Communist manifesto Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Communist manifesto - Essay Example Not only were the form of governments and personnel altered but the entire basis of government were changed leading to emergency of society encompassing gender roles, human rights, nationality, and social class. It is noted these revolutionary social and political trends continued and became established in the nineteenth century, manifested through nationalist and democratic uprisings and movements against foreign or arbitrary rule throughout Europe, in the campaign against slave trade and slavery in the transatlantic ocean, and in to some extend demanding gender equality (Weightman 2010, 23). Emergence of industrial revolution led to emergence of another wave which reinforced revolutionary dynamic. Social, economic, and political changes emerged at the end of 19th century sweeping across the globe. Industrial revolution led to advances to substitute inanimate and machine sources of power for replacement of domestic and craft guilds production and human labor by the reformulation of business into cartels or corporation and manufacturing systems of the factory. This approach was similar to the replacement of the feudal rulers with political revolutions with new forms of government establishment and election of leaders. Similarly, industrial revolution was analogical to political revolutions which were exemplified through increased involvement of citizens in the government. This was in the sense that the resulting organizational and technological changes led to an impressive increase in production resulting into industrial society’s economic growth (Anderson 2011, 21). Effects of industrial revolution were felt in regions such as United States, Belgium, France, and Germany leading to emergence of new manufacturing cities. As a result, new class differentiation emerged and a new form of labor was conceived such as the middle class and the skilled labor respectively. Nevertheless, industrial revolution gave birth to rampant exploitation of workers and unplan ned urbanization calling for government regulations and interventions. Responses were manifested through Public Health Boards, Poor Laws, and Factory Acts. Evolution of labor unions was as a result of workers gaining the rights to vote. Socialist movements emerged due to resistance of workers demands leading to Karl Marx reasoning that was presented in Communist Manifesto which claimed that capitalist revolutionary overthrow was the only means for workers to emancipate themselves. On the contrary, Americans and Europeans expanded their influence and power due to the technological, organizational, and financial resources. Colonization, military domination, economic encroachment in the non-industrialized states was mated by little resistance thus resulting into new imperialism (Anderson 2011 33). Property rights exalted enlightenment to the status of a bulwark of liberty. Power in the older Europe accompanied property; however, aristocratic rule was the inevitable belief that justifie d the power. It was believed that wealth was right given by God and the traditional Christianity was conceived to balance this wealth. Nevertheless, European civilization was profoundly affected by industrial revolution. Industrialists viewed themselves as creators of wealth. Significant movement was the gradual expansion of voters’ rights which was initially focused on the working men but later included the women. Economic security and independence was argued to be achieved through the perception of liberty. The conception was based on the notion that natural laws yielded freedom rather than the theological

Poverty and the US Economy Essay Example for Free

Poverty and the US Economy Essay Today, there are developed, emerging and developing countries in the world. A larger percentage of people live under extreme poverty in most developing countries. In most developed countries poverty exist, but a lower proportion. Most developing countries formulate policies either monetary or fiscal to reduce the prevalence of poverty. However, there is no country without a policy options for elimination poverty. In a broader sense, poverty cannot be eradicated, but can be reduced to a certain level. This is why countries are pursuing various polices that could help reduce poverty in their region. Fiscal and monetary policies are the main tools used in formulating various strategies, actions that aim to reduce poverty. This issue leads us to poverty issue in the United States of America. Then, what are the various policies that can be used to eliminate poverty in the country. Should the policy makers make use of fiscal or monetary policy? Subsequently, what policy tools will be used, fiscal or monetary? In this write up there will be a comprehensive analysis on what policy option that should enacted to eliminate poverty in the USA. To begin with, understanding what fiscal and monetary policy entails is necessary. Then, what is fiscal policy? In a simple term, fiscal policy refers to an effort by the government to manage, influence and guide the tempo or direction of the economy by using its major tools taxation and its total spending. There are two major tools of fiscal policy, which are taxation and government spending. In addition, there could be contractionary or expansionary fiscal policy. Expansionary fiscal policy here means when there is increase in government spending or reduction in taxation. This normally leads to budget deficit and vice versa. While, monetary policy refers to an effort by the government to change the pace of the economy by influencing or controlling the money supply and interest rates. These various policies are pursued by government in other to achieve the basic economic objectives of full employment, stability in price level and growth of the economy. However, in the US the fiscal or monetary policies have to be enacted in other to reduce or eliminate poverty. In performing this task, different things have to be put in their rightful place. Even though, poverty cannot be eliminated from the country yet with a very good fiscal and monetary policies it proportion could be reduce. The reason why I believe poverty cannot be completely eliminated is because of the way economy and nation evolves. From time immemorial, there have been some certain classes of people in the economy. They range from upper, middle and lower classes. In any economy, there will always be the lower class and this comprises of the people living below the poverty line. In addition, there will always be those at the receiving end. Africa can be a very good example of this issue. Therefore, there is way how we would not have poverty in any nation. What can only be done is to reduce drastically the number. In country like the US, the poverty rate can be reduced to a small level if government pursues good monetary and fiscal policies. The government could enact fiscal, monetary policies and both together in the economy to reduce the poverty rate. These would be explained as follows: Firstly, we are going to consider the fiscal policy. Since, our main aim is to reduce the level of poverty. The government could pursue both the contractionary or expansionary fiscal policy. However, global financial crises have an overall effect on the nation’s economy. Moreover, the US government could enact contractionary policy to reduce the level of inflation. Since, the tools of fiscal policy are taxation and government spending. The government should reduce its spending and increase the tax of the elite and the upper class in the nation only. When this is done, the government will have more funds, which could be spent on increasing the aggregate demand of the lower class or people living below the poverty line. In a way the real income of the lower class will be increased through this policy, since the funds will be redistribute from the rich to the poor. In a way, there is the effect that fiscal policy has on the nation at large and on the individual as a whole. In as much as our focus relates to individual then, we pursue those action that will be beneficial to the individual rather than the whole nation. In addition, when government pursue budget deficit the economy is receiving less than what its expend. In this case, the government will have to finance this deficit using different approaches. They could borrow the populace or sell assets. Sale of asset may include the sale of bonds and treasury bills in other to offset the deficit. Treasury bills and bond are example of government tools use to reduce the money in circulation. Government sells these to the public in other to remove money in circulation. This money needed will be gotten from the upper class or the rich by increasing their tax. On the other hand, an expansionary fiscal policy could also be enacted. Here, the government should reduce the tax of the lower class and government should increase their spending on economic activities that could increase aggregate demand of this lower class and result in increased productivity. When government takes this action, the real income or the disposable income of this class of people would increase and thereby increasing their purchasing power. Given that, disposable income is the income that is left for spending when tax has been removed from income. In addition, when government increases their spending they pursue budget deficit. Here, they should incur these funds on economic activities that could increase the productivity and aggregate demand of the lower class. When there is increase in government spending, it means that the government is redistributing its asset to its populace. Thereby increasing total productivity in the economy and leading to increase in total income. This increase in total income will trickle down to the lower class and increase their disposable income. In essence, when government pursues the basic economic objective, they will be solving the issue of eliminating poverty indirectly. Therefore, the government could use fiscal policy in reducing the level of poverty in the nation However, the government in pursuing this objective of eliminating poverty can also use monetary policy. They could also use expansionary monetary policy. In a way, contractionary monetary policy will not be effective in achieving this objective. When they wish to use expansionary policy, the government should influence the interest rate by reducing it using its various tools. When this happens, investment will increase leading to increase in productivity that will trickle down to the lower class. Since, increasing productivity more labor effort would be require in achieving this. Then, there will be increase in employment that will trickle down to the lower class. In a way, more people will be employed and this will include the lower class. This situation will increase the real income of the lower class and will enable them live above the poverty line. However, the contractionary monetary policy will not be effective in this case. Since, under this policy there will be reduction in the rate of interest and consequently leading to decrease in productivity. When productivity is reduced, it means inventory is reducing and companies are sacking workers and this most times affects the lower class. Therefore, this will further worsen poverty situation in the country and contributing to increase in the level of unemployment. In another way, the government could combine both fiscal and monetary policies in other to achieve their objective of eliminating poverty in the country. What is needed is the right combination in other to guide against inflation. The government could influence the interest rate and at the same time enact policy that would make lower income earners pay reduce tax or used to offset the feedback from these policy option. The government could also combine expansionary monetary and fiscal contractionary policies in a way to offset any feedback from this policy options. In conclusion, there are ways the government of the United States of America could use to eliminate poverty. However, we should have it in mind that poverty cannot be eliminated permanently in the country. It could only be reduce to its barest minimum. In a way, the government actions are very vital. The two main policies to be enacted are the monetary and the fiscal policy. Finally, I think the global financial crises have a way of influencing the way these policies will work.

The positives and negatives of Mold

The positives and negatives of Mold When you hear the word mold, what comes to mind? Is it something green, fuzzy, and squishy? Do you immediately want to throw it away? Do you run screaming from the room or duck and hide? If you are a scientist, you will look more closely. You will look at mold in a different way, through different eyes. Mold is a whole new world to explore. It is important to understand what mold is, its harmful effects and its possible benefits. What is mold? In the American Heritage Dictionary, mold is any of various fungous growths often causing disintegration of organic matter. Molds are classified as part of the kingdom fungi (Ammirati, par. 6). They fall into the divisions Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Chytridiomycota and Zygomycota (Ammirati, para. 6). Molds are microscopic fungi that live on plant or animal matter (USDA, par. 1). They are made up of multiple cells and can sometimes be seen with the naked eye (USDA, par. 2). Unlike other plants, mold has no chlorophyll, but rather it lives on food or decaying matter (Ammirati, par. 1). When mold appears on food, it can be greenish in color, or white and cotton-like in appearance. Mold has at least three parts which include the root threads, which invade the food it lives on; the stalk, which rises above the food, and the spores which form at the ends of the stalks which give the mold its color (USDA, par. 2). Mold develops from spores, which when they are dry, float through the air until they find suitable conditions to start the growth cycle again. (USDA, par. 8). When a mold spore lands on damp food, it swells and begins to grow by producing tiny hyphae (threads). The hyphae form a tangled mass called a mycelium, which in turn produces aerial pyphae called stolons. Rootlike structures known as rhizoids anchor stolons in the food (Ammirati, par. 3). This is what allows the mold to stay on the food. By the time the mold appears to the eye on the surface of food, it has already penetrated into the food. Therefore, most molds are threadlike spores (USDA, par. 1). Mold is found in virtually every environment. It is found inside and outside. It is found throughout the year (USDA, par. 7). Mold grows in warm humid conditions. Outside, these may be shady damp areas where leaves and other materials are decomposing (USDA, par. 7). Mold can also grow in refrigerators because they can tolerant sugars and salts better than most other food invaders (USDA par. 15). There are different kinds of molds including blue molds which grow on breads, green molds which grow on cheese and water molds which live in water and soil (Ammirati, par. 2). Mold does not need light to grow but each kind of mold needs certain materials for growth (Pascoe 7). Mold is the only plant that does not have roots, leaves, flowers, or seeds (Pascoe 7). How is mold harmful? It is probably not surprising to learn that mold is potentially harmful. However, it may surprise one to learn that mold has been linked to types of cancer. Molds can cause problems as common as allergic reactions and respiratory problems (USDA, par. 5). Some another diseases that mold can cause are athletes foot, and ringworm in people, and various blights in plants (Pascoe 7). Some more serious if not treated diseases that mold can cause are dangerous forms of pneumonia and it can infect the lungs (Pascoe 17). Mold sometimes contains a poisonous substance called mycotoxins that can make you sick (USDA, par. 5). Mycotoxins are found primarily in grain and nut crops (USDA, par. 10). They are also found in celery, grape juice, apples, and other produce (USDA, par. 10). According to one source, as much as twenty-five percent (25%) of the worlds food crops are affected by mycotoxins (USDA, par. 10). Some mycotoxins, such as aflatoxin, can cause cancer. Mold is not something to mess arou nd with. How is mold beneficial? Despite its ugly appearance and potentially hazardous effects, mold can offer some great benefits. First of all, mold can be beneficial to the gardener. Leaf mold greatly improves the structure and water-holding capacity of soil. It also creates the perfect conditions for the community of beneficial organisms that dwell in your soil (Galloway, par.1). Leaf mold can hold up to 500 times its own weight in water which helps plants to retain moisture during the summer or dry season (Galloway, par.8). In a recent study they found that garden soil amended with leaf mold had a twenty percent(20%) lower bulk density than soil to which leaf mold was not added (Galloway, par.9). It also fertilizes soil by breaking down the dead organisms and waste material (Ammirati, par. 5). In the early 1900s, scientists had began working to develop drugs that could destroy microbes, but the substances that came out where either ineffective or dangerous (Cupp, par. 29). However, one day Penicillin which is made from Penicillium mold was invented (Ammirati, par. 5). Penicillium mold is green-gray color (Pascoe 29). It was invented accidentally by Sir Alexander Fleming, a British bacteriologist, in 1928 (Dauben, par. 38). His laboratory was in London (Souza 49). He noticed one day that a bit of mold of the genus Penicillium had contaminated a laboratory dish containing bacteria. All the bacteria had been killed around the mold (Dauben, par. 38). Therefore, mold would ultimately be used for a variety of medical problems. Not until the end of World War II (1939-45) was there enough of penicillium available to treat large numbers of patients (Souza 50). Another thing that mold is good for is eating. People may think why and who would eat mold? Some molds are used to make certain kinds of cheese. For example: Roquefort, blue, Gorgonzola, and Stilton (USDA, par. 14). The most recent discover is the new mechanism in the reproductive cycle of certain species of mold. This mechanism protects the organism from genetic abnormalities by silencing unmatched genes during meiosis (sexual reproduction). It is to help target unwanted genes such as the HIV Virus, and other serious diseases (ScienceDaily, Par. 1). Another thing that molds are useful for is it plays an important and helpful role in the cycle of life. The molds help breakdown the dead plants and animal material then it returns useful nutrients to the soil (Pascoe 6). Aspergillus blown mold doesnt help save lives but it is often used to produce that citric acid that gives some candies and soft drinks a lemony flavor, as well as to make soy sauce and a Japanese alcoholic drink called sake (Alvin Silverstein, Virginia Silverstein, and Robert Silverstein 47-48). The study of mold is not for the weak stomach. The greenish color and resulting decay of the food does not make it a very appealing subject to most. However, learning about mold, what it is, how it can be harmful and how it is beneficial can be rewarding. Mold has an interesting way of finding foods different from most other plant life. They also have a strange way of traveling, basically catching a ride, on breezes and air currents. The most disturbing things about mold is how sick it can make someone, but we mustnt forget there are benefits that have been found using mold in research to treat some types serious diseases. However, as I learned from my research, mold has its good and bad characteristics.

