Discussion And Implications For The Eap Program Education Essay

IntroductionThe two old chapters demonstrated the importance of researching Saudi pupils ‘ demands and the academic civilization that they encounter while analyzing in British establishments which relate to their English acquisition experience in Saudi Arabia, including their positions about larning English in the UK and analyzing in a British graduate student programme and to uncover single demands and battles in larning EAP. Without analyzing Saudi pupils ‘ positions about their demands analysis from the beginning in Saudi Arabia, and the EAP class in the UK, I would non be able to do any relevant connexions between the EAP and postgraduate context and demo how their positions and behaviors vary in footings of linguistic communication demands and academic demands. It is apparent that the Saudi pupils sampled in this survey happen it hard to get by with linguistic communication demands and the academic civilization differences despite the fact that they are given the cha nce to fix themselves either in Saudi Arabia or in the UK before get downing their graduate student plans in the UK. It is, hence, imperative to analyze their current readying in footings of EAP and cultural differences and to propose possible ways to better the support that is offered to these pupils. The three major theories that underpinned this survey were Present state of affairs analysis ( PSA ) , Target state of affairs analysis ( TSA ) and civilization analysis. The PSA and TSA are based on the Huticon and Water ( 1987 ) theoretical account which suggested happening out the pupils ‘ current and future demands. The cultural demands analysis is based on different research workers e.g. as explained in the 3rd chapter which suggested look intoing the academic demands of pupils analyzing in English speech production states. Second, this research aimed to place the relationships between Saudi pupils analyzing in British graduate student plans and their version to their new academic environment and the possible struggles they encountered. Last, this survey conceptualised the nature of Saudi pupils, as a specific group through their experiences in British graduate student plans. Refering these theories, this research provided findings that reflect the current jobs Saudi pupils face and inside informations possible parts to Saudi pupils, British faculty members and policy shapers in footings of better apprehension Saudi pupils ‘ acquisition procedures in British graduate student plans, get the better ofing the cross-cultural issues viz. academic civilization and get bying with troubles in footings of the new academic context they need to accommodate to in the British context. The first issue raised in this research was related to ( PSA ) on the subject of larning English. It focused on discourses that might uncover of import facets of English linguistic communication troubles through looking at Saudi pupils ‘ experiences in larning the English linguistic communication in the two different instruction systems. Harmonizing to the research findings here, Saudi pupils sampled in this survey were accustomed to a teacher-centred acquisition environment. The development of Saudi pupils ‘ cognition about larning forms in this system seems non to fit them good to larn English for Academic Purposes. For illustration, it seems that it is slightly difficult for EAP instructors to set up what kind of troubles the pupils have in larning the English linguistic communication. Basically, the teacher-centred acquisition system is likely to forestall them from managing the jobs they face because most instructors in this environment are non regarded as feeders. I n a word, the instructors ‘ function in this system is non appropriate for Saudi pupils ‘ development in EAP unless instructors work hard to suit the pupils. To set this merely, it would be helpful if instructors guided the pupils to accommodate to the British system of learning English bit by bit, as making this would heighten Saudi pupils ‘ experiences larning EAP. Harmonizing to literature, pupils can develop their English through interacting with equals, and these synergistic discourses are really of import to make ways of developing the proficiency degree of EAP scholars. Saudi pupils sampled in this survey are mostly those who have shifted to a student-centred acquisition system and therefore encountered many jobs with their new larning environment specifically when they start their graduate student surveies. They would hence hold more opportunity of sing unexpected English linguistic communication troubles in footings of interacting with native and non-native pupils, faculty members and people in the host community. It is natural that a student-centred acquisition system should supply a better environment for Saudi pupils to make synergistic discourses which they could use for the development of their EAP abilities. With respect to the importance of a tutorial type of activity ; this is non a formal portion of the Saudi instruction system. There are similar types of Sessionss offered by the private sector in third Saudi establishments, but this is different from the British instruction system which regards tutorials as an indispensable portion of the acquisition and learning teaching method. This means that Saudi pupils are non prepared to take part in concerted acquisition activities such as tutorials and squad work. They are non good at sharing thoughts or discoursing the issues that might be raised in category. This is a major trouble that Saudi pupils have in accommodating to cross-cultural differences faced in British graduate student plans. It is a new challenge for them to get the better of this indispensable undertaking in order to set about their classs successfully. However, it is besides true that this can non be changed in the short term because Saudi pupils have non been taught with a discussion-based manner including equals and instructors in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, this is a important issue for both the Saudi instruction system and British third instruction suppliers. For the Saudi instruction system, policy shapers who are involved demand to be concerned that they provide a instruction teaching method in line with the subject of a concerted group larning environment for Saudi pupils. This is because the findings of this research indicate that pupils ‘ deficiency of experience in a concerted acquisition environment to a great extent impacts on their EAP acquisition and academic success. In add-on, British third instruction suppliers, and people who are involved in this country, need to pay attending to the fact that Saudi pupils ‘ trouble in tutorial engagement is one which interferes with or prevents pupils from developing EAP acquisition and academic success while analyzing in British graduate student plans. The findings of this survey with cross-cultural version in the subject of cultural theories presented in chapter two of this survey revealed Saudi pupils ‘ experiences of larning English at place and in British graduate student plans are different. First, Saudi pupils did non hold adequate opportunity to larn about Britain, even though the UK had been regarded as one of the preferable English speech production states Saudi pupils seek for their graduate student surveies. In fact, Saudi English instruction plans do non supply adequate information about English talking states in their course of study. This besides tended to take to a deficiency of cognition and cross-cultural consciousness for Saudi pupils in respects to their targeted states. On the other manus, Saudi pupils ‘ exposure to such cognition and cross-cultural facets was likely to be recognised one time they arrived in the UK and commenced their classs in British establishments † plans. It can be argued t hat Saudi pupils ‘ well- organised readying before going their place state is important in guaranting better version to the new acquisition environment, particularly the academic environment. More significantly, the research findings in this context emphasised a deficiency of cognition of the academic context which is besides an of import issue. The fact that Saudi English instruction plans do non embrace the academic context is an excess concern. This may be the most serious job that causes current Saudi pupils ‘ English linguistic communication troubles when accommodating to the British academic context ( every bit good as other English talking states ‘ academic contexts ) . For this ground, Saudi pupils merely begin to gain the importance of the academic context as they encountered the new or existent academic environment. Refering the general tendency of Saudi pupils ‘ taking English speech production states for their instruction, it is necessary for people or administrations to originate plans of English linguistic communication for academic intents as an indispensable portion of the school course of study. These would better link with the demands o f the scholars in their new academic environment. In add-on ; consciousness about developing a better apprehension of academic cultural differences, particularly when aiming English speech production states, should be examined by both pupils themselves and policy shapers in Saudi Arabia prior to doing a concluding determination about who is traveling to analyze in English speech production states.Saudi pupils ‘ motions into British graduate student plansSaudi pupils are ‘on the move ‘ to see other states. They are go forthing Saudi Arabia as tourers, pupils, and man of affairs. In recent old ages, they have shown a penchant for sing foreign states with an increasing avidity to larn foreign linguistic communications, particularly English and deriving recognizable makings e.g. Masterss or PhDs every bit good as to hold an escapade larning about different peoples and civilizations. This quickly turning tendency has been encouraged by King Abdullah ‘s scholarship . There is no uncertainty that an of import drift for Saudis ‘ attending to the outside universe has been the high rate of growing of the Korean economic system and its economic promotion. As a consequence of this advancement, the figure of Saudi pupils using to analyze in British graduate student plans has increased steadily over the last five old ages. Recent information from the Ministry of Higher Education in Saudi Arabia ; which relates the Numberss of Saudi pupils analyzing abroad, the UK came 2nd after the US in popularity. At present, the necessity for English linguistic communication accomplishments and their importance in the present epoch is a primary influence exciting travel to the UK for academic intents. A good degree of English and its wider use are now important demands for all working and academic countries in Saudi society. The proficiency degree of English is a major demand in judging pupils ‘ eligibility to come in to third establishments, every bit good as in the enlisting of human resources in Saudi Arabia. This enthusiastically supported societal phenomenon has become a major issue nation-wide since the proclamation of King Abdullah ‘s scholarships. This accelerated the societal phenomenon and led finally to more Saudi pupils set abouting abroad surveies. It resulted in an sweetening of Britain ‘s place as one of the preferable finishs for such intents.The Main Characteristics of Saudi Students ‘ Experiences of Learning the English Language in Saudi ArabiaThe pro be into the features of Saudi pupils ‘ experiences in larning the English linguistic communication in Saudi Arabia focused on how they had been taught English as a foreign linguistic communication in the Saudi instruction system and their positions on their English acquisition in Saudi Arabia. In general, it was found that Saudi pupils sampled in this survey indicated that they had been dissatisfied with the English class that was provided by the ministry of instruction. These consequences were non surprising as old research conducted by Al-Tuwaijri ( 1982 ) , who was analyzing in the US at that clip, asked them how satisfied they were with English the course of study, and learning methods and the consequences showed the bulk of his participants were dissatisfied. The underpinning attack can be concluded as a chiefly teacher-centred larning teaching method. Furthermore, this research found that there were some extra facets of their anterior educational experience in Saudi Arabia that impacted upon their ulterior acquisition in an English speech production environment viz. the UK. First, the background of Saudi pupils sampled in this survey was that many had non had an chance to larn or pattern the English linguistic communication with native English talkers. Even though some of them had experience with those who speak English as their first or 2nd linguistic communication, the chief focal point of the learning teaching method affecting their speech production abilities did non look to assist their development of English linguistic communication proficiency. Due to the dominant environment of exam-based English linguistic communication acquisition, speech production in a communicative context is non a precedence concern for Saudi pupils prior to entry into the esteemed universities in Saudi ‘s instruction system. Therefore, Saudi p upils do non hold to show unwritten proficiency. In add-on, Saudi pupils sampled in this survey revealed a deficiency of cognition about the IELTS trial system because of the laterality of the TOFEL trial in Saudi Arabia. There are many more readying plans for the TOFEL trial in Saudi universities and private English linguistic communication establishments than there are IELTS proving Centres. The British Council in Riyadh provides IELTS trial Centres in Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately, from the information it seems that there are non any specific third readying plans for domestic Saudi pupils who seek to analyze in English talking states like Australia, Canada, UK, US and New Zealand. More significantly, the consequences revealed that there is small concern about the importance of English for academic intents in general in the English linguistic communication larning teaching method in Saudi. Learning English for the interest of larning a new linguistic communication was wholly absent from the participants points of position. The consequences besides, showed that English acquisition is chiefly undertaken because the high force per unit area placed upon larning English as an of import measure for entry into esteemed Saudi Arabian third establishments, or to derive a better chance to be employed by major companies such as ARAMCO and this has ever been a important facet of larning English. Refering the issue of a pre-departure readying scheme for Saudi pupils meaning to analyze in the UK, there is grounds here that Saudi pupils were non sufficiently prepared in Saudi to run into the demands of the proficiency degree of English needed for most British graduate student plans. Students needed to fix for such demands, including the by heightening their proficiency degree in English and their apprehension of the academic environment of British graduate student plans. However, the Saudi pupils sampled in this survey revealed that they did non go to any plan in Saudi Arabia in order to help them in get bying with such possible jobs while analyzing overseas. In general, even though those who wished to analyze overseas realised the importance of taking official English trials, more than half of the pupils in this survey took them in Saudi Arabia. The grounds of the study outcomes in this survey reveals that the IELTS trial is the most preferable by Saudi pupils come ining British graduate student plans. This is non surprising because most, if non all, British third establishments emphasise this trial as a important measuring of international pupils ‘ ability when finding whether or non they can set about British graduate student plans. Harmonizing to the findings from the study, the Saudi pupils sampled in this survey had begun to larn English as a foreign linguistic communication at an inappropriate age in footings of their cognitive development as 2nd linguistic communication scholars. They were between childhood and maturity when they began analyzing English linguistic communication. Harmonizing to Park ( 2006 ) larning the English linguistic communication at the age of 13 old ages is instead late in footings of sing the most effectual development of their 2nd linguistic communication larning accomplishments. It seems that Saudi pupils were non to the full confident about why they had to larn English and how far they could come on in their English proficiency degree. The consequences revealed in chapter one that Saudi pupils were taught the English linguistic communication in Saudi Arabia by unqualified English instructors who required them to larn in a inactive the top down manner. This meant that Saudi pupils needed changeless counsel from their English instructors about their errors during the learning procedure.The Main Characteristics of Saudi Students ‘ Experiences in Learning EAP in the UKThe first issue raised in larning EAP in the UK context is about the composing of the scholars group inside the schoolroom as it might impact on the development of EAP larning procedure. Harmonizing to research findings about Saudi pupils ‘ experience of EAP larning in UK establishments, the groups of scholars larning English were chiefly composed of Saudis with two or three non-Arabic pupils who speak Arabic as their precedence. This means that Saudi pupils did non hold much chance to better their speech production proficiency degree. In add-on, it is natural that they would talk in Arabic if they had something to inquire to each other in category. It is necessary for EAP instructors to inquire or even to coerce them to talk in English. EAP instructors may state them that if they do no n talk in English they will lose some Markss. From the observation there were some EAP instructors who were truly rigorous about talking in English. It would be a positive move if the EAP instructors were to go on this pattern towards better proviso of the transmutation of the pupils ‘ wonts of speech production in English all the times at least in the schoolroom. A multicultural group larning environment, whether in the UK or Saudi Arabia, would offers Saudi pupils ‘ positive experiences including more chance to interact with pupils from different states who speak English as a 2nd linguistic communication. In these fortunes pupils have to utilize English in order to pass on with each other whether or non their proficiency degree of English is sufficient to pass on. One piece of grounds to back up this statement is that the consequences of this survey showed that Saudi pupils improved their English linguistic communication accomplishments one time they started conversation with those who speak English as a first or 2nd linguistic communication. Sing this result, it can be emphasised how of import it is to set up an appropriate environment for scholars of EAP. This is a ground why policy shapers in the UK should see the figure of each nationality in the schoolroom. In add-on to that the English instruction system in Saudi Arabia needs to enroll as many native English instructors as possible, particularly if the system does non germinate a multicultural group larning environment in Saudi instruction system. It is the best option to supply a similar environment to English speech production states. The last issue raised in this context is that linguistic communication intervention might happen during the procedure of English linguistic communication acquisition in a different environment. The acquisition environment where Arabic linguistic communication is dominant ( as in Saudi Arabia itself ) does non supply specific linguistic communication intervention. However, Saudi pupils in the UK are straight influenced by the differences between their first linguistic communication, Arabic, and English. For Saudi pupils sampled in this survey, English is their chief precedence, so it is natural that the distance between the two different linguistic communications would make linguistic communication intervention whenever they use English in activities that are a portion of the British academic context. However, both faculty members and EAP instructors in the UK should be able to place this job in order to better pupils ‘ proficiency degrees in the English linguistic communication .The English Language Difficulties that Saudi Students Face in the British academic ContextThe 2nd dimension of the first research inquiry was to place the English linguistic communication troubles that Saudi pupils faced from an educational position while they were enrolled in British graduate student plans delivered in English which related to both present state of affairss analysis and mark state of affairs analysis. The research findings revealed that Saudi pupils ‘ reading and authorship jobs are the chief issues to get the better of during their classs. There are several of import factors lending to pupils ‘ troubles in these two facets in the British academic context. As discussed in the background to Saudi pupils ‘ experience in larning English in Saudi Arabia, these factors could be related to jobs with English linguistic communication teaching method and learning methodological analysis in Saudi Arabia or in the UK. It can be said that Saudi pupils Ã¢â‚¬Ë œ background experiences in larning the English linguistic communication straight reflect the jobs of Saudi pupils ‘ reading and composing troubles in the British academic context. The findings obtained from this research clearly indicate that EAP plans did non supply adequate chances for the development of pupils ‘ reading and composing abilities. This survey indicates that engagement in tutorials or group activities and giving a presentation were amongst the more hard undertakings for Saudi pupils to get by with. The analytical results obtained from the three different methodological analysiss applied to this survey, viz. the descriptive consequences of the study, observation, and in-depth interviews, indicated three contributory factors. The first is a deficiency of assurance with their proficiency degree in English as a 2nd linguistic communication, which was due to a self-fulfillment about the insufficiency of their readying and tuition, with respect to the manner they were taught English in Saudi Arabia. Acerate leaf to state as many Saudi research workers have found ( ) , Saudi pupils were taught English in an examination-based and text-based system. These learning experiences tend sometimes to do them dying when required to take part in tutorial Sessionss and group meetings, which is the prevailing teaching method in th ird instruction. Furthermore pupils ‘ anxiousnesss arise from a deficiency of assurance with all major English linguistic communication accomplishment classs, including speech production, listening, reading and composing. These anxiousnesss as Park ( 2006 ) claimed besides lead to pupils holding psychological emphasiss. Consequently, it can be concluded that the displacement from a teacher-centred to student-centred acquisition system and being critical, non merely in composing but in all facet of larning are the chief cross-cultural factors that causes jobs. In short, Saudi pupils in this survey who spoke English as a 2nd linguistic communication and were presently enrolled in British graduate student plans were shown to hold troubles in accommodating to the usage of the English linguistic communication. With respect to version troubles, two of import findings of this survey were a deficiency of exposure to a existent English speech production environment and strangeness with the usage of English, peculiarly for academic intents. The research findings from sample responses in this survey clearly indicate that Saudi pupils chiefly face reading and composing jobs. The consequences of this survey revealed that Saudi pupils have trouble in reading rapidly through a text to acquire a general position of the content when reading. It was besides evident that they are unfamiliar with the construction of English academic authorship, have trouble in showing thoughts when composing and happen it hard to organize thoughts in a logical sequence. The research findings here indicate that Saudi pupils ‘ troubles in reading and authorship activities are affected by learning and larning methods that were adopted in the Saudi instruction system. Acerate leaf to state the teaching method in Saudi is preponderantly reliant on an examination-based model. Despite the attempts of EAP instructors in the UK Saudi pupils still find it hard to get by with academic reading and authorship. The difference between the two instruction systems in footings of learning authorship and reading are besides of import factors that were reported to impact Saudi pupils ‘ ability to get by with EAP in British graduate student plans.The Main Cross-cultural Factors that Impact on Saudi Students ‘ Troubles in the British ContextLast, this research asked about the chief cross-cultural fluctuations that impact on Saudi pupils ‘ troubles in the British graduate student acquisition environment. In general, the research findings indicated that cross-cultural discourses presented fewer jobs when compared to English linguistic communication troubles. However, the most of import determination of this research is that Saudi pupils are to a great extent influenced by changed forms in their acquisition environment, peculiarly traveling from a teacher-centred to student-centred system. This was besides shown to hold an impact on Saudi pupils ‘ troubles in take parting in some tutorials and some other in-class activities. The impact of this displacement besides influenced Saudi pupils ‘ assurance with the English linguistic communication and created anxiousnesss and emphasis in tutorial Sessionss. The research findings indicate that the Saudi pupils sampled were affected by different types of academic activities and cross-cultural differences as the research worker expected. In add-on, the undermentioned three of import facets of the new academic context influenced the Saudi pupils sampled in this survey. These were traveling from a teacher-centred to a student-centred, discussion-based and critical thinking-based acquisition system as found in British graduate student plans. Harmonizing to the consequences, pupils who had experience of go toing the EAP plan tended to hold fewer jobs in the discussion-based attacks of the instruction system. The older pupil participants in this survey, in peculiar, were likely to meet fewer jobs accommodating to a different acquisition system. Whilst younger pupils were likely to hold some trouble in accommodating to a British single ability-centred academic environment. Harmonizing to the survey ‘s findings, the pupils that undertook EA P plans still have trouble in fixing assignments. In contrast, these pupils showed a higher adaptability in all other classs with regard to the cross-cultural issues raised in this survey.The Best Preparation for Saudi Students to Succeed in British graduate student PlansThe research findings can lend to the treatment and preparation of schemes to develop more effectual ways for Saudi pupils to fix for British graduate student plans in footings of their linguistic communication and academic demands. Successful accomplishment of their ends and deriving an apprehension of their new academic context are the existent loads for Saudi pupils. Presently, these are barriers that prevent them from accommodating both academically and linguistically. The Saudi pupils sampled in this survey clearly indicated that they had shown different degrees of version harmonizing to the old plans they experienced prior to come ining British graduate student plans. The old two chapters detailed the current public presentation of Saudi pupils sampled and their responses in seting to the British academic context. More than half of the Saudi pupils who participated in this survey had experienced EAP plans before get downing their classs in British graduate student plans. In peculiar, a bulk of them attended a class offered by the university plan that was chiefly designed to fix them to come in the university and run into its demand but non for the official IELTS trial or any other trial. Saudi pupils sampled in this survey are likely to hold spent less than 12 months analyzing in such a readying plan. Typically, the Saudi pupils sampled in this survey appeared to depend on go throughing the EAP plan to derive permission to analyze in British graduate student plans one time they arrived in the UK. I would propose that the EAP plans provided by the universities should besides be concentrating on the IELTS trial because the consequences from the pupil interviews revealed that they are non confident about the university assessment process. Therefore, fixing pupils for the IELTS would forestall any misinterpretations on the pupils ‘ portion over whether they were tested based on their background. For the present sample of Saudi pupils, nevertheless, it has been revealed that as clip has gone on the IELTS trial is recognised to be merely one step of entry degree ability and non needfully the 1 that predicts success in third acquisition. In fact, this research indicates that most Saudi pupils continue to confront English linguistic communication troubles and academic cultural challenges in the academic context while set abouting their graduate student surveies. The EAP instructors who had old experience of learning Saudi pupils in this survey believed that the proficiency degree of English acquired by go throughing the IELTS trial differs from the proficiency degree of English which would be utilised in the existent life state of affairss which arise in the class of academic survey. A deficiency of cognition and accomplishments associated with English for academic intents is a major ground. Saudi pupils sampled in this survey admitted that the degree of English acquisition and instruction does non run into the degree that British graduate student plans require because the current Saudi English instruction system and its acquisition environment are non practical plenty to accomplish the high proficiency degree of English that is indispensable for Saudi pupils. The research findings clearly indicate that Saudi pupils who had experienced an EAP plan showed better public presentation in their academic surveies compared to those pupils who had non attended any EAP plans. The consequences besides showed that Saudi pupils were found to hold experienced trouble in run intoing the needed degrees of proficiency in the English for British graduate student plans. The acknowledgment of the English linguistic communication jobs that pupils encounter while set abouting their plans presently is described by sources as the deficiency of their cognition about the mark linguistic communication because of the manner it was taught in the EAP plan. Howevet, the research found that with regard to academic cultural issues, pupils who had undertaken EAP plans demonstrated more adaptability in most countries of subsequently larning. For illustration, some pupils responded that they were satisfied with proficiency degree of their English speech production and were confident and had less anxiousness when they needed to talk in a category. While others besides had trouble in organizing thoughts in a logical sequence when composing English. Furthermore, they were probably to hold fewer jobs than other nationalities when giving a spoken presentation in category.6.5 Chapter sum-upThis chapter discusses the results from the information analysis and connects them with the theories that have been discussed in chapters two and three. It was clear that pupil linguistic communication proficiency was non high plenty for Saudi pupils to get down their graduate student surveies at British establishments. It was besides revealed that pupils are confronting troubles in get bying with their new academic environment. Consequently, the research suggests that the best readying for Saudi pupils as they enter British graduate student plans and achieve successful consequences is to go to EAP plans where they can accomplish early socialization and pre-preparation by sing interaction with native English talkers in existent academic state of affairss. This suggested tract would probably offer future Saudi pupils a more realistic chance to get the better of jobs presently faced by Saudi graduate student pupils. These Saudi pupils must be regarded as grownup scholars when sing their age harmonizing to the consequences of the study. As grownup scholars, they would probably recognize the importance of EAP and the academic differences in their new academic environment. It can be said that their greater realization of this context was chiefly based on experiences of interacting with the British academic acquisition environment. As a consequence, they came to gain what kind of readying they needed and how they might better get by with unexpected jobs faced in British plans. It means that they had chances to detect, through their experiences, how to cover with EAP troubles and academic cultural differences at this degree. In add-on, these Saudi pupils revealed that their anxiousness, emphasis and deficiency of assurance with English as a 2nd linguistic communication created a psychological trouble when take parting in tutorials. Sing the issues discussed supra, a scope of possible recommendations can be offered that might supply a valuable way for Saudi pupils, the policy shapers in Saudi Arabia and British establishments, private suppliers and other people who are involved in this sector. These might be considered in order to better Saudi pupils ‘ public presentations in British graduate student plans in the hereafter.

