decades, a large increase in executive remuneration has been noticed for many companies. This increase has led to many political debates along with conflict between company executives and shareholders. This particular report shows various components of executive remuneration of the selected companies (Boyd, Franco Santos and Shen 2012). In this regard, it needs to be mentioned that there are some common ways by which most of the public companies all over the world measure the performance of their company executives. First, it is essential for the company executives to achieve the financial and operational target of the companies. This is the first and most crucial parameter by which the performance of the executives is measured. Executives who have been successful to achieve or overachieve the performance target will be rated high in the performance appraisal. Second, the company executives need to be prompt in responding to the decisions and provided direction of the board of directors. For this reason, the executives need to establish proper communication channels with the board of directors. It is expected from the company executives that they will produce the thorough reports about the overall performance of the organization. This is one of the major parameters for measuring the performance of company executives, as the executives need to have the skill to develop reports regarding the overall performance of the company. It is expected from the executives that they will be able to attend var ious training programs. These training programs are crucial for the development of skill sets and competencies of the company executives. Performance of executives in these training programs is measured for the preparation of executives remuneration structure. Most importantly, company executives need to be able to maintain a healthy and cordial relationship with the company regulators. In addition, the executives of the companies should avoid any kind of conflict of interest in the business organizations. The executives need to develop an ambiance of achievement within the organizations. All these above-mentioned factors need to be considered at the time of measuring the performance of the company executives. Allocation of Executive Remuneration CAB: The target remuneration of CAB is divided into three parts. They are Fixed Remuneration, Long Term Incentives (LTI) and Short Term Incentives (STI). There are two parts in the STI of the company. One part is paid on cash basis and another part is paid on deferred basis for one year (commbank.com.au 2017). From the annual report of this particular organization, it can be seen that there are some specific characteristics or features of the remuneration report of CAB. In the process of fixing the amount of fixed remuneration for the company executives, the board of directors obtains the recommendations from the remuneration committee of the company. At this time, both the board and committee consider some of the important factors like role of the executives, numerous market factors and many others. The remuneration committee uses to review the fixed remuneration of the executives at the end of each financial year on 30 June. Based on this review in 2016, it has been seen that there is a 0.9% increase in the fixed remuneration of the company executives (commbank.com.au 2017). In case of STI of CAB, it needs to be mentioned that the executives of the company are awarded between 0% to 150% of the target of their STI based on their performance. In case, the executives want to resign or they are dismissed from operation before the end of the tenure period, CAB provides them the option to forfeit the deferred position of their STI based on the approval from the remuneration committee and Board of Directors. This is a major remuneration strategy of the company in order to reduce the risk to lose the key executives. The power to make adjustments in executive remuneration structure fully lies in the hands of the Board of Directors. In case of the LTI, the executives of CAB have to wait for a period of four years to exercise the stock option and in this case, the performance of the executives is measured based on Total Shareholder Return (TSR) and the customer satisfaction hurdle. The company executives of CAB receive the full amount of LTI is case their performan ces are able to align with the key business priorities of the company (commbank.com.au 2017). Macquarie Group: In case of Macquarie Group, it can be seen that there are two parts of the executive remuneration of the company; they are Fixed Remuneration and Performance-based Remuneration. Some specific features of the executive remunerations structure of Macquarie Group are there. The fixed remuneration of the executives of Macquarie Group is set by observing the similar roles of executives of the other companies (macquarie.com.au 2017). The fixed remuneration structure of the executives is reviewed on the annual basis. In order to get the performance-based incentives, the executives of the company have to fulfill some major criteria. The contribution of the executives towards the overall profitability of the company is measured at the time of providing the performance-based remuneration. In the performance-based remuneration, Macquarie Group has some major parameters against which the performance f the executives is measured; they are financial performance of the company, ris k management and compliance by the executives, the ability of the executives to lead the organizations and the professional conduct of the executives as per the ethical principles of company code of conducts. Macquarie Group delivers the performance-based remuneration in certain forms. The executives receive retained or deferred earnings for a long period. As per CBA, the executives of Macquarie Group have the power to forfeit their performance-based remuneration in case of early retirement and others. Thus, based on the above discussion, it can be said that Macquarie Group provides the executives with performance-based remuneration based on their performance. These are the major components of the executive remuneration structure of Macquarie Group (macquarie.com.au 2017). Bendigo Bank: There are two parts of the executive remuneration of this bank; they are Fixed Remuneration and Variable Remuneration. Two parts of fixed remuneration are Fixed Base Cash and Deterred Base Equity; and, two parts of variable remuneration are Long Term Incentives (LTI) and Short Term Incentives (STI) (bendigoadelaide.com.au 2017). In this case, it needs to be mentioned that the remuneration report of Bendigo Bank is designed in such a ways so that they can be aligned with the strategic objectives of the company (bendigoadelaide.com.au 2017). The cash portion of executive remuneration of Bendigo Bank is provided based on the roles, responsibilities and overall performance of the group. At the same time, the skills, experience and competencies of the executrices are also considered. The other portion of executive base remuneration is paid in the form of deferred shares that is issue at no cost. However, the condition in the deferred shares is that the executives need to at least complete two years in the organization. After that, based on the performance of the company, the deferred shares are provided to the executives. In case of STI, it is paid to the executives based on the financial performance of the company in the respective financial years. In addition, individual performance of the executives along with the ability to manage organizational risk is considered at the time of providing STI (bendigoadelaide.com.au 2017). In case of LTI, the executives of Bendigo Bank are provided with equity shares of the company. In this process, Bendigo Bank provide grant of performance right and each right represents one equity share of the company. At the time to exercise the rights, the executives of Bendigo Bank do not have to pay any kind exercise price. However, vesting period is applicable for the equity shares of Bendigo Bank in case of LTI. These are the major components of the executive remuneration structure of Bendigo Bank (bendigoadelaide.com.au 20 17). Change in Executive Remuneration Reporting CAB: In 2016, CAB has decided to bring two changes in the executive remuneration structure. First, the executive STI balances performance scorecard will additionally include an assessment of exemplary leadership and exceptional personal demonstration of the vision and values of the bank. CAB is expecting that the introduction of this particular change will be able to measure the performance of executives of this company. As a result, the company will be able to provide the executives with more appropriate remuneration. Second, the Group Leadership Reward Plan (GLPR) of the bank will put more focus on the people and community in order to measure the long-term progress of diversity, sustainability and culture. From this particular change, it can be observed that CAB always cares for their customers and shareholders, as they are the major source of the companys profit. These are two major changes in the executive remuneration report of CAB. With the help of these two changes, CAB will b e able to bring improvements in the executive remuneration structure of CAB. Macquarie Group: From the latest financial of the group, it can be observed that there has not been any change in the executive remuneration structure of the company. Bendigo Bank: From the latest financial of the group, it can be observed that there has not been any change in the executive remuneration structure of the company. CAB: The overall financial performance of the company in compared to executive compensation is shown below: Particulars FY 2016 FY 2015 Cash Net Profit after Tax (NPAT) Cash Earnings per Share (EPS) Dividends per Share Total Shareholders Equity $9,450 million 555.1 cents $4.20 $60,756 million $9,137 million 557.5 cents $4.20 $52,993 million From the above table of executive remuneration, it can be seen that in most of the cases the remuneration of executive has increased in 2016 in compared to 2015. On the other hand, from table 1, it can be seen that cash NPAT and shareholders total equity has also increased in 2016 from 2015 (commbank.com.au 2017). As per the executive remuneration report of CAB, it can be see that there has been a 0.6% increase in the fixed remuneration of the company executives. Here, it needs to be mentioned that companies introduce hike in the executive fixed remuneration so that