Comparing Sexy versus A Temporary Matter in Interpreter of Maladies Ess

Readers are often baffled by the openness of some stories where the ending can go either way they are put into situation where they must imagine or assume how the story does end. Open-ended stories can be found in Jhumpa Lahiri’s Interpreter of Maladies, where few stories of open-endings have an immense impact on the reader by creating a hunger to know what happens next. There is always one very noticeable advantage open-ended stories have over close-ended stories, that is the impact on the reader. The impact that makes the reader think, imagine and creates immaculate suspense as the reader is following the life of the protagonist with utmost anticipation, but all of sudden the story ends and the reader’s first question would be ,â€Å"what becomes of the protagonist?†. Close ended stories have very limited scope for imagination and very little suspense towards the end. There is not as big an impact but the can be a sense of completeness and also the reader may feel relieved that he knows what the protagonist has gone through from the beginning to the end. A story with an open-ending that may be discovered from the book is â€Å"A Temporary Matter†, where the ending is so open that there is a colossal sense of incompleteness, having followed the ordeals of the protagonist and knowing what may be a valid reason for a married couple to fall out of love. The ending does not specify the fate of the marriage which seems to be on the path of falling apart, but the words of the protagonist which is either the saviour of the marriage or the final attempt to keep the marriage together remains unknown in the end. The story with a considerably closed ending that can be found is â€Å"Sexy† where the protagonist has an affair with a married Indian ... ...rves the way for the plot, the theme is the central idea around which a literary piece revolves. Without the theme the plot would be meaningless and there would be nothing for the readers to derive from the literary piece. Without the plot, the theme would be meaningless as there would be nowhere to consign the message the writer intends to give the reader. It can be said that the plot and theme are the two most important literary elements of a literary piece and are inter-dependant. In conclusion, I would like to say that an open-ended story has much more impact and imagery than a close-ended story. An open-ended story lingers about the reader’s thoughts and to some extent dominates the reader’s imagination. The plot and theme are the two most important literary elements in a literary piece and the piece would fail heavily without a good theme or a good plot.

Law and Conflicting Perspectives Essay

Composers represent conflicting perspectives through their own unique experiences and values as their political and social contexts. Geoffrey Robertson’s self styled memoir ‘The Justice Game’ written in the late 1900’s heavily reflects these conflicting perspectives in the ‘Trials of Oz’ and ‘The Romans in Britain’ through the employment of emotive and persuasive language and ridicule in the form of satire to which convey Robertson’s view through his eyes. Such conflicts also portrayed in Charles Waterstreet’s article’ It’s a long fickle road to justice’ which similar to Robertson’s use of persuasive techniques utilizes satire to challenge and question the myopic procedures of the legal system. As society develops, along with it come the changes in values and beliefs this is evident in The Trials of Oz which displays the differing attitudes and conflicting perspectives between generation gaps. The† Trials of Oz’s† ‘Rupert Bear’ was one of great offence in Robertson’s time, whereas today material similar to this is everywhere and is mostly socially acceptable which parallely reflect the beliefs of freedom of speech and individuality growing within society. Robertson himself believed these values which is evident in his view put across in a metaphor for describing the legal system as â€Å" the justice game† revealing the lack of freedom of speech and individuality acknowledgement within it, which is reinforced through the chapter through repetition, arising questions for the responder. In the Trials Of Oz, Robertson uses persuasive language to describe the defendants as â€Å"honest young men† and to characterise Oz as a â€Å"harmless coffee-table magazine for the revolution that would never happen†.

Free Essays on Robert Frosts “Mending Wall“

Robert Frost’s â€Å"Mending Wall† Robert Frost has entertained many with his vivid portrayals of life. Frost never attended school until his family moved to New Hampshire where at age ten, he entered Lawrence High School, and would later leave as the head of his class. Frost’s legacy began in 1912 when he moved to England to devote his life to writing, and his first book was published. â€Å"Mending Wall† comes from his second book North of Boston. â€Å"â€Å"Mending Wall† is different from the other poems in North of Boston because it is opposed to visions of human existence and focuses on the psychological necessities of sustaining fictions†(Lentricchia). â€Å"Mending Wall† is one of Robert Frost’s greatest poems and has inspired many people with its views on personal boundaries and a profound togetherness. His neighbors’ father’s clichà ©s are what his neighbor bases his reasons upon, the reasons for the wall which separates them. One day during the spring they meet to mend the walls in which they live. Stones fall off all the time and they range in size from loaves to balls. They try not to see each other and all the neighbor says when he tells him that this is silly is â€Å"good fences make good neighbors.† He wants to ask why they make good neighbors, but knows the neighbor would not say anything but the silly saying again. He does not really know a point to the wall and does not understand what he is covering up, but as the neighbor goes away, he thinks of it again, â€Å"good fences make good neighbors!† â€Å"â€Å"Mending Wall† is a poem that distinguishes between two kinds of people: one who seizes the particular occasion of mending as fuel for the imagination and as a release from the dull ritual of work each spring and one who is trapped by work and by the New England past as it comes down to him in the form of his father’s clichà ©s† (Lentricchia). This explains the lives of the two men involved in ... Free Essays on Robert Frost's â€Å"Mending Wallâ€Å" Free Essays on Robert Frost's â€Å"Mending Wallâ€Å" Robert Frost’s â€Å"Mending Wall† Robert Frost has entertained many with his vivid portrayals of life. Frost never attended school until his family moved to New Hampshire where at age ten, he entered Lawrence High School, and would later leave as the head of his class. Frost’s legacy began in 1912 when he moved to England to devote his life to writing, and his first book was published. â€Å"Mending Wall† comes from his second book North of Boston. â€Å"â€Å"Mending Wall† is different from the other poems in North of Boston because it is opposed to visions of human existence and focuses on the psychological necessities of sustaining fictions†(Lentricchia). â€Å"Mending Wall† is one of Robert Frost’s greatest poems and has inspired many people with its views on personal boundaries and a profound togetherness. His neighbors’ father’s clichà ©s are what his neighbor bases his reasons upon, the reasons for the wall which separates them. One day during the spring they meet to mend the walls in which they live. Stones fall off all the time and they range in size from loaves to balls. They try not to see each other and all the neighbor says when he tells him that this is silly is â€Å"good fences make good neighbors.† He wants to ask why they make good neighbors, but knows the neighbor would not say anything but the silly saying again. He does not really know a point to the wall and does not understand what he is covering up, but as the neighbor goes away, he thinks of it again, â€Å"good fences make good neighbors!† â€Å"â€Å"Mending Wall† is a poem that distinguishes between two kinds of people: one who seizes the particular occasion of mending as fuel for the imagination and as a release from the dull ritual of work each spring and one who is trapped by work and by the New England past as it comes down to him in the form of his father’s clichà ©s† (Lentricchia). This explains the lives of the two men involved in ...

My Utopia essays

My Utopia essays My utopia does not exist in a perfect world; the reason for this is that I believe there is no such thing as a perfect world. There are balanced worlds, and worlds that exist in harmony, but never a perfect world. If there were such thing as a perfect world there would be no need for advancements and breakthroughs as there is now. Society would become stagnant, and eventually die off. So in my utopia, my world, things are ever changing, there is not a day that is like any other; there are similarities, but never the same thing twice. The people that inhabit my world are content. They have all their needs met, and they meet the needs of their society. Everyone works. The need for everyone to work should be obvious. And anyone who does not work for the good for their society is exiled. As a reward for working, all a persons needs are met by the society they serve. If you work, you get a house, you get the food you need, and the clothing to clothe you. Other material possessions are earned through a merit system. Through this system, if you go above and beyond what is required of your responsibilities then you earn a merit, and merits can be exchanged for superficial possessions. Working also guarantees free health care. This, including relatives and children, if you are sick and cannot work, your relatives health care will cover you, covers everything. The same with any other special needs you or your family might have. They are all covered by society. Education is also provided by society. An individual can progress their quest for knowledge at any level for free. All institutions provide the same level of learning to all that apply. There will be no uneducated people in my utopia. Education is a fundamental of my utopian society. Education is encouraged by society, and progressive study beyond the required levels can also earn merits. To keep a well maintained society running smoothly, and elected body of officials whom...

Ceremonies And Duties Of A Knight Essays - Knight, Jousting, Squire

Ceremonies And Duties Of A Knight Essays - Knight, Jousting, Squire Ceremonies and Duties of a Knight Introduction Knights were a important part in medieval times. They were used as protection on the manors to stop invading enemies. The worst hated were the Vikings. Knights did more than just sit around and wait for someone to attack them.The trained for when there was going to be a battle and also taught soon to be knights. They also had tournaments for practice and entertainment. Probably the most common tournament known today is jousting. Jousting is where two opponents are on horses going as fast as they can with very big and long poles and try to hit there opponent off of their horse which is also moving and the opponent also has a pole. In the tournaments they first used very sharp and pointy jousting sticks but too many people were getting hurt and no one thought it would be fun to enter a tournament where you get hurt so then everyone agreed to use blunt jousting sticks instead of using sharp pointy jousting sticks so that people wouldn?t get hurt as bad. Jousting then lead to a ! game called tilting that became popular back in the 1400?s. Two knights would be on horses heading towards there opponent in narrow lanes so the horses could not hit into the other horse. The knights would carry jousting sticks and try to hit there opponent of of their horse. There was also many other games that took place at the tournaments like sword fighting and many others. * Training Before becoming a page you would learn take care of the woman in his family.Also during this time he learned how to take care of horses and how to ride a pony.To become a knight you would first have to go through many years of hard work. You would first start of at the age of seven as a page until your teens. During this time a page would learn how to fight with swords and play games that helped him learn strategy and skill. He would also learn how to hunt with birds like hawks and falcons. He also learned manners. When you became a squire you were mainly the knight?s servant. A squire would also take care of prisoners in a battle. A squire had to help out his master. If your master went to war you would have to go to war with him. If your master was hurt you would have to dress his wounds. Then if your master died you would have to make sure that your master had the proper burial grounds and funeral. Then i f your were very good and proved it to your master you might become ! a knight. But becoming a knight just didn?t happen over knight. (That was a play on words.) Becoming a knight didn?t happen until you were eighteen and that was only if you were one of the best pages and squires. Most squires were knighted at a time of peace but some squires were knighted on the battlefield i f they had shown great bravery. The first knighting ceremonies were very simple but then later in time the ceremonies were more complex.For example, in early knighting ceremonies all a knight did was buckle the armor on the squire and he was knighted. In later ceremonies one knight would buckle on the armor and another knight would put on the spurs. The squire then knelt before the knight that was going to knight him. Then the knight would give the squire a blow to the back with his hand. Then the knight tapped the squire on the back again with his sword but he did not cut him because he used the side of the sword that wasn?t sharp. After that the knight said ?I dub you! knight? and then he was a knight. When the knight tapped him with the side of the sword it was called the accolade which means neck from the French word col. When Christianity became more popular Christianity was linked in with knighthood. The night before a knight was going to be knighted he would place his armor on the alter and pray all knight. He also would confess,

Article Review about White Collar Crime Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Article Review about White Collar Crime - Essay Example I also learned that the old cliche â€Å"honesty is the best policy† always works. I learned that the time has come for the accounting profession to adopt a zero telerance policy against wrongful and dishonest behavior. This assignment also made me realize that not all good intentions are laudable. Doing a good job does not necessarily mean that it is laudable act. There are orders from our superiors that are illegals such as â€Å"coooking the books† that should not be followed. Being a good soldier will not absolve an employee from such criminal act. I learned from the article that our employers cannot pushed or forced us to do it and we cannot be bullied into submission because we are protected by law against the commission of such illegal acts. Corollary to this, whistleblowing and stopping the act right there and then could be detrimental to the employee. It is better that to stay in the organization and just quietly collect evidences and approach a lawyer who has an experience in litigating such cases. Obtaining evidences that we do not have access to, even if our intention is good, will not hold in court because because one’s hands are also dirty. Above all, the motivation of those who whistleblowed was not necessarily out of monetary reward, but out of their conscience to stop the illegal act. 2. How the article relates to our class discussions. This relates to our class discussion in a way that the practice of ethical behavior prevents wrongful and dishonest behavior in the accounting profession and other similar profession. It also relates to the discussion that following orders of a superior is not always morally right especially if the order is unlawful. Being a good soldier will not and cannot absolve an employee from doing a wrongful and criminal act. It also relates to the discussion that the accounting profession demands a high standard of ethical behavior and that the time has come that such criminal act is no longer tolera ted. 3. Your analysis and thoughts, and whether you agree or disagree with the authors.    The article made me realized that the recent financial crisis and corporate scandals that recently rocked the news was caused by this unethical and criminal behavior as perpetrated by those in the white collar industry especially those belonging in the financial sector. I need not elaborate the consequence, but it is already enough to tell that such collective unlawful acts precipitated and slid this country and the whole global economy into recession that caused a lot of people to lose their jobs and their homes and made life difficult for all of us. This consequence stresses the need why there is a need for strong a ethical behavior enforced by the zero tolerance against a criminal behavior in the accounting profession and financial industry. It is an eye opener to realize how the author illustrated the point that good intention is not necessarily laudable. I agree with the author fully wh en it was discussed that it is not wise to stop an illegal act right there and then especially if we are still in the organization. It will be prudent to quietly collect evidences and seek the help of an experience lawyer. Considering the consequence of this dishonest behavior to the economy in general, I agree with the author that the penalty should far exceed the benefit derived from those wrong doing. It made the lives of a lot of people

Paintings by Arshile Gorky Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Paintings by Arshile Gorky - Case Study Example The first part of my research revealed the summary of Arshile Gorky’s life. The understanding of his life is important in that from it, we understand that his inspiration was drawn from his exposure to the 1915 Armenian Genocide, themes which he reflected in much of his work. Secondly, we learn that he was mentored by a master Paul Cezanne who was a master of art in the 19th century. Arshile Gorky was born as Vostanik Manuk in April 1904 in the Ottoman Empire’s village of Khorgom, and lived until July 1948. He was an Armenian-American, and his painting was oriented towards Abstract Expressionism, which many critics attribute to his information or exposure to the Armenian Genocide of 1915 in which people lost and suffered greatly. When the genocide broke out, he fled together with his family to Russia and while in exile, his mother died out of starvation four years later. He later moved to the United States in 1920 with his father, and it was the need to fit into the new territory that he changed his name to Arshile Gorky . Two years later in 1922, Arshile Gorky joined the Boston New School of Design where he was able to further his painting and drawing skills which had been inspired by Expressionism during the 1900s. He was largely influenced by Paul Cezanne. Abstract Expressionism emerged in the 19th century era from a group of artists based in Paris. It was a unique art's emergence which received much opposition from earlier art periods and styles. This is because they â€Å"violated† the norms of academic.

