Ashlynn Blocker

Ashlyn Blocker was born with a condition called congenital insensitivity which leaves her feeling absolutely no pain. The disease is caused by two found gene mutations which cut off the pain signals that are sent to Ashlyn’s brain. Her doctor’s name is Dr. Roland Staud who is a pain expert and professor in the University of Florida‘s college of medicine. There are only 20 documented cases of insensitivity to pain in our entire country which makes Ashlyn’s health issue â€Å"one in six billion†.Ashlyn lives with her family in Georgia, her parents struggle to keep her safe. Ashlyn never cried when she was a baby so her parents just thought that she was a happy child however when Ashlyn was diagnosed with a corneal abrasion and was smiling in her mother’s lap it was evident that she doesn’t feel pain like a normal child. For a long time, Ashlyn’s parents knew something was different about her but nothing could be diagnosed. Dr. Stau d was able to discover what gene was the cause of Ashlyn’s insensitivity to pain.Tara and John Blocker were ecstatic when the four year process came to an end. The SCN9A gene was mutated. This gene contained the signal that starts the production of the molecules that stimulate pain-signaling nerve cells so they can send the pain impulses to the brain. There are two extremes caused by the mutation, too much of the molecule so the patients feels extreme pain or too little of the molecule which causes the patient to not feel pain.Ashlyn can feel a tickle or a touch but not a painful pinch or a burn. This is because the mutation decreased her sensitivity to pain and did not eliminate it entirely. It’s dangerous because Ashlyn doesn’t know when she’s harming her body. Pain is warning signal that alarms a person to stop whatever they are doing because it’s hurting your body. Since Ashlyn does not have a sense of pain, she has no empathy when she sees oth er people crying because she can’t relate with the pain that they are feeling.Scientists could use gene therapy to manipulate the genes to allow Ashlyn to feel pain but the risk is epilepsy or hypersensitivity to pain. Dr. Staud wants to do more research before performing any gene therapy on Ashlyn because it could cause her to constantly feel pain. In the article we read in class about Ashlyn Blocker, the gene that caused her rare disease was still unknown. Ashlyn was only 5 years old, now she is 11. Ashlyn still cannot feel pain however her parents are more at ease because they know the exact cause of the disease.Her parents now have more precise answers to why their daughter cannot experience pain. It took Ashlyn’s doctor four years to discover the gene that was mutated. The more recent article describes the cause of Ashlyn’s condition which is a gene mutation. Ashlyn is now a patient of Dr. Staud who is a pain expert. Ashlyn’s case was brought to his attention by the USA today article and segment we read in class. Dr. Staud started a research study to take a closer look at Ashlyn’s condition.It also explains how Ashlyn is also suffering psychologically because of congenital insensitivity. Ashlyn cannot empathize with others since she can’t identify with the physical pain that her peers are feeling. If she sees a friend crying because they hurt themselves she can’t understand why her friend is so upset. The article also names various injuries that Ashlyn has suffered including breaking an ankle while riding her bike and then her parents not noticing it until days later.The recent article explains treatment called gene therapy that Ashlyn could possibly undergo one day to be able to feel pain. The risk is that she might feel too much pain and become hypersensitive to it instead of insensitive. Pain is necessary because it tells our brain when we’re hurting our body so we stop doing whatever it is that i s causing the pain. Since Ashlyn cannot feel pain she is at a high risk of damaging her body permanently since she doesn’t get the signal to stop harming her body. Ashlyn still has to deal with being different.I doubt her teachers still try to help her blend in like they did in the older article. Ashlyn now needs to learn how to cope with her disease on her own. Ashlyn’s body cannot produce the molecule that stimulates the pain-signaling nerve cells. She can feel a tickle or a touch but she can’t differentiate between temperature extremes. Later in life, Ashlyn will not be able to know when she is experiencing heart troubles or trouble breathing because she won’t feel any pains which are the warning signs of the life threatening conditions.

The History of Fashion & Costume

The History of Fashion & Costume Fashion & Costume Costume has developed for thousands of years, the most obvious line of division is the male and female dress. The Greeks and the Romans wore tunics which are similar to skirts. In this period the garments would have a draped detail whether it is masculine or feminine. The fashion history on ancient Greece has been inspired by the Greek vases, pots and statues. The Greek and Romans would use fabrics like silk and linen. Ancient EgyptAncient Egypt is a very hot climate, the costumes were always white because white reflects the sun which is cooler to wear. The ancient Egyptian women with higher class wear wigs they could be made out of human hair or animal hair. They wore wigs because they had to protect there heads from the sun, they were also feminine for the upper class women and had unique styles such as beading and braiding that still goes on to this present day. Egyptian garments were a good quality for thousands of years the Egyp tians woven cotton.Animal skins were worn by the priest and pharaohs. Manufacturing the garments was mostly the women's Job and mainly done at home, the workshops were run by the men. The important textile was linen which produced from flax. Haute Couture Haute couture is a French phrase for high fashion. Couture meaner hand-made dress making sewing and needle work. Haute meaner elegant and high. There are famous couture designers in France and are a huge success to this day such as Coco Channel, Christian Dior and Gucci.Depending on the couture design house and the garment the couture item would start from EIA,OOH. A Channel couture suit in 2002 would have EYE,OOH by 2004 an evening dress would cost EYE,OOH or more. The reason why these garments are sky high is because of the name, originality of the unusual design and the finest quality in fabrics. Fashion Fashion reflects on peoples personality every human being has a different style. There are many different cultures in fashion where ever you go around the world the fashion sense maybe traditional. By Fidelity

In This Essay the Myth of Equality Between Men and Women Will Be Discussed and Progress Made by Women so Far, for the Fight of Equality Will Be Examined.

Year 10 ENGLISH Assessment 1:3 – Using Language to Persuade Unit 1 Outcome 3: Analyse the use of language in texts that present a point of view on a current issue. TASK: Produce writing that analyses the use of language in persuasive texts. You will have two class periods to complete this assessment task. The prior two periods will be to prepare. Test conditions will apply throughout the writing of the assessment.. You must analyse 2 written texts, which will be provided at the beginning of your first preparation lesson.You may use a dictionary (bring your own). You may also bring in one sheet of notes to the assessment writing classes. On the reverse of this sheet there is a copy of the Assessment Criteria for this task. You should produce a minimum of one page per text to be analysed. Each text should have a minimum of one page analytical essay. Your opinion on the issue in the persuasive text, SHOULD NOT be included as a part of your analytic essay.English Assessment â€⠀œ 1:3 Using Language to Persuade Nature of task: Produce writing that analyses the use of language in two persuasive texts. Student’s Name: _______________________________________________________________________ |   |5 |4 |3 |2 |1 | |Criterion 1: Knowledge Analysis and omparison of ways in which language is|   |   |   |   |   | |used to position readers. (10 marks) | | | | | | |1. Analysis of language |Sophisticated |Detailed |Analysis |Some |Little | |2.Expression of the ways in which language of selected persuasive texts is|Insightful |Careful |Some |Limited |Little | |used to position readers in a particular way | | | | | | |Criterion 2: Expressive and coherent writing, with appropriate use of |   |   |   |   |   | |metalanguage (10 marks) | | | | | | |1.Expressive and coherent |High |Expressive |General |Clear |Simple | |2. Appropriate metalanguage |High |Relevant |Mostly |Some |Limited | Marks_____/20 Teacher comments/areas for improvement_________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Commercial Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 5

Commercial Law - Essay Example If no intention is expressed, then section 18 is applicable, which provides that where there is an unconditional contract for the sale of specific goods in a deliverable state, the property in the goods passes to the buyer when the contract is made, and it is immaterial whether the time of payment or delivery or both, be postponed. Once the goods have become ascertained in this case at point of delivery, then under section 18 of the SGA, the property will not pass (subject to contrary intention in the contract) until goods are unconditionally appropriated to the contract by one party with the assent of the other. Furthermore, as highlighted in the case of Ward v Bignall4, there is a presumption that ownership passes to the buyer on delivery. The current scenario points towards a contract for ascertained goods and therefore it is likely that ownership of the property will pass on delivery based on the SGA provisions and established case law. 1b) With regard to protection against the risk of non-payment, the greatest risk to Micro Maker is if the property passes in the goods to Lacey upon delivery. As such, it would be prudent for Micro-Maker to include a retention of title clause in its agreement with Lacey in order to ensure that it can recover its goods in the event of non-payment5. Micro-Maker should also try and agree a clause whereby the risk passes to Lacey upon delivery6. This right to reservation of title has through practice been termed the â€Å"Romalpa† clause7, due to the case of Aluminium Industries v Romalpa Aluminium8, which set out guidelines regarding enforceability of reservation of title clauses: This would be the best course of action for Micro-Makers. It is further submitted that any such reservation of title clause should require Lacey to store the microwaves separately from other products and include a right of entry for

How the media communications impacted public perception on marijuana Research Paper

How the media communications impacted public perception on marijuana - Research Paper Example Marijuana in most nations around the world is categorized as an illegal drug and its use is outlawed. However, there are alternative uses of marijuana ranging from the production of animal feeds, plastic products among other use. In the U.S.A, the use of marijuana has been prohibited to both the living and those who are dying. The most tragic of the prohibition of its use has been the denial of medicinal cannabis to millions of patients who could benefit from its therapeutic use. The use of Marijuana for medical purposes has numerous examples that cannabis is invaluable in the treatment of a wide range of diseases. It has numerous clinical applications as well. The most important of these is perhaps being used as a pain reliever especially pain suffered because of nerve damage otherwise known as neuropathic pain. It is also known to deal with movement disorders, glaucoma and nausea. Apart from medical use, there are a number of reasons given for the legalization of marijuana. One of them is that marijuana is no more harmful than alcohol or cigarettes, which are legal and widely use in the US already. The other argument is that decriminalization will result in reduced criminal and gang activities that are related to the sale of Marijuana. The process of legalizing marijuana for medicinal use and other purposes has been a long one and the role played by the media cannot be ignored. It served an important role in the education of the masses as to this alternativ e method of treatment.