the overall financial as well as non-financial performance of the company can be improved. From the above table, it can be seen that there has not been any change in dividend per share of the company. Thus, it can be observed that CAB has been able to provide their shareholders with the same percentage of dividend as per the previous year. Macquarie Group: The overall financial performance of the company in compared to executive compensation is shown below: From the above table, it can be seen that there has been an increase in total executive remuneration from 2015 to 2016. On the contrary, improvement in overall financial performance of the company can be seen as there has been increase in NPAT, EPS, dividends and return on equity of the group from 2015 to 2016 (macquarie.com.au 2017). From the above table, it is prominent that there has been rise in the major financial parameter of Macquarie Group, but exception can be notices in the Total Shareholder Return (TSR) in the company. It can be seen that there has been a massive fall in the TSR of the company as it is in negative in 2016. From this aspect, it can be guessed that at some point, the shareholders of the company are not satisfied with the performance of the company. This major point Macquarie Group needs to consider at the time of developing the executive remuneration structure. From the above discussion, it can be seen that there is an increase in executive remuneration of the company from 2015 to 2016. Interestingly, it can also been seen that there has been decrease in NPAT, statutory EPS and total shareholders retune of the bank from 2015 to 2016. However, increase can be seen in cash EPS, cash earnings and dividends from 2015 to 2016 (bendigoadelaide.com.au 2017). Thus, from the above discussion, it can be seen that the financial performance of Bendigo Bank is full of difficulties. Increase can be seen in some of the financial parameters and decrease can been seen in some of the financial parameters. Decrease can be seen in the major financial parameter like NPAT. At the same time, it needs to be mentioned that in the year 2016, TSR is showing a negative value that is not good for the overall betterment of the company. Thus, the management of Bendigo Bank needs to consider these factors at the time of executive remuneration. Comparison of Remuneration Systems According to the above part, it can be seen that these three banks have more or less same executive remuneration structure. The fixed remuneration of CAB includes two components; they are base remuneration and superannuation. CAS provides the base remuneration in the form of cash salary and any salary sacrifice items. In case of STI of CAB, 50% of it is paid in cash and the rest 50% is paid on one year deferred basis. LTI of CAB is equivalent to 1000% of fixed remuneration but is it provided on the required basis of performance of the executives (commbank.com.au 2017). In compare to Macquarie Group with CAB, it can be seen that there is not any subdivision in the fixed and performance based remuneration of the group. In case of Macquarie Group, fixed remuneration of executives depends on their roles and responsibilities where performance bases incentives are provided based on some financial performance parameters like ROI, ROE, Return on Shareholders and others (macquarie.com.au 2017 ). However, lot of similarities can be seen between the executive remuneration structure of CAB and Bendigo. Same as CAB, the base remuneration of Bendigo includes two components; they are fixed base that includes cash salary, superannuation and salary sacrifice items; and deferred base (bendigoadelaide.com.au 2017). STI are paid to the executives in two forms; they are cash and equity. Lastly, LTI is paid to the executives in the form of equity of the company (bendigoadelaide.com.au 2017). Thus, based on the above comparison, it can be said that executive remuneration of CAB and Bendigo is almost similar where the executive remuneration structure of Macquarie Group is different from other two companies. Summary of Findings In case of CAB, it can be seen that the financial performance of the bank has increased along with the increase in executive remunerations. It can be seen that the cash NPAT of CAB has increased along with the total shareholders equity. However, little fall can be seen in the cash EPS of the company (commbank.com.au 2017). In case of dividend per share, there is not any increase or decrease in the value. Thus, on the overall basis, it can be seen that the effectiveness of executive remuneration has contributed towards effective financial performance of the company (commbank.com.au 2017). In case of Macquarie Group, it has been seen that in the year 2016, there has been massive improvement in financial performance of the company as compared to 2015 (macquarie.com.au 2017). In the same year, increase in the total executive compensation can also be noticed. Improvements in various financial aspects like NPAT, EPS, dividends and return on equity can be seen in 2016. Thus, it can be said that the executives got the hike in compensations due to the improved financial performance of the company (macquarie.com.au 2017). However, in case of Bendigo Bank, the situation is different. From the annual report of 2016, it can be seen that there is a massive increase in total amount of executive remuneration in 2016 compared to 2015; but deterioration can be seen in the financial performance of the company (bendigoadelaide.com.au 2017). It has been noticed that EPS, NPAT, share price and total shareholders return has been deteriorate in 2016 massively. Hence, it can be observed that the executives of the bank have failed to perform well in 2016 and in spite of this fact, they got hike in pay. Thus, the executive remuneration structure of the bank is not effective to provide the company with improved financial performance (bendigoadelaide.com.au 2017). Analysis of Remuneration Methods Used From the annual reports of these three companies, it can be seen that each company has approached the executive remuneration report in such a way that it can contribute towards the improved financial performance. For this reason, all three companies have their own executive remuneration philosophy. CABs target is to align the executive remuneration strategy with shareholders interest and overall business strategy so that overall financial performance of the bank can be improved (commbank.com.au 2017). CAB also puts emphasis on managing the organizational risk by the executives. In case of Macquarie, the bank has approached towards the alignment of executive remuneration with the interest of the shareholders and the employees. As per this bank, hike in the executive remuneration is highly associated with some improved financial performance of the company, effective risk management and compliance, business leadership and professional conduct (commbank.com.au 2017). According to the phi losophy of Bendigo Bank, executive remuneration strategy of the bank must have positive relation with good long-term results and effective risk management of the company (macquarie.com.au 2017). Apart from this, as per Bendigo, executive remuneration must have positive relation with the values and cultures of the company (bendigoadelaide.com.au 2017). Thus, based on the above discussion, it can be seen that the executive remuneration strategy of these three companies ensures improved financial performance of the banks. Recommendations Based on the above analysis, some recommendations are provided below: It is recommended to the executives of CAB that they need to develop financial strategies in such a way so that the company becomes able to provide more dividend to their shareholders. It is recommended that Macquarie Group needs to develop effective financial strategies in order to develop total shareholder return (TSR) of the company. It is recommended that Bendigo Bank needs to develop effective financial strategies for the improvident of overall financial position of the company. Conclusion From the whole discussion, it can be seen that CAB and Bendigo Bank has almost similar executive remuneration structure where Macquarie Group has different executive remuneration structure. As per the findings, it can be observed that Macquarie Group has the most effective executive remuneration structure as it has led the company to a largely improved financial condition in 2016. After that, CAB has the second best executive remuneration structure as in most of the financial aspects, the company registered improvement. Most importantly, it needs to be mentioned that Bendigo Bank has the least effective executive remuneration structure as the bank lacks improved financial performance. References bendigoadelaide.com.au. (2017).Annual Financial Report 2016. [online] Available at: https://www.bendigoadelaide.com.au/public/shareholders/pdf/annual_reports/2016-Annual-Financial-Report.pdf [Accessed 30 Aug. 2017]. Bititci, U., Garengo, P., Drfler, V. and Nudurupati, S., 2012. Performance measurement: challenges for tomorrow.International Journal of Management Reviews,14(3), pp.305-327. Boyd, B.K., Franco Santos, M. and Shen, W., 2012. International developments in executive compensation.Corporate Governance: An International Review,20(6), pp.511-518. Bugeja, M., da Silva Rosa, R., Duong, L. and Izan, H.Y., 2012. CEO compensation from MAs in Australia.Journal of Business Finance Accounting,39(9?10), pp.1298-1329. commbank.com.au. (2017).ANNUAL REPORT 2016. [online] Available at: https://www.commbank.com.au/content/dam/commbank/about-us/shareholders/pdfs/2016-asx/2016_Annual_Report_to_Shareholders_15_August_2016.pdf [Accessed 30 Aug. 2017]. macquarie.com.au. (2017).ANNUAL REPORT 2016. [online] Available at: https://www. macquarie.com.au/content/dam/macquarie/about-us/shareholders/pdfs/2016-asx/2016_Annual_Report_to_Shareholders_15_August_2016.pdf [Accessed 30 Aug. 2017]. Melnyk, S.A., Bititci, U., Platts, K., Tobias, J. and Andersen, B., 2014. Is performance measurement and management fit for the future?.Management Accounting Research,25(2), pp.173-186. Searcy, C., 2012. Corporate sustainability performance measurement systems: A review and research agenda.Journal of business ethics,107(3), pp.239-253. Teeratansirikool, L., Siengthai, S., Badir, Y. and Charoenngam, C., 2013. Competitive strategies and firm performance: the mediating role of performance measurement.International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management,62(2), pp.168-184.

