PERFORMANCE BUDGETING Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

PERFORMANCE BUDGETING - Coursework Example This makes it easy and efficient to evaluate the performance of the concerned managers at job delivery. Performance budgeting focuses on the changes in the funding of the budget rather than the approximation fronted by the previous budget cycles. This makes it more flexible and appropriate for public budgeting whose demands are dynamic. It offers flexibility for the relocation of budgets when needs arises. In addition to these, it identifies agencies and programs that seek similar goals hence drawing inter-relationships to the legislature attentions and enabling a possibility of increased awareness and budgets to the local governments. Finally, performance budgeting provides a platform for rewarding achievement and imposing of sanctions in the case of poor performance. This attributes makes it suitable for public sector budgeting at large including the federal government. However, it will present major challenges to the federal government. The efficiency ratings used in this model are rudimentary because they measure bureaucratic activity quantitatively rather than qualitatively. This shortcoming means the federal government could by focusing on the quantity of the services rather than its quality. Moreover not all bureaucratic activities are easily quantifiable. Performance budgeting system is very handy when evaluating the output of the managers after budget allocations. It provides an insight on how the allocated budget was spent, its impact and effects. This model of accounting is hence suitable for public budgeting where integrity and service delivery is

Chapter 8-9 SA Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Chapter 8-9 SA - Assignment Example This self assessment test 2 is used to evaluate the atmosphere for creativity. The evaluation is meant to single out various situations in an organization that encourage the employees to be more creative in work. The measure of the environment for creativity shows the level of support the management and organization gives the employees for inventiveness and innovation. The test value of cumulative numbers is then compared to the values of the continuum. A continuum is provided at the end of the assessment test with numbers indicating different values that indicate the level of support offered. A high score indicates that the organization is very supportive of the employees’ creativity and innovation. Therefore, our organization has an average support for employees’ creativity and innovation. These exercises help the students to relate their work surroundings to the ideas in ways that other people can gain from the experience they have (Lussier & Achua, 2010). This self assessment test 3 is used to evaluate the personal traits and teams that can affect the team work of an individual. The first personality profile reviewed can be; I enjoy being part of a team and working with others more than working alone. The scales given to this profile could be 1 to 7, with 7 illustrating strongly agreeing to the profile while 1 illustrating strongly disagreeing to the personality profile. The second profile reviewed is, I enjoy accomplishing team goals more than individual accomplishments, given scales from 1 to 7. 7 will illustrate strongly agreeing to this statement while 1 illustrates strongly disagreeing to the same statement. From these two statements, we can deduce that the stronger you agree with them the higher the probability of being a good team player. On the other hand, lower scores do not exactly mean that you are not a good team player. The Big Five personality dimensions and their related motive needs can influence your team

Aristotles Theory of the Ideal State

Aristotles Theory of the Ideal State ARISTOTLE AND HIS IDEAL STATE   (384 BC 322 BC) NAME : SHAMIKA S. TAMHANE Aristotle is one such unique philosopher, who has made contributions to innumerable fields like that of physics, biology, mathematics, metaphysics, medicines, theatre, dance and of course politics. Aristotle is known as ‘Father of Political Science’. ‘Polis’ is ‘city-state’ in Greek. From this, he coined term ‘Politics’. He is one of the most celebrated political thinkers as he was the first philosopher who detached philosophy from political science and carved out the latter as an independent discipline. He introduced a systematic study of politics and stated that politics may be devoid of ethics. Aristotle was born in 384 BC in the Greek town of Stagira. His father, Nicomachus was a physician in the court of Macedonia. Both his parents are known to have died when Aristotle was young. At the age of 17, Aristotle’s sister’s husband, who was his guardian, sent him to Athens for higher education in Plato’s academy. Aristotle proved to be an exemplary scholar and was a close disciple of Plato. Plato died in 347 BC. However, despite being one of the closest disciples of Plato, Aristotle did not become the head of the academy as he had some major differences with respect to Plato’s theory. Aristotle stayed in the academy for about 2 decades. After a few years of Plato’s death, he left Athens and returned to Macedonia in 338 BC. There he taught Alexander the Great and the Macedonia court rewarded him generously for his services. In 335 BC, Alexander succeeded his father, Phillip II and conquered Athens. Aristotle too returned to Athens and started h is own academy called the Lyceum. Aristotle spent most of his time writing, researching and teaching at his academy. In 323 BC, Alexander died and the people of Athens revolted against the Macedonian rule. Being Alexander’s teacher and having had connections with the ruling family of Macedonia, posed a threat to his life in Athens where anti-Macedonian sentiment was at its peak. In order to save himself from prosecution, Aristotle left Athens and went to Chalcis on the island of Euboea. Aristotle breathed his last there in 322 BC. Aristotle experienced a lot of ups and downs in the political spectrum throughout his life like the fall of Sparta, the rise as well as the fall of Alexander the Great etc. All these happenings around him have affected him and it can be reflected in all his writings INTRODUCTION POPULATION AND TERRITORY As said in the introduction the first material or ingredient to form a perfect or an ideal state is population. The legislator has the power to determine the number and character of citizens and thus, the size and character of the country. According to Aristotle, â€Å"Most persons think that a state in order to be happy ought to be large; but even if they are right, they have no idea what is a large and what a small state. For they judge of the size of the city by the number of the inhabitants; whereas they ought to regard not their number, but their power.† (1) Hence, Aristotle was clearly of the opinion that the quality of the people which constitute the state matters, rather than their quantity. Thus, more than the physical size of the population, its character is important. Aristotle justifies this by giving the example of Hippocrates who was a great physician that he was great because of the quality of the work he did and is definitely greater than a man who is just phys ically taller than him. Also, even if we are to reckon the greatness of a state by the number of inhabitants, not everybody can be included in it, like the slaves and foreigners. Only the members of the state are to be included who form an essential part of it. A very populated state cannot be well governed, as it is difficult to maintain law and order. According to Aristotle , there is a limit to the size of the state just as there is a limit to the size of other things like plants and animals as if any of these are too small or large, they either completely lose their nature or get spoiled. Here he cites an example of a ship. A ship, if only a span long, cannot be a ship at all and the one which is a quarter mile long will still be a ship, but will be bad for sailing. Similarly, if a state is too small, it won’t be self-sufficient but if it is too big it would be incapable of having a government that is constitutional. Also, in an over-populated state, it is difficult to id entify foreigners who may take advantage of this situation and try and acquire the rights of the citizens. Hence, clearly the largest population should be the one which suffices for the purposes of life. The territory of the state should be all-producing, so that the state has all things to be in need of nothing, which is called sufficiency. It should enable the residents to live liberally so that they can enjoy leisure. The country should be suitable for receiving fruits and timber and also other products. The city should be situated in regard both to sea and land, so that it is protected on both the sides. Also, import and export can be facilitated through water transport. Aristotle has a very distinct manner of describing the character of the people of various parts of the world. According to him, people who live in regions with cold climate and in Europe are hard-working but lack intelligence and skill. This is the reason they have the opportunity to enjoy freedom but they have no political organization. On the other hand, the natives of Asia are intelligent but they lack spirit, hence they are always under some foreign rule and are constantly subjugated. However, according to Aristotle, the best is the Hellenic race which is situated between the two regions and has the best of both the regions, i.e. the spirit of the Europeans and the intelligence of the Asians. So this race is free from any foreign rule and is also well-governed. Aristotle states certain other things which an ideal state must have, such as food, arts, arms etc. It should have a good amount of revenue so that it can take care of its internal needs as well as protect itself from any external aggression. The state should also take care of the religion of the people so that they can practice their respective religion fearlessly. The last and the most important thing is that the authority in the state must have the power to decide what is good and in favor of the public. All these above mentioned things are necessarily to be provided for by the state administration as the state is not a mere aggregate of people but their union, who have come together to fulfill a common purpose of ‘well-being’. If any one of the above listed things is lacking in any particular state, then a state cannot be called absolutely self-sufficient. Then it is necessary to frame the structure of the state in such a manner that all the above functions are fulfi lled. For example, a state should have farmers to produce food, artists and artisans to promote art, soldiers to protect the boundaries of the state, the priests to carry out religious practices etc. Thus, it can be observed that Aristotle does not undermine the role of any person in formation of an ideal state and specifies the role that each citizen can play, for the sake of ‘good life’. Aristotle also states the ideal location of the state. In order to ensure good health of its citizens, a state should lie towards the east. States which are covered by the north wind have milder winter which is again, healthier. Hence, the state should be located such that it favors convenient administration as well, in situations of war. There should be abundant springs and fountains in the state and if there is a scarcity of the same, there should be reservoirs which can store water and provide for its citizens in a state of crisis. Aristotle lays great emphasis on providing pure water to the citizens of the state. According to him, of the five elements of nature, the ones which are responsible to keep a person healthy are water and air. He says that the arrangement of houses in the city should be irregular in some parts of the city, because if all the houses are laid systematically in a straight line and in a particular pattern, it would be easy for strangers to find their way thr ough every part of the town, which should not be the case. Hence, some parts should be systematic while some irregular and thus a balance between security and beauty of the state should be well maintained. HOUSEHOLDS, PROPERTY AND SLAVERY IN THE IDEAL STATE According to Aristotle, family is the most important and the primary social unit of the society. It is the first institution of society which trains a child in citizenship. Aristotle connects citizenship to a household because it teaches a person division of labor (economic, social and others) and gives him a sense of understanding of his responsibility towards his family as well as towards the society and the state. A family gives an individual, training for a civilized life. The household takes care of the basic requirements of an individual; be it materialistic, social, emotional or physical need of the person. Thus, a man who lives in a well-managed household has a sense of fulfillment and content will contribute to the good of the society and in turn, the state. Family, thus, is essential for the moral growth and development of an individual. A state is made up of many households and thus it is important for Aristotle, to study the arrangement of a household in an ideal state. A household is incomplete without slaves, opines Aristotle. There are three relations in a family which are important, that are, that of a husband and wife, the relation of a father and children and thirdly, that of master and slave. The man, husband and the father, rules over both his wife and children respectively, although the manner differs. The man is fitter by nature than the woman hence, the inequality in this relationship never ceases to exist. However, the father rules over his children in a royal and not in a constitutional manner as he does over his wife. With his children, there is a relation of both love and respect. With respect to the third relation, i.e. of master and slave, Aristotle says, â€Å"The master is only the master of the slave; he does not belong to him, whereas the slave is not only the slave of his master, but wholly b elongs to him.† (2). Thus, a slave by nature is a possession of his master, in spite of being a human being. Slaves are a part of property of the individual. Aristotle attaches a lot of important to possession of property because according to him, without property, one cannot cultivate values and virtues such as generosity, hospitality, giving alms to the poor and the needy, etc. Property is essential to have a good household. Private property is a source of pleasure as mostly men love money. It is an integral aspect of social economy. Lastly, he opines that possession of private property by individuals is in favor of the state as when people own property; they would not be worried for their subsistence and thus, can actively participate in the political process of the state. When there would be slaves in the house, the master will have a lot of leisure time and according to Aristotle, he who has leisure time can be involved in the formation of an ideal state. He says, â€Å" †¦those who are in a position which places them above toil have stewards who attend to their households, while they occupy themselves with philosophy or with politics.† (3) Slavery is justified by Aristotle on two grounds. Firstly, on natural grounds; he says that some people are born without any faculties. However, they have the physical ability to work. This cannot be blamed on human beings as nature has created some people with lesser mental abilities. It is nature which has created men unequal. Nature has differentiated in the bodies of masters and slaves, making one physically strong and the other, although physically weak, but suitable for political life. He says, slaves have no virtues as they do not own property and hence they are not fit to be citizens of the state. Thus, according to Aristotle, some people are born to be slaves. He compares slaves to tamed animals and says that both cater to their needs with the help of their bodies. Secondly, as said before, sl aves are an essential ‘instrument’ of a household. They symbolize prosperity of a particular family. Thus, Aristotle concludes by saying, â€Å"Thus it is clear that household management attends more to men than to the acquisition of inanimate things, and to human excellence more than to the excellence of property which we call wealth, and to the virtue of freemen more than to the virtue of slaves.† (4) He says that slave lacks any sort of deliberative faculty, a woman does have some but she has no authority and also the child has, but it’s not mature enough to harness them. CITIZENSHIP IN THE IDEAL STATE The criteria for citizenship in different forms of governments vary according to their nature. For example, a person who can be a citizen in a democratic setup may not be eligible to be a citizen of an oligarchy. However, here, it is better to consider and talk about the citizens of a democratic state, because this is the system in which citizens are acknowledged the most than in any other system of governance. According to Aristotle, the citizenship of a person of a particular state is not determined by his mere residence in that state, because a slave or a foreigner too are residents of the same state, but this does not give them the right of citizenship, for there are other criteria to determine the same. Also, the legal status of a person cannot be the criterion because even a foreigner can acquire a right to sue a resident of that state or can be sued by a resident, merely under some provisions of a treaty. Hence, just being under the jurisdiction of any particular state, according to Aristotle, cannot make one a citizen of that state. A person who is exiled from the state will cease to be a citizen of the state. A person, who has the authority to participate in the judicial administration of the state, is termed as a citizen of that state. He should be able to take part in the process of administration of justice and legislation as a member of the deliberative assembly which can enabl e him to be a citizen. Hence, it can be observed that all those people who are permitted to take part in the political process of that state, for example, casting a vote or contesting elections, and all those who are eligible to be the members of the executive or the legislative branch of the government can be termed as citizens. With respect to who ‘ought’ to be citizens, Aristotle opines that all those who are trained and are capable of becoming either the ruler or the ruled, ought to be citizens. Further, he says that all those people who have property and leisure can be citizens as a person devoid of possession of any property, does not need any security from the state. Thus he would not be interested in the affairs of the state, so he would not bother to work for the betterment of the state. Also, a person who does not have property lacks experience in management skills as he is not accustomed to managing any kind of property. Such a person, according to Aristotle, cannot be expected to actively participate in the political affairs of the state and thus, in turn cannot ‘manage’ the state. However, despite all these criteria, practically a citizen is one whose both parents have been citizens. Some say, two or more ancestors. This is the shortest and the most practical definition, but some raise an objection to this questioning, how their ancestors became citizens. But it can be said, if their ancestors participated in the governmental process, that had to be citizens. It is also difficult to determine those who become citizens after a revolution. Here, the doubt is not about who is a citizen, but it is about who ought to be a citizen. As it was mentioned previously, a citizen of a particular government might not be eligible to be a citizen of some other form of government. It is said that the one who has never learned to obey, can never be a good commander. Both are different, but a good citizen should have the capacity of both-he should be aware of governing like a free man and should know obedience like a free man. These are virtues of a good citizen. The next point in citizenship of ideal state is that whether a good man and a good citizen are the same. This is explained by Aristotle by citing the example of a sailor. Sailors perform different functions like those of rowers, pilots, look-out men etc. Because they all have different functions, their virtues too differ. However, they all are described by one common definition, because they all have the same goal of safety in navigation. Aristotle compares sailors to citizens. Just like the former, citizens too differ from one another, but ‘salvation of the community’ (5) is their common aspiration. In numerous forms of governments, no single virtue is a perfect virtue of a good citizen. But it is assumed that good man is one with a single perfect virtue. Thus, a good man may not necessarily be a good citizen and vice versa. The next point in citizenship is that can mechanics be termed as citizens. Aristotle admits that not all those who are necessary for the functioning of the ideal state can be deemed as citizens of that state. For example, children cannot be termed as citizens of the state even though they are an integral part of the state as they do not participate in any political process. Under some governments, mechanics and laborers will not be citizens while under other, they might be included. Aristotle opines that the best form of government will not accept mechanics, laborers who he names as servants of the community, as they do not hold virtues of good citizens.

