The Competent Teacher

The Competent Teacher The purpose of this article is to evaluate how teachers need to prepare to be competent for the 21st century. Researchers and teachers are becoming aware that the 21st century classroom is changing dramatically. A team of teacher educators from NIE sat down and asked themselves these questions. : What are the roles of the teacher in the 21st century? What are the competencies teachers need to fulfill these roles? What can our teacher education programs provide to help them with this task? Some of the roles they identified included: nurturing the whole child, providing quality learning, working with others, and developing a strong set of personal values. They then made a list of core competencies that every trained teacher should have. The core competencies were classified into 3 broad performance dimensions. These dimensions are, professional practice, leadership and management, and personal effectiveness. Professional practice, is the idea that the teacher takes every opportunity to encourage learning, and believe that all students can learn. And learning isn't limited to the classroom. The teacher takes every opportunity to improve on his or her own professional practice, in order to provide quality learning. Leadership and management is the idea that a competent teacher is a leader who wins the hearts and minds of the students and sees value in working with parents, colleagues, and other professionals at any and all given times. Personal effectiveness is the idea that teachers have to hold themselves to the highest moral and ethical standards both in and out of the classroom. The thinking behind this idea is summed up best as â€Å"you must believe in yourself before others will believe in you†. I think that for a teacher to be competent in the classroom today they must evaluate themselves on a yearly basis. Every class, and student is different and teaching material changes over time. Technology is also a key element in the classroom. A teacher must stay up to date and be proficient on the various aspects of the technology world. I believe a teacher should be able to adapt to different classroom settings, students and situations as they are presented. Becoming a teacher is a job where one must expect the unexpected and be able to deal with it on a professional level. (Citation: singteach. nie. edu. sg Issue 23- march/april 2010)

How Are the Articles of Confederation Provided an Effective Form of Government

Question Analyze the degree to which the Articles of Confederation provided an effective form of government with respect to any two of the following Foreign relations, economic conditions, western lands Warrant The Articles of Confederation were designed to offer Americans the protection of a government without the tyranny associated with George III. During the time period in which they were in use, their effectiveness was tested through events dealing with foreign relations, economic conditions and the settlement of western lands.Resolution Although the Articles experienced some success in dealing with western lands, the general effectiveness of the articles was poor and created potential problems for the young nation. Claim Under the Articles a system was established for the successful settlement of western lands. Data The Land Ordinance of 1787 divided the Northwest Territory into six square mile townships and set aside one section of each township for public education. The Northw est Ordinance established the method by which the Northwest Territory was to be divided into states.Under this ordinance, there was to be no slavery in these territories and the population would determine a new state’s time of entering the union. These land ordinances were extremely effective and Grounds were utilized even after the Articles had been destroyed. Claim But not all of the events under the Articles were this successful. Grounds Internal economic conditions as well as foreign affairs developed in such a way that American livelihood was affected. ata After the Revolutionary War Britain maintained a stronghold in North America by maintaining their trading posts in the Northwest Territory. This action was in direct opposition to the terms agreed upon in the Treaty of Paris and dampened British-American relations. Since Britain was a major world power and America was only a fledgling nation, this posed a serious threat to the U. S. The British not only maintained thes e trading posts but encouraged Indian raids on American settlers and freely navigated the Great Lakes.Grounds This continuing British presence in the U. S. was a threat to American independence. Since Congress could not raise an army, it was difficult for the US to fight back. Data Within the states, inflation and individual debt because of hard money policies created unrest with the populace. Many farmers, like Daniel Shay, had sunk into debt because of unstable currencies of the states and resisted paying taxes to the states. Shay’s rebellion was a warning to the founding fathers of the ineptitude of the Articles of Confederation.There was no national army and an army of farmers from the surrounding area had to be raised to put down the revolt. Grounds This was the final event which brought the need for a new form of government to the attention of the American people. Analysis Thus, although the Articles brought about some success as America’s first form of governmen t, their ultimate achievements were minimal and proved that they could not offer the stability and protection demanded of a valid government.

Ecco’s global value chain management Essay

1. Describe the competitive environment of ECCO and determine how well ECCO is positioned (vis-à  -vis the competitors) to take advantage of changes in the industry. http://wulibraries.typepad.com/files/footwear.pdf 2. Analyze ECCO’s global value chain. How well does this configuration match the drivers in the industry? Analyze ECCO’s global value chain. High demand for quality and reduced lead times led the company to a self-sufficiency approach on streamlining its entire value chain from raw hides to finished shoes unlike its major competitors who only designed and marketed their products without in house manufacturing. In having a global network of tanneries, production facilities, research centers and distribution centers, ECCO is able to meet customer demands in specific geographic locations in terms of response times which lead to customer satisfaction. Additionally the firm accrues from benefits of lower labor and production costs and different expertise levels in different locations which can be in turn transferred down to the customers. http://www.pwc.com/en_GX/gx/operations-consulting-services/pdf/pwc-supply-chain-and-risk-management.pdf According to Porter’s value chain framework, ECCO utilized various strategies to achieve a balance of responsiveness and efficiency in their efforts to improve its global value chain . http://www.strategicmanagementinsight.com/tools/value-chain-analysis.html Specifically, the firm utilized: 1) Firm infrastructure In having a factory based in Slovakia, uncertainty and risk of political instability in Thailand could be mitigated by helping to drive up volume between plants and ensuring quicker delivery speeds to markets in Russia & Poland. 2) Human Resources Management ECCO ensured knowledge remained in the company through promoting workers from within and improving worker skills through trainings. 3) Technological Development R&D activities were relocated to the production sites where they could adequately support production processes and optimization of materials. The key competencies of the firm were in product development and production technology to ensure customer comfort in the shoe designs. 4) Procurement ECCO maintained high demands for quality and lead times for the vendors and worked only with experienced firms in building their factories. 5) Inbound Logistics and Outbound Logistics Streamlining of logistics was performed through location of tanneries adjacent to shoe production facilities in Indonesia & Thailand Distribution centers in United States and Denmark were strategically located to serve the market demand in order to match market needs. Appropriate modes of transport such as by sea, vans, freight planes and lorries were utilized depending on the nature and urgency of deliveries. 6) Operations The firm also accrued benefits of sustainability by having control over the entire value chain as it could directly tailor its R & D efforts into production and closely monitoring operations. The distribution centers adapted to changing business environments by expansion to meet capacity demands and closure of some warehouses when sales to the Danish market reduced. 7) Marketing & Sales Utilization of specialty outlets and multi-brand stores ensured ECCO’s shoes would be accessible to the target market of consumers focused on high quality rather than fashion and elegance. Establishment of sales subsidiaries and production units spread all over the world enable the firm to save in terms of labor costs and spread risk. ECCO’s marketing team screened samples and made forecast volumes and production styles before the set shoes were scheduled to be in demand. 8) Service The firm concentrated on utilizing special expertise to its advantage in the case of the Thailand firm producing complicated shoes due to the ability of the Thais to deliver first class workmanship. In addition to shoe manufacture, ECCO supplied leather to auto & furniture industries which offered an alternative market for the tanneries and generated more revenue for the firm. How well does this configuration match the drivers in the industry? Ownership of tanneries, factories and leather research centers  maintained the firm’s brand of commitment to quality and boosted the company’s ambition and confidence in delivering products that met customer expectations In reducing the number of vendors, the company was able to maintain high quality levels through close quality control measures and maintain its brand image of working to create the perfect shoe. The firm also made compromises to its approach in some cases by outsourcing its production for shoes that could not be nefit from its in-house technology. Most firms in the shoe industry outsourced production as a way to cut production and vendor logistic costs. 3. ECCO has a fully integrated vertical value chain. What are the pros and cons of this strategy? What economic and strategic factors should be analyzed to answer this question? Pros: Higher demands of quality can be achieved (e.g. through better quality control) supports the company’s vision of high quality products Core Technology stays within the company You have more price control (=> less exposed to price fluctuation) Eliminate the intermediaries (and obtain the margin of supplier / intermediaries) Higher economies of scale Ability to access leading expert knowledge about tanning Implement shoe and company specific Research & Development (for example less pollution => can be used for marketing) Potential for growth Access new markets  attaining market power => eventually monopolize the market Get into new markets (auto and furniture industries) => diversification => risk spreading Shorter lead times achievable Shows a high level of ambition and confidence Less transaction cost Easier coordination of all stages to reach the objective of customer’s satisfaction More control: You can have more influence on how the product is presented to the people and you can block competitors from getting access to scarce resources Reduce transportation costs if common ownership results in closer geographic proximity ECCO example: factory and tannery in China Increase entry barriers to potential competitors, for example, if the firm  can gain sole access to a scarce resource Cons: Difficulty of integrating the different stages into one entity It requires different skills It may decrease the focus on core competencies High organizational requirements => eventually costs too high It deepens the position in the same field => less flexibility for different variants => not responsive to changing wants of the customer e.g. ECCO is attached to leather shoes Maybe less quality because of lack of competition Strategic and economic factors that should be analyzed: How technology intensive is the market? What skills are needed? Do we fulfill these needs? Can we compete with other companies? Is there a market entry barrier? How much do we have to invest? How many distributors / suppliers are available? How competitive is their market? How big is their margin and market power? Will an integration result in less price fluctuation? Do we have enough resources to realize the organization of the whole supply chain? Do we really want to reinforce our position as a leather shoe fabricant? Or do we want to achieve higher flexibility to open chances to enter new markets? Do we generate a higher supply chain surplus with a vertical strategy? Are there laws or political issues to be considered? Are current suppliers unreliable, expensive or cannot supply the required inputs? References: http://www.strategicmanagementinsight.com/topics/vertical-integration.html http://smallbusiness.chron.com/advantages-vertical-integration-strategy-20987.html http://www.quickmba.com/strategy/vertical-integration/ 4. Is ECCO following the inside-out or outside-in strategic perspective? What are the implications of this choice and how can ECCO increase their sales/marketing efforts? ECCO is following the inside-out strategic perspective. Inside-out strategic perspective definition: â€Å"You pick your own brand direction. You take a stand, confidently go out to the world and declare, â€Å"This is what we stand for and the way we are going.† A combination of gut instincts and sheer courage is enough to create the conviction that your brand strategy will resonate with your target audience. You believe with all your heart that by sticking to your guns, you’ll win a loyal following.† http://thefinancialbrand.com/1162/inside-out-vs-outside-in/ Evidence supporting this perspective in the paper: â€Å"most wanted brand within innovation and comfort footwear – a position that can only be attained by constantly and courageously researching new paths†¦Ã¢â‚¬  – Company Vision Statement â€Å"Evidently, trends in the market it terms of fashion and elegance were important, but usability was ECCO’s highest design priority.† This indicates that ECCO has chosen their brand direction, and even though they do follow market trends, they are maintaining their current course. â€Å"ECCO is not a fashion brand and it never will be. We do not sell shoes where the brand name is the most important and quality is a secondary consideration. Primarily, we sell high-quality shoes and that is where we seek recognition.† – Soren Steffensen (Executive Vice-President, ECCO) A â€Å"fashion brand† would be a good example of a company utilizing an outside-in strategic perspective. Steffensen also addresses ECCO’s brand direction in this quote. Implications of following the inside-out strategic perspective: Often not enough market research is done by companies following this strategic perspective because they are supremely (over) confident in their vision. Inside-out strategic perspective leads to undifferentiated brand strategies like â€Å"excellent usability†, â€Å"high quality†, or â€Å"great value†. An inside-out brand strategy really doesn’t take into account wants/needs of customers. Instead, ECCO attempts to dictate what these wants and needs should be. Ways to increase sales/marketing efforts: ECCO can increase sales by shifting more from â€Å"inside-out† to â€Å"outside-in† in their strategic perspectives. This means instead of simply saying â€Å"X is our priority and Y and Z are our goals†, the company should take customer wants/needs and market trends more into account and tailor their brand direction around this target market. Even though Soren Steffensen states that ECCO is essentially a shoe company focused on utility, perhaps sales would increase with a greater focus on fashion. A company with a greater  emphasis on fashion would probably be a company utilizing an outside-in strategy. Companies based on an inside-out strategic perspective usually require more extensive marketing efforts than companies founded on an outside-in perspective. This is due to the fact that inside-out companies are creating products that the customer has less input in. With this less input, the customer needs to be convinced to purchase the product. 5. How is family ownership affecting ECCO? Comment on the corporate ownership structure and its implications for strategy-making and implementation. What alternatives exist?

