Practicum Project Methodology and Evaluation Term Paper

Practicum Project Methodology and Evaluation - Term Paper Example have the capacity to create an implementation plan for purposeful rounding, bedside reporting, and multidisciplinary rounding in order to improve patients experiences and help staff develop their leadership competencies and abilities. In terms of objectives, the learner will be able to apply nursing theories and relevant research in creating an implementation plan for best practices at the end of the practicum project. Secondly, this project is geared towards helping the learner acquire the ability to identify and analyze leadership approaches used in managing multidisciplinary groups. At the end of this project, the learner will also have the capacity to apply best practices in nursing in order to drive performance. For the first objective, I will seek the help of my preceptor and nurse leader in my department to identify best practices related to nursing operations that are currently been used in managing the team. I will also interview members of the team in regards to which best practices they think are relevant and have achieved positive results. One of the best practice been used to facilitate purposeful rounding and bedside reporting that I will focus on is open communication. For the second objective, I will work in cahoots with a multidisciplinary team consisting of an array of specialized personnel such as nurses, nurse leaders, and physicians during rounds. I will be an active member of the team in order to virtually identify how the team leader manages the multidisciplinary team. For the third objective, I will take in consideration the identified best practices such as open communication used to facilitate nursing operations as well as leadership approaches identified through observ ation and adopt them in my nursing practice during this practicum project. To achieve the third objective, I will also be actively engaged during rounding in order to have a practical experience on how best practices are implemented in practice. In evaluating my practicum

Overcoming Resistance to Change Essay Example for Free

Overcoming Resistance to Change Essay Overcoming Resistance Resistance is a normal and a perfectly natural reaction to change. Each person has their own amount they can take, but the reasons behind why employees resist in the first place may be surprising. According to these experts, the fear of moving into an unknown future state creates anxiety and stress, even if the current state is painful (Eroke, 2013). A complete understanding of the unique ways that resistance can be apparent is still needed because resistance to change has been acknowledged as an organizational difficulty for many years. If and when employees react to change in different ways, and if discrepancies in response result in different outcomes, identification of those expressions of resistance is a necessary step in the growth and execution of valuable change management strategies. After summarizing internal and external factors contributing to resistance to change, we will look at an example of this, identify the cause and develop a plan to overcome resistance. Internal and External Factors Contributing to Resistance to Change While internal and external factors certainly add to change responses, individuals can react more negatively to change than do others, regardless of the type of change. Individuals oppose beginning and completing self changing efforts, even when change is enviable or necessary. The interactions of these factors suggest inconsistency in individual behaviors, such that indefinite situations are most likely to bring to mind articulated perceptions, beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes. W hile global personality tests are probably not helpful in answering specific questions; an evaluation of outcome dispositions may capitulate greater projecting capability. There is little proof that points to individual disparities inclination to resist change. Conflict is stirred up by a variety of factors that include the environment, personalities; prejudices, appearances, etc. However, the inquiry of which individuals take action in what way, to which change situations, has not been sufficiently answered. The materializations of â€Å"resistance responses† within people and situations must be comprehended to allow management the opportunity to decide which plan can efficiently lessen resistance and if diverse strategies increase or decrease responses. An objective in the study of resistance is to identify individual responses to assist in forecasting probable variables. The more acquainted you are with your staff, the easier it will be to identify, assess, monitor, maintain, and execute change when needed. Example of Resistance to Change Based on Internal and External Factors At times employees felt they were being required to do more with less, or do more for the same pay which when this is the case, there is a huge resistance. Very rarely do you find good people that will go above and beyond for someone else or their company. In the restaurant business there are always tasks that need attention. There was a saying at one job â€Å"if you have time to lean, you have time to clean†. It is not all about serving food to guests and getting tipped for it. When someone does not show up for their shift, then that persons responsibilities are divided out amongst everyone. And when one of them is being asked to do side work that is not theirs, while getting paid such a low wage, there is not a positive reaction to say the least. As a waitress or server at most places, you only make 2-3 dollars an hour so when restaurant is slow and they do not make enough money to barely earn over minim um wage, it is extremely challenging to motivate them into doing manual labor for that amount of pay. Specifically, the most recent restaurant I managed, I relied heavily on the breakfast buffet and maintaining it during business hours as well as when we were closed. This buffet was important because most of the VIP rewards members only came for breakfast and their impression of the appearance, temperatures, and quality are being evaluated to possibly be turned in on comment card to corporate. Once this survey is completed online, these scores are then developed into a daily, monthly, and annual report that rates us on each department separately. A bad score decreases the points as a whole, makes the entire team look bad to corporate, and bad reviews can be seen by anyone, which can keep business from coming in and that will drop revenue. For some reason, we were not capable of securing this position longer than a few weeks which then it was being taken care of by any of the staff or management if they had a minute to help stock or clean it. This obviously is not going to be consistent for guests, appears disorganized or short staffed, and is a dangerous health hazard if someone is not taking temps every thirty minutes. Every single time someone did not show up to set up buffet, the staff and management jumped in to help, but it was like pulling teeth to get anyone to step in and do this job. Out of pure self interest each one of them would voice their opinion about how they do not make enough to do someone else’s job and it was not their job or they did not sign up for this. Resistance is an inevitable response to any major change. Individuals naturally rush to defend the status quo if they feel their security or status is threatened (Bolognese, 2002). I understand it is not their faults that it kept getting abandoned, but I also know how to be reasonable and work as a team. Most people are uncomfortable with change and will resist without giving much thought. Aside from self interest, Baack (2012) says, â€Å"differing assessments of the need for change occur whenemployees do not view a change as necessary, because managers and employees do not see eye to eye on the nature of the issue. Th ose with a low tolerance for change also tend to be resistant. It was challenging for everyone involved because most of them did not understand the nature or reason behind just doing what is asked of you regardless of how it may or may not affect you. The few that had been there many years were the first to help, but also the first to resist. They were all for customer service, pride in their company, and covering for someone as long as they were getting the credit. There were only a couple of employees who were willing to help, go out of their way, without expecting anything in return and those are the ones that were rewarded. Cause of Resistance Resistance will come in many dissimilar shapes and sizes, depending on your precise need. The cause for resistance can come from a variety of reasons, but the main cause behind this particular resistance was this position was not paid enough for the responsibilities that came with the position. Also, the labor involved was far more extensive than any other position in that department. Perhaps some other another reason may be because the buffet person was the low man on the totem pole, all by his lonesome, and getting stiffed by his or her own coworkers. This position was separated as far as opening and closing duties and had many items that contributed to the set up and break down which were placed in other parts of restaurant. The buffet person was usually not the person that â€Å"fit in† and almost always within a short period of time, they would request to be moved or they would find a different company to work for. Planned Approach for Overcoming Resistance Costs of training, risky score-cards, high turnover, unhappy guests and employees are enough of a reason to act on changing the way things have been failing. Upper management can determine who would be the best at changing this situation and making it a positive one that they can lead. Someone has to stand up and be responsible for holding people and themselves accountable and for this change to take place. Address the issue, acknowledge the conflict to employees and thank them for taking on extra work, but also engage with them in brainstorming to see if they may have something creative or valuable to assist in conquering the resistance. Once a new reasonable rate of pay has been distinguished, then a new set of responsibilities can be developed and split with the kitchen. There needs to be some way to mingle the two departments, which are separated by a line, so that this position is â€Å"included† with everyone else. Also, provide gift cards or free meals for adapting to c hange and moving forward during process. Set a goal for ninety days out to reevaluate, make transitions or changes and explain how the pieces fit together as a whole. Additional areas of resistance may surface so it is vital to recognize probable resistance points, as your development execution progresses. No matter which approach is used, managers should remember that change is often an unsettling process (Baack, 2012). Obtaining the preferred information to improve employees understanding of the organizations need for change is also one of the most significant steps in flourishing resistance management. A serious contemplation concerning the customization of your resistance management activities is relied upon the size of the change and the characteristics of the organization. When resistance has resulted in productivity loss and exhausted time and resources, it can be intimidating for the staff to rely solely on reactive procedures. Once the new changes have been implemented, closely maintained

Hellanodikai: The Chief Judges of the Olympics :: ancient modern sport athletic competition

"There, the method of premliminary training and the kind of exercises are decided by others, and it is not the trainer, but the Hellanodikes who, entirely on his own initiative and without being bound in any way, organizes everything, in accord with the particular circumstances pertaining from time to time. And the Hellanodikes has the whip at his disposal, not only for the athlete, but also for the trainer, and he uses it in case of any contravention of his orders; and all have to conform with the orders of the Hellanodikai, since those who violate them may be immediately excluded from the games."1 Philostratos, ca. 3rd century AD HOW ARE THE JUDGES SELECTED? "A Jury of Appeal and a Ground Jury (Judges) shall be appointed for each sport. The choice of them is left to the international federations. One delegate of each international federation must be present in order to check the entries. The members of these juries and the officials must all be amateurs. Where a jury has not been formed by th etime it should have started to function, the Organizing Committee will advise and decide how to form one. The Juries of Appeal for the sports not governed by an international federation shall be formed by the Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games and must be composed of five members of different nationalities, who shall elect their own president."2 Region Judges did not come from all over the Greek world, but were drawn from Elis, the local region which included Olympia. Even though the judges were all Eleans, local Elean Greeks were still allowed to compete in the Olympics. The Elean people had such a reputation for fairness that an Elean cheating at the games was a shock to other Greeks. Number Like the athletes, the hellanodikes also underwent a long period of preparation for the ancient games. The judges were instructed for a period of ten months by Elean magistrates. Historians disagree about the number of the judges, but apparently not more than one or two judges officiated at the early Olympic games, where but one event was contested. When the athletic program was expanded to take in many events and last for five or more days, the number was increased, although there seems to be no record of more than ten judges at a single celebration. One source states "At the ninety-fifth festival nine umpires were appointed. To three of them were entrusted the chariot-races, another three were to supervise the pentathlum, the rest superintended the remaining contests.

