Constructing an Inductive Theory in Sociology

Building an Inductive Theory in Sociology There are two ways to deal with developing a hypothesis: inductive hypothesis development and deductive hypothesis development. Inductive hypothesis development happens during inductive exploration in which the analyst initially watches parts of public activity and afterward tries to find designs that may highlight generally all inclusive standards. Field research, in which the analyst watches the occasions as they occur, is regularly used to create inductive speculations. Erving Goffman is one social researcher that is known for utilizing field exploration to reveal rules of numerous differing practices, remembering living for a psychological foundation and dealing with the â€Å"spoiled identity† of being distorted. His examination is an incredible case of utilizing field research as a wellspring of inductive hypothesis development, which is additionally ordinarily alluded to as grounded hypothesis. Building up an inductive, or grounded, hypothesis by and large follows the accompanying advances: Exploration configuration: Define your examination questions and the fundamental ideas and factors involved.Data assortment: Collect information for your investigation utilizing any of the different strategies (field research, interviews, overviews, etc.)Data requesting: Arrange your information sequentially to encourage simpler information examination and assessment of processes.Data examination: Analyze your information utilizing techniques for your deciding to search for examples, associations, and critical findings.Theory development: Using the examples and discoveries from your information investigation, build up a hypothesis about what you discovered.Literature correlation: Compare your rising hypothesis with the current writing. Are there clashing systems, comparable structures, and so on.? References Babbie, E. (2001). The Practice of Social Research: ninth Edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Thomson.

To-Be Process Flowchart and Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

To-Be Process Flowchart and Paper - Essay Example Brain Tools (1996-2015) discusses the impacts of waste comparable to cost. From this site it is attested that Squander costs you and your customer’s cash, which is a ramifications that is nothing is done about it soon enough then the buyers should think about finding a vastly improved spot. Anything increasing the value of the last item can be named as waste. Brain Tools (1996-2015) proceeds to show the absolute most basic squanders in associations (organizations) that wind up expanding the creation costs without any justifiable cause. They incorporate; overproduction, pausing, wasteful transportation of materials, over-handling, and creation botches/deserts, and wasteful utilization of laborers. Everything is these can achieve pointless costs in the creation procedure and that discloses why the to-be process centers around offering tenable plans to the Boeing Company to assist it with disposing of waste and limit creation costs over the long haul. Let us take for example transportation in the Boeing Company. The organization needs to execute the to-be process viably so as to deal with the way in which it ship its items. This will enable the organization to decide if its way of transportation is productive or not. Wasteful transportation for this situation implies the organization is plausible moving creation materials increasingly visit that the materials are being utilized maybe because of dread of fatigue. This could likewise prompt another waste issue as harm of the materials because of absence of appropriate stockpiling and at long last more will have been spent because of lack of foresight. Hence, overseeing squanders is tantamount to overseeing costs. This would then be able to be accomplished by first recognizing the waste, examining it to discover the underlying driver, and afterward settling the main driver. This cycle goes on and it is along these lines basic to recognize that the to-be process for the Boeing Company is fitting as it contains the as-is process flowchart which is

