Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Friendship Rule And Relationship Ethics - 1367 Words

Growing up I had a lot of friends through school. We had our own group of about 4-5 people. We hung out every chance we got and back then were really close. Like most childhood friendships we grew apart. I’ve had good friends from my childhood, but not a best friend. It wasn’t until the end of my deployment in Afghanistan that I met a guy who was soon to be my closest best friend. We started talking and realized we had a lot in common. Even when we were 1000 miles away from home, we had a lot of mutual friends and grew up really close to each other. We grew and bonded as close friends with many positive similarities from the relationship rules theory. To be more precise the friendship rule. I’m going to use the friendship rule and†¦show more content†¦It’s important for friends to have similar interest, especially if you’re living together. We always got along and surprising never fought during the time we lived together. The friendship rul e states some behaviors that are essential to having a strong mutually satisfying friendship. Rules for keeping a friendship is standing up for your friends in his or her absence, sharing information and feelings about success, demonstrating emotional support for a friend, trusting and offering to help a friend in need, and trying to make a friend happy when you’re together. I can’t really remember a time I had to stand up for Nate. He was the guy everyone knew and loved. To me it was really cool that I got to be his friend. Emotional support was the easy part. He was going to school to be a counselor, and his job in the army was a chaplain assistant. A lot of people went to talk to him about their problems and he was extremely good at listening and comforting. Though I always had problems talking to people, it was a lot easier talking to him because I know no matter what he wouldn’t judge me. Trust was probably one of the strongest bonds we had as friends. I would trust him with my lie, and easily take a bullet for him. He was always there for me and I always returned the favor. Nate eventually moved down to UCO to attend school. We still stayed close friends and communicated and saw each other whenever we could. Nate had some troubling heart problems where he passed

Monday, December 23, 2019

How The Internet Has Changed Our Lives - 1953 Words

I remember a time when we used to pass notes, write letters, and wait by our home phone for a call. In today’s society the way we connect with each other has changed immensely. The internet has not only changed the way we associate with one another, but the way we think as well. It has surrounded us with many different social media sits, allowing us to keep in touch with each other, share pictures, thoughts, and even our own locations. The internet is so powerful we continuously see what is going on in everybody else lives, and are able to be aware of one another personal relationships. This is done by a very popular trend called â€Å"relationship goals† that has been displayed all over social media. This trend has been basically portraying perfect couples by posting pictures and videos of themselves showing off by cuddling, kissing, sharing screenshots of cute messages, exchanges of expensive gifts, surprises and more. In modern culture, I feel as people are getting i nto relationships all for the wrong reasons. They want to have a connection with someone just to flaunt to others online, which can then lead to jealously of the viewers. I sometimes do wonder, with what the internet has to offer and what is being portrayed as â€Å"goals† and â€Å"perfect† these days, does social media affect relationships? To gain even more knowledge and find answers to my question, I am motivated to search the internet for more information on this topic, find comparisons of couples who use social mediaShow MoreRelatedHow Internet Has Changed Our Lives865 Words   |  4 PagesIn today’s world Internet has become one of the most important mediums of communication. It has become the lifeline of our survival. It has removed the entire social, economic and physical barrier and has immense effect on our day to day activity. The internet has given a new outlook to the way we do business. It has made the world look like a small place because we can order or sell anything and everything around the globe. Internet has become a boon for the upcoming companies as they can promoteRead MorePros And Disadvantages Of The Internet1250 Words   |  5 PagesThe Internet is a beneficial tool that an immeasurable amount of people use. Some see it as source of entertainment. Others might see it as a way to get quick information or a good place to share ideas and opinions. As amazing as the internet is, could it really have a downfall or disadvantage? With always improving technology like the internet around, people find it hard to just sit down and look through a book or even flip through a magazine. The internet has so much to offer. To some it may seemRead MoreIs Google Making Us Stupid: Summary and Response Essay1145 Words   |  5 Pagestechnology has changed mankind’s overall culture. From clocks to compu ters the use of electronics and tools is occurring every day in almost all situations. In Carr’s article â€Å"Is Google Making us Stupid?† he introduces the idea how the internet is changing our lives by making us mentally process information differently from the past, based off previous changes in history. Carr explains how we think less deeply and rely on quick facts, versus using critical thinking and research. Also he explains how ourRead MoreThe Internet Benefits The Human Race993 Words   |  4 PagesThe internet is the one of the greatest things ever invented. The internet has unlimited amounts of information, no matter what topic, there is an answer for it. The internet benefits the human race because there is no limit to how much we can learn. It can also be used to help in our daily schedule. For instance, if someone is fixing their car and they don t know how to fix it, they can go on the internet and find out how to fix it. The internet has changed the wa y we view the world. It has changedRead MoreAdvantages and Disadvantages of Technology1370 Words   |  6 PagesTechnology has changed modern society drastically, both positively and negatively. Technology has influenced every aspect of our life, making it simpler but not necessarily better. Albert Einstein was concerned about the advancement of technology. I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction.1 Undoubtedly, what has changed the most are communication, the spread of information, and how business is practiced. Consequently, practically everyone knows how to use a computer, connectRead MoreThe Influence Of The Internet On Society901 Words   |  4 Pagessociety has benefited from the advancement in technology. For example the wheel made it easier to travel long distances with heavy items and the invention of antibiotics saved millions of lives from infections. Today, technology is used on a regular basis, from the cars that we use to drive to work, to th e electricity that powers our tv, radio, and lights. By looking at what we have accomplished, technology has greatly influenced society. If you were to ask me what piece of technology has greatlyRead MoreThe Cost Of Computers And Television s Impact On Society1194 Words   |  5 Pageselse we rely on it so much in our daily life. It wasn’t always like this our computer technology has been advancing astronomical. When once computers were seen as a simple calculator for simple calculations. We valued them as they were specialized machines for each person and each person could have a different experience with the computer, recently computers have skyrocketed with improvement in the early 20th century due to new discoveries in technology. Which has changed society in a drastic way. TheRead MoreMedia Is the Message 1401 Words   |  6 PagesMedia is in our daily lives. It’s everywhere we turn from the things we read to the things we watch. Everything that we see as a form of media has a message they are trying to convey to us, whether it’s selling us something or getting us to believe something and sometimes it’s both at the same time. The way these media providers present it has changed dramatically through the decades. Technology has been a huge influence on media. Marshall McLuhan makes the argument that the â€Å"medium is the message†Read Morehow technology affects us942 Words   |  4 PagesTechnology has a big influence on our daily lives. Electronic devices, multimedia and computers are things we have to deal with everyday. The Internet is the world’s largest network and is used extensively throughout the world. It has tremendous potential and a lot to offer in terms of services. The usage of the net has given us inst ant access to vast amounts of information, and helps us to stay in touch with friends and colleagues. But our dependence on it has a dark side. The Internet, with itsRead MoreThe Internet Is The Greatest Invention Of The 20th Century977 Words   |  4 PagesThe Internet is the greatest invention of the 20th Century because it changed the course of humanity. It literally has impacted us all in very beneficial ways. The Internet is â€Å"a global communication network that allows almost all computers worldwide to connect and exchange information† (dictionary.com). It connects billions of devices worldwide. Why is the Internet so great? Well, it has for one thing impacted education in an enormous way. Education is now the fundamental skill for life. The