Comentary On Line Training Essay -- Training Job Workforce Essays

Comentary On Line Training Constant training, retraining, job-hopping, and even career-hopping, will become the norm, predict Mary O'Hara-Devereaux and Robert Johansen (qtd. in Pritchett 45). This makes the trainer's position all the more valuable in the work place. The demand for training will continue to increase as employees move more frequently from job to job. It is important that trainers realize and act upon this fact. Training programs will need to fit the changing needs of the work force. Many of the employees will enter a new position with prior experience and need to be brought up to speed quickly. Optimization of resources, in this case the resources each new employee brings to the company, will be important. The implementation and use of training programs within companies is many times a vital resource that assists in the overall success of the company. "Industrial leaders have made it clear that one important factor for attaining economic competitiveness is adequate levels of knowledge and skills in the work force" (Gordon 2). Training departments strive to prepare employees to optimize their potential for success within the company. At the same time, these training programs should be optimizing the potential of their department. In order to do this, training departments need to reassess their training programs. There are numerous opportunities available through multimedia such as the Internet, online training programs, CD-ROM training, and many more. Trainers need to continually to be aware of their surrounding and the environment they work within. Many facets of the corporate world impact the workplace environment, and these facets continue to change at ever-increasing rates. As part of the Informa... ...f the training experience. Works Cited Bunn, Bill E. "Multimedia Scripting." Intercom April 2000: 14-18. Chu, Francis. "Don't Train in Vain." PC Week April 2000: 1,20,22. Coleman, Mary Ellen and Carol Bahruth. "Animation." Intercom March 2000: 6-8. Gordon, Sallie E. Systematic Training Program Design. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: P T R Prentice Hall Mason, 1994. Mason, Robin and Anthony Kaye, ed. Mindweave: Communication, Computers and Distance Learning. Oxford: Pergamon P, 1989. O'Hara-Devereaux, Mary and Robert Johansen. "Global Work: Bridging Distance, Culture, and Time." Pritchett, Price. "New Work Habits for a Radically Changing World." Dallas, TX: Pritchett, n.d. Rosenberg, Nils A. "Communication for the World". Intercom May 2000: 6-9. Webb, Wendy. A Trainer's Guide to the World Wide Web and Intranets. Minneapolis: Lakewood Books, 1996.

For love of country Essay

With everything that has happened in our country in the last few years many people are becoming more patriotic. Since 9/11, our nations flag has flown high, more students are saying the Pledge of Allegiance, and many cars now carry symbols of support for our troops. However, even with this new outlook on patriotism, some people are beginning to wonder if our actions are even patriotic at all, including our servicemen and women. Is it patriotic to fight in a war that many deem unjust? Or is more patriotic to flee to another country in protest without finishing your military contract? Our troops have been in Iraq for five and a half years now and there is no sign of retreat. However, this does not give our military personnel an excuse to just give up and throw in the towel. I believe the only way for our troops to show patriotism is to stay in our country and fulfill their military contractual agreement. Since 9/11 there have been many reports of soldiers fleeing the country. According to CBS News, the estimates are between 100 and 250 to date (Soldiers). When certain soldiers were asked why they fled, the answer was always the same. They just couldnt take it. If this was the case, then why did they join in the first place, especially if they joined after the attacks? Everyone in the country knew we were going to war, and everyone knows why our military exists. How patriotic is it to join the service only to flee your family, friends, and, most importantly, your country when things get a little rough? Fleeing like a dog with its tail in between its legs only shames yourself, and, in some measures, America for producing such a fine citizen. Many people deem the war at hand unjust, and some would go to the extent that war itself is unjust. It claims the lives of many of our best citizens, creates inflation, and causes civil unrest and arguments between our government officials. Although some claim this war is unjustified, it is necessary. Do we want our country to be full of tyranny, ran by money-hungry, power-tripping dictators who dont care about our well being, but only about the amount of money in their bank account? Our men and women serving this country are doing the best they can to preserve the freedoms our forefathers worked so hard to win ten scores ago (Wiesel). Our country  is so great that people can flee this country without being shot for it. So why go? Is it just because you dont agree with the war? Running off is a great demonstration of protest against the war, that is, if you are talking with the other handful of individuals that ran off with you. In the larger scheme of things all you are doing is b eing pointed and laughed at. An outstanding portrayal of patriotism is in our own Pat Tillman. He gave up a $3.6 million contract to go and fight for our country (Reid). Selflessly, he gave up everything he had, and eventually his life, to go and support America when she needed it the most. Some may think his death was just another wasted life, but the majority of Americans look upon him as a hero (Sudborough). It is not because of all the sacrifices he made, or because he played for the NFL, but that because of him, along with many others, I am able to write this essay today for a class that I am taking at the college of my choice so I can grow up to do what I want to do. Not everyone has the opportunities that Americans have, and it is due in full respect to our military, or at least the ones that stay and fight for our country. The biggest argument of all is that this war is for our government, not for our freedom or America (Zinn). This is true to an extent, but if you think about it our country is our government and vice versa. Without our country there would obviously not be an American government, but without our government there is no America. Our government is what protects our freedoms, and it is that freedom that we fight so passionately for. It is easy to argue for both sides of this argument. Both fleeing the country and fighting in a war take guts, but you must ask yourself which is more patriotic. Leaving the country you love, or fighting to your death to make sure that your children and grandchildren can enjoy the same freedoms you did growing up? There is only one answer to this question. You fight until the end, whether it is your end or the wars end. If someone has a hard time understanding the answer to this question they should ask his or herself, Am I really proud to be an American?Works CitedSoldiers Against Iraq Desert to Canada. CBS Sunday Morning. 28 Jan. 2007. Zinn, Howard, Dying for the Government, America Now, ed. Robert Atwan(Boston: Bedford, 2005) 158-161Wiesel, Elie, The America I Love, America Now, ed. Robert Atwan(Boston: Bedford, 2005) 164-167Reid, Matt, The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man, America Now, ed. RobertAtwan (Boston: Bedford, 2005) 172-174Sudborough, Gary, Pat Tillman: Hero or Wasted Life, American Now, ed. RobertAtwan (Boston: Bedford, 2005) 174-177

