Prometheus Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Prometheus - Essay Example Prometheus was a very clever witted and wily Titan whose job was to mould mankind from clay. All these aspects help to show how he was a harbinger of good deeds for mankind as he was always concerned with trying to make humanity better. For this reason alone, he often clashed with Zeus, who was opposed to the idea of having any form of humanity other than that of the Titan clan. For stealing fire from Zeus, Prometheus was punished cruelly by Zeus. He was chained to the mountain of Kaukasos where every day, an eagle would feast upon his liver. Since he had healing powers, his liver would regenerate every night. He says, â€Å"This is the crime that I must expiate   Hung here in chains, nailed 'neath the open sky. Ha!  Ha!   What echo, what odour floats by with no sound?† Through these simple yet satirical words, written down in the Aeschylus, Prometheus has tried to set aside his woes and bring to terms that fact that he had been chained on Zeus’ orders, which acco rding to him were very unjust. These lines help to show the kind of disdain that flowed through Prometheus at the time of being chained and undergoing such a cruel punishment all because of the anger that Zeus had in his mind. He says, â€Å"The foe of Zeus and one at feud with all   The deities that find   Submissive entry to the tyrant's hall;   His fault, too great a love of humankind.   Ah me! Ah me! what wafture nigh at hand,   As of great birds of prey, is this I hear?† Through these words and dialogue, Prometheus has tried to put forth the kind of hatred that Zeus possessed for all of humanity of mortals; the reason because of which he got chained to the mountain. This process continued for a very long time, until Zeus ordered Hercules to rescue Prometheus. Despite this, the fire could not be retrieved back from humanity because it had spread too wide and far. However, the question still remains whether or not Prometheus’ punishment was justified by Ze us. According to personal opinion, it was not, because Prometheus was only trying to share with humanity the gifts that the Titans possessed. He could foresee the future and thus had probably foreseen doom that would be bestowed upon mankind if humanity had not discovered fire. Even though years of rubbing sticks and stones together went by, no man was able to create fire until the time that Prometheus stole it and sent it to the cavemen. â€Å"Oh that he had conveyed me   'Neath earth, 'neath hell that swalloweth up the  dead;   In Tartarus, illimitably vast   With adamantine fetters bound me fast-   There his fierce anger on me visited,   Where never mocking laughter could upbraid me   Of God or aught beside!† Through the following lines, Prometheus has tried to describe the kind of hellish life was to spend in the dark pits of Tartarus as per his punishment by Zeus. The wrath of Zeus was not at all justified in the kind of punitive life Prometheus was put int o for the rest of his life. The symbol of Prometheus is thus used in modern day architecture in various parts of the world in order to make people remember that fear persists in the environment as well. Prometheus was not at all a God fearing man and thus went ahead with his decision of taking the fire away and distributing it in a way that it flowed light upon the rest of mankind. Also, his liver, which is actually a symbolism of courage and

The Coffee Crisis Essay Example for Free

The Coffee Crisis Essay To begin, The Coffee Crisis is about an acute coffee crisis and how it threatens millions of small coffee farmers around the world and is putting economic growth, as well as social and political stability, at risk in scores of coffee producing countries in Central and South America, Africa and Asia. In 2004, the governments of coffee producing countries were considering how to respond to the dramatic decline in coffee prices caused in part by a large increase in coffee production in Brazil and Vietnam. Coffee was the main source of income for roughly 25 million farmers, mostly small land holders, in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Coffee prices had hit 40 year lows in 2001 and had remained low since, resulting in real hardship for many farmers. A variety of alternative solutions had been suggested. (Gomez-Ibanez Quinlan, 2004) The International Coffee Organization was advocating increasing demand through programs promoting coffee consumption; the Inter-American Development Bank supported promotion but also thought some high-cost countries should get out of coffee, while the non-governmental organization Oxfam was pushing fair trade pricing. The coffee crisis is worldwide. It is affecting farmers in Central America, South America, Africa, and Asia. While the Arabica farmers in Costa Rica may be getting 40 cents per pound for their coffee cherries, the Robusta coffee farmers in Viet Nam are only receiving 15 cents a pound for theirs. Even the low cost producers are not benefiting from the current situation. This condition is created because the market place does not view coffee as a true commodity. It places premiums and discounts on both coffee types and coffee grades. While both markets may move up and down in tandem, the arbitrage, or spread between one Arabica and Robusta, does not give one farmer an economic competitive advantage over another. This fact tends to get glossed over in most economic discussions on the coffee crisis. Many analysts believe that oversupply is at the root of the present crisis. After the system of coffee export quotas (the International Coffee Agreement, or ICA), administered by the International Coffee Organization, collapsed in 1989, the regulation of coffee production and quality was left to each individual producer country. Almost immediately following the dissolution of the agreement, excessive quantities of coffee entered international markets, prices became quite volatile and the overall quality of the coffee began to decline. Many of the coffee producing nations, including Mexico, were simultaneously in the process of deregulating, privatizing, and otherwise liberalizing agricultural production and national agricultural institutions. This had the effect of exacerbating the uncertainties faced by coffee farmers at the end of the 1980s. The coffee crisis is structural. It was not caused by the cyclical nature of coffee agriculture that has produced the â€Å"boom-bust† cycles of the past. The change in the market place has been brought about by the concentration of buying power in the hands of a few firms that present coffee to the consumer as a â€Å"blended and branded† product, void of any links to type and grade. This has led to intense price competition for market share that has rewarded increased market share to low cost products in the short run at the expense of stability in the supply chain in the long run. Since the crisis is a structural problem and not a cyclical one, remedies are to be found by taking intervening actions. These actions would include a strengthening of coffee institutions, a realignment of market forces, a creation of suitable financial tools, and a promotion of sustainable agricultural practices. It must be emphasized that any direct market intervention, such as quotas or subsidies, would only be short term in effect and would not correct the structural problems. It must also be emphasized that what is required is a series of steps in a number of different areas, as no single step will produce the desired structural changes that are needed. The crisis in the coffee sector continues. Its impact cannot be understated, since coffee constitutes the livelihood of an estimated 25 million families around the world. In world trade, coffee is the second leading commodity, after petroleum. The worldwide coffee market spans some 71 countries, of which 51 are significant producers and 20 are key consumers. Prices have not kept up with production costs to the extent needed to make participation in the coffee business profitable for most producers, even though the crop year 2003-2004 witnessed a worldwide decrease in production. (Central America The Coffee Crisis: Effects and Strategies for Moving Forward, 1992) In coffee producing countries, which account for over 26% of world consumption, the situation is more diverse. In some countries, prices of coffee have fallen in local currency and consumption may therefore be stimulated. In Brazil, the largest coffee market among producing countries, the devaluation of the real has maintained prices of green coffee at pre-crisis levels. As a whole, consumption in these markets is not expected to suffer any major negative impact. The root cause of the coffee crisis can be linked to three factors: over production; under consumption; and market oligopoly. In short, these are all problems associated with the economics of coffee farming. Without resolution, they will lead to both social and environmental breakdowns. (Central America The Coffee Crisis: Effects and Strategies for Moving Forward, 1992). The crisis has been caused by a large increase in coffee production over the past several years by two countries Vietnam and Brazil. In the case of Vietnam, within ten years this country grew from a relatively insignificant producer to the world second largest – ahead of Colombia but behind Brazil, now producing well over 10 million bags annually and accounting for approximately 12% of world exports. (Central America The Coffee Crisis: Effects and Strategies for Moving Forward, 1992) To conclude, without economic remedies to the crisis, it is difficult to promote sustainable agricultural practices in coffee farming. While niche markets within the specialty coffee industry can provide some relief, the size of these markets makes them too small to be an effective solution. References: Central America The Coffee Crisis: Effects and Strategies for Moving Forward. (1992, July 19). Retrieved February 4, 2012, from Latin American and Carribean: http://web. worldbank. org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/LACEXT/0,,contentMDK:20606092~pagePK:146736~piPK:146830~theSitePK:258554,00. html Gomez-Ibanez, J. , Quinlan, S. J. (2004). The Coffee Crisis.

Americas Growing Pains :: essays research papers

America’s first two presidents, George Washington and John Adams, both resolutely adhered to the idea that America should endeavor to stay out of war at all times, and did everything in their power to evade declaring and entering into war. Throughout their reigns, war was ubiquitous in Europe, and many countries (especially Britain and France) made numerous attempts to obtain and secure America’s support. Washington and Adams both believed that America should not side with any foreign country during times of war making the fundamental purport of America’s first foreign policy the elusion of war at all costs. This policy was manifested throughout Washington and Adams’ involvement in, and reactions to the following affairs: the Citizen Genet controversy, the Jay Treaty, and the XYZ Affair.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of Washington’s initial attempts to pursue this policy was his counteraction to the Genet Affair. In 1793, George Washington proclaimed neutrality, thus declaring America an uninvolved, nonpartisan country in times of war. Simultaneously, Edmond Charles Genet was sent to the United States as a special representative from France to implore support in the French Revolution. Genet had previously resolved that the proclamation of neutrality was a â€Å"harmless little pleasantry designed to throw dust in the eyes of the British†. Commencing in Charleston, South Carolina, Genet traveled throughout the United States presenting his credentials. In addition to his quest for support, he began to license American vessels to operate as privateers against British shipping and to grant French military commissions to a number of Americans in order to prepare expeditions against Spanish and British territorial claims in North America. These two actions were in direct defilement of American law. Washington demanded that he cease his unlawful actions, but Genet continued to commission privateers because he enticed the public opinion. This incident is a lucid manifestation of Washington’s ample efforts to avoid war. Genet had copiously essayed to obtain American support in the French Revolution, and in accordance with America’s foreign policy, Washington vehemently resisted any involvement in war. In an attempt to deplete the threat of Americans supporting the French, he avowed that Genet would be expelled. Washington’s reaction to this controversy verified his foreign policy by showing that he was willing to avoid war at all costs, even if alliances were broken and foreign relations were damaged.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In addition to Washington’s response to the Genet affair, he further strived to avert involvement in war by signing the Jay Treaty. This treaty was written to prevent war with Britain, but concurrently it strained America’s relationship with France by going against their alliance.

My Writing is My Voice :: Teaching Writing Education Essays

My Writing is My Voice For the longest time, I really did not know who I was. Not that I was confused about who I saw in the mirror, but I had know idea why I thought the way I did about things. Science had always interested me. Animals have such a unique character created out of the need for survival. They are not influenced by outside pressures to conform. I made the decision to study them for the rest of my life. But I really did not know what separated me, as a human, from my cat. The school systems and church tried to give me explanations. They encompassed the fact that I think logically, have problem solving skills, emotions, and make decisions based on these emotions. Animals did not have these abilities and this separated them form us. But the education started to contradict itself. After being exposed to a vast majority of animals, I saw abilities that humans cannot posses. Some can fly, breath underwater, and exist in climates where humans cannot without artificial devices. Humans cannot survive winters without clothes or travel the oceans without boats. The system was lying to me. Animals could adapt and think quite well. We were not better, just different. This made me lose faith in the system and I began to take up independent thought. Because I thought I should be a truly independent thinker, I believed that everything I knew was a product of my own discovery. Within my own mind, everything was the way it was because I thought it. The rest of the information in my head was only a bunch of stuff set up by society for me to learn. When I left my small town of Big Lake after graduation, I was in search of a higher education. Where? A university of course! I rushed into the world of undergraduates with hopes and dreams of someday being able to explain a reason for everything. But I did not want to do it in the same fashion the system was requiring it. They made the rules and I was supposed to follow them. I did not like what they had to say. I questioned most everything. There were disciplines though that I did not question. Physics, biology, and chemistry existed long before humans. I have already seen them in nature. Nature itself was proof enough to believe in their validity.