Strategies for Resolving Team Conflict Essay Example

Strategies for Resolving Team Conflict Essay Intenational Affairs Strategies for Resolving Team Conflict Ciuchi Madalina Comanescu Andreea Ivan Adrian Group 412 2nd year Strategies for Resolving Team Conflict Many organizations, including colleges and major corporations, have begun the process of implementing work team systems. Teams present a greater diversity of knowledge, ideas, and experience than any one individual can offer. This diversity often helps to improve quality, create collaboration, enhance information exchange, and provide a sense of community and support to the team members ; however, it can also foster conflict. Conflict is a part of everyday life and is generally caused by individual opinions and differences. â€Å"When individuals work in teams, differences in power, values, attitudes, and social factors can all contribute to conflict†. Avoiding conflict completely is impossible; however, the resulting outcome does not have to be negative. Using effective strategies to manage conflict can present positive consequences as well. Preventative Measures Prevention is usually the best cure for most problems. When all members participate in setting rules and guidelines, open communication and mutual understanding is created within the team that may defuse a conflict before it becomes a problem. â€Å"It is, after all, easier to agree on guidelines and processes everyone believes are fair when things are going well, rather than when the team members are in the midst of conflict†. When the team makes these decisions as a group instead of receiving direct instructions from an authority figure, they are able to take ownership in the decision made and enforce it more effectively. We will write a custom essay sample on Strategies for Resolving Team Conflict specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Strategies for Resolving Team Conflict specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Strategies for Resolving Team Conflict specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer In addition, various training courses and workshops are offered that team members can take advantage of to build awareness and acquire skills which could reduce or even prevent conflicts from arising in the first place. Some of these programs include team building, diversity training, communication workshops, and conflict management seminars. First Steps in Conflict Resolution Despite exercising preventative measures, the possibility that conflict may occur still exists. When conflict does arise, the first step is to analyze and understand the problem. The team members should try to discover the causes and reasons for the disagreement. Each team member should examine their own individual response to the conflict and determine if their reactions are supportive of or interfering with the overall success of the team. The team members should also examine the consequences of not being able to solve the conflict, as well as discuss ways to settle the conflict within the team. Finally, the team should decide which conflict resolution strategy to apply to the situation. Employing Conflict Resolution Strategies After the team members have analyzed the conflict and have a complete understanding of the situation, they are then equipped to resolve the conflict by employing the conflict resolution strategy which they have decided upon as a team. â€Å"Ralph H. Kilmann and Kenneth W. Thomas, authors of the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument, have identified five general approaches to dealing with conflict:    avoidance; accommodation; competition; compromise; and collaboration† . Each style of dealing with conflict varies in the degrees of cooperativeness and assertiveness. Cooperativeness refers to the party’s desire to satisfy the other’s concern, and assertiveness describes the party’s desire to satisfy their own concern . While most people generally have a preferred conflict resolution style, different styles can be useful in different situations. No one strategy is appropriate in all situations—each requires a different amount of time, energy, and cooperation. Avoidance This style of conflict resolution usually attracts people who are trying to evade conflict completely. In this instance, the parties are neither assertive nor cooperative. Avoidance is usually demonstrated by delegating controversial decisions, accepting default decisions, and not wanting to hurt anyone’s feelings. This is an appropriate strategy to use when winning becomes impossible, when the conflict is unimportant, or when someone else is in a better position to solve the problem. This strategy is sometimes used when the parties involved need time to control their emotions. Accommodation This style of conflict resolution indicates a willingness to meet the needs of others at the expense of the person’s own needs. In this instance, cooperation is high and assertiveness is low . Accommodation allows a person to be persuaded to surrender his or her own position even though the submission is not justified. This is an appropriate strategy to use when issues are more important than the other party, when harmony is more valuable than winning, or when pacifying another person becomes important. This approach is sometimes used to establish goodwill that can be traded for favors in the future . Competition This style of conflict resolution is often used by people who know what they want and take a firm stand; they are usually in a position of power or have a strong persuasive ability. In this instance, cooperation is low and assertiveness is high. This is an appropriate strategy to use when an emergency occurs and a decision needs to be made quickly, when the decision is not a popular one, or when one party is trying to exploit the situation. However, this style can cause unsatisfied or resentful feelings in some team members when used in less urgent situations. Compromise This style of conflict resolution is often used to find a solution that will partially satisfy everyone involved. Each party, including the compromiser, is expected to relinquish something. In this instance, both medium assertiveness and cooperation are prominent. This is an appropriate strategy to use when the cost of conflict is higher than achieving the team’s goals, when equally matched parties are at an impasse, or when a deadline needs to be met in a short amount of time. Collaboration This style of conflict resolution is used when attempting to meet the needs of all people involved. In this instance, both cooperation and assertiveness are high, and the concerns are equally important. This is an appropriate strategy to use when a variety of viewpoints need to be addressed, when there have been previous conflicts within the group, or when the situation is too important for a simple exchange of position. With the collaboration strategy, everyone wins; however, the technique does require the most time and effort in order to resolve the situation. Team Benefits and Challenges As stated earlier conflict can be either a negative or positive experience for a team, depending on how the situation is processed and resolved. In many cases, effective conflict resolution skills can make the difference between positive and negative outcomes. Usually negative conflict will damage a team’s dynamics, which prevents the members from functioning as a group and achieving their combined goals. Conflict can be destructive when no decision has been reached and the problem still exists; when it iverts energy away from more important activities; when it destroys morale; and when it divides teams. In contrast, when conflict is resolved successfully, positive outcomes prevail. Successful conflict resolution not only solves the problem that has been brought to the surface, but it also benefits the team in some unexpected ways. Conflict can be constructive when people change and grow personally from the conflict; when a solution the problem is found; when it increases the involvement of the team, and when it builds cohesiveness among the team members. Conflict Management in the Workplace â€Å"Conflict is a part of everyday working life yet its a situation and an area of skill development that many employees avoid. † The fundamentals of conflict management include improving communication, promoting teamwork and an orderly approach to solving disagreements. There are various ways to manage conflict in the workplace. Author Carter McNamara, of Basics of Conflict Management, defines conflict as â€Å"when two or more values, perspectives and opinions are contradictory in nature and havent been aligned or agreed about†. Sometimes conflict can be a positive force within an organization, while other times it is a negative force. An example of conflict as a positive force is that the resolution may lead the company to constructive problem solving. It may also lead people to find ways of changing how they do things or view themselves and others. The resolution process can bring a positive change within an organization. However, conflict can also have negative effects. For example, conflict may lower morale or lessen productivity. It also may negatively affect the mental well-being of employees and cause stress. Supervisors must be sensitive to the consequences of conflict. These consequences range from negative outcomes to include loss of employees, low quality of work, and stress, to positive outcomes such as personal satisfaction, high quality of work, and increased commitment. Author Lyndsey Swinton of â€Å"Workplace Conflict Management: Strategy for Successful Resolution†, suggests some ways to manage conflict to include:    avoidance, accommodation, compromise, competition and collaboration. Avoidance is a non-assertive, non-co-operative way of dealing with a situation. It can be useful if the conflict is not urgent but avoiding the person can bring more stress into the work environment over long term. Accommodation is when one side will win, and one will lose. One person is allowed to get their way, but from a management standpoint if this strategy is used repeatedly, then co-workers may feel their voice is never heard. Compromise offers some assertiveness and cooperation. Both parties involved must give and take in their situation so that both can walk away feeling they met in the middle. Competition style has a steamrolling effect. It is a win-lose approach. With this style one person is allowed to push their ideals through but if they fall short, they stand on their own with no support of their coworkers. A collaborating style is a win-win approach brought about by sharing and reviewing the reasons the conflict even came about. This approach can be very time consuming and is rarely used unfortunately because it is the most fair to all parties involved. Studies on different styles of resolutions indicate that teamwork is the best approach to managing workplace conflict. This tends to promote successful individuals with high performance levels and results in positive feelings between staff and employees. The collaborating style works best for some. It is a step by step approach utilizing the chain of command to resolve conflict. First, the incident is reported to the supervisor. The supervisor then gathers information to gain a better understanding and then identifies possible causes. Then the issue is taken to the Human Resource department so an appropriate solution can be decided upon. Then all parties involved return to execute the solution. Conflicts are part of individual relationships and organizational development, and no organization can hope to mature to productivity and be successful without being able to resolve conflicts effectively† . Conflict resolution is an essential part of maintaining a successful workplace and the techniques and approaches should be utilized separately or in conjunction with each other, in order to promote a more unified work environment. Conclusion Conflict can be incredibly destructive to good teamwork. Differences between team members can quickly escalate causing the members to become ncooperative if not managed properly, eventually threatening the mission of the team. This is particularly true in cases where the wrong approaches to conflict resolution are applied. To control these situations, it helps to take a positive approach to conflict resolution. Positive conflict resolution focuses on courteous and non-confrontational discussion, as well as on the issues instead of on the individuals. As long as team members listen carefully to one another and explore the facts, issues and possible solutions properly, conflict can often be resolved effectively. References Capozzoli, T. (1995). Resolving Conflict within Teams. The Journal for Quality and Participation, 18(7), 28. Retrieved December 3, 2008, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID:    8928676). DeJanasz, S. , Dowd K. , Schneider B. (2002). Interpersonal Skills in Organizations. New York: McGraw-Hill. pp. 241-259. Kerr, R. (2005). Work Team Conflict Resolution. Retrieved December 2, 2008, from http://www. uwstout. edu/rs/2005/article2. pdf Mind Tools (2008). Resolving conflict rationally and effectively. Retrieved December 2, 2008, from http://www. mindtools. com/pages/article/newLDR_81. htm Porter, S. (2003). Managing Conflict in Learning Teams. University of Phoenix. pp. 