Advantage Grant

I wish to apply for the Online Advantage Grant at CTU Online. I am currently enrolled in the Business Administration course at CTU Online. I am a mature student at thirty years of age and have returned to formal study as a way to improve my knowledge and skills. My parents have instilled upon myself and my sisters a lifelong desire to study.Often working a lot harder themselves they enabled us to study; my parents have given to me a disciplined study ethic that acknowledges successful completion of tertiary courses as a vital step towards gaining my place in the community.My ethnicity is American Indian; I am excited about my opportunity to bring my cultural diversity to the community once empowered by the completion of the Business Administration course at CTU. A nation wide emphasis has been given to bringing cultural diversity into all fields of American life.I believe that a critical element of bringing true cultural diversity into all American workplaces is the opportunity for e thnic minority group members to complete tertiary studies.I have secured my place to participate in a very direct way in the development of true cultural diversity in the workplace by enrolling and starting the Business Administration Course at CTU. My motivation to complete the online course is high as I see the value not only for myself and my immediate family for my completion of this course but for the benefits that will flow from my education to my community.With the knowledge and skills I gain from the Business Administration course I will be empowered to represent my cultural minority and to promote the sensitivity towards other cultural minorities into the workplace arena.The career path I plan to follow is that of the healthcare industry. I have close relatives who currently work in the healthcare industry and through their insight I feel that this will be the way in which I can pursue a career that will bring the most impact back to my community and to my own sense of sati sfaction and sense of giving back to others.Of particular interest in our country today is the persistent inequity that surrounds people from ethnic or cultural minority groups and access to effective healthcare. Studies have been presented in the popular media that show that minority groups all share an underutilization of healthcare services compared to the majority Caucasian population.Such studies report that lower rates of health insurance amongst people within minority groups accounts for only part of the lower use of healthcare services.Key factors in the underutilization of healthcare services by people within minority groups was the lack of flexibility of healthcare service providers in terms of hours of operation and in terms of cultural sensitivity which led people of minority groups to not use the services or to limit their use of such services.With the knowledge and skills I gain from my studies at CTU Online, I plan to bring the cultural sensitivity that my American In dian background has provided me to the healthcare industry.My cultural background has given to me a unique perspective on the need for cultural sensitivity across all the diverse minority groups that make up the nation today. I am excited about the great advantage my heritage will bring to my effectiveness in the workplace.I appreciate your consideration of my application for the Online Advantage Grant for CTU Online.

Body Mass of Earthworms Essay

Earthworms play an important role in the turnover of organic matter in soil and maintaining a good soil structure (Lavelle, 1988). Physical properties in soils improved by earthworms include improved aggregation, stability, and porosity. The soil biological and chemical properties of soils that may be modified include nutrient cycling (mainly nitrogen and phosphorus), organic matter decomposition rates, and chemical forms of nutrients in soil and their availability to plants. They also change the soil pH, organic matter dynamics in terms of quality and quantity, microbial and invertebrate activity, and diversity of the microflora and fauna (Lavelle et al., 1998). Therefore, they are essential for plant growth especially in an extensive agricultural system, such as organic farming, which is based on nutrient release from turnover of organic matter. Earthworms can also be used as a source of protein for animal feed which had been reported to increase the growth of fish, chicken and piglets (Guerro, 1983; Jin-you et al., 1982; Edwards and Niederer, 1988). The mean amounts of essential amino acids recorded in earthworms are found to be very adequate for a good animal feed. Moreover, earthworm tissues contain a preponderance of long-chain fatty acids, many of which cannot be synthesized by non-ruminant animals and an adequate mineral content (Edwards and Niederer, 1988). Recently, the enzymes derived by the earthworms, lumbrokinase or earthworm fibrinolytic enzymes (EFE) which has anticoagulant (blood thinner) property is extensively being used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Following these valuable application of earthworms, the management of earthworm communities provides a promising field for innovation in agricultural practises. There are many factors affecting the growth and body mass of earthworms that need to be considered during cultivation of earthworms. The soil moisture obviously has an effect on the growth and activity of earthworms. Earthworms lose moisture through their cuticles, so they are very dependent on soil moisture. When soil moisture is optimum, earthworms increase in mass and in their activity if food sources are available (Lee, 1985; Edwards and Bohlen, 1996). Another important factor is the additions of organic matter in the form of farmyard manure which have been found to increase earthworm populations under favourable soil conditions (Lofs-Holmin, 1983a; Hansen, 1996). Several studies found that the mass of earthworms were the highest in manured soil compared to unfertilized and mineral fertilized soils (Hansen and Engelstad,1999; Marhan and Scheu, 2005). The purpose of this study is therefore, was to identify the optimum soil moisture and level of fertilizer that can be used to increase the body mass of earthworms, Pheretima sp. during cultivation. The worms of the genus Pheretima are indigenous to Southeast Asia (Edwards and Lofty, 1972), and widely distributed in tropical rainforests with strongly acid soils. There were two treatments being tested in this experiment. In the moisture content treatments, four different levels of moisture level in soil were compared. As for the fertilizer treatment, the goat manure was added at two different levels and was compared with an unfertilized control. Aim The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effects of moisture content and fertilizers on the body mass of earthworms, Pheretima sp. under laboratory conditions. Any observed difference in body mass may then indicate the optimum soil moisture and fertilizer content which can improve the mass rearing of this species for commercial use. Materials and Methods Study site The study was carried out in the Animal House which is located at Level 8 of Building 3, Monash University, Sunway Campus commencing from 19th April 2010 to 10th May 2010 (22 days). The rearing conditions for Pheretima sp during the study consisted of containers (paper cup) held in continuous darkness at room temperature (25oC). Experimental design The earthworms, Pheretima sp. were obtained from a shop in Klang Valley. Each test container (paper cup) was inoculated with a sample size of five worms (n=5). Before the experiment commences, the initial body mass (Mi) of the worms in each containers was weighed using an analytical balance. Then, each container was added with 500 g of clay-brown soil which was obtained from the Green House of Monash University. Treatments used in this experiment are combinations of two factors, the level of fertilizer application and water application. The treatments were within a Complete Randomized Design (CRD) with 3 replications. All replications of treatments are assigned completely at random to independent experimental subjects. The relationship between three different levels of fertilizer treatment and four different levels of moisture treatment as they relate to the changes in the body mass of earthworms was examined with a split-plot factorial ANOVA, where fertilizer was a between group factor, and moisture content was a within group factor. This resulted in 12 (4 treatment level x 3 replicates) moisture containers in each (three) groups of different level of fertilizer, which made a total of 36 experimental units.

Hidden Surveillance Cameras Essay Example

Hidden Surveillance Cameras Essay Example Hidden Surveillance Cameras Essay Hidden Surveillance Cameras Essay Hidden surveillance cameras are an important topic because time and time again, the use of hidden cameras has given us better ways to catch criminals in the act. Did you see? has become an obsolete question; just go to the video. Imagine waking up to an intruder in your home, getting robbed at gun point or witnessing a crime being committed. I have experienced all of these events and although I wasn’t physically hurt, I was mentally scarred.At the times of these events there were no hidden surveillance cameras being used; therefore the aforementioned criminals weren’t caught. Today hidden surveillance cameras are more common around the world than most of us realize. They can be found in bus stops, convenience stores, fast food restaurants, homes, and ATM machines on almost every continent. Thesis Statement Hidden surveillance cameras make surveillance easier for business owners to reduce internal theft, insure the safety of your children while in daycare, and provide security for customers using ATM machines. Outline I. IntroductionA. Topic and Purpose B. Thesis Statement II. What are the pros and cons of hidden surveillance cameras for business owners? A. Reduce internal theft B. Keep employees honest C. Protect safety of employees D. Invading people’s privacy E. Mistrust among employees III. Hidden cameras are useful to parents that use childcare. A. Reduce the chances of child abuse B. Eliminates the opportunity for neglect C. Improve on safety 1. Rules/compliance D. Mistrust among child care provider IV. Hidden cameras at ATM’s and other public areas help reduce crime A. Protection for customers using the ATMB. Protect the ATM C. View other crimes in the area D. Criminals benefit from hidden surveillance cameras V. Conclusion Hidden Surveillance Cameras Hidden surveillance cameras have become a leading crime deterrent tool used for security in both homes and businesses around the world. With technology on the rise, hidden surveillance cameras can be made so small that they can be placed anywhere, allowing home owners and business owners to view wrong doings. This does create problems for some people because they feel that their privacy is being invaded (Stanely, 2013).People that use hidden surveillance cameras for more reasons than what it is intended for are committing a crime. Hidden surveillance cameras don’t prevent crime they just allow the criminals to be caught. Business owners use surveillance cameras to protect their property. They may use hidden surveillance cameras to prevent theft or to keep personnel in order. When cameras are not in plain sight, people can sometimes act in a manner that they normally wouldn’t (e. g. an employee stealing from a register or a person shoplifting).One concern that many have over the use of hidden surveillance cameras is that it can create mistrust among employees. Another concern is there is no way to tell if the placement of the cameras and the film is being used appropriately. The worst case scenarios such as placement in a dressing rooms or bedrooms are obvious (Stanely, 2013). Home owners use surveillance cameras to protect their homes from intruders, they also can use hidden surveillance cameras to view wrong doings inside the home (e. g. nannies). When cameras are not in plain sight, people can sometimes act in a manner that they normally wouldn’t.Imagine wanting to know how your child is being cared for while you’re away and to find out that your child is being abused or neglected. Imagine finding out that your child is not getting fed. For many parents the main benefit they receive from their hidden surveillance cameras is added peace of mind. They feel that technology gives them the added sense of peace that comes with knowing their children are happy and being well cared for (Roberts, 2009). It’s a relief to know that a person caring for your child or love one is following the rules and regulations set forth by the proper guidelines.Hidden surveillance cameras installed at ATM’s, protect costumers that are using it. Most crimes committed at ATM’s happen when a person’s back is turned but with hidden surveillance cameras the surrounding dangers can be captured on video. There is a drawback, people can hack into surveillance cameras at ATM’s and retrieve people’s information (e. g. passwords or account numbers) but having surveillance cameras at ATM’s or any public place can allow criminal to be caught (e. g. the Boston bombings). These two men would not have been caught so quickly if it had not been for surveillance cameras.In this paper, the pros definitely out way the cons for hidden surveillance cameras. I have demonstrated with examples, why the uses of hidden surveillance cameras are important. Installation of surveillance cameras can be very expensive but if crime is being deterred than it is well worth it. If a parent can feel more at ease knowing that child is being cared for properly, than it’s well worth it. If store owner can protect his/her property using hidden surveillance cameras, than it’s well worth it. Annotated Bibliography Bartell, C. (2010). Opposing Arguments to the Use of CCTV Security Camera Surveillance.Ezinearticles. com Retrieved from http://ezinearticles. com/? expert=Christine_Bartell As the use of CCTV cameras increases across the United States and globe, so does the debate over their numbers and motives. There are many arguments for video surveillance, including peace of mind, loss prevention, crime deterrence and crime solving, but what about the other side of the story. I chose this source because it touched on both sides of the argument. Roberts, W. (2009). The pros and cons of implementing nanny cams to spy on your nanny. Video-surveillance-guide. om Retrieved from video-surveillance-guide. com/nanny-cams-1. htm Many parents think of these cameras as the perfect solution that provides the peace of mind they need to know their family is being well cared for. There are, however, differing opinions on this trend. Some experts feel parents may be overlooking some key aspects of childcare by relying too heavily on these mini spy devices. I chose this source because it elaborates on the pros and cons of nanny cams to give people a choice whether or not to use them. Sofsian, D. (2011). Hidden Cameras: Pros and Cons.Ezinearticles. com Retrieved from http://EzineArticles. com/139013 The major use of Hidden Cameras is security. Almost all department stores, banks, hospitals, airports, casinos, etc. have Hidden Camera security systems. These cameras are connected to a monitor in the security cabin, which is continuously manned. Several cameras can be hooked onto the same monitor forming a CCTV network. CCTV Hidden Cameras are very popular security devices. I chose this source because Damien Sofsian has proven to be an expert author and has written hundreds of articles. Stanely, D. 2013). Pros and Cons of Hidden Public Cameras. Ehow. com Retrieved from ehow. com/info_8164001_pros-cons-hidden-public-cameras. html Depending on the usage, hidden cameras have become a controversial topic. Cameras that provide a live feed on peoples comings and goings are good for maintaining security and safety. Hidden public cameras often make people feel as though their privacy is being invaded. One concern that many have over the use of hidden public cameras is that there is no way to tell if the placement of the cameras is being used appropriately (i. . dressing rooms and bedrooms). I chose this source because it covered both sides of the argument. This source gave multiple examples and different scenarios that support each side. Winn, R. (2013). Video Surveillance and Surveillance Laws. Ezinearticles. com Retrieved from http://ezinearticles. com/? Video-Surveillance-and-Surveillance-Lawsamp;id=267213 Most camera surveillance is legal in the United States. The majority of surveillance laws concern the invasion of privacy with the use of covert video surveillance. The use of covert surveillance is particularly