Organisational Change Management Essay

Organizational Change Management encompasses all activities aimed at helping an organization successfully accept and adopt new technologies and new ways to serve its customers. Effective change management enables the transformation of strategy, processes, technology, and people to enhance performance and ensure continuous improvement in an ever-changing environment. A comprehensive and structured approach to organizational change management is critical to the success of any project that will bring about significant change. Fig I. Adapted from State of Oklahoma CORE Project Change Management Plan In any large implementation, the Project Team can expect to experience resistance and reluctance to change. The Organizational Change Management will provide the various stakeholder groups information about the project’s purpose, scope, benefits, timeline and training opportunities as well as how the individual job environment will change due to the implementation of the applications. The messages we will provide via this plan will be customized, based on the specific needs of each group affected by the project. It is the intent of the project team that this Organizational Change Management effort will lessen the â€Å"Production Dip† that is inevitable in any varied and complex project. 2. Objective †¢ Discuss the Organizational Change Management team and explore ways Organizational Change Management can work with Apps Delivery †¢ Cover Organizational Change Management tools †¢ Explain Organizational Change Management metrics 3. Organizational Change Management Scope – Overview a. Stakeholder Management The impact of organizational change imposed by implementation of a project should always be taken into account. To promote a successful delivery, identify who will be affected by the business process and technology changes that the project will cause. 1* For each stakeholder, determine their degree of support for the project and their influence on the organization. Develop a plan for how to build greater support among those with the most influence. 2* Identify stakeholders’ current and target level of project awareness. Ensure that stakeholders have an accurate understanding of the goals and anticipated impact of the project. 3* Assess your organization to identify enablers and challenges to implementing the project 4* Enroll stakeholders to participate in initiatives and to advocate/facilitate change. b. Communication Good communication is the lifeblood of any project. It is essential that the Project Manager provide timely and high quality information about the project to all stakeholders. It is equally important to listen to the stakeholders. Actively solicit their feedback and then respond constructively. 5* Identify the stakeholder groups in your project (e.g., senior management; end-users; sponsor) 6* Develop a communication plan that specifies who will get what information at what time, in what format and through what means of delivery (See section on Communication below) 7* Monitor feedback and respond in a constructive manner Discuss and record lessons learned throughout the project. Use them to improve how the next project may be carried out. c. Training Many IT projects fail because the user community receiving the product of the project (or the IT group responsible for maintaining it) does not receive adequate or properly focused training. It is important to understand the training needs of each stakeholder group, develop targeted training activities, and deliver content with the appropriate method. A good training plan will serve as an effective road map for training activities. d. Stakeholder Objectives An Audience Assessment will help you to determine the best feedback channels for each identified stakeholder group. It is important to understand the major questions and concerns that these groups may have, so that adequate attention can be paid to correcting misunderstandings, filling in the gaps, undoing rumors, etc. If you understand what the potential barriers to acceptance are, you will be better prepared to take proactive action to eliminate them. On the basis of these data, the project team will take appropriate steps (e.g. meetings with stakeholder groups, set up an information web site, distribute a newsletter) to alleviate the concerns of our Stakeholders and ensure that additional difficulties with perceptions about the project do not arise. These actions are detailed in the project’s Communication Plan. 4. Communication Objectives Effective strategic communication is the key to successfully implementing large-scale organizational initiatives. Interview your major stakeholders and find out what information they need. Based on this information, establish a formal Communication Plan that spells out in detail who requires what information, how they will get it, who will provide it, and the means and timing of all regular communications including reports, meetings, postings on web sites, etc. Consider every means of communication at your disposal to get the work out about the potential benefits, timing and training opportunities associated with your project. Make the Communication Plan available to all stakeholders, and be open to modifications in it as your needs change. Communication is the glue that binds internal and external stakeholders to the vision, mission, goals and activities of the project. Effective communication engages the hearts and minds of all stakeholders by facilitating movement along the continuum presented below. Fig II. Taken from State of Oklahoma CORE Project Change Management Plan 5. Training Objectives As stated earlier, training may be a crucial component of your Organizational Change Management Plan. Especially where business process is changed or new skills are required, it is paramount that employees be fully prepared before they are expected to perform new duties. The following steps will help you establish a training program appropriate to your project: Review your organization’s policies and procedures and determine which of them may require modification. Work with the organization to help them adapt to the changes. Learn the impact your project will have on individual jobs and workflow. Where impact is substantial, ensure that focused training is available. In the tables that follow, record the groups relevant to your project, their specific training needs and information about the training materials and facilities that you will use. Establish an appropriate curriculum. It is possible that the same material should be presented in very different ways depending on the background and skill level of the audience (e.g. business staff may require a less technical presentation than IT staff). Find or develop well qualified trainers. Create a plan for the post-implementation training support that may be required as new employees come into the organization, or as existing employees change jobs.) The project is expected to require significant modifications in the organization’s workflow and policies. So that the employees will be properly prepared when the new system comes on line, the project team has conducted extensive analysis of training needs. Based on this, the team has produced a plan that should smooth the way to a successful implementation. Steps taken include the following: a. Perform and Analyze the Results of a Job/Workflow Impact Analysis This system implementation will result in changes to business workflow. These changes will have a significant impact on the skills required of some of the people who will use the new system. In order to ensure that adequate training is provided, the project team performed a gap analysis between skills available and skills required, as follows: 8* Identify those positions (i.e. jobs) affected by the new system 9* Used specific tasks to link positions to new workflows (i.e. linked tasks required in the workflows to tasks performed as part of individuals’ jobs). 10* Noted those tasks that have changed. 11* Listed the skills required to perform each task 12* Determined if existing employees already have the skills needed to perform the new or changed tasks 13* Have arranged for training where skill gaps exist 14* Mapped positions to components of the new system 15* Are taking steps to ensure that each individual receives training for the components they will use 16* Will modify recruiting profiles to reflect new skill sets b. Provide the Organization with Information Necessary to Prepare for Upcoming Changes 17* Reviewed the policies and procedures of each major group in the organization that will be impacted by the new system (e.g., divisions, departments, etc.). 18* Identifed those policies and procedures that will change as a result of the new system. 19* Provided a checklist of needed changes to each organizational unit. 20* Assist organizational units in development of plans to adapt to the changes. c. Develop Curriculum and Content It proved necessary to develop very focused training programs for the various stakeholder groups in this project. Therefore, the training team has tailored the curriculum (topics covered, reference and other training materials used) and the content (specific information to be delivered) for each group. The training will be provided in settings appropriate to the content and group responsibilities (e.g., Technical group in the computer room; office personnel in a training room). The training team has paid serious attention to methods of delivery, and as a result while most employees will receive classroom presentations, certain groups will receive hands on training. In addition, several Powerpoint-based presentations will be made available on the project web site as a means of distributing key information about the project to all stakeholders. The following list was used as a guide in development of this training program: 21* Staff will receive training on new business processes prior to technology training, in order to help understanding and acceptance. 22* Advance arrangements have been made for all facilities and equipment required for training. 23* The training team will hold overview sessions with employees to explain conceptual differences between existing system and the new system. 24* Focused hands-on training will be provided where it can be expected to have significant impact. 25* Given the extensive nature of this implementation, the training team has developed module-specific curriculum outlines with learning objectives, agendas, materials, instructors, etc. 26* Training materials will be made specific to each audience. 27* We will use the train-the-trainer method as a means of cutting cost and also ensuring that training can be made available in the future. 28* The training team plans to develop job aids (checklists, workflow summaries, etc.) for use after rollout. 29* The training team w ill conduct surveys to evaluate the effectiveness of training. The organization will use this information to improve the training program in future implementations. 6. Training Plan Strategy Identify different audiences who require training Conduct training needs assessment and skill gap analysis Document requirements for the training team –Training development Schedule Prepare managers and supervisors to coach their employees through the change Develop Transition plan Train Organization resources 7. Organizational Change Management: Approach and Resources For best results, the entire project team and all new users of the system should adopt the role of Change Agent for the project. Following are some of the tools identified for Organizational Change Management to be effective in a large and complex implementation project. Review these tools with the project team. Select those that will provide the most benefit to your project and summarize how you intend to use them.

buy custom Humes Critique of Descartes and Plato essay

buy custom Humes Critique of Descartes and Plato essay David Hume is a controversial Scottish philosopher in the eighteenth century, renowned for skeptical examination of ethics, history, and religion. Such features are seen in his first philosophical works referred to as "treatise of human nature." On the other hand, Plato is an ancient Greek philosopher who examined ideas of politics, metaphysics, morality, and epistemology. Descartes is recognized as the father of western philosophy. He shaped the knowledge of the seventeenth century philosophy. The paper analyzes the way how Humes would critique the views of Plato and Descartes. Plato and Descartes are usually classified as ancient philosophers, but Humes is among the most recent philosophers who signified a break from ancient philosophical concepts and ideals. Undoubtedly, Humes critique would encompass the issue of ideas. Plato believes that the soul is a completely unified and immortal entity that remains the same throughout the life of an individual. However, he is keen to note that there are various challenges related to this view. He compares his thoughts with those of Diotima who argues that a man cannot remain the same as the gods since each day involves new dispositions, thoughts, and desires thereby leading to changes in a person. On the other hand, Descartes ideas are subdivided into three categories such as adventitious, innate, and imaginative. Therefore, he does not completely agree with the view that all actions are innate. Moreover, he insists that for one to achieve clearly reasoned conclusions, he/she has to engage in systematic and wholesale doubting. The process would enable him or her to develop ideas that are solely his or hers and not of others. Therefore, ideas arise from external objects invading on person's senses. Humes critique would be an assertion that ideas come from impressions and personal perceptions. He argues that weak perceptions originate from impressions and one cannot think of something he or she has never seen. Therefore, reasoning has its causeand effect and one cannot infer presence of one object from another unless they are connected to each other. Humes would, therefore, oppose the idea of innate ideas completely. Rather, he would insist on the idea of impression that is guided by cause and effect relationship. However, he can agree with Descartes that ideas are external to an individual. He would use the statement to reinforce his assertion that impressions and perceptions are crucial in the development of ideas. The other philosophical issue that would be subjected to critique is religion. Plato believes that the soul exists separately from the body and continues to survive after the death. Similarly, Descartes argues that ideas about God are innate, just as those involving oneself. He says that since he exists as a true representation of a perfect being such as God, then God exists. Descartes reinforces the dualism view of reality advocated by Plato. Plato believes that there is a realm of a human being that is spiritual and immortal, as well as encompasses conscious thinking. The other realm is material, finite and encompasses physical universe and human bodies. This dual realism worked best for Descartes as he was both a scientist and a loyal catholic. The borrowing of these ideas led him to a conclusion that the soul existed separately from the body. On the other hand, Humes had a completely different perception of the soul. His arguments are based on three different perceptions. First, he argues that there is no single evidence that showed that the soul existed separately from the body. He adds that if it is true that the soul exists, it cannot be generable and could exist before the body. He says that the miracles that people claim to be God accomplishments cannot be seen or be repeated in his presence, so that he can believe in them. The second argument relates to justice of deity where it would be questioned due to the nature of rewards, as well as punishments imposed on finite acts. The last argument is that there is no evidence of surviival and, therefore, such evidence is based on decay alterations. Thus, Humes asserted that he cannot believe in a higher power called God because His actions are unfathomable and beyond reason. He was exposed to the existence of the soul by reinforcing absence of evidence in proving the existence. Therefore, the major critique would presume a fact that their arguments about the soul are not supported by any substantial claims. The other matter of critique would be related to the relationship between the mind and the body. Descartes holds the view about such relationships while claiming that he is a thinking man. Therefore, the mind is supposed to reason and make choices, thereby, causing motion in the body. Plato and his theory of forms also focus on such relationships. He advocates that human beings should detach themselves from their bodies and the material world and concentrate on forms so as to perceive the world, which is open to change. Plato and Descartes, therefore, allude that the bodies in one way or another influence the way people think and see things. On the other hand, Humes believed that human reasoning derived from person's senses. He, therefore, insists that the mind conceive an effect that derives from a particular cause. He adds that the mind can only conceive what can be seen. Therefore, he emphasizes on ideas, impressions, and proof as the main concepts in thinking. The critique of Des cartes would be that the body is not connected with the reasoning process. However, there are various concepts that Descartes and Humes seem to agree. The first one is the idea of skepticism. Descartes assumes that most of the beliefs that a person holds are false and, therefore, asserts that for one to acquire the correct knowledge, he/she has to doubt almost everything. Humes builds his knowledge on this fact and argues that he cannot completely believe in a higher power as there is not enough proof of God's existence. Therefore, both philosophers are skeptics. Buy custom Humes Critique of Descartes and Plato essay

