Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc : Rewarding Our People Essay

1. Threat from buyer – NA 2. Threat from supplier – NA 3. Threat from substitutes – High 4. Threat from competitors – High New Facilities , Imitating Harrah’s strategy through technological advancement, New attractions 5. Threat from new entrants – High Over all : Though the threat from competitors and substitutes was high Harrah was the biggest casino chain company in the market and had set hold on major market share Job roles for casino : 1. Gaming dealer: Dealers’ job duties can include operating games by dispensing the correct numbers of cards or blocks, comparing the house’s hand against players’ hands, and paying off or collecting money or chips from players 2. Surveillance Officer: Using audio and video equipment, they monitor the casino floor from an observation room, looking for cheating or theft and making sure the casino is in compliance with laws and regulations 3. Gaming Supervisors: These floor employees, also referred to as pit bosses, supervise gaming tables and casino staff in an assigned area of the floor. They also specialize in customer service on the floor, hearing and resolving patron complaints, explaining house rules, and possibly planning and organizing activities on the floor. 4. Cage Cashier : Responsible for controlling and accounting the transactions of the main bank, chip bank, check bank, and cage windows. 5. Slot Technicians: Slot technicians are responsible for testing, repairing, and maintaining the machines. 6. Gaming Managers: Dealers’ job duties can include operating games by dispensing the correct numbers of cards or blocks, comparing the house’s hand against  players’ hands, and paying off or collecting money or chips from players Controllability: Incentive bonus depended largely on customer feedback to judge performance improvement there might be errors on rating from customer side and subjectivity issues. Alignment: Since bonus was linked to performance the alignment issue was low Interdependency: Interdependency is low among roles Current Challenge : To replace the institutional priorities of long-term tenure and employee happiness with ideals of excellence and customer satisfaction along with employee satisfaction and retention Issues: Lack of support from higher management High Turnover Remedies: 1. Introducing Standardized test to find the best people for the role and not just fitting the minimum requirement 2.Increased interaction with employees 3. Specialized trainings 4. Gain Sharing for increased customer satisfaction 5. Increasing accountability of managers by implementing multiple pay components Gain Sharing Incentive Plan Objective: To instil competitive spirit in the employees and competing against rival casinos as well as their own past records Harrah introduced Gain Sharing for its employees. ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES Increased employee retention & motivation by bringing them closer to the company through ownership Employees feeling the pressure of stretched goals Company focus was on increased customer satisfaction and service and gain sharing on performance basis ensured high productivity from employees in terms of customer satisfaction Creates an impression that profits through customer satisfaction is sole concern of the company with little importance  to employee Plan was independent of operating income hence reduced interdependency Low profits burdened the company as payouts may still exist A sense of collective achievement Focus on profits may lead to reduced relationship management by managers Gives a sense of job security Not always high performance may meet minimum bonus payout requirements and hardworking employees may be denied of gains by marginal values Since it is on monthly basis it may push teams for better performance if goals not achieved and hence lead to continuous improvement

Cleopatra Leader

Cleopatra VII was a remarkably intelligent woman with great charisma and political astuteness. The ancient historian, Plutarch, stated that â€Å"to know her was to be touched with an irresistible charm. Her delightful manner of speaking was such as to win the heart. † (Bradford 14). She utilized these assets to win over the favor of two of the most powerful man of Ancient Rome, Julius Caesar and Marc Antony. Cleopatra is portrayed as being manipulative, conniving; and accused of utilizing her relationships for the advancement for power and the expansion of her empire.Although this is true, there were stark differences in the two relationships Cleopatra had with each man. She reached out to Caesar in her time of no power and continued to be submissive to him throughout their relationship. Even though there was a speculated love connection between the two, Caesar never lost sight of his priority as a politician and did not concede to every one of his mistresses’ requests .While a reversal of roles occurred with Marc Antony, she had the upper hand and he eventually became fiscally and emotionally dependent on her. In addition, he was easily manipulated, thus Cleopatra frequently got her way. Overall, the territorial gain and the power she had over him proved that Cleopatra’s relationship with Marc Antony was more politically beneficial than with Julius Caesar. Firstly, Cleopatra’s submissiveness and political dependency on Julius Caesar proved to be less beneficial in contrast to her relationship Marc Antony.In 48BC, she was a young 22 year old trying to regain her Ptolemaic throne from her brother, she knew he was the most powerful in the world and understood that that the Roman Consul was the only one who could aid her. Bradford noted that Cleopatra realized the â€Å"only one weapon that her brother, back by his powerful advisers, did not have [was]-her sex. † (70) The speculation that she was sneakily presented to him rolled up in a carpet displayed her submissiveness to his authority and beckoning for his help in regaining her throne.Caesar managed to initially appease Cleopatra’s desire for power by reading her father’s will and forcing her brother, Ptolemy XIII, and herself to rule together. Later he gained managed to gain more power for her by commanding her to â€Å"marry† her younger brother, Ptolemy XIV, for she would hold all of the power due to his age. This pretense was set up in order to make her complacent but still remained a superior force with his diplomatic choice. By having both the siblings rule he abided to Egyptian law and did not panic the people and cause them to rebel.

Compare/Contrast Organic Food Essay

You’re in a bit of a dilemma standing in front of the produce section of your local grocery store. In one hand, you’re holding conventionally grown (non-organic) Granny Smith apple. In your other hand, you have one that’s been organically grown. Both apples look the same and provide vitamins and fiber. The non-organic apple is a proven family favorite. But the organic apple has a label that says â€Å"USDA Organic. † Does that mean it’s more expensive? Grown differently? Better for you? Most organic food cost more than conventional food products. Higher prices are due to more expensive farming practices and more strict government regulations. Because organic farmers don’t use herbicides or pesticides, many tools that control weeds and pests use more labor and man power. Conventionally grown food may be more cost effective, especially when you’re on a budget, but remember ‘you always get what you pay for’. How is organic farming different from conventional farming? Organic Farming applies natural fertilizers such as manure to feed soil and plants. Crops are rotated, and farmers hand weed or mulch, to manage weeds. They give their animals a balanced organic diet and clean housing to minimize disease. Conventional farming uses chemical fertilizers to promote plant growth and herbicides to manage weeds. The farmers give their animals antibiotics and medicines to prevent disease. Some people buy organic food to limit their exposure to these chemicals. Organic produce claims to be healthier than non organic produce. Both are nutritional but organic contains higher levels of vitamins C and A, antioxidants, and essential minerals. They are free of synthetic additives that contribute to heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, migraines and Alzheimer’s. Conventional farming uses chemicals that leave residues from more than five hundred chemical pesticides. So the next time you’re standing at the grocery store wondering if you should buy organic or conventionally grown food, think about if the money is worth living healthy or not. The irony is that up until about fifty years ago, organic was all we had. Once farmers started to use pesticides, hormones, and antibiotics we lost what eating was all about: health and nutrition.

Workplace Safety Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Workplace Safety - Research Paper Example However, the cases of hazardous workplace injuries are still caching the attention of public. Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) is the American employee safety act which also deals with workplace safety issues. In this paper we will discuss whether OSHA is proving successful in dealing with workplace safety issues or not. Problem Statement The problem statement for the research paper is, ‘Is OSHA Proving Successful in Ensuring Workplace Safety for Construction Related Occupations and Other Dangerous Occupations’. Literature Review There are various kinds of occupations that an individual chooses to earn his/her living. Some of those occupations are considered dangerous from the perspective of personal heath, whereas some occupations are somewhat less dangerous and are considered harmless. Workplace safety is the biggest concern for any individual while adopting any occupation. People prefer to adopt such occupations that are considered less dangerous. The reason is that health is the most precious asset for a person. Employees’ level of productivity is linked directly with the level of protection that they feel while at work (Hayes, Perander, Smecko, & Trask, 1998). If employees feel safe at work, their level of productivity increases as they can focus on their work properly. On the other hand, concerns over safety adversely affect their levels of concentration and productivity. However, sometimes people have to adopt such occupations that are most vulnerable to personal safety. Construction related occupations fall into the category of those occupations that are considered dangerous. The reason is that construction related occupations have many concerns regarding workers’ safety. As Cullen (2002) states, â€Å"most jobs have expected, known hazards† (p. 7). For example, many laborers and even engineers while working lose their lives falling accidentally from high roofs of multistory buildings. In the same way, sometime s electricians suffer deadly electric shocks when they forget to apply appropriate security measures regarding electric current while doing electric work in new buildings. These are just some of those risks that make construction related occupations unsafe and dangerous for health. However, the fact is that construction related occupations are not the only type of occupations that are hazardous; there also exist some other occupations that are even more dangerous as compared to construction related occupations. Some of those occupations include firefighting, fishing, criminal justice system related occupations, farming, and aircraft pilot. OSHA guidelines are there to protect most of these occupations. The guidelines are proving very effective as they have reduced the number of per year causalities associated with these occupations up to some extent (Lanoie, 1992). However, workers are still suffering workplace injuries because management officials of most of these occupations are n ot skilled enough to implement OSHA safety mechanisms properly. Therefore, a lot more still needs to be done by the management officials in order to overcome the issue of workplace safety properly. Workplace safety is the main factor that plays its part in making people consider some occupations dangerous and risky for personal health and safety. People are usually not aware of OSHA guidelines regarding workplace safety nor they have in their minds that whether the companies for which they are going to work follow OSHA safety guidelines or not. Therefore, they consider

