Thursday, December 26, 2019

What You Need to Know About Biomes

If you want to learn about ecology, the first thing you need to understand is how all of living organisms in the world live with one another. A biome is an ecosystem or group of ecosystems that can be characterized by its vegetation, plant  and animals life, climate, geology, elevation, and rainfall.   Biomes are large ecosystem units. So while a puddle may be considered an ecosystem, the Pacific Ocean would be considered a biome. In most cases, the plants and animals in a biome will have special adaptations that make living in that community most successful.   So when ecologists study a particular plant or animal, they generally study its entire biome to have a better understanding of the role that species plays in its community. There are five basic types of land biomes and two categories of aquatic biomes. Each biome can then be broken down into a number of sub-biomes or zones that all have their own unique set of  geographic characteristics. Here are the defining characteristics of the worlds biomes: Land Biomes Tundra: A tundra is a treeless biome that is characterized by long, cold winters and short tepid summers. The word tundra  comes from the Russian word for uplands.   The cooler temperatures and shorter growing season limits the types of plants that are found in tundras to grasses, mosses, lichen, low shrubs, and a few flowering plants.   The three main types of tundra are the arctic tundra, alpine tundra, and Antarctic tundra.Grassland: As the name suggests, grasslands are characterized by the predominance of grasses and grass-like plants, such as sedge and rush.   Savannas are a type of grassland that also include a few scattered trees. Grasslands can be found on every continent in the world except for Antarctica.Forest:  In the forest biome, large groups of trees live together in close relationship with each other and with the other living things in the environment.    In general, the trees in a forest are so abundant that their tops touch or overlap, shading the ground .   Tropical rainforest, boreal forest,  and temperate forest are a few  types of forest biome.Desert:  Rainfall -  or the lack of it- is the defining characteristic of the desert biome.   Deserts get less than 10 inches of rainfall per year.   Because of this, many deserts have little to no vegetation while others have a few scattered low shrubs or grasses. Deserts are usually classified as hot or cold or  semi-arid or coastal.   Ã‚  Mountain: Every continent on Earth has a mountain biome.   Mountains are land masses that are usually found in groups called chains or ranges although some do exist on their own.   A single mountain may have many ecosystems  within it, starting with a desert at the base, changing to a forest as the elevation rises, and topped off with a tundra.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Aquatic Biomes Water biomes make up over 75 percent of the Earths surface. They consist of freshwater ecosystems such as  ponds and lakes, streams and rivers, and wetlands, as well as marine regions such as  coral reefs,  oceans,  and estuaries.Marine biomes are distinguished from freshwater by the presence dissolved compounds - usually salts - in the water. The amount of salt - or salinity - varies within each of the marine ecosystems.  Ã‚   Biomes play a critical role in the understanding of ecology because they help scientists study not only a specific plant or animal but also the role it plays in its community and the characteristics that it has developed to live in its environment.

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Revenge By William Shakespeare s Hamlet - 1625 Words

Revenge can be defined as â€Å"the act of retaliating for wrongs received†. William Shakespeare s â€Å"Hamlet† is considered one of his greatest plays and the plot is centered on revenge. Euripides Medea also shares a theme of revenge. While both central characters have been betrayed, resulting in their impending revenge, there is more than one theme of revenge in Hamlet, and there are differences in the ways all decide to handle their betrayals and the outcomes of their actions. In â€Å"Hamlet,† he is betrayed by the King of Denmark, his uncle Claudius, who killed his father, the previous King, so he could rule the kingdom and marry the Queen, Hamlet’s mother. Hamlet feels extreme betrayal by his mother as well, who chose to marry Claudius a mere two months after the death of his father. When trying to avenge his father by killing Claudius, Hamlet inadvertently mortally wounds Polonius, the father of his friend Laertes and his girlfriend Ophelia. This act forces Laertes to obtain revenge for his father’s death by killing Hamlet. Hamlet’s father killed the King of Norway during combat. The Prince of Norway, Fortinbras, thus wanted revenge on the entire country of Denmark. In Medea, the betrayal by her husband is to take another woman in marriage. Although she used her magical powers to ensure Jason secured the Golden Fleece; fled her country and Slecka #2 family to live with Jason in Iolcus; killed her brother and dumped him overboard forcing their pursuers to slow down andShow MoreRelatedWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet s Revenge1725 Words   |  7 Pages Thesis: Shakespeare s portrayal of Hamlet s revenge is not a worthy journey because he never finds his self worth, distracted between what will exemplify his purpose, and what will make him a failure in the memory of Denmark. Three quotes with analysis explaining thesis: Act 1 Scene 5 Ghost: â€Å" But know, thou noble youth, Hamlet: â€Å"Oh My Prophetic Soul! My uncle?† The serpent that did sting thy father’s life Now wears his crown.† The beginning of the â€Å"call to adventure -JRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet - Hamlet s Revenge1742 Words   |  7 PagesHamlet’s Vengeance Hamlet is one of the greatest literary works that has the innate ability to transcend time with the study of the human condition. William Shakespeare investigates themes of revenge, morality, sex, and familial complexities that entangle us all at one point and time. Shakespeare story of Hamlet gives us one of our first tragic heroes in modern literary history. In his quest for revenge for his father’s death we also see the systematic decline and lapses into madness that willRead MoreRevenge By William Shakespeare s Hamlet982 Words   |  4 PagesRevenge has caused the downfall of many a person. Its consuming nature causes one to act recklessly through anger rather than reason. Revenge is an emotion easily rationalized; one turn deserves another. However, this is a very dangerous theory to live by. Throughout Hamlet, revenge is a dominant theme. Fortinbras, Laertes, and Hamlet all seek to avenge the deaths of their fathers. But in so doing, all three rely more on emotion than thought, and take a very big gamble, a gamble which eventuallyRead MoreRevenge By William Shakespeare s Hamlet882 Words   |  4 PagesIn Shakespeare’s Hamlet, it is very evident that hatred and a thirst for revenge can turn people into something that they are not. Many characters throughout this story exemplify this, but the main two are Hamlet and Laertes. This theme of revenge is established throughout the whole play and it acts as a vital character. Revenge is seen as a cause for many outcomes. Hamlet pursues revenge on Claudius to avenge his father s death. Gertrude is targeted by Hamlet for wedding Claudius too quickly afterRead MoreRevenge By William Shakespeare s Hamlet914 Words   |  4 PagesRevenge = Happiness Can revenge really bring happiness? Harming and getting back at someone for upsetting you or â€Å"doing you wrong†. It’s the ultimate win, right? Wrong. Revenge is an irrepressible craving that devours the mind and creates a never ending cycle of pain and grief. â€Å"But isn’t it said that revenge is sweet?