Free Essays on Spensers 75th

In Edmund Spenser’s poem, titled Sonnet 75, the author depicts a story of true love, a love that cannot be forgotten no matter how many times the tide rolls over it. In the poem, Spenser uses such literary devices as figurative language, personification, and the almighty symbolism among others. This is a basic sonnet in form starting with a quatrain and then ending in 5 line cinquains. There is a basic ABAB rhyme scheme, that adds a certain level of playfulness to the tone of the poem. The deeper meaning alludes to of course the man's love for a basic, mortal human. I say mortal, because in the poem as this man is talking to this woman (supposedly his love) she claims he is trying to, â€Å"immortalize the mortal†. By saying this, it adds contrast and difficulty to love; therefore making it above all imperfect, as one might suspect. As the poem continues, however, the author shows this man trying to eternize his love. This shows a sign of persistence and overall stubbornness, because again as she said he is trying to â€Å"immortalize the mortal.† The poem makes a reference to spirituality. In lines 4, 13, and 14 the author states something of the heavens and life, which make basic and easy to identify ties to religion. As in line 4 says, â€Å"But came the tide, and mad my pains his prey,† its obvious that his means God. This assumption can be made, as the only others in this poem are himself and his love. Above all, God controls everything, so who else could possibly make a common mans pain his prey? Then in line 13, Spenser makes a reference to the heavens and how he is going to write the name of his love in it. Heavens is of course a Christian belief, giving thought into the afterlife. Finally, in line 14 the author says, â€Å"and later life renew.† Many see this as a statement of the belief and theory of reincarnation, once again, a religious belief. Spenser uses above all personification to allude to both a god and even t... Free Essays on Spenser's 75th Free Essays on Spenser's 75th In Edmund Spenser’s poem, titled Sonnet 75, the author depicts a story of true love, a love that cannot be forgotten no matter how many times the tide rolls over it. In the poem, Spenser uses such literary devices as figurative language, personification, and the almighty symbolism among others. This is a basic sonnet in form starting with a quatrain and then ending in 5 line cinquains. There is a basic ABAB rhyme scheme, that adds a certain level of playfulness to the tone of the poem. The deeper meaning alludes to of course the man's love for a basic, mortal human. I say mortal, because in the poem as this man is talking to this woman (supposedly his love) she claims he is trying to, â€Å"immortalize the mortal†. By saying this, it adds contrast and difficulty to love; therefore making it above all imperfect, as one might suspect. As the poem continues, however, the author shows this man trying to eternize his love. This shows a sign of persistence and overall stubbornness, because again as she said he is trying to â€Å"immortalize the mortal.† The poem makes a reference to spirituality. In lines 4, 13, and 14 the author states something of the heavens and life, which make basic and easy to identify ties to religion. As in line 4 says, â€Å"But came the tide, and mad my pains his prey,† its obvious that his means God. This assumption can be made, as the only others in this poem are himself and his love. Above all, God controls everything, so who else could possibly make a common mans pain his prey? Then in line 13, Spenser makes a reference to the heavens and how he is going to write the name of his love in it. Heavens is of course a Christian belief, giving thought into the afterlife. Finally, in line 14 the author says, â€Å"and later life renew.† Many see this as a statement of the belief and theory of reincarnation, once again, a religious belief. Spenser uses above all personification to allude to both a god and even t...

Business Essays – Employment Relation Work

Business Essays Employment Relation Work Employment Relation Work Compare and Contrast Employment Relation System in Britain and America The history of employment relations is dominated by the changing relationships between workers, trade unions, employers and the state. The concept which started from the rights for sufficient payment and good working conditions now has evolved in much broader areas. Coming from mid 19 th century to this date, employment relation has evolved a lot as a concept and practice. Employment relation in Britain and USA has some similarity in its fundamental areas of pay and working conditions; however, there are some differences like in industrial relation, unionism, collective bargaining as well as other HR practices. What are Employment Relation and Industrial Relation? Employment relation is the broader term of industrial relation. The term â€Å"industrial relations† has developed both a broad and a narrow meaning. When defining broadly, industrial relations, relationships and interac tions between employers and employees. From this perspective, industrial relations cover all aspects of the employment relationship, including human resource (or personnel) management, employee relations, and union-management (or labour) relations. However, the term ‘industrial relation’ was narrowed in 1950s and 60s to avoid the confusion from word industrial, now , more restricted interpretation that largely links it with unionized employment relationships. In this view, industrial relations relate to the study and practice of collective bargaining, trade unionism, and labour-management relations, while human resource management is a separate, largely distinct field that deals with non-union employment relationships and the personnel practices and policies of employers. Thus, employment relations can be said to encapsulate both HRM and industrial relations. UK history Employment relation, as we now know, essentially grew from the trade union with the need to improve p ay and working conditions, in particular around issues of health and safety and quality of life for the workers. To understand the issues today it is important to remember the past and the origins of the Trade Union movement and, in particular the role that women played in that process. Trade unions in the industrialization in the 18th century existed as artisans’ guilds; but trade unions did not formally (or legally) come into existence in Britain until the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century. Employers used to determine the wages of an individual worker. Trade unions were not legal, also legislation prevents their existence. Workers were able to form friendly societies and trade clubs, but were hindered by the legislation. The Six Acts of 1819 extend the magistrates’ powers and restrict meetings and the distribution of leaflets. Trade Unions Act of 1825, allowed trade unions to exist, but not to strike, picket, or intimidate the workers who did not go on strike . The legislation 1824–25 enabled organizations of workers to engage in collective bargaining. In 1851 the Amalgamated Society of Engineers (ASE) was formed. It was followed by unions in a number of crafts, such as carpentry, bricklaying, and boiler making These ‘New Model unions’ offered schemes against sickness, unemployment, and old age, and did not wish to change the nature of society. They did not support strikes, and tried instead to negotiate with employers. They were well organized and, since they recruited from skilled workers, well financed.

Booker T. Washington and Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Booker T. Washington and Education - Essay Example For instance, Washington accepted segregation of the races, his outward humility, and his opposition to black militancy (Rutkoff and Scott). For this reason, many black intellectuals from Washington’s time were shy about placing him as the spokesperson for the struggle for social recognition. Regardless, Washington’s thoughts on education have remained within the public’s consideration for a number of years, opening the question of how does our current world evaluate, and utilize, what Washington had to contribute to the field of education. Washington was born a Virginian slave in either 1858 or 1859 and, although freed by the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, sought employment at age nine in coalmines and salt works. Washington was entirely self-educated: finding the value of knowledge after his first experience with a spelling book. In 1872, Washington moved a few hundred miles to Virginia’s Hampton Institute in Virginia to enhance his education. Washin gton took employment as a janitor in Hampton so that he could pay his tuition, room, and board. Similar to his peers at Hampton, Washington received a lesson in the value of hard work for moral and economic strength. â€Å"He worked his way through school and taught for two years at Hampton after graduating† (Hine, Hine and Harrold 339). Afterward, Washington took up a position as headmaster at a school in Tuskegee, Alabama. Understanding how Washington found himself as the head of a school is crucially important for contextualizing his contributions to the philosophy of education in the early parts of black freedom within the United States. Because Washington employed personal initiative and hard work in reaching a place of dignity, he wanted to share that experience with all black people. His take on education was representative of the fact that he was not an intellectual; rather he was a man that employed action to achieve the means of survival (Rutkoff and Scott). He want ed black people in the south to value the need for industrial education from the perspective as both American and African. Washington emphasized the industrial curriculum as a means of a stepping-stone toward race independence; however, this emphasis does not represent an inherent belief in the incapacity of blacks to master scholarly subjects as well. Rather, â€Å"one man may go into a community prepared to supply the people there an analysis of Greek sentences. The community may or may not at that time be prepared for, or feel the need of, Greek analysis, but it may feel the need of bricks and houses and wagons† (Washington 156-157). Washington’s intent by advocating the industrial curriculum was to grant these blacks the ability to break cycles of perpetual debt brought on by a lack of independence from the sharecropping system, which kept individuals from learning the tools and competences necessary for work that is more skilled. As a man of action, who achieved a high status by working hard and taking the extra step, Washington saw the production of value with one’

Reaction paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Reaction paper - Essay Example There is no marker pointing to any direction at all to guide the visitor. Also, the people can come in anytime from any point which is very much similar to the Jews who were imprisoned at the camps. One could be easily brought into the camp and leave as a dead person; hence, uncertainty was the order of the day during that time. This architectural monument has attracted millions of tourists because they are curious about the structure. Some of them could have been Jews who want to pay respect to their fellowmen who were victims of the Holocaust. The video showed the beauty of the structures yet it exhibited a certain coldness that spells indifference to humanity. If I were there, I would feel sadness because it seems that I have lost my identity and could not find my way out of such as disorienting situation. So many mixed emotions ran over me as I watched the video and imagined how hard it must have been for the Jews. Although the structure really avoided symbolizing anything at all , it provokes visitors to reflect on the plight of the murdered Jews. This just makes me think how man’s heart could be that dark and evil when given a wrong cause.