Japans High Speed Growth Model and Extent Vietnam Followed the Model Essay

Japans High Speed Growth Model and Extent Vietnam Followed the Model - Essay Example To understand the high-speed growth, of Japan, which took place after the war was over, we should first understand its development and history of Japan during 18th and 19th century. During this time Japan relied on agricultural technology which it developed. the then government of the Meiji took some modernized measures which propelled the economy of Japan later in the 19th and early part of 20th century and by the year 1945 Japan was considered one of the most powerful nations both economically and militarily, and this led to the basic foundation structure of the post-war high speed growth. Comparing Japan and Vietnam would not be a correct approach but we can say that Japan‘s high speed growth model has effected the economic situation of the Vietnam in a major way. Both following the assumptions of Solow Model and both overturning their economies after their economies was shattered by wars only confirms the fact that Vietnam has learnt some important methods and steps to improve their economic situation from the high speed growth model. The whole issue is bolstered by the fact that if we look at the present situation Vietnam grew at a rate of 7.5 percent per year from the period of 1995-2004 and this is recorded as faster growth next only to the Asian superpower china. This was the time of crisis in that region with Soviet Union collapse but Vietnam only improved further with its foreign investment equal to 8 per cent of its GDP which is higher than china. All this suggests only one aspect that the revolution of renovating economy which it was inspired from the h igh speed growth model of Japan has only improved the situation of Vietnam and its economic structure.

Entrepreneurial Action Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Entrepreneurial Action - Coursework Example Future Plans 10 14. Funding request 10 15. Exit strategies 10 Executive Summary Solo Pasta Restaurant is a pasta restaurant located on Holloway Road 7N. The business is owned by four partners that contributed equally to fund the business. Our aim is to grow the business seeing profits in the first year and build recognition and awareness of the business. Ultimately we plan to expand into other markets. Competition is mainly from fast food eateries i.e. McDonalds and a new business that will compete directly with us. Business Idea Concept Solo Pasta Restaurant will serve a variety of pasta, sauces, vegetables and meat. Our service will be unique in that the customers can design his pasta bowl with whatever they want on the pasta. It will seat forty (40) patrons and employ four (4) employees. The planned target market would be first students, because of the location and working adults, as these are the two groups of people that eat out the most. Solo Pasta will offer a twenty percent ( 20%) discount to college students. Solo Pasta will employ skilled workers that can provide for fast friendly service and produce quality foods. In addition to the pasta dishes, Solo Pasta will offer hot drinks and breakfast baguettes. Mission Solo Pasta Restaurant’s mission is to provide quality products with fast friendly service. ... Objectives Solo Pastas objective is to breakeven or post a profit in the first year of operations. We also want to gain 30% of the targeted markets by the end of the first year of operations. SWOT Analysis Strengths Solo Pasta was first to open at its location and it has already began to develop a loyal clientele. Many of the same customers stop in for coffee or tea and breakfast baguettes day after day, and the same is true of our lunch and dinner clientele. Many of our customers have taken advantage of our promotions of free coffee and twenty percent (20%) student discounts. Financially Solo Pasta is exceeding the breakeven point on a daily basis as of the second month of operation. Furthermore we offer a unique product and service by allow customers to design the contents of their pasta bowls. Solo pasta has above average quality of product and excels in customer service. Additionally our location is a benefit as we are in the heart of north campus and close to the tube on Hollowa y Road. Weaknesses Solo Pasta utilizes no outside funding. This limits the amount that can be spent on advertising. Solo Pasta has a limited number of seating capacity. Presently, Solo Pasta does not offer a carry out service. Opportunities Solo Pasta could seek out investors to increase the amount of funds available for advertising. Solo Pasta could develop a carry out service to increase number of daily customers they could serve. Solo Pasta could run additional promotions to increase sales. Solo Pasta could advertise on local or collegiate television and radio stations. Threats Solo Pasta face a threat from the new restaurant that just opened. The threats posed by the new restaurant, unlike other eateries on Holloway, serve

American Government Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

American Government - Essay Example The so called representatives of the peoples that are chosen only serve to represent themselves and their interests. Their aims are to make themselves popular in the world over and to create fear among nations (Roger, 2004). The people have no power to make decisions of national governance as it would be in true democracy. The system ensures important decisions to be made by few people who create inefficiency in the whole process of decision making and execution. There concentration of power on top level has seen stagnation of economy among other bad decisions that have continued to plague the tax payer. This form of the government represents their wealthy clients at best often ignoring the have-nots who are the people who have elected it. Therefore the party in power is not the problem facing American but the social contract structure whereby decision making process is left for the wealthy few instead of being distributed to the people. The only solution would be to redesign the Ame rican government and that would be through constitutional amendment to restore the power to run the country back to the people to ensure the system get efficient since the elected representatives will become directly responsible to their actions and answerable to the people. Furthermore, decision making will be decentralized. Social contract comprises the philosophical therories describing agreements between the ruled and the rulers among the members of an organized society and the philosophies defined the duties of each party, limitations, and rights (Stuart, 2007). A contract in normal cases comes with specific obligations and therefore in political scenario a contract between the citizens and the sovereign power grounds the nature of obligation on each party. Under the social contract the legitimate authority is drawn from the consent of the people. Members of the society are bound by the social contract to respect the ruling government

Websites that explore visual designs Research Paper

Websites that explore visual designs - Research Paper Example Almost everyone has access or has the need to surf the Internet for various purposes whether for academics, work or purely for relaxation. It is indeed a challenge to the designers of websites on how they can keep the interest of the users, or how to make the Internet surfers addicted to the site. In this study, we will analyse six quality websites that deals with visual designs of web pages.Michael Bernard's (2003) Criteria for Optimal Web Design (Designing for Usability), noticeably, does not contain any unnecessary hyperlinks that could distract the surfer; Bernard knows exactly who his users are. Being an information website, whose users are most likely students of Computer-related courses or anyone interested in web design, Bernard's text is comprehensible and focused on enhancing the website's usability.Foss identifies four reasons why users get lost within the structure: disorientation, embedded digression problem, "art museum" problem, and poor structure (as cited in Bernard, 2003). Bernard, in turn, presents solutions to these difficulties. To avoid confusion, Bernard suggests organising the site according to thetypical users' mental model of how a site should be organised; submenu titles are also helpful. Since arrangement of links can affect search time, Bernard further recommends link presentation according to category. Bernard adheres to the result of his research. I, personally, find Bernard's webpage easy to use. The navigation cues are visible at the top and the bottom of the page; the title of the next or previous page is also shown when the cursor touches the navigation cues. Access to this site is unbelievably speedy, as well. Just as I clicked on the Enter key the webpage immediately appeared. Rick Oppedisano's (2002) Common Principles: A Usable Interface Design Primer upholds the general principle of usability which is often called "transparent interface" that maximises user task completion and minimises interfering factors. Rieman, Franzke, and Redmiles (as cited in Oppedisano, 2002) discover that "when users perform a transaction or action, their cognition is often split between learning and operating the system or user interface (UI)"; hence, UI has to be well-designed to enable the user to focus more on gaining knowledge than troubling himself into finding out the operating system of the website. For this reason, Oppedisano presents "guidelines for minimising user cognitive processing and maximising interface efficiency." The basic rule for Oppedisano is having a consistent style in layout, font, and other elements. Indeed, as a user the very first thing I notice in a website is its style sheet. Fancy colors, font, and images are good to see but noticeably the fancier it gets the slower the browser becomes. However, Oppedisano's webpage has been created in the simplest form. What is good about Oppedisano's study is ensuring that users are given full concern especially when clicking on a transaction that might have a negative consequence. An ample warning should be in place. However, compared to Oppedisano, User Experience Design Director Mike Padilla (2006) tackles UI design in a more comprehensive manner. The key word in his article about taking the good with the bad UI design is compromise; that is, compromise between the downside and the benefit of certain design decisions. With the use of a table, Padilla has clearly presented the "costs and benefits of design decisions." As in writing an essay, knowing the target audience is a must as it plays a vital role in determining the appropriate writing style; as in designing websites, being able to know the site's target users will also enable the designer to plan and execute a more beneficial design. As Padilla points out, critiques can also find some flaws on a good UI design. What is a high-quality design to a user may appear cluttered;

Cloud Gate by Mr. Anish Kapoor Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Cloud Gate by Mr. Anish Kapoor - Essay Example The Artist has used stainless steel as the medium of art. The artist has welded up about 168 pieces of stainless steel to make on giant work of art. Stainless steel is an alloy of iron; which cannot be stained but it loses it color and shows finger prints. The chromium in mixed in the alloy to make hard oxide coating on the surface; without the coating it becomes rust liker regular steel. The substance is hard and can be molded into any shape. The piece of art is placed at one of the most prime locations of Chicago; the reflective exterior would mirror the Chicago skyline; whereas its oval shape would twist and distort the image which is reflected; whereas, if a visitor would walk, the surface acts looks like a mirror of any funhouse as it reshapes the images. The underneath of the sculptor act as an indention whose mirror surface would provide numerous reflections of the subject situated below them. Sculptor is a form of art that is to create representational or abstract form, which can be of any shape. These form of arts does not tell a story; and the diversity in art is bought by the material and shapes used. Art is in the mind; these are ideas which are interpreted and then designed. Sculptor art is the most difficult art form; and if we include the size they represent a high level of imaginations.

