Thursday, October 31, 2019

ORGANISATION AND BEHAVIOUR Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

ORGANISATION AND BEHAVIOUR - Essay Example Out of various strategies, and techniques that are used to enhance greater productivity of human capital, motivation is a valuable psychological tool that promote people to be high performers. The first part of the assignment talks about the motivational theory in practice at Tesco, and explains concepts of change and leadership styles in relation to the motivational theory. Tesco is UK’s leading grocery and general merchandising retailer operating through more than 2000 stores in UK alone (Tescoplc.com, 2012). Motivation and Non-financial motives Schermerhorn, Hunt and Osborn (2005) defined motivation as â€Å"forces within an individual that account for the level, direction and persistence of efforts expended at work† (p. 120). An individual can be motivated by a number of different factors such as pay, reward, appreciation, promotion in the work, better working condition and so on. When an individual is motivated by any such method, he is mostly found to work harder and show sincere gratitude towards his job task and thus to be highly productive and be high performer. A company may use various types of non-financial motives such as 1) promotion, 2) safety at work, 3) reward and recognition, 4) better working condition, 5) health support, 6) education for children, 7) friendly atmosphere within the workplace, 8) organizational learning, 9) cooperation and 10) multicultural workplace. Effects of unmotivated workforce ... A company may use various types of non-financial motives such as 1) promotion, 2) safety at work, 3) reward and recognition, 4) better working condition, 5) health support, 6) education for children, 7) friendly atmosphere within the workplace, 8) organizational learning, 9) cooperation and 10) multicultural workplace. Effects of unmotivated workforce Unmotivated workforce will not work harder and therefore they will not be high performers or high productive in the workplace as compared to those who are motivated. Unmotivated workforce will not help the company create a brand loyalty among the customers as they are very likely to make mistakes and this will adversely impact the business. Unmotivated employees are found to show increased absenteeism and high turnover which in turn affecting the quality of business operation. Tesco benefiting from motivated workforce At Tesco, the management is highly concerned about customers as well as staff. The company supports its staff with its s pecially adjusted work and life balance through rewards and recognition. Flexible working, reduced health expenses, membership in gym, competitive salary, staff discount and company’s share options are some of Tesco’s attractive motivation incentives it offered to its people. From these incentives, Tesco has been benefiting to create trust and respect among its people. At Tesco, the motivated staffs are found to be in a partnership relation with managerial staff and thus they effectively accomplish their expected goals (The Times 100, 2012). Taylor’s motivation theory as not relevant to 21st century According to Taylor’s motivation theory, people are motivated by financial incentives as he argued that people worked purely for money. In early years, Taylor

Monday, October 28, 2019

Seperation of a Mixture Lab Report Essay Example for Free

Seperation of a Mixture Lab Report Essay 1.Mixture is taken, and has to be measured in order to meet the requirements of 2-3g. 2.The mass of the tray is measured and then the scale is zeroed out and the mixture is added to find out the mass of the original mixture. 3.Next, find the mass of the 250mL beaker, zero out the scale, pour the mixture in, and weigh to find the mass. Find the mass of the 100mL beaker as well. 4.In order to separate the iron from the mixture, take a bar magnet inside of a Ziploc bag, and swirl it through the mixture. 5.The iron will stick to the magnet, and lift the magnet out of the mixture. All iron in the mixture should be on the magnet. 6.The iron taken out of the mixture is then measured to find the mass of the retrieved iron. 7.Next, the salt will be separated from the mixture. In order to do this, a ring stand must be set up with an iron ring and a glass funnel. Take a piece of filter paper and fold it as demonstrated by Mrs. Montoney, and place it in the funnel. 8.Place a 250mL beaker under the funnel for the filtered water. 9.Put the remaining mixture in the funnel. 10.Pour some water in a beaker, record the amount of water and pour it in the funnel. The mixture will begin to filter and drain the salt, leaving behind the sand. More water may need to be added depending on if the salt particles are fully desolved or not. 11.The sand has been recovered. Take the filter paper, unfold it, weigh its mass, and place it in the chemical oven to dry before measuring. 12.While the sand is in the chemical oven, take a hot plate, and place the beaker with the filtered salt water on the hot plate. The water will begin to boil, and eventually, the salt will be  clearly visible and separated. 13.Once the salt is fully dried out, and no water remains in the beaker, remove the beaker with tongs for it will be extremely hot. Measure the beaker with the salt in it and subtract the original mass of the 250mL beaker to find the mass of the recovered salt. 14.The sand should be dry by now. Take the sand on the filter paper out of the chemical oven with extreme caution, place it on the scale, measure its mass, and then subtract the original mass of the filter paper in order to find the mass of the recovered sand. 15.The mixture is now separated into the three substances of sand, salt, and iron. Scientific Background: In order to complete this lab report, the following concepts must be understood. First, the difference between a mixture and a pure substance. A mixture is two or more pure substances combined, that keep their separate chemical identities and properties. The amounts of each pure substance in a mixture can change therefore the physical properties of a mixture depend on its composition, and the composition of a pure substance is constant giving pure substances characteristic physical properties that do not change. Physical properties that are used to describe pure substances include solubility, magnetism, and boiling point, which are all characteristics used in this lab. The next concept is physical changes. Physical changes separate the components of a mixture, such as separating the iron, sand, and salt in this lab. Physical changes that can be used to separate mixtures include filtration, evaporation, and distillation. Mass percent composition is a way to express the real composition of a mixture by the amount of each component. In order to do this, the substances must be separated quantitatively. Lastly, percent yield which describes the efficiency of the â€Å"recovery operation† is calculated to separate the mixture. (Handout) Observations: The observations for this lab are as follows: †¢The original mixture is a brownish color, and the difference between the different substances can easily be determined by sight. †¢When the water was poured into the mixture of sand and salt during the filteration process, the filtered water was coming through slowly in large drops. †¢During the  filtration process, the salt seemed to not be dissolving as quickly as thought, and more water was needed. †¢When the salt water was being boiled, all of the sudden the water turned into what looked like foam and the salt started popping. †¢When the sand was taken out of the chemical oven, salt particles that had not been dissolved were found on the bottom of the filter paper. †¢The iron had a high magnetism, while sand and salt had none at all. †¢The salt had a high solubility in water while the sand did not. †¢The physical appearance of the iron resembled rough tiny little black hairs.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Role of recruitment and selection

