Addressing Turnover in Management

Addressing Turnover in Management High rate of employee turnover within organizations affects the general performance of any business entity. This is because high turnover lead to issues such as; low employee productivity, errors from lack of experience, recruitment activity costs, rising costs on training of the new workers both in formal classroom and on-the-job training. Owing to these factors, there’s need for organization managers to focus on the welfare of employees for the purposes of achieving companies’ goals and objectives (Buckingham, 2005, pp 70-79)Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Addressing Turnover in Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Reasons for high turnover Within the organizational structure and trends in performances lies some of the contributing factors towards high turnover rates, some of these factors include the following; Low morale within the workplace Lack of opportunities for advancement or growth M atching employee’s skills with inappropriate Job group Inadequate supervision and training (Nadler and Wiggs, 1986) Management policies to address high turnover Training needs should be identified by examining the manner through which employees carry out their day to day tasks. It is also necessary to consider the opinions of the employees concerning the same issues for the purposes of improving the overall performance level. Organizations’ goals and objectives in relation to their present and future position will be examined, including the financial performance. Managers will be able to identify human resource development needs through observing how they apply certain skills like typing and data entry (Buckingham, 2005, pp 70-79). Employees will be exposed to forum presentations in order to determine on their proficiency in language use. Each employee will be monitored through the management’s computerized system for the purposes of identifying their areas of weaknesses, hence subjected to appropriate training (Anderson, 1994, pp 23-28). The possible actions the management can use to address the high turnover include: Offering Supervisory Support Offering opportunities for Career development Introduction of reward scheme Embracing internal promotion (Yoon and Lim, 1999, pp 923-945). Interviewing existing employees and staff focus groups will be carried out on current employees and those who are still working respectively so as to get valuable and reliable information concerning the high number of employees quitting their various positions. Supervisors could also be required to give explanations why employees leave since they are close enough to the workers hence could understand or note any contentious issues affecting performances (Holton et al, 2000). Managers will be required to develop and critically analyze employees’ turnover reports. These will help them get the root cause for the mass turnover. They should first of all lo ok at the Companies working environment and consequently look at the strength and weaknesses of the organization (Holton et al, 2000). Conclusion The organization will use one of the learning institutions for training purposes. Managers will be allocated sufficient time for training depending on the resources available. After the induction, both practical and written test will be given to individuals before being fully accepted. One of the steps to be used in addressing turnover is to gather enough information on the issue, then come up with broad perspective on how to reach the solution.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Managers as well as employees are required to have a copy of the company’s rules and regulations. References Anderson, G. (1994). A proactive model for training needs analysis.  Journal of European Industrial Training, 18 (3), 23-28. Bucki ngham, M. (2005). What great managers do? Harvard Business Review, 3, 70-79 Holton, E., Bates, R. Naquin, S. (2000). Large-scale Performance driven Training Needs Assessment: A Case Study. Public Personnel Management, 2 (29), 249– 268. Nadler, L. Wiggs, D.G. (1986). Managing Human Resource Development.  Jossey-Bass, San Francisco; CA. Yoon, L. (1999). Organizational support in the work place: The case of Korean hospital Employees. Human Relations Journal, (1), 923-945.

Lord of the Rngs essays

Lord of the Rngs essays Critical Evaluation of The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring Peter Jackson, the movie picture director from Heavenly Creatures and The Frighteners, has done it again. A New Zealand born native has made some of the most goriest pictures that were ever produced. He has transformed one of the most intriguing fantasy books, which was always a dream of his, into a three part movie trilogy. The outcome of this burdensome task is a superb film. He had the right mix of team, talent, financing, and location to make a story so fanciful come to life. His incredible intuitions and skills were seen thoughtout. It is a wonderful, eye-catching, film. The screenplay by Jackson was remarkable, given how much material he had to discard and condense in order to make the transition to the screen, while still remaining true to the original. As best said by himself, I wanted to take moments from the book and use modern technology to give audiences nights unlike anything they have experienced before. His talent exceeded anyones belief that such a masterpiece could be created with such brilliance. This movie rates among one of the top three of all time. New Line Cinema and Wingnut Films Production presented Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. This three hour spectacle, a condensed version of the four-hundred page book by J.R.R.Tolkien, was released on December 19th, 2001. It has grossed in three hundred and thirteen million dollars. This film placed eleventh in all time income as it grossed over three hundred and thirteen million dollars. The premier was in London, England, and then in New York City for the U.S.A. This legendary fantasy gave everyone, from avid fans of the book, to people unfamiliar with the trilogy, a truly fascinating experience. You would not have to read the book to be carried away by the magic and power that encompasses you as you experience the movie. The production company filmed all three mov...