1-9. Strategies for Resolving Team Conflict Essay Example Strategies for Resolving Team Conflict Essay Intenational Affairs Strategies for Resolving Team Conflict Ciuchi Madalina Comanescu Andreea Ivan Adrian Group 412 2nd year Strategies for Resolving Team Conflict Many organizations, including colleges and major corporations, have begun the process of implementing work team systems. Teams present a greater diversity of knowledge, ideas, and experience than any one individual can offer. This diversity often helps to improve quality, create collaboration, enhance information exchange, and provide a sense of community and support to the team members ; however, it can also foster conflict. Conflict is a part of everyday life and is generally caused by individual opinions and differences. â€Å"When individuals work in teams, differences in power, values, attitudes, and social factors can all contribute to conflict†. Avoiding conflict completely is impossible; however, the resulting outcome does not have to be negative. Using effective strategies to manage conflict can present positive consequences as well. Preventative Measures Prevention is usually the best cure for most problems. When all members participate in setting rules and guidelines, open communication and mutual understanding is created within the team that may defuse a conflict before it becomes a problem. â€Å"It is, after all, easier to agree on guidelines and processes everyone believes are fair when things are going well, rather than when the team members are in the midst of conflict†. When the team makes these decisions as a group instead of receiving direct instructions from an authority figure, they are able to take ownership in the decision made and enforce it more effectively. We will write a custom essay sample on Strategies for Resolving Team Conflict specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Strategies for Resolving Team Conflict specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Strategies for Resolving Team Conflict specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer In addition, various training courses and workshops are offered that team members can take advantage of to build awareness and acquire skills which could reduce or even prevent conflicts from arising in the first place. Some of these programs include team building, diversity training, communication workshops, and conflict management seminars. First Steps in Conflict Resolution Despite exercising preventative measures, the possibility that conflict may occur still exists. When conflict does arise, the first step is to analyze and understand the problem. The team members should try to discover the causes and reasons for the disagreement. Each team member should examine their own individual response to the conflict and determine if their reactions are supportive of or interfering with the overall success of the team. The team members should also examine the consequences of not being able to solve the conflict, as well as discuss ways to settle the conflict within the team. Finally, the team should decide which conflict resolution strategy to apply to the situation. Employing Conflict Resolution Strategies After the team members have analyzed the conflict and have a complete understanding of the situation, they are then equipped to resolve the conflict by employing the conflict resolution strategy which they have decided upon as a team. â€Å"Ralph H. Kilmann and Kenneth W. Thomas, authors of the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument, have identified five general approaches to dealing with conflict:    avoidance; accommodation; competition; compromise; and collaboration† . Each style of dealing with conflict varies in the degrees of cooperativeness and assertiveness. Cooperativeness refers to the party’s desire to satisfy the other’s concern, and assertiveness describes the party’s desire to satisfy their own concern . While most people generally have a preferred conflict resolution style, different styles can be useful in different situations. No one strategy is appropriate in all situations—each requires a different amount of time, energy, and cooperation. Avoidance This style of conflict resolution usually attracts people who are trying to evade conflict completely. In this instance, the parties are neither assertive nor cooperative. Avoidance is usually demonstrated by delegating controversial decisions, accepting default decisions, and not wanting to hurt anyone’s feelings. This is an appropriate strategy to use when winning becomes impossible, when the conflict is unimportant, or when someone else is in a better position to solve the problem. This strategy is sometimes used when the parties involved need time to control their emotions. Accommodation This style of conflict resolution indicates a willingness to meet the needs of others at the expense of the person’s own needs. In this instance, cooperation is high and assertiveness is low . Accommodation allows a person to be persuaded to surrender his or her own position even though the submission is not justified. This is an appropriate strategy to use when issues are more important than the other party, when harmony is more valuable than winning, or when pacifying another person becomes important. This approach is sometimes used to establish goodwill that can be traded for favors in the future . Competition This style of conflict resolution is often used by people who know what they want and take a firm stand; they are usually in a position of power or have a strong persuasive ability. In this instance, cooperation is low and assertiveness is high. This is an appropriate strategy to use when an emergency occurs and a decision needs to be made quickly, when the decision is not a popular one, or when one party is trying to exploit the situation. However, this style can cause unsatisfied or resentful feelings in some team members when used in less urgent situations. Compromise This style of conflict resolution is often used to find a solution that will partially satisfy everyone involved. Each party, including the compromiser, is expected to relinquish something. In this instance, both medium assertiveness and cooperation are prominent. This is an appropriate strategy to use when the cost of conflict is higher than achieving the team’s goals, when equally matched parties are at an impasse, or when a deadline needs to be met in a short amount of time. Collaboration This style of conflict resolution is used when attempting to meet the needs of all people involved. In this instance, both cooperation and assertiveness are high, and the concerns are equally important. This is an appropriate strategy to use when a variety of viewpoints need to be addressed, when there have been previous conflicts within the group, or when the situation is too important for a simple exchange of position. With the collaboration strategy, everyone wins; however, the technique does require the most time and effort in order to resolve the situation. Team Benefits and Challenges As stated earlier conflict can be either a negative or positive experience for a team, depending on how the situation is processed and resolved. In many cases, effective conflict resolution skills can make the difference between positive and negative outcomes. Usually negative conflict will damage a team’s dynamics, which prevents the members from functioning as a group and achieving their combined goals. Conflict can be destructive when no decision has been reached and the problem still exists; when it iverts energy away from more important activities; when it destroys morale; and when it divides teams. In contrast, when conflict is resolved successfully, positive outcomes prevail. Successful conflict resolution not only solves the problem that has been brought to the surface, but it also benefits the team in some unexpected ways. Conflict can be constructive when people change and grow personally from the conflict; when a solution the problem is found; when it increases the involvement of the team, and when it builds cohesiveness among the team members. Conflict Management in the Workplace â€Å"Conflict is a part of everyday working life yet its a situation and an area of skill development that many employees avoid. † The fundamentals of conflict management include improving communication, promoting teamwork and an orderly approach to solving disagreements. There are various ways to manage conflict in the workplace. Author Carter McNamara, of Basics of Conflict Management, defines conflict as â€Å"when two or more values, perspectives and opinions are contradictory in nature and havent been aligned or agreed about†. Sometimes conflict can be a positive force within an organization, while other times it is a negative force. An example of conflict as a positive force is that the resolution may lead the company to constructive problem solving. It may also lead people to find ways of changing how they do things or view themselves and others. The resolution process can bring a positive change within an organization. However, conflict can also have negative effects. For example, conflict may lower morale or lessen productivity. It also may negatively affect the mental well-being of employees and cause stress. Supervisors must be sensitive to the consequences of conflict. These consequences range from negative outcomes to include loss of employees, low quality of work, and stress, to positive outcomes such as personal satisfaction, high quality of work, and increased commitment. Author Lyndsey Swinton of â€Å"Workplace Conflict Management: Strategy for Successful Resolution†, suggests some ways to manage conflict to include:    avoidance, accommodation, compromise, competition and collaboration. Avoidance is a non-assertive, non-co-operative way of dealing with a situation. It can be useful if the conflict is not urgent but avoiding the person can bring more stress into the work environment over long term. Accommodation is when one side will win, and one will lose. One person is allowed to get their way, but from a management standpoint if this strategy is used repeatedly, then co-workers may feel their voice is never heard. Compromise offers some assertiveness and cooperation. Both parties involved must give and take in their situation so that both can walk away feeling they met in the middle. Competition style has a steamrolling effect. It is a win-lose approach. With this style one person is allowed to push their ideals through but if they fall short, they stand on their own with no support of their coworkers. A collaborating style is a win-win approach brought about by sharing and reviewing the reasons the conflict even came about. This approach can be very time consuming and is rarely used unfortunately because it is the most fair to all parties involved. Studies on different styles of resolutions indicate that teamwork is the best approach to managing workplace conflict. This tends to promote successful individuals with high performance levels and results in positive feelings between staff and employees. The collaborating style works best for some. It is a step by step approach utilizing the chain of command to resolve conflict. First, the incident is reported to the supervisor. The supervisor then gathers information to gain a better understanding and then identifies possible causes. Then the issue is taken to the Human Resource department so an appropriate solution can be decided upon. Then all parties involved return to execute the solution. Conflicts are part of individual relationships and organizational development, and no organization can hope to mature to productivity and be successful without being able to resolve conflicts effectively† . Conflict resolution is an essential part of maintaining a successful workplace and the techniques and approaches should be utilized separately or in conjunction with each other, in order to promote a more unified work environment. Conclusion Conflict can be incredibly destructive to good teamwork. Differences between team members can quickly escalate causing the members to become ncooperative if not managed properly, eventually threatening the mission of the team. This is particularly true in cases where the wrong approaches to conflict resolution are applied. To control these situations, it helps to take a positive approach to conflict resolution. Positive conflict resolution focuses on courteous and non-confrontational discussion, as well as on the issues instead of on the individuals. As long as team members listen carefully to one another and explore the facts, issues and possible solutions properly, conflict can often be resolved effectively. References Capozzoli, T. (1995). Resolving Conflict within Teams. The Journal for Quality and Participation, 18(7), 28. Retrieved December 3, 2008, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID:    8928676). DeJanasz, S. , Dowd K. , Schneider B. (2002). Interpersonal Skills in Organizations. New York: McGraw-Hill. pp. 241-259. Kerr, R. (2005). Work Team Conflict Resolution. Retrieved December 2, 2008, from http://www. uwstout. edu/rs/2005/article2. pdf Mind Tools (2008). Resolving conflict rationally and effectively. Retrieved December 2, 2008, from http://www. mindtools. com/pages/article/newLDR_81. htm Porter, S. (2003). Managing Conflict in Learning Teams. University of Phoenix. pp. 1-9.

