Media Policy Essay

1.1 Paradigms of communications policy Fourie J P (2008:18) defines paradigms of communications policy as consensus among policy makers as far as the basics are concerned on which they will base their developing of a policy. There are three most popular paradigms of communications policy which originated from the most advanced societies of North America and Western Europe. These paradigms can be adopted to explain the advent and development of communications policy in countries such as South Africa. 1.1.1 Emerging communications industry policy Communications policy during this era (pre 1940s) was dominated by telecommunications policy with emphasis on communication technologies that were new at that time in advanced societies of the Western world. Such technologies included telegraphy, telephone and wireless broadcasting. In South Africa, emerging communications industries such as these were considered as public utilities that could not be left in the hands of private communication players. This view, therefore guided the formulation and implementation of most communication policies leading to state monopoly in telecommunication industries. However there is an argument that in South Africa such monopoly was seen as a tool of colonisation as policy formulation was guided by restricting the masses and entrenching the colonisers’ ideology. The Postal Act(1958) and The Broadcasting Act are perfect examples of emerging communications industry policy in South Africa. 1.1.2 Public service media policy After the Second World War in 1945,most governments changed their communications policy focus from a nationalistic and economic perspective to a socio-political emphasis. Independence, democracy and diversity were introduced as communications policy determinants. However this was not the case in most African countries which were still under the control of their colonisers. South Africa was no different. More so during the time of Apartheid . Media policy in South Africa during this period, was shaped by the political and not by social issues of the time. An example is that of the growth of the SABC in the 1960s and 1970s when a lot of radio stations broadcasting in different languages were established. However, public media policy which determined editorial policy of public media during this time, was seen as turning the same public media into the mouth piece of the Nationalist Party (NP).Therefore, one can argue that the public media policy in South Africa during the period of apartheid was not about social or democratic development but was about furthering the ideas of the NP government. Erasmus F (2004) sums up this view by saying, â€Å" another development in the second half of the 1970s was the introduction of television in South Africa after the government had prevented this for a number of years. This medium was also considered to be controlled by government, thereby promoting the NP’s political ideology.† 1.1.3 New media policy In this paradigm, the latest of the three, there is a swift move from the old emphasis on political and social perspectives being the determinants of media policy. The third element of economic competition is now a major factor in media policy formulation in the 21st century. Privatisation, innovation and demand have changed the views on public media policy. In  South Africa, new media policy is largely responsible for the changes that have occurred in the telecommunications and broadcasting industries since the country attained independence. Telkom’s monopoly was ended by the changes in regulations that allowed new fixed line operators like Neotel to enter the market. The same has happened to the SABC.The monopoly that the national broadcaster enjoyed for a long time ended when policy changes opened up space for new broadcasters like M-net and E-TV. New media policy is driven mostly by demand and economic development rather than by supply and monopolies. 1.2 Freedom of the media Democracy, the freedom of expression and the functions of media in society are three intertwined elements that can hardly be separated. These elements have to co-exist in unison if society is to develop as well as live in peace and harmony. Freedom of speech is a right that is found in a lot of countries’constitutions,South Africa being one such country.However,freedom of expression is not a given. It is a controversial subject that always causes friction between governments and the media. There are a lot of threats to freedom of expression in South Africa and the debates on the need or the lack of it normally hinge on the freedom of the media. Questions are raised as to whether such threats are justified or unwarranted. 1.2.1 The need for freedom of expression Freedom of expression is a right that is enshrined in the constitution of South Africa. This freedom goes hand in hand with the freedom as well as the role of media in society. These elements cannot be separated. In democratic societies like South Africa, the need for freedom of expression cannot be over-emphasised. The media acts as the custodian of society and plays an oversight role when it comes to holding government officials to account. Freedom of expression is a pre-requisite in any democratic society in order to make sure that public officials do not get away with corruption, maladministration and lack of service delivery through silencing or denying space to those that seek to speak out about these social ills. Denying society freedom of expression leads to tension that can boil over into chaos and social unrest. 1.2.2 Threats to it As much as freedom of expression is considered a constitutional right in many democratic countries, including South Africa, this right is always under constant threat from a number of sections of society. The major threat to freedom of expression emanates from the government, with its policies that control the flow of information and regulations that deter the free access to and publication of information. Patriotic media that is under the control and influence of government is also another threat to freedom of expression. In South Africa, the SABC as a national broadcaster, is expected to be non-partisan and impartial. However due to the broadcaster being under the control of the government, there have been a lot of questions asked with regards to its impartiality. Freedom of expression has been supressed in the way in which the SABC executes its editorial policy. Views that are deemed to be in contrast with the current government’s ideology have been prevented from being broadcast on SABC TV and radio platforms. Journalists have sometimes been forced to tore a certain line of ideology and have been prevented from doing their jobs in an objective and impartial manner. An example is that of a journalist on Metro FM, Sakina Kamwendo,who was forced to cancel a discussion on the ANC’s Mangaung Conference on her show by her employers at the SABC as they claimed the show lacked balance and fairness. Julie Reid sums up this point in her article in the Daily Maverick by saying, â€Å"Last year the SABC banned the Big Debate talk show, an excellent current affairs programme that earned a reputation for holding government officials  to account on thorny issues like corruption or non-delivery of services†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.Hlaudi Motsoeneng, infamous for his insistence on the production of 70% good news remains at his post, continuing the facilitation of the Hlaudification of news† 1.2.3 If , how and why such threats can or cannot be motivated The issue of the freedom of expression, especially in the media, and threats to its execution within democratic societies is a contentious one. The discussion around it, is dynamic and never ending. Some sections of society especially those in power, who are normally the ones who seek to monitor and regulate the media, believe that it is necessary not to allow the media to have free reign where the nature and flow of information will go on without any regulation by the government. On the other hand, the media itself, especially private media, is against the idea of strict policies being introduced to regulate the flow of information as this is seen as a direct attack on the freedom ,not just of the media but that of expression as well. However, the media as an industry and platform upon which freedom of speech is manifested, does understand and appreciate that some form of regulation has to take place in order to preserve the validity of the media being the â€Å"fourth estate† and prevent national security threats as well as invasion of privacy. It is in this light that the issues of external and internal regulation come into play. In dealing with arguments that explain why the threats to media freedom cannot be motivated, one has to do so within the context of freedom of expression being a constitutional right.Democraticy as a system is mostly reliant on how society thrives socially, politically and economically. For this to happen, freedom of speech has to be taken  as a fundamental element that has to be seriously considered in policy formulation. Stifling freedom of expression through draconian and authoritarian policies and regulations is a recipe that culminates in a failed democracy. For democracy to function, freedom of expression and more so, freedom of the media has to exist.Roelofse (1996:51-53) in Fourie (2008:34) clarifies how freedom of expression enhances developments such as the rise in democracy, religious freedom and economic emancipation through the press that assumes a role of mass medium. It is worth noting that out of the three theories used in studying the role of the media in society, the libertarian theory insists on viewing people as rational beings capable of distinguishing between truth and falsehood and between good and evil (Fourie 2008 : 34).Therefore, the issue of strict policies to regulate the media and stifle freedom of expression are needless and cannot be justified and motivated. As McQuail (1987:89) in Fourie (2008:34) notes in the basic assumptions of the libertarian theory, the media should be free from any external censorship and there should be no force or intimidation to publish anything. The behaviour of the SABC bosses in the Metro FM story can therefore not be justified if this theory is applied because intervening and gagging the talk show was tantamount to denying the public their right to air or listen to different views on the Mangaung conference. In dealing with this contentious matter of media freedom and regulation, it must be noted that the freedom of expression that is incorporated into the freedom of the media, cannot be viwed as an unlimited right. There are responsibilities that go with it.It is at this juncture that the regulation of the media can be motivated and justified. This regulation can emanate from outside media organisations therefore being called external or it can be internal which means the regulation comes from within the media institutions themselves. Fourie  (2008:73) explains that in South Africa, media regulation has gradually moved away from being more externally regulated and has shown a more emphasis towards internal regulation. Internal regulation takes place in different ways. It can be through the involvement of gatekeepers, regulators, directorates and boards of media organisations or institutionalised internal regulation by non-governmental as well as professional bodies. Gate keepers and regulators are people or groups of people that decide on the content of particular media and determine which content is relevant and how it is going to be published or broadcast. Fourie (2008:78) refers to internal regulation by gatekeepers and regulators as â€Å"implicit internal regulation†. This regulation occurs through the medium itself. Implicit internal regulation happens when different sections within or sectors involved with the medium influence the publication or broadcasting of information. Such sections include boards of directors of media institutions, editors, advertisers, consumers, journalists, etcetera.These regulators cannot be ignored as they have the power to influence content substantially. A good example is that of acting SABC operations chief and radio group executive who took a decision not to allow a live talk show hosted by Sakina Kamwendo on Metro FM to go ahead.

French Fishtail Braid

Demonstration speech I. Introduction A. Greeting and hook: Most of you probably already know how to do a simple braid and maybe some of you can do a French Braid, but do you know how to french fishtail braid? B. Thesis: Today I will show you how to do a French fishtail braid. C. Credibility statement: I personally love to do this braid because it’s intricate looking but easy to do. I have done it many times and really enjoy doing it. D. Main points: First I will talk about preparing the hair, then I will discuss the process of French fishtail braiding.I’ll give some helpful tips and finally I will show you a finished braid. II. Body (Transition statement: To prepare for this hair design, you are going to need some supplies) A. Getting the supplies, brushing hair and damp vs. dry hair 1. What you will need. a. A brush to detangle. b. One pony tail holder. c. A mirror. d. Some bobby pins to pin away stray hairs. e. Hair spray 2. To begin preparing whoever’s hair yo u’re braiding, start by brushing or combing the hair. 3. It doesn’t matter if the hair is dry or wet. But it is easier to braid wet hair because it doesn’t have so many flying pieces. Transition statement: Once the hair is prepared, let’s move on to the process of braiding. ) B. How to begin the braiding. 1. Gather a small handful of hair from the back center of the head, as though starting a classic French braid. 2. Separate the hair into two sections. 3. Take a skinny strand of hair from the right side of the face, pull it back and cross it over to join the left hair section 4. Take a skinny strand of hair from the left side of the face, pull it back and cross it over to join the right hair section. 5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until all hair is incorporated into the two sections.You may now pull the rest of your hair into a ponytail or continue braiding the â€Å"tail† part of the braid. 6. Take a skinny strand of hair from the right section, cross i t over to the left section and pull tight. 7. Take a skinny strand of hair from the left section, cross it over to the right section and pull tight. 8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 until all hair is braided. Secure the end with a hair tie. C. Tips and tricks 1. You can put the hair band on your wrist before you start, that way all you have to do is slide it off your wrist and it’s right there when you need it. . A spritz of hair spray as you go helps keep the braid neat while you keep working. 3. For a messier look, tease your hair before braiding. 4. Doing the fishtail braid while your hair is wet will give it a firmer grip, creating a more precise braid. 5. Try a fishtail braid bun if your hair is long. Start the braid and then wrap it in a bun. 6. For a Katniss Everdeen look from Hunger Games, start French fishtail halfway up one side of your head and wrap it down the other side. 7. For thicker hair, consider using thicker strands for better control. III. Conclusion Transition sta tement: Now you can see that creating a French Fishtail Braid is a simple variation of the regular French Braid. A. Main points: Don’t forget, when you are creating your own Fishtail French Braid, remember these tips; 1. Get your supplies all out and ready before you begin. 2. Practice using two instead of three strands of hair to accomplish the braid. 3. Wet hair is a great tip to keep the braid neater and finish it all off with hair spray. B. Closer: and as we come to an end I hope that I was helpful and that you all have a good understanding of how to do a french fishtail braid.

