Wednesday, October 30, 2019

FMC, Aberdeen, green river discussion on Organizational Behavior Essay

FMC, Aberdeen, green river discussion on Organizational Behavior - Essay Example Bob Lancaster, who was tasked to build and operate the facility, said that the central belief that guides Aberdeen’s organization and management is a participative-management system on the principles of trust, involving self-directing work teams that would eliminate fear from all employees. (Clawson, 1990) An employee is assigned to a team where a team leader is selected by the members - no supervisors or managers. The teams decide on all matters among themselves concerning their work as long as they get their task done. There are significant differences between Green River’s organizational behavior and management to those of Aberdeen’s. For instance, the people employed here are more than 1000 and have a worker’s union where Aberdeen has none. The facility is also charged with 100 products, which is being distributed worldwide in contrast to latter’s single product line. Both facilities cater to very different industries - one, defense, the other, chemicals. And finally, while Aberdeen is a start-up facility, Green River has been operating since 1948. Aberdeen and Green River facilities share the same FMC corporate guidelines, independence in running their sites, and operating values and systems. Thus, the success posted by Aberdeen’s organizational behavior is a challenge for a bigger facility like Green River. The structure and management approach adopted by Aberdeen, which is basically based on trust, might pose a great risk to a larger organization that must cater to a diverse product lines. The Aberdeen concept espouses the elimination of fear among its employees and mistakes are considered learning opportunities. Green River must consider if it is willing to trade the stability of the huge infrastructure which has been in place and tested for years to a system based on faith. Technical problems also abound, like how the