Propaganda

Propaganda: It's here to stay When the word ‘propaganda’ is used, negative connotations are generally brought to mind. People think of politicians using propaganda to force their agenda on others or to slander their opponent’s name as in the new election coming up between Obama and Romney. Yet is this all propaganda really is? Or is there something more that is never discussed about propaganda? This essay will be summarizing and discussing three from Orwell, Lutz , and Woolfolk about propaganda and the English language.The reader will gain a better understanding about what propaganda really is and how it is used and how to avoid getting tricked by it. The first article by George Orwell is out of his book of 50 essays entitled â€Å" Politics and the English Language. † George Orwell is an English journalist and novelist, who wrote such famous books as 1984 and Animal Farm. His article begins by talking about four parts of writing that are misused in the Eng lish language. The first topic discussed is dying metaphors.Orwell says, â€Å"A newly-invented metaphor assists thought by evoking a visual image, while on the other hand a metaphor which is technically â€Å"dead† has in effect reverted to being an ordinary word and can generally be used without loss of vividness. † If someone does not understand a metaphor because it is one that is not used anymore, it loses its effect and should not be used in writing or in propaganda (Orwell). A perfect example is the metaphor of the Hammer and the Anvil. When this metaphor is used most people think it means that the anvil gets the worst of it, when really it is the hammer that always breaks on the anvil.It is a metaphor that has lost meaning because hardly anyone uses an anvil anymore, causing this metaphor to be technically â€Å"dead†. The next subject discussed is verbal false limbs. Orwell says verbal false limbs â€Å"save the trouble of picking out appropriate verbs and nouns, and at the same time pad each sentence with extra syllables which give it an appearance of symmetry. † A few examples Orwell gives include our phrases ‘such as’,’to make contact with’, ‘play a leading part in’, and ‘be subjected to’.The problem is using these phrases takes out simple verbs that give meaning to a sentence and add extra fluff to them in order to sound â€Å"better† (Orwell). When writing it is important to avoid these verbal false limbs so the reader can truly understand what you are trying to say. The third item discussed is pretentious diction. Words such as ‘promote’, ‘constitute’, ‘exploit’, ‘utilize’are used to dress up simple statements and make the person saying them sound dignified. It also is used to add scientific terms to a biased judgment. It is a common trick we see in propaganda all the time.You will see such things as â€Å" It is inevitable if you elect Obama, our country will fail. † The word’ inevitable’ is an example of pretentious diction (Orwell). It is taking a scientific term and adding it to a biased opinion in order to convince the voter that voting for Obama is bad. The fourth item discussed is meaningless words. These are words that are used in which the definition of is unclear. You see this in political ads words such as fascism or socialist. These words are used, but do the readers really know what the author is trying to say by using them. Another one common in political ads is the word ‘patriotic’.Do we have a real definition of what it means to be patriotic or is that a word that is just thrown around. Orwell says that words such as these need to be used carefully and taken out of writing if unneeded. As Orwell ends this article he gives six rules of writing to avoid these crucial mistakes seen in the English language today. The rules are as follows â⠂¬Å"(1) Never use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print. (2) Never use a long word where a short one will do. (3) If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out. (4) Never use the passive where you can use the active. 5) Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent. (6) Break any of these rules sooner than say anything barbarous. † These rules may seem easy enough but if you grew up writing today it will be harder than you think to change habits and stick to these rules. If you can stick to these rules you will become a better overall writer (Orwell). The second article we will discuss is Doublespeak by William Lutz. William Lutz is an American linguist who specializes in the use of plain words and avoiding doublespeak or deceptive language.Lutz begins talking about how language is a human tool and may be the most important of all the human tools. Yet like any tool, it can be used to build society but can also be used to destroy it (Lutz 25). One quote that Lutz says describes this perfectly, â€Å" Language can easily distort perception and influence behavior and thus be a tool, or weapon, for achieving the greatest good or the greatest evil. † Lutz goes on to talk about how language is power and whoever controls language controls society (Lutz 26). There are four kinds of doublespeak that Lutz talks about the first being euphemism, which is designed to avoid reality.When different words are used to make a situation sound better, this is euphemism. Lutz brings up the subject in 1984 where reports on human rights would remove the word ‘killing’ and replace it with ‘deprivation of life’. This helped the government avoid the subject of government sanctioned killings that happened in other countries that the United States had supported. This is a prime example of doublespeak, using different words to misl ead the reader as to what has really happened. The second type of doublespeak discussed is jargon.Jargon is used all the time by doctors and lawyers; it is speech used that only those in a specialized group can understand. When used in these groups it is not considered jargon because all members understand what is being said. Yet when jargon is used with members outside the group it is then considered doublespeak as all members do not fully understand what is being said (Lutz 27). When companies use lawyer terms to describe something that has happened in their company to the public it is considered doublespeak; they know most people do not understand what they are saying and could use it to cover up what is really happening.The third type of doublespeak that is mentioned is gobbledygook. This is the practice of piling on words, the bigger the better to purposely overwhelm the audience as to what is actually being said. This is common when something bad happens in our economy. Politi cians use big words in long complicated sentences so that their readers do not really know what is going on. The fourth type of doublespeak discussed is inflated language. This is the process of making ordinary words seem fancy and better than what they are.This is often used in advertising to make a product sound better than it is in order to make the audience want to buy it. For example, a used car may be described as experienced (Lutz 27). This is one of the most common ways you see Doublespeak in America today, whether it be in advertising for a product or for a politician. Lutz then discusses how doublespeak is used in politics. â€Å"Political language is the language of public policy and power. Our direction as a nation is defined for us by our elected leaders through language,† says Lutz. Therefore if our leaders are not always honest and pright, we the people do not have the proper knowledge and understanding to make the decisions we need to make. This language has b een distorted in the past such as in Vietnam instead of calling them bombings they called them â€Å"protective reaction strikes. † Orwell said, â€Å"This language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind. † This is why you have a negative reaction when you hear the word propaganda. It's always easier to remember the bad things that have happened and forget the good things (Lutz 29).Not all propaganda is used to mislead or hurt people. It can be used to get people to vote for something that is good and truthful or convince people to recycle. Yet the things that have happened in the past will always give propaganda a bad reputation. The third article is â€Å"Propaganda: How not to be bamboozled† by Donna Woolfork Cross. Donna is an American writer known for such novels as Pope Joan. Woolfork says that propaganda gets a bad reputation because people simply don't understand what it really i s. It is a means of persuasion that can be used for good or evil.Propaganda is used to tell people what toothpaste to buy, the type of movies to see, and the one most people think of, and who you should vote for in an election (Woolfolk Cross 1). Cross says, â€Å"People are bamboozled mainly because they don't recognize propaganda when they see it. † Cross gives thirteen different ways to recognize propaganda. The first is name calling; this is a simple one to understand. It is when someone or group says something bad about another person or group. You see this in political ads all the time or you might hear a politician referred to as â€Å"foolish† or â€Å"fascist†.This is used to make the reader not think but just believe what is being said. Cross then talks about glittering generalities, this is simply the opposite of name calling, it is using terms to make someone look good, it is used to make you want to vote for someone in an election. A political ad ma y say â€Å"Vote for Romney; It's the American way. † This sounds good but when actually examining what they are saying what does it really mean (Woolfolk Cross 2)? The next issue Cross discusses is the plain folks appeal. This is where a politician wants the viewer to think he is a person just like them.A good example is when you see presidents going around to blue collar workers and shaking hands and working with them and kissing babies (Woolfolk Cross 2). They want you to believe that they are the same as you so you will vote for them. Cross also talks about the Argumentum Ad Populum; this is simply telling the people what they want to hear. This can happen in elections as well; you will hear politicians say you all are â€Å"good tax-paying Americans† or â€Å"the backbone of America. † These phrases are things that all people want to hear and our used to distract the voter from what is really being said (Woolfolk Cross 3).The next use of propaganda is the A rgumentum Ad Hominem. Cross says, â€Å"Argumentum ad hominem means â€Å"argument to man† and that's exactly what it is. When a propagandist uses argumentum ad hominem he wants to distract our attention from the issue under consideration with personal attacks on the people being involved. This happens often; if the issue being discussed by a politician is health care reform, then another politician may make an attack about that politician’s bad family life. His bad family life has nothing to do with health care reform, yet things like this will distract potential voters from what is actually being said.The next item discussed is Transfer; (Glory or Guilt By Association) this is simply associating something that is good with the issue at hand even if it has no relevance to that situation. The next propaganda technique is bandwagon. We have all heard the term bandwagon fan to describe someone who likes a certain sports team only because they are doing well. The same ap plies in propaganda; it is used to convince people to like something because it is the popular thing to do (Woolfolk Cross 4). This happens with fashions and is used by getting celebrities to endorse a product.Cross then talks about faulty cause and effect relationship. This is where propaganda says one thing causes another thing to happen even if it really did not. You see this in politics all the time, sense Obama has been in office our unemployment rate has gone down. Now this may be true, but was it caused by Obama or were there other factors in place? It is used to convince people to believe something without actually checking the facts. The next propaganda item discussed is false analogy. An analogy is a comparison between two ideas, events or things (Woolfolk Cross 6).A false analogy is simply comparing two things that really have nothing to do with each other. It is often used in politics to link one thing with another that really has no reason to be associated with the othe r thing. The next propaganda technique, begging the question, this is a common technique used in politics. You may see a political ad that says, â€Å"No true American could turn down proposal 4. † This is forcing the viewer to say do I not want to be a true American (Woolfolk Cross 6). It's basically answering the question for a person instead of letting them answer it for themselves. The 11th item discussed is the two extremes fallacy.This is where you make a situation seem like there are only two options to choose from, either black or white. This forces the viewer to choose one side when really there might be a multitude of options to choose from. The next propaganda technique is card stacking. It's a easy technique of showing only what you want people to see. It's used where politicians only want you to see the good parts of their plans and not the negatives such as raising taxes, they will show you all this great things that will happen but not where the money is coming from (Woolfolk Cross 7). The last propaganda technique is called the testimonial.This is where you get someone who is famous or loved to endorse a certain product or person, even if they are not an expert in the field. You see professional athletes endorsing medical products, even though they are not a medical expert. Woolfolk lays out all thirteen examples of propaganda to show people what to look out for. In conclusion, propaganda is misunderstood. Propaganda itself is not a a negative thing, it is just a means of persuading someone that can be used either for a positive effect or a negative one. Yet in today's society propaganda is used for many different reasons.This is why it is important to understand what propaganda really is. Orwell, Lutz, and Woolfolk give good insight into how propaganda is used and how to avoid being confused by it. After reading this you will have a better understanding of propaganda and how to identify it, and how to understand what the author is reall y trying to say. It will make you a better thinker, and help with important decisions that you have to make. Sources: 1. Lutz, William . â€Å"Doublespeak. †Ã‚  Public Relations Quarterly  . 33. 4 n. page. Web. 2. Orwell, George. â€Å"Fifty Orwell Essays . †Ã‚  Gutenburg. n. page. Web. 13 Sep. 2012.