Book Journal: The Black Jacobins

The book ‘The Black Jacobins’ is a pen craft of Mr. C. L. R. James. James has scrutinized here an event happened in 1791; which brought out the Revolution of Haitian. The reasons that caused this revolution to take place are the main concerns of his account. He has analyzed the points of progress where economic and class differences overpowered the racial differences. Gradually picturing the whole scenario, he has carefully plotted his findings comparing the French and Haitian revolutions.He has matched his findings on every event with the French and Haitian revolutions. French camp was San Domingo and all the slave trade used to happen here only to cater the French government. All the efforts that France was making against USA, UK, and the communal divisions that existed within her had put a customary influence over the stepping forward of the San Domingo revolt. Writer percepts the class difference had overpowered racial difference.The French revolution is one of the m ajor causes of Haitian revolution as far as the influence is concerned. Other causes include the events like insurgence of the working class natives, and Bastille event. The above-discussed causes affected the slaves very much. Another hub of attention is the leadership of Toussaint L’Ouverture. L’Ouverture’s life has also been analyzed by James. It has been suggested for this forefront facing revolting head that he had organized people, unified the rebellious forces, and also headed some fundamental wars.He fought from the forefront and after he was caught, his army generals became his predecessors. He had been a terrible idol and his character has almost been vague in the writings of different authors. The work of C. L. R James is depicting a great and influential description of the struggles and events occurred at that time and author has almost idealized the leadership qualities of that time (James, 1989). Works Cited James, C. (1989). The Black Jacobins: To ussaint L'Ouverture and the San Domingo Revolution . Vintage.