† says nearly every person in modern day society. Wrong again. We’re obsessed with the belief that revenge is what solves the issue, when in reality; it’s only ridding you of yourRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet - Longing For Revenge1304 Words   |  6 PagesLonging for Revenge William Shakespeare was born in England in April of 1564 and was an English poet and playwright . Shakespeare is universally known as the greatest writer in the English language. Shakespeare frequently produced tragedies that are continuously acted out today, along with many plays and sonnets.. Although Shakespeare is seen today as a great writer who changed the world, his reputation did not rise to these heights until around the 19th century. In all of Shakespeare’s astoundingRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet As A Revenge Tragedy1777 Words   |  8 PagesWilliam Shakespeare’s play Hamlet was written as a revenge tragedy. This play was written by Shakespeare between 1599 and 1602; no one is exactly certain about the date Hamlet was written (Hunt 2). The protagonist of this play is a prince named Hamlet; he is a prince of Denmark. Hamlet’s father was killed by his uncle Claudius, who became king afterwards. Not only did Claudius become king of Denmark, he took Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude, as his wife. This play is the longest of all Shakespeare’s playsRead MoreRevenge By William Shakespeare s Hamlet, And Sophocles Antigone2105 Words   |  9 PagesIntroduction Revenge has always been an exciting theme to incorporate into any literary work. This revenge adds conflict, action, and contrast to any story. There have been hundreds of thousands of stories and tales which cause readers to experience similar feeling to that of the main characters. With revenge, the reader may side with the main character whether or not the main character is morally right or wrong. By human nature, people around the globe have always been trying their hardest to comeRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet Essay902 Words   |  4 PagesTo be, or not to be; that s the question† (Act III, Scene 1, P.1127) is of the most widely circulated lines. As we all know, it is also the most important part of the drama, â€Å"Hamlet†, which is one of the most famous tragedy in the literature written by William Shakespeare between from 1599 to1602. The drama was written at the age of Renaissance that reflects the reality of the British society in sixteenth century to early seventeenth century. During that period, Britain was in the era of reverseRead MoreEssay on Vengeance in Shakespeares Hamlet - The Theme of Revenge1162 Words   |  5 PagesThe Theme of Revenge in Hamlet    In Shakespeares tragedy,  Hamlet, the thoughts of revenge are introduced early in the play. At the end of the first act, Hamlet meets the ghost of his deceased father. He is brought to see him by Horatio and Marcellus, who saw the ghost yesternight (Shakespeare 1.2.190). During this exchange of words between the Ghost and Hamlet, the Ghost tells Hamlet, [s]o art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear. (Shakespeare 1.5.5). He is telling Hamlet to listen closely

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Thane District free essay sample

The Upavan Lake is located at the foot-hills of Yeoor hills and is a scenic spot. It is flanked by the Yeoor hills on one side and the tall Neelkanth Heights on one side. It is a common spot for people to hang out and refresh themselves. Other lakes include : †¢ Masunda Lake †¢ Kachrali Lake (near parmartha niketan) †¢ Makhmali Lake †¢ Ambe Ghonsali Lake †¢ Siddheshwar Lake †¢ Jail Lake †¢ Wagle Lake †¢ Upvan Lake †¢ Yashasvi Nagar Lake †¢ Kausa Lake †¢ Kharegaon Lake †¢ Raila Devi Lake †¢ Balkum Lake †¢ Rewale Lake †¢ Bramhala-Kolbad Lake [edit] Demographics and culture In 1825, when the British explored their newly annexed territories in Bassein, they discovered that Thane was inhabited primarily by Roman Catholics, both natives and Portuguese, and that the latter was virtually from the former, both with regards to skin color and custom. The indigenous Catholics were converts from the Bhandari (musicians) and Koli (fishermen) classes. [2] To this day, some of the upper class East Indian Catholic families in the Khatri ward of Thana speak Portuguese. We will write a custom essay sample on Thane District or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page [3] At present, Thane has a predominantly Maharashtrian culture although, like its neighbouring city Mumbai, it has a cosmopolitan culture as well. Because of the huge residential boom, the city has witnessed a large number of immigrants from the neighbouring city of Mumbai as well as from other pockets of state and country. The face of the city, now a days becoming increasingly cosmopolitan. Beside Marathi, sizeable populations of North Indians, South Indians, Sindhis, Gujaratis and Marwari and other people from different regions live in Thane, mainly because of its proximity to Mumbai. Thane is bordered by the Yeoor Hills on one side and is dotted with numerous beautiful lakes, which are a cause of cooler weather than that of Mumbai. Festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi, Navratri and Durga Puja are celebrated with great zest in the city. As in Mumbai, Thane offers high rewards amounting to 1 million rupees (US$ 25,000) for winners of Dahi Handi sport during the Gokulashtami festival. Since 2005 the Dahi Handi festival has been on a much larger scale; there is competition between various clubs to host the biggest of Dahi Handis. The biggest ones are Open House, Panchpakhdi; Jambli Naka; Tembhi Naka; Vartak Nagar; all of these now have TV coverage will almost all major news channels beaming the days proceedings to the whole nation. Gadkari Rangayatan [edit] Transport Main article: Transportation in Thane TMT NEW BUS Thane was the terminus for the first ever passenger train in India. On 16 April 1853, the first passenger train service was inaugurated between Bori Bunder (Now renamed Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus), Mumbai and Thane. [4] Covering a distance of 34 kilometres (21 mi), it was hauled by three locomotives, Sahib, Sindh and Sultan. Thane is well connected with neighbouring suburbs through Central Railwayss sub-urban railway network. There are 4 railway stations in Thane city limit. Thane station is part of the Central Railway division of Indian railways, and is about 34 km away from the Mumbai city station. The other 3 stations are Kalwa, Mumbra, Diva which are also the suburbs of Thane. Thane has gained new importance as a railway link to Navi Mumbai due to the Thane-Vashi/Nerul and Thane -Panvel local train line. Since Feb2010 new fast trains have started between Thane Panvel- Stopping at KoparKahirane,Neral,Belapur. This line runs many trains between Thane and Vashi, the principal node of Navi Mumbai, passing through Airoli, Ghansoli, Koparkhairane, Turbhe and Sanpada. Almost all trains going to Konkan railway from Mumbai have stops at Thane. Thane Municipal Transport (TMT), Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport ~ BEST, Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport ~ NMMT,Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Transport ~ KDMT, Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Transport ~ MBMT and MSRTC (State Transport) corporations provide public bus service to the city. Autorickshaw on Meter is available to travel within City along with Taxies Normal as well as A/c. A light rail network covering 42 km has been proposed in three phases. In the first phase, consultants have suggested connectivity between Balkum and Kolshet via Naupada. It will be 16. 05 km long with 14. 65 km elevated, and only 1. 4 km on the surface, and 11 stations in all. [5] The public transport on newly developed Ghodbunder road area is not satisfactory at the moment and needs lot of improvement . The newly constructed SATIS (Station area transport improvement system. )has however given good results (May 2010). Thane: The city of Thane is situated on the western banks of Thane creek with Parsik hills on the east and Yeour hills on the west. The creek not only provides a natural protection to the place but has also facilitated transport of big and small ships since ancient times Thane is located to the North of Mumbai The Temperatures range from 25 degrees C to 37 degrees C Tourist spots in Thane District Jawhar / Jawhar hill station Tansa Lake Vasai Fort Bassain Beach Dahanu Borid Beach Malshej Ghat Hill Station PLACES OF INTEREST Tourist Attractions Lakes and Hills | Essel World | Water Kingdom | Matheran | Bassein (Vasai) | Nishiland | Tansa wildlife sanctuary | Lonavla and Khandala | Kashi Mira | Jawhar Palace Lakes and Hills Thane the city of Lakes has around 30 lakes. The most beautiful of them is the Masunda Talao, also known as Talao Pali. The lake offers boating and water scooter facilities. Some of the other popular lakes are Upvan Lake, Kacharali Talao, Makhamali Talao, Siddheshwar Talao, Bramhala Talao, Ghosale Talao, Railadevi Talao etc. Yeoor Hills or Mama Bhanja Hills is a hill station of Thanaites. This naturally beautiful and pollution free area attracts lot of people. There is also a Math there. Essel World This amusement park is located at Gorai, at a distance from the hub of the city. The main attractions here are the 34 rides that comprise of roller coasters, rainbows, bumping cars. The complex houses many cafeterias and restaurants. Nearest Railway Stations: Malad or Borivali, from where the journey must be made by road and sea (Ferry). Also approachable by road via Bhayandar on Western Express Highway. Open: 1100 to 1900 (off season) 1000 to 2000 (April-June October-December). Water Kingdom is just next to Essel World and claims to have the largest wave pool in Asia. It has water slides and swimming pools for kids as well as elders. Matheran Matheran, 70 kms from Thane, is a hill station of natural beauty and pollution free environment. It is situated 750m up in the Sahyadri Ranges of the Western Ghats. Matheran is a 11 km hike by road from Neral and accessible from the foothills by a toy train. There are fine views from the top. Best season is November-February and April-June. Nishiland is an amusement park located on the Mumbai Poona Highway and is an hour and a halfs drive from Thane. This is a water park, best during summers when one often needs to chill off. There are water slides, wave pools and splashes with lodging and food facilities. Bassein (Vasai) Bassein or Vasai was an ancient Portuguese settlement located about 48-km to the north of Mumbai, near the Thane creek. The Bassein Fort was constructed in 1532 by Bahadur Shah, Sultan of Gujarat. You can see ruins of the Fort and the Cathedral of St. Joseph and the Churches of St Antony and St. Paul. The city walls are still intact. There are also decorative gateways inscribed with coats of arms and Portuguese graves dating back to 1558. Tansa wildlife sanctuary This sanctuary is located 90km from Mumbai in Thane district. The sanctuary with an area of about 320sq. kms has around 54 species of animals and 200 species of birds in the sanctuary. Major wild animals are Panther, Barking deer, Mouse deer, Hyena, Wild boar etc. Tansa Lake flows through the sanctuary. Best time to visit is November -May. Lonavla and Khandala Lonavla and Khandala are two hill resorts 5kms apart at an altitude of around 600m in the western ghats. Khandala is a quite village overlooking a picturesque ravine and surrounded by wet season waterfalls. Located 106km from Mumbai, on the Mumbai-Pune railway line, Lonavla is a good base to visit the Karla and Bhaja caves and also the Rajmachi, Lohagen and Visapur Forts nearby. Karla and Bhaja are rock-cut-caves which are among the oldest and finest examples of Hinayana Buddhists rock temple art in India. The Walwan Dam at Lonavla was built in 1915 to supply hydroelectric power to Mumbais textile mills. Best time to visit is during the monsoon. Kashi Mira Kashi and Mira are two villages in Thane Taluka located close to each other. The surroundings of the two villages abound in natural beauty and scenery. Just after leaving the check-post at Dahisar is an open surface with the backdrop of hills with zigzag paths leading up the hills. And it is this flushy background that has given these two villages the name Kashimira. Jawhar Palace It is called the Mahabaleshwar of Thane District, when compared in beauty and climate. And places to see are the majestic Dadara Kopra Falls, Jai Vilas, the palace of the tribal kings, the Hanuman and Sunset Points and the enthralling Shirpamal, where Shivaji chose to camp on his way to Surat. Jawhar also offers you the unique opportunity to expose and enlighten yourself with the tribal way of life especially with the Warli paintings. About Thane Tourism Thane is an industrial town situated on the western banks of Thane creek that was frequented by ships since ancient times. It has been a hub of economic activity since medieval times due to its location. Thane, which means station in Marathi was also known as Sthanaka, the capital of the Shilahara kings. Many