The Basics of Mammalian Temperature Regulation

The Basics of Mammalian Temperature Regulation Do you find it surprising that reindeer, which spend much of their time standing in snow, dont get cold feet? Or that dolphins, whose thin flippers are gliding constantly through cool water, still manage to pursue very active lifestyles? A special circulatory adaptation known as countercurrent heat exchange enables both of these animals to maintain the appropriate body temperature in their extremities, and this is only one of the many clever adaptations mammals have evolved over the last hundred million years to help them to deal with variable temperatures. Mammals Are Endothermic All mammals are endothermic- that is, they maintain and regulate their own body temperature, no matter the external conditions. (Cold-blooded vertebrates, like snakes and turtles, are ectothermic.) Living in widespread environments around the world, mammals face daily and seasonal fluctuations in temperatures and some- for example, those indigenous to harsh arctic or tropical habitats- have to deal with extreme cold or heat. To maintain their correct internal body temperature, mammals must have a way to produce and conserve body heat in colder temperatures, as well as dissipate excess body heat in warmer temperatures. The mechanisms mammals have for producing heat include cellular metabolism, circulatory adaptations,  and plain, old-fashioned shivering. Cellular metabolism is the chemical process that constantly occurs within cells, by which organic molecules are broken down and harvested for their internal energy; this process releases heat and warms the body. Circulatory adaptations, such as the countercurrent heat exchange mentioned above, transfer heat from the core of the animals body (its heart and lungs) to its periphery via specially designed networks of blood vessels. Shivering, which youve probably done some of yourself, is easiest to explain: this crude process generates heat by the rapid contraction and shaking of muscles.   If An Animal Gets Too Warm What if an animal is too warm, rather than too cold? In temperate and tropical climates, excess body heat can accumulate quickly and cause life-threatening problems. One of natures solutions is to place blood circulation very near the surface of the skin, which helps to release heat into the environment. Another is the moisture produced by sweat glands or respiratory surfaces, which evaporates in comparatively dryer air and cools the animal down. Unfortunately, evaporative cooling is less effective in dry climates, where water is rare and water loss can be a real problem. In such situations, mammals, like reptiles, often seek protection from the sun during the hotter daylight hours and resume their activity at night. The evolution of warm-blooded metabolisms in mammals wasnt a straightforward affair, as witness the fact that many dinosaurs were apparently warm-blooded, some contemporary mammals (including a species of goat) actually have something akin to cold-blooded metabolisms, and even one type of fish generates its own internal body heat.

