Cuban and U.S. relations essays

Cuban and U.S. relations essays In the early 1900s, Cuba was a stomping ground for many of the rich and famous from the United States. Many famous movies stars and wealthy business entrepreneurs spend their vacations there along with a substantial amount of money. Trade and commerce between the United States and Cuba flowed freely and abundantly. Even with the Dictatorship-like regime of Batista, the countries benefited from the economic trade between them. This was all about to come crashing down as revolts against Batista occurred and Fidel Castro came to power within Cuba. It was after Castro took power that the United States changed its way in which it dealt with Cuba dramatically. The United States decided it would place major sanctions against Cuba and would try to cut Castro off of dealing with not only the United States, but any other country the US dealt with as well. It was during this time that the Cold War was in its adolescence stage and the United States was doing everything in its power to make sure that smaller, third world countries did not become communist or even associate themselves with the Soviet Union in any way. One of the reasons sanctions were placed against Cuba was that during the revolution against Batista, research was done into Castros background and it was shown that two of his lieutenants; Ernesto Che Guevara and Fidels brother Raul, were said to be communists. The research also led one to believe that even though Castro might not be a Marxist-Leninist, he was a Soviet sympathizer . After more in-depth research into Castros background, it was shown that he had no ties in any way to the Communist nor did he even have much sympathy for it. These sanctions were put into place against Cuba as Fidel Castro came into power in 1959 and have not seen any real changes up to the present time. The reason the United States implemented these sanctions against Cuba were for a couple of reasons. One was bec...

Mental Illness among Homeless in London Borough of Tower Hamlet The WritePass Journal

