Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Art, Drama, Music and Elements of Play Essays

Art, Drama, Music and Elements of Play Essays Art, Drama, Music and Elements of Play Essay Art, Drama, Music and Elements of Play Essay Art is of import. Even as grownups, we do bask prosecuting in different signifier of humanistic disciplines. The art has been associated with private leisure experience, separated from the chief concern of life. The humanistic disciplines are of course playful nevertheless we should non tie in it as unrealistic or deficiency of earnestness ( Swanwick, 1988 ) . Playing is portion of acquisition and humanistic disciplines can assist kids boom personally and emotionally ( Swanwick, 1988 ) . The humanistic disciplines are complementary portion of a wide instruction ; the humanistic disciplines when taught good can assist raise attainment in other countries as they are closely entwined with other larning countries ( Humanistic disciplines in Schools Project, 1990 ) . Drama comes of course to immature kids and they are frequently prosecuting in make-believe drama. Children dramatic experience should be supported in school with activities that develop the kid s ability to utilize his or her imaginativeness, organic structure and voice. Drama allows kindergartners to show themselves freely and interact with others. Some dramatic activities in which have been conducted in category since the taught faculty was drama games and role-play. The activities conducted were the Jungle game ( similar to fruit salad ) and freeze game . Through the activities, the kids were encouraged to research the restrictions and the possibilities of motion inside a given infinite. The kids learnt to portion infinite with others and how to associate to others playful manner. They explored how infinite, and people or objects in infinite, can hold symbolic and dramatic significances ( Winston and Tandy, 2009 ) . During the period of clip, we were working on the subject of animate beings, therefore I made usage of some of the games taught during the faculty and modified a small. The kids were from the age scope 4 to 6 old ages old. There were two new kids who were in the category for less than a month. They were Chinese exile and did non understand English. One kid was more diffident and withdrawn. He normally merely interacts with the other kid who was besides from China. However during the activity, all the kids were seen prosecuting in the activity. At first during Jungle game the kids were given new function which are different types of animate beings in the jungle. They had to swopped topographic points when their animate beings were called ; when huntsman is called out, everyone had to trade topographic points. In the procedure, some kids were seen strike harding into each other and most merely went to the few seats off from them. However, after a few unit of ammunitions with the ga me, they were able to research the possible motion inside the specified topographic point. The kids were able to research and portion the infinite without strike harding into each other. Even the two China male childs were able to prosecute in the activity and pretended to be the animate beings by copying their motions as they move in the circle. As for the freezing game, the kids pretended to be animate beings traveling in the jungle, avoiding to be caught by the huntsman. It was surprised that the kids imitated the sounds of the animate beings as they moved when it was non told to them that they had to. It was astonishing how dramatic games can take kids into different universe demoing their different side and creativeness. Another activity conducted was interview of the character in the narrative. During that period we were working on the subject of animate beings, therefore I made usage of the narrative The forest kid and pretended to be the huntsman. The kids were truly involved in the activity and took bends to inquire inquiries. That was the first clip that we engaged in this sort of activity therefore the kids were excited and eager to inquire inquiries. After several inquiries, I was surprised that the male childs from China really put up their custodies and asked inquiry: Why you so angry . I did non believe that they could understand the activity we were prosecuting in, non to even state ask inquiry utilizing English linguistic communication, which was a foreign linguistic communication to them. Through this activity, the kids could come in into the universe of the narrative and seek to happen solutions. As the kids are familiarised with the activity, they took bends to be the huntsman. Through the activities, the kids learnt to take bends by esteeming other s part, develop spacial consciousness, and explore ain organic structure possibilities through imitating of different characters. Minimal props were used during the activities to promote more imaginativeness. Through inventive drama, kids are experimenting with and larning how to pull off the nucleus elements of play, those of clip, infinite, people, action objects and capable affair ( Winston and Tandy, 2009 ) . Drama is a great manner in supplying kids the chances to larn about themselves and others. It encourages interaction with each other and learn about organic structure and spacial consciousness. During play, kids are besides encouraged to believe otherwise. During role-play, they can go others, heightening the creativeness, and promoting them to believe about what certain people might believe, state, or do in a given state of affairs. It allows kids to conceal behind a mask and to be