Sunday, December 15, 2019

I Just Wanted to Know About the Present Trends in Housekeeping Department Free Essays

PRESENT TRENDS IN HOUSKEEPING DEPARTMENT Accommodation Management Staffing The housekeeping department of a hotel is responsible for ‘cleanliness, maintenance, aesthetic upkeep of rooms, public areas, back areas and surroundings. ’ The department is not always given the respect it is due in terms of work load, the size of which can be estimated by the fact the department often employs the largest workforce. There are a variety of areas the housekeeping department must manage, the following table taken from Hotel Housekeeping Operations and Management depicts the housekeeping department’s span of control: Front of House Areas Back of House Areas †¢ Guestrooms †¢ Corridors †¢ Lobbies and public restrooms †¢ Pool and patio areas †¢ Meeting rooms †¢ Dining rooms/restaurants †¢ Banquet halls †¢ Convention Halls †¢ Hotel-operated shops †¢ Games rooms / recreation rooms †¢ Exercise rooms / gymnasium †¢ Building exterior †¢ Landscaping and gardens †¢ Management offices Storage areas †¢ Linen and sewing rooms †¢ Laundry room †¢ Employee locker rooms †¢ Administrative offices †¢ Cloak rooms †¢ Maid’s service room The diversity of areas controlled by the housekeeping department requires structured planning when delegating tasks to be undertaken. We will write a custom essay sample on I Just Wanted to Know About the Present Trends in Housekeeping Department or any similar topic only for you Order Now Developing an organizational structure is a process which deals with ‘identifying and grouping work’ and aims to ensure the department works as a unit, with clear lines of authority and good lines of communication and is essential for the smooth running of the department. A Schematic representation, known as an organizational chart, assists in defining roles and relationships within an organization, the following organizational chart has been created for a four star hotel with one hundred bedrooms. ‘Structure is the best way to channel employees’ efforts towards productive efforts (O’Fallon et al, 2010). It is important to continually review an organizations structure to ensure the structure is aiding the attainment of the organizations goals and proving to be†¦ How to cite I Just Wanted to Know About the Present Trends in Housekeeping Department, Papers

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Confucianism free essay sample

This paper discusses Confucianism and its rituals. This paper examines Confucianism by explaining its rituals that show people how to live their lives and interact with others. The paper discusses in detail some of the cults, for example, Cult of Heaven, state cults, ancestor cults, and family rituals. Ritual played an integral role in Confucianism, and was important in the teachings of Confucius himself. This importance was also shown by his disciples, who taught these rituals themselves after the time of Confucius. Because of this, Confucianism became known as a ritual religion, emphasizing both doctrinal and ritual rites within family and society. Confucius made sure that people understood the proper way to go about viewing and practicing rituals, as well as how a leader should act. Some of the rituals are the Cult of Heaven, various State Cults, the Ancestor Cult, and Family Rituals; they include ideas relating to how to act properly and how to relate to each other. We will write a custom essay sample on Confucianism or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Russian and European Trade Unions free essay sample

A history of the differences between the two. The paper looks at pre-trade union working conditions in factories and elsewhere and describes how the workers in the west realized that they were an essential part of the system and thus gained power. It looks at the rising figures for strikes as time progressed and in which countries they were most prevalent. The last segment describes the rather different appearance of the Russian trade unions, from the end of serfdom to Bolshevism and Communism. From the paper; It is no accident that the power of trade unions has diminished over the past several generations so that now for most Americans it is difficult to imagine the political, cultural and social power that they once had. But unions were once a major force in the age of industrialization, and it is only because we are living at the end of that age of industrialization that we see trade unions in their current weakened condition. We will write a custom essay sample on Russian and European Trade Unions or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This paper examines unions when they were moving toward the height of their powers in the first decades of the last century. Although there were (and are) certain commonalities amongst all unions, there were also important differences among the unions both because of the trade that was being represented and the country in which the union was organized.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Essay on Japanese Kanji

Essay on Japanese Kanji Essay on Japanese Kanji I thought i would never meet her again in my life since that day when I left Korea, my homeland. It was 4 years ago; I was going far away from her because I had to go abroad for my studies. The feeling i had that day; i could never ever forget how heartbroken and blue i was feeling. She was like an older sister to me; we were best friends since kindergarten and promised we always would be one. I guess you would imagine how I and she felt during my departure. We were both crying our hearts out; we tried our very best to stay strong with our emotions because we know that one cannot revolve one’s destiny. Thanks to God that we met yet again after 4 years. We certainly did not convey our goodbyes to each other; I assume that our faith was tied here in UK already. She called me and said that she was here in UK too. I was just too surprised to hear her voice again after those long years. The moment I heard her voice, it felt as if I was dreaming. All I could do was be speechless. We both were so full of happiness; we badly wanted to meet each other and decide to meet soon. The distance between our places was only about 2 hours from train but we could not care less. We talked from day to night during the weekends and said everything that happened in our life like how we used to talk back then. There were all sorts of stories: good, bad, hilarious, and miserable. Finally, we confirmed a place to meet in Christmas and celebrate together. However, due to some other family outing plans, we could not accomplish that plan but still we were happy and said there will always be another time. Later in our summer holidays, my mom told me that we were visiting our aunty and her family. I found that my relatives lived where she lived so I called her and said I will come over with my mom and dad. Now it was not long before I meet her. I arrived there. I did not tell her the date