Are Concerns over Immigration to Do with Culture of Economic Reasons Essay Example for Free

Are Concerns over Immigration to Do with Culture of Economic Reasons Essay Almost all economists are in agreement that immigration has positive economic effects. Indeed in the United States it â€Å"provides natives with a net benefit of at least $80,000 per immigrant, or as much as $10 billion annually† (Bolin, 2006). However despite this there are huge numbers of advocacy groups pushing the pros and cons immigration to the populations of the host countries, with natives having negative views towards immigration (McLaren & Johnson, 2007). Through the course of this essay I will examine whether the root cause of these often xenophobic views towards immigration have root causes in economic reasons (immigrants taking jobs from natives, and leading to lower wages) or symbolic reasons, where the natives are fearful that the immigrants will bring their culture to the host country and cause change. Enoch Powell, the Conservative British politician, gave a warning that immigrants were causing such strife that â€Å"like the Roman, I seem to see the River Tiber foaming with much blood† (Powell, 1969). This turned out to be nonsense, and his advice that immigrants should be encouraged to leave, would have left Britain, and many other countries that rely on cheap foreign labour in a horrific state of affairs. Immigrants are now taking far longer to integrate into their host country and this is upsetting many natives. â€Å"In the past a third-generation migrant, for example in America, would have been expected to have shed much of his grandparents’ identity† (The Economist, 2008), not speaking his mother tongue and having little loyalty to the country his family originated from. This is changing â€Å"as migrants feel loyalty to more than one country† (The Economist, 2008). For example, Moroccans in Europe, even fourth generation, are encouraged by the Government to identify with the African country, and are granted Moroccan citizenship under the constitution. As many source countries such as India and China grow intent on gaining remittances from their emigres, â€Å"migrants even several generations on may come under great pressure to retain some of their old identity† (The Economist, 2008). This can all lead to immigrants never becoming fully integrated into the host country, causing social problems such as immigrants bunching together in the same place. Due to globalisation and time-space compression, it has become far easier for migrants to emigrate further away from their own country, this causes problems as they subsequently have little in common with their host country and find it harder to integrate into the community. Traveling long distances to emigrate is no longer a problem and in the future there will be the problem of â€Å"people moving greater distances and settling among different ethnic, religious and cultural groups† (The Economist, 2008), meaning they will have problems integrating. â€Å"Danes in Sweden or Albanians in Greece have little trouble integrating into the relatively familiar societies next door. Even Poles in Ireland prosper, perhaps thanks to the incomers’ good standard of education and skill and the shared Catholic faith. But Iraqis in Sweden, Somalis in Canada or Pakistanis in Norway typically find integration harder† (The Economist, 2008). Samuel Huntington blames this on the â€Å"great divisions among humankind† (Huntington, 1993) that are the differences between civilisations. He believes that immigration will ‘intensify civilization consciousness and awareness of differences between civilizations and commonalities within civilizations’ (Huntington, 1993). This leads to a ‘them versus us’ attitude, with the natives having the xenophobic view that the immigrants are qualitatively different from themselves. As the natives of the host country would have spent time constructing â€Å"discursive practices that attempt to fix meanings which enable the differentiation between the inside and the outside to be made† (Doty, 1996), they will resent immigrants not properly integrating themselves into the community. Research on social identity appears to conclude that identity is highly important to individuals, with individuals protecting these identities even if they have no realistic meaning (Monroe, et al. , 2000). People use these identities to provide a sense of self (Sniderman, et al. 2004), partly in order that they may distinguish between those similar to themselves and those different. The ‘identities tend to have their basis in perceptions of differences’ (McLaren & Johnson, 2007)with those viewed as outsiders thought to have radically different values and approaches to life. â€Å"The threat posed by minorities and immigrants may be symbolic in nature and may stem from concerns about the loss of certain values or ways of life† (McLaren & Johnson, 2007), due to immigrants having a significant presence in the host country. Immigrants also often congregate in areas of the host country, London for example has a huge immigrant and minority presence with only 44. 9% classing themselves as ‘White British’ (Gye, 2012), in the 2011 census. This all means that natives are fearful that immigrants will cause them to adapt or change their ways of life. Migrants who preserve â€Å"a strong religious sense that cuts across any national loyalty may be the hardest of all to assimilate into broadly secular Western societies†. In the post-9/11 world Muslims are often seen as being the greatest cultural threat to Western societies. In a recent survey McLaren and Johnson measured anti-Muslim feeling in the United Kingdom. They found that 62% of people agreed with the statement that British Muslims are more loyal to Muslims around the world, than to other Britons, only 12% disagreed. Only 30% of Britons felt that Muslims living in Britain were committed to Britain, with 47% feeling that they could never be committed to Britain. 52% of people thought that Britain would begin to lose its identity if more Muslims came to live there. Clearly there is considerable anti-Muslim feeling in Britain and concern that British-Muslims pose a threat to the identity and culture of Britain (McLaren & Johnson, 2007). Most economists are in agreement that immigration has very little effect on native’s wages; this should mean that natives won’t oppose immigration based on the misbelief that immigrants lower wages. Although conventional economic wisdom states that an increase in supply of labour will lead to a decrease in price, this doesn’t happen. Friedberg and Hunt conclude that a 10% increase in immigrant levels in the population, decreases wages by 1% (Friedberg & Hunt, 1995). Economist Francisco Revera-Batiz came to the same conclusion, noting that although immigration has increased the supply of low skilled workers into the United States, there has been very little impact on the wages of high school dropouts, the lowest skilled people in America (Rivera-Batiz, 1998). One of the most influential studies is Card’s 1990 study on the Miami Labour market after the sudden influx of 125,000 Cuban immigrants in 1980 due to a sharp downturn in the Cuban economy. Surprisingly the arrival of so many immigrants didn’t affect native wages, although it did lower the overall wage level in Miami; due to the immigrants being employed in low-wage jobs (Card, 1990). This tallies with the outcomes of other natural experiments in recent history such as the homecoming of 600,000 Portuguese after the collapse of their empire in Africa in 1974-76, the return of 900,000 Frenchmen from Algeria in 1962 (The Economist, 2008) or the influx of 610,000 Russian Jews into Israel 1990-94, increasing the labour force by 12%; all had negligible effects on native wages. Immigrants don’t decrease wages because as well as increasing the supply of labour, they become a domestic consumer for goods as well as services, they â€Å"create jobs as consumers and fill jobs as producers† (Bolin, 2006). A higher total population, ceteris parabus, will lead to the production of more goods and services, boosting the host countries gross domestic product (GDP). In some rare cases immigrants can even boost native’s wages. Illegal Mexican immigrants, who are â€Å"predominantly low skilled† (Bolin, 2006), have a positive effect on other workers’ wages (Bean, et al. 1998). This is due to immigration increasing the productivity of native workers by â€Å"taking low-skilled jobs, freeing higher-skilled workers to work in higher-skilled employment where they can be more productive† (Bolin, 2006). Based on the results of a range of economists, using results based on a â€Å"range of methodologies† (Bolin, 2006), it can be seen that immigrants have a small negative impact on native wages, although mainly low-skilled workers. Based on this, natives shouldn’t be concerned over immigration levels based on their own wages falling. The popular theory that immigrants ‘come over here and take our jobs’, has been shown to hold very little truth, as most studies â€Å"find no or negligible effect[s]† (Bolin, 2006) on employment rates. The ‘lump of labour fallacy’ is the mistaken idea that there are a set number of jobs in the economy, and when an immigrant takes one of those jobs, it is a job lost for a native. This is incorrect for three reasons. Firstly, by coming to a country â€Å"immigrants increase the supply of labour and hence reduce wages. In turn, cheaper labour increases the potential return to employers to build new factories or expand their operations. In so doing, they create extra demand for workers† (Grinda, 2006), and more jobs are created. Secondly, immigrants are consumers as well as producers. When there is a large influx of immigrants such as the 610,000 Russian-Jews into Israel in the early 1990’s, they are in need of goods and services. People are employed to provide these goods and services, meaning more jobs added to the economy, and immigrants simply enlarge the economy. Thirdly, immigrants are 10 to 20 percent more likely to become entrepreneurs and start their own business than natives (Briggs & Moore, 1994). In 1999, The Wall Street Journal reported that â€Å"Chinese and Indian immigrants run nearly 25% of the high-companies started in [Silicon] Valley since 1980†¦The 2,775 immigrant-run companies had total sales of $16. 8 billion and more than 58,000 employees† (Thurm, 1999). â€Å"Immigrants not only take jobs, they make jobs. They open new businesses that employ natives as well as other immigrants and themselves. And they do so in important numbers† (Simon, 1999). Similarly, the findings by Friedberg and Hunt discovers â€Å"no evidence of economically significant reductions in native employment†. Card, as well as examining the impact of the Muriel boatlift on wages also examined the impact of it on employment. Even though Miami’s workforce was increased by 7%, virtually overnight, with an influx of relatively unskilled Cuban workers he finds â€Å"no evidence of an increase in unemployment among less skilled blacks or other non-Cuban workers. Rather the data analysis suggests a remarkably rapid absorption of the Muriel immigrants into the Miami labour force† (Card, 1990). Again with immigrant’s impact on wages, the evidence seems to suggest that a lack of evidence that immigration causes native unemployment. This should mean that concerns over immigration should not be linked to worries over employment. Due to immigrants being â€Å"disproportionately low-skill[ed]† (Bolin, 2006) they tend to have lower wages than natives. It is often assumed therefore that they depend more upon the welfare system than natives. The level of benefits are often higher in the host country than the source country, and it is often suggested that it is this difference that brings in migrants. Borjas coined the term â€Å"welfare magnet effect† (Borjas, 1999), making the point that immigrants are drawn to the country with the highest benefits. This however has all been shown to be completely false, and many economists believe that over the long term immigrants more than pay for the public services they use (Simon, 1999). In the United States â€Å"most immigrants, including Mexicans, are usually less likely than comparable natives to receive welfare†, with the per capita cost of social welfare for immigrants being 8% less than the per capita cost for natives (Bean, et al. 1998). It is plain to see that objections to immigration come from those who are worried about the identity and culture of their nation being eroded, rather than for economic reasons. Immigrants are solving many problems for the host countries, such as the problems of aging populations and those participating in the workforce being increasing choosy about the jobs they do. Immigrants have few economic disadvantages, although high immigration may bring about a small decrease in jobs for the natives, the tax revenue that they bring in more than displaces this negative effect. As the immigrants have little impact on jobs, and simply create more jobs in the economy, disproving the lump of labour fallacy, they don’t have a negative impact on wages which is a positive for the economy as a whole. The argument that immigrants have a negative impact on the identity and culture of a nation holds some truth. Due to the fact that a nation’s identity is made up of what its inhabitants believe it to be, immigrants having different views, can water this identity down. Are Concerns over Immigration to Do with Culture of Economic Reasons. (2016, Oct 02).