Ethics and Professionalism Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ethics and Professionalism - Article Example PR exercises are increasingly used to emphasize and disseminate information about the organizations, in order to establish a closer relationship with the various stakeholders, including investors as well as with their valued customers. Public Relation Society of America or PRSA's Code of ethics is highly relevant in the current environment of cut throat business. The well defined code promotes responsible actions and emphasizes accountability, honesty, transparency, loyalty and fairness (PRSA). They are important part of business strategy because they facilitate consistent, accurate and the right message to be communicated to the audience, to investors as well as customers. Public relation campaigns significantly strengthen company's position and provide an effective competitive edge over its competitors in business. Ethically correct practices encourage dissemination of correct information to the public and other stakeholders. Violation of academic trust through plagiarism, cheating, falsifying information or aiding and abetting in any of the nefarious activities are now serious offences and they are considered as totally unacceptable conduct in all areas of work.

How has information communications technology (ICT) changed the way Essay

How has information communications technology (ICT) changed the way students communicate & learn - Essay Example With civilization, humans have leveraged on technology to enhance their communication and learning. It is no wonder Bray (2007) acknowledge that in the current century, Internet and mobile technology have transformed the interaction, working and learning among humans. Just as other sectors of the economy have invested immensely in ICT in the modern world, the education sector has also invested in ICT in the recent years. Acknowledging this trend, the World Bank (2013) attributes this to the general ability of ICT to empower teachers and learners thus positively impacting on educational achievement. ICT promotes communication and learning among students thus presenting immense benefits. First, ICT enhances international collaboration among students. Bray (2007) observes that ICT is the reason for a more social modern society. Student tutors easily mentor students from other countries, the same way students from different countries effectively share educational information leveraging on ICT capabilities as documented by UNESCO Institute for Statistics, UIS (2014). This practice enhances and diversifies the scope of learning. Furthermore, ICT makes learning materials more available. The World Bank Group (2013) refers to access of information as the main use of ICT with regards to education. Indeed, UIS (2014) affirms the availability of open source textbooks and even teacher guides on the Internet. This enables students to easily access the required learning resources. Finally, ICT supports learning objectives. One of such objectives includes the acquisition of up-to-date informa tion that would make students resourceful in a practical work set-up. According to the World Bank Group (2013), ICT has enabled teachers to access relevant, timely and continuous professional development. This enables them to explore new knowledge base, developing new

The health and sanitary conditions within womans prisons (United Essay

The health and sanitary conditions within womans prisons (United Kingdom) not mental health - Essay Example (Toolkit for health care needs assessment in prisons) A committee known as Friends World Committee for Consultation have been taking up the issue of criminal justice and caring about the conditions that prevail in the prison for the last 350 years of their existence in UK. This committee feels that particularly there is need to give importance to women and girls particularly female juveniles under the age group of 18 years, in the prison during their imprisonment period following trial. Also there added concern is also includes their stay in hostels or similar places like the prison or about the general health care conditions of the babies and children of imprisoned women when both the child as well as the mother are inside the prison. (Women in Prison and Children of Imprisoned Mothers Preliminary Research Paper) The reason for the emergence of such committees is to understand and make the issue of the conditions of women and girl prisoners inside the prison, and also to collect information and ideas to resolve the issues and analyze them better. It is generally felt that though both men and women are subjected to imprisonment, there has been little consideration about the care and various needs of the imprisoned women. This way of omitting the care taken on women prisoners could be due to the strength of the women prisoners that is the number of women prisoners are much lesser in number when compared to men. (Women in Prison and Children of Imprisoned Mothers Preliminary Research

Discharge of Contract on the Grounds of Frustration Coursework

Discharge of Contract on the Grounds of Frustration - Coursework Example Jardinia Limited has signed two contracts with Southern Belles which entails the installation and fitting of an industrial size system for the poly-tunnels and green house. Payment for installation will be due on completion of the work. The other contract states that 100 units are to be provided for resale to the general public at a cost of ?250 each to Southern Belles Ltd. A ?5,000 deposit had already been paid. However, a day before completion of the work, a storm destroyed all the installations completely. Southern Belles Limited is therefore claiming that both contracts are discharged on the grounds of frustration with no money to be paid on the fitting contract and the deposit refunded. Force Majeure Clause If either Jardinia Limited or Southern Belles Limited is prevented or stopped from carrying out its duties as it had been agreed upon in the contract (other than their duties to make their payments) by a force majeure event then: The affected party will be relieved from perfo rming its duties as long as the force majeure event continues to pose as an inhibiting factor further affecting in completion of the project. ... e Event, how it has affected its ability to carry out its obligations as it had been agreed upon in the contract and the measures that have been developed by the party to prevent such a Force Majeure Event from occurring and destroying property. The affected party has to establish mitigation measures to eliminate effects of the Force Majeure Event that may prevent it from fulfilling its obligations as stated in the contract. After cessation of the Force Majeure Event, the affected party should provide a written notification to the other party informing it of the cessation of the Force Majeure Event. The party should then continue with performance of its duties as the two parties had agreed on. Southern Belles Limited will give the agreed amount of money to Jardinia Limited for installation of an industrial size system for a green house and poly-tunnels as soon as sales are attained. Southern Belles Limited will use all reasonable efforts to ensure it attains production capabilities. A Force Majeure Event is therefore described as any event that occurs without any knowledge of a party and it is beyond an individual’s reasonable control. The event is unavoidable and does not withstand the reasonable care of a party. A Force Majeure Event at Jardinia Limited will not constitute a Force Majeure Event, unless most of its operations are entirely affected. Force Majeure Clause denotes that the storm triggered the operation of this clause as the contractor could not avoid occurrence of the storm and could still not provide against it. The storm qualifies as a Force Majeure Event since it totally destroyed work that had been done and has as well prevented it from going on as planned. The storm has had severe impacts on the contract as additional costs, time as well as inputs

College admissions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

College admissions - Essay Example However, there are many institutions, where still legacy applicants are prioritized. In the article, â€Å"Preserve Universities’ Rights to Shape Students Community†, the author describes about Dickinson College in which, students’ â€Å"chance of admission shoots up to 75 %† on the basis their linkage to some person who has remained associated with the college. There are various reasons as to why universities prioritize applicants in terms of legacies. Admissions are given on the basis of the donations that are given by the parents or guardians of applicants. Other reasons given in the article, â€Å"Preserve Universities’ Rights to Shape Students Community† (351) are the students who get admission on the basis of legacy are able to strengthen the traditional set up of the institution and also their parents are very supportive in the activities of the institution. It is also reported that the students that are selected on the basis of legacy have â€Å"stronger academic records†. However, these reasons cannot be justified because the educational authorities have no reason to give admission to an applicant on the basis of legacy and reject a meritorious one. According to Howell and Turner, â€Å"history of legacy admissions in America is tied to an unpleasant history of race and ethnicity† (344) due to which, this is quite clear that legacy admissions cannot be termed as righteous action by the authorities. The writers emphasize the unjustified criterion of admission on the basis of legacy that is imposed on the applicants. The applicants who have legacy rights have nearly double chances to get admission as compared to other applicants. Howell and Turner have included survey results into their article, â€Å"The History of Legacy Admissions†, which describe about use of legacy policies in public and private institutions. According to them, â€Å"both public and