Mental Illness among Homeless in London Borough of Tower Hamlet Abstract: Mental Illness among Homeless in London Borough of Tower Hamlet ). It is the perception of lack prospects and potential that is credited with keeping many individuals in the indigent state. Among the homeless male versus the general public, there is a higher association with illnesses including schizophrenia by a 50% v 34%, personality disorders 37% v. 11%, substance dependence issues 74%5 v. 19% further increasing the need to study and identify the specific factors surrounding this ratio (Dunne et al, 2012). These statistics indicate the much of the mental disorders are amplified in conjunction with the homeless population which raises another area of concern; where the individuals afflicted as result of becoming homeless or did they become homeless as a result of becoming ill? This critical consideration will add to the assessment of determinants and the manner in which they work to keep the indigent population on the rise (Wright, 2014). In accord, the essay aims to discuss how the borough of Tower Hamlets has been identified as having the hig hest mental health needs in the UK, with over 45% of the population of the borough claiming incapacity benefit due to their ill mental health. This very high rate indicates the presence of a set of conditions that are expected to be identifiable, adding to the appeal of this study. As the literature confirms that mental illness is a significant urban health issue accompanied by crucial repercussions such as homelessness, the essay will aim to highlight the ways in which this issue relates to the London borough of Tower Hamlets. As the results are directly relevant to those in the Tower Hamlets, many other indigent populations exhibit similar conditions, which this study will assist to illuminate. 3 Urban Context and Determinants The literature surrounding homelessness and mental health indicates that factors in the urban context play a major role in the development of this urban health issue (Fitzpatrick et al, 2012). This is an indication that this area of research is not only necessary but vital to the effort to sustain and improve the state of the homeless population. Determinants such as poverty, exclusion, attainment and wellbeing all hold significant implications for homelessness (Frankish, Hwang Quantz, 2005). Elements that are cited to aid in the determination homeless population causation include the lack of general or low strata employment opportunities (Fitzpatricket al, 2013). This perception of no means to find work is compounded by ill health and the absence of health care. As those in the poorer classes fall sick, there is a trend to allow this sickness to become overriding, thereby adding to the detrimental factors surrounding a persons living situation (Dawson et al, 2013). Outside social f actors can have distinct impact on the determinants surrounding the homeless populations. With natural disasters and war placing many of these individuals in the homeless situations due to associated factors, there is a need to quantify each new social influence in order to minimize the harmful impact. Feeding directly into the homeless epidemic and the mentally unstable is the common lack of disability services that will have the resources to aid them (Wright, 2014). This scenario of inadequate infrastructure only adds support to the contention that each new determinant in the homeless cycle increases the likelihood that the person will not be able to escape the condition. With evidence supporting the position that it becomes harder to function in day to day society the longer a person remains indigent, there is a clear and present time factor that must be added to the determinants of the homeless (Wright, 2014). Additional factors such as difficulties in maintaining secure and good quality accommodation due to mental illness will also be discussed in the essay as contributors to homelessness (Breaky, 1992). Determinants to the homeless condition have been attributed to the high rate of substance abuse and addiction among the indigent population (Wright, 2014). This is an indicati on that there is truth to the argument that many people choose their addictions over a place to live comfortably. Further, this very aspect is magnified by the lack of affordable, quality housing in many areas (Buckman et al, 2013). With no avenue to find a roof, the drive to work towards making their life better has a trend of stalling as these determinant continue to hold the person back. This essay endeavours to shed light on recent changes to government policy, such as reforms in welfare support and social housing, the recession, and government cuts to public services in the UK had impacted those who were most vulnerable to homelessness. Each shift in public policy and perception has the potential to add or detract from the living situation of the indigent population (Wright, 2014). Yet, in many cases, available opportunities are overlooked due to the fact that the persons in question have no means to become acquainted with the policies. Individuals with mental health problems have faced considerable difficulties due to these changes such as understanding when they need to claim the benefits, how the new benefits work, and uncertainty about how the changes will affect their circumstances (Wright, 2014). Many times, the very complex nature of the policy or regulation diminishes the effectiveness of the intent by reducing access. As a further example of this issue rai sing modern concern, in some cases, individuals may also face difficulty getting access to, and using a computer to claim their benefits online (Dawson et al, 2013). These common issues that highlight the high risk of the mentally ill facing homelessness due to financial hardship and provide a possible explanation as to why there is such a high degree of mental illness among the homeless. Due to the fact that registration to a GP generally requires proof of a home address, homeless people are more likely to access healthcare through emergency services (Crisis MORI, 2002). This creates many issues including access, payment, sustained care and exacerbated social expense. Further, this poses problems on both the individual and the general population as the individual may not receive the health advice and respect that they deserve for reasons such as the emergency department only being intended for emergency health conditions, and due to social stigma around homelessness; such as the homeless may be associated with mental ill health, substance abuse and lack of hygiene (Riley, Harding, Underwood Carter, 2003). It is a common trend among the homeless to face a lack of insurance and the unwillingness to visit the doctor aside from the direst of circumstance. These factors have been cited as contributors of poor physical and psychological wellbeing which the homeless indiv idual faces when trying to access public health care, which only serve to compound the homeless condition (Wright, 2014). In many cases social pressure to avoid using the medical services, serves to drive the homeless even further from finding quality care, only serve to further add to the issue. A final determinant to be discussed in this essay is the cost of this urban health issue faced by the National health services, which in turn is passed on to the larger national population (Dunne et al, 2012). In many cases the variance of social support has changed alongside the political views of the ruling establishment. This condition causes many fits and starts to any existing system, which in turn serve to slow down both effective outreach and long-term strategy. Cost has the potential to become an overbearing feature of any policy creation effort (Dunne et al, 2012). In some cases the zeal to reduce the public budget for these issues is weighed against the need to devote time and resources to this part of the population (Fitzpatrick et al, 2013). With a common lack of representation among the law makers, the lower classes have often suffered the lack of finance and social support that is required to implement any effective strategy. Modern evidence shows that mental illness for the NHS is costly as it is the largest cause of disability in the UK. Social and informal care for the mentally ill is costing  £22.5 billion, where 13.8% of the national budget is spent on mental health (National Mental Health, 2012). This is a defining motivation for lawmakers on any side of the aisle to find a method of addressing the issue. Statistics also show that  £77 billion a year was being spent on welfare benefits for mental illnesses in 2009 (National Mental Health, 2012). This is a trend of rising cost that will only be reversed through study and relevant and considered implement of infrastructure. The lack of a coordinated strategy to reduce the homeless issue only creates a potential for the issue to become intractable and even harder to combat (Wright, 2014). The impact of these costs on the national economy was damaging, increasing national debts thus affecting the general population through increases in tax, public s ervices, and as previously mentioned, cuts to national healthcare (National Mental Health, 2012). This issue touches each person in society in a direct manner, meaning that with the easing of homeless condition there will be a corresponding easing of social pressure of the whole of society. Therefore it is necessary for these determinants to be discussed as contributing factors to the urban health issue. 