Business Strategies And Objectives Of Next Economics Essay

Business Strategies And Objectives Of Next Economics Essay Next is a UK based retailer with its Headquarters in Leicester, UK and offer wide variety of brilliantly designed, outstanding quality of trend and accessories for men, women and children collectively with a full variety of home ware (Next Plc). In 1864 it was founded by J. Hepworth & Son under the name of Gentlemanà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ²s Tailors (Next Plc 2011) Next is the oldest company which has been trading for nearly 150 years and was initially created in 1982. Most recently Next was established as authorized Clothing and Home ware supplier to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics. Next will also supply outfit for Team GB for the opening and closing ceremonies, and will fabricate uniforms for 4,500 technological officials and suits for reception staff and will deliver bed linens and other home textiles for the athletes’ village (Next Plc 2011) . Next owns more than 500 stores in UK. Next has franchises more than 180 stores and active in continental Europe, Scandinavia, Russia , India, Japan and the Middle East. Next provides a directory, it is a home shopping catalogue and website with nearly 3 million active customers and also has an international website capability in more than 30 countries worldwide (Next Plc). Next Plc is listed on the London stock exchange and is part of the FTSE 100 Index. Total revenue for the year ended January 2011 were  £3.5 billion with pre tax profits of  £551 million (Next Plc). Next’s other business groups include (Next 2010): Ventura: Clients wishing to subcontract their consumer contact management and accomplishment activities Venture provides customer service management to them. Lipsy: Through wholesale, retail and internet channels, Lipsy create and sell its own labelled younger women’s trend product. Next sourcing Ltd (NSL): Design sources and buy Next’s products. Business Strategies and objectives of Next The prime financial objective of Next group is delivery of sustainable long term growth i n earning per share (EPS). Next believes the following strategies will help achieve the objectives at its best (Next Plc , january,2011): Maximising the amount of Next Directory consumers and their standard spend. Maintaining group’s financial power through a well-organized balance sheet and financing composition. Managing gross and net margins by continues cost control, well-organized management of stock levels, working capital and improved product sources Developing and improving next product ranges, achievement in which is reflected in total sales and sales performance. Cancelling and Purchasing Next shares while it’s earning are attractive and in the interest of shareholders generally. New stores review must meet challenging financial criteria prior to the investment is ready and achievement is precise by calculating achieved sales and profit contribution against appraised goals (Next Plc , january,2011). Marketing and Marketing Mix Place: Operates in UK and Europe , Middle East (reportlinker 2009,february ). Also operates in Scandinavia, Russia, India and Japan (Next Plc). Next sources operate in mainland China, Honkong, Srilanka, India and UK (Next Plc , january,2011). This show, Next stores are spread globally. Product (or services): Includes womenswear and accessories, menswear, home interiors, childrenswear, Next flowers, NX sports, electrical, designer branded fashion and baby boutiques (Next Plc). Improvement in customer service by introducing initiatives such as next day delivery for orders placed before 9 pm (Next Plc , january,2011).

Cour Issues Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Cour Issues Analysis - Research Paper Example Moreover, there is a backlog of cases in the judiciary; this backlog is perhaps an attribute to the vicious cycle of crime fueled by the inefficiency of the judiciary to exercise deterrence in administering sentences. The aim of the penal system is to exercise deterrence and retribution to offenders and other like-minded individuals. It is therefore the role of the judiciary to uphold this principle and protect the rule of law. In that regard, this paper shall analyze the past, current and future issues affecting the court system. The justice system is faces a myriad of issues currently. Apart from the normal difficulty of administering justice and protecting the rule of law, courts are facing difficulties with the victim’s rights issues and translation issues due to language barriers. The most severe of issues faced by the justice system, courts, and administrators is the enormous task of handling huge chunks of cases piling everyday in the prosecutor’s desk. Perhaps t his is the major reason why prosecutors are under immense pressure, resulting in dropping cases daily. Nevertheless, the courts in current times are marred with a premise of delayed cases that never seem to see their day in court. This situation befits the legal maxim as quoted by William Ewart that justice delayed is justice denied. However, court administration may at times see it fit to rush the court proceedings to clear up the backlog and congestion of the cases scheduled for hearing. Dire consequences may result from such haste to hear and determine cases, since court cases affect human lives, and due care is paramount in discharging justice. After all, courts were not fashioned to operate in such a hasty manner. It is obvious that the criminal justice system is overburdened; this has in turn exerted a ripple effect in the prosecutor’s office. More and more felony cases are dumped as plea bargains. This is both good and bad. Since the perpetrator of a felony accepts a p lea bargain for a lesser charge and gets a lesser penalty for that charge. Although it is a beneficial tact in time conservation, but it grossly, undermine the purpose of existence of any judicial system anywhere. The purpose of the court system is to provide justice, and punish the wrongdoer. Furthermore, in the discharging of justice, the judicial system has a role of deterrence and retribution via the correction facilities. Therefore, if deterrence from crime is a function of the judicial system, then it should not merely dispense lesser sentence due to time management. Proper judgment should be administered to console and restitute the injured party. While it is beneficial for the court to manage their time through plea bargains, criminal offenders and other likeminded individuals are not effectively deterred from criminal activities since consequences are less severe. The prevailing uninhabitable conditions of correction facilities due to overcrowding, communicable diseases pre valence, intrinsic violence, and being strikingly counterproductive schools for crime that churn out hardened convicts (Muraskin, R. & Roberts, R. 2009), contributes to the courts reluctant state from issuing harsher sentences. Nevertheless, the tendency of the courts to ignore the deterrence factor of sentencing, has contributed to a vicious cycle of criminal activity that perhaps has contributed to the heightened backlog of cases. This is increasingly causing many challenges to the

Twelve Characteristics of Effective Early Childhood Teachers Essay

Twelve Characteristics of Effective Early Childhood Teachers - Essay Example Good teachers strive to read and learn the latest research and instrumental techniques so as to skill their student. They will also be well trained with appropriate developmental characteristics of the age group. Nevertheless, they should develop the love of learning among the students by building on their natural curiosity. They should understand the role of play in young children. They thus provide the necessary equipment (Colker, 2008). It is also essential for them to come up with designs that enable students to develop both large and small motor functions. Good early childhood teachers will use nonbias tools of assessment to monitor the performance of their students. It is tremendously beneficial for them to have excellent classroom management skills with proper rules so as to enhance discipline among students. Lastly they should create an environment whereby students are able to appreciate each other’s differences (Colker,

Impact of technology automobile Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Impact of technology automobile - Research Paper Example Most of the automobiles are dependent on petrol or diesel to run. This ground breaking technology is a blessing to the human race as it is capable of covering long distances within minutes (Abernathy, 1976). The intention of this research work is to cover all the major aspects of the automobile industry from its inception till date. How has this technology facilitated human beings and in what ways transactional activities have been affected? Discussion of positive and negative impacts of this technology will be illustrated along with its role in the society. Advantages and disadvantages of automobile industry and societal horizon will be demonstrated. The role of political invasion, economic side and massive usage will be critically examined so that all the essential parts would be covered. Environmental changes that have taken place due to this technology and its impact of people’s health remains the essence of this research work which will be scrutinized. In the last alterna tives to this technology along with the conclusion will be exemplified to present a clear picture about its impacts. Inception and Progress Historically it is reported that the first automobile was designed in the year 1672 for the Chinese Emperor, which neither had seating arrangement for the driver nor for the passenger. Emperor alone had to drive it. Another mechanical automobile was built in the year 1769 which was a stream powered tricycle created by Nicolas Cugnot. He built furthermore two tractors for the French Army to have a competitive edge in wars. His technology was dependent on the supply of water and steam that is why it could not sustain for long (White, 1971). (Abernathy, 1976) demonstrates that many innovational steps were taken in the preceding years by the different inventors but a promising automobile was yet to come. A French inventor Gustave Trouve presented his three wheeled revolutionary tricycle in the International Exposition of Electricity which was powere d by electricity. This was a big step taken at that time and got huge applause from the fellow inventors. Karl Benz- a German engineer is however considered as the father of the modern automobile technology. Benz designed his first engine in 1878 and got its patent in the year 1879. He produced his first Motor wagon in 1885. He brought his automobile technology into the consumer market in 1886 under the flagship of his company; Benz & Cie. After the inception of Benz technology in the market, rapid changes were seen in the industry and many French and German engineers came up with the innovatory automobile production. Companies like DMG and Ford emerged afterwards and gain huge acceptance and accomplishment in the market. Previously automobile technology was dependent upon steam, water and electricity but in the later years this was shifted to gas, petrol and diesel. In the later years focus came into designing of the exterior and interior of the cars came so that it would appear fi ne-looking. Comfortable seats and other technological specifications were uploaded making them eminent and impressive (White, 1971). Automobile industry is a big success in the technological world and the engine designing has been improved a lot. It has been more than a century since the inception of the first modern engine and till date massive advancements

Claude Monet Water Lilies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Claude Monet Water Lilies - Essay Example I could feel my heart beat quicken as I inched forward in line for my ticket, anticipating what I would see, how it would affect me, and how I would be changed in some way, as we all are, by seeing to what heights the soul of man can rise. As I entered the building and was captured by the walls of glass, modern, clean white lines of the galleries, the large public works of art throughout the building, with works hung on staircase landings (of all places!) and from the ceilings, meant to show how accessible and functional the modern works could be. I was drawn into one exhibit, on the second floor, though, that featured an exhibition of the French impressionist artist Claude Monet, entitled â€Å"Monet’s Water Lilies.† I was drawn into a room where three 20-foot paintings, his masterpieces of his study of Water Lilies, were hung in harmonious and dramatic style. The works were placed next to and across from each other, with their gigantic canvases echoing what Monet saw over many days and months in his garden in Giverny. At first glance, the works were a muted collection of simplicity, but the more I studied the works, the more I was overwhelmed at their aspects of color, the juxtaposition of the works, and the overwhelming sense of permanence I felt when sitting among these works. I was drawn into their immense size, wealth of subtle colors and scale of proportions that reflected the various moods created by light, water, sky, and nature, as they all worked together to create a sense of serenity and eternal feeling. It slowed me down to a point to where I had to sit and observe, and allow myself to see the detail throughout each painting. The simplicity yet complexity of the works drew me to them and left a permanence in my mind’s eye. The fact that they were located in a room which seemed built especially for these large works, allowed them to be seen as a reflection of each other, in a way enhanced the experience for me. As I observed, I noticed more and more layers of paint on the works, which showed a tremendous amount of effort that went into the work. Done in impressionist pastels, with a study of a pond dotted with reflections of water lilies, poppies, sky, grasses, and trees, reminded me that the more we look at even the most simplistic things, the more complex they are. The simplicity is reminiscent of the style of Japanese art with a harmonious relationship between man and nature, with each complementing each other. In this case, there were no men or human structures in the paintings, as we were meant to be the human element of the works, and almost become part of the painting, as we are filled with a sense of serenity, color, nature, and calmness. The muted lighting, subtle colors, reflections of sky--and of ourselves- allows the viewer to become part of that Giverny landscape-- part of Monet’s eternal world. The pure simplicity of the works, but the hidden complexity of the brush strokes, depth and layer of colors, echoes the haiku of the Japanese poet, Matsuo Basho. As with Monet, his haiku are simple on the surface, but the artist draws the observer in with hidden complexities and depth of meaning and complexity of nature and human existence. As Monet uses the stroke of a brush to reveal his emotional depth and feeling, Bashu uses the written word to paint his canvas of emotion and searching of the human soul. Simplicity means complexity in both artists’