Monday, October 28, 2019

Social media as a distraction for African students Essay Example for Free

Social media as a distraction for African students Essay Social media as a distraction for African students social media has formed a massive part of our lives whether we embrace the concept or discard it. Social media is all around us; on all continents and in most countries. It can be likened to death, regarding its inevitable nature. Social media can be defined as the relationship that exists between networks of people. (Walter Riviera, 2004). We as individuals cannot imagine a world without social media, not to talk about the internet. The income or the earnings of some individuals actually come from social media as a result of the advertisement. One can confidently say that social media has been of immense benefit to the general public. It has helped to reduce communication barriers, it has helped us relate better with our friends and relatives, and it has created avenues for business opportunities, but like every natural phenomenon, it has a flip side as well. Social media has been and is still a major distraction for students in Africa and as young adults or students, we are mostly caught up in this web on countless occasions. This paper will talk about how social media has been and is still a distraction for students. Like stated earlier on, social media has been lauded for its benefits to the world. It has helped in terms of socialization, in that, it helps us rewire our relationship with our long-lost friends, it helps people to advertise their products which actually turns their business into a very lucrative one, it also creates avenues for business opportunities and so forth. We could sit and devote our time to describing how social media has been a blessing to this generation but as the saying goes every yin has its yang. Social media like every natural thing has its cons as well. It has become a major distraction for students in almost every country in Africa. According to a report by common sense media, 75% of African teenagers presently have profiles on social networking sites, of which 68% of them use Facebook as their main social networking tool. According to Sephora, a digital marketing website, studies have shown that 50% of 18-24-year-olds go on Facebook when they wake up (Noyes, 200 2). Most students in this modern era, cannot go a day without visiting social media websites, not to even talk about their phones. One major effect of social media on students is that there is no privacy in their lives. The figure below shows the kind of information people put on social media. Students of today find nothing wrong in sharing their personal information on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook because they see it to be the â€Å"new thing† trending or they try to stick to the status quo. Some students deliberately turn a blind eye to the consequences or the effects of putting such information out there, thinking that there are no harmful people in the world or thinking that it’s the status quo. All these information put out there can actually bring harm to the students because there are people out there who have bad intentions or who have the mindset of getting the information of people and blackmailing them. According to daily graphic, a 21 year old girl who always used to put her photos or what is going on in her life on social media was one time blackmailed by one criminal because she put an explicit picture of herself there thinking no one would see and was asked to pay a ransom of GHS100, 000 for the picture not to be leaked. She then h ad to appeal for funds just to be able to redeem herself. It sometimes would not be this easy to come out of blackmailing, so it’s better to avoid all these problems, as the saying goes â€Å"prevention is indeed better than cure†. In the same vein, social media is seen as the cause for the low grades some students get during the exams they take or the assignments they get from school. Most students when in class do not pay attention but rather use their phones with the excuse of â€Å"checking what new song Justin Bieber has released† or â€Å"what dress Serena Williams wore to her recent wedding†. Although it’s good to be up-to-date on the things happening around us, there is time for everything. Time magazine US edition, an article called Wired for distraction, conducted a research and realized that students who are seriously involved in social media have what we call â€Å"continuous partial attention†, which was said by Linda Stone, a Microsoft executive. This means, their attention to focus on one thing or person at a time is nearly impossible. Most students find it very difficult to pay attention in class because they are distracted by the least thing or noise they hear. The c onstant distraction of social media tends to affect how the students learn and absorb information. Students who try to multitask by using their phones to text and surf social networks while listening to the lecturer teach end up not using their brains to its full potential or capacity. According to the University of California, Los Angeles, there are two kinds of learning segments in the brain. The â€Å"focused learner† is one that pays attention and is not distracted by their phones, friends or their laptops. These people use the â€Å"hippocampus† region of the brain, the part of the brain used in long-term memory. And we have the multitaskers; these people try and perform one or more tasks at the same time. They use the part of the brain called the striatum; this part, on the other hand, is normally for those who try and study patterns or habits. Students of today are easily distracted and must learn to pay full attention in class in order to turn their dreams into reality. Social media takes a lot of time from students. Students normally have the intention of checking Facebook or Instagram for a specific amount of time. They plan on spending 5 minutes on social media but before they can say jack, they spend over 3 hours on it. In 2010, the Kaiser family foundation came out with a report that children between the ages of eight (8) to eighteen (18) use over 7 or more hours on social media sites. One research study done by Phil Smith was that once an hour, 9 out of 10 students are distracted by Facebook or Twitter. (Smith, 2011). References Noyes, D. (n.d.). Digital Marketing Consultants top 20 valuable facebook statistics 2017.https://zephoria.com/top-15-valuable-facebook-statistics/Sterling, G. (2014, July 22). Pew: 94% Of Teenagers Use Facebook, Have 425 Facebook Friends, But Twitter Instagram Adoption Way Up. https://marketingland.com/pew-the-average-teenager-has-425-4-facebook-friends-44847 Conley, D. (2011, 19 May). Wired for Distraction: Kids and Social Media. Time Magazine U.S. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Designing a Leaflet :: Leaflets Consumerism Essays

Designing a Leaflet Tasks: 1. Design Leaflet 2. Produce Pricing System 3. Create a website 4. Create a Labelling System Task 1: Analysis Design a leaflet containing the information of the content of the shop’s selling items, prices, opening and closing hours. Form of Output:  · Hand made leaflet on an A4 sized page, which will be photo copied many times and be posted off to companies, businesses, and near by houses. The leaflet will contain pictures of sandwiches and various drinks Information to be output:  · On the first page I will have the Lancre lunch box logo.  · Opening hours  · Closing hours  · Shop name  · Location  · Map with Location clearly labelled  · Pricing  · Vouchers giving a certain amount of cash off certain sandwiches, printed in each leaflet!  · Terms and conditions top using the vouchers. (In small print on the last page, not to waste space for other deals and advertisements.  · Information on different types of sandwiches, providing a different vegetarian alternative menu for vegetarian customers.  · Information on a large selection of meat sandwiches for the majority of customers who are meat eaters. Data for output:  · On the first page I will have the Lancre lunch box logo.  · Opening hours  · Closing hours  · Shop name  · Location  · Map with Location clearly labelled Desired outcomes: 1. Text must stand out 2. Details must stand out 3. Must be colourful 4. Must be easy to read 5. Information must be justified and look neat Task 1: Design: Leaflet I have designed 2 leaflets on paper. Shortly after I designed the first one, I surveyed the issues and problems that arose. I solved the problems and applied the changes to the second leaflet. I will be using Microsoft publisher to design the leaflet. This program will provide a solution because:  · It has a colour feature, which I will take full advantage of, to attract potential customers.  · It has the ability to show me my 3-page leaflet via a visual display unit (VDU).  · It is very user friendly in the way that it can easily interpret my desired outcomes. E.g. the leaflet feature used to create a leaflet.  · Will give me a good visualisation of the outcome!  · It is specially designed to create this type of outcome! (A leaflet)  · I can import colour graphic files! Why I have chosen the colours and effects that I have chosen for the leaflet: Front page:  · I will have an Ivy border due to the fact that it will create good contrast against the Lancre lunch box logo! It will also look very