Affirmative Action Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Affirmative Action - Research Proposal Example Secondly, non-minorities have perceived a reverse racism when chosen over for supposedly less qualified minorities. Thirdly, some individuals from a minority background might feel as though it is condescending to imply that they need extra help in order to succeed. Whatever problems that might exist in the system, there is no arguing that racism still does exist, and that some means are needed to counter-act this inherent disparity. Affirmative action can be a positive social program, but the program is almost necessarily imperfect. It can be continued to be adjusted and tweaked, but until it is no longer needed, there will always be controversy surrounding the issue. To first address opponents of affirmative action, the main argument states that it is merely reverse discrimination. This is more or less the â€Å"two wrongs don’t make one right† argument. To discuss it in more depth, opponents say that it is a program that, while attempting to deal with issues of inequality due to discrimination, merely discriminates against one group as opposed to another: â€Å"Affirmative action is designed to end discrimination and unfair treatment of employees/students based on color, but it in effect does the opposite. Whites who work harder and/or are more qualified can be passed over strictly because they are white† (Messerli, 2008). This, in effect, while attempting to counter-act the effects of racism and discrimination, will only create more difficulties in race relations because whites who are picked over for minorities on the basis of skin color will begrudge this decision; it seems as though affirmative action as a social progra m on its own would be unable to end racism and discrimination. Another argument states that while the issues that affirmative action attempts to deal with are at the level of society in general, i.e. the damage that a racist and discriminatory society in general has done to

Two kinds by amy tan summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Two kinds by amy tan summary - Essay Example The underlying benefits of these efforts are unclear but the show still goes on. A piano teacher is hired to train the little girl. A whole new direction is taken as more time is wasted. The girl fakes almost everything to do with the training, probably taking advantage of the deaf piano teacher. She is therefore seen making a fortune out of her mother’s blunder. What she does not know is the extent to which her mother is interested in her piano skills. She is signed up for a talent show that brings together Chinese-American community. This is seen as an opportunity to showcase her developing talent in piano. She is faced by a significant audience, and all that can save her is a miracle since the talent show has trapped her. However, all she was set for is shame, to her and her family. A daughter-mother conflict arises and the mother’s concern for her daughter’s talent fades away. Towards the end of the story, the daughter returns with her piano. The piano is fully serviced. Jing-mei’s mother has passed away and her high hopes for the daughter can only be remembered by keeping the piano. She therefore lets the piano act as a representation of her mother’s hopes for

Competitive Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Competitive Analysis - Essay Example Apple’s growth is mainly due to social factors. Currently, people are ready to explore new trends in technology due to limited time for leisure, changes in how people live or work, and the internet has become a way of life. People need devices that will enable them to shop online, attend lessons online and also play games online (David, 2010). Technologically, apple first developed the tablet, but other companies introduced the product later. However, most of these companies have withdrawn their services due to high competition and demand for continued innovation. Currently, only two companies dominate this market and they include Apple and Samsung. These two companies face continued court cases regarding patent infringement. Therefore, it is upon Apple and other companies involved in tablets production to continue innovating and coming up with new products so that they can remain in the market. This is because with the current rate of technological advancement, it may not be certain that tablets will remain forever, or a new product will come into the market (David, 2010). Various competitive forces that have positively impacted on the organization are introducing new devices before any of its competitors can do so, maintaining its I-culture as the brand name, and low price strategy. Based on the market and the industry, there is an exceptionally high competitive rivalry between suppliers as the market is highly volatile and any entrant can penetrate the market and gain a large share or loss. However, Apple has the upper hand in staying strong in the market regardless of the high rivalry between suppliers. Apple currently enjoys a large market share than Samsung, which stands at more than 80%. On the other hand, Apple is a unique brand both on its design and software. Apple uses its own operating system while Samsung uses android, which is similar to other

Banking policy in Burma Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Banking policy in Burma - Essay Example The indigenous banks of Burma were not started, until after the county’s independence in 1948.The banks that started operations in Burma during the colonial times, targeted the export trade of rice. They centralized their operations around Rangoon, engaging mainly in Chettiar lending, except a few like Dawson’s bank, which exited Burma after the 1942 invasion by the Japanese (Econ 335 a). Remarkable in the philosophical and the ideological banking profile of colonial Burma, are the exchange banks, which initiated western banking services at Burma. These exchange banks trace their origins to the trading firms of Burma, which mediated the commercial dealings of Burma with the outside world – throughout the nineteenth century. These firms include the Wallace Brothers, which was a remarkable example of the transition from being merchants, towards assuming the role of merchant bankers. By the end of the 19th century, the traders and the merchants that had operated as banks across the British Empire, either converted or left business for international banks. Most of these banks were headquartered at London, including Lloyds Bank and the National Bank of India (Econ 335 a). Most of the banks did not engage in the service of the entire population, particularly the countryside, but focused on the financing of rice trade, among a few other commodities at Rangoon. The finances of these banks were mostly outsourced from outside Burma, particularly London; the banks, later diversified towards the collection of deposits from European professionals, managers, and Burmese and Indian traders. The banking sector of colonial Burma was characterized by trade finance and the sale of bills of exchange. The bill of exchange is among the finance tools that revolutionized international trade during the nineteenth century; the instrument allowed exporters to receive the value of their exports, immediately after the sale of the exports, and in the local currency. The service was offered by exchange banks, which marked a reduction in the risks borne by exporters and importers; it also increased their access to credit. The bills of exchange were a short-term credit instrument, ordinarily 60 days, and not longer than 90 days. Banking institutions like the British banks, concentrated in the provision of financial services, and funding to businesses, particularly European as well as the colonial administration and its agencies. For instance, the Imperial bank offered wholesale financing to Chettairs, thus was an import financier of the Burmese agricultural sector. Despite the dominance of British banks, non-British exchange banks like Citibank started their operations in Asia, during 1812. The bank started its operations at Rangoon in 1919. For example, some Chinese banks arrived into Burma, immediately after the completion of Burma Road, in 1938 targeting the upcoming opportunities (Econ 335 a). There was the rise of Burmese banks, including  "U Rai Gyaw Thoo and Dawson’s Bank†. Dawson’s Bank was started in 1905, with the role of assisting Burmese agricultural players, so that they could free their lands from Indian-money-tenders. The local banks sought closeness to the farmers, so that they would ensure that they would get cheap credit, and, so that the banks would ensure that they used the money for the specified purpose. U Rai Gyaw Thoo was among the first Burmese-operated and owned bank, which grew out of shipping, trading and money lending. There

Gold Standard and The Foriegn Exchange Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Gold Standard and The Foriegn Exchange - Essay Example Kemmerer (1944) defines gold standard as â€Å"a monetary system where the unit of value, in terms of which prices, wages, and debts are customarily expressed and paid, consists of the value of a fixed quantity of gold in a large international market which is substantially free.† (p. 134) From mid 1870s more and more countries started to value their national currencies against gold. In the 1920s fixing a gold value for the currency ensured stable exchange rates which boosted external value of it and consequently ensured the stability of internal prices. The gold standard period is characterized by national governments policy aimed at preserving the value of the currency (Milward 1996, p.87) Very simple in its origins gold standard was declared to support national currencies serving as an equilibrating mechanism reducing foreign exchange risk and eliminating the risk of destroying governmental policies. Each country has a domestic supply of money backed by its domestic reserves of gold. If a Treasury printed banknotes not backed by the gold standard, the result would be individual requirements to exchange the excess banknotes for gold. (DeLong 1997) Countries which joined fixed exchange rate standard were enjoying long-run price level stability and predictability, stable and low long-run interest rates, stable exchange rates which contributed to massive capital inputs to the worlds developing countries. (Bordo and Schwartz 1996, p.11) As historically-specific institution the gold standard had been supported by all industrial-economy governments to maintain convertibility of their currency. Under the gold standard not only trade expanded but also international capital markets developed. It allowed considerable investments into enterprises in other industrializing, mineral-rich countries which benefited greatly the economies of these countries. The gold standard ensured the entrepreneurs engaged in international trade from foreign exchange

Accounting III.Forum Question Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Accounting III.Forum Question - Essay Example Becky should ideally report the transactions to the higher authorities of the car manufacturing company so that they could initiate appropriate measures but such activity might lead to her termination of employment. If Becky informs about the transactions that are taking place in between the dealer, Mueller Imports and the sales executives and the sales manager, it is certain that punitive measures would be taken against the dealer which might lead to termination of dealership. Also, it would certainly affect the brand name of the company as it would get revealed that the executives of the company are involved in unethical dealings. It would be prudent to gather enough evidences by Becky against the dealer and then to lodge complaint to the higher officials of the car company. It is evident that such a complaint would bring out the unethical nexus in between the dealership and the sales team. Therefore, the controller should show enough guts to handle the issue ethically. Kothari, S. P. & Ramanna, Karthik. What should GAAP look like? A survey and economic analysis. 21 January 2010. The University of Chicago Booth. No Date.

Attribution Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Attribution Theory - Essay Example For people to interpret the causes of particular behaviour performed by other individuals, it is necessary for them to observe the behaviour, and attribute external or internal causes to it. Any outside body or agent that triggers or causes the event is an external factor while factors that are within the control of an individual and are a part of his/her personality are the internal factors (Shackleton, 1995). An example of how attribution theory can be applied in our daily lives could be our reaction to, say, having a good social circle. An individual who is a loner and has no friends to talk to will always be found complaining about how the world is so cruel and unjust. This is attributing an external factor to the event. However, a person who is the life of a party and is acquainted with a lot of people will be found claiming that it is so because of his being so attractive and smart. As obvious, this case refers to an internal factor or the factor which is within a person. There are many factors which are related to attribution. The determination of the causes depends on three things (Kelly, 1967). Distinctiveness, the first one, tells whether the person's actions are distinct and different from other situations. The second is consensus, which tells whether other people behave in the same way to the same situation. The third factor is consistency, which finds out whether the individual behaves the same way consistently to the same situation. The theory predicts that whenever there is high distinctiveness, the causes of the behaviour are external and with low distinctiveness, the factors are internal. For consensus, it is an external factor whenever there is a high consensus and an internal factor when the consensus is low. High consistency indicates an internal factor while low consistency depicts an external factor. In fact, when we apply attribution theory, there are two types of errors which can result in distorted attributions. One is the fundamental attribution error and the other is self-serving bias. (1) Fundamental attribution error: It occurs when people overestimate the effects of internal factors while underestimating the effects of external factors when judging the behavior of others (Martinko, 1995.) It is when the actions of people are attributed to their traits and personality rather than the external influence that may have led them to such an action. (2) Self-serving bias: This error, also known as attributional bias, refers to the tendency of individuals to claim responsibility for successes while attributing failures to other causes or factors (Martinko, 1995.) It is just one way of imaging what is pleasing to us rather than the realistic situation. One factor which can be related to this bias is whether there is a reward or punishment proclaimed for certain behavior (Harvey & Smith, 1977). It is suggestd that when we suceed, we tend to overestimate the internal factors which could be our talent and effort and underestimate the external factor which could be the help of others. Yet, if we were failed, we would overestimate the external factors which could be lack of collegue's co-operation, and underestimate the internal factors such as our laziness. This indicates that people would explain the same behavior to events differently if it occurred differently (. Systematic bias: It is a form of self-serving bias and occurs when people generally tend to think that they are better at tasks that are

Transportation City of Boston Essay Example for Free

Transportation City of Boston Essay Internet practices in the year 2000 were the elements that brought new challenges to the field of logistics. People started to expect more from the customer service field and from the quality and value that corporations provided. With these high expectations, the importance of transportation and logistics became a way to make firms more competitive by understanding their customers’ needs and the additional value that they are looking for. At this time, logistics continued to develop elements such as electronic-businesses; globalization; business alliances; and technological advancements. Technology is a logistical core competence with increasing importance, especially for the service providers. Most companies nowadays conduct their businesses through the internet. They use different Internet applications including websites for marketing purposes, tracking and tracing tools, information gathering, procurement, order entry and credit management. With the use of technology, companies even have the possibility of automating the logistics system; â€Å"a customer’s order can be generated automatically, transmitted via electronic data interchange (EDI) to a supplier’s computer, which then directs the required amount of the needed product be pulled automatically from the warehouse and shipped to the customer† (Gourdin, 2001, p.13). Furthermore, Gourdin (p.14) states that technology makes processes â€Å"without human intervention and with virtually no waiting time.† In addition, Internet and electronic-commerce are also important factors in developing the logistics system. The Internet has quickly become the easiest method for supplying information for both companies and customers. It has also become the choice of transmission device for exchanging forecasts, orders, inventory status, products updates and shipment information. Logistics is an important element in the field of electronic-commerce because firms have to reassess their logistics systems to make sure that their clients can get their products in an expeditious manner. Globalization, on the other hand, has also hastened the growth of logistics, especially in the areas of national, political and economic settings. Global operations need information technology integration to route orders and manage inventory requirements around the world and will need alliances that are essential in international commerce. This is also essential in providing market access and expertise to reduce the inherent risks of global operations associated with distance, demand, diversity, and documentation of international commerce. What role did transportation play in the economic development of the United States? Is this role of transportation still important today? The role that transportation played in the economic development of the United States economy was immense. The transportation revolution in the first decade of the 19th century halted the western isolation, during the period wherein United States experienced an economic growth known as â€Å"Era of Good Feelings†. During the 1800s, natural waterways were the only trade route for the Americans. After a century and with years of development, railroads and tracks were established. In the late 1920s, regional airlines opened and began regular operations for scheduled passenger flights. By the dawn of 1960s, the introduction of transportation through containers changed the way freights were traveled towards different countries and around the globe. Improvements and innovations in the transportation system developed through the years. Having a good transportation system meant economic and social opportunities for the people and such opportunities are later transmitted to benefits that are reflected in the economy. Transportation is a very visible element of logistics. The economy is largely dependent on the state of transportation in every nation. As such, without a reliable system of transportation, most commercial activities could not function. In the United States alone, more than 60 percent of total logistic cost is related to transportation services. Efficient transportation systems render economic and social opportunities that could benefit the society and give people the opportunity to penetrate into larger markets and also save time and costs. Mobility and the development of a good system of transportation have already created numerous opportunities to the people in the United States that were later translated to economic benefits by generating employment and boosting the national income. The transportation sector alone provided jobs for about 7.5 percent of the American workforce. With the development of the country’s infrastructure, the transportation system and its services must also be supported and maintained. For example, the federal government, through the taxes paid by the people, must allot funds to build and maintain railroad tracks, roads, bridges and highways. The transportation system in the United States has indeed developed over the years. People are now equipped with a number of alternatives of transportation methods to choose from that they find the most effective in terms of their necessities. However, even with these developments, people have not yet stopped on devising new transportation methods that will better cater the needs of the people in the future. Technology plays an important role in the transportation system. People rely on technology in order to enhance the efficiency of the existing transportation system. References Ballou, D. H. (1999). Business Logistics/Supply Chain Management. New Jersey: Pearson Education. Bowersox, D. J., Closs, D. J., Cooper, M. B. (2007). Supply Chain Logistics Management. New York: McGraw Hill International. Coyle, J. J., Bardi, E. J., Novack, R. A. (2005). Transportation. Ohio: Thomson South-Western. Gourdin, K. N. (2001). Global Logistics Management. Boston: Blackwell Publishing. Williams, A. ( 2001). The Role of Logistics in Internet Commerce. Retrieved August 08, 2008, from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3766/is_200110/ai_n8958764/pg_1?tag=artBody;col1