Role of recruitment and selection INTRODUCTION: In today world many organisation are facing high level of challenges due to the unstable economic recovery leading to rise in no compete agreements, also large number of illiterate workers being recruited resulting in reducing the profit margin and competitiveness; with increase in contemplate retirements and very few people left in-between 18-45 age to do this job. Human Resources and recruitment go hand in hand and their importance is increasing rapidly within the organisation, it has be observed that these changes has altered new image of the HR whereas previously they functions were limited to only welfare organiser or administrative role, but now known as a key aspect in running business forward and changing the business strategies to meet the need of the client. Now we are going to discuss the about how the recruitment and selection process works , also discussing the inputs provided and how it helps in smoother functioning in the organisation. * Finding the job requirement and funds must be there. * Review the job requirements according to the clients and ensure the present and future requirements are met. * Check the candidates specification to met requirements of the job description * Organize selection process * Create the advertisement and make selection for the medium of advertising the job requirement * Short list the candidates specification only * Start the Interview process and examine the short-listed candidates * Confirm the references; verify the qualifications documents and other legal considerations * Give Appointment SCOPE: Procedural Purpose: So this process has an important place in selecting the appropriate person and to maintain the high standards of the workforce, make the procedure more relevant and no discrimination to be shown to any of the employees. RECURITMENTAND SELECTION PROVISIONS: Job Profile and Need for it: There are certain questions we need make a note Job necessity there? Does it add value to the team and whether it fulfils the requirements? How can the job requirement funded? A special approval is required if the position is outside the scope of the employer Requirement for updating the job profile? If yes then the job profile and candidate specification need to be re checked, then we can utilise t the HR team to provide the appropriate inputs to suit the need to the job requirements. What type of job? Temporary job Part Time, Full Time job Permanent job or fixed term contract basis or Can the job be sharing an option? Secondment or agencies Use of the fixed contracts are basically to meet a project or task assigned, they are not for permanent purpose, there is always a doubt whether any of these job can be permanent if any arrangements are extended above 12 months. This 12 month period can also be availed through the employments obtained from the agencies. Usage of secondment should be in agreements of the IPCC Secondment Policy Political Restricted Jobs If the jobs come under the IPCCs list of politically restricted post the n it should be mentioned clearly in the advertisement and also while the recruitment process is going on No access to Minor or Vulnerable Adults There should be a proper checking done before the appointment to make sure no minor or vulnerable adults are given access. PLAN SELECTION PROCESS: Managers duty is to make proper plan for the selection process and also giving importance to the following points. Designating the Panel à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The manager job is to designate a panel for conducting the interview, this panel can consists of two or more, it can be mixture of any gender and any race. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ This panel should have one person who must have got approved training by the IPCC on recruitment and equal opportunities, if not then the issues has to be resolved by the Human Resources à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The panel must be familiar with the anti discrimination legislation à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Willingness of the panel to conduct the interview in all the phases of the recruitment process and also these interview with given fair opportunities and treating all equal and no bias Panel should fulfil certain criterias like decision and their relationship with the candidate Must not affect the ability in selection decision, shouldnt lead to any kind on consequences or showing their motive. Test for the Selection Selection process has many components one of them is conducting the test this method, (i.e. will enable us to examine the job requirements to relation to the reliability, fair and unbiased- also estimating the capabilities of test), it is a powerful tool and highly recommended in use. HR can give guidance to managers how to use this tool effectively. Development, administration and interpretation of psychometric test must be recognised by the people. Questionnaire Preparation: The Competency based questions can be obtained by the HR from IPCC Interview Guides. It the job of the manager to obtain these questions from the HR prior to conducting the interview. ADVERTISING: Vacancies advertisement: Manager prepares advertisement by availing help form HR, the HR team gives advertising service which is centralised for the vacancies. For a permanent vacancy the advertisement is done internally by means of intranet and also externally, advertisement for external vacancy are done on IPCC website , also including the newspaper publications and may also involve the agencies also when ever applicable. The applications must be submitted to HR Team not to Manager directly. SHORT LISTING AND INTERVIEWING: Short Listing Candidate: Short Listing of the candidate should be on basis of the specifications it must be completed, no changes should be made to short list the candidate as it will be injustice, completing the short listing and ensuring the process is does not have any unlawful discriminations. A second person is desirable to be added. Former employees who were terminated due to some reason should be considered for the appointment; Short listed candidates notes should be submitted to HR by the manager for filling and retained for 6 months Interview: It is the managers must prepare the interview timetable of how and when the interviews will be conducted and also need to mention if there will be any test This information is then given to the HR and he will be notifying the short listed candidates about the arrangements through a phone call, mail or email and the information will be as follows à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Time, the date and place of the interview à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Instruction of the route to the venue à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ A request to call or contact the person in charge if there is any special arrangement needed to be made in matter of interview à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Including information about anything that they need to carry in regards to the test or presentation (examples like documents of proof of qualification needed for the post) Interview Phase The main reason the interview is conducted is to select the correct person that is why IPCC has laid the framework to conduct interview by methods which are systematic, perfect, no bias and fair from and discriminations. Every candidate treated equally and consistently and to do this the panel has to follow the steps or take precautions à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ All the questions must be the same for each candidate. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Appropriate questions must be asked to get an understanding of the applicant answers à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Consistence level should be maintain in allowing presentations or notes à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ No breaching IPCC equal opportunities policy or code of conduct in regards to discriminatory action, or any kind of harassment, or any other conduct that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ If the candidate is disabled, necessary step have to be taken like adjustments that may be required on job and should be taken in a positive way. Examining the disabled candidates must be in relation to the candidates performance ability, also taking into consideration that any adjustment required were provided. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Candidates information should be treated as confidential throughout the selection process and parties involved in the selection process only should share the information à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The Interview records and the reasons for decisions must be returned to HR for updating and must be disposed in six months later SELECTION: Appointment Decision Selecting the appropriate candidate is the most important of the HR and Manager as this will lead to the proper growth prospect and also satisfying the need of the requirement. The decision must be made purely on the candidates eligibility and merit and that will leads to selecting the successful candidate and this is the job of the panel, these judgements are made on à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Information in the application à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Qualifications à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ How well performance at Interview à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Results of selection tests à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Work permit or working right in the UK. Appointed candidates must actively promote the IPCCs Core Values panel must ensure this. VERIFICATION: Checking the Information Provided During this information of each candidate must be checked properly, the managers must satisfy themselves that the information provided is authentic, valid not fake and honest. This includes being information regarding the candidates: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Application à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Work Experience à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Qualifications (only if qualification is a requirement for the post, proof of evidence or certificates must be collected from candidate and must be recorded safely) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Evidence shown at the interview. Human Resources are responsible for processing: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Reference checking à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Security Clearances à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ ensuring the candidate has Work permit or working right in the UK. If any of the information provided is not valid then HR should immediately discuss the matter with the Manger. OFFER: Employment Offer The Manager has to issue a conditional verbal offer of employment within a week of interview. Offer should within the salary range stated on the Authority to Recruit form. If for Manager feels that for any reason the offer should be made above that range, then directors and HR Heads prior approval must be obtained. Failure to this may lead to offer being drawn back. Conditional basis offer must be while the required verification takes place for purpose of security clearance, health declaration, references, qualifications (basing on the job requirement) and the right to work in the UK etc. Managers responsibility is to notify HR of the offer. HR send the candidate for a security clearance questionnaire, , offer letter, health declaration form and statement of particulars detailing post, salary, benefits, holiday entitlement, notice period, working hours and location. After successful completion of applicants acceptance letter and other formalities HR will issue a confirmation about the receipt letter informing the start date along with joining instructions. Manager must get advice from the HR team before withdrawing a firm offer of employment if he wishes OTHER REQUIREMENTS: Post interview feedback results for the application HR is the one responsible for providing written notification to all the candidates about the result of their application. If a candidate requests for a feedback regarding the unsuccessful short-listing and the reason should be reasonable to the candidate for rejection also providing the constructive feedback. Written feedback is not provided normally. MONITORING RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION (REPORTING): HR job is to keep a track of the recruitment processes and to ensure they are not discriminatory any of the policies and provides statistical data to Senior Management on a regular basis. Additional guidance If the Manager has doubt and in not clear about anything in regards to the recruitment and selection process he might seek advice from the Human Resources Team. CONCLUSION: At last the conclusion would be that Recruitment and Selection is the strongest pillar of the organisation function; they play a vital role, because to make the business to a successful business Right person should be employed to do the right job.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Procrastination And Sloth The Spice Of Life? :: essays research papers

I’m what most people might call lazy, lethargic, and a procrastinator. How did it start? The first specific instance that I can remember was in 5th grade math class. I didn’t do my math. My mentality was that school consumed more then half of my waking hours and I wasn’t going to let it take anymore then that. So my assignments were partially completed, from the day before, and handed in unfinished. I knew that my parents and teachers would raise hell itself when I did this but my mind wouldn’t waiver on this. Since I had been able to get through all of grade school without homework why should I have any now? Great reasoning for a 5th grader, but this thinking contained a few flaws. To start out, there are 3 types of people in the world. The first kind will generally always try their best and be a competitor in life. They treat life as a marathon that needs a steady vigil pace to complete. The second is the person the will try to complete the absolute bear minimum to survive and occasionally misjudges what is needed done. The third and final is the person that absolutely cannot find any reason to try at all and hope for the best to come to them but never actively seek it. This is the lowest form of life that will suckle away your money, forgiveness, and love never sharing it back with you. To thoroughly understand the three classes of people, a more detailed analysis is needed. The first kind is the ideal person. One, which all parents and communities hope to produce. They are considered the leaders, overachievers, and well standing citizens. The second class is the C student of life. They’re the average person who occasionally does exceptional work but for the most part will be in the shadows of the first class. Procrastination and laziness is most common to occur in this class and becomes extreme when we reach the third class. The 3rd class no longer tries or cares too much about their life to do anything about their state. They are the ones that abuse the welfare system and borrow anything and everything from their friends and strangers alike. The causes for these differences can be attributed to many factors. At one point we are all the in the same class, class number one.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Celebrity Synthesis

Celebrities s are not entitled to the same privacy as normal citizens because they are dollied so much by socio TTY, play a huge ole in determining the social norms of the community, and sacrificed a right t o privacy in exchange for fame. Celebrities are dollied by countless people, made up mostly of the younger g enervation, and are often viewed as role models. This makes it only right for their private I ivies to be made known to the individuals who hold them in such high regard. The way people live their private lives does tell us things that can help to make judgments about them. † (Sour CE E) A peek into the lives of their favorite stars allows fans to see how these celebrities really a CT and behave, ether than the image they attempt to portray. This enables individuals to ma eke the proper judgments as to whether or not to continue to idealize that particular star. W hen a celebrity has â€Å"lied about or deceptively omitted† (Source A) something, they â€Å"ca nnot then c nominal when the Richards 2 truth becomes known. (Source A) If celebrities are going to pose as role mod else, especially for the younger population, the fact that their private lives will have to be shared must be accepted. These stars are public figures that play a huge role in determining the social n arms of society. In recent decades, â€Å"Celebrities have become the chief agents of moral change in the united states. : (Source C) justifying their lack of privacy. People base their moor alls and behavior on the way celebrities act and carry themselves.Society has â€Å"populated [their] lives with celebrities†¦ Whose stories we eagerly weave into our own lives. † (Source C) Of ten celebrities use their personal lives to further their career and so â€Å"cannot object when others question whether their carefully scripted images are accurate. : (Source B) In order to continue t hold celebrities in such high regard, individuals must have access to the tru th behind these image sees. Without a look into the personal lives Of celebrities, society WOUld not know who these stars t rule were.People would base their lives on the public image portrayed by these stars rather that n on the character of these role models. Thus access to the secret lives of celebrities allows society to determine whose morals are true and can be followed and held in high regard. It is common knowledge how intrusive the media can be when it comes to cell verities, and hose who came into fame were well aware that from that moment on their p riveter lives would no longer belong to just them.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