4 Conclusions and Recommendations The aim of this paper is to critique strategies such as the Tower Hamlets Homelessness Statement 2013 to 2017, the Homelessness Act and other interventions that tackle homelessness and mental illness as separate entities (Crisis, 2009). This review of material will create the opportunity to identify strengths and weaknesses in the approaches that could in turn be amended. Further, this review will provide a basis for long term strategy based on the continuous need to refine public policy in order to reduce the burden on society as a whole (Wright, 2014). Yet, in every case the solution must be both ethical and motivated by the desire to enhance the homeless population’s potential to achieve stability. The recommendations that will evolve as a result of this study will involve coordinated treatment programs (Coldwell Bender, 2007) such as Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), which aim to serve psychiatric outpatients whose mental illness causes serious functioning difficulties in aspects of life including work, social relationships, residential independence, money management, and physical health and wellness, all of which can have an impact on housing status (Dixon, 2000). Other possible avenues designed to create options including community housing initiatives, political action through policy reform, enhancing current infrastructure such as Habitat for Humanity and the National Coalition for the Homeless. This consideration of a wide range of evidence creates a variety of opportunities to explore and address the issues facing the modern homeless population (Iversen et al, 2011). It is expected that this study will conclude that the ACT is an effective measure in combating the cor e issues which lead to and maintain homelessness, and aim to recommend that government funding should be utilised to promote programs such as ACT which will make lasting changes in the homeless community. Further, there is an expectation that there will be a combination of past and prior factors that have contributed to the homeless population and that it will require a well-rounded intervention method in order to provide better prospects. In the end, the base goal of this essay is to provide potential paths for further research which will in turn work to alleviate the dismal conditions associated with the indigent condition. 4 References Bassuk, E.L., Rubin, L. Lauriat. A.S. (1986). Characteristics of sheltered homeless families. American Journal of Public Health. 76(9). 1097-1101. Breaky, W.R. (1992). Mental Health Services for Homeless People. pp101-107. Cited in: Homelessness: A National Perspective. Eds. Robertson, M.J. Greenblatt, M. (1992). Buckman, J., Forbes, H., Clayton, T., Jones, M., Jones, N., Greenberg, N., Sundin, J., Hull, L., Wessely, S. and Fear, N. (2013). Early Service leavers: a study of the factors associated with premature separation from the UK Armed Forces and the mental health of those that leave early.  The European Journal of Public Health, 23(3), pp.410415.Coldwell, C.M. Bender, W.S. (2007). The Effectiveness of Assertive Community Treatment for Homeless Populations With Severe Mental Illness: A Meta-Analysis. Am J Psychiatry. 164(3). 393-399.Communities and Local Government. (2009). Rough Sleeping England Total Street Count. Retrieved from: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120919132719/communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/roughsleeping2009 Accessed: 17th February 2014 Crisis MORI. (2002). Critical condition: Homeless people’s access to GPs. London. Dawson, A., Jackson, D. and Cleary, M. (2013). Mothering on the margins: Homeless women with an SUD and complex mental health co-morbidities.  Issues in mental health nursing, 34(4), pp.288293. Dixon, L. (2000). Assertive community treatment: Twenty-five years of cold. Psychiatric Services, 51, 759-765. Dunne, E., Duggan, M. and OMahony, J. (2012). Mental health services for homeless: patient profile and factors associated with suicide and homicide.  Mental health. Fazel, S; Khosla, V; Doll, H; Geddes, J (2008). The Prevalence of Mental Disorders among the Homeless in Western Countries: Systematic Review and Meta-Regression Analysis. PLoS Med 5 (12). doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0050225 Fitzpatrick, S., Bramley, G. and Johnsen, S. (2013). Pathways into multiple exclusion homelessness in seven UK cities.  Urban Studies, 50(1), pp.148168. Frankish, C.J., Hwang, S.W. Quantz, D. (2005). Homelessness and Health in Canada. Canadian Journal of Public Health. 2(96). 23-29. Hwang, S.W. (2001). Homelessness and health. CMAJ. 164(2). 229–233. Iversen, A., van Staden, L., Hughes, J., Greenberg, N., Hotopf, M., Rona, R., Thornicroft, G., National Mental Health. (2012). Development Unit. Factfile 3. The costs of mental ill health. Retrieved from: nmhdu.org.uk/silo/files/nmhdu-factfile-3.pdf Accessed: 16th February 2014 NHS Tower Hamlets. (2011). Homelessness: Factsheet. Tower Hamlets Joint Strategic Needs Assessment 2010 ­2011 . Retrieved from: towerhamlets.gov.uk/idoc.ashx?docid=f8390127-f61d-491b-8323-cea75d92a228version=1. Accessed: 16th February 2014 Riley, A.J., Harding, G., Underwood, M.R., Carter, Y.H. (2003). Homelessness: a problem for primary care? British Journal of General Practice. 473-479. Tischler, V., Vostanis, P., Bellerby, T. Cumella, S. (2002). Evaluation of a mental health outreach service for homeless families. Arch Dis Child. 86. 158–163. Tower Hamlets Clinical Commissioning Group. (August 2013). Mental Health Joint Strategic Needs Assessment for Tower Hamlets. Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Board. Tower Hamlets Homelessness Statement. (2013). 2013 to 2017 Consultation Draft. Retrieved from: towerhamlets.gov.uk/lgsl/851900/868_housing_strategy_and_polic/homelessness_strategy.aspx Accessed: 17th February 2014 Rees, S. (2009). Mental Ill Health in the Adult Single Homeless Population: A review of the literature. Crisis, PHRU. Retrieved from: crisis.org.uk/data/files/publications/Mental%20health%20literature%20review.pdf. Accessed: 16th February 2014 Story, A., Murad, S., Roberts, W., Verheyen, M. Hayward, A.C. (2007). Tuberculosis in London: the importance of homelessness, problem drug use and prison. Thorax. 62(8). 667-671. Wessely, S. and Fear, N. (2011). The stigma of mental health problems and other barriers to care in the UK Armed Forces.  BMC health services research, 11(1), p.31. Wright, J. (2014). Health needs of the homeless.  InnovAiT: Education and inspiration for general practice, 7(2), pp.9198. Mental Illness Among Homeless In London Borough Of Tower Hamlet Abstract: Mental Illness Among Homeless In London Borough Of Tower Hamlet ). Statistics also show that  £77 billion a year was being spent on welfare benefits for mental illnesses in 2009. The impact of these costs on the national economy was damaging, increasing national debts thus affecting the general population through increases in tax, public services, and as previously mentioned, cuts to national healthcare. Therefore these determinants will also be discussed as contributing factors to the urban health issue. Strategies Interventions for Critique; Speculated Recommendations Conclusions: The aim of the paper will be to critique strategies such as the Tower Hamlets Homelessness Statement 2013 to 2017, the Homelessness Act and other interventions that tackle homelessness and mental illness as separate entities (Crisis, 2009). The recommendations I will make will involve coordinated treatment programs (Coldwell Bender, 2007) such as Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), which aim to serve psychiatric outpatients whose mental illness causes serious functioning difficulties in aspects of life including work, social relationships, residential independence, money management, and physical health and wellness, all of which can have an impact on housing status (Dixon, 2000). I expect to conclude that ACT is an effective measure in combating the core issues which lead to and maintain homelessness, and aim to recommend that government funding should be utilised to promote programs such as ACT which will make lasting changes in the homeless community. References Bassuk, E.L., Rubin, L. Lauriat. A.S. (1986). Characteristics of sheltered homeless families. American Journal of Public Health. 76(9). 1097-1101. Breaky, W.R. (1992). Mental Health Services for Homeless People. pp101-107. Cited in: Homelessness: A National Perspective. Eds. Robertson, M.J. Greenblatt, M. (1992). Coldwell, C.M. Bender, W.S. (2007). The Effectiveness of Assertive Community Treatment for Homeless Populations With Severe Mental Illness: A Meta-Analysis. Am J Psychiatry. 164(3). 393-399. Communities and Local Government. (2009). Rough Sleeping England Total Street Count. Retrieved from: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120919132719/communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/roughsleeping2009 Accessed: 17th February 2014 Crisis MORI. (2002). Critical condition: Homeless people’s access to GPs. London. Dixon, L. (2000). Assertive community treatment: Twenty-five years of cold. Psychiatric Services, 51, 759-765. Fazel, S; Khosla, V; Doll, H; Geddes, J (2008). The Prevalence of Mental Disorders among the Homeless in Western Countries: Systematic Review and Meta-Regression Analysis. PLoS Med 5 (12). doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0050225 Frankish, C.J., Hwang, S.W. Quantz, D. (2005). Homelessness and Health in Canada. Canadian Journal of Public Health. 2(96). 23-29. Hwang, S.W. (2001). Homelessness and health. CMAJ. 164(2). 229–233. National Mental Health. (2012). Development Unit. Factfile 3. The costs of mental ill health. Retrieved from: nmhdu.org.uk/silo/files/nmhdu-factfile-3.pdf Accessed: 16th February 2014 NHS Tower Hamlets. (2011). Homelessness: Factsheet. Tower Hamlets Joint Strategic Needs Assessment 2010 ­2011 . Retrieved from: towerhamlets.gov.uk/idoc.ashx?docid=f8390127-f61d-491b-8323-cea75d92a228version=1. Accessed: 16th February 2014 Riley, A.J., Harding, G., Underwood, M.R., Carter, Y.H. (2003). Homelessness: a problem for primary care? British Journal of General Practice. 473-479. Tischler, V., Vostanis, P., Bellerby, T. Cumella, S. (2002). Evaluation of a mental health outreach service for homeless families. Arch Dis Child. 86. 158–163. Tower Hamlets Clinical Commissioning Group. (August 2013). Mental Health Joint Strategic Needs Assessment for Tower Hamlets. Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Board. Retrieved from: towerhamletsccg.nhs.uk/Get_Involved/Tower%20Hamlets%20Mental%20Health%20Joint%20Strategic%20Needs%20Assessment%20Part%20One%20-%20Population%20Needs.pdf Accessed: 17th February 2014 Tower Hamlets Homelessness Statement. (2013). 2013 to 2017 Consultation Draft. Retrieved from: towerhamlets.gov.uk/lgsl/851900/868_housing_strategy_and_polic/homelessness_strategy.aspx Accessed: 17th February 2014 Rees, S. (2009). Mental Ill Health in the Adult Single Homeless Population: A review of the literature. Crisis, PHRU. Retrieved from: crisis.org.uk/data/files/publications/Mental%20health%20literature%20review.pdf. Accessed: 16th February 2014 Story, A., Murad, S., Roberts, W., Verheyen, M. Hayward, A.C. (2007). Tuberculosis in London: the importance of homelessness, problem drug use and prison. Thorax. 62(8). 667-671.