How to Brainstorm Effectively - Focus

How to Brainstorm Effectively - Focus The ability to generate ideas â€" and implement them efficiently â€" is crucial for the long-term success of businesses, yet few take the time to create a culture that truly fosters creativity and innovation. The first step to establishing such a culture within a professional environment is to learn how to brainstorm effectively. But, before exploring ways in which you can facilitate the perfect brainstorming session, let’s take a quick look at the origin of this popular technique.  Brainstorming originated as a solution to a problem we are all familiar with â€" how do you come up with a unique, novel idea within the context of a professional environment? Advertising executive Alex Osborn felt that the traditional meeting environment suppressed the free flow of original ideas, so, he came up with a strategy that would involve adhering to a set of rules. This would be the catalyst needed in order to create a space where creativity could flourish. This strategy would later become known as brainstorming. Osborns rules restricted judgment, encouraged a high quantity of suggestions, sought collaboration and celebrated bold proposals. While his rules remain at the heart of modern brainstorming, these values have evolved into a variety of techniques and methods. The goal of brainstorming â€" creativity â€" has remained unchanged, but further refinement over the years has allowed businesses to approach the practice from many angles and for a range of purposes. Weve created a guide that includes the six most effective brainstorming techniques, along with practical examples, to equip you for organizing a brainstorming session that can yield the best results. 1. Clarify the Goal Before brainstorming, it’s good to set the focus of the session. Preparation can make sure everyone is on the same wavelength. Whats the ultimate objective of the meeting? Are you developing real solutions for company problems? Setting the focus of the session is simple. As simple as writing a short brief. For instance, if your company is releasing a product later in the year, your brief could be about crafting a memorable, creative strapline. Clarifying your goal in the beginning allows you to track and measure the results afterward. Did you reach your goals? Did you accomplish what you set out to? Then, make sure you post the brief in an accessible place so that everyone can reference it. That gives all team members a reference point and acts as a reminder of the session’s purpose. That way, you can also ensure no one veers off course. Keeping on task is another obstacle you might face, but using an external facilitator or moderator will make sure your group reaches its goals and achieves what it set out to achieve. Look for someone who has experience in facilitating brainstorming sessions. Someone who can trigger productive discussions, steer the group toward a high volume of ideas, in a criticism-free zone. 2. Loosen Up Think of all those times you’ve attended a meeting where the same, predictable course of action has been suggested again and again. Staying in your comfort zone gets in the way of brainstorming. Everyone has the ability to think creatively under the right circumstances. In order to brainstorm successfully, get everyone to loosen up, feel inspired so that the process can take off. So, how do you get a group of colleagues, who only know each other in a professional setting, to loosen up? How can your team prevent corporate protocol from holding them back from exceptional ideas? According to a study from Northwestern, an embarrassing tale is the icebreaker you need. In the experiment, instead of the traditional “I am so-and-so…” introduction, individuals were encouraged to share an embarrassing moment with the group. Afterward, the groups brainstormed. Blush-worthy stories managed to get participants to drop their guards, and this led to 26 percent more ideas than usual. Plus, the range of ideas was broader than usual, with 15 percent more areas of discussion. So, a little uneasiness at the start can help people loosen up and generate an atmosphere where unique thinking can thrive. Start sessions off with unexpected activities to trigger out-of-the-box thinking. 3. Embrace Collaboration Many believe that brainstorming as a group is less productive than as an individual. That’s because group settings have the potential to become chaotic, and, offer spotlight to only the most outspoken members. While there are benefits to separating people, the team dynamic can thrive through collaboration.  Also, building on one anothers ideas can lead to unique results and foster company cohesiveness. But how do you get all individuals to collaborate? Try using good old-fashioned pen and paper. Putting ideas on paper gives everyone an equal opportunity to collaborate, and this can change the success level of the session. Researchers examined this by looking at the order of brainstorming through group and individual writing. One group passed around slips of paper and built ideas together, while the other jotted down their own ideas first. The group that generated ideas together produced a whopping 37 percent more ideas. The results of this study display how collaboration can be profitable when each member of the group has an equal say. You can use a method like this too. Establish equality by facilitating a session where everyone can write down their ideas separately and then discuss them together.   4. Use Limitations It may seem counterintuitive to create a free-flowing environment that fosters creativity and then say, “Wait! Add constraints.” But, restrictions can actually increase creativity and serve as a healthy incentive for inspiration. Set deadlines for your team to finish collecting ideas for instance. Many artistic geniuses and innovators appreciate restrictions in their creative work process. Architect Frank Gehry, who constructed the Guggenheim Museum, let limitations provoke him to craft masterpieces. In the same way, appropriate boundaries can instigate ideas. You could set a time limit for your brainstorm session the pressure will certainly motivate any team  into using imaginative thinking. Time-tracking software like Toggl can provide a helpful boundary for your team and enhance online collaboration sessions. 5. Value Diversity and Individual Input Whilst brainstorming, be sure to prioritize individual perspectives so that you can reap the benefits of divergent thinking. Your biggest assets at a brainstorming session are the minds that are sitting with you. Each persons experience, worldview and background allows them to address a puzzle from a different angle. Fresh ideas from different outlooks, personalities and specialty areas can keep your team from chiming in, Someone else already said my answer. You also have a greater chance of gaining original insight when you value multiple points of view. So, valuing diversity and divergent thinking can yield a wide array of potential solutions. One way to highlight individual thought is through a question-generating technique called framestorming. First, everyone hears a problem that would require a solution. Everyone is then divided into smaller groups. These groups are tasked to come up with questions about the problem (one person records). Each group then finalizes their questions. Next, everyone agrees on the top three questions from the list. The process is complete after a reflection period, and the questions then become actionable projects. 6. Map out Your Ideas Creating a summary of sessions creative outputs and team suggestions makes it easier to spot promising ideas. Actually visually mapping out information can highlight the connection between thoughts and direct your next steps. But how exactly is a visual summary of the session useful? Well, the human retina transmits data at approximately 10 million bits per second, meaning that people receive information by sight quickly. Once data is in a conveyable form, it can lead to decision-making. A strategy called data visualization links separate ideas in a big-picture format. Also, creating a visual record of the session can help you store and manage ideas. If you use a systematic and organized method, you can easily return to these results later. A mind map is the ideal tool to do this because it offers a visual summary. Mind-mapping software can piece together distinct thoughts for your group to observe and build upon.   Facilitate a Profitable Brainstorming Session Nurturing creative thinking is a complex process, but you can stimulate your team by valuing individuals and embracing collaboration. All in all, the key to organizing an effective brainstorming session within a professional environment is to be prepared! Setting your goal for the session helps with your preparation. Make sure that everyone loosens up and use limitations for that added extra little challenge.  Keep a record by mapping out your ideas. And remember, brainstorming is an effective technique to develop ideas, so always keep the environment and atmosphere light-hearted and non-judgmental, that way you ensure the most creative outcome. Unlock your creativity with online mind mapping! Try MindMeister How to Brainstorm Effectively - Focus The ability to generate ideas â€" and implement them efficiently â€" is crucial for the long-term success of businesses, yet few take the time to create a culture that truly fosters creativity and innovation. The first step to establishing such a culture within a professional environment is to learn how to brainstorm effectively. But, before exploring ways in which you can facilitate the perfect brainstorming session, let’s take a quick look at the origin of this popular technique.  Brainstorming originated as a solution to a problem we are all familiar with â€" how do you come up with a unique, novel idea within the context of a professional environment? Advertising executive Alex Osborn felt that the traditional meeting environment suppressed the free flow of original ideas, so, he came up with a strategy that would involve adhering to a set of rules. This would be the catalyst needed in order to create a space where creativity could flourish. This strategy would later become known as brainstorming. Osborns rules restricted judgment, encouraged a high quantity of suggestions, sought collaboration and celebrated bold proposals. While his rules remain at the heart of modern brainstorming, these values have evolved into a variety of techniques and methods. The goal of brainstorming â€" creativity â€" has remained unchanged, but further refinement over the years has allowed businesses to approach the practice from many angles and for a range of purposes. Weve created a guide that includes the six most effective brainstorming techniques, along with practical examples, to equip you for organizing a brainstorming session that can yield the best results. 1. Clarify the Goal Before brainstorming, it’s good to set the focus of the session. Preparation can make sure everyone is on the same wavelength. Whats the ultimate objective of the meeting? Are you developing real solutions for company problems? Setting the focus of the session is simple. As simple as writing a short brief. For instance, if your company is releasing a product later in the year, your brief could be about crafting a memorable, creative strapline. Clarifying your goal in the beginning allows you to track and measure the results afterward. Did you reach your goals? Did you accomplish what you set out to? Then, make sure you post the brief in an accessible place so that everyone can reference it. That gives all team members a reference point and acts as a reminder of the session’s purpose. That way, you can also ensure no one veers off course. Keeping on task is another obstacle you might face, but using an external facilitator or moderator will make sure your group reaches its goals and achieves what it set out to achieve. Look for someone who has experience in facilitating brainstorming sessions. Someone who can trigger productive discussions, steer the group toward a high volume of ideas, in a criticism-free zone. 2. Loosen Up Think of all those times you’ve attended a meeting where the same, predictable course of action has been suggested again and again. Staying in your comfort zone gets in the way of brainstorming. Everyone has the ability to think creatively under the right circumstances. In order to brainstorm successfully, get everyone to loosen up, feel inspired so that the process can take off. So, how do you get a group of colleagues, who only know each other in a professional setting, to loosen up? How can your team prevent corporate protocol from holding them back from exceptional ideas? According to a study from Northwestern, an embarrassing tale is the icebreaker you need. In the experiment, instead of the traditional “I am so-and-so…” introduction, individuals were encouraged to share an embarrassing moment with the group. Afterward, the groups brainstormed. Blush-worthy stories managed to get participants to drop their guards, and this led to 26 percent more ideas than usual. Plus, the range of ideas was broader than usual, with 15 percent more areas of discussion. So, a little uneasiness at the start can help people loosen up and generate an atmosphere where unique thinking can thrive. Start sessions off with unexpected activities to trigger out-of-the-box thinking. 3. Embrace Collaboration Many believe that brainstorming as a group is less productive than as an individual. That’s because group settings have the potential to become chaotic, and, offer spotlight to only the most outspoken members. While there are benefits to separating people, the team dynamic can thrive through collaboration.  Also, building on one anothers ideas can lead to unique results and foster company cohesiveness. But how do you get all individuals to collaborate? Try using good old-fashioned pen and paper. Putting ideas on paper gives everyone an equal opportunity to collaborate, and this can change the success level of the session. Researchers examined this by looking at the order of brainstorming through group and individual writing. One group passed around slips of paper and built ideas together, while the other jotted down their own ideas first. The group that generated ideas together produced a whopping 37 percent more ideas. The results of this study display how collaboration can be profitable when each member of the group has an equal say. You can use a method like this too. Establish equality by facilitating a session where everyone can write down their ideas separately and then discuss them together.   4. Use Limitations It may seem counterintuitive to create a free-flowing environment that fosters creativity and then say, “Wait! Add constraints.” But, restrictions can actually increase creativity and serve as a healthy incentive for inspiration. Set deadlines for your team to finish collecting ideas for instance. Many artistic geniuses and innovators appreciate restrictions in their creative work process. Architect Frank Gehry, who constructed the Guggenheim Museum, let limitations provoke him to craft masterpieces. In the same way, appropriate boundaries can instigate ideas. You could set a time limit for your brainstorm session the pressure will certainly motivate any team  into using imaginative thinking. Time-tracking software like Toggl can provide a helpful boundary for your team and enhance online collaboration sessions. 5. Value Diversity and Individual Input Whilst brainstorming, be sure to prioritize individual perspectives so that you can reap the benefits of divergent thinking. Your biggest assets at a brainstorming session are the minds that are sitting with you. Each persons experience, worldview and background allows them to address a puzzle from a different angle. Fresh ideas from different outlooks, personalities and specialty areas can keep your team from chiming in, Someone else already said my answer. You also have a greater chance of gaining original insight when you value multiple points of view. So, valuing diversity and divergent thinking can yield a wide array of potential solutions. One way to highlight individual thought is through a question-generating technique called framestorming. First, everyone hears a problem that would require a solution. Everyone is then divided into smaller groups. These groups are tasked to come up with questions about the problem (one person records). Each group then finalizes their questions. Next, everyone agrees on the top three questions from the list. The process is complete after a reflection period, and the questions then become actionable projects. 6. Map out Your Ideas Creating a summary of sessions creative outputs and team suggestions makes it easier to spot promising ideas. Actually visually mapping out information can highlight the connection between thoughts and direct your next steps. But how exactly is a visual summary of the session useful? Well, the human retina transmits data at approximately 10 million bits per second, meaning that people receive information by sight quickly. Once data is in a conveyable form, it can lead to decision-making. A strategy called data visualization links separate ideas in a big-picture format. Also, creating a visual record of the session can help you store and manage ideas. If you use a systematic and organized method, you can easily return to these results later. A mind map is the ideal tool to do this because it offers a visual summary. Mind-mapping software can piece together distinct thoughts for your group to observe and build upon.   Facilitate a Profitable Brainstorming Session Nurturing creative thinking is a complex process, but you can stimulate your team by valuing individuals and embracing collaboration. All in all, the key to organizing an effective brainstorming session within a professional environment is to be prepared! Setting your goal for the session helps with your preparation. Make sure that everyone loosens up and use limitations for that added extra little challenge.  Keep a record by mapping out your ideas. And remember, brainstorming is an effective technique to develop ideas, so always keep the environment and atmosphere light-hearted and non-judgmental, that way you ensure the most creative outcome. Unlock your creativity with online mind mapping! Try MindMeister