Charismatic and Transformational Leadership Research Paper - 1

Charismatic and Transformational Leadership - Research Paper Example This essay stresses that charismatic leadership can be defined as a leadership that is characterized by exceptional devotion, exemplary traits and heroism of the leader. The term â€Å"charismatic leadership† is conventionally used for such great leaders as prophets, though it can also be used for famous political leaders. One such political leader whose style of leadership is frequently identified as charismatic is Mahatma Gandhi. There are other leaders who may not be entirely popular for their positive traits, yet are known to have certain charismatic features that have had great influence on their followers. One such leader is Adolf Hitler. The charm of such leaders reflects in the fact that followers tend to comply with their instructions unarguably. There has been a lot of research upon the psychological attributes of leaders that make them charismatic in their leadership style. This paper makes a conclusion that the process of charismatic leadership is governed by three prime factors, namely the traits of the leader, the social situation that imparts need of a charismatic leader, and the bondage between the followers and the leader. There are six steps that explain the process of charismatic leadership from the start till end. These six steps are identification, activity arousal, commitment, disenchantment, depersonalization, and alienation. The identification step occurs as a result of the composition of the three factors that have been discussed before.

Aristotles Nicomachean Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Aristotles Nicomachean Ethics - Essay Example Base and corrupt thoughts are not friendly, thus an individual does not feel that way within themselves. Since corrupt people think all others are like themselves, or seek out other corrupt people, they are not friendly with others as well as themselves. Finally, corrupt people think that harmful practices are normal. A prostitute thinks that selling sex is normal. Thieves think stealing is alright. If these practices are morally acceptable to an individual, then when these actions are done to them it is assumed to be normal. Thus a base person is no friend to themselves. A true friend will stop harmful actions, but the corrupt person does not know right and wrong. True friends help one another out. If a person is corrupt, the goal is to only help oneself. It is abnormal not to help another for healthy individuals, but normal for corrupt people. How people treat others is what becomes acceptable for them. Even morally bankrupt individuals have a compass telling them right from wrong. This compass in corrupt individuals affirms negative behavior. The negative behavior is normal to these people. If they could treat themselves better, treating other people better would not be a problem. That is what Aristotle was trying to

Professional Sports Leagues Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Professional Sports Leagues - Coursework Example Where the NRL’s teams are losing their value as the number of attendances went down by 3% and NRL also lost $1.8m on the finals series. Youth Football Fund Grassroots has been initiated by NLF along with Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) to provide financial and technical assistance in order to improve the quality, safety and accessibility of local football fields to middle schools and high schools. It is a non-profit program that offers opportunities for recreation, education, and relaxation that contribute to the local quality of life, especially for the youth (Titans, 2015). This initiative would be highly helpful in creating exposure to young athletes towards football. In my opinion NRL should invest more in advertising and sponsorship as decided by the company. It should also take initiatives like NFL to increase exposure and awareness amongst young athletes. This would also help in attracting youngsters towards the sport. It can also build up a nonprofit club in the center of the city with the sole aim of promoting the sport and developing the skills of the young ones for rugby. These programs would definitely contribute in increasing diversity exposure for the professional league. Australian Association Press. (2014).  Rugby league will be biggest sport in Australia, says NRL chief.  the Guardian. Retrieved 24 January 2015, from http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/feb/24/rugby-league-biggest-sport-in-australia Burke, M. (2013).  How The National Football League Can Reach $25 Billion In Annual Revenues.Forbes. Retrieved 24 January 2015, from

Examine the reasons for the success of Microsoft and evaluate the Essay

Examine the reasons for the success of Microsoft and evaluate the impact Microsoft has had on graduate recruitment in the USA - Essay Example Currently, it boasts of a top-tier position among the top companies globally. It comes in third in ranking on the FT Global 500 list. In addition, it rakes in revenue amounting to more than $ 36 billion dollars annually (Stanek, 2006:42). 1. History The Microsoft Corporation is an American business venture dealing in the business of inventing computer software and programs, and in the manufacture of computer-related hardware (Pralahad, 2008:37). Currently, the venture’s shares are on trade at the NASDAQ stock market in New York City, in America. The conglomerate has a global presence, and owns branches and offices in more than seventy nations. Though the main idea behind its start was to produce operating systems to power the Altair 8000 computer system, the business went on to invent significant breakthroughs in the software market. The first evidence of the company’s potential to change the world was its introduction of the MS-DOS in the early 1980s. Soon after, it pr oduced the Windows system in the early 1990s. Through the dominating of the computer market base, and already enjoying a virtual solo monopoly on the global business and home-based personal computer market, it was in an adequate spot to produce software applicatios that would support its systems. The company fully exploited this opportunity, gaining vital ground in the market. This led to the venture releasing the Microsoft Office, which was a huge success at the business sector. In addition, the company also participated in the formulation of MSN, an online-based search engine and news database (Barry, 2011:113). 2. The 1980s The Microsoft Company came into being because of the idea of William Gates in conjunction with Paul Allen. Initially, the venture offered only one product. It employed only three workers, and, in its first year of business, raked in only about $ 25,000 dollars in sales. Gates and his partner had decided to base their company in Alberquque, New Mexico, in order to access the MITS Computer Company easily, which had helped in constructing their Altair microcomputer equipment. Microsoft’s initial product was the Microsoft BASIC, the then programming dialect of the Altair. The Microsoft BASIC was an improvement of BASIC, which was a mainframe computer dialect that the two partners had gotten wind of while in high school in Seattle (Shelly, 2009:97). As time went by, the company made major breakthroughs in the computer field. Not only did the company improve BASIC vastly, but it also modified other present computer languages for their use. In 1977, the company unveiled a modified version of FORTRAN, and quickly followed it with another improved version of COBOL in 1978. By the dawn of 1979, the company had successfully managed to relocate its operations to Washington. At the time, the venture boasted of about $ 3 million dollars in annual income. In addition, it had raised its employee figures to around 30 workers (Todd, 2011:67). The o perating system is a major factor of all computers. In addition to it being the lifeline of the computer, it has also been the major influential factor behind Microsoft’s success. In 1981, the company unveiled the DOS 1.0 operating system for use by the IBM computer. This move proved to be a major landmark in the company’

Professional Sports Leagues Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Professional Sports Leagues - Coursework Example Where the NRL’s teams are losing their value as the number of attendances went down by 3% and NRL also lost $1.8m on the finals series. Youth Football Fund Grassroots has been initiated by NLF along with Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) to provide financial and technical assistance in order to improve the quality, safety and accessibility of local football fields to middle schools and high schools. It is a non-profit program that offers opportunities for recreation, education, and relaxation that contribute to the local quality of life, especially for the youth (Titans, 2015). This initiative would be highly helpful in creating exposure to young athletes towards football. In my opinion NRL should invest more in advertising and sponsorship as decided by the company. It should also take initiatives like NFL to increase exposure and awareness amongst young athletes. This would also help in attracting youngsters towards the sport. It can also build up a nonprofit club in the center of the city with the sole aim of promoting the sport and developing the skills of the young ones for rugby. These programs would definitely contribute in increasing diversity exposure for the professional league. Australian Association Press. (2014).  Rugby league will be biggest sport in Australia, says NRL chief.  the Guardian. Retrieved 24 January 2015, from http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/feb/24/rugby-league-biggest-sport-in-australia Burke, M. (2013).  How The National Football League Can Reach $25 Billion In Annual Revenues.Forbes. Retrieved 24 January 2015, from

Celebrities from magazines Essay Example for Free

Celebrities from magazines Essay I have chosen to study and research this statement as I believe that the media puts pressure on young girls to conform to to the idealistic images constantly portrayed in the media. Slimming articles along with related television programmed has increased. The number of young girls within this age span that develop eating disorders has increased in the last thirty five years. I feel that the media and its ideal of super slim models and celebrities that dominate the media affect me. I intend to tackle the issue head on and first of all ask the question what is the relationship between the media and eating disorders. Vaughnhan and Fous conducted a study looking at the amount of time that girls were exposed to media and the development of eating disorders. They used 374 girls ranging from 12-14. They were surveyed twice at different times, each being one year apart. The girls were given the same survey both times which contained questions regarding the amount of time they were exposed to fashion magazines and TV. They also included questions that would reveal symptoms of have eating disorders. After obtaining the results from these surveys they were able to com up with some possible conclusions. The results showed that the girls who had increased their exposure to fashion magazines from the first survey to the second had also increased signs of eating disorder symptoms, and visor versa. The evidence from this study suggest that there is a definite link between developing eating disorders and the media. Results also imply that girls become influenced by the media and can develop a complex about their bodies from a young age. From this we can see that media has a direct effect on young girls which could lead to eating disorders. Girls/women predominantly strive to be perceived as attractive to the opposite sex. I want to see if within the last fifty years the ideal body image has changed. Is the ideal woman sown as slim, attractive young etc.? Garner, looked into this when he assed the height , weight and body measurements of Playboy centrefolds and miss America pageants from 1960 to 1979. He found that the percentage of the average weight of the models had decreased. In 1960 the average weight of playboy models were 91% of the average mean, but by 1978 the mean weight of the models had dropped to 84%. It would be interesting to see id this trend continued, from my own observations of women used in the media today, when the normal size for a model is a size 6, I would believe that they had, from looking at various popular fashion magazines. This would suggest that the statement thin is in used in these magazines is true. Both studies suggest that the concept I lay out, that womens ideal shape that they strive to be is directly influenced by the material they read, is very much true.

