Negative Effects on Children Essay

Parents are too busy earning a living so that they can feed, cloth and educate their children. Consequently, they spend much time away from home and from their children. Since their parents are not around, the children have no choice but to spend their time in front of the television. It then goes without saying that children spend a lot of time in front of the television set where they are exposed to sex and violence. The question then is; does the exposure to sex and violence have negative effects on children? There is no simple or obvious answer. Some people may argue that the sex and violence on television does not have negative effects on children. This group of people believe that that the amount of sex and violence on television is not enough to warrant the change in the behavior of the children. More over, that some children are too young to understand the scenes on television, anyway. Others yet may argue that exposure to sex and violence, however limited it may be, does have negative effects on the children. It influences them to commit antisocial and sometimes immoral behavior. Nevertheless, it is important to analyze the issue critically before settling for any one conclusion. SUMMARY OF INFORMATION The media has both positive and negative influences on children. On the one hand, it provides their growing minds with information. On the other hand, it also provides them with negative information in the form of sexual and violent content that corrupts their young minds (Singer & Singer, 2002). According to Josephson, when children watch television, they understand the content in very different ways. How they understand the television content is highly influenced by their ages, their attention spans and also their life experiences (1995). Case in point. Think about children who are less than five years old and the kind of attention span they have. Yes they may take the time to sit in front of the television, but after a few minutes they will have gotten restless and moved on to some other activity, say playing with their toys or just running around. More over, even though these children may appear to be paying close attention to the scenes on television, it is very likely that in their minds, they may fail to register what the exact content of program is. It is only the mature, much older, children and adults who are capable of discerning program content. According to Cameron, this is because most children under that age of seven cannot easily tell fantasy and reality from each other. To them it’s all one and the same thing. At this stage of their development, it is hard for the children to understand the motives and justifications for the violence on television (2009). Children are unaware of whether the characters on television are real or not. Consequently, Bugs Bunny is just as real as the news anchor. Therefore, since the child does not know what is real and what is not, it is then possible then possible that they will also not be able to distinguish whether or not to copy what they see. It is for this reason that it would be incorrect to conclude with certainty that indeed all the sex and violence on television does have negative effects on children. It is only after the age of two that children begin to really pay attention on what is on television. As the children grow older, they learn to differentiate between what they see on television and reality. By the time these children grow into teenagers and adulthoods they shift their focus from television preferring to instead spend their time on other activities such as developing relationships with their peers of the opposite sex. Nevertheless, it is during adolescent that sex and violence on television may have a greater impact on the children. Those without guidance may try out what they see on television. Thus, it is important to note that it is the amount of time that a child spends in front of the television that really matters. According to Huesmann, children who consistently watch violent programs on television are more likely to be negatively affected than their counterparts who do not. Think about it. A child who frequently watches Monday night wrestling, which by all standards may be described as a violent program, is more likely to try wrestling with his friends. What is even more interesting is that the child may also attempt using the same wrestling behaviors, as seen on television, as a way of solving conflicts with others (2001). Thus, children who watch/are exposed to violence on television are more aggressive (Jonassen & Harris, 2003). According to Greenspan, in the process, these children are bound to injure not only themselves but others in the process (2007). Concurrently, children who habitually watched television programs raced with sexual content were much more likely to be involved than their counterparts who were not. According to Stein, frequent watching of sexual content on television was a big influence in teen pregnancy (2008). It is probable that the children may want to try out what they may have watched and the consequences in this case are teenage pregnancy. Nathanson & Cantor (1998), argue that at some point in time children will be exposed to television; it is unavoidable. It may not happen in their homes. Children may go visiting their friends where they may have to watch television meaning they may be exposed to sex and violence. It is therefore up to parents to protect their children from prolonged exposure to sex and violence on television. The simplest way of doing this is by restricting the number of hours that children actually spend in front of the television. Rather than letting children watch television after school, parents may choose to enroll their children in such after school activities such as soccer practice or ballet. Such activities are sure to keep children away from exposure to negative TV programs. Even when children are left under the care of a nanny, parents should leave strict instructions on just how much time their children should be allowed to watch television. It would also be important if the parents themselves were to change their television watching habits. In most instances, toddlers are heavily influenced by their parents (Josephson, 1995). Therefore, if the parents were to stay away from the television but instead partake in other activities, their children would follow suit. This way the parent’s would not have to worry about the television negatively affecting their children. Another way that parents may protect their children is by letting children watch television programs that have PG rating. The idea behind this concept is that parents should watch a television program first before they let their children. The main idea here is for the parents to determine the suitability of the program. PG also means that parents should watch the program with their children so that they may offset any negative effects. By all standards, PG rating is good and workable idea. However, according to Cameron, very few parents may want to do this (2009). SUMMARY OF THE RESEARCH STUDY Most of the research that has been carried out has focused on the effects of television violence on children. However, according to Eyal & Kunkel, there has also been research whose aim was to show the association between the watching of sex on television and pregnancy among teenagers. The argument is that there is a relationship between the exposure of children and young adults and their expectations about sex and also their engagement in premarital sex (2008). One such study was published in 2008 in the Journal of American Academy of Pediatrics. According to Chandra, Martino, Collins, Elliot, Berry, Kanouse & Mlu, while there was increasing evidence (from previous studies and research) that the exposure of children/youth to sexual content on television is a big influence on their sexual attitudes and behavior, the studies were yet to establish the king of association that existed between the exposure of children to sexual content and adolescent/teen pregnancy. Accordingly, the study by Chandra et al, sought to establish this relationship (2008). The participants were some 2000 children between the ages of 12 and 17 years. These children were tracked for period of three years; till they were aged 15 and 20 years. The participants by interviewed by telephone. According to Chandra et al, the participants who constituted the sample were drawn from a list of house holds that had been commercially purchased. the researchers were careful to select the households that had a high probability of housing adolescents aged between the ages of 12 and 17 years. The final study sample therefore comprised of 57% males, 665 white, 12% Hispanics and 17% blacks all of them adolescents with an average age 18. 1 years. Survey, was the chosen research design. The survey was meant to measure and collect data on the television viewing habits of the adolescents, their knowledge of sexual matters, In addition, their behaviors and attitudes towards sex plus demographic and psychosocial variable, such as age, sex and education level which are known to predict sexual behavior, were also measured (2008). As a way of encouraging the participants to respond to the survey questions, the survey was conducted in private. From the survey, it was established that to a great extent the exposure of children/teens to sexual content on television was a big predictor of teen pregnancy. From the research, the teens that were exposed to high levels of sexual content on television were found to be twice as likely to experience pregnancy in the subsequent three years. The reverse was true for those who had lower levels of exposure. So, 25% of those who watched frequently watched sexual content on television were involved in a pregnancy. The number was high compared to that of the adolescents who watched the least; which stood at 12% (Chandra et al, 2008). The results of the study go to show that indeed habitual exposure to sexual content on television does have negative effects on children. From the study, most of the children who frequently watched sexual content on television were subsequently involved in a pregnancy compared to their counterparts who did not watch sexual content on the television much. Accordingly, there is a link between the exposure of children to sex and sexual content on television and the negative effects of pregnancy. Thus, it is clearly evident that sex, and even violence, on television has negative effects on children, more so when the exposure is frequent, prolonged and unsupervised. It is for this reason that the exposure of children and violence on television should be restricted. For instance, by watching television with their children and discussions the depictions of sex on television, they may be able to tone down the influence of the sex and the violence (Chandra et al, 2008). CRITICAL ANALYSIS Most of the information contained in internet sites, into the question of whether all the sex and violence on television has negative effects on children, does indeed provide information to the affirmative. Children spend a lot of time in front of the television from an early age. When children are young, say between the ages of two and five, the sex and the violence cannot be said to have influence on them. This is because children are very young and are not able to tell fantasy from reality. More over, they have a limited attention span which makes their concentration and internalization of the content on television impossible. However, it is when children are all grown up, into their teens that the sex and violence can be said to have some kind of effect on children. When children are older, they are also more mature and therefore able to differentiate fantasy from fiction. Furthermore, the fact that they are older means they may try out what they watch on television. There is strong evidence behind this information. For instance, it has been reported that children who watch wrestling duplicate the same aggressive behaviors that they watch on television. They are openly aggressive towards their peers. Sometimes, they even use the same behaviors to solve their conflicts with their peers. However, the internet information goes on to explain that children have to be exposed to prolonged sex and violence on television for there to be negative effects. More over, that the children who are frequently exposed to the sex and violence on television are more susceptible to the negative effects. It is for this reason that parents restrict how much time their children spend in front of the televisions. The research study also goes to provide information on the link between frequent exposure of children to sexual content in television and negative effects, in this case pregnancy. There is strong evident in support of this. Of the 2000 children who were surveyed in the research, 25% of those who had frequent exposure to sexual content were found to be more likely to be involved in a pregnancy in subsequent years. This was as compared to 12% of those who were not as frequently exposed to sex and sexual content on television. Just like the information compared in the internet sources, as soon as children are old enough to differentiate between fantasy and reality it is very likely that with prolonged exposure, they may want to try out what they see in television. Again, it is prolonged exposure that makes all the difference. The best way of mitigating the negative effects of exposure to sex and violence on television, parents should watch and discuss how sex and even violence is portrayed in television. This would also help to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies. CONCLUSION It is evident that television content, sex and violence, has some negative effects on children. It is true that quite a large number of children watch television and are therefore exposed to sex and violence. Nevertheless, it is important to note that not all these children who are exposed are susceptible to the negative effects. Certain groups of children are more prone to acting out what they see on television. It is this group that is likely to aggressive and or immoral. This is the group of children that has prolonged and frequent exposure to sex and violence on television. It is for this reason that exposure to television is limited. Thus, it may be correct to conclude that all the sex and violence on television has negative effects on children. However, it is also important to note that it is only prolonged exposure to the sex and the violence that results in the negative effects. It is the children who frequently watch television programs laced with sex and violence that are more likely to be aggressive and promiscuous as compared to their counterparts who do not. According to the information contained in this report, negative influences of sex and violence on television only become visible when the children are much older. Thus, it remains largely unclear as to why frequent exposure of adolescents to violence and sex on television influences then negatively, After all, are they not at an age where they are capable of differentiating right from wrong; fiction (what is on television and reality (what they should not do); and therefore refrain from engaging in certain activities? More research may be necessary to provide insight into the reasons why children prefer to act out the negativity they view on television rather than on the positive. Is there, for instance, more gratification in doing what is considered negative as compared to doing what is right? Answers to these questions may shed more light on to why sex and violence has negative effects on children at all. REFERENCES Cameron, J. (2009). The view on TV violence. iafrica. com. Retrieved 15 April, 2009 from http://lifestyle.iafrica. com/parenting/fatherhood/274094. htm Chandra, A. , Martino, S. , Collins, R. , Elliot, M. , Berry, S. , Kanouse, D. & Mlu, A. (2008). Does watching sex on television predict teen pregnancy? Findings from a national longitudinal survey of youth. Pediatrics. 122(5): 1047. Eyal, Keren & Kunkel, D. (2008). The effects of television drama shows on emerging adult’s sexual attitudes and moral judgments. Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media. 52 (2): 161.