How to Answer Brainteaser Interview Questions and Wow Hiring Managers

How to Answer Brainteaser Interview Questions and Wow Hiring Managers If two trains leave the station at 11:30, with Train A traveling at 75 miles per hour and Train B traveling at 52 miles per hour, what kind of hat is the conductor of Train A wearing? You may think you left these kinds of word problems behind when you finished school, but think again- you may very well see this style of brainteaser question pop up in a job interview. Like you don’t have to do enough preparation already for the regular types of interview questions. But don’t worry- like every other interview question, the trick to rocking your answers to these brainteasers lies in being prepared. And that’s something we can help you do.What Are Brainteaser Interview Questions?These are interview questions, asked either verbally or in writing, that give you a situation and ask you to come up with a specific (if often ridiculous) answer. These kinds of questions are often used for highly technical or analysis-based jobs. Tech companies in particular love brainteaser s for job candidates: Google, IBM, and Facebook have been known to pick the brains of their interviewees.Brainteaser questions are less about getting an exact answer than about showing how you got there. So while you may be sweating bullets about whether you got the decimal point right, or whether you know enough about the price of tea in Hong Kong to make an educated guess about annual revenue, the interviewer is more likely interested in the way you tackled the question. It’s a test of your problem-solving skills, which you probably listed proudly on your resume.These brainteasers usually fall into several different categories:The â€Å"How Many Marbles in the Jar† BrainteaserThese estimating/quantifying questions ask you to figure out how many (or how much) of something there is in a particular place or scenario. Guaranteed, it’s something you never even thought about before you set foot into your interview.Examples:How many street lights are there in New Yor k City?How many golf balls are there in Florida?How much annual revenue does the Time Square Starbucks bring in?How many potatoes does McDonald’s sell each year in the UK?For these, logic is the key over accuracy. You won’t know the information ahead of time, so you’ll need to take information you do have (or can infer) and just wing it.For instance, looking at the streetlight example above, you’d take the number of approximate blocks in Manhattan, pick a probable number of streetlights per block, and multiply by 5 to arrive at an overall number for all five city boroughs. The interviewer knows you don’t know how many streetlights are in the city. But what he or she is looking for is that you can take an insane problem, reduce it to manageable parts, and then attack it.The â€Å"Dust Off the Math Skills† BrainteaserThese are much like the math word problems of yore, where you would apply specific math concepts/skills to arrive at the answer. Examples:A car travels a distance of 60 miles at an average speed of 30 mph. How fast would the car have to travel the same 60 mile distance home to average 60 mph over the entire trip?What is the sum of numbers from 1 to 100?You are given a 3-gallon jug and a 5-gallon jug. How do you use them to get 4 gallons of liquid?For these, there’s no way of getting around the math part- you’ll need to remember as best you can how to determine probability, angles, algebraic formulas, etc.The â€Å"Teach Me† BrainteaserThese are designed to get you to communicate complex information in a straightforward way.Examples:Explain the Internet to someone who has been in a coma for 30 years.How would you direct someone to make an omelet?Explain a complex database to your 8-year-old nephew.These are usually based on practical information, something you would normally face in everyday life, but would not necessarily be accustomed to describing. The best way to tackle these is to tak e a moment, think clearly about the steps (or the main points), then describe them as simply as possible.The â€Å"Kids Ask the Darnedest Questions† BrainteaserThese are questions that are designed to make you think about something you probably never pondered until someone asked you about it: why something works the way it does, why we do something in a particular way, etc. They’re the kind of questions that kids ask because they genuinely want to know how the world works. For an interviewer, it’s more about getting you to think about large, unwieldy concepts and break them down into manageable information.Examples:Why is a tennis ball fuzzy?Why are manhole covers round?These are questions where you’ll think about the motivation or design behind some common object. The good news is that you can wing it a little on this one- if you’re not up on the civil engineering concepts, you can still come up with an answer about manholes if you think about it logically. Manhole covers are round so that they fit into manholes, right? You don’t need some deep-seated soliloquy about the history of manholes in the continental United States†¦you just need a reasonable answer, presented quickly and simply.The â€Å"Ridiculous Scenario† BrainteaserThese are oddball questions that thrust you into an unfamiliar situation and ask how you’d (hypothetically) handle it.Examples:How would you kill a giraffe?How would you fight a bear?These questions usually require a little creativity. â€Å"I would never do that† is not the game here, so you should play along with the concept. You’re being tested on your creative problem solving skills, so rather than getting caught up in thinking about, say, what circumstances would put you in a boxing ring with a bear, use the same kind of logical, step-by-step thinking you’d apply to any process.Why Would Brainteasers Ever Come Up in an Interview?You’re applyin g for a job, not applying for college or auditioning for a game show. And quite frankly, brainteaser questions are never going to replace classics like â€Å"tell me about yourself† or â€Å"what can you bring to this position that no one else can?† Brainteasers are designed to throw you off your game, and get you out of your groove of resume talking points and rehearsed anecdotes. They’re a test of your critical thinking and problem solving skills.How Do You Tackle Brainteasers?The bad news: you’re never going to be able to prepare for specific brainteaser questions ahead of an interview. They’re meant to be curve balls, and see how you think and communicate in the moment. What you can do before an interview that might contain a brainteaser or two is practice your thinking-on-your-feet responses.Have a friend lob some questions like the brainteasers above to you. Practice explaining complicated processes in simple terms, either to yourself or love d ones.And in the interview itself, you can take some of these strategies in with you, no matter what crazy question your interviewer tosses your way.Always bring paper and a pen or pencil with you. This is good practice for an interview anyway, because you can jot down notes, contact information for thank you notes, etc. If you get in the habit of bringing a notebook with you on interviews, you’ll have scratch paper at the ready if you need to figure out how many gallons of ice cream the Titanic could have held.Take a moment to breathe and think. Before you dive right in with an answer, pause for a moment or two to gather your thoughts. (Within reason- you’re probably not being timed, but this is a conversational interview, and your interviewer will be waiting.) And if the question is one you don’t feel capable of answering, this moment can help tamp down any panic you feel. Think about how to approach the question (whatever it is) logically and clearly. Focus on the process, not whether the specific answer is absolutely correct.Talk it out. Again, this is a conversation with your interviewer, not the SATs, so it’s okay to talk through your rationale for your answer. The interviewer is mostly interested in how you’re arriving at your answer, so this helps them see what you’re getting at, and how.Ask questions. Not only is this a good stalling tactic while you think about what to say, but it can also show the interviewer that you’re not afraid to ask for clarification when necessary. You want to make sure you understand the question, and the interviewer might be able to provide helpful information (like what flavor of ice cream you’re trying to fit on the Titanic).So while these brainteasers might not be orthodox interview questions, and you may not come across them in every interview, it’s worth coming up with a game plan. And not only might you get a new job out of it when you wow them with your brainy answers, but who couldn’t use a battle plan in case you do happen upon that fighting bear?

Monday, October 21, 2019

Opossum Facts (Order Didelphimorphia)

Opossum Facts (Order Didelphimorphia) The opossum (order Didelphimorphia) is the only marsupial found in the Americas. The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is the single species found in the United States, but at least 103 species occur in the Western Hemisphere. The word opossum comes from the Powhatan or Algonquian name for the animal, which roughly translates as white dog. Although the opossum is commonly called a possum, some marsupials in the Eastern Hemisphere are also called possums (suborder Phalangeriformes). Fast Facts: Opossum Scientific Name: Order Didelphimorphia (e.g., Didelphis virginiana)Common Names: Opossum, possumBasic Animal Group: MammalSize: 13-37 inches plus 8-19 inch tailWeight: 11 ounces to 14 poundsLifespan: 1-2 yearsDiet: OmnivoreHabitat: North, Central, and South AmericaPopulation: Abundant and increasing (Virginia opossum)Conservation Status: Least Concern (Virginia opossum) Description Didelphimorphs range from the size of a rodent to that of a domestic cat. The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), which is also known as the North American opossum, varies in size according to its habitat and sex. Opossums in the northern portion of their range are much larger than those that live further south. Males are much larger than females. On average, the Virginia opossum ranges from 13 to 37 inches in length from nose to the base of the tail, with a tail adding another 8 to 19 inches of length. Males weight between 1.7 and 14 pounds, while females weigh between 11 ounces and 8.2 pounds. Virginia opossums have gray or brown fur and white, pointed faces. They have hairless prehensile tails, hairless ears, and opposable thumbs on their rear paws. As with other marsupials, the female has a bifurcated vagina and a pouch, while the male has a forked penis. Opossums have prehensile tails and opposable thumbs on their rear feet. Frank Lukasseck, Getty Images Habitat and Distribution Opossums live in North, Central, and South America. The only species found in North America is the Virginia opossum, which lives along the West Coast of the United States, and from the Midwest all the way to the East Coast and throughout most of Mexico and Central America. However, climate change has been extending the Virginia opossums range into Canada. Although the opossum prefers a wooded habitat, it is highly adaptable and often lives in urban environments. Diet The opossum is a nocturnal omnivore. It is primarily a scavenger, feeding on carcasses, garbage, pet food, eggs, fruit, grain, and other plants. Opossums also eat insects, other small invertebrates, birds and their eggs, rodents, and frogs. Behavior The opossum is best known for playing possum or playing dead. When a possum is threatened, it initially responds by hissing and baring its teeth, but further stimulation triggers an involuntary response that puts the animal in a near-coma state. The possum falls onto its side with open eyes and mouth and expels a stinky fluid from its anus that basically causes it to smell like rotten meat. Its heart rate and breathing slow, but the animal remains fully conscious. The response repels predators that avoid carcasses. Playing possum isnt under the opossums control, so an opossum knows what is going on around it, but cant simply get up and leave when a threat has passed. The feigned death may last a few minutes or up to six hours. Playing possum is an involuntary response to a perceived threat. Joe McDonald, Getty Images Opossums do not hibernate in winter. Since they dont dig dens or build burrows, the animals seek shelter when temperatures drop. In cold habitats, they commonly overwinter in garages, sheds, or under homes. Reproduction and Offspring The average opossum estrous cycle is 28 days, but the number of litters they bear per year depends on the species. The Virginia opossum breeds between December and October, with most young born February through June. The female has between one and three litters per year. Opossums are solitary animals. The male attracts the female by making a clicking sound. The pair separates after mating. As marsupials, females give birth to numerous young (as many as 50) very early in development. The young climb from their mothers vagina to teats within her pouch. A female only has 13 teats, so at most 13 young may survive. Typically only eight or nine young, called joeys, emerge from the pouch after two and a half months. The joeys climb onto their mothers back and stay with her for four or five months before venturing out on their own. In the wild, an opossum lives one to two years. This short lifespan is typical of marsupials. In captivity, an opossum may live up to four years, but it still ages rapidly. Conservation Status The conservation status of the opossum depends on the species. Some species are threatened or extinct. The only type of opossum found in North America is the Virginia opossum, which the IUCN classifies as least concern. Although hunted, trapped, and accidentally killed, Virginia opossums are abundant and generally increasing in population. Opossums and Humans The major cause of opossum mortality is motor vehicle collision. Opossums are hunted for fur and food. Their fat is high in essential fatty acids and may be used in therapeutic skin salves. Although not aggressive, the opossum is not an ideal pet. First, its illegal to keep an opossum as a pet in many states unless you have a wildlife rehabilitation license or wildlife hobby permit. Even then, the creatures are challenging to keep because they are nocturnal animals that require a varied diet and have inherently short lifespans. Wild opossums are useful to have around because they control tick, rodent, and snake populations. Unlike many mammals, they arent susceptible to rabies. Sources De Barros, M. A.; Panattoni Martins, J. F.; Samoto, V. Y.; Oliveira, V. C.; Gonà §alves, N.; Manà §anares, C. A.; Vidane, A.; Carvalho, A. F.; Ambrà ³sio, C. E.; Miglino, M. A. Marsupial morphology of reproduction: South America opossum male model. Microscopy Research and Technique. 76 (4): 388–97, 2013.  Gardner, A.L. Order Didelphimorphia. In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 6, 2005. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0.McManus, John J. Behavior of Captive Opossums, Didelphis marsupialis virginiana, American Midland Naturalist, 84 (1): 144–169, July, 1970. doi:10.2307/2423733Mithun, Marianne. The Languages of Native North America. Cambridge University Press. p. 332, 2001. ISBN 978-0-521-29875-9.Pà ©rez-Hernandez, R., Lew, D. Solari, S. Didelphis virginiana. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T40502A22176259. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T40502A2217 6259.en