Friday, November 22, 2019

Challenges of Mixing Methods and Methodologies

Inventory flow management is considered as one of the most critical and costly aspect of supply chain management. The companies are rigorously trying to balance the cost of inventory so that it is able to fulfill customer requirements. Storing to many stocks increases the cost of warehouses and attaches with the capital further it also causes loss to vendors if in any case there is a drop in demand. When there is very less or no inside available in the inventory upstream, downstream retailers, manufacturers and distributors cannot give commitment for huge orders with guaranty apart from that these people will also not be able to deliver proper forecast. Inventory management is usually considered as a very dynamic and flexible system which is very sensitive towards parameters of cost and it is been developing throughout years. It is also termed parlance management because supply chain managements deals with material flow control from the raw materials suppliers at one end and delivery of finished goods to the consumers at the other end. The most of these techniques are usually dependent of scientific principles further it's based on mathematical and theories of probability. The inventory management is responsible for various activities like marketing, purchasing, production and other techniques so that it can balance the conflicting tools (Bhasin , 2016) This system is responsible to provide knowledge to manage the flow of materials in an efficient manner, utilize people and equipment effectively and coordinate internal activities. The well managed inventory flow management demonstrates that the customers receive the goods efficiently in proper time. It further allows the members of the team to match the inventory with consumer's demand .Apart from that it is mandatory to meet the objectives of the system including capacity, profitability and productivity. There is some of the basic inventory terms listed:-Cycle stock-It is the basic amount of material required in order to meet the demands of the customer. Transit Stock-It is the reroute among the locations which carry the stock. Speculative Stock-It is basically the extra amount of raw materials required to meet the high consumer needs. It is different than normal short term demand. Safety Stock- It is the extra amount of stock in excess of the cycle stock which is usually maintaine d to compensate the uncertainties of the growing demand and substitution.It can also be expressed through a fixed amount (Coca Cola Journey , 2017) The inventory stock management has a good match with demand and supply further replenishing the requirement of inventory. Various operations such as transporting, manufacturing and warehousing; all these are responsible to generate imbalances in the system which finally gives rise to inventory management especially in FMCG industries. Errors in predicting the consumer demand generally impact the production of the product been produced in the plant. Apart from that changes related to promotional and seasonal impact the consumer demand for any particular product. Hence in these case shortages of the inventory further generate imbalances in the entire system. For eg:- shortage of labor, shortage of transportation.raw materials shortage and capacity of manufacturing constraints ; these all are generally responsible for inventory shortage and the company in such cases is unable to meet demands of the customers (Cahan, 2003) One of the most important parameter of shortage of inventory is scheduling. There are basically three kinds of scheduling problems in the FMCG industries:-First the schedule can be inadequate, second the schedule is not carried out in a proper manner and third the schedule can be disturbed by unexpected scenarios such as bad conditions of weather or breaking of equipments. The efficient inventory management will be trading off the conflicts of operations and constraints of inventory so that it can aim for an effective compromise that maintains enough inventories to meet customer demand yet covers variation in the forecast (Floyd & Fowler, 2009) Inventory is very crucial and it very much mandatory but there are other expenditures associated with the same; and the expenditures increases with the increase in levels of inventory generally when indirect and direct cost is indulged. The bigger the inventory, the higher is the possibility of loss by damage, obsolescence, aging and theft. A bigger inventory can result into inefficient handling. It is always recommended to spend ample amount of time in re-warehousing, double handling and stock rotating through man-hours which may have be crucial for some other task. It is very common factor in FMCG industries to carry manufacturing cost of 25% out of the total amount of funds allocated for inventories. Sometimes the expenditure allocated for inventories can be used elsewhere according to the latest requirement of the industry. Thus it is important for the operations to carry out enough inventories so that it can be always updated with its stock so that shortage scenarios can be avoi ded (Green, 2011) The principle of inventory management states that the industrial plant has good amount of production flexibility and capacity and enough area for storage. The basic quantity required for scheduling and planning the receipt of ingredients, raw materials and supplies packaging must be taken into consideration when estimating and calculating finished product requirement, certain patterns of demand , seasonal swings and activities related to promotional might need pre production specific SKU's in order to avoid capacity of production at bottlenecks. But whenever there is pre production of goods there might be less capacity of storage in the production area. In these scenarios there is a shifting of inventory to the distributing centers based on estimated demands. One needs to note that if the required facility has much capacity of constraints or an unbalanced infrastructure then it's mandatory for the team of management to modify the basic inventory process principle (Helfat & Martin, 20 14) The FMCG industries basically need to be proactive in nature for product recall. The earlier model of business required traceability from individual stores to distribution centers. The recent survey conducted on approximate 48 industries in FMCG sector states that the primary cause for installing an automated control system and material tracking system is to get real time visibility and accuracy of inventory so that it can efficiently track and trace the system of inventory. Further the report stated that 52 percent of the industries now use bar coded labels so that they can keep a track on their raw materials, goods finished and progress of work. In order to monitor raw materials, finished goods in the current scenario; it is mandatory to avoid accidental shifting of materials. To work in the real ambience the companies require the industry need to instantaneously hold the inventories either on SKU's real time expiration control of inventories .This can prevent the expired inventory allocation from entering the other processes .Hence resulting in downfall in distribution chain (Hutchison & Boxall, 2014) The aim of inventory flow management is to match demand with supply on regular time .There are two main methods to manage the flow of inventory most frequently termed as production push and warehouse pull. Production push is regarded as one of the most traditional technique whereas warehouse pull is the new one. At times the system of pull is much suitable to the requirements of the distribution network and beverage industry as it the exact consumer demand the basis for substituting inventory. But for satisfying the demands of the consumers without further interruption a certain quantity of inventory must be send out of the door. In this case the production pull system works very well. Both distribution and production push works very well (Lislie,   2011) In the inventory management production push process the periodic demand estimation is often converted into the production plan and a production schedule. Further the process of push production is further converted into transportation schedule which allocate the amount for transporting to each and every distribution center based on each forecast. In the production push process, the facilities with respect to the production or other elements involving centralized planning generally control and manage the movement of inventory within its distribution centers and location. The push process is generally introduced in the processes during periods of promotion, when the products are supposed to push out of the production area on assigning basis. In the inventory management warehouse pull process, demand forecast is also responsible for the plan of production and modification in schedule of production   on the basis of inventory substitution taking into account distribution center (Metcalf e, 2002) The system of pull in inventory flow management deals