How to Brainstorm Effectively - Focus

How to Brainstorm Effectively - Focus The ability to generate ideas â€" and implement them efficiently â€" is crucial for the long-term success of businesses, yet few take the time to create a culture that truly fosters creativity and innovation. The first step to establishing such a culture within a professional environment is to learn how to brainstorm effectively. But, before exploring ways in which you can facilitate the perfect brainstorming session, let’s take a quick look at the origin of this popular technique.  Brainstorming originated as a solution to a problem we are all familiar with â€" how do you come up with a unique, novel idea within the context of a professional environment? Advertising executive Alex Osborn felt that the traditional meeting environment suppressed the free flow of original ideas, so, he came up with a strategy that would involve adhering to a set of rules. This would be the catalyst needed in order to create a space where creativity could flourish. This strategy would later become known as brainstorming. Osborns rules restricted judgment, encouraged a high quantity of suggestions, sought collaboration and celebrated bold proposals. While his rules remain at the heart of modern brainstorming, these values have evolved into a variety of techniques and methods. The goal of brainstorming â€" creativity â€" has remained unchanged, but further refinement over the years has allowed businesses to approach the practice from many angles and for a range of purposes. Weve created a guide that includes the six most effective brainstorming techniques, along with practical examples, to equip you for organizing a brainstorming session that can yield the best results. 1. Clarify the Goal Before brainstorming, it’s good to set the focus of the session. Preparation can make sure everyone is on the same wavelength. Whats the ultimate objective of the meeting? Are you developing real solutions for company problems? Setting the focus of the session is simple. As simple as writing a short brief. For instance, if your company is releasing a product later in the year, your brief could be about crafting a memorable, creative strapline. Clarifying your goal in the beginning allows you to track and measure the results afterward. Did you reach your goals? Did you accomplish what you set out to? Then, make sure you post the brief in an accessible place so that everyone can reference it. That gives all team members a reference point and acts as a reminder of the session’s purpose. That way, you can also ensure no one veers off course. Keeping on task is another obstacle you might face, but using an external facilitator or moderator will make sure your group reaches its goals and achieves what it set out to achieve. Look for someone who has experience in facilitating brainstorming sessions. Someone who can trigger productive discussions, steer the group toward a high volume of ideas, in a criticism-free zone. 2. Loosen Up Think of all those times you’ve attended a meeting where the same, predictable course of action has been suggested again and again. Staying in your comfort zone gets in the way of brainstorming. Everyone has the ability to think creatively under the right circumstances. In order to brainstorm successfully, get everyone to loosen up, feel inspired so that the process can take off. So, how do you get a group of colleagues, who only know each other in a professional setting, to loosen up? How can your team prevent corporate protocol from holding them back from exceptional ideas? According to a study from Northwestern, an embarrassing tale is the icebreaker you need. In the experiment, instead of the traditional “I am so-and-so…” introduction, individuals were encouraged to share an embarrassing moment with the group. Afterward, the groups brainstormed. Blush-worthy stories managed to get participants to drop their guards, and this led to 26 percent more ideas than usual. Plus, the range of ideas was broader than usual, with 15 percent more areas of discussion. So, a little uneasiness at the start can help people loosen up and generate an atmosphere where unique thinking can thrive. Start sessions off with unexpected activities to trigger out-of-the-box thinking. 3. Embrace Collaboration Many believe that brainstorming as a group is less productive than as an individual. That’s because group settings have the potential to become chaotic, and, offer spotlight to only the most outspoken members. While there are benefits to separating people, the team dynamic can thrive through collaboration.  Also, building on one anothers ideas can lead to unique results and foster company cohesiveness. But how do you get all individuals to collaborate? Try using good old-fashioned pen and paper. Putting ideas on paper gives everyone an equal opportunity to collaborate, and this can change the success level of the session. Researchers examined this by looking at the order of brainstorming through group and individual writing. One group passed around slips of paper and built ideas together, while the other jotted down their own ideas first. The group that generated ideas together produced a whopping 37 percent more ideas. The results of this study display how collaboration can be profitable when each member of the group has an equal say. You can use a method like this too. Establish equality by facilitating a session where everyone can write down their ideas separately and then discuss them together.   4. Use Limitations It may seem counterintuitive to create a free-flowing environment that fosters creativity and then say, “Wait! Add constraints.” But, restrictions can actually increase creativity and serve as a healthy incentive for inspiration. Set deadlines for your team to finish collecting ideas for instance. Many artistic geniuses and innovators appreciate restrictions in their creative work process. Architect Frank Gehry, who constructed the Guggenheim Museum, let limitations provoke him to craft masterpieces. In the same way, appropriate boundaries can instigate ideas. You could set a time limit for your brainstorm session the pressure will certainly motivate any team  into using imaginative thinking. Time-tracking software like Toggl can provide a helpful boundary for your team and enhance online collaboration sessions. 5. Value Diversity and Individual Input Whilst brainstorming, be sure to prioritize individual perspectives so that you can reap the benefits of divergent thinking. Your biggest assets at a brainstorming session are the minds that are sitting with you. Each persons experience, worldview and background allows them to address a puzzle from a different angle. Fresh ideas from different outlooks, personalities and specialty areas can keep your team from chiming in, Someone else already said my answer. You also have a greater chance of gaining original insight when you value multiple points of view. So, valuing diversity and divergent thinking can yield a wide array of potential solutions. One way to highlight individual thought is through a question-generating technique called framestorming. First, everyone hears a problem that would require a solution. Everyone is then divided into smaller groups. These groups are tasked to come up with questions about the problem (one person records). Each group then finalizes their questions. Next, everyone agrees on the top three questions from the list. The process is complete after a reflection period, and the questions then become actionable projects. 6. Map out Your Ideas Creating a summary of sessions creative outputs and team suggestions makes it easier to spot promising ideas. Actually visually mapping out information can highlight the connection between thoughts and direct your next steps. But how exactly is a visual summary of the session useful? Well, the human retina transmits data at approximately 10 million bits per second, meaning that people receive information by sight quickly. Once data is in a conveyable form, it can lead to decision-making. A strategy called data visualization links separate ideas in a big-picture format. Also, creating a visual record of the session can help you store and manage ideas. If you use a systematic and organized method, you can easily return to these results later. A mind map is the ideal tool to do this because it offers a visual summary. Mind-mapping software can piece together distinct thoughts for your group to observe and build upon.   Facilitate a Profitable Brainstorming Session Nurturing creative thinking is a complex process, but you can stimulate your team by valuing individuals and embracing collaboration. All in all, the key to organizing an effective brainstorming session within a professional environment is to be prepared! Setting your goal for the session helps with your preparation. Make sure that everyone loosens up and use limitations for that added extra little challenge.  Keep a record by mapping out your ideas. And remember, brainstorming is an effective technique to develop ideas, so always keep the environment and atmosphere light-hearted and non-judgmental, that way you ensure the most creative outcome. Unlock your creativity with online mind mapping! Try MindMeister How to Brainstorm Effectively - Focus The ability to generate ideas â€" and implement them efficiently â€" is crucial for the long-term success of businesses, yet few take the time to create a culture that truly fosters creativity and innovation. The first step to establishing such a culture within a professional environment is to learn how to brainstorm effectively. But, before exploring ways in which you can facilitate the perfect brainstorming session, let’s take a quick look at the origin of this popular technique.  Brainstorming originated as a solution to a problem we are all familiar with â€" how do you come up with a unique, novel idea within the context of a professional environment? Advertising executive Alex Osborn felt that the traditional meeting environment suppressed the free flow of original ideas, so, he came up with a strategy that would involve adhering to a set of rules. This would be the catalyst needed in order to create a space where creativity could flourish. This strategy would later become known as brainstorming. Osborns rules restricted judgment, encouraged a high quantity of suggestions, sought collaboration and celebrated bold proposals. While his rules remain at the heart of modern brainstorming, these values have evolved into a variety of techniques and methods. The goal of brainstorming â€" creativity â€" has remained unchanged, but further refinement over the years has allowed businesses to approach the practice from many angles and for a range of purposes. Weve created a guide that includes the six most effective brainstorming techniques, along with practical examples, to equip you for organizing a brainstorming session that can yield the best results. 1. Clarify the Goal Before brainstorming, it’s good to set the focus of the session. Preparation can make sure everyone is on the same wavelength. Whats the ultimate objective of the meeting? Are you developing real solutions for company problems? Setting the focus of the session is simple. As simple as writing a short brief. For instance, if your company is releasing a product later in the year, your brief could be about crafting a memorable, creative strapline. Clarifying your goal in the beginning allows you to track and measure the results afterward. Did you reach your goals? Did you accomplish what you set out to? Then, make sure you post the brief in an accessible place so that everyone can reference it. That gives all team members a reference point and acts as a reminder of the session’s purpose. That way, you can also ensure no one veers off course. Keeping on task is another obstacle you might face, but using an external facilitator or moderator will make sure your group reaches its goals and achieves what it set out to achieve. Look for someone who has experience in facilitating brainstorming sessions. Someone who can trigger productive discussions, steer the group toward a high volume of ideas, in a criticism-free zone. 2. Loosen Up Think of all those times you’ve attended a meeting where the same, predictable course of action has been suggested again and again. Staying in your comfort zone gets in the way of brainstorming. Everyone has the ability to think creatively under the right circumstances. In order to brainstorm successfully, get everyone to loosen up, feel inspired so that the process can take off. So, how do you get a group of colleagues, who only know each other in a professional setting, to loosen up? How can your team prevent corporate protocol from holding them back from exceptional ideas? According to a study from Northwestern, an embarrassing tale is the icebreaker you need. In the experiment, instead of the traditional “I am so-and-so…” introduction, individuals were encouraged to share an embarrassing moment with the group. Afterward, the groups brainstormed. Blush-worthy stories managed to get participants to drop their guards, and this led to 26 percent more ideas than usual. Plus, the range of ideas was broader than usual, with 15 percent more areas of discussion. So, a little uneasiness at the start can help people loosen up and generate an atmosphere where unique thinking can thrive. Start sessions off with unexpected activities to trigger out-of-the-box thinking. 3. Embrace Collaboration Many believe that brainstorming as a group is less productive than as an individual. That’s because group settings have the potential to become chaotic, and, offer spotlight to only the most outspoken members. While there are benefits to separating people, the team dynamic can thrive through collaboration.  Also, building on one anothers ideas can lead to unique results and foster company cohesiveness. But how do you get all individuals to collaborate? Try using good old-fashioned pen and paper. Putting ideas on paper gives everyone an equal opportunity to collaborate, and this can change the success level of the session. Researchers examined this by looking at the order of brainstorming through group and individual writing. One group passed around slips of paper and built ideas together, while the other jotted down their own ideas first. The group that generated ideas together produced a whopping 37 percent more ideas. The results of this study display how collaboration can be profitable when each member of the group has an equal say. You can use a method like this too. Establish equality by facilitating a session where everyone can write down their ideas separately and then discuss them together.   4. Use Limitations It may seem counterintuitive to create a free-flowing environment that fosters creativity and then say, “Wait! Add constraints.” But, restrictions can actually increase creativity and serve as a healthy incentive for inspiration. Set deadlines for your team to finish collecting ideas for instance. Many artistic geniuses and innovators appreciate restrictions in their creative work process. Architect Frank Gehry, who constructed the Guggenheim Museum, let limitations provoke him to craft masterpieces. In the same way, appropriate boundaries can instigate ideas. You could set a time limit for your brainstorm session the pressure will certainly motivate any team  into using imaginative thinking. Time-tracking software like Toggl can provide a helpful boundary for your team and enhance online collaboration sessions. 5. Value Diversity and Individual Input Whilst brainstorming, be sure to prioritize individual perspectives so that you can reap the benefits of divergent thinking. Your biggest assets at a brainstorming session are the minds that are sitting with you. Each persons experience, worldview and background allows them to address a puzzle from a different angle. Fresh ideas from different outlooks, personalities and specialty areas can keep your team from chiming in, Someone else already said my answer. You also have a greater chance of gaining original insight when you value multiple points of view. So, valuing diversity and divergent thinking can yield a wide array of potential solutions. One way to highlight individual thought is through a question-generating technique called framestorming. First, everyone hears a problem that would require a solution. Everyone is then divided into smaller groups. These groups are tasked to come up with questions about the problem (one person records). Each group then finalizes their questions. Next, everyone agrees on the top three questions from the list. The process is complete after a reflection period, and the questions then become actionable projects. 6. Map out Your Ideas Creating a summary of sessions creative outputs and team suggestions makes it easier to spot promising ideas. Actually visually mapping out information can highlight the connection between thoughts and direct your next steps. But how exactly is a visual summary of the session useful? Well, the human retina transmits data at approximately 10 million bits per second, meaning that people receive information by sight quickly. Once data is in a conveyable form, it can lead to decision-making. A strategy called data visualization links separate ideas in a big-picture format. Also, creating a visual record of the session can help you store and manage ideas. If you use a systematic and organized method, you can easily return to these results later. A mind map is the ideal tool to do this because it offers a visual summary. Mind-mapping software can piece together distinct thoughts for your group to observe and build upon.   Facilitate a Profitable Brainstorming Session Nurturing creative thinking is a complex process, but you can stimulate your team by valuing individuals and embracing collaboration. All in all, the key to organizing an effective brainstorming session within a professional environment is to be prepared! Setting your goal for the session helps with your preparation. Make sure that everyone loosens up and use limitations for that added extra little challenge.  Keep a record by mapping out your ideas. And remember, brainstorming is an effective technique to develop ideas, so always keep the environment and atmosphere light-hearted and non-judgmental, that way you ensure the most creative outcome. Unlock your creativity with online mind mapping! Try MindMeister