different. Music Music is a manner of cognizing the life of feeling ( Langer as cited in Swanwick, 1988 ) . In our preschool scene, we did non hold much opportunity for musical activity during lesson clip. It was normally during enrichment programmes which several kids will travel for their music lessons. During the faculty, many merriment and meaningful activities were taught which could be implemented into the preschool scene. The activity that was conducted with the kids was doing music through musical instruments. I made used of the activities planned with my group during the faculty presentation, which was sing the narrative of Large Aluminum . The kids were provided with musical instruments such as bells, tambourine, cymbal, maracas, membranophone, trigon and some other traditional musical instruments that were made of bamboos. The kids were given the chances to take and play the instruments harmonizing to different emotions and scenarios of the narrative. Music was combined with play work in this instance. One-half of the kids in the category acted out the narrative while the others created effects for the dramatization utilizing the instruments. The kids had to conceive of that they were in the narrative. Harmonizing to Swanwick ( 1988 ) , immature kids bask really loud and really soft sounds and are fascinated by tone and timber and they can get down to see music as expressive. It can be observed during the activity. The kids enjoyed researching the volume of sound produced from musical instrument. When it was exciting state of affairs, they played the music fast and loud, and soft when sad. They were able to find the velocity of music by playing the assorted musical instruments. The kids were able to make different look utilizing music. During the activity, two older male childs were observed to be taking the group in the alteration of the music. Working in cross-age groups enables younger kids to detect and larn from more experient scholars, while the chance to scaffold the acquisition of younger kids enables the older kids to clear up their thought ( Duffy, 1998, p.116 ) . Harmonizing to Duffy ( 1998 ) , kids need sufficient topographic point to work and easy accessible resources if they are to do the best usage of originative and inventive experiences. Thus pedagogues should supply more experience for art activities even when exterior of lessons. After the faculty, I tried the method of giving the kids freedom of entering. Recorder was introduced to the kids and it was placed in the music corner in the schoolroom. After a hebdomad, to my surprised, I heard the voices of the two male childs from China with a few other kids from the recording. At first they said their name and begun humming some unfamiliar music ( likely self-composed ) with accompany of the musical instruments. When they sang louder, the music became louder excessively. This showed that they could do usage of the pacing and kineticss harmonizing to the different emotions. There was look in the music formed. Through the activities, the kids could develop musical consciousness and accomp lishments in footings of pacing and kineticss. Elementss of drama Harmonizing to Swanwick ( 1998 ) , the three elements of drama important to larning through humanistic disciplines are mastery, imitation and inventive drama. All these three elements were apparent during the execution of the activities. For command, the kids were able to larn to work with others to do dramatic significance and control of the musical instruments, maintaining consistent beat. For imitation, the kids were able to cover with the expressive nature of the art signifier. They were able to do musical sounds that suggest different scenarios. Last for inventive drama, the kids could experiment with musical instruments until it suggest the appropriate scenario. The kids were besides seen experimenting with different motion during dramatic drama. Practice motivates kids as pattern Teachs them how to concentrate which in bends leads them to appreciate and bask the beauty of art they are larning and the pleasances of bring forthing work of quality ( Winston, 2010, p.77 ) . If we wish kids to be originative, we should guarantee that all kids feel valued and accepted ; therefore kids will experience secure to take hazards or do errors ( Duffy, 1998 ) . That was evident in the instance of the two Chinese male childs who were at first withdrawn from the group and easy got into the activities, prosecuting with the others. Decision As kids grow, it seems that much of the school twenty-four hours is taken up by nucleus topics ; creativeness and imaginativeness are frequently treated as extra or luxury. Thus it is the function of the pedagogues in assisting to guarantee that the kids have chances to prosecute in originative and inventive experience ( Duffy, 1998 ) . A cross-curricular attack allows us to pull on the entreaty ad potency of originative experiences to promote acquisition and development in all countries of the course of study. Children should be active participants in their acquisition. With appropriate planning, we can link art with many other countries of the course of study. This can supply valuable chances to put larning in existent life experience by doing narratives and populating through them, instead than hearing them told by the instructor. Humanistic disciplines provide originative release for kids ; kids will hold fun while they are learn, heightening a womb-to-tomb desire for acquisition.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Guide and Examples for Writing a Sociology Abstract