Non-Democratic Regimes Theory, Government and Politic by Paul Brooker Essay

Non-Democratic Regimes Theory, Government and Politic by Paul Brooker - Essay Example The writer has purposefully endeavored to reveal a chronological discussion as regards the theoretical analysis of the evolution and development of the non-democratic form of government, significances, failure, consequences, and contribution in the development of political thought. The effort has also been made to compare democracy with those non-democratic regimes. The presentation of the book is well-organized; language usage is lucid and legible and comfort reading. The whole book has been covered by 10 chapters dealing with every issue of a non-democratic regime. The subject matter of the book is easily accessible. Commendably, for the conveniences and a better understanding of the readers, the author has supplied relevant data, figures, and tables which have made an impressive discussion. Anyone with a perusal can easily understand the contents of the book and identify the core purposes of the author inviting the readers to a thoughtful discussion in order to face the ground-rea lity through earning some practical knowledge. The 20th century has witnessed tremendous shifts in the governance portfolios. A large part of First half of the last century has experienced the advent of totalitarianism embodying fascism, Nazism, and communism in German, Italy, Eastern Europe, Russia, and China. In 1920s-1930s totalitarianism for the first time developed in Nazi German and Fascist Italy. With the growing popularity of communism, the concept was reintroduced in the western political thought in the 1950s in Russia, Eastern Europe and even in China. The dominance and wider acceptance of totalitarianism regime in 1960s-1970s were more than democracy and seemed as if totalitarianism could be the predominant state philosophy in the coming days. The period between the end of Second World War and the opening of 1970 era is marked by the military dictatorship.

Epidemiology and communicable disease Assignment - 1

Epidemiology and communicable disease - Assignment Example The first case of Ebola outbreak was recorded in Sudan and Zaire in 1976 with a mortality of more than 200. In 2000, another outbreak of the disease occurred in Uganda with an incidence of 425 and a mortality of 224. In 2014 March, the WHO made a report of Ebola outbreak in West Africa, originally in Guinea, but rapidly spreading to Sierra Leon and Liberia. In Europe, 24 cases of Ebola infection have been treated with most of the cases being aid workers who have a history of traveling to West Africa. In November 2014, the latest case of Ebola in US was recorded with the victim dying within three days during the treatment process at Omaha biocontainment center (Muyembe-Tamfum et al., 2012). Ebola epidemic increases the disease burden in the health care system not only to the affected country but also to other states, which must take contingency measures to prevent the spread of the disease within their regions. Nevertheless, management of Ebola virus demands a collaboration in the health care system at international level. This ensures that different countries coordinate efforts to conduct research and surveillance on how the disease can be treated and prevented. Collaboration at a global stage can be achieved through harmonization of funds and human resource from different countries to engage the disease at the Centers of outbreak before it is transmitted to other regions (Preston,

Osmosis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Osmosis - Essay Example Water can pass through the membrane, either going inside the cell or going outside of it. In what direction does the water flow This is what this osmosis experiment will try to find out. According to the scientific theory, water will flow from a place where the concentration of chemicals is lower to another place where the concentration of chemicals is higher. What this means is that if the amount of chemicals inside the cell is higher than the amount of chemicals outside the cell, water will flow from the outside to the inside. The cell will absorb water. When the cell absorbs water, the cell will increase in weight or gain weight because there will be more water inside it. If the amount of chemicals outside the cell is higher than the amount of chemicals inside the cell, water will flow from the inside to the outside. The cell will lose water. When this happens, the cell will lose weight because there will be less water inside it. My experiment therefore will test whether the following hypothesis is true: that water will pass through the cell membrane of a plant or vegetable from the solution where the amount of chemicals is higher and into the solution where the amount of chemicals is lower. 8. This test is repeated four more times. ... Measuring spoon: 1 teaspoon = gram Weighing scale Clamp Paper and pen for recording data Timer I decided to conduct the experiment in the following way. 1. Cut a piece of swede into 15 slices and placed the slices inside a container at room temperature and covered the container with a lid. 2. Poured tap water into each test tube labelled A, B, and C. 3. Used the clamp to pick up three slices of swede A, B, and C and weighed each slice using the scale. 4. Recorded the weight in grams. 5. Placed slice A of swede in test tube A; slice B in test tube B; and slice C in test tube C to soak in the solution. Waited for 5 minutes. 6. Used the clamp to pick up the soaked swede and weighed it. Recorded the weight of each slice A, B, and C in grams. 7. I then threw away the water in the test tube, cleaned the test tube, and dried it. 8. This test is repeated four more times. Steps 2 to 4 above were followed, but before step 5, I used a teaspoon to add salt to the water in the pan. I then mixed the water for 1 minute until the salt was dissolved before putting the slice of swede inside the test tube to soak for 5 minutes. 9. The amount of salt in each test was: a. Test 1 0 teaspoon b. Test 2 1 teaspoon c. Test 3 2 teaspoons d. Test 4 3 teaspoons e. Test 5 4 teaspoons The results of the experiment are shown in Table 1. The mass of each piece of swede before and after soaking in the solution is recorded in grams. The change in mass is recorded in grams. The amount of salt added to the water is also measured in grams. The time is measured in minutes. The temperature for the environment is recorded in degrees Celsius. The temperatures for the materials used in the experiment - the 15 pieces of swede, salt, and water - are kept constant and is measured in degrees