travellers, including Venetian explorer Marco Polo, described the bustling trade at its well-developed port, and the cultural diversity of its people. Historically Thane has been ruled by the Portuguese, Marathas and the British. The first railway train in India ran from Bombay VT to Thane in 1853. The city is bounded by the Parsik hills and Yeour hills on the east and west. It lies north of Mumbai and northwest of Maharashtra state. The region features all types of landforms, from the Jawahar Mokhade plateau to the Sahyadri ranges, and coastal plains and river basins. Sightseeing Highlights: There are many beautiful lakes around the city. Yeur Hills is an ideal getaway from the city rush. Titwala (45 km) is pilgrim centre with Maha Ganesh Temple and Temple of Shri Vithoba. The 11th bout the place Thane is called as the city of lakes as it constitutes 30 lakes. It was an important Portuguese trading center until the Marathas captured it in 1739. The original name of Thane was Sristhanaka i. e. the residence of Lord Ganesha. It is located to the north of Mumbai; the city is surrounded by hills and lakes. It has several historical buildings, including forts and several churches. Now it is a booming industrial hub with growth in trade, transport and construction activities. Religious Spots Ganeshpuri This is a small town near Bhivandi, about 40 km from Thane which is the residence of Swami Nityananda Maharaj. An ancient temple is also there with four tanks called kundas. The kundas are some 800 years old. It is more famous for its hot water springs. Historical Monuments Bassein (Vasai) Bassein or Vasai was an ancient Portuguese settlement located just 48-km to the north of Mumbai, near the Thane creek. The Fort of Bassein was constructed in 1532 by Bahadur Shah, Sultan of Gujarat. The ruins of the Fort still exist. You can visit to the Cathedral of St. Joseph and the Churches of St Antony and St. Paul. The city walls are still intact. There are also decorative gateways inscribed with coats of arms and Portuguese graves dating back to 1558. Lakes The most famous lake of the city is the Masunda Talao, also known as Talao Pali. The lake offers boating and water scooter facilities to the tourists. Some other popular lakes in and around the city are Upvan Lake, Kacharali Talao, Makhamali Talao, Siddheshwar Talao, Bramhala Talao, Ghosale Talao, Railadevi Talao etc. Other Attractions Jawhar Palace The climatic condition of this place is so marvelous that it is some time called as the â€Å"Mahabaleshwar of Thane†. The places of worth visiting are majestic Dadara Kopra Falls, Jai Vilas and the palace of the tribal kings. Jawhar also offers some unique moments to share time with the lives of tribal people. Tansa wild life sanctuary This wild life sanctuary is situated in the Thane district about 90 kms from Mumbai. It is a home to 54 species of animals and 200 species of birds. The total area covered by the lake sanctuary is about 217 sq. ms. Major animal species include panthers, sambars, cheetal barking deers, wild boar, jackal, common langur and bonnet macaque. You can best visit the place during November to May. How to reach The city is close to Mumbai; hence transport is not a problem for it. You can reach the city by roads, rails or by air. The nearest airport is at Mumbai. Thane is an important railway station of the state. The three national highways passing through the city are Mumbai-Agra Highway, Mumbai-Banglore Highway, Mumbai-Ahmadabad Highway.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

The Sociological Perspective on Basketball Essay Example

The Sociological Perspective on Basketball Paper In sociology, there are 3 paradigms. There is the conflict theory perspective, the symbolic-interaction perspective and the structural-functionalist perspective. From a conflict paradigm point of view, the essay would focus on gender and how the assumption that girls lack the same level of strength and stamina as men. The WNBA (Women National Basketball League) doesn’t get the same amount of respect as the males do in the NBA (National Basketball League). Another issue could be that the NBA players have a higher annual salary than an average teacher. A structural-functionalist approach could be focused on how it creates jobs (the NBA) and academically too. Basketball could also be focused on how it also entertainment for the public and how it could build ones character. From a symbolic-interaction perspective, not only can it be focus on how basketball unifies people together, but it also has to ability to express aggression in a positive, rather than destructive way. Another example could be how two different players can have the same goal, but different motivates. One player can be motivated by the love for the game and another can be motivated by the thrill of competition. The best paradigm out of the 3 to study for the game of basketball would from a structural-functionalist perspective. From a structural-functionalist perspective, basketball can have a huge affect on people lives. Friendships can also be created by having a conversation about basketball or after playing a game of basketball. One of the biggest things about basketball is how entertaining it can be on television. We will write a custom essay sample on The Sociological Perspective on Basketball specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Sociological Perspective on Basketball specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Sociological Perspective on Basketball specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Another view points from a structural-functionalist perspective are the job opportunities the game of basketball is given. Since the NBA has such a huge fan base, there are many jobs given. When there are games being played in arenas, there’s a plenty of jobs given in the arena and with those opportunities, it expands the economy. Other jobs are given as trainers, team doctors, etc. It can also lead to coaches that are need for school basketball teams. How does playing basketball for a school can help a student academically in high school from a structural-functionalist perspective? You notice that playing basketball for a high school can help physically, mentally, socially, and academically. Not only does playing basketball for a school not only build friendships between team members, but could also give them that competitive edge to become better than who they are physically and mentally. For a student to continue playing basketball for a school, he’ll have to stay in shape for the season and be able to keep the grades above average. Academically, at a college level, basketball is a good and bad thing. Majority of universities pay attention to the student skill level at the sport rather than his grades, just to ensure the schools success. Paragraph 5 = From a structural-functionalist perspective, you realize that by the game of basketball, you can build friendships easily just by having something in common like loving the game. You also notice how job opportunities can be given by playing the sport or becoming a trainer in the game and help the athletics stay in shape. By having more job opportunities, it expands the economy. From a young age, basketball can not only help you academically, but help you get into colleges. Paragraph 1 = the 3 paradigms Paragraph 2 = friendships are built thru basketball. Gyms, reck team, common love for a team or player Paragraph 3 = the job oppurities basketball given. The NBA, other internation leagues, or becoming a trainer for a basketball player Paragraph 4 = academic level for basketball. Its good for high school students. College universities rather have good skills and bad in brain.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