Physics homework Math Problem Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Physics homework - Math Problem Example Thus as boat 1 is displacing more volume of water than boat 2, it has a higher buoyancy force subjected upon it. Clearly, this is evident from the fact that boat 1 is afloat whereas boat two is sunken. 2. The volume of the given ice cube of 10cm dimensions is 1000cm3. It is given that when the ice cube is floating in pure water, 1cm of it is sticking up above the surface of the water. This shows that the weight of the water displaced by the 9cm thick portion of water is equivalent to the weight of the ice cube. The 9cm thick portion has a volume of 9cm*10cm*10cm i.e. 900cm3. The weight of 900cm3 of pure water is equivalent to 1000cm3 of ice. If we suppose the density of liquid water to be 1g/cm3, then we have 900g of liquid water equivalent to 1000cm3 of ice. This gives us a density of ice as 0.9g/cm3, which is approximately equal to the real value of density of ice (~0.91g/cm3). When the excess 1cm thick part is cut off, the remaining portion of ice has a volume of 900cm3. The weigh t of 900cm3 of ice is 0.9g/cm3*900cm3 i.e. 810g. Now, for liquid water, the volume of water that needs to be displaced to have the same weight as that of the ice is 810cm3 (810cm3*1g/cm3 = 810g). This means that only 810cm3 of the total 900cm3 of the remaining ice will get immersed in water. The rest 90cm3 volume will remain above the water level.

The potential effects of Radiation poisoning due to the earthquake in Essay

The potential effects of Radiation poisoning due to the earthquake in Japan - Essay Example Several highly unfavorable complications in response to a person’s exposure may be enumerated at random including sudden illness followed by nausea and vomiting within approximately 10 Sv-quantity of radiation (CBC). Headaches and fever with diarrhea may further result since the external bodily systems in direct contact with radioactivity affect the digestive tract and the bloodstream. Radioactive iodine, Cesium, and Thallium are particularly absorbed in the process through the thyroid gland, the cells lining the stomach and intestine walls, and also targets vulnerability via the bone marrow (CBC). Because it leads to the destruction of white blood cells, the diffused elements of radiation may equivalently contaminate internal body parts with different types of infection and thus spread infectious diseases thereafter (CBC). If the appropriate treatment is not administered urgently and sufficiently, the body’s capacity to properly carry out cell division during reparatio ns becomes diminished and the serious impairment of this function gradually facilitates the growth of cancer cells (CBC).

Economic Crisis In Cyprus Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Economic Crisis In Cyprus - Dissertation Example Researchable Context: The study is going to examine how competition and increased public and private debt contributed to the Cypriot financial crisis. It would also examine the rescue model that was used in Cyprus in the economic crisis, bail-in of the Cypriot banks imposed by Euro group, and what it could have been done by the government and banks to avoid this situation. It would also provide recommendations to avert the financial crisis. The rationale for the study: Over the last decade, the Greek government has borrowed greatly from international markets in order to pay for its trade deficits and budget. Investors became nervous that the public debt was soaring high, which drove up Greece’s borrowing costs. With the banking systems in Cyprus were experiencing intense pressure; they amassed â‚ ¬22 billion of Greek private sector debt. This increase in public and private debt reduced economic growth plunging the country into a crisis (Faustman and Kaymak, 2013). This market concern is what initiated the study to examine how public and private debt contributed to the Cypriot Eurozone crisis. Although Cyprus had been experiencing rising living standards before the commencement of the economic crisis in 2012, serious problems surfaced in the Cypriot banking sector as early as 2011. Cyprus borrowing costs slowly increased due to its exposure to the Greek debt (Theophanous, 2013). Furthermore, the public debt that was owned by the foreigners increased thus making the economy unsustainable thus creating the crisis. High public debt is very detrimental to economic growth.

Memorial to Imaginary Choson King Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Memorial to Imaginary Choson King - Essay Example The largest population of Korea comprises of secondary people with the citizens being recognized as the owners of the country, since they influence the future. In this case, discrimination can result to rebel against the king, which may lead to undesired outcomes. Therefore, the secondary status groups act as a buffer between the ruling aristocracy and the numerous numbers of commoners; thus, they are significant for facilitating social stability. Prohibition against Remarriage of Women Marriage has been considered as an affair between two people, which should last beyond the death of the husband. In fact, the Confucians have an emphasis on exclusiveness of marital relationships; the legislators argue that there is need to prohibit remarriage of women, as a custom, during the Koryo. This is a form of discrimination, since there is no sound base for barring women from remarrying after the death of their husband. Moreover, there is the law that constraints the sons and grandsons of wom en, who have been married thrice from attaining a bureaucratic position, taking national examinations and receiving a post in administrative offices. This hinders them from effectively contributing to the economic development of the country. Discrimination can be considered sensitive, given that it is addressed in the State Code of 1485 without a direct outlaw of remarriage in women. In fact, sons and grandsons of remarried women are denied a chance to be eligible for civil military office. Therefore, the law hinders them from involvement in higher or lower civil service examinations. Consequently, it results to legal implications and facilitate the impossibility for remarriages in women. Nevertheless, women who have been remarried twice are not mentioned in this law, since the law is based on the basic law and ritual decorum related to human feelings. Therefore, this law is discriminating against poor women who live without supportive relatives, whereby they have trouble in maintai ning their chastity in a situation of being windowed in their early years. In this case, they are bound to make a decision of marrying for the second time, and there is no harm on ritual decorum. Therefore, laws barring their sons and grandsons from receiving high office should be expunged. Discrimination against Secondary Sons Since the beginning of the dynasty, there was a distinction between the main wife and concubines, which led to severe implications on the social status of the concubine’s sons. Consequently, the sons have been regarded as superfluous member in relation to the main descendant line, since their mothers are in the lower status in the society, which is attributed to being socially despised. They have been barred from examinations and becoming officials due to their personal initiatives; there are structural constrains of lineal consideration because of social imbalances. Barring secondary sons and their descendants from taking civil service examination and attaining a bureaucratic position is not a traditional law in Choson society. In fact, the law was compiled along with the State Code [1485], and since then, the law has been passed for a century. In fact, this form of discrimination has never been experienced in other counties such as China or other territories surrounding Choson society. Nevertheless, the reason behind barring of secondary sons from taking bureaucratic position is inappropriate maternal line in their generations. Consequently, they end up being frustrated and dying in the countryside, whereby their talents end up being wasted to the society. Peasants and Slaves Social differentiation has been accepted by the Confucians, whereby there are four categories comprising of

The potential effects of Radiation poisoning due to the earthquake in Essay

The potential effects of Radiation poisoning due to the earthquake in Japan - Essay Example Several highly unfavorable complications in response to a person’s exposure may be enumerated at random including sudden illness followed by nausea and vomiting within approximately 10 Sv-quantity of radiation (CBC). Headaches and fever with diarrhea may further result since the external bodily systems in direct contact with radioactivity affect the digestive tract and the bloodstream. Radioactive iodine, Cesium, and Thallium are particularly absorbed in the process through the thyroid gland, the cells lining the stomach and intestine walls, and also targets vulnerability via the bone marrow (CBC). Because it leads to the destruction of white blood cells, the diffused elements of radiation may equivalently contaminate internal body parts with different types of infection and thus spread infectious diseases thereafter (CBC). If the appropriate treatment is not administered urgently and sufficiently, the body’s capacity to properly carry out cell division during reparatio ns becomes diminished and the serious impairment of this function gradually facilitates the growth of cancer cells (CBC).

Memorial to Imaginary Choson King Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Memorial to Imaginary Choson King - Essay Example The largest population of Korea comprises of secondary people with the citizens being recognized as the owners of the country, since they influence the future. In this case, discrimination can result to rebel against the king, which may lead to undesired outcomes. Therefore, the secondary status groups act as a buffer between the ruling aristocracy and the numerous numbers of commoners; thus, they are significant for facilitating social stability. Prohibition against Remarriage of Women Marriage has been considered as an affair between two people, which should last beyond the death of the husband. In fact, the Confucians have an emphasis on exclusiveness of marital relationships; the legislators argue that there is need to prohibit remarriage of women, as a custom, during the Koryo. This is a form of discrimination, since there is no sound base for barring women from remarrying after the death of their husband. Moreover, there is the law that constraints the sons and grandsons of wom en, who have been married thrice from attaining a bureaucratic position, taking national examinations and receiving a post in administrative offices. This hinders them from effectively contributing to the economic development of the country. Discrimination can be considered sensitive, given that it is addressed in the State Code of 1485 without a direct outlaw of remarriage in women. In fact, sons and grandsons of remarried women are denied a chance to be eligible for civil military office. Therefore, the law hinders them from involvement in higher or lower civil service examinations. Consequently, it results to legal implications and facilitate the impossibility for remarriages in women. Nevertheless, women who have been remarried twice are not mentioned in this law, since the law is based on the basic law and ritual decorum related to human feelings. Therefore, this law is discriminating against poor women who live without supportive relatives, whereby they have trouble in maintai ning their chastity in a situation of being windowed in their early years. In this case, they are bound to make a decision of marrying for the second time, and there is no harm on ritual decorum. Therefore, laws barring their sons and grandsons from receiving high office should be expunged. Discrimination against Secondary Sons Since the beginning of the dynasty, there was a distinction between the main wife and concubines, which led to severe implications on the social status of the concubine’s sons. Consequently, the sons have been regarded as superfluous member in relation to the main descendant line, since their mothers are in the lower status in the society, which is attributed to being socially despised. They have been barred from examinations and becoming officials due to their personal initiatives; there are structural constrains of lineal consideration because of social imbalances. Barring secondary sons and their descendants from taking civil service examination and attaining a bureaucratic position is not a traditional law in Choson society. In fact, the law was compiled along with the State Code [1485], and since then, the law has been passed for a century. In fact, this form of discrimination has never been experienced in other counties such as China or other territories surrounding Choson society. Nevertheless, the reason behind barring of secondary sons from taking bureaucratic position is inappropriate maternal line in their generations. Consequently, they end up being frustrated and dying in the countryside, whereby their talents end up being wasted to the society. Peasants and Slaves Social differentiation has been accepted by the Confucians, whereby there are four categories comprising of

Becoming a Teacher Essay Example for Free

Becoming a Teacher Essay Becoming a teacher means much more to me then just a paycheck or just another job I have to go to everyday. I want to make the difference in a student’s life, I want them to feel as if they can achieve the world and that each and everyone of them are important in one way or another. My vocation or calling to become a teacher has been with me for some time now. When I was little I use to play school with my little girlfriends all the time and I would always be the teacher. I love to learn and have always wanted to share that love of learning. Community impact and the commitment to my students tie together. As teachers we have tons of impact on the community, we help shape the younger generations within our community with the help of parents of course. I will strive to become that role model to my students and I will commit to them that they will succeed and learn new things each and every day. Being a role model to me as for any teacher I am sure is very important. Being a role model is not only a great feeling to have but is also a great tool to gain student’s respect. There will be extrinsic and intrinsic rewards to me as a teacher and to my students. For me extrinsic rewards will be seeing my students smiling faces and seeing them succeed in what they set their hearts to. An added bonus might be a teaching award at some point in my career. As for my students their extrinsic rewards for one is to always have a smiling teacher to greet them everyday, but also there can be multiple extrinsic rewards such as free days, homework coupons, or just to pick something fun to do at the end of the day. Intrinsic rewards I think are pretty similar to a teacher and a student. For us to have that joy of success or the fulfillment to teach and learn is a great intrinsic reward in my eyes. There are many resource books available for teachers of any grade, which is a great learning tool for teachers to have. As teacher we can have a major impact on families rather it is a safe haven for children to go to everyday, or a place where students know that they matter and are there to learn and succeed. Succeeding is a great feeling for any child of any age. There is nothing better for a teacher or a family member to see that look in a child’s eye when they have accomplished or learned something new; that is absolute wonderful! Some useful information I like to keep in mind is five reasons for becoming a teacher. Time commitment things will be done on my own time such as grading papers, activities, and lessons plans. Pay is not the best I know lots of teachers that have to get summer jobs to help out with income, so no one should be a teacher for pay or for the summer vacations. Respect is a big one, some people within the community you work in may have negative things to say about teachers due to a bad experience, so I must prove myself to be trustworthy and a great educator. Community expectations the community will always have an opinion on what their teachers should be doing, this is when the phrase â€Å"grin and bare it† comes into play, this is challenging but rewarding. Last emotional commitment this is by far not a desk job I will commit myself to my students and job, again challenging but rewarding. (Melissa Kelly, 2011, pg. 1) This is my passion and I will strive to be the best teacher I can be.