Diction In Crime And Punishment, By Fyodor Dostoevsky

In the novel â€Å"Crime and Punishment†, the author, Fyodor Dostoevsky gives the reader a glimpse into the mind of a tormented criminal, by his guilt of a murder. Dostoevsky’s main focal point of the novel doesn’t lie within the crime nor the punishment but within the self-conflicting battle of a man and his guilty conscience. The author portrays tone by mood manipulation and with the use of descriptive diction to better express his perspective in the story, bringing the reader into the mind of the murderer. First, let me introduce you to the main character himself otherwise known as the murderer in this story. Raskolnikov is the main protagonist of the novel, making the story in his point of view. He is very alienated from society due to his†¦show more content†¦The mood of confusion due to the characters disorientation from his guilty conscious is what manipulates the tone. The mood and tone are also expressed during the state of agitation the charact er encounters when battling his conscious about committing the murder in the first place. Going back to the point of the characters un-confessed sin which is his main cause of his torture; there comes the moment of truth within the story. In the excerpt, the author says, â€Å"There had been little difficulty about his trial. The criminal adhered exactly, firmly, and clearly to his statement†¦ He explained every incident of the murder† (lines 4-6). This is the point in the story where Raskolnikov unleashes the demons in his mind and confesses to his sin. It’s shown here just how brutal the battle with his guilty conscious truly was, by Raskolnikov being pushed to a confession, stating the exact incidents and not missing a single detail, all while showing absolutely no remorse for himself. There is finally a sense of hope that is shown for the main character at the end of the excerpt when the author describes the moment in prison after his confession. When the auth or says â€Å"In prison, how it happened, he did not know. But all at once something seemed to seize him and fling him at her (Sonia’s) feet. He wept and threw his arms round her knees. They were both pale and thin; but those sick pale faces were bright with the dawn of a new future, of a fullShow MoreRelatedEssay on Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment1017 Words   |  5 PagesFyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novel â€Å"Crime and Punishment† brings the reader a glimpse into the mind of a criminal, tormented by the guilt of murder. Dostoevsky’s focal point of the novel does not lie within the crime nor the punishment but everything in between. Dostoevsky also vividly depicts the life and conditions of poverty within the confines of St. Petersburg. Dostoevsky uses a unique and descriptive diction which takes the reader’s perspective and putsRead MoreCrime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky Essay896 Words   |  4 PagesIn Fyodor Dostoevskys Crime and Punishment, the theme of duality and the conflict between personal desires and morals is present throughout much of the novel. There are dual conflicts: one external between a disillusioned individual and his world, and the other internal between an isolated soul and his inner thoughts. It is the internal conflict in the main character, Raskolnikov, that is the focused on for much of the novel. The first of Rodya’s two sides is his intellectual side. This side

Social and Formal Groups Comparison - 684 Words

Social and Formal Groups Comparison Debra Mallery SOC/120 - Sociology May 24, 2012 Kimberley Stephens Social and Formal Groups Comparison There are some obvious difference between a lady‘s church group and the local Ruritan. The first requirement in belong to a lady church group is you go to that church and you are a woman. The requirement to joining the local Ruritan is fist to live in the local area of the group. The next in joining the Ruritan is you have to fill out an application and it has to be approved by the board members then they say yes or no to you then the members of the Ruritan have to vote on you joining the group. The next main difference is most of the time a Ruritan group is made up of both men and women where†¦show more content†¦Yes they both help the community but the Ruritan runs more on rules and how others see them in the community. Another difference is most of the time you may communicate with the members in a lady’s group more than a Ruritan outside of a meeting. This is because women like talk more than men in most cases. Another difference is a lady’s group m ay be close to the members because they are more open to others then men. Many times men join a local Ruritan to help with some of the sporting activities. Here where I live our Ruritan also has horse shows to raise money for the community. The Ruritan group may be well known outside the community because of the work that they do helping others. One of the main reasons the media recognizes the Ruritan more than a lady’s group because they have more member active in the whole community instead just surrounding the church. When it come to the leadership of both of these have one main leader over the whole group. This person helps keeps the group working together toward the same goal of help the community. Social and Formal Groups Comparison That why you need one main person that has the final say on what they do in such who they decide to help in the community because you cannot help everyone even though they may need the help. Both are a good place together to know the people in your community in addition to helping others that may need some extraShow MoreRelatedComparing China And The United States1401 Words   |  6 Pagespolicies, principals, and culture perspectives. Cross-cultural studies allow a common view of the variations, elements, and aspects of the justice systems. This paper examines the comparison of the justice system in China and the United States. Exploring the ideas and views, which include the confidence in police, informal and formal crime control, and views on capital punishment. China and the United States can be considered comparable in different interpretations, views, and ideas. These cultures are bothRead MoreWhat Does Good / Bad Communication Look Like A Network?1137 Words   |  5 Pagesca nnot be used to understand the social nature of construction research. This research found that the quality of communication could be indicated by the advantages and damaging effects of factions. During phase 1 of the crisis management process, there was one faction which consists of the architect, engineer, contractor – quantity surveyor and contractor – site manager. It indicates that there was good communication across the consultant/ contractor division. In comparison, during phase 3 of the reactionRead MorePolice1142 Words   |  5 Pagesthe development of formal policing resulted from a process of three developmental stages. The first stage involves informal policing, where all members of a society share equally in the responsibility for providing protection and keeping order. The second stage, transitional policing, occurs when police functions are informally assigned to particular members of the society. This stage serves as a transition into formal policing, where specific members of the community assume formal responsibility forRead MoreAchieve a Level Four Performance in an Oral Exam Through the Formal Speech/the Oral Essay1002 Words   |  5 Pagesa Level Four Performance in an Oral Exam through the Formal Speech/the Oral Essay Part One Write an Effective Oral Essay/Formal Speech on a Comparative-Study Topic â€Å"The central idea, or thesis, is your essay’s life and spirit.† Sheridan Baker, The Practical Stylist Formal speeches are carefully scripted pieces of writing. A formal speech is essentially an oral essay. The conventions of the oral essay/the formal speech include the following: †¢ Purpose To persuadeRead MoreThe Three Levels Of Standardness In English1361 Words   |  6 PagesThe three levels of standardness in English are formal standard English, informal standard/mainstream English, and vernacular English (Wolfram Schilling, 2016). Based in written language, formal standard English is greatly enforced in formal institutions such as schools and is codified in English grammar texts. It is resistant to change and only used in formal written or spoken language (Wolfram Schilling, 2016). Informal standard English exists on a continuum in which speakers are judged toRead MoreDo Statutory Quotas An Assurance That Women?830 Words   |  4 Pagesparties in Catalonia, Spain, in an effort to understand the effects of gender quotas. Although there is a focus on gender quotas, which has resolved the unequal structural office distribution, they draw the conclusion that political quotas cannot defeat social constructs of power experienced by female elected officials and party members. The scholarship on gender quotas’ effectiveness in empowerment of women in politics is focused on â€Å"analyzing continuity and change in political recruitment processes†Read MoreEssay on Empirical Literature Article Review of Leadership Ethics1195 Words   |  5 PagesVigoda-Gadot, and Simcha Werner, and finally, â€Å" An Empirical Study of Leader Ethical Values, Transformational and Transactional Leadership, and Follower Attitudes Toward Corporate Social Responsibility† by Kevin Groves and Michael LaRocca comparisons will be made on the relevance and need for research purposes. In comparison, the authors of each study utilize ethical behaviors for the purpose of comparing relationships, perceptions, and beliefs associated with measures of ethical practice. FurthermoreRead MoreMarketing Analysis : Marketing And Sales Professionals900 Words   |  4 Pages Comparisons In this section I will take highlights from the CIW 2013 Report to compare and contrast my findings and conclusions from my interview and survey with my marketing professional with what the report found in regards to the Marketing field. - The marketing and sales professionals in our survey composed 12% of our database. More marketing professionals work in organizations with fewer than 50 employees than all of the other professions (38%). Marketers reported spending 41% of their timeRead MoreThe Japanese Criminal Justice System1203 Words   |  5 Pagesand practitioners either for the purpose of broadening their knowledge or to emulate its criminal justice system (Ebbe, 2000). The interest is based on statistical data that indicate low levels of criminality in the developed nation of Japan in comparison to others. From these statistics, it would imply that Japan’s way of dealing with crime is more effective in its prevention. While the statistic might be solid, the texts on the criminal system may be flawed by Orientalism (Adcock, 2008). That isRead MoreThe Role Of Psychological Assessment On Counseling And Clinical Practice1675 Words   |  7 PagesQUESTION NUMBER TWO Area of knowledge: Health Psychology QUESTION NUMBER TWO Assessment Discuss the role of psychological assessment in counseling or clinical practice. What are the strengths and weaknesses inherent in formal psychological testing? Why might you choose formal psychological testing techniques and for what types of clients? What limitations should be considered: Are there different considerations for objective and subjective assessment techniques? The Role of Psychological Assessment

Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee - 1335 Words

To Kill A Mockingbird follows Scout and Jem impacted by their father’s radical views in the 1930s. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is an iconic story with a great deal of dialogue. The dialogue and dialect in this story helps to reveal who the characters are. Dialect and dialogue in life help to create an image of a person as it does in fiction. Harper Lee uses dialogue and dialect to help bring her characters to life. Miss Maudie is depicted as selfless and educated. The same method also brings Calpurnia to life with the traits as accepting and protective. It also explores Atticus as wise and understanding man. Harper Lee develops Miss Maudie as a selfless educated woman through her dialogue and dialect. Miss Maudie faces her house being set aflame. Fire destroys her home and injures a neighbor Miss Maudie speaks with Scout and Jem about it. â€Å"‘Only thing I worried about last night was all the danger and commotion it caused. This whole neighborhood could have gone up. Mr. Avery’ll be in bed for a week - he’s right stove up’â€Å" (Lee 73). Miss Maudie has lost her home, a home she has lived in for years and she only cares about the danger and trouble it causes her neighbors. She choses to worry about them instead of pity herself in that moment. In another instance dialogue and dialect are used to develop Miss Maudie as a character. Scout asks Miss Maudie what her father means when he says â€Å"‘But remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird’†(Lee 90). Miss Maudie responds withShow MoreRelatedKill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee1049 Wo rds   |  5 PagesTo Kill a Mockingbird: How a Story could be based on True Events in Everyday LifeDaisy GaskinsCoastal Pines Technical Collegeâ€Æ'Harper Lee was born in Monroeville, Alabama. Her father was a former newspaper editor and proprietor, who had served as a state senator and practiced as a lawyer in Monroeville. Also Finch was known as the maiden name of Lee’s mother. With that being said Harper Lee became a writer like her father, but she became a American writer, famous for her race relations novel â€Å"ToRead MoreTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee1000 Words   |  4 Pagesworld-wide recognition to the many faces of prejudice is an accomplishment of its own. Author Harper Lee has had the honor to accomplish just that through her novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, a moving and inspirational story about a young girl learning the difference between the good and the bad of the world. In the small town of Monroeville, Alabama, Nelle Harper Lee was born on April 2 8, 1926. Growing up, Harper Lee had three siblings: two sisters and an older brother. She and her siblings grew up modestlyRead MoreKill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee873 Words   |  4 PagesIn the book, To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee illustrates that â€Å"it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird† throughout the novel by writing innocent characters that have been harmed by evil. Tom Robinson’s persecution is a symbol for the death of a mockingbird. The hunters shooting the bird would in this case be the Maycomb County folk. Lee sets the time in the story in the early 1950s, when the Great Depression was going on and there was poverty everywhere. The mindset of people back then was that blackRead MoreKill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee1290 Words   |  6 PagesHarper Lee published To Kill a Mockingbird during a rough period in American history, also known as the Civil Rights Movement. This plot dives into the social issues faced by African-Americans in the south, like T om Robinson. Lee felt that the unfair treatment towards blacks were persistent, not coming to an end any time in the foreseeable future. This dark movement drove her to publish this novel hopeful that it would encourage the society to realize that the harsh racism must stop. Lee effectivelyRead MoreHarper Lee and to Kill a Mockingbird931 Words   |  4 PagesHarper Lee and her Works Harper Lee knew first hand about the life in the south in the 1930s. She was born in Monroeville, Alabama in 1926 (Castleman 2). Harper Lee was described by one of her friends as Queen of the Tomboys (Castleman 3). Scout Finch, the main character of Lees Novel, To Kill a Mockinbird, was also a tomboy. Many aspects of To Kill a Mockingbird are autobiographical (Castleman 3). Harper Lees parents were Amasa Coleman Lee and Frances Finch Lee. She was the youngestRead MoreKill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee963 Words   |  4 Pagesgrowing up, when older characters give advice to children or siblings.Growing up is used frequently in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Harper Lee uses the theme growing up in To Kill a Mockingbird to change characters opinion, develop characters through their world, and utilizes prejudice to reveal growing up. One major cause growing up is used in To Kill a Mockingbird is to represent a change of opinion. One part growing up was shown in is through the trial in part two of the novelRead MoreKill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee1052 Words   |  5 PagesTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee takes place in Maycomb County, Alabama in the late 30s early 40s , after the great depression when poverty and unemployment were widespread throughout the United States. Why is the preconception of racism, discrimination, and antagonism so highly related to some of the characters in this book? People often have a preconceived idea or are biased about one’s decision to live, dress, or talk. Throughout To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee examines the preconceptionRead MoreKill A Mockingbird, By Harper Lee1197 Words   |  5 Pagessuch as crops, houses, and land, and money was awfully limited. These conflicts construct Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mocking Bird. In To Kill a Mocking Bird, Lee establ ishes the concurrence of good and evil, meaning whether people are naturally good or naturally evil. Lee uses symbolism, characterization, and plot to portray the instinctive of good and evil. To Kill a Mocking Bird, a novel by Harper Lee takes place during the 1930s in the Southern United States. The protagonist, Scout Finch,Read MoreKill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee1695 Words   |  7 PagesIn To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee presents as a ‘tired old town’ where the inhabitants have ‘nowhere to go’ it is set in the 1930s when prejudices and racism were at a peak. Lee uses Maycomb town to highlight prejudices, racism, poverty and social inequality. In chapter 2 Lee presents the town of Maycomb to be poverty stricken, emphasised through the characterisation of Walter Cunningham. When it is discovered he has no lunch on the first day of school, Scout tries to explain the situation to MissRead MoreKill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee1876 Words   |  8 PagesThough Harper Lee only published two novels, her accomplishments are abundant. Throughout her career Lee claimed: the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, Goodreads Choice Awards Best Fiction, and Quill Award for Audio Book. Lee was also inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. This honor society is a huge accomplishment and is considered the highest recognition for artistic talent and accomplishment in the United States. Along with these accomplishments, her

What Is True Beauty free essay sample

What is True Beauty? There are a thousand definitions of beauty. And there are many degrees of each. Beauty Is In the eye of the beholder. There Is sadness In beauty. Beauty can be ugly. It Is a concept that has haunted poets, artists and academics for centuries. Males are visual creatures. In their minds eye, Like the posters teenage boys hang on their bedroom walls, men have an Inflated Idea of beauty. But to see how he really finds beauty in his surroundings, look at the girl with whom he spends time and feels most comfortable. She is often the opposite of the bedroom poster, maybe a friends, sister, aunt or cousin.She is the one he enjoys being with most. To be able to laugh with someone, we must drop our guards. Beauty is to be free and to act naturally. Oddly, getting there can be difficult. Today, messages and information are aimed at us in very new ways. We will write a custom essay sample on What Is True Beauty? or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It is happening faster than humans can adapt and evolve. Life is demanding more than we can give. In turn, you rely on text messages rather than physical conversation. The heart is missing in our lives and you must bring It back. We Judge the book by Its cover. Its usually untrue and unwise, but we place a great eight of Importance on the first Impression.In truth, a first Impression offers fast, mostly visual cues, to make an assumption of another. Physical appearance Is the first thing we see and It becomes our Achilles heel. The first Impression Is always the most expensive. It is expensive because of what we lose. The priority one sets on appearances in the physical realm is to deny oneself the quality and beauty of the spirit. If you choose to focus on the beauty within, you will receive the value of true communication with another. To ignore the essence of another is to deny your own unanimity. Beauty has always been costly.By the time you have been plucked, pinched and enhanced, you can easily spend a fortune on the latest product or the most popular nip and tuck. The pursuit of beauty can also deny nature. In the fevered race to erase a wrinkle, we try to stop time and the slow and inevitable progress of nature. It Is a fight no human can win. Beauty can also be a sport or a goal. Can you be more beautiful than you already are? No. Sure, every car needs a fresh coat of paint and a few new pin stripes but the real, true beauty comes from within your chassis. There is boldness in choice and people can easily recognize it in you.To choose beauty, determines that you have pondered the question, objectified the issues and made a choice. You have asked, What will I project today? What will I put out into the world? Then you choose and follow it through. Embracing victimized is a way to lick your past wounds but it never yields any positive future- oriented gains. You lead by example. Choose beauty. Look at a flower as you would look upon a work of art. Appreciate it. Enjoy it. Relax and just let it all in. Then look at yourself the same way. You are a perfect and unique creation of nature, Just like a flower. This may be hard to do and you must persist through all of the negativity and voices In your head. Remember those voices do not speak truth. They are merely the echoes of Insecurity and comic relief. Appreciation for beauty Isnt forced. Beauty cannot be beaten Into you. Beauty must be Invited and It must flow. If you want to exhibit your true nature, all you can do is let go. It is hard to let go. These days, with To be beautiful, to live in the flow, is a monumentally important task that requires only openness, desire and a few simple actions. Silence is the key that unlocks the mystery.A quiet meditation. Say a prayer. Sit down and have a little chat with yourself. Open this door and you will be answered with your own beauty. Do something that makes you happy. Let go and take the time for yourself. Something simple. Call a friend. Go too movie. Get a massage. You do not need to spend a hundred dollars. Shop, but dont buy anything, at a flower shop. Bake a cake. Take a hike. Do something that is purposed for you. When this happens, your beauty will begin to show. Others will recognize it and be drawn to it. You have allowed your beauty to flow.