Comparing Terrorism Groups to TOC Groups Coursework

Comparing Terrorism Groups to TOC Groups - Coursework Example m groups and transnational organized crime groups are both illegal and unconstitutional groups that are do not attract open support from any country or state in the world. This explains the need for multiple countries to form counter terrorism units and anti crime departments to curb both menaces. The types of businesses that the two groups perform are different but convergent. The TOCs sell illicit products across the borders, and perform certain activities that render a state at ransom to commit to their demands (Carrapico, Irrera & Tupman, 2014). They deal with human trafficking, sale of narcotics, deep-sea piracy, oil smuggling, and firearm trafficking. Terrorist groups deal with insurgent attacks on innocent citizens, leadership roles in insurgent revolt against governments and capture of specific government territories. While the TOCs have their financial support from their influential leaders and coordination of similar groups, the terrorists derive funding form ethnic and religious sources, private donors, state sponsorships and charities (Carrapico, Irrera & Tupman, 2014). However, in the smuggling of weapons and human trafficking, the two groups often liaise to define the similarities of their ambitions. The terrorism groups pose more threat to security as they involve larger groups of people form one religion or ethnic alignment as opposed to the TOCs that have few members working for the benefit of wealthy individual

Nursing Rresearch Utilization Project Proposal on Alternative Pain Essay

Nursing Rresearch Utilization Project Proposal on Alternative Pain Management - Essay Example Philosophers, psychologists, biologists and pharmacologists have attempted to understand pain based on an interdisciplinary approach. With technological advances and centuries of research, have led to an in depth of comprehension of pain mechanisms and accordingly several theories have been put forward over the years to explain the mechanism of pain. While the classical theories stressed the physiological aspects of pain, the multidimensional theories included the physiological as well as psychological, cognitive and social aspects of pain (Gatchel et al., 2007). The pain pathway involves three neuron route that carry pain stimuli from periphery to cerebral cortex: the primary afferent neurons, the dorsal horn of spinal cord where primary afferent neurons synapse with second order neuron (SON); and finally the third order neurons (TON) that synapse with SON in thalamic nuclei. Each of these routes involve several alternative pathways. The receptors and the fibers associated with pain perception in peripheral receptor system are known as nociceptors which can be of different types depending on the nature of stimuli received. However there are also two more dimensions to pain perception besides nociception. The individual’s description or assessment of experiences that he labels as pain and the emotional reaction to the pain perception forms the second dimension. The third dimension encompasses the social aspects of pain (Gatchel et al., 2007). Professional aid for pain management becomes essential when it restricts or interferes with daily activities, or when self care techniques fail to provide relief. The ultimate treatment goal for pain is the alleviation of pain symptom and improvement of individual functional ability. Due to its complex nature, pain management is rendered a challenging and multifaceted task. In accordance care providers today incorporate and utilize varied techniques including patient education, medications, physical therapies, relax ation techniques, psychosocial counseling, surgical procedures, injection techniques, various alternative medicine modalities for effective and intensive pain management (Gatchel et al., 2007). Based on this premise the current project proposal aims to explore the available and prevalent alternative pain management techniques and their comparative efficacies. B. Solution description Mind/Body Medicine During the last three decades many researchers have begin to explore the interconnections between mind and body; and have attempted to understand the hitherto unexplored efficacy of most traditional systems of medicine such as Ayurveda and Tibetan medicine. This has led to the emergence of the new field of psychoneuroimmunology. Mid body techniques are based on three premises; relation of body and mind, ability of body to heal itself and role of care provider in restoring health. This field includes techniques such as psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, and guided imagery. Psychotherapy Psych otherapy approaches are based on the interdependence of stress and pain forming a vicious circle. They therefore provide relaxation therapies to develop a sense of control, change the mode of dealing with pain and decreasing levels of discomfort. Hypnosis, music or audioanalgesia and other relaxation techni

Woodlands Community Center Corporation Case Analysis Essay Example for Free

Woodlands Community Center Corporation Case Analysis Essay The Woodland Community Center Cooperation (WCCC) had been established in 1926 by a social worker who thought that Woodland, an East Coast seaport town, would benefit from a variety of social and human services. Alain Yates, the longest serving executive director, was a long standing icon in the organization for many years, and due to a mixture of longevity and assertion, had shaped the organizational culture of the agency during his time of leadership. He had established a culture that didn’t necessarily reward what would be considered the â€Å"norm†; such has hard work and excellence. Instead he rewarded seniority and loyalty to the organization, and above all, loyalty to him. Employees advanced through becoming Yates’ â€Å"pet† employees, and received perks such as parking and expensive trips to out of state conferences. This preferential behavior created a rift within the organization and its employees. If people complained, then they were slowly trickled out by Yates, and replaced by more loyal employees. After 25 years of service, Yates retired, and while naming his suggestion for a successor, the board quickly and surprisingly undermined his influence and hired Fred Chambers. Fred was a man of substance and experience, and they needed someone to come in and not only change he organizational culture, but improve it. Fred’s wife had advised against taking this appointment, yet Fred took on the challenge, and in this case analysis we meet Fred just as he is beginning to take in the breadth of this challenge. Organization culture at Woodland Community Center Corporation was based on the values imposed by Yates. He believed that â€Å"seniority was sacrosanct, and neither creativity nor hard work replaced it† (McShane 539). This created a dominant organizational culture that believed that loyalty to Alan Yates was all that mattered, considering that the employees enjoyed a secure work environment as few employees ere fired for poor work ethic. â€Å"The key to employee survival and its attendant rewards was loyalty, not competency. Furthermore, loyalty was the sole way to advance in the agency or to receive pay increases for the agency’s over 100 employees† (McShane 539). As Yates continued his tenure, the organization was becoming more incestuous and a breeding ground for a groupthink mentality. â€Å"the agency had one characteristic in common: they swore undying loyalty to Yates† (McShane 539). Although Yates dominated the organizational culture with his own values, there was still a certain subculture that opposed him. The employees who were not impressed by Yates created the counterculture considering that they directly opposed the dominant values in the organization. They tried to maintain the organization’s standards of performance and ethical behavior as one employee stated â€Å"we are committed to working for the betterment of the agency and its clients, and we will stay despite Yates preferential treatment of pet employees† (McShane 539). They tried to maintain the values that kept the firm aligned with the needs of the society and other stakeholders. The subculture opposed to Yates could have been helpful in changing the dominant culture upon his retirement, but the executive director was able to suppress it over time. Employees that were part of the subculture began to retire of slowly trickle out because they could not longer tolerate â€Å"employment injustices† (McShane 540). Each employee that left would then be replaced by a loyal Yates supporter, which made in the more difficult for the New Executive Director Fred Chambers to change contaminated culture. In reading about organizational cultures, our text places images of strong, adaptive cultures. Cultures where the employees strive to improve customer focus and carry on long standing traditions that have carried the success of the companies. However, in this week’s case study, we find a great example of what a weak organizational structure is. Alan Yates has instilled a weak organizational culture during his tenure at WCCC. While at WCCC Alan Yates has allowed an organization culture that has slide away from customer services and has not become adaptive. The organizational culture has become one were loyalty and servitude has more value than ability and knowledge. â€Å"The key to employee survival and its attendant rewards was loyalty, not competency† (McShane 539). From this quote, it is clear to see that Alan Yates has created a culture of â€Å"yes† people, loyal to him and unable to correctly serve their client base. Furthermore, the organizational culture is being eroded as â€Å"adaptive† employees leave the company (McShane 467). As stated before, the organizational culture is further weakened by Mr. Yates as more experienced and â€Å"adaptive† employees are alienated and replaced by â€Å"in-crowd† employees. As the experienced employees leave, they erode the company by taking away many of the â€Å"rituals, legends and ceremonies† of the company (McShane 464). As the more experienced employees leave the company, many of the rituals, legends and ceremonies that had made WCCC successful will be lost, as they will be lost in the transition to new employees. The text also describes the three important functions of a strong culture, â€Å"Control system, Social glue and Sense making† (McShane 466). Again, it is interesting to see how a weak organizational culture works. Looking at WCCC’s control system with Mr. Yates, it is evident that a â€Å"deeply embedded form of social control that influences employee decisions and behavior† is present in the company (McShane 466). The only problem is the control system is too strong and influential. An example from the case study cites â€Å"Both, regardless of how they arrived at the agency, had one characteristic in common: They swore loyalty to Yates† (McShane 540). As more employees became loyal to Yates, the control system became to strong. The weakest part of the culture is tied to the â€Å"social glue† (McShane 466). â€Å"Organizational culture is the â€Å"social glue† that bonds people together and makes them feel part of the organizational experience† (McShane 466). The case study talks of a â€Å"growing rift† among employees that are loyal or not to Yates (McShane 539). The organizational culture suffers from a split in the employees as more experienced employees feel left out by Yates. This effectively shows a lack of â€Å"social glue† within the organizational culture of WCCC. Overall, it is easy to see that the organizational culture during Mr. Yates tenure has been significantly decreased at WCCC. The company lacks any â€Å"social glue† that could improve employee moral and it further harmed by the overbearing control of Mr. Yates. During his 25 year stay at WCCC, Mr. Yates has turned the organizational culture to nothing more than a â€Å"yes† culture. Fred Chambers is well aware how much organizational change is needed at the Woodland Community Center Corporation. There are both driving and restraining forces for change found in this case which will make Fred Chambers’ new position of executive director a difficult one. It is his goal to effectively manage these forces in order to successfully point the Woodland Community Center Corporation into a new direction. Alain Yates left a divided and unhappy workforce for Fred Chambers to fix. â€Å"Yates had encouraged policies of â€Å"double standards† that de-motivated some long-term and industrious agency employees. (McShane 532) Yates had his favorite employees and those who were within his inner circle. Certain people had reserved parking spots, whereas others had to park far away and take the long walk to the building from their car in inclement weather. Others were not allowed to go to training sessions to further their knowledge while they stood buy and watched certain employees go to expensive out of state conferences. â€Å"Yates’s actions resulted in a small but noticeable agency fissure that led to a growing rift between employees who sought to excel and those who just got by on their loyalty. ( McShane 532) Employees wanted to be rewarded for their work ethic and not their loyalty. People would no longer go the extra mile if they weren’t in Yates’s inner circle. This is a definite driving force for change. Fair and equal treatment needs to be implemented throughout the corporation. Despite all of the negative practices that Alain Yates implemented, those employees who were not treated fairly did not leave WCCC. They were paid very well and had a drive to help the clients that the agency worked with. Eventually, most of these employees left and were replaced by loyal supporters of Yates. Chambers needs to drive home that sense of loyalty to Woodland Community Center Corporation’s clients to those employees who remained despite not being in Yates’s inner circle. These employees need to still be competitively paid and reassured that their work will be appreciated. On the other hand, most of the employees of WCCC are loyal to Alain Yates and Fred Chambers will have an up road battle to convince the supporters of Yates that he will do a great job. Fred Chambers will most likely face many restraining forces for change. In some situations employees may be worried about the consequences of change, such as how the new conditions will take away their power and status. In other situations, employees show resistance because of concerns about the process of change itself, such as the effort required to break old habits and learn new skills. †(McShane 490) Fred Chambers needs to set a standard of equality. Yates’s inner circle no longer exists, and these employees need to know that they have to step up to the challenge and prove themselves. One resistance to change is the fear of the unknown. Employees do not know what is in stored for them. People resist change out of worry that they cannot adjust to the new work requirements. †(McShane 491) Workers might not have performed up to their potential because they were favored by Yates. Another resistance to change is when a routine is broken. â€Å"This means employees need to abandon behavioral routines that are no longer appropriate. †(McShane 491) Employees will not be used to the style of Fred Chambers. He most likely wants to do things differently, and they will have to adjust accordingly. Fred Chambers needs to approach organizational change from an evolutionary perspective. Alain Yates had run the WCCC for twenty five years. Many of the employees had been there for a long time and have been accustomed to his leadership style. Fred Chambers needs to implement certain changes right away, but at the same time, one does not want to rock the boat too much. He must create a more equal and level playing field for all employees. Chambers must gain the trust of all his workers and prove to them that he is dedicated to them, the organization, and most importantly, the company’s clients. By being too aggressive in his actions, Chambers will not give off a good impression and turn a lot of people off. He needs to use tact and apply his experiences to his new position. Over the next year or two, employees will realize that they are valued by the work they do and not by the personal connections they may have. Fred Chambers is required to make a lot of changes, and to convince a staff who has been conditioned to be loyal to a man who is no longer at the helm of the ship. Additionally, it seems that decisions had been made that weren’t pro-business, only pro-Yates. These will need to be reversed, which will naturally result in push back from the employees who had had these perks-who wants to give up a good parking spot? We believe that change really needs to begin at the bottom with the employees. First, Chambers should hold a meeting, outlining some initial changes within the organization, as well as explaining what in the world would make the board make such decisions. Providing some transparency at the top would help build some trust from employees. It would be important to not dwell on the past, but to focus on the future. He should talk about how important it is that people focus on the increased productivity and services of the organization, as opposed to the past which was riddled with preferential treatment and poor business decisions. The opportunities here far outweigh negativity brought by employees entrenched in the previous culture. This is an opportunity to have the employees really concentrate and recommit to the mission and vision of the organization. Perhaps he could do a workshop outlining goals, and the mission/vision of the organization. The future of the organizations fiscal and organizational health lies in Fred’s ability to gain the trust of the employees and then steer them towards good work product output, expectations of advancement when warranted through good work, and perhaps some leaner times financially, if there need to be lay offs. Fred needs to make the employees feel as though they belong to an organization who works well together. Create a sense of belonging. This is how Yates succeeded in turning the culture in his way, and it won’t be too difficult to do the same. Chambers also has a leg up when it comes to cost cutting. He will be able to outline to the entire organization that expenses such as trips, far away conferences and training will not be available to anyone, regardless of the reason or connection. This will allow people to see that Chambers will not play favorites, which has been an issue of concern in the past. It also tells the employees that there are financial concerns, and they should be cognizant of where they spend money. While there will be some initial push back, Chambers can and we believe will succeed. He has experience in running non profits; he is a seasoned professional in dealing with non-profit staff. Chambers should approach this challenge with the belief that what one poor leader had done can be undone by a strong leader with a good understanding of the culture, the people, and a strong commitment to the success of the organization.