Higher Education as A Wise Investment Essay

Higher Education as A Wise Investment Essay Higher Education as A Wise Investment Essay Example Higher Education as A Wise Investment Essay Example The world is constantly changing, and people are changing with it. Even more, people are those, who create an impulse to alter the environment around them. That is why every person needs to have and use the possibilities to grow intellectually and receive the best tuition, because everyone has his/her own inner power to make the world better. According to a contemporary model of a liberal society, humans are placed in the center of the planet around them. They are not just observing what is going on, but also participating. They have the right to express their opinion. These ideas might seem to be not very related to an educational process. However, a basis of such concepts like a freedom of speech, a critical thinking and self-respect are formed at school and polished at higher educational institutions (Bronfenbrenner). Studying at the university or college is efficient for liberating the consciousness and developing the creativity of young people. Every person has a unique individuality. Thus, investing into a higher education might lead to efficient results in this sphere. The universities and colleges are considered to form free-thinking members of the democratic society. They will succeed in the further adult life and make the community around them better (Sokol). It is difficult to say that higher education is necessary for everyone in the society. It is a wise investment, regardless the personal circumstances. The tuition costs a lot; and not many people in the United States can afford it. The question is whether everyone needs it. There are many people that do not want to work as clerks at the offices or become scientists. It is possible to say that they do not need any higher education. From another perspective, higher education is another way to develop intellectually and culturally. It does not matter what the future professional plans of a person are (Bevilacqua, Giannetto, and Matthews). Even though the issue is worth a long discussion, I think that higher education is a very good investment for a number of reasons. Main Reasons Why Higher Education Is a Wise Investment The price of studying at the university or college is big enough to make the majority of the middle-class families take a loan in the bank. They could hope that their child will find a good work after the graduation. According to the information given in the article â€Å"Getting More Bang for the Buck in Higher Education†. Students are already borrowing about $113 billion a year, more than twice as much as a decade ago, and student debt now tops $1 trillion. The federal government accounts for nearly 90 percent of all student loans and the Congressional Budget Office estimates that students will take out $1.4 trillion in new federal loans over the next decade. (D’Andrea 2013). This statistics shows that higher education is still very popular among the Americans despite its high costs. It is necessary to note that the United States is a developed country. There are many workplaces that require a higher education to fit the standards. For example, it is impossible to work as a web-developer without a specific knowledge on the issue. It is surely rather complicated than a high school level. If there are not many professionals in the country, the company has to invite people from abroad to work for them. Nowadays, many American companies do it frequently. It supports an idea that people with higher education are needed. They will surely find a workplace after the graduation. Having a university degree is a sign for employees that a person obtains the premium qualifications for the work. There is no need to check his/her knowledge in all details in this sphere. It also increases the possibilities for a professional growth in the company. A university degree becomes an advantage in creating an image of a successful person. It is surely an intellectual achievement. It is a wide-spread idea that university graduates earn more during the lifetime. It may be explained by an idea that they do not work on lower positions like college graduates do. Of course, a financial well-being depends not only on the persons academic degree. Such issues like working productivity, energy and enthusiasm as well as luck are also very important. However, having a university degree increases the chances of an individual for a quick advancement by a career ladder. The article in The New York Times includes the following: A college graduate is almost 20 percentage points more likely to be employed than someone with a high-school diploma. Although the cost of a college degree is 50 percent higher than it was 30 years ago, the increase in lifetime earnings associated with a college degree is now 75 percent higher. (DAndrea) Another idea that supports the thesis that higher education is a wise investment is the following one. It shows employees and other people that the person with the degree is committed and knows how to set and accomplish goals. It addition, to have a degree shows that the person is able to work systematically while gaining the new knowledge and passing exams successfully. It might be incorrect to analyze the advantages of investing into higher education only from a personal economical point of view. It is necessary to note that it abolishes such serious problems in the society as a total ignorance, a fear of strangers, and their culture. Increasing an educational level of people is the best way of preventing racism and crimes. An educated person will not kill for fun, because he/she understands the value of the human life. He/she will be a better citizen that will help the poor, because he/she has an idea about humanism. People become better, no matter whether they are being skilled workers or professors. The humankind has made a long way from the ancient times to the 21st century and gained much knowledge in all spheres. It should be understood by everyone. This knowledge broadens the mind and creates a good basis for a further progress of human thoughts. Higher education is an attribute of a high social status. It can be called an achievement, in other words, and the prestige of the university degree attracting many people. The government gives to citizens a possibility to go to the university without paying all the money for the tuition as a reward (Nola and Irzik). This can be seen in an example of the U.S. army and the desire of people to get higher education. It is another argument that supports the importance of investing into the university degree. The U.S. Army: Supporting the Prestigious Status of Higher Education It is necessary to describe the overall situation connected with an army in the United States. It is the U.S. Military that faces numerous problems. The main problem it meets with is unwillingness of young people to serve the country and the lack of financing. That is why the military saves money, reduces some expenses on other issues, but leads an active advertising and promoting campaign. All this has made to create a new positive image of an American soldier. It should attract volunteers to the army. Re-branding of the U.S. Army is a main issue that managers want to achieve in their advertising and promotion campaigns. It targets mostly the young men from 18 to 24 years old that have been brought up on the TV culture. When those young men are asked to fill in the questionnaire, they describe the army as something with the dog soldier work, obstacle courses and in-your-face drill officers. The Army tries to make it more transparent for the American public. It creates an image of a strong young professional patriot, who goes to the military to serve the country. The situation with the lack of volunteers is so difficult, that the Army introduced a special army experience tour. The officers visit high schools on a recruiting truck and talk about the possibilities the military service can give to students (Baron). However, an issue that is connected with a problem of higher education is not the popularity of the military service. The main point that underlines the importance and prestigious status of the university degree are the perspectives the army opens for a young recruit. The military service gives a wide range of social opportunities for young people from lower classes. After the army, the person is able to get a higher education at a lower price. The person receives a good and cheap healthcare and a possibility to buy a house. That is why the advertising campaign targets high school and college students, mostly in the southern states. In these regions, there are more immigrants like Hispanics and blacks. According to the state program, such immigrants will be able to become the citizens of the country after the military service. The marketing strategy the army of the United States uses depends on the economic and social status of the target audience. The state program aims at increasing the popularity of the military service among people and promise to provide them with various profits in future. It is one of the most important features making the army so popular among young people of the lower class and immigrants. It is necessary to note that those young men who go to the army do not really have many opportunities to make their lives better to choose from. They do not have other ways to get education and social profits. As it has been mentioned earlier, higher education costs much even more for middle-class families. This sum is too much for a poor immigrant family or just for a family with many children. In fact, the soldiers that can be compared to customers do not have a choice. It is similar to arriving to the store where there is an only model of the mobile phone available. There is no competition at all (Garamone). The price for this mobile phone is extremely high, but it will be certainly bought. There is a lack of mobile phones. This example can be easily compared to the military. In reality, the army is a monopolist in its sphere. It is quite logical, because it is impossible to have several armies in the country. It might cost too much and lead to a breakup in the country in case some political problems arise. However, it is the only way to make the life better for a big number of young people. Our SamplesThe best way to know how to write good essays is by getting a sample of an essay from competent experts online. We can give you the essay examples you need for future learning. Free Essay Examples are here. Main Reasons why Some Think Higher Education Is not a Wise Investment Many college and university students complain that they need to take too many obligatory courses being not related to their major ones. The students have been writing petitions and discussing this question for many years. However, the majority of higher educational institutions create curriculums with general studies. Higher education supposes that a student will learn many disciplines on the higher level to become not only a professional, but also a well-educated cultural person (Dann). Many people claim that the university level is unnecessary for them. There is not much information about the major studies and too much information about philosophy, literature, rhetoric, and other general issues (Conerly). Even though I do not agree with the statement that there is no need to take the courses being not related to the one’s specialization at all, I will try to compare some arguments from both sides to make a situation clearer. The general education has an obvious advantage. It gives the all-round knowledge in different spheres of science and art. It is difficult to disagree with this argument because the basic knowledge in languages, art, and history is not redundant for engineers and managers. Perhaps, those who are good in programming have neither the desire nor much talent to learn foreign languages or even write essays in their own. They have a different way of thinking. In their logical world of codes, there is no place for a verbal beauty. The problem is that even great programmers need to communicate with people, write emails, and love writing letters to their girlfriends without mistakes as well as work abroad. Sometimes the knowledge of English is not a treatment for everything. That is why the universities make language disciplines obligatory for all students. According to the article â€Å"Dont Buy the Hype, College Education Is Not an Investment,† the majority of university graduates do not know much neither in their profile, nor in general subjects. More than a third of recent college graduates had coasted through without adding anything to their human capital. Reports that employers often find graduates applying for jobs to be weak in basic skills are numerous. If a college degree were a regulated investment opportunity, it would have to bear the standard warning that past performance is no guarantee of future performance. The future won’t be similar to the past for many college graduates and telling young people that college will be a good investment is careless and irresponsible. (Leef) There is a universal counter-evidence to this statement. There is always a possibility for self-education. Nowadays, there is no problem in finding information in the Internet and even in taking online courses. As a proverb says, â€Å"Where there is a will, there is a way.† Students should always be motivated to learn something (Conerly). They know for sure that they have to be good in their specialty because it is their future profession. However, they really do not understand why it is necessary to learn French if they can communicate perfectly in English. They do not intend to work in France. The lack of motivation makes those obligatory general courses ineffective. Thus, in the end, both professors and students lose their precious time. Another argument for attending the courses that are not related to the profile is that they teach students to think critically. It makes the brain work harder if a student needs to master a subject being not his or her initial specialization (Grove). However, this theory has more disadvantages than advantages in practice. Firstly, the ability to think critically does not depend upon the subject the person is learning. The only thing that is important is a process of learning and mental abilities to compare facts and make conclusions. Secondly, it often leads to serious psychological problems. If the person is a talented musician, and he/she is bad at mathematics, but still learns it, he/she constantly fails in this. It does not depend on the efforts put for learning. This state leads to depression, appearance of inferiority complex, and a decrease of self-rating. The next argument to support the idea of necessity of general studies in the university is that the variety of disciplines gives to students an opportunity to choose what they prefer more. It is good in the sense of self-determination. However, it causes difficulties with the employment after graduation (Genovese). Universities do not always filter the disciplines applicable to the real life. Students might have problems with the further professional adaptation. Time is very valuable. The majority of students want to get their profession as soon as possible. Another very important issue, which supports an idea that extra courses are not needed, is money. Many families cannot afford paying for the tuition. The general courses are costly, obligatory for all students, and, in addition, not related to their major course. It is evident that the question of money is an obstacle for the majority of students.The lack of money is not the only problem in the question of general studies. Another important factor is time. Many college and university students work part time or have family issues that do not allow them to spend at least four years for finding themselves. No matter how good this idea is in theory, the reality where the time and money are involved makes its corrections (Grove). It is possible to find a college with a flexible curriculum (Education Portal). One can always choose an institution to study at. This question is important, because there is no money-and-time-back system at colleges and institutes. That is why every student needs to understand what his/her aim is; whether it is to get a more generalized knowledge, or to pay more attention to the major subject. An opportunity to take the courses being related to the one’s specialization is more practical than studying the disciplines providing the basics of everything in the world to students. One of the main counter-evidences against getting a higher education, omitting if it is not a way for self-development but a wise investment, is that studying is not a financial operation at all. Forbes writes: When college cheerleaders say that there is an earnings premium for graduates, they make it sound just like investing in financial instruments. â€Å"Buy this bond and you get interest payments in return; buy a college degree and you get higher wages in return.† But that isn’t the case. No one receives any payment or premium merely for having finished college. Employers do not reward workers just for having passed enough classes to earn a degree. They reward workers for their productivity. Going to college might increase a person’s productivity, but it’s neither necessary nor sufficient for that. (Leef) In reality, the academic degree supposes that the person has done more of the individual work to get it. As a result, it might be just an advantage in the competition to gain the job. However, it is not another document that supports an idea that the person has a good professional pedigree. It is difficult to say for sure if the higher education is necessary for everyone in the United States. The tuition costs a lot of money. The majority of students have to take a loan in the bank to finish the university. There are both advantages and disadvantages in studying at the college or university. Higher education is a good investment into the future career, because a graduate might find a well-paid job. He/she might have good possibilities for the future career growth. In addition, higher education gives to students numerous possibilities for the personal intellectual and cultural growth. It might make their lives better in future. A free-thinking, creative, and intelligent person has more chances to succeed in life than those people selecting not to continue their studies. To sum up, the well-educated citizens are the developing power of each community and every state. That is why getting higher education is a wise investment both in the individual and state senses.