History of the Japanese Samurai

History of the Japanese Samurai The Samurai: Warrior and Ruler of Ancient Japan Few countries have a warrior tradition as long and exciting as Japan. It is a tradition found in the Samurai, the loyal and self-sacrificing knight of ancient Japan. The Samurai is a valiant warrior who can both appreciate the beauty of nature in that of a rose blossom but will also kill or die for his master in an instant. This well-rounded warrior was the ruling class of Japan for almost seven hundred years. He fought for control of his country and to keep Japan free from outside influences. (Turnbull 1) This aristocratic warrior class arose during the 12th century wars between the Taira and Minamoto clans and was consolidated in the Tokugawa period. Samurai were privileged to wear two swords, and at one time had the right to cut down any commoner who offended them. They cultivated the martial virtues, indifference to pain or death, and unfailing loyalty to their overlords. Samurai were the dominant group in Japan. Under the Tokugawa shogunate, the samurai were removed from direct control of the villages, moved into the domain castle towns, and given government stipends. They were encouraged to take up bureaucratic posts. The Hagakure, has been dubbed the book of the samurai. It was written after a century of peace around 1716. It came to be the guide of samurai ethics until the end of the feudal period. Its short passages reflect and outline the qualities that make a samurai. Yamamoto Tsunetomo expresses in the hagakure the framework and mindset of being a samurai. â€Å"Although it stands to reason that a samurai should be mindful of the Way of the samurai, it would seem that we are all negligent. Consequently, if someone were to ask, ‘what is the true meaning of the Way of the Samurai?’ the person who should be able to answer promptly is rare. This is because it has not been established in one’s mind beforehand. From this, one’s unmindfulness of the Way can be known. Negligence is an extreme thing.† (Wilson, 17) â€Å"The Way of the Samurai is found in death. When it comes to either/or, there is only the quick choice of death. It is not particularly difficult. Be determined and advance. To say that dying without reaching one’s aim is to die a dog’s death is the frivolous way of sophisticates. When pressed with the choice of life or death, it is not necessary to gain one’s aim. We all want to live. And in large part we make our logic according to what we like. But not having attained our aim and continuing to live is cowardice. This is a thin dangerous line. To die without gaining one’s aim is a dog’s death and fanaticism. There is no shame to this. This is the substance of the Way of the Samurai. If by setting one’s heart right every morning and evening, one is able to live as though his body were already dead, he gains freedom in the Way. His whole life will be without blame, and he will succeed in his calling. (Wilson, 17) The samurai had extreme religious ideals. One samurai in particular, Tsunetomo, he began to despair of ever gaining a position as a retainer, and her began to visit a man who was to have no small influence on his life. This was the Zen Buddhist priest Tannen (? – 1680), a man of unbending integrity and will, who had resigned his post as head priest at the major Nabeshima temple as a protest against the death sentence of another priest, and when recalled, refused to return. Zen Buddhism and the samurai had been closely related since the thirteenth century in Japan, when the Hojo regents had discovered that its vitality and rejection of life as an object of special craving had much to offer the warrior. Tannen had his own ideas concerning the relationship of Zen and the warriors. â€Å"He declares that religious matters are for old men, and if young samurai learn about Buddhism it will only bring them disaster, for they will begin to look at the world from two sets of values ra ther than one.† (Wilson, 13) The warriors of early Japan bore only a passing resemblance to the later samurai. Weaponry and armor were of a distinctly Chinese flavor, and the earliest warriors carried shields, a device evidently out of vogue even before the Heian period. Some of our knowledge of the weapons and protection the early Japanese warrior carried comes from artifacts excavated from the tombs constructed in the 4th and 5th centuries to house departed royalty. Another, just as valuable resource are the haniwa, which were clay statues evidently used as grave markers. A good number of these haniwa depict warriors, and these provide us some insight into the nature of ‘home-grown’ Japanese armor of the time. The horse was imported to Japan sometime in the 4th or 5th century, and quickly became a valuable commodity. Also brought over from the continent were Keiko, or suits of lamellar scaled armor. This type, which is traditionally associated with horsemen, provided the foundation from which the classic patterns of samurai armor construction would build. Just as important is the samurai’s weaponry is the code of ethics by which they lived by which is known as the code of Bushido. This term refers to the moral code principals that developed among the samurai class of Japan, on a basis of national tradition influenced by Zen and Confucianism. The first use of the term apparently occurred during the civil war period of the 16th century; its precise content varied historically as samurai standards evolved. Its one unchanging ideal was martial spirit, including athletic and military skills as well as fearless facing of the enemy in battle. Frugal living, kindness and honesty were also highly regarded. Like Confucianism, Bushido required filial piety; but, originating in the feudal system, it also held that supreme honor was to serve one’s lord unto death. If these obligations conflicted, the samurai was bound by loyalty to his lord despite the suffering he might cause to his parents. The final rationalization of Bushido thought occurred during the Tokugawa period, when Yamaga Soko equated the samurai with the Confucian â€Å"superior man† and taught that his essential function was to exemplify virtue to the lower classes. Without disregarding the basic Confucian virtue, benevolence, Soko emphasized the second virtue, righteousness, which he interpreted as â€Å"obligation† or â€Å"duty†. This strict code of honor, affecting matters of life and death, demanded conscious choice and so fostered individual initiative while yet reasserting the obligations of loyalty and filial piety. Obedience to authority was stressed, but duty came first even if it entailed violation of statue law. In such an instance, the true samurai would prove his sincerity and expiate his crime against the government by subsequently taking his own life. By mid-19th century, Bushido standards had become the general ideal, and the legal abolition of the samurai class in 1871 made Bushido even more the property of the entire nation. In the public education system, with the emperor replacing the feudal lord as the object of loyalty and sacrifice, Bushido became the foundation of ethical training. As such, it contributed both to the arise of Japanese nationalism and to the strengthening of wartime civilian morale up to 1945. The term â€Å"Samurai† means those who serve. These mystical knights served many functions in Japanese society. During time of war, they were the masters of the battlefield. In peace they were the administrators and the aristocrats. As statesmen, soldiers, and businessmen, former samurai took the lead in building modern Japan. The Japanese warrior, known as the samurai, has played a significant role in Japans history and culture throughout the centuries. Their ancestors can be traced back to as far as can be remembered. Some stories have become mysterious legends handed down over the centuries. In this report you will learn who the samurai were, their origins as we know them, how they