Oedipus The King Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Oedipus The King - Essay Example King Laius and Jocasta of Thebes tried to avoid the dreadful prophecy’s fulfillment by ordering to kill Oedipus soon after his birth, but their servant saves the child and he grows up as the foster son on Polybus of Corinth and his wife Merope. Without having any clue on his real identity, Oedipus comes across the dreadful prophecy regarding himself and tries to run away from his fate, thinking that Polybus and Merope were his real parents. In fact, he runs into his fate as he kills Laius on his way, solves the riddles of the sphinx that had a curse on Thebes and becomes its King. He has to marry the widowed the Jocasta and in turn have children in her. The truth is hidden from him until Thebes is accursed once again and he conducts an investigation to find out the cause for it. Once the truth is revealed to Oedipus, he is a shattered man, realizing his frailty as a mere human being out of control with slightest element of his destiny. His painful cry reveals his state of mind prior to his self-inflicted punishment: Upon the news of Jocasta’s suicide, Oedipus blinds himself with her brooches. He does not try to escape from his destiny any more. He decides to suffer for his the sins he had committed unknowingly. This is a sign of complete submission to destiny, much in the fashion of the Shakespearean King Lear. IN his suffering, he laments: The life of Oedipus exposes the innate weakness of human heart on the face of an all-consuming destiny. The play has strong psychoanalytic undertones with regard to the incestuous libidinal urges from which human beings have to run away, under the socio-cultural pressures. On a boarder level, the notion that human life is essentially predetermined and there are limitations to which anyone can alter his life contributes the basic motives of the play. The protagonist and the people associated with him feared the worst even as they tried to avoid the

Making Movies Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Making Movies - Research Paper Example Such an approach to language teaching and learning also provides optimum opportunities and avenues for consideration of Gardner’s multiple intelligence theory allowing for involvement and successful learning for all intelligences and learner types. There are a number of theories in relation to motivation but generally motivation is considered as intrinsic (learning for self) or extrinsic (learning for reward) (Atherton, 2010); among the many theories we find Maslow’s (1943) hierarchical theory, which purports five levels of motivation in terms of needs: physiological, security /safety, social, esteem and self-actualization. McClelland developed a system involving three types of motivational needs: power, affiliation and achievement (Christie, Jordan, Troth & Lawrence, 2007). Making movies provides stimulus for all motivational needs; it provides for extrinsic motivation by rewards pertaining to the final outcomes and assessment, together with peer and teacher praise. Intrinsic motivation is fueled by allowing students to be self-authored by writing their own scripts, which they then rehearse, edit and endorse; such activities provide more excitement and interest in learning and help promote confidence in students. Intrinsic motivation, inherent to self-determination theory, is influenced by three mental and emotional needs: competence, autonomy and relatedness (Alm, 2006). Movie making classes such as those described above increase competence by providing optimal challenges and effective peer and teacher feedback – both negative and positive – as well as praise. Autonomy is fostered because every student has choices and opportunities for self direction, thus feeding their need for internal control and the freedom to ascertain their own conduct. In terms of relatedness, movie making provides a feeling of security and cooperation among the group and the sense of each caring what the other says,

Letter of Interest Essay Example for Free

Letter of Interest Essay I wish to express my sincere and earnest interest to change the course of my teaching from 8th Grade Math to either 6th Grade Math or 6th Grade Social Studies. At the outset, I would like to state my preference to switch teaching kids for 6th Grade Social Studies. For thirteen years I have been teaching Math for middle and high school kids. At this instance in my life, I truly believe that I can better relate, communicate, and convey teaching with younger kids, 6th grade kids in particular. I do feel that there is a need for more consideration and a patient and nurturing teacher with broader perspective in handling delicate 6th grade kids who are also naturally with short attention span. As a mother myself of two young kids, I am confident that I have the qualities to better achieve this purpose. In my experience with 8th grade kids, I found that this is not the case since they already assert a sense of independence. More importantly, I do love to teach younger kids that still need to be look after in their education formation. Moreover, I am not comfortable teaching 8th grade curriculum next year with the introduction of the new Math program of Connected Mathematics which is a departure from whole class teacher directed instruction. Although, I have no doubt that I can go through and will better adjust to this new hands-on and self-discovery program of instruction. As to my preferred interest in teaching Social Studies for 6th grade kids, I can state the same reasons as with my interest in teaching Math for the same grade level. However, with social studies, I am very excited to teach in this field which is a new sphere completely different from Math which I have been teaching for thirteen years. Even though I have not taught social studies before, I am certain that I am more than qualified if given the opportunity. I have gone through the curriculum on social studies for 6th grade kids and I found it very motivating and a worthy teaching endeavor. I know I have the passion and fervor to teach social studies for 6th grade kids. The switch from teaching Math to Social Studies is a great change in proving my teaching capabilities. Needless to say, I am prepared to teach any subject and any curriculum with my fondness for teaching young kids. I believe it is significant to mention that I am getting my masters in curriculum and instruction to further my qualifications as an efficient and competent teacher. I am hoping this letter of interest to switch teaching to 6th grade kids will meet your favorable consideration.

The Eye of the World :: essays research papers

The Eye of the World is the first book of the â€Å"The Wheel of Time† series which is already on its tenth book. Robert Jordan has followed the footsteps of J.R.R. Tolkien. Here he dominated the magical world that Tolkien had revealed in his â€Å"Lord of the Rings†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For us to understand this book clearly, an introduction is needed. It says that the so-called wheel of time is a wheel that rotates as time passes. Because of this wheel, ages come and go, leaving memories that become legend. Sometimes legends fades into myth which is long forgotten when the age that left it returns again. But the Aes Sedai remember what men forget. The Aes Sedai are those chosen individuals that can channel to the True Source. This True Source is the source of power. The male Sedai channel to the Saidin form of the source while the women channel to the Saidir form of the source. But due to a war very long ago, Saidin was tainted by the dark forces resulting for the men to go crazy or die if they channel. This is why only female Sedai are in the book. A champion of the war, Lews Therin Telamon ( the Dragon), trapped the Forsaken (Aes Sedai who went to the dark side) and Shaitan (Drak One) but became crazy. After his death, it was prophesized that a Dragon Reborn would be born and lead the forces of light. The first book narrates the adventure of three boys, namely Rand Al’Thor, Matrim Cauthon, and Perrin Aybara. Strangers have come to the Two Rivers during the Bel Tine holiday, and the three boys are all happy to live in peace with their families. With the mysterious travelers come strange stories of war and of a man named Logain, who claims to be the Dragon Reborn, the one prophesized to save the world, and also to destroy it in his madness. On the night before Bel Tine, Trollocs come and ransack the village where the young men live. Together with the mysterious Moiraine, an Aes Sedai, and Lan, a warder, the young men escape with a few other companions into the night and make their way toward Tar Valon, the city of the Aes Sedai. Dangers, such as Darkfriends, appear from many corners. Because of this, it becomes difficult to know who to trust. The boys can't escape the Dark One easily, for not only do his minions relentlessly pursue them, the Dark One even invades their dreams .

