Adverbs Are Really Quite Acceptable

Adverbs Are Really Quite Acceptable Adverbs Are Really Quite Acceptable Adverbs Are Really Quite Acceptable By Mark Nichol Adverbs are to verbs as adjectives are to nouns: They modify action words. However, they can also support other parts of speech, such as adjectives and other adverbs, as well as clauses and even entire sentences. When writers want to add to detail in the form of answers to questions such as â€Å"Who?† â€Å"When?† and â€Å"Where?† (as well as â€Å"how much?†), they reach for adverbs. Most adverbs end in ly, but note that some adjectives do, too. You can tell the difference by the root word: Seriously (from serious) is an adverb, but timely (from time) is an adjective. Others end in the related forms ways (such as sideways) and wise (like otherwise) or consist of nouns preceded by a- (akin, for example). Others, known as comparative and superlative adverbs, end respectively in -er or -est (for instance, faster and fastest). But adverbs, unlike other parts of speech, are diverse and flexible in their function, even in the same position: â€Å"He has arrived, obviously,† for example, is subtly distinct in meaning from â€Å"He has arrived obviously.† And they can be found anywhere in a sentence: â€Å"Slowly, he opened the door,† â€Å"He slowly opened the door,† and â€Å"He opened the door slowly† all mean the same thing. (An adverb can, of course, also immediately follow a verb: â€Å"He then walked quickly toward the lamp.†) Adverbs, like adjectives, have gotten a bad rap for their cluttering qualities. They are ever so useful, and so applicable and adaptable that writers often employ them mindlessly and indiscriminately. But which of the three adverbs in the preceding phrase (not only mindlessly and indiscriminately but also often) must I mercilessly vaporize with the Delete key? Don’t hesitate to apply one or more adverbs within a sentence if they serve a purpose, but do hesitate before you cast them among your prose with Brysonian abandon. Bill Bryson, the exhaustively (and exhaustingly) amusing author of The Mother Tongue: English How It Got That Way and other books on language, as well as volumes on history, science, and more, never met an adverb he didn’t like, but he’s earned the right to break the rules. Consider this sentence from his latest work, At Home: A Short History of Private Life: â€Å"Eventually even he admitted that mostly he wished to build it simply for the slightly strange pleasure of making something really quite enormous.† Out of context, it may seem quite indulgent, but this is Bryson’s voice, a voice that would be fatally muted by this Hemingwayesque excision of the sentence’s adverbs: â€Å"Even he admitted that he wished to build it for the pleasure of making something enormous.† Admonishments to avoid adverbs (and adjectives) are often misconstrued: They are not to be avoided, but they are best not employed merely to prop up weak nouns and listless sentences. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:15 Terms for Those Who Tell the FutureTen Yiddish Expressions You Should KnowNominalized Verbs

Focus vs. Locus

Focus vs. Locus Focus vs. Locus Focus vs. Locus By Mark Nichol What’s the difference between a focus and a locus is it all just hocus-pocus? and where does nexus fit in? The technical meaning of focus is â€Å"a point of convergence or divergence, or seeming divergence,† in terms of particles of matter. It also refers to adjustment for clear vision as well as the field of clear vision, and it has a geometrical definition of a fixed point. From the scientific sense have developed literal and figurative connotations of a point, center, or area of activity or occurrence, as well as direction, emphasis, perception, and understanding. The original plural spelling of the word, borrowed directly from Latin and meaning â€Å"hearth† (the area of premodern households that was the center of activity), is foci, but focuses is an alternative; the adjectival form is focal. Focus can be employed, depending on context, with or without a preceding article: â€Å"This plan lacks focus†; â€Å"His story doesn’t have a focus†; â€Å"That is the focus of the argument.† A locus, meanwhile (in Latin, the word means â€Å"place†), is a site or location. As is the case with focus, the sense can be figurative or literal. (Unlike focus, locus has only a Latin plural: loci.) The difference between focus and locus, then, is subtle. Both words can refer to a place where something happens, but the fine distinction is that the former denotes a center of attention and the latter refers to the location itself. A locus may become the focus, but the reverse is not true, because the site preceded the attention focused on it. Nexus, from the Latin word nectere, meaning â€Å"to bind† (the root term is also the basis of connect), can also mean â€Å"focus,† but it is better reserved for the senses of â€Å"connection† or â€Å"link,† or of a connected group or series. And what of other related – or seemingly related – terms? An axis is a geometrical or physical or figurative line, or a vertebra or a stem. It can also be somewhat synonymous with the terms defined above, relating to a point or a spectrum, or, as in the manner in which it was used in World War II to refer to the alliance between Germany, Italy, and Japan, a partnership. (The Latin word refers to a line or an axle; the plural in both Latin and English is axes.) A cynosure is a guide or a center of attention. (The word is from Greek by way of Latin and means, literally, â€Å"dog’s tail†; it refers to the constellation Ursa Minor, or the Little Bear.) An omphalos (the word is Greek for â€Å"navel†) is a focal point or a hub, and a hub (perhaps a variant of hob, a word for a shelf on a hearth) is a center of activity, either on a large scale or at the center of a wheel. An epicenter is, in figurative usage, a center of activity; the original meaning is the point on Earth’s surface above an earthquake’s point of focus. Now, how about that hocus-pocus? It evidently originated with itinerant performers who incorporated mock-Latin incantations into their magic or juggling acts to impress gullible onlookers, who associated the classical language with learned scholars and ancient mysteries. It is likely a corruption of the blessing â€Å"Hoc est corpus meum,† meaning â€Å"This is my body.† Hokey-pokey is probably a further variant, but neither it nor hocus-pocus has any focus, locus, or nexus. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:4 Types of Gerunds and Gerund PhrasesWhat is Dative Case?Sentence Adverbs