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Valentino’s Legacy

Upon walking in to the Gallery of Modern Art, tucked in around the corner from the State Library and well hidden from view, I was astounded by the sudden rush of sight and sound. Despite my sudden sense of claustraphobia, I forced myself inside. The queue to enter the Valentino Retrospective Art Exhibition was beyond massive; curving from the heart of the Gallery, along the back wall, up the side wall, and outside of the door for a good 800 metres. Satisfied with my pre-ordered tickets, I bustled along and entered the exhibition. Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani is more than a well-known Italian Fashion Designer: to most fashion students he is a God. Born on May 11th, 1932, this simple Saint has developed several different fashion labels throughout his 5 decades of work; such as Valentino, Valentino Roma, R.E.D. Valentino and, most popularly, Valentino Garavani. Commonly reffered to as only Valentino, he was the founder of the Valentino Spa Brand. The Valentino Retrospective: Past, Present and Future was developed by Les Arts Dà ©coratifs, Paris; and celebrates the renowned and glamorous designs of Valentino himself. This exhibition houses items from Valentino's first ever collection in 1959 up until his more recent ‘Autumn/Winter 2009-2010 collection' (designs by Valentino's appointed creative directors, Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli as of 2008). Upon entering, I discovered that this Exhibition was split into two major sections; each hosting different fragments of Valentino's most successful collections throughtout his career. The First section, entitled Part 1, was composed mainly of Valentino's earlier designs, with the pieces ranging from 1960 up until 2006. The Second Section, entitled Part 2, housed garments from a much more modern era. With a majority of the pieces pulled from Valentino's collections from 1992 through to 2010. European Royalty, celebrites and many other high-status folk have been seen wearing designs by Valentino, including Nicole Kidman, Elizabeth Taylor, Cate Blanchett and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (all of the garments worn by these women can be seen at this exhibition). I was most astounded to come across a dress worn by Julia Roberts to the Academy Awards in 1992 for her hit movie Erin Brockovitch. After viewing the best Valentino Garavani had to offer at this Brisbane Exhibition, I must admit I was fairly disappointed. All up, the exhibition housed approxiamately 100 garments, although it seemed many less to me, and 97 of which I disliked. The designs are timeless; sophisticated. The material used is of the highest quality. But still, I only found 3 dresses that I personally found mildly interesting. Although, to sum up the entire experience, there is only two pieces that could possibly describe the amount of work and timeless culture that has been woven together – despite vintage pieces, the elegant formal attire, and wedding dresses. Firstly; the commonly seen Evening Gown, Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2003, Model 130. Described at GoMA's Exhibition as â€Å"Strapless evening gown with low-set draped pale crimson chiffon sleeves, a train with appliquà © pleated crimson taffeta rosettes and red strass crystals in their centres, and pink and grey taffeta rosettes in its lining.† [Source 2] Made of Buche-Gillaud Fabric and Embroidered by Marabitti. This garment's elegance, formality, timelessness and complexity sums up the entire exhibition in one. The soft Crimson colour supports the mystery; and the flowers seem to support the multi-cultural theme. This piece was rescued from the Valentio Archives to be included in this exhibition. The second signature piece included at this Exhibition was from the Autumn/Winter 2009-2010, collection Although not designed by Valentino Garavani himself, Look 23 stays true to the Nature of Valentino. The extreme amounts of detail included in this piece definitely showcase one of Valentino most intricate pieces; a true piece of artwork. The themes in The Valentino Retrospective have a â€Å"recurrence of geometric patterns and graphic prints, the skilful use of fabric to create dramatic silhouettes and, of course, the distinctive palette of black, white and ‘Valentino red’. The future direction of this most esteemed fashion label is showcased through five creations by the house of Valentino’s new creative directors.† [Source 2] The Valentino Retrospective: Past, Present and Future is a collection of Valentino Garavani's most successful and original designs; located at the Gallery of Modern Art in Southbank, this astonishing exhibition is open to the public from the 7th of August to the 14th of November 2010. Including a lounging area, a cafe, a gift shop and a bar: This is, truly, a fusion of art, fashion and culture that one should not miss. Reference http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentino_Garavani