Grameen Phone Selection Process

24 May 2008 MR. Amlan J. Haque Senior Lecturer School Of Business Independent University, Bangladesh Subject: Submission of the report on â€Å"Recruitment and Selection Procedure of GP. Dear Sir, We have the immense pleasure to submit our report on â€Å"Recruitment and Selection Procedure of GP† for your kind consideration. While making this report we came across many hurdles and pleasant experiences. But the valuable experiences we have gained during the period will undoubtedly benefit us in the real work field. Despite the several constraints, we gave our all efforts to make this report a meaningful one and in this way we express our deep gratitude as you kindly have given us the scope and assigned the task. We have tried heart and soul to make this case analysis perfect but for time limitation and other difficulties we may be some mistakes. We hope that you will ignore our faults and consider our lacks while judging the report. We enjoy this study and gladly attend any suggestion of you to clarify on any point, if necessary. At last, thanking you very much for assigning us such a pragmatic and interesting topic for preparing the report. Sincerely yours, Md. Khaleque Faisal Emon ID: On behalf of Group: All praises to be ALLAH and peace is on his prophet Mohammed (sm) We are higly indebted to those who helped us to prepare the report. We are alsoindebted to our course teacher MR. Amlan J. Haque for giving us this topic to make the report. Then we would like to express our sincere thanks to some of our friends for their help & we are grateful to those participants whose participation made possible to accomplish our report. we would like to thank IUB computer lab and library for their support that helped us to complete this work successfully. At last i wish to express my earnest gratitude to all of my course mates. Executive summery Recruitment and selection are one of the most important concerns for every organization. Recruitment process starts from the advertisement until the receipt of CV. As soon as the CV is dropped the recruitment process ends and the selection process begins. Strategic planning for recruitment and selection indicates the past trends and future forecast of organization. Grameen phone is the largest telecommunication company in Bangladesh, which holds nearly fifty percent share ofthis industry. Grameen Phone is gradually expanding its business to the edge of the country and holds a substantial share. Introduction & Background of The Study: Report is a compulsory requirement for everybody pursuing an BBA degree at the Independent University. We studied a lot of things about GrameenPhone and collected documents in various prospect in this regard. When we were continuing our study, we came to know a lot of things about GrameenPhone because this study attempts to produce a constructive report on recruitment and selection procedure of GrameenPhone. Ressons For Choosing GP: Reports play a vital role in the field of communication both in the educational orientation and in practical life. So from this side, it must be better in choosing or selecting the entire organization. Because a well-established organization or company can provide the best materials or documents to prepare a report easily which is very important in BBA. GP is a high ambitious and well-reputed company in Bangladesh currently used by over 1. 3 billion people in some 250 countries. GrameenPhone believes in service, a service that leads to good business and good development. Scope of the Study: The report covers the procedure of the recruitment and selection and emphasizes the human resource management on some position. The total industry and investment situation of the country is not observed in the report so this report does not actually compare the position of the mobile companies in the context of the total business situation of the country. Objectives of the Study: Broad Objective The broad objective of this study is to present the GrameenPhone’s entry-level function and practices in the overall industries in Bangladesh. Specific Objectives The specific objectives were as follows: Finding out the current process of GrameenPhone’s Recruitment and Selection. * Present factors to be considers in Selection Procedure. * Problems and prospects of Selection Procedure. And — * Categories of people/candidates who are mainly recruited. Methodology of the Study: Two different methodologies had to be designed to complete the parts: * Information regarding the overall procedure of Recruitment and Selection was gathered from the Internet and different literature survey. * To get a closer look at what different operators are providing it was necessary to collect different literatures published by the companies. Another source of information was interviews with different professionals of GP organizations. Limitations of the Study: * The information that we used to conduct our survey was mostly from secondary studies. So, it was not a perfectly representative sample. * The major limitation of the report is that it took a very short period of time in preparing this report fully. So ultimately there must be some lacking in its premises. * Moreover, it was not possible to get all required internal information of the company as these are treated as confidential company information. Vision of Grameen Phone: To become the largest telecommunication company in the world and reach the hands of every people around the world. Mission of Grameen Phone: To serve the customer with better quality and retaining existing customers. A Brief Profile of Cell Phone Sector in Bangladesh Introduction of Cellular Technology: Mobile technology introduced in St. Louis, Mississippi in 1946. From the beginning, mobile technology was very costly and was very rare and the service was limited to a single call and was not satisfied enough. After 1950 period, the cost of the technology become lower and coverage become wider. USA innovated an AMPS system in 1979, which was not very power full and that, was an analogue system. There were two types of analogue mobile phone system namely NMT & TACS were introduced respectively in North Europe and in UK in 1981. But with the pace of timeall these three analogue systems became unable to fulfill the demand. As a result, after more than one decade of analogue system digital system in mobile phone was introduced in 1992. The name of this technology is Global System for Mobile communications (GSM). More than 2o million subscribers in almost 130 countries worldwide use GSM technology. CDMA is another digital technology in mobile telecommunications. This GSM system can be said as the digital cellular system, which is fully featured with services like Basic Telephony, Data and Value Added services (VAS). The existing GSM technologies are GSM 900, GSM 1800 and GSM 1900. Cellular Operation in Bangladesh: Bangladesh is one of the least developing countries in the world. It is also reflected in her telecommunication sector. Telecommunication is one of the important parameter to measure a country’s development. In 1988 the telephone density of Bangladesh was only 21 connections per 100 people. The main reason behind this poor performance is incapability of Bangladesh Telegraph and Telegraph Board (BTTB) to provide connection. Moreover their service quality was very poor. Against this background, Government of Bangladesh (GOB) took a reform program for the sector. The objectives of this reform program were to expand access to telecommunication services all over the country, improve service quality, satisfy all demand for telecommunication and promote efficient operation. The main strategy to achieve these objectives was to introduce private investment and operation in this sector. Ultimately in 1989, GOB issued license to private operator for provision of cellular, paging and radio trucking with exclusivity for five years services. In this five year contract was extended to thirty years. Ultimately, the evolution of cellular technology is duly justified. In 1989, a 20-year license with a five-year exclusivity was issued to a privatecompany, Bangladesh Telecom Limited (BPTL), for the provision of nationwide cellular telephone services. This license was cancelled and subsequently, Hutchison Bangladesh Telecom Ltd. (HBTL) was awarded the license, which commenced operation in 1991. HBTL offered a mobile phone to all the Bangladeshi citizens in Dhakawithin a periphery of 26 miles at a charge of Tk. 1. 25 lac and call charge of Tk. 10 (per minute) for in coming calls and the same for outgoing. Response from the consumers was impressive and remained so all through the monarch. HBTL gradually transformed to PBTL and simultaneously developed customer service quality by improving technical infrastructure. However, one of the serious discontinuance from the customers is that, ever-continuing price reduction creates a feeling of deprivation among the older users. World Telecommunication Industry: The corporate strategies and government policies in the international telecommunications sectors of the United States, the European Union, and Japan is very important to understand the present situation in the world telecom industry. Countries experience different rates of growth in telecommunications revenue in theirdomestic markets. An analysis revealed that the timing of the opening of domestic markets to competition made no difference in the rate of growth. Instead, thelevel of development and rate of overall economic growth were the determining factors. Trends of the international telecommunications industry are evaluated with strategic options for globalization for smaller countries and carriers. Between 1985 and 1995 telecommunications revenues for Japan and United States have generally grown at rates faster than new line activation or increasing call volume. Tariffs have been restructured, the mix of calls—local, long distance (trunk), and international—has changed, and leased-line and mobile services have grownrelative to traditional switched, wire-line telephony. Two major trends characterize the international telecommunications industry: Rapid technological advances, and The growing realization that liberalizing telecommunications industries is key to overall industry growth. These two trends hasten the liberalization of telecommunications markets around the world. The role of national governments is changing from that of a direct player to that of policy maker and regulator. The nature of international telecommunications trade is evolving from a bilateral, nation-to-nation framework to a multinational, multilateral company-to-company paradigm. Major international telecommunications alliances have taken many forms with the potential to dominate segments of international. Nevertheless, demand will increase for smaller firms able to provide local presence and technological expertise. There are various strategic options available to smaller countries and carriers. These strategies range from domestic to regional to international: * Lead the domestic market in phased liberalization * Seek opportunities to integrate vertically * Promote regional opportunities * Capture a major share of a regional market Expand enhanced services internationally. Recruitment and Selection of Grameen Phone Introduction: Human Resource Management is a strategic approach of processing or recruiting, developing, maintaining and utilizing the human resources of an organization. If a firm’s competitiveness depends on its employees, then the business function responsible for acquiring, training, appraising and compensating those employees who has to play a bigger roll in the firm’s success. As part of an organization, Human Resource Management must be prepared to deal with the effects of the changing world of work. For them, this means understanding the implications of globalization, technology changes, work-force diversity, changing skill requirements, continuous improvement initiatives, the contingent work force, decentralized work sites, and employee involvement. Factors to be considered in Selection Porcedure: Before going to the selection procedure, Grameen Phone should adopt some factors that are considered in selection process. These factors are: 1. Resignation and terminations. 2. Quality assurance and nature of Employee. 3. Technological and administrative changes of the Employee. 4. Financial availability of the candidates. 5. Trend analysis 6. Using computer and forecasting personnel requirements. This should be done by the Human Resource Manager of GrameenPhone when forecasting personnel needs. Finally the selected candidates are estimated the volume of output. Recruitment and Selection Process: GrameenPhone tries to discover industrious and innovative people ready to embark on a challenging career. During search for talent, GrameenPhone carry out a number of activities such as: †¢ Online Database. †¢ Advertisement in daily newspapers. †¢ Accept hard-copy submission of CVs in Human Resource Division. Occasionally from Job Fairs. Recruitment Procedure: GrameenPhone follow comprehensive and extensive selection procedures in search for the most ideal and competent professionals. The testing methods are effectively designed in order to accurately evaluate the required competence and skill for particular jobs. GP procedures for recruitment involve th e following steps: Recruitment & Selection Process: HR needs and Requisition: Department will inform the HR of any vacant position so that HR can co-ordinate / notify the other offices of the vacant position. Whenever needed, the head of HR will review the available records and database if there is any qualified and suitable candidate available from GrameenPhone’s internal sources or prospective external candidates already identified earlier. In special circumstances and to make a quick decision the head of HR may propose any suitable staff within the GrameenPhone for the position to the respective Unit/Department Head and/or project. Job Description: Recruitment process ideally begins with the analysis of job description and person specification for that job. A job description and analysis of person specification provide the foundation for stipulating the job title and salary scale of the position. Person specification defines the education, training and experience required by the jobholder. The person specification is vital because the key part of the person specification, established at the beginning, is used in structured selection interview. Job description is the basis of GrameenPhone’s recruitment, selection and placement, training, performance appraisal, salary administration, promotion and other personnel actions for its employees. The appointing authority and the line manager shall ensure that each employee has an appropriate and updated job description stating clearly the context, purpose, organogram, duties and responsibilities of the employees and person specification. Job description will be prepared and provided to the employee when he/she is appointed, promoted, newly assigned or when deemed necessary. Recruitment Sources: An effective recruitment always starts with the correct selection of sources of human resources. A recruited employee who has not the right skill cannot perform effectively. As a result the overall performance level is sure to deteriorate which has significant effect on the company performance. Therefore, GrameenPhone has been on continuous search of effective recruitment sources. Internal Sources: It is GrameenPhone’s policy to give preference to appoint internal candidates, provided that the employee is suitably qualified for the vacant or new position and also meets the existing and future requirements. Appointments may be made by the way of promotion, up gradation or transfer with the approval of the authority. As a usual procedure, job vacancies in GrameenPhone will be advertised through internal notices to the concerned offices. External Sources: Whenever job vacancies are required to be circulated outside, the main objective will be to attract a pool of candidates to apply from which qualified candidates for job vacancies can be chosen. Here are a number of external sources that is used by the company: * Newspaper Advertisement: Vacancy announced is circulated by publishing advertisement in the national dailies. The newspapers that are widely circulated are chosen for publishing advertisement. Employee Referrals: Employees of the company may refer prospective job seekers to HR department. There are professional and technical jobs, which are frequently harder to fill. Employees with hard-to-find job skills may know others who might meet the desired job requirements and do the same work. In such case, employee referral method may be useful. * Walk-ins and Write-ins: Often job seekers arriv e at HR department in search of a job. They are walk-in people. Write-ins are those who send their curriculum resume for suitable position. Both groups may be asked to fill up an application blank. Their relevant information may be kept in active database file for any suitable position in future. * Web site: Modern information technology such as web site is also used for advertising job vacancy of different positions. * Other: Depending on circumstances, other professional / employment agencies, technical institutes and journals may be chosen to give wider coverage of job openings. The role of HR personnel is very important in dealing with external job seekers because the outsider individuals draw an impression about the company on the manner their candidature has been dealt with. Application Receiving: HR department collects job applications against each vacancy announcement. There should have a minimum time period for application receiving. The period shouldnormally be around 10 days. All applications are sequentially numbered in HR. applications are not acceptedthat are received after the deadline. Under special circumstances, applicationsafter