Nutrition and dietetics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Nutrition and dietetics - Essay Example The options that they have are limited since they have to be a member in women’s only facilities, which are expensive and not well distributed throughout the country. They thus choose to stay away from these facilities, which would help them in their exercise activity. This increases the chances of risk since the women do not exercise and reduce fat as well as keep fit. Girls rarely experience any physical activities in schools. This receives basing on the belief of upholding moral quality. The society believes that girls lose their shyness if they change their clothes anywhere aside from home (Kelishadi 2007). As much as moral upbringing is admirable, this practice leads to no exercise for the female children. They have no outlet to reduce excess fat and to keep fit. Another factor is in diet. Many families have poor feeding habits. The family receives exposure to things like energy-dense foods and sugar-sweetened beverages. This consumption of unhealthy foods and drinks increases the chances of obesity quite high. Some women skip breakfast or take snacks rich in fat and calories throughout the day. These unhealthy eating habits reduce nutrition and increase the chances of obesity and chronic illnesses in the women. Higher levels of income lead to a more comfortable lifestyle (Al-Shayji IA 2004). Transport is mainly modern with reduced walking or running. Time spent on the television or internet increases as time passes. This greatly reduces physical activity. Thus, muscles do not undergo stretching and flexing. This leads to increased rate of obesity among the population. According to research, people can maintain good health even in their old age if the prevention and control of chronic diseases receives establishment early in life. This article elaborates a program that will help the Saudi Arabian women in reducing their chances of obtaining obesity. The goals of the program

IKEA Analysis Report (Operations management)1 Assignment - 1

IKEA Analysis Report (Operations management)1 - Assignment Example The value proposition provides benefits both to the company and the stakeholder. It encourages the roles and tasks undertaken by the stakeholders to be in like with company’s objectives. It becomes the promotion proposition to potential clientele, the reason they ought to do trade with company, rather than its rivals. It communicates to the entire company a sense of precise purpose and course, coordinating their labours toward the overburdening common purpose of generating a satisfied customer. IKEA, the Swedish furniture industrialized company have applied Co-productivity to its complete exploitation. IKEA sells its commodities to customers in a kit type which the customer assembles themselves, at a lower pricing. The cause that this technique is successful is that customers do not place a worth on their own energy and time in assembling the merchandise. In some scenarios, the amount of extra effort inputted by the clients can be a greater cost than it could be if the get-tog ether of the furnishings were done proficiently (Porter, 2001). IKEA’s differentiation positioning strategy; the fundamental nature of a differentiation policy is to be exceptional in manners that are precious to clients in a sustainable method. Differentiation needs an in-depth comprehending what clients value most, where down the value chain to generate the differentiating variables, and what facilitates and capabilities are required to produce this exceptionality. It is that the corporation services a small number of market segments by offering a value intention that satisfies each section on a few key scope which creates this positioning strategy gainful. The key is to create product stand out from competitive provisions by having merchandise that provides a few highly valued elements. Distinctive capabilities are those potentials that a company can do better than competitors and are not simply imitated. For instance, IKEA can be said to have an idiosyncratic capability i n comprehending the customer. When this characteristic capability lies in a major accomplishment area, or a movement which is necessary if the company aspirations to stay alive in the long-term, it becomes a competitive gain. The value Chain The value chain is the organization of various products or segments of the company to offer valuable items. It involves proper planning, coordination and control of the company segments such as production, marketing, service and design and development. IKEA value chain is summarized as; the value proposal is the conclusion of the value sequence. There are two parts to the value plan: the consumer and the company. The company covers all of the domestic and external procedures that are executed throughout the value chain. The accomplishment or failure of the value plan will mirror how the members of the value chain recognize the external pressures on the value chain (Sheehy, Bracey, and Frazier, 1996). If these discernments are inaccurate, then th e worth proposition will be outdated. The value chain encompasses the customers and stakeholders expectations that must be considered. Manage the logistics of the company that ensure smooth flow of procedure. Ikea intangible products and benefits Currently IKEA has not concentrated on assessing the tangible advantages of its environmental