lived and fought and their evolution to today. It will be clear why the samurai stand out as one of the most famous group of warriors of all times. Looking back in time, the first Japanese battles recorded are in the first few centuries AD. At this time Japanese warriors went across the sea to Korea to help one kingdom battling two rival kingdoms. Four hundred men set out and fought on foot carrying their bows, spears and swords. They were quickly beaten by warriors attacking on horseback. They probably had never seen an attack like that before, with horses being ridden. Even though there were horses in Japan they had not been used for riding or fighting, but to help in carrying and pulling goods. In the next century, however, there is evidence that horses were being ridden and used in warfare by warriors who would later be called samurai (History Channel). The term samurai was first used in the 10th century and means â€Å"those who serve†. In the beginning it stood for men who guarded the capital for the Emperor, some where used as tax collectors. Later the word grew to include any military man who served a powerful landlord, almost like a police force for that time. They would go around the countryside on horseback collecting taxes from the peasants, often this was in the form of rice. This money helped the Emperor pay for his lavish life style. The word, samurai, quickly spread and was respected (and maybe feared a little) for the men it represented. The noblemen depended on the strength of the samurai. Since their power and wealth was directly related to how much land they owned, the noblemen kept small armies of samurai to protect their property from thieves and invaders. Eventually many noble families joined together to form clans that became more powerful than the emperor, who was the traditional head of the Japanese government (How Samurai Work 11). In the 12th century the two most powerful clans were the Minomoto and the Taira. The two came to battle in 1160 with the Taira winning. Twenty years later in 1180 those Minomotos who had escaped death (they were children during the first attack) led a new attack that turned into a war that lasted five years and was called the Gempei War. The Minamotos won, and the emperor made Minamoto Yoritomo shogun, the head of the military. Yoritomo however wanted more and took all power away from the emperor and made himself dictator. At this time the samurai gained power, through land given to them by the new shogun. Their rise in status was beginning. The battles that were fought during The Gempei War were very important in the history of the samurai. They set a new and honorable standard for all samurai to live by. These standards would last throughout the existence of the samurai warrior. The Gempei War provided a role model for Japanese samurai’s courageous and noble behavior (Turnbull 14). Almost all the important characteristics attributed the samurai culture came out of the Gempei war; â€Å"Archery, hand-to-hand fighting, undying loyalty to one’s lord and the tremendous tradition of ritual suicide all have key passages and proof texts in the tales of the Gempi War†(Turnbull 15). The samurai had an unwritten code of honor called the bushido. Bushido means â€Å"way of the warrior† (History of the Samurai 3). This provided them with a code to help show them how to live and conduct themselves at home and in battle. One of the most important duties of the samurai was their loyalty to their lord. The samurai would defend their lord until the death. Revenge was also central in the samurai’s life and if someone had killed their master or attacked their master’s honor revenge must be gotten. The same vengeance was given if they themselves or their family were disrespected or defeated. Not just anyone could become a samurai warrior. You had to be the child of a samurai, being born into this class was a privilege. The samurai were not all rich, in fact their wealth was judged on the amount of Koku (which is the amount of rice that the fields produced). Other things like the size of the samurai’s house were based upon the wealth and rank of the samurai. There were also strict traditions to be followed for a young samurai. When a samurai was born, he would be given a small sword charm to wear on his belt. When the boy is five he gets his first haircut and begins to learn martial arts. At age seven he receives his first wide trousers called hakama. When the young samurai is fifteen he goes through a ceremony called gembuku where the boy becomes a man. He then receives his adult name, his adult haircut, and his first real sword and armor. Most boys would be taught combat skills by their father and eventually as he got older he would be taught by a local sensei. Those boys from wealthier families were expected to be educated men and may be sent to an academy where they would study literature and the arts along with martial arts. The training of the samurai for battle was intensive. There was more than just physical training involved. Strong mental concentration and focus were necessary to channel their energies before battle. The samurai warrior would spend endless hours practicing a set of complex battle movements called kata. â€Å"This practice started slowly at first increasing speed, until they became effortless and perfect. The movements were based on strategies of attack, defense, and counterattack† (Gaskin Hawkins 73). However, the only way these young samurais would ever gain experience is to take part in actual battle. So the sons of the samurai would follow their fathers into battle to test their newly learned fighting techniques. The samurai were also known for having a psychic awareness of the world around them in addition to their great skill. This is something practiced from an early age as well. An example of this keen awareness is seen in the story of three brothers told by their father. The father decided to test the ability of his three sons. He placed a vase on top a door so that it would fall when someone entered. The youngest son entered the room and he cut the vase in half with his sword before it hit the ground. The father’s response was, â€Å"This son has a long way to go.† Then he called for his middle son, this son caught the vase right above his head. This time his father’s response was that, â€Å"he is strong and improving but still has much to learn.† Finally, the oldest was called into the room, when he reaches for the door he immediately feels the weight of the vase. He slides the door open a crack and catches the vase and walks in. His father replies, â€Å" This son is doing well.† (Gaskin Hawkins 75). Their goal for perfections and their training and dedication were endless. The samurai is famous for his sword and it is one his most prized possessions. There are two main swords, one called the katana and the other the wakizashi. The wakizashi is worn on his belt at all times and a shorter blade of the two that was used in battle. The katana is the longer curved sword that was the samurai’s main weapon. The sword is given to a samurai at birth and placed next to that samurai when he dies. The samurai would take the sword everywhere he went, even to bed. It was treated with great respect and most would have been passed down from generation to generation. The process for making each sword from iron and steel is long and tedious requiring many steps and much patience. When finished a decorative handle would be added. The sword makers were respected and treated with almost reverence for the job they performed. â€Å"Like an artist the master sword maker would often sign his work (Gaskins Hawkins 10). This sword would be the difference between life an d death for many samurai. The 1500s began as time known as the Period of Warring States. This term was borrowed from the Chinese even though Japan was battling between families and clans, and not states. The leader of the clan called himself an ashigaru. which means