Russia Revolution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Russia Revolution - Essay Example The traditional Monarchy had increasingly become so weak and continuously got defeated in several wars. The empire became vulnerable which culminated to severe reactionary. Nicholas had total control over the activities and army (Beckwith 67). Nicholas II refused calls to incorporate people in his leadership and hence masses poked holes and became discontented with his leadership that raised several questions. He took much time with family interest and became obsessed to retain his privileges and naively believed being a God-chosen leader. Nicholas was forced to dissolve the Duma and joined the war front which made him loose his position as this became more detrimental to him. The Nicholas II had long seen his grandfather’s assassination as well and witnessed his father’s responding to the assassination amidst brutal oppression of the people. The attempts by Nicholas to imitate the further approaches to the resistance did not augur well with already dissatisfied masses. The people vowed to oust Nicholas II following the ever emerging rebellious movements. Nicholas make several incident by incident concessions following the increased unrest caused by the imposition of oppressions. These concessions culminated into the inception of the first ever constitution and Russian Parliament. The concession persisted, and Nicholas II grip of power weakened hence opening the door for his ousting in January 1917. The successive wars weakened the emperor such as The Crimean war that lasted between 1854 and 1856. Another war was The Russo-Turkish that was occurred during 1877-78. Another severe war was Russo-Japanese War that lasted between 1904 and 1905, as well as The World War I of 1914-18. These wars spent tax revenue and manpower. The country suffered due to war defeats with only Turkish win. This weakened the nation and fueled the discontent amongst the

Research Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Research Project - Essay Example This was a consideration since the human tendency to judge others work and performance created a lot of problems related to the motivation, ethics, legal ruling etc. at workplaces (Cannell and Wood, 1992). To ensure that the appraisal systems were just, lawful, fair and accurate, performance appraisal was introduced. The process was linked to the material outcomes, i.e. if an employee’s performance is to less than ideal then there would be a cut in pay, however if the performance was better than the ideal level set by the supervisor, then there would be a rise in pay. In 1950’s United States observed the usefulness of appraisal as a tool for motivation and development. This model was now being gradually recognised and the general model of performance appraisal started on from that time (Strebler, M. T., Thompson, M. and Heron, P., 1997). The birth of performance related pay was somewhere in 1980s, when many employers felt it was a great solution to improve performance and enthusiastically embraced the idea. It was then that businesses wanted to move from the service related pay progression to a more result oriented form of pay. Businesses wanted to ensure that the business objectives were met by setting performance goals for employees (Dervon, M. G., 1990). This however did not last for a very long time. In 1990s, employers felt the need to have a more improvised form of the theory as the efficiency of the theory was now being challenged by a lot of scholars and businesses. It was noted during the 90s that the scheme had failed to deliver the expected results and businesses were now looking to develop a better revised approach of performance related pay (Dowling, B. and Richardson, R., 1997). However in the current situation the definition of employee contribution is not only dependent on the output i.e. the end results achieved but also depends on the inputs by the employee i.e. what the employee is willing to contribute to the business. In

Cultural Impacts Essay Example for Free

Cultural Impacts Essay â€Å"Culture (from the Latin cultura stemming from colere, meaning to cultivate,) generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that give such activity significance. Different definitions of culture reflect different theoretical bases for understanding, or criteria for evaluating, human activity. In general, the term culture denotes the whole product of an individual, group or society of intelligent beings. It includes technology, art, science, as well as moral systems and the characteristic behaviors and habits of the selected intelligent entities. †(Wikipedia) Any culture can be viewed as a blend of values, norms, institutions and artifacts of a civilization that has been passed on from generations through learning alone. The ideological perspective of life and the significance of things in it form the values of a society. Norms, are the expected collective behavior of the people where as the institutions are the structures within the society that transmit theses values and norms. Also, artifacts are the relics or the materialistic representation of a culture, derived from within it. Thus, cultures basically evolve and thrive on the basis of religion, historical background, environment and the social structure. Religious beliefs are typically the central themes of different cultures and more often than not the basic values are a derivative of them. For example, the 10 Commandments of Christianity or the five precepts of Buddhism are guidelines that transform the behavior of their followers. Similarly, religion occasionally is also implicated with government, as in a theocracy. The European and the New World cultures have been profoundly influenced by Christianity for at least the last 500 to 1700 years. Likewise Islams influence has fashioned a great deal of the North African, Middle and Far East regions for more than a 1000 years. Historical incidents also add new dimensions to any culture. For instance, most of the Commonwealth countries and the Europe celebrate a public holiday on the Boxing Day. On this day, the people organize feasts, festivals and certain sports in order to celebrate and also to share these rejoicing moments with the poor and the needy. There is no precise basis of this cultural carnival but only some theories that stem out from some historical happenings. Some believe that it was a day when people presented gifts to those who had worked throughout the year for them. Others argue that it was an annual gathering of extended families in the feudal times in which the lord of the estate handed out stipends to the serfs. Another group disputes that it was basically the day of the year when the church would distribute its donation money to the poor. Whatever may be the explanation, the Boxing Day is now an integral part of the western culture. (Wikipedia) The influence of different cultures on trade and commerce is profoundly instrumental and therefore it is not surprising that business tactics have diversely evolved in different regions of the world. In fact, the technological developments of the late 1990’s, in the arena of electronic media have added new dimensions to the concept. Consequently, the global giants of the corporate sector have been lavishly investing in examination of the cultural influences on the regional economies in order to maximize profits. â€Å"In China, for example, the foundation of Chinese respect for hierarchy and the family social collective is based upon the relational norms expounded by the Confucius and legal codes such as those developed during the Tang Dynasty. This institutionalized relational logic has shaped a society whose transactional order rests on social obligation to higher authority and to the family rather than on rules oriented to protecting the individual. Chinese capitalism is seen to be intrinsically different from the Western capitalism because of this contrast in institutional framing over a long period of time. † (Warner 2003) These and other brands of cultural values of a society are carefully considered when industries are being setup or when corporations are being established. This facilitates in determining the managerial skills required in the executive professionals who are responsible for communicating and representing their companies within the local industries. A working paper series issued from the George Washington University, discusses the U. S. /Mexican business alliances negotiations and the impact of their respective cultures on them. Mexico’s mestizo culture with its strong collectivist touch has embedded the people with the capacity to share power or authority equitably and the gift to accept and tolerate uncertainty and ambiguity in situations. However, they have also inherited the aptitude for individualism and tend to get involved in a loosely held social structure with little or no care for others. This is contrary to the culture in the United States, where people long for absolute power, are highly skeptical of ambiguous scenarios and more often than not downplay relationships. All, this along with the socio-political history of the two nations-which has been marred by discords and suspicion- is significantly determining in their mutual business alliances. (Teegen and Doh 2002) Moreover, the cultural heritage of a region characterize the production and sale of several products that otherwise do not correspond to the world wide demand. For instance, the annual Basant euphoria in the Punjabi region of the Indo-Pakistan, in which people fly kites and festivals are organized, much business is spawned. It becomes the very attraction for the tourists who converge here from all parts of the world, and the economic activity generated only in the city of Lahore has been estimated to be around PK Rupees 1. 5 to 2 billion annually. The proceeds of the events are shared by almost every one including the people belonging to the seasonal cottage industries and even the local vendors. Thus, the big corporations plunge into the scene and grab at every opportunity to escalate sales. The competitive environment forces them to inspect the cultural characteristics of the event and then to employ this knowledge in launching innovative products in the market as well as in transforming their already existing marketing techniques. (The News 2007) For a progressive business structuring in a region or country, political culture-which itself is a subsidiary of the social culture-can be of immense significance. An illustration can be vividly observed in the political history of Pakistan and the revolutionary rule of its Premier Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto (1973-77), which was influenced by the socialism philosophy of the Soviet Union. He aggressively followed these policies and nationalized most of the Pakistan’s industries. (Wikipedia) Consequently, the foreign investors and the big multinationals lost faith in the country and capital were taken out of the country. Locally, twenty two families in Pakistan had owned most of these nationalized banks, companies and industrial units. Sadly, this resulted into a deindustrialization in Pakistan, as none of the families have ventured in to even a single industrial project since the last 28 years. (Pakistan link) â€Å"In the fall of 1991, in the midst of the NAFTA negotiations, Vitro Sociedad Anonima (Vitro), the $3 billion Mexican glass maker, had signed a tentative $800 million joint venture with Corning Inc. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Just two years later, the joint venture was dissolved. According to company officials and external analysts, cultural differences were a principal cause of the alliance’s failure. † (Teegen and Doh 2002) Investigations showed that the Mexicans believed that Corning was a bit impulsive in their decision making; the Americans felt Vitro had a very time-consuming approach. Vitro management despised the frankness of the Americans, while polite Vitro executives, sometimes gave Americans the impression that they were reluctant to admit concerns and errors. (Teegen and Doh 2002) Thus, when businesses are being setup in different regions of the world, there is a need to develop a correlation between the corporate and the social cultures. References Babar Sattar. Immorality of Basant http://www. thenews. com. pk/daily_detail. asp? id=45221 Accessed: June 9, 2007 Boxing Day Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Boxing_Day Accessed: June 9, 2007 Culture Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Culture Accessed: June 9, 2007 Hildy J. Teegen (The George Washington University) and Jonathan P. Doh (Villanova University)-April 2002. â€Å"U. S. /Mexican Business Alliance Negotiations: Impact of Culture on Authority, Trust and Performance†. White Paper (The George Washington University). Malcom Warner . Culture and Management in Asia. Routledge, 2003 Who Owns Pakistan http://www. pakistanlink. com/hussaini/09-10-99. html#top Accessed: June 9, 2007 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Zulfiqar_Ali_Bhutto Accessed: June 9, 2007

