Working together Essay Example For Students

Working together Essay II. IntroductionAn historic example of team effort gone away. In that legendary story, a few key events transformed Camelot from a utopian kingdom into a wasteland. This isn’t just idle meandering. There are corporate Camelots, too, suggests Steven Rayner (6) those companies that started with such promise and fell victim to problems in their teamwork concepts. It is clear to see that team-based systems simply don’t work; better control equals better management. An emphasis on separating workers into specifically defined jobs, having centralized management control, and maintaining a structured chain of command contributes to a much better and more effective workplace situation (Rayner 15). There are, writes Steven Rayner in Team Traps, literally hundreds of traps that can open a gateway to team disaster (15). It makes more sense, therefore, to stick to the traditional structures in the workplace.term papers and term papers, did I tell about term papers on, term papers i n , term papers about , term papersII. Problem With A Group Approach term papers on and also term papers in and term papers aboutebfefOne of the major problems presented in the team work approach is that people are not accustomed to group problem-solving (Harrington-Mackin 137). It is a practice that not only hasn’t been learned, but is a difficult one to institute. In school, children are taught to rely on their own resources; to develop their individual capabilities. Deborah Harrington-Mackin cites the example of a fourth grader, who wouldn’t be allowed to say, Hey, Joe, you’re good at word problems and I’m good at multiplication tables, so let’s get together for this test (137), yet the adult equivalent of this is seen in the workplace when teams are expected to come up with a group solution to a problem. This is an odd practice for most people, as well as the fact that trying to reach a consensus in a group of adults can frequently result in he ated arguments, and no solution. Team decision-making can be frustrating. The team members have to take the time to listen to everyone’s opinions a time-consuming process where the inclination is frequently to jump on the first answer given rather than go through the lengthy and frequently tedious process of hearing from everyone (Harrington-Mackin 138). term papersqwrgIt seems that teams are being formed for every imaginable reason quality improvement teams, project teams, management teams, task force teams companies are quick to assume that increased employee involvement leads to improved productivity (Rees 7). But the problems that occur in trying to increase employee involvement outweigh the benefits. Many organizations that began traditionally are not accustomed to involving non-managerial employees in the procedures of planning, decision-making, and goal setting. These organizations have leaders who pass out information and answer questions, usually without requiring further involvement from subordinates.term papersvqrgOrganizations have been structured historically to reinforce authoritarian management styles (Mosvick-Nelson 109). There is no easy way to facilitate a team-oriented decision making policy. The authoritarian organizational structure is still the type of management style most used in business (Mosvick-Nelson 109), and for a good reason. Many leaders don’t know how to manage the participation of employees in these processes, even when a team is set up, and they frequently discourage participation (whether or not it’s done intentionally) by their actions they may allow for minimal time for participation, interrupt people, or simply ignore what they hear. This is a good case for leaving the decision-making to the top leadership (Rees 10).term papersIII. What are we supposed to do?vevevMany problems with teams result because there is no clear understanding about what is supposed to be accomplished. Team members and team leaders typically have problems defining their own roles, making it difficult to work toward results rather than busying themselves with the activities of the team (Fisher-Rayner-Belgard 6). It’s far too easy to get caught up in day-to-day activities, in being a team, and forget the reason the team was formed in the first place. This lack of focus is a good reason to keep employees working on their own, in specific, well-defined jobs. Teams tend to become too inwardly-focused a sure sign they won’t survive. term papersSometimes the manager of the team will discount not what his own team is trying to accomplish, but the efforts of others. A manager may insist that the success of other teams was nothing more than a fluke (Rayner 9), or they suggest any success was due to highly unique circumstances. This naturally leads to a lack of credibility, and suggests that employee involvement is irrelevant, yet it is an occurrence that’s all too common. term papersrfrgTh e relationship between team leader and team members is often adversarial. When the team is first formed, it relies on the manager to transfer decision-making and problem-solving authority to the team members. But eventually, the team members rebel against the authority figure, which often results in a confusion over responsibilities and the roles each member is to take. It’s not unusual for the team members to try to take on all managerial responsibilities and even question the value of the manager’s role the team is ostensibly working effectively; why does it need a manager? The tendency for team members to rebel or resist the influence of the designated team leader is a situation that seems to occur in every newly-formed team operation (Rayner 133).term papersIV. Working Together Isn’t So EasyveqgIn his book, Style of Management and Leadership, Manfred Davidmann reminds us that business experts have to work together to achieve their goals, and discord in one area can inconvenience many people (1). It is essential, therefore, that people cooperate with each other but this doesn’t necessarily imply working on a team. Experience has shown that the larger the organization is the more difficult it is to achieve the necessary degree of cooperation. Larger organizations are usually much less effective using a ream approach, as people tend to work against each other rather than with each other (Davidmann 1). term papersvqrvCooperation is essential to any team effort, and it’s not something that can be easily achieved. Frustration with management, or the workplace itself, causes internal conflict and struggle, which in turn means there is considerable lack of identification with the organization and its objectives. Davidmann relates the analogy of coming up against a brick wall. Team