The Poor Performance of the Employees and Organization

The Poor Performance of the Employees and Organization The Executive summary The CEO of the organization asked me to submit a report with recommendations on how my department could solve a number of problems within the organization.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on The Poor Performance of the Employees and Organization specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The objective of this report, therefore, is to articulate the problems affecting the performance of the organization and devise ways of solving them in order to get the organization back on performance excellence. My team employed a number of methods in the study. We used observation methods, camera surveillance, interviews and discussion. We identified the following problems: increased customer complaints, poor data entry and record keeping, generational groupings among the Baby Boomers, generation Y and X, dissatisfaction among the employees, stress among the employees, poor communication in the organization, high attriti on rates in generation Y and X and a general lack of motivation among the employees. After a careful study of the origin of these problems, we decided on a few changes that, if implemented, would remedy the situation in the organization. The high rate of bureaucracy in the organization needs to be scrapped and replaced with a more liberal model which gives the employees and customers a priority over the organization. The rigid system of operation will also be neutralized with a more flexible approach than the existing one. Communication within the organization also needs to be improved, with the employees being involved in the decision making process. Communication among the employees will also be encouraged in order to avoid the existing stereotypes and suspicion. Motivation strategies will be instituted, with more concern given to employee needs and satisfaction. Non-cash incentives will be issued as rewards for good performance to employees and all employees will be treated fairl y. Introduction Background: Our organization has been experiencing problems among the employees for some time now. This seems to have adversely affected its overall performance. This is reflected by the feedback we receive form our customers and the government. The employees have demarcated themselves into generational groups, each of which acts with suspicion of the other. This has bred a culture of hatred among the senior, middle and young employees, thus, the lack of effectiveness in the organization’s performance. The organization is highly bureaucratic and employees operate under rigid rules and procedures. This system breeds a system of controls and hierarchy which is detrimental to effective execution of tasks within the organization.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More These have led to lack of motivation among the employees, almost grounding the organi zation’s performance (Barrows and Powers, 2008). This creates the need to come up with mechanisms that will help contain the situation. Aims and scope: This report undertakes to investigate the reasons for the poor performance of the employees and organization in general. The report also recommends ways by which the problem can be dealt with and possibly eliminated. It will study into details the generational demarcations and the effect they have on employee performance. It will also take a critical look at the concept of bureaucracy and possibly recommend better procedures within the organization that will reduce the amount of bureaucracy (Galbraith, 1977) and (Schermerhorn et al, 2011). Discussion Data entry and record keeping There has been a rising concern by the government about poor service delivery of the organization to the public. This has led to a partial cut in funding of the organization by the government. Government auditors have been complaining of poor, untimel y and inaccurate data entry into the books of the organization. My team investigated this matter by observing the accountants found out that they are largely to blame for the menace. The head accountant, who is a Baby Boomer, is quite aged and of poor health. Most of the time, he is away from work due to health complications. However, he cannot delegate his responsibilities to his assistants of generation X and Y. This is because he believes that they are not as qualified to handle the task and that they are not serious at work. The organization’s strict bureaucratic procedures also cannot allow these duties to be relegated to someone else apart from himself. There are some forms that have to await the government auditor’s signature for days and even weeks. All the work has to be piled up awaiting his return to office in order to be done. This explains the untimely entry of data. Another observation we made was that the conduct of the junior accountant staff is wanting . My team, in disguise, found out that the junior accountants, all belonging to generation Y, did not take their work seriously and with the caution it deserves. They listened to radio and engaged the social media during work. In one of the incidents, he gave my â€Å"man† a receipt with the wrong figure and did not realize to rectify this error.