Ethical Issue relate to Women Having Children with Unkown Sperm Donors Essay

Ethical Issue relate to Women Having Children with Unkown Sperm Donors - Essay Example 645). Sperm banks get sperm donors from colleges and through the internet. Screening test carried out to ensure the sperm donor is free from genetic diseases, and is of sound mind and intelligence. A number of ethical considerations have risen because of women having children with unknown sperm donors. Sperm donation takes place through artificial insemination. A couple chooses a donor with regard to race, intelligence and good health among other issues (Liou, 2011, p. 7). Technological advancement has assisted older women to bear children. In addition, married infertile men also use sperm donation services to conceive children. The technology has been embraced by many people especially women who wish to bear children at their 40s and 50s. Nonetheless, some ethical and legal issues have emerged where a third party is involved. Therefore, when undertaking unknown sperm donation by a couple the following ethical considerations, should be considered: such as if the sperm donor has legal rights that protect him from any problems that may arise in the future (Liou, 2011, p. 7). In the past, the donors chose to remain anonymous, stating they did not want to get in touch with the donor children. However, due to the curiosity of the donor children, sperm donors have the option of either remaining anonymous or choosing their identity to be known. The donor also has the freedom of being free from any responsibility to the biological child originating from his sperm (Seibel & Crockin, 2010, p. 25). When it comes to the client seeking sperm donation services some information ought to be made available; for instance, what are the complications associated with artificial insemination. Sperm donation activity is not always successful therefore; some treatments ought to be considered before one is eligible for artificial insemination. The sperm bank availing the sperm does not give a guarantee to the client if the sperm is free from genetic diseases (Seibel & Crockin, 2010, p. 26). Even though, genetic screening test is undertaken prior to the procedure, it does not guarantee that the sperm is free from genetic diseases and abnormalities. In addition, the client is also required to be fully responsible for the donor child. The sperm donor and the client rights are usually established under a written contract, signed by the two and the doctor. The agreement ensures that the client and the sperm donor are aware of their rights with regard to the whole procedure. Sperm banks have their specifications when it comes to the sperm they take from donors. A man’s education and personal outlook are taken into consideration. Age also matters, men above the age of forty are not accepted by any sperm bank (Seibel & Crockin, 2010, p. 27). The sperm banks are required, ethically to ensure that they keep records of the number of children one person has conceived this will be used for future references. Therefore, to curb the issue of ethical controversies ethical principles ought to be applied. This will protect persons conceived through sperm donation and all the participants in the sperm donation transaction. Controlling the number of donor offspring is the first principle. Without proper control, one sperm donor can father over 150 children. For instance, in the United States the technology of artificial insemination is on the rise and the demand for donor sperm have risen, as well (Liou, 2011, p. 7). However, the demand

Summary for FAITH integration readings Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Summary for FAITH integration readings - Essay Example Throughout the Bible, there are ideas and inferences that touch on the aspect of supply and demand in relation to the necessities of faith. One of the most important necessities of faith is the grace of God, upon which all other elements of Christianity and biblical spirituality are based. There are relations that connect the Biblical reference to grace and sin to the supply and demand elements of economics. This bearing is brought through the correlation between the offence of one man, Adam, and the subsequent death that resulted, and the grace and gift of righteousness that is bound to result from Christ (International Standard Version Rom. 5:17). From this, we can note that there is a relationship that exists between grace and sin according to the existences of both Adam and Jesus Christ. Additionally, there are elements of supply and demand in light of the relationship between sin and death such that as much as sin brought death, the Lord’s grace reigns through righteousne ss unto eternal life (International Standard Version Rom. 5:20-21). Therefore, the relationship that exists between grace and sin is of a supply-demand nature, and as such, grace counters whenever sin increases and sin also monitored by the grace and righteousness, much like in economic parlance. Still on the economic bearing, the grace of God has a price to it, which is following Jesus Christ. In supply and demand, the element of price plays a critical role in determining the equilibrium between the two forces (Marshall 228). The only way to grace and righteousness, therefore, is through embracing Christ and living by the ideals of righteousness. In this way, Christ is a representation of the grace of the Lord, and it is the only means for attaining righteousness. Therefore, the whole relationship between sin and grace or righteousness is based on the need and ability to

Major Economic Statistics and the US Economy Essay

Major Economic Statistics and the US Economy - Essay Example Hence, it would be expected to result in a rise in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, when considering the impact on the standard of living the economists have to look at the movement of GDP on a per capita basis. Taking into account the economic factors mentioned above and population growth it is possible to say that the rate of production does not coincide with the rate of population growth. Even if figures show that production activity of the country increases it does not satisfy the increased consumption need (because of population growth). This fact is proved by the poverty statistical data shows the rise in poverty rate from 11.7 % in 2001 to 12.1 % in 2002. The number of poor increased also, by 1.7 million, to 34.6 million poor in 2001. It is possibleto predict that in a competitive US market, reductions in the marginal product of labour will tend to lower the rewards to labour. In other words rapid growth in population leads to a cut in wage rates (Economic Forecast for the United States. 2005). According to the statistical data the U.S. current-account deficit increased $6.7 billion to $195.1 billion in the first quarter of 2005. In the economic system there is a link between the country balance payment and its rate of economic growth. The notion of trade balance can be defined as "the difference between the value of the goods and services that a country exports and the value of the goods and services that it imports" (White House Statistics, 2005). The strong growth of demand has led to a large increase in the trade deficit in goods and services. So, if the US government wants to reduce the trade deficit, then it has to accept that consumer must grow at a slower rate in order to reduce the imbalance between exports... Taking into account the economic factors mentioned above and population growth it is possible to say that the rate of production does not coincide with the rate of population growth. Even if figures show that production activity of the country increases it does not satisfy the increased consumption need (because of population growth). This fact is proved by the poverty statistical data shows the rise in the poverty rate from 11.7 % in 2001 to 12.1 % in 2002. The number of poor increased also, by 1.7 million, to 34.6 million poor in 2001. It is possible to predict that in a competitive US market, reductions in the marginal product of labor will tend to lower the rewards to labor. In other words, rapid growth in population leads to a cut in wage rates.According to the statistical data, the U.S. current-account deficit increased $6.7 billion to $195.1 billion in the first quarter of 2005. In the economic system, there is a link between the country balance payment and its rate of economi c growth. The notion of trade balance can be defined as â€Å"the difference between the value of the goods and services that a country exports and the value of the goods and services that it imports† (White House Statistics, 2005). The strong growth of demand has led to a large increase in the trade deficit in goods and services. So, if the US government wants to reduce the trade deficit, then it has to accept that consumer must grow at a slower rate in order to reduce the imbalance between exports and imports.

Building Successful Relationships Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Building Successful Relationships - Essay Example What could probably be one of the most important relationships in a person’s life would be with a loved one who will reciprocate the love given. However, it should be noted that relationships do not just grow like weeds in the garden but are like flowers that have to be intentionally grown, needing love and care. Personally, I have learned important matters that need to be considered in having a relationship to make it beneficial to the parties involved. I once had a relationship in my earlier years that helped me realize my mistakes and that is helping and guiding me in the relationship that I currently have. Just a few years ago, I struggled in a relationship that I had with a girl that I met in school. She is pretty, cheerful and fun to be with and I liked her for being so loving and caring. She always wanted us to be together, spending time with each other and talking about anything only to pass the time together. However, being the outgoing person that I am, I always found it difficult to find time for her and this made her complain about my attitude. She said that I was to being inconsiderate of her need to be with me and our relationship to be nurtured. She doubted my feelings toward her because I seemed to be more indulged with my friends than with her. Although I tried to explain th at my shortcomings are not the measure of my love for her, I somehow failed to make it appear so to her and, we ended breaking up. The break up was difficult for me. I guess I really loved her so much that I was greatly affected when we had to part ways. I struggled emotionally and psychologically. There were times that I could not sleep well thinking of her. I tried to make things straight with my former girlfriend, asking for another chance for me to become a better partner to her, telling her that I have already learned my lessons. Nevertheless, that is perhaps the extent of understanding that she could give me. She asked me to stop wasting my time going after her. It took me time to finally overcome the grief I felt before I finally bounced back to normalizing my activities and making new friends. I could say that my current relationship is going smoothly because I have learned a lot from my mistakes from my past relationship. It is not that my relationship with my present girlf riend is perfect but at least, we are able to work out our differences and make our relationship work. I found out that truly, a relationship should be nurtured to make it grow. When I first had a relationship, communication was open and regular during the first few months but then, I stopped getting in touch with my former girlfriend on a regular basis because I thought I was already familiar with her and was very sure I knew her very well then. Now, I maintain communicating with my friend to avoid similar problems I had in the past. Whenever we are not able to see each other during the day, I always make it a point to call my girlfriend and ask how she is and how she spent her time. I think this makes our bond stronger because she sees that I am making efforts to show how concerned I am about her. Moreover, whenever I tell her how I spent my day, she stops worrying about me and understands how I spend my time so that whenever I am not able to make it for our dates or other planned activities together, she tries to be considerate and understands

Skype Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Skype - Essay Example right blend of a sound business vision and an exclusive access to the relevant technologies will dominate the economies in the times to come (Amor 2008: p.4). Since, in today’s info savvy world, every financial venture has a technological aspect associated with it, therefore the converse is also true. That is, every innovative technology has a commercial value associated with it, the right and timely exploitation of which can work wonders for a business. Skype is one such e-business that is based on the exploitation of the synergies existing between business and technology. Skype was founded by Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis in the year 2003 (Skype 2009). The ingenuity of Skype lied in inventing software that enabled its customers to make telephone calls via internet, anywhere in the world by paying a reasonable fee. Besides this, Skype offered additional features as file transfer, instant messaging and video conferencing. Thus Skype represented the long awaited convergence between the regular telephonic technology and the internet, which offered both the features of a regular telephone and the internet assisted communication. The headquarters of Skype are based at Luxembourg, with supporting administrative and software development facilities scattered all across the world. The USP of Skype lies in offering economical voice and video calls by means of voice over internet protocol (VoIP) (Ravindran 2008). Over the time, the accessibility of Skype has been extended to both the landline and cellular phones (Ravindran 2008). According to Chris Lewis, the head of strategy at Skype, right now Skype is vowing reputed hardware manufacturers like Nokia so as to expand the range of platforms from which their services can be accessed (Ravindran 2008). The ultimate cherry over the cake is that at Skype, Skype-to-Skype calls are offered for free (Ravindran 2008). It is not so with other VoIP providers. Thus this prerogative allows the businesses and individuals to save