Thomas Edisons Greatest Inventions

Thomas Edisons Greatest Inventions The legendary inventor Thomas Edison was the father of landmark inventions, including  the phonograph, the modern light bulb, the electrical grid, and motion pictures. Heres a look at a few of his greatest hits.   The Phonograph   Bettmann  / Contributor  / Getty Images   Thomas Edison’s first great invention was the tin foil phonograph. While working to improve the efficiency of a telegraph transmitter, he noticed that the tape of the machine gave off a noise that resembled spoken words when played at a high speed. This led him to wonder if he could record a telephone message.   He began experimenting with the diaphragm of a telephone receiver by attaching a needle to it based on the reasoning that the needle could prick paper tape to record a message. His experiments led him to try a stylus on a tinfoil cylinder, which, to his great surprise, played back the short message he recorded, Mary had a little lamb. The word phonograph was the trade name for Edisons device, which played cylinders rather than discs. The machine had two needles: one for recording and one for playback. When you spoke into the mouthpiece, the sound vibrations of your voice would be indented onto the cylinder by the recording needle. The cylinder phonograph, the first machine that could record and reproduce sound, created a sensation and brought Edison international fame. The date given for Edisons completion of the model for the first phonograph was August 12, 1877. It is more likely, however, that work on the model was not finished until November or December of that year since he did not file for the patent until December 24, 1877. He toured the country with the tin foil phonograph and was invited to the White House to demonstrate the device to President Rutherford B. Hayes in April 1878. In 1878, Thomas Edison established the Edison Speaking Phonograph Company to sell the new machine. He suggested other uses for the phonograph, such as letter writing and dictation, phonographic books for blind people, a family record (recording family members in their own voices), music boxes and toys, clocks that announce the time and a connection with the telephone so communications could be recorded. The phonograph also led to other spin-off inventions. For example, while the Edison Company had been fully devoted to the cylinder phonograph, Edison associates began developing their own disc player and discs in secret due to concern over the rising popularity of discs. And in 1913, the Kinetophone was introduced, which attempted to synchronize motion pictures with the sound of a phonograph cylinder record. A Practical Light Bulb   Thomas Edisons greatest challenge was the development of a practical incandescent, electric light. Bettmann  / Contributor  / Getty Images Contrary to popular belief, he didnt invent the lightbulb, but rather he improved upon a 50-year-old idea. In 1879, using lower current electricity, a small carbonized filament and an improved vacuum inside the globe, he was able to produce a reliable, long-lasting source of light.   The idea of electric lighting was not new. A number of people had worked on and even developed forms of electric lighting. But up to that time, nothing had been developed that was remotely practical for home use. Edisons achievement was inventing not just an incandescent electric light, but also an electric lighting system that contained all the elements necessary to make the incandescent light practical, safe, and economical. He accomplished this when he was able to come up with an incandescent lamp with a filament of carbonized sewing thread that burned for thirteen and a half hours. There are a couple of other interesting things about the invention of the light bulb. While most of the attention has been given to the discovery of the ideal filament that made it work, the invention of seven other system elements were just as critical to the practical application of electric lights as an alternative to the gas lights that were prevalent in that day. These elements included: The parallel circuitA durable light bulbAn improved dynamoThe underground conductor networkThe devices for maintaining constant voltageSafety fuses and insulating materialsLight sockets with on-off switches And before Edison could make his millions, every one of these elements had to be tested through careful trial and error and developed further into practical, reproducible components. The first public demonstration of the Thomas Edisons incandescent lighting system was at the Menlo Park laboratory complex in December of 1879.   Industrialized Electrical Systems On September 4, 1882, the first commercial power station, located on Pearl Street in lower Manhattan, went into operation, providing light and electricity power to customers in a one square mile area. This marked the beginning of the electric age as the modern electric utility industry has since evolved from the early gas and electric carbon-arc commercial and street lighting systems. Thomas Edisons Pearl Street electricity-generating station introduced four key elements of a modern electric utility system. It featured reliable central generation, efficient distribution, a successful end use (in 1882, the light bulb) and a competitive price. A model of efficiency for its time, Pearl Street used one-third the fuel of its predecessors, burning about 10 pounds of coal per kilowatt hour, a heat rate equivalent of about 138,000 Btu per kilowatt hour.   Initially, the Pearl Street utility served 59 customers for about 24 cents per kilowatt hour. In the late 1880s, power demand for electric motors dramatically altered the industry. It went from mainly providing nighttime lighting to becoming a 24-hour service due to high electricity demand for transportation and industry needs. By the end of the 1880s, small central stations dotted many U.S. cities, though each was limited in size to a few blocks because of direct current’s transmission inefficiencies. Eventually, the success of his electric light brought Thomas Edison to new heights of fame and wealth as electricity spread around the world. His various electric companies continued to grow until they were brought together to form Edison General Electric in 1889.   Despite the use of his name in the company title, Edison never controlled this company. The tremendous amount of capital needed to develop the incandescent lighting industry would necessitate the involvement of investment bankers such as J.P. Morgan. And when Edison General Electric merged with leading competitor Thompson-Houston in 1892, Edison was dropped from the name and the company became, simply, General Electric. Motion Pictures Bettmann  / Contributor  / Getty Images   Thomas Edisons interest in motion pictures began before 1888, but it was English photographer Eadweard Muybridge’s visit to his laboratory in West Orange in February of that year that inspired him to invent a camera for motion pictures.   Muybridge had proposed that they collaborate and combine the Zoopraxiscope with the Edison phonograph. Edison was intrigued but decided not to participate in such a partnership because he felt that the Zoopraxiscope was not a very practical or efficient method  of recording motion.   However, he liked the concept and filed a caveat with the Patents Office on October 17, 1888, that described his ideas for a device that would do for the eye what the phonograph does for the ear- record and reproduce objects in motion. The device, called a Kinetoscope, was combination of the Greek words kineto meaning movement and scopos meaning to watch.† Edison’s team finished development on the Kinetoscope in 1891. One of Edisons first motion pictures (and the first motion picture ever copyrighted) showed his employee Fred Ott pretending to sneeze. The major problem at the time, though, was that good film for motion pictures was not available.   That all changed in 1893 when Eastman Kodak began supplying motion picture film stock, making it possible for Edison to step up the production of new motion pictures. To do this, he built a motion picture production studio in New Jersey that had a roof that could be opened to let in daylight. The entire building was constructed so that it could be moved to stay in line with the sun. C. Francis Jenkins and Thomas Armat invented a film projector called the Vitascope and asked Edison to supply the films and manufacture the projector under his name. Eventually, the Edison Company developed its own projector, known as the Projectoscope, and stopped marketing the Vitascope. The first motion pictures shown in a movie theater in America were presented to audiences on April 23, 1896, in New York City.

Childhood Obesity and Fitnessgram Testing Thesis

Childhood Obesity and Fitnessgram Testing - Thesis Example The research affirmed that teachers can implement this assessment tool to act and operate as an instructional instrument. The assessment tool helps teachers to design a significant curriculum that will assist them to meet the needs of their students where they show the deficiency. The qualitative sample showed that the students that are in the intervention group have a positive view on the Fitnessgram assessment and its ability to enhance their BMI. The Fitnessgram makes students aware of the level of their fitness and design ways to maintain it. The research showed that if students show a full strength on the five components of the assessment tool (aerobic capacity, abdominal strength, flexibility, body composition, and upper body strength), they can be termed as physically fit. When a student is fit in these five key areas, then the student is healthy, active, and fully operation member of the society. The project showed that the tool served the five principal goals and improved th e health outcomes and fitness levels of the sampled students. It also provided Georgia with a longitudinal data that they can develop self-assessment techniques that they can know their fitness level, use fitness information to develop instructional programs and decisions, and develop a long-time activity for their students. The analysis of the t-test and the means for the independent samples showed that the participants in the sample were statistically identical (refer to table 1).  

Research Agenda in Cloud Computing Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Agenda in Cloud Computing - Research Proposal Example This study will require a survey of the available information or literature by the use of a methodical and principled approach; all the major databases of research for computer science will be searched, and these include the ACM Digital Library, the Google Scholar, the IEEE Xplore, the ScienceDirect together with the SpringerLink, for the key words such as cloud computing, Service Infrastructure, elastic computing, Service Software, utility computing, Service Platforms, the IaaS, Service Everything, the XaaS as well as the PaaS. Nevertheless, the range of information of data for this search will be limited from the year 2009 to the month of April 2013. This range of date is picked because the research is initiated in the month of April 2013. In addition, it is the best range because it is fairly long after the launching of all public clouds in the year 2005, thus there is adequate or sufficient data required for the survey to be accurate.For instance, the EC2 was first launched by Am azon in the month of August 2006, while the App Engine was launched by Google in April 2008. The term cloud computing, according to the Google Trends, began to become well known in the year 2007. After searching from the targeted five databases, we will find out the total number of papers returned. The paper’s abstracts together with titles will also be read, and for the purposes of quality, only peer-reviewed papers will be used for the review. However, only a very small number of the articles that are non peer-reviewed can be used.