Definition and Examples of Autobiography

Definition and Examples of Autobiography An autobiography is an account of a persons life written or otherwise recorded by that person. Adjective: autobiographical. Many scholars regard the Confessions (c. 398) by Augustine of Hippo (354–430) as the first autobiography. The term fictional autobiography (or pseudoautobiography) refers to novels that employ first-person narrators who recount the events of their lives as if they actually happened. Well-known examples include David Copperfield (1850) by Charles Dickens and Salingers  The Catcher in the Rye (1951). Some critics believe that all autobiographies are in some ways fictional. Patricia Meyer Spacks has observed that people do make themselves up. . . . To read  an autobiography is  to encounter a self as an imaginative being ( The Female Imagination, 1975). For the distinction between a memoir and an autobiographical composition, see memoir  as well as the examples and observations below.   Etymology From the Greek, self life write Examples of Autobiographical Prose Imitating the Style of the Spectator, by Benjamin FranklinLangston Hughes on HarlemOn the Street, by Emma GoldmanRitual in Maya Angelous Caged BirdThe Turbid Ebb and Flow of Misery, by Margaret SangerTwo Ways of Seeing a River, by Mark Twain Examples and Observations of Autobiographical Compositions An autobiography is an obituary in serial form with the last installment missing.(Quentin Crisp, The Naked Civil Servant, 1968)Putting a life into words rescues it from confusion even when the words declare the omnipresence of confusion, since the art of declaring implies dominance.(Patricia Meyer Spacks, Imagining a Self: Autobiography and Novel in Eighteenth-Century England. Harvard University Press, 1976)The Opening Lines of Zora Neale Hurstons Autobiography- Like the dead-seeming, cold rocks, I have memories within that came out of the material that went to make me. Time and place have had their say.So you will have to know something about the time and place where I came from, in order that you may interpret the incidents and directions of my life.I was born in a Negro town. I do not mean by that the black back-side of an average town. Eatonville, Florida, is, and was at the time of my birth, a pure Negro towncharter, mayor, council, town marshal and all. It was not the first Neg ro community in America, but it was the first to be incorporated, the first attempt at organized self-government on the part of Negroes in America.Eatonville is what you might call hitting a straight lick with a crooked stick. The town was not in the original plan. It is a by-product of something else. . . .(Zora Neale Hurston, Dust Tracks on a Road. J.B. Lippincott, 1942)- There is a saying in the Black community that advises: If a person asks you where youre going, you tell him where youve been. That way you neither lie nor reveal your secrets. Hurston had called herself the Queen of the Niggerati. She also said, I like myself when Im laughing. Dust Tracks on a Road is written with royal humor and an imperious creativity. But then all creativity is imperious, and Zora Neale Hurston was certainly creative.(Maya Angelou, Foreword to Dust Tracks on a Road, rpt. HarperCollins, 1996) Autobiography and TruthAll autobiographies are lies. I do not mean unconscious, unintentional lies; I mean deliberate lies. No man is bad enough to tell the truth about himself during his lifetime, involving, as it must, the truth about his family and friends and colleagues. And no man is good enough to tell the truth in a document which he suppresses until there is nobody left alive to contradict him.(George Bernard Shaw, Sixteen Self Sketches, 1898)Autobiography is an unrivaled vehicle for telling the truth about other people.(attributed to Thomas Carlyle, Philip Guedalla, and others)Autobiography and Memoir- An autobiography is the story of a life: the name implies that the writer will somehow attempt to capture all the essential elements of that life. A writers autobiography, for example, is not expected to deal merely with the authors growth and career as a writer but also with the facts and emotions connected to family life, education, relationships, sexuality, travels, and inn er struggles of all kinds. An autobiography is sometimes limited by dates (as in Under My Skin: Volume One of My Autobiography to 1949 by Doris Lessing), but not obviously by theme.Memoir, on the other hand, is a story from a life. It makes no pretense of replicating a whole life.(Judith Barrington, Writing the Memoir: From Truth to Art. Eighth Mountain Press, 2002)- Unlike autobiography, which moves in a dutiful line from birth to fame, memoir narrows the lens, focusing on a time in the writers life that was unusually vivid, such as childhood or adolescence, or that was framed by war or travel or public service or some other special circumstance.(William Zinsser, Introduction, Inventing the Truth: The Art and Craft of Memoir. Mariner Books, 1998) An Epidemical Rage for Auto-Biography[I]f the populace of writers become thus querulous after fame (to which they have no pretensions) we shall expect to see an epidemical rage for auto-biography break out, more wide in its influence and more pernicious in its tendency than the strange madness of the Abderites, so accurately described by Lucian. London, like Abdera, will be peopled solely by men of genius; and as the frosty season, the grand specific for such evils, is over, we tremble for the consequences. Symptoms of this dreadful malady (though somewhat less violent) have appeared amongst us before . . ..(Isaac DIsraeli, Review of The Memoirs of Percival Stockdale, 1809)|The Lighter Side of Autobiography- The Confessions of St. Augustine are the first autobiography, and they have this to distinguish them from all other autobiographies, that they are addressed directly to God.(Arthur Symons, Figures of Several Centuries, 1916)- I write fiction and Im told its autobiography, I write autobiography and Im told its fiction, so since Im so dim and theyre so smart, let them decide what it is or isnt.(Philip Roth, Deception, 1990)- Im writing an unauthorized autobiography.(Steven Wright) Pronunciation: o-toe-bi-OG-ra-fee

Charge Definition and Examples (Physics and Chemistry)

Charge Definition and Examples (Physics and Chemistry) In the context of chemistry and physics, charge usually refers to electric charge, which is a conserved property of certain subatomic particles that determines their electromagnetic interaction. Charge is a physical property that causes matter to experience a force within an electromagnetic field. Electric charges may be positive or negative in nature. If no net electric charge is present, the matter is considered to be neutral or uncharged. Like charges (e.g., two positive charges or two negative charges) repel each other. Dissimilar charges (positive and negative) attract each other. In physics, the term charge may also refer to color charge in the field of quantum chromodynamics. In general, charge refers to a generator of continuous symmetry in a system. Charge Examples in Science By convention, electrons have a charge of -1 while protons have a charge of 1. Another way of indicating charge is for an electron to have a charge of e and a proton to have a charge of e.Quarks possess what is known as color charge.Quarks may possess flavor charges, including charm and strangeness.Although hypothetical, magnetic charge has been postulated for electromagnetism. Units of Electric Charge The proper unit for electric charge is discipline-dependent. In chemistry, a capital letter Q is used to indicate charge in equations, with the elementary charge of an electron (e) as a common unit. The SI derived unit of charge is the coulomb (C). Electrical engineering often uses the unit ampere-hour (Ah) for charge.