10 Ways to Get the Job You Love

10 Ways to Get the Job You Love People generally get exactly what they are looking for, and people who are looking for a job- any job- are not an exception to the rule. They, in fact, illustrate the rule. They often make the mistake of settling for the first job opening available, which is understandable- responsible people have to do whatever it takes to meet their obligations. But if you don’t want to be searching again in a few months, you should do your best to get  a job you love from the beginning. Here are 10 simple things you can do to help  get once step closer to getting a job you love.Assess YourselfYou need to know what fits you the best. One simple way to do this is by taking self-assessment tests, which are typically short and widely available online- sometimes at no cost. Classic examples are available from Myers-Briggs or Keirsey. These tests will help you understand where your greatest potential for productivity, satisfaction, and success may be.Focus on the Best-Fitting JobsWhile the ur gent need may seem like the real issue, it is really the long-term need that deserves your attention. You will discover that as you assess yourself your focus will be much more finely tuned and you will find yourself looking for a job that is a good match. You will now be operating more efficiently, not wasting time filling out endless online applications for jobs you didn’t really want in the first place.Nail Your ResumeLisa Cefali and Alesia Benedict offer several insights into nailing your resume:Write the resume for the reader. The hiring authority does not care that you played varsity basketball in high school or that your hobbies include collecting stained glass. They want to see your experience and accomplishments. Give them what they want.Connect the dots. Make it easy to for the reader to see why you are a good fit for the job by connecting the dots between your talents and skills and the job.Don’t write an introduction. Write an executive summary (and name it such) of the information that follows.Use keywords. Write with the language that appeared in the job posting. Some resumes are scanned for matching keywords before being read by a human.Nail Your Cover LetterEvery cover letter should be written exclusively for each job and company to which you apply. Within a matter of seconds, the recipient should be able to see that you are an excellent candidate for the job. The cover letter should do that, causing them to take particular note of the details in your resume. Restate the defined requirements of the job and show how you meet or exceed those specifications.Nail Your InterviewDon’t go to a job interview to decide if you want the job, because you have nothing to decide until an offer is put on the table. Martin Yates, the author of the bestseller, Knock ’em Dead, says this about the interview:You go to a job interview to get a job offer. Nothing else matters, not the pay, the benefits, or the work environment; they are a ll irrelevant until an offer is on the table. The person on the other side of the desk is not your adversary. They want to find someone who can do the work, wants to do the work, and can get along with others so that they can and get back to their real work ASAP. Your job is to help them make that decision.Look for the Perfect MatchJob hunting is kind of like dating, only more complex and, typically, with more competition. Sign up with TheJobNetwork and let us help you find the perfect job match for you. Anybody can find a job. We can help you find the job you want.

Organic Compounds - Names and Formulas Starting with P

Organic Compounds - Names and Formulas Starting with P This is a list of organic compound names and formulas with names starting with the letter P. PABA - C7H7NO2Paclitaxel - C47H51NO14Palmitic acid - C16H32O2palmitoyl-oleyl-sn-phosphatidylcholine - C42H82NO8PPancracine - C16H17NO4Pantothenic acid (Vitamin B - C9H17NO5Para red - C16H11N3O3Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) - C8H9NO2Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) (ball and stick model) - C8H9NO2Parachlorometaxylenol (PCMX or Chloroxylenol) - C8H9ClOParaformaldehyde - (CH2O)x (x 8 - 100)Parathion - C10H14NO5PSPBDE (Polybrominated diphenyl ethers) general structurePCP (Phencyclidine) - C17H25NPCP (Phencyclidine) (ball and stick model) - C17H25NPelargonic acid - C9H18O2Penguinone (3,4,4,5-tetramethylcyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-one) - C10H14OPentabromodiphenyl ether - C12H5Br5OPentachlorophenol - C6HCl5OPentadecane - C15H32Pentaerythritol - C4H10O3Pentafluoroethane - C2HF5Pentalene - C8H6Pentane - C5H12Pentane (ball and stick) - C5H121-Pentene - C5H101-Pentene (ball and stick model) - C5H10Pentetic acid - C14H23N3O10Pentyl functional group - R-C5H11Pentyl 2,3,5-trichloro-6-hydro xybenzoate - C12H13C l3O31-Pentyne - C5H8Peracetic acid - C2H4O3Peramivir - C15H28N4O4Perazil - C18H21ClN2Perfluorotributylamine - C12F27NPerkins mauveine - C26H23N4Permethrin - C21H20Cl2O3Peroxyacetic acid - C2H4O3Perylene - C20H12Phenacetin - C10H13NO2Phenacyl bromide - C8H7BrOPhenanthrene - C14H10Phenanthrenequinone - C14H8O2Phenazone (Antipyrine) - C11H12N2OPhencyclidine (PCP) - C17H25NPhencyclidine (PCP) (ball and stick model) - C17H25NPhenethylamine - C8H11NPhenobarbital - C12H12N2O3Phenic acid - C6H6OPhenol - C6H6OPhenol (space filled model) - C6H6OPhenolate anion - C6H5OPhenol red (Phenolsulfonphthalein) - C19H14O5SPhenolphthalein - C20H14O4Phenothiazine - C12H9NSPhenylacetic acid - C8H8O2Phenylacetylene - C8H6Phenylalanine - C9H11NO2D-Phenylalanine - C9H11NO2L-Phenylalanine - C9H11NO2-Phenylenediamine - C6H8N2Phenyl Functional GroupPhenylhydrazine - C6H8N2Phenylhydroxylamine - C6H7NOPhyenylic acid (phenol) - C6H6OPhenyllithium - C6H5Li4-Phenyl-4-(1-piperidinyl)cyclohexanol (PPC) - C17H25NOPheny lthiocarbamide (Phenylthiourea) - C7H8N2SPhloroglucinol - C6H6O3Phorate - C7H17O2PS3Phosgene - CCl2Ophosgene (space filled model)- CCl2Ophosphate - O4P3-Phosphate functional group - ROP(O)(OH)2Phosphino groupPhosphodiester groupPhosphonic acid groupPhthalate (general structure) - C8H4O4RR where R and R CnH2n1 (n4-15)Phthalic anhydride - C8H6O2Phthalic acid - C8H6O2Phylloquinone (Vitamin K - C31H46O2Physostigmine - C15H21N3O2Phytic acid - C6H18O24P6ÃŽ ±-Picoline - C6H7NÃŽ ²-Picoline - C6H7NÃŽ ³-Picoline - C6H7NPicrasane - C20H34OPicrate Anion - C6H2N3O71-Picric acid - C6H3N3O7Pimarane - C20H36Pimelic acid - C7H12O4Pinacol - C6H14O2Piperazine - C4H10N2Piperidine - C5H11NPiperonal - C8H6O3Piperylene - C5H8Pivaloyl chloride - C5H9ClOPodocarpane - C17H30Polyacrylonitrile - (C3H3N)nPolycaprolactam (Nylon 6) - (C6H11N)nPolychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) - C12H10-xClx (x 1-10)Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) - C12H10−xBrxO where x 1, 2, ..., 10 m nPolyethylene - repeating chains of C2H4Polyethylenimine - (C2H5N)nPolyisobutylene - (C4H8)nPolyphenylene oxide - (C8H8O)nPolypropylene - (C3H6)nPolypropylene glycol - (C3H5O)nPolystyrene - (C8H8)nPolytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE or Teflon) - (C2F4)nPolyvinyl acetate - (C4H6O2)xPolyvinyl alcohol - (C2H4O)xPolyvinyl chloride (PVC) - (C2H3Cl)nPolyvinyl fluoride (PVF) - (C2H3F)nPolyvinylidene chloride - (C2H2Cl2)nPolyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) - (C2H2F2)nPorphyrin - C20H14N4Prednisone - C21H26O5Primaquine - C15H21N3OPrimary aldimine functional group - RC(NH)HPrimary amine functional group - RNH2Primary ketimine functional group - RC(NH)RProcaine - C13H20N2O2Progesterone - C21H30O2Progesterone (space filled model) - C21H30O2Prolactin (PRL)Proline - C5H9NO2D-Proline - C5H9NO2L-Proline - C5H9NO2Prolyl radical - C5H8NOPropane - C3H8Propane (ball and stick model) - C3H8Propane (space filled model) - C3H8Propanedioic acid - C3H4O42-Propanone (Acetone) - C3H6OPropargyl alcohol - C3H4OPropene - C3H3Propene - C3H34-(Prop-1-en-1-y l)phenol (Anol) - C9H10OPropiconazole - C15H17Cl2N3O2ÃŽ ±-Propiolactone - C3H4O2ÃŽ ²-Propiolactone - C3H4O2Propiolic acid - C3H2O2Propionaldehyde (Propanal) - C3H6OPropionic acid - C3H6O2Propionitrile - C3H5NPropoxur - C11H15NO3propylene - C3H6Propylene glycol - C3H8O2Propyl Functional Group - R-C3H7Propyne - C3H4Proton-sponge (Sigma-Aldrich trademark name) - C14H18N2Purine - C5H4N4Putrescine - C4H12N22H-Pyran (1,2-Pyran) - C5H6O4H-Pyran (1,4-Pyran) - C5H6OPyrazine - C4H12N2Pyrazole - C3H4N2Pyrene - C16H10Pyrethrin I - C21H28O3Pyrethrin II - C22H28O5Pyridazine - C4H4N2Pyridine - C5H5N2-Pyridone - C5H5NOPyridoxal (Vitamin B - C8H9NO3Pyridyl Functional Group - RC5H4NPyrilamine - C17H23N3OPyrimethamine - C12H13ClN4Pyrimidine - C4H4N2Pyrocatechol - C12H13ClN4Pyroglutamic acid - C5H7NO3Pyrrole - C4H5NPyrrolidine - C4H9NPyruvic acid - C3H4O3