Sunday, October 20, 2019

The Environmental Issue of Overpopulation Essay Example

The Environmental Issue of Overpopulation Essay Example The Environmental Issue of Overpopulation Paper The Environmental Issue of Overpopulation Paper According to the Environmental Protection Agency, overpopulation occurs hen a populations density exceeds the capacity of the environment to supply the health requirements of an individual. In other words, overpopulation happens when the amount of individuals exceeds the amount of resources the individuals require in order to satisfy their most basic needs. Overpopulation has become an issue because our earth can only provide so much for the sustained of every human life. In the past, more industrialized and populated countries have been main contributors to the pollution and plundering of the Earth. The united Nations reports that population increases have slowed and even stopped in places such as North America, Japan, and Europe. Still, the growth in population of places such as sub-Sahara Africa and south and western Asia has been a significant factor in the increase of the worlds population. Industrialized countries in the past have done their share of plundering and polluting. But today most such problems occur in developing countries commonly called the Third World, which also happen to be the areas of greatest population growth (Nat Ego). The global population rises at the rate of 78 million people per year. A problem within the problem of overpopulation is the fact that the fastest growing countries are the least able to afford their large populations. Africans population has tripled since 1 960 and continues to grow the fastest. Europe had twice as many people as Africa in 1960. By 2050 experts estimate there will be three times as many Africans as Europeans (Nat Ego). The idea of more people may not seem like a big deal, but it is a huge deal when everyones most basic needs cannot be met because there are too many people. The tied Nations believes that as the 21 SST century approaches, ore than a billion people will lack their most basic needs. Nearly three-fifths of the 4. 8 people in developing countries lack sanitation and other needs as it is. In 1 798, British economist Thomas Malthusian proposed the theory that population growth would surpass that ability to produce food, and this, he said, would lead to war, famine, and disease (Nat Ego). Pollution, exploitation of natural resources, and deforestation are just a few of the effects of overpopulation. Another negative aspect of overpopulation is the issue of waste management. More people means more waste, and more waste means hat a serious innovation in waste management must occur. Otherwise the poor management of waste will lead to massive disease outbreaks. Besides this, more waste also means more pollution. Every year the United Nations observes a World Population Day. On this day there is great fanfare, the government officials issues statements regarding depopulation programs, and the media has a field day with the talk of depopulation methods. Many people are apprehensive in regards to the subject of overpopulation and some blame overpopulation as the real cause for poverty and underdevelopment. However, there are those that dont view the subject as a threat and that the facts should be thoroughly reviewed before making such claims. Doug Allen, dean Of the school Of Architecture at Georgia Institute Of Technology, believes that overpopulation isnt a serious concern seeing as how architects and urban design experts dont even consider the theory when they build their models. He also goes on to cite the falling birthrates in urban populations such as Italy as further proof. Many researchers have claimed that the problem is not too many people and that contrary to popular belief, oral population growth is actually declining. According to UN figures, the 79 countries that comprise 40 percent of the worlds population now have fertility rates too low to prevent population decline. According to Dry. Strolled of SST. Josephs College in Renewals, Indiana, by meaningful measure the world is actually becoming relatively less populated (Jan). Despite the belief that the world is not becoming overpopulated, the worlds population has been increasing since the eighteenth century. Population has risen six-fold in the past 200 years and this has been made possible by explosions in productivity, resources food, information, communications, science, and medicine. Supposedly, the six-fold increase is thus dwarfed by the eighty-fold in world output during the same 200-year period. The current overpopulation hysteria began in the sixties with Paul Earlier who wrote the book The Population Bomb and frightened millions with prophesies of starvation, death, and destruction (Jan). Earlier predicted increases in famine, dwindling and rising expenses of natural resources, piles of waste, and environmental destruction, all of which are occurring as we speak. According o the U. S. Census Bureaus International Data Base, by the year 2050, India will replace China as the worlds most populated country (Hovel). This will happen as a result Of each countrys rapid population growth rate. If India and China continue to grow at their current rates, their countries will become overpopulated and their resources will become jeopardized. The president of the Population Institute, Lawrence Smith, believes that the worst possible result of overpopulation would be the admonishment of fresh, clean water (Hovel). I completely agree with this because obviously no living organism an be so without water. Fresh water is a valuable and diminishing resource. Two percent of the earths water is fresh and 1. Percent is frozen in polar ice caps and glaciers. A huge issue we will have in the near future is how the increasing population will share less than half percent of the earths usable freshwater. With that said, uranium will also become a valuable and diminishing resource because the nuclear power generated by uranium is used to run seawater desalination plants (Mills). One of the biggest issues with the grow ing population rate is that it means there will be many more mouths to feed. As of right now, we do not have enough food to do that, so we will need to grow more. To grow more food, we will need to yield to arable lands and find more fresh water, and we will also need more nuclear energy (uranium). Potash will also become a valuable and diminishing resource because it is one of the microinstructions essential for plants to grow and thrive. Potash is a major source Of potassium, which is found in every plant cell. The increase use of plant nutrients will be most effective in increasing crop yields in the face of an increasing global population and water shortages (Mills). In conclusion, overpopulation has a number of effects and will cause a myriad of chain effects. Scientists, economists, and investors alike all see vital issues aroused by the growth in our population. It is a serious matter because it will lead to the exhaustion of our already diminishing natural resources as well as disease outbreaks and even more pollution. Technology has struggled to keep up with and tend to the problem of overpopulation, yet the challenge to find more efficient and environmentally friendly ways to preserve the earth and feed the world still remains. Our natural resources must be reserved and seed efficiently.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

American Experiences Abroad - Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

American Experiences Abroad - Assignment - Essay Example Starting with the explorations of Gene Savoy and Christopher Gist, Americans have been able to travel far and wide in the search for the discovery of new worlds. At the inception of a more perspective based thought process, Americans were under the impression that the world was confined to their land; however, when their famous travellers set sail, they discovered and let the people know that there was more to life than just the piece of territory that a group of people were surviving upon. Discovery is an extremely interesting part of life because it talks about finding out information regarding the yesteryears; it involves looking at things that the past left behind, or finding out about new things in life. The best feeling involved with discovery is when one may understand it present on a different territory or land. Americans, like Gene Savoy, have been heavily influenced by archaeology; he alone has been able to discover 40 lost cities in Peru. Peru has history of the Mayan and Inca civilizations which were brought to light primarily under the guidance of Savoy, who discovered Vilacabamba, the place where the Incas had taken their last refuge during the time of the Spanish conquest and he has also been known to be named Gran Pajaten. His expeditions have been recorded in various books and journals which have proved to be extremely helpful for the purpose of both archaeology and exploration. He has, thus, been able to singlehandedly teach American people about the beauty of being able to discover more; he was able to condemn the notion of living with a single view regarding life and not going out and finding out more about life. In his wake, more and more explorers began to travel to far off destinations like India, Japan, China and other Asian countries, in order to settle with their lives there and find out more about the local extracts of these places. For example, there are a number of Americans that have settled in India today; this is because they hav e been able to find refuge in aspects of life like yoga, worship of the divine individual, self realization and actualization etc. Americans are also fascinated by the medicinal use of the marijuana plant in parts of India which helps them to think and wander around plains and foothills, meeting new people and living a new way of life. They say that this helps them to connect more with nature and helps to provide a stark difference from living within the hustle and bustle of the cities in America. Heavy industrialization, they say, has taken the charm of living for oneself away completely in the modern world, thus, they roam in order to change their lifestyle and live a more happy life, which they may find in ashrams in India, as depicted in the movie ‘Eat Pray Love’. Let’s move to modern forms of media: they have helped to show how Americans have abandoned their views about life restricted to their own country. In ‘Casablanca’, the backdrop of the S econd World War helps to depict a man torn inside -- whether or not he should listen to his heart or help his love’s husband fight against the Nazis in Casablanca, Morocco. The protagonist is an expatriate living in Casablanca and, thus, as an American, he is able to figure out new aspects of himself while living abroad altogether1. When people are forced to leave the country due to social or