Proctor reluctantly Essay Example for Free

Proctor reluctantly Essay This powerful line comes in act 4 when Proctor reluctantly confesses to seeing the devil. He is now passionate about making sure his name doesnt get put up on the church door. This is the line that starts the incredible build up of emotion and frustration leading to the dramatic climax of the play. Saying it with a cry of his whole soul shows how much his name means to him. There isnt a more emotional way he could say it than with his whole soul. John Proctor would rather give up his life than his name. The exclamation mark at the end and the word cry shows he should shout the words with a lot of emotion and passion. I can imagine the actor looking very angry and yelling the line with his arms spread and his fists clenched in rage at the prospect of losing his dignity and reputation. I think when he says the line the other charactors will be silenced and be shocked by his flood of emotion. This abrupt line would surprise the audience and it might make them sympathize with Proctor. In Act 2 John is asked by Hale to repeat the Ten Commandments and remembers all but thou shalt not commit adultery and has to be reminded of it by Elizabeth. It is ironic that Proctor forgets this sin because of the affair he had with Abigail. Adultery was seen as a terrible sin in the Puritan society and adultery was taken very seriously. From Elizabeths perspective this would make her feel uncomfortable as she is wounded by her husbands affair: Proctor (as though a secret arrow had pained his heart): Aye. The description Miller uses to show how Proctor should say the line is very dramatic and the simplicity of just using the word Aye will also have dramatic impact. I can imagine the actor almost whispering the word, dropping his head in shame and with a crack in his voice. This might have the effect of generating sympathy from the audience for both Elizabeth and John. It also adds to the build up of tension creating an expectant atmosphere. Arthur Miller is very good at making the audience feel very involved. One of the ways he does this is by using a technique called dramatic irony. Dramatic irony is when there is contradiction between what a character thinks and what the audience knows to be true. For example in Act 3 Proctor confesses to the court that he had an affair with Abigail. He tells them that Elizabeth knew about the affair and this is why his wife put Abigail out of the house. Danforth sends for Elizabeth and orders that no one is to speak to her and Proctor to turn his back. She is asked about the affair. Not knowing that Procter has confessed and trying to protect Proctor, she lies and denies all knowledge of the affair between John and Abigail. She realizes too late that she should have told the truth and she is led away. During this most tense scene the audience would feel very frustrated with Elizabeth and be willing her to tell the truth. The audience would feel sorry for Elizabeth as she lied to protect Proctor even though it was about his affair, which deeply hurt Elizabeth. At this point in the play I felt desperate for Elizabeth to tell the truth. Arthur Miller uses very powerful stage directions in The Crucible. He uses them for several reasons. One of the reasons is to describe a movement or action of a character. He directs this line at Mary Warren. His wife has just been arrested on suspicion of witchcraft after a poppet is found in her house, which Mary made. This movement prepares us for the dialogue, which is to follow: Proctor (moving menacingly towards her): You will tell the court how that poppet came here and who stuck the needle in. This shows the mood that Proctor is in. Proctor is furious at Mary and wants to scare her into telling the court. The movement would draw everyones attention towards the actor. I think the word menacingly would mean that the actor would walk purposely with an edge of threat towards the girl. He would tower over Mary ready for the dialogue. By this point the audience would be anticipating though his actions what would be going to happen next. In Act 4 Proctor is losing control and is confused about his decision of confessing to seeing the devil: (He moves as an animal, and a fury is riding in him, a tantalized search). This stage direction would enable the actor to behave in a dramatic, inhuman manner. I can imagine the actor pacing and his eyes searching for answers. It would give the actor the opportunity to take centre stage and exploit this important twist of the play. This would add dramatic tension and a feeling of anticipation of what Proctor was going to do next. I think the actor would pace up and down the stage quickly with his body quite tensed up. I think Arthur Miller was successful in creating tension in The Crucible. He does this through a variety of methods. Firstly his use of dark, forbidding sets. This gives the idea of tension before the scenes have even begun and the characters have started speaking. His use of dramatic dialogue and stage directions build up the tension and help the actors relate to the character and perform the play with more emotion towards the characters. Through dramatic irony he involves the audience and manages to maintain their interest throughout the play. Miller portrays the characters in an intense way. The relationships between them are very close, with the stifling intimacy of their lives adding to the slow build up of hysteria in the play. I found the most dramatic moment in the play was when Proctor confessed to his affair. Elizabeth was then asked if she knew about the affair but she denied all knowledge of this. This was a particularly tense moment because anxiety and frustration was high; the characters along with the audience wanted her to tell the truth, fearing the consequences of a lie. This had the affect of making me feel nervous that something could go wrong and also involved because I knew about Proctors confession. I felt that Abigails character was especially strong and influential in the play. She was the root of all the troubles. I felt pity for Elizabeth because of Abigail; her affair with Proctor and her accusations about Elizabeths involvement in witchcraft destroyed her life. Miller has the ability to pull the audience into the lives of the characters by his use of dramatic devices and theatrical techniques, which maintain interest and participation throughout the play. Miller made me feel nervous and frustrated in The Crucible. He made me feel sympathy, fear and anxiety towards the characters. For example I felt great empathy for Elizabeth Proctor as her husband betrayed her and then she was accused of being a witch. Miller uses the other characters to portray Elizabeth as a cold person but through our knowledge of her as the play progresses we become emotionally involved with her and come to realize what a strong courageous woman she is. With Elizabeth, as with many other characters, Miller allows us to make up our own minds about their honesty and strength as we are drawn into the characters lives and we begin understand the double standards and different tensions that are operating throughout The Crucible.