Microbial physiology and culture (Practical 1 Antibiotics and Agar Coursework

Microbial physiology and culture (Practical 1 Antibiotics and Agar Diffusion) - Coursework Example On the other hand, experiment 2 attempts to investigate the repeatability of the essays using two different methods of antibiotic application to the discs. Lastly, experiment 3 uses gradient plates to qualitatively compare the response of new isolates to a particular antibiotic against a response of a standard strain. Practical 1: Antibiotics and Agar Diffusion Introduction Agar plate diffusion is currently one of the widely used experimental methods to determine the susceptibility of various microorganisms to antimicrobial agents. Generally the principle employed in this method is dependent on the inhibition of the microorganism reproduction on the surface of agar medium by an antimicrobial agent which gradually diffuses into the medium through a filter paper disc. In this regard, the level of susceptibility of the organisms is indicated by the size of the zone of inhibition. Typically when an antibiotic is applied to the agar medium, it moves from its region of high concentration t o the surrounding areas of lower antimicrobial concentration (Cooper, 1993, p.24). Inhibition zone is the clear area of the agar plate where the growth of the microorganisms is prevented by the activities of the microbial agent. The size of inhibition is usually measured and then compared to the standardized measurements in order to determine the level of antibiotic activity on the particular medium. This is primarily because the diameter of the inhibition zone is always a function of the susceptibility of the microorganism and the amount of antibiotics on the medium. Generally there are a number of factors that may affect the antimicrobial activity and consequently determine the size of inhibition zones. Some of the likely factors include agar depth, size of the inoculums and the presence of cations on the medium. The objective of this experiment is to investigate the factors that are responsible for the variation of microbial activity of various antimicrobial drugs on different or ganisms. Methods To investigate the effects of variables such as agar depth, presences of salt and inoculums size on the size of inhibition zones, lawn and seeding methods were used to inoculate the plates. In determining the effect of agar depth on the result of agar plate diffusion, four plates containing 10 cm3, 20 cm3, 20 cm3 and 30 cm3 agar were first swabbed with Eschericia coli 10418 (1:20 dilution). All plates were oriented horizontally except for the third one, which was slanted. Meanwhile, 2 plates each containing 20 cm3 DSTA were inoculated with 100 Â µl of either 1:20 E.coli dilution or undiluted broth culture. 4 discs each containing 20 Â µl 0.5 mg/ml ampicillin were placed in each of the plates. Finally the plates were then incubated overnight at 37Â °C and the variations in the inhibition zone size were recorded. To determine the effect of inoculum size on the antibiotic activity, 0.5mg/ml ampillicin solution and the E.coli dilution were used.2 plates with 20 cm3 D STA were poured into the solution. The first inoculate was then spread uniformly on the entire surface of the plate. On the second plate was also inoculated with a containing broth culture of E.coli was also inoculated. Finally 4 amplicin impregnated papers were placed on each plate before they were incubated. To investigate the effects of potassium or calcium ions on zone sizes, 0.1 or 1.0 ml of 2M KCl or CaCl2

A Comparison and Analysis of Two Works of Art Term Paper

A Comparison and Analysis of Two Works of Art - Term Paper Example The essay "A Comparison and Analysis of Two Works of Art" compares Willem de Kooning's "Woman 1" and Fernand Leger's "Woman with a Book". The simplicity of the art is appealing to the eye and the intrinsic blend of color is magnificent in a unique way. One of Fernand’s common quotes is creating art that everyone can understand. â€Å"Woman with a book† supports the latter claim by the simplistic, yet magnificent nature of its presentation. The technique and simplicity captivates the eyes of viewers visiting the gallery on the fifth floor at the MOMA. The plain background of art brings out the type of lines that Fernand uses to bring out the features of the woman. The most captivating thing about the piece of art is the expressionless face of the woman. This arouses curiosity from the art viewers trying to perceive the mood of the art and its context. Understanding a little about Fernand could shine a light on the latter. Là ©ger’s career started after he began s howing talent in fine art. Since his birth in rural France, his family prepared him to take over the family business of cattle dealership. He enrolled in architecture school after showing a talent in art and later to various colleges where he mastered several methods of artistic impressionism. Between 1905 and 1907, Là ©ger had no cubism painting; it was mainly impressionistic. By the time he went to fight as a soldier in World War 1, however, Là ©ger had fully adopted cubism and his work recognised along Pablo Picasso. Là ©ger’s form of cubism was unique.

Rates of reaction - molarity Essay Example for Free

Rates of reaction molarity Essay Chemistry Coursework Rates of Reaction Molarity (Concentration) Aim: to find out if the concentration of HCl affects the amount of hydrogen gas given off when a magnesium strip is added. Apparatus: Gas syringe to take all the gas from the reaction and measure it Test tube to hold the two reactants Measuring cylinder to measure amount of water and acid Stop watch to time the reaction Delivery tube to deliver the hydrogen into the gas syringe Ruler + Scissors to measure and cut the magnesium Reactants: Magnesium strip Hydrochloric acid 2HCl + Mg H2 + MgCl2 Preliminary Work: From preliminary work I have found out that using 20 cm3 of acid and using 2 cm of magnesium for 1 minute gives off sufficient gas to measure accurately and I also found that for the molarity I should not go lower than 0. 6 as there of gas given off will be too slow. This is how I did the experiment: I set up the experiment as shown above   Added 2 cm of magnesium strip to 20 cm3 of HCl   I then wrote down the volume of the gas every 5 secs for 1 minute of the reaction   Use concentrations   M to see which would be suitable. Scientific Knowledge: A chemical reaction needs reactant particles to collide successfully for it to take place. For the chance of a successful collision to take place more frequent collisions need to occur. These four factors affect the frequency of collisions therefore affecting the rate of reaction: Concentration there are more acid particles in the same volume so they are more likely to collide with the magnesium particles. Temperature when the temperature is increased the particles gain kinetic energy, which means the particles vibrate more which in turn means they are more likely to collide successfully. Surface Area a larger surface are means more particles are exposed. Therefore as larger number of collisions occur Catalyst the catalyst lowers the amount of energy needed for a collision without taking part therefore more successful collisions will take place. However I am only testing concentration so from this knowledge I know that the higher the concentration the more likely that the particles will collide. Prediction: I believe that as the molarity decreases so will the speed at which the gas collects. I predict this because of my preliminary work and scientific knowledge. This knowledge is that as the concentration increases there are more particles in the same volume so then there will be more successful collision. This means the volume of gas collected in the first minute should decrease as the concentration decreases.   Set up the experiment as shown above   Add 2 cm of magnesium strip to 20 cm3 of HCl   Write down the volume of the gas every 5 secs for 1 minute Use concentrations M To make the different concentrations I added water to 1M hydrochloric acid: Molarity Water/Acid cm3 1 Fair test/Reliability: By controlling all the other variables (temperature, surface area and using a catalyst) I am leaving only one thus making my results accurate and reliable and easier to test. I am also using the same amount of acid (variable) and magnesium each time making it a fair test. I have also repeated my experiment so that I can average out my results making it fair, as extremities will be averaged out. To make it a reliable and fair test I have made sure that the gas syringe is always at 0 at the beginning of each experiment and I will start the clock as soon as the Magnesium meets the HCl and always make sure that the Mg is cut to exactly to 2 cm. Safety: Always wear goggles so that no acid can go in your eye Wash acid after using acid so that acid does not transfer onto things that you touch and worse in your mouth (from the food that you eat). Results: Test 1 Molarity (M) Water/Acid cm3 T 5s I 10s M 15s E 20s 25s I 30s N 35s 40s S 45s E 50s C 55s S 6Test 2 Molarity (M) Water/Acid cm3 T 5s I 10s M 15s E 20s 25s IVolume of H2 collected Rate of Reaction: The rate of a reaction is how quickly the reactants turn into products. To work out the rate of reaction I have decided to find the time that each reaction took to reach 8 ml of H2 and converting it into a rate. The formula for Rate of Reaction is 1/time (secs) Molarity (M) Calculation Rate (3dp)   The rate of reaction tell you how fast each reaction takes to get to point as you can see from my rate of reaction graph as the molarity increases the reaction is quicker apart from 0. 8 (sources of error in evaluation). This graph is useful, as initially I has thought 0. 7 moles was the incorrect result but this graph proved otherwise. Also from this graph I can find out what the rate should have been for 0. 9 ideally which is 0. 036 so the time it would have taken for this experiment to reach 8 ml of H2 is 1/rate = 1/0. 036 = 28. 7 seconds. I can also predict other results:   Conclusion As my graphs and results show the volume of gas produced in the first minute increases with the increase in molarity apart from 0.8 moles, this anomaly occurred both times which is unusual but apart from that result I know that Molarity is proportional to volume of gas collected per minute. E. g. it takes longer for 8 ml of gas to be collected as the concentration reduces, which proves my prediction right. This is because there are more particles in the same volume if the concentration is increased. Here is a diagram: Less moles More moles Evaluation I believe the plan was good and enabled me to get the results that I needed. My experiment went very well apart from my one anomaly (0.8 Moles) this is unusual as it happened both time as but these are some reasons why this happened: Sources of Error Gas syringe was only to the nearest ml Magnesium it used up the HCl around it and turned it into MgCl but did not react with the acid at the bottom making the reaction slower Heat as the Mg reacts with HCl heat is given off speeding up the reaction Human Error reading the gas wrong, starting or stopping the clock at the wrong time etc. Solving these Errors Gas syringe use a position sensor on the gas syringe, which is attached to a computer. This will record the results with no anomalies. Magnesium shake the test tube every so often Heat cant solve this, the reaction is exothermic Human Error use a position sensor on the gas syringe, which is attached to a computer. This will record the results with no human anomalies. Extension To extend the investigation I would do the experiment again put try and put right all the sources of error and see if my results come out perfect. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Patterns of Behaviour section.