Natural Disasters And Natural Changes Economics Essay

Natural Disasters And Natural Changes Economics Essay Natural disasters are the effects which are caused by natural changes in the Earth resulting in greater loss or damage to the lives of people and environment. The impacts of natural disasters currently show that is the major hindering of the economic growth in the World. The process of reconstruction after the damage caused by the natural disaster is cost fully and sometime it is unrenewable, like death of people. Also people looking for survive and no more production in the affected area. These effects cause great impacts in the global economy on the World. 1.2. Aim The aim of this report is to evaluate the effect of natural disaster, such as Japan Earthquake and Sichuan Earthquake on global economy on the World. The disaster causes an economic growth to slow by destructing the major industries and productive areas in Japan and China. But, the report shows that, the Japans Earthquake causes largest economic impacts on the World scale than Sichuan Earthquake. 1.3. Scope This report focuses on global economic impacts on the World caused by these Earthquakes. The major areas affected are industries, export and import trading, oil sector and agriculture sector. 2.0. JAPAN EARTHQUAKE 2.1. Background The Japan Earthquake occurred on March 11, 2011. It measured 8.9 on the Richter scale, and it is the biggest country earthquake and seventh largest on record since began (smh.com.au, march 11, 2011).The major areas affected are Sendai, Ichihara, Fukushima, Onagawa, Ofunato, and Kesennuma.This phenomena causes negative impacts on global economy. Furthermore, it depresses the production from the factories and cause derails on global economy. 2.2. Global Economic Impacts 2.2.1. Death of people People are the main source of labour in the World. This research shows that, about 7,300 people are confirmed dead and nearly 11,000 missing (Sawer, P Cooper 2011). Labour force are important for increasing production in a country, Meanwhile; after this catastrophe, people looking for surviving and no more production of goods made in Industries, Therefore, causes the country to contribute less demand of product global and disrupt other Industries in the World which depend on importation of manufactured goods from Japan. For example Japan exports spare part of cars and semiconductor to USA (Beckman, K 2011). 2.2.2. Damage of Infrastructure Infrastructure is the important for the National development globally and domestically. The damage made on infrastructure is quite make difficulties on growth of economy. The time it takes for infrastructure to rebuild after the effect of earthquake take several days and needs more money. Although the area damaged covers small part in Northern Japan, but it is unavoidable disrupting the economy, because it cause some companies to suspend their services from northern and eastern part of Japan, like delivery company Boeings 787 Dreamliner (Xu, S 2011).This damage of Infrastructure causes the decrease of GDP and stopping or delaying in the contributing in the global development projects. 2.2.3. Damage on Nuclear Reactor Due to closing of the nuclear reactors, which is the main source of power, the economic effect due to this disaster is expected to be huge because many Industries are depending on it. After this disaster, Japan closes their steel mills Industries which are causes the increase of the price of steel in the World and reducing the consumption of iron ore in large amount (Oliver, S 2011). Japans strongest earthquake raises global demand for natural gas, coal and oil products in order to replace the power generated by the closed damaged nuclear reactors (Beckman 2011). Therefore, the disaster shocks the global market. 2.2.4. Export and Import Trade Import and export of goods from Japan and other countries are rarely decreased due to this disaster. China imports metal, and auto parts and electronics from Japan and exports crude oil, and coal to Japan. But due to disruption of economy caused by this earthquake, Japan reduced the order of commodities from other countries. This circumstance affects the International business on global market. 2.2.5. Fall in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Japans earthquake steep declined Japans economy. The GDP fell by 8.6 per cent. This falling may cause greater negative impact on trade with other countries. Japan runs many projects worldwide to support other countries in development. For example; JICA money to support India-Project may be delayed due to fall in GDP (Panda, R 2011). Delaying on the completion of project on time gives back the growth of economy in the World. 2.2.6. Closing of Factories. The major factories which affected are Toyota Motor Corporation, Nissan Motor Co, Cosmo Oil Co (oil refinery), Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd (Maker of Subaru cars and aircraft), Mitsui Mining and Smelting Co (zinc smelter), Panasonic Corp (producing audio products and digital cameras), Tokyo Electric Power Co (nuclear plant automatically shut), and Tokyo Gas Co. These are the giant companies on the World for delivering output in the World. Example, Toyota produces 420,000 of small cars for export per annually. (Webb, T 2011). Therefore, the products in the global market were decreased and have been more affected by this earthquake. 3.0. SICHUAN EARTHQUAKE 3.1. Background This quake occurred on 12 May 2008. The main cities affected are Beichuan, Dujiangyan, Shifang, Mianzhu, Juyuan, Jiangyou, Miangyang, Chengdu, Qionglai and Deyang (Tu, J 2008). The earthquake measured 7.8 on the Richter scale and enclosed largely to the mountainous areas of Sichuan province, leaving the important area for industrial centers undamaged (Chan, J 2008). Sichuan province contributes about 4% of the total China Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and only contributes 2.5 % of Chinas manufacturing product. (Chan, J 2008).Therefore, the Sichuan earthquake contribute a small relative impacts on global economy on the World. 3.2. Global Economic Impacts 3.2.1 Industries Closed The number of Industries closed was about 14,207. This effect deteriorated production of the countrys economy. China is one of the major producers of agriculture equipment on the World. (Chan, J 2008). Thus, this earthquake disaster is lowering the global economy on agriculture sector from countries which import agriculture machine from China. 3.2.2 Hydropower The Sichuan is the common regions for hydropower generation in China (Chan, J 2008). The hydropower situated in Sichuan province were cut off to produce the power to the national grid, this causing some Industries to close its operation due to shorted of power and hence the GDP slow down. The exportation of commodities produced by these Industries was not sufficient to meet the demand of the world. 3.2.3 Industries Labour Sichuan province is a largest provider of the cheap labour force; it provides about 20 million migrant labours to the rest of the regions of China (Chan, J 2008). These numbers of migrant labours, if they turn back to their home in order to increase the effort in reconstruction of the area which was damaged by the earthquake, it will increase labours deficit in other parts in China. This situation, will increase the pressure for wage payment and retarding the China economy and the World economy in general. 3.2.4 Price of the Commodities The Sichuan disaster causes the rise of global prices of commodities. Crude oil prices in United States went beyond $130 per barrel after the effect of the earthquake, this is due to China is the second worlds largest consumer of oil, Japan is also affected by this earthquake; it imports 90% of metallic silicon, a material used to make semiconductors and solar cells. Most of the silicon comes from Sichuan province. The price rose from the pre-quake level of $US2,300 per ton to $2,500. And it is possible the price could rise to $3,000 due to shortages of commodity (Chan, J 2008). 3.2.5 Energy Infrastructure The Sichuan Province is reach in hydro power, coal and natural gases production, it produce 71.2% of hydropower, 27.3% of coal, and 1.5% of natural gases (Fogarty M, 2011). The damage of energy infrastructure during the earthquake is likely holding back the enthusiasm of energy production. Decrease in production of energy causes the industries to slow up the production of goods. This causes them to affect the global economy 4.0 CONCLUSION The Japan Earthquake causes greater global economic impacts compared to the Sichuan Earthquake. The Sichuan Earthquake contributes only 4.2 of the GDP of the China and causing the falling of 0.2 % of the economy growth in China. The Japan Earthquake hit the major area for industries; like Automakers Industries, Fuji heavy Industry, Sony, Nuclear reactors, which is the main source of power in many giant Industries, which result many industries to be closed, thus no production made. Also, this Earthquake causes a loss of $US 100 billion. This earthquake causes the oil price to fall by 3% because Japan stops importing oil from other countries and is the one of the Worlds largest importers of oil.Lastly, the earthquake decline in orders of coal, iron ore from Australia, which is the second largest trading partner. Therefore, Japan Earthquake has greater global economic effect than Sichuan Earthquake in China.

Otosclerosis :: Research Hearing Essays

Otosclerosis Hearing serves a very important function in our lives. Much of the time, it is taken for granted. We tend not to appreciate it, until it starts to fail. There are many disorders that can cause a difficulty in hearing and hearing loss. One such disorder is otosclerosis. This disorder deserves a significant amount of research. Not only because we are dependent on our sense of hearing, but because its effects are far reaching. So much so, that it is hard to comprehend how we could ever live without it. It has even been said that Beethoven had otosclerosis. Toward the end of his career, he could not even hear his own music (Goldstein, 1999). Its effects are devastating and are well worth studying. Otosclerosis is a middle-ear disorder. The hearing loss is usually conductive, affecting the bones in the middle ear that conduct sound to the inner ear. This conductive hearing loss is caused by the growth of a spongy bone-like tissue that prevents the ossicles (bones of the middle ear) from moving well. One of the first signs is a small growth of the tissue in the middle ear. This is often in front of the oval window, which separates the middle ear from the inner ear. This can begin in early childhood or adolescence. The tissue may grow rapidly and become hard. The bone tissue grows over the stapes ossicle attaching it to the oval window. At first, hearing loss occurs in the low frequencies. High frequencies are affected next, followed by the loss of hearing in the middle frequencies. Otosclerosis usually begins in one ear, but the other ear often develops it as well (Otosclerosis, 1998). There are different categories of otosclerosis. "Subclinical Otosclerosis" occurs when the tissue does not interfere with the ossicles. A person may have this form for many years and not know it. Another category is "Clinical Otosclerosis." This type can be present in the teen years, but not detected until the young adult years. It is rare for it to occur after the age of fifty. The last category of"Histologic Otosclerosis" occurs when the tissue is present, but it may or may not cause hearing loss. "Cochlear Otosclerosis" has been used to refer to sensorineural hearing loss. This is caused by abnormal blood flow to the middle ear, rather than growth of tissue (Otosclerosis, 1998). Otosclerosis is the most frequent cause of middle ear hearing loss.

Self Concept Essay -- essays research papers

Self-concept emerges as a child develops an increasingly rich concept of him or herself, separating the notion of â€Å"I† from other people and objects. In addition to he concept of â€Å"I† a child develops a separate notion of â€Å"Me† which has certain defining features and qualities. William James defined â€Å"Me† as one that is observed and perceived. â€Å"It is the Me that one sees when attention is focused on the self, the Me as an object, represented in self-concepts, in how we see ourselves.† The notion of â€Å"I† is represented by actions of an individual. The â€Å"I† self-regulates, self-monitors, and presents the self to others in most appropriate way. Self-concepts involve an integration and organization of an enormous amount of information. The self-concepts are utilized with the individual’s past experiences as well as his or her future preferences. The individual who learns to perform more competently achieves more gratification and is also likely to develop more positive attitudes toward himself or herself. Once one can overcome fears and stressful feelings, one will become more confident as a result. Evaluation of one’s behavior may play a significant role on how the individual perceives himself. Critics of behavioral therapy note that people may suffer not because their behavior is inadequate but because they evaluate it improperly. Some people have problems with distorted self-concepts more than with performance. These distorted self-concepts can be seen as a person labels himself a...

Essay --

Teresa Devlin 12 February 2014 PSY2012L The research article that I read was about the relationship between the use of technology in children and how their creativity level increases as a result of using different types of technological devices. This research was done by measuring the child’s level of creativity after using different types of electronic devices based on Torrance’s test of creative thinking, which is said by many researchers to be the best and most accurate way to measure creativity in children. The hypothesis of the study was that one of the four electronic devices would cause for a greater level of creativity. The four devices that were used in this study were computers, the Internet, video games, and cell phones. The researchers were very drawn to the fact that many children played video games and that video games are a part of many children’s every day activity. The study was conducted with almost five hundred 12 year-old children. The gender ratio was about half female and half ma le. The ratio of the racial backgrounds was about 70% Caucasian and 30% African American. The study was set up so the participants had two stimuli to respond to, which were pictures of an elf and an egg. The participants were to respond to the stimuli in the form of questions about what they thought of the pictures, to list what they thought was happening in the picture, and the possibilities of what they think might happen next in the picture. They were also asked what their favorite video game was. The independent variable, or the variable being changed, was the use of the four devices. The dependent variable, or the variable that is being measured, was the level of creativity after using the device. The research was conducted o... ...o become creative so you should go out and buy your child a video game if you want them to become more creative. That is why causal conclusions cannot be made in this correlational study. I think that another explanation of why children that play video games scored higher on the creative thinking tests is because video games open you into a new world. I think that they open your imagination and allow you to think like you never have before because of the things that video games portray such as outer space, different worlds, and things that are impossible for us humans to psychically do like turn into a fire-breathing dragon. I think that with children being able to open up their imagination it allows for a greater level of creativity. Works Cited Snider, Mike. "Research: Video Games Help with Creativity in Boys and Girls." USA Today 02 Nov. 2011: n. pag. Print