Guide and Examples for Writing a Sociology Abstract If you are a student learning sociology, chances are you will be asked to write an abstract. Sometimes, your teacher or professor may ask you to write an abstract at the beginning of the research process to help you organize your ideas for the research. Other times, the organizers of a conference or editors of an academic journal or book will ask you to write one to serve as a summary of research you have completed and that you intend to share. Lets review exactly what an abstract is and the five steps you need to follow in order to write one. Definition Within sociology, as with other sciences, an abstract is a brief and concise description of a research project that is typically in the range of 200 to 300 words. Sometimes you may be asked to write an abstract at the beginning of a research project and other times, you will be asked to do so after the research is completed. In any case, the abstract serves, in effect, as a sales pitch for your research. Its goal is to pique the interest of the reader such that he or she continues to read the research report that follows the abstract or decides to attend a research presentation you will give about the research. For this reason, an abstract should be written in clear and descriptive language and should avoid the use of acronyms and jargon. Types Depending on at what stage in the research process you write your abstract, it will fall into one of two categories: descriptive or informative. Those written before the research is completed will be descriptive in nature. Descriptive abstracts provide an overview of the purpose, goals, and proposed methods of your study, but do not include discussion of the results or conclusions you might draw from them. Informative abstracts are super-condensed versions of a research paper that provide an overview of the motivations for the research, problem(s) it addresses, approach and methods, the results of the research, and your conclusions and implications of the research. Preparing to Write Before you write an  abstract there are a few important steps you should complete. First, if you are writing an informative abstract, you should write the full research report. It may be tempting to start by writing the abstract because it is short, but in reality, you cant write it until you the report is complete because the abstract should be a condensed version of it. If youve yet to write the report, you probably have not yet completed analyzing your data or thinking through the conclusions and implications. You cant write a research abstract until youve done these things. Another important consideration is the length of the abstract. Whether you are submitting it for publication, to a conference, or to a teacher or professor for a class, you will have been given guidance on how many words the abstract can be. Know your word limit in advance and stick to it. Finally, consider the audience for your abstract. In most cases, people you have never met will read your abstract. Some of them may not have the same expertise in sociology that you have, so its important that you write your abstract in clear language and without jargon. Remember that your abstract is, in effect, a sales pitch for your research, and you want it to make people want to learn more. Step-by-Step Guide Motivation. Begin your abstract by describing what motivated you to conduct the research. Ask yourself what made you pick this topic. Is there a particular social trend or  phenomenon that sparked your interest in doing the project? Was there a gap in existing research that you sought to fill by conducting your own? Was there something, in particular, you set out to prove? Consider these questions and begin your abstract by briefly stating, in one or two sentences, the answers to them.Problem. Next, describe the problem or question to which your research seeks to provide an answer or better understanding. Be specific and explain if this is a general problem or a specific one affecting only certain regions or sections of the population. You should finish describing the problem by stating your hypothesis, or what you expect to find after conducting your research.Approach and methods. Following your description of the problem, you must next explain how your research approaches it, in terms of theoretical framing or general perspective, and which research methods you will use to do the research. Remember, this should be brief, jargon-free, and concise. Results. Next, describe in one or two sentences the results of your research. If you completed a complex research project that led to several results that you discuss in the report, highlight only the most significant or noteworthy in the abstract. You should state whether or not you were able to answer your research questions, and if surprising results were found too. If, as in some cases, your results did not adequately answer your question(s), you should report that as well.Conclusions. Finish your abstract by briefly stating what conclusions you draw from the results and what implications they might hold. Consider whether there are implications for the practices and policies of organizations and/or government bodies that are connected to your research, and whether your results suggest that further research should be done, and why. You should also point out whether the results of your research are generally and/or broadly applicable or whether they are descriptive in nature and fo cused on a particular case or limited population. Example Lets take as an example the abstract that serves as the teaser for a journal article by sociologist Dr. David Pedulla. The article in question, published in American Sociological Review,  is a report on how taking a job below ones skill level or doing part-time work can hurt a persons future career prospects in their chosen field or profession.  The abstract is annotated with bolded numbers that show the steps in the process outlined above. 1. Millions of workers are employed in positions that deviate from the full-time, standard employment relationship or work in jobs that are mismatched with their skills, education, or experience. 2. Yet, little is known about how employers evaluate workers who have experienced these employment arrangements, limiting our knowledge about how part-time work, temporary agency employment, and skills underutilization affect workers labor market opportunities. 3. Drawing on original field and survey experiment data, I examine three questions: (1) What are the consequences of having a nonstandard or mismatched employment history for workers labor market opportunities? (2) Are the effects of nonstandard or mismatched employment histories different for men and women? and (3) What are the mechanisms linking nonstandard or mismatched employment histories to labor market outcomes? 4. The field experiment shows that skills underutilization is as scarring for workers as a year of unemployment, but that there are limited penalties for workers with histories of temporary agency employment. Additionally, although men are penalized for part-time employment histories, women face no penalty for part-time work. The survey experiment reveals that employers perceptions of workers competence and commitment mediate these effects. 5. These findings shed light on the consequences of changing employment relations for the distribution of labor market opportunities in the new economy. Its really that simple.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Global corporate marketing strategies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Global corporate marketing strategies - Essay Example RBS has taken this formidable step as many international banks are focusing on Chinese security market for growth. RBS’ is entering the Chinese banking sector with a vision to bring European, US and British companies to China, and allow the investors to gain access to equities and debt of the foreign companies (ICFAI. 2011). China’s entry into World Trade Organization (WTO) in the year 2001 has raised the entry barrier of the overseas investors leading to a flow of investment in the securities and financial market of the country. The banks in China have to operate using the global operating standard in terms of accounting and corporate governance reforms. The large commercial banks like RBS need to follow an increased disclosure requirement in the auditing standard in order to be able to list in public. Recently, riots in China have created an unstable political condition. This has led to foreign companies becoming apprehensive about investing. However, strict measures have been adopted by Chinese Government to restore a safe environment for the investors in the country. The Chinese economy which was reformed and was transformed into a market oriented one since 1978. This economic reform has helped in promoting an environment which has positively affected the individual initiatives and entrepreneurship. The economic condition of China has reduced poverty and has boosted the per capita income of the people to the highest level (Kuijs, 2012). In 2010 China was ranked as the country having second largest economy in the world. For the past 26 years the average economic growth has been sustained at the rate of 9.5% indicating the economy of the country is on rise (Davila, n.d.). The higher economic growth and the national income reflect the feasibility which RBS is seeking in the country for expansion. The country’s present banking industry is worth 14 thousand billion in assets. The following graphs show the GDP growth in China and how the