with responding to consumer's demand. Here the consumer is considered as a important factor while deciding the requirement, location and amount of SKU's. The push process generally sends out the materials based on the forecasted demands of the market or blanket allocation. The pull system sends out the materials on the basis of the demands of the distribution centers which are directly dependents on consumer's demand. The pull process works under right time principle so that it can conduct quick and frequent flow of info and goods. The cost cutting is usually maintained by replacing waste such as inventory which stays too long or huge amount of safety stocks. The pull system functions better than pull system as it is able to operate and deal with all the complex scenarios of beverage industry by using the technology at optimal level. The pull system of the inventory management is combined with scheduling of production and planning of resource it facilitates the matching of supplies with the actual customer demands within the supply chain again the reversal of planning information from consumers to suppliers (Randolf, 2009) The FMCG industries are making a drastic change by shifting from push system management to pull system inventory management. At the same time there are various factors involved which will lead to success of pull system in future. On primarily basis the industry should have a general knowledge about the pull system .It employees should have a basic idea on operation and estimation during the entire process (Austin & Seitanidi,   2012.) Secondly it's important for the cross over to have a proper commitment by the team of management and prior support by members in the senior management. Thirdly there should be introduction of performance parameters so that it can be established within the line of objectives in supply chain management .Fourth, all the locations should have timely and accurate info about the demands and quantities of inventory management. Fifth, an accurate estimating and forecasting system should be established and the sales and operation tem should be liable to it equally. Sixth, parameters of operations such as lead times, cycle times, and capacities are often required to understand production, warehousing and transport. Seventh, it is mandatory to have accurate info and good communication to solve the complexity of business by indulging software system and finally transportation is required for scheduling the systems (Finegan, 2001) The main preference of all the employees in the FMCG distribution and manufacturing is to satisfy the demands of the consumer for production. Controlling and monitoring the inventory is done in order to match the consumer's demand by scheduling the transportation and productions in a way which can decrease the usage of resources in a complex and constant balance. In order to manage the shifting of materials throughout the entire distribution centers and processing unit they usually develop the ability to meet the changing demands of business. This is further integrated with right policies, system and production. The management of processes and technology are usually done on the basis industrial practices and further by effective achieving the balance of inventory flow management. This leads to a company's success in today's challenging time. Managing the entire material transportation efficiently throughout the processing tenure and distribution of proper Inventory management is a crucial part of the "Seamless tube "within any respective FMCG company. The common focus of this sector is on customer satisfaction. The main goal of this sector is to produce good quality goods at nominal rates further packaged and delivered according to the latest demands of the consumers. Proper management of the inventory flow management ensures that every customer and supplier has uninterrupted delivery of delicious and fresh products of the FMCG company. This is also regarded as the greatest form of service delivered to customers. The enti re inventory management basically works on this fundamental. Bhasin , H ., 2016.Marketing strategy of Coca cola – Coca cola marketing strategy. [Online]Available at: https://www.marketing91.com/marketing-strategy-of-coca-cola/ [Accessed 5 November 2017] Coca Cola Journey. , 2017 . Sustainiblity .[Online] Available at: https://www.coca-colacompany.com/sustainability [Accessed 4 April 2017] Cahan, J., 2003. Mini-lecture on writing a critique- effective acade. [Online] Available at: https://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/b/j/bjj6/ENGL015-2001Critique.html [Accessed 4 April 2017]. Floyd, J. & Fowler, J., 2009. Survey Research Methods. 4th ed. Nashville: SAGE. Green, R.R. et al., 2011. Management matters in New Zealand: How does manufacturing measure up? Wellington.: Ministry of Economic Development Ministry of Economic Development. Helfat, C.E. & Martin, J.A., 2014. Dynamic Managerial Capabilities: Review and Assessment of Managerial Impact on Strategic Change. Journal of Management, 41(5), pp.1281-312. Hutchison, A. & Boxall, P., 2014. The critical challenges facing New Zealand’s chief executives: implications for management skills. Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, 52, pp.23-41. Lislie, J.D., 2011. THE BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES OF MIXING METHODS AND METHODOLOGIES:Lessons Learnt From Implementing Qualitatively Led Mixed Methods Research Designs in Trinidad and Tobago. Caribbean Curriculum, 18, pp.87-120. Metcalfe, M., 2002. Preparing a critique of an article: Using argument as an inquiry. [Online] Available at: https://godot.unisa.edu.au/register/articles/5.doc [Accessed 4 April 2017]. Purdue University, 2016. WRITING A THESIS STATEMENT. [Online] Available at: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/print/general/gl_thesis.html [Accessed 4 April 2017]. Randolf, J.J., 2009. A Guide to Writing the Dissertation Literature Review. Practical Assessment, Research and Evaluation, 13, p.14. Austin, J.E. & Seitanidi, M.M., 2012. Collaborative value creation: A review of partnering between nonprofits and businesses: Part I. Value Creation Spectrum and Collaboration Stages. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, pp.726-58. Finegan, J., 2001. The impact of personal values on judgments of ethical behaviour in the workplace. Journal of business ethics, 13(9), pp.747-55. ICAEW, 2011. Code of Ethics C. [Online] Available at: https://www.icaew.com/en/membership/regulations-standards-and-guidance/ethics/code-of-ethics-c [Accessed 4 April 2017]. Mc Devitt, R. & Van Hise, J., 2002. Influences in Ethical Dilemmas of Increasing Intensity. Journal of Business Ethics, 40(3), pp.261-74. Stanga, K.G. & Turpen, R.A., 1991. Ethical judgments on selected accounting issues: An empirical study. Journal of Business Ethics, 10(10), pp.739-47. Porter, M.E. 2008, 'The five competitive forces that shape strategy'. Grà ¼nig, R. & Gaggl, R. 2005, Process-based strategic planning, Springer Science & Business Media.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Human Resources Management Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Human Resources Management - Research Paper Example The job knowledge tests are based on multiple-choice questions (MCQs) that may either be administered via a computer or paper and pencil. Personality tests tend to assess the candidate’s personality characteristics that relate to the job. Such factors include extraversion, openness, conscientiousness, conflict avoidance and resolution skills, and agreeableness. These tests may be based on MCQs or True/False questions and are also administered via a computer or paper and pencil. Situational judgment tests provide the candidates with situations in which they are required to tell how they would perform. These situations are usually the ones the candidates would be encountering at work. These tests may either be administered in written form or may be videotaped. These tests tend to evaluate the informed decision making skills of the candidates in tough circumstances and with very little time to make the decision. Interview is amongst the most widely employed methods of selection. Most interviews are unstructured which means that there are no definite questions and these interviews are without any agreed-upon standards of evaluation of the candidate’s performance. These interviews may be conducted face-to-face, over the phone, or in a group. Structured interviews, on the other hand, evaluate the candidate’s skills with the help of a definite set of questions previously set by the interviewer. Like the unstructured interviews, the structured interviews are also conducted either face-to-face, over the phone, or in a group. Interviewing is a technical process and requires very fine skills on the part of the interviewer for the skills of the candidate to be appropriately judged. There are certain strategies and precautions that can help an interviewer make the interview effective. Some organizations take the services of an employment agency to conduct the