Global Warming Cause and Effect Essay

Global Warming Cause and Effect Essay Global Warming Cause and Effect Essay It is believed peoples careless use of fossil fuels are responsible for causing Global warming. Environmentalists say people do not realize the serious effects of their own actions. They continue to waste resources and pollute the air despite all the evidence pointing to the effects of such behavior. There are numerous, well known things we do that perpetuate Global Warming. Who would have known that the invention of the car/automobile would eventually contribute to the leading cause of global warming? For years society have been driving cars emitting fossil fuels, using coal powered electricity or heating homes with natural gas and oil. This has caused carbon dioxide and other harmful gasses to be released into Earths atmosphere and environment. Our tree population, for example, has decreased tremendously throughout the years because of increased tree cutting. Has also contributed to more polluted air due to lack of oxygen convertors. (http://environment.about.com/od/faqglobalwarming/f/globalwarming.htm) Peoples lack of concern for conserving its resources will only make Global warming worse. In 2007, scientists met and determined that society has â€Å"very likely† been the main cause of global warming since the 1950s. (http://environment.about.com/od/globalwarming/a/ipcc_report.htm) According to EnvironmentalGraffti.com in 2007 it was determined that the spread of diseases, warming waters resulting in more hurricanes, the probability of increase heat waves,drought, economic consequences, and polar ice caps melting are the top â€Å"5 Deadliest Effects of Global Warming†. (http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/sciencetech/5-deadliest-effects-of-global-warming/276) Rising sea levels will cause millions who live in coastal regions to lose their homes. Insects are migrating to more warming climates and carrying diseases. It is believed that Malaria still exists in some countries as a direct cause of global warming. In addition, with the continually rising temperature of the ocean there is a threat of an increased chance of more powerful and frequent hurricanes. We all remember hurricane Katrina and the devastation it brought to New Orleans as well as to several other towns and cities throughout the Southeast. With Katrinas aftermath came many economical struggles. People were trying to rebuild their homes, relocate and even find work as many businesses were destroyed. Unfortunately, people are still struggling to rebuild their lives today.Why not try to make changes in our daily lives to prevent devastation such as Katrina? Just as important, the droughts and heat waves that are occurring as a result of global warming are phenomenal. Even here in Arizona, during the monsoon season, we have experienced drought. Though I do not think our drought is as severe as places such as Africa, where they already are experiencing dangerously low water supplies and extreme heat waves. As a result, some speculate that this could cause people to start fighting for water- a necessary resource many take advantage of and assume will be available forever. Half way around the world, however, Sea levels are rising with the increased melting of polar ice caps. When fresh water ice caps melt into the ocean these changes dillute the salty waters. Of course this then affects the ocean and acquatic life which cannot survive without a homeostatic balance of salt content of the ocean. You are probably thinking that losing a little ocean life is no big deal, right? Did you know that the increased global temperature is because the su n can no longer reflect off the tops of the ice caps? When the sun reflects off the ice caps it projects into space. And why is that important? It helps to decrease the temperature in the earths atmosphere which in turn keeps us cooler. So what can we do to help slow down the process of losing our planet? First we need to start by caring. I see people everyday that could walk the 4 blocks to school or work. They choose not to, however. Imagine how much vehicle pollution we could eliminate if everyone were to ask 20 people they know if they could walk instead of driving. If they cant walk them maybe we can use technology wisely and find ways to create vehicles that are environmentally friendly. Another step is to increase recycling. Next time you go to throw that soda can or paper away, remember it is recyclable (and make money from recycling cans). What about disposable diapers? I know they are convenient, but why not give cloths a try? It may take a little extra work and many places around the country have diaper laundry services(but would also provides work and business for others.) Finally, when your kids ask to watch television or play a video game why not limit the amount of time of their use? This will cut bac k on electricity use and theyll benefit doing other, healthier activities. Encourage them to read a book or play outside like we or our parents did. In conclusion, evidence shows that peoples choices in everyday life and their use of technology and resources has undoubtedly increased global warming. We can slow down the negative effects of such choices if everyone does their part. It does not matter how small or big the effort every little bit helps in helping reverse the potential, devastating effects of global warming. Think of the earth as a team and our team wants to win. Help to slow Global warming! Go Green! Works Cited: http://environment.about.com/od/faqglobalwarming/f/globalwarming.htm http://environment.about.com/od/globalwarming/a/ipcc_report.htm http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/sciencetech/5-deadliest-effects-of-global-warming/276

Hurricanes :: essays research papers

Hurricane, name applied to migratory tropical cyclones that originate over oceans in certain regions near the equator, and particularly to those arising in the West Indian region, including the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. Hurricane-type cyclones in the western Pacific are known as typhoons. Hurricanes are high winds that move in a circular motion, around an eye (a low pressure center of a storm). The diameter of the area affected by winds of destructive force may exceed 150 mi. Gale winds prevail over a larger area, averaging 300 mi in diameter. The strength of a hurricane is rated from 1 to 5. Obviously 1 is the lowest and 5 is the highest strength. Hurricanes sometimes produce over 250 mm (10 in) of rain and lead to extensive flooding. Which in turn can cause another problem in its self.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The places that are most often hit with tornados are: Antigua, Bermuda, Central America, Charleston, SC, Galveston, TX, Miami, Providence, RI, Santo Domingo, Asia, Honduras, Oceania, United States, and the West Indies.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Florida has to contend with the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history. Hurricane Andrew swept through southern Florida in August 1992, just south of Miami, leaving 41 people dead, making more than 200,000 homeless, and doing about $20 billion worth of property damage. In August 1995 Hurricane Erin crossed Florida along the same path, then turned and swept through the panhandle, causing an estimated $360 million in damage. The panhandle was pounded again later in 1995 by Hurricane Opal, which caused damage of $2.1 billion. A series of tornadoes hit the central part of the state in February 1998, claiming 42 lives. That is just one case in particular. All over the world the same story happens over and over. What is so sad is that in the 3rd world countries, there is little to no protection and many more lives are lost. Such as in 1998, Hurricane Mitch devastated Honduras, killing between 5,600 and 7,000 people. It also swept away 70 percent of their crops and cost billions of dollars to put the nation back together.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Right now there are people trying to prevent hurricanes. At the present it is impossible to prevent them, but with early detection many lives have been saved.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Essay -- Biography

On January 30, 1882, the world welcomed a new born boy by the name of Franklin Delano Roosevelt that would help America countless times recover from the depths of harm and danger and bring her to the shores of safety. He married his wife and distant cousin by the name of Eleanor Roosevelt and she did many good deeds of her own. Through his education, remarkable three terms of Presidency, triumph in a war, endeavor for peace, and struggling through a vicious disease know as polio, former President Franklin D. Roosevelt was the greatest President ever. Franklin Roosevelt learned many vital and crucial lessons throughout his education. Lessons and concepts that would be carried with him everywhere. One of Roosevelt's first lessons was from the founder of the Groton School, Endicott Peabody. As this school was mostly for the rich, the lesson entailed that government service was an excellent method to help those poorer and less privileged than the students attending the school. This moral really appealed to Roosevelt before he graduated from Groton school and went on to Harvard University (Uschan 21). Whenever FDR's name is mentioned, not too many people realize that this notable man went to Harvard. While he attended Harvard, he studied about many different views about government that would help FDR develop his political philosophy (Uschan 22). Education played a minor but imperative role for Franklin on the mission to becoming the greatest President so far. The road for FDR to become President was not harsh or smooth, but it is was he did during those three astonishing terms that really makes this former president outstanding. FDR first term officially started on March 4, 1933, and he entered term faced with the burden o... ... second term, FDR created the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. He also created the March of Dimes, which brought in money for babies with birth defects. He did not life to see the vaccine for polio as Roosevelt died in 1945. However, the U.S congress gave FDR the privileged honor of having his face on the dime since he and the dime were so closely related ("FDR and Polio: Public Life, Private Pain"). FDR was the greatest president ever through his education, incredible three terms of Presidency, victory in a war, endeavor for peace, and for battling through polio. I think about all the things he has done for Americans every day, and people don't realize that he substantially changed the whole country for the better. I hope that I have conveyed to you that FDR is the best president that has ever existed on this planet.

New Generation

New Generation! Details is a monthly men's magazine published by Coned Nasty Publications. Founded in 1982, Details magazine's main attractions are centered for men that like to stay updated on the newest fashion styles. This magazine targets young men of all ages and is devoted to fashion an lifestyles. Details also informs you on social and political issues. There are many reasons why men would want to buy details magazine; books, newspapers, magazines, and many more are here for our entertainment.Details magazine is centered for audiences who have an interest in he latest fashion for men, health, and advertisements related to social lifestyles. Details magazine can help many men be up to date with the latest styles. The simple fact is that details magazine can inform you with Just about anything related to the social aspects for men, their health, or their social lifestyles. The magazine has a variety of things that it can update you on. Most of the advertisements are related to f ashion.An example would be an advertisement related to the popular clothing brand Tommy Hillier. Within the ad details a few of their newest clothing lines which are related to business apparel. What's interesting about some of the ads is that they are more than a page long. The Tommy Hillier advertisement described covers a total of two pages front and back. By incorporating ads such as these, there is a grater chance of a consumer to run into the advertisement. Men who are interested in the urban look would be drawn to buy this magazine.It isn't entirely Just for men-the usual people that would buy this magazine would more than likely live in the cities or islands and looking for a business look. The first page of the magazine contains a sports car, so if a potential customer had an interest in anything automobile-related, it could successfully grab their attention. Not only does the magazine contain numerous advertisements related to merchandise, but it also hints at some adverti sements related to automobiles, fragrances, and clothing.By using a large amount of advertisements throughout the magazine, it draws in the audience's attention matter if they are Just skimming or thoroughly reading through it. To further grab the audience's attention, each of the articles contain varying fonts, photographs objects, and colors to keep the magazine attention. Magazines such as Details is not Just for social political an everyday updates in fashion, it gives you routines an guidelines on how to stay fit.For instance if your self- a-steam is low an your trying to figure out how to loose weight, Details can give you the inspiration you need an make your appearance better in public at the same time. In some of the articles you will find life lessons learned on staying fit-an not loosing control of your weight. If your already ready to get yourself one of these Details magazines that's not it. Details can also keep your wrist game proper with the latest Channel an Louis B utton etches shown in numerous ads in the begging of the magazine.This magazine is to help you become up to date with numerous things not Just the newest clothing line. If you think about the name of the title â€Å"Details† its supposed to give you details about the latest information on everyday life. So if you want to be informed or up to date on the latest vehicles, urban wear, watches, electronic an wanting to stay physically an emotionally fit, so if your Just pondering grab yourself a details magazine an skim or thoroughly read it an become a part of a new generation!

Love Is Able to Say Sorry Essay

Love, as in enabling a loving relationship to survive, is all about being able to say sorry. In life, no one is perfect; everyone makes either big mistakes or small mistakes. There is nothing wrong with making a mistake, but there is something wrong about not admitting it. Thus, saying sorry is very necessary in any relationships, especially in romantic love. I have heard that, â€Å"Love means never having to say you’re sorry†. In my opinion, it is not true, but â€Å"love, as in enabling a loving relationship to survive, is all about being able to say sorry†. Apology is not supposed to be easy to all people. Why do people consider saying sorry as such challenging endeavor? Almost of the people find that saying sorry is a sign of weakness. Human often has a high consciousness of their self, so they feel like they are in danger of losing their power and status when they say sorry to others. However, if you want to maintain a relationship, especially romantic love, saying sorry is essential since an apology shows your respect for your partner as well as for yourselves, and you will understand each other deeply. Firstly, an apology shows your partner that you care enough about him and your relationship to be responsible for your hurtful actions. All of us know that respect for each other is the very fundamental factor for a long-lasting love. Obviously, if you do not respect him, you never care what he thinks about you, never want to apologize him. Thus, when you say sorry, you show your respect for your partner. As a result, he realizes your love, your sincerity and your respect for him, so he more easily forgives you. Counselor Paula says â€Å"we are learning that saying sorry is about allowing yourself to be vulnerable, which is actually a sign of strength, not weakness. You learn from experience that saying sorry increases people’s respect for you, rather tha n diminishing it†. (www.mprestige.net) Secondly, an apology can clear up a misunderstanding between lovers, so that gradually they understand each other deeply. Everyone all wants and needs to feel safe with the ones that he allows into his inner circle. Not taking responsibility for wrongdoings makes people seem unsafe or untrustworthy. Surely, when loving ones, it is unavoidable that you will have quarrels, misunderstanding, and whether you have intention or not, you hurt your partner. If both of you are intolerant, do not want to belittle yourselves to admit your mistakes, you are destroying your relationship by yourselves.  In contrast, if you can admit your mistakes, apologize sincerely each other, misunderstandings among you will be cleared up. Moreover, after mistakes, and correcting them, you will understand mutually more, and get on well with each other, so obviously your relationship will be strengthened. In conclusion, saying sorry is a way of keeping your loving relationship survival. Love means being able to say you are sorry and allows you to own up to whatever behavior it was that â€Å"warrants an apology†( http://inspirationaldaze.blogspot.com.). However, an apology is just powerful when it is made by your honesty and heartiness in right moment, if not, it is fruitless. Thus, don’t afraid of saying sorry sincerely to your partner if you make a mistake.