The importance of business communication Essay Example for Free

The importance of business communication Essay The importance of business communication Treat others as you want to be treated Please think before you print When you think about these two quotes you will find a lot of meanings. something happens In your life around you, about the relations and communication and how to deal with others not Just on business also in your general life, so it is too important to learn how to communicate. communication Is the process of transmlttlng Ideas, thoughts, information, opinions, and plans between various parts of an organization r sometimes to those on the outside of an organization who are interest In the business and need to know the Information. Communication is one of the most basic functions of management in any organization. Its Importance can never be over emphasized. The presence of business communication ensures that there is a sense of professionalism in the business. Good communication means your message is being sent and those receiving it clearly understand It In its entirely. Because of this, the receiver will more likely respond to It In a positive manner. When this occurs, it means the message was communicated effectively. A customer who receives poor communication from an employee will most likely have an unfavorable response to a company. The reason for this could be because the person listening does not possess a clear understanding of what the person doing the talking is actually saying. Perhaps the request is unclear. or maybe the person listening did not pay close enough attention. Human relations cannot be present without communication. Good and effective communication is required for oth personal relationships and successful business relationships. You can use business software and other popular applications for writing communications, or you can utilize the telephone and In-person methods for the spoken part. No matter how you communicate, make sure there is both talking and listening going on and that you take the time to caretully consider what is being said to you. All three forms of communication are important to a business. The written communications can serve as d record of sorts while the phone conversations can acilitate the beginning of a great business relationship. The in-person communication will also help to further promote the business principles as well as the products. Face-to-face communication is especially important between companies and their customers. This is what keeps them coming back time and time again and what can place the business In the forefront of many situations that are perfect for acquiring and maintaining customers Effective cornrnunlcatlon In business helps better understand d person or situation, nables us to resolve important differences, and builds trust and respect.

Independent Audit Risks: Cases

Independent Audit Risks: Cases Lisa Ferguson Case 1.8 1. Misstated development costs and revenue measurement are both inherent risks when auditing live theatrical companies. To detect the first, auditors should design testing procedures to evaluate whether deferred development costs are reasonable to the production. This would involve obtaining itemized lists of costs and comparing them to similar expenditures industry-wide. To test for proper revenue measurement, the auditor would have to compare ticket sales with actual head counts. This could involve looking at recent ticket sales and observing the actual attendance of a show. Likewise, if it is a production transferring from out-of-town tryouts to Broadway, compare those out-of-town ticket sales to Broadway sales. If one is consistently different, there may be cause for further investigation. 2. A CFO owes their first loyalty to the company for which they work. They are usually responsible for the internal controls of the accounting and financial departments, planning overall tax strategies and consulting on financial matters. They manage the money. An audit partners first loyalty is to their firm. They bring in new business and ensure that their auditors fulfill their duties while also upholding legal and ethical standards. Both roles are very important. I think an audit partner is more important on a societal level, as auditors are meant to aid in the detection of misstatements, some of which could lead to widespread financial consequences. A CFO has the more stressful job, though. They are essentially serving two masters. They must maintain the legal and ethical standards of their profession (many are accountants), while also generating financials that satisfythe CEO and Board of Directors. That could mean facing pressure to falsify accounts to lead to better numbers. I have little interest in auditing so would rather be a CFO. 3. Independent audits are required by law, hence the necessary part. However, to do his job, an auditor must dig through a companys financials, possibly bringing to light number fudging. An auditor can frame what they are doing as a service. The auditor is finding potential misstatements before the financials are filed with the government. If mistakes have occurred, and auditor gives the company a chance to fix them before potentially incurring disciplinary action from the government. 4. A secondary accounting firm has a responsibility to test the assumptions at the center of the dispute and issue and un-biased opinion about how the dispute should be resolved. 5. I do not think the $12.5 million should have been declared in total. If the verbal contract fulfilled the requirements of a legal contract, then an amount associated with the existing theatre could be recorded as revenue. However, the amount associated with the theatre that had not yet been built should have been recorded as unearned revenue since it was, in fact, not yet earned. If the verbal contract did not meet the requirements for a contract, then nothing should have been recorded. This is about the concepts of matching and what constitutes a binding contract. 6. Messina was the engagement partner on the last two Livent audits. When she discovered the fraud, she likely felt that she should have caught it when engaged in auditing the company. Having not done so, and then gone to work for the company, she felt guilty. While I can sympathize with the pressure to go along with fraud like that, I would use whatever the appropriate reporting procedures were to report the fraud. No job is worth that level of dishonesty. I would rather earn $24,000 a year honestly, than $250,000 facing the pressure and internal disgust of lying. 7. The standards that govern due diligence is AS 1015. AS 1015.05 states that (a)n auditor should possess the degree of skill commonly possessed by other auditors and should exercise it with reasonable care and diligence (that is, with due professional care). Case 2.2 1. Accuracy and occurrence are both relevant. Arthur Andersen could have asked to see the un-booked cost charges and compared them with previous periods to ascertain their accuracy as regards the new revenue recognition technique. For occurrence, they could have verified that contracts actually existed between Paragon and all the jobs they were recognizing revenue for. 2. I believe the SEC meant that Sullivan failed to do his due diligence. An auditor should not simply accept a management assertion. He should perform procedures that test that assertion. Sullivan did not perform with a level of competence expected by an auditor. Considering that Sullivan was the engagement partner, the ultimate responsibility does rest on him to ensure the audit is performed correctly. 3. A high-risk engagement requires thorough procedures and testing to minimize the audit risk. Because the auditor has assessed that the engagement carries a substantial risk of misstatement, he must be more exacting with procedures than on a normal audit. Every assertion should be questioned and professional skepticism should be in full force. 4. A good knowledge of the industry a company is in is necessary for an auditor. It falls under taking due care in performing the audit. If the auditor has another source of information, personal experience for instance, then it is not a requirement that she read the AICPA guides. However, if those guides will aid her in being thorough, then she should take advantage of a good resource. The guides carry no force of law or regulation and therefore do not supersede PCAOB standards. 5. It is a change in accounting principle as it is a change in how revenue is recognized. Such a change must be retroactively applied to previous financial statements. A change in accounting estimate must be fully disclosed, but is not required to be retroactively applied. Case 7.7 1. An engagement letter should include the following: The scope of the audit including the period being audited The auditors responsibility, including the standards they will follow Managements responsibility A fee structure If signed by the firm and the company, an engagement letter is a legally binding contract. 2. KPMG may have decided to reduce hours and put less experience personnel on the audit because the company being audited was small and it trafficked in material goods, which would be easier to verify than a more esoteric business. Both of these are valid reasons for reducing hours and putting some less experienced personnel on the audit, though they should have been under the supervision of an experienced auditor. 3. A reduction in hours can adversely affect the quality of an audit if that reduction is unreasonable. It is entirely possible to budget too many hours for an audit, in which case reducing the budget down to a realistic number is fine. However, if the reduction creates too much pressure on auditors, it may encourage them to cut corners to meet the budget, which would adversely affect the audit quality. If less experienced personnel are used with proper supervision, the quality is not reduced. Less experienced auditors need experience to become more experienced, after all. However, if those auditors are turned lose on an audit with the necessary experience or oversight, the quality is affected. 4. I agree with the courts decision. As long as the firm is not misleading the client or overcharging them, the firm should be allowed to use professional judgement. The firm is experienced with audits and will likely have a clearer picture of the time and personnel requirements to properly perform.

Etiology of HIV-Associated Dementia :: Biology Essays Research Papers

Etiology of HIV-Associated Dementia The etiologic agents of the neurologic disease associated with HIV and AIDS are many. Opportunistic infections- cryptococcus, toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus, are a few of the organic causes of neurologic disease in AIDS patients, but will not be the main focus of this paper. The human immunodeficiency virus in itself is implicated in much of the neurological manifestations of the disease, and it is the effects of the presence of the virus within the central nervous system which is of interest to me in this paper. With the advent of more effective highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and thus increased life span of people with AIDS, neurological disorders are becoming a hot topic in AIDS research. In the early days of the epidemic, those infected with the virus could only hope to live for a short time before developing the symptoms of full blown AIDS, and death ensued shortly afterwards. The progress made in treatment in the past two decades has prolonged the lives of people with AIDS, to the point where diagnosis is no longer a sign of imminent debilitation and death, but rather an acknowledgement of a possible long road ahead with the aid of drug cocktails. There is also a strong possibility that the HIV infected person may develop HIV associated dementia after years of living with the disease (1). HIV associated dementia (HAD) is comprised of a spectrum of conditions from the mild HIV-1 motor cognitive-motor disorder to severe and debilitating AIDS dementia complex. Symptoms begin with motor slowing (2), and may progress to severe loss of cognitive function, loss of bladder and bowel control, and paraparesis . A classification system has been formulated for HIV associated dementia: Stage 0: Normal Stage 0.5: Subclinical or Equivocal Minimal or equivocal symptoms. Mild (soft) neurological signs. No impairment of work or activities of daily living (ADL). Stage 1: Mild Unequivocal intellectual or motor impairment. Able to do all but the most demanding work or ADL. Stage 2: Moderate Cannot work or perform demanding ADL. Capable of self-care. Ambulatory, but may need a single prop. Stage 3: Severe Major intellectual disability, or Cannot walk unassisted. Stage 4: End-Stage Nearly vegetative. 3. Disease may result from the direct presence of the virus in the central nervous system, toxins released from the virus, the body's immunological responses, or any number of other factors. Studies have found that non physiological levels of cytokines in the brain may have an effect of enhancing replication of HIV 3.

Engineering Technology: Revolutionized Essay -- Engineering

Advance, advance is the key word when describing the human race to prove that we are the superior race. Ever since the discovery of technology we have linked our minds together for the persistence of progress to modify the aspects all around us for the better. It’s amazing that a simple interest in the beginning will change everything down to a distinct thought. History has proven that the steps forward in technology within engineering have grown larger and are concluded at a more rapid rate and with in the last twenty years. Such a large amount has improved so rapid as cities grow and technology advances, engineering is moving along with the tide. Engineers that grow and see their world of work improve every day because of certain advances in technology all depending on their field. This how engineering features evolved into what they are today from with in the last two decades; and how the change will continue to advance as modern Technology embraces a post modern era. Engineering has existed since the earliest times of culture and perhaps is one of the older lines of labor on earth (the earliest invention of engineering goes back as early as the invention of the wheel). It’s extraordinary that we came so far since the discovery of the wheel, the technology that has been accomplished today just engulfs the minds of people. Everyday modern technology is taken over the minds of people and they continue to adapt to the modern changes with in the ever changing society. Through centuries there are trails left by ancient engineering and has differed from our technology today. Through the ancient era there has been astounding and un-answering feats of engineering. Like the great pyramids of Egypt and the great coliseums of Rome. The... ...his hands dirty and a female does not (a great example would be the nuclear 1950’s era of the stay at home mom and the 9-5 dad). A main point to why females are not the ones going out and doing the labor is the perception of being feminine. Here’s a quote that shows how much soul they take in their work. â€Å"Engineering is the professional art of applying science to the optimum conversion of natural resources to the benefit of man†. (smith) Works Cited †¢ Scott, Henry. "Engineering Quotes." BrainyQuotes. N.p., 01 Jan 2010. Web. 26 Mar 2010. . †¢ "engineering." 15. 4. Chicago: Britanica, 1986. Print †¢ "Engineering." encyclopedia Britanica. Britanica, 2010. Web. . †¢ "Engineering and Natural Science managers." Ocupational Outlook Handbook. Indianapolas: U.S. Department of Labor, 2005. Print.