Power of organizations Essay

Lee Iacocca was born Lido A. Iacocca, on October 25, 1924 to Nicola and Antoinette, who were both Italian immigrants. His parents were hardworking people and his father Nicola believed that America was a land of opportunities. As long as people were willing to work hard, it America, it was possible to achieve anything. Lee followed his father’s work ethic and when he just a boy of ten years, he would take his wagon to the grocery store and wait outside. He volunteered to take the groceries of the shoppers to their respective houses for a tip. When he turned 16, he worked 16 hours a day in a fruit market. Lee confesses that the depression of the 1930s resulted in a transformation to his personality and he became a materialist. He graduated from college with the goal of earning $10,000 a year till he was 25 and then, he planned to work towards becoming a millionaire (Iacocca, 1984). The depression also made Lee a less intolerant person towards waste in any form: food, clothing or business and a conservative person in his investments. He always knew that disaster can strike any time. During his school days, Lee also faced racial discrimination due to the fact that he was Italian. Moreover, he was pained by the fact that his two Jewish friends were treated worse than he was. When Lee was in Chrysler, he named Gerald Greenwald as the Vice President of Chrysler. He would be the first Jew to enter the top ranks of any of the top three automakers (Iacocca, 1984). After his graduation at Lehigh, he got a job with Ford. But he could not pursue that job at that point in time, because he won the Wallace Memorial Fellowship at Princeton. He Graduated from Princeton and started working for Ford in 1946. Lee married Mary McCleary in 1956 (Iacocca, 1984). Lee considered his family life very important and reserved weekends to spend time with family. Lee’s success in business was not only due to his hard work and education, but also due to his ability to adapt to any situation (Swinfin, 2006). He was also a decisive man and had the ability to take innovative decisions. In 1956, when his district was the last in sales, he introduced a new program called â€Å"56 for 56†. This program made it possible to purchase a new 1956 Ford for 20 % down and $56. 00 a month for 3 years. The program was a huge success and more than 75,000,000 cars were sold and his district secured the first place in sales. Lee also undertook the challenge of the Fairlane Committee, which was responsible for producing a new type of car. Lee analyzed the research data on demographics and buying capacity of Americans and concluded that the car must be small, but needed to hold 4 passengers. There would be a 2500 LB limit, and the cost could not exceed $2,500. 00 with equipment. The end product was the 1964 Mustang (Iacocca, 1984). Iacocca Lee was a good leader who used good marketing research data, surrounded himself with good people, and was open to new ideas. Lee became President of Ford on December 10, 1970. He initiated a program called â€Å"Shuck the Losers†. This program gave managers 3 years to make their departments profitable or sell them off (Iacocca, 1984). This shows that Lee was also highly competitive in approach and stern when he had to be. Though there were many successful projects while he was at Ford, by the end of 1975, Lee started having personal conflicts with Henry Ford II. Lee was fired in July of 1978 and thereafter he joined Chrysler on November 2, 1978. Lee found that Chrysler had a problem in its communication style and team work. He reduced his salary to $1 per year and bargained with the union for cuts in salary and benefits. First, Iacocca announced plant closures, job layoffs, and his plans for the company. His next move was cutting several large models, which were heavily unprofitable, and put the subcompact Dodge Omni and Plymouth Horizon into production. The Omni and Horizon became instant hits, selling over 300,000 units each their debut year (Iacocca, 1988). By 1983 Lee turned around the fortunes of Chrysler and repaid all government loans. Lee made a public statement, â€Å"We at Chrysler borrow money the old fashioned way. We pay it back. † At Chrysler, Iacocca not only overcame a $3. 3 billion deficit but capped it with another $3. 3 billion profit between 1982 and 1984. That represents a net gain of $6. 6 billion, or an average increase in earnings of $6 million per day over the previous period (Harmon and Jacobs, 2006). The administrative style of Lee Iacocca is based on tapping the hidden power of organizations. He peeled â€Å"the encrusting layers of dead habits, vested interests, outmoded strategies and inertia and removed the lid on an enormous reservoir of productive energies. He did it by firing 33 of the company’s 35 vice-presidents and allowing long-suppressed ideas, energies, and talents to rise to the surface† (Harmon and Jacobs, 2006). Thus Lee was responsible for discovering the potential of organizational power. This discovery not only brought into use hidden potentials but also created new possibilities. The administrative style of Lee Iacocca enabled organizational power to maximize the productive and efficient utilization of ideas, resources, energies, and opportunities. He combined the organization power with his personal talents at communication, decision-making, motivating, time management, flexible approach in leading, and innovation to achieve great success as a leader. Lee Iococca, after his successful career at The Ford Motor Company and Chrysler, said, â€Å"I seized the opportunity, but I was no ninety-day wonder. It took me almost forty years of hard work. † This then, was the main reason behind his success.

Quality Control and Quality Assurance similarities and differences Assignment

Quality Control and Quality Assurance similarities and differences - Assignment Example Quality also means to seek continuous improvement in the products and services provided by any organization. It also means finding out those specific areas which need to be changed or improved in order to make sure that the organization meets the needs and demands of the customers. Importance of quality management in any organization or a company can never be denied. Improving and maintaining quality of products and services is a very important point of consideration for any organization to get success in a competitive market. Quality management is an ongoing process of building and sustaining relationships between the company and its customers by providing the customers with quality products. Kantner (2000) found that target of growth of business and gaining trust of customers in the competitive market can be achieved if we implement a proper quality management system in a company. Any organization or a company may encounter a big problem of loosing its precious and potential customers because of not paying enough attention towards the implementation of proper quality management system. It is a common fact that when a company or any specific business will not have proper implementation of any quality management system, it will surely make a worse impact not o nly on the growth and development of the company but also on retention of the customers of the company. If a company wants to achieve market domination, the management of that company needs to provide its customers with quality in the products that it delivers. Chung (1999) found that quality, in any business or company, can only be attained when the workers of that specific company will be motivated to improve the standard of the products. If we talk about quality control, we can say that quality control is a process which is employed in order to ensure a required level of

Different Rather Complicated Games Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Different Rather Complicated Games - Assignment Example That was when he started to design games of the same nature at the age of about 13.   The writer solemnly believes that the kind of thinking he was doing was the result of the video games and sitcoms that were popular at his time. The writer’s major argument here is that today’s pop culture does not affect the individuals, in fact, it is the other way round. Pop culture is the result of the system. The writer goes on to say that he doesn’t believe that today’s pop culture make it to the bracket of masterpieces but it certainly has more depth and meaning than it appears to have. The writer believes the sleeper curve to be the most important force that is affecting mental development in this age. He believes it to enhance thinking and improved behavior in members of the society rather than the opposite. The opposing position to this argument is that the pop culture enhanced by the popularity of video games knows no boundaries. The sex, violence, and profan ity not just give out a negative image of the society as a whole, it corrupts it. Columnist Suzanne Fields puts it best; it is shameful to think about how many people are exposed to the worst traits within their society. The boundaries of acceptable conduct have become murky because people believe it is okay for them to act in accordance with what the pop culture is showing them. The writer’s major argument is that media doesn’t corrupt society, it is a result of the corrupted society. The pop culture in the form of video games is a reflection of the real world, the world that isn’t the so happy and safe place people want it portrayed like. The author also says that it is not the content of the pop culture that matters but one needs to look at the positive thought process it is responsible for. The writer goes on to acknowledge the benefits of conventional learning forms such as books admitting that they are the best vehicle of learning but argues that video gam es can provide with the same benefits. The only problem people have with them is that they came later on. If video games were the conventional form of learning and books were introduced after them, people would have the same reaction to books. He says that people are just resistant to change and adapting to modes like television and video games as learning sources it just a matter of being better acclimatized with them. Video games benefits are simply not limited to better hand and eye coordination, it offers much more. In retrospect, video gaming is a more effective form of learning for it is more engaging, interactive and generally more enduring. It packages learning with the element of fun delivering lessons without boring people. In fact, many a time when individuals are not playing, they are thinking about how to overcome a particular obstacle in the game. As such, video games encourage and foster personal as well as mental development. The writer of the book comes across as im partial. True he has very strong beliefs about the pop culture especially video games believing them to be a positive driver of the society. However, it cannot be ignored that the writer acknowledges the other point of view and gives it due consideration.