Assignment - Team Work in Business Essay Example for Free

Assignment Team Work in Business Essay Some management teams are bound to succeed while other are not due to a number of factors. A team, according to Adair (1986), is more than just a group with a common aim. It is a group in which the contributions of individuals are seen as complementary. Collaboration, working together, is the keynote of a team activity. Adair suggests that the test of an effective team is: â€Å"whether its members can work as a team while they are apart, contributing to a sequence of activities rather than to a common task, which requires their presence in one place and at one time. † Below is a discussion of some of the major factors that create a difference between winning and losing management teams . 1. Supportive Sponsor Management teams are usually formed by a sponsor who recognizes that reaching an organizational goal will require a group of individuals working together to provide the leadership necessary to move a company, division or unit towards the organizations goals. It is the sponsor’s responsibility to create a ‘charter’ that establishes the management team and its primary focus. In addition, the sponsor establishes specific goals the team is to accomplish. The sponsor will also select the team leader and gain his or her commitment to lead the leadership team in defining and carrying out the needed actions. Lack of will or proper direction by the sponsor ( e. g board of directors in a company) can lead to team failure. 2. Environmental factors These include physical factors such as working proximity, plant or office layout. In general, close proximity aids group identity and loyalty, and distance reduces them. Other environmental issues include the traditions of the organisation under which the management team operates, and leadership styles. Formal organisations tend to adopt formal group practices. Autocratic leadership styles prefer group activities to be directed. 3. Team size Small groups tend to be more cohesive than larger groups; small groups tend to encourage full participation; large groups contain greater diversity of talent. 4. Focus on Stakeholder Outcomes A shared understanding of the management team’s stakeholders, their expectations of the team, and the values the team embraces is essential to create the focus needed as the management team members plan and execute the actions necessary to achieve the team’s goals. 5. Smart Goals Specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound goals should be established by the team’s sponsor and then broken into sub-goals by the management team. Without SMART goals, the team will lack the milestones necessary to drive action. 6. Team Leadership Team leadership is the most critical success factor for the performance management team. A leader with strong performance management skills and the ability to develop others virtually guarantees a successful performance initiative. Every management team needs a leader who focuses the members of the team on the mission, purpose, and goals of the team. This individual must be committed to the team’s results and must be willing to be held accountable by the team’s sponsor and other stakeholders, for leading the team through processes that insure the team’s goals are reached. The team leader must engage each team member in the processes of the team and build a platform of mutual trust that leads to open debate, collaboration, individual commitment, and personal accountability. 7. Mutual Trust The most important element of successful team work is the establishment of a platform of mutual trust that enables the management team to engage in open debate and decision making that leads to commitments to action by individual members of the team. Building this trust requires an openness that allows team members to know and understand the beliefs and behaviors of all members of the team so that team actions can be structured to take advantage of each members uniqueness and talents. Behavioral and values assessments are powerful tools in developing an understanding how each member of the management team views themselves and responds to others in the team. 8. Engaged Management Team Members An effective management team will have team members who are actively engaged in the work and focus of the team. This will require that each team member emotionally commits to actively and openly participate in the team’s processes in the pursuit of the team’s goals. The team member must willingly commit to carry out action plans to complete individual actions necessary for the team to reach their team goals. The team member must be dependable and carry the full weight of personal responsibility to complete their individual commitments by the date committed to. Engaged team members enthusiastically support each other and add value to other team members. They prepare for team processes and choose to engage others in a positive manner to find solutions to issues and challenges they individually or as a team face. They constantly seek to improve themselves for the benefit of the team and never, never, never quit. 9. Composition of the Team The Apollo Syndrome is a phenomenon that having too many people with a high mental abilities grouped together to solve a problem is, in many instances, detrimental to the teamwork process. Team members spend much of their time trying to persuade the team to adopt their own views as well as figuring out ways to point out weaknesses in the rest of the team’s ideas. They have difficulty reaching consensus in decisions and are focused on their own work, paying little attention to what their fellow team members agree doing. Occasionally the team will pick up on the fact they are having problems, but will then overcompensate to avoid confrontation. This leads to even more problems in making sound decisions. A knowledgeable team, skilled at group working, and with a wider range of talents is much more likely to succeed than an inexperienced group with a narrow range of talents. 10. Individual Commitments The work of a management team is carried out by individual members of the team. When a team has developed a plan of actions that are necessary to achieve their goals or overcome barriers, individual members must commit to carrying out specific actions which in many cases will include actions by the individual teams they in turn lead. The management teams collaborative processes must include steps to: * Define individual actions, * Gain the commitments by individual team members to complete the actions, * Document due dates, and * Establish status reporting processes. 11. Discipline and Accountability Team goals will usually not be realized until individual commitments are completed. Management team members must embrace a discipline to complete their commitments as scheduled. They must agree to hold each other personally accountable for completing, as scheduled, the commitments each person has made to the team. Each management team member must continuously report the status of their open commitments to the team so that barriers to completion can be identified early in order to permit the management team leader and other team members the opportunity to deal with the issues before overall deadlines are impacted. 12. Identification and Removal of Barriers Barriers to team and individual progress will occur in every management team effort and must be dealt with quickly to continue progress towards the teams goals. The team leader must continuously monitor the status of each individuals commitments and initiate barrier removal processes where appropriate. Team-based processes for developing action plans to overcome barriers impacting individual commitments should be instilled as a part of the teams culture. 13. Shared vision / approach. The ability for a management team to clearly state its goals and objectives and gain buy-in among the people they lead ( e. g. employees )along with a synergistic team that can carry out their responsibilities is vital to performance success. The vision and/or mission of the team must be accepted by all the team members and critical goals viewed as the collective responsibility of the team. If a return to profitability is a critical goal of an executive team, priorities and time commitments must be pulled from elsewhere. Focusing on results that in any way does not support the critical goal(s) of the team will lead to team failure. 14. Technology support While a skilled management team can improve performance with very little tools and only an effective approach, with proper technology to support the teams needs, and the proper data to drive decision making, there is almost no limit to the improvements an organization will yield. 15. Ability to Innovate Innovating is a key aspect of teamwork and involves challenging the way things are currently being done. Technology is changing so quickly that the way you are currently performing tasks may no longer be the best way. If you are not up-to-date in your practices, your cost structure may be too high or you may no longer be delivering competitive service. Innovating is essential for all work teams. There are always better ways of doing things if you only take time to discover them. 16. Promoting To obtain the resources people, money, and equipment to carry out your work, you have to sell what you are doing to other people. Resources to implement new ideas will only be given if your team can persuade and influence people higher in the organization. Promoting to customers or clients both inside or outside the organization is also important if you are to continually deliver what people want. 17. Developing Many ideas dont see the light of day because they are impractical. The Developing activity ensures that your ideas are molded and shaped to meet the needs of your customers, clients, or users. It involves listening to their needs and incorporating these in your plans. Developing will ensure that what you are trying to do is possible, given the resource constraints of your organization. 18. Inspecting Maintenance Regular checks on work activities are essential to ensure that mistakes are not made. Quality audits of your products or services will ensure that your customers or clients will remain satisfied. Inspecting also covers the financial aspect of work in your team, as well as the security aspects, the safety aspects and the legal aspects. All management teams need to uphold standards and maintain effective work processes. Your car will fail if it does not have its regular service. Teams can fail too, if the team processes are not regularly checked and maintained. Maintaining ensures that quality standards are upheld and that regular reviews of team effectiveness take place. 19. Linking Linking is the activity that ensures all team members pull together, and makes the difference between a group of individuals and a highly effective and efficient team. It covers the linking of people, linking of tasks and leadership linking.

Accounts Settled: A Review :: essays research papers

Accounts Settled: A Review In the book, Accounts Settled, there is only one major character named Gordon. Gordon is seventeen, six feet tall, and has the beginning of a beard. The main setting is in a forest-filled valley that is a mile from Gordon's home. The story does not give a specific date but the most logical time this story takes place is in the winter during the early 1900s. The inciting incident in the story is when Gordon's dad came down with flu-pneumonia and Gordon must take his place in taking care of the trapline that he had set up in the forest. The conflict of the story is internal and external because Gordon had to face himself and nature. The rising action started when Gordon had a sense of fear as he went into the valley. The, the porcupine stole his food and Gordon was going to kill it but remembered an old woodsman tale that it's bad luck to ill a porcupine. Gordon then goes to bed, hungry and it took him awhile to fall asleep. He later wakes up to find a cougar ready to pounce on him. The cougar dose not strike yet because it is waiting for Gordon to move. Gordon knows better and stayed in the same position for what seemed like hours. Suddenly, the porcupine returns to look for more food and this disrupts the cougar. The climax is when Gordon quickly reaches for his gun and shoots the cougar. The resolution is when Gordon "cries the final tears of his boyhood" and he is finally a man. This writer used suspense in his story many times. For instance, "his eyes held the boy unwinkingly as he waited in the fiendish way of cats for the moment when the man must stir, or make an attempt to escape, the moment when his ingrained fear of man would be swallowed up by the rising tide of his blood- lust" and "moments passed, horrible heart-thudding moments, during which neither