Mass Customization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Mass Customization - Essay Example Nonetheless, it is fundamental to consider that the costs do not augment at all. The company is, therefore, able to have an added advantage in the market as well as have the best economic value in the market. A closer analysis of mass customization relates to the fact that the individual needs are actually met but with production in large quantities (Da Silveira, Borenstein & Fogliatto, 2001). This means that the manufacturers can to suspend production of goods for a particular customer and reschedule the same production for a larger supply. Production of large volumes as indicated in the work of Da Silveira, Borenstein & Fogliatto (2001) is a product of mass customization; thus, quality production and delivery. Minimal tradeoffs in costs are also an added advantage (Da Silveira, Borenstein & Fogliatto, 2001). In the business world, mass customization plays a huge role. As seen in the research conducted by Mattila, Huuskonen & Hietikko (2013) mass customization simply refers to the manufacturing guide for manufactures. This relates to the fact that the manufactures will produce goods based on the demands of the clients. As customizers, it is expected that the manufactures embrace a technique that will influence the shape of their final product to the desirability of the customers. Mass customization, therefore, is useful for the mass manufacturing of products with efficiency, production of goods for specific clients, and production of customized goods that are on demands after ordering of goods by clients (Mattila, Huuskonen & Hietikko, 2013). In the work of Mattila, Huuskonen & Hietikko (2013), mass customization is governed by various principles. First, mass customization works on the principle that a product should have independent sections that could be easily assembled into various forms of the product. This means that the manufacturers will incur less cost while producing the products. This is referred to as agile

Same-Sex Marriages Should be Legally Recognized Essay

Same-Sex Marriages Should be Legally Recognized - Essay Example Those people have to be given the possibility to legalize their relationships. As the relationship between gays and lesbians don't have any legal definition, and they aren't regulated by the government, those couples are left to se the parameters of their partnership by themselves, which sometimes has negative consequences, as Dorothy Pomerantz notes in her article about the legalization of the same-sex marriages published in The Advocate in 2000.1 Marriage has always been an important institution in the American society, as after tying the knot two people became able to make important decisions for each other, and the share the common responsibilities. For the U.S citizens marriage means that two people decided to share their money, resources, and responsibilities as well as their bed, a legal commitment made to the society. Almost any man and any woman in our country can register a marriage, despite of their age, social status, or their feelings towards each other. The few things that are needed to register an official union is being the representatives of the different genders, and being more or less mentally healthy. In the same time, two people who love each other, and want to share their lives, and, maybe, raise children together, are deprived of the possibility to legalize those intentions just because they are of the same gender. Eric Stoltz, the author of the article about Proposition 22, a law project that banned recognition of the same sex marriages in California, writes: I could, for example, fly to Las Vegas tonight, wed a prostitute in a drunken stupor, and return to Los Angeles tomorrow morning to have my marriage fully recognized by the law and society. Fifty women can vie on national television to marry a man they've never met for his money, and that union would be recognized by the state. Any man can marry a woman for her looks in a cynical but legally sanctioned form of concubinage, and that union would enjoy all the rights and privileges of marriage. But if two people of the same sex want to establish rights of inheritance or become legally empowered to make health-care decisions for one another, we are now told that the entire structure of Western civilization will come crashing down. (Commonweal, 2000).2 And, in fact, the situation indeed looks like it. The persuasion that marriage should be a union, which only the representatives of two different genders can enter, is a social norm that was established thousands of years ago, when people created families as they needed to unite in order to survive, and bring their children up. The social roles in the primitive society were very well-defined - men had to bring food, and women were to raise kids and maintain fire, thus such a union was perfectly justified (Sullivan, 2004). 3 As thousands of years passed after people left the caves, the distribution of social roles has changed. Today both men and women can be the breadwinners in the family, the same as both members of the family can stay home to care for the kids. The necessity in the different-gender unity nowadays is much weaker than it had been when this social norm was first formed.

Strategies for assessing skills and competencies Essay

Strategies for assessing skills and competencies - Essay Example The main difference between the retail sales and B2B sales is in terms of the volume. B2B deals in large volumes of sales order and therefore, becomes important ingredient of sales strategy. Hence, while the basic competency and skills of the present sales staff is adequate, the new group from within the sales team would need to undergo 4 months training and development program. They would also be required to explore B2B market for 1 month to evaluate their requirements and how the company can meet them. The in-house training by the external consultants and senior management staff would on the following modules would greatly enhance existing skills and provide them with wide scope of expanding their knowledge area: B2B market is focused on bulk orders therefore sales executives must be skilled in knowing what the investment parameters are going to be so that the objections arising due to money, time and resources are already made clear before making their sales presentations. The training module would prepare the sales team to evaluate these parameters for its different business partners. The encouraging and incentive driven work environment promotes retention of employees and gives the organization better leverage to compete with their rivals. The experienced and motivated workforce is conducive to higher degree of creative inputs and innovative approach. Commitment to work and loyalty towards employers is considerably increased when the employees are given opportunity to improve and improvise their professional skills and competencies through in-house training and development. Zapata-Cantu et al. have also asserted that professional growth and self improvement, through human resource development practices, greatly enhance organization’s advantage (Zapata-Cantu et al., 2007). In the highly competitive environment of recessive economy, upgrading the skills of the existing sales executives would be the best option. Indeed, HR’s

Investment Analysis Coursework 2001 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Investment Analysis Coursework 2001 - Essay Example ‘Herd’ implies a social grouping of people, who have similar understanding or perception about anything. Here ‘herd’ implies the people, who have the same viewpoint within the stock market. The above statement briefs that market movements are dependent on individuals. If a person buys a particular stock and he is a popular figure in the community and society, then every individual intends to purchase this stock and this is simply because the first person has bought it, not because of the market value of the stock. â€Å"Perhaps 100 people were simply imitating the coin flipping call of some terribly persuasive personality† (Buffett n.d. p. 4). The ‘margin of safety’ principle implies that safety should be ensured while buying stocks. Walter has justified that while dealing in the stock market, it should always be remembered that it is other people’s money which is being handled. Therefore it reinforces the ethics to strongly avert losses while dealing in stocks. It should always be remembered that money is real and therefore should be handled appropriately. If the net worth of a business is $1 and it can be obtained at 40 cents, then it aims to generate profit. In the stock markets risks and rewards are correlated because as the stock grows riskier, more are the returns from this stock. Even though a high risk stock would be able to generate more returns, yet a risky stock can also generate less or nil returns because the stock’s performance is dependent upon its market performance, which is guarded by several principles. Rational pricing is very important in the stock market, as this pricing is needed for fixed income securities and bonds. Rational pricing implies such a type of pricing, which represents that the market price of the assets in the stock market is free of any arbitrage pricing. Eugene Fama has been propounded as the father of the theory of ‘efficient market hypothesis’. Fam a stated two theories related to the efficient market hypothesis. The first theory was classifying the markets on the basis of three types of efficiency. Fama classified three forms of efficiency which are as follows: Strong form efficiency Semi strong form efficiency Weak form efficiency The strong form efficiency implies that all information related to the firm is incorporated in the price of the stock of the firm. The strong form tests are concerned with whether investors or investor groups have monopolistic access in determining the price of a stock. The semi strong form tests imply the prices are adjusted according to the information available about the firm in their announcements to the public, such as announcements of annual earnings, the stock splits etc. that the firm has witnessed. The weak form efficiency is such a test, where only the historical prices of stocks have been displayed to the public and no other details about the firm is divulged. Fama describes the market e fficiency hypothesis to be very simple, which simply points out that the market price of a stock represents all the vital information about the firm. The second concept, which Fama stated with respect to the efficient market hypothesis, was the concept of market efficiency, which can be rejected only with a rejection of the

How high street fashion brands are picking up on trends through Dissertation

How high street fashion brands are picking up on trends through advertising and celebrity endorsements - Dissertation Example Fashion has become much more accessible, the process from catwalk to high street taking a maximum of 9 weeks which means that consumers are becoming allot more trend – savvy. With the many styles that are available, one of the core ways in which consumers are making decisions on style is based upon what they see celebrities wearing. Therefore, brand managers have had to adapt. Choosing the right celebrity will greatly affect the success of a fashion product so it is an important decision for a brand, usually based on many qualities, such as appeal, looks, popularity or even just a fantasy figure. In today’s highly competitive fashion marke high street brands such as Topshop and Miss Selfridge are at loggerheads when it comes to products, each having a similar product to that of the rival. It is harder for one brand to gain quintessential advantage; such as advertising, service, promise of trust and even price factors. A key celebrity endorsement will take tip the compet itive edge from one to the other. Advertising seems to be the best platform from which brands compete, which requires hiring the best advertising agencies in order to get the biggest and best celebrities to advertise for brands. The company needs to invest in a good creative agency, a large enough promotional budget and a huge star to endorse the brand to ensure success over the competing brand. Brand communication delivered by celebrities and famous personalities generate a higher appeal, attention and recall within the fashion industry than those executed by non celebrities or models. The attraction to the celebrity creates a quick message that can reach the consumer with an impact that is all too essential in today’s competitive market. Because of the core importance of celebrity endorsement, the different models applied by brands used to achieve the full potential of such endorsements, highlight the need for a convergence between the pragmatic and theoretical approaches o f brand building and effective advertising. The opportunity and importance of a celebrity brand match and the various roles played them as brand associates shows the momentum this strategy has gained over the last few years. Celebrity endorsements offer the opportunity to maintain the contact with potential customers, sometimes without them even being aware of the advertising aim. Advertising concepts such as ‘positioning by association’ ‘diminishing celebrity utility’ and the multiple effecters which show the triangular relationship between the brand, the consumer and the celebrity provide a framework in which to create an understanding of the importance of choosing the right celebrity to endorse a brand in order to add to the mythology of the product. When a brand is created for a company, more than just a method of selling a product is put into place. Brand identity is the emotional context in which a consumer will form a relationship with a product or p roduct name. In fashion, the way in which the product is identified with one celebrity or another can make or break a brand. Juicy Couture did no advertising during the first few years of their emergence onto the fashion scene. However, through the power of celebrity endorsement alone, through getting their track suits on people with highly visibly branding of their own through their celebrity, such as Madonna and Jennifer Lopez, the brand was able to make a powerful mark on the fashion industry (Steele 2010, p. 129). Without large amounts of spending, a fashion entity can get their products onto the right people when they are getting photographed by paparazzi and create a powerful buzz