Tort Law Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Tort Law - Assignment Example Besides, in a contractual relationship, the responsibility imposed by law is in the directions of the other party, by whom there is privity of agreement. In tort, the responsibility lies in the directions of the members of the public or world at large, with whom there is no requirement for any contract. â€Å"A tort is a civil wrong for which the legal remedy is an action brought by means of civil proceedings by or on behalf of the injured party for damages or some other legal remedy desired by the person who has suffered the wrong† (Law of Torts Including MV Accident and Consumer Protection Laws-I 1). Fact of the Case: The case provides a summary of the gas leakage in Pub. And also this particular case brings out the various ethical matters concerned in the disaster. Ben, who is the employer of the Maid Marion Gas Company, carelessly fixed pipe work which caused leakage of gas into the pub. Chef of the pub Charlie lit a gas in the kitchen and consequently this caused a blast and fire in the pub. So, Donald the barman, suffered harsh burns and consequently a recurrence of the clinical depression from, which he had undergo some long ago. Parties involved: Parties involved in this case are, Alan, Emma, Charlie and Donald. Alan can claim against the Maid Marion Gas Company for nervous shock and negligence. In tort law, Negligence is depends on the existence of a contravention of the obligation of care, owed by one person to another. Alan came home later, subsequent to the fire, and saw that his pub had been completely destroyed. He was so distress that he is till date suffering from insomnia and nervousness. Company should take due care for preventing any kind of the leakage. Gas is such a hazardous substances and leakage of gas can create lots of tragedy in the society. And also, it will create environmental pollution in the society. Here the leakage is mainly because of the careless on the part of the employer Ben. But at the same time, it is the duty of the company to check all those things because it is such a toxic substance. Emma and Charlie are the secondary victims of the gas leakage. Because of this, they faced nervous shock. So, they also can claim against the Maid Marion Gas Company for the nervous shock. Charlie is the chef of the pub, he lit a gas stove in the pub kitchen and a few minutes later this caused a blast and fire in the pub. That time he was outside in the garden, he was not injured in the explosion but felt himself accountable for the injuries undergone by his co-worker, and has now had a nervous breakdown. Like Emma, who is the girlfriend of Donald and also who had lived with Donald for some years, reached at his hospital bed some hours later, after he had an emergency operation. She was extremely shocked to see him greatly bandaged. Since then she has not slept sound and has suffered panic attacks. And also, Donald can claim compensation from Ben and Maid Marion Gas Company for the injury that he has faced. Donald can also claim under Workman Compensation, because his injury was caused at the time of work and also in the working premises. Donald is the primary victim of the tragedy. Both Ben and Company are jointly liable for the injury of Donald. They are also liable for the vicarious liability and negligence. â€Å"Vicarious liability is the principle of law that holds one party liable for the acts (or inactions) of another† (Beyer 3). Vicarious liability, which is general in some parts of law, refers to lawful duty for the actions of another. If a rule holds X accountable for Y's actions, then X's responsibility is said to be vicarious. Conclusion: A tort is an offence that is privately impeached, usually for damages, though some tort

Biol Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Biol - Essay Example (Lipstadt 27) Lipstadt is a well-known researcher and historian with a Ph.D. and the professor of Modern Jewish and Holocaust Studies at Emory University. (Alumni, Lipstadt Ph.D.) What Dawkins is discussing is the inevitable progression of people from belief to disbelief to outright lies in the attempt to ignore what we know is true. He later makes the statement that evolution is fact not a theory and that there is a difference between the fact that is evolution and the theory of its journey (Dawkins, Ph.D. FRS, FRSL) Clearly the purpose of this book is to first discredit attempts to disprove evolutionary theory while providing a basis for his approach. It is my opinion that he does a credible job in his approach In continued reading it becomes apparent to me that he has done his research and his proofs abound. His clear delineations between the â€Å"fact† as he calls it and the â€Å"theory† of what drives it tend to be very convincing.

People and work Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

People and work - Assignment Example This company is Highway Stores Ltd and we would see the nature of HRM this organization follows. Here in this company the department that handles all the employee related matters is referred to as Personnel Department though it should be noted that the training policies are maintained and looked over by other departments. The head office in Midlands of Highway Stores Ltd controls the Personnel Function and here the hierarchy is formulated in three fold structures with three Personnel Administrators, one Personnel Officer and one Personnel Manager who is directly responsible for the department. Collaboration sense prevails with the department indulge in looking after different personnel duties that include all issues related to employees. Like training the payroll issue is looked after by the Finance department and the Personnel function is responsible to repot all issues relation to these to the Legal Director of the Highway Stores Ltd. Therefore, it could be stated that the responsibilities of the Personnel Function department of Highway Stores Ltd. is limited in many sense among which the training sector which is so important to the HRM is detached from the overhead. This would lead to substantial problem in future as the training modules are formulated only for the store workers and not for the personnel working at the head office. This would ultimately lead to a sense of discrimination in the context of future communication system. This leads to a situation where there needs to be a problem solving overhead for Personnel Function department of Highway Stores Ltd. The absence of such a department only could add fuel to the probable problems to arise in future. However there is a standardized internal policy that provides a tentative guideline if needed. Absence of a clearly laid down policy as well as lack of contact over the training procedures sets a field of probable problem that could cause trouble in future within Personnel Function department of Highway Stores Ltd. It is also found in Personnel Function department of Highway Stores Ltd. that this lack of needed training proves to be of a huge disadvantage whereas this problem is confronted by only the manager who is blissfully qualified in this sense. But this imbalance of knowledge would ultimately cause further drift within the department; at least theoretically there is the potential within the Personnel Function department of Highway Stores Ltd. Another problem at Personnel Function department of Highway Stores Ltd. is the personnel leave and sickness issue. This is another weak point of the department. This is because the Personnel Function department of Highway Stores Ltd. is responsible of keeping record of personnel leave due to sickness which exceeds more than six weeks but apart form this record the department is not responsible for any other records of employees who remain absent for reasons other than sickness. Moreover, records are not maintained if the employee is absent less than six weeks. This proves to be a fatal disadvantage of records by the Personnel Function department of Highway Stores Ltd. and the basic effectiveness of maintaining a HRM is mostly lost. But the most interesting and wearisome problem of the Personnel Fun

Court case Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Court case - Essay Example On 26th October 2010 the accused was arrested again and jailed on several charges, namely: Grand Larceny on the 2nd and 8th of June, breaking and entering with intent on 8th June, credit card theft on 22nd January and receipt of stolen property on 18th June. Pre-sentence report was ordered on 12th November. Evidence for the preceding charges was submitted on 14th December and a true bill was issued by the Grand Jury. A review of all the charges and the case was made on 21st December and a trial was scheduled for 22nd February 2011. The case was postponed again and set on 28th March. The judicial body deciding on the case was the County Circuit Court Criminal Division. The accused was facing 30 years for 7 counts of grand larceny, 2 counts of receipt of stolen property, 1 count of credit card theft and 1 count of breaking and entering with intent to commit other misdemeanors. On top of this, the accused was already serving probation for driving under influence. Accused was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $29,328.15. Due to the number of evidence and witnesses, the accused plead guilty. Consequently, the sentence was reduced to 2 years and 8 months with supervised probation for 5 years succeeding release from prison. Because the accused had committed the same crime several times, it is the victims’ opinion that the offender did not deserve the plea bargain and subsequent reduction in prison term. Although I do not share the victims’ feeling of unfairness, I found a couple of things surprising. First is the offer for plea bargain. The accused committed seven (7) similar offenses in a span of six (6) months. Obviously, any feeling of remorse is doubtful as he seems to jump into one offense after another. Leniency in prison term does not seem to be appropriate. Secondly, I wonder about the chronological aspect of the arrests made. The first arrest was made for offenses on 15th March, 18th

The importances of the primary,secondary and tertiary levels of health Essay

The importances of the primary,secondary and tertiary levels of health promotion in nursing practice - Essay Example It then becomes imperative for health nurses to define their services and to provide evidence that will support the effectiveness of the interventions they offer. In accomplishing this, Deal (1994) asserted that there should be an implementation of standardized nursing language. Unlike the last few years, roles of nurses have changed from â€Å"not a good press† to an essential ability in the improvement of healthcare. Nowadays, nurses claim that caring is just as important as technical skill. Nurses are directly involved in the implementation of health promotion. Their participation in the implementation of healthcare promotion determines the success or failure of the desired practice. The first article deals with a particular state in the United States – New York and the role of the public health nurses to the health promotion and maintenance. Firstly, health promotion is initialized through assessing the health as well as the health care needs of the population in identifying who would benefit from the health promotion or the ones that are being described in the article as â€Å"at risk of illness, injury, disability, or premature death†. Collectively, health promotion is being defined in the article as the respond to the identified healthcare needs in a form of range of activities that will contribute to health and the prevention of illness and the like. Article 1 takes the nurses as the critical and most important role inevitably involves in the promotion and maintenance of the health of the public. American Public Health Association and Public Health Nursing (2003) define nurses’ role as to â€Å"promote the health of populations using knowledge from nursing, social, and public health sciences†. Correspondingly, public health would be in great danger devoid of a strong nursing workforce. They are the ones that provide direct care to the public as a response to the implementation of health