members may be trying to achieve something which is difficult, and it seems they don’t get anywhere because they keep on knocking against thi s brick wall which stops us (1). It may be the system or the organization; it may be the team leader or the way the team members relate to each other. In that kind of situation, one finds the wall is very solid, very high, extends almost indefinitely on either side and its foundations are deep and strong. In other words, the team can’t get through it; can’t find any way to get around the problem, and can’t seem to stop knocking their heads against the wall (Davidmann 1). This type of situation, one which occurs all too frequently, is also one which destroys teamwork. term papersGerard M Blair says that there are certain frameworks within which teams attempt to work. It’s the inability to function within these ‘frames’ that is another disadvantage to teamwork. The Forming stage (1) is when the team first comes together. Everyone is considerate and civil, and allows for everyone to participate. Discussion is slow and guarded since no one wishes to be seen as foolish by saying something on which the other may not agree. And underneath all this, there may be conflict. Even though it is not verbalized, it’s always destructive. term papersrvrgNext comes the Storming stage (Blair 1) people take up sides, and views and ideas are entrenched (1). The effectiveness of the team takes a nose dive, and the productiveness of the team is far less than the individuals could have achieved had they not been brought together. This report was written by The Paper Store, Inc. term papersrgerThe Norming stage (Blair 1) is next, in which the team works out methods of compromise, although this often is a moot point. Teams are not always willing to move beyond the first two stages. Once again, human nature is a strong deterrent in the ability of teams to function effectively. There are simply too many people with too many different ideas, and it’s not to be assumed that they will be able to resolve their differences. term papersVI. Barriers for Management TeamsvergrManagement teams are not immune to problems. Not everyone feels that team-based management is the solution for ailing organizations. A team leader from American President Cos. says, A team is like having a baby tiger given to you at Christmas. It does a wonderful job of keeping the mice away for about 12 months, and then it starts to eat your kids (Labich 1). term papersqergOne of the major reasons why management teams don’t work comes down to human nature. Harshman and Philips write of motivational barriers (148), where people in the organization fear loss of power, and leadership barriers (151), where a resistance to leadership leads the all the employees to believe that the team approach is unnecessary. Kenneth Labich suggests that team leaders revert to form and claim the sandbox for themselves, refusing to share authority with the other kids (1). Everyone else on the team tends to argue among themselves, bickering about such things as w ho gets credit for what the team produces. The team falls apart under the pressure and strain the tiger eats the kids. This is one of the major disadvantages to effective team work.term papersrgfwLeadership barriers can stop the entire team process, which ultimately gives the entire workplace the message that the issues the team was trying to resolve were not to be taken seriously. Many top level managers are goal-driven, results-oriented, and have little patience with any long-term process that needs to be effected by a team. The combination of leaders’ impatience and their possibly different perspectives on the objectives of the organization and the team make it very difficult for a team to function effectively (Harshman-Philips 151).term papersIt’s also difficult, suggests Harshman and Philips, for middle management to work in a team. They typically are caught between the top management who controls the organization, and the employees who actually get the work done . Their power in the day-to-day workings of an organization is somewhat shaky, and they don’t generally adapt well to any suggestion of rechanneling that power. This is a major disadvantage to setting up a team (152).term papersVII. Team Barriers ? Team members themselves are faced with certain barriers, even if the leaders can resolve their own problems. Teams tend to avoid responsibility for a variety of reasons and in different ways. Deborah Harrington-Mackin (11) lists the barriers that typically affect the team members: ? Lack of skill or competency to perform the task at handterm papers ? Lack of self-confidence term papers ? Fear of failure, ridicule and criticismterm papers ? Fear of being singled out and exposed as incompetentterm papers ? Fear of losing approval term papers ? Lack of self-control term papers ? Fear of being put in charge term papers ? Fear of taking responsibility for success or failure term papers ? Fear of change; of the unknown term papers ? Lack of organizational skills term papers ? Fear of being held accountable for mistakes term papers ? Fear of the change that success causes in work relationships term papers In addition, there are external barriers which are disadvantageous to the team, which may include:? Having too many tasks to do within a certain time frame term papers ? Experiencing too many changes at the same time term papers ? Having too few people to do the jobs term papers ? Coping with untrustworthy management term papers ? Coping with inconsistencies in management term papers ? Lacking the necessary resources or information to do the job term papers rwrgIt would seem that there are too many negative aspects to functioning as a team. Teams tend to make excuses to avoid responsibility anything from We don’t have the right equipment to It’s too late to start now to We have other problems we need to tackle first (Deborah Harrington-Mackin 12). If a team doesn’t want to cooperate and work t ogether, no amount of suggested solutions can force the members to come up with results. Harrington-Mackin relates that the best excuse she has heard for a team’s failure to perform was that the team was initially too large to accomplish anything (12). To accommodate this team in an attempt to help it work together effectively, it was divided into smaller subgroups, which then, predictably, declared they were too small to be of any use. term papersVIII. Team MyopiagrjjSteven Rayner recognizes that some teams can become very near-sighted; that is, they can’t see past their own noses. There is a natural tendency for teams to become inclusive of their own members, and somewhat paranoid of the intentions of outsiders (Rayner 46). In