Investment Analysis Coursework 2001 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Investment Analysis Coursework 2001 - Essay Example ‘Herd’ implies a social grouping of people, who have similar understanding or perception about anything. Here ‘herd’ implies the people, who have the same viewpoint within the stock market. The above statement briefs that market movements are dependent on individuals. If a person buys a particular stock and he is a popular figure in the community and society, then every individual intends to purchase this stock and this is simply because the first person has bought it, not because of the market value of the stock. â€Å"Perhaps 100 people were simply imitating the coin flipping call of some terribly persuasive personality† (Buffett n.d. p. 4). The ‘margin of safety’ principle implies that safety should be ensured while buying stocks. Walter has justified that while dealing in the stock market, it should always be remembered that it is other people’s money which is being handled. Therefore it reinforces the ethics to strongly avert losses while dealing in stocks. It should always be remembered that money is real and therefore should be handled appropriately. If the net worth of a business is $1 and it can be obtained at 40 cents, then it aims to generate profit. In the stock markets risks and rewards are correlated because as the stock grows riskier, more are the returns from this stock. Even though a high risk stock would be able to generate more returns, yet a risky stock can also generate less or nil returns because the stock’s performance is dependent upon its market performance, which is guarded by several principles. Rational pricing is very important in the stock market, as this pricing is needed for fixed income securities and bonds. Rational pricing implies such a type of pricing, which represents that the market price of the assets in the stock market is free of any arbitrage pricing. Eugene Fama has been propounded as the father of the theory of ‘efficient market hypothesis’. Fam a stated two theories related to the efficient market hypothesis. The first theory was classifying the markets on the basis of three types of efficiency. Fama classified three forms of efficiency which are as follows: Strong form efficiency Semi strong form efficiency Weak form efficiency The strong form efficiency implies that all information related to the firm is incorporated in the price of the stock of the firm. The strong form tests are concerned with whether investors or investor groups have monopolistic access in determining the price of a stock. The semi strong form tests imply the prices are adjusted according to the information available about the firm in their announcements to the public, such as announcements of annual earnings, the stock splits etc. that the firm has witnessed. The weak form efficiency is such a test, where only the historical prices of stocks have been displayed to the public and no other details about the firm is divulged. Fama describes the market e fficiency hypothesis to be very simple, which simply points out that the market price of a stock represents all the vital information about the firm. The second concept, which Fama stated with respect to the efficient market hypothesis, was the concept of market efficiency, which can be rejected only with a rejection of the

Single party states and rise to power and origins of the cold war Essay

Single party states and rise to power and origins of the cold war - Essay Example Hitler used the vacuum caused by the demise of the Weimar Republic to gain an electoral majority for the Nazi Party in 1933. One of the most important events in his rise to authority was his rejection of the idea of seizing power through violence after the disastrous Munich Putsch in the 1920’s. (Britannica) Unusual for a man that would eventually become a dictator, Hitler worked within the legitimate political system of his time to win power democratically, and then to quickly consolidate that power into an absolutist one-party state through isolated, symbolic acts of violence (such as the burning of the Reichstag) in order to create a paranoia that he could exploit. The organizational and administrative structure of the Nazi Party, together with Hitler’s well-documented ability to virtually hypnotize individuals, Party and country within a cult of personality and the still mysterious willingness of the German people to accept what appear on face-value to be ludicrous ideas led to the creation of the one-party, Nazi state. One might easily argue that Hitler’s greatest ‘success’ (judged by his perverse standards) was his managing to lead the German people from the baiting of Jews in the early 1930’s to the implementation of the Final Solution in the last four years of WWII. Unlike other leaders, who use a ‘divide-and-rule’ strategy to gain power through conjuring a hatred of the ‘Other’, Hitler gained power in order to be able to destroy that other. The hatred of Jews was not a means to an end, but the end that Hitler always had in mind. The Holocaust was not a sudden occurrence, but rather a slowly developing continuum of increasingly extreme acts that eventually led to mass-murder. Hitler’s greatest success was in convincing a large portion of the German people to at least passively accept what was occurring, if not actually openly help in the effort. (Goldhagen) All other

Gloria Jeans Essay Example for Free

Gloria Jeans Essay Gloria Jeans’ is well known due to it is made by 100% natural ingredients which include home-made cookies, muffins, and any other sweet desserts. 1) Economy The point here is that Gloria Jeans’ can not set a price that is too high because competitors will be attracted by potential profits and will follow by a lower price. After having taken all the important factors into consideration, there are five-price fixing approaches seem appropriate. 1.Cost Based pricing One of the centred objectives of this project being to become the market leader in functional drinks, Gloria Jeans’ is willing to stay among the top competitors if not becoming the greater by achieving a certain target profit this could be obtained by establish a price that will largely cover variable and fixed costs while bringing tremendous profits 2.Value Added Pricing Competitors and potential substitutes prices can also be part of the strategy. Having a higher price could make customers aware of the additional benefits and the higher quality of coffee. 3.Value based pricing The company sets its target price based on customer perceptions of the product value. The targeted value and price then drive decision about product design and what cost can be incurred. As a result of pricing begin with analysing consumer needs and value perceptions and price is set to match consumer perceived value. 4.Market Penetration Pricing The company can set a low price for a new product in order to attractive a large number of buyers and a large market share. 5.Break-even Pricing The company has to make some strategies for break-even prices, setting prices to break even on the cost of making and marketing a product or setting prices to make a target profit. According to the report of Su, Chiou and Chang (2006), the case study of Starbucks coffee displayed that Western culture adoration can influence the coffee consumption of Taiwan. Kim (2002),point at consumer behavior have significant influenced by the  product-of-origin and brand image. Hao(1998), states that superior brand has become the most important element to enhance value-added products and it also is a strategy. The brand image and product-of-origin would important factors, they would provide insights on cross-culture marketing. 4ï ¼â€° Demographics According to the survey, women more desire to drink coffee than men (Jones, 2006).There is no significant difference between two groups of people. Coffees are all thousands of years ranging from adults or even older. Its hard to resist the appeal of Coffee, and there is great opportunity to tea growing up. In addition, the social behaviour are one of the factors segmented coffee products in the market Because of different group has different demand for their need and wants. The high salary people may more focus on their healthy or willing to pay higher prices. 3ï ¼â€° Political and legal Doing coffee business there is no risky for the company because of it does not related any political and legal