Importance of employee satisfaction in an organization

Importance of employee satisfaction in an organization In the beginning, we are looking for the factor that influences job satisfaction among the workers/ front liner in SingTel. After that in the following chapter is about the review of the relevant literature. In chapter 3, we will looking for the method been use for this study and followed by chapter 4 is about the result and discussion from the analyses of data and findings of the research. And for the last chapter which is chapter 5, it summarized and recommend according to the finding and result. Job satisfaction is about the feeling of the nature of the job. In order for an organization to be successful, it must continuously ensure the satisfactorily of their employees (Berry, 1997). The happier the workers, the more satisfied they are. Besides, satisfied worker also a productive worker. Organization with more satisfied employees tends to be more effective (Robbins Judge, 2007). In todays world, organization realize that is it important to keep their worker satisfied as human recourse is the important assets for the organization to keep their business running. With satisfied workers, they will deliver the better quality service to the customer which indirectly will increase customer satisfaction. Customer satisfaction is important as it is essential in building long-term, profitable relationships ultimately leading to customer loyalty and repeat business. As for the workers, job satisfaction is important for the employees mental health (Smith, Kendall and Hulin, 1969). Upon study on job satisfaction, factor that influences the level of job satisfaction is vital to be addressed. They are many factors that influence level of job satisfaction such as the organization factor which may include working condition or anything that related to the working condition. For example: leadership style and pay. Besides working condition, personal factors such as health issue and family conflict. 1.2 Problem statement Human resources are the most valuable assets in an organization especially those high performing employees and it will be a trouble to company if those employees leaving or deliver bad service to their customer. One special issue is the low level of employee job satisfaction that brought difficulties in increasing service quality (Yi, 1993). Seta, Paulus and Baron (2000) pointed out that knowing the factors contributing to the employees satisfactions; the organization can plan properly and take appropriate step to increase positive behavior among employees. It means that organization or management need to prepare proper training or program such as reward, growth opportunities or job security in order to increase job satisfaction among the employees. According to malhotra Mukerjee (2004), Call centers facilitate flow of information and communication between firms and their remote customers via the telephone. According to Prahabkar, Sheehan, and Coppett (1997), call centers à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.allow a company to build, maintain, and manage customer relationships by solving problems and resolving complaints quickly. Front liners who work in call centre have to answer call from customer 24 hour a day throughout 365 days in a year. As a front lines, this job full with challenge and stress. They need to manage their emotion very well in order to deliver good services to customer. Therefore, it is important to make sure that the workers are satisfied with their current job scope. Holman et al.s (2007) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.number of call center employees stood at 450,000. This is quite a huge amount in this communicating field. According to Zeithml Bitner (2000), since the customer contact employees or popularly known as the call center agents are the link between the entire organization and the external customer, so they are able to influence the perception of the customer to the organization. From the previous study, there was evidence in between job satisfaction and performance deliver by the front liners. Therefore, the research tries to find out the link between the job satisfaction and organization factors and also the personal factor. 1.3 Research Questions The research questions will be: 1.3.1 To what extent is the influence of work conditions on employee job satisfaction among the front liners in Sing Tel? 1.3.2 To what extent is the influence of promotion on employee job satisfaction among the front liners in Sing Tel? 1.3.3 To what extent is the influence of gender on employee job satisfaction among the front liners in Sing Tel? 1.3.4 To what extent is the influence of age on job satisfaction among the front liners in Sing Tel? 1.4 Research Objectives Based on the above research questions, this study intends to achieve the specific research objectives: 1.4.1 To determine the influence of work conditions on employee job satisfaction among the front liners in Sing Tel. 1.4.2 To examine the influence of promotion on employee job satisfaction among the front liners in Sing Tel. 1.4.3 To investigate the influence of gender on employee job satisfaction among the front liners in Sing Tel. 1.4.4 To determine the influence of age on employee job satisfaction among the front liners in Sing Tel. 1.5 Significance of the study There are many studies revealed the factors that may affect job satisfaction but they are related to all aspect for the job satisfaction. The employee satisfaction theory (Vroom, 1964) and (Herzberg, 1966) employee satisfaction measurement tools, as well as Maslows Hierarchy of Needs (Abraham Maslow, 1943), but there are rarely study regarding factors that may contribute to job satisfaction in call centre in Malaysia. In Malaysia, call center are growing in a rapidly rate. There are many communication company increases the intake of the call center agent or in the other ways knows as front-liners. From this point of view, it is important for us to study on the front-liners job satisfaction. Since the number of employed for the front-liners are growing, through the study, it help the organization to understand what is the need for the entire front-liners, what is their basic request. Through this study, it help organization to knowing better on what is the benefit that they can provide for them for satisfaction and at the same time organization can deliver a good services to the customer. Apart from that, this is a way to send out the messages for those who desire to work in this field. It is also information to the public who always complaining or disputing about the customer services staff without knowing their sacrifice. 1.6 Scope and Limitation of the Study The scope of the study is to study the link between the job satisfaction and organization factors and also the personal factor in Sing Tel. These include work condition, leadership style, promotion, gender, personality and individual experience. The study limited only to the front-liners in Sing Tel. 1.7 Organization of the Research Project This study consists of five chapters which are introduction, literature review, methodology, result and discussion followed by conclusion and recommendation. Each chapter will discuss in depth later. In chapter 1, we are looking for the factor that influences job satisfaction among the workers/ front liner in SingTel. After that in the following chapter is about the review of the relevant literature. Chapter 3, we will look for the method been use for this study and followed by chapter 4 is about the result and discussion from the analyses of data and findings of the research. And for the last chapter which is chapter 5, it summarized and recommend according to the finding and result. CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Introduction This chapter will discuss about the job satisfaction in several perspectives. It is includes definition of job satisfaction, previous studies on job satisfaction and the factors that influence the job satisfaction. A part from this, it is also a brief discussion regarding the job satisfaction among the staff in call center. And it ends with a brief summary for this chapter. 2.2 Job Satisfaction According to Steyn Van Wyk (1999), job satisfaction can be formally defined as the degree to which individuals feel positively and/or negatively about their jobs. From this, when an employee meets their needs or expectation, then they will feel the accomplishment and from here the degree of satisfaction can be determine. Gordon (1999) claims that job satisfaction occurs when a job meets the expectations, values and standards of an individual and will influence their commitment and performance. So from here, it is how an organization gets satisfied their workers in order to get their commitment to performed well. Maslows Hierarchy of Needs was proposed by Abraham Maslow in 1943 from his paper A Theory of Human Motivation. According to Maslow, people are not satisfied with what they have and will always request for more. From the hierarchy, they are five level can be found in each individual which is physical, security, social, ego and self-actualization. Physical needs are the base from the hierarchy. It includes the basic human needs such as the need for air, water, food, exercise and freedom form diseases. It is commonly achieve by the human being. Once this basic is achieved, then they will go for the other level which is the security. This level includes the need of safety, shelter and stability. In term of the working environment, it means that an employee may demand for the job security, they can have a stabile job, being treated fairly and have a good pay for their job. The third phase is the social, it includes the need of being loves, and they experience the feeling of belonging and inclusion. In the work place, the employee need to feel the sense of belonging and acceptance, once they have this feeling, it helps them to achieve the satisfaction on this level. Let say ones cannot fulfill this level, for example maybe he or she facing problem in their marriage; it will lead to fail on this level. After fulfill this level, it comes to another level which is the ego or known as self-esteem and follow by the highest level which is the self-actualization. Figure1. Maslows Job Hierarchy of Needs Model 2.3 Work Condition According to Stallworth and Kleiner (1996) increasingly an organizations physical layout is designed around employee needs in order to maximize productivity and satisfaction. Employee would prefer to work in an organization which can provide better physical comfort and convenience. With a better environment, it can reduce the unsatisfied feeling of the employees. According to Robbins (2001), working conditions will influence job satisfaction, as employees are concerned with a comfortable physical work environment. 2.4 Promotion A study conduct by Ellickson and Logsdon (2002) claim that with municipal government workers where satisfaction with promotional opportunities was found to be positively and significantly related to job satisfaction. The chances to get promotion have a strong effect on the employee job satisfaction. From the study, the management can take notes that promotion can always be a motivation tools for them to ensure the employee can achieve their goals. 2.5 Gender Gender is one of the demographic characteristic that researchers always investigated the relationship with the job satisfaction. Shahri (2001) found that male managers were more satisfied with their jobs than female managers in upper level management. From the study of Tang and Talpade (1999), it found that men tend to have higher satisfaction with remuneration in relation to females, while females tended to have higher satisfaction with co-workers than males. From the previous study, it shows that the job satisfaction effected by the gender. 2.6 Age Most of the studies found the existing relationship between age and job satisfaction. According to the study done by Drafke and Kossen (2002), it shows that older employee with more working experience are more satisfied compare with younger employee, the study also claim that job satisfaction increase with age. Greenberg and Baron (1995) claims that generally older employees are more satisfied with their job compare with younger employee. From the reviews, it shows that age play a role in the employees job satisfaction. 