their initial enthusiasm over making a difference for the organization, some team leaders tend to grab strength through defiance. They challenge anything that was formerly established protocol and this can have a seriously detrimental result. R ayner relates the following anecdote: term papersfwefwefwefweefThe leader of a usually successful team became known as a ‘corporate outlaw’ fwfwrfrfrfrfrfrf(a troublemaker), because he didn’t follow accepted procedures. But this wasn’t wkflhjwflkjrkjthe critical point that led to his failure as an effective team leader. He had a singularergerergerger lack of grace and acceptance of others. His overblown ego led him to give ultimatums fwwrfrwrrrrfrfthat if a team member wasn’t ‘for’ him, he must be ‘against’ him. He believed he could wrfwrfrfrfrfrfignore procedures and practices that had worked previously as long as he got the frfrfrfrfrfrfrfrdesired results from his team. However, thefteam fell apart due to his arrogance efwfwefwefwhis successes were overshadowed by his lack of humility. Team members are not going to fwfqwfwfffwfwork for effective solutions to problems if they receive no credit for doing so, or if they fee l wfwrfrfrfrfrfrthey are being dictated to as opposed to being part of the team they’ve formed. frqfrfrqwfrwThis particular leader’s myopic vision of what constituted a good team never took that into w fwerfweconsideration (Rayner 49). term papers term papersfwefwRayner also attacks existing methods as a means to gain motivation of his team members a ‘we can do it better than they did’ idea (Rayner 59). Even teams that have proven success records tend to fall apart when they have poor interaction with other groups. term papersIX. Plain and Simple Poor Management term paperswfrkTeams forming to accomplish a basic goal often fail due to being poorly managed. Gerard Blair’s facetious description of this process says that: term papersfrfrfqrfqrfrqfIn the beginning, God made an individual and then he made a pair. fwefwewefefThe pair formed a group, together they begat others and thus the group grew. wfwfweffwffUnfortunately, working in a group led to friction, the group disintegrated inrqegrgrrgrg conflict and Caian settled in the land of Nod there has been trouble with groups ever since wfwfwefwef (Blair-Groups 1). term papersrfrfWhen people work in groups, there are usually two separate issues involved. The first issue is the task and the problems that are involved in getting the job done. Frequently this is the only issue which the group considers. The second issue is the process of the group work itself the procedures by which the group acts as a team. But the disadvantage here is that without proper attention to this process, the value of the group can be diminished or even destroyed. All too often, teams can’t manage to see group work as attractive, and there are too many problems inherent to group formation (Blair-Groups 1). term papersfwrfWhat many teams fail to recognize is that a group of people working in the same room, or even on a common project, does not necessarily invoke the group process. If the group i s managed by a leader who relates to them in a totally autocratic manner, there may be little opportunity for interaction. If the group can’t interact, the team eventually dissolves, or in some instances becomes a group of people all working separately instead of together. ffrffThe group process should lead to a spirit of cooperation, coordination and commonly understood procedures that’s generally why a team was established in the first place. But this isn’t always the case. All too often there is one person, perhaps not even the leader, who wants to run the show. This paper is for research assistance only. Blair asks us to consider the effect that a self-opinionated, cantankerous loud-mouth would have on performance efforts, as contrasted to working with a friendly, open, helpful associate (Groups 1). One person can destroy the team just as effectively as if the entire team was unable to function together. term paperswrfrPoor management of teams also extend s to the leaders not recognizing the team members as individuals. Being expected to conform to group standards and set aside individual needs or preferences is one of the main reason teams don’t work (Rees 42). Of course, some people are more comfortable being part of a group, but more independent workers tend to feel ill-at-ease when working in a team. Others may feel they don’t have much in common with their team members an essential factor to a team’s running smoothly whether it’s due to sex, religion, age or culture. If team members feel ‘left out’ at the beginning due to societal differences, there is little reason to expect the team will be able to function as a cohesive group (Rees 42). term papersX. Too Many Qualifications; Too Little Time term paperswfwfThe role of the team leader is a critical one, not only in his view of each team member as an individual, but also in his personal philosophy of what makes a team work as well as t he qualifications for a good leader. Too often, the leader is unprepared for the multitude of expectations that is put on him as the leader of the group. Rees suggests that, in part, an effective leader needs to:term papersterm papers and think term papers ? Listen actively term papers ? Ask questions and listen to the entire answer term papers ? Reserve judgment and keep an open mind term papers ? Actively seek the opinions of the team members term papers ? Encourages different viewpoints term papers ? Models the behavior he wishes to see in his team members term papers ? Knows how to bring the right people together for a task ? Is aware of his own limitations term papers ? Doesn’t take personal credit for group success term papers ? Understands that people’s individual needs affect team effort (26) term papers fwefIt seems unlikely that there will be a team leader who will stand up to these, as well as several other, criteria, which of course implies that the team ca n’t function effectively. Managers simply face too many challenges as they become team leaders. More than ever they need to be able to count on the workers in a team, moving away from the typical hierarchical conception of ‘us’ and ‘them’ (Sayles 9), and towards a more unified effort. But this is easier said than done. The problem inherent in a manager’s relinquishing his ‘power’ (or what he perceives as relinquishing it) is just one more reason why teams don’t work. term papersXI. Team Quality term paperswfwefAs has been discussed, the fate of a team generally rests with the Team Leader. The Team Leader has the authority and the power to define the work team, but too often there is a lack of focus. The quality