What Happened in Enron Essay Example

What Happened in Enron Paper What happened In Enron and Arthur Andersen? United States seventh largest company Enron, with the slogan Ask Why was admired for Its innovation, but it all ended up In bankruptcy and criminal matters. The company filed for bankruptcy in December 2001. This was one of the worlds biggest corporate scandals In history. Aquas seventh largest firm had In over sixteen years increased its assets from 10 billion to 70 billion US. Dollars, and was by the stock market analysts from Wall Street hailed as the new economy model. Five years in a row, readers of Fortune magazine appointed Enron as The most innovative company in America. The companys director and founder (in 1985) was Kenneth Lay, who was the future business Idol. In his holidays, he played golf with former President Clinton while he made Enron the largest contributor to George W. Bushs career as Texas governor, and not least as U. S. President. As a former employee of the now defunct U. S. Deader energy commission, Acting Deputy Minister of Energy compared the Interior and economist for the Pentagon during the Vietnam War had Lay conditions for developing Its business In light of a lattice concept: aggressive deregulation, the removal of all regulatory and legal obstacles for appropriation and monopoly profits. Enron was dealing with natural gas. As oil prices fell during the ass, and natural gas (which had flourished in the wake of the oil crisis) was again threatened by falling oil prices, Lay found out that deregulation was the answer. We will write a custom essay sample on What Happened in Enron specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on What Happened in Enron specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on What Happened in Enron specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Large customers would no longer be bound by agreements with local, often public energy facilities, but could buy directly from producers, which in turn should have access to the pipe and conduit systems. Public monopolies were broken. Lay went directly to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FARCE) and got the rules repealed. The result was more volatile energy prices. Now, Lay got his most innovative idea: to make natural gas and energy commodities in line with all other mass production. Natural gas was now controlled by electricity supply and the electricity market was deregulated to a large wholesale market. Lay went directly to the U. S. Congress, and Congress changed the rules. In 1994 Enron began trading with electricity next to the natural gas, where It became the largest supplier in the U. S. And in England. In 1997 it was also Americas largest electricity trading, as did the rear of public electricity companies, as the federal SPA. The U. S. Energy deregulation model became a global model. In country after country it was being Introduced. In 2001 , ten company only Ana 24 cays to go Dandruff Ana turned out to consist AT hot air. Investors lost everything. 20,000 employees lost their Jobs, health insurance and retirement savings, while managers such as Ken Lay and Jeffrey Killing walked out with nearly one billion U. S. Dollars. The senior people in the company had earned nearly 1 billion U. S. Dollars from the sale of company shares over the last two years. The founder and leader of the firm, Kenneth Lay, earned 123 million U. S. Lars in 2000 and 25 million in 2001 and then sold his Enron shares before the collapse and had a great profit out of it. At the same time he urged employees to buy shares, which would soon prove to be worthless, while he told them third quarter looks to be super, and predicted that its value would increase by 800% or more in Over the next decade. Employees would not touch the shares they had in the company, and many whose retirement savings we re ever $ 1 million worth in August 2001, were left with a life savings of only $ 4000 at Christmas 2,001 the. Many companies are working hard to develop a corporate culture and employee loyalty. This was obviously not the case with Enron. Thousands of workers ended up with an empty bank account and an uncertain future, this was the only reward for believing that they were part of a team. It is these experiences that will clearly show that the working class and the ruling class do not have common interests, no matter what the capitalists say otherwise! Unfortunately, the loss of Jobs in Enron will not be he last in the current economic crisis. Many other traditional companies such as Ford and Boeing have already announced major layoffs. Thats life under a system that puts profits before people. Enrons biggest mistake was their pride. In addition arrogance, intolerance and greed. People were blinded by greed. They could not see the dangers, said the former staff lawyer, Amanda Martin. Arrogance, intolerance and greed does not necessarily lead to fraud and embezzlement. But it did with Enrons management, and this lack of morality and common decency filtered down through the organization. The story of Enron started in 1985 in the U. S. IL capital, Houston, as director Kenneth Lay leaves the local Houston Natural Gas merged with a Nebraska-based company International North in the new company Enron to include to do business with 60,000 kilometers of natural gas pipelines in the U. S.. In record time, Enron is with wealth of buying U. S. Largest supplier of natural gas and power and from its impassions headquarters in a skyscra per in Houston a model around the world for how we should privative energy. Quarter after quarter, Enron comes with impressive cords, and the already gilded shareholders can only smile when the IT bubble burst in 2000. They are in tomorrows safest money machine But there are already starting to get cracks in the glass buildings glistening facade. T Tanat Enron should sell bandwidth in line with other groceries. Enron entered into a collaboration with video rental company Blockbuster to supply video on demand. The stock exchange cheered, and Enrons price rose 34 percent in two days. The problem was that the technology was never developed, and the agreement fell to the floor after a few months. But with the mark-to-market principle, one could record 53 million U. S. Dollars on a contract that had not brought a crown. The same was true for many of Enrons other activities around the world. Most gave either no profits or even losses, but the presumed earnings were already booked. And Enrons price rose and rose. As it turns out not to be enough, in 1999, Kenneth Lay gives COOP Fast authorization, at its own expense, with a stripe of Americas most respected financial houses to create a pair of funds. The task is to do business with Enron, so the turnover and the counting earnings can be kept up, and Fast also creates yet more sinister foundations and companies, where he parked Enrons worst deals. There is rejoicing at management of Enron, as power-hungry California the same year opened a vigorous appropriation of its energy market. It offers new opportunities for creative outlets, because Enron peoples better than the officials are able to maneuver at the intricate set of rules. Enron also begins massive online trading speculation in future energy prices to be sold free bandwidth on the internet and here is even a market for speculation in the weather. One of the few areas where Enron really made any money was in California. In 1997, Enron acquired Portland General, and gained access to Californians deregulated electricity market. The recipe for enormous profit was simple. The price of a commodity rises if demand exceeds supply. Enron reduced supply of electricity. This made the price of electricity rise, some days with 3-400 percent. The result of this attempt at a free energy market was that California was hit by power cut in the middle of winter, when electricity demand is lowest. Energy crisis cost the California taxpayers 30 billion dollars, while the electricity cuts earned two billion U. S. Dollars to Enron. But even this golden egg in length could not save Enron. Stock market analysts on Wall Street believed in everything Enron executives told them about Enrons huge profits now and in the future, until the reporter Bethink McLean in an article in Fortune in March 2001 questioned Enrons economic status with the simple question that no one could really answer How does Enron make money? Less than a year after, the house of cards fell together and pulled Americas oldest counting Tell Arthur Andersen Ana Its employees In ten Tall. President Bush said he would be entrepreneurial president. It surely was, but the company was Enron. He created the same alternate reality, the same bubble of hot air. But ultimately dotted the real reality bubble. As commentator Harold Emerson put it: When historians at a time, looking back at the Bush administration, it will give them headaches trying to figure out how a president could do so consistently fail out of so many cases especially considering that many of the cases was his own initiative. Ironically, Enron had the slogan Ask Why, but it did not seem serious until February 2001 when a Journalist at the business magazine Fortune, Bethink McLean, full of wonder analyzed where the glossy annual reports information on Enrons alleged revenue came from. The article was met with attempts at ridicule from Enron, but suddenly a woolly explanation of the company was released, and then finally began a barrage of questions. In October, Enron submitted an accounting of one billion deficit, and in November the company added that there had been an accounting fraud for billions in five years t took only 24 days before the bankruptcy was a fact. There was wealth of reports on how senior management staff in the last few months had sold Enron shares for astronomical sums to avoid personal losses. In the meanwhile, they recommended others to buy. So bankruptcy was also a criminal, and dozens of people began to talk about how they had long wondered what they really even contributed to, but not dared to ask why, because they had been afraid of the answers. In 2004, Fast, who had cooperated with the authorities on the investigation of the case, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of 140 million. R The others were Lay and Killing, who both declared their innocence to the very end, convicted of fraud. What happened in Arthur Andersen? Auditing firm Arthur Andersen was sued and convicted in 2002 for destruction of evidence concerning the fraud-hit energy firm Enron. Andersen shredded Enron documents, and prosecutors said it was to hide complicity in fraud. Arthur Andersen defended themselves by saying that the documents were irrelevant material of a type which were routinely destroyed. The head of Andersens Enron team, David Duncan, pleaded guilty and cooperated let attenuators In ten case galls t Nils 010 Tell. U. S. Supreme Court this week cited with regard to the Jury not sufficiently had taken a position on whether the document was scrapping with criminal intent. Andersen was Enrons auditor general, while other firms revised parts of the company. Among other things, was not Andersen auditor on the so-called partnerships that Enron used to hide its debt and how much of the fraud took place. When the Arthur Andersen fraud was revealed, it led to the break-up of the firm and to the following assessment by the Powers Committee: The evidence available to us suggests that Andersen did not fulfill its professional responsibilities in connection with its audits of Enrons financial statements, or its obligation to bring to the attention of Enrons Board (or the Audit and Compliance Committee) concerns about Enrons internal contracts over the related-party transactions. The deception was initially made possible by a grip that by the rest of the financial world was regarded as brilliant. Enron was permitted to use the accounting principle of mark-to-market, which means you can book future profits on the same day a trade s concluded, regardless of how little there since comes in. Externally, Enrons profits could then be what Enron said it was. It gave great opportunities for manipulation of accounts. Lessons from the rise and fall of Arthur Andersen and Enron Even if many have tried, capitalism is not so easy to keep under control. The Enron collapse is not the only scandal we have seen so far in capitalism and it is most likely not be the last one. Enron has given $1. 9 million to the national political parties, more than three quarters of it to the Republicans. It has spent additional millions on political antedates, so that two-thirds of our national legislators have benefited from Enron largesse to their campaigns. These same millions have given Enron access to the most respected politicians in America. Kenneth Lay had private meetings with Cheney to tell him what the nations energy policy should be. He submitted a list of names of who should be appointed to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. This is Just one of the lobbying example of many. We must take the big money influence out of politics. We also have the investors, who, like many other investors, were too mesmerisms by he promise of free money to actually examine Enrons cash flow statements before handing over their hard-earned cash. The stock market has a way of giving investors exactly want teeny deserve, anon when get-roll-quickly Investors Tallow ten palace AT so- called financial analysts who give BUY ratings on companies they dont even understand, what they might get is bankruptcy. Too many investors think the stock market is a giant take-away table of money. They underestimate risk and overestimate the potential for gain. Another lesson would be that the governments cannot deregulate everything. Most likely, businessmen will act in their own interest instead of listening to the public and what they want. The most important lesson would be that the relentless pursuit for profit is a major issue in our economic model. It can easily get out of control and people will get hurt. Additionally, regulations concerning subsidiaries and corporate spin-offs should be amended so that they the relations between parent and subsidiary are transparent and reflect the actual ownership position of the parent company. These are only few of the lessons learned from Enron, but with such a big disaster eke Enron, there are endless lessons to be learned.