Much ado about nothing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Much ado about nothing - Essay Example The theme of love is strongly emphasised in the play Much Ado About Nothing. Indeed the way by which Benedick and Beatrice fall in love itself is a very good example for this, since it was through a prank played by their friends that make them to fall in love. The same kind of incidents happens in today’s life, where love conquers the hearts of many people and they live together a happy married life. Women have been made victims of social injustice, right from the past civilisations to this age. This theme has also been very strongly dealt with in the play, which reflects upon the beliefs of society. The way the lady Hero was suspected of having an illicit relationship is even present in today’s life, wherein women are suspected by their men. (Much Ado About Nothing) The relationship between men and women in this play is another very interesting factor, which gives momentum to the play. It is very interesting to note that Benedick and Beatrice, who had been bitter enemi es at the beginning, fall into love with each other due to change of events. At the same time Claudio and Hero who fall into love initially, start to hate each other due to deceit and change in circumstances. Thus the play brings forward the truth behind the complexity of relationship, that underlies between men and women and the way it affects each one of them. . (Much Ado About Nothing) Gender is one main factor in this play. The characters have a set of expected characteristics, which they are supposed to follow due to pressures of the society. As a result the female characters in the play strictly pursue the set of norms and rules set by the opposite sex, which very well brings out their limitations. The only exception to this has been the character Beatrice, who seems to be quite outspoken and is against the concept of marriage in her life. But it is found that towards the end of the play, she too accepts the role of becoming wife to Benedick. (Much Ado About Nothing) Paternali sm has a big role in the movie. It is evident in the case of Leonato, who exercises his power on his daughter Hero, to accept the marriage proposal of Claudio, brought about by the Prince. Paternalism is felt quite strongly in the play, since Benedick feels that, the outspoken Beatrice is crossing limits by making fun of him. He feels that noble ladies have to be silent and humble before men. In the case of Claudio and Hero who were already in love, it can be said that, they would have a good marriage and their relationship would last long. Except for an occasion wherein they were tricked by Don John, on all other occasions they were quite passionate lovers. The same was not in the case of Benedick and Beatrice, who had been tricked into believing that each one of them was in love with the other. Both of them could not get along with each other and Benedick always used to keep a distance from Beatrice due to her outspoken behaviour, at the very beginning. So their marriage would not be a happy one considering each one’s character. (Much Ado About Nothing) The play Much Ado About Nothing gives a very good reflection, about how well both men and women understand about each other. Indeed the character of Benedick very well shows that, he very little understands the feminine nature of care and love. Only when he is falsely led to believe that Beatrice is in love with him, that he starts to realise the concept of love and affection and starts to understand the qualities of women. The same in the case of Beatrice who initially feels that, men are dominant in the society due to which, she does not like to marry and become a slave to a man. Faithfulness on the part of women towards their men is a theme, which has been very well portrayed in the movie. The depth of love that a woman has for a man is not understood by the characters in the play, which is very much evident in the character of Claudio, who starts to suspect his lover Hero’s faithfulness towa rds him. This is one aspect that causes the unfortunate turn of events, causing a

Legal Systems Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Legal Systems - Assignment Example On March 22, 2005 six men were acquitted from a fraud case costing 60 million. Considered to be one of Britain's longest and costliest fraud trials, it just collapsed after twenty-one months of court proceedings at London's Old Bailey.2 The jury's inability to come up with a fair verdict was pointed out to be the reason for such failure. There had been disruptions and problems with the selected jury and further allegations regarding an unfair trial rose. The verdict cause the public to not to remain in silence that caused unrest among the government. This situation led to the Attorney general to impose on the Criminal Act of 2003 regarding fraud trials that put the juries out of the scene. 4 There had been protests even when it was proposed by the Attorney General Lord Lord Goldsmith. However, the pressure to remove juries from the most difficult cases dates back to the Roskill committee on fraud trials, which recommended trial by a judge with expert lay assessors in 1986.5 The implementation of Part 7 of the Criminal Justice Act of 2003 seemed to be the most appropriate practice in complex fraud trials as what happened in the Jubilee line trial. The Government is no longer willing to lose millions of money spent on a single trial thus a trial without a jury is an alternative. The parliament's approval on the said proposition was justifiable through certain aspects that may seem unreasonable for some conservative groups who are not able to see the real deal behind the fraud trials with a judge-only trial. Further explanations regarding this provision were explained in the Explanatory Memorandum to the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Commencement No. 12 and Transitory Provisions) Order 005. The following are some of the details regarding its implementation. The Government considers that there are certain fraud cases where the length or complexity of the trial is likely to be so burdensome to the jury that it is in the interests of justice that the trial be conducted without a jury by a judge sitting alone. Provisions in Part 7 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 give effect to this policy and provide for prosecution applications for certain fraud cases to be conducted without a jury. The requirement that the provisions apply only to cases where a notice has been given under section 51B of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 limits them to cases of serious or complex fraud.6 The provisions operate only where an application is made by the prosecution, the judge is satisfied that the length or complexity of the trial is likely to make it so burdensome upon the jury that the interests of justice require a non jury trial, and the Lord Chief Justice or a judge nominated by him gives his approval.7 It is the Minister's view that the provisions in Part 7 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 for non jury trials for certain fraud cases are compatible with Convention Rights, as Article 6 of the Convention (right to a fair trial) does not include a right to trial by jury. The Joint Committee on Human Rights commented (Second Report: Criminal Justice Bill, paragraph 5) -

Health economics Charles e phelps,, Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Health economics Charles e phelps,, - Essay Example A risk premium is the average expected loss. Ua represents the utility function of an averse person showing the level of satisfaction at income level Ia. X is the risk premium. The graph above represents the levels of satisfaction of two individuals with different levels of income. Io is the expected value. From the graph, Ia is less than Io meaning that the averse person receive a low income and consequently has a utility level that is lower than the expected utility. In the expected benefit calculation, where â€Å"m† is the medical treatment, Pm is its price, f is the probability that an event will occur and C is the co-payment rate, why does it matter that M depends on C? This is because co-payment helps in the reduction of medical care consumption costs. Without copayment, an individual may not be able to access and afford medical treatment. Copayment is also important when it comes to covers relating to medical services since it helps an individual to prevent unwanted expenses. Therefore, when calculating an individual’s expected benefit, all expenses and benefits incurred or gained on medical services have to be considered. Copayment has to be considered since it covers an individual’s medical expenses and that is why M depends on C during calculation of expected benefit. This is the trend of individuals with risky lifestyles or jobs to acquire life insurance. It can make the insurance company face screening and signaling problems. Insurance is always more likely bought by individuals who are prone to higher risks than those with low risks. Insurance firms try to reduce the adverse selection problems of having those who insure big risk buying their product. They do this through adjusting prices and measuring risk. Consequently, life insurance firms need medical documents and will not give policies to individuals who have long term illness.

Final examination essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Final examination - Essay Example stede’s dimensions for comparative cross-cultural studies, and they have led to many useful explanations of cross-cultural differences in consumer behavior. The main reason that may have rendered Hofstede’s useful is that these dimensions are independent. Only two dimensions are interdependent, and these are collectivism and power distance. Together with national wealth, Hofstede’s dimensions can be used to explain more than half of the differences in consumer behavior. Tompenaars’ dimensions do not show results that are as consistent as the Hofstede dimensions. The word cultura is a Latin word closely related to cultus which means cult or worship. Therefore, culture may be considered as the result of human action. According to Hofstede (2001), national culture is the broadest level of culture that a person can be a member of. People are shaped by their national culture from their early childhood through beliefs, values and assumptions inherent in it. The theory of cultural dimensions is central to the study of consumer behavior across the world especially in analyzing the effect of culture on consumer behavior. The Theory of Cultural Dimensions was introduced in 1980 by Geert Hofstede. This theory was based on his study of cultural solutions to organizational problems involving 117,000 employees at IBM in 40 countries. According to Hofstede (2001), the individualism dimension describes the relations between the individual and the collectivity that exists in a given society. His dimension represents a society that has loose ties between ind ividuals. Individualistic countries stress the importance of human independence, and individual liberty and self-reliance. Individualists promote the unrestricted exercise o individual goals and desires. Mooij (2010) terms power distance as the degree to which less influential members of the public admit that power is unevenly distributed. In the world, there are both high-power and low-power distance cultures.

History of Lichtenstein Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

History of Lichtenstein - Research Paper Example The second fact is that the largest city within the country is known as Schaan located in the north of the capital city. It covers an area of 10.3 square miles and it is located in an area covered by mountains and forest. Its population is estimated to be 5, 806. The third fact is that the country covers an estimated area of about sixty two square miles, and is the sixth smallest independent country in the world. The total population of the country,   according to the census of 2010 is 36,010. The fourth fact is that the ethnic group of the constituting the country is majorly Alemannic Germans, but there are also other small ethnic groups like the Turks and Italians. The fifth fact is that the administrative division of the country is divided into eleven communes who are composed of single villages or towns. The sixth fact about the country is that energy production in the country is 145 million kWh whereas its electricity consumption is 1.36 billion kWh. The last fact about the co untry is that its national day is celebrated on August 15 as a commemoration of its independence from Germany (Claitor's Law Books and Publishing Division., 2014). The country Lichtenstein has a had an extensive past as their sovereignty has been changed a number of times. The country’s history is traced back to the year 1866. Different scholars have discovered forms of human existence in the country during the Neolithic age. Forms of colonization started in the areas as early as 800BC by the group known as the Rhaetians. Later during the 15BC, the country was colonized by the Romans and set up the castle known as Schaan castle to protect their territory in the region from the tribe was known as the Germanic people (Newsnet. "History of Liechtenstein.", 1996).  

Goods vs Service Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Goods vs Service - Essay Example ned that technology is altering the manner in which some of the giant companies perform their businesses, fostering new strategies and thereby revolutionizing the research-and-development process (Brynjolfsson & Schrage, 2009). It is worthy of stating that digitalization as well as networking are the two main components of the modern day society. Through digitalization the different mediums are combined based on the technology which enables a huge amount of data to be transmitted and processed. With the help of networking, virtual communities are being formed over the networks, focused around the internet. With the greater advancement of the technology there has been transformation in the structure and processes of the business world. With the help of intranets and e-mails the processes are being enhanced. It can be stated that the conventional way of shopping is being replaced by the contemporary ways where the consumers are capable of making order over the internet sitting at their homes. The payments can be made with the help of the credit cards and therefore the requirement to visit the store by the buyer is eliminated to a great extent. Prior to purchasing the product, the customer is capable of havin g access to the bulletin board with the assistance of the personal computers for the purpose of viewing the product review and can as well contribute in forums in order to gain the required information from the actual users of the product (Kato, 2007). The technology can also be used by the organization to customize the product and customers services. For instance, it is through information technology that a firm may shift from ‘delivery from stock’ to ‘making an order’ or may shift from ‘selling function’ to ‘renting function’ (Ives & Mason, 1990). Therefore, it can be mentioned that the technology is altering the characteristic of the services and the manner in which the firms tends to interact with the customers. The advancement in the