of the team is diluted and the solutions are ineffective. Gerard Blair suggests that by applying what he calls the principles of Quality (1), the Team Leader can gain for the team the same benefits which work benefic ially for the corporation. His first suggestion for attaining this is to become enthusiastic about one aspect at a time (1). This is often a difficult concept, as the whole idea of working on a team is to toss out as many different ideas as possible. One problem is that by focusing on any one particular issue may cause the team members to lose enthusiasm. term papersfwekAnother trap to poor team work is that the team may focus upon the wrong type of problem. Team leaders need to make it clear any problem which they tackle should be: term papersterm papers, term-papers, termpapers, term papers* related to their own work or environment, and term papers* something which they can change. term papersvwvwUnfortunately, problem solving in teams can turn into gripe sessions about wages and holidays (Blair-Quality 1). fwffFor some team leaders, the ability to enable failure is not a comfortable or familiar concept. If the team is unable to try out ideas without rebuke for errors, then the sc ope of their solutions will be severely limited. Too often, the failures aren’t recognized as they should be as an opportunity to gain knowledge. The quality of the team necessarily suffers because of this, and eventually, one can expect that the team itself will lack the enthusiasm or drive necessary to continue as an effective group (Blair-Quality 1). term papersXII. The Face is Familiar term papersfwefwAnother of the disadvantages to team work is that the teams themselves begin to ‘fade’ as they spend the necessary time together. The same people saying the same things in an extended team situation, day-after-day, becomes tedious and stale. Of course, the obvious solution to this would be to bring in new people, either as new team members or as liaisons to other teams. The problem with this is that teams often resist letting ‘outside’ new members on their team. If the team has functioned as a group for any appreciable length of time, they often fe el they know each other’s quirks and have no desire to alter the dynamics of the group, even when it is apparent what they have isn’t working (Harrington-Macklin 74). term papersddedIf not new members, then another solution to the ‘same old, same old’ situation is often to attempt job-sharing the team members may be encouraged to switch jobs and responsibilities. This, too, is rarely easy to bring about. Team members are generally very resistant to job sharing because each member becomes territorial about the task to which he was first assigned (Harrington-Macklin 76). term papersXIII. Team Meetings term paperseeefProductive team work is almost always the result of successful team meeting (Kinlaw v). Unfortunately, team leaders as well as members don’t receive adequate instruction on how to carry this out, or demonstrate the strategies for organizational development that are necessary. Team meetings, rather than being a productive and efficient mea ns to solve an organization’s problems, can deteriorate due to lack of proper facilitation. Teams that have a tendency to repeatedly set aside difficult decisions find their options are increasingly limited. Without the adequate instruction on how to effect solutions, the teams will eventually either dissolve, or worse make decisions by default rather than informed choice (Rayner 167). term papersefefDisruptive team members are another pitfall in team meetings. The reluctance of team members to provide honest and direct feedback to an objectionable member only leads to frustration and poor performance, yet many team members are uncomfortable with the inevitable confrontation (Rayner 169). term paperswfffTeam managers have the responsibility to guide the team, but often they perceive this as a need to abdicate their authority in favor of letting the team members become more self-directed (Rayner 167). Many teams simply can’t handle this type of responsibility. term pap ersterm papersConclusion / Why Not Teams? fefefIt seems clear that working in teams is not always the most effective way to ensure quality solutions for organizations. The problems and pitfalls that are inherent to any team process don’t, in my opinion, outweigh the limited advantages of having people work in a group. There are too many variables that can cause the team to fail personalities, misunderstandings, ineffective leaders and it seems to make more sense, as well as the fact that the organization can simply run more smoothly, if the standard and traditional procedures of having everyone assigned to a given job, working on his own, is the method used. People still can feel part of the organization by their own contributions, but they don’t have the problems involved with several different people working on one team. term papersWORKS CITED term papersBlair, Gerard M. Groups That Work. term papersdqedeqhttp://www.ee.ed.ac.uk/~gerard/Management/art0.html (1997). term papersterm papersBlair, Gerard M. How to Build Quality into your Team IEE Engineering Management Journal. fwfwfffhttp://spindle-ee- net2.ee.ed.ac.uk/~gerard/Management/ (1996). term papersterm papersBlair, Gerard M. Laying the Foundations for Effective Teamwork. term papersfefefe http://www.ee.ed.ac.uk/~gerard/Teaching/art0.html (1996). .u21f4fd2119aa5bdbea3dbfbf843b3380 , .u21f4fd2119aa5bdbea3dbfbf843b3380 .postImageUrl , .u21f4fd2119aa5bdbea3dbfbf843b3380 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u21f4fd2119aa5bdbea3dbfbf843b3380 , .u21f4fd2119aa5bdbea3dbfbf843b3380:hover , .u21f4fd2119aa5bdbea3dbfbf843b3380:visited , .u21f4fd2119aa5bdbea3dbfbf843b3380:active { border:0!important; } .u21f4fd2119aa5bdbea3dbfbf843b3380 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u21f4fd2119aa5bdbea3dbfbf843b3380 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u21f4fd2119aa5bdbea3dbfbf843b3380:active , .u21f4fd2119aa5bdbea3dbfbf843b3380:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u21f4fd2119aa5bdbea3dbfbf843b3380 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u21f4fd2119aa5bdbea3dbfbf843b3380 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u21f4fd2119aa5bdbea3dbfbf843b3380 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u21f4fd2119aa5bdbea3dbfbf843b3380 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u21f4fd2119aa5bdbea3dbfbf843b3380:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u21f4fd2119aa5bdbea3dbfbf843b3380 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u21f4fd2119aa5bdbea3dbfbf843b3380 .u21f4fd2119aa5bdbea3dbfbf843b3380-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u21f4fd2119aa5bdbea3dbfbf843b3380:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Helen Keller Essay We will write a custom essay on Working together specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Davidmann, Manfred .Style of Management and Leadership. term papersewfwefhttp://www.demon.co.uk/solbaram/articles/clm2.html (1982). term papers on, term papers about, term papers in, term papers andFisher, Kimball-Rayner, Steven-Belgard, William. Tips for Teams. term papersfwfwffrf(New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, Inc.,1995). term papers on, term papers about, term papers in, term papers andHarshman, Carl L.