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Student action plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Student action plan - Essay Example d kind of living that is dedicated towards a reduction on the use and exploitation of the natural resources as well as personal resources in order to save them (Fiksel 5330). There are many importances of sustainability and to an individual and the community; it guarantees a clean and healthy environment. One of the goals of sustainability is reduction of pollution by using recyclable resources so that they can be absorbed back into nature. When inorganic materials are used especially in industries, the by-products from manufacturing accumulate in rivers, soils and air. Accumulation of these materials that are not biodegradable leads to pollution of the environment which causes health problems. On a large scale, sustainability is important to a nation in terms of production and feeding its population in that it enables governments to continue sustaining its citizens. In the long run, future generations will be able to access these same natural resources which have been recycled (5331). My educational and professional goals revolve around understanding the basic principles of environmental sustainability which is important for life sustenance on earth. In this regards, the ecosystem knowledge learned in this class is important for application in my environmental career in future. Take for instance the design and successful implementation of sustainable systems is predicated upon the knowledge on how ecosystems work for continuity purposes. It would be my pleasure to study the nature in future so that I can fully understand how it responds to changes of anthropological impacts within it (Fiksel 5333). Minimization of anthropological impacts on the natural ecosystem and organisms living within it entails living a sustainable lifestyle. A sustainable lifestyle advocates for a conservative approach to the use of natural and personal resources. By living such a lifestyle, the self ceases to be important and much attention is given to our surroundings in terms of both