Cell Organelles Worksheet key Essay Example for Free

Cell Organelles Worksheet key Essay

Assessment Centers as a Recruitment Strategy

Assessment Centers as a Recruitment Strategy SYNOPSIS TOPIC : â€Å"Assessment Centers Its Pertinence, Functionality and Application† OBJECTIVE : Primary Objective The theme permeating this research is to know about the Assessment Centers inside out, its relevance in todays businesses, functions and objectives. Secondary Objective To apprehend the application of Assessment Centers in various firms. ABSTRACT : An Assessment Center is a process designed to assess whether candidates have the skills required for the job and the future potential that the organizations are looking for. It mainly comprises a range of activities or simulations designed to test these factors. Some of the activities that are included in Assessment Center are Psychometric Tests, In-basket Exercises, Group Exercises, Role Plays, Behavioural Interviews, Case Studies et al. The primary objective of an Assessment Center is to match the right person with the available positions in an organization. The assessment center method, in its modern form, came into existence as a result of the ATT Management Progress Study In this study, which began in the late 1950s, individuals entering management positions in Bell Telephone operating companies were assessed and, from then on, their careers were followed. The chief reason the assessment center method is valid in so many different countries is that it is an easily adaptable evaluation system. Assessment Centre Method has a bearing on the following aspects of personnel management: staffing: decision making on selection, promotion, turnover and dismissal; staff development: determining educational and training requirements improving performance in management/staff relationships; bringing compensation policy in line with general policy objectives. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY : The Research will consist of Secondary Data (Reference Books, Websites, Business Journals and Articles) and Primary Data (Questionnaire, Interviews from Industry Experts) GUIDE : Prof. Arvind Rajashekar, visiting faculty, IIPM. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY A Research is something that always has a question or a problem on the other side of it. The purpose behind ay research is to question through the application of Sciences or otherwise. It is a systematic and an in-depth study with the use of Primary and Secondary Instruments to gain more or complete knowledge of the subject under study. Research consists of Secondary and Primary Instruments 1. PRIMARY RESEARCH The Primary research consists of conducting a Questionnaire Survey with HR Professionals, business persons and Consultants. For this purpose, I have kept a Sample Size of 20 Respondents. The aim behind this survey is to get knowledge about Assessment Centers and its application and use by the Industry expert themselves and also Consultants who have applied Assessment Centers as a tool of Evaluation. 2. SECONDARY RESEARCH v The Secondary research consists of : a. Books on Assessment Centers b. Articles on the Internet c. Articles published in Business Journals d. HR Websites e. Research Papers by Industry experts Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION TO ASSESSMENT CENTERS 1.1 Assessment Centers A Gist An Assessment Center (AC) is a process designed to assess whether candidates have the skills required for the job and the future potential that the organizations are looking for. It mainly comprises a range of activities or simulations designed to test these factors. Some of the activities that are included in Assessment Center are Psychometric Tests, In-basket Exercises, Group Exercises, Role Plays, Behavioural Interviews, Case Studies et al. Traditionally an assessment centre consisted of a suite of exercises designed to assess a set of personal characteristics, it was seen as a rather formal process where the individuals being assessed had the results fed back to them in the context of a simple yes/no selection decision. However, recently definite shift is seen in thinking away from this traditional view of an assessment centre to one which stresses the developmental aspect of assessment. A consequence of this is that today it is very rare to come across an assessment centre which does not have at least some developmental aspect to it, increasingly assessment centres are stressing a collaborative approach which involves the individual actively participating in the process rather than being a passive recipient of it. In some cases we can even find assessment centres that are so developmental in their approach that most of the assessment work done is carried out by the participants themselves and the major function of the centre is to provide the participants with feedback that is as much developmental as judgmental in nature. The primary objective of an Assessment Center is to match the right person with the available positions in an organization. Assessment Centre Method has a bearing on the following aspects of personnel management: staffing: decision making on selection, promotion, turnover and dismissal; staff development: determining educational and training requirements improving performance in management/staff relationships; bringing compensation policy in line with general policy objectives. To align the strategic intent in line with the market requirements. 1.2 Definitions of an Assessment Center given by Consultants, Academicians Practitioners * Assessment Centres are often described as the variety of testing techniques that allow the candidates to demonstrate, under standardized conditions, the skills and abilities most essential for success in a given job. Dennis A. Joiner, ‘Assessment centre in public sector: A practical approach, Public Personnel Management Journal. * An assessment center is a comprehensive standardized procedure in which multiple assessment techniques such as situational exercises and job simulation (business games, discussions, reports presentations) are used to evaluate individual employee for variety of manpower decisions. * An Assessment Centre consists of a standardized evaluation of behavior based on multiple inputs. Several trained observers and techniques are used. Judgements about behavior are made, in major part, from specifically developed assessment simulations. These judgements are pooled in a meeting among the assessors or by statistical integration process. In an integration discussion, comprehensive accounts of behavior, and often ratting of it, are pooled. The discussion results in evaluation of performance of the assessees on the dimensions/competencies or other variables that the assessment centre is designed to measure. Statistical combination methods should be validated in accordance with professionally accepted standards. ‘Guidelines and ethical considerations for assessment centre operations. 28th International Congress on Assessment Centre Methods * The main feature of assessment centres is that they are a multiple assessment process. There are five main ways in which that is so. A group of participants takes part in a variety of exercises observed by a team of trained assessors who evaluate each participant against a number of predetermined, job related behaviors. Decisions are then made by pooling shared data. Iain Ballantyne and Nigel Povah * An assessment centre is a process in which individuals participate in a series of exercises, most of which approximate what they would be called upon to do in the future job. Assessors usually selected from higher management levels in the firm, are trained to observe the participants and evaluate their performance as fairly and impartially as possible. -‘Can assessment centres be used to improve the salesperson selection process, E. James Randall, Ernest E. Cooke, Richard J. Jefferies, Journal of personal selling and sales management * An assessment centre is a multi-faceted and multi-dimensional approach designed to provide reliable and valid information about a range of competencies of an individual considered to be necessary for successful performance at a target level in a specific job. ‘360 degree feedback, competency mapping and assessment centres, Radha R. Sharma * Tata Management Training Centres definition of AC: AC is an integrated standardized process in which a series of exercises are used to assess people on pre-defined parameters. These pre-definedparameters define job success in a given organizationalcontext. Most of the exercises are simulation of job activities/work challenges that the candidate is expected to perform in the next level role/job. 1.3 History of Assessment Centers Assessment Centre process was first used sometime between the two world wars. The Treaty of Versailles, which ended the First World War, prevented Germany from rearming and thus the traditional approach to the selection of officers, which was of observing their performance in war or in exercises was denied to them. German psychologists then devised this method which involved a combination of tests, simulations and exercises to identify the potential of officer candidates. The British Army used this methodology in the early days of Second World War when they established the War Office Selection Boards (WOSBs), again for the selection of officer candidates. However, it was brought into the private sector only in 1956 after ATT (American Telephone Telegraph Company) used it for selection of high potentials for managerial positions. This was the first industrial application of the assessment centre methodology. Both individual characteristics of young managers as well as organizational settings in which they worked were studied and evaluation at the assessment centre was used to predict whether the participant would make it to the middle management in the next ten years or less. The sample included both recent college graduates and non-management personnel who had risen to the managerial positions relatively early in their career. The dimensions assessed included managerial functions like organizing, planning, decision making, general ability such as intellectual ability, personal impression, sensitivity, and values and attitudes, both work related and social. The success of the earlier work of ATT was followed by Standard Oil which was the second to a start assessment centres. This was followed by IBM, Sears Roebuck, General Electric, and Caterpillar tractors. By 1981 more than 2500 organizations applied this methodology to select potential managers 1.4 Assessment Centers in Asia The first assessment centre in Asia was for selecting project leaders for the entrepreneurship development programme in Gujarat. Subsequently, efforts were made to introduce it in Larsen and Toubro . LT did a lot of work on job profiling but never got to the stage of developing an assessment centre for potential appraisal. Crompton Greaves attempted to use an assessment centre approach for selecting their general managers from within. It is only in the 1990s that interest in assessment centres was renewed. This was a natural response to the need to ensure competent people manning strategic positions. A large number of Asian companies have established assessment centres and many others are exploring. The companies that are trying out include : RPG Group, Escorts, TISCO, Aditya Birla Group, Eicher, Cadburys, Castrol (India), Glaxo, Grindwell Norton, ONGC, Mahindra and Mahindra, SAIL, Siemens, Wipro, Wockhardt, and Johnson Johnson. Different organizations initiated assessment centres for recruitment, selection, placement, promotion, career development, performance appraisal, and succession planning and development purposes such as identification of training needs, identification high potential managers, create a pool of managerial talent and multifunctional managers that would be available across the business group, employee recognition and fast growth. Philips, Dr. Reddys Laboratories, and Global Trust Bank are organizations that have been using assessment centres. Some of these organizations are, in the process of developing Indian managerial talent and measure it periodically. Generally the competencies that are to be measured are determined by each organization by using methods such as job analysis, managerial aptitude profile surveys, identifying competencies in star performers, etc. A variety of assessment techniques are used in Asian organizations like in-baskets, business simulations, questionnaires, group discussions, role plays, interviews, case study, individual presentations, etc. While the need is felt by all organizations to test reliability and validity of the tools used, many of them are not testing them. Both internal and external assessors are used for evaluation. Assessor training is done either through in-house training programmes or with the aid of external institutions like Academy of HRD (Hyderabad), SHL (UK), etc. Some Asian organizations have also sought assistance from organizations abroad that are using assessment centres such as GE, and Motorola. 1.5 Training and Developmental Needs Analysis The assessment centre methodology can be used to measure the abilities of individuals against certain critical criteria and identify their training and developmental needs. Such assessment centres are more diagnostic than evaluative and can be termed as development centres. In the case of use of assessment centre methodology for early identification, promotion, and selection, a final yes-no decision is critical. But in diagnostic assessment centres or development centres, final overall decision is insignificant. Each dimension must be measured with a high degree of reliability and validity because decisions are being made on each dimension. Therefore, the dimensions to be studied should be made as specific as possible. Quick, easy training methods dont change peoples skill levels. Skill acquisition requires intensive, time-consuming classroom training and must be coupled with opportunities for on-the-job practice and feedback so new behaviors are â€Å"set† in the individuals repertoire. Because skill development takes a lot of time and effort, everyone cannot be trained in every skill. The assessment center method provides an effective means to determine training or developmental needs. Individuals then can be placed in the most appropriate program. The assessment center method is an excellent diagnostic tool because it separates an individuals abilities into specific areas (dimensions) and then seeks specific examples of good and poor behavior within each dimension. This helps the assessee and his/her boss determine more precisely what training and developmental activities are required. Almost all organizations using assessment centers for selection or promotion also use the information obtained to diagnose training needs. However, a major shift in focus is the large number of firms now using assessment centers solely to diagnose training needs. 1.6 Relationship between an Assessment Center and Development Center The type of centre can vary between the traditional assessment centre used purely for selection to the more modern development centre which involves self-assessment and whose primary purpose is development. One might ask the question Why group assessment and development centres together if they have different purposes? The answer to that question is threefold. Firstly, they both involve assessment and it is only the end use of the information obtained which is different i.e. one for selection and one for development; secondly, it is impossible to draw a line between assessment and development centres because all centres, be they for assessment or development naturally lie somewhere on a continuum somewhere between the two extremes; thirdly most assessment centres involve at least some development and most development centres involve at least some assessment. This means that it is very rare to find a centre devoted to pure assessment or pure development.. Also, it purely depends upon the Organizations requirements, its policies and procedures whether it wants to conduct an AC or a DC. It is easier to think about assessment centres as being equally to do with selection and development because a degree of assessment goes on in both. Development centres grew out a liberalisation of thinking about assessment centres and it is a historical quirk that while assessment centres were once used purely for selection and have evolved to have a more developmental flavour the language used to describe them has not. Another problem with using the assessment development dichotomy is that at the very least it causes us to infer that little or no assessment goes in development centres. While you will hear centres being called assessment or development centres remember that assessment goes on in both and so to some extent at least they are both assessment centres. The end result of this is that it is not possible to talk about assessment or development centres in any but the most general terms. It is more useful to talk about the constituent parts and general processes involved in each. In these terms we can identify a number of differences between assessment and development centres that one might typically find: Assessment centres usually * have a pass/fail criteria * are geared towards filing a job vacancy * address an immediate organisational need * have fewer assessors and more participants * involve line managers as assessors * have less emphasis placed on self-assessment * focus on what the candidate can do now * are geared to meet the needs of the organisation * assign the role of judge to assessors * place emphasis on selection with little or no developmental feedback and follow up * give feedback at a later date * involve the organisation having control over the information obtained * have very little pre-centre briefing * tend to be used with external candidates Development centres usually * do not have a pass/fail criteria * are geared towards developing the individual * address a longer term need * have a 1:1 ratio of assessor to participant * do not have line managers as assessors * have a greater emphasis placed on self-assessment * focus on potential * are geared to meet needs of the individual as well as the organisation * assign the role of facilitator to assessors * place emphasis on developmental feedback and follow up with little or no selection function * give feedback immediately * involve the individual having control over the information obtained * have a substantial pre-centre briefing * tend to be used with internal candidates Chapter 2 ASSESSMENT CENTERS INSIDE OUT 2.1 Stages in a typical Assessment Center A typical Assessment Center consists of the following stages. They are : Pre AC Stage During AC Stage Post AC Stage a. PRE AC STAGE * Defining the objective of AC . * Get approval for AC from the concerned officials. * Conduct job analysis. * Define the competencies required for the target position. * Identify the potential position holder and send them invitations. * Identify the observers. * Train the observers. * Design the AC exercises * Decide the rating methodology. * Make infrastructural arrangements. * Schedule the AC. * Informing the concerned people of the schedule. b. DURING AC STAGE * Explain participants the purpose of the AC, the procedure it would follow and its outcome. * Give instructions to the participants, before every exercise. * Distribute the competency-exercise matrix sheets among observers. * Conduct all exercises. * Conduct a discussion of all observers on every participants ratings, at the end of the session. * Make a report of the strengths and improvement areas of every participant. * Give feedback to participants. * Get feedback from participants and observers about the conduction of AC. c. POST AC STAGE * Compile reports of all participants and submit the list of selected participants to the concerned authorities. * Make improvements in the design according to the recommendations. * Evaluate the validity of results after a definite period. 