Tv has negative influence on society

TV has a negative influence on society Introduction: According to David Hinckley of New York Daily News, â€Å"The average America over the age of 2 spends more than 34 hours a week watching live television plus another 3-6 hours watching taped programs. † This statistic shows how much tv can affect us, considering how much we watch it. I want you to think about your favorite tv show right now. I'll bet you that that show contains some kind of violence, sexual interactions, cussing, drug or alcohol usage, stereotypes and many other bad nfluences.Even shows like Spongebob Squarepants, a kids cartoon, are saying to have subliminal, or hidden, messages that are disturbing and wrong. Resolution: My partner and I are resolved that tv has a negative influence on society. By negative influence we mean a power affecting a person, think, or course of events in a bad way(free dictionary. com). And in this case, tv is affecting society, or people in general thought of as living together in organized communities with shared laws, traditions and values. My first argument is that violence on tv leads to aggressive behavior in the people watching it.According to Dr. Gail Gross in the Huffington Post, â€Å"when children see violence on television, they have a difficult time differentiating between what is real and what is make believe, and tend to copy what they see. † In 1 study done at Pennsylvania Statue University in 1982, about 100 preschool children were observed both before and after watching tv. Some watched cartoons that had a lot of aggressive and violent acts and others watched shows with no violence. The esearchers notched real differences.Children who watched the violent shows were more likely to hit out at their playmates, argue, disobey class rules, leave tasks unfinished, and were less willing to wait for things than those who watched the unviable not programs, says Aletha Huston-Stein PH. D, now at the University of Kansas. In conclusion, media violence makes kids more aggressive, less patient, and more fearful of the world around them. There are plenty of violent tv shows like law and order, criminal minds, the walking dead, breaking bad, and so on that show case iolence and killings.These shows can lead many people to follow in their ways. So as you can see from this evidence, violence on tv leads to aggressive behavior in the people watching it. My second argument is that watching tv gives open access to everything. When you watch tv, you are susceptible to messages that are dangerous, especially the youth. Say that you are a young kid and your parents want to keep you away from the dangers of drug and sex until you're older. Well whole watching tv you could flip to a hannel and start watching a television show that includes these activities.Now as a young kid you may be confused and not know the difference between right and wrong when it comes to these new things you haven't heard ot betore. Another point is shows like teen mom expose you to premarital sex and these shows make it seem normal and natural to have sex as a teenager. Furthermore, according to changingchannels. org, tv desensitizes viewers to the evil nature of premarital sex and unprovoked violence, encouraging young viewers to find them acceptable and ormal in society.So you can see from the points made, television gives people, especially youth, open access to everything. conclusion: Our first argument was that tv violence leads to aggressive behavior in the people watching it. Our second argument was that tv gives people open access to everything. Do you really want young children susceptible to drug, sex, and violence before they are even old enough to know what it is? From these arguments, it should be clear that tv is leaving a negative impact on our society.