ATVs: A Mans World :: essays research papers fc

ATV’s: A Man’s World   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Propaganda is everywhere. It is on the television, in the newspapers, magazines, and the internet. Everywhere you turn, it’s there. The problem with this is that people merely dismiss it as truth. When people see propaganda, they don’t â€Å"see† propaganda; they see a nice new sport-utility vehicle with a â€Å"powerful engine† and â€Å"cool rims†. When an advertisement uses propaganda, it’s over-looked and the reader is caught in the trap laid out for him. People see everything the designer of that particular advertisement wants them to see. The advertisements selected and interpreted for this assignment are directed towards male’s ages 18 to 27 in the United States. They use three different forms of propaganda to send the same message; â€Å"Buy this, it’s fun and your friends will be so jealous.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first advertisement, for the Arctic Cat 650, uses the glittering generalities technique to lure people into buying their product. It depicts a young man riding their product, a massive ATV, with a helmet and ATV eyewear. He is covered in mud from head to toe and seems to carry this â€Å"I’m better than you are.† persona. It seams to me that simply because he is riding this particular product, he feels as though he is better than any who is not riding the same ATV. The glittering generalities technique uses specific words to make us believe that their product is better for us or will make us happier than their competitors’ similar product. This advertisement uses many â€Å"glittering† words and phrases to make their product more appealing to those targeted. Some of these phrases include ‘new and improved for 2005’ and ‘the amazing’. These glittering generalizations could be said about any all-terrain vehic le. The problem with generalizations is that there is no hard evidence to back it up, they simply state what the designer wants them to state. However, the normal reader of this advertisement would never question the truth of the words stated therein. Other generalizations in this advertisement include, ‘the most powerful ATV on the market’. How can they claim this without giving proof of their claim? Simple, they are using propaganda to stretch the truth.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another advertisement uses testimonials or endorsements to sell their product, the Kawasaki Brute Force. This ad shows their product ahead of the pack in an actual race. He is just crossing the finish line as the picture was taken.

Pro Same Sex Marriage Essay

Marriage is very important as it is said to be the union or seemingly binding of a certain person to another by the power of love and of the sacred sacrament of God through the biblical and religious means. The unity of the couple with the same genders is not a result of allowing the same sex marriage policy; hence it provides a reflection on the wider meaning of such social relationship’s transformation (Cossman).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The transformation of the relationship into a different pairing of couples from the pair of different gender to become same sex in the 20th century introduced a good idea of better social understanding. According to the new definition of marriage; same sex marriage is covered by the willingness of a certain person to get bonded with another of his or her same sex and thus in conveys a mutual emotion towards one another (Cossman).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the pro same sex marriage decision makings, the most important focus is about the security of proper division of rights as well as responsibilities of such people involved. It also includes the security of being private and of course the establishment of a real family by the ability to raise and rear children (Cossman).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In Morris Kaplan’s arguments about the true essence of marriage justice, democracy of the present century is discussed as equality and freedom of the gays and lesbians regarding their relationships and marriage wherein protection of their social status is included such as voidance of discrimination. Kaplan also argued that people or individual of the same sex should be given their freedom to enhance themselves and polish their human existence through their own concept of shaping lives and thus searching for identity (Kaplan).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Morris Kaplan discussed that same sex marriage is the justification of such behaviors that an individual could apply to reality. As it was said in the quotation of Oscar Wilde on the year 1895 that â€Å"such love emotion does not give name so as age to the person he love from the same sex as it was in the relationship between David and Jonathan wherein Plato created his rational philosophy. This said philosophy could be determined in the sonnets composed mainly by two certain authors such as Michelangelo and also Shakespeare. It is defined as a certain deep spiritual conviction and affection which could justify the purity and perfection of love† (Kaplan).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Same sex marriage is accepted by most of the society but even though there are already legal policies about the same sex marriage and thus same sex marriage would not change anything to the race and origin of a certain society. Regarding this, the journal of Catholicism and Same Sex Marriage by Ogilvie discussed that a same sex â€Å"conjugal love† is considered as a certain same sex couple’s union, it is defined as both of their pleasure which does form an essential element into their relationship (Ogilvie).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Catholic Church does not definitely agree with the same sex marriage but they are concerned about the rights of the same sex couples which led them to help promote the proposal for the human rights regarding with the same sex couples. Thus, the only risk that the Catholic Church obtained by doing so is that the society becomes confused about the real understanding of human regarding with the human theology on gender or sex (Ogilvie).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The primary matter that same sex unions could not argue for them to be equated on the same sex marriage is that definitely they do not base their relationship through the opposite sex relationship which should basically involve a male and also a female compatibilities and thus they could not help on account of the reproduction of new offspring or family growth (Ogilvie).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There are some Churches who are not against the unity of a couple from both the same sexes, an example of these churches is the Unitarians and also the Metropolitan Community Church who allows the marriage of same sex couples. These two Churches are willing to bless the marriage of certain gays and/or lesbians and thus they also offer church wedding ceremonies for the said pairs of couples (Belge).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Although the Church has its influence towards the mind and behavior towards the people, it is not right for them to influence or change certain people’s belief as well as people’s conceptualization towards love and marriage. It is not their task to prohibit such same sex marriage basing on their own concept and beliefs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In Canada, there had been 49% of their population on the year 1999 who agreed on legalizing the same sex marriage wherein it left the other options with the lesser remaining percentage of the population, then made the marriage of individuals with the same sex legal on the year 2003 by some of the regional courts in Canada (Belge).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The statistics of pro same-sex marriage in Canada which spread out to America indicates the concept of Canadians towards the belief that when two people love each other, then they should be allowed to have a legal marriage wherein their rights as a couple to be recognized, respected, and thus treated equally by the society should be implemented properly (Belge).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In general, pro same sex marriage should be allowed and thus should be recognized by everyone as equal as such society recognizes the marriage of two people with opposite sex. This is for the reason that the same sex couple’s purity and concept of love might be just as the same as the purity and conviction of a normal couple’s love for each other. Therefore, pro same sex marriage reflects an unconditional love which does not pick gender, age, and/or any other factor. Works Cited Belge, Kathy. â€Å"Pro Gay Marriage – Why Gay Marriage Should Be Legal.†Ã‚   (2007). December 11 . Cossman, Brenda. Sexual Citizens: The Legal and Cultural Regulation of Sex and Belonging. Stanford University Press, 2007. Kaplan, Morris B. Sexual Justice: Democratic Citizenship and the Politics of Desire. Routledge, 1997. Ogilvie, Matthew. â€Å"Catholicism and Same-Sex Marriage.† Australian EJournal of Theology.5 (2005).