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Design And Build Method Construction Essay

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Design And Build Method Construction Essay While construction contracts serves as a means of pricing construction, they also structure the allocation of risk to the various parties involved. The construction field is a very extensive and unique in each project. In this world most of the projects are managed by contracts. And as a principle to manage the project effectively we should first manage the contracts. The owner has the sole power to decide what type of contract delivery method should be used for a specific facility to be constructed and to set forth the terms in a contractual agreement. A firm has to choose the right delivery method which is project to project base and present its bid offer to the engineer/client during tendering stage to enable it to present competitive price and win the project without compromising the functional and the quality of the project. Choosing the right method to deliver the project will ease the project execution and give flexibility during construction as well as saving money and time for a firm and subsequently the same to the owner. It is important to understand the risks of the contractors associated with different type of delivery methods. In this instant you may ask what the contract delivery methods are and we should choose the right delivery methods. Projects delivery methods. There are three types of project delivery methods. In this section we will concentrate on design and Build because it s the best method for small and medium projects. 1- Tender or design-bid-build method In this type the owner/client will choose engineer to design the whole project and get the Approvals from authorities then floating tender to choose suitable contractor for the Construction under his supervision. In this type of method the client /engineer has full control of the project and the contractor has to comply with full design given by the engineer. Most suitable type of contract for this method is lump sum contract which the price given by the Contractor is fixed and the whole project is already designed and the scope of work is clear and fully detailed. 2-indefinite quantity contract method Under this type of contract there shall be no design and it is based on maintenance or repairing projects. Under this agreement the owner and the contractor will upfront set up prices for the labors and Equipments and markup etc 3- Design and build method. The term design-build refers to a range of alternatives to the traditional project delivery system. A useful way to look at design-build is by what it is not. Traditional design-bid-build is a segmented, sequential process in which the owner first contracts With a design professional to prepare detailed, suitable-for-construction plans and specifications (or Sometimes has them prepared by its in-house engineers), then uses the detailed plans and Specifications to solicit competitive bids for construction, and finally awards the construction Contract to the low bidder. Design-build means a procurement process in which both the design and construction of A project is procured from a single contractor. Usually, the design-build contract is awarded by some process other than competitive bidding Providing the best value (in price, features, functions [and] life-cycle costs) Thus, design-build differs from traditional design-bid-build in two ways. First, the design and construction components are packaged into a single contract. Second, the single contract is not necessarily awarded to the low bidder after competitive bidding I-Why Design-Build? (Advantages) Potential Cost Savings Design-build has the potential to reduce over-all project cost because the design-build contractor performing the design has a better feel for the construction cost of various alternatives, Thus can come up with a design that is less expensive to build and has an incentive to do so. Another way to look at this advantage is that it moves value engineering cost reduction incentive After contract award (with the contractor proposing cost-reduction ideas and sharing the savings with the owner) to pre-award (with the owner enjoying most of the cost savings). B. Earlier Project Completion Design-build may result in earlier completion and occupancy of the project because there is no Dead time between completion of design and start of construction. Further, the design-build Contractor can begin construction of early phases of the project (e.g. mobilization, site utilities, Foundations) before design of later phases (building envelope, interior partitions, HVAC, electrical) Is 100 percent complete? This process sometimes is referred to as fast track. C. Reduced Claims Exposure Design-build eliminates the liability gap. Design professionals can obtain insurance coverage only for negligent errors and omissions, and virtually all design contracts limit the designers liability to such. However, there can be non-negligent errors and omissions, which cost the owner money but for which the design professional is not liable. For example, a design professional may undertake Reasonable subsurface investigations but fail to detect a rock outcropping that will require additional work. In the traditional design-bid-build approach, the owner warrants the correctness of the plans and Specifications to the construction contractor. There can be design mistakes for which the owner is liable to the construction contractor under the Warranty of correctness but cannot transfer the liability on to the design professional. Even when the designer is in fact negligent, proving negligence can be difficult. The owner must obtain a certificate of merit from another design professional and then prove that the designer failed to meet the applicable professional standard of care, which requires expert testimony. On the other hand, the contractor usually can prove there was a defect in the plans that cost the Contractor money based on fact testimony alone. Thus, the owner may have to bear the cost. Design- build eliminates this gap because the design-bid build entity has no one but itself to blame For defective plans and specifications or differing site conditions. D. New Technologies Public Contracts usually prohibits brand-name or model-number specifications unless the Specification lists at least two brand names and is followed by the phrase or equal. This makes it difficult for traditional design-bid-build to reach innovative, proprietary Products where there may be only one brand-name and no equal. Further, substitution of a new or equal product for a standard product often is impracticable Because of the ripple effect. The designer designs the project around current generation Products and substitution of new or equal products after bidding can require revisions to structure, mechanical or electrical components to accommodate the new product. Who is going to pay for these ripple changes? Design-build resolves this problem. The design-build contractor selects the equipment (right down to make and model number) and Then designs the building around the selected equipment, which is a more logical way to proceed. In fact, the design-build contractor can sometimes obtain free design assistance from equipment Manufacturers desiring that their new technologies be used. E. Over-All Project Optimization Design-bid-build can suffer from sub-optimization when individual project participants optimize their own positions, often at the expense of the over-all project. The total cost to the owner of a building element, such as the steel frame, includes the cost of the engineering to determine the required steel sections plus the cost of the steel. The designer has little incentive to use a sharp pencil to achieve the minimum amount of Structural steel; he optimizes his own position by spending only the design time necessary to Ensure that there is enough steel to meet gravity and seismic loads, often by employing Conservative assumptions that may result in more steel than necessary. So, the owner may save money on design but pay for it in steel. With design-build, on the other hand, the design-build entity has an incentive to use the Optimum amount of engineering. As long as an additional dollar of engineering will save more than one dollars worth of steel, the design-build contractor will spend the engineering time up To the point of diminishing returns when an additional dollars worth of engineering saves only a Dollar s worth of steel because both the cost of design and the cost of steel come out of the same pocket. This is not to say that design-build results in flimsy or less-safe structures. More (steel, concrete, etc.) is not necessarily better. Simply specifying extra steel or concrete in one place because the engineer does not have the time or incentive to calculate exactly how much is actually required does not improve the over-all performance of the building. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. If the owner wants a building with higher floor Loadings, less floor deflection or resistance to a bigger earthquake than required by code, then The way to achieve this is by placing that requirement on the design-build entity up front not by Hoping that the designer will throw in some extra steel or concrete because he or she does not have time in the budget to use a sharp pencil. F.Reduced Administrative Burden Design-build may reduce the administrative burden on the owner because there is one solicitation, one award and one contract to administer. G. Earlier Cost Visibility The total cost of the project is apparent earlier with design-build. In traditional design-bid-build, Construction costs are not known until bid opening, and it is possible to spend money on a design that the agency cannot afford to build. All too often, construction bids exceed the budget, and the Project must be re-designed to bring it within the budget, thus delaying completion. H. Agency CM with Multi-Prime Contracts One of the advantages of design-build can be achieved by a construction management (CM) to Manage design and over-all project coordination and then contracting directly with several contractors, which are then managed by the CM. Construction project management s services provided by a licensed architect, registered engineer, or licensed general contractor. Under this approach, the early phases of the project (earthwork, site utilities, and foundations) can be placed under contract before design of the building shell and interior is 100 percent complete, and the structural steel and other long lead-time components can be ordered. Then, the contracts for the early phases can be awarded to follow-on contractors. There are two types of construction managers. An agency CM is a consultant to the owner; an agency CM is not in the chain of privity between The owner and the contractor(s) and does not guarantee the cost of the work. An at-risk CM, on the other hand, essentially is a brokering general contractor. The at-risk CM is either in the chain of privity between the owner and the trade contractors or Guarantees that the aggregate price of the contracts will not exceed some maximum figure. Any individual or firm proposing to provide construction project management services shall provide Evidence that the individual or firm and its personnel carrying out onsite responsibilities have Expertise and experience in construction project design review and evaluation, construction Mobilization and supervision, bid evaluation, project scheduling, cost-benefit analysis, claims Review and negotiation, and general management and administration of a construction project. Which type of contract is better for design-build? Most suitable type of contracts is lump sum contract because the owner has essentially assigned all the risks to the contractor, who in turn can be expected to ask for a higher markup in order to take Care of unforeseen contingencies. Beside the fixed lump sum price, other commitments are often made by the contractor in the form of submittals such as a specific schedule, the management reporting system or a quality control Program. If the actual cost of the project is underestimated, the underestimated cost will reduce the Contractor s profit by that amount. An overestimate has an opposite effect, but may reduce the Chance of being a low bidder for the project. The scope of work, the price, the time of performance is already defined. Usually the contractors include allowance for contingencies in their bid price so the price Small and medium projects are most suitable for this kind of project where is the design is easy not Complicated and can be managed by one party. II-disadvantages The potential advantages of design-build do not come without risk. A. Less Control. Under traditional design-bid-build, the owner has full control over the details of the plans and Specifications and does not publish them for bids until it is satisfied that they reflect its Requirements, including functional and aesthetic preferences. With design-build, the owner gives up some of this control. i.e., advancing the level of design through the design development stage (30 percent or so) before award of the design-build contract. Of course, by doing so the owner may give up some of the advantages of design-build. B. Need for Earlier Requirements Definition With design-build, the owner must lock in its requirements much earlier. With traditional design-bid-build, if the owner is a little fuzzy on its functional or aesthetic Requirements, it can clarify them during the design phase after if sees where the designer is heading. But with design-bid-build, post-award programmatic changes can be very expensive and disruptive. C. Recommendation So, if the city (country) rules are not certain what it wants, traditional design-bid-build may be the better alternative. D. Compliance with Subcontractors The Subletting and Subcontracting Fair Practices Act, requires that bidders list their subcontractors with their bids. This can be a problem for a design-build bidder. Without detailed design drawings, the subcontractors cannot precisely estimate costs. But, listing a subcontractor without a firm subcontract price puts the design-build contractor at a disadvantage in subsequently pricing the subcontract work. A listed subcontractor has the prime design-build contractor over the proverbial barrel. This is a manageable problem for a design-build contractor with many of the same type of projects in an Area, as a subcontractor can only get away with gouging the design-build entity once. Parking garages and housing are good examples of where the design-build entities work with a group of subcontractors on a repetitive basis, and subcontractors can estimate their work on a perspace. or.pre-square.foot.basis. Design-build contractor shall search for competitive bids for subcontracts not listed with its prime bid. The problem with this approach is that it depends on specific legislative authorizations that do not apply to the country. Thus, the safest approach may be to require listing of subcontractors at time of bid, even though this may result in either the subcontractors or the prime design-build entity including some contingency and mark-up. E. Payment bonds Generally it is required a payment bond payable by the terms of the contract. However, when the design services and the construction are procured under a single contract, must the payment bond be in the full amount of the design-build contract or only in the amount of the Construction portion? Logically, it would seem that 100 percent of the construction portion would fulfil the intent of the statute.