-Philips, Steven L. Teaming Up. term papersdqdqdd(San Diego, CA: Pfeiffer Co., 1994). term papers on, term papers about, term papers in, term papers andKinlaw, Dennis. Team-Managed Facilitation. term papersvrrfrfrrf(San Diego, CA: Pfeiffer Co.,1993). term papers on, term papers about, term papers in, term papers andHarrington-Mackin, Deborah. Keeping the Team Going. term papersfrfrfrffrff(New York, NY: Amacom, 1996). term papers on, term papers about, term papers in, term papers andMosvick, Roger-Nelson, Robert B. We’ve Got to Start Meeting Like This. term paperswefefef(Glenview, IL: Scott Foresman, 1987). term papers on, term papers about, term papers in, term papers andRayner, Steven R. Team Traps. (New York, NY: John Wiley Sons, Inc., 1996).term papersterm papers on, term papers about, term papers in, term papers andRees, Fran How to Lead Work Teams. (San Diego, CA: Pfeiffer Co., 1991). term papersterm papers on, term papers about, term papers in, term papers andSayles, L.R. Leadership for the Nineties. Issues and Observations. term paperswewec(1990): Spring, pp. 8-11. term papers on, term papers about, term papers in, term

Literarture and a Mothers Love Essays

Literarture and a Mothers Love Essays Literarture and a Mothers Love Essay Literarture and a Mothers Love Essay Essay Topic: Mother To Mother The art Of Love At conception a woman becomes a mother.Plans start to develop in a womans mind and heart for the future of herself and her unborn child. A mothers love offers her child a blueprint in the development of the childs character, personality and individualism.After analyzing â€Å"Girl† by Jamaica Kincaid, â€Å"The Train from Hate† by John Hope Franklin and â€Å"The Mother† by Gwendolyn Brooks, I decided the three authors describe a mothers love expressed in a variety of different ways, with basically the same outcome.The mothers from these readings express great love for their children.The importance of their childrens futures presents each of the mothers own unique parenting style.Love, compassion, respect and an ethical way of life are learned behaviors.A mother may express the importance of acting and thinking like a lady.Perhaps, a mother may express to her child the importance of life and making the best oflife regardless of obstacles a long the way.A mother may face the difficult decision of aborting a child for the good of the unborn child.These mothers are all expressing a form of love, having an open, non-judgmental opinion about life in general. In â€Å"Girl† by Kincaid, a complicated relationship is described between a mother and daughter. This mother expresses her fear of her daughter becoming promiscuous if the rules the mother has set are not adhered to by the daughter.For instance, Mother says â€Å"this is how to behave in the presence of men who don’t know you very well, and this way they won’t recognize immediately the slut I have warned you against becoming† (40). The mothers behavior in this poem is domineering.She tells her daughter what to do and what not to do in any situation she might find herself in.She is sharing with her daughter the knowledge she has gained from her years of life experience of being a woman.This is the way she was taught by her own mother.The mother s

German Language Spelling With a Double S or Eszett (ß)

German Language Spelling With a Double S or Eszett (ß) A unique feature of the German alphabet  is the ß  character. Found in no other language, part of the uniqueness of ß- aka eszett (s-z) or scharfes s (sharp s)- is that, unlike all other German letters, it exists only in the lower case. This exclusivity may help explain why many Germans and Austrians are so attached to the character. Since being introduced in 1996, spelling reform (Rechtschreibreform) has shaken the German-speaking world and caused raging controversy.  Even though the Swiss have managed to live peacefully without the ß in Swiss-German for decades, some German-speakers are up in arms over its possible demise. Swiss writers, books, and periodicals have long ignored the ß, using double-s (ss) instead. Thats why its all the more puzzling that the International Working Committee for [German] Spelling (Internationaler Arbeitskreis fà ¼r Orthographie) chose to keep this troublesome oddity in certain words while eliminating its use in others. Why not just toss out this troublemaker that non-Germans and German beginners often mistake for a capital B, and be done with it? If the Swiss can get by without it, why not the Austrians and Germans? Double S Reforms From Rechtschreibreform The rules for when to use the ß rather than ss have never been easy, but while the simplified spelling rules are less complex, they continue the confusion. German spelling reformers included a section called  sonderfall ss/ß (neuregelung), or special case ss/ß (new rules). This section says, For the sharp (voiceless) [s] after a long vowel or diphthong, one writes ß, as long as no other consonant follows in the word stem.  Alles klar? (Got that?) Thus, while the new rules reduce the use of the ß, they still leave intact the old bugaboo that means some German words are spelled with ß, and others with ss. (The Swiss are looking more reasonable by the minute, arent they?) The new and improved rules mean that the conjunction formerly known as  daß or that should now be spelled  dass  (short-vowel rule), while the adjective groß for big adheres to the long-vowel rule. Many words formerly spelled with ß are now written with ss, while others retain the sharp-s character (technically known as the sz ligature):  Straße for street, but  schuss  for shot.  Fleiß for diligence, but  fluss for river. The old mixing of different spellings for the same root word also remains  fließen for  flow, but  floss for flowed.  