The eNotes Blog Literary Lunch-Box Giveaway FromeNotes

Literary Lunch-Box Giveaway From Agh, yes, it is that time of year again: back to school! To make things a little easier for you (and to make your friends a lot jealous), were giving away a super sweet lunch-box set. Our exclusive literary kit includes: An Edgar Allan Poe lunch box A pack of Shakespeare insult gum A tin of Jane Austen bandages A whole bunch of neon pencils And a FREE pass to for 1 year! Never have bad breath or lose a pencil again To win, just mention your favorite author in a comment here or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook. Well pick two winners at random on 9/17/14 (U.S. shipping only).

International Business Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

International Business Management - Essay Example As every thing is changing in the present situation, the strategies regarding marketing in business also are changing rapidly. Continuity can be observed in that change. The unpredictable shift of the power due to the expansions in the economies raised need of the new management practices that can use the advances in the communications technology. This transformed the speed with which information spreads and this spreading of the information gives rise to new ideas and ways of marketing. This can increase the scope for the marketing also as the spread of the information can tell about the quality of the product in a far away place with increased speed. The part of the transformation resulted due to the number of products are derived from complex geography of production. This involves complexity in distribution and consumption. This is due to the vastness and extensive nature of the distribution and consumption as the needs and views of customers vary from place to place. These can be known by managements by communications technology and can make use them in the marketing strategies.1 The people who use the products manufactured far away from their place of living take into consideration the changes that affect directly their living, necessities and provisions for their children. This makes marketing easy but needs an extensive approach in case of photo album industry as the methods are new and innovative to this industry. The new and innovative business management prospects are due to the explosion and proliferation of global protest movements. 2. Main Bodies 2.1 Literature Assessment Evaluation of part one: In part one the Chinese photo album industry's state in the present environment is discussed. The assessment was based on the needs of the customers and the role of the industry in meeting them. It was opined that the products delivered by industry should be according to the necessities of the customers using them. 2.1.1 The management practices according to market forces: The views shared by

Financial Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Financial Analysis - Essay Example The current ratio shows the ability of a company to pay off its short term debt. It is calculated dividing current assets divided by current liabilities. Agnico Eagle had a current ratio in 2012 of 3.26. This ratio is very good because it is better than the industry average of 1.50. The quick ratio is another liquidity ratio that measures short term liquidity. The difference between the quick ratio and the current ratio is that inventory is subtracted from the numerator of the formula making the quick ratio a more strict liquidity ratio. The company had a quick ratio in 2012 of 2.02 which is better than the industry average of 0.70. The debt ratio of the firm in 2012 was 0.35. This ratio shows that the company is not too highly leveraged. In the future, the company could use additional debt to finance its growth. The debt to equity ratio of the firm was 0.54. This ratio measures a number of assets being provided by creditors for each dollar of assets being provided by stockholders. T he earnings per share (EPS) of the firm was $1.81. A good EPS result tends to have a positive effect on the market price per share. The dividend per share of the company was $1.02. The dividend payout ratio of the firm was 56.35% which implies that more than half its earnings were distributed to common shareholders. The net margin shows the absolute profitability of a firm. Agnico Eagle had a net margin in 2012 of 16.21%. Its net margin was extremely good considering that the industry average net margin that year was -25.60%.