Digital Divide Essay

The term digital divide emerged in the mid-1990’s to describe the gap that exists between individuals who have access to technology and those that do not have access (Eamon, 2004). Computer technology has transformed modern society in profound ways (Behrman & Shields, 2000). Everyday society exposes citizens to technology in some form. Citizens integrate technology into common tasks such as signing into work, paying bills, shopping, paying taxes, and even reading the local newspaper (Behrman & Shields, 2000). The increasing integration of technology into society cause school systems to be more resolute about including technology in every classroom. School leaders generally agree that access to technology prepares students to succeed in the 21st century (Bell, Judge, & Puckett, 2006). Other researchers point out that increasing access to technology in the classroom environment does not ensure academic improvement. These researchers point out that there are limits to the advantages that technology offers. A meta-analysis by Crismann, Badgert and Lucking (1997) involving 27 studies concerning academic achievement of students who received traditional classroom instruction or traditional classroom instruction with technology integration showed interesting results. On average, students receiving technology infused instruction attained higher academic achievement than 58. 2 percent of those in traditional classrooms (Page, 2002). The digital divide addresses societal differences that correlate to the educational outcomes of students. Such differences raised concerns about the emergence of the digital divide between the children on one side who are benefiting from technology and the children on the other side who the lack of technology access leaves behind (Becker, 2000). Key Terms and Definitions 1. Application – computer software; also called a program 2. Broadband – a type of data transmission in which a single wire can carry several channels at once. Broadband technology can transmit data, audio, and video all at once over long distances. 3. Chat – real time, text-based communication in a virtual environment 4. Digital Divide – the gap between those with regular, effective access to digital technologies and those without 5. Digital Technology – machinery and computer equipment used for practical and informative purposes 6. Learning Portal – any web site that offers learners and organizations consolidated access to learning and training resources from multiple sources 7. Multimedia – interactive text, images, sounds, and color 8. Network – two or more computers that are connected so users can share files and devices 9. Online – a computer communicating with another computer 10. World Wide Web (www) – a graphical Internet tool that provides access to homepages created by individuals, businesses, and other organizations Statement of Hypothesis Researchers define the digital divide as discrepancies in technology use and access in learning environments based on ethnicity and socioeconomic status (Pearson & Swain, 2002). School systems and government programs supply technology equipment and software to United States’ schools in effort to close the digital divide. Nearly every school is now equipped with computers, and over two-thirds of our nation’s children have access at home (Shields & Behrman, 2000). Equal access and supply cannot close the digital divide alone. Teachers need adequate training on selection of technology and integration of technology. Teachers, parents, and students must become technology literate in order to close the digital divide. Review of Literature Advantages of Technology and Academic Performance The digital divide influences academic performance because limited student access to technology minimizes experiences and knowledge necessary to succeed academically. Computer based technology contributes to children’s academic achievement. Researchers associate having a home computer to better academic performance (Jackson et al. , 2006). Schools play a critical role in providing access to computers to students who do not have home computers. Teachers can have a profound effect on the digital divide by carefully examining how and when technology use is necessary. Regular use of technology in the classroom directly contributes to student achievement, both by making students more effective in their learning and teachers more efficient in their teaching. Teacher education should not focus on technology alone, but on its alignment with the curriculum. In order for this alignment with the curriculum to take place, more computers must be available for students use. Technology integrated into the curriculum increases students’ time on task and extends learning into the home, beyond the traditional school day (Shield & Behrman, 2000). Classrooms benefit from the advantages of technology if planning is efficient and effective for a particular group of students. Students must understand that the use of technology within lessons supports productivity. Technology is a tool that students use for learning, research, networking, collaboration, telecommunications, and problem solving. Technology lessons must be meaningful and engaging for students to improve academic performance. Teachers are able to shift student learning from memorizing answers to questions to knowing how to find answers. Activities that encourage students to use technology outside of the classroom such as using the technology lab, school media center, or local public library prepare students for future educational experiences. Using technology for academic tasks plays a positive role in student achievement (Wenglinsky, 2005). If students participate in authentic technology enhanced activities on a regular basis, these activities will offer students the support they need to become learners that are more proficient and possibly narrow the divide. Limitations of Technology and Academic Performance The level and quality of the student interactions with technology can limit the academic advantages that technology offers. Students must be able to use computers for more than web-surfing, chatting, game playing, and participating in low-level thinking activities. Student interactions with computers must be quality interactions that allow students to do research and create original multimedia products. Although 99% of public classrooms have access to computers, many students are not meeting the technology standards set by the National Educational Technology Standards (Morgan & VanLengen, 2005). While technology exposes students to activities that allow them to use higher order thinking and problem solving techniques, they still prefer to engage in non-academic activities on the Internet. Becker (2000) states that â€Å"most student Internet activities were recreational in nature – such as email, chat rooms, web-based games, web surfing, and listening to music†. Many children’s activities on the Internet appear to be for entertainment purposes instead of educational purposes. While the Internet gives students access to an array of educational tools, it also gives them access to non-academic material. Teachers often have trouble monitoring student use of appropriate websites, electronic mail messages, instant messages, and live chat rooms. Without careful observation, students can easily use school time to access material that is inappropriate for children and will not improve academic improvement. Even if teachers properly monitor students, they may not benefit from having access to computers in the classroom. Research by Lilia C. DiBello (2005) states that many teachers have not been properly trained to integrate technology in the classroom. While teachers may be comfortable with navigating various types of software, they often have trouble implementing the technology to meet technology standards (DiBello, 2005). Teacher preparation programs now require future teachers to take a technology course as a graduation requirement. However, technology is rapidly changing and school systems offer few opportunities that allow teachers to keep up with the changes modern technology brings. When teachers are not willing and not prepared to integrate technology into their classrooms, they often fail to prepare students to perform authentic tasks using the computers. Teachers often use computers for low-level thinking activities such as drill and practice (Pearson & Swain, 2002). According to Pearson and Swain (2002), students in high-poverty schools use computers for drill and practice 35% of the time, as opposed to students in low-poverty schools, who used computers for drill and practice 26% of the time. Schools who are below the poverty line are also more often to use computers for remedial purposes instead of higher order thinking skills. Teachers rarely teach students to use the computers to answers questions that they ask, research topics, or to prepare multimedia projects that coincide with the subjects they have learned in the classroom. Importance of Closing the Divide The digital divide exists both quantitatively and qualitatively. Gillan (2003) supported that quantitative gaps exist in schools and families where there is not enough access or time spent with technology. Qualitative gaps refer to selection of appropriate applications and quality training. Many studies have drawn the conclusion that the key factor in closing the digital divide may not be access alone. As years have passed, attention moved away from who is connected to the question of who is served. It is important to consider that the upper-to-middle classes are given high-quality access to technology because technologists are hard at work creating â€Å"solutions† designed just for them. According to Morgan and VanLengen (2005), most affluent students use software that requires the use of critical thinking skill. Less affluent students predominately use drill and practice software. Many school officials feel that technologists ignore solutions for the poor. The result is often that schools give the poor low-quality access that could actually hurt them and, in some sense, widen the divide. Because of the continued influences of technology on society, the United States must address the digital divide and implement strategies to narrow the gap. It is imperative to focus on what can be done if needs cannot be met. Students that are technology savvy have significant advantages over their peers. Students with limited technology skills will not have the same educational or job opportunities and information that will be necessary for full and knowledgeable participation in society. Leaders should not subject students to the wrong side of the digital divide just because computer access at home is limited or none. It is the responsibility of the schools and communities to help narrow the gap. The schools are the primary source of computer access. Schools can promote digital equity for young children by including access to computer resources used in developmentally appropriate ways (Judge, 2005). The digital divide has consequences that extend beyond the school. If the digital divide was only a matter of unequal access to equipment, closing it would simply involve duplicating the resources of wealthy schools in poorer schools (Riel, Schwartz, & Hitt, 2002). Educators need to learn the basics of information literacy: searching, evaluating materials for quality, risk assessment, and equally important privacy protection. These skills go beyond online behavior to include mass media and everyday communications. Conclusion It is the job of educators to plan technology-integrated lessons that are appropriate for the particular group they are teaching. Educators must have knowledge and skills to integrate technology into meaningful activities of interest and relevance to children. Educators need to be aware of the advantages and the limitations of technology for all students. The primary key to closing the digital divide is investment in literacy and education. The biggest barrier to use of digital technology is lack of skills. It is possible that the next generation of the World Wide Web, referred to as Internet, emphasizes the need to go beyond text to give users a sensory experience of the web. Some governments are exploring the use of cell phones, and applications like voice recognition technology or use of visual icons on various devices. The implications for closing the digital divide are important to society. Closing the digital divide will offer educational advantages, future employment and earning opportunities, chance for social and civic involvement, equity, and civil rights for all.