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Appeals Process Essay

Many times within a sentencing, an offender is given a certain time to file an appeal within. If they don’t appeal a verdict or decision within 30-days for example, they must wait until the ‘next go-around’ so to speak. Many times a certain amount of time must be served before an appeal can be filed. This can be easily demonstrated in the process an inmate within a prison files an appeal. If he or she serves four-years of a 15-year sentence and files an appeal and follows the appropriate steps to do so, they can still experience the misfortune of having their appeal turned down. If that happens, they are often made to wait another year before they can file another appeal. The decisions from these appeals can be returned fairly quickly or they can take anywhere from a day or two, to a week or more. In the case of a parole board hearing an inmate’s appeal, they often render a decision the same day and within an hour or two from the end of the hearing at the longest. To relate a story, a very close friend of ours is serving time in a correctional facility in the state of Colorado, a sentence and a decision put him there that I firmly disbelieve. He has served six-years of a ten-year sentence and went before the parole board last November. His original sentence is Sexual Misconduct with a Minor. Again, this is a charge that I firmly disbelieve in relation to this specific person, but nonetheless he is serving it. His parole got denied and he filed an appeal, due to the fact that accusations were made regarding his conduct before arrest that weren’t related in the least bit to his original charge. An appeal was filed to contest the parole board’s decision and the accusations made by malicious involvement from former family members. The appeal was shot down and he was told to continue on with his sentence and he would be eligible for parole again in November of 2013. We pray that this one goes better! Appeals can be lengthy and can be costly, but they serve a purpose. It should not be an easy process that these offenders go through in order to be let out. The best and most effective way for improvements to be made in the appeals process is to vary the cost of such procedures. If an offender is Page: 3 esirous to file an appeal, the cost of said appeal should vary depending on the severity of the crime committed. If it was a first-time offense and a non-violent offense that put the offender behind bars, the cost of their appeal should not match that of an appeal from someone who was convicted of a brutal, violent and bloody murder of multiple victims where no remorse was shown at all. Offenders don’t pay these costs themselves, but rather the money to pay for such filings is shelled out by their families. In many cases, these families are suffering enough by having their loved one behind bars in the first place. The family shouldn’t have to suffer a financial drain as well as an emotional drain just because their relative decided to go hog-wild with a machete or some other equally violent crime. When an appeal is filed appropriately, it can also make the process much easier. Another often forgotten fact is that if an appeal is not filed appropriately and proper steps followed, it can often be turned down before it even gets seen by the right people. I feel that part of the process that shows an offender is serious about their appeal, should be to follow every step and every measure laid out before them. If the paperwork telling them how to file instructs them to quack like a duck while wearing yellow and pink polka dotted pants at a Dixie Chicks concert, all while wearing a sign that says ‘I love purple unicorns’ then they should follow that exact process. If they leave out a step, they were not serious enough and need to go back to the drawing board!