deadline may be accepted provided the concerned Manager gives written authorization. It is GrameenPhone’s policy to attract as many applicants to apply, provided thatthey meet the pre-requisites of the job. However, those who have been regretted within last six months period are not allowed to apply for whatsoever position in GrameenPhone and within one year, a candidate can not appear for more than two tests / interviews. Short Listing: Short listing is done on the basis of appraising information on the application form in the light of job specification of a position. The job criteria are critically reviewed during short listing. The short-listing method is qualitative one where managerial judgment plays important role. Before short listing of candidates for tests, job criteria are set by HR and line manager. There are general and technical job criteria that a candidate has to meet for consideration of next step of selection. HR determines general criteria while line manager determines technical criteria. Both the types of the criteria are important; however, it is the nature of job that determines which type of criteria should give more priority. Evaluating the followings does short listing: Educational Qualification: Whether the candidates have the required educational qualification, Relevant job experience and required skills: How far the candidate’s most recent job experiences and skills match the job requirements of the position. The candidate may have the irrelevant job experiences and skills that is not considered during short listing. GrameenPhone follows a standard set rule of short listing of candidates. For one position the number of candidates for written test should not be more than 8. The number of candidates in the oral test should not be more than 4-5. Administering tests and interview After short listing of prospective candidates, appropriate employment tests such as written tests, oral tests or any other tests as deemed fit are arranged to assess candidates’ suitability for the position. Through the test selected psychological factors such as intelligence, aptitude, temperament and attitude of the candidates are measured / observed. The main focuses of employment tests are on Job related questions to assess in-depth knowledge of the candidates Assessment of mental ability, reasoning, memory etc. * Assessment of potentiality and ability to learn. * Proficiency in performing tasks. * Assessment in line with job analysis. The selection is made on the basis of successive hurdle approach. The candidates are rejected following each of the stage or test being administered. HR drafts the written and oral test questionnaires. A set of questions of technical nature is drafted by line mangers and sent to HR. Few questionnaires from that list is included in the test by HR as random basis. While finalizing test question, HR considered the job requirements of the position and maintains relevance, consistency and standard on the pattern of questions. The type of question depends on the nature of the position. Usually a combination of multiple and narrative type of questions is set in the written test. HR exclusively checks all multiple type and non- technical narrative type of answers, while the line manager checks the narrative type of technical part. HR does the compilation of score in written test. It is the responsibility of HR to select and call candidates for subsequent tests based on the performance of written test. The minimum qualifying score in the written test is 45%. Candidates who have qualified in the written test are invited for the next selection test. Company Presentation: The candidates who have appeared for written test are briefed about GrameenPhone just before the test. HR organizes a half an hour presentation on the following topics: * The Company profile. * The present considerations, goals and targets of GrameenPhone. * The growth of GrameenPhone in the present market. * The brief job description of the position. * Type of the written test and evaluation of the result. Interview Steps: Selection interview is an in-depth discussion between interviewer and interviewee. An interview Board/Selection Committee is formed comprising of the following personnel: Line Manager Unit/Departmental Head Head of HRD HR processes all recruitment, however, for some senior management level position, outside recruitment may be permissible. Executive Search/ Professional Consulting Firms may be contacted by HR for this purpose. The interview board members ask questions that are relevant to the performancesof the job including questions regarding required skills. The type of questionsmay be mixed of open-ended, behavior-oriented; competency based and stresses type questions. The nature of questions varies according to the level of position. The interview board members rank all candidates and recommend candidates best suited for them. The basis of preliminary selection is marks obtained in oral tests and their judgment about the candidates fit for the position. The minimum acceptable score in the oral test is 4 in the 1-8 rating scale. The recommendation to be made does not necessarily be in favor of the top ranked candidate because the board member may be convinced in evaluating overall performance and background of the another close candidate. A consensual recommendation is made and forwarded to HR along with all papers for next course of action. The board members signed the Employment Approval Form. Medical Examination: In GrameenPhone, the job offer is contingent on passing medical examination conducted by the Company nominated diagnostic center. The medical examination is conducted once preliminary decision for recruitment is made but the employment offer has not yet given. The purpose for a medical examination is to obtain information on the health status of the applicant being considered for employment and to determine whether the applicant is physically and mentally capable of performing the job. The cost of medical examination is borne by the company. Information and Reference Check: Once a preliminary selection decision is made, HR verify certain information as provided in the job application such as educational degree, work experience, last employment status. The purpose of reference check is to obtain factual information confidentially about a prospective employee and seeking opinions from professional referees and previous employer about his/her suitability for the job. Final Selection and Appointment Offer: Based on positive report on health status from the medical center, and positive reference check, the candidate is selected for appointment. At this stage, the selected candidate is offered employment with GrameenPhone. The appointment authority of GrameenPhone issues an appointment letter to the selected candidates. The appointment letter includes: 1. Job title, Grade/Step and Salary 2. Nature of appointment 3. Place of posting 4. Name of section or department 5. Effective date of appointment 6. Probationary period, conditions of confirmation and notice period 7. Ending date of employment (applicable for contract employee) 8. GrameenPhone standard terms and conditions A current job description is also attached with the appointment letter. The appointment letter and job description will become valid only after signing by the Director HR and the employee, in the space provided for the purpose. Weaknesses of Selection Process: GrameenPhone faced some problems of selection process while maintaining its recruitment procedure. Although there is no process without lacking, GrameenPhone covers the weaknesses with soft-touch-smile. The weaknesses that the GrameenPhone faced are as follows: 1. Requirement not matched. 2. Double or triple CVs dropped by the candidates for getting opportunity cost. . Given wrong information. 4. Unreachable Mobile or Phone numbers. 5. Age factor. 6. Already working. 7. Salary range. 8. Confusion about contract position. 9. Reference problem. 10. Office proficiency. These are the problems that GrameenPhone faced in selection procedure. Sometimes it creates a serious problem in the way of selection but for the provision of the office proficiency, it must be overcome by the authority. Major Reasons o f Recruitment: Recruiting efforts are more successful when the recruiters themselves are carefully chosen and trained. Some employers use a recruiting yield pyramid to calculate the number of applicants they most generate to hire the required number of new employees. The following figure shows it. 50 New hires 100 Offers made (2:1) 150 Candidates interviewed (3:2) 200 Candidates invited (4:3) 1200 Leads generated (6:1) The recruiting and selecting process can best be envisioned as a series of hurdles, specifically, recruiting and selecting require: 1. Doing employment planning and forecasting to determine the duties of thepositions to be filled. 2. Building a pool of candidates for the job. 3. Having the applicants fill out application forms and perhaps undergo aninitial screening interview. 4. Utilizing various selection techniques such as tests, background investigations, and identify viable job candidates. 5. Sending to the supervisor responsible for the job. 6. Having the candidate(s) go through one or more selection interviews withthe supervisor and other relevant parties for the purpose of finally determining to which candidates(s) an offer should be made. During the process of recruitment and selection, GrameenPhone always prefer thebest categories of candidates to its finalized procedure. For this, the production of services of GrameenPhone is best. The best categories’ people and the highest educated candidates of students are engaged to GrameenPhone whose main aim is to give the country best services. People of different disciplines and activities are getting engaged with GP. Normally GrameenPhone recruit the experienced personnel to its senior level positions. In spite of that, the people who have minimum experience of 1-2 years are also getting employment in this company. Another types of people are currently getting employment opportunities in different units of GrameenPhone. They are the students of different Public and Private Universities. The work on the hourly basis and get a remuneration of Tk. 16,000 to 18,000. In the near future, GrameenPhone works with full swing by taking the hands of largest educated personnel’s so that it can make a contribution in the country’s mind and side by side to the heart of the rural and urban people. Summary: Recruitment and selection a vital role-played by the Human Resource Division of GrameenPhone. During its recruitment and selection procedure primary screening are taken through an advertisement. Then the HR division collects the CVs from the pool of candidates and makes sorting on the basis of education, experiences and out looking appearance. After the preliminary steps, they call for set in the exam that is called Employment Test. After getting the satisfactory marks, they are again call for interview where they are introduce with their job categories and expected salaries. When the HR getting the confirmation from the candidates, they send them for the medical examination and then hiring decision. After the placement, the role of HR is ended. But this is not the end; it is the beginning of the process. There are some weaknesses of HR through its recruitment and selection procedure. But GrameenPhone’s HR handles it with dedication. Findings and Analysis By analyzing the procedure of Grameen phone’s recruitment and selection procedure we can see that the HR division first collects the CVs from the pool of candidates and makes sorting on the basis of education, experiences and out looking appearance. After the preliminary steps, they call for set in the exam that is called Employment Test. After getting the satisfactory marks, they are again call for interview where they are introduce with their job categories and expected salaries. When the HR getting the confirmation from the candidates, they send them for the medical examination and then hiring decision. After the placement, the role of HR is ended. But this is not the end; it is the beginning of the process. There are some weaknesses of HR through its recruitment and selection procedure. But GrameenPhone’s HR handles it with dedication. Grameen phone is recruiting the best quality employees in the world. Conclusion and Recommendation An intense competitiveness has hit the very prospective and fast growing telecommunication sector in Bangladesh, specially the mobile telecom sector. And the credit goes to GrameenPhone, the eight years old private operator with new view of business solution and some other government-backed operators who have come to the market bringing down the cost to afford mobile communication. As an electric communication media, telecommunication industry makes people’s life more smooth, fast and enjoyable. But it seems few operators in the country are capable of meeting the growing demand of the city dweller’s need for communication. The market of mobile telephony still has great areas of unmet demand which if addressed properly could delight the consumers. GrameenPhone is a profit oriented mobile company seems together the highest energetic personnel who can serve better for the customer as well as human resource. Human Resource Management must be prepared to deal with the effects of the changing world of work. For them, this means understanding the implications of globalization, technology changes, work-force diversity, changing skill requirements, continuous improvement initiatives, the contingent work force, decentralized work sites, and employee involvement. This approach applies to GrameenPhone’s humanresources. Grameen Phone is a service company, one of it’s major objective is to ensure quality service to the customers, Generally Smart Loyalty agrees that in order to grow in business it is important to know which customers at all stages of commitment are thinking about the company, the products, services and competition. Furthermore, cellular service is a growing business in Bangladesh, competition is also increasing. Therefore, it is very important to retain and maintain exiting relationships with the subscribers. For this reason Human Resource Management of GrameenPhone plays and important role through its procedure of Recruitment and Selection because without recruit and select the most qualified employees, it cannot service better. A right person in the right place can do something better than the others. So the functions of Human Resource Division of GrameenPhone perform better. When a candidate appears in the recruitment and selection process, he/she may face several numbers of stares which is enough for his/her performance evaluation. From this, an evaluator can identify which categories of employee he/she is. After that he/she can be placed in the different unit under his/her ability or skills of works. In this way an employee can give the nation a better service according to their needs and earn profit to the attested company. That is doing GrameenPhone. Now-a-days, GrameenPhone’s Human Resource Division tries to follow the Multinational Human Resource Management strategies to adopt the international market, policy and prospects. Above all telecommunication industry is inevitably ministering our mobility, enhancing intensification of businesses, information systems, utilizing resources, pressing forward our economy & escalating social sensitivity One of the strongest sides of GrameenPhone is its customer’s satisfaction, human resource development and performance in the country and outside the country. An organization without comments is like a ship without a rudder. So I arrange the recommendation part under the following ways: – 1. GP should earn flexibility to be able to reduce the bill, if necessary. But currently they should reduce the billing rate as others are offering lower than them. 2. Capacity of the helpline should be increased in the pick hours. 3. Different programs should be taken to educate the subscribers regarding different essential features of mobile phone. 4. For the purpose of raising subscribers in the urban area, different levels of local employees should be increased. . GrameenPhone should take extensive program to build a positive image among their users. So for that reason experienced persons should be hired or made by them with functional selection process. 6. GrameenPhone should offer some special packages in the first week of every month so that it can get every customer and every customer must attach with products. 7. Human capitals should be u sed in a particular sector without misused. Because Today’s Human Resources is related to that’s Human Capitals, which earns revenue. 8. Unfair touch of internal pressure towards Human Resources should be stopped right now for the betterment and long ability of the company. 9. GrameenPhone must initiate the availability of employees as well as employment. References 1. GrameenPhone Limited (2004-2005), News Letter. 2. GrameenPhone Limited, Image Guide Book & Intranet. 3. V. A. Zeithmal and Mary Jo Bitner, Service Marketing, International Edit ion (1996), The MacGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. , New York. 4. T. A. J. Nicholson, Measuring Consumer Service and Managing Delivery. 5. James Brian Quinn, Jordan J. Baruch and Penny Cushman Paquette, Technolo gy in Services, Scientific American (December 1987). 6. Earl Naumann and Kathleen Giel, Customer Satisfaction Measurement and Ma nagement. (1978) 7. Web Site: www. grameenphone. com 8. Grameen Phone Ltd. , Annual Report 2002-05. 9. GrameenPhone Ltd. , Human Resource Division-July-2005, Divisional Annual report. 10. GrameenPhone Ltd, Customer Management Division-July-2005, Divisional Ann ual Report. William P. Anthony, Pamela L. Perrewe, K. Michele Kacmar,(Florida State Universi ty,1993), A Strategic Approach, 3rd Ed. , Human Resource Management, pp. 233-290.