Shape Memory Alloys Manufacturing Processes

Shape Memory Alloys Manufacturing Processes Smart materials have been one of the fastest growing materials needed for medical device manufacturing. Smart materials, according to the McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific Technical Terms, are defined as Materials that can significantly change their mechanical properties (such as shape, stiffness, and viscosity), or their thermal, optical, or electromagnetic properties, in a predictable or controllable manner in response to their environment. It is this property of changing according to its material that makes smart materials very valuable in manufacturing today. Perhaps one of the most useful smart materials comes in the form of memory shape alloys, specifically nitinol. Memory shape alloys have many applications in medical devices used today. They are highly prized for their exceptional superelasticity, their shape memory, their good resistance to fatigue and wear, and their relatively good biocompatibility. This makes them the perfect candidate for many in-vivo medical devices . Origin The shape-memory effect was first observed in copper-zinc and copper-tin alloys by Greninger and Mooradian in 1938, but it was only in the early 1960s that Buehler and his colleagues discovered and patented nitinol, a nickel-titanium alloy created in the Naval Ordnance Laboratory (NOL). This lab was formerly located in White Oak, Maryland and was the site of considerable work that has had useful impact upon world technology. The White Oak site of NOL has now been taken over by the Food and Drug Administration but has still left its legacy in the name nitinol (nickel + titanium + NOL- the initials of the Naval Ordinance Laboratory) (Gautam, et al. 2008). Their smart metal alloy, however, is 55% nickel by weight and may thus have allergic, toxic, or carcinogenic effects. For short-term use, in-vitro and clinical data strongly support nitinol as a safe biomaterial which is at least as good as stainless steel or titanium alloys also available to designers. Medical Applications of Shape Memory Alloys Muscles are the power of the body, used to turn energy into movement and motion. Shape memory alloys can be used to in their solid-state phase to make devices from muscle wires. Applications of shape memory alloys in the medical field are numerous. Their flexibility at one temperature and one way shape memory effect when heated to their transformation temperature make these alloys key materials for various medical methods. The inability of shape memory materials to combine to other metals requires some adaptation to be developed. A common material for this is nickel-titanium. Nickel-titanium has an excellent torque transfer characteristic which is just one of the many reasons this material is used for fabricating medical equipment (Yoshida, et al. 2010). A few notable applications are catheters, medical guide wires, bone plates and stents. Bone plates comprised of shape memory alloys, assist in repairing broken bones by making use of the bodys natural temperature to contract and maintain pressure for proper healing. (Georgia Inst. Of Tech, 2007) Catheters Catheters are used in a number of procedures such as therapeutics, diagnostics, and ablative procedures. Used in the medical field for administration of fluids, drainage, and provide a method to insert surgical instruments, catheters are tubes that can be placed in a body cavity, vessel, or duct. In the case of blood vessels, the catheter must move around the bends and angles to reach the desired destination. Stiff materials would not be flexible enough for this procedure and may cause a rupture in the vessel. Due to heat restrictions and risk of damage, only specific shape memory alloys can be used for many of these delicate processes. A solution for this problem is provided by the R-phase transformation, which is a specific type of martensite transformation that occurs in certain nickel-rich Ni-Ti alloys (Langelaar, et al. 2010). Travelling through the vessels is a difficult task, so a steering mechanism is implemented into a catheter to maneuver throughout the body. Currently catheters are equipped with integrated micro-actuators that allow controlled bending, which yields enhanced maneuverability compared to conventional catheters. Actuators consist of guide wires that bend when energy runs through them such as an electric current that heat the shape memory material. The simplistic designs of the actuator allows for high strains and stresses needed for a process. There are few actuating mechanisms which produce more useful work per unit volume than nitinol (Williams, et al. 1999). Guiding wires also known as pull wires or shaping wires, are located along the tube to allow for motion in many directions. Above: This demonstrates that shape memory alloys are more effective in actuators than many of the current materials on the market. Guide wires provide flexibility, shape memory, and pseudoelasticity. When a greater stiffness is required, the thickness of the wire may be increased to meet performance standards. Shape memory alloys allow for the catheter to return to its original geometry when the tension in the wire is removed. One adaptation formed due to the lack of metallurgical joining is a stainless steel sleeve, known as a crimp sleeve, to hold the wires to the catheter (Stoeckel, 2010). The sleeve brings up the problem of increasing the diameter of the catheter. To prevent breakage in a material, more flexibility and ductility is ideal. In medical applications, nitinol has higher ductility allowing more plastic deformation without fracturing due to the temperature of the human body. At body temperature (310K), nitinol will have a high percentage of strain at low stress meaning more ductility. Stents One of the largest medical uses for shape memory alloys is in stents. A stent is a tube that is inserted into an artery to hold it open. Stents are needed when the walls of the artery are not strong enough to remain open and need support to ensure that blood is able to flow. The stent is put in place during a procedure called an angioplasty (Stent Facts, 2010). In order to get the stent into the artery, it needs to be collapsed and inserted into a catheter. Shape memory alloys allow doctors to collapse the stent to a much smaller diameter, and have it return to its original shape after leaving the catheter inside the artery. The original use of shape memory alloys in stents was in the form of a simple coil. The coil was tightly wound in the catheter and then expanded once it was inserted into the artery and warmed. The expanded size of the coil is chosen to be slightly larger than the inner diameter of the target vessel, which means the coil will not be able to fully expand inside th e artery. The shape memory alloy, in its warmed state, will continue to attempt to expand, which will put a continuous outward pressure on the walls of the artery. This will ensure that the artery remains open. In more recent times, simple coil stents are used more for non-vascular applications such as preventing bladder obstruction. The simple coil stents that are still in use today are used in vascular cases where easy retrieval is required. The shape memory alloy allows the stent to hold its form in the body, but still be easy to deform back to a straight wire for removal (Sutou, et al. 2006). More modern shape memory alloy stents are made in forms other than a coil. The shape memory alloy can be formed into a braided or knitted coil. The downside of this is that the points where the wires cross form thicker walls, which are undesirable in a stent. Although the braided and knitted shape memory alloy stents were a step up in functionality from the simple coils, the thicker walls made them undesirable for many cases. The next level of shape memory alloy stents occurred once scientists determined how to make the alloys in flat sheets rather than just wire. Laser cutting a pattern into a flat sheet of the alloy, then rolling and welding it at various points creates a stent with no overlapping wires at the walls. Sheet style stents are thin, but also structurally supportive when heated to body temperature. This gives them more flexibility than the simple coil models and is a better use of the shape memory alloys characteristics (Sutou, et al. 2006). An older style coil stent in both its compressed and expanded forms Examples of sheet style stents: Top- Jostent SelfX (made by Jomed), Bottom- Dynalink (made by Guidant) Examples of braided style stents: Left- ZA Stent (made by Cook), Right- Symphony Stent (made by Boston Scientific) General Hazards General hazards of inhaling Nitinol include irritation, coughing, and shortness of breath. If ingested gastrointestinal disorders are possible. Skin contact and eye contact include irritation with possible redness and pain. None of these side effects are chronic. (SMDS 2008) Complications of Nickel-Titanium in Medical Applications Of the wide range of alloys that contain the properties of shape memory alloys, nickel-titanium and copper-based alloys hold the most value commercially. Nickel-titanium, also known as nitinol, is an equi-atomic mixture of the two metals. Concerns have risen over this alloy for the fear of nickel being released into the body (Williams, et al. 1999). It is important in medical equipment for the materials to be biocompatible, or the ability of the material to perform with a necessary response. In most medical procedures no response is typically desired. To determine if nitinol meets these criteria, the properties of titanium, nickel, and the combination of the two can be looked at. Titanium is a metal with a high resistance to corrosion. It is not particularly reactive and therefore is effective for medical uses where the device needs to be in the human body for an extended period of time (Lagoudas, 2010). It contains no characteristics of toxicity. Titanium is also a very strong material, however it is rarer and more difficult to manufacture than other materials. This makes titanium expensive compared to other alternatives. Nickel is a metal which is extremely reactive. Nickel is toxic to the human body and may cause massive inflammation and interaction with proteins. These properties raise questions on whether nitinol alloy is safe for medical uses. The benefits of using nickel in medical devices is that nickel increases flexibility and lowers the expense when alloyed with more expensive materials such as titanium (Langelaar, et. al. 2010 ). The properties when nickel and titanium are alloyed together usually take on those of titanium. During the manufacturing process an outer layer of titanium oxide forms. Although some nickel will still exist on the exterior, the toxicity is greatly reduced. When choosing a material for medical instruments, a risk/benefit analysis controls which alloy will be used. Nitinol is chosen because it holds great benefits and is very safe to use. Extensive testing of this material has been done and is still occurring to limit complications (Yoshida, et al. 2010). Safety During Medical Application When considering the use of shape memory alloys (such as nitinol), in medical applications, it becomes necessary to evaluate the safety of the materials for use in the human body. Biocompatibility and corrosion are two factors that come into play when considering placement into humans. Properly treated nitinol implants are corrosion resistant and compatible in humans. These implants form a surface oxide layer that protects the base material from most corrosion. There are some concerns of the nickel content dissolving from the Nitinol and causing adverse affects. However, other alloys containing high levels of nickel, such as MP35N or 300 series stainless steel, have been used in orthodontics, orthopedics, and cardiovascular applications, all the while displaying good biocompatibility. (Stoeckel, et al. 2003) Studies have shown that in vitro dissolution of nitinol dental archwires in saliva released an average of 13.05 mg/day nickel. This number is significantly lower than the average dietary intake of 200-300 mg/day. There was no increase in the nickel blood level throughout the study. A comparative in vitro cell culture study was performed to measure nickel release from nitinol and 316L stainless steel in fibroblast and osteoblast cell culture media. The nickel content was higher in the nitinol group for the first day, but rapidly decreased over time to achieve similar levels as the stainless steel. The nickel content never reached toxic levels in the nitinol and did not interfere with the cell growth. It was found that samples prepared by mechanical polishing released higher amounts of Ni-ions than those prepared by electropolishing. In order to evaluate the effect of polishing on nickel release, mechanically polished and electropolished samples of nitinol, MP35N, and 316L stainless st eel were immersed in solution for a period of over 1000 hours. Samples prepared by electropolishing released smaller amounts of Ni-ions than those with mechanical polishing. The electropolishing process removes excess nickel from the surface and forms an enriched layer of titanium. (Stoechel, et al. 2003) A study on blood compatibility was conducted on nitinol and stainless steel stents using an ex vivo, AV-shunt porcine model. It was concluded that nitinol is significantly less thrombogenic than stainless steel, meaning that when used in the human body it has a much lower chance of causing blood clots. It is thought that the titanium-oxide rich surface layer on the nitinol prevents denaturation of fibrinogen and minimizes platelet-rich thrombus formation within the stent after implantation. (Thierry, et al. 2000) Comparison of Shape Memory Alloy Nickel-Titanium to Stainless Steel The ability of shape memory alloys to return to their original position after large strains are induced is similar to that of rubber. However, unlike rubber, shape memory alloys are strong and noncorrosive much like stainless steel. Both nickel-titanium and stainless steel have long fatigue life. Many stainless steels contain nickel to maintain an austenitic structure. Higher nickel content guarantees superior resistance to corrosive cracking. Stainless steel has a relatively lower cost compared to nitinol mainly due to larger production numbers. Only about two hundred tons were produced in 1998 compared to a few hundred thousand tons of stainless steel (Lagoudas, 2010). Alloying a metal raises the production expenditure but changes the tensile and shear strength of the initial metals. The properties of shape memory alloys are better than those of stainless steel and therefore are the chosen material for certain applications. Above: Shape memory alloys have two phases, each with a different crystal structure and  properties. One is the high temperature phase, called austenite, and the other is the low temperature phase, martensite. Each martensitic crystal formed can have a different orientation direction, called a variant. The assembly of martensitic variants can exist in two forms. Twinned martensite, which is formed by a combination of self-accommodated martensitic variants and detwinned or reoriented martensite in which a specific variant is dominant (Lagoudas, 2010). Costs of Shape Memory Alloys such as Nickel-Titanium Alloys such as nitinol have poor formability in the manufacturing process which increases the production costs of such materials. The complex behavior of the material makes the development of shape memory alloys adaptive structures a challenging task. In this case, it is generally accepted that systematic, model-based design approaches and design optimization techniques can be of great assistance (Langelaar et al. 2010). However, as more applications for these materials are needed, the price will decrease. Currently, shape memory alloys are commercially available from a limited number of producers. When more production of these alloys begins, production costs will reduce. World production is small in contrast to other metal commodities. Competition drives prices lower in a market. Newer technology in manufacturing will also make the production more effective. Prices for shape memory alloys were over one dollar per gram of material in the 1990s. Today, the costs are roughly ninety percent lower. Whatever the cost may be, shape memory alloys such as nickel-titanium are one of the only materials capable of such miniscule instrumentation with the desired properties. Shape memory alloys are effective for their cost due to reliability and multiple functions (Stoeckel, 2010). Many applications of shape memory alloys only require a small amount of material. With prices around that of similar steels, shape memory alloys are gaining more attention in a variety of applications. Above: The best material lies towards the upper left corner as it corresponds to low material cost  for the same output work (Lagoudas, 2010). It indicates that CuZnAl is the best, while Ni-Ti is the least. However, it may be more advantageous to use Ni-Ti because of reduced voltage requirements due to much higher resistivity, which results in cheaper equipment in cyclic applications. Copper based alloys are less stable and more brittle than Ni-Ti. Although less expensive, copper based alloys have found little approval for applications. Future Trends Current studies at the University of OULU have been conducted in order to demonstrate that bone modeling can be controlled by using a functional implant such as a NiTi nail which can be used to bend a normal shaft of the long bone. The method could also be applied inversely, such as straightening a deformed bone. Fractures and especially frequent fractures lead to angular deformity and bowing of long bones. Operative treatment has usually consisted of cortical osteotomies with cast, internal fixation, or external fixation (Kujala, 2003). However, these are relatively large operations with much postoperative pain and a risk for complications. Implantation of a bending rod would be a much smaller operation for the patient with reduced postoperative recovery. It might even be possible to insert the nails using minimally invasive techniques which would require a minute incision. Thus, the functional nail presented might provide an easier, quicker, cheaper, and less painful way to correct such bone deformities in the future. In addition, Prototype piping in nuclear reactors has been wound with pre-stretched Ni-Ti wire, which leaves very high compressive stresses in the pipe. Tennis racket strings have been tested in China and the USA with both countries claiming performance superior to existing string materials (Deurig, 1995). Furthermore, a variety of damping applications are being examined including such motivated projects as railroad wheel tires and damping mechanisms for suspension bridges. Moreover, the maximum Ms temperature achieved in Ni-Ti binary alloys is 100 degrees Celsius and for several years scientists have searched extensively for ways to increase this. Ms temperature or Martensite start temperature is the temperature at which the transformation from austenite to martensite begins on cooling. Until just two years ago the only alloys showing hope were extremely expensive alloys such as Ti- Pd-Ni and Ti-Pt-Ni. Recently, however two new alloys are showing a great deal of promise, Ni-Ti-Hf and Ni-Ti-Zr31. These alloys prove that transformation temperatures of over 300 degrees C are possible (Deurig, 1995). However, it is too early to know what the cost of the alloys will be and if other properties will be as good as the original alloys. Luckily, these first indications seem positive. One advantage if such an Ms temperature is possible would include the use of nitinol in circuit breakers and in automotive applications. Conclusion Shape memory alloys are quickly becoming a common material used in medical applications today. The adverse uses of alloys, such as nitinol, allow for improved stents, catheters, bone plates, medical procedures, and more. These advanced materials are helping to shape medical technology for the future. Through their durability and unusual prowess for changing shape they have become the future of medical material.