Ich weiß for I know, but  ich wusste for I knew. Though reformers were forced to make an exception for the oft-used preposition  aus, which otherwise would now have to be spelled  auß,  außen for outside, remains. Alles klar? Gewiss! (Everything clear? Certainly!) German Response While making things slightly easier for teachers and students of German, the new rules remain good news for the publishers of German dictionaries. They fall far short of true simplification, which many disappointed people had anticipated. Of course, the new rules cover much more than just the use of the ß, so its not difficult to see why  Rechtschreibreform  has sparked protests and even court cases in Germany. A June 1998 poll in Austria revealed that only about 10 percent of Austrians favored the orthographic reforms. A huge 70 percent rated the spelling changes as nicht gut. But despite the controversy, and even a Sept. 27, 1998 vote against the reforms in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein, the new spelling rules have been judged valid in recent court rulings. The new rules officially went into effect on Aug. 1, 1998, for all government agencies and schools. A transitional period allowed the old and new spellings to coexist until July 31, 2005. Since then only the new spelling rules are considered valid and correct, even though most German-speakers continue to spell German as they always have, and there are no regulations or laws that prevent them from doing so. Perhaps the new rules are a step in the right direction, without going far enough. Some feel that the current reform should have dropped ß completely (as in German-speaking Switzerland), eliminated the anachronistic  capitalization of nouns  (as English did hundreds of years ago), and further simplified German spelling and punctuation in many other ways. But those who protest against spelling reform (including authors who should know better) are misguided, trying to resist needed changes in the name of tradition. Many counterarguments are demonstrably false while placing emotion over reason. Still, though schools and government are still subject to the new rules, most German speakers are against the reforms. The revolt by the  Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung  in Aug. 2000, and later by other German newspapers, is yet another sign of the widespread unpopularity of the reforms. Time alone will tell how the spelling reform story ends.

Criminal Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Criminal Law - Essay Example Finally, there is the possibility that the actions of the doctor in giving the wrong blood transfusion and taking Alan off of life support would break the chain of causation so that Derek would not be liable for homicide after all. Therefore there a number of possible offenses and a number of possible defenses here for Derek and the Doctor. What homicidal offences might Derek have committed? What are the potential difficulties with regards to mens rea and actus reas? First, did Derek cause death or great bodily harm to Alan? The answer to this is yes, so the actus reus for homicide has been established. Second, can we establish that Derek aimed to cause death or great bodily harm to Alan? If so, then the mens rea for homicide has been established.1 While, in this case, it would be a stretch to state that Derek aimed to kill Alan, it may be shown that he, in fact, did intend great bodily harm to Alan when he set fire to Alan’s flat. What is not known is whether Derek was aware that Alan was inside the flat or not. If Derek had thought that Alan was not in his flat, then it could conceivably be said that Derek did not form the proper mens rea for homicide, because, in that case, Derek would have only had the mens rea for arson and not homicide. On the other hand, if it could be shown that Derek was affirmatively aware that Alan was asleep in the flat, then it could be said that Derek did, indeed, intend to cause great bodily harm to Alan, and the mens rea would be established. At any rate, even if Derek is not responsible for homicide, he would probably be responsible for manslaughter, as one only has to prove, as the actus reus for manslaughter that a person intended an unlawful act to another person for manslaughter to be established. As Derek intended arson on Alan’s home, this could be said that Derek intended an unlawful act on Alan, so he would be guilty of manslaughter even if there is no mens rea for homicide.2 Moreover, the mens rea might b e negated by Derek’s intoxication.3 The test here is whether Derek was so intoxicated that he could not form the mens rea that is necessary to commit the homicide. The facts stated that Derek had quickly downed four vodkas. This would certainly make a person drunk, however, the actual crime occurred four hours after Derek drank these vodkas, so Derek was probably not still so intoxicated by vodkas that he could not form the mens rea for the act. That said, the facts also said that Derek was suffering blackouts before the incident, although it is unclear what is causing these blackouts. Therefore, this might be a case of diminished responsibility. The rule on that is there must be present an abnormality of the mind that substantially impairs his mental responsibility.4 This is a possibility – perhaps Derek is suffering from an abnormality that would cause him to perform criminal acts of which he was somehow unaware. If this is the case, then he would have a defence unde r this. What defences might Derek have to homicide? The first defence will be that of provocation. The elements of provocation are as follows 1) the loss of self-control must coincide with the killing;5 2) a reasonable person would react in the same manner.6 We also have to look at the reasonable person in

Specification for the Director Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 123

Specification for the Director - Case Study Example With a 4.0 Dmax, it offers exceptional image quality, excellent detail in shadow areas, and remarkable color range. With its dual lens system, this innovative product automatically selects from two lenses for desired scan resolution. In addition, its Digital ICE technology allows you to remove dust, scratches, and many other kinds of surface flaws from the original image, reducing the need for retouching. And, with the convenient film holder included, it's easy to batch-scan slides and negatives for increased productivity. The Epson Perfection V700 Photo is a groundbreaking flatbed scanner delivering the highest optical scan resolution available (6400 dpi) for photographic applications. This powerful scanner gives you the industry's leading technologies, right at your fingertips. Optimize every scan with the exclusive Epsonâ„ ¢ Dual Lensâ„ ¢ system. Get professional-quality scans. Enjoy exceptional tonal range and fine shadow detail. Remove dust, scratches, and many other kinds of surface flaws from the original image. Scan large batches of 35 mm slides, negatives, and medium-format film.