How two businesses are organised Essay

In this assignment I will be discussing about how two businesses are organised. The two businesses that I will be discussing about is BHP Billiton and Battersea Dogs and Cats home. The first business that I will be discussing about is BHP Billiton and how they have organised their business.BHP Billiton is an Anglo-Australian multinational mining, metals and petroleum company headquarter in Melbourne. BHP Billiton is the world’s largest mining company measured by 2013 revenue. It was created in 2001 through the merger of the Australian Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited. The first way BHP Billiton is divided into is within the function. Within BHP Billiton the function is the Chief Development Officer who is in charge of development of the company and researches about countries that BHP Billiton has not mined in. chief Financial Officer who is in charge of finance of the business. The Chief Legal Counsel is the person is who is responsible for the legal issue within the business; this is done by meeting the legal requirements for a particular business. The Group Vice President Human Resources is responsible for the people management within a business. Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer is the person who is responsible within making sure that the business meets their customer needs, they also make sure that they also meet their business needs, this is done by making sure the business has the right quality of product, the price of the product and also by advertising their product to attract the target market which are the customers. BHP Billiton is organised by the product group. These roles consist of the President Petroleum, this is the person who is responsible for all the extraction of the petroleum, the Senior Minerals Executive, and this is the person who is responsible for all the minerals collected from the mining. President Energy Coal, this is the person who is responsible for collecting the coal. President Carbon Steel Materials, this is person who is responsible for making of the carbon steel. The second business that I will be discussing about is Battersea Dogs and Cats home is the United Kingdom’s oldest and most famous home for dogs and  cat and is situated in the Battersea area of London. It is financed by voluntary donations with an income of almost  £12.2million in 2010. The main aim of the business is to reunite dogs and cats with their owners and work in a community to educate people about responsibility of ownership. Battersea Dogs and Cats home has only one organised structure which is function also known as department, there is 9 functions within this organisation. This consist of Director of Education and Events, this is the person who is responsible for doing events for the business for the company to have the attention and awareness for people to donate. This is also done by going into schools to educate kids about on how to take care of animals and the responsibility they will have for the animal. Director of Communications, this is the person in the company who is responsible for the communication of media contact for the organisation and giving a better value of the company. Director of Finance is the person who is responsible for making sure that all the donations that come in for the business are recorded and kept safe, they also make decision for the finance of the business and how it should be dealt with. Director of Human Resources is the person who is responsible for the person’s management within the business. Director of Estates and Facilities, this is the person who is responsible for making sure that the business has the right facilities for the business that will be able to take care of the animals. Director of Fundraising, this is the person who is responsible for arranging fundraising events so that people can donate money for the business. Director of Operations (Customer Service), this is person who is responsible for customer complaints and enquires. Director of Operations (Animal Welfare) this is the person who is responsible for the welfare of the animal and also the safety of the animal. Director of Veterinary Services, this is the person who is responsible for the medical and health of the animal. The Line of Control is an individual who is responsible for the line of management. BHP Billiton has used the line of manager. For example BHP Billiton have done this by having the ‘Top down’ approach this means that the manager of the company such as the CEO are at the top are responsible for everyone who works within the business. This is done by making sure that all the staffs is doing the right job and if everything is up to high standard. The line of control for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home has four lines of control and 18 spans of control. The  staff and employees report to the managers and the managers will report to the director. Battersea Dogs and Cats Home also have a 3 layer structure, this works by the Chief Executive informing the directors on what they have to do for the business and then they will pass on the information to the managers so that they are then able to pass on to their staffs and volunteers. Within these two businesses I will be looking at those four different ways in dividing work within the organisation which are the following: 1) Function 2) Geographical location 3) Product groups 4) Types of customers The first organisational structure is function. This is when the people who in the department are divided up what their purpose in the company are, for example marketing. The second organisational structure is geographical location, this is the people who work in the company are divided up by where they work, or what area of the country/world they look after. The third organisational structure is product groups, this is the people who work for the company are divided up by what they produce or look after in the company. The four and last organisational structure is type of customers, this is the people who work in the company are divided up by which type of customers their job related for, for example individual customers or business customers. Within these four organisational structure BHP Billiton only two of these structures. The first structure is Function; this is the area that is responsible for a particular job in the department such as finance, development officers, petroleum, and legal counsel, vice president of Human Resources, Vice President of Marketing, President of Metals and Carbon Steel Materials. However Battersea Dogs and Cats Home only have one of these organisational structures. The type of organisational structure they have is function but have are divided into nine groups, this is the director of communications, Director of Education and Events, Director of Finance, Director of Estate and Facilities, Director of Human Resources, Director of Fundraising, Director of Operations (Animal Welfare) and Director of Operations (Customer Service). BHP Billiton Chart for their Business BHP Billiton has this hierarchy structure to present their business as they have a more of a wider range of employees that work within departments and businesses. The charts show us how each employee works in the business and what their job role is. Battersea Dogs and Cats home chart for their Business Battersea Dogs and Cats Home have used a more of a flat structure to represent their business. The organisational structure that has been used to represent this chart is function and also has been used to be divided in nine groups which have been shown in the chart. Span of Control: A span of control is the number of people who report to one manager in a hierarchy. The span of control has been used in each business, for example the span of control has been used in BHP Billiton as they only have 5 span of control which has different departments reporting to the CEO or Deputy CEO, this is why in the hierarchy it shows a structure of how the role has been played and has a wider range. The span of control has also been used in Battersea Dogs and Cats Home as the structure consist of 18 spans of control but has been divided into 9 departments with the staff and volunteer which report to the manager and inform about how the business is doing. Functional Areas: BHP Billiton Production/operations function: The production functional area is the part of a business where goods are produced, manufactured or assembled. Some businesses especially those that don’t product good but instead provide services, call this area ‘operations’. BHP Billiton does this by making sure that staff is working effectively to meet their production service targets. They can also do this by making sure their product is up to date and are high standard of good quality so that they are able to be sold to customers around the world. Marketing Function: The marketing function area is the part of the business that identified and tries to meet customer’s needs. They will also try and ensure their business  has the product, price and advertising that will appeal to their target customers. BHP Billiton can do this by carrying put market research to find out what new products customer wants. They can also do this by making sure they reach their target markets and to achieve their aim. Human Resources: The Human Resources functional area is responsible for people management in a business. This can be done by making policies about people in the business for example about the workplace safety. BHP Billiton can do this by recruit employees that are related to a particular job role and to make sure that the health and safety for staff is always there. Purchasing: The purchasing functional area is the part of the business that is responsible for buying all of the supplies the business needs to run effectively. This includes office supplies like paper and stationary but also the raw materials used for production. This can be done by buying goods for the company. BHP Billiton can do this by finding suppliers who are reliable and can supply good quality. Sales: The sales of functional area are the part of a business that gets customers to buy or consume what the business produces. In some businesses, the sales functional area is a part of the marketing functional area. Marketing staff find out what customers wants. Sales staff needs to get customers to buy the product. BHP Billiton can do this by managing the sales team making sure that their product are being sole and to also develop strong positive relationship with customers. Finance: The finance functional area is responsible for keeping records of financial transaction and giving managers the information they need to make decisions about the business. It is important that managers are aware of the financial situation of the business so that they can consider the effects decisions they will make will have on the business finance. BHP Billiton can do this by producing annual account statements and providing financial information to management. Customer service: The customer service functional area is the part of the business that looks  after customer enquiries, concerns and complaints. BHP Billiton can do this by answering customer’s enquiries and complaint they have about the business. Battersea Dogs and Cats Home Functional Areas: Battersea Dogs and Cat Home have only six functional areas, this includes; Human Resources, Customer Service, Sales, Finance, Marketing and Production/Operation. Human Resources: The human resources functional area is responsible for people management in a business they make policies and rules about the business for the people, for example the health and safety and to help recruit people into the business. Battersea Dogs and Cats Home can run induction training for all new volunteers and also staff training to update product knowledge about new products in the shop. Finance: The finance functional area is responsible for keeping records of financial transaction ad providing information to managers to make decisions about the business. This is important for managers to be aware of their financial records. For example with Battersea Dogs and Cats Home is they provide the Chief Executive with cash flow statements showing donation income and expenses and to also provide the CEO with annual revenue and sales data. Customer Service: Customer service functional area is the part of the business area that looks after customer enquiries, concerns and complaints. Battersea Dogs and Cats Home will do this by having a customer service for customers to ask any question they want about the business and to also give complaints and concerns about the business Production/Operations function: The production functional area is part of the business where goods are produced, manufactured or assembled. Staffs are required to meet their production or service targets. Some businesses that do not produce goods but instead provide services, is called ‘operations’. Battersea Dogs and Cats Home will make sure that products are in stock for the Battersea shop and the online shop. Sales: The sales functional area is part of the business that gets customers to buy or consume what the business produces. In some businesses, the sales functional area is part of the marketing functional area. Marketing staff find out what customers want sales needs to persuade customers in to buying their products. In non-profit voluntary organisations (like charities) that provide their products or services