How is conflict presented in Macbeth and Dulce et Decorum Est and make comparisons Essay Example for Free

How is conflict presented in Macbeth and Dulce et Decorum Est and make comparisons Essay Conflict is extremely influential every day all over the world. It can be from the smallest contrast of opinion to the wars in Afghanistan and Syria. Conflict is a key theme in William Shakespeares Macbeth. It is evident throughout the play from the initial dialogue which is an example of nature in disharmony thunder, lightning and rain to the end of the play where Macduff is jubilant about his execution of Macbeth Hail, king! For so thou art: behold, where stands the usurpers cursed head: the time is free The witches are the source on the majority of the conflict throughout Macbeth. They are unnatural creatures who are constantly associated with negative imagery upon the heath thunder, lighting and rain. They introduce the physical aspect of conflict in the play by saying When the hurly-burlys done, When the battles lost and won. When Macbeth and Banquo meet the witches in Act One, Scene Three, Banquo describes them as So witherd and so wild in their attire and that they look not like the inhabitants o the earth they deceive the stereotypical women as again Banquo says Upon her skinny lips: you should be women, And yet your beards forbid me to interpret, That you are so. As well has looking extraordinary these women speak of extraordinary prophesies for both Macbeth and Banquo. Macbeth is a character that is accustom to war and violence. We learn of this in Act One, Scene two when the bloody man describes Macbeth to King Duncan as Brave Macbeth and that Macbeth Disdained fortune, with brandishd steel which smoked with bloody execution, like valours minion carved out his passage till he faced the slave; which neer shook hands nor bade farewell to him, till he unseamd him from the nave to the chaps, and fixd his head upon our battlements. Macbeth is clearly a brave soldier who is willing to brutally murder another human being just to protect King and Country. He could be perceived as a savage murderer with no thought of anothers persons life. Although he is physically strong Macbeth is mentally weak. His soliloquys throughout the play give us an insight if his internal confliction. In Act One, Scene Three Macbeth has an in-depth verbalisation of these bizarre internal difficulties. If good, why do I yield to that suggestion, whose horrid image doth unfix my hair, and make my seated heart knock at my ribs, against the use of nature? Present fears, Are less than horrible imaginings. He is confused about the witches prophecies and believes that to become King he must commit regicide. This leads Macbeth to become no longer cognitive as he is infatuated with his thrive for power. Macbeth then redeems his character by saying If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me, without my stir. In this particular soliloquy good has won over evil. Later on in Act One, Scene Seven, Evil wins over good although Macbeths decisions are influenced by Lady Macbeth. Up until this point we have seen Macbeth as a man of decisive action. However the moral problem of killing king Duncan has resulted in him hesitating the opening of this scene is key as it shows Macbeth wrestling with his conscience for the final time before he commits the act of regicide. His thoughts here are plagued with thoughts as to whether or not he should kill the King. Macbeths complex character changes dramatically throughout the scene. Macbeth says to Lady Macbeth if the assassination could trammel up the consequence, and catch with his surcease success; that but this blow might be the be-all and the end-all here. This is Macbeth saying that he could kill King Duncan without consequence he would do it. He then shows his internal confliction by saying we still have judgment herewhich, being taught, return to plague the inventor. Macbeth is making a case against killing the King as he fears going to hell. He also says that he should be loyal to the king and as his host protect him. Lady Macbeth knows that herself and thirst for power are Macbeths mental weaknesses therefore manipulates Macbeth into killing king Duncan by calling him a coward. Macbeth himself summarises his faults with his final line of act one in which he says false face must hide what the false heart doth know. In conclusion, conflict is a key theme in Macbeth and it falls under three types: internal, natural and physical, Macbeth is a physically strong character who is a savage killer on the battlefield. Macbeth is told by the witches that he will become thane of Cawdor and then king. This is a prime example of natural conflict as the witches have superhuman knowledge; these prophecies are the catalyst of Macbeths internal conflict as he is faced with the decision whether or not to commit the act of regicide. Committing this act leads to the demise of both himself and Lady Macbeth. Every prophecies is meet with more conflict both and physically. As well as killing King Duncan, Macbeth also orders the killing of Banquos family as well as Macduff and his family but Macduff escapes. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are plagued by guilt, Macbeth begins hallucinating but Lady Macbeth throws herself off a building. Macduff returns to Scotland and kills Macbeth in battle and Malcolm is given is rightful position as king as he was heir to the throne. The play closes with physical conflict and courage. The idea of conflict and war can be presented in different ways. Conflict is apparent in: Macbeth, Dulce et Decorum Est, The Soldier and The Hero. Wilfred Owens Dulce is a poem written about the struggles and difficulties of war and conflict. Dulce et Decorum Est Pro Patria Mori means It is sweet and right to die for your country. This is a contradiction of the poem which speaks of the affliction and distressing nature of war unlike the poem The Soldier by Rupert Brooke which glorifies war. The Soldier relishes in the spoils of war yet Brooke does not have first-hand experience of war like Owen does. The poem opens with the line Bent double, like old beggars under sacks. The men are struggling with the life they are living and it has there bodys decaying immensely. The exhaustion of war has drained the men both physically and mentally. Owen describes them as metaphorically Marching Asleep. The men are all blind as they do not want to face the inevitability. They are so drunk with fatigue they are deaf event to the hoots of gas shells dropping softly behind. Although in Dulce the men are mentally debilitated as a result of physical conflict, Macbeth is driven and powered by bodily hardship and it is infact Macbeths inner hostilities are what lead him into mental exhaustion. The poem is Macbeths inner thoughts verbalised. The poem Dulce is written in the rhyme scheme of AB. The use of the AB rhyme scheme slows the poem down to reflect the mens exhaustion and create a solemn atmosphere. The line Gas! Gas! Quick, boys! as well as a caesura quickens the poem. Another technique Owen uses is a number of narratives to reflect that all the men were suffering not just one or two. The Hero is written in an AA rhyme scheme therefore from this alone we can determine that is a more upbeat poem written from a more positive prospective. Owen goes on to tell the reader about one man who didnt fix his mask in time who was floundring like a man in fire or lime he then says that they flung him in a wagon this statement emphasises the fact that a man who was once a friend and Conrad is now a burden to them. Metaphorically this is similar to Macbeth as originally committing regicide was a good idea until it became the burden that lead to Macbeths mental breakdown. Later on in the poem Owen goes on to talk about the mental difficulties of seeing a man suffer such a gruesome fate. Owen says If in some smothering dreams you too could pace. Behind the wagon that we flung him in, and watch the white eyes writhing in his face, His hanging face, like a devils sick of sin; Here Owen is speaking of the mental strain that seeing a Conrad inflicts upon them. It is clear that although this trauma has Owen distraught he is also relieved that it is not him. After reading all of the literature it is apparent that although all the text is written at different periods from the 16th century to the war periods conflict is key throughout. The literature gives different perspectives on conflict due to both their writers and the time periods they were written in.

Privilege And Justice :: essays research papers

Privilege & Justice Privilege, like a beautiful gift, comes in many shapes and sizes. The value of a privilege is infinite depending on who the recipient is. The privilege of luxury bestowed upon a wealthy person may not be as greatly cherished as the privilege of health insurance given to a person of a lower economic class. In our world today, privilege is dispersed in many forms and among many social classes. However, privilege seems to favor the wealthy as they seem to promote from within their own groups. Social and economical privileges are necessary among the elite to maintain their status among the Jones’; where as a privilege granted to the poor, simply allows a more stable existence. Two examples of privilege that are not material, but are equally as important, are justice and piece of mind. Unfortunately, these two privileges are likely to be less attainable to the lower class. Wealth and privilege seem to go hand in hand in today’s society; great advantages come with being wealthy. For example, material items are abundant for people with money. Wealth allows people to own anything they desire, from finest clothes and furnishings to the automobile of their dream. Those who posses these items are already at an advantage, they have what the latest magazines say you need and what everybody else wants. I find it a bit discerning that these material items dictate the social order, but the fact is, they do. Along with material items, beauty also determines your place in society. Once again, money allows for people to make necessary adjustment to become beautiful if they were not born â€Å"beautiful†. It not only cost money to make physical changes in order to stay beautiful, but it also takes money to keep your wardrobe up to date with the ever changing fashion world. It is my opinion that the greatest advantage of wealth would be the opportunity for educational and technological enrichment. Being blessed with the finest education and most up to date technology only solidifies the foundation for growth and further advancement in life. Nearly everything that exists on the planet can now be researched through a web site; that literally puts the world at your fingertips if you are lucky enough to have a computer. In addition, high school and college students are being prepared for professional career situations where it is likely they will be tested on their computer knowledge. Privilege And Justice :: essays research papers Privilege & Justice Privilege, like a beautiful gift, comes in many shapes and sizes. The value of a privilege is infinite depending on who the recipient is. The privilege of luxury bestowed upon a wealthy person may not be as greatly cherished as the privilege of health insurance given to a person of a lower economic class. In our world today, privilege is dispersed in many forms and among many social classes. However, privilege seems to favor the wealthy as they seem to promote from within their own groups. Social and economical privileges are necessary among the elite to maintain their status among the Jones’; where as a privilege granted to the poor, simply allows a more stable existence. Two examples of privilege that are not material, but are equally as important, are justice and piece of mind. Unfortunately, these two privileges are likely to be less attainable to the lower class. Wealth and privilege seem to go hand in hand in today’s society; great advantages come with being wealthy. For example, material items are abundant for people with money. Wealth allows people to own anything they desire, from finest clothes and furnishings to the automobile of their dream. Those who posses these items are already at an advantage, they have what the latest magazines say you need and what everybody else wants. I find it a bit discerning that these material items dictate the social order, but the fact is, they do. Along with material items, beauty also determines your place in society. Once again, money allows for people to make necessary adjustment to become beautiful if they were not born â€Å"beautiful†. It not only cost money to make physical changes in order to stay beautiful, but it also takes money to keep your wardrobe up to date with the ever changing fashion world. It is my opinion that the greatest advantage of wealth would be the opportunity for educational and technological enrichment. Being blessed with the finest education and most up to date technology only solidifies the foundation for growth and further advancement in life. Nearly everything that exists on the planet can now be researched through a web site; that literally puts the world at your fingertips if you are lucky enough to have a computer. In addition, high school and college students are being prepared for professional career situations where it is likely they will be tested on their computer knowledge.