Social Work Management and Its Relevance to the Social Work Profession

SOCIAL WORK MANAGEMENT AND ITS RELEVANCE TO THE SOCIAL WORK PROFFESSION LAUREN DA SILVA Introduction. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 4 The social work profession †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 5 {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} Definition of management†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. {text:list-item} What is social work management?†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â ‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 8 {text:list-item} {text:list-item} Case Study: Management in One Way Community Services†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 13 {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 9 Appendix 1†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 20 List of Sources†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 21 INTRODUCTION: Management and the study and refinement of management sciences are by no means a recent field of study. Basically, as long as human beings have been organizing themselves in groups to fulfil a common purpose or goal, some form of management has been employed to keep things under control, running smoothly and more effectively. In fact, one of the earliest recordings of a management technique can be found in the Christian Bible in chapter 18 (verse 25) of the book of Exodus where after encountering numerous problems resulting from being the only direct report to millions of Israelite people, Moses decides to â€Å"choose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens† (Exodus 18:25 New International Version). Considering management has been used by human civilization since the beginning of its existence (even if it is done completely unwittingly), I find it rather surprising that management as a field of study has only been in existence since around 1890, when Frederick Taylor developed the â€Å"Scientific Management Theory†, which characterized the emphasis on scientific measurement of tasks and use of highly mechanized, assembly line and routine activities by workers (Very Brief History of Management Theories). From between 1930 and 1950; Taylor’s management theory began to give way to Max Webber’s â€Å"Bureaucratic Management Theory†. He â€Å"focused on dividing organizations into hierarchies, establishing strong lines of authority and control† (Very Brief History of Management Theories) and emphasized detailed, standardized operational structures with very little room for flexibility (Very brief history of management theories). From then on human rights groups like trade unions began to heavily influence governments which in turn began creating legislation which reacted to these inhuman management structures. Human resource divisions were added to companies and it became common to relate the prosperity of the organization to the wellbeing of its employees. Added to this, breakthroughs made in the human sciences fields of study played a strong role in helping management to understand and take into consideration the needs of workers (Very brief history of management theories). So, with the momentum that management as a field of study has gained over the past century and the mark that it has left on organizational functioning (hopefully for the better) as it has developed, it’s relevance to the social work profession is an important topic of discussion. Over the course of this assignment I will be critically discussing social work management and its relevance to the social work profession. I will also use a case study to explain how management influences the effectiveness and efficiency within One Way Community Services (the non profit organization with which I have been placed for my practical work for this year). I will start off by introducing the social work profession as it will be discussed in this essay, specifically within the context of non-profit organizations. I will then define management as it is applied to both for and non -profit organizations and how these practices influence the success of non profit organizations. Then, I will define social work management specifically and its relevance to the social work profession. Finally I will discuss the influence of social work management on social welfare service effectiveness within the non-profit organization with whom I have been placed for my practical work (One Way Community Services) before I conclude with some final thoughts on social work management. THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION In order to understand the relevance of social work management to the social work profession, I feel that it is of importance to have a clear understanding of the history of the social work profession, how it is currently defined and the context it operates in. {text:list-item} {text:list-item} When Christianity was legalized by Emperor Constantine the first, the church started setting up poor houses, orphanages and homes for the aged and these were funded in part with grants from the Roman Empire. By 590, the early church had an established system of circulating food and consumables to the poor. In the Middle Ages, giving to the poor was considered part of one’s religious duty and although it was common to give items like food and clothing, the root causes of poverty however, were never addressed (History of Social work – Wikipedia). {text:list-item} As a profession, social work began in the 19th century in America and the United Kingdom – mainly because the poor were seen as threatening to the social order. When the industrial revolution began, the leap in technology and science also led to increased migration to urban areas which in turn lead to increased social problems which naturally lead to an increase in social activism. The settlement movement, during this time focused on the causes of poverty – Research, reform and residence. They provided educational, legal and health services that advocated reforms in social policy. Workers in the settlement movement pioneered the immersement of workers in the culture of those they were helping. Two pioneers in the establishment of social work as a profession were Mary Richmond (Mary Richmond's Charity Organization Society) and Jane Addams (Jane Addams's Settlement House Movement). They debated whether or not problems should be taken from a scientific method (Richmond) or immersion into the problem which blurred the boundary between professional and client (History of Social Work – Wikipedia). The first social work class was offered at the University of Columbia in 1898 and in 1947 Lindeman â€Å"affirmed criteria† by which it could be seen as an actual profession. In 1957, Lindeman described social work as being a profession but on the lower end of the development continuum. Encyclopaedia of Social Work(in SCK 407-G Study Guide 1:3). After a few decades of the increased formalisation of social work, and an increased understanding of the skill it requires to understand people fully and to assist them in helping themselves (SCK 407-G Study Guide 1:4), Spiro et al (in SCK 407-G Study Guide 1:4) describes social work as having achieved a â€Å"full-fledged professional status†. Since then social workers have taken the lead in developing programmes and organizations that have made a difference in the lives of people in need (NASW –History of Social Work). 2. 2 CURRENT DEFINITION OF SOCIAL WORK The social work profession is described by the International Federation of Social Workers as a profession that; â€Å"†¦ promotes social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being. Utilising theories of human behaviour and social systems, social work intervenes at the points where people interact with their environments. Principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to social work. † (International Federation of Social workers – definition of social work) It is further defined by the National association of social workers as; â€Å"the professional activity of helping individuals, groups or communities to enhance or restore their capacity for social functioning and to create societal conditions favourable to their goals. Zastrow (in SCK 102-X Study guide 1:57) Basically, social work profession definitions all point to people’s relationship between themselves and their social environments, a concern for social functioning, problems, needs, policy, institutions and wellbeing and ongoing interaction between individuals, groups and communities (SCK 102-X Study Guide 1:59). {text:list-item} The social work profession needs to und erstand the contexts within which it works (SCK 407-G Study guide 1:4), and for the purposes of this assignment, one of those contexts is the organization. Social workers hardly ever operate by themselves, in isolation of some sort of organization – most of the time the organization is a non-profit but it not unheard of to find a social worker being employed by a for-profit organization for the sake of the wellbeing of its employees. Organizations exist to meet the needs of people and as history has evolved, people have realized that human needs are better met with collective efforts (SCK 407-G Study guide 1:5) and social needs are no exception, thus social work is also practiced in organizations, particularly welfare or non-profit organizations (SCK 407-G Study Guide 1:5). In addition to this, social worker’s actions are sanctioned and accountable to these organizations (SCK 408-H Study Guide 1:3). A non-profit organization is characterized most importantly by the fact that the people involved for a reason other than benefitting financially (they are actually banned from doing so) and that a non-profit organization usually meets a need or goal of the public or a subsection of the public that supports its existence (SCK 407-G Study Guide 1:7). As mentioned earlier, one type of non-profit organization in which the social work operates in, is the welfare organization (and for the purposes of this assignment will be used inter-changeably with the term non-profit organization). Dealing with people directly The core activities are interactions between the public (customers) and the staff of the organization The results of the rendered service are difficult to predict There are many interested partied involved The organization is staffed by professional people all belonging to organized professions Organizations are highly dependent on their environments. Organizational factors influence how social work services are organized, delivered and evaluated (SCK 407-G Study Guide 1:24) and so it makes sense that the management of this organizational context would play a big role in the quality of social work services that are rendered, the next section we will introduce the concept of management and how effective management of a non-profit organization can improve its services before exploring how a specific type of management (Social work management), is specifically needed for the special challenges facing the social work profession within the non-profit organizational context. DEFINITION OF MANAGEMENT: Management is defined by dictionary. com as being: â€Å"The act, manner, or practice of managing; handling, supervision, or control: management of a crisis; management of factory workers; the person or persons who control or direct a business or other enterprise; skill in managing; executive ability. † (Dictionary. com: Management) It is also defined by Kroontz & Weihrich (in SCK 408-H Study Guide 1:6) as: â€Å"the process of designing and maintaining an environment in which individuals working together in groups, accomplish efficiently selected aims. From this definition we can infer a number of things: Management helps to facilitate & guide the actions of people and the use of resources towards accomplishing a specific goal. Management is responsible for creating an environment in which people can perform optimally – thus increasing productivity. Management can be utilized in any type of organization Management also consists of 4 or so (de pending on the source) basic management tasks which are perfomed in order for every task that is carried out. These basic management tasks are: planning, organization, activation & control. text:list-item} Management has a number of benefits when used correctly in any organization, adapted from Weinbach (in SCK 408-H Study guide1:28) a number of which are listed below: Management provides a structure for employee accountability. Management provides a structure for employee discipline. Management provides a structure for the co-ordination of a number of activities by a number of people all resulting in the accomplishment of the desired goal. Management provides the structures and means for evaluation of employee and organizational performance. Management provides an indication of where the organization stands within the greater environmental context Management structures provide guidelines for employee behaviour Management provides a vehicle for the improvement and expansion of employee knowledge and skills. Aside from the many benefits management has for the organization as a whole, good management is also associated with a number of benefits experienced by employees. Here are a few as listed by Brian Amble (Benefits all round from good talent management): Employees feel more engaged by their work Employees feel more satisfied with their jobs overall Employees feel more satisfied with their companies overall Employees are more likely to have confidence in the future of the organizations at which they are employed Employees have a positive impression of the people in management positions – they believe that the work load is managed effectively and that people in senior positions value the input of all employees and see it as an important contribution to the success of the organization. Employees feel a strong sense of job security Employees feel that their performance is evaluated fairly Employees experience more feelings of personal accomplishment In summary, when employees are satisfied, productivity increases and when productivity is high in any given organization, it can be said with great certainty that the management of that organization is fulfilling its role in making sure that the organization is running as effectively and efficiently as possible, resulting not only in a more competitive organization but an organization that is a better place for its employees to work. WHAT IS SOCIAL WORK MANAGEMENT? Social work management is defined by Trecker (1971, in SCK 408-H Study Guide 1:6) as the following: â€Å"Social work administration (management) is the process of working with people in ways that release and relate their energies so that they use all available resources to accomplish the purpose of providing needed community services and programs. Here one can see that this definition that relates specifically to social work management but that the definition is exceptionally similar to those of management as stated in the previous section in the following ways: Both refer to the co-ordination of people and resources to facilitate the accomplishment of a specific goal. Both refer to the creation of an environment in which an organization and the people in the organization can function optimally (ensuring maximum productivity). On first glance it would appear that management and social work management are two terms which refer to the same thing, but that is not really the case. Although the functions of management and social work management are essentially the same, the difference is that in the case of a non-profit or welfare organization, although effective management is most definitely required, social work management is the ideal. This is because success for this type of organization requires more than just management, it â€Å"requires a breadth of view, rooted in social work knowledge and values† Teichman in Slavin (in SCK 407-G Study Guide 1:33). An article by Mind tools called â€Å"Managing in non-profit organizations†, states that managers need more than just management skills to succeed and that they need a clear understanding of the very specific nature of non-profit organizations (Managing in non-profit organizations). Teichman goes further to state that employing a manager instead of a social worker could actually have a negative impact on this type of organization. Teichman in Slavin (in SCK 407-H Study Guide 1:33). The purposes of a non-profit or welfare organization are best accomplished when someone has a professional social work education and some experience. This in combination with a strong identification with social work values and ethics AND training in management is ideal and exactly what a welfare organization needs to fully accomplish its goals in the most productive way possible (SCK 407-G Study Guide 1:33). {text:list-item} The relevance of social work management can be found when the unique challenges facing non-profit and welfare organizations and the wider context in which these operate are considered. text:list-item} A challenge facing social work management which does not exist in other organizations is the absence of the profit motive. In for-profit organizations the motivation for the existence as well as personal involvement in the organization is financial gain (profit), this motive does not usually exist in non-profit organizations as the organization exists to provide a s ervice to others and if workers are paid employees, remuneration is generally not as high as with for-profit organizations. For this reason it is fair to say that people choose to work in non-profit organizations because they identify with the mission and/ or vision of the organization or because they have other personal reasons for joining the organization (it is important to note however that this is not always the case and there are some exceptions). It is thus important for social work management to understand what motivates their paid team and to use this motivation to increase worker effectiveness and efficiency. Providing incentive that links the worker personally to the organizational mission rather than career orientated incentives like promotion might be more effective (Managing in non-profit organizations). A social worker in management is more qualified for this type of thing because social workers are especially trained in the art of understanding people in their totality and these skills can easily be used in different contexts including management contexts. text:list-item} In for-profit organizations, profit gives an overall measure of effectiveness and efficiency of the organization as it is concrete and easy to measure(SCK 407-G study guide 1:29). In non-profit organization it is not as easy to measure the effectiveness and efficiency of the organization as firstly, each organization decides for itself (depending on its vision and mission) what the criterion are. Social workers have an advantage in that their understanding of human condition and the root causes of poverty and this might help them to quantify a way that would enable them to notice if the services of the non-profit organization in question have actually improved it. For this reason I believe that social work management is relevant to the social work profession. {text:list-item} In a non-profit organization income is not really proportional to how many people make use of your product or services in comparison to for-profit organizations where this relationship is directly proportional (SCK 407-G study guide 1:30). Non-profit organizations need to rely on grants from government and donations from other organizations and individuals in the public for the means to continue its existence (as adequate finances are indispensible for the increased frequency of service provision as well as the improvement in quality of these services). An added dynamic is that non-profit organizations normally cooperate with other organizations (discussed later), but have to compete for limited finances. This means that social work managers need to be very careful when using their resources responsibly, in a sustainable way and at the same time balance donor expectations (which usually involve wanting to see money go directly to the beneficiaries when a lot of money also needs to go into operating expenses)(Managing in non profit organizations). In addition to this social workers also need to master another skill which a manager in a for-profit organization would probably never need. I do not believe that a social work manager would necessarily be better at this task as in my opinion it would not really require skills specific to the social work profession but rather skills specific to financial management, public relations and marketing. {text:list-item} Non-profit organizations are also different to for-profit organizations in that instead of competing with other organizations that render similar services, it actually pays to cooperate with them. This is because a non-profit organization’s situation improves if ts clients are made independent of its services or if it has less customers than its capacity limit. It also ensures better service to the client. Cooperation with similar organizations is a good way to achieve this (SCK 407-G Study Guide 1:31). A special skill required for the social work manager is that of the ability to network and form partnerships with other organizations. This includes the ability to influence these relationships for the org anization’s and clients’ benefits (Management in non-profit organizations). text:list-item} Social work management also has the unique task of managing unpaid staff as in a non-profit organization, volunteers could sometimes out number paid staff. Volunteers need to be managed like any other human resource – staffing planning, job descriptions, performance management and evaluation as well providing appropriate awards and actions that could lead to the termination of services (non-profit specific management skills). In addition to this, a manager needs to manage volunteers and paid staff in such a way that ensures that all feel valued and motivated equally. Social work management is also more effective in terms of this challenge as in addition to management skills which they possess which allow them to create suitable job descriptions, planning the roles of volunteers into the organizational structure and managing them with the same professionalism as other volunteers, they possess skills needed to understand human behaviour and what motivates people, and then using this understanding to ensure motivation of volunteers as discussed in section 4. . 