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Telecom Call Center Research Technology Essay Example for Free

Telecom Call Center Research Technology Essay According to Malhotra (2004: 5-6) interview is defined as an unstructured, direct personal interview to uncover the underlying motivation, beliefs, attitudes and feelings on a topic. Thus if interviews are used in this case the gains will be; quick response from respondents, permits interviewer to delve deep into the topic, there is allowance to discuss confidential, sensitive even embarrassing issues concerning the topic, and good understanding of complicated behavior (consumer behavior). Interviews have also there following limitations; there costly, analysis of real time data is difficult to interpret, respondents bias like personal opinion concerning matter at hand, its generally time consuming. Survey; entail a structured questionnaire given to sample population and designed to elicit specific information from respondents. Three methods exist in survey; i. Telephone interview- involves calling a sample of respondents and asking them a series of questions. ii. Personal interviewing- can be through face to face, mall intercepted, computer assisted interview. iii. Mail interview – questionnaire is mailed to pre selected potential respondents. Through survey: data collection is simpler through administration of questionnaires, data reliability as responses are limited to the alternatives stated, analysis, coding and interpretation is relatively simpler. Its shortcomings include; respondents unwilling to provide desired information, none response to sensitive or personal questions, failure to capture certain types of data as beliefs and attitude due to fixed response alternatives. According to Zbikowski,(2007): there are five KPI`s that determine the performance of a call center and they are; cost per call, customer satisfaction, first contact resolution rate, agent utilization and aggregate call center performance. Thus in a call center, the most effective cost metric is cost per contact, and the best indicator of quality is customer satisfaction. Customer satisfaction is affected by a whole range of other performance variables, including Average Speed of Answer (ASA), Call Quality, and Handle Time, but the single biggest driver of customer satisfaction, by far, is, first contact resolution rate. The KPI`s are effective as they handle customer needs from the time they make first contact to the call center to during the conversation and all the process that lead up to them ending the call. Research design – is a plan according to which research participants are chosen, information collected and data analysis and interpretation done. (Kotler et . al, 2006: 100-105). This case the appropriate design to be used is descriptive study and both qualitative and quantitative approach. According to Malhotra et al (1996: 10-12), a descriptive study has its objective as a description of something in regards to who, what, where and how of a phenomenon which is the concern of the current study. The researcher should use survey method (questionnaires) to collect information from the respondents which will be recorded and findings reported. (Kotler et . al, 1999:20-25) explains that interviews are a technique that is primarily used to gain an understanding of the underlying reasons and motivations for people’s attitudes, preferences or behaviors. He further explains that they are good in that; are completed and immediate, use recording equipment, good response rate, possible in-depth questions, can investigate motives and feelings among others. These qualities of interviews facilitate the accurate collection of needed data as interviewee is on the spotlight thus tendency to relay accurate information. The main limitation of descriptive study is that you cannot identify the cause behind a phenomenon; you can just describe and report the observation. Informal Questions The following sets of questions are to be responded to by a manager of a call center. 1) Are call centers profitable to organizations? This is to establish if call centers are really needed. 2) What are the challenges of running call centers? To get the feel of the every day hustles at the call centers. 3) Are there any frequently asked questions from the customers? To identify if they keep a database of constantly asked questions (record keeping). 4) Is industry competitive? Establish if center is analyses there markets for factors that can affect there profitability 5) What is the level of innovation in the industry? To find out if the centers are constantly looking for better technologies to serve their customers. 6) What is level of regulation from concerned ministries? To establish if there set minimum threshold by the government they are required to abide by. Data Collection Mugenda (1999: 46-58) there exits two broad types of data collection methods; primary and secondary data. Where possible, data should be collected from several sources to crosscheck for errors. Primary data is data originated by the researcher for the purpose of research problem, this could be through; observation, focus groups, depth interview and survey methods. Secondary data is the type collected for other purposes other than the problem at hand. Secondary Data- can be further divided into external and internal data. Internal data is data available within the organization for which research is being conducted. In this case any information gathered from visit of one or numerous call centers is classified internal data. External data is data that originates from sources outside the organization, like from journals, books, newspapers, reports, magazines periodicals. For our case external sources form the backbone of all the data which translates into information regarding this research problem. Data Sampling Malhotra (2004: 20-33) data sampling is a definite plan for obtaining facts from a given population, its normally done so as to reduce number of subjects to be studied. Sampling method can either be probability based or non probability based. Probability based is a random sampling technique where every item of the population has an equal chance of inclusion in sample. Under probability based the researcher can use cluster sampling because it’s used when impossible to obtain a sampling frame because population is either too big or scattered over a large geographical area like collection of data from numerous call centers. Non probability is a method where the chance of selecting a population element is unknown. Under non probability researcher can use purposive sampling because it allows researcher to use cases that have required information with respect to the research problem, or snowball sampling where identified subjects with the desired characteristics help name others that they know have the required characteristics until researcher gets the number of cases he/she wants. Surveys Interviews Orodho (2000:15-18) explains that the choice of method is influenced by the data collection strategy, the type of variable, the accuracy required, the collection point and the skill of the enumerator. Call centers data is constantly changing and thus data collection should be conducted at sufficient intervals. Malhotra (2004: 6-7) For interviews the use of depth interviews will be appropriate which is an unstructured direct, personal interview in which a single respondent is probed by an interviewer to uncover underlying motivation, beliefs, attitudes and feelings on a topic. The use of structured questionnaires assist to collect some other data that interviews could not collect, thus avoidance of redundancy and errors. Research is basically collection of as much relevant raw data as possible and analysis of it to information. Mostly the upside is the personal gain in knowledge; discover findings/statistics, personal/societal recognition and some financial gain. The downside can be possession of information that can be a security risk, financial constrains and time management issues. Research therefore only lays down the facts; the interpretation should on individual basis, â€Å"like the recent study that shows persons are highly likely to contact diseases when taking a shower due to accumulation of micro organisms together with rust at the head of the shower†. (Harriet Copper: February, 2006) References: Donald, K. , and Delno, L. , (2006), Proposal and Thesis writing, Paulines Publications Africa, Nairobi, pp 156-158. Einwiller, S. and Will, M. (2002), â€Å"Towards an integrated approach to corporate branding – an empirical study†, Corporate Communications, Vol. 7 No. 2, p. 100. Kotler, P. , Armstrong, G. , (2002, Principles of marketing, 11th ed. , Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle river. Kotler, P. , Armstrong, G. , Saunders, J. and Wong, V. (1999), Principles of Marketing, 2nd ed. , Prentice Hall, Harlow. Leonard, B. , Parasuraman, A. , and Zeithmal, V. (1993), â€Å"Ten lessons of improving service quality,† MSI report, Cambridge marketing science institute. Malhotra, (1996), Research Methodology, Phoenix Publications, Africa Nairobi. Margulies, W. (1977). Make the most of your Corporate Identity. Harvard Business Review, pp 66-77. Mugenda, O. , and Mugenda, A. , (1999), Research methods: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches, Acts press, Nairobi. Orodho, John Aluko (2000), Elements of Research Methods, Masola Publishers, Nairobi Kenya. www. cwu. edu/~jefferis www. callcentermagazine. com www. call-center-metrics. com www. metricnet. com www. alive. com