The Moral Instinct by Pinker Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Moral Instinct by Pinker - Essay Example Moral judgments of certain actions and things have created conflict of views from different people across the world (Pinker 1-2). When it comes to decision-making, some people make judgments by rationalizing but they have no concrete explanation about the decision made. Other people use reasoning to explain why they have come up come up with certain decisions. According to Pinker (3-5), a group of neuroscientists has explained how different parts of a human brain assist them in reasoning and rationalization when making some decisions. By analogy, people possess universal moral senses that guide them to differentiate between right and wrong things. People show morality through the universal moral grammar they display when analyzing human actions even if the structure is different. However, the research conducted globally showed that moral judgments cannot be universal and the language used to express the opinions is not universal. People usually demonstrate varieties of molar experiences, these experiences revolve around five themes, and it depends on the environment they live. Additionally, the five spheres of morality can make the moral sense to be a global factor but it can be different at the same in different communities depending on their culture. Reassignment of activities to different spheres can attract different opinions from different people depending on their cultural backgrounds. Pinker states (5-7) that when the research considers fairness in the moral sense, it emerges that most people do good things to other in return for a repayment but few people are naturally generous. Several people are selfish and that why the go to extents of amoralizing so things for their selfish gains and if such a norm continues it will demote morality to a figment. To avoid degrading morality, people should be able to differentiate right things from the

Western Civilizations History Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Western Civilizations History - Research Paper Example Einstein explained the probability of sustained nuclear reaction which could have been made with the end result being a possible powerful bomb. Einstein went ahead to explain that these bombs, after their manufacture and when they are ready for use could be transported by ships even with a remote possibility that they could possibly be transported by planes. From the same understanding, Einstein made it clear that it was possible that Germany had already thought of this possibility and were probably thinking about starting production. This idea that Germany could be in production stage was arrived at after it was observed that they had suspended the uranium export that they had previously engaged in so as to use it to manufacture atomic bombs1. This kind of warning was taken seriously by the Roosevelt administration such that within one month, a research committee was constituted. A nuclear program was then introduced by the US under the guidance of Army Corps in the year 1942. This was in a bid to build a weapon before either Japan or Germany had the idea materialized into something lethal before America had their own systems of attack ready. In May of the same year, the president signed the authorization to develop a secret project that would bring about the development of a nuclear weapon. This project was said to be one of the largest projects ever carried out by the United States government. The engineers that were responsible for its construction were given a name that would not suggest the real agenda behind their secret discovery. They were therefore named the Manhattan Engineering District which was later to be referred to as the Manhattan Project. There was a corresponding British company that had the same agenda and they were called the Tube Alloys and it was incorporated to facilitate the development of this new discovery2. The discovery went on underground and the first major development was the manufacture of an atomic bomb in Los Alamos in New Me xico. The site was chiefly disguised as a school and the site produced two bombs whereby one was used to detonate plutonium and the other one was a weapon that resembled a gun in its features. Then there came the relevant search for a test site that would not draw much attention to the enemies. The site chosen was that which had scarce population in Alamogordo and it was given the code name trinity. July 16 of the year 1945 was when the detonation was carried out of the first ever atomic bomb. There was a crater created by the explosion that was more or less equivalent to nearly an amount of TNT close to 20, 000 tons. The Manhattan project managed to facilitate the production of three major bombs. The first one was given the name Gadget, still to avoid landing on the ears of the spies from the enemy countries. The Gadget was also used for test purposes but due to large expenses observed in further testing as the expenses would firmly reduce the rates of production; there were no fur ther unnecessary tests to be done. The two remaining atomic bombs were packed and made ready for Hiroshima and Nagasaki3. A plane that was specifically designed to carry one huge bomb left the Tinian air base on the sixth day of August in the year 1945 at around 2: 45 am. The bomb that was carried in this plane was set to change the course of history for decades to come. The simple plane that carried one simple cargo piece was bound for Hiroshima to facilitate a retaliatory attack and was set to drop the cargo in just about five hours from the departure time. Enola Gay, which was the name of the plane, carried the first bomb of this kind to be used in an area of such magnitude and population. The second such bomb was dropped about five days later. This one was majorly

The Impacts Of Music In Learning English Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

The Impacts Of Music In Learning English - Essay Example The variety of the forms of music means that not all forms of music can perform a specific function in the lives of human beings. The variety of the forms of music means that each form of music may be suitable for a specific form of task. For instance, there are love songs, blues, reggae as well as raga. Others include the pop, rap as well as gospel music. It is critical to note that different forms of music are always suitable for the work set up. These include such songs as smooth reggae, raga as well as pop songs. This paper is going to discuss some of the reasons to support the fact that using music to teach English is likely to make students learn English faster and show improved performance as well as good scores. In short, the paper is going to explore the impacts of music in learning English. In connection with the above, it is of crucial significance to note that music can also play significant roles in the education sector. The use of music in the education sector to teach students certain subjects may be associated with the increased performance of students (Alipour, 34). However, not all the students taught using music must show positive results. A fraction of the students may get absorbed into the music that they fail to understand the role of music in their lesson. A number of students may fail to understand that the music introduced during some lessons is geared towards ensuring that they understand the concepts of the subject being taught in an in-depth manner. However, on the other hand, the use of music in teaching the students may lead to a greater proportion of such students depicting better results. It is of critical significance to note that the use of music to help in teaching students English as a foreign language may lead to the improved and enhanced performance of those students in English (Alipour, 48).

Airline Passenger Security Screening Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Airline Passenger Security Screening - Essay Example The security of the aviation sector has been significantly strengthened over the past several years through the efforts of the Federal government working with State, local, and tribal governments, the international community, and the private sector, but One of the major steps taken was when in June 2006 President ordered the development of a comprehensive National Strategy for Aviation Security in which the Secretary of Homeland Security, in accordance with challenges identified in NSPD-47 and HSPD-16, was to coordinate the operational implementation of seven supporting plans. These plans are Aviation Transportation System Security Plan, Aviation Operational Threat Response Plan, Aviation Transportation System Recovery Plan, Air Domain Surveillance and Intelligence Integration Plan, International Aviation Threat Reduction Plan, Domestic Outreach Plan, and International Outreach Plan. Other plans such as Alien Flight Student Program were also implemented (AFSP) to ensure that foreign students seeking training at flight schools regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are not to be given flight training until Secretary of Homeland Security first determines that doing so will not pose a threat to aviation or national security. Although such plans might seem rude, but it's a necessary impoliteness to ensure safety. Q2: The Q2: The greatest threat faced by the United States aviation after the tragic event of September 11, 2001 at present is terrorism, and this incident can serve as the best case in point of the amount of damage and chaos that can be caused due to threats to aviation security. This can also serve as an example as to how with enhancements in security measures, terrorists have also shown ability to evolve and exploit weaknesses, and the amount of damage they can cause due to proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. All aircraft are under threat of onboard bombs, hijacking and use of standoff weapons, and these aircrafts can also be used as weapons to disrupt aviation transport system as mentioned in above example. Use of such unconventional attack methods by terrorists is not a recent phenomenon. Decade of 1970s has been a witness to it. Hijacking of Trans World Airlines Flight 847 in 1985; hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 in 1986 in Karachi, Pakistan; the destruction of Pan Am Flight 103 over Scotland in 1988 are just a few examples of religious extremism and state-sponsored terrorism. Interest to instigate terrorism can lie with terrorist groups, who are politically and religiously motivated, and kill civilians indiscriminately to fuel propaganda campaigns. Over time their capabilities have increased due to advancement in technology. It can lie with hostile nations, who have aggressive intentions and support terrorism. Some nations which are politically and economically weak, have weak infrastructure and leadership, can be host to terrorist groups unknowingly. Some domestic criminals with detailed knowledge of aviation sector can also be a great threat if exploited by external elements. Thus it is the need of the hour that United States take preemptive measures to counter terrorism threats, because although financial loss is great and can be recovered, but lives lost have no price. Q3: In United States, airport security is not controlled centrally, but is managed at state or local

Market Opportunity Analysis - Walmart Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Market Opportunity Analysis - Walmart - Essay Example Changing demographic data such as growing population, ethnic diversity, income, percentage of single parents and percentage of people living in metropolitan triggers four prospects—more food for growing population, more easy-to-prepare foods for single parent households, more variety of products for diversified people and more upgraded foods for individuals with higher incomes. (Umberger, Thilmany and Ziehl p9-13) Nowadays, consumers are changing their buying patterns to be online because of lower prices and available 24/7. Consumer tastes can be different based on another demographic factor: age. For example, consumers under 35 years old are most likely to be interested in domestics (73.3%), lawn & garden (71.4%), stationery (66.7%), personal care appliances (65.5%) and glasses and dishware (60.0%). (Negley) And the willingness to switch brands also depends on the age groups—for instance, consumers over 50 years old have strongest loyalties. Jennifer Negley also claimed that the loyalties of consumers were falling down. It could be seen in groceries and canned food products which possessed 84% loyalty in 1993 and shifted to 73% in 1997. Wal-Mart, the largest retailer in the world, is operating in the highly competitive retail industry in both local US market and international market. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is based in Bentonville, Arkansas, and comprises of four separate retail segments namely Wal-Mart Supercenters, Discount Stores, Neighborhood Markets, and SAM’S CLUB. As of January 31, 2010, the company operated 2,612 Supercenters ,891 Discount Stores, 153 Neighborhood Markets and 602 SAM'S CLUB warehouses and in the United States. (Wal-Mart Annual Report, p 14) There are 3,615 Wal-Mart units outside US including countries such as Mexico, Canada, Brazil, UK, China and Germany. The retail products available at Wal-Mart include general merchandise such as household goods, apparels, jewelry, health & beauty products, electronics, toys, fabrics, shoes, garden appliances and crafts. Along with other retailers in the industry like Kmart and Sear, Wal-Mart is facing the changing consumer buying patterns and prefere nces. The essence of Wal-Mart’s success is its ability to purchase a huge amount of goods and re-sell them to customers with lower prices. It also intends to sell quality products at the same time. So, it would be a high risk if it could not predict correctly on which items to be purchased to meet the changing consumer tastes. As we learned that consumers from different places prefer separate items, it may affect on setting localization strategy for each international unit. Next, as Wal-Mart is selling many products across several product lines, it is more inflexible to change compared to its competitors who only focus on one or two product lines. If consumers change their tastes in one product line, the competitors can adapt with customers’ preferences more easily than Wal-Mart can. Moreover, it is vital to catch up with changing consumer’s online behaviors for the effects can be critical for how Wal-Mart’s online store should be shaped. 2. How well are these changes in customer tastes and preferences being reflected in competitive strategies in the industry? Changes in customer tastes and preferences are reflected in competitive strategies pursued by different retailers in the industry. Competitive strategies help an organization to build a competitive advantage which is the result of having superior performance over competitors. (Hill) And that advantage makes a