Philosophical analysis Essay

Judging from the ideas raised in the Introduction of this work, it is clear that one must consider Buddhism a type of philosophy – that is, as a way of life. Many authors have already proceeded to claim that this particular religious phenomenon is chiefly characterized by the numerous practical precepts which serve as guides towards an enlightened living. It is good to note that Buddhism, pretty much like philosophy, is concerned with the pursuit of enlightenment or truth. An enlightened self – immortalized perhaps in Western Philosophy by Plato’s Allegory of the Cave – is surely the goal why one enters into philosophical discourses. In so far as Buddhism offers its own distinct ways to attain enlightenment as well, it is therefore with good reasons that one should classify this religion as philosophical in many ways. Buddhism however does not stop at stipulating suggestions for right living alone. As a system of belief, it also offers perspectives about the whole of reality. Like philosophical discourses, Buddhism is a belief system that speaks of its perspective about the ultimate realities like human existence, cosmology, human knowledge, ontology and theology. Surely, there is a need to look into these briefly Buddhism’s take on reality encourages an attitude of detachment on account of a belief that â€Å"everything is impermanent† (Griffiths, 1997, p. 16), and therefore in a state of constant flux. Much of Buddhism’s view about reality rests on the belief that the world is full of ‘diversity’, and the more is able to ‘reveal’ or appreciate it, the closer is one to the truth about the ever passing universe (Williams, 1989, p. 3). This idea is interestingly shared by an ancient Western philosopher that went by the name Heraclitus, who taught that â€Å"fire†- an element in a perpetual state of movement – is the basic element that constitutes reality. Buddhism, one need to remember, is not so much concerned with the rigorous definition of reality. But in so far it embraces an attitude of non-attachment in relating to all things, Buddhism has to anchor this belief system on a formidable reason – that one’s attachment over things is futile given the fact that all things pass away. In fact, most of what Buddhism teaches is drawn from this ontological belief; and this doctrine of impermanence must be seen as a recurrent theme in its whole system of perspective. As far as Epistemology is concerned, the doctrine of impermanence is also maintained. Buddhism teaches that nothing can be known with exact certitude because all things are ephemeral and thus, as mentioned a while ago, â€Å"they are not what they seem† (Griffiths, 1997, p. 19). Everything is subject to change and passes away. Thus, one may not arrive at a definitive knowledge about things at all. Which is why, Buddha maintained that â€Å"dissatisfaction† is a constant theme that defines the feelings of all who search for knowledge or truth (Mitchell, 2002, p. 33). No one is able to know what reality is; and its appearance is often misleading. One may notice that this epistemology is actually consistent with Buddhism’s anthropology, or, its understanding of human nature. If one checks the teachings of Buddha about man, one can clearly see the doctrine of impermanence as patent in it too. Buddha believes that human nature is nothing but a constitution of events called materiality, sensation, conceptualization, volition and consciousness (Griffiths, 1997, p. 20). This type of anthropology views man not as an existing individual substance (which most of Western Philosophy have understood what human nature is), but an â€Å"impermanent self† constituted by personal events (Griffith, 1997, p. 20). Cosmology for Buddhism follows the same line of logic. Constant flux is patent in its belief that the world follows a rhythm of birth and rebirth, of cycle and current, of existence and passage. The bulk of Buddhism’s teachings therefore solemnly enjoin its adherents to develop an attitude of detachment. Anchored on a belief that nothing in this world ever remains the same over a period of time, Buddhism points that the path towards Nirvana – or ultimate sense of bliss – lies in a state of total freedom from what this world actually offers. Lastly, it is quite interesting to point out that Buddhism rarely engages in a question about the ultimate reality or God. Broadly speaking, the whole philosophy of impermanence is at odds with a concept of deity. The general theory about God stipulates that ‘It† is a Supreme Being defined by eternality, omniscience, omnipotence and changelessness. In a belief system where the central truth about reality rests on the ephemeral nature of all things, the concept of God is really something hard to conceive (Griffiths, 1997, p. 22). How can there be such a Being when the general characteristic of all things – supposedly including God – is change and flux? More importantly, one can ask: how can one consider Buddhism a religion at all if one is not willing to reconcile its theology with its ontology? Griffith believes that the metaphysics of impermanence makes Buddhism deny the existence of God all together (Griffith, 1997, p. 23). But the image of Buddha as the exemplification of their quest for a transcendent end, translated in Nirvana, is perhaps the only figure of deity Buddhism actually posses. Conclusion Buddhism is both a philosophy and a religious movement. As a philosophy, it offers its adherents a way of life observed in a tradition marked by meditation, introspection, constant purgation of desire and an unending quest for enlightenment. As a religious movement, it is concerned with the pursuit of â€Å"transcendent ends† (Slater, 1978, p. 6) they call Nirvana. Buddhism offers its own understanding of reality too. Its doctrines are highly influenced by the teachings of its founder Gautama Buddha. In this paper, it has been noted that their belief system can also be evaluated under the categories which Western philosophy uses – metaphysics, epistemology, cosmology, anthropology and theology. These aspects are given meaning by a pervading concept of impermanence and dissatisfaction. Buddhism draws largely from a belief that everything in the world is impermanent, and that all people are enjoined to meet it with an attitude of detachment and self-control. The path towards true enlightenment happens only when one is able to see beyond what reality offers, and seek the true meaning of existence that lies only within. References Humphreys, C. (1997). A Popular Dictionary of Buddhism.Chicago: NTC. Griffiths, P. Buddhism. In Quinn, P. & Taliaferro, C. (Eds. ), A Companion to Philosophy of Religion. Massachusetts: Blackwell. McCutcheon, R. (2007). Studying Religion. An Introduction. London: Equinox. Mitchell, D. (2002). Introducing the Buddhist Experience. New York: Oxford University Slater, P. (1978). The Dynamics of Religion. Meaning and Change in Religious Traditions. San Francisco: Harper and Row. Williams, P. (1989). Mahayana Buddhism. Doctrinal Foundations. New York: Routledge.

Cultural and Rhetorical Analysis of Presidential Debates

Cultural and Rhetorical Analysis of Presidential Debates Obama presidential debates are highly discussed in the United States because it is an important event for each U.S. citizen who has the right to vote and attend the elections. The debate between candidatures – Obama and Romney – underlines specific rhetorical and cultural approaches to engaging into discussion and introducing their viewpoints on specific issues related to politics, economics, and social organization.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Cultural and Rhetorical Analysis of Presidential Debates specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In order to define cultural underpinnings and issues of the debate, I will focus on the analysis of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in which Barack Obama is invited as a guest. The program relies on both humorous and political issues, as well as unveils certain important cultural dimensions of the presidential elections. The critical examination will allow to d efine the modern attitudes to gender and sexuality, as well as how they are treated at the threshold of the presidential election campaign. In particular, although the program is dedicated a variety of issues, including social vision, cultural background, traditions and celebrations, and religious views, Barack Obama still manages to interpret all these topics in the light of the upcoming elections. Although the show does not cover fully the essence of political situation, as well as the content of presidential debates, it still focuses on the Obama’s attitude toward cultural, economic, and social issues. Specific attention requires his position concerning the gender roles distributed in American society. His religious and social beliefs, therefore, reflect his general opinion on the role of women and men. While tracing the interview, both Leno and Obama focus on very interesting issues that are beyond politics. This is of particular concern to their discussion of womenâ€⠄¢s capability of doing decisions, and Obama’s views on health care and military system that are directly associated with discussion of gender and social role. While discussing Obama’s attitude to rape, specific emphasis is placed on the role of male politicians in making decisions about women’s health care issues. I plan to discuss all these issues in much detail to define what cultural and national undercurrents are highlighted in Obama’s speech. The TV program is associated with discussing various issues that are not confined to any political and religious outlooks. Nevertheless, because Obama was invited to the show during the election campaign, the most of the topics covered strongly correlate with this situation.Advertising Looking for critical writing on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More With regard to the above, the target audience is the U.S. citizens who are interested in voting and participating in presidential races. Regardless what topics have been discussed, should it be family issues, economic situation, Obama’s personal life, all these topics were centered on attracting more audience who is concerned with the election campaign. Within the context of gender stereotypes analysis, Ott and Mack state, â€Å"the competing interpretations of gender in contemporary society give rise to confusing, often contradictory message about various roles of men and women† (p. 193). However, despite the presence of patriarchal system of power ensuring restricted representation of women, Obama still emphasizes the right of women to decide on the type of treatment, as well as other decisions that concern their health. Judging from the President’s position, the equality between men and women is a serious problem for politicians. I have also noticed that most of the issues related to over discussion of gender are concealed by general political statements related to such urgent problems as tax rates, unemployment, and security welfare in the United States. Social interaction is closely associated with gender stereotypes, even though they are veiled with general discussions about social structures attributed to contemporary life. Making connection of the importance of women’s decision with the politics of the current government, Obama recognizes that most of politicians releasing reforms, acts, and other regulations are males. Therefore, in order to intrude into issues related to female health, the president strives to solve this problem at legislative and political levels. The availability of basic health is important and, therefore, the Supreme Court should have a direct impact on the analysis of the issue. While discussing the capability of women to make important choices about their health, Obama stresses that this aspect should also relate to family issues, which once again refers to the presidents conservative outlook on women’s place in society. The very recognition and emphasis already testifies to the president’s constantly changing patterns of considering women and their limited access to politics. Therefore, it is purposeful to judge that Obama has concealed views on gender that are confined to the conservative position of roles of women as housewives, but not as feminine activists taking part in various social, cultural and political measures.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Cultural and Rhetorical Analysis of Presidential Debates specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The influence of media on representation of gender is tangible. I agree with Gill’s statement about media coverage: â€Å"rather than reflecting reality†¦the media are involved in producing or constructing particular versions of reality in order to make them ‘real’ and persuasive† (44). The focus on distortion and bias challenges the accuracy of comprehending the real state of affairs, as well as leads to a deviated form of political action that refers to ‘bad’ stereotypes. Finally, the media approach provides no distinction between degrees of meaning. In fact, it only addresses the content representation ignoring the fact that woman can symbolize a range of meanings, such as comfort, sexuality, stability, and conservatism. All these aspects could be highlighted in the television program episode. Specifically, Obama does recognize the existing distribution of gender role due to the actual emphasis on the male politicians and women’s capability to make decisions. The place of women’s in politics is heavily argued because there exist evidence stereotypic framework that is imposed on Obama’s speech in the show. Certainly, media has a potent impact on the President’s elaborations on this issue. Because he realizes that has great responsibili ty because he exposes his family as an example that other Americans should follow. For instance, when he talks about family related issues, Obama mentions his wife’s contributions constantly and refers to her role as a wife. Therefore, this is an additional media stereotypes affecting Obama’s ideology. Although the attitude to gender and sexuality in contemporary society is represented in various contexts, the Presidents still adheres to a heteronormative, objective perspective. I believe that Obama articulates ideas in a reserved, unemotional way, which allows him to maintain an image of an ordinary man that most voters believe he is. Such a position, therefore, is premised on standardized assessments of functions performed by males. Due to the fact that the contemporary society recognizes the masculinity and femininity are different aspects that should be considered as opposites, Obama takes the role of a heteronormative position as the one opposed to homosexual ster eotypes, which once again signifies Obama’s negative rather than neutral attitude to homosexuals.Advertising Looking for critical writing on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More There is also an assumption that male’s heterosexual orientation should be associated with unemotional, restrained, and objective evaluation of various issues (Fourie 306). In contrast, homosexuality is more connected with greater emotionality, which is attributed to a negative connotation. The connection between gender and sexuality is evident, but little consideration is done concerning its representation in political sphere. In fact, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno produces new perspectives which allow to uncover Obama’s actual view on sexuality and gender. Although the speech did not specifically relate to the discussion of gender issues, there are still contextual and rhetorical signs uncovering certain angles of the aspect. It should be stressed, however, that gender and sexuality are constructed through the prism of identities. The changing patterns also testify to the shifts in perceiving and evaluating the role of gender and sexuality. This is of particular con cern to role models, as well as to how they are covered in media. The media reflects on the relationships and situations from various social angles, specifically when it comes to the discussion of gender equality. In this respect, I agree with the point that â€Å"women have the formal right to most things that a man can do, and vice versa: situation where this is not the case become wellpublicised courtroom battles† (Gauntlett 4). Due to the fact hat even personal relationships has undergone democratic influence, marriage is analyzed beyond social, cultural, and political environments. In the television program under analysis, there is a kind of devaluation of such values because the anchor employs humorous approach to treating both marriage and politics. Therefore, discussing issues relating to gender seems to be as natural and as discussing such common aspects as tax payment and employment rates. Overall, because the television program episode does not overtly discuss gend er issues, its format allows to address the contemporary problems and introduce a handful of opinion on it (Ross n. p.). Although Obama is considered here as president whose view on gender should be neutral, its attitude to gender issues could be explained from the position of male gaze. This is of particular concern to his obligations with regard to the roles and responsibilities he takes in life. Although his position in political life is identified, Obama still recognizes the existence of opposition between masculinity and femininity. At the very beginning of the show, I have noticed that Obama talks about his family from the perspective of the American Dream stereotypes that restrict his view on society in general. Further considerations taken by the guest of the show are connected with the discussion of women’s capabilities and rights. From this viewpoint, Obama is more interested in representing the feminist view on the problem of women’s health and security. In conclusion, the analysis of the The Tonight Show with Jay Leno proves that media employs powerful rhetoric tools to influence public opinion. Media coverage also creates new stereotypes concerning the role of gender and its connection to sexuality. Although, the episode at issue does not address directly the issues of gender and sexuality, the speakers are concerned with the problem of gender equality. Their personal views on family issues and the place of women in society are also uncovered during the discussion. Fourie, Pieter J. Media Studies: Media History, Media and Society. US: Juta and Company Ltd, 2010. Print. Gill, Rosalind. Gender and the Media. US: Polity, 2006. Print. Guantlett, David. Media, Gender, and Identity: An Introduction. London: Routledge, 2008. Print. Ott, Brian, and Robert Mack. Critical Media Studies: An Introduction. US: John Wiley Sons. 2009. Print. Ross, Karen. The Handbook of Gender, Sex, and Media. US: John Wiley Sons. 2011. Print.