CD for Holden Essay Example for Free

CD for Holden Essay How have you been? I have actually missed you a lot. The other day, I took a road trip with my parents and I thought of you. I remembered how you told me you wanted me to burn a CD with music for you. Thus, I listened to my iPod the whole way and selected many cool songs that I think you would like. Please get back to me and tell me which ones you liked and all. Also, I know you told me to only put around 10 songs but I could not contain myself and I chose 16 of them. I hope you will like them, because to tell you the truth all of these songs kill me. The first song I chose to put in the CD is 3 Cigarettes by The Sleeping. Besides the beat and instruments that are cool as hell, the lyrics really remind me of you. First of all, there are the obvious connections to cigarettes, which seem to be one of your passions. Also when he says I have been drinking more and eating less reminds me of you. It is pretty much all that you have done lately, smoked, drank, and thought of Jane. Just remember that just like they say we dont have to blame ourselves you should not blame yourself for everything that has been happening. Finally, the line Do you care? Are you there? Are you listening? kills me and I am sure it will kill you too. It is calling for peoples attentions, it is calling all those phonies and it makes me wonder if anyone really cares about me. I am sure it will make you feel the same way too. The next song I chose was Through the Glass by Stone Sour. I think that this song is talking about an insider who became a stranger and now they are looking from the outside back in. This makes me think of you because many times throughout your life you have alienated yourself. You just look from the outside as time passes by and sometimes you feel like going back in, and being an insider again but you dont. The phrase Im looking at you through the glass; dont know how much time is passed. Oh God it feels like forever makes me think of you a lot. Because you are always thinking about how quickly time passes by. It seems like you have been alienating yourself for a long time now, it feels like forever. The next song on your CD is Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton. I just had to add this one. I know that you are really sensitive about your brothers death and all, and you dont like talking about it. However, I think that the sooner you face reality the better it will be for you and everyone. This song was made for his son who died. He was very meaningful to Eric Clapton just like your brother Allie was to you. I know you so well, that I am sure that you have wondered about many of the things that this song is stressing about. Such as if Allie would remember your name, and if it would all be the same. Also, there is a bigger picture to it. I remember about an specific conversation with your sister Phoebe you told me about. She asked you to name one thing you really liked and you said you really liked Allie. I think you should listen to lines such as Cause I know I dont belong here in heaven and Cause I know I just cant stay here in heaven. The bigger picture that these lines are showing and I am trying to prove to you is that as much as you love Allie you have to let him go. You are both in different worlds now, and wherever he is, you dont belong there. At least not yet. Holden, you should really get on with your life and just keep with you all of the good memories you have with Allie but let him go. It is the best thing to do. I am sure you will enjoy quite a lot the next song I picked out for you. It is a classic by the great band Pink Floyd. This one is called Another Brick in the Wall. You might have heard of it already. The meaning of the song is to say that in school they treat us all the same and they do not respect that everyone is a separate and different individual. Pink Floyd is saying that this is all false control and they are putting all the students together and trying to make them all the same, therefore losing their individualities. I can tell that you will agree with these lines, and that they will really kill you. When they say All in all its just another brick in the wall, the meaning is that every single one of us students are just a tiny brick of the wall of hypocrisy, superficiality, and shallowness that they are trying to build. They are the ones that you every so often refer to as the phonies. That is what I think this song is criticizing, phonies who try to make everyone be the same. They try to make everyone be like them. Hopefully there are still people out there, like me and you, who are going to fight this and knock down this wall of phonies. The next song I picked is called Boys Dont Cry by The Cure. It makes me think of you and Jane. When I listen to it, I think of how you like Jane so much and she is the only girl that you truly care about but you wont tell her. Just like the song is describing, you often say I would You mention things that you would do, such as give her a buzz, and visit her, and ask her on a date. However, you never do any of it. The line boys dont cry is obviously making a critic to some boys like you, who would rather hide their feelings and appearing tough instead of telling the truth and possibly crying. I love the line I try and laugh about it hiding the tears in my eyes and the one I try to laugh about it; cover it all up with lies. Both of these lines are very strong. They also show things that you do. You often act all nonchalant and like giving Jane a buzz is just something you would do any day. However, I think it is much deeper than that. You are scared of being rejected by her because she is the only one you care about. So, you just act casual and cool about it and lie and hide your feels for her. The next song, The Permanent Rain by The Dangerous Summer follows the same line as the one before. I think that just like the singer is saying, I wont let this die, you shouldnt let what you have with Jane die. You and her both have a really strong connection and bond. I think it would be very sad if you did not do anything about it. I think you should go and tell her how you feel. It is really the best thing to do. When he says, I know its not helping to hear me say: I wish it was me in the car the other day really makes me think of you as well. Even though you have never actually told her about it, you have wondered for a long time about her and Stradlater in his teachers car. You wonder about what happened and you cannot help but wish that it were you with her in the car instead of Stradlater. Finally, when the line You know it meant a lot, but I was just a kid comes up it seems like it was written for you. You were both too young to fully understand the connection that you both h ad. Now, I think you are old and mature enough to understand it and your relationship with Jane should mean even more if you tell her how you feel. The next song, however, is not about Jane. It is about High School, hence the name High School Low by Say Anything. Just like you, the guy in the song is sixteen. He is also worrying about things such as the whole high school experience, and girls. I find there is even a connection to you when he says, My teacher says that Im brilliant. It reminds me of how Mr. Spencer would try and get the best out of you. He did not say you were brilliant, however, he acknowledge that you had so much more potential than the one you were showing with your poor grades and test scores. The passage about looking at pictures of himself when he was a child can also be compared to you. I know that you have often thought about how it is such a horrible experience having to grow up and all, but we will get to this topic later. To do with the whole grades issue, he also says My grades look pretty damn low. I want to motivate myself, but how the hell am I supposed to work. This is something that is so similar to you that it could have come out of your mouth. At the same time that you realize that your grades are low and you need to make an effort, you dont know how to. You are confused about what you should do that would motivate yourself. I remember you told me that when your psychoanalyst asked you if you would apply yourself when you got back to school in September you said you did not know. I mean of course you want to, but as you said it yourself, you are not able to tell how you are going to behave. One phrase that is constantly repeated is take me away. Just like you, this boy wants to run away from these high school days and from all the phoniness and move on to a better part of life; be it the past or the future. Speaking of phonies, this is what my next chosen song is about. It is called Mutiny! by Set Your Goals. This song is clearly criticizing people. In my opinion, it is criticizing the phonies. What leads me to think this way is when things such as superior, you are inferior and heroes have betrayed are said. This is talking about people who think that they are better than other s when they really are nothing special. It is also talking about how people can just betray you and change all of the sudden. Finally, the line I will find the line and cross it every time reminds me of you. It reminds me of how you many times alienate yourself as a form of protection. Therefore, I think that crossing the line is a symbol for you of that crazy red hunting hat you wear. You wear it to prove your point and to show people that you dont care and youre fine with being different. This is nothing else but a way of crossing the line. The next song I chose is called Flake and it is by Jack Johnson. In case you dont know, a flake is someone who says that they will go somewhere or do something and then they dont. Am I the only one who sees a resemblance here to you?! Yes, I am going to start talking about Jane again. You seriously have to stop saying that you will call her, unless you are actually planning on doing it. Otherwise, you are just flaking. The strong line It seems to me that maybe pretty much always means no is what I feel sometimes when you start talking to me about her. You say that you might call her if you feel like it. Now, I am starting to see it as something you just have to say to feel good about yourself, to show that you have the power to call her. I think you should not flake Jane. Besides that, it is a great song and I really love the instrumental and the beat for it. I am sure you will love it too! The next song I picked is a slow one. I find it truly beautiful. It is called Cannonball by Damien Rice. It is also a love song. What I think it is talking about is about someone whom he really loves but that he cannot be with for a reason or another. He talks about how he remembers the girl all the time, and the things that remind him of her. I think that the way he feels about this girl is just like how you feel about Jane. It reminds me of how you remember her because of little things such as how she always kept her kings on the back. This song also brings up the issue you have of lying and it claims that the issues he had to face in life when dealing with love are the ones that made him be like that. It also reminds me of you when he mentions that It is not hard to fall when you float like a cannonball because you can often be very heavy and therefore you sink into your issues like a cannonball sinking down in an ocean. My favorite like on this song, however, has to be the last one. It says when you know that you just dont know. I think it is talking about when people are confused and how it takes courage, to even admit that you are lost. Speed of Sound by Coldplay is also sort of a slow song. The main point to this song is that it is talking about time. I think that Coldplay is trying to show how everything moves so fast, like the speed of sound. Time goes by too quickly, Holden. I know you have already realized that before, considering how you have told me countless times and made me notice that once we notice everything has already happened. This song could have been sung by someone who is waiting on a platform and they are noticing how fast things happen. It also talks about the issues we all have with dealing with this fast-moving time. Be prepared because this next song I am about to introduce to you will kill you. I am serious. It is called Forever Young and it is by Alphaville. It is impossible for me to listen to it and not think of you. The main point to this song is the fact that we all get old. The singer obviously wants to be forever young just like you! You tend to resist the natural process of maturity and growing up. It seems like you want to be forever young without having any responsibilities or having to deal with any problems of adulthood. I think this is mostly because you are scared. You are scared of what awaits for you, and it all sort of mystify you. That is why you invent that you do not want to be an adult because it is a world of phoniness. It is your way of running away from the fact that you are actually scared of growing up because you do not have a clue of what any of it is like. A line on this song that I find really interesting is Some are like water, some are like the heat, some are a melody and some are the beat. I think that this line is talking about the people that make our life what it is. The people that are there for us. I think that water is a symbol for the people that are a bit colder and the heat for the ones who are warm. The people who are a melody are the ones, like Jane, who come every once in a while and they completely change how you were before, just like the melody of a song. The melodies of someones life are not always there, but we can never be the same after they leave. Finally, the beat is a symbol for the people who are there to support you in your life constantly, just like the beat in a song. It is also impossible to be the same without the beats of our life, such as Phoebe, because they are the ones that we can call whenever we need. I think you will really enjoy the next song I picked. It is called Marching Bands of Manhattan by Death Cab for Cutie. First of all, the main reason of why it reminds me of you is the whole New York experience. I know how much that city describes you. I am sorry but I will have to bring old Jane up once again. I think that this song is mostly talking about how he wants to be with someone that doesnt know how they feel. I think that this is your type of song, and I hope you will like it. If you like it, you should look up more songs by Death Cab for Cutie, they all send like this and have wonderful lyrics. Well, this is pretty much all, I hope you enjoyed the songs I chose and you will take some of the advice I gave you. Remember to get back to me and tell me what you thought of them. Oh! Also, I hope you like the cover for the CD! I know how crazy you have been about those ducks on Central Park and I just thought you would enjoy that. Love, Deb P.S. The two other songs I added were songs I found searching on the internet that were inspired by The Catcher in the Rye and I thought that they would be interesting to add.