for free, there is no need for sales functions area, to convince donors to donate to organisation. Battersea Dogs and Cat Home will do this by having volunteers work for their business and customers that donate for the business. Marketing Function: The marketing functional area is the part of the business that identifies and tries to meet customer needs. They will also try and ensure their business has the product, price and advertising that will appeal to their target customers. Battersea Dogs and Cats Home will do this by speaking at a local secondary school to encourage the student council to raise money and to also produce leaflets explaining how people can donate at home. Explain each functional area role in the business and how it helps to achieve their aims and objective: BHP Billiton: Human resources at BHP Billiton will include by running induction training for all new staff and staff training to update product knowledge about new products in the shop. The managers will do this by giving the same aim to all the staff and to make sure they are all doing their job right. The objective and aim of Human resources for BHP Billiton is to make sure they make profit for their business as the will also achieve their business aim. Customer service at BHP Billiton will include answeringcustomer’s enquiries and customer complaints and services. They use customer service surveys to find out what customers think of service in the shop. The objective and aim of customer service at BHP Billiton is to make sure they answer customer enquiries and complaint and to make sure they provide this service to customers. Finance at BHP Billiton is to keep up to date with their financial profit and how much they are making. They will provide the Chief Executive with cash flow statements showing donation income and expenses and to also provide the CEO with annual revenue and sales data. The objective  and aim of BHP Billiton with finance is that they will keep records of all the profits they are making and having a cash flow chart to show how much they have progressed throughout the year. Marketing at BHP Billiton is to try and meet their customer needs and will also make sure their business has the right product and price. They will also analyse data to identify and target customers. The objective and aim of BHP Billiton with marketing is that they will sell their product globally to customers and will market their products to other business to sell to customers in their shop. Production/Operation at BHP Billiton is where the goods are produced, manufactured or assembled. Staffs are required to meet their production or service targets, make sure raw materials and services are variable managing staff. Make sure that products are in stock for the BHP Billiton and the online shop. The objective and aim of BHP Billiton of production is to give good service to customers and to make sure the product of their service is high quality. Battersea Dogs and Cats Home: Human resources for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home will include staff training to update product knowledge about new products in the shop and to also run induction training for all new volunteers, they will also make sure that all animals have a shelter and are looked after properly. The aims and objectives of human resources is by making sure that every staff that works in the business knows what they are doing and are sure of what to do so that the business goes well. The aim of this is that they will be a good service for the customers when donating to the business. Customer service at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home is that they ae able to answer customer enquiries and complaints. This is by having good customer service towards the customers. To use customer service surveys to find out what customers think of service in the shop. The objective and aims of customers service is that they are able to have high standards of services for the customers so that they are able to give their en quiries to the business. The aim of having good customer service is that they will be able to have more customer awareness as they will improve their service with their opinion. Sales at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home is that customers get to buy what the business provides, this is also by having the organisation and raising money for charity. They can do this by setting up events to raise money and donate to  their business and the animal welfare. They can also do this by speaking at local secondary school to encourage the student council to raise money. The aims and objectives of Sales is that you are able to raise and donate money to the business. This will increase their profile around the UK. Finance at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home is that you can keep records of the business financial situations; they will also be able to see annual money that they are making every month and year. To also provide the Chief Executive with cash flow statements showing donation income and expenses. The aims and objectives of finance is that you are able to provide the CEO with annual revenue and data and also be able to keep records of all the donations made. The aim of sales with Battersea Dogs and Cats home is that to sell as many of their products that they can and to also make profit for their business. Marketing at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home tries to meet customer needs; they will produce promotional information to advertise what the business does and to produce leaflets explaining how people can donate at home. The aims and objectives of marketing is that the manager can analyse market to identify and target customers and to make sure the website is updated regularly to inform people about animals that are waiting for adoption. The aim of marketing with Battersea Dogs and Cats Home is that to market their product to customers by making their website look more attractive. Production/Operation, where goods are produced or assembled, with Battersea Dogs and Cats Home is that they make it easier for the customer to donate to the business. P4 – how organisational structure and strategic planning help BHP Billiton and The Battersea Dogs and Cats Home to achieve their purpose and aims. Strategic planning is the process executives undertake in order to make thoughtful decisions about their organisation mission, value and goals, and properly allocate resources to fulfil directives. A business aim is the goal a business wants to achieve. A primary aim for all business organisations is to add value and in the private sector this involves making a profit. More strategic aims include expansion, market leadership and brand building. A business objective is a detailed picture of a step you plan to take in order to achieve a stated aim. These need to be SMART in order for the business to know what progress it has made towards achieving the  objective. Mission/Purpose Statement for BHP Billiton: Mission statement: At BHP Billiton our objective is to be the company of choice – creating sustainable value for our shareholders, employees, contractors, suppliers, customers, business and host communities. We aspire to zero arm to people, our host communities and the environment and strive to achieve leading industry. Value: Sustainability – putting health and safety first, being environmentally responsible and supporting our communities. Integrity- doing what is right and doing what we say we will do. Respect – embracing openness, trust, teamwork, diversity and relationships that are mutually beneficial. .The aim of BHP Billiton is to create long-term value through the discovery, acquisition, development and marketing of natural resources. The three objectives of BHP Billiton: To own and operate large, long-life and low cost mines and minerals processing that produce a range of minerals for different customers around the world. To invest and develop large mineral deposits that of high quality that can create profit growth To market products to customers globally from to main marketing offices at The Hague in the Netherlands and Singapore. Mission/purpose statement of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home: Mission statement: We aim to never turn away a dog or cat in need of our help, caring for them until their owners or loving new homes can be found, no matter how long it takes. We are champions for, and supporters of, vulnerable dogs and cats, determined to create lasting changes for animals in our society. Value: We ae passionate about the welfare of dogs and cats, and all of our work is inspired by the needs of, and our love for animals. We have been working tirelessly to provide shelter for animals for over 150 years. We are one of the oldest animal charities in the world and the knowledge and experience we have gained has made us credible leaders in our field We deal with some of the most challenging situations that impact the lives of dogs and cats. We  seek to tackle problems at source by working actively with communities and wider society, challenging misconceptions and encouraging owners to take responsibility for their pets and treat animals humanely. We will not shy away from difficult issues. The aim of Battersea Dogs and Cats Homes is to develop and measure our standards of care and service and to expand our services to help more dogs and cats in need. Three objectives of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home: To expand their people so that more people are aware of their organisation To encourage more people to volunteer for their organisation To raise more money for their organisation Cascading objectives is the objective set on the top which flows down into departments to individuals. BHP Billiton: BHP Billiton would cascaded throughout their organisation by setting themselves to make as certain amount of metals bars therefore they would tell each department to make sure they make the metals within the certain time period. BHP Billiton focuses on increasing productions and reducing cost. They cascaded throughout their business by making a certain amount of profit each day with the products that they are selling. Battersea Dogs and Cats Home: Battersea Dogs and Cats Home would cascade throughout their organisation by setting an aim of how much money has been donated to them and how much dogs and cats they will want to sell every month. They would cascade by fundraising money into their business. SMART objectives: All businesses need to set objectives, objectives are important they focus organisation. Businesses that have specific aims are usually more successful than those that don’t; because a business with objectives knows what it is trying to achieve. SMART TARGETS: Specific – Measurable – Achievable – Realistic and Time Scaled The benefits for smart objectives are to give a target to aim to, ensuring that all marketing actions and efforts are focused on attaining the objective instead of being inefficiently used. They also give businesses and their staff a sense of direction, a glimpse of where they’re going to. This will benefit businesses as they are able to set themselves a goal. The organisational structure for each business helps them achieve their purpose and aims are by making sure that they reach their goals and to reach the purpose of their business. For BHP Billiton the organisational structure would be by making sure that managers employee people who understand their role within the company. One method that BHP Billiton can use for their organisational structure is by setting up departments covering the four main areas of business activity such as, the finance, human resources, marketing and operations. BHP Billiton also organise their business with organisation chars, these diagrams that show internal structure of the business. They make it easy to identify the specific roles and responsibilities. Battersea Dogs and Cats Home use organisational structure to help them achieve their purpose and aims is by making sure that all their employees are doing the entire right job and are serving their customers in the right way. To reach their aims they will give each employee a specific job roles and responsibilities. A method that Battersea Dogs and Cats Homes can use to organise their business is by having different functions so that their business is organised in a way that could be understood. It is important for a business organisation to plan strategic aims and objectives. This is because the aims and objectives are the ‘ends’ that an organisation seeks to achieve. It then has to decide the means it will use to achieve those ends draw up a plan and devise strategy. Many organisations have general or overall aims which they can break down into specific objectives, or targets. By setting aims and objectives, companies give themselves a sense of purpose  and direction. This will provide a framework around which creates their plans. With a particular plan in place, the company will then be able to set particular targets and monitors its progress towards reaching them. The aims of both business are different as they both try to achieve different aims such as BHP Billiton try to achieve their aim by producing more goods such as metal and mining. Whereas, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home achieve their aim by helping animals have a home and are safe. Both of these businesses are different as they have different ownerships and purpose within their business.