Building technology notes

In a building frame, a structural element that is shorter than usual, as a Cogged Joint stud above a door opening or below a window sill is called 2. A carpentry Joint by two uneven timbers, each of which is notched at Bull-nosed step the place where they cross 3. A step usually lowest in a flight, having one or both ends rounded to a Gravity wall Quoin semi-circle and projecting beyond the face of the stair string's 4. A massive concrete wall that resists overturning by virtue of its own weight 5. In masonry, a hard stone or brick used to reinforce an external cornerScarf Joint Baluster off wall 6. A type of half lapped Joint used to resist tension 7. One of a number of short vertical member often circular in section, Fenestration Fig. A-I mom Inflection point used to support a stair handrail 8. The arrangement and design of window in a building 9. What concrete block that is used in making a corner of an anchor wall 10. Lateral ties used for mom main bars for column is 1 1 . Refer to the portion of a beam where bending moment changes from Rowlock Scab positive to negative 12. A brick laid on its edge so that its end is visible 13.A short flat piece of lumber which is bolted, nailed or screwed to Cross bridging butting pieces in order to splice them together 14. Diagonal bracing in pairs between adjacent floor Joist to prevent the Web Brad Pyramid roof joist from twisting 15. A bar used to hold the reinforcement on a beam 16. A small finishing nail is called 17. A roof wherein the four sides are sloping towards the center Stirrup Pile terminating at a point 18. A metal sheet used to connect girder and floor Joist at the same level 19. A slender structural unit introduced onto the ground to transmit load Soldier Pigment o underground strata 20.Brick set on end with the narrow side showing is called 21 . Finely divided solid particles added to the vehicle to contribute color CACM Carriage Channel CM Fig 8-2 Miter box and durability to the paint 22. End lapping o f corrugated G. L. Roofing sheets 23. Inclined structural member that supports the steps of a stair 24. Structural steel shape having unsymmetrical balance 25. Hooked end off mom stirrups 26. Which among the concrete block is the header block 27. A device used as a guide of the hand saw in cutting object to form a Plastic hose with water 1 Com 40 bad. T. Fig.C-3 Bosses Load bearing wall Effective length Volume Stirrups Cement Gypsum board Fade Skylight Soft wood Fire brick Plaster ground miter Joint 28. The best and accurate tool for guiding the work in establishing a horizontal level 29. Minimum thickness of suspended R. C. Slab 30. Total board foot of 10 PC's. 31 . Which among the brick work is a common Flemish bond 32. Clearer is a product of 33. Wall that support weight from above as well as their own dead weight 34. The distance between inflection point in the column when it breaks 35. The amount of space measured in cubic units. 6. A bended rod to resist shear and diagonal str esses in a concrete 37. The most important component to determine the strength of concrete 38. Another term for plaster board 39. The face or front of a building 40. An opening in the roof for admitting light 41 . Wood coming from trees with needle leaves, rather than broad leaves 42. A kind of brick used for high temperature 43. A nailed strip incorporated in rough concrete wall to be plastered to act as guide and support for finish trim around opening and near the base Span Rip-rap Striking tool Fig. D-2 Striping of the wall 44.The distance between two structural supports 5. Stone placed on a slope to prevent erosion 46. Hammer is a 47. Which among the finger Joint is the hidden dove tail 48. The process of removing concrete forms from the cured concrete Purling 49. A structural member spanning front truss to truss or supporting Anchor bolts rafters 50. Steel bent inserted in masonry construction for scouring wood or Lintel plates to concrete construction 51 . A horizontal piece o f wood, stone, steel or concrete across the top of door or window opening to bear the weight of the walls above the Chord Sleeper Stud opening 52.The placing of glass in windows and doors 53. A rejected building material because of its below standard grade 54. A Joint produced by lapping two pieces of materials 55. Lumber that still contains moisture or sap 56. The internal angle formed by the two roof slopes of a roof 57. A vertical board attached on the ends of the rafters. It is part of the cornice 58. A large heavy nail is referred to as 59. What is the scientific name of wood 60. A wall that holds back on earth embankment 61 . The term used to indicate top and lower principal member off roof or bridge truss 62.Strips of hardwood usually 2†³xx† laid over a concrete slab floor 63. A vertical tutorial member which acts as a supporting element in a Tyrone finish wall or partition 64. Rough plaster finish obtained by flinging plaster on a wall with a hand Adiabatic curing operated machine 65. The curing of concrete or mortar without the gain or loss of heat Vinyl tile Creep Riser Plough during the curing period 66. A floor tile composed principally of polyvinyl chloride 67. The permanent deformation of a materials under a sustained load 68. The vertical face of a stair 69.A groove extended along the edge or face of the wood member Glazing cull Lap Joint Green lumber Valley Fascia Spike Xylem Retaining wall Post-tensioning Ashlars brick Perforated tape Control Joint Hopper Parquet Wrought iron Lag screw Lead Goslings Admixture Gallivanted Seismic stile Baseboard Mortar Balalaikas Barbarian Contusion Saturday Rooster Sloshes Platelets Skittishly Abattoir Gillian Lastingly Tubs De banana Cesspool Pie De Gallo Bandier being cut parallel to grain 70. The stressing of unbounded tendons after concrete has cured 71 . A brick whose face has been hacked to resemble roughly hacked stone 72.A type of tape used in finishing Joints between gypsum board 73. Employ ed to reduce restraint by accommodating movement of masonry walls 4. A window sash which opens inward and is hinged at the bottom 75. Inlaid wood flooring usually set in simple geometric pattern 76. Anchor bolts and strap are molded out of 77. Common hardware fastener for truss braces 78. Sealer type of washer for 6. 1. Roofing sheets 79. Trade name for anti-termite surface application on wood 80. Retards or accelerators concrete setting 81 . Coated with zinc 82. Technical term for earthquake 83.Vertical frame of paneled door 84. Fascia between floor and wall 85. Cement, sand, and water 86. Filipino term for framework 87. Filipino term for bottom chord 88. Filipino term for collar 89. Filipino term for plastered course 90. Filipino term for purling 91 . Filipino term for wainscoting tiles 92. Filipino term for wrought iron strap 93. Filipino term for ceiling Joist 94. Filipino term for door fillet 95. Filipino term for girder 96. Filipino term for masonry fill 97. Filipino term for downspout 98. Filipino term for cabinet hinge 99. Filipino term for brace 100.Filipino term for temper (metal work) Horizontal distance from the face of a lock or latch to the center of the knob or lock yielder A principal member of a truss Rough plaster finish obtained by flinging plaster on a wall with a hand operating machine A roofing tile which has the shape of â€Å"S† laid on its side A commercially pure iron of fibrous nature, valued for its corrosion resistance and ductility COLD JOINT A Joint formed when a concrete surface hardens before the next batch of concrete FOUNDATION WALL is placed against it Has high compressive strength but low tensile strength Horizontal surfaces on which the stone units lie on course That part of the foundation for a building which forms the permanent retaining wall Building technology notes In a building frame, a structural element that is shorter than usual, as a Cogged Joint stud above a door opening or below a window sill is called 2. A carpentry Joint by two uneven timbers, each of which is notched at Bull-nosed step the place where they cross 3. A step usually lowest in a flight, having one or both ends rounded to a Gravity wall Quoin semi-circle and projecting beyond the face of the stair string's 4. A massive concrete wall that resists overturning by virtue of its own weight 5. In masonry, a hard stone or brick used to reinforce an external cornerScarf Joint Baluster off wall 6. A type of half lapped Joint used to resist tension 7. One of a number of short vertical member often circular in section, Fenestration Fig. A-I mom Inflection point used to support a stair handrail 8. The arrangement and design of window in a building 9. What concrete block that is used in making a corner of an anchor wall 10. Lateral ties used for mom main bars for column is 1 1 . Refer to the portion of a beam where bending moment changes from Rowlock Scab positive to negative 12. A brick laid on its edge so that its end is visible 13.A short flat piece of lumber which is bolted, nailed or screwed to Cross bridging butting pieces in order to splice them together 14. Diagonal bracing in pairs between adjacent floor Joist to prevent the Web Brad Pyramid roof joist from twisting 15. A bar used to hold the reinforcement on a beam 16. A small finishing nail is called 17. A roof wherein the four sides are sloping towards the center Stirrup Pile terminating at a point 18. A metal sheet used to connect girder and floor Joist at the same level 19. A slender structural unit introduced onto the ground to transmit load Soldier Pigment o underground strata 20.Brick set on end with the narrow side showing is called 21 . Finely divided solid particles added to the vehicle to contribute color CACM Carriage Channel CM Fig 8-2 Miter box and durability to the paint 22. End lapping o f corrugated G. L. Roofing sheets 23. Inclined structural member that supports the steps of a stair 24. Structural steel shape having unsymmetrical balance 25. Hooked end off mom stirrups 26. Which among the concrete block is the header block 27. A device used as a guide of the hand saw in cutting object to form a Plastic hose with water 1 Com 40 bad. T. Fig.C-3 Bosses Load bearing wall Effective length Volume Stirrups Cement Gypsum board Fade Skylight Soft wood Fire brick Plaster ground miter Joint 28. The best and accurate tool for guiding the work in establishing a horizontal level 29. Minimum thickness of suspended R. C. Slab 30. Total board foot of 10 PC's. 31 . Which among the brick work is a common Flemish bond 32. Clearer is a product of 33. Wall that support weight from above as well as their own dead weight 34. The distance between inflection point in the column when it breaks 35. The amount of space measured in cubic units. 6. A bended rod to resist shear and diagonal str esses in a concrete 37. The most important component to determine the strength of concrete 38. Another term for plaster board 39. The face or front of a building 40. An opening in the roof for admitting light 41 . Wood coming from trees with needle leaves, rather than broad leaves 42. A kind of brick used for high temperature 43. A nailed strip incorporated in rough concrete wall to be plastered to act as guide and support for finish trim around opening and near the base Span Rip-rap Striking tool Fig. D-2 Striping of the wall 44.The distance between two structural supports 5. Stone placed on a slope to prevent erosion 46. Hammer is a 47. Which among the finger Joint is the hidden dove tail 48. The process of removing concrete forms from the cured concrete Purling 49. A structural member spanning front truss to truss or supporting Anchor bolts rafters 50. Steel bent inserted in masonry construction for scouring wood or Lintel plates to concrete construction 51 . A horizontal piece o f wood, stone, steel or concrete across the top of door or window opening to bear the weight of the walls above the Chord Sleeper Stud opening 52.The placing of glass in windows and doors 53. A rejected building material because of its below standard grade 54. A Joint produced by lapping two pieces of materials 55. Lumber that still contains moisture or sap 56. The internal angle formed by the two roof slopes of a roof 57. A vertical board attached on the ends of the rafters. It is part of the cornice 58. A large heavy nail is referred to as 59. What is the scientific name of wood 60. A wall that holds back on earth embankment 61 . The term used to indicate top and lower principal member off roof or bridge truss 62.Strips of hardwood usually 2†³xx† laid over a concrete slab floor 63. A vertical tutorial member which acts as a supporting element in a Tyrone finish wall or partition 64. Rough plaster finish obtained by flinging plaster on a wall with a hand Adiabatic curing operated machine 65. The curing of concrete or mortar without the gain or loss of heat Vinyl tile Creep Riser Plough during the curing period 66. A floor tile composed principally of polyvinyl chloride 67. The permanent deformation of a materials under a sustained load 68. The vertical face of a stair 69.A groove extended along the edge or face of the wood member Glazing cull Lap Joint Green lumber Valley Fascia Spike Xylem Retaining wall Post-tensioning Ashlars brick Perforated tape Control Joint Hopper Parquet Wrought iron Lag screw Lead Goslings Admixture Gallivanted Seismic stile Baseboard Mortar Balalaikas Barbarian Contusion Saturday Rooster Sloshes Platelets Skittishly Abattoir Gillian Lastingly Tubs De banana Cesspool Pie De Gallo Bandier being cut parallel to grain 70. The stressing of unbounded tendons after concrete has cured 71 . A brick whose face has been hacked to resemble roughly hacked stone 72.A type of tape used in finishing Joints between gypsum board 73. Employ ed to reduce restraint by accommodating movement of masonry walls 4. A window sash which opens inward and is hinged at the bottom 75. Inlaid wood flooring usually set in simple geometric pattern 76. Anchor bolts and strap are molded out of 77. Common hardware fastener for truss braces 78. Sealer type of washer for 6. 1. Roofing sheets 79. Trade name for anti-termite surface application on wood 80. Retards or accelerators concrete setting 81 . Coated with zinc 82. Technical term for earthquake 83.Vertical frame of paneled door 84. Fascia between floor and wall 85. Cement, sand, and water 86. Filipino term for framework 87. Filipino term for bottom chord 88. Filipino term for collar 89. Filipino term for plastered course 90. Filipino term for purling 91 . Filipino term for wainscoting tiles 92. Filipino term for wrought iron strap 93. Filipino term for ceiling Joist 94. Filipino term for door fillet 95. Filipino term for girder 96. Filipino term for masonry fill 97. Filipino term for downspout 98. Filipino term for cabinet hinge 99. Filipino term for brace 100.Filipino term for temper (metal work) Horizontal distance from the face of a lock or latch to the center of the knob or lock yielder A principal member of a truss Rough plaster finish obtained by flinging plaster on a wall with a hand operating machine A roofing tile which has the shape of â€Å"S† laid on its side A commercially pure iron of fibrous nature, valued for its corrosion resistance and ductility COLD JOINT A Joint formed when a concrete surface hardens before the next batch of concrete FOUNDATION WALL is placed against it Has high compressive strength but low tensile strength Horizontal surfaces on which the stone units lie on course That part of the foundation for a building which forms the permanent retaining wall