Charlie Chaplin Essay -- Essays Papers

Charlie Chaplin Charlie Chaplin Charles Spencer Chaplin was born in Walworth, London on April 16, 1889. His parents, Charles and Hannah Chaplin were music hall performers in England, his father was quite well know in the profession. Charlie had one sibling, a brother named Sydney. At a very early age Charlie was told that someday he would be the most famous person in the world. Charlie first appeared onstage at the age of six as an unscheduled substitute for his mother. When his performance was over the audience was throwing money up onto the stage, they loved him, and he was on his way to being the most famous person in he world. Charlie had a very difficult childhood, by the time he had performed onstage for the first time his father had already left home permently. In June of 1896 C...

Business Law Ch 1-8

Question 1 2. 5 out of 2. 5 points TECO Coal Corporation mines and ships more than six million tons of coal annually. TECO is comprehensively regulated by the U. S. Bureau of Mines. The U. S. Bureau of Mines may conduct a surprise inspection of one of TECO's mines: Answer Selected Answer: d. without a search warrant to ensure safety. Correct Answer: d. without a search warrant to ensure safety. Question 2 2. 5 out of 2. 5 points The primary source of federal power to regulate business is the: Answer Selected Answer: d. Commerce Clause. Correct Answer: d. Commerce Clause. Question 3 2. out of 2. 5 points The power of federal agencies is limited by: Answer Selected Answer: d. All of the above. Correct Answer: d. All of the above. Question 4 2. 5 out of 2. 5 points Zeno, Inc. is considering relocating its manufacturing facility from Illinois to Mexico City. The stakeholders in this decision might include: Answer Selected Answer: d. All of the above. Correct Answer: d. All of the above. Question 5 2. 5 out of 2. 5 points The observation that â€Å"The one and only social responsibility of business is to increase its profits† can be attributed to: Answer Selected Answer: d.Milton Friedman. Correct Answer: d. Milton Friedman. Question 6 2. 5 out of 2. 5 points The Chief Executive Officer of Ticor, Inc. must decide about the disposal of toxic waste materials. Which of the following considerations should help the CEO reach an ethical business decision? Answer Selected Answer: d. All of the above. Correct Answer: d. All of the above. Question 7 2. 5 out of 2. 5 points The Constitution ensures that the states retain all power not given to the national government. Answer Selected Answer: True Correct Answer: True Question 8 2. 5 out of 2. 5 pointsA rule that establishes maximum length of work shifts for air traffic controllers is an example of an administrative regulation. Answer Selected Answer: True Correct Answer: True Question 9 2. 5 out of 2. 5 points Society is hurt when business managers behave ethically. Answer Selected Answer: False Correct Answer: False Question 10 2. 5 out of 2. 5 points There is strong evidence that ethical behavior pays off financially for businesses. Answer Selected Answer: False Correct Answer: False Question 11 2. 5 out of 2. 5 points Which of the following is not an example of a trial court of limited jurisdiction? AnswerSelected Answer: c. A general civil division court. Correct Answer: c. A general civil division court. Question 12 2. 5 out of 2. 5 points Federal jurisdiction based upon a â€Å"federal question† includes cases based on: Answer Selected Answer: d. All of the above. Correct Answer: d. All of the above. Question 13 2. 5 out of 2. 5 points When an appellate court hears a case, it may: Answer Selected Answer: d. All the above are correct. Correct Answer: d. All the above are correct. Question 14 0 out of 2. 5 points In order for a federal court to have jurisdiction, there must be a federa l question involved and at least $75,000 in dispute.Answer Selected Answer: True Correct Answer: False Question 15 2. 5 out of 2. 5 points Generally, mandatory arbitration provisions in a contract are valid. Answer Selected Answer: True Correct Answer: True Question 16 0 out of 2. 5 points The President has the power to remove the chairperson of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, an independent federal administrative agency, if the President disagrees with the chairperson's actions. Answer Selected Answer: True Correct Answer: False Question 17 0 out of 2. 5 points Because of the concept of stare decisis, the U. S.Supreme Court, in interpreting a statute in 2009, will necessarily interpret certain statutory language in the same way as the U. S. Supreme Court interpreted the same statutory language in 1971. Answer Selected Answer: True Correct Answer: False Question 18 0 out of 2. 5 points If the title of an appellate court case appears as Jones v. Smith: Answer Selected Answer: d. Smith won the trial court decision. Correct Answer: a. you cannot determine which party is the plaintiff, because when a defendant loses a trial and files an appeal, some courts (but not all) reverse the names of the parties.Question 19 2. 5 out of 2. 5 points Henry David Thoreau felt that war was unjust and therefore refused to pay his taxes when the United States declared war on Mexico. If Henry David Thoreau's neighbor agreed that war was unjust but paid his taxes because the law required him to pay the tax, the neighbor would be applying the jurisprudence theory of: Answer Selected Answer: b. Legal Positivism. Correct Answer: b. Legal Positivism. Question 20 2. 5 out of 2. 5 points The federal judicial branch of the U. S. government: Answer Selected Answer: a. interprets statutes. Correct Answer: a. nterprets statutes. Question 1 2. 5 out of 2. 5 points Tariffs are generally higher in developing countries than in developed countries. Answer Selected Answer: True Correct Answ er: True Question 2 0 out of 2. 