College Life Essay Example for Free

College Life Essay Wow! The first week of college was a breeze. All my professors seemed so nice. Class never lasted longer than thirty minutes. I did not have to carry any books to class for that whole week. Finding classes was some what tough, even though my classes are around the same area. I did not have any homework to do. I did not see my friends as much but we hung out as much as we could. I went to a different party each night of the week and still attended all of my classes. I do not need a bed time. I know how to get up, but now things have changed. College life is going to be a difficult transition for me. Having to move away from my family is going to take some time to get used to. Waking myself up everyday will be a chore in itself. Now I will have a roommate to be considerate of. I will decide if I should attend a party or go to a club without someones approval. I can go to the club with out my mom having the final verdict. I will hang out with my friends anytime I want to. I will have to learn how to manage my own money and time. At the end of the day college is all of what I make it. May it be hard for some and easy for others it is up to me to decide how I will adjust to college life; will I go to class; study for my test; waste my money; like my roommate? The distance between Greensboro, North Carolina and Washington, DC is greater than what I thought. I thought the number of miles apart would be a good thing but once again time has proven me wrong. I find myself calling home and cherishing every conversation I have with my family more and more. I send them emails when they do not answer the phone. Sometimes call to check on my younger brothers and sisters which I could not stand when I was at home. I miss my mom the most. She is the person who I thought that I would miss the least. Being home sickness has really set in. Also I miss driving my car anywhere I want to go. I miss just sitting on my front porch talking to my neighbors and their children. I miss going to work and making my own money to spend on whatever I want to. I miss going to the high school football game to see my brother play and my sister cheer. I really miss a home cooked meal and enjoying it with my family on a Sunday night after church. I miss getting my hair done every two to three weeks. It is hard to wake myself up everyday. It is hard to get up everyday to go to class because I go to sleep so late at night from talking to my friends or doing homework. It is also, hard because I do not get enough sleep at night. I have an eight oclock a. m. class that I struggle to get up for almost everyday of the week. Also I struggle to stay up for my six oclock p. m. classes. I knew it was going to get hard but I did not think it would get hard this fast. I have to do my homework in between classes so I will have enough time to go to sleep each night. Getting to know my roommate, Ebony, is the second hardest thing to do. It is hard because she is so different from me. She is from Elizabeth City, North Carolina and I am from Washington, DC. She listens to different music, wears different clothes, and acts different from me because she is from a different geographical region from me. During the first week at school we did not talk much. She does not to appreciate our dorm room because it is smaller than her room at home. She always slept and if she was not sleep then she was hanging out with her friends. She did not talk to anyone from our suites. Now, she is not afraid talk to us. She has friends over now and introduces them to us. She went to a club with us for the first time and that has been the only club that she has been to since she has been here. Before I came to college I thought I would always go to parties or the club. That thought has proven to be just a thought, not reality. I can party all the time if I want to but that would be wasting all of my parents money. I have to think about my classes before I go to a club. I know that the best days for me to go to the club are on Wednesday and Friday nights, because I do not have class on Thursday mornings or on Saturdays. So I just do not go to the clubs with my friends all of the time. I learned quick how to say no to going out. Eventually I will not have any money if I keep going to the clubs or parties. I enjoy hanging out with my friends, but I know that is not always possible. They always try to get me to do things when I need to study. They get upset at me when I tell them no. I guess that is because they have not adjusted to the fact that we will not always be able to hang out. I still try to eat lunch and dinner with them almost everyday. It is not possible to hang out with my friends anymore because of the difference in our class schedules. We also do not hang out anymore because of the activities that we all take part in. Sometimes my friends go home on the weekend so we do not get to hang out on the weekends either. Managing my own money and time is a hard task. Usually my mom tells me what to buy and what not to. Now that she is not here who will help me? It is up to me to make the right choice. Do I buy the Jordan sneakers that come out on the seventeenth or do I save that money for a better investment? Since that choice is up to me I will probably buy the Jordan sneakers. My mom would want me to save the money and spend it on something that I really need; like school books and food. It is not her responsibility to manage my money anymore. Time management is equally important. I will have to know how to spend the appropriate amount of time per day studying for my classes. I must not procrastinate on my assignments. I find it that I am always waiting until the last minute to do the work for my classes, because I work best under pressure. In summary the transition from high school to college has been an interesting one. I will learn more in-depth into all subjects that I learned in high school especially business. Making the decision to buy the Jordans sneakers will always be a decision that I look back on in the future. Going to the club on Thursday and waking up for my eight oclock a. m. class is going to be a big choice to make. It will be hard to know how much time I need to study for test or quizzes in any of my classes. I am still learning how to interact with my roommate. In order to make her fell comfortable around me and my friends. I have managed to wake myself up for class ever since I started to attend North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.

English Transformation Practice Essay Essay Example for Free

English Transformation Practice Essay Essay Composers often use different methods to portray similar ideas to their audience. How have the two texts you have studied reflect the same ideas in different ways?  Shakespeares Taming of the Shrew and Jill Junges 10 Things I Hate about You are examples of where composers have used different methods to portray similar ideas to their audience. This essay will compare the three common themes the texts share, including marriage and dating, deception and disguise and the role and hierarchy of women in society. By comparing the dramatic and film techniques used in each of these respective texts, the common themes are expressed in their individual ways which ultimately are able to engage their audiences. Traditionally, economics and financial gain have been the more important aspect in relationships, especially marriage, as opposed to love. The marriage and dating customs of society have remained relatively similar overtime. In Taming of the Shrew, the audience is given an exclusive view into what marriage meant to society and individuals of the Elizabethan period. William Shakespeare conveyed how marriage as a financial gain was specifically applied to peoples during his era in Taming of the Shrew, where in Act 1 Scene 2, Petruchio and his servant Grumio visit Hortensios house. Petruchio boldly announces his quest to wed a rich wife. I come to wive it wealthily in Padua, if wealthily then happily in Padua. Such a blunt statement clearly shows Petruchios gold digger of a personality and his values when it comes to marriage, most likely influenced by the society he lives in. When Hortensio refers Petruchio to Katherina as part of a devious scheme for Bianca, the dramatic irony only further enhances how when it comes to women, men of Petruchios standard prioritize marriage as a financial transaction first, then their own feelings or even the feelings of the intended and that the view of the female is not taken into account. In this way, Shakespeare is able to demonstrate the value of marriage and by comparing this to 10 Things I Hate about you, it is evident that the same values still apply. The modern day teenage filmic text is still able to portray marriage and dating mostly as a profitable process through a different setting. When Joey asked Patrick to take out Kat, again, for his own warped benefit, including the punchline that if Patrick were to make Kat his own problem, a generous compensation would be rewarded, Patrick immediately becomes interested. youre going to pay me to take out some chick? How much?. This question highlights Patricks cleverly concealed interest in this deal because it ultimately involves money. Throughout this scene, Joey is seen mostly cast in sunlight, which suggests an almost innocent like motive to his request, where as Patrick is seemingly more of the selfish, sullen and nasty party in his business deal, because it is all for money, and he is completely disregarding or holding no respect for what Kats opinion and emotions might be on this matter if she heard of it. Jill Junge also makes effective use of medium shots, where the surly facial expressions of Patrick and arrogant body language of Joey and Patrick can be observed in more detail during their conversation. It also shows the reactions and emotions of them both whilst finalizing their business deal. The camera works and techniques of Jill Junge in this scene evidently express the monetary benefits of marriage and dating throughout time, from Shakespeares time well into the modern day. Deception and disguise in the two set texts involves harmlessly deceiving one, or multitudes of people by impersonating someone, or good at something theyre in actual fact not, the result of which is gaining something in personal value. Shakespeare expresses his interpretation of deception and disguise through Act I Scene II where upon arrival in Padua Lucentio and Tranio swap identities with each other as part of the plan to capture Biancas heart. Tranio assures when I am alone, why then I am Tranio, but in all places else, your master Lucentio. Master and servant are well disguised as someone theyre not, and the chess pieces are set. Furthermore, Baptista, Bianca, Petruchio and the others of the story are deceived by the role swapping of Lucentio and Tranio. Again, the use of dramatic irony further increases the masquerade atmosphere developing in this scene, thus supporting the theme of deception and disguise, for masquerades often involve not knowing the identity of anyone as their face is so effectively shielded with masks. Shakespeare cleverly inserts the concept of deception and disguise within his play that it becomes an important and crucial element to the plot, and when compared back to 10 Things I Hate about You, deception and disguise is another important and crucial element to the plot.