An Overview Of Learning Three Theoretical Perspectives Education Essay

An Overview Of Learning Three Theoretical Perspectives Education Essay There are myriad perspectives on the learning process, understanding the mechanisms of and our understanding of learning as theory and the practical application of methodology has evolved considerably over time. Each theory contributes to our understanding of how learners integrate information and experiences from their environment. This has implications for individual growth and also for institutional policy and practice. In this paper I will review three theoretical perspectives on learning, namely the Constructivist/Cognitivist perspective, the Phenomenographic perspective, and the Socio-cultural perspective, I will describe the salient features and characteristics of each theory, and compare the similarities and differences across perspectives. This will include a discussion of how learners access information, make sense of that information, and act on it in deliberate and purposeful ways as a means of engaging with the world. From there I will investigate what these learning theories emphasize or give relevance to the concepts of context, meaning, and experience. The various perspectives each have something to say about the relationship between context, meaning, and experience as they relate to learning, however the importance of these core concepts differs in how each theory conceptualizes learning, and the importance of the role of context, meaning, and experience. Finally , I will conclude with examples that bring these perspectives to life in my everyday experience, and I will bind these theories together within a cohesive understanding of learning and education as it relates to the interrelationship of the concepts of intrinsic motivation, variation, and transfer. Three theoretical perspectives on learning There are numerous theories of learning, each emphasizing a particular feature of the learning experience. Various theories of learning also describe learning in different ways depending on the viewpoint of the observer. Each theory emphasizes ideas related to context, meaning, and experience in different ways as they relate to learning, both from the perspective of the learner and from the instructor/teacher/coach/mentor. Constructivist/Cognitivist Perspective Objectivity is the delusion that observations could be made without an observer (von Foerster, 1995, pg. 5) The Constructivist theoretical orientation holds that knowledge is acquired experientially, is mediated by our prior understanding, and is based on the belief that we learn by doing rather than observing, and that knowledge is built upon previous learning. The essential core of constructivism is that learners actively construct their own knowledge and meaning from their experiences (Doolittle, pg 1) Piaget was primarily concerned with cognitive constructions that occurred as a result of interactions with Constructivism emerged from early studies of learning, behaviour, and psychoanalysis, and the behavioural viewpoints of Watson, along with Kohler and Koffkas Gestalt psychology. (Tools pg. 7) Constructivism as theoretical understanding exists along a continuum from weak to strong forms constructivism This is an adaptive process whereby behaviours evolve to meet the changing demands of the environment, and cognition serves to makes sense of subjective experience. (Doolittle, 1999, 1) Constructivism emerged from schools of behaviourism and objectivism, which held that there was a knowable objective reality that existed independent of the individual. Constructivism takes the view that meaningful personal experience is the basis of knowledge and learning. Individuals construct meaning within a context of personal experience that is rooted in language, culture, and the social experiences of each individual. There can be no objectively verifiable truth or knowledge within constructivism, as each individual brings a unique perspective grounded in their own previous knowing. Much of this knowledge is tacit and resides in the implicit memory of the learner, but it exerts its influence and acts as a filter through which the individual sees new information and relates it to their understanding of the world. Knowledge and thus learning is constructed within the mind of the individual. Constructivism rejects the notion of an objective and knowable reality independent of the observer, and holds that knowledge of the world is constructed through the active cognitizing on the part of individuals. Constructivism rejects the notion of an oberver-independent world in favour of knowledge reflecting the subjective realities of the observer. (Glaserfeld, 1989, p. 3) Knowledge is not a representation of reality, but instead a collection of conceptual structures that turn out to be adapted or, as I would way, viable within the knowing subjects range of experience. (Glaserfeld, 1989, p. 4) Within Cognitive constructivism (explanation of scheme theory, accomodation, assimilation). Cognitive constructivism adheres to models of knowledge construction that consider the role of memory, cognitive constructs, and schemas without considering fully the subjective nature of knowledge as resident within the mind of the subject. Knowledge in this sense implies an internal representation that accurately reflects an observer-independent external reality. (Doolittle, 1999, 2) Radical constructivism differs from cognitive constructivism by advancing the idea that learning is an adaptive process, and that it is observer-dependent and resides in a fluid and dynamic cognition that considers the subjective experience of knowledge construction. Radical constructivism, like social constructivism, also accepts social interactions as informing knowledge construction. Social constructivism takes the view that social interactions contribute to knowing, and views the social and cultural context as anchoring knowledge to a specific time and place. (doolittle pg 4) These various perspectives exist on a continuum, however the most fundamental understandings are shared. We all hold memories of previous experiences; those collected memories and experiences, both tacit and explicit, become the lens through which we view our current unfolding reality. Emerging evidence within the realm of neuroscience and interpersonal neurobiology may predict further homogenization of constructivist philosophy and understanding. Interpersonal neurobiology views the brain as a social organ built through experience. This insight shifts Cognitive Constructivism further along the continuum in the direction of radical and social constructivism by lending supporting evidence to the two remaining epistemological tenets, namely that cognition organizes and makes sense of ones experience, and that knowing has roots in both biological/neurological construction, and social, cultural, and language-based interactions. (Doolittle, 1999) Learning is transactional, with experience influencing cognitive construction and the pliable cognitive constructions influencing our experience in a duality of experience and subjective reality. As Carr states, the growing body of evidence makes clear that the memory inside our heads is the product of an extraordinarily complex natural process that is, at every instant, exquisitely tuned to the unique environment in which each of us lives and the unique patterns of experiences that each of us goes through. (Carr, 2010, p. ) Carr recounts some of the current research on memory and experience, and expands on the idea that our brain structure continuously changes with experience; brain plasticity, the growing and pruning of synaptic connections over time, changes our very memories and our recollections of experience based on new experiences. (Carr, 2010, p. 190) Researcher Kobi Rosenblum further describes how memory, which in a sense is our recalled experience, can be a pliable and moving target. As he explains, ..the human brain continues to process information long after it is received, and the quality of memories depends on how the information is processed. (Carr, 2010, p. 191) Meaning within Cognitivist/Constructivist Perspective Meaning as significance for each perspective, but it is integral to an understanding of constructivism. Meaning is central to the intentionality of learners; relevance and meaning enhance a learners ability to relate with their world. It also relates to concepts of motivation as it relates to a learners sense of agency and engagement with their experience, ad it highlights the importance of culture and language as social mediators of learning The importance of these memory mechanisms to the development of cognitive psychology is that, once understood, they make it very clear that a persons ability to remember items is improved if the items are meaningfully related to each other or to the persons existing knowledge. The key word here is meaningful.Wynn pg.4 What is meaningful to people is determined by what they can remember of what they have already learned. Wynn pg 4 Opportunities for learning within a constructivist framework occur most readily when what is being learned has relevance or high emotional valence for the learner; in other words when information or experiences are meaningful. In order for learning to be meaningful it should be relatable to previous knowledge and experience. This building-block model of knowledge and experience is entirely consistent with a learner as meaning-maker. The implications for teaching and educational pedagogy are that tasks that have meaning and relevance tend to be of greater intrinsic interest to learners. Research on the experience of learning speaks to the importance of meaning as it relates to knowledge construction, and speaks of the importance of autonomy, agency, choice, and collaboration in driving our instrinsic motivational desires to engage in meaningful tasks, remember and recall information, self-organize, and be curious. A learning context rich in meaning is crucial. Context within Cognitivist/Constructivist Perspectives Learning occurs most successfully at the intersection of a learners previous knowledge of the world and the experience of socially mediated interactions with others, and is influenced by all accumulated social and cultural experiences. (Bodrova Leong, 2007, p. 9) The context for learning resides within the experience and imagination of the learner, and is rooted in prior experience and is mediated by teachers/facilitators and the ecological setting or context. Within this learning context, Feuerstein describes the role of mediation. The mediator creates in a person an approach, a form of reference, a desire to understand phenomena, a need to find order in them, to understand the order that is revealed, and to create it for oneself. (Feuerstein, Feuerstein, Falik, 2010, p. 37) Mediators can take many forms, but they share in common an ability to potentiate a learners ability to benefit from learning experiences. In the absence of a mediator, even in cases where individuals acquire knowledge, they may not understand its significance. (Feuerstein et al., 2010, p. 37) Experience within Cognitivist/Constructivist Perspectives As learners construct their own experiential reality within a social and cultural context, the dyadic interactions that unfold imply a degree of collaboration and engagement with learning that is intrinsically motivated by a meaningful context within which learning occurs/unfolds. Collaborative learning is by its nature socially constructed learning, where the interest of learners is central, meaningful, and contextual. Decontextualized learning by contrast lacks a sense of connection to the experience of learning. Prior experiences of learning are diminished when there is no meaningful context, and authentic experiential learning suffers. When choice around structure and content is collaboratively negotiated, learners are granted a level of autonomy around how and what they learn, and experiences that are meaningful place learning within a context more suitable to the learning style, goals, and priorities of the learner. Kohn emphasizes these conditions of collaboration, content, and choice, as creating the conditions necessary for authentic and intrinsically motivated learning to emerge. (Kohn, ) Phenomenograpy/Variation Theory There is no learning without discernment. And there is no discernment without variation. (Marton, Trigwell, 2000) The theory of phenomenography is connected with the study of human experience, particularly as it relates to educational research. Phenomenography examines thinking and learning within the context of educational research, and seeks understanding of the different ways in which people experience, interpret, understand, perceive, or conceptualize a phenomenon, or certain aspect of reality. (Orgill, ) Marton defines phenomenography as a qualitative research methodology, within the interpretivist paradigm, that investigates the qualitatively different ways in which people experience something or think about something (Marton, 1986). One of the key epistemological tenets related to Phenomenographic theory relates to concepts of variation, discernment, and transfer. Marton postulates that in order for learning to occur, there must necessarily be a pattern of variation present to experience, and this pattern must be experienced. (Marton, variation, pg.1). In order for learning to occur, learners must experience a wide range of variation in experience, with sameness or similarity contributing little to our understanding of experience. Variation and difference create a broader context for understanding experience, and also expand our repertoire when encountering novel situations or circumstances. This transfer of learning is integral to variation theory and a key underpinning of phenomenography. Experiencing difference or variation may be likened to experiences of cognitive dissonance within constructivist models of learning, where an individual experiences dissonance and a perturbation and must adjust their conception of this new information within their existing paradigm. How we categorize, makes sense of, or identify with that difference relates to our discernment skills. Discernment allows a subject to see or sense an experience against the background of his or her previous experiences of something more or less different. ( Marton, pg.386). In essence, as subjects experience greater variation they become more attuned to increasingly subtle differences between the physical, cultural, symbolic, or sensual world that they inhabit. (Marton, pg 386) Every phenomenon that is experienced only in contrast to alternate experiences of the same phenomenon (marton, pg 387) The implications for pedagogy center on the manipulation of the objects of variation in order for learners to experience variation, become adept at discerning, and transfer learning across situations. Excellence in teaching has very much to do with what aspects of the object of learning are subjected to variation, and what aspects of the object are subject to variation simultaneously. (Marton, pg. 391) Subjects learn to manage novelty as a result of having experienced novelty through variation. (Marton, pg. 394). Transfer is concerned with how what is learned in one situation affects or influences what the learner is capable of doing in another situation. (Marton, pg. 499) Meaning within Phenomenographic/Variation Theory Perspective Context within Phenomenographic/Variation Theory Perspective A concept that illuminates ideas of context within the phenomenographic perspective relates to concepts of situated learning. Situated in this instance refers to what surrounds the learning event; that is, to the socially constructed life-world in which a particular instance of learning occurs. (Sameness in transfer, pg. 511) Sameness and difference in learning and experience are acknowledged, however the extent to which we can make use of something we have learned in one situation to handle another situation is a ma Conclusion Learning is not simply acquiring new information and storing it on top of the information we already have. It involves meeting something unexpected (what might describe as a perturbation), something that cannot be easily explained by those theories or understandings we have already developed. To resolve that conflict we have to change what we previously believed (kohn, pg 187) This explanation is the tie that binds constructivism, variation, theory and scheme theory to social learning, along with ideas of motivation and personal agency.