Friday, November 15, 2019

Contemporary Hand Papermaking in North America and Europe

Contemporary Hand Papermaking in North America and Europe The practice of making paper by hand draws forth past centuries in a single sheet of tangled fibers. At the same time, the advances of both contemporary hand papermakers and modern technology have merged this tradition with innovation to create paper of unsurpassed beauty and quality. Despite the speed and economic advantages of machine-made paper, traditional handmade paper grasps its hold on the modern world, and mills across North America and Western Europe have re-emerged to produce fine handmade papers for artists, bookmakers, and conservators who seek the highest level of durability, permanence, and aesthetics. Hand papermaking in the Western world fell into decline with the invention and rapid expansion of papermaking machines in the nineteenth century. By 1828, machines were capable of producing paper thirty inches wide at a rate of sixty feet per minute (Hunter 355). By comparison, a typical handmade paper mill could produce only two to five reams per day (Turner 43). In addition to the increase in speed and volume, papermaking machines promised the advantage of larger sheets with better, more consistent formation (Turner 114). Although papermaking machines offered the potential for a better paper, many tangential factors of industrial papermaking led to an overall inferior product. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, demand for papermaking materials like rags already outpaced supplies as a result of the steady increase of printing following the invention of movable type and a rise in literacy rates and leisure (Turner and Skià ¶ld 97). The speed and efficiency of the papermaking machine only served to accentuate this shortage of materials... ...oup Annual 12 (1993): 61-65. New York Central. Fine Art Papers. Catalog. New York, 2003. Ruscombe Paper Mill Home Page. 1 Oct. 2004 . Turner, Silvie. The Book of Fine Paper: A Worldwide Guide to Contemporary Papers for Art, Design and Decoration. New York: Thames and Hudson, 1998. Turner, Silvie, and Birgit Skià ¶ld. Handmade Paper Today: A Worldwide Survey of Mill, Papers, Techniques and Uses. London: Lund Humphries, 1983. Twinrocker Handmade Paper Home Page. 1 Oct. 2004 . Vander Weele, Linda Sholund. The Revitalization of Handmade Paper in North America. Madison, 1975. Wootton, Mary, Jesse Munn, and Terry Wallis. â€Å"Observations Concerning the Characteristics of Handmade Paper: The Library of Congress Endpaper Project.† The Book and Paper Group Annual 15 (1996): 179-197. Contemporary Hand Papermaking in North America and Europe Contemporary Hand Papermaking in North America and Europe The practice of making paper by hand draws forth past centuries in a single sheet of tangled fibers. At the same time, the advances of both contemporary hand papermakers and modern technology have merged this tradition with innovation to create paper of unsurpassed beauty and quality. Despite the speed and economic advantages of machine-made paper, traditional handmade paper grasps its hold on the modern world, and mills across North America and Western Europe have re-emerged to produce fine handmade papers for artists, bookmakers, and conservators who seek the highest level of durability, permanence, and aesthetics. Hand papermaking in the Western world fell into decline with the invention and rapid expansion of papermaking machines in the nineteenth century. By 1828, machines were capable of producing paper thirty inches wide at a rate of sixty feet per minute (Hunter 355). By comparison, a typical handmade paper mill could produce only two to five reams per day (Turner 43). In addition to the increase in speed and volume, papermaking machines promised the advantage of larger sheets with better, more consistent formation (Turner 114). Although papermaking machines offered the potential for a better paper, many tangential factors of industrial papermaking led to an overall inferior product. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, demand for papermaking materials like rags already outpaced supplies as a result of the steady increase of printing following the invention of movable type and a rise in literacy rates and leisure (Turner and Skià ¶ld 97). The speed and efficiency of the papermaking machine only served to accentuate this shortage of materials... ...oup Annual 12 (1993): 61-65. New York Central. Fine Art Papers. Catalog. New York, 2003. Ruscombe Paper Mill Home Page. 1 Oct. 2004 . Turner, Silvie. The Book of Fine Paper: A Worldwide Guide to Contemporary Papers for Art, Design and Decoration. New York: Thames and Hudson, 1998. Turner, Silvie, and Birgit Skià ¶ld. Handmade Paper Today: A Worldwide Survey of Mill, Papers, Techniques and Uses. London: Lund Humphries, 1983. Twinrocker Handmade Paper Home Page. 1 Oct. 2004 . Vander Weele, Linda Sholund. The Revitalization of Handmade Paper in North America. Madison, 1975. Wootton, Mary, Jesse Munn, and Terry Wallis. â€Å"Observations Concerning the Characteristics of Handmade Paper: The Library of Congress Endpaper Project.† The Book and Paper Group Annual 15 (1996): 179-197.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

A unique Training Program at UPS

Mark Colvard, a United Parcel Manager in San Ramon, California, recently faced a difficult decision. One of his drivers asked for 2 week off to help an ailing family member.But company rules said this driver wasn’t eligible. If Colvard went by the book, the driver would probably take the days off anyway and be fired. On the other hand, Colvard chose to give the driver the time off. Although he took some heat for the decision, he also kept a valuable employee.Had Colvard been faced with this decision 6 months earlier, he says he would have gone the other way. What changed his thinking was a month he spent living in McAllen, Texas. It was part of a UPS management training experience called the Community Internship Program (CIP). During his month in McAllen, Colvard built housing for the poor, collected clothing for the Salvation Army, and worked in a drug rehab Center.Colvard gives the program credit for helping him empathize with employees facing crises back home. And he says t hat CIP has made him a better manager. â€Å"My goal was to make the numbers, and in some cases that meant not looking at the individual but looking at the bottom line. After that one month stay, I Immediately started reaching out to people in a different way.†CIP was established by UPS in the late 1960s to help open the eyes of the company’s predominantly white managers to the poverty and inequality in many cities. Today, the program takes 50 of the company’s most promising executives each summer and brings them to cities around the country.There they deal with a variety of problems from transportation to housing, education, and health care. The company’s goal is to awaken these managers to the challenges that many of their employees face, bridging the cultural divide that separates a white manager from an African American driver or an upper-income suburbanite from a worker raised in the rural South.1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Do you think individuals can lea rn empathy from something like a 1-month CIP experience? Explain why or why not.2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   How could UPS’s CIP help the organization better manage work life conflicts?3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   How could UPS’s CIP help the Organization improve its response to diversity?4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   What negatives, if any can you envision resulting from CIP?5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   UPS has 2,400 managers. CIP includes only 50 each year. How can the program make a difference if it include only 2 percent of all managers? Does this suggest that the program is more public relations than management training?6.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   How can UPS justify the cost of a program like CIP if competitors like FedEx, DHL, and the U.S. Postal Service don’t offer such programs? Does the program increase costs or reduce UPS profits?   