Reliability and Validity of Personal Interviews

Reliability and Validity of Personal Interviews Reliability and Validity of Personal Interviews as a Selection Technique In the Introduction define or identify the general topic, issue, or area of concern, thus providing an appropriate context for reviewing the literature. In order to provide an appropriate context for this reviewing literature, it is necessary identify which is the framework of personal interviews as a selection technique,   and what is the definitions for this XXX tool, as well as the concepts of reliability an validity. En el à ¡mbito de la Psicologà ­a de las Organizaciones y mà ¡s concretamente en seleccià ³n de personal uno de los instrumentos que rara vez està ¡ ausente en cualquier proceso selectivo es la denominada `entrevista de seleccià ³n de personal ´, haciendo con ello referencia a la rela ià ³n de dià ¡logo que se establece entre do o mà ¡s personas, con la finalidad de obtener informacià ³n y evaluar las cualidades del candidato a un puesto de trabajo (Dipboye, 1992). De las distintas herramientas utilizadas en el proceso de seleccià ³n, la entrevista de trabajo aparece como la mà ¡s empleada (Muchinsky, 1986; Levy-Leboyer, 1990), muy por encima, con diferencia, del resto (referencias, tests, centros de evaluacià ³n, datos biogrà ¡ficos, grafologà ­a). La entrevista de trabajo es la fase definitiva, dentro de cualquier proceso de bà ºsqueda de empleo o de cambio de trabajo. Todos los pasos anteriores como la toma de informacià ³n, preparacià ³n, envà ­o, de la carta de presentacià ³n y seguimiento de currà ­culo, han estado dirigidos a conseguir una entrevista de seleccià ³n con la empresa. Es el momento del contacto personal, donde de una forma individual y directa, el entrevistado tiene la ocasià ³n de convencer al entrevistador de que à ©l es la persona idà ³nea para el puesto. Nos jugamos mucho en poco tiempo. In the field of Personnel selection is a process used by organizations (companies, institutions, organs of public administration, etc.) decide which of the aspirants for a particular position is the most appropriate. In other words, personnel selection is a decision-making process about the suitability of the candidates for vacant positions. The instruments that can be employed in the selection process are extremely numerous, and include: application forms, curriculum vitae, employment records, interviews, cognitive skills tests, psychomotor skills tests, personality tests and questionnaires, simulations (group dynamics, in-basket tests, business games, etc.), work-sample tests, references, and so on. Various processes are used to identify the most promising candidates; generally more than one process is used. Most organisations ask for a rà ©sumà © or job application from all candidates. A selected group of candidates is then invited to attend an interview, a system of tests, or an assessment centre, or some combination of these. En el à ¡mbito de la Psicologà ­a de las Organizaciones y mà ¡s concretamente en seleccià ³n de personal uno de los instrumentos que rara vez està ¡ ausente en cualquier proceso selectivo es la denominada `entrevista de seleccià ³n de personal ´,haciendo con ello referencia a la rela ià ³n de dià ¡logo que se establece entre do o mà ¡s personas, con la finalidad de obtener informacià ³n y evaluar las cualidades del candidato a un puesto de trabajo (Dipboye, 1992). En este sentido, resulta paradà ³jico que, mientras los datos acumulados a travà ©s de diferentes investigaciones, tanto cuantitativas como cualitativas, ponà ­an de manifiesto que las propiedades psicomà ©tricas de la Entrevista de Seleccià ³n resultan dà ©biles, mostrando bajos coeficientes de fiabilidad, asà ­ como una validez de criterio muy reducida (Wagner, 1949; Mayfield, 1964; Ulrich y Trumbo, 1965; Wright, 1969; Schmitt, 1976; Arvey y Campion, 1982; Reilly y Chao, 1982; Hunter y Hunter, 1984), constituà ­a uno de los recursos de seleccià ³n mà ¡s utilizados tanto en Europa como en Amà ©rica. Las razones que explican el uso intensivo de esta herramienta, a pesar de su debilidad psicomà ©trica, probablemente se deban a un efecto de validez aparente subyacente (Goodale, 1982). Sin embargo, a partir de la dà ©cada de 1980 comienzan a aparecer nuevos modelos de entrevistas de seleccià ³n, cuyas caracterà ­sticas en tà ©rminos de estructura y contenido son de naturaleza claramente distinta. Las investigaciones realizadas para determinar las propiedades psicomà ©tricas arrojan unos valores similares a los tests cognitivos en cuanto a fiabilidad y valores mà ¡s que aceptables en cuanto a validez (Anderson, 1992; Campion, Palmer y Campion, 1997; Harris, 1989; Huffcutt y Arthur, 1994; McDaniel, Whetzel, Schmidt y Maurer, 1994; Salgado y Moscoso, 1995; Wiesner y Cronshaw, 1988). De acuerdo con estas investigaciones, elincremento de tamaà ±o de los coeficientes psicomà ©tricos, estarà ­a relacionado por una parte, con el aumento del grado de estructuracià ³n de las preguntas y, por otra parte,con la incorporacià ³n de contenidos relativos a la exploracià ³n o bà ºsqueda de conductas relevantes para el desempeà ±o del puesto. point out overall trends in what has been published about the topic; or conflicts in theory, methodology, evidence, and conclusions; or gaps in research and scholarship; or a single problem or new perspective of immediate interest. establish the writers reason (point of view) for reviewing the literature; explain the criteria to be used in analysing and comparing literature and the organisation of the review (sequence); and, when necessary, state why certain literature is or is not included (scope). En el à ¡mbito de la Psicologà ­a de las Organizaciones y mà ¡s concretamente en seleccià ³n de personal uno de los instrumentos que rara vez està ¡ ausente en cualquier proceso selectivo es la denominada `entrevista de seleccià ³n de personal, haciendo con ello referencia a la relacià ³n de dià ¡logo que se establece entre dos o mà ¡s personas, con la finalidad de obtener informacià ³n y evaluar las cualidades del candidato a un puesto de trabajo (Dipboye, 1992). 1. Various processes are used to identify the most promising candidates; generally more than one process is used. Most organisations ask for a rà ©sumà © or job application from all candidates. A selected group of candidates is then invited to attend an interview, a system of tests, or an assessment centre, or some combination of these. One of the best ways of identifying whether someone is going to be an effective member of staff is to work with them for a period. Thus, inviting university students to work during their vacations enables you to assess them thoroughly in the working environment, or you can make an offer to a contractor who has impressed you with their work. But for most hiring, it is necessary to assess candidates by more artificial methods. There are two criteria which selection techniques need to meet if they are to be useful in predicting performance: Validity: Does a factor which is used in selection-for example, educational level or experience-actually predict job performance? Reliability: Does a selection technique produce consistent results? For example, a test in which the same person obtained the same score on a number of occasions would be considered more reliable than a test on which the same person obtained different scores on different occasions. Unfortunately, there is usually a trade-off between validity and reliability. It is simple to devise a test of high reliability which has little predictive value; and tests of the factors which do predict job performance are often subjective and thus unreliable. However, it is much better to have a valid test of limited reliability than a reliable test of little validity-at least a valid test tells us something. For example, it is easy to test if someone can do calculus, or can understand a set of technical terms. It is not easy to devise a reliable test which shows that a candidate can do innovative design, or persuade customers, or deal with difficult people, yet these kinds of ability are much more important in most jobs than highly specific knowledge which can be learned in a short time. 2. Personel selection ersonnel selection is a process through which organizations (companies, institutions, organs of public administration, etc.) decide which of the aspirants for a particular position is the most appropriate. In other words, personnel selection is a decision-making process about the suitability of the candidates for vacant positions. The instruments that can be employed in the selection process are extremely numerous, and include: application forms, curriculum vitae, employment records, interviews, cognitive skills tests, psychomotor skills tests, personality tests and questionnaires, simulations (group dynamics, in-basket tests, business games, etc.), work-sample tests, references, and so on. The particular instruments employed ultimately depend on the selection approach or model used by the organization in question. INSTRUMENTS USED IN PERSONNEL SELECTION Regardless of whether the selection model used is the traditional one or the strategic one, the appositeness of the recruitment decision will depend on the validity of the instruments used for making that decision. Hence, it is appropriate to review the latest data on the validity of the tools used, or with potential for use, by professionals involved in recruitment. At present, the most widely used method for reaching a conclusion on the validity of an instrument is meta-analysis, a quantitative technique of integration of research results (Hunter Schmidt, 2004). Today we have access to meta-analyses carried out to determine the validity and utility of nearly all the instruments employed in personnel selection (see Salgado, Viswesvaran Ones, 2001 and Schmidt Hunter, 1998, for a fuller review). b) Interview The interview is without doubt the most widely used instrument for personnel selection, both in Spain and in all the other countries for which such information is available. The conclusion of numerous studies is that practically 100% of those recruited for a position must get through at least one interview during the personnel selection process (Salgado et al., 2001). For this reason it is clear that the interview merits special consideration among the set of instruments used for personnel selection. Over the last 70 years there have been periodical reviews of research on the validity of the personnel selection interview. Up to 1987 there had been 7 large-scale reviews of the literature, all of them concluding that the interview was characterized by low reliability, that is, first, that two different interviewers scarcely coincided in their appreciations of an applicant, and second, that their validity was low or even zero, and that they contributed nothing to the prediction of performance obtained through other instruments, such as cognitive ability tests. This raised a significant paradox: easily the most widely used instrument for predicting candidates job performance was an instrument incapable of predicting it. How, then, could the widespread use of the interview be explained? Possible responses to this question include: (1) The interview is an easy instrument to use. Practically anyone can, apparently, use it without the need for any particular qualification; (2) It is a highly versatile instrument, since it can be applied to any position, organization or situation; (3) It is the best means of getting to know candidates personally; (4) It permits candidates to explain personally their merits in relation to the post; (5) It allows the applicant to be provided with personalized information about the organization; (6) It is relatively cheap by comparison with other selection instruments; and (7) It is more acceptable to both managers and applicants than other instruments potentially involved in selection processes. Such explanations, while sufficient for maintaining the interview among the selection instruments to be considered, do not constitute an argument for its use as a tool for making recruitment decisions. Even so, recent research has shown that, with certain characteristics and in certain conditions, the selection interview boasts reliability and validity, increases the validity of batteries of selection instruments and has appreciable economic advantages(Salgado Moscoso, 2005). It is the format (degree of structuring) of the interview that seems to most influence its lack of validity, and to remedy this situation several alternatives have been proposed, which would fall into the general category of structured behavioural interview (see Salgado Moscoso, 2005 for a fuller treatment of this type of interview). The main defining characteristics of structured behavioural interviews, as against conventional interviews, would be: (1) the questions making up the interview are developed based on jobs analysis, employing the Critical Incidents technique; (2) they involve questions whose content refers exclusively to behaviours in the relevant post; (3) each candidate is asked all the questions prepared; (4) the interview process is repeated with all the interviewees; (5) applicants responses are assessed by means of behavioural observation scales or rating scales with behavioural anchoring, also developed through jobs analysis (EVAS; see Salgado Moscoso, 2005, for a description of these scales). Moscoso(2000), reviewing the predictive validity of the personnel selection interview, was able to show that, compared to the case of other types, the structured behavioural interview presents a validity similar to that of the best instruments employed in personnel selection (e.g., cognitive ability tests), and even superior to that of some (such as personality measures or assessment centres). Recent studies carried out in Spain (Saez, 2007; Salgado, Gorriti Moscoso, 2007) have shown the validity of structured interviews applied in panel form to be .63, which indeed situates them among the best instruments for personnel selection. In recent years some studies have also been conducted with the aim of clarifying what the selection interview actually measures. For example, Salgado and Moscoso (2002) carried out a metaanalysis in which they classified interviews according to their degree of structuring: low-structure interviews (which would correspond to conventional interviews) and high-structure interviews (structured behavioural interviews). Their results showed that the two types of interview are related to different variables. Thus, conventional or low-structure interviews appear to be basically measuring general mental ability and personality characteristics, that is, when interviewers carry out this type of interview they focus on intrinsic factors of the candidate. However, highly structured or structured behavioural interviews principally measure knowledge about the job and work experience. Thus, such interviews concentrate on finding out whether the candidate would perform well in the job 1. AMETA The employment interview is a tenaciously popular but controversial selection method. In particular, reviewers of the interviewing literature repeatedly