2.2 Sequence of Steps of an Assessment Center Sequence of Steps of an Assessment Center ( Source ‘Assessment Center for Identifying potential project managers , a Paper for the 6th European Conference on Software Quality 1999 in Vienna ) 2.3 Factors for Evaluating Assessment Center Design Five Factors for evaluating the Center Design The COLAT Model (Source Research Paper ‘Assessment of Assessment Centers by Dr. P. Sethu Madhavan) Center Design The following factors related to the centre design can be used to evaluate and compare the Assessment Centers s in the backdrop of best practices and benchmarks. * Use of qualified resource persons, assessors and support staff * Content validity of the centre and the competency profiles * Use of triangulation and corroboration of assessment results Organizational Preparedness Organizational preparedness refers to following macro level factors, that need to be addressed adequately and established in order to make an assessment or development centre to work effectively. * Policies and procedures * Structure * Clarity of organisational objectives * Buy in, commitment and change management * Communication Linkages, integration and alignment It has been observed that organizations vary considerably in ensuring the linkages, integration and alignment of ACs with the other organisational level factors and the individual level factors. ACs, therefore can be evaluated based on the following best practice anchors falling under these dimensions. * Alignment with core values, vision, mission and strategy * Alignment and linkages with other key HR systems and processes * Alignment with external professional bodies ADCs should be â€Å"purposively† aligned with and derived from the strategy, vision, mission, values and culture of the organisation or the unit. The centre should be designed in such way as to ensure that it helps to meet the strategic objectives of the organisation Quality of Assessment tools and methods In many countries, professional associations and legal requirements dictate that ACs follow some standard practices in the selection, use and administration of assessment methods, especially the psychometric tests. India perhaps has been lagging behind in imposing national level professional standards and certifications to ensure competent and ethical use of psychometric tests. In the absence of any national level qualifications regarding the use of psychometric tests in India, many institutions have been doing a great service to fill this gap by offering, professional training and consultancy services. However, observations and experiences reveal that ACs still vary considerably on their eagerness to ensure quality of tools and methods. * Quality of administration * Reliability * Validity * Utility * Reactivity * Relevance * Test fairness(Statistical) * Technology and use of computers Treatment of Participants and Data Treatment of participants and data in assessment centers is very important from ethical point of view. Some variables and indicators related to this dimension are listed below. * Psychological fairness as perceived by the participants and stakeholders * Right to information, informed consent and informed decisions * Confidentiality and data protection * Feedback policy * Post assessment follow-up and support 2.4 Types of Assessment Exercises Some of the widely used Assessment Center Exercises are as follows : Assement Center Exercise An in-tray or in-basket exercise asks to assume a particular role as an employee of a fictitious company and work through the correspondence in your in-tray. This exercise is designed to measure candidates ability to organize and prioritize work. In a presentation exercise, candidate is given a topic or possibly a choice of topics and asked to make a presentation of around ten minutes with five minutes at the end for questions. This is designed to measure his presentation skills including the ability to organise and structure the information and to communicate his points clearly and concisely. Group discussion exercises involve working with other candidates as part of a team to resolve a presented issue. These exercises are designed to measure interpersonal skills such as group leadership, teamwork, negotiation, and group problem solving skills. Panel interviews are regarded as a more objective means of assessing the candidates suitability as he will be interviewed by between three and five people and therefore the decision is not reliant on just one persons opinion. In addition, they are usually more structured than a one-to-one interview as the panel need to assess all of the candidates against the same criteria. 2.5 How Assessment Center Exercises are Conducted ? The assessment centre method is utilized in a variety of settings including industry and business, government, armed forces, educational institutions, and safety forces to select individuals for supervisory, technical, sales, or management positions. One recent trend is in the development of mass testing. This is done by video-taping candidates as they perform various exercises and by using objectively scored exercises. This permits the assessment of a much larger number of candidates per day as the scoring is done later and requires far less observation and administration. Assesment Centre Procedure Assessment centres are usually used after the initial stages of the selection process, because of the large amount of time and expense in conducting them, and usually follow the initial job interview. Other measurements such as psychological tests may complement the selection process.: They are commonly held either on employers premises or in a hotel and are considered by many organizations to be the fairest and most accurate method of selecting staff. This is because a number of different selectors get to see you over a longer period of time and have the chance to see what you can do, rather than what you say you can do, in a variety of situations. Assessment Centres may be conducted by HR personnel within the employer company or by outside consultants. They are highly structured in their design, application, and assessment procedure and are specifically adapted to assess factors such as your level of skills, aptitude and compatibility with the organizations culture. Each test measures a range of indicators within these factors. During each test, a group of observers will rate the candidate on a range of set indicators, using a prescribed performance scale. Results are then cross compared against the same indicators, which are measured in other tests. Following test completion, observers meet to discuss the test results and reach a group consensus about the ratings. At the beginning of the assessment, participant should receive an initial briefing about the timetable of tests, location of rooms etc. Prior to each test, he will be given instructions describing the exercise, his role, timeframes, equipment etc. He will not be told in detail about the individual indicators which will be measured. In addition, he is unlikely to receive feedback on the results, unless he have been successfully selected. Assessment centers typically involve the participants completing a range of exercises which simulate the activities carried out in the target job. Various combinations of these exercises and sometimes other assessment methods like psychometric testing and interviews are used to assess particular competencies in individuals. The theory behind this is that if one wishes to predict future job performance then the best way of doing this is to get the individual to carry out a set of tasks which accurately sample those required in the job and are as similar to them as possible. The particular competencies used will depend upon the target job but one will often find competencies such as relating to people; resistance to stress; planning and organising; motivation; adaptability and flexibility; problem solving; leadership; communication; decision making and initiative. There are numerous possible competencies and the ones which are relevant to a particular job are determined through job ana lysis. The fact that a set of exercises is used demonstrates one crucial characteristic of an assessment centre namely that it is behaviour that is being observed and measured. This represents a significant departure from many traditional selection approaches which rely on the observer or selector attempting to infer personal characteristics from behaviour based upon subjective judgement and usually precious little evidence. This approach is rendered unfair and inaccurate by the subjective whims and biases of the selector and in many cases produces a selection decision based on a freewheeling social interaction after which a decision is made whether the individual is face fit with the organisation. 2.6 Essential Elements of an Assessment Center Assessment Centers must have the following criteria to be called so : 1. Job Analysis To understand job challenges and the competencies required for successful execution of the job. 2. Predefined competencies Modeling the competencies, which will be tested during the process. 3. Behavioral classification Behaviors displayed by participants must be classified into meaningful and relevant categories such as dimensions, attributes, characteristics, aptitudes, qualities, skills, abilities, competencies, and knowledge. 4. Assessment techniques These include a number of exercises to test the assessees of their potentials. Each competency is tested through atleast 2 exercises for gathering adequate evidence for the presence of particular competence. 5. Simulations The exercises should simulate the job responsibilities as closely as possible to eliminate potential errors in selection. 6. Observations Accurate and unbiased observation is the most critical aspect of an AC. 7. Observers Multiple observers are used to eliminate subjectivity and biases from the process. They are given thorough training in the process prior to participating in the AC. 8. Recording Behavior A systematic procedure of recording must be used by the assessors for future reference. The recording could be in the form of hand written note, behavioral checklist, audio-video recording etc. 9. Reports Each observer must make a detailed report of his observation before going for the discussion of integration of scores. 10. Data Integration The pooling of information from different assessors is done through statistical techniques. 2.7 Assessment Centers Usage Various Organizations use the data provided Assessment Centers as a Recruitment Strategy Assessment Centers as a Recruitment Strategy SYNOPSIS TOPIC : â€Å"Assessment Centers Its Pertinence, Functionality and Application† OBJECTIVE : Primary Objective The theme permeating this research is to know about the Assessment Centers inside out, its relevance in todays businesses, functions and objectives. Secondary Objective To apprehend the application of Assessment Centers in various firms. ABSTRACT : An Assessment Center is a process designed to assess whether candidates have the skills required for the job and the future potential that the organizations are looking for. It mainly comprises a range of activities or simulations designed to test these factors. Some of the activities that are included in Assessment Center are Psychometric Tests, In-basket Exercises, Group Exercises, Role Plays, Behavioural Interviews, Case Studies et al. The primary objective of an Assessment Center is to match the right person with the available positions in an organization. The assessment center method, in its modern form, came into existence as a result of the ATT Management Progress Study In this study, which began in the late 1950s, individuals entering management positions in Bell Telephone operating companies were assessed and, from then on, their careers were followed. The chief reason the assessment center method is valid in so many different countries is that it is an easily adaptable evaluation system. Assessment Centre Method has a bearing on the following aspects of personnel management: staffing: decision making on selection, promotion, turnover and dismissal; staff development: determining educational and training requirements improving performance in management/staff relationships; bringing compensation policy in line with general policy objectives. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY : The Research will consist of Secondary Data (Reference Books, Websites, Business Journals and Articles) and Primary Data (Questionnaire, Interviews from Industry Experts) GUIDE : Prof. Arvind Rajashekar, visiting faculty, IIPM. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY A Research is something that always has a question or a problem on the other side of it. The purpose behind ay research is to question through the application of Sciences or otherwise. It is a systematic and an in-depth study with the use of Primary and Secondary Instruments to gain more or complete knowledge of the subject under study. Research consists of Secondary and Primary Instruments 1. PRIMARY RESEARCH The Primary research consists of conducting a Questionnaire Survey with HR Professionals, business persons and Consultants. For this purpose, I have kept a Sample Size of 20 Respondents. The aim behind this survey is to get knowledge about Assessment Centers and its application and use by the Industry expert themselves and also Consultants who have applied Assessment Centers as a tool of Evaluation. 2. SECONDARY RESEARCH v The Secondary research consists of : a. Books on Assessment Centers b. Articles on the Internet c. Articles published in Business Journals d. HR Websites e. Research Papers by Industry experts Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION TO ASSESSMENT CENTERS 1.1 Assessment Centers A Gist An Assessment Center (AC) is a process designed to assess whether candidates have the skills required for the job and the future potential that the organizations are looking for. It mainly comprises a range of activities or simulations designed to test these factors. Some of the activities that are included in Assessment Center are Psychometric Tests, In-basket Exercises, Group Exercises, Role Plays, Behavioural Interviews, Case Studies et al. Traditionally an assessment centre consisted of a suite of exercises designed to assess a set of personal characteristics, it was seen as a rather formal process where the individuals being assessed had the results fed back to them in the context of a simple yes/no selection decision. However, recently definite shift is seen in thinking away from this traditional view of an assessment centre to one which stresses the developmental aspect of assessment. A consequence of this is that today it is very rare to come across an assessment centre which does not have at least some developmental aspect to it, increasingly assessment centres are stressing a collaborative approach which involves the individual actively participating in the process rather than being a passive recipient of it. In some cases we can even find assessment centres that are so developmental in their approach that most of the assessment work done is carried out by the participants themselves and the major function of the centre is to provide the participants with feedback that is as much developmental as judgmental in nature. The primary objective of an Assessment Center is to match the right person with the available positions in an organization. Assessment Centre Method has a bearing on the following aspects of personnel management: staffing: decision making on selection, promotion, turnover and dismissal; staff development: determining educational and training requirements improving performance in management/staff relationships; bringing compensation policy in line with general policy objectives. To align the strategic intent in line with the market requirements. 1.2 Definitions of an Assessment Center given by Consultants, Academicians Practitioners * Assessment Centres are often described as the variety of testing techniques that allow the candidates to demonstrate, under standardized conditions, the skills and abilities most essential for success in a given job. Dennis A. Joiner, ‘Assessment centre in public sector: A practical approach, Public Personnel Management Journal. * An assessment center is a comprehensive standardized procedure in which multiple assessment techniques such as situational exercises and job simulation (business games, discussions, reports presentations) are used to evaluate individual employee for variety of manpower decisions. * An Assessment Centre consists of a standardized evaluation of behavior based on multiple inputs. Several trained observers and techniques are used. Judgements about behavior are made, in major part, from specifically developed assessment simulations. These judgements are pooled in a meeting among the assessors or by statistical integration process. In an integration discussion, comprehensive accounts of behavior, and often ratting of it, are pooled. The discussion results in evaluation of performance of the assessees on the dimensions/competencies or other variables that the assessment centre is designed to measure. Statistical combination methods should be validated in accordance with professionally accepted standards. ‘Guidelines and ethical considerations for assessment centre operations. 28th International Congress on Assessment Centre Methods * The main feature of assessment centres is that they are a multiple assessment process. There are five main ways in which that is so. A group of participants takes part in a variety of exercises observed by a team of trained assessors who evaluate each participant against a number of predetermined, job related behaviors. Decisions are then made by pooling shared data. Iain Ballantyne and Nigel Povah * An assessment centre is a process in which individuals participate in a series of exercises, most of which approximate what they would be called upon to do in the future job. Assessors usually selected from higher management levels in the firm, are trained to observe the participants and evaluate their performance as fairly and impartially as possible. -‘Can assessment centres be used to improve the salesperson selection process, E. James Randall, Ernest E. Cooke, Richard J. Jefferies, Journal of personal selling and sales management * An assessment centre is a multi-faceted and multi-dimensional approach designed to provide reliable and valid information about a range of competencies of an individual considered to be necessary for successful performance at a target level in a specific job. ‘360 degree feedback, competency mapping and assessment centres, Radha R. Sharma * Tata Management Training Centres definition of AC: AC is an integrated standardized process in which a series of exercises are used to assess people on pre-defined parameters. These pre-definedparameters define job success in a given organizationalcontext. Most of the exercises are simulation of job activities/work challenges that the candidate is expected to perform in the next level role/job. 1.3 History of Assessment Centers Assessment Centre process was first used sometime between the two world wars. The Treaty of Versailles, which ended the First World War, prevented Germany from rearming and thus the traditional approach to the selection of officers, which was of observing their performance in war or in exercises was denied to them. German psychologists then devised this method which involved a combination of tests, simulations and exercises to identify the potential of officer candidates. The British Army used this methodology in the early days of Second World War when they established the War Office Selection Boards (WOSBs), again for the selection of officer candidates. However, it was brought into the private sector only in 1956 after ATT (American Telephone Telegraph Company) used it for selection of high potentials for managerial positions. This was the first industrial application of the assessment centre methodology. Both individual characteristics of young managers as well as organizational settings in which they worked were studied and evaluation at the assessment centre was used to predict whether the participant would make it to the middle management in the next ten years or less. The sample included both recent college graduates and non-management personnel who had risen to the managerial positions relatively early in their career. The dimensions assessed included managerial functions like organizing, planning, decision making, general ability such as intellectual ability, personal impression, sensitivity, and values and attitudes, both work related and social. The success of the earlier work of ATT was followed by Standard Oil which was the second to a start assessment centres. This was followed by IBM, Sears Roebuck, General Electric, and Caterpillar tractors. By 1981 more than 2500 organizations applied this methodology to select potential managers 1.4 Assessment Centers in Asia The first assessment centre in Asia was for selecting project leaders for the entrepreneurship development programme in Gujarat. Subsequently, efforts were made to introduce it in Larsen and Toubro . LT did a lot of work on job profiling but never got to the stage of developing an assessment centre for potential appraisal. Crompton Greaves attempted to use an assessment centre approach for selecting their general managers from within. It is only in the 1990s that interest in assessment centres was renewed. This was a natural response to the need to ensure competent people manning strategic positions. A large number of Asian companies have established assessment centres and many others are exploring. The companies that are trying out include : RPG Group, Escorts, TISCO, Aditya Birla Group, Eicher, Cadburys, Castrol (India), Glaxo, Grindwell Norton, ONGC, Mahindra and Mahindra, SAIL, Siemens, Wipro, Wockhardt, and Johnson Johnson. Different organizations initiated assessment centres for recruitment, selection, placement, promotion, career development, performance appraisal, and succession planning and development purposes such as identification of training needs, identification high potential managers, create a pool of managerial talent and multifunctional managers that would be available across the business group, employee recognition and fast growth. Philips, Dr. Reddys Laboratories, and Global Trust Bank are organizations that have been using assessment centres. Some of these organizations are, in the process of developing Indian managerial talent and measure it periodically. Generally the competencies that are to be measured are determined by each organization by using methods such as job analysis, managerial aptitude profile surveys, identifying competencies in star performers, etc. A variety of assessment techniques are used in Asian organizations like in-baskets, business simulations, questionnaires, group discussions, role plays, interviews, case study, individual presentations, etc. While the need is felt by all organizations to test reliability and validity of the tools used, many of them are not testing them. Both internal and external assessors are used for evaluation. Assessor training is done either through in-house training programmes or with the aid of external institutions like Academy of HRD (Hyderabad), SHL (UK), etc. Some Asian organizations have also sought assistance from organizations abroad that are using assessment centres such as GE, and Motorola. 