Effects That Poor Airline Customer Service Has Had On Passengers Essay

Abstract The present research explores the issue of poor customer service that airline industry is said to practice with regard to their product and services. The paper examines this issue from the approach of triangulation of the data. It critically analyzes the situation from three perspectives. For the first one is the issue of customer satisfaction in accordance with recent empirical findings. The paper highlights what customer satisfaction empirically means. The next section explores the present operations and services provided by the airline industry from a number of sources. The last section examines and cross-examines the state of customer satisfaction to be found in the present day airline industry operations. At the end of the paper, findings of the research are discussed along with suggestions and recommendation for policy making and airline industry’s operation with relation to customer satisfaction. Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   With the advent of new technology, extensive human intrusion in the mysterious space, and expedited communication in the twenty-first century, the demands, wants, and needs of the customers are said to be so finely met today as never before. With the state-of-the-art approach to any customer-related segments of today’s business world, it is claimed by the business sector in general that today’s customer is the luckiest one to have had so much ease of choice and liberty of opting from one product to another. This maxim goes from the small gadgets to the massive transaction held across countries. However, analyzing the perspective of the customer may not yield the same level of happiness and satisfaction from the side of the customer in today’s world. Airline business has seen a marvelous boom with the high-tech trend and massive investment throughout the world. As such, it becomes the point of this paper whether today’s airlines are really providing their customers the best of what is available to them. The present paper looks into the issue of the effects that poor airline customer service has had on today’s customer. The present study looks at the issue from a multifaceted approach. It aims to critically analyze the issue from a three dimensional view, that is to say, it extensively reviews current literature on customer-airline area; it goes on to investigate the point of view of the airline business itself and point out the major findings; as well as, the present paper critically analyzes the kinds of effects that the poor airline customer service has to have on the prospective customer. Customer Satisfaction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Customer satisfaction that a customer derives from a product bears enormous significance for the success or failure of a particular product. A product however technically sound and however economic in terms of use and feasibility cannot be regarded as successful unless and until the customer defines it as satisfactory to their needs and wants. As such, success of a product, we can say, is related to the level of satisfaction that a customer derives from it. Today’s situation, particularly in US business market, is alarming. According to Maier (p. 20, 2002), â€Å"Keeping the customer satisfied no longer is the mantra of American businesses, as studies show a steady decline in customer satisfaction that is projected to continue†. As such, in this section of the paper, the present writer deems it appropriate to critically examine the notion of customer satisfaction; how important is it in today’s business world; and what significance does it hold for the airline customer service? This is important with relation to the understanding of the poor customer service that is reported in today’s airline context. This section is intended to serve as scaffolding or mirror to the later research and findings of our issue of the poor airline customer service. It is important for every firm to offer a bunch of values along with the material product that is the focal point of business to that firm. Only offering the product cannot prove to be successful for a firm’s business. Henceforth, the business firm which has at its disposal superior package of services in the competitive market can certainly win the customer with greater profitability and mounting volume of market reputation. Research has revealed that even most satisfied customer can entertain to defect. According to research while examining the link between customer satisfaction and customer loyalty, it is known that customers, of any product whatsoever, come to feel satisfied with products at different levels and with different degrees of satisfaction. As such, the differential levels of satisfaction of the side of the customer have to give birth to a diverse range of conformity to the product of customer loyalty, â€Å"which in turn result in varying levels of behavioral disposition to patronage with a provider†. What this finding of the logical link suggests is that with regard to a product and customer satisfaction, the range of satisfaction is varied. However, another important point here is that although a customer may be satisfied with a product, they can opt for any other competitor’s product. This suggests that customer satisfaction may not necessarily bear customer loyalty. The point is that a customer opting for another competitor’s product may be allured by the services that the competitor is offering. â€Å"Therefore, firms have to strive to achieve higher levels of satisfaction than their competition by providing superior customer value†. This approach is basic to attaining what is regarded as â€Å"sustainable competitive advantage† (John, p. 07, 2003). Now the point of concern at this stage is that what kinds of business strategies are needed so that a firm can offer a bundle of service to address higher customer satisfaction that other firms in the competition cannot. The primary component here is to have a crystal clear understanding of the competitive market. John (p. 7, 2003) cites Pine and Gilmore who may regard such context of competition as â€Å"experience economy†. It is the very stage or state or level of competition â€Å"where products are quickly commoditized and firms compete on other aspects of the total offering†. According to this very researcher, there are three prime factors that contribute toward the success of higher or superior customer satisfaction oozing out of a product either material or service-related. The first is the employees of the firm that engineer the entire operation of the firm starting from the very scratch and ending it while in the front line interacting with the customer. The other is the processes that are observed by the firm both in the micro and macro level. The last one is the use of technology that the firm undertakes in order to address and meet higher customer satisfaction. All of the above must work in higher order harmony if superior customer satisfaction is needed. And, of the three, the least effective is the adoption of technology alone and depending on the use of technology alone. The author gives its reason. This is that technology can be easily replicated. A firm with required capital can do that. As far as the replication of processes and system goes, it should be noted that these two factors may also be at the disposal of any other competitors because â€Å"processes and systems can be designed appropriately to deliver customer satisfaction, but they can be relatively easily replicated†. However, what is significant in this connection is the attitude that the employees offer. A firm’s employees’ attitude is something that â€Å"less easily replicable† as such there is the entire focus of a competing firm should fall in order to meet superior level of customer satisfaction (John, p. 07, 2003). If we look at the present scenario of the services provided by the present day airline industry, one thing is to be noticed that the airline industry is giving more and more importance to technological advances which are apparent from bottom to top operations of the industry. Whether the airline industry does also offer higher customer satisfaction in connection with their employees’ attitude remains a point of concern which will be explored later in this paper. Before we move on, it is necessary to examine as to what it is that the customers in today’s context want from a product or firm so that they can derive superior level of satisfaction. In keeping with the view of John, (p. 08, 2003), it comes to our notice that there are three basic features which customers look for in order to feel highly satisfied by use of a product which can either be a service or a material product. Convenience is something that can be put on the top of the list. Customers want to be conveniently handled when it comes to opting for a product; they want ease of dealing, interaction, and productivity. Next is the matter of cost. Customers want to buy something as less costly as possible. And the last but not least is the quality of the whole product experience that remains with the customer for a considerably longer period of the former two. At this point in the present research, it has been highlighted as to what is customer satisfaction from the viewpoint of an industry as well as from the perspective of the customer themselves. Now it seems feasible to look at the present state of the airline industry so that a sound critical examination can later be made with relation to our point of examination, that is to say, it will later be explored what effects have been held by poor airline customer services on the customers; what are the causes and reasons for this poor customer service; as well as, how can these factors, causes, and reasons can be appropriately eliminated so that higher customer satisfaction can be obtained. Airline Industry in Today’s Context According to the observation of Dempsey and Goetz (1992), there are few industries that inspire the passion and rigor that the airline industry does. It is due to the cross-border voyages that airlines make letting their passengers feel the romance and allurement of the air-travel which is hardly as forcefully evident in other means of transportation as in the air travel. Henceforth, the airline industry can be viewed as â€Å"the most glamorous of industries† (p. 03). Another reason is the defiance to the law of gravity which â€Å"still gives many travelers sweaty palms on takeoff and landing†. And the highly critical issue with respect to the importance of airline industry is that â€Å"few industries are as â€Å"fundamentally important to the nation’s commerce, communications, and national defense as is aviation† (p. 03). Moreover, the present air travel has become an element of glamour that many people year to attach to. There are exclusive club memberships of entrepreneur power in the industry; celebrity chase of specific kinds of air travel with a bundle of exclusive services and things like that. In addition to the above, â€Å"ticket prices, route patterns, the margin of safety, and the identity of the carriers painted on the fuselages of aircraft on an unprecedented roller-coaster ride† is now a dream voiced in most of advertisement by the airline industry players. However, this very glamorous and alluring picture must be critically viewed with a magnifying-glass like examination so that hidden secrets and fallacies can be brought forward. One such is the poor customer service by the airline industry (Dempsey & Goetz, p. 03-04, 1992). In today’s context of airline services, newer concepts and terms of air travel are emerging by the day which enhances the feeling of a customer to be going for an air travel. Today, global carriers, globalization, and mega carriers are catch words that may allure anyone intending to fly for any purpose. However, these terms remain without precise or definite definitions as do the agenda of customer service that the airline industry has to provide. It is note-worthy that the expanded canvas of airline industry is not something recent; in fact, it all can be chased as farther back as the 1930s. By then, Pan American airline was flaying transatlantic and transpacific; it also had a massive network in Latin America. The same time such carriers as the British and Dutch were expanding their services to (as they were known by then) their colonies at a distant location in Asia and East Indies. Moreover, â€Å"Pan American by the 1950s had a round-the-world service† (O’Connor, pp. 57-59, 1995). In the present context of the twenty-fist century, however, things have taken a different stance in the business world; now market forces and competition is giving way to more and more mergers, amalgamation and business associations which may be seen as an approach toward more globalized airline industry. More foreign investment is coming to such countries as the US. Today, this all looks like so powerful an airline industry as never before. Air travel becomes more and more feasible so the services provided by the airline industry need to be critically examined with due attention so that real picture of this global trend can be taken (O’Connor, pp. 57-59, 1995). Changing Trends in the Twenty-First Century Today, more than ever before, the climate for airline industry is every changing and opting to more and more uncertainty in terms of international scenario with relation to a number of waves flowing over the international scenario. The twenty-first century has experienced huge calamities like the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers which caused the airline industry to meet a sudden decline. As such uncertainty of business is more apparent today. The entire climate is wrapped in an element of fear which has given rise to issues such as what kinds of customer services do the airlines provide today to both their international and local customers? According to Doganis (2001), in this climate of continuous change and uncertain aura, the coming years for the airline industry will bring more complicated issues and critical problems and serious challenges with them. One more point here is that not only the structures of the airlines will undergo a change, â€Å"but markets too will become more unstable† (p. 211). What is essentially needed of the airlines in such a situation is that they must clearly define their corporate mission with regard to every single aspect of their operations from employees’ attitude to customer service. â€Å"The key issue which needs to be resolved is whether the airline is to be a global network carrier or a niche player† (p. 212). Moreover, the essence of this entire climate of change will put immense pressure on such areas as ticket prices, services provided by the customers, and it will be enhanced by the new entrants who will be carrying more sophisticated business strategies and tactics to destabilize the present market condition. In this very context, the issue of customer satisfaction seems to linger even more loose than every before. There is danger in the coming times that airline products will be commoditized in which the key player will be fare prices only (Doganis, p. 212, 2001). Thus now it is highly important to critically analyze what is happening in the domain of customer services and the experiences that today’s customers are having with regard to the poor customer service. Airline Industry and Customer Service   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In this section of the paper, the writer highlights the pertinent issues which are regarded as the real cause for poor customer service by the airline sector. This is very significant if a through analysis of the effects is intended to be drawn. By bringing forward the issues of to the forefront attention, it will be easy to reach an empirical analysis. a) An overview Airline industry with regard to the services that are being provided by this very sector, is facing severe criticism from a number of critics from a number of areas of professional and general walks of life. For example, Reed, (usatoday.com, 2008) notes that the â€Å"shoddy service† of the airline is even coming to USA’s big airlines. In addition to this, Ramon A. Avila, professor of marketing and director of Ball State University’s Professional Selling Institute, Muncie, Ind. makes a very clear warning about the poor quality of customer service by airlines: â€Å"When it comes to poor customer service, expect more bad experiences in the airline industry† (Avila, p. 01, 1999). There are heaps and heaps of complaints being logged by the day. If we look at the present situation, it seems that airline sector is degenerating instead of rising for a number of pluses on its credit in the twenty-first century. The things that have become commonplace in today’s airline climate are confusing fares with no predefined schemes or policies; the flights are getting more and more mismanaged; delays of flights are nothing but a routine now hinged on the practices of cancellation without regard of the passengers psychological and other troubles being suffered. Avil also notes that â€Å"Expect rude treatment and expect companies to do the bare minimum because their bottom line is more important than a disappointed customer† (p. 01). The critic also maintains that it seems as if the airline industry is moving toward a fatal end due to so meager performance and stature in the overall picture. To him American airline industry is going to die. The most important point, according to Avil is that â€Å"Good customer service is the keystone to retaining and attracting consumers, and many businesses are missing the point† (p. 01). Although it is important to keep an impartial view of the entire situation, it seems equally important, as of now, whether or not the observations of Avil are up to the mark. For this very reason, a number of different sources will be analyzed to see if poor customer service has really become the norm of today’s airline industry or not. b) Airline industry in context of 9/11 terrorist attacks   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As according to Russell (2007), â€Å"Airline customer service is notoriously bad†, a very important issue with regard to poor customer services by the airlines to the customers is linked to the more recent wave of global terrorism