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on The Poor Performance of the Employees and Organization specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Generation Y This is the generation of persons born between the 1970s and early 2000. This generation is generally characterized by increased use of and familiarity with the communication technology, media, digital technology and neoliberal approach to almost everything (Strauss and Howe, 1991) This explains why, in our observation, most of the younger staff broke most rules within the organization code of conduct. They seemed to be always at logge rheads with the Baby Boomers arguing about the right thing to do in every circumstance. This explains the sharp division between the Baby Boomers and the generation Y. When interviewed about the sluggish nature of their working, the generation Y confessed that they did not find the organization objectives and mission fulfilling to their individual desire of growth and a feeling of self worth (Martin and Tulgan, 2001). Most of them were in the look out for other jobs and were willing and eager to leave immediately another job opportunity came up. They also said that the staff was biased against them. The much older employees and management were pointed out as the most biased. They treated them unfairly and did not give them a chance to explore their capabilities. They also found out that work in the organization was boring, applying same procedures quite repetitive, no creativity was allowed and there were strict timelines and reprimands by their superiors over petty mistakes. The em ployees also spent most of their times in ‘exciting’ activities like listening to music and chatting in the social media as a way of eliminating the boredom. Generation X This is the generation born after the Baby Boomers from the early 1960s to 1980. They are defined as a group of people without identity, who face an uncertain, ill defined and hostile future. The older generations view generation x as reactive people who are more focused to money than anything else (Stephey, 2008). These employees, when interviewed, expressed concern that the management did not factor in their needs. Most of them were parents and needed time to be with their families. They left work for home earlier than the rest and were never willing to work overtime. Because of this, many fell out with the management for neglecting their duties and showing no real concern for responsibility at work.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This makes the employees feel that the management does not understand their needs. This has led to a negative attitude among these employees with the management. This has contributed to poor work relations and the entire performance of the organization. Baby Boomers This is the generation of persons born in the post war period of between 1946 and 1964. These come with privileges since most of them are brought up in the period when there is great affluence. They regard themselves as a special generation that values traditions and rules. This generation sharply contrasts generation Y who does not value traditions, and would be better off doing new things and applying new techniques at work. Because of this, the two groups seem to be in perpetual conflict with each other. The Boomers do not approve of most things that the generation Y does. They feel that they are lazy, spending most of their work time on activities that distract them from work. This, to them, is unethical of work and should not be allowed. The generation Y, on the other hand, feels that the Boomers do not like them, and are out to make their life at work difficult. Observations carried out in the study found Boomers and generation Y in consistent conflict and confrontations. At meetings, Boomers opposed almost all of generation Y suggestions, rubbishing them as childish. The Boomers are the only group that upheld the concept of bureaucracy, therefore, perceived by generations X and Y as frustrating their efforts at work and as responsible for the poor performance of the organization. Stress This was found to be a common feature for all employees. They are generally dissatisfied with the organization. While people in generation Y want a place where they can explore their talents further and exhibit their expertise, generation X want a place where the management can understand and provide for their needs, giving them ample time to tend to their families. The Boomers are fine with the organization procedures. However, they have a problem with their fellow employees, who they feel are antagonistic to work procedures, therefore, jeopardizing the performance of the organization. The management is facing a hard time while coordinating these employees who have divergent views and ideas about working. The generation X and Y view management as hostile towards them and not understanding their needs. Communication Communication in the organization is lacking. Most of the instances when employees talk, there is always confrontation and blame game. According to Fletcher and Major (2006), teams report greater team work and success rates at work when they work and communicate face to face. The media richness theory points out that communication in the work place increases the degree of effectiveness in the organization (Daft and Lengel, 1986.) In this organization, effective communication is lacking. Therefore, a lot of misunderstanding occurs among employees and with the management. This explains the high number of conflicts witnessed in the organization, with some employees not talking to each other t all (May and Mumby, 2005). The employees also feel left out in the decision making process. They are alienated in the formulation of work procedures. Their consent and suggestions for working procedures and suggestions for effective changes is never sought by management. Instead, rules of operation are imposed on them and they are expected to adjust and accommodate the rules and changes without opposition (Suh, 1999). Customer complaints This organization has for a long time maintained an effective customer feedback program. For some time now, we have been receiving negative feedback from our customers concerning the organization’s service delivery and customer care. Surveillance cameras were secretly put in places where employees interacted directly with customers. What we observed was a number of cases where the employees were rude to the customers. Some emp loyees take longer to attend to customers, while others engage in gossip with other employees or using their mobile phones. Some even get to the extent of sending the customers to the next available teller while they do nothing. It was noted that the employees discriminated against some customers. This was based on sex and looks. Most of our employees are women. They treated women customers rudely compared to the male customers. At the same time, customers who seemed highly sophisticated in terms of looks and dress were treated better than others. Conclusion This organization has been adversely affected by the bureaucratic mode of operation. Operations are carried out in a strictly rigid framework. When one component of the process is lacking, the whole process becomes paralyzed and nothing can be done to continue the process of operations. Another factor that is detrimental to the operations of the organization is the problem of communication. There is a general lack of communicati on among the workers and with the management. There is no instituted mechanism of solving conflicts among the employees and with management. Employees are also not able to freely express themselves, as they are not included in the decision making process or consulted on work procedures. They are treated as passive actors. Another problem within the organization is the problem of groupings and factions. The employees are divided into three distinct groups: the Baby Boomers, the Generation X and Y. These groups have demarcated themselves, with each group feeling superior to the others and