Friday, October 18, 2019

Caravaggio, Vincent van Gogh, Picasso, Matisse, Georges de la Tour Essay

Caravaggio, Vincent van Gogh, Picasso, Matisse, Georges de la Tour - Essay Example The essay "Caravaggio, Vincent van Gogh, Picasso, Matisse, Georges de la Tour" examines the history of art and focuses on such important artists as Georges de la Tour, Caravaggio, Vincent van Gogh, Picasso and Matisse. The paintings of La Tour's maturity are marked by a startling geometric simplification of the human form and by the depiction of interior scenes lit only by the glare of candles or torches. His religious paintings done in this manner have a monumental simplicity and a stillness that expresses both contemplative quiet and wonder. The chronology and authenticity of some works attributed to him are still debated. Georges de la Tour used two kinds of lighting in his pictures. One was natural lighting, where people were illuminated from above with cool white light--like the painting reproduced with this article. The other kind of lighting he used was for nighttime pictures. They were called "nocturnes." The light for these pictures came from a single source, such as a fire or a candle. Georges de la Tour is considered to be a follower of Caravaggio due to his dependency on specific elements of the Caravaggesque style. Most notably the use of chiaroscuro and tenebristic techniques. In his interpretation of those certain stylistic qualties, however, Georges was unique in his design and composition, and presented an entirely new way of looking at common realistic works of art. Georges de la Tour is classed as a realist. Realist he is in that his subjects, predominantly if not exclusively religious. , are represented in terms of "real" life, often the life of his own country-town and surroundings in Lorraine. But he avoided naturalism; rather, he chose to simplify, modelling his forms by marked contrasts of light and shade, and using large volumes and severe lines, with great selective economy of detail" (Furness 70, 1996). 2 George de la Tour's attention to mood is a predominant quality that pervades his works. The paintings, especially the night scenes, have an almost meditative or pensive quality about them. Though the subject matter may, at times, be rather ambiguous, the spirituality communicated through the mood diminishes the importance of deciphering what scene we're looking at. Rather, the focus is on the way the painting makes us, as the viewer, feel through simple observation. A visual element that helps the viewer to focus on the scene before them is achieved through the absence of a background in the scenes. George De La Tour's sparsely populated pictures almost always represent scenes that take place nowhere, if they are judged by the almost complete absence of scenery. The boundaries of the settings are, nevertheless, delineated. There appear to be walls, but they have no texture and the colour is not descriptive. Georges de la Tour's works can be distinguished most especially through the unique use of lighting in his nocturnal scenes. The paintings are lit with a candle, a nightlight, or a torch, which are sometimes visible or are, at other times, hidden behind a figure's hand or another object. As for his less numerous and less popular daylight scenes, the figures are rendered with an acute eye to detail and a simplicity within the scene that is not found in the works of any other artist at the time. In examining various

Labor Pool Challenges Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Labor Pool Challenges - Essay Example For example, in the 21st century, 60% of new jobs require one to have at least post-secondary education. Contrarily, an estimated one third of America’s workforce has attained this level of education (Lebergott, 2014). The continuous process of innovation as well as technological changes has resulted in the motor vehicle industry related jobs demand even higher skill levels. According to United States Department of Labor (2015), the use of computers and Internet has redefined and reorganized work skills required at the workplaces. Most jobs now require education and training. As cited by Cascio (2012), structural unemployment results because of the mismatch of skills of the unemployed persons and the skills required for the available job. Evidence has demonstrated that the percentage of the workforce having graduated with college degrees is growing at a very slow rate. It has also been projected that in the next two decades, there will be virtually no growth in the prime age workforce; 25-54 years. This would result in a substantial reduction in skill growth. With few people having the required skills and education, there is insufficient supply of skilled in the labor pool for the automobile sector. In a view shared by Farmer, people with higher education levels face very low rates of unemployment. He reported workers aged 25 years or more, the unemploy ment rate was 4% for those with a bachelors degree or higher, 6% for those with a degree, 9% for high school graduates; and 12% for those with less than a high school diploma (Farmer, 2011). A can manufacturing or distribution firm with insufficiently trained labor force faces high turn over, low levels of employee performance, low productivity, high accident rates, improperly administered facilities, and improper resource allocation, as well as lack of

World History Since 1945 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

World History Since 1945 - Essay Example The writers advocate for total relook into the various governmental systems which are both embedded in totalitarianism and aloof to the social realities of ordinary masses. Thus, both books are radical and transformative in scope. The books cry out for change which is aimed at the social and economic lives of the people. Smith (2010) reckons that Belli’s ‘The Country under My Skin’ is a powerful memoir entailing both love and war. The Nicaraguan, Giaconda Belli, presents quite powerfully, her eye-openness to social realities facing the people of Nicaragua as well as her association with the Sandinistas using the rider of love and war to expose totalitarianism. In the book, she categorically illuminates on her present life with her American husband as well as children and seemingly compares this to Nicaragua with a passionate appeal. It is at the time when the poet meets Panamanian dictator Omar Torrijos in the year 1978 that she sets out the book; The Country under My Skin. Gicoonda Belli describes political battles of emancipation that the country of Nicaragua went through since the years 1970s. She brings it out quite powerfully using her personal experiences especially with the authorities at that time and irrationalities around the country that were transformational (Smith 2010). She thus brings out a powerful juxtaposition in her quality writing exploring in details her adventure while working in the field of advertisement and later getting involved in politics. Saten (2010) observes that her poem creates a vantage entry point into the Sandinista Guerilla Movement from quite a young age. This involvement makes her transition into the unknown away from the comfort zone and the social as well as political security that she was always involved in and it is at this point that she brings out the spirit of activism in her (Staten 97). Using these experiences she exposes government indifferences to the plight of the

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Zionism in the Middle East Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Zionism in the Middle East - Essay Example The essay "Zionism in the Middle East" describes the basis of the political movement Zionism and the position of this movement in today world. Zionism started as a nationalist movement supporting the re-establishment of Jews and is often perceived as an activity dominated by violence. The movement gained acceleration especially after the break-up of the Ottoman Empire and the British Balfour Declaration, which guaranteed a homeland for the Jews in exchange for certain services to the British Empire. The proposed Jewish homeland was authorized and created after the end of World War II, with a precondition that it would not be created at the expense of the majority Arab population of Palestine. The subsequent policies adopted by the United Nations have been severely criticized for its anti-humanistic treatment of the Palestinian Arabs, the large-scale destruction of their houses and property, and several other incidents that clearly violated and disregarded the international law. Post the infamous holocaust, at the hands of the Nazis, the Jews gained widespread support and sympathy and were then forced to flee their homes in Eastern Europe to settle in Palestine, where they remained a minority community. Alarmed by such large-scale influx of foreign residents, the Palestinian Arabs showed resistance in lending their support to these refugees. Soon they were overcome by the power of the Zionist armed forces, which used their powers and arms to â€Å"cleanse† the land of Arabs and create a homeland for themselves.

Australian Occupational Health & Safety BSBOHS406C Use equipment to Essay

Australian Occupational Health & Safety BSBOHS406C Use equipment to conduct workplace monitoring - Essay Example A high increase in the level of noise will lead to hearing loss in human beings. When workers are exposed to a noisy environment, it leads to stress and anxiety in them, so the employees are unable to give their full concentrate towards their job. Noise levels were measured with the sound level meter at various locations along the workshop fenced perimeter, along the exterior walls at door openings of the main workshop and internally at various centralised points (Oceanic Steel Workshops Noise Level Survey, 8 Kay McDuff Drive, Bundaberg Q 4670, 5th March 2009 Audit undertaken /3/2009: authorised K Philips, Director, page 3). In a particular work area, one can conduct noise audit by placing measuring devices/ meter in various sections of the workplace. Hearing problems in workers can be reduced by using ear muffs. Industries that produce unbearable noise must be based away from public places (hospital, school etc) so that the surroundings remain normal. For the survey, a Bruel & Kjear (BK) Type 2237 â€Å"Controller† Integrating Sound Level Meter (Calibration due 19/5/2010) was used at the time of audit and calibrated prior to the exercise with a BK Type 4230 Sound Level Calibrator set @ 93.8 ( ±3) dB (A) (page 3). ... Light is produced through pipe work, welding, grinding and cutting of metal sheets. There is a relation between noise and light within the industry. When a task is being done e.g.: grinding and cutting of a metal sheet, such activities require light in odder to work and this further produces noise. According to a fact in Australian industries â€Å"that a number of internal readings exceed 75 or 80 dB (A) would be sufficient reason to apply a basic enforcement ruling on hearing protection if necessary, upgrade the ruling based upon further noise level monitoring results† (Page 5). If the power tools are not handled with care, it may cause harm to the employees such as loss of life. Interior light is very vital to a firm, since most of the task is carried on with its help. Australian Standards documentation and/or Code of Practice and instrument of safe level of oxygen in a confined space: A confined space refers to the hazards associated with a set of specific circumstances (C onfined space, Code of Practice 2011, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, Department of Justice and Attorney-General, page 5) not since work is done in a small area. People cannot work in a confined space because it causes a lot of danger and since a confined space is a small area, which has no ventilation, there is no inflow of safe level of oxygen and this causes a hazardous atmosphere. Workers working in such an area face a lot of trouble and danger, as their work is a highly risky one. Air normally contains 21% of oxygen by volume, although oxygen levels of 19.5% — 23.5% by volume are considered to be safe. Some situations can cause the level of oxygen to dramatically decrease, leading to an oxygen-deficient atmosphere and possible

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

World History Since 1945 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

World History Since 1945 - Essay Example The writers advocate for total relook into the various governmental systems which are both embedded in totalitarianism and aloof to the social realities of ordinary masses. Thus, both books are radical and transformative in scope. The books cry out for change which is aimed at the social and economic lives of the people. Smith (2010) reckons that Belli’s ‘The Country under My Skin’ is a powerful memoir entailing both love and war. The Nicaraguan, Giaconda Belli, presents quite powerfully, her eye-openness to social realities facing the people of Nicaragua as well as her association with the Sandinistas using the rider of love and war to expose totalitarianism. In the book, she categorically illuminates on her present life with her American husband as well as children and seemingly compares this to Nicaragua with a passionate appeal. It is at the time when the poet meets Panamanian dictator Omar Torrijos in the year 1978 that she sets out the book; The Country under My Skin. Gicoonda Belli describes political battles of emancipation that the country of Nicaragua went through since the years 1970s. She brings it out quite powerfully using her personal experiences especially with the authorities at that time and irrationalities around the country that were transformational (Smith 2010). She thus brings out a powerful juxtaposition in her quality writing exploring in details her adventure while working in the field of advertisement and later getting involved in politics. Saten (2010) observes that her poem creates a vantage entry point into the Sandinista Guerilla Movement from quite a young age. This involvement makes her transition into the unknown away from the comfort zone and the social as well as political security that she was always involved in and it is at this point that she brings out the spirit of activism in her (Staten 97). Using these experiences she exposes government indifferences to the plight of the

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Australian Occupational Health & Safety BSBOHS406C Use equipment to Essay