2.7 Research Framework The purpose of this study is to determine the factors affect the job satisfaction in call center. This part is regarding the discussion that forming the theoretical framework. It is based on the previous studies that had been review. There are two independents variables, which consist of the personal factors and the organizational factors. The personal factors includes gender and age, meanwhile the organizational factors includes work condition and promotion. Figure 2 shows the theoretical framework for the study. Organizational Factors Work condition promotion Job satisfaction Personal Factors Gender Age Figure 2 Theoretical Framework 2.8 Summary This chapter has discussed about the factors that influence the job satisfaction. This was discussing clearly with different researchers and theorist. The Maslows Hierarchy of Needs also reviewed as this theory related with the research topic. It is good for management to understand the factors that influence the job satisfaction. It helps organization to indentify those factors and avoid the mistake. . CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3.1 Hypotheses statement Hypothesis 1 Ho: There is positive relationship between work condition and job satisfaction among the front liners in Sing Tel. H1: There is negative relationship between work condition and job satisfaction among the front liners in Sing Tel. Hypothesis 2 Ho: There is positive relationship between promotion and job satisfaction among the front liners in Sing Tel. H1: There is negative relationship between promotion and job satisfaction among the front liners in Sing Tel. Hypothesis 3 Ho: There is positive relationship between gender and job satisfaction among the front liners in Sing Tel. H1: There is negative relationship between gender and job satisfaction among the front liners in Sing Tel. Hypothesis 4 Ho: There is positive relationship between age and job satisfaction among the front liners in Sing Tel. H1: There is negative relationship between age and job satisfaction among the front liners in Sing Tel. 3.2 Research Design There are a lots of research method to use to analyze job satisfaction. There is no single method or the most appropriate on it. According to Punch (1998) each approach has it strength and weaknesses. When we understand each of the strength and weaknesses, we can select or combine the approach. This study used quantitative methods involving survey questionnaires to collect the quantitative data. The purpose is to determine whether there is a correlation between the personal and organizational factors with the job satisfaction among the front liners in Sing Tel. The Job Descriptive Index (JDI) was used to measure the level of job satisfaction among the front liners in Sing Tel. The Job in General (JIG) also used to measure the overall job satisfaction. 3.3 Research Sample The present number of all the front liners in Sing Tel consists of 210 employees. Therefore, the sample was selected randomly from a total of 50 respondents that able to facilitate the objectives of the study. This sample size was according to the Roscoes rule of thumb (cited in Sekaran, 2003) which is stated that sample larger than 30 and less than 500 is appropriate for most research. 3.4 Research Instrument The Job Descriptive Index (JDI) and Job in General (JIG) were used to measure the job satisfaction. The job descriptive index (JDI), created by Smith, Kendall, Hulin(1989), is a specific questionnaire of job satisfaction that has been widely used. It measures ones satisfaction in five dimensions such as: pay, promotion and promotion opportunities, relationship with coworkers, supervision, and the work itself. The General Job Index is an overall measurement of job satisfaction. It was an improvement on the job descriptive index because the JDI focused too much on work 33 satisfaction. The questionnaire consists 3 parts. The first part related to the personal factors in Sing Tel, the second part is regarding the job satisfaction of the front liners in Sing Tel and last part is about the organizational factors that affect job satisfaction. 3.5 Data Collection Procedures As this is my previous company, so I will distribute the questionnaire to my ex-colleague. The questionnaires were answered by the respondents by following the instructions for each section. The questionnaire will be collected after all the respondents had answered it. 3.6 Data Analysis Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) computer software program (version 12) was use to analyzed all the data that collected from the respondents. Descriptive analysis was used to explore the data collected as well as summarizing and describing the data. For this study, it was use to describe the gender and age. CHAPTER 4 RESULTS AND FINDINGS 4.1 Introduction This chapter reveals and reports the findings from the study of job satisfaction among workers/ front liner in SingTel. Fifty sets of questionnaire were distributed as mentioned in the research methodology. They were processed and analyzed using SPSS Package Program (Version 12) and the results are presented in tables. The first section will provide the background of the respondents. The second section will then provide the reliability of the variables. The third section will present the correlation analysis with regards to the relationship of the independent variables in influencing the dependent variable. 4.2 Frequency Analysis 4.2.1 Gender Statistics Gender N Valid 50 Missing 0 Gender Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent Valid male 24 48.0 48.0 48.0 female 26 52.0 52.0 100.0 Total 50 100.0 100.0 Table 4.2.1: Gender Table 4.2.1 shows the frequency distribution for gender composition. As stated previously, the total respondents for this study was 50. From the total respondents, 26 (52%) respondents were female while 24 (48%) of the respondents were male. 4.2.2 Age Age N Valid 50 Missing 0 Age Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent Valid 19-29 14 28.0 28.0 28.0 30-39 21 42.0 42.0 70.0 40-49 12 24.0 24.0 94.0 50-60 3 6.0 6.0 100.0 Total 50 100.0 100.0 Table 4.2.2 Age By referring to the table 4.2.2 above, the majority of the respondents were between 30 to 39 years old (42%), the second highest of the respondents were in the range of 19 to 29 years old (14%) followed by the respondents in the range 40 to 49 years old (12%) and finally the least was 50 to 60 years old group with 6%. 4.2.3 Overall Satisfaction Overall Satisfaction N Valid 50 Missing 0 Overall Satisfaction Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent Valid Not Satisfied Slightly 0 0 0 0 Satisfied 12 24.0 24.0 24.0 Moderately Satisfied 32 64.0 64.0 88.0 Satisfied 6 12.0 12.0 100.0 Very satisfied 0 0 0 100.0 Total 50 100.0 100.0 Table 4.2.3 Overall Satisfaction From the result of table 4.2.3, there are 32 respondent out of 50 is moderately satisfied with the overall satisfaction (64%), there are 12 respondents who are slightly satisfied with the overall satisfaction (24%) and only 6 respondents are satisfied with the overall satisfaction (12%). From this result, it concludes that most of the Sing Tel Front-liner only moderately satisfied with their current condition. 4.3 Level of Job Satisfaction Job Descriptive Index (JDI) and Job In General (JIG) are used to measure job satisfaction in this research. The level of JDI and JIG and also others variable are measured by using the mean. The levels of perception to all variable are group into two categories as per below: Mean Std. Deviation JDI JIG 3.67 0.48 Work Condition 3.51 0.69 Promotion 3.21 0.69 Table 4.3 Level of Job Satisfaction, Work Condition and Promotion Table 4.3 shows that the level of job satisfaction of the respondents is high with mean=3.67 and sd=0.48. Respondents also perceived that their level of work condition is also high with a mean=3.51 and sd=0.69. However, there was a moderate level of perception towards promotion with a mean=3.21 and sd=0.69. 4.4 Relationship between Job Satisfaction, Age and Gender Pearson correlation (r) was used to test the relationship between job satisfaction, age and gender. The results are shown in table 4.3 below. Correlations tjs gender age tjs Pearson Correlation 1 .138 -.152 Sig. (2-tailed) . .338 .292 N 50 50 50 gender Pearson Correlation .138 1 -.004 Sig. (2-tailed) .338 . .980 N 50 50 50 age Pearson Correlation -.152 -.004 1 Sig. (2-tailed) .292 .980 . N 50 50 50 Table 4.4 It can be seen in the table 4.4, there is a positive relationship between gender and job satisfaction. but it is not significantly related to job satisfaction (r=0.138, p for gender is 0.138). Based on the result, it can be seen a negative relationship between age and job satisfaction at r=-0.152 but again it is not significantly related to job satisfaction (p for age is 0.292). 4.5 Relationship between Job Satisfaction, Work Condition and Promotion Table 4.5 shows the correlation matrix output of job satisfaction, work condition and promotion. Correlations tjs twc tp tjs Pearson Correlation 1 -.137 -.499(**) Sig. (2-tailed) . .343 .000 N 50 50 50 twc Pearson Correlation -.137 1 .620(**) Sig. (2-tailed) .343 . .000 N 50 50 50 tp Pearson Correlation -.499(**) .620(**) 1 Sig. (2-tailed) .000 .000 . N 50 50 50 ** Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed). Table 4.5 It is found that job satisfaction is not significantly related to work condition but with a negative relationship(r=-0.137, p for work condition is 0.343). While for the promotion, the result shows that promotion is significantly related to job satisfaction and with a negative relationship(r=-0.499, p for promotion is 0.000). 4.6 Relationship between Job Satisfaction and Gender T-test was used in the analyses of statistically significant gender. Group Statistics gender N Mean Std. Deviation Std. Error Mean tjs male 24 3.7262 .28546 .05827 female 26 3.7692 .27724 .05437 Independent Samples Test Levenes Test for Equality of Variances t-test for Equality of Means F Sig. t df Sig. (2-tailed) Mean Difference Std. Error Difference 95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower tjs Equal variances assumed .157 .694 -.541 48 .591 -.04304 .07960 -.20309 Equal variances not assumed -.540 47.417 .592 -.04304 .07970 -.20333 Table 4.6 There were no statistically differences in the overall perception between the respondents group according to gender as for male, mean=3.72 and for female, mean=3.77. From the result, it shows that gender is not statistically significant in the perception of affecting front-liners in Sing tel. Regression Analysis Model Unstandardized Coefficients Standardized Coefficients t Sig. Correlations Collinearity Statistics B Std. Error Beta Zero-order Partial Part Tolerance 1 (Constant) 4.622 .422 10.965 .000 twc .199 .135 .232 1.473 .148 -.137 .214 .178 .591 tp -.443 .104 -.677 -4.283 .000 -.499 -.538 -.518 .586 tgender .012 .068 .021 .172 .864 .138 .026 .021 .953 tage -.068 .039 -.217 -1.743 .088 -.152 -.251 -.211 .944 a Dependent Variable: tjs Table 4.6.1 Based on the result from table 4.6.1, it shows: Job Satisfaction= 4.622+0.199(twc)-0.443(tp) +0.012(tgender)-0.068(tage) From this equation, it shows there is a positive relationship between work condition, gender and job satisfaction but not significant while relationship between age and job satisfaction is negative and significant. Only promotion is significantly related to job satisfaction with negative relationship. 4.7 Summary of Hypotheses Test Hypothesis 1 Ho: There is positive relationship between work condition and job satisfaction among the front liners in Sing Tel. H1: There is negative relationship between work condition and job satisfaction among the front liners in Sing Tel. Therefore, accept Ho reject H1. Hypothesis 2 Ho: There is positive relationship between promotion and job satisfaction among the front liners in Sing Tel. H1: There is negative relationship between promotion and job satisfaction among the front liners in Sing Tel. Therefore, reject Ho accept H1. Hypothesis 3 Ho: There is positive relationship between gender and job satisfaction among the front liners in Sing Tel. H1: There is negative relationship between gender and job satisfaction among the front liners in Sing Tel. Therefore, accept Ho reject H1. Hypothesis 4 Ho: There is positive relationship between age and job satisfaction among the front liners in Sing Tel. H1: There is negative relationship between age and job satisfaction among the front liners in Sing Tel. Therefore, reject Ho accept H1. 4.8 Conclusion This chapter presents the results of the statistical analysis of the hypotheses. Correlation analysis was used to test the relationship among the variables of interest provided in the study. This study revealed that: There is positive relationship between work condition and job satisfaction among the front liners in Sing Tel. There is negative relationship between promotion and job satisfaction among the front liners in Sing Tel. There is positive relationship between gender and job satisfaction among the front liners in Sing Tel. There is negative relationship between age and job satisfaction among the front liners in Sing Tel. CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 5.1 INTRODUCTION In order for an organization to be successful, it must continuously ensure the satisfactorily of their employees (Berry, 1997). In todays world, organization realize that is it important to keep their worker satisfied as human recourse is the important assets for the organization to keep their business running. In this study, employee satisfaction is pivotal to Sing Tel in order to deliver good services to their customer and also become more competitive. From the finding of this study, it is revealed that the job satisfaction of the employer is high. Promotion is the most influence factors compared to others. It is also revealed that the relationship between gender and job satisfaction is no significant. 5.2 Discussion of the Research Findings This study is about factors that influence job satisfaction in Sing Tel front-liner. A satisfied employee will deliver good service to the customer and increase company image. Based on the results, it shows that work condition and promotion are the key factors that influence a employee satisfaction. 5.2.1 Research Question One The first research question of this study was to identify what is the relationship for the organizational factors such as work condition and promotion influence the employee job satisfaction. Based on the results, it shows a positive relationship between work condition and job satisfaction. Arnold and Feldman (1996) promoted factors such as temperature, lighting, ventilation, noise, working hours, and resources from all types of working conditions. Since their job is mentally demanding, so a poor working condition will influence Sing Tel front-liner to perform their job. Besides, the physical design of the work place also has certain impact on job satisfaction. A better working environment and work condition can increase employee job