Monday, November 18, 2019

Carnivores of the Kalahari Desert Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Carnivores of the Kalahari Desert - Term Paper Example The desert is characterized by extreme temperatures during the day and very low temperatures at night due to the fact that there are no clouds to tap the heat and maintain the warm temperatures at night. The land experiences little rainfall and the temperature during summer often tends to be very high. Most of the carnivores that inhabit the Kalahari Desert have a higher likelihood of survival in high density areas. The main predator in the Kalahari Desert is the lion. The only other predator in the dessert that can somehow be viewed as a competitor to the lions is the spotted hyena. The cheetah is not specific about its preys and can be liberal about the prey it chose to hunt. This is likely to increase its chances of survival in the desert. The spotted hyena, unlike the brown hyena, hunts it’s on prey and is not a scavenger. In addition, they are not particular about their prey and can go after any species except for buffalos and giraffes. Introduction The Kalahari Desert is a large arid to semi-arid sandy area situated in Southern Africa, and extends to about 900,000 square kilometers, covering most parts of Botswana and portions of Namibia and South Africa, as a semi-desert, with large tracts of good grazing lands after rains (Thomas & Shaw, 2009). The geography of the area is part desert and part plateau. Because not the whole of the Kalahari is a true desert, it supports the existence of plants and land over the vast amount of land. The land experiences little rainfall and the temperature during summer is often very high (Lonely Planet Publications, 2009).

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Cold War Essay Essay Example for Free

Cold War Essay Essay To what extent was Germany the cause of East/West disagreements between 1943 and 1963? (2000) 5. Analyze the role of Germany in the origin and development of the Cold War. (2002) 6. In what ways, and with what results, was Germany the key focus of the early stages of the Cold War? (2005) 7. Compare and contrast the policies of the USA and the USSR towards Korea between 1945 and 1955. (2004) 8. Also: NATO, Soviet policies, Sovietization of Central and Eastern Europe, COMECON, Stalin, Truman

Thursday, November 14, 2019

The Theme of Death in War in The Rich Dead and Dulce et Decorum Est Ess

The Theme of Death in War in The Rich Dead and Dulce et Decorum Est by Wildred Owen and Rupert Brooke's The Rich Dead It seems that war in society is inevitable - for long as it has been historically documented, war has always been present. Although the tactics by which wars have been fought and won have developed throughout the ages, the outcome has always remained the same - with the untimely deaths of many men. It is this idea of war that has provoked intense controversy, with many people believing it merely results with death and destruction, whilst others regard it as a glorious enterprise and an altogether heroic adventure. During the First World War, poets depicted these diverse aspects of war, with the opposing attitudes clearly recognised in the work of Wilfred Owen and Rupert Brooke. Owens anthology of war poetry is characterised by his vivid and graphic detail concerning war and all its brutal consequences. He also revolts against pro-war propagandists, not only denouncing their beliefs but also by the way they brainwashed naÃÆ'Â ¯ve young boys into believing it was honourable to die for your country. One such advocate of this idea was Rupert Brooke, his work recognisable by a profound sense of patriotism. He wrote to depict the courage and excitement of war rather than the harsh realities staring them in the face, by means to entice young men into enrolling in the army. This is exactly what Owen was objecting to. I have chosen to study in depth the poems-'Dulce Et Decorum Est' by Wilfred Owen-an ironically titled poem portraying the wasteful futility of young lives lost at war and 'The Rich Dead' by Rupert Brooke-a poem honouring the death of a war hero. I feel that both poems effectively r... ...he poem. Owen strives to provide a more realistic image of the wholly unavoidable human suffering that war brings. I think the following line from the song "The Green Fields of France" reflects this image accurately when the writer describes his feelings while standing in a World War One graveyard: "To a man's blind indifference to his fellow man, To a whole generation who were butchered and damned" Rupert Brooke's work on the other hand is aiming to paint a pretty picture of the harsh realities of war. Although in theory the romantic principles presented by Brooke may seem attractive, to apply them to real life is nave and idealistic. War might bring glory on a wider scale, but to claim that a soldier's needless death in appalling conditions is honourable is simply untrue. War may well be inevitable but it is senseless and can never be justified.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Generation Gaps Essay