Australian Occupational Health & Safety BSBOHS406C Use equipment to conduct workplace monitoring - Essay Example A high increase in the level of noise will lead to hearing loss in human beings. When workers are exposed to a noisy environment, it leads to stress and anxiety in them, so the employees are unable to give their full concentrate towards their job. Noise levels were measured with the sound level meter at various locations along the workshop fenced perimeter, along the exterior walls at door openings of the main workshop and internally at various centralised points (Oceanic Steel Workshops Noise Level Survey, 8 Kay McDuff Drive, Bundaberg Q 4670, 5th March 2009 Audit undertaken /3/2009: authorised K Philips, Director, page 3). In a particular work area, one can conduct noise audit by placing measuring devices/ meter in various sections of the workplace. Hearing problems in workers can be reduced by using ear muffs. Industries that produce unbearable noise must be based away from public places (hospital, school etc) so that the surroundings remain normal. For the survey, a Bruel & Kjear (BK) Type 2237 â€Å"Controller† Integrating Sound Level Meter (Calibration due 19/5/2010) was used at the time of audit and calibrated prior to the exercise with a BK Type 4230 Sound Level Calibrator set @ 93.8 ( ±3) dB (A) (page 3). ... Light is produced through pipe work, welding, grinding and cutting of metal sheets. There is a relation between noise and light within the industry. When a task is being done e.g.: grinding and cutting of a metal sheet, such activities require light in odder to work and this further produces noise. According to a fact in Australian industries â€Å"that a number of internal readings exceed 75 or 80 dB (A) would be sufficient reason to apply a basic enforcement ruling on hearing protection if necessary, upgrade the ruling based upon further noise level monitoring results† (Page 5). If the power tools are not handled with care, it may cause harm to the employees such as loss of life. Interior light is very vital to a firm, since most of the task is carried on with its help. Australian Standards documentation and/or Code of Practice and instrument of safe level of oxygen in a confined space: A confined space refers to the hazards associated with a set of specific circumstances (C onfined space, Code of Practice 2011, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, Department of Justice and Attorney-General, page 5) not since work is done in a small area. People cannot work in a confined space because it causes a lot of danger and since a confined space is a small area, which has no ventilation, there is no inflow of safe level of oxygen and this causes a hazardous atmosphere. Workers working in such an area face a lot of trouble and danger, as their work is a highly risky one. Air normally contains 21% of oxygen by volume, although oxygen levels of 19.5% — 23.5% by volume are considered to be safe. Some situations can cause the level of oxygen to dramatically decrease, leading to an oxygen-deficient atmosphere and possible

Wil Haygood Paper Essay Example for Free

Wil Haygood Paper Essay On September 12th, I attended the talk with Wil Haygood discussing his new movie â€Å"The Butler. † It seemed that the entire community came together to see Wil Haygood speak that night. The entire gym was filled to see Wil, and you could tell that he was very appreciative. I am really glad that I chose to go to the talk rather than the movie because I got to hear about Wil Haygood’s life and how the movie really came to be. I can always go and see the movie whenever I want, but this was a great chance to see what Wil has to say and listen to him talk about his inspiration behind the book and movie. ODU’s manager of communications, Thomas Brockman, introduced everyone that was a part of the event. First, Don Davis was introduced because she made the Butler book possible. Davis was the publisher of â€Å"The Butler. † Next, Steven Reece came to the podium. He had a 22 year career at the Washington Post and edited Haygood’s original article. These two people were extremely significant in the success that â€Å"The Butler† has had. Finally, the author, Wil Haygood, was introduced. I was excited to hear about his journey and his perseverance in making all of this possible. Wil Haygood was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, where his career as a writer began. He attended Ohio Dominican University as a high school student and received his bachelor degree from Miami University of Ohio. It is inspiring that someone as successful as him has roots from ODU. In high school he was accepted into the Upward Bound Program and it remained the greatest moral movement in United States history. It is great that Haygood was getting involved at such a young age and trying to make a difference in our country. Haygood had become successful during his career as a journalist. His success as a writer had only developed more when he received a call from a lady that told him about Eugene Allen. This call is what started it all. He relentlessly pursued to get a hold of Allen and had to make 57 different phone calls until he finally reached him. Haygood was not going to let anything get in his way of getting to talk to Eugene. Eugene worked as a White House butler for 34 years and never missed a day of work. He served as a butler from Harry Truman to Ronald Reagan. Allen agreed for Haygood to come over and speak with him. However, before he said anything Mrs. Allen had to make sure Haygood was a good person. Finally she gave Eugene permission to show Haygood the basement. The basement was dedicated to the presidents and his life. All of this gave Haygood critical information to be able to write about Eugene. I always commend people that go out and find these stories because without Haygood we would not know about Eugene Allen. Many obstacles got in Haygood’s way where he could have called it quits, but he kept moving forward. Once the book came out it was an instant New York Times Best Seller. It is considered one of the best political books of the year. I have not had a chance to read the book yet, but after hearing from Wil Haygood it is definitely a book that I want to read. History can tell us so much about our country and this book can tell us more in depth about the history that Eugene Allen was a part of. I am glad I attended this event because it showed me that if one really wants something, then he should go after it. Failure is always going to happen, but if one never goes out and tries, he would never know if he could actually achieve his goal. Haygood made a name for himself by putting himself out there and making a difference. I want to be an individual that makes a difference and Haygood has given me inspiration to go after what I want.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Communication in Children and Families