Hamlet 9 :: essays research papers

There have been many great thinkers in literature. Characters who examine themselves, others, and the world in a thoughtful and insightful way. One of these introspective and self-aware literary creations is Hamlet in Shakespeare’s play Hamlet. The play is one filled with and based on ideas and contemplation as opposed to the steady stream of action that fills many of his other plays. Not that there’s any lack of action in the play. On the contrary, it includes violent deaths, a vicious duel, and a vengeful ghost. There’s no lack of physical action after the thought processes are completed, either. The central character of Hamlet, however, is one who considers before he acts, and whose actions (and their consequences) are therefore not random acts of fate, but deliberately chosen resolutions. Hamlet proves himself to be a tragic figure as well as a sacrificial hero through his private thoughts and his determinations.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  These major internal “events'; begin with Hamlet’s reaction to meeting and speaking with his father’s ghost. This meeting was the catalyst for a lot of silent contemplation and turmoil for the young prince. The movement of ideas here is rapid– the Ghost gives a clear, incriminating account of Claudius’s involvement in his death, and Hamlet immediately vows to avenge him. His reaction was passionate, and suitably so. After all, no character of integrity and honor could have refused the task given to him by the Ghost. In making the deliberate decision to avenge his father, Hamlet alerts the reader that he is the central character in the play. It also lets us know that he is a truly decent and loyal son as his quest for revenge consumes him. As he says in act one, scene five: I’ll wipe away all trivial, fond records, All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past, That youth and observation copied there, And thy commandment all alone shall live Within the book and volume of my brain, Unmixed with baser matter. Yes, by heaven! Here, Hamlet reveals through his decision a powerful will and overwhelming resolution as he declares that he will completely reject all other pastimes and priorities in order to fulfill his choice and oath. This steadfastness, though it later wavers, leads directly to all of Hamlet’s future actions, from his assumed madness to his rejection of Ophelia to his return from England. The scene shows us Hamlet’s motive for his future actions, and starts of his trend of silent brooding.

Changing Perspectives in A Separate Peace :: essays research papers

A Separate Peace Essay Although we have our own point of view on everything, they sometimes can change. This was no different to Gene and Finny, the main characters in 'A Separate Peace'. Their view on the war changed as time progressed. They went from playful to oblivious, then finally to acknowledgment. In the beginning of the novel, Gene and Finny jump from the tree into the river. Before Finny jumps he shouts, â€Å"Here’s my contribution to the war effort.† By this statement he means that by jumping out of the tree, they are training for the war. When they head back to Devon, the private school they’re attending, after jumping from the tree, Gene tackles Finny and they start to wrestle. Though this made them intentionally late for class, they managed to get out of it. This is mostly because they reminded them of peace, something very rare at the time. To them, the beginning of the war was fun and simply playful. After Finny falls out of the tree and breaks his leg, he starts saying that there is no war. Gene begins to agree with him. Later Gene finds out that Finny says this because now he can’t enlist do to his leg. Finny then starts to train Gene for the 1944 Olympics since he can no longer go. Realizing there won’t be a 1944 Olympics, They create their own. This whole time they were oblivious to the war, believing that it was false and that big old guys were making all this stuff up. If something happened in the war they would say that it was them, they’re just playing tricks. They had an imaginative idea for every war related event they heard about. It is only after Leper ‘returns’ from the war that they finally acknowledge it. They then realize that only a true war can change someone like the way Leper changed. When he left he was just like a normal kid, a little strange, but still just a kid. When he returned, however, he was practically insane.