great names. Only the strongest clan could survive these battles and the daimyo would do anything to win. The powerful daimyos had large armies made up of foot soldiers called ashigaru. During this time there was also a big change in how the samurai fought. In addition to using the traditional bows they were introduced to guns for the first time. First the guns came from European traders and were made in China, but it didn’t take long for the Japanese to start manufacturing their own weapons. (Turnbull 19). The samurai’s armor was one of the most elaborate and unique creations of their time. Today they are seen as works of art. Their armor was made from lamellar armor which took small metal plates and fastened them together and covered with a lacquer to make them waterproof. The outside of the armor was very colorful and sewn and covered with silk and leather designs. There were two types of armor, one called yori, which was heavier and used for riding on horseback. The other was called do-maru this was lighter and more practical for the foot soldiers. Both allowed for the samurai to have flexibility to move able to use their weapons and move in battle. This armor covered the entire body from samurai’s helmet to his chest protector and panels protecting his hips, arms and legs. One interesting fact is the about the kote. It is an armored sleeve only worn on the left arm so that the right arm would be free for the samurai to shoot his bow. Even when the bow was no longer us ed for battles this type of armor was seen as honoring a sense of tradition (How Samurai Work 5). The samurai’s helmet was also very important. It provided heavy duty protection to the head and neck. They also wore an â€Å"iron face mask, which might represent demons, ghosts, or barbarians† (Gaskin Hawkins 71) to help intimidate the enemy. An older warrior might want to use the face of a younger warrior so no one would know his age. The heavy duty neck covering helped in battles, and also helped prevent beheadings. Another example of samurai pride and courage is the ritual of burning incense in his helmet before battle. This was done so if he was defeated and beheaded he would leave behind a pleasant scent. Another example of their legendary bravery was in 1281 when Genghis Khan (leader of the Mongols out of Asia) attempted to invade Japan. But, because of the brave samurai and a well timed storm called a kamikaze, they were destroyed along with their ships. The word kamikaze means â€Å"winds of the gods†, but after that day it took on another meaning to include, destroying an enemy. Even in 1945 the term kamikaze pilot was used for the Japanese pilots that attacked the American fleet at Pearl Harbor. This victory against the Mongols was another added to the list of samurai’s brave and notable victories (Gaskin Hawkins 28). To the samurai, their pride went hand in hand with their honor and heritage. One example of this is when one samurai would challenge another to battle. It was tradition at this time for each samurai to speak publicly the names of all his ancestors, along with their accomplishments in battle ( some stories became embellished over time). This showed the deep pride and respect they held for his ancestors. (Turnbull 47). By the 14th century a samurai’s lineage had gotten quite long and just reciting your ancestors was difficult. The family pedigree was so important it was written down to be kept safe at all cost. An example of this devotion is when a samurai’s house caught fire and one samurai volunteered to go in and get the family tree that was written on a banner. â€Å"After the fire they found the samurai laying dead on his stomach, when they turned him over they found he had cut his stomach open and put the family tree inside to protect it from the flames† (Tur nbull 53). This is another example of their devotion to their family and to duty. The ancestors of the samurai were very much involved in the present life of the samurai. Every year during the Bon Festival they would be welcomed back through religious ceremonies. These ceremonies showed a deep appreciation felt toward their ancestors. They felt great gratitude for who they were, this included their name and their status. There were even rituals held before battles to bring the ancestors to help (Turnbull 48). The death of the samurai was treated with the same respect and honor as was his life. Seppuku is the word used for suicide by cutting open the stomach (also known as hari kiri). Seppuku was performed with a dagger. To the samurai warrior seppuku was something to be honored and respected. It could also bring back honor to him and his family if he had been beaten in battle or disgraced. This took incredible bravely and was extremely painful. Often a friend of the samurai’s would to end his pain by cutting off his head. (History Channel). This could also be something planned out ahead of time or done quickly during battle. Nitta Yoshisada is one of the most famous stories of a samurai’s death in 1336. Going into battle one day he was worried, the battle was difficult and he had to lead his men through rice fields. Yoshida went charging in, despite a heavy attack of soldiers and arrows. His horse was hit and fell down pinning him underneath. He had no time or way to reach his stomach to perform seppuku so they say he cut off his own head. This is just one of many extreme acts of seppuku over the many years of the samurai. As clans all over Japan dispersed there became a large amount of samurai without a master these samurai were called ronin. These ronin were different from most samurai because they were not loyal to any lord. Many of them became personal body guards for farm owners, and some became senseis, and others took the time to master the technique of the sword. As time has passed the so did the importance of the samurai warrior. There were no more battles to be fought and peace was among the country. This with Japan becoming a more industrialized nation. After years of isolationism and their declining economy Japan was finally forced to open trade with western countries including the United States. This caused a split in Japan between the conventional samurai ideals and those who wanted to bring in the new ways of the west. In 1876 the emperor decided that there would be no wearing swords unless you were part of the imperial armed forces. This was another symbol of the samurai‘s power no longer needed. Over time the samurai could no longer support themselves and returned to farming or working in cites. The role of the samurai warrior was finished. The Japanese samurais have been extremely influential figures throughout Japan’s history. Their influence has been seen is all aspects of Japanese life from the education of young boys in body and mind, to governing of the Emperors, to the study of the martial arts. Their code of honor and loyalty are traditions that all Japanese respect and try to live up to even today. The self sacrifice of ones own life for a common cause was even seen in World War II when Japanese pilots deliberately crashed their planes into United States ships anchored at Pearl Harbor. This was a devastating attack and can show the horror caused by revenge and their belief in sacrifice and honor. They were even called kamikaze pilots after the famous samurai battle of long ago. The influence of the samurai continues to be seen in Japan today in a positive way with the stories and legends of heroic samurai and the bushido as their guide. Works Cited Gaskin, Carol. and Hawkins, Vince. The Ways of the Samurai. New York: Byron Preiss Visual Publications, 2003 â€Å"History of the Samurai.† http://home.online.no/~p-loeand/samurai/hist-eng.htm â€Å"How Samurai Work.† http://science.howstuffworks.com/samurai.htm The History Channel: The Samurai. Videocassette. AE Television Networks, 2003. 100 min. Turnbull, Stephen. Samurai, The World of the Warrior. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2003