Communication in Children and Families Table of Contents (Jump to) Introduction Answer to Question 1 Answer to Question 2 Answer to Question 3 Answer to Question 4 Answer to Question 5 Answer to Question 6 Conclusion References Introduction Effective communication between parent and children the most important and difficult field of communication. There should be logical way and scientific approach according to different needs and requirements. To understand the process in a better way, here are some key points to be considered before stepping on to it. Answer to Question 1 Demonstrate judgements regarding the importance of effective communication with children and families It is very hard to understand the psychology of children in a family or a society but it is extremely important to understand that as it affects the behavior of a kid on a huge basis. There are some key reasons that show that why it is so important to have an effective communication with children and families:- A positive relationship between children and their families is vital for the youngs childrens well being Parents are the kids first teacher, they learn from them only Parents behavior as in what do they follow at home with their young babies and children has a major impact on intellectual, social and emotional development Better relationships amongst children and parents are achieved through better communication only A clear and thorough communication or talk can omit all the misunderstandings and the possible barriers. It is important to share your previous experience and what you already know about communicating with parents and children and its significance as it helps you a lot while learning new things. It will clear the objective of understanding the importance of communicating between children and parents more easily. â€Å"It is not who you are as a parent that enables your children to be effective learners but what you do that makes a difference† (Peers Early Education Partnership 2005) These lines says allyou need to understand your responsibility towards the children and learn how to communicate to make them better for future. Here, in the communication part with the children, the professional relationship is important as well. For brief, professionals have contracted through a formal agreement to be responsible for the care and wellbeing of someone else’s child. So, there is very thin line between professional friendliness and relationship with children and as a parent you need to understand that properly. (Anon., 2005) Answer to Question 2 Employ the principles of how communication works, children’s early communication skills and supporting strategies and approaches Communication works in many ways, it helps building relationships. Communication can actually start with children’s early communication skills as well. The children’s early communication includes various different ways:- Crying Looking into your eyes Smiling Laughing Sounds Babble and ‘talk’ – pretend conversations Now how can we, as parents talk to them? The process of communication with babies involves a many ways like as follows:- Talking to them in a very special manner Touching them and make them feel safe and secure Playing with them making expressions and faces For a babys well-being and development, emotionally and intellectually; sensitive and responsive communication is extremely important. It makes the child feel at home amongst the loved ones Babies are the most ready ones to talk and play with people when they are awake, playful and alert Recognize the babys state, try and respond to it in a particular way and support the babies in developing a sense of self You just follow what the baby is trying to convey Try and talk to the baby in the manner thinking what it is like for the baby You can help the baby regulate its own mood by playful gestures, music and expressions Read their signals and respond to them accordingly. Those who does that develops a strong bond with the babies Nonverbal communication is best at the early stage of communication with the babies Be and look positive all the time in front of the babies, it is important for their growth of the social brain. The positive looks stimulates the social growth of the babies (Anon., 2008) Answer to Question 3 Evaluate barriers and challenges which may impact upon effective communication between practitioners, children and families Barriers and challenges in effective communication are those factors that hinder good communication between practitioners, parent and children. These barriers take shape according to the situations and places such as at a societal level, Brandt (1998) notes that the parents or people in general are becoming increasingly estranged from public institutions. Sometimes it is actually very problematic and hard to reach families. To solve this problem, first of all make a note about who are the families that you think may find it hard to reach and communicate with services? Then spend time with them discussing different issues faced while establishing effective communication between parents and children. These families may have characteristics as follows: Different cultural backgrounds English as an additional language Different family backgrounds Different personalities Lack of confidence and self esteem Learning difficulties Literacy skills Physical difficulties Psychological difficulties All these characteristics act differently during the establishment of effective communication between parents and children. For example, sometimes parents cannot cope up with the changing trend and thus the gap of understanding between their cultural preferences and the children cultural preferences widens. Also, if the practitioners use â€Å"their own cultural lenses† to interact with culturally and linguistically diverse parents, there occurs a problem. Lets take another example regarding psychological difficulties. On a parental level, a parent’s own negative school experiences may impact positive relationships with teachers, or parents may simply not understand how to effectively interact with the children regarding their educational system. Similarly, economic, time constraints, lack of technology may also be primary obstacles to effective communication. All these barriers and challenges may be eliminated with a traditional yet significant 5-15 minute parent conference that offers little time for meaningful communication regarding a child’s academic and social progress. This can be act as an open platform for interaction within practitioners, parents and children. (NCB, 2008) Answer to Question 4 Reflect on the importance of enabling positive environments to promote communication between children, families and professionals For establishing an effective communication between professionals, parents and children, it is extremely vital to create a positive environment for the communication to take place. As a professional, you soon learn that children and parents are a two-for-one deal: Developing confident relationships with parents is precarious for providing the best care possible to their children. So being friends with the parents help a lot here. To ensure the same, as a parent, you can test it. For example, Amanda got into her car, really angry. When she dropped off her 22-month-old, Nyra, that morning, she mentioned to the baby sitter and her friend, Reeta (who look after Nyra), how impossible Nyra has been in the mornings. She drags her feet, doesnt want to get dressed, pitches a fit about which outfit to wear—its been practically impossible to get her out the door. But to her surprise, Radhika tells Anna that Nyra is an angel while talking to her. She listens each and everything that Radhika asks for and thus Anna is relieved that her child is in safe hands. For understanding the children in a better way, you first need to be more close to the parents by following these simple steps:- Notice how you are feeling with kids beahviour Look at the interaction from the childs point of view. Develop a sense of grasping the surroundings with a childs eye Partner with parents, talk to them more-n-more and understand their need Look for a scope of compromise Tell the parents not to fight or create an awkward situation in front of their kids Ask them not to follow their so called bad habits in front of the kids and try and avoid such stuff as much as possible Listen to children and their queries, needs and expectations and act and ask the parents too to act accordingly Promote healthy and knowledgeable practices at home and so on (McDonald, n.d.) Answer to Question 5 Importance and role of intervention strategies, approaches and techniques supporting the development of effective communication In developing effective communication between parents and children, supporting intervention strategies, approaches and techniques act as major helping factors. What is intervention strategy? According to Desforges (2003), in the intervention strategy, effective settings consider what the major barriers are for their own communities and work proactively to remove them. The strategy involves Establishing formal and casual relationships with families and children Knowing the families in a much detailed and better way but not intervening somehow is a thing to keep in mind Talking and discussing about the needs and expectations of families Offering a good range of options and choices for involvement and participation in the learning process that are truly match with the family colors Observe and observe the knowledge and understanding level of the parents, value them and try to enhance the same incorporating different techniques Now, what are techniques? You can follow several techniques to achieve your aim of effective communication:- Ensure a friendly warm welcome to parents by keeping in mind their expectations Ensure physical environment is welcoming. This is because it encourages the proximity factor Proactively plan how to include families like organizing a fun seminar or some musical learning process Ensure all staff have training in inclusion and equalities policies and procedures Home visits may be planned to help develop relationships with parents and children at the same time Ensure all aspects of family life are considered properly e.g. child-minding For the approach part, you can create and develop your own or just research and follow that suits you the best like The Hanen Approach says, there are three main steps of developing effective communication i.e. Observe Wait Listen Collectively, these steps are referred as Owling Similarly, you can consider the Camdens communication approach which says:- Stop, Look and Listen Here too, the listen factor is being emphasized. So, for any approach, the listening habit should be developed prominently. (Anon., 2012) Answer to Question 6 Professional skills and attributes in developing positive communications with children and families The professional skills and attributes while establishing or developing positive communications with children and families involve certain practices. Majorly divided in three groups namely, Collaborative, Effective and Reflective, these practices are as follows:- Collaborative 1. Family-centered practice 2. Partnerships with professionals 3. High expectations for every child Effective 4. Equity and diversity 5. Respectful relationships and responsive engagement 6. Integrated teaching and learning approaches 7. Assessment for learning and development Reflective 8. Reflective practice i.e. how to react to certain communication or actions Professionals collaborate with families and the children for effective communication. They communicate and plan partnership ways to achieve the best practice to be followed They work in groups across different planned settings so as to support the positive behavioural changes and attitude/ learning transitions for children They always ready to learn from each other as effective communication is a give and take relationship The professionals try to understand their own and others roles as well. After understanding the same, they make referrals whenever and wherever there is a need These professionals are truly committed to work in partnership and in groups so that they can achieve the best possible results for children The skills in quick look- The professionals work collaboratively to share information and messages. They logically plan communication procedures to ensure universal approaches to kids learning and development Each professional understand another’s practice, skills and expertise so as to get inspired and make referrals whenever needed according to the appropriate situation Acknowledging the significance of changes within and across early juvenile services and schools is one of the main skills the professional should possess. It is in order to ensure that children understand the process and have an active role in preparing for these transitions They build on kids’ prior learning and involvements to build continuity for their learning journey and development of personality (Aguliar, 2011) Conclusion The key formula for effective communication is to observe, listen and think and then act. You just need to be logical and updated in terms of planning procedures. Observe the behavioural pattern of children, their growing needs, expectations; understand the cultural values and beliefs of their parents and mix them well according to the latest trend because for an effective communication, one need to be updated and well informed. References Aguliar, E., 2011. 20 Tips for Developing Positive Relationships With Parents. [Online] Available at: http://www.edutopia.org/blog/20-tips-developing-positive-relationships-parents-elena-aguilar [Accessed 29 April 2015]. Anon., 2005. National Literacy Trust. [Online] Available at: http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/talk_to_your_baby/policy_research/1713_research_birth_to_school_study-a_longitudinal_evaluation_of_the_peers_early_education_partnership_peep_1998-2005 [Accessed 29 April 2015]. Anon., 2008. The National Strategies. [Online] Available at: http://idponline.org.uk/downloads/ey-slcn.pdf [Accessed 29 April 2015]. Anon., 2012. Positive Approaches to Challenging Behaviors,. [Online] Available at: http://www.cmhcm.org/provider/centrain/Training_Units/POSITIVE_APPROACHES.pdf [Accessed 29 April 2015]. McDonald, K. R. a. M., n.d. Promoting positive education and care transitions for children. [Online] Available at: https://www3.aifs.gov.au/cfca/publications/promoting-positive-education-and-care-transitions-childr [Accessed 29 April 2015]. NCB, 2008. Principles of engaging with families. [Online] Available at: http://www.ncb.org.uk/media/236258/engaging_with_families.pdf [Accessed 29 April 2015].

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Open Theism vs. Closed Theism :: Essays Papers

Open Theism vs. Closed Theism This topic is one that has had my curiosity piqued for the last few years and is one I have made a point of discussing with many people over the course of that time. I have heard many different viewpoints, some who have been adamant for God's omniscience and knowledge of the future and others who have presented compelling arguments for free will. Most, however are of a third category who have come to grips with the fact that our mere brains cannot understand the workings of God and are content to wait for an answer until they are able to ask them themselves if/when they get to Heaven. I myself hold this latter idea to be a good fallback, but am restless in my pursuit for an answer. For neither the deterministic nor the liberalist perspective seem to have me convinced for it seems to me like both of these beliefs leave you in a dire catch-22: if you insist on complete freedom, you limit God's knowledge; but if you insist on God's knowledge, then you limit humanity's freedom; neither o f which leave my mind at rest in who I know God to be and what His scripture has revealed to us in His creation of humanity. So I am left with an unsettled feeling that there must exist a third alternative--one that encompasses both God's complete omniscience and humanity's unleashed freedom. The closest established belief I would at this point categorize myself with believing would be that of St. Thomas Aquinas and Anselm, which you site on pg. 119 of your text. The pitfall I see in the libertarians' viewpoint is their assumption that foreknowledge implies cause. For instance, by their understanding of foreknowledge, if Chris were to somehow know beforehand what the outcome of a football game would be, but were nothing more than a spectator in the stands, Chris, by this knowledge, somehow CAUSED the outcome of the game to end the way it did. This does not hold up in common sense. Just because Chris somehow were able to KNOW what would happen does not mean that he, by the same token, CAUSED it to happen. And such is the case with God. Just because God KNOWS what will happen in the future of the world does not mean that he literally entered the 'game' and caused it to happen.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Competitive Intelligence Essay -- essays research papers fc

Competitive Intelligence   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It takes a simple mind to run a simple machine, but a shrewd mind is needed to run an organization, association, or business. Business intelligence has become a big principle in industries throughout the years. â€Å"During the second half of the 20th century, the United States and Canada, Western Europe, as well as Japan and a number of other countries, have evolved from primarily manufacturing-based economies to more information-based societies† (Kara). A business needs to have a mission to be successful. To help accomplish missions for businesses, business intelligence is utilized. To run a productive organization effectively and efficiently, certain things need to be accomplished. To start the process of applying business intelligence, as many possible sources of information must be gathered. After the information has been collected, it must be sorted into different categories. These categories are either valuable or non-valuable information, otherwise known as intelligence. Since the intelligence is derived by businesses for businesses, it is considered business intelligence. Business intelligence has a direct effect on how well its organization does in the marketplace. This intelligence is used to identify forewarnings of disasters as well as opportunities that may occur. After the intelligence needs have been identified for a business, the information is then collected by an all source fusion. After analyzing the data that has been collected, it can be determined which information can be used, and what can be discarded. The results are then passed to the bosses of an organization, who in turn, make a decision. This completes the four-phased intelligence cyc le. After you establish your business goals, various techniques are used to attain and surpass the organization’s goals. One technique is through competitive intelligence. Competitive intelligence can be considered a subsidiary of business intelligence. The purpose for competitive intelligence is to keep businesses on the cutting edge, abreast of their competitors, ahead in the global markets, and to establish better quality products and services. Competitive intelligence can be defined as â€Å"A formalized, yet continuously evolving process by which the management team assesses the evolution of its industry and the capabilities and behavior of ... ...ded and comprehend it differently, depending on the needs of their businesses. â€Å"Never equate paper with competitive intelligence. Unfortunately, many managers think that by spending countless hours on computer-generated slides, charts and graphs, and footnoted reports, they have delivered intelligence. All they have managed to do is to slow down the delivery of critical intelligence† (Fuld). Due to time constraints, limitations of resources, financial constraints, manpower issues, enormous amounts of data, and the expertise of analysts, competitive intelligence needs to be determined by relevance. Many illegitimate sources are disguised as truths, or facts. These illegitimate sources, along with rumors, are difficult to control and can be used as deception intelligence. There is not a single method of intelligence that can be considered better than another as a general rule. Even though, competitive intelligence can help your business during a recession, it is not a cure all medicine. Works Cited 1. (http://www.brint.com/papers/ciover.htm) 2. (http://www.fuld.com/whatCI.html) 3. Kara, Dan â€Å"The New Face of Business Intelligence.† Software Magazine, November 2000