Comprehensive Plan Part II: Implementing Chnage Essay

The hard work is done, the decision has been made which software vendor that is going to be used, now you’re ready to take the plunge in the world of electronic medical record. Most electronic medical record implementation will proceed on time with involvement of their participants and able to achieve their goals, others will find it a struggle, only obtaining partial success or in extreme cases no success at all. Many implementations issues are common in small and large organizations alike. With larger organizations due to their complexity, are more likely to have team issues and small organizations due to their limited resources and experience, will falter especially with technology issues. Everyone within the organization will play a part in the success and failure of the electronic medical record implementation, some will play a bigger part than others, but they will need to ne acknowledged and clearly understood from the beginning. Electronic medical record project will definitely need good management, but will need a vast involvement of stakeholders, a motivated team and having excellent communication plan in place. EMR’s are very complex and you will need to understand the capabilities and determine how it can be used to improve current paper based office processes. Expectations and Goals Setting measurable and specific goals that you want to accomplish will help assist in what constitutes failure or success. â€Å"Establishing goals that are ambitious, but achievable, can be motivating. Yet it’s important to understand your user’s needs and to make sure they understand and share the stated goals. Otherwise they might not play along, destroying your implementation plans†. Kenneth G. Adler, (2007). It is  always best to monitor and communicate progress or terms of achieving those goals. Having an implementation team composed of key stakeholders that can design and monitor the implementation process, a project manager should be able to direct the actual implementation and should be able to collaborate, rather than being a dictator. Tactics It can’t be said enough how important it is to plan for the eventual outcome of your EMR implementation. Write the plan down, use all resources that are available to ensure the success of the plan, a key factor of planning is to have a workflow redesign. The electronic medical record implementation will allow the opportunity to improve some of the less efficient processes through automation and with fewer steps. This will also allow to determine if the process can be improved by comparing it to a workflow diagram that was created of the EMR process that will accomplish the same thing. Roles in Change The ultimate goal in change management will be to engage employees and encourage them to adopt the new way of doing their jobs. Whether it be job role, organizational structure change, systems or all of the above, successful change will be greatly depended upon its employees are willing to change their daily workflow and behavior. This is the essence of change necessary for an initiative to be successful and deliver value to the organization. The deployment of electronic medical record really doesn’t concern technology but more about equipping the organization in order to attain its goal and objectives through providing employees, and patients with the technical capabilities that will promote the use of new inventions. Implementing the electronic medical record involves engaging everyone to the change process. Implementing electronic medical record into the organization will mean making Relationship Between the System, Process, Professional, and Personal Roles, and the Effect to the Project Change The main goal in change management is to involve employees, encourage, and to support them as they adjust to the new way of doing their job. The  change will only be successful when the organizational systems, processes, organizational structure, and job roles and other essential aspects has been considered. This simply means that all employees must change their workflow and behavior. This is very crucial of change management to be able to initiate and mobilize the needed changes for the success if the organization in obtaining their objectives and goals. Management will be responsible for enabling and managing change for everyone so that they can move together and in unison in order to obtain the goals of the project. Management should the process of change within the organization which will be affected by various forces such as technical and scientific knowledge, the roles of the professionals, changing technology, and changing demographic trends in the organization. â€Å"Organizational changes requires change in the status quo and the need to implement new paradigms. Every element in the organization has to be redesign and examined to ensure that they fit the intended purpose and to deliver results. The elements which compromise an organization are the tools, people, work processes and the structure. Structure is the traditional boundaries of decision making and authority and it identifies the vital personnel who are responsible in driving the business forward†. Organization Change Plan, (2012). Employees are the ones who will need a set of skills within the organization. The work processes will determine how the work is done at every level and department. The tools needed to determine the resources needed in supporting the change process will be the necessary equipment and physical facilities ranging from managing and reporting stem. Written documents of policies, hardware and software tools, manuals, procedures and tools of compensation. Communication Techniques Communication is a very important factor in the change process. Having frequent verbal and written messages will help the organization to describe the desired goals. It is up to the senior management team to inform employees why the introduction of the electronic medical record has to be achieved and what could happen if this change is not made. Management must also convey to employees a clear and concise expectation from the beginning and to explain how they will support and prepare them for the success to  come. Effective communication will require the use of new methods and efforts to improve performance in the organization. Management should be able to plan, motivate, solve conflicts, negotiate and to apply a style of leadership which is participative, and be able to create and provide an agreeable work climate through integrating and coordinating the internal communication. Every stage of the electronic medical record implementation require the need of effective communication techniques. Communication face to face with every employee of the organization would be very electronic medical record. This will help clear up any misconceptions and myths which employees would have concerning the change process. This will also help employees in the organization to have confidence in the process and to clear any doubts such as losing their job among many other misconceptions they may have. The primary goal of communication techniques is essential to reinforcing the process of change. The goal of electronic medical record is to gain and fulfil enthusiasm throughout the entire organization which will involve each employee and the setting up realistic approach of managing the project. Conclusion The strength and opportunities should be a positive influence that should exploit to efficiently implement the project. Threats and weaknesses can hinder, harm or destroy the electronic medical record implementation. Monitoring is a key factor at the implementation phase this is to ensure that the project implemented is on schedule. â€Å"Monitoring is also important to ensure that activities are implemented as planned. This  helps the implementers to measure how well they are achieving their targets. This is   based on the understanding that the process through which a project implemented has  a lot of effect on its use, operations and maintenance†. Phil Bartle, PhD,  (2014). When a project implementation is not on point, there will be a need for project managers to ask themselves this question, what is the best way to get there? There is however a very close and mutually supportive relationship between monitoring, implementation, and planning. None of these can be isolated from the other two, upon doing any of three the implementation and planning have to cater to the other two. It is essential that you remember all the tools needed in order to get to the goals and objectives of the organization References Adler, K.A., MD, MMM, (2007). How to Successfully Navigate Your EMR ImplementationRetrieved from www.aafp.org Bartle, P., PhD, (2014). Monitoring, Planning and Implementation. Retrieved from www.cec.bc.ca/cmp/module/mm-imp.htm Organization Change Plan, (2012). Retrieved from www.customwritingtips.com