In our generation we have gone through numerous economical, social, and political changes. Some of which our parents would never have dreamed of. Things such as the cell phone, Wi-Fi, 9/11, and various mass shootings have permanently changed the way our generation lives and has forced our parents’ to adapt to a new way of life. Growing up I remember how different life was from the way it is now. Gas was $0.99 and everyone had dial-up internet service. Airport rules were much more forgiving. For example, If you wanted to travel you had the option of bringing food with you to avoid eating tasteless airplane meals. You were hardly frisked and didn’t have to go through a full body scanner before you departed to your gate. In my mother’s time the rules were even more lax. In the 1960’s there was little concern over terrorism and airport safety. There were almost no security procedures in place and because of this all a passenger had to do was to stroll over to the ticket counter, purchase their ticket, show identification, and board the plane. In addition to this smoking was permitted in all areas of the airplane and sometimes cigarettes were even provided to the flyers. Another aspect of our culture that has changed drastically is technology. A prime example of how technology has changed radically is the creation of the World Wide Web. The World Wide Web or the Internet as it is more commonly known catalyzed the birth of what is now known as the Digital Age. An age filled with constantly changing machinery that have ultimately changed how we go about our lives. Because of the Internet we are now able to buy and send things online. We can also pay bills, communicate with relatives, and share pictures—something our parents’ generation never dreamed of doing. Unfortunately less pleasant things such as the Columbine shootings and the more recent Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting have shattered the once widely perceived view of safe public schools and government buildings. Ironically, these places were never really safe to begin with. These tragic events have forced our government to implement laws to protect our safety. Back then, there wasn’t as much controversy over guns as there is today. Partly due to the fact that there was not as much violence in that time period. Thus, the general public felt safer and therefore, felt no need to carry around firearms or other types of weapons. All in all, one of the main reasons our society has changed so much is due to things like the Great Depression and the recent Recession as well as other less sinister events such as the inauguration of Barack Obama and technological advances such as WiFi, electric cars, and smart phones. These changes have altered how we live our lives in the 21st Century. Some have been improvements while others are mostly viewed as a decline from what life used to be like.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