Erasmus Program Of The European Union Education Essay

Erasmus Program Of The European Union Education Essay In 1995, Hanze University of Groningen was stimulated by the Erasmus program of the European Union to start their internationalization by getting exchange partners within Europe. They had only four partner universities from Germany, Spain, Sweden and England in 1996. Now, only the School of Communication and Media (SICM) has 83 partner universities around the world.  [1]   In this section, the clear and complete description of the assignment and objective from the clients perspectives will be defined. The client is Ryan Schepers, the International coordinator of SICM. Ryan has indicated the following issues: the overall requirements of the current partner universities do not correlate with those of SICM; in some of the partner universities, the curriculum language is not English; the academic curriculums do not correlate with the ones at SICM; both BA and Master programs are not always available to the students, a great number of partner universities are not universities of applied sciences. Besides that, SICM only had one or two incoming and outgoing teachers last years. These issues impact students motives, aspirations and choices of a particular university for their exchange period. SICM aims to exchange teachers with partner universities. Although SICM has a large number of partner universities (which is necessary because all international communication students are obliged to go abroad), the client is not satisfied with the quality of some partner universities. Therefore, Mrs Schepers emphasized the necessity for a more structured and effective network. Due to unbalanced partner universities, Mrs Schepers made clear her wishes that it is necessary; To exchange teachers and work on common projects with partner universities. To have and update the existing website contains only Partner universities names in order to provide more information about each partner university exchange programmes, accommodation, life style, etc. To have more employees who can work between partner universities and SICM in order to communicate efficiently. To select a number of partner Universities according to their academic curriculums that match with SICM criteria. To establish an effective communication between SICM and its partner universities. To find an effective communication in order to influence students motives to opt a particular host university(NEEDS TO BE A SENTENCE OR PARAGRAPH) The primary aim of SICM is to select the number of partner Universities according to their academic curriculums that match with SICM, thereby acquiring a more international aspect. As Mrs Schepers indicated in the meeting, the main goal is to create a balanced university network fulfilling ICM standards through the analysis of partner universities study programs, SICM students and teachers interests and the current network features. 3.Organizational Background This chapter will give you a detailed overview about the School of communication and Media. The SICM is one of the 20 schools of the Hanze University. The SICM has over 400 international students from more than 40 countries and has 143 employees which primarily consist of teachers that are supported by staff. (Hanze University, 2012). The SICM consists of four degree programmes; IC (International Communication), CO (Communication, Dutch version), CS (Communication System) and IDM (Information, Management and Service). Although SICM has four different degree programmes, more than 90% of the exchange students come from IC programme which is the international programme. This explains why SICM has a great number of partner universities. Next to that, SICM offers 6 different majors to its around 2000 students within three fields of study: CO, CS and IDM. The communication programme offers two majors: IC, CO and CS offered three majors in Dutch; Multimedia Design Branding, Game Design Development and Web Mobile Services. IDM offers only one major IN Dutch; Media Information Management. (Loves Spakman,2010,p.7) SICM offers 9 Exchange/Certificate Programmes as minor and specialization for its own and international incoming exchange students; Creating Communication campaign, Journalism, Game on, Information Innovation, International Aid Development and Public Affairs which runs from the beginning of September until the end of January as the first semester. In the second semester, between the beginning of February and till the end of June, it is offered; Creating an International Event, International Aid Development and International Business Communication. (Hanze University, 2012) Mission and vision of SICM The mission of SICM gives focus to its activities: The Institute for Communication and Media trains entrepreneurial, socially-responsible and internationally oriented professionals for careers in the field of Communications, Information Management and Media, and contributes to knowledge circulation and innovation on an international level. (OudshoornKempen,2012,p.4) This means that our programmes provide students with opportunities to develop into socially responsible and internationally oriented professions in the future, and that also give opportunities to all students in order to make individual study choices to profile individually themselves as a distinctive professional. The school of communication and Media absolutely facilities this by providing an effective study programmes for students to explore and develop their own competencies which are certainly important step for their future chosen career path. (OudshoornKempen,2012,p.4) The vision of SICM; Share your talent. Move the world. This means that through communication you can build awareness and help people improve their quality of life. (Hanze University,2012) The four degree programmes are on the way of improving their own quality and being international oriented with their minors and majors. The IC already shows the importance of international vision of SICM by having a high number of partner universities from different countries and a high number of international students compare to other degrees (CO, CS and IDM) . Mrs Schepers would like SICM to expand the focus on internationalization not only for IC but also for other degrees of SICM which has Dutch students and teaching language is Dutch. Therefore; as Dutch people should understand the meaning of Internationalization and be part of it , it is of importance to place them within other European Countries or outside the Europe. Key stakeholders;(MORE DETAILS, DESCRIBE THEIR ROLE AND TASKS CLEARLY) As this research is focused on the SICM department of Hanze University of Groningen, the following organizational both internal and external analysis will be focused on the SICM department. The Internal stakeholders are Ryan Schepers, country coordinators, SICM second and third year students and teachers. And the external stakeholders are partner universities. Mrs Schepers is the international coordinator of SICM and working effectively with country coordinators for incoming and outgoing exchange students.ACC COUNSELLORS INFORM SECOND YEAR STUDENTS ABOUT THE PROCEDURE OF THE STUDY ABROAD KIND OF PREPARATION FOR THE STUDY ABROAD) Internal key stakeholders External key stakeholders Country coordinators ISO Client Partner universities Second year students Third year students ISID 3.2.3 Current situation of the organization (stick to the key stakeholders and analyze everything only about the key stakeholders) As can be viewed in the SICM organizational chart  [2]  , the SICM organizational structure is horizontal meaning that for internationalization purposes the country coordinators who are at the same level and the International Coordinator of SICM share their ideas and suggest solutions in order to bring the internationalization of SICM to a better level and the International Coordinator of SICM in turn reports to the dean of SICM. There are 8 country coordinators who are providing information to second year students and monitoring 3rd year outgoing exchange students. They also communicate with partner universities minimum once or maximum two times in a year. These country coordinators are the lecturers of SICM who are very busy with lecturers, assignments, students and other issues related to study. Thats why; they hardly spend time in order to communicate with partner universities. Also, it is very difficult to deal with outgoing exchange students individually. The last few years, ISID (International student Info Desk) was providing information for the second year students of IC, CO, CS and IDM for the exchange semester. There were only interns working as employees for a semester. And every semester they had different semester who are always new for the position. The name of the office has been changed to Global Links (ICM External Affairs Office) but again, Interns are working as employees and every semeste r different interns take this responsibility. Next to that, Country coordinators are not able to visit partner universities because of lack of facilities they got from SICM. But in near future, SICM hopefully will provide facility for country coordinators to be able to visit the partner universities. Therefore, country coordinators should make a plan to visit the partner universities per year. (SHALL I REMEVORE THIS PARAGRAPH OR NOT Apart from country coordinators, International student office (ISO) has been working as a link between SICM (country coordinators and students) and Partner Universities. ISO has been taking care of all international outgoing and incoming exchange students of the Hanze University regarding enrollment, visas, and insurances, housing and finances issues. Structure;(COMBINE STRUCTURE, MANAGEMENT STYLE AND CULTURE IN ONE PARAGRAPH AND RELATED TO ONLY RELEVANT ENVIRONMENT AND RELEVENAT STAKEHOLDERS) Next to that, SICM organizational structure is not strictly hierarchical, just like other schools of the Hanze employ upwards and downwards communication simultaneously, meaning that employees at the top of the hierarchy communicate with the ones at lower levels and vice versa. This actually makes it easy for every staff member to communicate with the upper level members since they are communicating indirectly with team leaders and coordinators. Management style The communication of the management team is a two-way flow of both communication and information in order to maintain the quality of cooperation. As communication tools, word of mouth and meetings take an important place. Next to that, an electronic learning environment is one of the most important ways of communicating faster. The management team invests in the education and training of teachers, in order to facilitate personal and professional growth of the team members. Culture According to Cornelissen, the culture of SICM is a combination of a person oriented culture, which reflects the importance of individual development, and a task oriented culture which is focused on team work for the projects (Cornelissen, 2008). The person culture is focused on individuals who are staffs and it is very hard to manage as they work on their own. For instance; country coordinators who are working on their own and dealing with not only partner universities, but also students, lectures, and working also as academic counselors. Next to that, SICM has a strong task culture as can be seen in all degree programmes of SICM, focused on team works staff, teacher and students in projects. 3.3 Communication analysis When students wish to acquire information about a particular partner university, Student are directed to go to study abroad links via internal SICM website, where students receive direct links to the official websites of the universities. It is unclear, however, whether and how the courses of the partner university match the ones at the SICM; there is no information available on this subject that would help facilitate the students decision making process. According to interviews with students from SICM (see appendix, interview transcripts), the current partner network features are very important, for them to choose where to go and which program they would like to study. Furthermore, the financial issue takes an important place to make students choices. . Some of the students only make their choices according to their financial situation. After returning from the exchange university, the students are required to complete an ACC8 assignment, where students can share their experiences from the study abroad. But the questions are limited and are not included important questions, which would result in a more comprehensive evaluation system for the SICM partner university network. The outgoing students are very important as well as the incoming students. Since the incoming students are monitored by SICM, there are enough data regarding accommodation, the study program they chose, etc. In the meantime, there is a link call student experience to reach the students evaluations after they come back from their study abroad semester. It is a new facility for the second year students. Moreover; there is a website which only contains partner universities but it is not functioning very well. The website should contains not only partner universities names and official website links but also, their offered courses, university information, accommodation, study programmes, living in a country etc. this will help country coordinators not to be overlapped with a bunch of questions from students and also useful for student motivation and help to opt a partner university. 