Friday, October 11, 2019

Malaysian Airlines vs Air Asia

Malaysia Airlines Introduction Malaysia Airlines, the country’s national carrier, was first incorporated as Malayan Airways Limited (MAL) on 12 October 1937. It was a joint initiative of the Ocean Steamship Company of Liverpool, the Straits Steamship of Singapore and Imperial Airways which led to a proposal to the Colonial Straits Settlement government to run an air service between Penang and Singapore. On 2 April 1947, MAL took to the skies with its first commercial flight as the national airline.Fuelled by a young and dynamic team of visionaries, the domestic carrier turned into an international airline in less than a decade. With the formation of Malaysia in 1963, the airline changed its name to Malaysian Airlines Limited. In 1965, with the separation of Singapore from Malaysia, MAL became a bi-national airline and was renamed Malaysia-Singapore Airlines (MSA). However, in 1973, the partners went separate ways. Malaysia introduced Malaysian Airline Limited, which was subseq uently renamed Malaysian Airline System or in short, Malaysia Airlines.Today, Malaysia Airlines flies an average of 43,000 passengers daily to some 100 destinations worldwide and holds a lengthy record of service and best practices excellence. It was the recipient of the inaugural â€Å"World's Best Cabin Staff† award by Skytrax,UK in 2001 and continued to retain this title for 2002-2004, 2007 and 2009 – the most for any airline. In 2010, Malaysia Airlines was recognised as the ‘World's Leading Airline to Asia’, ‘Asia's Leading Airline’ and ‘Asia's Leading Business Class Airline’ by World Travel Awards (WTA). This year, WTA honoured Malaysia Airlines as ‘Asia's Leading Airline’ and ‘Asia's Leading Airline Lounge’.The national carrier's engineering subsidiary, Malaysian Aerospace Engineering (MAE), has also been acknowledged as the top airline affiliated Maintenance and Repair Organisation (MRO) in the wor ld by Aviation Week's Overhaul & Maintenance magazine. Its current fleet includes Boeing 747-400, B777-200, Airbus 330-300, Airbus 330-200, Boeing 737-800 and Boeing 737-400. By the second quarter of 2012, Malaysia Airlines will also join the league of the Airbus A380 operators, when the first of the six aircraft ordered enters into service. The national carrier will be the eighth airline in the world to operate this biggest commercial aircraft.Malaysia Airlines is set to join oneworld by end of 2012, adding one of aviation's most frequent award winners to the world leading quality airline alliance. When it becomes part of oneworld, its customer will gain access to the alliance's truly global network. It will expand oneworld's global coverage to almost 950 destinations in 150 countries, served by a combined fleet of more than 2,600 aircrafts operating some 10,000 flights a day. AirAsia Introduction AirAsia is a Malaysian-based low-cost airline. AirAsia is Asia's largest low-fare, no -frills airline and a pioneer of low-cost travel in Asia.AirAsia was established in 1993 and began operations on 18 November 1996. It was originally founded by a government-owned conglomerate, DRB-Hicom. On 2 December 2001 the heavily-indebted airline was bought by former Time Warner executive Tony Fernandes's company Tune Air Sdn Bhd for the token sum of one ringgit with USD 11 million worth of debts. Fernandes turned the company around, producing a profit in 2002 and launching new routes from its hub in Kuala Lumpur, undercutting former monopoly operator Malaysia Airlines with promotional fares as low as MYR 1.In 2003, AirAsia opened a second hub at Senai International Airport in Johor Bahru near Singapore and launched its first international flight to Bangkok. AirAsia has since started a Thai subsidiary, added Singapore itself to the destination list, and started flights to Indonesia. Flights to Macau began in June 2004, and flights to mainland China (Xiamen) and the Philippines (Manila) in April 2005. Flights to Vietnam and Cambodia followed later in 2005 and to Brunei and Myanmar in 2006, the latter by Thai AirAsia.On August 2006, AirAsia took over Malaysia Airlines's Rural Air Service routes in Sabah and Sarawak, operating under the FlyAsianXpress brand. The routes were subsequently returned to MASwings a year later, citing commercial reasons. Qualitative characteristics Qualitative characteristics of accounting information refer to the characteristics that must be present in the accounting information to make it useful. These characteristics are divided into two categories; primary and secondary qualities. primary qualities The primary qualities of accounting information are relevant and reliability. a) Relevant In everyday terms, we might describe relevant as important or being related. In accounting, relevant is described as something that makes a difference in arriving at a decision. In other words, something is said to be relevant if it influences o r affects the decision being made. The extent to which information is considered relevant depends on its importance in decision making and may differ between one decision maker to another. Information that is relevant to you might not be relevant to another person and vice versa.To become relevant, the information must have three characteristics, namely feedback value, forecast value and timeliness. (i) Feedback Value Relevant information must be able to assist users in substantiating or correcting early expectations matters at hand. (ii) Forecast Value Relevant information must be able to assist users in forecasting. (iii) Timeliness Relevant information must be obtained before it becomes obsolete or unusable. (b) Reliability Reliability means that users can rely or depend on the said information to make good decisions.This characteristic is important because users might not have the time or expertise to evaluate some information. Generally, users simply depend on the information p resented by the related entity and assume it to be true. This information is then used in decision making. Reliability does not mean that the said information must be precise. This is because in accounting there are a lot of information that involves estimation and approximation that might not be precise. What is important is that the estimation and approximation made must be reliable.Reliable information must have the following characteristics: (i) Verifiable This means that the accounting information could be verified objectively by another person using the same method. (ii) Objective Objective in this case means that the information is not biased. Information contained in the financial statements must be able to fulfil the requirements of various users and not concentrating on certain groups only. (iii) Trustworthy Information presented is based on the actual result of economic activities using specified methods. secondary qualities. The secondary qualities are comparability and consistency. c) Comparability Comparability means that the information can be compared whether among companies, industries or different periods. This will enable users to identify the similarities or differences that might exist in the said information. This characteristic is important because information that can be compared is more useful. (d) Consistency Consistency means that an entity must use the same accounting procedures in every period. It is for the purpose of enabling comparison to be made more effectively. In other words, a company cannot change their accounting procedure every year.This does not mean that the company cannot change the accounting procedure at all. Changes can still be made, but the company must make complete disclosure in the financial statement to explain to the users why they are making the changes and the effect of the changes towards the financial statements. In summary, accounting information is only useful if it has relevant, reliability, comparabi lity and consistency qualities. Statement Of Comprehensive Income Referring to the Annual reports for the year 2010 and 2011 it shows Air Asia gained a revenue of RM 4,495 Million for the year 2011 as compared to RM 3,948 Million for the year 2010.There was an increase of 547 Million, However, the net profit of the company after tax have shrunk down from RM 1,061 Million in 2010 to RM 555 Million Therefore, The company’s profit after tax have reduced by RM 506 Million. Malaysian Airlines gained revenue of RM 13,901 Million for the year 2011 as compared to RM 13,585 Million for the year 2010. There was an increase of 316 Million, However, company is facing a big loss after tax for the two years A loss of RM 237. 3 Million in 2010 to a loss of RM 2,521. Million in 2011 Therefore, with this information available the investors can see that Air Asia is having a good profit after tax but Malaysian airlines is in big loss after tax. Statement of Financial Position Total asset of Air Asia as on 2010 is RM 13,240 Million and got increased to RM 13,906 Million in 2011. Malaysian Airlines had a total asset of RM 613,639 Million in 2010 and increased to RM 815,468 Million. Statement Of Cash Flows One of the important point investor should look for when investing in a potential company is the company’s ability to produce cash.Just a pointer it is not necessary for a company that shows a profit in an income statement does not mean that it cannot get into problems later because of insufficient cash flow According to the Statement of Cash Flows in the annual report of Air Asia, The cash flow from operating activities is RM 1594 million in the year 2010 and RM 1404 Million in the year 2011 The cash flow from investing activities is RM 1868 Million in the year 2010 and RM 487 Million in the year 2011 The cash flow from financing activities is RM 1031 Million in the year 2010 and RM 300 Million in the year 2011 The net cash flow for the year 2010 is RM 757 million and RM 617 Million for the year 2011.According to the Statement of Cash Flows in the annual report of Malaysian Airlines, The cash flow from operating activities is RM 105. 5 million in the year 2010 and RM 960 Million in the year 2011 The cash flow from investing activities is RM 3362. 6 Million in the year 2010 and RM 1341. 6 Million in the year 2011 The cash flow from financing activities is RM 2922. 4 Million in the year 2010 and RM 1310. 4 Million in the year 2011 The net cash flow for the year 2010 is RM 1851 million and RM 860 Million for the year 2011. Statement of Changes in Equity The statement of changes in equity represents a company profit or loss for an accounting period.The items of income and expense which is recorded in the Statement of Comprehensive Income for the period, the effects of changes in accounting policies and corrections of error recognised in the period, and the amounts of investments by, and dividends and other distributions to, equity investors durin g the period. (didn’t find much info) ASSESSMENT OF INFORMATION RELEVANCE Information relevance refers to the feedback value, forecast value and timelines. If the net income and its components confirm investor expectations about future cash-generating ability, then the net income has feedback value for investors. This confirmation can also be useful in predicting future cash-generating ability as expectations are revised. For information to be relevant, it needs to be predictable. By looking at the data, forecast can be made whether income will be acquired. The last characteristic is timelines.To be relevant, the data should be up to date not outdated. The annual report of both Air Asia And Malaysian Airlines is available in their official website. There, they have an archive that lets you download the annual report according to year.. ASSESSMENT OF INFORMATION RELIABILITY Sometimes, the information given by the organization is the only data that the user depends on. This cou ld be because of lack of knowledge to assess the information and lack of time to do so. In this case, the user must make sure the information given can be relied upon. To assess reliability, we have to think about three matters which are verifiable, objective and trustworthy.Verifiable means that the information can be validated by someone else. Both Air Asia and Malaysian Airlines annual report can be downloaded by everyone who owns a laptop or desktop. That means that the information can be verified by everyone else. From the 2009 annual income to the the 2010 net profit, it can be checked by everyone else. It is important to get someone who knows what to look for to validate the information for you. Without their validation, decision making can be hard to do. Make a conclusion that air asia is having a good profit but Malaysian airlines is going with heavy loss So its safe to invest with air asia than with Malaysian airlines