The problems facing itc

The problems facing itc Report Purpose This report has been compiled by the Director of Human Resources at the request of the Board of Directors. Following on from the recent study of the organisation by external consultants, a number of problem areas have been identified in relation to HR practices, policies and implementation. It is the purpose of this report to analyse the findings of the study compiled by the consultants and recommend the courses of action necessary to address the problems identified The Problems Facing ITC The organisation is currently comprised of four separate functions: administration, production, retail, and customer service. These functions are spread over a number of sites with administration and production sharing a single site, retail function operating from several locations, and customer service spread across three call centres. The problems which are facing the organisation vary depending on the function and location. The administration function of head office and the production function of the factory are both based on the same geographical site. Although the functions are working in close proximity to each other they are very different in terms of working conditions, practices, and pay systems. These differences are creating tensions across the departments and leading to a â€Å"them and us† culture. Some of the differences identified include; bonus scheme in the factory but not the head office, poorer working conditions in the factory compared to head office, lack of subsidised canteen for factory staff which is available to administrative staff. Some problems are common to both functions such as lack of promotion opportunities for internal candidates and poor general perception of staff abilities by managers. As well as these, the factory also suffers from a blame culture apparently fostered by poor product quality. The retail outlets have a separate set of problems. There is potentially a discrimination problem in the recruitment and selection processes employed for managerial staff. There are currently no female managers of retail outlets and there has been at least one complaint of discrimination referred to a trade union by an unsuccessful female candidate for promotion. This complaint has received the backing of a number of the individuals colleagues. The call centres are very highly pressured, time-oriented environments in which to work. There are significant pressures to deal with customer enquiries quickly and to sell as many new packages as possible. Pressure is exerted by supervisors whose salaries are dependent on the abilities of the centre staff to generate income through sales. Across the organisation there is a general feeling that staff are underpaid in relation to competitors and not valued as an asset of the organisation. There is an increasing trend towards trade union membership which is probably a sign of growing disaffection within the workforce as a whole. There are also a growing number of customer complaints, mainly directed at retail and customer service staff as they are the customer-facing part of the organisation. These complaints are generally centred on lack of knowledge of products on the part of retail staff and poor customer service from the call centre staff. As detailed there are a multitude of different problems facing ITC with the lack of consistency of treatment of staff across the organisation and poor communication of organisational values being major contributing factors. The morale of the workforce is low and there is a lack of loyalty to the organisation demonstrated by high levels of staff turnover. It is not purely a matter of low salaries as it has been recognised that staff leave the company to work for other organisations for little in the way of additional reward. The managerial and supervisory staff also appear to be unable and/or unwilling to tackle the problems which leaves the staff with no alternative but to seek advice and assistance from the trade unions. The consultants reported that there is no inherent problem with the quality of the core workforce but that the managerial staff are not sufficiently competent to be able to recognise and build on the attributes of the workforce. This combination of factors and probl ems could potentially all be explained within the concept of employee engagement. The main thrust of this report will, therefore, concentrate on the implementation of an employee engagement programme as an initial means of addressing the issues currently facing ITC. Other means of tackling the identified problems over the longer term will also be discussed and recommendations made. Employee Engagement The CIPD (2009) define engagement as â€Å"†¦creating opportunities for employees to connect with their colleagues, managers and wider organisation. It is also about creating an environment where employees are motivated to want to connect with their work and really care about doing a good job.† Why is employee engagement relevant to ITC? Almost all examples quoted in the consultant findings demonstrate an out-and-out lack of employee engagement; moreover, the opposite appears to be the case. At this point, it is important to note that a global survey by BlessingWhite Intelligence (2008) on the state of employee engagement found that that â€Å"Indian workers are among the most focused and satisfied in the world†. In the Asia-Pacific groupings, full engagement for Indian employees reaches 34% in comparison to the lowest of only 10% for China. Moreover, over 65% of respondents said ‘yes when asked if, assuming they had the choice, they would hope to remain within their organisation in 2008. From this, the apparent lack of employee engagement and retention issues apparent within ITC would appear to point to something we are doing wrong as a company. The first question should be: Why is employee engagement important? Links between employee attitudes, employee management and business performance have been repeatedly demonstrated in CIPD (Nov 2009) research, and the Aberdeen Group (2009) reported only this year that 82% of ‘Best-in-Class organisations attributed employee engagement initiatives directly to transformations in revenue and / or profitability. Employee engagement spills into the concept of the ‘psychological contract. The ‘psychological contract is a popular framework within which aspects of the employee relationship can be studied (Bratton Gold, 2007; 14). Guest and Conway (2002) define it as â€Å"the perceptions of the two parties, employee and employer, of what their mutual obligations are towards each other†. These obligations tend to differ from individual-to- individual and are often imprecise / unspoken and inferred â€Å"from actions or from what has happened in the past, as well as from statements made by the employer†(CIPD Nov 2009). This contract forms the basis for employer brand (CIPD Jan 2009); positive brand can of course help promote recruitment and improve staff retention levels. For the latter reasons, ITC should pay close heed to this contract. After all, taking account of the emotional needs of the employee ought to be a consideration when we consider they are the only resour ce within our organization that can simply â€Å"walk out†, taking their skills and possible opinions of negative employer brand with them. Customer service issues With regards to the consultant reports of customer service issues, several studies have found that employee engagement is an important variable on this front. The CIPD (2009; 2) reported that Visa Europe figures show that employee engagement levels ran parallel with an increase in customer satisfaction. Likewise, it seems intuitive that an increase in customer satisfaction would henceforth lead to an increase in financial performance. In a recent study within the customer service industry by Chi and Gursoy (2009), empirical support for this link was indeed presented. On the engagement level, while they found employee satisfaction did not appear to impact on financial performance directly, they did find an indirect relationship between the latter, with customer satisfaction acting as the mediator. Storey, on the other hand refers to engagement as EIP (employee involvement and participation) and stated that it is â€Å"thought to contribute to improved levels of worker satisfaction and commitment and, subsequently, organisational performance.† From this it would appear that engaged and satisfied employees are a requirement for customer satisfaction, with customer satisfaction being the strongest indicator in financial performance. It would also appear, however, that all three variables are required to be woven into the same fabric for overall business success. For ITC, without employee engagement / satisfaction, there will little customer satisfaction, and without customer satisfaction there will be no success. The obvious lack of ITC employee engagement at this moment in time is a worrying factor with regards this tripartite equation. Therefore, the obvious question should be how do we tackle employee disengagement, how do we go about driving employee engagement? Employee engagement drivers According to the CIPD (Nov 2009), there is no absolute list definitive of engagement ‘drivers. Their research has shown, however, the key employee engagement drivers are:  § Opportunities to feed employee views upwards  § Feeling well-informed about what is happening in the organisation  § The employee believing that their manager is committed to the organisation Most writers agree that one of the most important factors at play with regards employee engagement is reciprocal communication between management and the requirement to keep all employees well informed, etc. As you might imagine, these factors are also very much involved in the psychological contract; it is also suggested that, in a crisis, â€Å"mutually recognised expectations are best shaped by honest communication and solid information† (Dietz 2009). At this moment in ITC history, we might be described as being on the verge of crisis point. Intranet 2.0 A technology that appears oddly lacking in ITC since its inception is Corporate Intranet. All of the key engagement drivers suggested above can to some extent be addressed with the implementation of an Intranet solution. This of course would not solve all of our problems, but it would at least supplement any other measures we ultimately put into place. This Intranet should not be of the antiquated variety (known as Web 1.0), that is, typified by static pages, existing with the sole purpose of providing information. We should be embracing all that Web 2.0 tools have to offer (i.e. highly dynamic / interactive internal social networking tools, instant messaging, wikis, blogs, discussion forums, and RSS feed technologies, etc.). Intranet 2.0 is still very much in its infancy, so the ability to introduce a rich networking environment is very much in line with core business strategies of innovation and creativity. We also have a largely young workforce, and Web 2.0 technology tools are so mething the younger generation have grown accustomed to, and this acquaintance can be employed to our advantage in the recruitment field. When it comes to the employees call to connect with managers, the desire to believe in their commitment, and having the opportunity to have views fed upwards, the sharing medium of Intranet 2.0 is ideally suited to help facilitate these key engagement drivers. Web 2.0 tools flatten company hierarchy by providing a transparent path of communication between employees at all levels, from the Company Director down to the shop floor worker. It can provide staff across geographical location, irrespective of position or intellect, the opportunity to ‘float ideas on new product ranges, best practices, working procedures, etc. via live suggestion boxes. These ideas can appear in real time and will open to further comments / suggestions by all staff. Intranet 2.0 can also provide a channel for feedback on organisational news announcements, strategies, etc. This type of feedback can help â€Å"managers to gain insight into the needs and motivations of employees† (BlessingWhite Inc. 2008). Indeed, employee attitude surveys can be a regular feature of the system, the results of which can used to measure employee engagement and gauge feeling amongst the workforce, all of which can help ITC identify areas to focus improvement towards. The contribution such an Intranet can make as a training and development tool cannot be underplayed. It can provide the workforce with the most up-to-date product information, tutorials, and marketing material, etc. This information does not have to appear in the way it did pre-Web 2.0, where static pages were displayed across the organisation, meaning each employee would be required to wade through pages in order to arrive at the relevant ‘nugget of information. Intranet 2.0 provides levels of personalisation to the point of providing â€Å"each employee with news updates focused on their job role† (Nielsen, J. 2009). This would be of particular benefit when it comes to areas such as the customer complaints we have been receiving from the call centre regarding staff not being â€Å"up-to-date† on products. For example, this type of system has the capability to consistently display individual staff with the most â€Å"up-to-date† products details and Q A s cripts, etc. As this Intranet 2.0 proposition is based on helping the flow of communication across the entire organisation, then logically, we would require all staff to have appropriate access to such a system. Head Office, call centre and retail staff are likely to have ready access to PC, laptop, mobile phone technologies in order to do this. In the factory, however, such access is very likely limited. To get around this, deployment of PCs / touch-screens at specific locations throughout the factory is recommended; perhaps inviting factory floor staff to use the system during lunch breaks, etc. Following the suggestion that we allow all employees across the site access the canteen, situating access in this area would also make sense. Web 2.0 technologies and business performance Beyond the obvious communication-flow benefits of Web 2.0 technologies, recent findings by the Aberdeen Group also provide positive figures for their business performance benefits. Saba (2009) reported that they found that 52 % of organisations who employed social networking tools, blogs, and wikis achieved ‘Best-in-Class compared to only 5% for those who did employ them. They also provided figures for Web 2.0 tools in relation to employee engagement. They found an 18% average year-on-year increase in employee engagement for organisations employing Web 2.0 technologies in comparison to a mere 1% for those who did not Options for Change Short-term An employee engagement programme and corporate communications strategy should both be developed as a matter of urgency to stem the tide of disaffection and high levels of turnover within our workforce. This will undoubtedly require a certain level of upfront investment but will, I believe, begin to pay dividends at a very early stage. Part of this investment may have to include outlay for extra personnel and equipment to implement these solutions as we currently do not have the specialist staff available in-house to fully utilise the technology required for this communications systems implementation, nor the staff to adequately implement an employee engagement programme. Long-term An organisation-wide job evaluation scheme is required as a means of rationalising the pay scales of the separate functions into one transparent system. The use of bonus payments to boost the wages of certain sections of the workforce should be reviewed and possibly abolished. Exact costs of this proposal are difficult to predict until the completion of the job evaluation exercise, but it may well be a cost-neutral option with increases to basic salary costs being offset by reduction in bonuses. Any subsequent increase in the overall salary costs which may arise would hopefully be countered by increased productivity. A scheme which would encourage secondments between departments should be developed. This would allow staff to gain a better understanding of the operations of the other functions within the organisation. This scheme could also be of benefit in assisting to identify personnel with potential for promotion or who could perform better in a different role. The hierarchy in the factory requires a radical overhaul with a view to rationalising the management structure. The ratio of managers to supervisors is far higher than the ratio of supervisors to production workers. The potential savings gained from this approach could be used to increase the salary of the supervisors in return for taking on greater responsibility for operations in their sector. This would create a more prestigious role for the first line supervisor and a more strategic one for the remaining managers. A process is required which will recognise the potential leaders and managers of the future from within the existing workforce. Learning and development for staff should be a core principle of the organisation. Staff with the potential to move on to other roles within the organisation should be identified, encouraged and developed in order to achieve this. There is also a need to introduce learning and development opportunities for staff who do not necessarily wish to move on to other roles. Members of staff may be satisfied with the role they are performing but it is still necessary to ensure that there are opportunities for personal growth and satisfaction within that role. The emphasis on speed in dealing with customer enquiries within the call centres should be replaced by an ethos of efficiency in dealing with those enquiries. This would be a more cost-effective approach as an enquiry dealt with efficiently initially is less likely to generate future similar enquiries from the same customer and reduce complaints of poor service. Conclusion Being an â€Å"Employer of Choice† is not simply about offering the best salary. The whole package must be seen as appealing in order to attract and retain the correct calibre of staff who share the vision of the organisation and who want to actively contribute to its success. It has been stated (CIPD, 2009) that: â€Å"Engaged employees are more likely to act as organisational advocates than disengaged employees and can play a powerful role in promoting their organisation as an employer of choice.† For this to work, staff must feel that their views are welcomed and they are valued as individuals. This should result in higher levels of motivation and increased morale which, in turn, should reduce staff turnover. Our aim is to spread the word about how good ITC is to work for and hence attract the maximum number of high calibre candidates for posts who then want to stay with the organisation to reach their full potential. We also have to accept that by attracting the highest calibre of candidate we will inevitably lose a number of high-performing staff over time as they wish to progress beyond what the organisation can offer. We must be prepared not only to embrace this, but actively encourage it, and accept that for the organisation to grow there will be a certain degree of turnover of ambitious staff. The upside of this is that there will be regular opportunities for existing staff to progress through the organisation increasing levels of loyalty and improving morale.