5 points Ad valorem duty is based on the fair market value of the imported good as of the date it reaches the United States, not the price actually paid for the good when sold for export to the United States. Answer Selected Answer: True Correct Answer: False Question 3 2. 5 out of 2. 5 points Which of the following statements about torts is correct? Answer Selected Answer: c.A tortious act may also be a criminal act. Correct Answer: c. A tortious act may also be a criminal act. Question 4 2. 5 out of 2. 5 points Shortly after Brian started to work at Trevit, Inc. , a co-worker, Ann, began asking him out. Brian said no. Nevertheless, Ann persisted. One day Ann playfully, but intentionally touched Brian â€Å"below the belt. † Which statement is correct? Answer Selected Answer: d. Ann committed the tort of battery. Correct Answer: d. Ann committed the tort of battery. Question 5 2. 5 out of 2. 5 points Don was standing in a cafeteria line holdin g a plate.Tim was upset with Don. Tim turned Don around and grabbed the plate out of Don's hand. Tim then held the plate up and threatened to break it over Don's head. Tim has committed: Answer Selected Answer: c. both an assault and a battery. Correct Answer: c. both an assault and a battery. Question 6 2. 5 out of 2. 5 points Silas asks his friend Shelby to come to his property to go fishing at his pond. If he fails to warn her that the dock has a rotten spot and she falls through and is injured, Silas would be held liable in most states. Answer Selected Answer: True Correct Answer: True Question 7 . 5 out of 2. 5 points A sports fan, injured by a hockey puck that flew into the stands during an NHL game, would be subject to the defense of assumption of the risk in a suit to recover for her injuries. Answer Selected Answer: True Correct Answer: True Question 8 2. 5 out of 2. 5 points Which of the following statements is correct? Answer Selected Answer: d. White-collar crime results in a greater monetary loss to society than violent street crime. Correct Answer: d. White-collar crime results in a greater monetary loss to society than violent street crime. Question 9 0 out of 2. 5 pointsEric was charged with attempted murder. His defense was that he was insane at the time of the act. A jury accepted Eric's defense. Eric will: Answer Selected Answer: b. have to be committed to a mental hospital until he regains his sanity, at which time he will be retried. Correct Answer: a. probably be committed to a mental hospital and when that hospital determines he is no longer a danger to society, he will be released. Question 10 2. 5 out of 2. 5 points The Theft of Honest Services statute: Answer Selected Answer: b. prohibits both public and private employees from taking bribes or kickbacks.Correct Answer: b. prohibits both public and private employees from taking bribes or kickbacks. Question 11 0 out of 2. 5 points Kelley went ice skating on a neighbor’s pond, bu t she fell through a thin area into icy waters. Kelley did not have permission to be on the property, and the neighbor did not even know that she was there. Is the neighbor liable for Kelley’s injuries? Answer Selected Answer: c. No. Kelley was a trespasser and the neighbor could only be held liable for intentionally injuring her or for gross misconduct. Correct Answer: a. It may depend on Kelley’s age.Question 12 2. 5 out of 2. 5 points A customer in a restaurant would be considered ________ to whom the restaurant owner owes a duty ________. Answer Selected Answer: b. an invitee; of reasonable care. Correct Answer: b. an invitee; of reasonable care. Question 13 2. 5 out of 2. 5 points Negligence concerns harm that: Answer Selected Answer: b. arises by accident. Correct Answer: b. arises by accident. Question 14 2. 5 out of 2. 5 points A tort is a violation of a duty imposed by the civil law. Answer Selected Answer: True Correct Answer: True Question 15 2. 5 out of 2. 5 pointsA salesclerk at Braybon's Department Store observed a customer remove a ring from a display case and put it in her purse. In most states, Braybon's will be able to detain the customer for suspicion of shoplifting. Answer Selected Answer: True Correct Answer: True Question 16 2. 5 out of 2. 5 points There is only one valid reason to punish criminals — deterrence. Answer Selected Answer: False Correct Answer: False Question 17 2. 5 out of 2. 5 points Criminal defendants have the right to a lawyer at all the important stages of the criminal process. Answer Selected Answer: True Correct Answer: TrueQuestion 18 2. 5 out of 2. 5 points In Marubeni America Corp. v. United States, the federal appellate court ruled that the Nissan Pathfinder was, for tariff classification purposes a motor vehicle for the transport of passengers. The classification of goods is significant because: Answer Selected Answer: c. the tariffs will vary depending on the classification. Correct Answer: c. the tariffs will vary depending on the classification. Question 19 2. 5 out of 2. 5 points The United States has agreed to which of the following? Answer Selected Answer: d. All of the above. Correct Answer: d. All of the above.Question 20 2. 5 out of 2. 5 points Hardhat Machine Company sold goods to Irish Eyes Company of Northern Ireland. Big Bank issued a letter of credit on behalf of Irish Eyes and the letter was given to Hardhat. The documents required by the letter of credit are presented to the bank for payment while the goods are still in transit. Is Hardhat entitled to be paid? Answer Selected Answer: a. Yes, the letter of credit is a promise by the bank to pay when certain documents are presented. Correct Answer: a. Yes, the letter of credit is a promise by the bank to pay when certain documents are presented.