in which the Twin Towers of World Trade Center were hit nothing but by airplanes. A number of officials blame the poverty of service and operations of the airline industry to this horrible event. However, critically examining the situation reveals something else of the position, particularly of the US airline industry. According to Whalen (p. 33, 2004), although it seems very tempting to attach the poor airline services to the terrorist attacks of 9/11, it is not the case altogether. The author reveals a different picture in this regard. The author states that the prime factors for such poor service by the US airline industry are the â€Å"decades-old legal and labor laws, and the U.S. bankruptcy code [which are] at the core of what is wrong with the airline industry† (p. 33). There is, as such, no other industry in the US which is so much kept on watch. And this really creates a problem. Washington, according to author, is busy in keeping the record of each and every activity taking place everywhere in the airline operations from bottom to top. This includes the airlines, their operational nature, watching of the airports, and so on. The author reminds of the 1991-92 crisis when â€Å"five major carriers [went] through bankruptcy† but the government â€Å"did little to change the basic economics† (p. 33). These rules and regulations are influencing the services and the poor quality of the services is directly related to them. Therefore, in the entire US airline industry seems to have been locked in a known financial cycle of growth and stagnation, which if hereby followed by economic default and bankruptcies. According to the author, this entire situation is directly influencing the customers of the airlines who have to suffer a poor level of services. Moreover, â€Å"Overcapacity exerts downward pressure on ticket prices, generating fares that don’t allow the airlines to cover the cost of providing service, making the average â€Å"private† airline look more like a public utility think of Amtrak with wings† (Whalen, p. 33, 2004). From this very viewpoint, it is very easily noticeable that there is little to go to the credit to such events as the wave of global terrorism but to the policy making and regulation of the US airline industry. According to the context discussed above, one this must be noted that the customers have yet to suffer. It seems that no attention is being paid to this very area which is both disappointing as critical both for the US authorities and the airline runners. Poor Customer Service Examined   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   If we wish to take examples or incidents in which poor airline customer service is intended to be reported, there is no doubt in stating that there are load and loads of such instances that would require tones of paper to be put down and which may not end as the situation continues by the very day. However, to the point of this paper, take the example of the great airline disastrous time of January 2, 1999. It was when a massive snowstorm had his Detroit the afternoon of the day. This virtually gave birth to historical crack downs in the area of customer service. It stranded many airplanes of Northwest Airline on snow-coated taxiways and tarmacs. It was not possible, then, to deplane many of the passengers mounting to more than 7000 who were then returning from New Year’s vacations. Their waiting spanned as long as eleven hours. The available food was insufficient in case of a number of planes; and what is more, many of the planes’ toilets became overflowed. Although the airport had closed, Northwest persisted to hope that the planes would take off; it was all forced in spite of the pleas that the on-site managers of the very company had recorded. This all resulted in what can be regarded as the nightmare of air travel in which the travelers had to let go of even their basic rights (Rosenthal, p. 1857, 2002).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Specifically looking at the canvas of the poor customer service by the airline in this regard purports us to look more closely at the issue. Major areas of customer dissatisfaction in this respect are quoted as of the following. These all examples that follow are caused for the Deregulation act that is the root cause of these and other possible poor customer service in which the customer does not entertain any right even to voice their genuine concerns. Delays and Cancellations of Flights   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It is the matter of everyday when the customers have to face delays and cancellations of flights for nothing but a number of various reasons. It is possible that in some cases the contract between the airline and the passenger may even be breached. It was the day of August 4th, and the year was 2000, when United Airline’s night-scheduled flight – destined from Washington D.C., to Paris – just stayed in the airport for countless hours only before the airline merely cancelled the en route schedule for â€Å"mechanical reasons†. However, the later published report revealed something that surprised the common and innocent citizens. The reports said that the flight cancellation had nothing to do with any mechanical reason whatsoever. It was actually that the United pilots had just turned down the idea of taking the plane off because Stephen Wolf, former United Chairman was on the flight as a passenger. This single instance is so horrible with regard to a number of passengers who had to suffer only because some people in the cockpit were playing the ego game. What is to be said to Stephen Wolf, who, whatever his past status to the United Airline was, was merely a traveler who really did buy a ticket on the flight. And the passengers were not able to hold any say due to the Deregulation Act. Inattentive Provision of Alcohol   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Inattentive provision of alcohol is also permitted as a service onboard to passengers. This service may be harmful in a number of reasons because of disciplinary actions caused by drunken passengers to the common citizens. In one instance, a flight attendant continued to serve alcohol to a group of inebriated passengers onboard of first-class passengers; afterwards, the drunken person insulted a fellow traveler; it was later to cause great controversy and mayhem because the passenger sued the flight attendant and the airline. However, what about a number of other innocent citizens that were also onboard the plane and could do nothing but suffer the entire scene of drunkenness and insult? The court, as such, plainly ruled the suing passenger for the same reason as the Deregulation Act (Rosenthal, p. 1857, 2002) Lost Baggage and Other Issues   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A couple on the honeymoon trip was on their schedule flight to Anguilla from New York City. The couple lost one of their two suitcases en route. They made repeated phone calls to the airline’s concerned office nothing but to track down their lost bag. All that the representative of the airline did was to repeatedly tell the couple that the airline knew the exact location of the lost bad and that it is just coming along their way. So they asked the couple not to worry. However, this very effective communication by the airline came to a fiasco as the bag was never found. The enraged couple rightly went forward and sued the airline. None the less, a surprise waited to compensate their psychological sufferings, the accused fraud they the airline did with them, and the negligent behavior of the airline. The surprise was that the couple had no remedy and this was just because of the Deregulation Act (Rosenthal, p. 1857, 2002).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Besides these instances and incidents, there are a number of other incidents that can be quoted here. Feltner, in her article â€Å"Airline customer service ratings down, and it show† discusses at length the massive misadventure that the author had to undergo while on board of a flight. So many things happened to the author which are discussed at length. According to the author, â€Å"the Airline Quality Ratings survey showed poorer performances for 16 of 18 U.S. carriers over the year before† and â€Å"J.D. Power and Associates released the results of the 2007 North America Airline Satisfaction Study, which included similar findings† (Feltner, 2008, smartertravel.com). The author goes on to discuss the poor ratings report and lower customer satisfaction rankings. She cites that â€Å"The new report shows customer satisfaction rankings for seven out of nine major airlines, as well as low-cost carriers†¦dropped this year† (Feltner, 2008, smartertravel.com).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   All this mayhem on the part of the airline industry has caused great panic and psychological distress on the part of the customers. Either it is the Deregulation Act of the legitimate law, or competition, or inappropriate rules or labor law, the entire burden is left dangling on the week shoulders of the customer who is already burden with so many other societal, social, and ethical problems. There seems to be no way out with regard to the problems that customers have to undergo on the hands of the airline poor performance and poor customer service. In the next section of the paper, the present writer discusses the requisite measures that need to be taken if poor customer service has to be eliminated or at least has to be reduced to a tolerable level. One such important point is the notion of customer relation management. This specific area and studies in this area are examined in the following section so as to reach a possible ground that leads to a healthier climate in which the ill-struck airline customer can experience better services by the airlines and breathe in fresh air. Poor Customer Service and Customer Relation Management   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To the present day, what is required to meet higher customer satisfaction in the lucrative business of airline is known as Customer Relation Management or CRM. It was actually in the 1980s that airlines started to introduce frequent-flyer segments of their program in order to enhance the loyalty level of their prospective customers. This trend gave birth to a new approach in marketing known as CRM. In today’s context, CRM programs are used in a number of businesses with focus on customer satisfaction. However, when it comes to the airline industry, it is not very surprising to note that the situation is not very satisfactory here. According to Binggeli et al. a survey was conducted for 17 major airlines around the globe. This very survey disclosed that even the most technologically equipped and sophisticated of the airlines â€Å"have only a rudimentary understanding of who their most valuable customers are or could be, which factors affect the behavior of these customers, and which CRM levers are most effective in ensuring loyalty† (p. 06, 2002). What in subsistence was being practiced was that airlines lagged behind best practices in CRM due to the fact that they were merely self-satisfied; they, as such, gave little importance to systems which were not functional and which were non-critical; or they did not worry about grasping financial implications of getting matters in the right place. â€Å"The result: today. Airlines [sic] know only marginally more about the people who fly on their planes than they did ten years ago† (Binggeli et al, p. 06, 2002).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   According to the researchers, today, more than ever before, the airlines need to make an urgent approach toward effective implication of the CRM approach if they really want to make a difference. This is fairly for the reason that if an airline adopts the CRM approach, there is empirical evidence that such an airline can easily increase its revenue by as high as 2.4 percent growing by every coming year, â€Å"representing a bottom-line annual impact of $100 million to $250 million for a large carrier† (Binggeli et al, p. 06, 2002).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the present scenario, most of the working airlines do not have sufficient feasible conditions and lack systems and other processes that are required to implement a CRM program and therefore they do not have absolute or reliable data on their customers. For example, though airlines have contact with their customers through a number of channels, such as the Internet, customer service desks, airports, and airplanes, what is simply the matter, data on these sites are not collected with a consistent pursuit or are not accurate at any of these points of customer-interaction activity. (Binggeli et al, p. 06, 2002).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Most of the airlines cannot recognize their most precious customers, â€Å"because their frequent-flyer programs are little more than general-ledger systems that track accrued and spent miles. Although a general correlation does exist between the tiers of a frequent-flyer program and the value of the customers enrolled in them (meaning that in most cases a frequent flyer in the elite category is the most profitable kind of customer), further analysis can prove illuminating† (Binggeli et al, p. 06, 2002). It must be noted in the same connection that different customers within the very tier usually hold widely differential degrees of value to different airlines, additionally, a small but noteworthy number of customers in the category of lower tiers. In this example, we can take the regular customers who let go of full fare out of their pockets. Such passengers can carry great value for the airline as compared to those customers who travel in the upper ones. (Binggeli et al, p. 06, 2002). One more critical problem is the reality that they scarcely know how much money their customers let go of with their competitors in the very market. For example, it is possible that a customer who travels by airline A, may also extensively travel by airline B, and â€Å"would thus be a more fruitful target for marketing than its own frequent travelers† (Binggeli et al, p. 06, 2002). Thus what is required in the overall picture to meet greater customer satisfaction is CRM approach which not only has to yield great profitability conditions and enhanced market reputation for an airline, it also goes a long way on the continuum of customer satisfaction that can definitely satisfy today’s aggrieved and frustrated customer. The Experience of Singapore International Airlines   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One airline that has surprised the critics of airline customer focus is the Singapore International Airlines. According to Smith (customerservicezone.com, 2008) Singapore International Airlines (SIA) is â€Å"so superior that it leaves other carriers in its vapor trails†. The very point that the author makes here is that the entire success story of the SIA is that â€Å"It places the needs of passengers first, and offers services above and beyond the ordinary†. With this airline, even the experience in the economy class is something that a traveler forgets hard. It is simply a remark that all classes seem to enjoy benefits with equal share of customer satisfaction. â€Å"One of the primary reasons Singapore Airlines provides superior service is because they only hire people that enjoy a service role–enjoy serving others† (Smith, 2008). Thus the example of SIA should be an eye-opener for other airlines too. Conclusion In conclusion, it can be fairly stated that there a number of complex matters which give birth to poor customer service by most of the present day airlines both public and private. If customer satisfaction means superior services on the part of airlines, it can be openly calimed that most of the airlines both local and global fail to meet this criterion. Although it is a right remark to suggest that much of this is credited to the regulations and rules that a government (in this case USA and the Deregulation Act along with decades-long labor laws, for insatnce) holds, it is not right to suggest that only government rules and regulations are solely responsible for a number of dissatisfactory segments of poor customer service by the airlines.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A number of airlines do not practice such important approaches as CRM due to a number of reasons. Whatever they want, one thing empirically becomes clear that today’s customers continue to suffer on the hands of the airlines. Moreover, as quoted above, the suffering customers do not find a proper channel to voice their concerns with relation to massive frustration caused by airlines. Today, â€Å"little attention is being paid to the effect poor internal customer service has on overall customer satisfaction† which is a real problem (Harrison, n.d. principledprofit.com).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Now according to my personal analysis of the entire situation, the poor customer service can only be reduced to an acceptable level only if three-dimensional approach is adopted. On this triangle first come the government that need to make policies that support the customers as the most important part of any airlines related rules and regulations. Next corner of this triangle is the airlines themselves that need to make sure that their customers do not feel that their services are still poor. For this very issue they need to look more closely at the area of customer contact and gather as many data as possible and sort them out in a technically sound manner so that they can be used to make sound empirical investigations. The last corner of this triangle is the customer themselves and airlines need â€Å"information about prospective new customers† (Hagel and Rayport, p. 3, 2002), for successful operations. Unless and until the customers are not considered an integral part of any policy and regulation, no better improvement toward the present meager state of poor customer service can be carved on the canvas of airline business. For this reason the customers must be involved in the process of change and alterations of any kinds. References    Avila, A. R. (August, 1999) Customer service is bad-and getting worse! USA Today. 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