downplaying the role the others play in the organization. This has led to a proliferation of conflicts among the employees and a lack of unity in achieving the organization goals. The final and most important factor lacking in the organization is motivation. The employees lack motivation and the reason to work well and effectively. They come to work late and only perform what they have to, without pu tting extra effort to do well or even better. The management seems to be lacking the right strategies to tackle these problems. It has remained hard on the employees without attempting to change their approach towards their needs, applying the right motivational strategies and understanding their needs. Recommendation After a careful analysis of these problems and reference to scholarly material, we came up with the following recommendations of what needs to be done in order to remedy the situation and get the organization back on performance excellence. Our recommendations were arrived at bearing in mind that there is a moratorium on employing of additional staff. Therefore, they are geared towards finding viable solutions that will work with the existing employees without laying any one of them off. Bureaucracy Customers view bureaucratic organizations as not aimed at satisfying their needs. The employees attribute this inefficiency to the idea that all policy is similar for all c ustomers. This organization is unresponsive to customers’ individual needs and situations. The policies of the organization are solely designed to benefit the organization and not the customers. It does not admit the mistakes it does, rather shifting the blame onto the customer. The organization is slow to innovativeness and reluctant to change, as dictated by time and events. They view the organizations products and services as inferior. Employees in such organizations are not enthusiastic about working in the organizations. They are not friendly and do not care much whether the customer is satisfied or not. In the organization, departments and employees do not cooperate to get the job done. The executives strive more for personal advancement and power. Promotions are made based on politics rather than merit. Information is hoarded and used as a basis for power. Mostly, the responsibility for failure is denied and the blame shifted to others, especially the junior employees. Bureaucracy is generally detrimental to organization’s effectiveness. It weakens employee morale and divides people within the organization setting each against the other. This misdirects their energy into conflict with one another and destructive competition that does not work to achieve the mission statement. Because of these inherent problems associated with bureaucratic model, we recommend that the model be scrapped and replaced with a more flexible and liberal model of operation. Employees should be allowed some freedom at work. They should be left to work without thorough supervision and compulsion by the supervisors. Procedures should be neutralized and simplified to allow for more relegation of duties and responsibilities. The clear cut demarcations between employee ranks should also be neutralized so that all employees feel equal and important to the organization despite their rank. Communication Most executives will agree that communication is an essential part for the success of the organization. Information should be clearly communicated to enhance role clarity for the employees. The problem of role clarity leads to stress, tension, anxiety, dissatisfaction, lack of job interest and lack of job innovation. In most bureaucratic organizations, information tends to flow downwards. It is unusual for information to take another route, like from the subordinate to the superior. Unfortunately, this organization falls under this framework, characterized with a rigidity of information flow. According to Leavitt (1958), one way communication is faster than two way communication channel. However, the latter is more accurate than the former and should be adopted. Differences in the organization should be taken seriously by allowing the other to speak openly and accept the possibility that the other’s perspective may override your own. I would therefore recommend that, the organization’s management introduces a system of openness in the pr ocess of decision making that involves all the employees, either wholly or in representation. Debates about various implementations should be carried out freely, with no intimidation or victimization of criticism. Among the workers, healthy communication should be encouraged and gossip discouraged. Workshops and seminars to enlighten the employees on the strength of diversity should be organized by the management. Through this, the employees will learn to appreciate one another and compliment each other. Motivation One of the roles of the manager is to get employees to do their job well. Rather than use of coercion, he should motivate employees to perform their duties voluntarily. An understanding and appreciation of human nature is vital to the process of motivation. Various theories like the theory Y by Douglas McGregor, two factor motivation hygiene theories by Fredrick Herzberg, Abraham Maslow’s theory Z hierarchy of needs and Elton Mayo’s experiments can be used. These theories generally posit that human beings should be treated with dignity and respect of all forms at workplace. Motivated employees are more productive and innovative. The inverse is true. As a result, I would recommend the following measures by management as a motivational strategy for the employees: The employees should be reinforced positively with high expectations of them by the management and customers. This way, they will feel self worth and motivated to uphold the high expectations. Discipline and punishment should be applied effectively, and by no means should it be applied in excess or unfairly, or used to coerce the employees. All employees must be treated fairly, without favoritism and discrimination on generation group or sex. Employee needs also need to be factored in at work and be met. Individual needs should be addressed with individual concern and given the right attention. Work related goals should be set, which when met, the employees are rewarded. The rew ards may not necessarily be financial but they could be holidays or trips (March and Simon, 1958). Theory Y In general, we recommend an approach of theory Y to the management of the organization. Employees are people who are ambitious and exercise self-control. They enjoy their physical and mental work. The management should support them on this basis. The organization should let them use their creativity in problem solving by applying their talents. They should develop trust among the employees by communicating freely with subordinates. Decision making should be done with the involvement of both the subordinates and their seniors. Reference List Barrows, C. W. and Powers, T., 2008. Introduction to Management in the Hospitality Industry. Hoboken: John Willey and Sons. Daft, R. L. and Lengel, R. H., 1986. Organizational Information Requirements, Media Richness and Structural Design. Management Science, 32(5), 23-57. Fletcher, T. D., and Major, D. A., 2006. The Effects of Communicatio n Modality on Performance and Self-ratings of Team Work Components. Journal of computer mediated communication, 11(2), 15-18, article 9. Galbraith, J., 1977. Organization Design. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley. Leavitt, H., 1958. Managerial Psychology. Chicago: University of Chicago Press March, J. G. and Simon, H. A., 1958. Organizations. New York: Wiley. May, S. and Mumby, D. K., 2005. Engaging Organizational Communication Theory and Research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Schermerhorn, J., Davidson, P., Poole, D., Simon, A., Woods, P., and Chau, S. L., 2011. Management Foundations and Applications-value pack. New York: Wiley. Stephey, M. J., 2008. Gen-x: The Ignored Generation time? New York: Wiley. Strauss, W. and Howe, N., 1991. Generations: The History of America’s Future, 1584-2069. New York: William Morrow and Company. Suh, K. S., 1999. Impact of Communication Medium on Task Performance and Satisfaction: an Examination of Media-Richness Theory. New York: Cengage Learning. Tul gan, B and Martin, C. A. (2001). Managing Generation Y: Global citizens born in the  late seventies and early eighties. Harvard: New York Times.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

How Dysons Supersonic Hair Dryer Works

How Dyson's Supersonic Hair Dryer Works Regarding the hairdryer, renowned inventor Sir James Dyson had this to say: Hairdryers can be heavy, inefficient and make a racket. By looking at them further we realized that they can also cause extreme heat damage to hair. With this in mind, he would go on to challenge his team of engineers, designers and creative minds to come up with a solution. The Dyson Supersonic hairdryer, unveiled at press event in Tokyo, was a culmination of four years, $71 million, 600 prototypes, over 100 patents pending and rigorous testing on so much hair that if laid out as a single strand would stretch 1,010 miles. The result, though, was vintage Dyson: a compact, sleek design that quietly packs several finely-tuned high tech advancements meant to address some of the major flaws with most hair dryers currently on the market. Easy and Well-Designed Like many of his inventions, Dysons first foray into the beauty industry combines his signature cutting-edge sensibilities with a pleasingly minimalist aesthetic. Instead of vents and other clunky segmented parts its comprised of a smooth handle that simply extends toward a circular ring that sits on top. When directly facing the blower end, the dryer resembles another signature Dyson product called the Bladeless Fan. That’s not by coincidence, of course. Dyson’s modernist take on hair drying is powered by a smaller version of the hidden motor used inside the companys line of uber quiet cooling machines. The V9, the company’s smallest and lightest motor to date, can run at a speed of over 110,000 rotations per minute, fast enough to produce ultrasonic sound waves that register as inaudible to the human ear. Miniaturizing the technology to the point where its roughly the diameter of a quarter also allows the designers to fit it inside the handle to ensure proper weight balance. That way the user doesnt feel the strain of having to hold and maneuver a top heavy object.   Fixing Common Problems Besides enhanced comfort and ease of use, the Supersonic Dryer was designed from the ground up to eliminate some of the most vexing issues people have with hair drying. For instance,  blown air from hair dryers tends to be uneven and the turbulence can cause strands of hair to tangle, which is more often the case with those who have less than straight hair. Dysons Air Multiplier technology, found in both the Supersonic dryer and Bladeless fan, creates a high-velocity air stream by sucking air upward toward the rim where its joined with air brought in through the back and then channeled outward in a horizontal direction. The result is a smooth, even flow of air.   Another common problem is that overly hot air can ruin the surface texture and resiliency of natural hair to the point where shampoo and conditioning treatments can’t undo. To prevent heat damage, Dyson engineers added heat sensors that gauge and help regulate the airflow temperature by continuously relaying readings at a rate of 20 times a second to the main microprocessor. The data is used to adjust the motor speed automatically so that temperatures are kept within a safe range. The Price of Excellence Rounding out the list of notable enhancements, the dryer also includes a removable filter at the bottom of the handle to catch lost strands of hair (think lint trap) and three attachments that connect magnetically to the blower head. There’s the smoothing nozzle, which spreads a wide air stream across the surface to avoid messy, displaced the strands as you gently dry your hair. The concentrator nozzle creates more of a focused stream of air that’s ideal for shaping different parts while the diffuser nozzle is for reducing the frizz of curly hair by distributing air softly without disturbing the curls. The bottom line, though, is whether any of us  really needs a fancy, futuristic hair dryer and if ultimately such benefits are little more than a luxury. I’d say that for now Dysons hair dryer seems to be something that might appeal to higher-end salons with high-end clientele who will have their own reasons to justify the exorbitant $400 asking price.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Write a reports Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Write a reports - Essay Example The audience should enjoy the event, be on the lookout for the most creative and interesting aspect of the performance (Bay-Cheng 67). Most importantly, they should be able to reflect on the performance as a whole. When criticizing the live performance the critic should always give proof of their approval or disapproval by backing it up with facts and evidences from the performance. When reviewing the performance there are points to be noted such as, the production team, the time and place of the production’s presentation. The lighting and sets should be discussed and how they contributed to the theme or mood of the performance (Bay-Cheng 65). One should mention the make-up and costumes used as part of the general design for the performance. The characters and the actors’ display of the costumes are important. They should be considered to assess if they were believable and if the actors’ analysis fits the theme. A check on the blocking and stage movement should be made as well as on the tempo and pacing of the production. How the performers use their voices, work together and interpret the script matters. An observation is made of the effect the performance had on the audience and discussion of highlights of the memorable parts of the