History Of Popular Culture

In Early Modern Europe festivals were the setting for heroes and their stories, to be celebrated by the populace. They posed a change from their everyday life. In those days people lived in remembrance of one festival and in expectance of the next. Different kinds of festivals were celebrated in different ways. There were festivals that marked an individual occasion and weren’t part of the festival calendar, like family festivals such as weddings and christenings. Some took place at the same time every year and ere for everyone, like community festivals like the different saints’ days. Pilgrimages took place all year round. Annuals festivals like Christmas and Midsummer always took place on the same day every year. In those days the average village in Western Europe celebrated at least 17 festivals annually, not counting family occasions and saints’ days. Some festivals, such as Carnival, lasted several days or sometimes even several weeks. In the Netherlands Carnival started every year at the 11th of November (St. Martin) and culminated in a big festival of ‘Dranck, pleijsier ende vrouwen’ (Drink, fun and women) at the end of the Carnival eriod, preceding the period of Lent. Festivals were meant to take the minds of the people off their everyday life, off the hard times and their work. Everyday life in Early Modern Europe was filled with rituals, both religious and secular. Songs and stories played an important role in their lives, although they sometimes adjusted the details of the legends and stories to fit the way they thought a certain festival should take place. Popular culture was mixed with ecclesiastical culture in many ways. The story of St. John the Baptist is a good example of this. The ancient ritual f bathing and lighting fires during Midsummer’s Eve was a remnant of a ritual from the pre-Christian period. Fire and water, symbols of purification, could be seen as the tools of St. John the Baptist, and therefore a combination of the two elements of popular and ecclesiastical culture was obvious. It looks as if the Medieval Church took over the festival and made it theirs. The same thing happened to the Midwinter Festival, which became linked with the birth of Christ, on 25 December. There are many more examples to be found, such as the connection between St. Martin and geese caused by the fact that the St. Martins Day (11 November) coincided with the period during which the people used to kill their geese in the period preceding the Christian period. Carnival plays a special role in popular culture in Early Modern Europe. It is a great example of a festival of images and texts. It was a popular festival, taking on different forms in different regions of Europe. Aside from regional variations, these differences were also caused by factors such as the climate, the political situation and the economical situation in an area. On a whole Carnival started in late December or early January and reached ts peak upon approaching Lent. The actual feast, taking place at the end of the festive period, could take days and would usually involve large quantities of food and drinks. The festival took place in the open air in the centre of a town or city. Within a region, the way Carnival was celebrated varied from town to town. The festival was a play, with the streets as a stage and the people as actors and spectators. They often depicted everyday life scenes and made fun of them. Informal events took place throughout the Carnival period. There was massive eating and drinking, as a way of ’stocking up’ for Lent. People sang and danced in the streets, using the special songs of Carnival, and people wore masks and fancy-dress. There was verbal aggression, insults were exchanged and satirical verses were sung. More formally structures events were concentrated in the last days of the Carnival period. These events took places in the central squares and were often organised by clubs or fraternities. The main theme during Carnival was usually ‘The World Upside Down’. Situations got turned around. It was an enactment of the world turned upside down. Men dressed up as women, women dressed up as men, the rich traded places with the poor, etc. There was physical reversal: people standing on their heads, horses going backwards and fishes flying. There was reversal of relationships between man and beast: the horse shoeing the master or the fish eating the fisherman. The other reversal was that of relationships between men: servants giving orders to their masters or men feeding children while their wives worked the fields. Many events centred on the figure of ‘Carnival’, often depicted as a fat man, cheerful and surrounded by food. The figure of ‘Lent’, for contrast, often took the form of a thin, old woman, dressed in black and hung with fish. These depictions varied in form and name in the different regions in Europe. A recurring element was the performance of a play, usually a farce. Mock battles were also a favourite pass-time during the Carnival period. Carnival usually ended with the defeat of ‘Carnival’ by ‘Lent’. This could happen in the form of the mock trial and execution of ‘Carnival’, (Bologna, Italy, 16th century), the beheading of a pig (Venice, Italy), or the burial of a sardine (Madrid, Spain). So what was the meaning of Carnival in Early Modern Europe? Was it merely an excuse for the populace to go crazy or did Carnival have a deeper eaning hidden behind the facade of food, violence and sex? Carnival was a holiday, a game. It was a time of ecstasy and liberation. The form was determined by three major themes: food, sex and violence. It was the time of indulgence, of abundance. It was also a time of intense sexual activity – tables of the seasonal movement of conceptions in 18th century France show a peak around February. Carnival was also a festival of aggression, destruction and desecration. It was the ideal time to insult or pester people who had wronged someone, often in the form of a mock battle of a football match. A time for paying off old grudges. Serious violence was not avoided and in most areas the rates of serious crimes and killings went up during Carnival. It was also a time of opposition, in more than one way. It opposed the ecclesiastical ritual of Lent. Lent was a period of fasting and abstinence of all things enjoyed by the people, not just food and drink but also sex and recreation. The elements that were taken out of life during Lent were emphasised during Carnival. All that was portrayed by the figures of ‘Carnival’ and ‘Lent’ (fat versus thin). Carnival was polysemous, meaning different things to different people in ifferent areas. In different regions, different heroes were celebrated. Sometimes elements were taken over from other regions. Carnival did not have the same importance all over Europe. In the north of Europe (Britain, Scandinavia) it was less important than in the rest of Europe. This was probably partly due to the climate which discouraged an elaborate street festival at that time of the year. In these regions, people preferred to elaborate the festivities during the Midsummer festival (St. John’s Eve). Two reasons for this are the pagan survivals that were stronger in these regions, partly because they were solated from the rest of Europe due to geographical obstacles, causing a lesser ecclesiastical influence, and the climatic situation as mentioned above. Carnival was a festival in extremis, but elements of Carnival can be found in every festival that was celebrated in Early Modern Europe. During the harvest season, all over Europe festivals and rituals were held. The harvest was celebrated, again, with elaborate drinking and eating, although in a more moderate way than the Carnival celebrations. All these festival had one thing in common: they offered the people an escape from their everyday life and a way to express themselves. It offered the people a way to vent their resentments and some form of entertainment. Festivals were an escape from their struggle to earn a living. They were something to look forward to and were a celebration of the community and a display of its ability to put on a good show. It is said that the mocking of outsiders (the neighbouring village or Jews) and animals might be seen as a dramatic expression of community solidarity. Some rituals might be seen as a form of social control, in a sense that it was a means for a community to express their discontent with certain embers of the community (charivari). The ritual of public punishment can be seen in this light, as it was used to deter people from committing crimes. Professor Max Gluckman used the African popular culture to explain the social function of the ritual of reversal of roles as it happened during rituals as Carnival. Similar rituals still occur in certain regions in Africa. Gluckman explains this ritual as an emphasis of certain rules and taboos through lifting them for a certain period of time. The apparent protests against the social order were intended to preserve and even to trengthen the established order. As a counter example Gluckman states that: â€Å"? in regions where the social order is seriously questioned, ‘rites of protest’ do not occur. † Riots and rebellions frequently took place during major festivals. Rebels and rioters employed rituals and symbols to legitimise their actions. Inhibitions against expressing hostility towards the authorities or individuals were weakened by the excitement of the festival and the consumption of large quantities of alcohol. If those factors were combined with discontent over a bad harvest, tax increases or other calamities, this ituation could get out of control. It could prove a good opportunity for people excluded from power to try and enforce certain changes. It is hardly surprising that members of the upper classes often suggested that particular festivals ought to be abolished. They felt threatened by the populace who during festivals tried to revolt against the ruling classes and change the economical situation they were in. The reform of popular festivals was instigated by the will of some of the ‘educated’ to change the attitudes and values of the rest of the population († to improve them†). This reformation took on different forms in different regions and it took place at different moments in time. There were also differences in the practices that were being reformed. Catholics and Protestants opposed to different elements of popular festivals and they did so for different reasons. Even within the Protestant movement, the views towards reformation of festivals and popular rituals varied. Missionaries on both sides worked in Europe to install their religious values in the local people. Reformers on both sides objected in particular to certain elements in popular religion. Festivals were part of popular religion or were at least disguised as an element of popular religion. The festival of Martinmas (11 November) was a good example of this. What were the objections of the authorities against these elements of popular culture in general and popular religion in particular? There were two essential religious objections. Firstly, the majority of festivals were seen as remnants of ancient paganism. Secondly, the festivals offered the people an occasion to over-indulge in immoral or offensive behaviour, at many occasions attacking the establishment (both ecclesiastical and civil). The first objection meant that reformers disliked many of the popular customs because they contained traces of ancient customs dating from pre-Christian times. Protestant reformers went very far in their objections, even denouncing a number of Catholic rituals as being pre-Christian survivals, considering the saints as successors of pagan gods and heroes, taking over their curative and protective functions. Magic was also considered a pagan remnant: the Protestants accused the Catholics of practising a pagan ritual by claiming that certain holy places held magical powers and could cure people. The reformers denounced the rituals they didn’t find fitting as being irreverent and blasphemous. Carnival and the charivaris were considered â€Å"the work of the devil†, because it made a mockery of certain godly elements the Church held sacred. The reformers thought people who didn’t honour God in their way to be heathen, doomed to spend their afterlife in eternal damnation. Flamboyance was to be chased out of all religious aspects of culture, and, where possible, out of all other aspects of life, according to the Protestant doctrine. In some areas, gesturing during church services was banned, as was laughter. All these things were seen as irreverent, making a mockery of religion. All these changes were introduced in order to create a sharper separation between the ’sacred’ and the ‘profane’. The ecclesiastical authorities were out to destroy the traditional familiarity with the sacred because â€Å"familiarity breeds irreverence. The objection against popular recreations stemmed from the idea that they were ‘vanities’, displeasing God because they were a waste of time and money and distracted people from going to church. This objection was shared by both the ecclesiastical and civil authorities. The latter mainly bjected because it distracted the populace from their work, which in turn affected the revenues of the leading upper classes, or from other activities that were benefiting the rich, reasons that would vary per region. Catholic and Protestant reformers were not equally hostile to popular culture, nor were they hostile for quite the same reasons. Protestant reformers were more radical, denouncing festivals as relics of popery and looking to abolish feast-days as well as the feast that came with it, because they considered the saints that were celebrated during these festivals as remnants of a pre-Christian era. Many of these Protestant reformers were equally radical in their attacks on holy images, which they considered ‘idols’. During the end of the 16th and the first half of the 17th century Dutch churches were pillaged by Protestants trying to destroy all religious relics and images (de Beeldenstorm). Catholic reformers were more modified in their actions; they tried to reach a certain modification of popular religious culture, even trying to adapt certain elements to the Catholic way of worshipping and incorporating popular elements into their religion. They insisted that some times were holier than others, and they id object to the extend to which the holy days were celebrated with food and drink. Some argued that it was impossible to obey the rites of Lent with proper reverence and devotion if they had indulged in Carnival just before. Catholic reformers also installed rules in order to regulate certain popular festivals and rituals, such as a prohibition on dressing up as a member of the clergy during Carnival or a prohibition on dancing or performing plays in churches or churchyards. Contrary to the Protestant reformers however, the Catholic reformers did not set out to abolish estivals and rituals completely. Civil authorities had their own reasons to object to popular festivals in Early Modern Europe. Apart from taking the people away from work or other obligations, the authorities feared that during the time of a festival, the abundance of alcohol could stir up the feelings of discontent the people had been hiding all throughout the year. Misery and alcohol could create a dangerous mix that would give people the courage they needed to rebel against authorities. This was a good reason for the authorities to try and stop, or at least control, popular festivals.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