Airline Passenger Security Screening Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Airline Passenger Security Screening - Essay Example The security of the aviation sector has been significantly strengthened over the past several years through the efforts of the Federal government working with State, local, and tribal governments, the international community, and the private sector, but One of the major steps taken was when in June 2006 President ordered the development of a comprehensive National Strategy for Aviation Security in which the Secretary of Homeland Security, in accordance with challenges identified in NSPD-47 and HSPD-16, was to coordinate the operational implementation of seven supporting plans. These plans are Aviation Transportation System Security Plan, Aviation Operational Threat Response Plan, Aviation Transportation System Recovery Plan, Air Domain Surveillance and Intelligence Integration Plan, International Aviation Threat Reduction Plan, Domestic Outreach Plan, and International Outreach Plan. Other plans such as Alien Flight Student Program were also implemented (AFSP) to ensure that foreign students seeking training at flight schools regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are not to be given flight training until Secretary of Homeland Security first determines that doing so will not pose a threat to aviation or national security. Although such plans might seem rude, but it's a necessary impoliteness to ensure safety. Q2: The Q2: The greatest threat faced by the United States aviation after the tragic event of September 11, 2001 at present is terrorism, and this incident can serve as the best case in point of the amount of damage and chaos that can be caused due to threats to aviation security. This can also serve as an example as to how with enhancements in security measures, terrorists have also shown ability to evolve and exploit weaknesses, and the amount of damage they can cause due to proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. All aircraft are under threat of onboard bombs, hijacking and use of standoff weapons, and these aircrafts can also be used as weapons to disrupt aviation transport system as mentioned in above example. Use of such unconventional attack methods by terrorists is not a recent phenomenon. Decade of 1970s has been a witness to it. Hijacking of Trans World Airlines Flight 847 in 1985; hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 in 1986 in Karachi, Pakistan; the destruction of Pan Am Flight 103 over Scotland in 1988 are just a few examples of religious extremism and state-sponsored terrorism. Interest to instigate terrorism can lie with terrorist groups, who are politically and religiously motivated, and kill civilians indiscriminately to fuel propaganda campaigns. Over time their capabilities have increased due to advancement in technology. It can lie with hostile nations, who have aggressive intentions and support terrorism. Some nations which are politically and economically weak, have weak infrastructure and leadership, can be host to terrorist groups unknowingly. Some domestic criminals with detailed knowledge of aviation sector can also be a great threat if exploited by external elements. Thus it is the need of the hour that United States take preemptive measures to counter terrorism threats, because although financial loss is great and can be recovered, but lives lost have no price. Q3: In United States, airport security is not controlled centrally, but is managed at state or local

Marketing Ethics at Apple Inc Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Marketing Ethics at Apple Inc - Essay Example Both of them left college without graduating in order to launch their dream company. Owing to the fact that they did not have enough capital to buy offices, they started by working out in a garage. The idea that there were two young people who so believed in what they were able to create that they even left university to do it is what inspires so many people about Apple. Steve Jobs is still viewed by many as the genius who literally inspired many people to begin to love computers. Jobs was behind Apple’s first technological marvels such as Macintosh, Apple brand, and Power Mac computers (Lashinsky 2012). Apple Computer’s iconic advertisement that ran during the 1984 Super Bowl so inspired people that they actually snatched fliers from Apple’s representatives at the end of the games (Lashinsky 2012). Apple’s profile suffered a momentary lapse shortly after the success of Macintosh when Steve Jobs left the company after a power struggle (O'Grady 2009). His return, more than 10 years later, marked another period of prosperity for Apple. People began to associate Apple’s success with Steve Jobs. In 2001, Apple launched the Apple iPod. The ingenuity of this device had other electronics companies scrambling and trying to produce duplicates of it that had more operations than Apple’s model. None, though, was considered by the public to be as good as the original. Many attribute Apple’s success to the extraordinary crea tivity of its late CEO Steve Jobs. When he succumbed to cancer in 2011, many technology experts were convinced that Apple would never be able to find another like him. Good Marketing Ethics at Apple Inc. Throughout its existence, Apple has tried to make sure that its workers always exhibit the appropriate conduct in all circumstances. It believes that it owes its success to the creation of high-quality and innovative products as well as the demonstration of uprightness in every business transaction (Shaw 2003). Apple holds that respect, honesty, compliance and confidentiality are the qualities that denote business integrity (Linzmayer 2004). To include these values into its workforce, Apple has outlined a code of conduct that is observed in all its branches worldwide. It has also availed more detailed policies that concern conflict of interest, corporate governance, and rules on how to report any instances of questionable conduct (Lashinsky 2012). Furthermore, Apple offers its worke rs a Business Conduct Helpline through which they can testify on any misconduct to the corporation’s Audit and Finance team. To stress on its pledge to ensure dependable supplier conduct, Apple issues a yearly Apple Supplier Responsibility statement that clarifies its audit conclusions, supplier expectations and the remedial actions the corporation will take against foreign branches where violations have taken place (Lashinsky 2012). Apple commodities are intended to have a lengthier lifespan as the hardware is created from sturdy materials such as aluminum and recyclable glass. The operating system is created to be useful even after years of being in the market (Alas, Ennulo and Turnpuu 2006). Owing to this fact, Apple’s commodities do not have to be replaced as often as those of other electronics corporations. This leads to fewer products being consumed, and less demand put on the large-scale workforce. If demand as well as world population were to decrease, Apple ma nufactured goods would be the primary products to be ethically sustainable due to the fact that they can be created by workers who are not overburdened with work or live in cramped quarters (Lashinsky 2012).

World history Essay Example for Free

World history Essay World history, global history or transnational history (not to be confused with diplomatic or international history) is a field of historical study that emerged as a distinct academic field in the 1980s. It examines history from a global perspective. It is not to be confused with comparative history, which, like world history, deals with the history of multiple cultures and nations, but does not do so on a global scale. World History looks for common patterns that emerge across all cultures. World historians use a thematic approach, with two major focal points: integration (how processes of world history have drawn people of the world together) and difference (how patterns of world history reveal the diversity of the human experience). History (from Greek á ¼ ±ÃÆ'Ï„Î ¿Ã ÃŽ ¯ÃŽ ± historia, meaning inquiry, knowledge acquired by investigation It is the study of the past, specifically how it relates to humans. It is an umbrella term that relates to past events as well as the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about these events. The term includes cosmic, geologic, and organic history, but is often generically implied to mean human history. Scholars who write about history are called historians. Events occurring prior to written record are considered prehistory. History can also refer to the academic discipline which uses a narrative to examine and analyse a sequence of past events, and objectively determine the patterns of cause and effect that determine them. Historians sometimes debate the nature of history and its usefulness by discussing the study of the discipline as an end in itself and as a way of providing perspective on the problems of the present.