Among School Children :: miscellaneous

Among School Children It’s amazing how you can grow up and forget childhood-excitement, or the feeling of it. I was watching a whole lot of small children a while ago and was sad to realise that I’ve lost some of the wonder of being a child. I was near to a sweet stall and it was amazing to just see the looks on the children’s faces as their gaze fell upon the colourful treasure. Their eyes glowed and all of a sudden their hands transformed into magnets, attracted to the sweets. Some would just walk to the stall, grab a sweet and shove it in their mouth before anyone could stop them. I saw twins, a boy and a girl about two years old. They both had huge blue eyes and couldn’t resist reaching out to the sweets. Their mother tried desperately to stop them and the little girl looked at her with those irresistible eyes and smiled as if to say, â€Å"How can you resist me?† All the while the mother was probably worrying about them getting rotten teeth. We have forgotten the innocence of childhood and sometimes cannot see just the positive aspects of things. Another little girl, about five years old, brought a friend to choose some sweets. While choosing what they wanted, the little girl pointed to some and said, â€Å"Those are bubblegum. But you can’t have them.† Her friend asked her why and she answered, â€Å"Because I’m not allowed to.† We sometimes forget how to appreciate and enjoy a moment to the fullest. When children see their friends it’s as if just seeing them gives them an enormous amount of energy. They run up to them shouting in excitement and immediately they run off together to play. Children are able to show their true emotions in a way grownups can’t/won’t. They don’t worry about other peoples reactions, they act on impulse. Sometimes I think that we burden children with our worries and fears and in a way we steal their treasured childhood. Instead of forcing them to rely on their imagination, we just switch on the television and let actors entertain them. Children become desensitised because we expect them to handle things that are beyond their understanding. We trap their abundant energy by feeding them junk to keep them quiet and buying playstations to keep them occupied instead of letting them run around and play, and then fall asleep, exhausted, to their own dreams not simulated ones.