How to Avoid Sexist or Gendered Language

How to Avoid Sexist or Gendered Language How to Avoid Sexist or Gendered Language It was once, as James Brown sang, a man’s world. But things have changed. Women have fought against discrimination and taken their rightful place in politics, academia, business, and many other areas of life. But old attitudes live on in language. As such, we have to be careful about our word choice so that we don’t accidentally exclude or insult anyone based on sexist or gendered language. Here are some things to watch out for. Misogynistic Language It should hopefully go without saying, but some terms are inherently sexist. It would be unusual to use these in academic or formal writing, so we won’t dwell on them for too long. But in case you’re not sure, referring to Boudica as â€Å"some old hag who fought the Romans† will not win you high marks for a history essay. And not just because it’s too informal. Not a lady to mess with unless you like being run down in a chariot. Now we’ve got that out of the way, let’s look at some trickier cases of sexist and gendered language, including pronouns and generalizations. Gendered Pronouns and Words The most common problem we see, especially in academic writing, is use of gendered language. Pronouns are a great example, since the male pronouns â€Å"he† and â€Å"his† were often used to refer to any non-specific person in the past. As such, you might find sentences like this in older books: How someone solves a problem may depend on his past experience. However, the author is not discussing an actual, specific man in this case. They are just referring to a person in general, so using â€Å"his† excludes anyone who doesn’t identify as a â€Å"he.† It would be better, then, to use â€Å"his or her,† the singular â€Å"they,† or plural terms: How people solve problems may depend on their past experiences. In this sentence, we avoid gendered language, making it more inclusive. Similar problems pop up with other terms, especially those that include the word â€Å"man.† Usually, these can be avoided by picking a different word. Instead of â€Å"policeman,† for example, you could say â€Å"police officer.† And instead of â€Å"mankind,† you could say â€Å"humanity.† This doesn’t work for every word, though! The term â€Å"manhole,† for example, is still widely used. You can call it a personhole if you like, but we dont recommend it. Subtly Sexist or Gendered Language Similar issues can arise with how we describe people of different genders. A classic example is the word â€Å"bossy,† which tends to be applied to women more than men (who are instead more usually described as â€Å"assertive†). It can be a good idea, then, to think about the descriptive terms we use when writing about people. Ask yourself, â€Å"Would I use this word if the person was a different gender?† This will help you catch subtly sexist or gendered language that you might not usually be conscious of using. Avoiding Generalizations As well as being careful about picking your words, take care not to make hasty generalizations based on sex or gender. These could be sweeping statements about a whole gender (e.g., â€Å"All men are lazy†). But they can also be stated less clearly. For instance, we might say the following of someone: Despite being a man, Daniel is not lazy. In this case, the main clause â€Å"Daniel is not lazy† is fine. But by framing it in terms of â€Å"being a man,† we imply that all (or most) men are lazy. Likewise, look out for positive stereotypes, such as: Rachel will be a good instructor because women are naturally nurturing. Here, the idea of women being â€Å"nurturing† is presented as a positive. But the idea of women as â€Å"maternal† or â€Å"nurturing† may imply other negative stereotypes (e.g., that women can’t be tough or logical). As such, we should avoid such generalizations even if they’re meant to be positive! It is much better in most cases to discuss people as individuals than representatives of a gender. And if you need any help coming up with alternatives to gendered language in your writing, it never hurts to have a professional proofreader check your documents.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Jimmy Stewart Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Jimmy Stewart - Essay Example He won Oscars for his wonderful performance in â€Å"Mr. Smith Goes to Washington† (1939) and â€Å"The Philadelphia Story† in 1940. He served as a combat pilot during World War II and came back with more spirits and enthusiasm to break his own previous records. He starred in â€Å"It’s a wonderful life† in 1946 which became his reason for endless fame (Laufenberg, 2005 p 847). Jimmy Stewart had the personality which inspired me the most. The traits he portrayed in his roles, the passion, enthusiasm, zeal, quest for knowledge, ambitious personality and moral values are some of the factors that involved viewers in his role. He represented the kind of moral character which, if adopted, may change individualistic approach and further improve the society. The thoughts and feelings before taking any step and making any decision that is portrayed by him inspire the perceptions of the viewer. He was not fond of glamour but performed in movies the way he really was. This natural style is also a positive and unique trait in his character. Knowing his unique personality traits, I am much fond of his movies and gathering information about his

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Willmott Dixon placement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Willmott Dixon placement - Essay Example The Willmott Dixon Group has consistently been regarded as one of the Top 100 Best Companies to Work for in the UK, as recognized by Sunday Times (Willmott Dixon Group: Careers Overview n.d.). Established more than 160 years ago in 1852, Willmott Dixon boasts of having â€Å"employed 50 apprentices in 2010.. targetted 75 in 2011, and 100 by 2012† (Willmott Dixon Group, n.d.). In this regard, I would like to be part of the roster of privileged Birminghan City University students to be accepted for the three-month summer salaried placement at Willmott Dixon Construction. The ultimate reason why I should be considered for the placement program is my genuine desire to be of service to the construction company, regeneration and support services company. Its mission of providing â€Å"the expertise to efficiently meet our customers’ needs, achieve high performance targets and, at the same time, preserve our environment through the delivery of sustainable services†(Willmott Dixon Group: Support Services, n.d., p. 1) is shared with commitment and recognition for social responsibility and environmental protection. My nine years of extensive working experience in various capacities and roles manifest my conformity to giving importance to people as team members and accepting diversity as primost in significance. My communication and social skills enable me to adapt, adjust and respond to different working situations. My proficiency in different languages (English, Farsi, French, Pashto and Dari and Urdu) provides a plus factor in assisting understanding through verbal communication across diverse cultural backgrounds. The work experiences have developed holistic skills in the areas of leadership, problem-solving, conflict negotiation and decision-making, among others. However, regardless of the personal and professional achievements, I humbly acknowledge