Motivation of Employees in an Organisation

Motivation of Employees in an Organisation INTRODUCTION Motivation is the force that drives humans to work hard towards achieving either their personal or organizational goals; giving our best performance at work is not just a function of ability but experience , reward and most importantly motivation, characteristics that are required in order to achieve anything in life. To motivate means to inspire, instigate and encourage a person to do their best in an organization although Bruce and Pepitone (1998) maintain that motivation is inbuilt therefore people will only do that which is in their own interest and managers cannot influence their employees but can only influence what they are motivated to do. Gallager et al. (1997) also state that human beings are purposeful and continually select goals that are important to us and find ways to achieve them. When an employee joins an organization, he/she comes with certain needs that vary from employee to employee and affect his/her performance. Some of these needs are physiological; others are related to psychological and social values. (Robins 2000:44) is of the opinion that â€Å"An unsatisfied need creates tension, which stimulates drives within the individual. These drives generate a search for particular goals that, if attained, will satisfy the need and lead to reduction of tension†. He further states that an employee will engage in activities according to the level of tension, the more tension an employee develops the more activities he will indulge in. So it then implies that an employee who is highly motivated will indulge in more work. For a manager or leader in an organization, it might be very difficult to learn effectively how to motivate each employee as the method used to motivate each employee must be specific to the individual. Motivated employees are of great im portance within an organization; they propel the organization forward by positively influencing the work atmosphere and attitude, customer orientation and company attitude. There are various reasons why employees need to be motivated or are motivated, it could possibly be just for self derived satisfaction that comes with no evident reward other than the activity itself or just to get rewarded or to avoid punishment in addition to attaining a certain level of achievement, Harrison 2007 suggest that some employees may seem spurred on by the need to â€Å"win† while others might be encouraged by the opportunity to learn something different or new. Certain individuals work harder than others resulting in individuals of lesser ability performing better than their gifted counterparts; this implies that an individuals performance depends not only on ability but on motivation as well. Kressler (2003) believes that motivation is not only relative but depends heavily on individual circumstances as one goal might be too high for one employee another might see it as too low even though they are both capable of achieving it whereas Maddock and Fulton (1998) are of the opinion that motivation rarely or does not vary with individual differences or circumstances. Various theories have been developed over times that try to explain the diverse reasons for motivation; these theories have three basic groups (Naylor, 2004). GROUP ONE: CONTENT THEORIES The content theories explain the internal factors that drive a human being and what directs human behavior. The most famous of this category is Abraham Maslows hierarchy of needs: physiological, safety, affection, esteem and self-actualization. Maslow (1987) points out that human beings are wanting animals and rarely reach a state of complete satisfaction. Simons,Irwin and Drinnien(1987) say Maslow describes the five levels of basic needs of humans in hierarchical order and beyond these needs, higher levels of needs exist although a person does not feel the need to satisfy the next one until the present demand has been met. Montana and Charnov (2000) feel that Maslow didnt mean to imply that any of these basic needs would be satisfied totally and that a small level of satisfaction of any need is enough for the individual to move on to the next. Alderfers theory is a compressed version of Maslows five hierarchy of needs which suggests just three levels: existence needs which relate to physiological and security needs of Maslow, relatedness needs which is closely linked to Maslows social, self esteem and safety needs, and growth needs which relate to self esteem and self actualization, he further argues that the more that growth needs are satisfied , the more they might increase in intensity, in addition to that he says two needs can be activated at the same time. Gallagher et al. (1997) And there is Frederick Herzbergs Two-Factor Theory that says there are two different factors that affect motivation at work: hygiene factors and motivator factors (Herzberg, Mausner and Snyderman 1959). Herzberg (1968) developed this theory with people at work as his main concern saying that the hygiene factors (adequate pay, comfortable office, clean and quiet working conditions) if not gotten right by managers will force people to complain thereby leading to demotivation and there will be no complain if they are gotten right. Another content theory is that which was developed by McClelland (1973) who is of the opinion that drive and need are two terms for a motivational process and one cannot be preferred to the other. The McClellands Acquired Needs Theory identifies the fact that every human has a different list of priority when it comes to needs and individuals are not born with these needs but acquire them through experience, he associates each need with a distinct set of work preferences, and managers can help tailor the working environment to meet these needs. GROUP TWO: PROCESS THEORIES Process theories link several factors that make up motivation and are much more complex than the content theories because of the diverse perspectives involved. There are four main approaches based on job characteristics, expectancy, equity and goal- setting. The goal setting theory says that setting goals can be a major source of motivation to employees. Robbins (2000) adds that goals that are difficult to achieve bring about a higher level of result than goals that require little or no effort. Armstrong and Stephens (2005) suggest that feedback is a very important part of the process in order to maintain motivation and especially towards achieving even higher goals. The equity theory by Adams (1965) suggests that when people are treated equally, there will be more motivation to perform better in a workplace. This theory is mainly concerned with how people are treated in relation to other people. The expectancy theory (Mitchell, 1982) is one of the few theories of work motivation that focus on values. The theory implies that people are more likely to choose a course of action that maximizes their utilities and is rather situation specific and not domain-specific (Erez and Earley, 1993). The job characteristics model developed by Hackman and Oldham is built on earlier research between job characteristics and the response of individuals to their work, stating that this theory consists of five job characteristics which are skill variety, task identity, task significance, autonomy, and feedback (Hollyforde Whiddett, 2002). (Hackman, Lawler, Porter, 1983) are of the opinion that these job characteristics create three critical psychological states which lead to a number of beneficial personal and work outcomes. GROUP THREE: REINFORCEMENT THEORIES This is a theory based on the argument that behavior is influenced by the consequences of previous actions; it assumes that a person has been motivated to take a particular action and is only concerned with the response generated (Hollyforde Whiddett, 2002).There are four types of reinforcement depending on the employees behavior: positive reinforcement resulting from satisfying consequences, this action can increase the probability that the behavior will be repeated; avoidance reinforcement which is the removal of undesirable consequences; punishment- where undesirable consequences can be taken away for example, the removal of privileges an employee has and finally, extinction which is the removal of rewards (Naylor, 2004). Employee motivation techniques vary from organization to organization. However, they all have the same goal, getting employees to want to do their job better and more efficiently. Not every motivational technique, management practice or benefit works for every company as there are no particular set of rules and every employee has a different need from the other (Messmer, 2001). Through effective employee motivation techniques a company can get much better performance out of their employees. One technique to motivate employees that works really well is the employee of the month. This highlights a single individual who has shown outstanding drive, performance and effort for the given month. It is usually good to have an awards ceremony or to give out this award at management meeting. This simple technique will definitely motivate employees. Other effective employee motivation techniques include competitions between teams in order to get projects completed faster, awards for perfect attendance, and awards for jobs well done. It has been said by (Thomas, 2004) that a manager must have a clear picture of what motivates himself in order to understand what motivates others. (Armstrong Stephens, 2005) Argue that there is no research evidence showing that there exists a strong and positive relationship between job satisfaction and performance, as a satisfied employee is not necessarily a high performer and a high performer is not necessarily a satisfied worker. REFERENCES Adams, J. (1965). Social Exchange, in Advances in Experimental Psycology. new york: academic press. Armstrong, M., Stephens, T. (2005). A Handbook of Employee Reward Management and Practices. Kogan page Limited. Bruce, A., Pepitone, J. S. (1998). Motivating Employees. McGraw hill. Gallagher, K., Ed, R., McClelland, B., Reynolds, J., Tombs, S. (1997). People in Organisations An active learning Approach. oxford: Blackwell publishers Ltd. Hackman, R. j., Lawler, E. E., Porter, L. W. (1983). Perspectives on Behavior in Organisations. McGraw-Hill,Inc. Harrison, R. (1997). Employee Development. wiltshire: cromwell press. Herzberg, F. (1968, july 11). One More Time: How To Nurture Motivation. pp. 52-53. Herzberg, F., Mausner, B., Snydermaan, B. (1959). The Motivation To Work. new york: Wiley. Hollyforde, s., Whiddett, S. (2002). Developing practice: The motivation handbook. wiltshire: cromwell press. Kressler, H. (2003). Motivate and Reward: Performance Appraisal and Incentive Systems for Business Success. Palgrave Macmillan. Maddock, R. C., Fulton, R. L. (1998). Motivation,Emotions and Leadership: The silent side of management. Greenwood publishing Group. Maslow, A. H. (1987). Motivation and Personality . Harper and Row publishers Inc. McClelland, D. s., Steele, R. S. (1973). Human Motivation A book of Readings. Morristown: General learning press. Messmer, M. (2001). Motivating Employees for Dummies. Wiley publishing. Miriam, E. (1993). culture, self identity and work. oxford: oxford university press. Mitchell, T. R. (1982). Motivation: New Directions for Theory Research and Practice. Academy of managment , 80-88. Montana, P. J., Charnov, B. H. (2000). Management. Hauppage: Barrons Educational Series, Inc. Naylor, J. (2004). Management. prentice hall. Robbins, S. P. (2000). Essentials of Organisational Behavior. Prentice Hall. Simons, J. A., Irwin, D. B., Drinnien, B. A. (1987). Maslows Heirachy of Needs from Psycology The search for understanding. New york: West Publishing company. Thomas, N. (2004). Concise Adair on Teambuilding and Motivation. Thorogood.

Royal Caribbean International Case Analysis Essay examples -- Royal Ca

1. Introduction Deep-sea passenger transportation are amongst the most rapidly growing and evolving sectors in the hospitality industry(Wie, 2004, Douglas et al., 2010). As such, there underscores the need for strategy development to ensure the long-term success of firms in this industry. This report would focus on Royal Caribbean International's operations in Singapore, and analyze it based on its external and internal environments, while concluding with a recommendation of strategies that could be adopted as part of the organization's long-term strategic trajectory. Founded in 1968, the firm is part of the Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. which provides one-stop vacation services that includes hotel, dining and entertainment. Additionally, land tours, stopovers and airport transfer services have also been offered in recent years to maximize the customer experience(Royal Caribbean International, n.d.). 2. External Analysis 2.1 PESTLE Analysis Various academics have highlighted the critical role that the PESTLE framework plays in aiding organizations to analyze its external environment(Johnson et al., 2012; Senior and Swailes, 2010; Gomez-Mejia and Balkin, 2011). Political: Owing to the welcoming attitude maintained towards foreign firms, low levels of corruption, stable political climate, and good relations with neighboring countries (MarketLine, 2013), there is little political risk faced in Singapore. Economy: Singapore's economy is relatively stable and growing, albeit being slightly affected by global economic woes. As a whole, there are low levels of unemployment and GDP per capita is high(Worldbank,2013), hence implying more disposable income that nationals have to spend. Nonetheless, spurred on by soaring ... ...n Technology to Drive Productivity. Today: October 14. [Online]. Available at: http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/hotels-ride-technology-drive-productivity?page=1. [Accessed 15 April. 2014]. The World Bank (2013): Doing Business 2013, Washington, DC: International Bank For Reconstruction and Development/ The World Bank. [Online]. Available at: http://www.doingbusiness.org/~/media/GIAWB/Doing%20Business/Documents/Annual-Reports/English/DB13-full-report.pdf. [Accessed 15 April. 2014]. The World Bank. 2013. Singapore Overview. World Bank Group. [Online]. Available at: http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/singapore/overview. [Accessed 15 April. 2014]. Yi, S., Day, J. and Cai, L.A. (2014): 'Exploring Tourist Perceived Value: An Investigation of Asian Cruise Tourist' Travel Experience', Journal of Quality Assurance in Hospitality and Tourism, 15: 63-77