Structural Sociologists vs Interpretive Sociologists Essay examples --

Is it true that structural sociologists use only quantitative methods while interpretive sociologists use only qualitative methods? The methods that sociologists use to conduct their research vary and can depend on practical considerations such as suitability of the method, and theoretical considerations such as the sociologist’s theoretical position. Interpretive sociologists focus on the meanings and definitions which guide and direct behaviour, they claim that understanding human behaviour involves seeing the world through the eyes of those being studied. Structural sociologists can be called positivists. Positivist sociology models itself on the natural sciences such as physics, it is concerned with behaviour that can be directly observed and quantified e.g. the number of visits to the doctors in one year. It attempts to explain human behaviour by discovering cause and effect relationships e.g. Durkheim claimed he had found a causal relationship between social isolation and suicide. Interpretivists use a range of research methods. They often use unstructu...

Use of Color in Toni Morrisons The Bluest Eye :: Bluest Eye Essays

Pauline saw the beauty of life through the colors of her childhood down South. Her fondest memories were of purple berries, yellow lemonade, and "that streak of green them june bugs made on the trees the night we left down home. All them colors was in me"1. Pauline and Cholly left the colors of the South when they moved North to Ohio to begin their life together. Through Cholly, Pauline hoped to find those colors of beauty that she left "down home". For a while she did find her colors, her beauty, in the eyes of Cholly. He released in her all the colors of life which were sealed down in her soul. Everything about their early married life was described in vivid colors. This was true even of her sexual experiences with him. Everything was fine, ordered and beautiful in both Pauline and Cholly's life until they moved "up North". Once they moved North everything changed. The colors went out of Pauline's life. "I missed my people. I weren't used to so much white folks...Northern colored folk was different too"2. Cholly only became "meaner and meaner and wanted to fight all of the time"2. He did not help the situation and contributed to his wife's dissatisfaction and disillusionment by not coming home. He found his satisfaction through other people, thus he neglected Pauline. To make up for this neglect and her own insecurities, Pauline sought comfort through movies. Here she would sit and watch the perfect "white" world of Hollywood. Here she would find her colors on the "silver screen". She had a longing for these colors which was going to affect her life and the lives of her family until it destroys them, especially Pecola. When Pecola was born, a major change occured in Pauline's life. According to Susan Willis, "Adjectives become substantives, giving taste and color and making it possible for colors to trickle and flow and finally be internalized..."3. She now wished to live her life like this, through the colors in herself. Right after Pecola was born Cholly again began to pay attention to Pauline again the way he used to when they lived down South. The only problem was that the colors had dimed in Pauline. By working for a white family, she found her order and her colors again but not with the intensity that she once did.

Greedy Creditors and the Abuse of Consumers Essay -- essays papers

Greedy Creditors and the Abuse of Consumers ï » ¿ Society is rapidly leaning on credit cards. More consumers prefer to carry plastic instead of cash. Moreover, the privilege of holding a line of credit is convenient and useful in today’s world. From hotel reservations and apartment rentals, to ordering online products, families are relying on credit as a time saving devise. As the importance of credit soars, money hungry creditors are taking advantage of the public’s reliance on credit cards. Credit cards are essential for the escalated pace and demands of today’s society. Consumers are increasingly using credit cards to simplify their spending. In addition, carrying cash is more dangerous than carrying credit cards and cash is more difficult for record keeping. In Fact, Hickey (2000), states that cards are safer than cash and necessary for online shopping. In regards to record keeping, reasonably, 45% of the consumers feel comfortable with using cards for the purposes of daily living (â€Å"Using Credit,† 1998). In short, because most families are busier than they used to be, limited time necessitates credit card usage for accurate records and time management. Credit card companies are creatively abusing the American consumer. Robert Heady (1999), founding publisher of Bank Rate Monitor, contends that creditors are making substantial profits from various unfair practices. Heady identifies the strategies as late charges, over limit fees and inaccurate account information. For example, one consumer states that his creditor claims that it takes th irteen days for the company to post the payment, resulting in a late charge, but the creditor sends the bill without adequate time to pay thirteen days in advance (Heady, 1999).... ...ge Students aren’t ready for plastic. BusinessWeek Investor [Online] . Available: http://access.barry.edu Business Week Online. [2000, September 25] . â€Å"Using Credit† (1998, November). Using Credit Cards for Daily Expenses.(brief article) USA Today [Online] . Available: http://www.findarticles.com [1998, Nov.] Heady, R. K. (1999, July 5) . Some Credit Card Firms Play Dirty Ball. Sun-Sentinel Company [Online] . Available: http://access.barry.edu:2061/research/edata.htm Weber, J. & Palmer, A. T. (2000, February, 14) . Finance: Consumer Debt: The Perils of Plastic. Vol. 3668, Business Week. P.27 Vickers, M. (1999, March 15) . A Hard Lesson on Student Credit Cards. Businessweek Online [Online] . Available: http://access.barry.edu:2150/search/search.htm Koretz, G. (2000, January 10) . Plastic Puts the Door at Risk. Economic Trends vol. 3663. P.36.

Communication styles Essay

The impact of communication in marriage cannot be overemphasized as it is the main method of solving any crisis or conflict arising. There are different communication styles that can be applied in a marriage, expressiveness, driving, and relativity or analytical are forms of communication that may be used in marriage. Expressers get excited personal, waste time with too many facts or even show emotion to their partners while those with driving communication styles become very decisive and offer strong view points. Those who are relative in the way they are communicating, like positive attention and may want their partners to be helpful. This group of persons however, shies off when real problems come in especially when it comes to handling the children. This communication style is used by young marriages where partners just about 25 years of age get married. Communications styles can also be described as passive, assertive or aggressive. Passive forms communication involves putting the tights of the other partner before yours i.e. minimizing your own self worth at the expense of the marriage. Being assertive means that one partner in the marriage stands up for his or her rights while maintaining respect for the other i. e. all the partners in the marriage are all equal. Aggressiveness is a communication style that ensures that a wife or a husband stands up for his pr her right and in the process violate the rights of the other. This style of communication is usually the worst and may lead to divorce in extreme cases. Marriage resiliency Marriage resiliency is the couple’s capacity to develop and cultivate strengths from each other for the common good of the marriage in order ton meet their challenges . Resiliency can be defined to describe the responsive capabilities, social dynamics that foster health development of the marriage. Resiliency starts from an individual capacity to a family and community level making sure that the marriage bounces back after experiencing non-normative and expected challenges. Family resilience is characterized by invariant approaches that are dimensioned to help families resist any form of disruption in the face of change and become adaptive when a crisis occurs. Immigration and marriage Marriages are usually negatively affected by immigration procedures. Different countries have different laws governing the marriage of its citizens to non-citizens. It is usually an impediment to couples’ relationships because certain laws may offer recognition to one of the partner and the other is left out. However, with the emergence of dual citizenship rights, the issue may in the near future become a thing of the past. ‘Till death do us part? ’ This figure of speech is common in all wedding ceremonies and the couple getting married solemnly swear to the congregation that they will remain together till death do them part. Most critics believe that as long as there are increased cultural differences, modernization of societies and increases in domestic violence, the metaphor no longer makes sense. Every man and woman believes that they can live happily with each other especially when it is based on the performance of the two during courtship. This is not usually the case because immediately after marriage, the two members start quarrelling over this or that. This is the major contributing factor to the family problems and other domestic issues that families experience these days. It has been said that the more society becomes complicated, the more marriages become complicated and finally the more families become complicated. It is however, recommended that a personal commitment to each other within the marriage become the kingpin of the relationship. Lessons learnt from writing on marriage It has been interesting while researching on this topic. It is one of the research works that not only serves as an academic tool but also provides a learning opportunity for a person like me. Marriage is part and parcel of life and majority of the young people would dream of having better lives in future through marriage. Most young people believe that to secure there future and their old age days, they need to have married properly and have children who will look after the in future. Going through the types of marriages, its integration to the family setting and the importance of knowing the exact roles of each partner in a marriage is particularly useful. The various rules and boundaries that must be set to ensure the sustainability and stability of a marriage gives one an overview of how it is possible to develop them in real life situations through the experiences of other people and such kind of research. Therefore, this is one of the rare opportunities in life where one gets to learn more about what directly affects him or her in life. Personally, I feel grateful for the work I have done on this subject and I feel obliged to tell others about the integration of marriage systems in our families to enable them form good families now and in the future Questions for further research Marriage as part of a family practice continues to be complex especially with the emergence of contradicting legislation and complex societies; there is need for further research on; the impacts of different types of marriages on the extended families, development of policies and laws, and the society in general . What are the solutions to these? And what could be the role of governments and learning institutions in maintaining and making sure that marriages serve the purposed they are intended to. Other issues of concern are the ability of people to adopt resilience as a way of recovering from married related violence such as divorce, is divorce the answer to breaking marriages? With advancement in technology including foster mothers, test tube babies and the like, what could be the implications of these in cultural marriages and societies? Conclusion Marriages are forming a family. Marriage roles, rules, resilience abilities, communication styles, and spouse differences are issues that can affect the formation, development and improvement. Good marriage values are important not only for family cohesion but also for societal cultural maintenance. Challenges regarding re-orientation of the marriages within a family are many and common in this modern society, the problem is the manner in which they are currently addressed. References Antonovsky, A. , & Sourani, T (1988): Family sense of coherence and family adaptation.Journal of Marriage and the Family, 50, 79-92 Kaufman, J. , & Ziegler, E. (1987): Do abused children become abusive parents? American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 57, 186-192 McCubbin, H. , & Patterson, J. M. (1983): The family stress process; The Double Helix ABCX model of adjustment and adaptation, Social stress and the family: Advances in family stress theory and research New York pp. 7 -38. Nichols, M. , & Schwartz, R. (2000): Family communications: Concepts and methods, 5th edition, Needham Heights press Rolland, J. S. , & Weine, S. (2000): Kosovar Family Professional Educational Collaborative. AFTA Newsletter, 79, 34-43 Rutter, M. (1987): psychosocial resilience and protective mechanisms American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 57, 316-330 Stacey, J. (1990): Brave new families: Stories of domestic upheaval in late 20th century America. New York: Basic Books. Walsh, F. , & McGoldrick, M (1998): Families in later life: Challenge and opportunities. The expanded life cycle Needham Heights, MA: pp. 307-327 Walsh, F. , & McGoldrick, M (1991): Living beyond loss: Death in the family. New York: Norton.