Proposal Truancy Essay

Truancy can be defined as (a) phenomenon where student skip classes or lectures without permission or acceptable reason. Lately, we observed that every single class that we attended has students who skipped lectures. In other words, the classes never have a full attendance. We realised that this matter has become a serious problem in UTM. The lecturers are also concerned regarding this trend because they feel that this problem could affect the student’s performance. According to the UTM’s examination regulations, student who come less than 80% of their attendance are barred from taking final examination. However, in certain cases, some lecturers do not take the attendance seriously. Consequently, some students would take advantage of this situation and did not attend their classes. Therefore, as part of UTM’s students, we decided to treat this problem seriously by conducting a research about truancy problem among UTM’s student. 2. Statement of problem The problem arises when the student feels that they do not need to attend classes as they manage to study on their own. Besides that, some students do not have the motivation to go to class because they think that the class itself is not interesting. To tackle this problem, we want to know the effects of truancy, especially to the student’s performance throughout the semester. Moreover, we would like to know the student’s and lecturer’s opinions regarding this matter. These are the main questions that need to be answered in order to solve or come out with a solution to this problem. 3. Objective of the research The purpose of this research is to determine how frequently students do not attend their classes throughout the semester. In addition, we would like to compare the CGPA between students who come to classes and those who do not come to classes. Furthermore,the research will explore what the students did when they do not attend classes. The scope of this study is limited to the UTM’s lecturers and students. At the end of this research, we will recommend useful solutions on how to ease the truancy problem among UTM students. 4. Research question 1. What are the reasons for students to play truant? 1. 4. 2 What the effects of truancy on students? 1. 4. What is the CGPA between students who come to classes and those who dont’? 1. 4. 4 What students are doing when they don’t attend classes? 1. 4. 5 What are the subjects that students often like to skip? 1. 4. 6 When is the time students mostly skipped their classes. Is it morning, afternoon,or evening? 1. 4. 7 What can be done to ease truancy problem? 5. Significant Study Many good outcome or benefit we can obtain by conducting this resea rch. One of them is to create awareness among UTM students on how important it is to attend classes so that they can improve their grades. Next, it is easy for lecturers to recognize students who are weak and be able to help them. Besides that, it can make learning process in class more interesting as student can participate by asking question or give opinion to the whole class. Moreover, it would be a waste of money because student pay for their tuition fees which is not cheap that is RM 700. Lastly, it will also benefit students in the future especially during their working days. This is because it can avoid them from easily getting fired by their employer’s for not coming to works. 6. Scope of Research In order to collect data,60 questionaire will be distributed among the students from three faculty which is Faculty of Electrical Engineering ,Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Faculty of Civil Engineering. Whilst,the interview is limited to 6 students from Faculty of Electrical Engineering which three of them are the type of student who always skipped classes and the others are the type that always attended classes. Besides that,we will interview 4 lecturers only from Faculty of Electrical Engineering. The observation will be carried out in our section which is Section 02,3SEE,Faculty of Electrical Engineering. . Research Methodology In this research,we will considering two sources which is primary sources and secondary sources for data collection among the respondents. The primary sources would be base on questionnaire,interview and observation. On the other hand,we will collect the additional information from journal,newspaper,textbook and article from internet about truancy p roblem to support out primary data. 1. 7. 1Primary data Our primary data will be from questionaire,interview and observation. In order to know why this problem oocur in the first place, we’ve decided to sk the students directly by asking them to answer questionaire regarding the matter. 60 questionaires will be distributed among the student. In addition, we’ve come up with the method for collecting information from the students and lecturers which will be by interviewing them directly. We will be interviewing two types of students . The first one will be the type of students who always follow the rules, that is in this case, never skipped lectures. Then,We will ask he or she why he or she never skipped any classes and we will ask their performance throughout the semester as well. Meanwhile, for the second type of students who always skipped and missed classes, we will ask them why they decided to do this and what they actually do during the time they skipped the classes. Furthermore,we will interview some of the lecturers about their opinion regarding to this problem and ask them on the solution how to alleviate truancy among UTM’s students. Besides that,we will also collect data and information through observations. This will be carried out by observing the attendance of students in certain clasess as well in particular period of time. Firstly, we will count the number of students in the class and then, we will ask permission from the lecturer to see the attendance list at the end of the class. This is to ensure that the number of students in the class correlates with the total number of students who sign in the attendance list as sometimes students ask their friend to sign on their behalf. From these observations, we aim to know when is the time students mostly skipped their classes, whether it is in the morning, afternoon or in the evening. Then, we hope to come up with a reasonable conclusion based on the data obtained as well as to think of some measures to encounter this problem. 1. 7. 2 Secondary Data Besides collecting data from the primary sources,we will also find the additional information about truancy from journal,newspaper,textbook and article from internet. All of these references are categorised as secondary data. Furthermore,from all of the secondary resources we obtained,we will paraphrasing and summarizing the material in order for us to enhance better understanding on this research.

3 More Cases of Unnecessary Punctuation

3 More Cases of Unnecessary Punctuation 3 More Cases of Unnecessary Punctuation 3 More Cases of Unnecessary Punctuation By Mark Nichol In each sentence below, the presence of one punctuation mark- or, in the case of the first example, a team of two complementary marks- introduces a flaw in the syntactical structure of the statement. Discussion and revision of the problematic sentences follow each example. 1. He would replace conservative, Justice Antonin Scalia, who died last month, leaving behind a bitter election-year fight over the future of the court. Because the phrase â€Å"Justice Antonin Scalia† is essential to this sentence- the statement would not be grammatically valid if it were omitted- it cannot be treated as a parenthetical. Here, conservative is simply a description of the person named. But also, because conservative and justice can combine to describe the person, the latter word joins the former one as a generic descriptor and should no longer be treated as a job title: â€Å"He would replace conservative justice Antonin Scalia, who died last month, leaving behind a bitter election-year fight over the future of the court.† (This rule applies to any similar shift in function, as in â€Å"former president George W. Bush† as compared to â€Å"President George W. Bush.†) 2. In the book, Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies, the authors assert that a company sustains itself by setting audacious goals that require the commitment of its personnel to work outside their comfort zone. Unless the book has been previously referred to, this sentence treats the title as if it refers to the one existing book. Again, without the parenthetical information, the statement is flawed because, in this case, it does not identify the book in question: â€Å"In the book Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies, the authors assert that a company sustains itself by setting audacious goals that require the commitment of its personnel to work outside their comfort zone.† 3. These factors pertain to such drivers as: the enterprise’s capabilities; competitor capabilities, behaviors and actions; and customer preferences and bargaining power. The colon interrupts the syntactical flow of this sentence: â€Å"These factors pertain to such drivers as the enterprise’s capabilities; competitor capabilities, behaviors and actions; and customer preferences and bargaining power.† (It would be correct if the sentence began â€Å"These factors pertain to such drivers as the following.† In this case, the colon, placed after following, would properly punctuate a complete statement that sets up what follows the colon.) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Synonyms for â€Å"Leader†"Latter," not "Ladder"Wood vs. Wooden