Close Reading of Merwin’s Odysseus Essay

The subject in W.S. Merwin’s poem â€Å"Odysseus† feels comfortable only at sea, and, because such a notion is atypical, he cannot articulate or understand where his true home actually is. oAt peace at sea: â€Å"patience / He has wedded to† Numerous islands, but â€Å"one to call ‘home’,† even though he Merwin never specifies which island Odysseus really calls home   Ã¢â‚¬Å"which †¦ / Was the one he kept sailing home to?† †¢W.S. Merwin’s speaker in â€Å"Odysseus† is concerned about his romantic interests. â€Å"Wedded† to his adventures, he experiences a schism when interacting with the women he meets on various islands. oâ€Å"Put before him, the unraveling patience / He was wedded to† â€Å"There were the islands / Each with its woman† Odysseus seems to have a woman on each island, and, not knowing which island is home, seems not to be particularly loyal to any one of them. oIndeed, Odysseus later even says that â€Å"The knowledge of all that he betrayed / Grew till it was the same whether he stayed / Or went.† The only constant in his life is, certainly, his oceanic adventure, which, while there may be many, never change noticeably in c ontent. †¢A world-weary Odysseus relives his adventures in a repetitive, never-changing cycle, losing sight of the difference between ill-wishers and home. oJaded tone: â€Å"always the setting forth was the same,† â€Å"he had got nowhere but older,† â€Å"identical reproaches,† â€Å"it was the same whether he stayed or went† †¢The speaker in â€Å"Odysseus† roams the world, traveling in repetitive circles, hoping to allay the guilt that plagues him for â€Å"betray[ing]† so many women. oClaiming that â€Å"The knowledge of all that he betrayed / Grew till it was the same whether he stayed / Or went,† Odysseus looks for solace from the guilt he experiences from not staying true to any one woman. oWhile his days are repetitive and unchanging, his adventures are a constant, and Odysseus is able to consider himself â€Å"wedded† to that â€Å"unraveling patience† he can keep coming back to after days on land. †¢While Merwin’s speaker in Odysseus at times is unable to differentiate between those who wish him perils and those who remain remote and true, he continuously sails â€Å"home,† even while unable to define where home really is. â€Å"What wonder / If sometimes he could not remember / Which was the one who wished on his departure / Perils that he could never sail through, / And which, improbable, remote, and true, / Was the one he kept sailing home to?† Merwin rhetorically asks the listener to judge whether it really is Odysseus’s fault that he cannot distinguish between his ill-wishers and his home community. oWho is wishing Odysseus perils? Quite possible one of the women to which he was disloyal, and because there have been so many (every island, apparently), he now knows not which women still love him and which do not. †¢W.S. Merwin describes in his poem â€Å"Odysseus† the rift many experience when separating themselves from their interpretations of the norm. oOdysseus is accustomed to life as a traveler, with no real home on land. He also does not appear to be married to a woman; rather, he claims to be â€Å"wedded to† an â€Å"unraveling patience.† However, while he is habituated to his daily life, to an outsider, Odysseus lives atypically. oOdysseus recognizes this fissure, but instead of living comfortably without regards to how others perceive him, he questions himself and attempts to shape his world into a way that outsiders would understand.

Should Doug Hann Be Expelled- Argument Essay

Quincy Day Eng. 095 Mrs. Dahlin October 31, 2012 Should Doug Hann be Expelled Racism, a word that describes people that have hatred for others cause of their race, sexual orientation, religion and sex just to name a few. It exists everywhere especially in our universities, there’s a article written by one Nat Hentoff about a Caucasian male being expelled for racial slurs he direction to other students his name is Doug Hann. Doug Hann broke the rules and lashed out verbally on innocent students so yes he should be expelled.He’s hiding behind the free speech amendment â€Å"Freedom of Speech,† which usually all racists do to get away with their actions. According to the president of Brown University, there’s an agreement that every new student signs before he or she attends the university. In this agreement it gives a list of standards of acceptable behavior at Brown university that has been read for more than 10 years by entering students who agree in writi ng to abide by them. Now prior to this event Hann was involved in another incident with a Brown student.He was in an encounter with a fellow student at a fraternity bar, while intoxicated again, he called the guy a NIGGER! So it’s not like this is something Hann just did, it’s something he is known to do especially while being drunk, so he’s trying to hide behind the 1st amendment :Freedom of Speech Now don’t quote me on this but Freedom of Speech means freedom to speak freely where you don’t have to ask for permission to speak right. You know that saying â€Å"when your drunk you speak the truth of what’s on your mind? So I believe he did it knowingly and purposely and he needs to be drunk to do it. The argument is that Hann didn’t act on anything so it’s called Freedom of Speech. Really? Don’t you think saying what you think is acting out on your thoughts. Now speaking freely is not directed at anyone its speaking so people can hear usually a message or scripture or things that we want the public or community to hear. Now we can argue all day about whether or not its freedom of speech and so n but what about the rules he broke in the process? That has to be enforced or that whole agreement is null and void. If anything that is one thing that the universities in American do and will continue doing is upholding the rules. Rules are made for a reason, without rules there would be no structure and we would be in utter chaos. So either way you look at it rules were broken and consequences were handed out. He’s the first to be expelled and the first to break the rules, there’s always going to be a first time for everyone.When that first time comes are we just suppose to overlook it, of course not. The constitution also states that were all created equal, so that means the rules apply to everyone. So Hann needs to man up and take the consequence that were handed to him I bet you anything this is not going to be the end of Hann and his racial slurs. Works Cited Hentoff, Nat. â€Å"Should This Student Have Been Expelled† 75 Readings Plus 9th Edition Edu. Sani V. Buscemi and Charlotte Smith. New York: Mcgraw Hill 2010. 398-402 print