Ethics and “A Few Good Men” Essay

The movie is near two leathernecks indicted for the execution of a associate leatherneck in their platoon. common pass prototypal Class (perfluorocarbon) William capital of Chile died because of lactic acidosis trigge redness by the assault inflicted by Lance sensible Harold Dawson and clubby Lowden Downey. This assault was the publication of a direct grade by the platoon commander Lieutenant Kendrick. The ordain was to convey capital of Chile to think of the cypher of the oceans and the chain of command. Private capital of Chile had broken this chain and compose directly to the NIS asking for a transfer, in exchange for offering breeding roughly an il judicial beleaguer-line dead reckoning. When Col unriv tout ensembleedl Nathan Jessep, commander of the maritimes stati adeptd in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, intentional of this letter, he straddleed the educate of Private capital of Chile.In Guantanamo Bay, this retarding was referred to as necessitate outon violent, which was defined as the field of operations of oceans deep down the unit, by the unit, without involving the proper politics navy Jag corp. When the navy intentional of Private capital of Chile?s death, Dawson and Downey were laid infra ar moderation, and moved to Washington DC to be judicatory- martialed. After a natural litigation by defense attorney, Lt. Danial Kaffee, the court found Colonel Jessep and Lt. Kendrik guilty of the murder of perfluorocarbon capital of Chile because they ordered the ? jurisprudence redness?. Dawson and Downey were cle bed of hastes of murder and conspiracy to bless murder, but were found guilty of top unbecoming a marine, and were discharged from the marine Corp.6. Normative Ethical QuestionDid Dawson and Downey do the right thing by inframentioned the order?Dawson and Downeys actions were in inexorable accordance with the orders given to them by their platoon commander, and were t presentof justified.The Marines be cunn ingve, You follow orders or people die. This was in general applicable during wartime when questioning an order trickister cause the lives of the marine and his fellow soldiers. Although taciturn for wartime, the marines in their day-to-day phalanx spiritedness exert this be breathef. So when time comes for the marines to go to war, the thought of questioning an order neer crosses their mind regardless of the severity of the order. pastimeorders given by a excellent policeman is a part of the marine discipline, and breaking this discipline is non tolerated in armed forces.The order given to Dawson and Downey was to consider perfluorocarbon Santiago. Santiagos aggravate total condition was the primary flat coat of his death, and Dawson and Downey having followed their order were unfortunate to find Santiago dead in the training process. Had Santiago been physic totallyy mate, he would retain in all cargonlihood, survived the training.However on the charge of becoming a united adduces marine they were found guilty as charged. The reason for this is as followsDawson and Downey should let ignored the Code rosy-cheeked ordered by Colonel Jessup, and should birth reported him to the proper governance at the navy Jag Corp.The training as well as crawl inn as the Code bolshy was known to sustain harmful consequences. in that location were two ensamples of the severity of the Code rosy shown in the movie The premiere example was that of Private Bell, a soldier, getting cypher but water for a point of one week to keep him alive. The gage example snarled a soldier been given a Code redness for dropping a gun during a training exercise. His penalization was to put gum on his hands, and have his arm punched for to the highest degree twenty minutes. Evidently, a Code Red in armed services parlance basebornt punishment in its higher degree.PFC Santiago was known to be a fallible mortal. Dawson and Downey ignoring the fact that PFC Sa ntiagos condition was deteriorating still followed Col. Jessups order for Code Red on Santiago. They should have been aw atomic number 18 of the fact that Code Red would cause irreparable damage to PFC Santiagos wellness on homophileitarian grounds, Dawson and Downey should have contacted the proper authorities at the navy Jag Corp for a fair assessment of the order. look at it from a different perspective, Dawson and Downey would have been morally right to have drop the order given to them by their superior. However, they were leaping to their occupation overriding their dominate officers orders would have placed their line of achievement at s ascertain.This eveningt involves an good dilemma for the following reasons1. A murder has been committed. It is non delightful to take a human being life merely because this separate doesnt get along with the equaliser of the comp whatever.2. The probe of the murder is hindered. It is non grateful to untruth well-nigh the cause of death in an effort to preserve public relations or personal esteem.3. Cadets and officers roost infra oath in court. It is unacceptable to lie in court. The phalanx has determined that it is prerequisite this casing be investigated and prosecuted to the full expiration of the honor. A sub-group in the military cant decl ar its own rules of military morality.PFC Santiago is treated as a means rather than existence treated as an end.The murder was basal in every sand and those cause the murder should be punished to the fullest result of the practice of law. We still stipulate that it is unacceptable for a coverup of the murder. Colonel Nathan Jessup defends the practice of lying under an battlefield of lying cover by Plato.Plato gave abet for some lies when he said It is the communication channel of the rulers of the city, if it is anybodys, to tell lies, deceiving both its enemies and its own citizens for the attain of the city and no one else must touch this privilege.(1)If utilize the Plato type defense for the coverup, Jessup and those around him have a deluded superstar of their place in home(a) security. Their actions atomic number 18 non for the economy of military. Their actions and lies are for preservation of their own positionsThe responsibility of the commander to make sure his marines are prepared for any sort of danger from the enemy. Colonel Nathan Jessup claims that codered as a method of training for soldiers was the American modality. He defends the practice as that which is indispensable to defend the country. This reminds me of Plato?s figure of warriors where thither is no place for the shadowy or sick people.The all remnant between these two cases is that Plato would have non hesitated to propose euthanasia for such(prenominal) uncreative warriors. Colonel Jessup on the other(a) hand proposed to train them by using force if necessary. . However, he uses intense form of punishment for the tiniest mistakes and flaws. So he cannot be justify such a punishment in the get word of national security. But in at present?s veridicalism such practices are detested and are against humanitarian grounds and any form of confession for their practice is barbaric.Nathan Jessup (Jack Nicholson) is a military officer who has covered up a murder. When he is in court on the witness allow, Nicholson, yells, You requirement to know the truth? You want to know the truth? Well, you cant address the truth. Nicholsons testimony is that some military crimes must be covert for national security purposes. He implies that it is acceptable to murder one cadet who isnt tone ending along with the rest of the company. He states it is acceptable for him to lie about the incident under oath to protect the company involved as well as the military overall.Kant declares A lie is a liewhether it be told with honourable or baneful intentBut if a lie does no harm to anyone and no ones interests are affect ed by it, is it a lie? Certainly.(2) Kant deals truthfulness is a job, an unconditional duty which holds in all circumstances.(3) According to the vapid imperative, if there is heretofore one case in which it is acceptable to lie and honesty can be overridden, then the perfect status of the duty not to lie is compromised. Kant is most vociferous in not allowing for even a seemingly innocent lie, which could save a life instead of causing harm. He merely asserts that if something distasteful happens it is not your fault. The terrible act is something wholly unjustified in the first place.(4)Duty is often correspond by Kant and his deontological views on lying. Kant tells us that it is never acceptable to lie, and places this on the level ofa moral law, or a categorical imperative. He contends that lies always harm othersthe individual or society. To be truthful (honest) in all declarations, therefore, is a sacred and utterly commanding decree of reason, limited by no expedien cy.(5)Utilitarian Jeremy Bentham also would not allow for the Jessup defense of the coverup. Bentham delivered a glistering lecture to Englands judges who were using their power and lying to the people. Bentham sees nothing more than(prenominal) abhorrent than using lies and power to further ones position.(6)The justification for the behaviors is weak, with hundreds of years of morality, morals, and laws written in adversary to Jessups rationale.In the particular case of PFC Santiago, Colonel jessup seems to be aggravated by his appeal to the NIS and his breach of confidentiality of his unit. This brings us to the another(prenominal) moral debate. Was Santiago right in his decision to give ill-advised learning of an il jural fence line shooting? We can make two speculations here. either Santiago lied about the fence line shooting in a desperate attempt to get spy by the authorities which could get him transferred for the information or he was misinterpreted about the shooti ng. This is to say that he did not know that the mirror had engaged to fire first and Dawsen just retaliated in defence. Santiago can easily be forgiven for the latter.However, in the actor case, normatively he should not have do what he did. But that was the only applicatory thing he could do. Even though we can easily blame Santiago for lying, we should praise his attempt to break outdoor(a) from the blind acceptance of the principles which ruled the lives of other marines. Even though Santtiago was physically weaker than the rest of the Platoon he had the mental capacity to represent against the odds of the absurd life in which he was trying to survive. This reminds me of the mahabharatta where Lord Krishna taught the Pandavas that it is good to lie got the fight for the Good. (I know that Kant would not agree with me)In A hardly a(prenominal) Good Men the debate is one of to whom is the ultimate duty owed andwhere does the law fit into the equation? The soldiers facing co urt martial display their ultimate affiliation steadfastly?first and foremost their duty is to their marine corps god and country are secondary to the bond between their comrades and this is the fulcrum of the movie house are orders to be obeyed at all costs and where does the buck stop? professor Alfonso Gomez-Lobo quotes Neither can military ethics properly exist without the concept of ordering. By ordering, I do not mean telling subordinates what to do. I refer, instead, to moral structuring and respectable priorities. In the movie A hardly a(prenominal) Good Men, a Marine lance corporal tells his lawyers that the code is establish upon unit, corps, immortal, country. He has it, of course, all wrong. In fact, umteen illegal activities or stupid mistakes in the military services are the result of leaders failures to order wisely and well.The duty of a marine to follow the orders of a superior officer. The word duty here needs to be explained. It is the duty of the marine to fallow the orders of his superior officer if they are justified or legal. In Cuba however, declineing an order implies to commit a crime. But since Code red is a practice discouraged by law, it is the duty of the marine to disobey such an order. An officer is always human and to equate him to be the ultimate legal authority is to make him invincible. It is this act of fast one and blind corporate trust that lets the powerful exploit.When an sanctuary demands complete faith in its principles, the individuals within the institution are dependent on it, strive to maintain it and become incompetent of independent thinking. At times like these the ethical question crops us which is more important? guiding principles of life or humans, code of honour or PFC Santiago.As for the Platoons annoyance on Santiagos betrayal for the unit and selfishness, I applyt think it is valid. It would have been a different case had there been some compassion for Santiago within his Unit. His friends beat him up as a part of following orders, to keep up their jobs. From this perspective, they too are selfish. The only contravention is that Santiago istowards the receiving end of brutalities, and it is convenient for the rest of the Platoon who were comparably stronger to talk about the commitment within the unit.Interestingly, Lieutenant Kendrick too conceptualize in the proper authority of God or his commanding officer Colonel Nathan R JessupHere we see that blind faith is associated with both God and the ColonelMoreover, the Colonel starts associating himself with God who protects and punishes others and expects the respect of all. He thinks that he is the personification of legitimate unquestionable principles.That the colonel lives by the rules and notions of the Marine army corps and doesnt fully comprehend the world outside.Both Dawson and Kaffee are good at what they do. That?s all they have in common. The contrast between the disciplined Dawson and the light-minded Kaffee can be traced to their system of beliefs and their environment.Dawson mentions that he joined the navy so that he could live by a code. He believes that he did his duty and did it well and was even ready to face its consequences, but not plead guilty. Here we see the romanticized var. of the code of honor. He failed to realize that the real strength of character lies in his circumspection to protect the weak and not train him to protect himself. He lives in the misconceptions where certain principles appearDawson is like a person who wants to be religious and associates himself with religious practices no matter what they are which gives him a sense of satisfaction.Kaffee on the other hand has no delusions about the law. His only criterion is to figure out his case as soon as possible with the best interest of his knob at heart. He believes that a case is not won by the law but the lawyer. He seems to have disoriented his faith in all legal ethics due to the waylaw is practiced around him and he seems to be a part of the system too. Or in the least(prenominal) he has least to live with it.Daniel Kaffee is a smart, flippant, good- looking for youngish Navy lawyer. in his late 20s, 15 months out of Harvard Law School, and a brilliant legal mind wait for a courageous spirit to drive it. He is, at this point in his life, passionate about nothing debar maybe softball. His father was a famous jurist, and Dan feels the burden of his fathers reputation. Indeed, his casual, facetiously attitude to the law is his way of avoiding par with his father. You cant fail if you dont even try. However, he lived in the shadows of his father having no misconceptions regarding different facets of law. He does not believe in a romanticized version of his profession.He did not believe his case to be a success and first attempts to find an easy way out. Even though he sympathized with the state of his clients who were forced to carry out their orders, were blind by the belief in false practices like ?Code Red?, he understood the politics associated with the case. His frustration is revealed when he emphasizes that I think you will ache and it does not matter what I believe, it only matters what I can prove..Despite these flaws he proves to be an excellent lawyer. This is because unlike the marines. He has learnt to question authority. He has not been teach by blind principles.the lawyer support the two marines in A few Good Men has to consider whether he should go beyond the legal and ethical codes under which he is bound and accuse a witness on the stand of committing a crime for which the two marines are accused. He of course does and justice is done.In conclusion, it is evident that Dawson and Downey performed their duty as was judge of them. On ethical grounds, they would have been reform off notifying the appropriate authorities of the disposition of the order and the circumstances in which the order was to be executed. Howeve r, as fellowmarines under a commanding officer, they were compelled to follow orders without looking into the ethical or moral aspects of their actions. A marine?s discipline is taken very seriously by his commanding officers however, this does not imply that discipline takes anteriority over the mental and physical health of a marine. Santiago?s heart condition was no secret. Despite this fact, he was given the Code Red lettered fully well that he may not be able to take the pressure ? definitely, an unethical decision on the part of the authorities concerned.