1.5 Training and Developmental Needs Analysis The assessment centre methodology can be used to measure the abilities of individuals against certain critical criteria and identify their training and developmental needs. Such assessment centres are more diagnostic than evaluative and can be termed as development centres. In the case of use of assessment centre methodology for early identification, promotion, and selection, a final yes-no decision is critical. But in diagnostic assessment centres or development centres, final overall decision is insignificant. Each dimension must be measured with a high degree of reliability and validity because decisions are being made on each dimension. Therefore, the dimensions to be studied should be made as specific as possible. Quick, easy training methods dont change peoples skill levels. Skill acquisition requires intensive, time-consuming classroom training and must be coupled with opportunities for on-the-job practice and feedback so new behaviors are â€Å"set† in the individuals repertoire. Because skill development takes a lot of time and effort, everyone cannot be trained in every skill. The assessment center method provides an effective means to determine training or developmental needs. Individuals then can be placed in the most appropriate program. The assessment center method is an excellent diagnostic tool because it separates an individuals abilities into specific areas (dimensions) and then seeks specific examples of good and poor behavior within each dimension. This helps the assessee and his/her boss determine more precisely what training and developmental activities are required. Almost all organizations using assessment centers for selection or promotion also use the information obtained to diagnose training needs. However, a major shift in focus is the large number of firms now using assessment centers solely to diagnose training needs. 1.6 Relationship between an Assessment Center and Development Center The type of centre can vary between the traditional assessment centre used purely for selection to the more modern development centre which involves self-assessment and whose primary purpose is development. One might ask the question Why group assessment and development centres together if they have different purposes? The answer to that question is threefold. Firstly, they both involve assessment and it is only the end use of the information obtained which is different i.e. one for selection and one for development; secondly, it is impossible to draw a line between assessment and development centres because all centres, be they for assessment or development naturally lie somewhere on a continuum somewhere between the two extremes; thirdly most assessment centres involve at least some development and most development centres involve at least some assessment. This means that it is very rare to find a centre devoted to pure assessment or pure development.. Also, it purely depends upon the Organizations requirements, its policies and procedures whether it wants to conduct an AC or a DC. It is easier to think about assessment centres as being equally to do with selection and development because a degree of assessment goes on in both. Development centres grew out a liberalisation of thinking about assessment centres and it is a historical quirk that while assessment centres were once used purely for selection and have evolved to have a more developmental flavour the language used to describe them has not. Another problem with using the assessment development dichotomy is that at the very least it causes us to infer that little or no assessment goes in development centres. While you will hear centres being called assessment or development centres remember that assessment goes on in both and so to some extent at least they are both assessment centres. The end result of this is that it is not possible to talk about assessment or development centres in any but the most general terms. It is more useful to talk about the constituent parts and general processes involved in each. In these terms we can identify a number of differences between assessment and development centres that one might typically find: Assessment centres usually * have a pass/fail criteria * are geared towards filing a job vacancy * address an immediate organisational need * have fewer assessors and more participants * involve line managers as assessors * have less emphasis placed on self-assessment * focus on what the candidate can do now * are geared to meet the needs of the organisation * assign the role of judge to assessors * place emphasis on selection with little or no developmental feedback and follow up * give feedback at a later date * involve the organisation having control over the information obtained * have very little pre-centre briefing * tend to be used with external candidates Development centres usually * do not have a pass/fail criteria * are geared towards developing the individual * address a longer term need * have a 1:1 ratio of assessor to participant * do not have line managers as assessors * have a greater emphasis placed on self-assessment * focus on potential * are geared to meet needs of the individual as well as the organisation * assign the role of facilitator to assessors * place emphasis on developmental feedback and follow up with little or no selection function * give feedback immediately * involve the individual having control over the information obtained * have a substantial pre-centre briefing * tend to be used with internal candidates Chapter 2 ASSESSMENT CENTERS INSIDE OUT 2.1 Stages in a typical Assessment Center A typical Assessment Center consists of the following stages. They are : Pre AC Stage During AC Stage Post AC Stage a. PRE AC STAGE * Defining the objective of AC . * Get approval for AC from the concerned officials. * Conduct job analysis. * Define the competencies required for the target position. * Identify the potential position holder and send them invitations. * Identify the observers. * Train the observers. * Design the AC exercises * Decide the rating methodology. * Make infrastructural arrangements. * Schedule the AC. * Informing the concerned people of the schedule. b. DURING AC STAGE * Explain participants the purpose of the AC, the procedure it would follow and its outcome. * Give instructions to the participants, before every exercise. * Distribute the competency-exercise matrix sheets among observers. * Conduct all exercises. * Conduct a discussion of all observers on every participants ratings, at the end of the session. * Make a report of the strengths and improvement areas of every participant. * Give feedback to participants. * Get feedback from participants and observers about the conduction of AC. c. POST AC STAGE * Compile reports of all participants and submit the list of selected participants to the concerned authorities. * Make improvements in the design according to the recommendations. * Evaluate the validity of results after a definite period. 2.2 Sequence of Steps of an Assessment Center Sequence of Steps of an Assessment Center ( Source ‘Assessment Center for Identifying potential project managers , a Paper for the 6th European Conference on Software Quality 1999 in Vienna ) 2.3 Factors for Evaluating Assessment Center Design Five Factors for evaluating the Center Design The COLAT Model (Source Research Paper ‘Assessment of Assessment Centers by Dr. P. Sethu Madhavan) Center Design The following factors related to the centre design can be used to evaluate and compare the Assessment Centers s in the backdrop of best practices and benchmarks. * Use of qualified resource persons, assessors and support staff * Content validity of the centre and the competency profiles * Use of triangulation and corroboration of assessment results Organizational Preparedness Organizational preparedness refers to following macro level factors, that need to be addressed adequately and established in order to make an assessment or development centre to work effectively. * Policies and procedures * Structure * Clarity of organisational objectives * Buy in, commitment and change management * Communication Linkages, integration and alignment It has been observed that organizations vary considerably in ensuring the linkages, integration and alignment of ACs with the other organisational level factors and the individual level factors. ACs, therefore can be evaluated based on the following best practice anchors falling under these dimensions. * Alignment with core values, vision, mission and strategy * Alignment and linkages with other key HR systems and processes * Alignment with external professional bodies ADCs should be â€Å"purposively† aligned with and derived from the strategy, vision, mission, values and culture of the organisation or the unit. The centre should be designed in such way as to ensure that it helps to meet the strategic objectives of the organisation Quality of Assessment tools and methods In many countries, professional associations and legal requirements dictate that ACs follow some standard practices in the selection, use and administration of assessment methods, especially the psychometric tests. India perhaps has been lagging behind in imposing national level professional standards and certifications to ensure competent and ethical use of psychometric tests. In the absence of any national level qualifications regarding the use of psychometric tests in India, many institutions have been doing a great service to fill this gap by offering, professional training and consultancy services. However, observations and experiences reveal that ACs still vary considerably on their eagerness to ensure quality of tools and methods. * Quality of administration * Reliability * Validity * Utility * Reactivity * Relevance * Test fairness(Statistical) * Technology and use of computers Treatment of Participants and Data Treatment of participants and data in assessment centers is very important from ethical point of view. Some variables and indicators related to this dimension are listed below. * Psychological fairness as perceived by the participants and stakeholders * Right to information, informed consent and informed decisions * Confidentiality and data protection * Feedback policy * Post assessment follow-up and support 2.4 Types of Assessment Exercises Some of the widely used Assessment Center Exercises are as follows : Assement Center Exercise An in-tray or in-basket exercise asks to assume a particular role as an employee of a fictitious company and work through the correspondence in your in-tray. This exercise is designed to measure candidates ability to organize and prioritize work. In a presentation exercise, candidate is given a topic or possibly a choice of topics and asked to make a presentation of around ten minutes with five minutes at the end for questions. This is designed to measure his presentation skills including the ability to organise and structure the information and to communicate his points clearly and concisely. Group discussion exercises involve working with other candidates as part of a team to resolve a presented issue. These exercises are designed to measure interpersonal skills such as group leadership, teamwork, negotiation, and group problem solving skills. Panel interviews are regarded as a more objective means of assessing the candidates suitability as he will be interviewed by between three and five people and therefore the decision is not reliant on just one persons opinion. In addition, they are usually more structured than a one-to-one interview as the panel need to assess all of the candidates against the same criteria. 2.5 How Assessment Center Exercises are Conducted ? The assessment centre method is utilized in a variety of settings including industry and business, government, armed forces, educational institutions, and safety forces to select individuals for supervisory, technical, sales, or management positions. One recent trend is in the development of mass testing. This is done by video-taping candidates as they perform various exercises and by using objectively scored exercises. This permits the assessment of a much larger number of candidates per day as the scoring is done later and requires far less observation and administration. Assesment Centre Procedure Assessment centres are usually used after the initial stages of the selection process, because of the large amount of time and expense in conducting them, and usually follow the initial job interview. Other measurements such as psychological tests may complement the selection process.: They are commonly held either on employers premises or in a hotel and are considered by many organizations to be the fairest and most accurate method of selecting staff. This is because a number of different selectors get to see you over a longer period of time and have the chance to see what you can do, rather than what you say you can do, in a variety of situations. Assessment Centres may be conducted by HR personnel within the employer company or by outside consultants. They are highly structured in their design, application, and assessment procedure and are specifically adapted to assess factors such as your level of skills, aptitude and compatibility with the organizations culture. Each test measures a range of indicators within these factors. During each test, a group of observers will rate the candidate on a range of set indicators, using a prescribed performance scale. Results are then cross compared against the same indicators, which are measured in other tests. Following test completion, observers meet to discuss the test results and reach a group consensus about the ratings. At the beginning of the assessment, participant should receive an initial briefing about the timetable of tests, location of rooms etc. Prior to each test, he will be given instructions describing the exercise, his role, timeframes, equipment etc. He will not be told in detail about the individual indicators which will be measured. In addition, he is unlikely to receive feedback on the results, unless he have been successfully selected. Assessment centers typically involve the participants completing a range of exercises which simulate the activities carried out in the target job. Various combinations of these exercises and sometimes other assessment methods like psychometric testing and interviews are used to assess particular competencies in individuals. The theory behind this is that if one wishes to predict future job performance then the best way of doing this is to get the individual to carry out a set of tasks which accurately sample those required in the job and are as similar to them as possible. The particular competencies used will depend upon the target job but one will often find competencies such as relating to people; resistance to stress; planning and organising; motivation; adaptability and flexibility; problem solving; leadership; communication; decision making and initiative. There are numerous possible competencies and the ones which are relevant to a particular job are determined through job ana lysis. The fact that a set of exercises is used demonstrates one crucial characteristic of an assessment centre namely that it is behaviour that is being observed and measured. This represents a significant departure from many traditional selection approaches which rely on the observer or selector attempting to infer personal characteristics from behaviour based upon subjective judgement and usually precious little evidence. This approach is rendered unfair and inaccurate by the subjective whims and biases of the selector and in many cases produces a selection decision based on a freewheeling social interaction after which a decision is made whether the individual is face fit with the organisation. 2.6 Essential Elements of an Assessment Center Assessment Centers must have the following criteria to be called so : 1. Job Analysis To understand job challenges and the competencies required for successful execution of the job. 2. Predefined competencies Modeling the competencies, which will be tested during the process. 3. Behavioral classification Behaviors displayed by participants must be classified into meaningful and relevant categories such as dimensions, attributes, characteristics, aptitudes, qualities, skills, abilities, competencies, and knowledge. 4. Assessment techniques These include a number of exercises to test the assessees of their potentials. Each competency is tested through atleast 2 exercises for gathering adequate evidence for the presence of particular competence. 5. Simulations The exercises should simulate the job responsibilities as closely as possible to eliminate potential errors in selection. 6. Observations Accurate and unbiased observation is the most critical aspect of an AC. 7. Observers Multiple observers are used to eliminate subjectivity and biases from the process. They are given thorough training in the process prior to participating in the AC. 8. Recording Behavior A systematic procedure of recording must be used by the assessors for future reference. The recording could be in the form of hand written note, behavioral checklist, audio-video recording etc. 9. Reports Each observer must make a detailed report of his observation before going for the discussion of integration of scores. 10. Data Integration The pooling of information from different assessors is done through statistical techniques. 2.7 Assessment Centers Usage Various Organizations use the data provided