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Buyer Power of Coffee Industry Essay

Buyer bargaining power refers to the pressure consumers can place on the industry, influencing companies to provide better products, service, and lower prices. One determinant of bargaining power is the number of buyer available. For the US coffee and snack industry, the large number of buyers is a big advantage. According to National Coffee Association, 54% of American adults drink coffee. Another key driver that gives buyers leverage is if they can do without the product for long durations. If so, the seller incurs losses when customers discontinue use of the product over long periods. However, coffee drinkers are high frequency buyers, purchasing the drink multiple times throughout the week, if not more often. To these people, coffee has become an integral part of their everyday lives. Because they cannot do without coffee, coffee shops can depend on repeat customers. Switching costs are another element to consider when gauging buyer bargaining. If switching costs are high, buyers are least likely to change over to a competing product. Unfortunately for the US coffee and snack industries, there are absolutely zero costs associated with changing to a different product. Similarly, no cost is incurring when switching to another company. Thus, this makes coffee shops have to constantly improve their product lines, drive down costs, improve service, and other aspects to keep customers choosing their shops over someone else’s. The buyer’s per capita consumption also players a role in determining attractiveness of an industry. During recessions, disposable income generally becomes lower and spending of consumption is cut. When consumer spending is lower, people are less likely to spend on snacks and coffee. Overall, due to the high number of users and the high volume of purchases, from the buyer perspective the coffee and snack industry can be considered attractive.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Pro Forma Definition - Economics

Pro Forma Definition - Economics Pro forma, originates as a Latin phrase which, literally translated, means something like for the sake of form. It is often used for specific purposes in economics and finance.   Our Ambivalence About the Phrase in Finance The briefest perusal of some dictionary definitions begins to express our ambivalence about the use of the term in economics and especially in finance. Some online dictionaries give relatively neutral definitions that adhere closely to the phrases Latin origins, such as according to form, as a matter of form, and for the sake of form. Other dictionary definitions begin to express more complex assessments of the meaning of the phrase, Merriam-Websters, for example: done or existing as something that is usual or required but that has little true meaning or importance  (emphasis added). Its not a far reach from little true meaning to not meaningful at all and potentially deceptive. Legitimate Instances of Pro Forma In reality, the greater number of uses of pro forma documents in finance are not deceptive at all; they serve a valuable purpose.  One such use, one that occurs frequently, has to do with financial statements. In most circumstances, a financial statement  reflects reality. In some circumstances, a financial statement that does not do so could be considered (in ascending order of wrongness): valueless, misleading or evidence of criminal misrepresentation. But a pro forma financial statement is (usually) a legitimate exception to that rule. Instead of answering the question What is the state of the balance sheet? or how much money did the enterprise earn in a given time period, a question answered by the income  statement, a pro forma balance sheet and income statement answers the question What would happen if...? Heres a good example: The corporation has earnings for the past year of $10M, with expenses of $7.5M. These are figures you might find in the income statement. But, executives wonder, what would be the effect of introducing a new product line (which would sharply ramp up expenses)? You would expect that in the shortest term, before the revenues from the new product line were realized, that profits would diminish considerably and that  revenues would go up very little. Youd also expect that over time the additional revenue from the new product line would more than pay for the increased expenses, and that the business would be more profitable. But, is that really true? At the point of youd expect... this is just a guess. How can you know, if not for sure, but at least with some   increased confidence that increased profitability will result?  Thats where pro forma financial documents come into play. A pro forma set of financial documents will refer to past performance as a guide to project would would likely happen in the future if we make a similar introduction. It answers the question What if...   When the company introduced a past product, the MicroWidget, operating costs rose X percent in the following three quarters, but in the fourth quarter increased revenue from the MicroWidget more than made up for the increased operating cost expense and net profit actually rose 14 percent year over year.   The pro forma balance sheets, income statements and statements of cash flows show what might happen if a new MacroWidget product is introduced, based on the data available. Pro Forma Statements vs. Certainty Note that a pro forma financial statement does not express certainty. It expresses what, with the data available, business leadership and accountancy professionals believe  is likely to happen. Often it does, and sometimes it does not. Nevertheless, pro forma statements serve a valuable purpose by introducing data that supports (or does not support) the original intuition that, for example, adding a MacroWidget to the product line is a good idea. It does so by quantifying the probable results based on past performance. The pro forma balance sheets, income statements  and, importantly, statements of cash flows give business executives a better idea of what will happen if.... The Downside of Pro Forma Statements The general intent of pro forma financial statements, to answer the question what will happen if... can be abused. In the notorious Enron collapse,  pro forma statements played an important part. Arthur Andersen Enrons auditors, it became clear in retrospect, were too close to the company to deliver reliable financial statements to financial markets. This was particularly true of the pro forma statements that projected a rosy future for Enron and purportedly were based on reasonable assumptions.    They utterly failed to predict what became instead a total collapse that sent Enron executives  to jail, ended the Arthur Andersen company and culminated in a prolonged and messy Enron bankruptcy in which stockholders and others lost hundreds of millions of dollars. Absent criminal intent, data that already exist are reliably what they propose. Data that are projections based on assumptions which is the essence of a pro forma statement are inevitably and categorically more subjective. In short, they are useful financial tools that are particularly easy to abuse. You shouldnt avoid using them, but you need to exercise caution. Books on Pro Forma Profits You Can Trust: Spotting and Surviving Accounting LandminesHow Companies Lie: Why Enron Is Just the Tip of the IcebergThe Valuation of Technology: Business and Financial Issues in RD Journal Articles on Pro Forma Assessing the relative informativeness and permanence of pro forma earnings and GAAP operating earningsThe Predictive Value of Expenses Excluded from Pro Forma EarningsAre Investors Misled by Pro Forma Earnings?