Definition of Reliability in Research

Definition of Reliability in Research Reliability is the degree to which a measurement instrument gives the same results each time that it is used, assuming that the underlying thing being measured does not change. Key Takeaways: Reliability If a measurement instrument provides similar results each time it is used (assuming that whatever is being measured stays the same over time), it is said to have high reliability.Good measurement instruments should have both high reliability and high accuracy.Four methods sociologists can use to assess reliability are the test-retest procedure, the alternate forms procedure, the split-halves procedure, and the internal consistency procedure. An Example Imagine that you’re trying to assess the reliability of a thermometer in your home. If the temperature in a room stays the same, a reliable thermometer will always give the same reading. A thermometer that lacks reliability would change even when the temperature does not. Note, however, that the thermometer does not have to be accurate in order to be reliable. It might always register three degrees too high, for example. Its degree of reliability has to do instead with the predictability of its relationship with whatever is being tested. Methods to Assess Reliability In order to assess reliability, the thing being measured must  be measured more than once. For example, if you wanted to measure the length of a sofa to make sure it would fit through a door, you might measure it twice. If you get an identical measurement twice, you can be confident you measured reliably. There are four procedures for assessing the reliability of a test. (Here, the term test refers to a group of statements on a questionnaire, an observers quantitative or qualitative  evaluation, or a combination of the two.) The Test-Retest Procedure Here, the same test is given two or more times. For example, you might create a questionnaire with a set of ten statements to assess confidence. These ten statements are then given to a subject twice at two different times. If the respondent gives similar answers both times, you can assume the questions assessed the subjects answers reliably. One advantage of this method is that only one test needs to be developed for this procedure. However, there are a few downsides of the test-retest procedure. Events might occur between testing times that affect the respondents answers; answers might change over time simply because people change and grow over time; and the subject might adjust to the test the second time around, think more deeply about the questions, and reevaluate their answers. For instance, in the example above, some respondents might have become more confident between the first and second testing session, which would make it more difficult to interpret the results of the test-retest procedure. The Alternate Forms Procedure In the alternate forms procedure (also called parallel forms reliability), two tests are given. For example, you might create two sets of five statements measuring confidence. Subjects would be asked to take each of the five-statement questionnaires. If the person gives similar answers for both tests, you can assume you measured the concept reliably. One advantage is that cueing will be less of a factor because the two tests are different. However, its important to ensure that both alternate versions of the test are indeed measuring the same thing. The Split-Halves Procedure In this procedure, a single test is given once. A grade is assigned to each half separately and grades are compared from each half. For example, you might have one set of ten statements on a questionnaire to assess confidence. Respondents take the test and the questions are then split into two sub-tests of five items each. If the score on the first half mirrors the score on the second half, you can presume that the test measured the concept reliably. On the plus side, history, maturation, and cueing arent at play. However, scores can vary greatly depending on the way in which the test is divided into halves. The Internal Consistency Procedure Here, the same test is administered once, and the score is based upon average similarity of responses. For example, in a ten-statement questionnaire to measure confidence, each response can be seen as a one-statement sub-test. The similarity in responses to each of the ten statements is used to assess reliability. If the respondent doesnt answer all ten statements in a similar way, then one can assume that the test is not reliable. One way that researchers can assess internal consistency is by using statistical software to calculate Cronbach’s alpha. With the internal consistency procedure, history, maturation, and cueing arent a consideration. However, the number of statements in the test can affect the assessment of reliability when assessing it internally.

Chart of Accounts for Health Care Organizations Essay

Chart of Accounts for Health Care Organizations - Essay Example A number of healthcare services including hospice, emergency care, outpatient surgeries, long-term home care, pharmacies and rehabilitation services among many others. Formed through a merger of Samaritan Health System and Lutheran Health Systems in 1999, the company has grown rapidly and currently boasts of assets worth $6.4 Billion (Piland, Glass & Center for Research in Ambulatory Health Care Administration, 1999). Banner Health has an efficient structure that has continued to portray its readiness to face the dynamic nature of the industry. The network continues to position itself strategically in the provision of healthcare services thereby making itself ready to offer its services in the next decade. Key among such strategies is the expansion of its network coupled with its diversification plan. As explained earlier, the company has expanded from Phoenix in Arizona to have more than twenty outlets in several other states. Such is an effective strategy the network employs in ens uring that it reaches as many Americans as possible. Health care is a basic need in any economy; the company, therefore, grows its network thereby enhancing the accessibility of its services throughout the nation. The same is the case with the diversification of the network. Banner Health offers a number of services including pharmacy, hospice, rehabilitation services, laboratory services and hospital care among many others. Demand for health care services is dynamic given the changing lifestyle in the contemporary society. The next decade promises further changes a feature that requires the services providers to streamline their capabilities. Banner health portrays the dynamism capable of handling the demands for health care service in the future. Emergency services are vital in ensuring that the company handles the demand for emergency services. The same is the case with hospice and home care among the many other services.

Evaluate Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Evaluate - Essay Example Where I do not understand something the lecturer has taught, I also make a point of asking for clarification as this is very important in that it helps me grasp difficult concepts in class making it easier for me to go back and read further about them in my free time. Over the years, I have learnt to appreciate the importance of attending classes and being attentive when the lecturer is teaching. I have learnt that it is easier to grasp difficult concepts in class from the lecturer than going to read about them from text books. This is due to the fact that it is easier to remember what you hear someone else saying than to remember what you read from a textbook. I therefore prefer to sit in class, listen and participate when the lecturer is teaching than sitting long hours in the library or in my study room trying to read difficult concepts alone. I therefore make sure that I attend all the lectures in time and this particular class has not been an exception. Another reason why I have been attending all my classes and being attentive is due to the fact that I find it irresponsible to skip classes and yet I have paid school fees for the same. I therefore find it necessary and satisfying to go to class and listen as the lecturer teaches since it makes me feel that I have utilised my tuition fees for a good purpose. Skipping classes or attending class and not being attentive is a waste of time and money and I find it wrong. The whole of this semester I have always given my full attention to this class so as to avoid wastage of time and the money I have paid for tuition. One other very important reason why I have been attending my classes without fail is so as to ensure that I increase my chances of passing the final examination. Listening to the lecturer in class ensures that you pick up the important things that he/she stresses on and