The Alamo :: essays research papers

To understand the real battle, one must appreciate its strategic context in the Texas Revolution.qv In December 1835 a Federalist army of Texan (or Texian,qv as they were called) immigrants, American volunteers, and their Tejanoqv allies had captured the town from a Centralist force during the siege of Bexar.qv With that victory, a majority of the Texan volunteers of the "Army of the People" left service and returned to their families. Nevertheless, many officials of the provisional governmentqv feared the Centralists would mount a spring offensive. Two main roads led into Texas from the Mexican interior. The first was the Atascosito Road,qv which stretched from Matamoros on the Rio Grande northward through San Patricio, Goliad, Victoria, and finally into the heart of Austin's colony. The second was the Old San Antonio Road,qv a camino real that crossed the Rio Grande at Paso de Francia (the San Antonio Crossingqv) and wound northeastward through San Antonio de Bà ©xar, B astrop, Nacogdoches, San Augustine, and across the Sabine River into Louisiana. Two forts blocked these approaches into Texas: Presidio La Bahà ­a (Nuestra Seà ±ora de Loreto Presidio) at Goliad and the Alamo at San Antonio. Each installation functioned as a frontier picket guard, ready to alert the Texas settlements of an enemy advance. James Clinton Neillqv received command of the Bexar garrison. Some ninety miles to the southeast, James Walker Fannin, Jr.,qv subsequently took command at Goliad. Most Texan settlers had returned to the comforts of home and hearth. Consequently, newly arrived American volunteers-some of whom counted their time in Texas by the week-constituted a majority of the troops at Goliad and Bexar. Both Neill and Fannin determined to stall the Centralists on the frontier. Still, they labored under no delusions. Without speedy reinforcements, neither the Alamo nor Presidio La Bahà ­a could long withstand a siege. At Bexar were some twenty-one artillery pieces of various caliber. Because of his artillery experience and his regular army commission, Neill was a logical choice to command. Throughout January he did his best to fortify the mission fort on the outskirts of town. Maj. Green B. Jameson,qv chief engineer at the Alamo, installed most of the cannons on the walls. Jameson boasted to Gen. Sam Houstonqv that if the Centralists stormed the Alamo, the defenders could "whip 10 to 1 with our artillery." Such predictions proved excessively optimistic. Far from the bulk of Texas settlements, the Bexar garrison suffered from a lack of even basic provender.

Health Promotion and Teaching as Tools for Nursing Essay -- Healthy He

Laying the Foundation for a Healthier Future Health promotion and teaching are important tools for nursing. By promoting health and health teaching, nurses can help lay the foundation for a healthier future. Major Concepts and Definitions Belief–a statement of sense, declared or implied, that is intellectually and/or emotionally accepted as true by a person or group. Attitude–a relatively constant feeling, predisposition, or a set of beliefs that is directed toward an object, a person, or a situation. Value–a preference that is shared and transmitted within a community. Behavioral diagnosis–the delineation of the specific health actions that are most likely to effect a health outcome. Health Belief Model–a paradigm used to predict and explain health behavior that is based on value-expectancy theory. Perceive–how one views oneself’s health. Expectancies–outcomes and evaluation of how behavior is determined. Divided into three types. Environmental cues–subconcept of expectancies, beliefs how events are connected. Outcome expectation–subconcept of expectancies, consequences of one’s own actions. Efficacy expectation–subconcept of expectancies, one’s own competence to perform the behavior required to influence outcomes. Incentives– value of a particular object or outcome. Domains of learning–information, skills, and attitudes needed to be taught to achieve the appropriate level of learning. Cognitive domain–subconcept, development of new facts or concepts, building on or applying past knowledge to new situations. Psychomotor learning–subconcept, development of physical skills from simple to complex actions. Affective learning–recognition of values, religious and spiritual beliefs, family interaction patterns and relationships and personal attitudes that affect decisions and problem-solving progress. Teaching–a planned and purposeful activity that nurses use to increase the likelihood that individuals will learn. Major Assumptions Major assumptions are taken from Rosenstock’s (1966) Health Belief Model, Bandura’s (1986) Social Cognitive Theory (Edleman & Mandle, 1998), and the teaching process (Boyd, Graham, Gleit, & Whitman, 1998). According to Leddy & Pepper (1993), assumptions from the Health Belief Model include the following aspects: 1. Perceived susceptibility, the client’s ... ... and the Social Cognitive Theory can help the nurse to analyze factors that contribute to man’s perceived state of health. Working with the client in the proper domain of learning, the nurse will be able to assist the client to achieve the optimal level of functioning. This model can also be used with chronically ill patients. Again, the goal for the client is to achieve the optimal level of functioning. Difficulties in application to nursing practice would be the comatose patient or the terminally ill patient with no cognitive skills. Health promotion and teaching are valuable nursing tools but only if applied properly so the client is able to make healthy behavior changes with the goal being to achieve his or her optimal level of functioning. References Boyd, M. D., Graham, B. A., Gleit, C. J., & Whitman, N. I. (1998). Health teaching in nursing practice: A professional model (3rd ed.). Stamford, CT: Appleton & Lange. Edleman, C. L., & Mandle, C. L. (1998). Health promotion throughout the lifespan (4th ed.). St Louis, MO: Mosby, Inc. Leddy, S., & Pepper, J. M. (1993). Conceptual bases of professional nursing (3rd ed.). Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott.