Blood Promise Chapter Eight

The reactions were mixed among Dimitri's family members. Some cried. Some were stunned. And some-mainly Yeva and Viktoria-simply took it in and kept their emotions from their faces, just as Dimitri would have done. That upset me almost as much as the tears; it reminded me too much of him. Out of all of them, pregnant Sonya-who came home shortly after the news broke-had the most intense physical reaction. She ran sobbing to her room and wouldn't come out. It didn't take long, however, for Yeva and Olena to spring into action. They spoke rapidly in Russian, clearly planning something. Phone calls were made, and Viktoria was dispatched to run an errand. No one seemed to need me, so I mostly wandered the house and tried to stay out of the way. I found myself studying the shelves I'd seen earlier, running my hands along the leather-bound books. The titles were in Cyrillic, but it didn't matter. Touching them and imagining Dimitri having held and read them somehow made me feel closer to him. â€Å"Looking for a little light reading?† Sydney walked up and stood beside me. She hadn't been around earlier but had heard the news. â€Å"Very light, seeing as I don't understand any of them,† I replied. I gestured to the scurrying family members. â€Å"What's going on here?† â€Å"They're planning Dimitri's funeral,† Sydney explained. â€Å"Or, well, his memorial service.† I frowned. â€Å"But he's not dead-â€Å" â€Å"Shh.† She cut me off with a sharp gesture and glanced warily at the others as they hustled around. â€Å"Don't say that.† â€Å"But it's true,† I hissed back. She shook her head. â€Å"Not to them. Out here†¦ out in these villages†¦ there's no in-between state. You're alive or you're dead. They aren't going to acknowledge him being one of†¦ those.† She couldn't keep the disgust out of her voice. â€Å"For all intents and purposes, he is dead to them. They'll mourn him and move on. So should you.† I didn't take offense at her blunt attitude because I knew she hadn't meant to give any. It was just her way. The problem was, that in-between state was very real to me, and there was no way I could move on. Not yet. â€Å"Rose†¦Ã¢â‚¬  began Sydney after several seconds of silence. She wouldn't meet my eyes. â€Å"I'm sorry.† â€Å"You mean, for Dimitri?† â€Å"Yeah†¦ I had no idea. I haven't really been that nice to you. I mean, I'm not going to act like I feel any better about hanging out with your kind, but you guys are still†¦ well, not human, obviously. But†¦ I don't know. You still have feelings; you still love and hurt. And while we were coming here, you had all this horrible news in you, and I didn't make it any easier for you. So I'm sorry for that. And I'm sorry for thinking the worst of you.† At first, I thought she was talking about thinking I was evil, but then I got it. She'd thought this whole time that I really was coming to be a blood whore and now believed delivering the news to Dimitri's family had been my only purpose. I didn't bother to correct her. â€Å"Thanks, but you couldn't have known. And honestly, if I were in your place†¦ I don't know. I'd probably act the same way.† â€Å"No,† she said. â€Å"You wouldn't. You're always nice to people.† I gave her an incredulous look. â€Å"Have you been traveling with someone else these last few days? Back home, I've got a reputation for not always being so nice. I've got attitude, and I know it.† She smiled. â€Å"Yeah, you do. But you also say the right things to people when you have to. Telling the Belikovs what you did†¦ well, that was hard. And no matter what you say, you can be polite and go out of your way to make people feel good. Most of the time.† I was a bit startled. Was that how I appeared? I often thought of myself as a trigger-happy queen bitch and tried to think about my behavior with her these last few days. I had sparred with her a lot, but among the others we'd met, I supposed I had been friendly. â€Å"Well, thanks,† I said, not knowing what else to say. â€Å"Did you see Abe yet? When you walked around town?† â€Å"No,† I said, realizing I'd forgotten about my mysterious rescuer. â€Å"Should I have?† â€Å"I just figured he'd find you.† â€Å"Who is he? Why did he come get us when you told him I was hurt?† Sydney hesitated, and I thought I was going to get some more of the Alchemist silent treatment. Then, after glancing around uneasily, she said in a low voice, â€Å"Abe's not royal, but he's a really important guy. He's not Russian either, but he's in the country a lot, always on business-both illegal and legal, I think. He's friends with all the important Moroi, and half the time, it seems like he controls the Alchemists, too. I know he's involved in the process of making our tattoos†¦ but his business goes far beyond that. We have a name for him behind his back†¦ Zmey.† â€Å"Zma what?† I had barely heard the word. It sounded like zz-may. It was certainly nothing I'd ever heard before. She gave a small smile at my confusion. â€Å"Zmey is Russian for ? ®snake.' But not just any snake.† Her eyes narrowed as she pondered a better explanation. â€Å"It's a term used in lots of myths. Sometimes for giant snakes heroes have to battle. There are also a few stories about wizards with snake blood who get called that. The snake in the Garden of Eden? Who made Eve fall? He was called a zmey too.† I shivered. Okay, that was pretty freaky, but it made something click into place. The Alchemists allegedly had ties to leaders and authorities, and Abe apparently wielded a lot of influence with them. â€Å"Is Abe the one who wanted you to come with me to Baia? The reason the Alchemists made you come here?† Again, she paused, then nodded. â€Å"Yeah†¦ when I called that night in Saint Petersburg, I was told there was a search going on for you. Abe gave orders through the Alchemists for me to stay with you until he could meet up with us here. He's apparently been searching for you on someone's behalf.† I went cold. My fears were being realized. People had been looking for me. But who? If Lissa had initiated a manhunt, I would have sensed it when I visited her mind. I didn't think it was Adrian either, not from the way he seemed so desperate and clueless about my whereabouts. Plus, he seemed to accept my need for this quest. So who was looking for me? And for what reason? This Abe sounded like a high-ranking person-albeit someone involved in shady business someone who might very well be connected to the queen or others almost as important. Had he been ordered to find me and bring me back? Or considering how much the queen hated me-had he perhaps been ordered to make sure I didn't come back? Was I dealing with an assassin? Sydney certainly seemed to regard him with a weird mix of fear and respect. â€Å"Maybe I don't want to meet him,† I said. â€Å"I don't think he'll hurt you. I mean, if he wanted to, he already would have. But be careful. He's always playing several games at once, and he deals in enough secrets to rival the Alchemists.† â€Å"So you don't trust him?† She gave me a rueful grin as she turned to walk away. â€Å"You forget: I don't trust any of you.† When she was gone, I decided to go outside, away from the sorrow and business indoors. I sat down on the top step of the backyard porch, watching Paul play. He was building a fort for some of his action figures. While sensitive to the grief in his family, it was hard for him to be too affected by the â€Å"death† of an uncle he'd only met a couple of times. The news didn't mean as much to him as it did to the rest of us. With so much time on my hands for the rest of the day, I decided to do a quick check-in with Lissa. In spite of myself, I was kind of curious about how things had panned out with Avery Lazar. While Lissa's intentions were good, she'd still had some misgivings about bringing Avery along to lunch. And yet, she was pleasantly surprised to see Avery fitting in perfectly, charming both Adrian and Christian. Admittedly, Adrian was impressed by pretty much anything female. Christian was harder to crack, but even he seemed to be growing fond of her-probably because she kept teasing Adrian. Anyone who could make a joke at Adrian's expense ranked high on Christian's list. â€Å"So, explain this,† Avery said, winding linguine around her fork. â€Å"You just, what, hang around the Academy all day? Are you trying to redo your high school experience?† â€Å"Nothing to redo,† said Adrian loftily. â€Å"I totally ruled my high school. I was worshipped and adored-not that that should come as a shock.† Beside him, Christian nearly choked on his food. â€Å"So†¦ you're trying to relive your glory days. It's all gone downhill since then, huh?† â€Å"No way,† said Adrian. â€Å"I'm like a fine wine. I get better with age. The best is yet to come.† â€Å"Seems like it'd get old after a while,† said Avery, apparently not convinced by the compelling wine simile. â€Å"I'm certainly bored, and I even spend part of the day helping my dad.† â€Å"Adrian sleeps most of the day,† noted Lissa, trying to keep a straight face. â€Å"So he doesn't actually have to worry about finding things to do.† â€Å"Hey, I spend a good portion of my time helping you unravel the mysteries of spirit,† Adrian reminded her. Avery leaned forward, curiosity all over her pretty face. â€Å"So it's actually real? I heard stories about spirit†¦ about how you can heal people?† It took Lissa a moment to respond. She wasn't sure she'd ever get used to her magic being out in the open now. â€Å"Among other things. We're still figuring it out.† Adrian was more eager than she was to discuss it-probably in the hopes of impressing Avery-and provided a quick rundown of some of spirit's abilities, like auras and compulsion. â€Å"And,† he added, â€Å"I can visit people in their dreams.† Christian held up a hand. â€Å"Stop. I can feel there's a comment coming on about how women already dream about you. I just ate, you know.† â€Å"I wasn't going to go there,† said Adrian. But he kind of looked like he wished he'd thought of the joke first. I couldn't help being a little amused. Adrian was so brash and flippant in public†¦ and then, in my dreams, he'd show that serious and concerned side. He was more complex than anyone gave him credit for. Avery looked floored. â€Å"Man. I used to think using air was cool. I guess not.† A small breeze suddenly blew her hair back, making her look as though she were posing for a swimsuit photo shoot. She gave the group a dazzling smile. All that was missing was a photographer. The sound of the bell made them all stand up. Christian realized he'd left homework in another class and hurried off to get it-after kissing Lissa goodbye, of course. Adrian departed equally as fast. â€Å"The teachers start giving me dirty looks if I hang around once classes start.