Cultural Media Watch :: essays research papers

Cultural Media Watch A few common assumptions would offer some very general stereotypes which most Americans are probably subjected to each time they tune into their favorite program. The problem with making assumptions based on stereotypes, racism, and bias maybe considered two-fold. Of primary concern should obviously be the narrow-minded and over generalized prejudice which exists in mainstream media culture. Then, of only slightly less distress, would be the willingness of society to accept such demeaning norms. However, within the ‘high definition’ world of television, some prime-time shows are shattering overused typecasting. Although, some are not, also. For instance, one such common immoral stigma would be that only men of European heritage may hold positions of authority; at home and more importantly, in an office. Furthermore, African, Spanish-speaking, and other ethnic Americans will be depicted as second-class citizens. Additionally, women of all races may not hold any high positions of a profession as do their male co-stars. Luckily, most of these false accusations were proven wrong. For this analysis of television diversity, or lack there of, a look at the portrayal of African American men as in their position within a working environment, the dynamics of their family structure, and the overall social implications of such position(s) will be explored. Then, in reflection of the growing population of Spanish speaking people, a look at the near absence may reveal a certain ethnocentric standard of mainstream television. In such culturally dynamic shows as, The Cosby Show and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Afro-American men held such high positions as judges, doctors, and lawyers. Although, these two shows are directly linked to such positive portrayals, that is, almost all characters of the show are Afro-American, they offer an enlightening depiction of ethnic justice. Besides, Euro-American dominated T.V. shows have conquered most major networks since the first picture tube was created. Also seen on these were other non-white characters whom hold an array of savvy jobs and social ranks. As an example, last week, on The Cosby Show, an African-American and a Spanish-American woman sat side by side with a panel of aristocrats while debating about some common social topics, namely women’s liberation. As the show progressed both women seemed to be disregarded through most of the program. However, the show ended when both women eventually became fed-up with the insulting arrogance of their male-coun terparts and verbally reprimanded their ignorance and specifically pointed to such behavior as to why women have become so imbued to eradicate their years oppression.

Hindu Stages of Life Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  According to the Hindu religion the first stage of life is called Student. This stage begins when the child is between the ages of eight and twelve. In this stage the child or â€Å"student† is dependent on the teacher. The teacher is the person who the student lives with, usually not his or her parents. While the student is living with the teacher or master, he exchanges services for lessons. The service the student gives to the teacher is by doing anything that would please the teacher or that would make him comfortable. The type of things that would please the teacher would be, living as he was taught, telling others about the â€Å"religion†, participating in everyday ritual, etc. To make the teacher comfortable the student may get the teacher a blanket, something to eat or drink, or a chair to sit on. The teacher in return gives the student lessons. These lessons help build the students values and character. The teacher may give the student com mon knowledge as well.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The second stage of life, according to the Hindu religion, is Householder. This stage of life begins when the student is in his twenties and goes until he is around fifty. In this stage the student gets married and develops his own family. He also takes on success through his career and duty to the community. This is the stage where the fulfillment of pleasure takes place. These pleasures include; worldly success, duty to community and anything that would re...

Humanity of the Primitive in Heart of Darkness, Dialect of Modernism an

Humanity of the Primitive in Heart of Darkness, Dialect of Modernism and Totem and Taboo   Ã‚  Ã‚   The ways in which a society might define itself are almost always negative ways. "We are not X." A society cannot exist in a vacuum; for it to be distinct it must be able to define itself in terms of the other groups around it. These definitions must necessarily take place at points of cultural contact, the places at which two societies come together and arrive at some stalemate of coexistence. For European culture of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries this place of contact—this new culture by which to define itself—came from Africa, from those "primitive" cultures whose society was being studied and in some ways appreciated for the first time. The African natives became the new Other, the new way to define what Europe was at that time.   Ã‚  Ã‚   The way in which this redefinition took place was through the institution of a fundamentally hierarchical system. "Primitive" versus "sophisticated," "barbarous" versus "cultured." The anthropology of the time—articulated primarily by Frazer—espoused an evolutionary view of humanity. Societies passed through several stages of development on their way to true civilisation, and, while the Europeans had made it all the way, the Africans were lagging just a bit behind. This, however, created a problem for Europe. If Africans were fundamentally the same as Europeans (albeit farther back on the evolutionary ladder), what did that say about the roots of European society? This uncertainty created a very disjunctive view of primitives in the literature of the time. In his book, The Dialect of Modernism, Michael North suggests that, "The colonial subject is either a part of nature, utter... ... intensely inhuman, Freud shows us that these things are all one. This continuum of thought collapses into one inescapable fact: we are the primitive, and he is us.    Works Cited and Consulted Arnold, Matthew. Culture and Anarchy. Indianapolis: Bobs-Merrill, 1971. Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1988. Freud, Sigmund. Totem and Taboo. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1950. Greene, Graham. The Heart of the Matter. New York: Penguin, 1984. Mahood, M. M. The Colonial Encounter: A Reading of Six Novels. Totowa: Rowman, 1977. North, Michael. The Dialect of Modernism. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994. Raskin, Jonah. The Mythology of Imperialism. New York: Random, 1971. Watts, Cedric. Conrad’s Heart of Darkness: A Critical and Contextual Discussion. Milan: Mursia International, 1977.   