question the predictive validity of the employment interview (Arvey Campion, 1982; Mayfield, 1964; Milne, 1967; Reilly Chao, 1982; Rodger, 1952; Rowe, 1981; Schmitt, 1976; Ulrich Trumbo, 1965; Wagner, 1949; Webster, 1982; Wright, 1969). These reviewers of the interviewing literature have, however, aggregated interview validity coefficients in a subjective fashion, referred to as a narrative review by Hunter, Schmidt Jackson (1982), rather than utilizing an empirical approach. Specifically, these reviews do not adjust interview validity coefficients for differing sample sizes in each of the studies nor do they adjust for statistical artifacts such as sampling error, measurement error and restriction or range. As a result, conclusions drawn about the validity of interviews from narrative reviews may be misleading. Hunter et al. ( 1982) have advocated the use of meta-analytic techniques as a method of aggregating a number of validity studies while accounting for the abovementioned statistical artifacts. The purpose of this paper is to resolve some longstanding controversies in the interviewing literature by first presenting a model of the employment interview as a predictor of employment outcomes and then testing this model by subjecting a very large dataset of interview validity coefficients to meta-analytic procedures. In the Body group research studies and other types of literature (reviews, theoretical articles, case studies, etc.) according to common denominators such as qualitative versus quantitative approaches, conclusions of authors, specific purpose or objective, chronology, etc. summarise individual studies or articles with as much or as little detail as each merits according to its comparative importance in the literature, remembering that space (length) denotes significance. provide the reader with strong umbrella sentences at beginnings of paragraphs, signposts throughout, and brief so what summary sentences at intermediate points in the review to aid in understanding comparisons and analyses. In the Conclusion summarise major contributions of significant studies and articles to the body of knowledge under review, maintaining the focus established in the introduction. evaluate the current state of the art for the body of knowledge reviewed, pointing out major methodological flaws or gaps in research, inconsistencies in theory and findings, and areas or issues pertinent to future study. conclude by providing some insight into the relationship between the central topic of the literature review and a larger area of study such as a discipline, a scientific endeavour, or a profession. http://www.papelesdelpsicologo.es/english/1534.pdf PERSONNEL SELECTION IN INDUSTRY AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION: FROM THE TRADITIONAL VIEW TO THE STRATEGIC VIEW b) Interview The interview is without doubt the most widely used instrument for personnel selection, both in Spain and in all the other countries for which such information is available. The conclusion of numerous studies is that practically 100% of those recruited for a position must get through at least one interview during the personnel selection process (Salgado et al., 2001). For this reason it is clear that the interview merits special consideration among the set of instruments used for personnel selection. Over the last 70 years there have been periodical reviews of research on the validity of the personnel selection interview. Up to 1987 there had been 7 large-scale reviews of the literature, all of them concluding that the interview was characterized by low reliability, that is, first, that two different interviewers scarcely coincided in their appreciations of an applicant, and second, that their validity was low or even zero, and that they contributed nothing to the prediction of perfo rmance obtained through other instruments, such as cognitive ability tests. This raised a significant paradox: easily the most widely used instrument for predicting candidates job performance was an instrument incapable of predicting it. How, then, could the widespread use of the interview be explained? Possible responses to this question include: (1) The interview is an easy instrument to use. Practically anyone can, apparently, use it without the need for any particular qualification; (2) It is a highly versatile instrument, since it can be applied to any position, organization or situation; (3) It is the best means of getting to know candidates personally; (4) It permits candidates to explain personally their merits in relation to the post; (5) It allows the MULTIPLE PREDICTION OF JOB PERFORMANCE BASED ON THE BEST INSTRUMENTS AND VARIABLES Once the validity of the different personnel selection instruments (variables) and methods is known, we can establish the maximum degree of prediction that can be achieved through the NEW CHALLENGES FOR PERSONNEL SELECTION IN SPAIN Having established the predictive capacity of personnel selection procedures, it is worth considering the challenges to be met in the coming years. In our view, research on personnel selection in Spain will have to provide responses in relation to three crucial aspects: (a) the possible effects of indirect discrimination in selection procedures; (b) the economic utility of the procedures, and (c) legal modifications in the public administration context and their consequences for selection. Let us briefly consider these three challenges facing selection. GENERAL CONCLUSION In recent years, both in Spain and the rest of Europe, substantial progress in research on personnel selection has been made, and many of the limitations that previously affected this area have been addressed. Today, professionals involved in personnel selection have at their disposal a vast arsenal of instruments and access to a large body of research that enables them to establish the validity of these instruments, thus allowing them to choose the most suitable ones in accordance with their specific needs. As a consequence of such progress, the work of these professionals has been strongly endorsed, and their role in organizations has become increasingly acknowledged and appreciated http://www.le.ac.uk/oerresources/psychology/psa/unit5/page_03.htm Entrevista de trabajo http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entrevista_de_trabajo De las distintas herramientas utilizadas en el proceso de seleccià ³n, la entrevista de trabajo aparece como la mà ¡s empleada (Muchinsky, 1986; Levy-Leboyer, 1990), muy por encima, con diferencia, del resto (referencias, tests, centros de evaluacià ³n, datos biogrà ¡ficos, grafologà ­a). La entrevista de trabajo es la fase definitiva, dentro de cualquier proceso de bà ºsqueda de empleo o de cambio de trabajo. Todos los pasos anteriores como la toma de informacià ³n, preparacià ³n, envà ­o, de la carta de presentacià ³n y seguimiento de currà ­culo, han estado dirigidos a conseguir una entrevista de seleccià ³n con la empresa. Es el momento del contacto personal, donde de una forma individual y directa, el entrevistado tiene la ocasià ³n de convencer al entrevistador de que à ©l es la persona idà ³nea para el puesto. Nos jugamos mucho en poco tiempo. Las caracterà ­sticas definidoras de la entrevista de seleccià ³n son que: a) se realiza a partir de un anà ¡lisis de puestos, b) es uniforme para todos los candidatos, c) los entrevistadores poseen un alto grado de formacià ³n especà ­fica y d) la decisià ³n de contratacià ³n se realiza despuà ©s de haber desarrollado todas las entrevistas (Campion, Palmer y Campion, 1997). Tipos de entrevista [editar] Individual: està ¡ndar o formalizada, informal, de choque o tensià ³n. Tambià ©n puede ser para verificar alguna cosa en concreto de las que figuran en el curriculum; por ejemplo: para saber si es cierto que el candidato habla inglà ©s. Si se trata de un puesto importante puede haber, là ³gicamente, varias entrevistas individuales. Colectiva: varios entrevistadores. En este tipo de entrevista es bastante frecuente que haya un psicà ³logo de empresa. Para ambas: puede ser directiva, no directiva o mixta (la mà ¡s comà ºn). Ventajas e inconvenientes [editar] La buena utilizacià ³n de la entrevista confiere a esta grandes ventajas tales como la posibilidad de indagar en aspectos no medibles ni observables por otras tà ©cnicas, o conocer personalmente al candidato. Posee, ademà ¡s, una gran flexibilidad en cuanto al tiempo que se puede dedicar y al nà ºmero de personas que se pueden entrevistar por dà ­a, asà ­ como la gran cantidad de informacià ³n que se puede recoger (Hough y Osdwald, 2000). Pero presenta tambià ©n diversos inconvenientes, sobre todo los relativos al alto coste que supone el tiempo necesario para su preparacià ³n, realizacià ³n y anà ¡lisis de la informacià ³n (al igual que la mayorà ­a de las tà ©cnicas cualitativas, pero sobre todo a la falta de preparacià ³n y formacià ³n en su utilizacià ³n debido a su aparente facilidad, de manera que muchos empresarios o directivos se sienten capacitados para preguntar a los candidatos. La realidad, sin embargo, es que la tà ©cnica de entrevista es difà ­cil y compleja, requirià ©ndose una gran capacitacià ³n y experiencia en su manejo (Bretones y Rodrà ­guez, 2008). Junto con estos inconvenientes, debemos seà ±alar, ademà ¡s, su bajo nivel de generalizacià ³n con respecto a otras pruebas de recogida de informacià ³n (Hunter y Hunter, 1984, Harris, 1989) sobre el comportamiento futuro de los candidatos (mà ¡s baja que las pruebas profesionales, tests cognitivos, centros de evaluacià ³n o las referencias, por ejemplo). De hecho, en los distintos estudios psicomà ©tricos realizados en su aplicacià ³n en los procesos de seleccià ³n de personal, se muestran coeficientes de fiabilidad y validez moderados. Una de las estrategias para superar tales carencias en cuanto a su validez serà ­a formular las preguntas a modo de incidentes crà ­ticos ocurridos al candidato en otras experiencias anteriores (cuà ©ntenos una experiencia concreta sobre cà ³mo resolvià ³ un problema con un empleado, por ejemplo), bajo el supuesto de que las conductas pasadas pueden predecir conductas futuras. http://proquest.umi.com.ezproxy.library.uq.edu.au/pqdweb?TS=1270715376SST=4sid=1moreOptState=CLOSEDSSM=CSQ=%28%28LSU%28%7BINTERVIEWS%7D%29+OR+LSU%28%7BINTERVIEW%7D%29%29+AND+LSU%28%7BVALIDITY%7D%29%29clientId=20806SSI=7RQT=305 http://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst;jsessionid=L9ycFmx07DrRchbg8X4PJ9c6qyCJ8pWmPkRm2hW1yLtybbhmbk6j!450074560!-234547230?docId=5000120818 The employment interview: guaranteed improvement in reliability. Validity: Does a factor which is used in selection-for example, educational level or experience-actually predict job performance? Reliability: Does a selection technique produce consistent results? For example, References TOPIC: Reliability and Validity of Personal Interviews as a Selection Technique Research raises doubts about the VALIDITY and RELIABILITY of personal interviews as a selection technique INTRO DUCTION BACKGROUND Entrevista de Seleccià ³n http://www.aiteco.com/entrevis.htm#p4 La entrevista es, probablemente, el mà ©todo mà ¡s utilizado en la seleccià ³n de personal, al tiempo que es el elemento que, con frecuencia, tiene mà ¡s peso a la hora de tomar una decisià ³n respecto a la admisià ³n o no admisià ³n del candidato. A pesar de la profusià ³n de su uso,es uno de los instrumentos menos conocidos y peor utilizados de la seleccià ³n de personal. Por otra parte, las personas que la ponen en prà ¡ctica no tienen, frecuentemente, los conocimientos y destrezas necesarios para adoptar juicios à ºtiles respecto al candidato, ni utilizan una metodologà ­a que le permita obtener buenos resultados. La entrevista no ha demostrado, en general, poseer mucha validez, no obstante pensamos que debe seguir utilizà ¡ndose ya que, ademà ¡s de su funcià ³n selectiva, tiene otras de importancia tales como verificar la informacià ³n dada anteriormente por el candidato, presentar la organizacià ³n a à ©ste, establecer con el candidato una relacià ³n personal y dar a à ©ste la oportunidad de resolver algunas dudas respecto a su futuro trabajo. Por otra parte, la tà ©cnica de la entrevista de seleccià ³n puede ser realmente mejorada. En este sentido, numerosos estudios apuntan al formato a utilizar para incrementar la fiabilidad y validez de la misma. Hay que tener tambià ©n en cuenta que, normalmente, no debe de utilizarse como à ºnico elemento de evaluacià ³n, sino que debe acompaà ±arse con otros mà ©todos que completen la informacià ³n. Various processes are used to identify the most promising candidates; generally more than one process is used. Most organisations ask for a rà ©sumà © or job application from all candidates. A selected group of candidates is then invited to attend an interview, a system of tests, or an assessment centre, or some combination of these. There are two criteria which selection techniques need to meet if they are to be useful in predicting performance: Validity: Does a factor which is used in selection-for example, educational level or experience-actually predict job performance? Reliability: Does a selection technique produce consistent results? For example, a test in which the same person obtained the same score on a number of occasions would be considered more reliable than a test on which the same person obtained different scores on different occasions. POSITIVE ASPECTS XXXX NEGATIVE ASPECTS http://www.akronshrm.org/pdfs/Faking%20Interview.pdf   Faking interview.A Model of Faking Likelihood in the Employment Interview Structured interviews provide less opportunity for intentional distortion; however, some components of structure may actually increase faking. Finally, job candidates distort their responses in job desirable ways. The past research on IM in interviews has identified different tactics that job candidates may use to impress the interviewers. Job candidates may use IM tactics to present themselves in the best possible way without being dishonest or untruthful. For example, they may use self-promotion tactics to describe their existing job related credentials. Alternatively, job candidates might simply fake interview questions in order to provide the best answer. Moreover, many researchers suggest that people are surprisingly effective at convincingly faking their emotional expressions, attitudes, and even personality characteristics (DePaulo, 1992) and perceivers usually are unable to detect such faking (Barrick Mount, 1996; Furnham, 1986; McFarland Ryan, 2000; Sackett Harris, 1984; Sackett Wanek, 1996; Toris DePaulo, 1984). It could be argued that deceptive IM or faking represents a real threat to the validity of the interview. implies that deceptive IM does not add a constant to the scores of all applicants, but instead the relative standing of applicants and thus the predictive validity of the interview could be affected. On the other hand, some candidates might exaggerate a great deal about their responsibilities, skills, workrelated experiences during an interview. Faking in the Interview Impression management refers to the intentional distortion of responses to create a favorable impression and is distinguished from self-deception