Employees Motivation of Ernst & Young in Malaysia

Employees Motivation of Ernst & Young in Malaysia The purpose of this research is to study the factors that affect the motivation of Ernst Young employees in Malaysia branches. Also explore how these motivation theories influence Ernst Young to its employees and be able to recommend new motivational programs to the management that will improve the current motivational practices of the employees. Objectives: To identify the motivational factors that motivate Ernst Young employee To investigate how Maslow Hierarchy Theory affect the motivation To understand the important reasons why employees retain or leave in the company and how motivation theories have emerged in attract talent employees To find out the role of leadership and management in motivating employee in Ernst Young Research Question: How the effects of compensation/salary and rewards to employee motivation? How does teamwork affect work performance and motivation? How do achievement and recognition affect motivation and job satisfaction? Introduction: Motivation is define as The willingness to exert high levels of effort toward organizational goals, conditioned by the efforts ability to satisfy some individual need (Stephen P. Robbins, 1998). On the other hand, employee motivation is defined psychological forces that determine the direction of a persons behavior in an organization, a persons level of effort and a persons level of persistence (Gareth R, Jennifer M GEORGE Charles WL HILL, 2000). Employee motivation is a key to the overall effectiveness of an organization. In the Maslows Hierarchy of Needs consists of five different levels, which included physiological, safety, social, esteem and self-actualization. This theory explains that employees at organizations are motivated by the desire to achieve or maintain the various conditions upon which these basic satisfactions rest and by certain more intellectual desires (Maslow, 1943). If a lower level need is not met, the person is less motivates to attend the higher level needs until it has been satisfied. While the expectancy theory attempt to explain workers motivation in terms of rewards. This theory assumes that people make rational decisions based on economic realities (Kreitner, R., Kinicki, A., Cole, N., 2003). According to V. H. Vroom suggested that people on purposely choose particular courses of action, based on perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs, as a consequence of their desires (V. H. Vroom, 1964). In other words, Expectancy theory is emphasizes on individual perceptions of the surroundings and connections arising as a consequence of personal expectations. At the present, compensation is necessary to employee motivation. If a company can satisfied an employee financial needs, the employee would naturally be motivated to work harder. Besides that, leadership also affects employee motivation. A successful leader has a different view in the chain of command. He recognizes the importance of influencing the follower gently towards a desired goal (Miller, 1996). He does not force or pushed the followers to accomplish the goal of the organization (Maccoby, 1996). Company Background: Ernst Young is recognized as one of the largest professional services firms in the world and global organization of member firms in more than 140 countries (Ernst Young, 2010). Its international headquarters are located in London, UK and New York, US. Currently the company surrounded of 144,000 employees globally (Ernst Young, 2010). Ernst Young Malaysia was established in 1909 and it was one of the first internationally linked public accounting firms in the country (Ernst Young Malaysia, 2010). In 2002, one of the first Bumiputra accounting firm in Malaysia founded by Hanafiah, Raslan Mohamad in 1964 are became a member firm of Ernst Young. Ernst Young is now the largest professional services firms with more than 2,300 employees in 17 offices in West and East Malaysia (Ernst Young Malaysia, 2009). Ernst Young Malaysia is a market leader in the provision of assurance and advisory business services, tax and transaction advisory services, serving a board array of clients, cov ering all industries and market segments. Significance of Study: This research aims is to conduct research and examine the current factors that motivates the employees in Ernst Young Malaysia. Besides that, this project also explore the factor influencing work motivation and job satisfaction for getting better performance and high productivity. The essence of that approach is to create basic conditions regarding changing job characteristics that promote high performance motivation, high satisfaction at work and match the job with the individual. Literature Review: Previously employees were considered just another input into the production of goods and services in the organization point of view (James R. Lindner, 2010). Nevertheless the Hawthorne Studies has changed the way for organization to think about the employees (Elton Mayo, 1924 to 1932). These studies found out that monetary needs do not motivate employees toward full potential, but it is the employee attitudes and behavior (Elton Mayo, 1924 to 1932). To better understand the employees motivation, management has to realize the whole concept of motivation. There are many motivation theories developed by the researches and theorists examine on what motivated employees and how they were motivated. The most fundamental theory of motivation is Maslows Hierarchy of Needs. And it has become one of the most popular and frequently cited theories of human motivation. The theory consists of five different levels, which are physiological, safety, social, esteem and self-actualization. This theory explains that employees at organizations are motivated by the desire to achieve or maintain the various conditions upon which these basic satisfactions rest and by certain more intellectual desires (Maslow, 1943). According to Abraham Maslow, the most basic needs are physiological. Physiological needs are refer to those that sustain physical life, such as the need for food. Subsequently are safety needs, the want for physiological safety such as shelter. Next is a social need, is the need for friendship, social and love. In the need for self-esteem is referring to accomplish self-respect or to feel that one is  worthwhile and successful. Finally, there self-actualization is for self-fulfillm ent and to achieve all that one is potentially capable of. These two growths need to drive the person to want recognition from others, development, challenge, and the freedom to be creative and innovative. Daniels (2001) recommended that Maslows final conclusion that the self-actualization is inspiring in their nature may be one of his most important contributions to the study of human behavior and motivation (Daniels, 2001). There are several studies that have been concluded based on Maslow hierarchy to support the suggestions of William James (1892/1962) and Mathes (1981). William James theorized the levels of material, social, and spiritual. While Mathes proposed the three levels were physiological, belonginess, and self-actualization. Nevertheless he considered safety and self-esteem as unnecessary. In addition, Alderfer (1972) has developed a similar hierarchy with his ERG theory, which included Existence, Relatedness, and Growth. He adapted Maslows theory based on the effort of Gordon Allport (1960, 1961) who integrated concepts from systems theory into his work on personality. The expectancy theory assumes that people make rational decisions based on economic realities (Kreitner and Kinicki, 1998). Vaida (2003) claimed that incentives used to reward excellent performance and in work processes. Additionally, Hoy and Miskel (1991) agree that incentives such as money, power, as well as general incentives that are non-material. Acoording to V. H. Vroom (1964) suggested that people intentionally makes certain courses of action, based on their perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs, as a consequence of their desires (V. H. Vroom, 1964). In other words, Expectancy theory is emphasizes individual perceptions of the environment and subsequent interactions arising as a consequence of personal expectations (V. H. Vroom, 1964). These theories on the other hand are motivation theories that focus o n the internal attributes of the individual. Caruth Handlogten (2001) claimed that compensation can enhance the employee motivation. Compensation may refer to monetary or non-monetary, tangible or intangible, and physical or psychological, and these are offered to the employees for more productivity (Caruth Handlogten, 2001). If a company can satisfied an employee financial needs, the employee would naturally be motivated to work harder. However paying an employee will not retain them for a long period in the organization. To retain an employee and to keep him motivated and inspired, an employee must be empowered (Bratton, 1999). Empowered allows employee feels the ownership of business and make decision on their own which can increase its confidence by enhancing decision making power (Bratton, 1999). In the recent research from Watson Wyatt Worldwide, recommends that to attract the greatest employees, companies need to pay more than the average-paying in the market (Ira Kay and Bruce Pfau, 2001). Money provides most basic em ployees motivation. The leadership style of the managers also is important to implementation of the motivation programs. Quantitative studies conducted in the past showed positive relationship between leadership behavior and job satisfaction (Euske et al, 1982; Savery, 1994). A Managers leadership style contributes directly to the employees motivation and work satisfaction, and the work progress in the organization. A successful leader has a different view in the chain of command. He recognizes the importance of influencing the follower gently towards a desired goal (Miller,  1996). He does not force or pushed the followers to accomplish the goal of the organization (Maccoby, 1996). McConnell (1998) suggests that leader should spend more time to get to know his followers better. Leaders should pay attention to details regarding on their followers. Methodology: There are four major components apply into this research and shows its relationship to the employee motivation. This research consists of only 5 variables. The dependant variable would be Employee Motivation and the independent variable is included Maslow Hierarchy, Expectancy Theory, Compensation and Leadership Management. The theoretical framework for this research as bellow: Maslow Hierarchy Expectancy Theory Employee Motivation Compensation Leadership Management INDEPENDENT VARIABLE DEPENDENT VARIABLE The research method is qualitative for this study by a survey method. The total population of employees in Ernst Young Malaysia is 2300 in 2009. Further research will conducted to identify the present population. However, the target population for survey is all employees on the all the 17 office. In the data collection process, primary data is using to accomplish in this research. Employees will be sampled through convenience sampling in this research. So of the employees who do not want to participate in the study will be subtracted from the 100% original samples. A structured questionnaire will be designed for the purpose of this research. The questionnaire will contain 30 questions that would help identify the motivating factors of employees in Ernst Young.

After School Programs Essay -- Education, Constructivism

This chapter provides a review of the literature related to after school programs. The literature review is organized into the following categories: History of After School Programs, Need for After School Programs, Effectiveness of After School Programs, Frequency and Duration, and Middle School After School Programs. This section also reviews the theoretical framework for this research. Theoretical Framework Constructivism is a philosophy of learning founded on the premise that, by reflecting on our experiences, we construct our own knowledge of the world we live in (Au & Carrol, 1996). Learning is simply the process of adjusting what we already know to accommodate new experiences. Constructivism can be traced to the eighteenth century and the work of Giambattista (Bhattacharya & Han, 2001). Bhattacharya and Han maintained that humans are able to understand only what they themselves have constructed. Many philosophers and educators have worked with these ideas, but the first to develop a clear idea of what constructivism consists of were Jean Piaget and John Dewey. Von Glaserfield (1990) acknowledged that constructivism means â€Å"knowledge is not passively received.† Piaget (1973) stated that students are not just â€Å"empty heads† that can be filled with facts from packaged curriculum that is given out my teachers. Constructivism does not depend on a standardized curriculum. Instead, it promotes using curriculum customized to the students’ prior knowledge. Also, it emphasizes real world problem solving, experiments, reasoning and communication (Au & Carrol , 1997). Constructivism gives students the power to make connections, reformulate ideas, and reach conclusions (Brewer & Daane, 2002). After school programs often focus on teac... ...ved in 21st Century Community Learning Centers. The evaluation revealed that programs had difficulty recruiting and retaining young teens, and those that did participate attended inconsistently. The middle school students were less likely to participate in academic classes and more likely to be involved in recreation activities. Beth Miller (2003) stated that after school programs serving middle school children, must keep students engaged in the program by a variety of popular and engaging activities. She further noted that after-school programs are successful when participants have motivation to achieve academically. In summary, middle school learners benefit from frequent participation in quality after school programs that increase engagement in learning, provide a variety of recreational activities, and build key skills necessary for academic success.

Blackness and The Black Experience

The experience of being black, like the experience of having any other skin color, is left wide open to the personal viewpoint of the individual. Still, with the black race, there is a legacy of being forcibly removed from their homeland and enslaved, and this legacy probably affects the outlook of every black person in some way. In the ancient world, an individual with â€Å"black† skin was not considered inferior. The Greeks, for example, did not regard skin color as an impediment to coordination in social order. They instead judged a man based on his integrity, his word, and his ability. â€Å"What is blackness? † â€Å"What is the black experience? Blackness is defined as the property of being black in color, but that is a raw definition that has no context in human experience. While the ancients seemed to have little or no problem with color, the idea of race difference has been a struggle for modern societies everywhere. Scholar W. E. B. Du Bois calls it â€Å"the problem of the twentieth century. † Du Bois contends that the supposed ugliness exists fundamentally in the psyches of the cutting edge spectators. What that means to me is that, whatever prejudices may exist in the minds of leaders then translates to the attitudes, and more critically the laws, of everyday citizens. In England color turned into the premise of segregation. In the United States, the institution of slavery was the central argument in a states’ rights debate that erupted into the bloodiest war of the 19th century. Even after the Civil War, racial segregation, violence, the KKK, and the struggle for equality marred the next one hundred years. How black people perceive their own â€Å"blackness† today, as opposed to 1863, when the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, is sure to be different. Blackness must have a completely different meaning in 2013. In fact, the very word â€Å"black† is no longer used as often, having been replaced with â€Å"African-American. † The idea of â€Å"blackness† must have made drastic leaps for the better when this country elected a black president. This is a sharp contrast to the self-image blacks had during the years of slavery (in this country and others, including their own native continent). As the decades pass, one would hope that the legacy of slavery, mistreatment, bigotry, and inequality has waned, and become a historical acknowledgement rather than an influencing factor in the psyche of modern individual blacks in the world. I believe that this trend will continue. In dealing with the black people I know, I don’t hear them talking about being mistreated or discriminated against as much as what I’ve read about in our country’s history. Black people seemed to be more present in prestigious jobs and government positions. At least in America, black people are being given more and more opportunity, and society continues to try and fulfill its promise of equality and equal protection. If this continues, I hope that the idea of â€Å"blackness† is one of promise, hope and pride, and not despair.