4.3.1 Internal Communication Internal communication, which refers to the exchange of information between the management and the internal public groups of an organization, is the backbone of every functional organization. The objective of internal communication is reaching organizational and/or individual goals. Unprofessional and neglectful internal communication can lead to misunderstandings, loss of employee motivation, false rumors, criticism and even minor crisis. (Herle Rustema, 2005). Cornelissen points out that traditionally, internal communication is defined as communication with employees internally within the organization (Cornelissen, 2008). SICM employs both formal and informal channels of communication. The formal ones include email, internal memos and briefings, etc. The informal channels include talks during lunch breaks or at the coffee machine, rumors etc. The main communication aids are the meetings to give structure to decision making and further development of the issue. Since the country coordinators are busy with their own busy schedule like lectures, students, etc. , it is important to make an appointment in advance to discuss the third year students curiosity about their host country and university. As Ryan indicated, each country coordinator can only spend 8 hours per year for responding to student questions, contacting partner universities and having meeting with Ryan Schepers. This is absolutely not enough time for the development and expanding the partner universities to be internationalized. This also causes inefficient communication internally. External communication The main external stakeholders that are paramount to the fulfillment of SICMs internationalization policy are the current partner universities. It is therefore important that SICM should provide each stakeholder group with specific information and build a strong reputation across exchanges with all of these stakeholders (Cornelissen, 2008). The current communication is not enough with partners; several partners are inactive in the SICM partner university network. It is known that communication is insufficient and ineffective with current partner universities. Next to that, the SICM currently has insufficient data to assess whether the linguistic and curricular criteria of the partner universities are compatible with the ones at SICM. Not having clear partner network and their respective curriculum selection criteria creates unclearness and hinders successful future partner network selection. Cornelissen (2008) defines stakeholders as any group or individual who can affect or is affected by the achievement of the organizations purpose and objectives. The key external players regarding the SICM internationalization policy are the current partner universities and the representatives of those universities (i.e. the ones who also deal with partnerships and exchange). A comprehensive stakeholder analysis can be seen in the Power-Interest matrix  [3]  . Situation analysis According to a Desk research, the academic curriculums and linguistic requirements at partner universities dont correlate with the ones at SICM; There are only 10 current partner networks which are university of applied sciences out of 83 partner networks; Currently 63 partner universities which teach in English; Not all partner universities have both BA and Master academic programs. As indicated, there has been an ongoing increase in the number of exchange students in the last five years (see appendix 9.4). The result of incoming exchange students last five years  [4]   In year 2007/2008, there were 46 incoming exchange students from 34 partner universities. In year 2008/2009, there were 44 incoming exchange students from 40 partner universities. In year 2009/2010, there were 56 incoming exchange students from 52 partner universities. In year 2010/2011, there were 67 incoming exchange students from 64 partner universities. In year 2011/2012, there were 82 incoming exchange students from 83 partner universities. The result of outgoing students last five years  [5]   In year 2007/2008, there were 63 outgoing exchange students to 34 partner universities. In year 2008/2009, there were 47 outgoing exchange students to 40 partner universities. In year 2009/2010, there were 59 outgoing exchange students to 52 partner universities. In year 2010/2011, there were 100 outgoing exchange students to 64 partner universities. In year 2011/2012, there were 63 outgoing exchange students to 83 partner universities. Discernibly there is a misbalance between incoming/outgoing exchange students and the number of partner universities. It is a result from a lack of communication within SICM and with current partner universities. SICM only provides 8 country coordinators to be responsible for 83 partner universities which cause ineffective communication with current partner universities. This result in a lack of information about the motivations behind the decisions that second year ICV students and SICM staff make about their study abroad. Hence, it affects the external communication with current partner universities. As the communication is ineffective in communicating with partners; SICM is not aware of the current relationship with partners since several current partners are inactive. Theoretical framework This section will explain the theoretical framework which will be used for this research. The research will be based on qualitative research and theoretical background with the definitions of some concepts. The primary research questions are formulated according to three main sub problems. The sub questions will help reveal the overall issues surrounding the main research area. Moreover, the relevant communication theories will support the research for a theoretical approach to the solution of the problem. In Order to limit the research, each primary research question has a subsection has been selected. (see table 1.) Based on this analysis, I will advise Mrs Scehepers to create a balanced university network enhancing ICM standards. This brings up the main question; How to create a balanced university network enhancing ICM standards through the analysis of SICM student and teacher interest, study programs features, current partner universities features? Sub- sections Main research question: How to create a balanced university network enhancing ICM standards through the analysis of SICM student and teacher interest, study programs features, current partner universities features? Motivations Sub problem for RQ 1 Unknown 2.nd year students and teachers motivations/reasons for choosing a particular partner university Primary RQ1 What are the current CO, CS, IC and IDM students and teachers profiles alike for the exchange period in year 3? Curriculum Sub problem for RQ 2 Large number of partner universities due to unclearness in past SICM selection Criteria Primary RQ 2 What are the correlative academic curriculums (and official study languages) of each partner university of SICM? Network Sub problem for RQ 3 Insufficient communication with current partner universities due to the high number of partner universities. Primary RQ 3 How can SICM restructure their partner network and create more effective communication approach? The following sections will describe the most essential theories and concepts based on the primary research questions/ sub sections for the actual outcome of this research. Motivations and Reasons This research dimension is the interest of student and teacher related to their motives and choices to create a balanced university network enhancing ICM standards through the analysis of SICM student and teacher interest? Student and teacher motivation is the primary focus in the first primary research area. The meaning of motivation is a complex amalgam of all factors at work at a given point in time that influence an organisms movement toward a goal. Like all animals, humans respond to drive states that are governed most basically by hormonal and neural processes (Leise, 2006). Hence, in order to understand student and staff motives, the motivation theory will be applied. The following theories related to this section will answer the primary research question 1(see table 1.) Moreover, the related theories helped to prepare the semi structured interview questions for both second and third year students. Cognitive Decision Making Theory and Pull-Push theory The purpose of the first sub problem is to analyze the factors which influence the motives of students and teacher in choosing a particular partner university. Since it involves qualitative research, there will be a combination of two theories: cognitive decision making theory and push-pull theory for the decision making process. Cognitive decision-making (CDM) is human-like decision-making, it is more like a mental process. This process can be a continues process while interacting with an environment. It can include the most important information about them and the possibility of their application. The theory approaches the understanding of students and teacher interest, their choices and analyzes how they make their decision. Gadomski, A. M. (2006). The pull-push theory has a big role on decision making process and selection of particular university. The research also identifies the pull strategy of partner universities that students and teachers make their choices according to the certain criteria which match ones at SICM. Apparently, both cognitive decision making and pull-push factors have a big role on the students choices. (Mazzarol Soutar,2001) 6.1.2 Sociology theory Moreover, this is also supported by sociology theory. As a theoretical point of view, Sociology is actually defined as a science that studies the behavior of large populations like any kind of groups and their own point of views. For many years, students are sent or received in every country for a higher education. The exchange student and staff of SICM are influenced by demographic, economic, geographic, political and social differentials between sending and receiving countries that push student to leave their home countries and that pull them to countries that students and staff perceive better opportunities. (Gitzer Ryan, 2011). I combined this theory with push and pull theory to give better understanding of students choices and factors that are influenced by. (see table 4) Dervin (sense making approach) The concept of sense-making approach has been used during the interviews with second year students of SICM. The theory was developed by Dervin(1989) and this helped answering the primary research question 1; What is the current CO, CS, IC and IDM students and teacher profiles alike for the exchange period in year 3? and finding an approach to solve the sub problem. Unknown 2.nd year student and teacher motivations/reasons for choosing a particular partner university. The sense making is a focus of the approach, how people make sense of their worlds. The sense making attempts to provide a systematic approach to listen to the audience as how they see their situations, past, present, future and how they move to construct sense and make meaning of these situations.(Dervin,1989,p.77) Person treat information as means to ends and not ends in themselves: Their seeking and use of information is best predicted based on how their situations, the constraints they face, the gaps they need to bridge and the kind of bridges they would like to build across their gaps. (Dervin,1989,p.77). Dervin(1989) points out that the essential part of the sense making approach is the gap and how people analyze and bridge the gap in their life. The gap means is the problem that students dont know to which university they want to go for an exchange semester. So applying this to the research area, students define their problems of the situation and constructing a bridge means that they solve this problem. At the stage of bridging the gap, students gather information and absorb it to understand. Then they create ideas which help them to bridge the gap in their life. Elaboration Likelihood Model(ELM) In 1993, Elaboration Likelihood Model was presented by Petty and Cacioppo. This theory is a model of persuasion, about the way attitudes are formed and changed and this theory also helped answering the primary research question 1; What is the current CO, CS, IC and IDM students and teacher profiles alike for the exchange period in year 3? and finding an approach to solve the sub problem. Unknown 2.nd year student and teacher motivations/reasons for choosing a particular partner university. The main point of this theory is the overall Elaboration from inactive thinking to active thinking which causes changes in attitudes. There are two different ways which students make their decisions and thus get persuaded by those decisions. According to the extent of the elaboration, Petty states that there are two ways; the central route and the peripheral route to make decision which facilitate persuasion (Petty and Cacioppo,1986,p.217) The central route involves message elaboration in which one thinks carefully about an issue contained persuasive communication. People using the central route are scrutinizing the ideas, and trying to figure out whether they have true merit, and mull over their implications. (Petty and Cacioppo,1986,p.217) Most of the students are changing their attitude according to the information they received from a speech or an advertisement which contains a message. Then students are become motivated to think actively and consciously to make decision. And hence they get persuaded which cause changes in their attitude permanently. The peripheral route do not involves any message elaboration. It only offers a shorthand way to accept or reject a message without any active thinking about the attributes of the issue or the object of the consideration. (Petty and Cacioppo,1986,p.217). Students think of a situation of where to go, what to study or whether should go for study abroad or not without paying attention to any arguments. This leads to make quick decision by relying on a variety of cues that allow them to make quick decision. These cues are; Social proof everybody thinks the same, Authority it is as he says, Scarcity get it before it is too late. Students who are motivated can take a further and right decision by thinking consciously and make their decision. This can happen with the way of Central route. However; students who stay away from an argument and think surface features of the message that they support the speech or not. It is also related to the emotions. If a student in a good mood and have the idea of where to go strongly, he will make a quick but temporary decision by taking the peripheral route. On the other hand, student will take the central route by doing cognitive work if he is not sure where to go or what to study and this lead permanent change in attitudes. In this case, student take the peripheral route for the decision making process. Curriculum This research is aiming at creating a balanced university network enhancing ICM standards through the analysis of study program features. Besides the motivation of students and teachers, Curriculum is one of the most important areas needs to be analyzed whether SICM should keep all the current partner universities or not according to their study programmes. This bring up the primary research question 2 What are the correlative academic curriculums (and official study languages) of each partner university of SICM?. The term Curriculum literal translation is a course in Greek. The meaning of curriculum was a racing chariot; currere means to run. A clear and concise definition of the concept of Curriculum is provided by Kerr All the learning which is planned and guided by the school, whether it is carried on in groups or individually, inside or outside the school.(quoted in Kelly1983: 10; see also, Kelly 1999). In regards, Philosophy is part of the curriculum decision as argued by Ornstein(1991); with a framework of organizing schools and classrooms. It provides answers to the questions: what are the schools purposes? How do students learn and what methods and materials to use for this purpose? Etc. Philosophy also enables the students to determine the goals of education, its organization, subject content, and learning and teaching process; generally Philosophy fosters and facilitates experiences and activities to uptake in schools and classrooms. (Ornstein, 1991,p.102) As Schepers stated that SICM is an international oriented applied sciences university; mix of international and national students in a class, teaching language is in English, teaching intercultural competencies, they have international dimensions in international education with their educational Philosophy. This links to the Intercultural dimension, stands for teaching, learning and research in the context of