† He gave Lissa and Avery a small half bow. â€Å"Until next time, ladies.† Avery, who couldn't care less about what teachers thought, walked with Lissa to her next class. The older girl's face was thoughtful. â€Å"So†¦ you really are with Christian, right?† Was she ever. If Avery'd seen half the things I'd seen Christian and Lissa do through the bond, there'd be no question. Lissa laughed. â€Å"Yes, why?† Avery hesitated, piquing Lissa's curiosity. â€Å"Well†¦ I heard that you were involved with Adrian.† Lissa nearly stopped walking. â€Å"Where did you hear that?† â€Å" At Court . The queen was saying how happy she is about you guys being a couple and how you're always together.† Lissa groaned. â€Å"That's because whenever I go to Court, she invites him too and then sends us both off to do things for her. It's not by choice†¦ well, I mean, don't get me wrong. I don't mind spending time with him, but the reason we're always together there is because Tatiana makes us.† â€Å"She seems to like you, though. She talks about you all the time, about how much potential you have and how proud she is of you.† â€Å"I think she's proud to manipulate me. Going there is such a pain. She either completely ignores the fact that I'm dating Christian or takes whatever chance she can get to slip in insults about him.† Queen Tatiana, like so many other people, could never forgive Christian's parents for willingly turning Strigoi. â€Å"Sorry,† said Avery, looking like she felt really bad. â€Å"I didn't mean to bring up a bad subject. I just kind of wanted to know if Adrian was available, that's all.† Lissa wasn't mad at Avery. Her fury was turned toward the queen, at how she assumed everyone would behave the way she wanted and dance when she commanded it. The Moroi world had been ruled by a king or a queen since the beginning of time, and sometimes, Lissa thought it was time for a change. They needed a system where everyone had an equal say-royal and non-royal alike. Even the dhampirs. The more she thought about it, the more she felt her temper spike, anger and frustration flaring up in a way more common to me than her. It made her want to scream sometimes, to walk right up to Tatiana and tell her their deal was off. No college was worth this. Maybe she'd even tell Tatiana that it was time for a revolution, time to overturn the Moroi's backward Lissa blinked, astonished to find she was shaking. Where had that emotion come from? It was one thing to be upset with Tatiana, but this†¦? She hadn't had such out-of-control rages since she first began using spirit. With a deep breath, she tried to use some of the calming techniques she'd acquired so that Avery wouldn't know what a nutcase she'd nearly turned into. â€Å"I just hate people talking about me, that's all,† Lissa said at last. Avery hadn't seemed to notice Lissa's lapse into anger. â€Å"Well, if it makes you feel better, not everyone thinks that about you. I met a girl†¦ Mia? Yeah, that was her name. Some non-royal.† Avery's dismissive tone suggested she held the view a lot of royals had toward â€Å"common† Moroi. â€Å"She just laughed about you and Adrian being together. Said it was ridiculous.† Lissa almost smiled at that. Mia had once been Lissa's rival and a self-centered brat. But after Strigoi killed her mother, Mia had taken on a fierce, determined attitude, one both Lissa and I liked immensely. Mia lived at Court with her father, secretly training to fight so that she would be able to battle Strigoi someday. â€Å"Oh,† said Avery suddenly. â€Å"There's Simon. I should go.† Lissa looked across the hall and saw Avery's stern guardian. Simon might not be as grim as Avery's brother Reed, but he still had that same stiff and dour look he'd had when Lissa first met him. Avery seemed to get along with him fine, though. â€Å"Okay,† said Lissa. â€Å"I'll see you later.† â€Å"You bet,† said Avery, starting to turn. â€Å"Oh, and Avery?† Avery glanced at Lissa. â€Å"Yeah?† â€Å"Adrian is available.† Avery's only answer was a quick grin before she headed off to join Simon. Back with the Belikovs in Baia, the memorial service was going forward. Neighbors and friends, all dhampirs, slowly arrived, many bringing food. It was my first glimpse of the dhampir community, though it still didn't seem as mysterious as Sydney had implied. The kitchen turned into a banquet hall, with every counter and table surface covered in dishes. Some were foods I knew, and there were lots of desserts-cookies and pastries covered in nuts and icing that smelled freshly baked. Some of the dishes I'd never seen before and wasn't sure I wanted to ever again. There was a slimy bowl of cabbage in particular that I went out of my way to avoid. But before we ate, everyone went outside and gathered in a semicircle in the backyard. It was the only place that could accommodate so many people. A priest appeared just then, a human one. That surprised me a little, but I supposed when living in a human town, dhampirs would attend a human church. And to most humans, dhampirs looked just like them, so the priest no doubt thought he was making an ordinary house call. A handful of Moroi who had been in town were also present, but they, too, could more or less pass for humans-pale ones-if they were discreet with the fangs. Humans didn't expect to see the supernatural, so their minds rarely considered it an option, even when it was right in front of them. Everyone grew silent. It was sunset now, with orange fire burning in the western sky, and shadows falling across all of us. The priest performed a funeral service in Russian, chanting in a voice that sounded unearthly in the darkening yard. All the church services I'd ever attended were in English, but I could see how this had the same feel. Every so often, those gathered would cross themselves. I didn't know the cues, so I simply watched and waited, letting the priest's mournful voice fill my soul. My feelings for Dimitri churned within me like a growing storm, and I worked to keep them in, locked up in my heart. When the service finally finished, the eerie tension that had engulfed the group dispersed. People moved again, hugging the Belikovs and shaking hands with the priest. He left shortly thereafter. Food followed. Plates were loaded up, and everyone sat wherever they could find space, be it inside the house or in the backyard. None of the guests really knew me, and Dimitri's family was far too busy to pay much attention to me as they ran around and tried to make everyone feel welcome. Sydney stayed with me a lot of the time, and while conversation was light between us, I took comfort in her presence. We sat on the living room floor, leaning against the wall near the bookcase. She picked over her food, like always, which made me smile. There was something soothing about that familiar habit. When dinner was over, people continued chatting in small groups. I couldn't understand any of it, but I kept hearing his name mentioned: Dimitri, Dimitri. It reminded me of the incomprehensible hissing that the ghosts made during their visits. It was oppressive and smothering, the force of his name pressing on my heart. Dimitri, Dimitri. After a while, it grew to be too much. Sydney had stepped away for a bit, so I went outside to get some air. Some people had built a bonfire in the back and were sitting around it, still talking about Dimitri, so I headed off toward the front yard. I walked down the street, not intending to go far. The night was warm and clear, with the moon and stars burning brightly in the blackness above me. My feelings were tangled up, and now that I was away from the others, I allowed a bit of that pent-up emotion to burst forth, coming out as silent tears on my cheeks. When I was a couple of houses away, I sat down on the curb, resting and enjoying the stillness around me. My peace was short-lived, however-my sharp ears picked up the sound of voices coming from the Belikov house. Three figures appeared. One, tall and slim, was Moroi, and the others were dhampirs. I stared as they came to a stop in front of me. Not bothering with formalities, I remained where I was, looking up into the Moroi's dark eyes. I didn't recognize this group from the service-but I did recognize the Moroi from somewhere else. I gave him a wry half-smile. â€Å"Abe Mazur, I presume.†

Operational Management Theory of Constraints Essay

The theory of constraints is a management philosophy which was developed by Goldratt in 1986.   It is based on identifying the limiting factors/constraints in a system which may hinder it from achieving its intended goals.   It states that for such a system to improve, the constraint must be identified and dealt with accordingly. Question one. The major cause of the backlog at the BCMC MRI clinic is due to the low productivity of the MR machine and the heavy overtime schedule which strains the MR technologist and leads to scanning of lesser patients per hour.   Although the machine is designed to make one scan per hour, it is not meeting this target due to various limiting factors such as poor communication between the patient and the hospital scan-scheduling department which has led to booking and overbooking of patients at the wrong times.   This has resulted in the clinic having too many patients which it is unable to handle. Question two. The major problem of this process lies in the clinic’s scheduling department which makes so many mistakes when booking the appointments for the patients’ scanning.   This system unlike previous MRI providers does not handle the scheduling leaving all the workload to the scheduling department and this has proved to be quite hectic for them. Question three. According to the radiology department manager, the clinic should consider hiring another MR technologist to ease the pressure on the present technologist and improve the lead-time.   In addition, the clinic should consider introducing another shift may be in the early hours of the evening in order to ensure that more patients are attended to per day. In addition to the above recommendation, as Kevin and/or David i would recommend that more incentives be given to Jeff the MR technologist for every extra time he puts in.   This would motivate him to work more thus maximizing the number of scans he performs per day and it will help a great deal in reducing the backlog.