Vampire Academy Chapter 20

TWENTY MY MOUTH DROPPED OPEN. â€Å"Uh†¦wait†¦you mean sex?† My astonishment prevented me from thinking of a better response. Mason thought it was hysterical. Jesse looked like he wanted to die. â€Å"Of course I mean sex. She said she'd do it if we said that we'd†¦you know†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I made a face. â€Å"You guys didn't both, uh, do it at the same time, did you?† â€Å"No,† said Jesse in disgust. Ralf kind of looked like he wouldn't have minded. â€Å"God,† I muttered, pushing hair out of my face. â€Å"I can't believe she hates us that much.† â€Å"Hey,† exclaimed Jesse, reading into my insinuation. â€Å"What's that supposed to mean? We're not that bad. And you and me – we were pretty close to – â€Å" â€Å"No. We weren't even close to that.† Mason laughed again, and something struck me. â€Å"If this†¦if this happened back then, though†¦she must have still been dating Aaron.† All three guys nodded. â€Å"Oh. Whoa.† Mia really hated us. She'd just moved beyond poor-girl-wronged-by-girl's-brother and well into sociopath territory. She'd slept with these two and cheated on a boyfriend whom she seemed to adore. Jesse and Ralf looked incredibly relieved when we walked away. Mason slung a lazy arm around my shoulders. â€Å"Well? What do you think? I rule, right? You can tell me. I won't mind.† I laughed. â€Å"How'd you finally find that out?† â€Å"I called in a lot of favors. Used some threats. The fact that Mia can't retaliate helped too.† I recalled Mia accosting me the other day. I didn't think she was entirely helpless yet but didn't say so. â€Å"They'll start telling people on Monday.† he continued. â€Å"They promised. Everyone'll know by lunch.† â€Å"Why not now?† I asked sulkily. â€Å"They slept with a girl. Hurts her more than them.† â€Å"Yeah. True. They didn't want to deal with it tonight. You could start telling people if you wanted to. We could make a banner.† With as many times as Mia had called me a slut and a whore? Not a bad idea. â€Å"You got any markers and paper?†¦Ã¢â‚¬  My words trailed off as I stared across the gym to where Lissa stood surrounded by admirers, Aaron's arm around her waist. She wore a sleek pink cotton sheath in a shade I never could have pulled off. Her blond hair had been pulled up in a bun that she'd used little crystal hairpins on. It almost looked like she wore a crown. Princess Vasilisa. The same feelings as earlier hummed through to me, anxiety and excitement. She just couldn't quite enjoy herself tonight. Watching her from the other side of the room, lurking in the darkness, was Christian. He practically blended into the shadows. â€Å"Stop it,† Mason chided me, seeing my stare. â€Å"Don't worry about her tonight.† â€Å"Hard not to.† â€Å"It makes you look all depressed. And you're too hot in that dress to look depressed. Come on, there's Eddie.† He dragged me away, but not before I cast one last glance at Lissa over my shoulder. Our eyes met briefly. Regret flashed through the bond. But I pushed her out of my head – figuratively speaking – and managed to put on a good face when we joined a group of other novices. We earned a lot of mileage by telling them about the Mia scandal and, petty or not, seeing my name cleared and getting revenge on her felt amazingly good. And as those in our group wandered off and mingled with others, I could see the news spreading and spreading. So much for waiting until Monday. Whatever. I didn't care. I was actually having a good time. I fell into my old role, happy to see I hadn't grown too dusty in making funny and flirty remarks. Yet, as time passed and Eddie's party grew closer, I started to feel Lissa's anxiety pick up in intensity. Frowning, I stopped talking and turned around, scanning the room for her. There. She was still with a group of people, still the sun in her little solar system. But Aaron was leaning very close to her, saying something in her ear. A smile I recognized as fake was plastered across her face, and the annoyance and anxiety from her increased further. Then it spiked. Mia had walked up to them. Whatever she'd come to say, she didn't waste any time in saying it. With the eyes of Lissa's admirers on her, little Mia in her red dress gestured wildly, mouth working animatedly. I couldn't hear the words from across the room, but the feelings grew darker and darker through the bond. â€Å"I've got to go,† I told Mason. I half walked, half ran over to Lissa's side, catching only the tail end of Mia's tirade. She was yelling at Lissa full force now and leaning into her face. From what I could tell, word must have reached her about Jesse and Ralf selling her out. † – you and your slutty friend! I'm going to tell everyone what a psycho you are and how they had to lock you in the clinic because you're so crazy. They're putting you on medication. That's why you and Rose left before anyone else could find out you cut – â€Å" Whoa, not good. Just like at our first meeting in the cafeteria, I grabbed her and jerked her away. â€Å"Hey,† I said. â€Å"Slutty friend here. Remember what I said about standing too close to her?† Mia snarled, baring her fangs. As I'd noted before, I couldn't feel too sorry for her anymore. She was dangerous. She had stooped low to get back at me. Now, somehow, she knew about Lissa and the cutting. Really knew, too; she wasn't just guessing. The information she had now sounded both like what the guardians on the scene had reported, as well as what I'd told them about Lissa's history. Maybe some confidential doctor's stuff too. Mia'd snagged the records somehow. Lissa realized it too, and the look on her face – scared and fragile, no more princess – made my decision for me. It didn't matter that Kirova had spoken the other day about giving me my freedom, that I'd been having a good time, and that I could have let my worries go and partied tonight. I was going to ruin everything, right here and right now. I'm really not good with impulse control. I punched Mia as hard as I could – harder, I think, than I'd even hit Jesse. I heard a crunch as my fist impacted her nose, and blood spurted out. Someone screamed. Mia shrieked and flew backwards into some squealing girls who didn't want to get blood on their dresses. I swooped in after her, getting in one more good punch before somebody peeled me off her. I didn't fight restraint as I had when they'd taken me from Mr. Nagy's classroom. I'd expected this as soon as I'd swung at her. Stopping all signs of resistance, I let two guardians lead me out of the dance while Ms. Kirova tried to bring some semblance of order. I didn't care what they did to me. Not anymore. Punish or expel. Whatever. I could handle – Ahead of us, through the ebbing and flowing waves of students passing through the double doors, I saw a figure in pink dart out. Lissa. My own out-of-control emotions had overridden hers, but there they were, flooding back into me. Devastation. Despair. Everyone knew her secret now. She'd face more than just idle speculation. Pieces would fall together. She couldn't handle that. Knowing I wasn't going anywhere, I frantically searched for some way to help her. A dark figure caught my eye. â€Å"Christian!† I yelled. He'd been staring at Lissa's retreating figure but glanced up at the sound of his name. One of my escorts shushed me and took my arm. â€Å"Be quiet.† I ignored her. â€Å"Go after her,† I called to Christian. â€Å"Hurry.† He just sat there, and I suppressed a groan. â€Å"Go, you idiot!† My guardians snapped at me to be quiet again, but something inside of Christian woke up. Springing up from his lounging position, he tore off in the direction Lissa had traveled. No one wanted to deal with me that night. There'd be hell to pay tomorrow – I heard talk of suspension or possibly even expulsion – but Kirova had her hands full with a bleeding Mia and a hysterical student body. The guardians escorted me to my room under the watchful eye of the dorm matron who informed me she'd check on me every hour to make sure I stayed in my room. A couple guardians would also hang out around the dorm's entrances. Apparently I was now a high-security risk. I'd probably just ruined Eddie's party; he'd never sneak a group up to his room now. Heedless of my dress, I flounced onto the floor of my room, crossing my legs underneath me. I reached out to Lissa. She was calmer now. The events from the dance still hurt her terribly, but Christian was soothing her somehow, although whether it was through simple words or physical mojo, I couldn't say. I didn't care. So long as she felt better and wouldn't do anything stupid. I returned to myself. Yes, things were going to get messy now. Mia and Jesse's respective accusations were going to set the school on fire. I probably would get thrown out and have to go live with a bunch of skanky dhampir women. At least Lissa might realize Aaron was boring and that she wanted to be with Christian. But even if that was the right thing, it still meant – Christian. Christian. Christian was hurt. I snapped back into Lissa's body, suddenly sucked in by the terror pounding through her. She was surrounded, surrounded by men and women who had come out of nowhere, bursting up into the attic of the chapel where she and Christian had gone to talk. Christian leapt up, fire flaring from his fingers. One of the invaders hit him on the head with something hard, making his body slump to the ground. I desperately hoped he was okay, but I couldn't waste any more energy worrying about him. All my fear was for Lissa now. I couldn't let the same thing happen to her. I couldn't let them hurt her. I needed to save her, to get her out of there. But I didn't know how. She was too far away, and I couldn't even escape her head at the moment, let alone run over there or get help. The attackers approached her, calling her Princess and telling her not to worry, and that they were guardians. And they did seem like guardians. Definitely dhampirs. Moving in precise, efficient ways. But I didn't recognize them as any of the guardians from school. Neither did Lissa. Guardians wouldn't have attacked Christian. And guardians certainly wouldn't be binding and gagging her – Something forced me out of her head, and I frowned, staring around my room. I needed to go back to her and find out what had happened. Usually the connection just faded or I closed it off, but this – this was like something had actually removed me and pulled me. Pulled me back here. But that made no sense. What could pull me back from†¦wait. My mind blanked. I couldn't remember what I'd just been thinking about. It was gone. Like static in my brain. Where had I been? With Lissa? What about Lissa? Standing up, I wrapped my arms around myself, confused, trying to figure out what was going on. Lissa. Something with Lissa. Dimitri, a voice inside my head suddenly said. Go to Dimitri. Yes. Dimitri. My body and spirit burned for him all of a sudden, and I wanted to be with him more than I ever had before. I couldn't stay away from him. He'd know what to do. And he'd told me before I should come to him if something was wrong with Lissa. Too bad I couldn't remember what that was. Still. I knew he'd take care of everything. Getting up to the staff wing of the dorm wasn't hard, since they wanted to keep me inside tonight. I didn't know where his room was, but it didn't matter. Something was pulling me to him, urging me closer. An instinct pushed me toward one of the doors, and I beat the living daylights out of it. After a few moments, he opened it, brown eyes widening when he saw me. â€Å"Rose?† â€Å"Let me in. It's Lissa.† He immediately stepped aside for me. I'd apparently caught him in bed, because the covers were peeled back on one side and only a small tableside lamp shone in the darkness. Plus, he wore only cotton pajama bottoms; his chest – which I'd never seen before, and wow, did it look great – was bare. The ends of his dark hair curled near his chin and appeared damp, like he'd taken a shower not so long ago. â€Å"What's wrong?† The sound of his voice thrilled me, and I couldn't answer. I couldn't stop staring at him. The force that had pulled me up here pulled me to him. I wanted him to touch me so badly, so badly I could barely stand it. He was so amazing. So unbelievably gorgeous. I knew somewhere something was wrong, but it didn't seem important. Not when I was with him. With almost a foot separating us, there was no way I could easily kiss his lips without his help. So instead, I aimed for his chest, wanting to taste that warm, smooth skin. â€Å"Rose!† he exclaimed, stepping back. â€Å"What are you doing?† â€Å"What do you think?† I moved toward him again, needing to touch him and kiss him and do so many other things. â€Å"Are you drunk?† he asked, holding his hand out in a warding gesture. â€Å"Don't I wish.† I tried to dodge around him, then paused, momentarily uncertain. â€Å"I thought you wanted to – don't you think I'm pretty?† In all the time we'd known each other, in all the time this attraction had built, he'd never told me I was pretty. He'd hinted at it, but that wasn't the same. And despite all the assurances I had from other guys that I was hotness incarnate, I needed to hear it from the one guy I actually wanted. â€Å"Rose, I don't know what's going on, but you need to go back to your room.† When I moved toward him again, he reached out and gripped my wrists. With that touch, an electric current shot through both of us, and I saw him forget whatever he'd just been worrying about. Something seized him too, something that made him suddenly want me as much I wanted him. Releasing my wrists, he moved his hands up my arms, sliding slowly along my skin. Holding me in his dark, hungry gaze, he pulled me to him, pressing me right up to his body. One of his hands moved up the back of my neck, twining his fingers in my hair and tipping my face up to his. He brought his lips down, barely brushing them against mine. Swallowing, I asked again, â€Å"Do you think I'm pretty?† He regarded me with utter seriousness, like he always did. â€Å"I think you're beautiful.† â€Å"Beautiful?† â€Å"You are so beautiful, it hurts me sometimes.† His lips moved to mine, gentle at first, and then hard and hungry. His kiss consumed me. His hands on my arms slid down, down my hips, down to the edge of my dress. He gathered up the fabric in his hands and began pushing it up my legs. I melted into that touch, into his kiss and the way it burned against my mouth. His hands kept sliding up and up, until he'd pulled the dress over my head and tossed it on the floor. â€Å"You†¦you got rid of that dress fast,† I pointed out between heavy breaths. â€Å"I thought you liked it.† â€Å"I do like it,† he said. His breathing was as heavy as mine. â€Å"I love it.† And then he took me to the bed.