Abe essays

Abe essays We have all heard of President Abraham Lincoln. He was the 16th president of the United States. He is one of the best greatest men in American history. He was a humane, farsighted statesman in his lifetime, but when he died he became a legend and folk hero. Abraham Lincoln s ancestry on his fathers side has been traced to far back to Samuel Lincoln. Samuel come from England and moved to Massachusetts. His ancestors then became pioneers. They moved from Massachusetts to Pennsylvania, then to Virginia. Lincolns father was born Thomas Lincoln in Virginia in 1778. In 1786 a Native American killed Thomas Lincolns father. Abrahams father became a carpenter. He never lacked the basic necessities of life. Abrahams father was a very good man. He never missed paying his taxes or denied jury duty and militia duty when called. On June 12, 1806 Thomas Lincoln married Nancy hanks. Little is known about her. She was completely illiterate and signed her a name with a X. after marriage the Lincolns moved to Mill Creek in Hardin County Kentucky. Their Thomas Lincoln earned his living as a carpenter and handyman. In 1807 Sarah Lincoln was born. On December 1808 the Lincolns moved to south fork, Kentucky. On February 12,1809 Abraham was born. HE was born in a log cabin that his father built. Later the Lincolns has a second son who died in infancy. When Abraham was 2 years old, the family moved to Knob Creek. Life there was hard and lonely. There was little time for the children to play. Most of the day was spent hunting, farming, fishing, and doing chores. IN 1816 the family then moved across the river to Pogeon Creek, Indiana. In 1818 an epidemic of the milk sickness broke out. One of the first victims of the milk sickness was Nancy Hanks Lincoln. She died October 5, 1818. The next year, Thomas moved to Elizabeth town, Kentucky and married Sarah Bush Johnson. She was a wido...