Mercedes Benz Essay

Mercedes-Benz (German pronunciation: [mÉ›Ê Ã‹Ë†tÍ ¡seË dÉ™s ˈbÉ›ntÍ ¡s]) is a multinational division of the German manufacturer Daimler AG, and the brand is used for luxury automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is headquartered in Stuttgart, Baden-Wà ¼rttemberg, Germany. The name first appeared in 1926 under Daimler-Benz but traces its origins to Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft’s 1901 Mercedes and to Karl Benz’s 1886 Benz Patent Motorwagen, which is widely regarded as the first automobile. Mercedes-Benz’s slogan is â€Å"Das Beste oder nichts† (English: â€Å"The best or nothing†). Mercedes-Benz is part of the â€Å"German Big 3† luxury automakers, along with Audi and BMW, which are the three best selling luxury automakers in the world.[1][2] Contents [hide] Karl Benz made the 1886 Benz Patent Motorwagen, which is widely regarded as the first automobile, in Mannheim, Germany Mercedes-Benz traces its origins to Karl Benz’s creation of the first petrol-powered car, the Benz Patent Motorwagen, patented in January 1886[3] and Gottlieb Daimler and engineer Wilhelm Maybach’s conversion of a stagecoach by the addition of a petrol engine later that year. The Mercedes automobile was first marketed in 1901 by Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft. The first Mercedes-Benz brand name vehicles were produced in 1926, following the merger of Karl Benz’s and Gottlieb Daimler’s companies into the Daimler-Benz company.[3] Throughout the 1930s, Mercedes-Benz produced the 770 model, a car that was popular during Germany’s Nazi period. Adolf Hitler was known to have driven multiple of these cars during his time in power, with bulletproof windshields. Most of the surviving models have been sold at auctions to private buyers. One of them is currently on display at the War Museum in Ottawa, Ontario. Mercedes-Benz has introduced many technological and safety innovations that later became common in other vehicles.[4] Mercedes-Benz is one of the best known and established automotive brands in the world, and is also the world’s oldest automotive brand still in existence today. For information relating to the famous three-pointed star, see under the title Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft including the merger into Daimler-Benz. Subsidiaries and alliances[edit source | editbeta] As part of the Daimler AG company, the Mercedes-Benz Cars division includes Mercedes-Benz and Smart car production.[5] Mercedes-AMG[edit source | editbeta] Mercedes-AMG became a majority owned division of Mercedes-Benz in 1998.[6] The company was integrated into DaimlerChrysler in 1999,[7] and became Mercedes-Benz AMG beginning on 1 January 1999.[8] Mercedes-Benz McLaren[edit source | editbeta] Between 2003 and 2009, Mercedes-Benz produced a limited-production sports car with McLaren Cars. The resulting Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren was an extension of the collaboration by which Mercedes engines are used by the Team McLaren-Mercedes Formula One racing team, which was then part owned by Mercedes. McLaren ceased production of the SLR in 2009 and went on to develop its own car, the McLaren MP4-12C, launched in 2011. Maybach[edit source | editbeta] Daimler’s ultra-luxury brand Maybach was under Mercedes-Benz cars division until 2013, when the production stopped due to poor sales volumes. Production[edit source | editbeta] Factories[edit source | editbeta] Besides its native Germany, Mercedes-Benz vehicles are also manufactured or assembled in: Argentina – manufactures buses, trucks and the Sprinter van. This is the first Mercedes-Benz factory outside of Germany. Built in 1951.[9] Austria (G-Class)[10] Bosnia and Herzegovina Brazil[11] – manufactures trucks and buses. Established in 1956. The A-Class (W168) was produced from 1999 to 2005 and the C-Class was produced until 2010 as well. Canada China Egypt via Egyptian German Automotive Company Hungary[12] India (Pune)[13] India, Chennai (Daimler India Commercial Vehicle ) – Trucks & Engine Manufacturing unit India, Bangalore (R&D) Indonesia[14] Iran (not since 2010[15]) Malaysia[16] Mexico – (Mercedes-Benz Mexico fully manufactures some Mercedes and Daimler vehicles completely from locally built parts (C-Class, E-Class, M-Class, International trucks, Axor, Atego, and Mercedes Buses), manufactures other models in complete knock down kits (CL-Class, CLK-Class, SL-Class, SLK-Class) and manufactures a select number of models in semi knockdown kits which use both imported components and locally sourced Mexican components (S-Class, CLS-Class, R-Class, GL-Class, Sprinter). Nigeria[17] – assembly of buses, trucks, utility motors and the Sprinter van Philippines Russia – joint venture Mercedes-Benz Car Trucks Vostok in Naberezhnye Chelny (jointly Kamaz) .Available in trucks Actros, Axor, multi-purpose auto four wheel drive medium trucks Unimog. Spain – factory at Vitoria-Gasteiz, Mercedes-Benz Vito, Viano and V-Class have been built there. South Africa[18] South Korea – Mercedes-Benz Musso and MB100 models manufactured by SsangYong Motor Company. Thailand – assembly of C, E and S class vehicles by the Thonburi Group[19] Turkey (Mercedes-Benz Tà ¼rk A.Åž.)[20] United Kingdom – the SLR sports car was built at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking. Brackley, Northamptonshire, is home to the Mercedes Grand Prix factory, and Brixworth, Northamptonshire is the location of Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines United States – the Mercedes-Benz M-Class Sport Utility, the R-Class Sport Tourer, and the full-sized GL-Class Luxury Sport Utility Vehicle are all built at the Mercedes-Benz U.S. International production facility near Tuscaloosa, Alabama.[21] Trucks (6,000 per year in the late seventies) were once assembled in Hampton, VA.[22] Vietnam – assembly of passenger cars and commercial vehicles. Established in 1995.[23] Jordan : buses company factory Elba House, Amman . Quality rankings[edit source | editbeta] Since its inception, Mercedes-Benz had maintained a reputation for its quality and durability. Objective measures looking at passenger vehicles, such as J. D. Power surveys, demonstrated a downturn in reputation in these criteria in the late 1990s and early 2000s. By mid-2005, Mercedes temporarily returned to the industry average for initial quality, a measure of problems after the first 90 days of ownership, according to J. D. Power.[24] In J. D. Power’s Initial Quality Study for the first quarter of 2007, Mercedes showed dramatic improvement by climbing from 25th to 5th place and earning several awards for its models.[25] For 2008, Mercedes-Benz’s initial quality rating improved by yet another mark, to fourth place.[26] On top of this accolade, it also received the Platinum Plant Quality Award for its Mercedes’ Sindelfingen, Germany assembly plant.[26] J. D. Power’s 2011 US Initial Quality and Vehicle Dependability Studies both ranked Mercedes-Benz vehicles above average in build quality and reliability.[27][28] In the 2011 UK J. D. Power Survey, Mercedes cars rated above average.[29] Models[edit source | editbeta] Mercedes-Benz A-Class (compact) Mercedes-Benz C-Class (D-segment) Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class (4-door coupà ©) Mercedes-Benz E-Class (Executive car) Mercedes-Benz S-Class (luxury sedan) Mercedes-Benz SL-Class (sportscar) Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series (supercar) Mercedes-Benz M-Class (luxury SUV) Current model range[edit source | editbeta] Mercedes-Benz carries a full range of passenger, light commercial and heavy commercial equipment. Vehicles are manufactured in multiple countries worldwide. The Smart marque of city cars and Maybach luxury cars are also produced by Daimler AG. Models: A-Class – Hatchback B-Class – Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV) C-Class – Saloon, Estate & Coupà © CL-Class – Luxury Coupà © CLA-Class – 4 Door Coupà © CLS-Class – 4 Door Coupà © E-Class – Saloon, Estate, Coupà © and Cabriolet G-Class – Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) GL-Class – Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) GLA-Class – Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) GLK-Class – Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) M-Class – Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) R-Class – Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV) S-Class – Luxury Sedan SL-Class – Roadster SLK-Class – Roadster SLS AMG – Coupà © and Roadster Viano – Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV) Citan – Mini MPV Trucks[edit source | editbeta] See also: List of Mercedes-Benz trucks Mercedes-Benz Zetros used for snowplowing Unimog, a famous allround vehicle by Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz Trucks is now part of the Daimler Trucks division, and includes companies that were part of the DaimlerChrysler merger. Gottlieb Daimler sold the world’s first truck in 1886.[30] Buses[edit source | editbeta] Main article: Mercedes-Benz buses Mercedes-Benz produces a wide range of buses and coaches, mainly for Europe and Asia. The first model was produced by Karl Benz in 1895. Limousines[edit source | editbeta] The Mercedes-Benz 600 or 600S Pullman Guard limousines offer a â€Å"bulletproof† option and have been used by diplomats worldwide.[31] Vans[edit source | editbeta] Mercedes-Benz Sprinter used as a police bus Mercedes-Benz Viano Mercedes-Benz produces a range of vans including the Mercedes-Benz Vito, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Mercedes-Benz Vario. In 2012 it announced the Mercedes-Benz Citan, a version of the Renault Kangoo. The first factory to be built outside Germany after WWII was in Argentina. It originally built trucks, many of which were modified independently to buses, popularly named Colectivo. Today, it builds buses, trucks and the Sprinter van.[citation needed] Significant models produced[edit source | editbeta] 1928: SSK racing car 1930: 770 â€Å"Großer Mercedes† state and ceremonial car 1934: 500 K 1936: 260 D World’s first diesel production car 1936: 170 1938: W195 Speed Record-breaker 1951: Mercedes-Benz 300, knownly as â€Å"Adenauer Mercedes† 1953: â€Å"Ponton† models 1954: 300SL â€Å"Gullwing† 1959: â€Å"Fintail† models 1960: 220SE Cabriolet[disambiguation needed] 1963: 600 â€Å"Grand Mercedes† 1963: 230SL â€Å"Pagoda† 1965: Mercedes-Benz S-Class 1966: 300SEL 6.3 1968: W114 â€Å"new generation† compact cars 1969: C111 experimental vehicle 1972: Mercedes-Benz W107 350SL 1974: 450SEL 6.9 1975: Mercedes-Benz W123 Wagon – Mercedes’ first station wagon 1978: 300SD – Mercedes’ first turbo diesel 1979: 500SEL and G-Class 1983: 190E 2.3–16 1990: 500E 1991: 600SEL 1995: First ‘Joint Mercedes-Benz & AMG’ (C43 AMG) 1995: Mercedes-Benz SL73 AMG, 7.3 V12 (biggest engine ever put in a Mercedes-Benz) 1996: Mercedes-Benz SLK 1997: Mercedes-Benz A-Class and M-Class 2004: Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren and CLS-Class 2007: E320, GL320 Bluetec, ML320 Bluetec, R320 Bluetec 2010: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Car nomenclature[edit source | editbeta] Until 1994, Mercedes-Benz used an alphanumeric system for categorising their vehicles, consisting of a number sequence approximately equal to the engine’s displacement in liters multiplied by 100, followed by an arrangement of alphabetical suffixes indicating body style and engine type. â€Å"C† indicates a coupe or cabriolet body style. â€Å"D† indicates the vehicle is equipped with a diesel engine.†E† (for â€Å"Einspritzung†) indicates the vehicle’s engine is equipped with petrol fuel injection. In most cases (the 600 limousine being the exception), if neither â€Å"E† or â€Å"D† is present, the vehicle has a petrol engine with a carburettor. â€Å"G† indicates the Gelà ¤ndewagen off-road vehicle. â€Å"K† was used in the 1930s, indicating a supercharger (â€Å"Kompressor†) equipped engine. One exception is the SSK, where K indicates â€Å"Kurz† (short-wheelbase). â€Å"L† indicates â€Å"Leicht† (lightweight) for sporting models, and â€Å"Lang† (long-wheelbase) for sedan models. â€Å"R† indicates â€Å"Rennen† (racing), used for racing cars (for example, the 300SLR). â€Å"S† Sonderklasse â€Å"Special class† for flagship models. â€Å"T† indicates â€Å"Touring† and an estate (or station wagon) body style. Some models in the 1950s also had lower-case letters (b, c, and d) to indicate specific trim levels. For other models, the numeric part of the designation does not match the engine displacement. This was done to show the model’s position in the model range independent of displacement or in the price matrix. For these vehicles, the actual displacement in liters is suffixed to the model designation. An exception was the 190-class with the numeric designation of â€Å"190† as to denote its entry level in the model along with the displacement label on the right side of the boot (190E 2.3 for 2.3-litre 4-cylinder petrol motor, 190D 2.5 for 2.5-litre 5-cylinder diesel motor, and so forth). Some older models (such as the SS and SSK) did not have a number as part of the designation at all. For the 1994 model year, Mercedes-Benz revised the naming system. Models were divided into â€Å"classes† denoted by an arrangement of up to three letters (see â€Å"Current model range† above), followed by a three-digit (or two-digit for AMG models, with the number approximately equal to the displacement in litres multiplied by 10) number related to the engine displacement as before. Variants of the same model such as an estate version or a vehicle with a diesel engine are no longer given a separate letter. The SLR and SLS supercars do not carry a numerical designation. Today, many numerical designations no longer reflects the engine’s actual displacement but more of the relative performance and marketing position. Despite its engine displacement in two litres, the motor in A45 AMG produces more than 375 horsepowers so the designation is higher as to indicate the higher performance. Another example is the E250 CGI having greater performance than the E200 CGI due to the different engine tuning even though both have 1.8-litre engines. From the marketing perspectives, E200 seems more â€Å"upscale† than E180. Recent AMG models use the â€Å"63† designation (in honor of the 1960s 6.3-litre M100 engine) despite being equipped with either a 6.2-litre (M156) or 5.5-litre (M157) engine. Some models carry further designations indicating special features: â€Å"4MATIC† indicates the vehicle is equipped with all-wheel-drive. â€Å"BlueTEC† indicates a diesel engine with selective catalytic reduction exhaust aftertreatment. â€Å"BlueEFFICIENCY† indicates special fuel economy features (direct injection, start-stop system, aerodynamic modifications, etc.) â€Å"CGI† (Charged Gasoline Injection) indicates direct gasoline injection. â€Å"CDI† (Common-rail Direct Injection) indicates a common-rail diesel engine. â€Å"Hybridâ⠂¬  indicates a gasoline- or diesel-electric hybrid. â€Å"NGT† indicates a natural gas-fueled engine. â€Å"Kompressor† indicates a supercharged engine. â€Å"Turbo† indicates a turbocharged engine, only used on A-, B-,E- and GLK-Class models. All model designation badges can be deleted upon the c