Costa Rica Essay -- South America Culture Research Papers

Costa Rica   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Costa Rica is a Central American republic located north of Panama and possessing two seacoasts (Pacific-west, Caribbean east). The capital and largest city, San Jose, is located in the central mountain valley. Costa Rica is notable among many Latin American countries for its long-standing democratic form of government. Costa Rica is well known for their hydroelectric plants and agricultural goods. I.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Government: 1)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Capital: San Jose 2)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Country: Costa Rica 3)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are presidential elections every 4 years. 4)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Costa Rica has a Democratic Republic. a. The president of the Republic of Costa Rica is Miguel Angel Rodriguez. Which is part of the Christian Unity Party b. Costa Rica is constantly growing and so is their economic system. 5)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Their constitution was written November 9, 1949. 6)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Costa Rica is divided into 7 provinces. a.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  San Jose its capital city, b.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Alajuela, c.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Cartago, d.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Heredia, e.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Guanacaste, f.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  puntarenas g.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  and Limo’n. 7)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Costa Rica boarders Panama and Nicaragua 8)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The voting age in Costa Rica is 18 years old male/female II.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Historical Background 1) Costa Rica was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1502, on his fourth trip to the Americas. He founded Port Limo’n, on the Caribbean coast. Because he was so impressed by the vegetation and the gold/jewelry the natives wore he called it Costa Rica (Coast of Plenty). In 1821 Costa Rica declared independence from Spain. Costa Rica celebrated its 100th anniversary of democracy in 1989. The army was abolished in 1948 by means of a new constitution promoted by Mr. Jose Figueres Ferrer, which was looked upon as a national hero. Ever since there has bean no army and the headquarters was made into a National Museum.Costa Rica has also bean nominated for the Nobel Peace prize 12 times 2)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The president at the time is Miguel Angel Rodriguez 3)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are three main political parties: a.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  National Liberation Party b.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Reformist Organization c.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Social Christian Unity Party 4)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After WW2 Costa Rica did much like many of the other Latin countries, later causing its economy to start an imbalance and the price compared to one dollar dropped. 5)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The flags seven stars represent the seven provinces, the three volcanoes represent Costa Rica’s three mountain ranges, III.... ...up to 5 or 6 years if you get technical classes) c.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  University 8)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  President Jose Maria Figueres implied the training of 500 teachers. VII.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sports and Leisure 1)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The chief sport in Costa Rica like most of South America is soccer (foot ball) 2)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Water sports like sailing and rafting are also very popular. 3)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Costa Rica has a wide range of entertaining activities like scuba diving, sailing, water skiing etc. 4)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Costa Rica was has not been in any of the recent World Cup matches. 5)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Some sports heroes in Costa Rica are Claudia Poll which placed first in the 200m freestyle, and Fredrico Ramirez which was the winner of the cycling tournament in the 1996 Olympic games. Costa Rica’s culture and education are rapidly spreading throughout South America. Costa Rica’s language schools are known to be some of the best in the world. Their economy is also getting better and is expected to keep rising in oncoming years. Costa Rica has a good president and is expected to lead them to a new height by the year 2002 when there is the next election. More religions and cultures are influencing Costa Rica because of attractive scenery and good universities.

Capital Punishment: Costs Of The Death Penalty Essay -- essays researc

Capital Punishment: Costs of The Death Penalty Let us suppose that killing as a form of punishment is a moral and universally accepted practice. Would it then be acceptable to issue this irreparable sanction to a select few while allowing others, equally accountable, to avoid it? It is acceptable to our criminal justice system for it seems to be standard operating procedure. Many embrace the death penalty based on the "eye for an eye" concept. There is certainly some merit to this argument and it seems quite fair and logical. Unfortunately our use of the death penalty is neither fair nor logical. Our criminal justice system's "lip service" to the age-old concept is an insulting disguise for such an obscurity of fairness and logic. The death penalty is frivolous and discriminatory in its procedure because of the unreasonable prices we pay to execute certain groups at much higher rates than others. We pay different prices for using a death penalty. Sadly, today more than ever, the dollar seems to be the endlessly interchangeable standard of value. We strive to make money, save money and when we spend money we do so with a valued return in mind. Accordingly, a popular argument contends that we spend too much money incarcerating prisoners for life. We probably do but the price tag on issuing a death sentence according to a Florida study is $3.1 million compared to $1 million for a life sentence; a 3100% difference (Walker 1994, 108). Imagine your death bein...