Analysis of Capitalism: A Love Story Essay

Michael Moore is the writer and director of the highly relevant documentary film, Capitalism: A Love Story, which is a film explicating on the financial crisis during 2007-2010 as well as the other aspects such as the economic stimulus package with the government committed in resolving the economic order of the United States and capitalism. The approach used in the documentary film is the dialectic approach. This type of approach was best utilized in the documentary wherein it uses two contradicting ideas that try to overpower each other. The film narrates and explains on the financial crisis as well as of other topics that are encompassed in the film. However, a devil’s advocate that serves as an adverse critic emerges to challenge or question the points raised by the other. Thus, this causes a healthy discussion and arouses the critical thinking of the audience. The documentary film although appeals to the general public; however, the satirical sense of the documentary focuses on the personalities in the government as well as the people mainly involved in the fruition of the ideas discussed in the documentary film. Overall, the documentary film is an eye-opener for the public that leaves room for the audience to critic and think of. The fallacy in the documentary film is the contradicting definition of capitalism expressed in the film. The creator, Michael Moore, expressed the Marxists definition of capitalism and that it needs the state, which is the very opposite of the real definition of capitalism. However, as the film shows how the government dips its control through the different courses of actions in attempt to resolve the problem. The arguments presented by Michael Moore are quite convincing, especially through his dialectic approach that make the viewers critically think of the ideas presented and conduct their own deductions. Although the ideas are more abstract, the viewers make up of the gap through their logical and critical thinking. Reference Moore, M. (Producer & Director). (2009). Capitalism: A Love Story [Motion Picture]. USA.

Job hunting after graduation Essay

If you’ve left university and don’t yet have a job, here are tips on creating an action plan for finding work. It’s widely acknowledged that it’s harder than it used to be to land your first graduate job, and more people now find they are graduating without a job to go to straight away. If you are one of them, don’t panic. Take the opportunity for a short rest, then focus on what you can do to make things happen. 1. Keep looking The good news for graduate job hunters is that employers are now recruiting all year round. Traditionally, most graduate jobs were advertised in the autumn ‘milkround’, with many students having a job offer before they sat their finals. These days, graduate employers are more likely to advertise on an ad hoc basis, as jobs become available or as they get additional budget for recruitment. So don’t stop looking. The gradireland Summer Fair that takes place each June in Dublin is a chance to meet employers who did not fill all their jobs in the autumn or who have new vacancies. Use the same vacancy sources as when you were at university: gradireland.com, your careers service website etc. But don’t just rely on these: spread your net as far as possible. 2. Network Tell everyone you know that you are job hunting; be open to any suggestions. Start with family and friends, then build new relationships through them. The more contacts you make, the more likely you are to find out about opportunities and meet people who can help you. The majority of job vacancies are not advertised, so word of mouth can be very valuable. It can also be worth making speculative applications. These work best when they are targeted to an organisation that you have researched and know you want to work for: a few carefully-written applications are more  effective than hundreds of standard letters. Work experience or voluntary work can also widen your pool of contacts and provide a foot in the door of the industry you’d like to work in. Don’t spend all summer on Facebook. Use a range of social media to make new contacts and find out about new opportunities. Follow employers on LinkedIn, search Twitter for news of the industry you’re interested in, use everything to ‘meet’ new people. Start a blog: done well, it could be a good addition to your CV by highlighting your expertise, creativity or networking skills. 3. Apply for internships There are several internship programmes now available, many aimed specifically at graduates. These tend to vary from three months to a year. Some offer payment on top of your benefits while others carry accreditation; some even give an opportunity to work abroad for a while. Some of the main schemes currently available are:2. Network Tell everyone you know that you are job hunting; be open to any suggestions. Start with family and friends, then build new relationships through them. The more contacts you make, the more likely you are to find out about opportunities and meet people who can help you. The majority of job vacancies are not advertised, so word of mouth can be very valuable. It can also be worth making speculative applications. These work best when they are targeted to an organisation that you have researched and know you want to work for: a few carefully-written applications are more effective than hundreds of standard letters. Work experience or voluntary work can also widen your pool of contacts and provide a foot in the door of the industry you’d like to work in. Don’t spend all summer on Facebook. Use a range of social media to make new  contacts and find out about new opportunities. Follow employers on LinkedIn, search Twitter for news of the industry you’re interested in, use everything to ‘meet’ new people. Start a blog: done well, it could be a good addition to your CV by highlighting your expertise, creativity or networking skills. 3. Apply for internships There are several internship programmes now available, many aimed specifically at graduates. These tend to vary from three months to a year. Some offer payment on top of your benefits while others carry accreditation; some even give an opportunity to work abroad for a while. Some of the main schemes currently available are: Ireland JobBridge FAS Work Placement Programme IBEC Export Orientation Programme Graduates for International Growth (G4IG) Northern Ireland Graduate Acceleration Programme Applying for internships via an official programme gives you a degree of security. You may, of course, also find an internship by applying directly to the employer. It’s advisable to be aware of your employment rights and the Congress website is a useful source of information. Internships are not just a stop-gap on the way to a permanent job: as a ‘taster’ of a particular sector they can also help you to choose which career you ultimately would like to pursue. Whatever you do, you will gain new skills and experience to add to your CV. 4. Improve your employability Remember that you can still get help from university careers services after you graduate – either at your own university or, if you’ve moved back home, another higher education institution. Make an appointment if you need advice  on how to develop and market your skills or to improve your CV. Despite the downturn, there are still areas where there are skills shortages and unfilled vacancies. If you have the aptitude, consider upskilling, perhaps through a conversion course in IT, or by learning a language. ‘Lifelong learning’ is now considered essential even for those already in work, so if you have spare time use it to read and learn about the area of work you want to get into. Work on your employability skills: writing, administration, team-working, communication etc. You’ll be in a strong position if your job applications can demonstrate these qualities. Consider voluntary work as a way of adding to your portfolio of experience and learning new skills. There are opportunities for short and long-term involvement, whether it’s helping out at a local organisation or working for a national charity. 5. Be open to opportunities Realistically, it may not be immediately possible to get a graduate-level job. If something else is available – even if it is a casual or temporary job – try to use it as a stepping stone. A job in admin or customer support could lead to a more senior position in the same company later. It will let you prove that you have workplace experience and a good work ethic, and can give you transferable skills to add to future job applications. Don’t overlook small businesses. There are a lot of them, so add up to a major force as employers. They may not advertise specific ‘graduate’ vacancies but can be a good environment if you’re at the beginning of your career as there is often more flexibility to learn new skills. 6. Don’t give up Taking a year out or signing up for postgraduate study may be tempting as a way to postpone looking for work. They are worth considering if you are sure that you can demonstrate afterwards the benefits to employers. Otherwise, think carefully about whether this will help in the long term. It’s not necessarily the easy route, but the best course of action may be to stay put, stay positive and stay persistent. If things aren’t going well, review your progress and ask for help and support if you need it.