Prejudice in To Kill a Mocking essays

Prejudice in To Kill a Mocking essays To kill a Mocking Bird could be considered a reliable and unexaggerated portrait of southern Americans prejudice because the author Harper Lee based Maycomb the setting for the book and the character Atticus. On the real place and people. Monroeville and Harper Lees farther who was a lawyer. Monroeville was also Harper Lees hometown and this gave her reasons to know the socity as deeply as she does. The people of Monroeville and other places in the South America recognised themselves and the part that they played in the society in the book, this illustrates the connection between the society in the 1930 and the fictional narrative. Having the book so accurate, the author can then hit the reader with more impact and can express her views on prejudice and discrimination with stronger force and more focus. The book investigates many types of prejudice. One is the hatred and fear towards the blacks and the violence between them that could break out at any time, for example the lynch mob. The lynch mob were a group of men that threatened to take the law in their own hands and got together to kill Tom Robinson before his trial. It shows the underground violence that surfaces before the rape case starts. It also shows how the lynch mob feel powerful in a group, because they are able to hide behind someone else. Scout doesnt understand what their intentions are and sees a face in the crowd and names him. 'Hey, Mr Cunningham she says singling him out from the group. Mr Cunningham realises this and is put in the spotlight and cant hide behind anyone. He also realises that an innocent little girl has caught him in action. This puts pressure on Mr Cunningham and makes in take in to account for his actions. This is an effective way to combat this type of prejudice, Scout manages to disarm Mr Cu nningham, and he has to rethink his actions. There are many types of prejudice and they all subtly revolve ar...

Marketing & Management of Innovation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Marketing & Management of Innovation - Essay Example It is a concept which is replete with innovation and creativity. It is a stupendous effort with the never ending benefits for the people. It is a product which is pre-eminent in its kind. One can present it as superior to all others by presenting it as sumptuous. But what if it is useless and people are unable to solve their un-served needs. Pre-eminence in marketing can only be achieved with the delivery of additional value to the customer and making them delighted. One is delighted when the need is satisfied, and he/she gets more value out of the preferred product. Exactly in the same manner LED â€Å"Lantern† concept is there only to solve the problem of consumers by phasing out the power hunger bulbs and lightning the field with more efficiency and in an effective manner. Product concept The product concept of LED â€Å"Lantern† is, in actual, to encourage people to lighten the fields in some more effective ways with less hazardous material used in the manufacturing and less power consumption. According to one of the estimates, it takes around 1/5 less of energy than the normal light bulb. It is also free from the hazardous element such as mercury thus requires less voltage. Its life is 20 times more than an incandescent bulb which makes it the perfect choice for consumers, with its multi functionality LED â€Å"lantern† has the competitive advantage over the others. It can be utilised as a torch lantern by solving the problems of most of the people victim of darkness and want to light their fields and areas while spending less dollars, then LED â€Å"Lantern† is a right choice for them. Its utilization for camping purposes can be very fruitful as well. Stressing upon its features, Cree white LED has been installed in it. It has also been allotted a rotate side knob for multi functioning. Its long list of phenomenal attributes do not end up here .it has got top class magnifying glass which is very pre-eminent. It provides the foc used long beam which enhances the visibility and serves the consumer with better focus. It has got 2-mode electronic switch for the convenience of the consumer â€Å"HIGH & FLASHING†. Green â€Å"LED† indicator makes it visible in the darkness, and at the time of any emergent situation, it can be very helpful to get hold of it in the darkness. It is water resistant; its ability to light the fields never gets affected with any external intrusion such as water or any other liquid. Technical Assessments Before the transformation of the product concept into the realized product, its technical aspect must be assessed properly. The product LED â€Å"Lantern†, as the name suggests, is based upon the technology that is (Light emitting diodes). The absence of the filament in LED technology based LANTERN makes it cost effective as it helps to curb the consumption of electricity required in order to run the product. Illumination of LEDs occurs as the flow of electrons take n place through the material which behaves as the semiconductor, all this process to be undertaken as a result of charge provided by the electric circuit in the form of electricity (Knisley, 2002). LED is a diode which emits the light. It behaves as the conductor. There is no reversal process taken place for the flow of electricity. It is considered to be the one way process. These diodes are comprised of the main components that are whisker which creates the connectivity with the

Quranic and Biblical Depictions of Sulayman Research Paper

Quranic and Biblical Depictions of Sulayman - Research Paper Example The author of the paper tells that when comparing the two texts, some key differences in the depiction of Sulayman/Solomon is revealed. Firstly, in the Holy Koran, the emphasis was laid on Sulayman's role as a Prophet, whereas in the Holy Bible he is portrayed as a King. And to go with the notion of a prophet, Sulaiman was endowed with supernatural powers such as the power to move wind. The following select quotations from Abdul Haleem's translation of the Holy Koran illustrates this point: â€Å"And (We made) the wind subservient to Sulaiman whereof the morning course was a months journey and the course a months journey." (54:12) "So We subjected the wind to his power, setting fair by his command whithersoever he intended" (38:36) "And unto Sulaiman, We subdued the wind in its raging. It flows by his order towards the land which We had blessed And of everything We are aware." (21:81)† Seen from an Islamic point of view, one need not see any contradiction in designations such as a Prophet or a King, for, in the Islamic tradition, most Prophets happen to be Kings and vice-versa, including Prophet Muhammad himself. Secondly, in the Holy Koran, Sulayman is said to have lived only 53 years; whereas The Bible suggests that he lived longer than that. Other minor differences in the two versions pertain to minor linguistic differences such as King David (the father of Solomon) being referred to as Prophet Daud in the Holy Koran. As for similarities, the historical/religious character in question is said to have gathered knowledge from his illustrious father.