Virtual teams

Any team whose members are not all physically under the same roof can be considered to be virtual, as long as the participants have complementary skills and knowledge that produce greater value when they work together than if they worked separately. A virtual team can be local, national, or global, with members from one firm or many. Teams can be made up of full-time, in-house practitioners or full- or part-time contractors.They are enabled by technology, which allows members to work from anywhere in the world with phone, Internet, and wireless access as long as hey produce work that meets the firm's and the client's standards of quality, and the client's deadlines. Social changes in the workforce are leading more and more employees to demand more and more control over how, when, and where they work. The result, which is gaining increasing traction, is a rise in lifestyle-driven virtual teams. 2417? Running to Gate 9? Who needs them.Especially when forward-looking employers can accom modate the needs and wants of talented, ambitious employees by creating lifestyle-driven virtual teams. This author describes how professional services firms hat can make this approach work will make them employers of choice. In recent years, professional services firms have watched as more and more senior talent, especially women with children, have left their employ. Many of these valued practitioners are not Jumping to other companies or starting up competing agencies.Rather, they are walking away from their careers (and in many cases high salaries) because their employers are unwilling or unable to provide them with the flexibility they need to balance their work and family lives. The decision is rarely an easy one, nd many women would have welcomed the opportunity to remain in the workforce if truly flexible options had been available. To stem the exodus, keep top talent, and remain competitive, professional services today must meet an imperative: They must create new arrangeme nts to accommodate talented practitioners who need more choice when it comes to how, when, and where they work.They must consider ways to ensure that working parents (especially women) do not have to work long hours or travel extensively, but instead have the flexibility they need to raise a family or care for aging parents. And with Canada expected to experience a labor shortage that could begin affecting employers as soon as 2020, having these new work arrangements in place will become increasingly essential to the delivery of high- quality professional services. This article will examine how adopting a virtual-team model can help organizations attract and retain that top talent.The article will first define virtual teams and explain why they are on the rise. It will then outline the various benefits of virtual teams (for both employers and employees) and look at some of their unique challenges. Finally, the article will outline best practices for esigning and implementing new wor k arrangements. VIRTUAL TEAMS DEFINED VIRTUAL TEAMS ARE ON THE RISE The popularity of virtual teams is being driven by social change. Women now constitute nearly one-half of the North American workforce, and in nearly one-half of households, all adults are working.As well, more working adults are pursuing educational opportunities to advance their careers; they therefore need the flexibility that a virtual arrangement provides. [l] When I was in the process of building my PR agency in 2008, I witnessed this social change first-hand and realized many senior omen were caught in an unnecessary and intractable dilemma: how to pursue a fulfilling and meaningful career while meeting the demands of their personal and family lives. I spoke with dozens of senior women in the industry who were torn between the need to put in long, billable hours at their offices and the need to tend to matters at home.Some told me that they sacrificed family time by hiring nannies and placing their children i n daycare. Others made career-limiting moves such as working four days a week or turning down promotions that would mean longer hours. And some of them left the workforce entirely or switched to less demanding careers because they were unable to balance their work and personal lives. Many women also told me they wanted to avoid lengthy, stressful commutes because of the time they took away from time spent their families.They talked about scrambling for childcare when a child was home sick from school or they had to work later than expected, and described missing important school functions and other milestones in their children's lives. Some also said they were frustrated by the traditional approach o â€Å"flex-time,† whereby practitioners work four out of five days, at a reduced annual salary. With this approach, five days' worth of work is often completed in four, which can actually add to workplace stress rather than reduce it.Talent is everything in professional services, and successful firms know that flexible work arrangements make them more attractive to a wider range of professionals. Recent studies have shown that flexibility is a growing trend. A 2011 U. S. study showed that the number of employees who principally work from home grew by 61 per cent between 2005 and 2009. 2] Two years earlier, Aon Consultings Benefits and Talent Survey reported that 97 per cent of organizations either planned to increase or maintain their use of virtual teams. 3] AN EMERGING APPROACH: LIFESTYLE-DRIVEN VIRTUAL TEAMS Once considered a way for companies to reduce overhead, the popularity of virtual teams is now being increasingly driven by employee demand. This is especially true in professional services firms, where both full-time practitioners and part-time associates or consultants are becoming more vocal about their desire to have approach to flexible workplace arrangements – a lifestyle-driven one that rewards esults over face time, so practitioners ca n maximize the time they devote to their personal lives.These lifestyle-driven virtual teams may not be a realistic option for all industries, or even all professional services firms, for example, those consulting firms that require staff to travel or be on site to meet with clients. However, the model can work for most professional services firms because much of their work is knowledge- based and often performed by individuals. As a result, it can easily be transferred to a home office with the right planning, processes and project management in place.When implementing this model, firms must also remove the focus on billable hours, and instead focus on the number of hours each associate wants to work – while planning project resources and compensation accordingly. This differs from the traditional model in which each practitioner must focus on billable-hour targets. For practitioners, there is some risk involved in using the virtual model, as they are not guaranteed a regula r pay cheque. Experience has shown, however, that some part- time practitioners who are compensated hourly actually earn more than they did as alaried employees, even while working significantly fewer hours.This is particularly true of practitioners whose quality work and outstanding client service make them an obvious choice for recurring account management roles and back-to-back projects. VIRTUAL TEAMS BENEFIT EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES EQUALLY In a 2010 study, 80 per cent of respondents said they were part of a team based in various locations, while 63 per cent indicated that nearly half their team members were located outside their home country. 4] Supported by technology, practitioners are able to be as efficient and engaged as they have ever been while keeping far reater control over their work schedules and environments. The traditional billable- hour-driven agency model often requires practitioners to work 60 or more hours a week. However, the lifestyle-driven virtual model per mits practitioners to be selective about their hours and often their projects, naturally making for a happier, more satisfied, and less-stressed practitioner.A company that can offer this kind of flexibility will find itself with better options when it comes to hiring and retaining talent, especially individuals with specialized knowledge and skills. This arrangement, hich encourages true balance, will also create more well-rounded employees who will bring their varied experience to projects and who will be motivated to remain in the workforce. Many practitioners will also find the benefits of this model Just as important as incentives such as paid vacation time, health benefits, and pension contributions.Indeed, it is hard to put a price on this type of flexibility. With the ability to bring on skilled team members when needed, professional services firms are better able to handle peak workloads, project work, and short-term assignments. For any particular project, they can hand-pi ck key team members from their roster of talent, regardless of where the individual is based. This means they can usually offer clients their â€Å"A team,† not whoever happens to be available.With infrastructure in place for teleconferences and other online collaboration, travel and other overhead expenses are reduced, if not eliminated. Margins improve accordingly and, most important, firms are able to offer a more family-friendly structure that attracts top talent who want to add balance to their working lives and still have a fulfilling and erformance is crucial to securing future projects. As a result, everyone is motivated to do their best and to collaborate effectively with other team members to produce quality work and results.ATTRACTING AND RETAINING A MULTIGENERATIONAL WORKFORCE For many practitioners, particularly those who embrace the philosophy that â€Å"work is something you do, not somewhere you go,† the increase in virtual teams is a welcome developmen t. This applies to the future workforce, too. A recent study by Dr. Alison Konrad[5] of the Richard Ivey School of Business found that undergraduate business tudents in her class (most of them women in their early 20s) yearn for a meaningful career that allows them to contribute to business and society while maintaining balance in their lives.In the study, students were asked what an employer could do to make their chosen career more attractive. The most frequent responses were flexible hours, the ability to work from home, no face time, and a family-friendly culture. Surprisingly, these are many of the same characteristics sought out not only by working parents but also by people nearing retirement and wanting to slow down heir schedules. Professor Konrad's study shows that employers who most closely meet the lifestyle demands of a multigenerational workforce are in the best position to attract and retain the most desirable talent.Executives must fully support the virtual structure and be aware of the potential challenges of managing a virtual team. They should consistently monitor the team's progress to ensure deadlines are being met and budgets are on track. 2. Choose the right team members. Individuals should be selected with a view to forming a successful team. Not all practitioners will thrive in a virtual environment. Those who are self-reliant and self-motivated will fare best. 3. Set expectations from the start. Articulate objectives and define team member roles up front to avoid the possibility f overlooking or duplicating aspects of the work.This is especially important given the geographical distance between members of a virtual team. 4. Implement strict protocols. Establishing protocols will ensure that each team member knows when and how quickly to respond to action items, and will determine the steps to take when a team member fails to do so. Team meetings should be run by a strong chair. People should be prompted to give their opinions as oppos ed to volunteering them. Digressions should be discouraged as they tend to disengage other team members. Multitasking during meetings should be prohibited. . Use proven processes.Teams need processes that govern the way they work and how the work will get done, from being aware of individual responsibilities and decision-making procedures to the consequences of poor work or missed deadlines. Virtual teams have little margin for error when it comes to project management, as problems can go unnoticed and grow into major issues. 6. Manage timelines and budgets carefully. Often a project budget will dictate the number of hours that can be charged to a client. Because freelance practitioners are paid according to the time they take, budgets can easily e exceeded if not properly monitored. . Establish meaningful project milestones. Milestones should be implemented to chart a project's progress and act as checkpoints for the timeliness and quality of virtual team work. 8. Encourage interac tion. Leadership must ensure that team members have some mechanism by which to develop strong working relationships. They should also bring team members together by organizing social functions every few months to help them build rapport. 9. Communicate more efficiently. Virtual teams can be connected by various technologies, including phone, email, instant messaging, as well as video and eb conferencing.Use more than one of these options so team members can choose the technology theyre most comfortable with. In addition, more communications do not necessarily mean better communication. Too many emails can lead to convey only relevant information, and to do so clearly and consistently. 10. Minimize team conflict. Although conflict can lead to better ideas and solutions, conflicts within a virtual team should be dealt with immediately, because they can escalate quickly. Virtual teams do not build rapport as easily as other teams, and managers may have to become more involved in confli ct resolution.