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

How to Say Thank You in Japanese by Using Arigatou

How to Say 'Thank You' in Japanese by Using 'Arigatou' If you are in Japan, you will probably hear the word arigatou (㠁‚り㠁Å'㠁 ¨Ã£ â€ ) used on a regular basis. It is an informal way of saying thank you. But it can also be used in conjunction with other words to say thank you in Japanese in more formal settings, such as an office or a shop or anywhere where manners matter. Common Ways of SayingThank You There are two common ways of saying thank you formally: arigatou gozaimasu and arigatou gozaimashita. You would use the first phrase in a setting like an office when addressing a social superior. For example, if your boss brings you a cup of coffee or offers praise for a presentation you gave, youd thank her by saying, arigatou  gozaimasu. Written out, it looks like this:  Ã£ â€šÃ£â€šÅ Ã£ Å'㠁 ¨Ã£ â€ Ã£ â€Ã£ â€"㠁„㠁 ¾Ã£ â„¢. You can also use this phrase in less formal settings as a more general expression of thanks, either for something someone has done or will do for you.    The second phrase is used to thank someone for a service, transaction, or something that someone has done for you. For example, after a clerk has wrapped and bagged your purchase, you would thank him by saying arigatou  gozaimashita. Written out, it looks like this: 㠁‚り㠁Å'㠁 ¨Ã£ â€ Ã£ â€Ã£ â€"㠁„㠁 ¾Ã£ â€"㠁Ÿ. Grammatically, the difference between the two phrases is in the tense. In Japanese, the past tense is indicated by adding mashita to the end of a verb. For example, ikimasu (è ¡Å'㠁 Ã£  ¾Ã£ â„¢ ) is the present tense of the verb to go, while ikimashita (è ¡Å'㠁 Ã£  ¾Ã£ â€"㠁Ÿ) is the past tense.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

International Business Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

International Business - Research Paper Example The interviewer should not mind not being entertained with a hand-shake from a Saudi official of the opposite sex, and ideally, not offer a hand-shake to a Saudi official of the opposite sex in the first place. Gift-giving is not a norm though something small as a gift is recommendable. Saudi men do not like being gifted flowers, as they are deemed suitable for gifting to women. One should refrain from offering alcohol to Saudi officials unless one is sure that they partake. Saudi officials do not open gifts in front of the giver. When invited for an interview, it is more recommendable to arrange a nice Arabian feast rather than a gift. Suitable places for socialization with Saudis are international hotels and restaurants. Saudis choose restaurants and hotels for interviews particularly with expatriates that are unfamiliar to them. Once association is developed with them, Saudis may offer an invitation of a visit to their homes. However, an international hotel is never a wrong choice while selecting location for interview with Saudi officials. If an interview is arranged at the home of a Saudi official, the interviewer is expected to remove the shoes at the entrance and he/she should be dressed conservatively. While Saudi officials appreciate punctuality, being a little late does not jeopardize the interview. Elder Saudi officials expect to be greeted first. It is recommendable for the interviewer to accept the offer of dates and Arabian coffee by the interviewee even if the interviewer normally does not drink coffee. If invited for a meal, the interviewer should expect a lot of socializing and discussion before the meal is actually served. However, there is very little, if any, talking during eating. Although many Saudi officials serve the meal on a dining table, yet the interviewer should not be surprised if the meal is placed on a sheet laid on the floor. In such a setting, the interviewer should either kneel on one knee or sit cross-legged. Most

Friday, November 1, 2019

Anthropology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 10

Anthropology - Essay Example Her suggestion of economic localization is ideal because it can reduce people to depend on other countries and make them more engaging and produce products which are of cultural value and importance. It can also prosper the local economy and make people more productive .According to ( Norberg) â€Å"Producers and consumers were closely linked in a community-based economy†. Also urban gardens are vital to the ecological environment as it allows enrichment of nature. Local food movement is essential as it encourages people to stand for themselves and it can increase bio – diversity .World need to grow locally and need to create unique identity of their culture and community. The two group of people mentioned by author as Tibetan farmers and Amazon tribal can be benefited from these strategies. Tibetan farmers can be encouraged to engage in more of live stock farming as it could enhance their prosperity and also avail them with meat and milk which is a main part of their diet. Amazon tribes can be prompted to indulge in agriculture of cereals and vegetables which suit their geographical nature and it can give them abundant food source and income too. Hodge, Helena N. "Globalisation versus Community." http://www.localfutures.org. ISEC, 2014. Web. 28 Feb. 2014.