Definition and Examples of Confirmation Bias

Definition and Examples of Confirmation Bias In argumentation, confirmation bias is the tendency to accept evidence that confirms our beliefs and to reject evidence that contradicts them. Also known as  confirmatory bias. When conducting research, people can make an effort to overcome confirmation bias by deliberately seeking evidence that contradicts their own viewpoints. The concepts of perceptual defense bias and the backfire effect are related to confirmation bias. The term confirmation bias  was coined by English cognitive psychologist Peter Cathcart Wason (1924-2003) in the context of an experiment he reported on in 1960. Examples and Observations The confirmation bias is a consequence of the way perception works. Beliefs shape expectations, which in turn shape perceptions, which then shape conclusions. Thus we see what we expect to see and conclude what we expect to conclude. As Henry David Thoreau put it, We hear and apprehend only what we already half know. The truism, Ill believe it when I see it might be better stated Ill see it when I believe it.The potent effect of expectations on perception was demonstrated in the following experiment. When subjects were given a drink that they thought contained alcohol, but in fact did not they experienced reduced social anxiety. However, other subjects who were told they were being given nonalcoholic beverages when they were, in fact, alcoholic did not experience reduced anxiety in social situations. (David R. Aronson, Evidence-Based Technical Analysis. Wiley, 2007) The Limits of Reason Women are bad drivers, Saddam plotted 9/11, Obama was not born in America, and Iraq had weapons of mass destruction: to believe any of these requires suspending some of our critical-thinking faculties and succumbing instead to the kind of irrationality that drives the logically minded crazy. It helps, for instance, to use confirmation bias (seeing and recalling only evidence that supports your beliefs, so you can recount examples of women driving 40 mph in the fast lane). It also helps not to test your beliefs against empirical data (where, exactly, are the WMD, after seven years of U.S. forces crawling all over Iraq?); not to subject beliefs to the plausibility test (faking Obama’s birth certificate would require how widespread a conspiracy?); and to be guided by emotion (the loss of thousands of American lives in Iraq feels more justified if we are avenging 9/11). (Sharon Begley, The Limits of Reason. Newsweek, August 16, 2010) Information Overload In principle, the availability of a great deal of information could protect us from the confirmation bias; we could use information sources to find alternative positions and objections raised against our own. If we did that and thought hard about the results, we would expose ourselves to a valuable dialectical process of objections and replies. The problem is, though, there is too much information to pay attention to all of it. We must select, and we have a strong tendency to select according to what we believe and like to believe. But if we attend only to confirming data, we deprive ourselves of the opportunity to have well-reasoned, fair, and accurate beliefs. (Trudy Govier, A Practical Study of Argument, 7th ed. Wadsworth, 2010) The  Backfire Effect and Affective Tipping Points The strongest bias in American politics is not a liberal bias or a conservative bias; it is a confirmation bias, or the urge to believe only things that confirm what you already believe to be true. Not only do we tend to seek out and remember information that reaffirms what we already believe, but there is also a backfire effect, which sees people doubling down on their beliefs after being presented with evidence that contradicts them.So, where do we go from here? Theres no simple answer, but the only way people will start rejecting falsehoods being fed to them is by confronting uncomfortable truths.  Fact-checking is like exposure therapy for partisans, and there is some reason to believe in what researchers call an effective tipping point, where motivated reasoners start to accept hard truths after seeing enough claims debunked over and over. (Emma Roller, Your Facts or Mine? The New York Times, October 25, 2016) Perceptual Defense Bias Like other biases, the confirmation bias also has an opposite which traditionally has been termed perceptual defense bias. This process refers to the automatic discounting of disconfirming stimuli that protect the individual against information, ideas or situations that are threatening to an existing perception or attitude. It is a process that encourages the perception of stimuli in terms of the known and familiar. (John Martin and Martin Fellenz, Organizational Behaviour and Management, 4th ed. South Western Educational Publishing, 2010) Confirmation Bias on Facebook [C]onfirmation bias- the psychological tendency for people to embrace new information as affirming their pre-existing beliefs and to ignore evidence that doesn’t- is seeing itself play out in new ways in the social ecosystem of Facebook. Unlike Twitter- or real life- where interaction with those who disagree with you on political matters is an inevitability, Facebook users can block, mute and unfriend any outlet or person that will not further bolster their current worldview.​Even Facebook itself sees the segmentation of users along political lines on its site- and synchronizes it not only with the posts users see but with the advertisements they’re shown. (Scott Bixby, The End of Trump: How Facebook Deepens Millennials, Confirmation Bias. The Guardian [UK], October 1, 2016) Thoreau on Chains of Observations A man receives only what he is ready to receive, whether physically, or intellectually, or morally, as animals conceive their kinds at certain seasons only. We hear and apprehend only what we already half know. If there is something which does not concern me, which is out of my line, which by experience or by genius my attention is not drawn to, however novel and remarkable it may be, if it is spoken, I hear it not, if it is written, I read it not, or if I read it, it does not detain me. Every man thus tracks himself through life, in all his hearing and reading and observation and traveling. His observations make a chain. The phenomenon or fact that cannot in any wise be linked with the rest which he has observed, he does not observe.(Henry David Thoreau, Journals, January 5, 1860)

Analyzing the impact of Confucianism on customer behaviour and Essay

Analyzing the impact of Confucianism on customer behaviour and perception of western brands - Essay Example 150). There were attempts to eliminate Confucian thinking in China during the periods of Cultural Revolution, but these attempts were not successful. Confucian thinking and doctrines have profoundly impacted today’s China to have had resurgence and to become very important part of Chinese persona. Chinese culture has been influenced by the Confucian thinking about leading a virtuous life. Confucian thoughts are basically built on three principles; 1) humaneness and loving an individual’s personality, 2) morality and uprightness, and 3) rites and ritual propriety. These three principles are complemented by the five pairs of social roles that are recognized as the basic cultural relationship between individuals. These relations are; between father and son, between the ruler and the subject, between the older and young, between spouses and between friends (Gallo, 2011, p. 43). Confucianism perceived family as the centre of all relationships and the family has been viewed a s the basic unit. In contrast to the Western business culture that is either fact-based or transaction-based, Chinese business culture is based on valued relationship and personal networks. Guanxi- the Chinese term used by Confucianism literature to denote relationship- gave greater emphasis on friendly relation between two persons based on favour-exchange, and therefore, literatures stressed that the exchange of favour is at the heart Guanxi. (Morschett, Schramm-Klein and Zentes, 2010, p. 150). Confucianism’s principles of interpersonal relationship and other doctrines are perceived to impact the consumer behaviour of Chinese people and their attitude towards western brands too. Impact of... As China has become an attractive and emerging marketplace and that it consist major portion of world’s total population, the Chinese consumer and his behaviour have been major focuses in the literature of international consumer behaviour. Culture is regarded as a significant determinant of consumer behaviour and cultural values are found to play vital roles in influencing consumers in their buying behaviour. China is a rapidly emerging market and global brands are studying about the potentiality of Chinese market in terms of investment, consumption, employment, and attitude and buying behaviour. Chinese culture is mainly influenced by Confucianism. This piece of research paper has analyzed the impact of Confucianism on the buying behaviour and perception about foreign brands. Various literatures stressed that Confucianism has profoundly impacted the buying behaviour because Confucianism emphasized harmonious relationship between different people and this caused people to show different attitudes toward different products. This paper concluded that Chinese people are quite thrifty and are found to show prestige since men have to strongly impress wives to maintain better relationship.