Describe the relationship between Juliet and her parents Essay

Romeo and Juliet have a relationship between them, loving relationship. But they both are not the same tribe one is a Montague and one is a Capulet, the two do not match as they have a rivalry between them for decades. They saw each other at first sight at a Capulet party. After the party Juliet went to the nurse to ask her who he is and the nurse said â€Å"his name is Montague† and she really did not because she loved him. Here we see that the relationship between Juliet and her parents is wearing out because when she is in love with Romeo she goes to the nurse for advice and does not bring her parents into it. Juliet’s dad is a very unhappy person because he is worried when Juliet refused to marry Paris. Juliet does not want to marry Paris this is because she is in love with Romeo. She does not like Paris because of his act in the story. We can see that the relationship with her father and mother is also not so good. The father wants Juliet to marry no one apart from Paris, and her mother does not really care whom she is married to. Her mother also thinks it is the right age for Juliet to get married. But after seeing Capulet rustiness she decides to go with Capulet decision. â€Å"Hang thee, young baggage! Disobidient whelen! I tell thee what, get thee to church O `Thursday` Or never look me in the face. â€Å"(Act 3 Scene 5) Act four scene one shows us Juliet is refusing to get married to Paris, as she wants to get married to Romeo a Montague. She pays a visit to friar Lawrence for help because she is getting forced to marry Paris. Friar Lawrence offers her his researches into medicinal qualities of herbs of having enabled him to concoct a â€Å"distilled liquor† which Juliet must drink. When she drinks this solution she will fall in coma, and her body will have an appearance of death. Friar Lawrence does not want anyone to find out about the plan, not even the nurse. The relationship is expressed more clearly between the daughter and her parents by the fact she asked friar Lawrence for help and again forgets her parents in the conversation. This shows that her parents are very strict about her relationship. â€Å"O, shut the door! And when thou hast done so, Come weep with me. Past hope, past came, past help! Juliet does not get along with her parents easily, could it be the fact that she does not understand her parent’s feelings. She does obey her parents but betrays them behind their backs i. e. she marries Romeo without her parents permission when they are not supposed to become of the rivalry.

Health Psychology Concepts Essay

In this short speech I will tell you the three most significant concepts that I have learned in a course that I took in health care about health psychology. The three most significant concepts I have learned in this course that I would include in a speech supporting incorporation of health psychology concepts in health care policy are pain management, coping with chronic illness, and stress and its affects on health. The first one that I picked was pain management. The reason that I picked pain management is there is many ways that our body deals with pain and there are many ways to fix the pain. Some people think that alcohol and drugs are a good pain killer, but in fact it does not help the pain at all. There are better way to deal with it but many people have to be trained to do these thing. The next significant concept that I picked was coping with chronic and life-threatening illness. The reason that I picked coping with chronic and life-threatening illness is until I took this class I had no ideal on how to deal with or to expect others to deal with it. The final concept that I picked was stress and its affects on health. The reason that I picked stress and its affects on health is that most people have a lot of stress and they do not know that it is affecting their health or how it is affecting their health. There are many ways that stress can affect some ones health. One of the ways that come right to mind is pain in different parts of your body and there seems to be no reason for it.

Whether the Construction Industry Is the ‘Pillar’ Industry in Hong Kong?

BRE216ECONOMICS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND REAL ESTATE Kwan Tsz Him (11168188D) Kwan Cheuk Pui (11055717D) Cheng Ming Xian (11704592D) Introduction Although Hong Kong has less land, there are always construction projects happening everywhere in Hong Kong, for example, West Kowloon Cultural District development, Kwun Tong redevelopment project, etc. However, workers and capital involved in the construction industry have been decreasing.In this report, we will discuss whether the construction industry is the ‘pillar’ industry in Hong Kong and we disagree with it. Focused industries As proposed by the Government decades ago, there are four ‘pillar’ industries in Hong Kong, namely, financial services, trading and logistics, tourism and producer and professional services. They account for about 60% of GDP and nearly half of the total workforce, in which construction industry is counted in the producer and professional services.In the 21st century, the Government wants to look forward and follow the trend of technological and advanced world, they proposed another six new ‘pillar’ industries, concerning testing and certification, medical services, innovation technology, culture and creative industries, environmental industry and education services, in which construction industry is not counted in any ‘pillar’ industry and no longer treated as important by the Government. Features of local construction industry There are several features for local construction industry in Hong Kong, with dangerous working environment being the major one.Without doubt, accidents happen all the time in Hong Kong when you simply flip through the newspaper. Some of the accidents are inevitable while some happened due to carelessness. For example, the workers may not be aware of the safety regulations, accidents always happen while the workers do not obey the safety regulations as well as not to follow the working regulations. Besides, competiti on between overseas contractors is keen. Nowadays, a lot of construction projects in Hong Kong are outsourced to overseas contractors. It is because the technology is more advanced in overseas countries such as in Germany, the United States, France, etc.With reasonable price and advanced technology, the other countries sometimes are more competitive. Moreover, labor intensive is also the label of construction industry in Hong Kong. Limited land with high population is a characteristic for Hong Kong. Labor can be easily found, however, is only applicable in the past. This will be examined in the report later. Concerning the environment, pollution is in line with the construction industry to a large extent. Since construction work will inevitably pose noise, air and sometimes water pollution.The pollution extent depends on the scale of the project. Basically, the larger scale of a construction project, the greater the pollution will be resulted. Reasons of excluding construction indus try as pillar an industry in Hong Kong As mentioned before, the feature of labor intensive can only be described in old years due to the transformation of economy. In late 80s, the HKSAR has been transforming the whole economy from labor intensive industry to commercial industry which is defined as tertiary services as finance and accounting, investing, banking and so on.In such knowledge-based society, the unemployment rate for those with low education level could be especially higher. Also, there is no new blood to enter such industry. This can actually be explained by the above phenomenon. Nowadays, most of the workers are 50 years old or above and the industry faces the aging problem. As this cannot be fixed, construction industry will decline gradually. Nowadays, the opportunity of receiving proper education is higher, thus the citizens do not willing to enter to an industry with gloomy future. Diagram showing the percentage of population distribution in different working secto rsAs for the construction industry, we may see that the percentages are actually fluctuating throughout the years and increased from 5. 4% to 6. 8% in 1971 and 2006 respectively. Only a light increase in population is resulted and also, it just accounts for a little percentage. Frankly speaking, a lot of buildings are, nowadays, built for different uses for economic development and social settlement. However, the problem of aging of such industry is becoming more serious and we can barely see how the government has implemented any scheme to cope with such problem.Total building and construction output and annual percentage change (Census and Statistics Department) | Total construction as % of GNP| Current value| 2006| 25. 1| 14. 2| 2007| 23. 7| -0. 1| 2008| 21. 1| -15. 6| 2009| 13. 8| -44. 6| 2010| 9. 2| -35. 0| Direct and indirect employment construction (Census and Statistics Department) As the diagram above suggests that the direct and indirect employment in construction is shrin king from 2004 to 2010. Also, the total output as well as the total construction as percentage of GNP is decreasing from 25. 1% to 9. 2% in 2004 and 2010 respectively.This data has indicated that the economic return and contribution to Hong Kong is contracting to a large extent. Construction distribution to GDP Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Economic Activity – Percentage Contribution to GDP at Basic Prices (Census and Statistics Department) | 2006| 2007| 2008| 2009| 2010| Construction| 2. 7| 2. 6| 3. 0| 3. 2| 3. 3| Services| 91. 7| 92. 8| 92. 5| 92. 6| 92. 9| GDP refers to the market value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a given period. From the table above, we can find that from 2006 to 2010, the construction industry only contributed about 3% to GDP.To compare with other industries, construction industry seems has not reach the standard of becoming a pillar in Hong Kong. The problem of construction industry in Hong Kong Building contractors in Hong Kong are usually small. The competition between domestic and foreign building contractors is keen, because our building technology is labor-intensive and traditional. They compete on price, and cut costs, and sometimes, very unfortunately, corner as well. Consequently, the problems of safety and lack of technology development happened. Besides, the building cost in Hong Kong is among the highest in advanced economies.As a result of low profitability, most industry participants adopt a short-term view on business development. Complex infrastructure projects have been undertaken by international contractors most of the time. According to Labour Department accident statistics for 2005, the accident rates per 1,000 workers in the construction industry is 59. 9, these figures were higher than the overall accident rate of 30. 6 per 1,000 workers in all industries. Due to the risk is higher than other industries, lack of graduates over the next two/three years will associate with con struction.The potential danger has reduced the possibility to attract leaving certificate students into the construction professions, it increases the difficulty to continue and expand the construction industry. Number distribution of workers in construction industry (Labour Department) | End of 2000| Beginning of 2009| Total workers| 83924| 51944| Public| 44355| 20825| Private| 32704| 31119| Building| 61676| 40772| Civil| 22248| 11172| Conclusion To conclude, we do agree that construction is very important in Hong Kong. Real estate is closely linked with the economy and it creates many job opportunities.During the â€Å"financial tsunami†, government even earmarked large amounts of public money on construction projects to stimulate the economy. However, the distribution from construction industry to GDP becomes less and less while compare with the past, it only holds about 3% of GDP every year. Besides, with many problems in this industries, it is not easy for the Government to make it as a ‘pillar’ industry. We suggest that the Government still need to put focus on construction industry but it need not to be the pillar industry in Hong Kong. Reference 1.Census and Statistics Department: Report on the Quarterly Survey of Construction Output, 3rd Quarter 2011 http://www. censtatd. gov. hk/freedownload. jsp? file=publication/stat_report/commerce/B10900022011QQ03B0100. pdf&title=Report+on+the+Quarterly+Survey+of+Construction+Output&issue=Third+Quarter+2011&lang=1 2. Census and Statistics Department: Real Estate Project Statistics http://www. censtatd. gov. hk/hong_kong_statistics/statistical_tables/index. jsp? tableID=119 3. Census and Statistics Department: Statistics in the industry section of construction http://www. enstatd. gov. hk/hong_kong_statistics/statistical_tables/index. jsp? tableID=116 4. HK Job News http://www. hkjobnews. com/2010/03/7. html 5. Construction Workers Registration Authority. Annual report http://www. cwra. org. hk /information/AnnualReport/report11/index. htm 6. Shair W, Bright horizon for Hong Kong's construction sector: Recruiting newcomers. http://www. careertimes. com. hk/english/article/show_article. asp? category_id=1037;article_id=14111;title=bright-horizon-for-hong-kong-s-construction-sector;listby=date;listby_id