1. {text:list-item} In most cases, there is a vast difference in the availability of technology to assist in the accomplishment of organizational goals when one compares non-profit and for-profit organizations. In for-profit organizations, the application of technology is precise in its application and in non-profit organizations there is a wide range of responses to a limited number of techniques (case, group and community work). The technology used in social work is therefore very vague and imprecise in comparison, making it difficult to predict results and link cause and effect in relation to technology used in social work (SCK 407-G study guide 1:32). The social work manager’s task is to understand the technology used in the profession and also develop means to use it the most effective and efficient ways possible – minimizing its disadvantages and maximizing its benefits. The social work manager is also better suited to handle this challenge as the social work manager spends most of his or her time in professional training mastering the techniques mentioned above and so he or she is in the best position to understand them the most and thus use them most effectively. {text:list-item} Non-profit organizations possess another unique trait in that the climate in which it operates is very often emotionally charged and draining. Employees and volunteers very often become personally involved in what they do and their clients and although this sometimes does mean that they are highly motivated and committed to what the organization does, it also leaves them drained and sometimes traumatized by the situations that they encounter. This becomes a risk factor as it leaves employees demoralized and sometimes even desensitized by their experiences and their productivity decreases. Although workers at for-profit organizations experience some form of emotional distress at their place of work, it is the nature of this distress (usually stress related to the pace at which the organization moves and not the emotionally content of the work done) which makes it different to what is experienced at non-profit organizations It takes a wise and highly competent manager to negotiate this challenge in such a way that does not create a sterile and uncaring environment which at the same time does not create a space which leaves employees emotionally drained and exhausted. This, according to Jean Roberts requires an organizational commitment to reducing the possibility of risk by allocating resources to the identification, analysis and prevention of risk and monitoring the cause and effects of this risk and managing it effectively (Added Human risk for non profit organizations). Social work managers are once again better equipped at navigating these kinds of situations because of their knowledge of and probably their experience with the nature of the social work profession and the kinds of situations are encountered. A social work manager would need to combine the social work skills of empathy and the advanced skills with skills related specifically to management (creating structures and roles as well as allocating resources within the organization) to reduce the risk of this challenge without removing the personal nature of the work done in non-profit organizations. {text:list-item} Just as much as management in for-profit organizations need a strong knowledge of the laws and policies influencing the nature of the services and products that are rovided to the public, so the management of the non-profit organization needs a strong knowledge of policies and legislation that relate specifically to the kinds of services rendered by the organization (child welfare laws, fundraising laws, laws relating to non-profit organizational management structure) as well as policies relating to employment of employees, human resources and income tax laws (non profit specific management skills). In addition to this, non-profit organizations have an ethical responsibility towards improving and changing legislation and policy to better meet the needs of the people it is supposed to help and serve (SCK411-C Study Guide 1:66). Board members and management need to have strong working knowledge of the various agencies and organizations that influence legislation as well as rules and regulations effecting government and private funding – this is most definitely a non-profit specific management skill (non profit management skills). Social work management is best equipped for this unique attribute of the non-profit organization sector. Once again social workers are trained in the knowledge of legislation and policy that specifically effects the profession and the organizations in which it operates. This puts social work management in the position it needs to be in to not only react to these policies by complying with them and making sure that the organization stays on the right side of the law, but it being on the forefront of service delivery also allows it to be in the best position to make important recommendations to how policies and legislation can be changed for the betterment of the profession and overall, to improve the lives of the people who make use of these services. CASE STUDY: MANAGEMENT IN ONE WAY COMMUNITY SERVICES One Way Community Services is a section 21 company, non-profit organization, which focuses mainly on community development. It was started as the response of One Way Community Church to the needs it saw within its local community – the Vaal Triangle (which consists of Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging, Sasolburg and the surrounding townships). (One way Community Services Brochure). One Way Community Services was started 9 years ago and its emphasis is on community development, specifically in the focal points of children and HIV/AIDS. The organization is proudly South African and firmly believes in the â€Å"purpose and potential locked up in the lives of the people they work with† (One Way Community Services Brochure). They have six core values which they try and incorporate into everything that they do and these are: Unconditional love, compassion, faith, excellence, brightness and fun. Projects which are run by One Way Community Services include Ikageng Shelter for homeless boys, Khanya Khaya Home for abandoned girls, One Way Early learning center, Breakfast club, Princess project, Public Hospital play time and once off community renovations (more information about these projects can be found in the attached One Way Community Services Brochure). Currently, One way Community Services employs five full time staff members 2 full time volunteers. The management team consists of Ellouise Jansen Van Vuuren who is the managing director, as well as four other people from various spheres of the community (Jansen van Vuuren 2010). text:list-item} I met with the managing director of One Way Community Services, Ellouise Jansen van Vuuren who is a qualified social worker who was trained at UNISA. Ellouise fits the description of social work management as described in section 4 and that is why I decided to interview her for the purposes of this assignment. It is important to rem ember that while reading the findings of this case study that they represent the frame of reference (proposition 7 of the person centered approach) and perceptions (proposition 2 of the person centered approach) of Ellouise within the context of her organization (Grobler et al 2006: 50 &69). I have however tried as far as possible to indicate contextual information as such as it could have an effect of my overall conclusion at the end of this assignment. {text:list-item} When asked where her organization would be without management, Ellouise simply responded, â€Å"nowhere† (Jansen Van Vuuren 2010). When I asked her to elaborate she said that management literally makes the difference between life and death for any kind of organization, no matter if they were for-profit or non-profit. She also said that the difference between a terrible organization, a good organization and a great organization usually has very little to do with the type of service it renders but the quality of the management. She mentioned further that administration and management keep the wheels turning in her organization and that one could have all the best intentions and resources in the world but if management was not there to administer them, they would not be used to their fullest potential (effectively speaking – effectively and efficiently)(Jansen Van Vuuren 2010). 5. 1. 1. The benefits of planning: Ellouise said that the management function of planning has helped her organization to increase its effectiveness and efficiency mostly in the area of how they use their finances. When it comes to government funding, the organization needs to submit a financial plan to the department of social development on how they plan on spending the money that they need almost 6 months in advance. This not only helps them to identify the resources needed for the next year but it also forces them to plan their activities and calendar ahead of time too (Jansen Van Vuuren 2010). This means that things no longer happen haphazardly, but intentionally as the organization deems necessary. This type of planning allows the organization to be purposeful about its priorities. The things that they say are important to them and are priority for them to do to fulfil their goals and objectives (as well as their mission and vision) can now happen according to a schedule which allows them to be as prepared as possible for these events – this is because they know that they are coming and prepare adequately for them, and the more prepared they are, the more effective and efficient their services can be (Jansen Van Vuuren 2010). . 1. 1. 2 The benefits of organizing Organizing by a manager at One Way Community Services involves meeting with people from different departments, meeting with the management committee and the marketing team and arranging with them the different activities that need to be done and who needs to do them. Ellouise, who is the managing director, oversees the various areas within the organization and is constantly concerned with the bigger picture and how every department fits in with the others but leaves the smaller details and nitty-gritty’s of running each department or project to the department or project heads. Each project head then has a team that works under them and so this ensures that Ellouise does organizing for the organization as a whole but each project has a team that organizes activities and responsibilities for that specific department or project (Jansen van Vuuren 2010). This ensures (as mentioned earlier), that Ellouise can focus on the bigger picture of the organization in that when she looks at the organization as a whole she makes sure that its meeting its mission and vision while projects and departments are making sure that they meet their own objectives (which contribute to the rganization’s mission and vision). Organizing in One Way Community Services also has an added benefit of ensuring service effectiveness and efficiency and that is because when jobs, time, departments etc are organized, things stand a better chance of actually being done. When things get done, service is delivered and when service is delivered in a certain way by certain people it is also e asier to evaluate which means that it is easier to improve (Jansen Van Vuuren 2010). Ensuring that everyone has a specific role and that departments and projects are well organized also ensures employee and volunteer security in that they know what is expected of them. Ellouise has found that people who are unsure of what is expected of them and how what they do fits into the bigger picture, are less motivated and productive than their counterparts who have a clear understanding of where they fit within the organization and a specific project (Jansen Van Vuuren 2010). 5. 1. 1. The benefits of activating Activating in One Way Community Services takes place by the setting into motion of the plans, people and departments that have been organized. Having everybody actually performing the role that has been assigned to them vastly increases the capacity of the organization. Ellouise noted that when you give somebody a responsibility, you need to be serious about it because a lot of the time people are given responsibilities as a token measure but they do not really functi on in it. She mentioned a simple example of telling someone they were in charge of answering the phone , sending faxes and making photocopies – if you are always answering the phone before that person and doing the faxing and photocopying yourself you are doing yourself, the organization and the employee or volunteer a disservice. For an organization to truly maximize its capacity and in doing so increasing its efficiency, you need to play people at their strengths and let them do what they are supposed to do. She said that if she was the only one doing the work in the organization, there would be no leading or future planning or big picture thinking and the organization would be limited to only what she could do – but when you start relying on other people to do what was planned to the capacity of the organization expands and you are able to do more (Jansen Van Vuuren 2010). 5. 1. 1. 4 The benefits of control Control takes place in 3 key areas at One Way Community Services: Finances, staff performance and project progress (Jansen Van Vuuren 2010). Financial control takes place via auditing of the organizations books which takes place once a year, an accountant on the management team that does book keeping of the books once a month, quarterly expenditure reports, 6 monthly progress reports, all the money that enters and leaves the organization (even cash), must go through the back account and there are 2 signatories and passwords on the bank account (Jansen van Vuuren 2010). All of these measures project the organization from financial mismanagement and it enhances accountability and transparency. This improves the effectiveness and efficiency of the organization because these measures ensure that funds are not easy to spend which means they are not easy to mismanage thus making them difficult to waste or spend unnecessarily. When financial resources are used optimally the effectiveness of the services provided by One way Community is increased and efficiency is improved (Jansen van Vuuren 2010). Control of staff performance is maintained through 6 monthly appraisals and weekly staff meetings. Management also does its best to create climate of trust amoungst the staff so that it is easier to talk about things (Jansen Van Vuuren). These measures enhance accountability between staff members and management but they also allow for the improvement of performance by staff members. Receiving regular feedback at staff meetings and more in-depth, specific feedback at appraisals are done in a very constructive way which encourage the improvement of performance and the development of skills. When staff members receive feedback in such a way that motivates them to improve themselves and how they do their work, effectiveness and efficiency of the organization improves (Jansen Van Vuuren). Measures that provide control for projects and different departments are department heads filling in quarterly reports which are submitted to the management team for review, strict policies regarding the spending of money and accountability measures which put project leaders directly responsible for money spent as well as objectives for each department and project which are determined before hand against which projects are evaluated. These provide a guideline for project leaders and department heads to keep track of their own performance and they know against what criteria they will be evaluated in the future (Jansen van Vuuren 2010). These measures provide both a yardstick for success as well as a means of using that yardstick. When projects and departments know how they measure success they can not only streamline their activities to meet their goals but they also have a means of evaluating their success and determining where to make changes if they are necessary. Any form of evaluation and positive change as a result can only hold positive results for the quality of the services rendered by the organization as activities that are evaluated and adjusted constantly, improve both the effectiveness and efficiency of those services (Jansen van Vuuren 2010). text:list-item} I will now discuss how Ellouise being a social worker in a management position improves the effectiveness and efficiency of social welfare services rendered at One Way Community Services. At the onset of our interview, I asked Ellouise if she felt that as a qualified social worker in a management position she had an advantage when it came to impro ving the effectiveness and efficiency of services rendered at One way Community Services, her reply was â€Å"definitely†, (Jansen van Vuuren 2010). When asked to explain why she thinks so she said that she had previously been involved in the management committee of another non profit organization and being the only social worker, she noticed that although her colleges had the best of intentions, their lack of understanding of the context of community development and how to properly identify needs, a lot of the time lead to money being put into projects which were â€Å"nice thoughts†, but made no real difference to the root causes of poverty or the real needs experienced by the people. Basically money gets wasted on good ideas when people do not have a proper understanding of the theory behind the profession. She went further to say that she wondered how much financial resource had been put into projects that made no real difference in the lives of people they were intended to reach and what kind of a country we would be living in today if management of some non profit organizations had some form of social work training (Jansen van Vuuren 2010). I will now explain the specific experiences One Way Community services has had with the unique challenges facing non-profit and welfare organizations (as mentioned in section 4. 1) and if social work management has been able to assist the organization in improving its effectiveness and efficiency as a result. {text:list-item} Ellouise agreed that the absence of the profit motive existed in non-profit organizations. The staff at One way Community Services are not motivated by corporate money or the ladder or promotion and success but she knows that every person does need money to survive (Jansen van Vuuren 2010). At One Way Community services, management uses principles of the person centred approach like self determination (proposition 4) (which Ellouise learned as part of her social work training) to handle problems that arise as a result of the absence of large salaries etc. They do not beg anyone to stay and freely allow any employee to leave the organization is not serving their needs. They also do their best to hire the right people for the job – people who are motivated by the desire to help others. This eliminates a lot of problems that can occur later. The organization also tries to keep their staff motivated by regular team building, staff meetings, socials and one on one chats between employees and management (Jansen van Vuuren 2010). I can see that Ellouise as the managing director has used a lot of the person centred theory she learnt as a social worker in the interaction with her staff, she however, doesn’t seem to think that her social work training has left her in a much better position than someone in management who has not had training in the field of social work (Jansen van Vuuren). 5. 1. 2. 2 The absence of the profit measure The lack of profit measure has proved a challenge for One Way Community Services management because outcomes of the services that they deliver can be very vague to quantify at times (Jansen van Vuuren 2010). Ellouises training as a social worker has however put her in a position where is better able to identify guidelines and objectives for development projects and departments that fit in with the theory that she learnt as part of her training which in turn fit in with development standards like empowerment of participants and encouraging independence in the organization’s clients. Objectives for the boy’s shelter and girl’s home for example include reunifications with families because the organization understands the importance of releasing people to independence rather than dependence on the organization. Ellouise has also promoted the importance of sustainability within the organization which is also something she learnt to be important during her studies (Jansen Van Vuuren 2010). In this instance, it is clear how social work training can be used by management to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of social welfare services within an organization. text:list-item} The sources of financial support at One Way Community Services include grants from government, donations from members of the public and funds raised by the newly established marketing team (Jansen van Vuuren 2010). Ellouise said that her specific training for social work didn’t really help her in these areas. She agrees that it is a unique challenge that management in for- profit organizations would not have to face and that she would probably not have been trained in fundraising if she studied a management degree. She said that perhaps social worker students from other institutions received more input on how to raise funds and work with government funding but she did not feel that she did. She did mention that just being exposed to the social welfare context as a student may have helped her a little bit but she did not feel that as a social worker she had any real advantage over a manager without her training in social work and that she had to stumble around blindly for a while before she got her bearings and figured out how to go about things (Jansen van Vuuren 2010). I believe that the problem in this instance is not necessarily with social work management in itself but rather the training Ellouise received as a social worker. If I look at this case study in isolation, taking no other evidence from other organizations into account, I would have to say that social work management has not been able to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the social welfare services of One Way Community Services in this specific situation. text:list-item} One Way Community Services has a lot of relationships and networks with other organizations like the Vaal Alliance for Street Children, Over the Wall and One Life (to name a few). Ellouise says that networks play a big part in what they do and that they assist the organization greatly in the accumulation of financial, support and knowledge resources (Jansen Van Vuuren 2010). Once again Ellouise said that her training as a social worker didn’t necessarily prepare her for collaboration and that a lot of what she learnt about how to go about it and who to collaborate with, she learnt as she went along. She mentioned that in her specific case, what was emphasised more during her training was the specific approaches that must be followed and not really the day to day running life of organizations. She mentioned that her practical placements helped to prepare her a lot but in