Paul Ricoeur’s Philosophy and Theology. Essay

Paul Ricoeur was born to a devout Protestant family and grew up with his aunt since he was two years of age. Because his mother died and his father was killed during the World War I, he grew up as an orphan in a small remuneration afforded to him by the government as a war orphan. He was a bookish and an exceptional student during his time; his family’s influence brought him up with Protestant faith. He studied philosophy at Sourbonne and got influence from Gabriel Marcel. During World War I, he served the French army in 1939, became prisoner of war in Germany for five years. During his stay at the camp, he met other intellectuals like Mikel Dufrenne and read a lot about Karl Jaspers who was to have a great influence on him. After the war, he continued his studies and in 1950, he received his doctorate degree. He was given opportunity to work as the Chair of General Philosophy in his alma mater in 1956; from there he began his work as a prolific writer sharing his philosophy and theology. Throughout his life, he was known and respected as one of the most impressive philosophers of the 20th century. Every event in his life has contributed to what he believed in. His Christian belief was influenced by his family; his philosophical view was influences of people he met, he talk, and read. He is a well-known Christian philosopher yet, his writings were appreciated by both non-Christian and Christian. Paul’s Ricoeur’s Philosophy Ricoeur’s philosophical is central to the meaning of life and self. Recoeur’s philosophy is based on the two questions about the self. These questions answers are about the identity of the self and how should it live. Recoeur viewed self hood as inter-subjective capacity for agency and self self-ascription, and anybody can acquire. It means that self as an agency, and self-ascription. However, in his exploration of the issue, he discussed the philosophical thinking in five aspects namely: hermeneutic philosophy, post-Hegelian-Kantian methodology, narrative theory, philosophy of the self, and a moral-political philosophy. Hermeneutics is defined as a system through which a certain belief is interpreted using a specific theory and method for interpretation. Paul’s hermeneutics philosophy according to Paul Ricceur and Richard Keamey is of twofold source of reflection: the hermeneutics of testimony and the hermeneutics of the self. In their explanation, Paul had come up with a thesis, which concludes that testimony must give something to be interpreted as in history, and this testimony will be the object of interpretation. The hermeneutics of self on the other hand pertains to the role in which attestation has to play. David Kaplan in his article explained that hermeneutics for Ricoeur is interpretation of knowledge through its signs, symbols, and texts; it is interpretation of human works and actions. The Post-Hegelian Kantian philosophy on the other hand, is mediation for Ricoeur in such a way that it is combining two different views. Ricoeur accepted Kant’s claim that ideas of morality and history is understandable, and that it has universal validity because of its theoretical and practical reasons. Hegel on the other hand, viewed evil in the world as the â€Å"cunning of reason† as helpful for man in realizing a reality. Thus, post-Hegelian Kantian means that expectation is a hope for a humanity belonging to a history, which as a whole is a collective singular. This vision of history is the foundation of ethics and laws in Kant. This implies that Ricoeur acknowledges the concept of totality as long as its scope of reflection is limited to universal rationality (or history). He is actually recognizing that any differences could be regarded as related as in plurality of voices (or idea) yet, reasons behind could be recognized when philosophy tries to find it. Ricoeur’s thesis in Time and Narrative presents that human experience and narration exist. Through hermeneutics, one can easily interpret human experience because it has narration or plot. Narration theory therefore, is telling, writing, and understanding of fictional stories, as Kaplan explained. Narration or plot according to Wall, Schweiker and Hall is an integration of philosophy of action and philosophy of language into a synthesis. By means of this integration, a production of narration is come alive through voluntary and involuntary human actions, its symbolic language, and conflicts, which are to be interpreted through hermeneutics methods linking the time and history. The Philosophy of Self or Philosophy of subjectivity is an attempt anyone can do to elucidate the meaning of man’s existence. Ricceur and Kearney explicate Ricoeur’s hermeneutics of self into the sovereign self and the destructive self. The sovereign self according to them represents the idea in its meaning in the modern philosophy, which pervades modern culture and develops the self-image of people in the modern society. The deconstructive self on the other hand presents self as pure extensionless, consciousness, already established in being. Self therefore has the capability of combining knowledge, and it is vulnerable for it seeks certainty and security. At this point, will and reason are very important to human for they are the instruments for self-preservation and self-advancement. Signs and symbols and human experience are essential for man to interpret the meaning of their existence. Moral Philosophy for Ricoeur emphasizes that human being is capable of affirming the limits of one’s own moral perspective and embracing God’s critical transformative power. Being a Bible believer, he believed that everyone has moral responsibility, which accounts directly to moral value. Wall Schweiker and Hall noted that these moral values could be deeply explored from distinctive theological and hermeneutical perspective as what Ricoeur tried to point out. The issue of moral thought or moral responsibility in the study of Ricoeur’s philosophy offers important remedy to present ethical situations or problems. Moral ethics is an expression of human capability though fallible man yet has the ability to embody moral values through the power of God by simply being humble enough to acknowledge weaknesses. Paul Ricoeur’s Theology According to Julisn F. Woods, Paul Recoeur approaches theology by asking questions such as: â€Å"Where is freedom? Or does le coincide with the discovery and understanding of an inner necessity deeper than choice and kind of autonomy? In a word, does the highest degree of freedom consist in the surging up of an absolute power of choosing or in the love fate? † These questions prelude Ricoeur’s ethical approach and hermeneutical approach to theology. Recoeur consider theology and philosophy to be distinct in terms of their contents. He sees theology as hermeneutical, which provides cross-disciplinary, cross-traditional conversational quest for truth. Recoeur was particularly interested in Biblical exegeses and has written an essay in collaboration with other New Testament scholars. He adopted Boltmanian tradition engaging in historical criticism while also affirming the breadth of Biblical genres. In the essay entitled â€Å"Ethics and Considerations on the Golden Rule† Recoeur cited that Christian Ethics or communal ethics in religious perspectives, as he calls it, consist in the tension between unilateral love and bilateral justice, and in mutual interpretation of each of these in terms of the other. According to Mark Wallace, Recoeur’s religious thought that as one attempts to interpret the Bible, it actually begins with the risk of understanding biblical language including symbols and signs. Recoeur himself stated that interpretation of the Bible should be in accordance with testimonies of the witnesses particularly the Jewish community. He regarded that the Christian message is meaningful and is worthy of consideration, and that examining it will it self very fully. For Ricoeur, the God of the Bible cannot be theoretically proven as a staple of reason or as a fact alongside other facts in our empirical experience. He believes that Gods existence cannot be proven by any natural theology that necessitates thought or the knowledge of empirical objects. Wallace pointed out that Recoeur relies on signs, not on proofs in interpretation of the language. Recoeur believed that pertaining to scripture language it relies on the signs and traces of a reality testified to at the horizon of philosophical reflection that demands to be interpreted and understood. In the argument of language interpretations, Ricoeur balances it against the possibility of error in the testimony of the witnessing community and regard it a risk that would result in false testimony. Wallace noted that the risk must be taken because the stakes are so high. Therefore, Ricoeur believed in the truthfulness of the Bible being the ultimate source of God’s words. Interpretation of it should undergo hermeneutical approach based on history by knowing underlying concepts suggested in symbols, signs and text. For Ricoeur, the stakes is the possibility of Biblical language being a faithful trace of God’s presence in the Jewish and Christian communities. He believed that the knowledge of the absolute is never given in an absolute sense but only relative to the contingent and fallible signs that the divine life gives of itself in its generosity. Ricoeur agreed that religion deals with man’s ultimate concern and that the New Testament calls to be Christ like, is the counterpart of the mandated self of the Hebrew Bible.

Effects of Equality in “Harrison Bergeron”

Kyle Chandler Professor T. Payne English 1102 4 February 2013 Effects of equality in â€Å"Harrison Bergeron† â€Å"Harrison Bergeron,† written by Kurt Vonnegut focuses on the idea of physical and mental equality, which is controlled by the government in the year 2081; the strong are forced to wear handicaps which hinder their abilities, the intellectual are forced to be unintelligent due to a radio transmitter that won’t allow the individual to think. Vonnegut uses satirical tone and places this story in the future, to show how total equality would not work.Not only does total equality sound absurd it removes the ability for individuals to be different. Individuality means having a quality that separates one individual from another. This means that by having total equality, there is a loss of individuality. In Kurt Vonnegut’s story â€Å"Harrison Bergeron†, Vonnegut’s satirical, dystopian society in which everyone is average, presents the id ea that handicaps that constitute equality also eliminates individuality, along with self-worth. Throughout â€Å"Harrison Bergeron† every member of society is equal. With the use of handicaps no person can be above average intellect, strength or even appeal.Vonnegut uses word choice that promotes this society is a satire creation early in the story. â€Å"The Year Was 2081, and everybody was finally equal† (Vonnegut 7). By throwing in the adjective ‘finally’, Vonnegut claims that it should have happened sooner, yet as the story goes on it becomes obvious that nothing is attractive about total equality. He opens the second paragraph by introducing the two main characters, George and Hazel. Vonnegut also promotes his satire when the main characters keep losing train of thought due to the fact that George has a handicap that keeps him from thinking too much and Hazel is of average intelligence. There were tears on Hazel’s cheeks, but she’d forg otten for the moment what they were about† (Vonnegut 7). Having the ability to cry and then no longer remembering the reasoning for it is not only below average intelligence, but also inhumane. By showing that the Hazel does not even have the intelligence to remember something that brings enough emotion to produce tears, Vonnegut presents how these handicaps could not possibly be an improvement to the future because to be truly equal you have to be the same as the least intelligent, least strong, and least attractive.He also uses a mocking tone when referring to George’s son Harrison. In the story George starts to think â€Å"about his abnormal son who [is] in jail† but cannot think about it long due to the mental handicap (9). The author uses the word ‘abnormal’ satirically because Harrison â€Å"is a genius and an athlete† and way above average in every manner(10). The use of satire in Vonnegut’s story promotes that handicaps eliminat e individuality by making each character the same. By creating total equality in this society, it abolishes the self-worth of the individuals.People gain self-worth by having a quality about them that makes them superior to others, whether it is their intelligence, a hobby they are good at, or a skill they have acquired. In â€Å"Harrison Bergeron† it is no longer possible to have superior qualities and Vonnegut shows this when the main characters are watching a dance recital on television. Hazel states that the dance was â€Å"nice† yet in reality â€Å"they weren’t really very good – no better than anyone else would have been, anyway† (8). This shows that even if the dancers were talented they could not be proud of their talents or display it due to the handicaps.With no reason for individuals to be proud of themselves there is no longer a need for humans to grow. This normality not only ruins dancing as an art but also ruins all other forms of a rt too. When the musicians play in â€Å"Harrison Bergeron† it is average until the protagonist Harrison, comes in and â€Å"strip[s] them of their handicaps† for a short amount of time (12). The ability to be expressive and different is one of the sole reasons behind art when it comes to musicians and dancers. Artists lose all self-worth that comes with their talent when they can no longer express it.What is the point in developing a skill, if the handicap on it is just going to be increased? Similarly the individual’s absence of self-worth is mainly due to the vacancy of individuality. Handicaps controlling peoples mental and physical ability removes individuality for every human being. With individuality being a character quality that distinguishes them from others, people no longer have the any qualities that separate them from others. Vonnegut shows this with the main character George, even though â€Å"his intelligence [is] way above normal,† George has â€Å"a little mental handicap in his ear† (7).Instead of having his intelligence which sets him apart from the normal members of society, the oppressive society that yearns for equality has diminished his individuality. Throughout the whole story there is only one hopeful scene in which individuality is achieved. Harrison Bergeron, the outcast who breaks the law by not using handicaps when he is incredibly intelligent, strong, and good looking, breaks out of jail and gives the audience a small glimpse of hope. He goes on public television and exclaims that he is â€Å"the new emperor† and that he is â€Å"a greater ruler than any man who ever lived† (12).Even though Harrison is a bad guy towards other characters, he stands for good in the story because he is the only character with individuality and the ability to remove equality. This glimpse of hope does not last long though because the Handicapper General, the head of the police force, comes in and kill s George. The satirical tone in Kurt Vonnegut’s story â€Å"Harrison Bergeron† demonstrates that handicaps throughout the story are not actually an improvement, because they remove the individual’s ability to distinguish themselves from others.The restrictions that are placed on people hinder their intellect, strength, and appeal, keeping everyone equal but at the same time, displaying a lack of freedom, self-worth, and individuality. Vonnegut’s satire tone also exaggerates the idea of equality being a good thing, showing that total equality violates human rights. By setting â€Å"Harrison Bergeron† in the future, Vonnegut shows how total equality would be undesirable to the audience. Works Cited Vonnegut, Kurt, Jr. â€Å"Harrison Bergeron† 1961. Welcome to the Monkey House. New York: Dial Trade Paper Backs, 2010. 7-14. Print.