Thursday, October 31, 2019
Strategic Management Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2
Strategic Management - Coursework Example The authors of the articles are Matthias kipping and Ludovic Cailluet are reputable authors who have written numerous other articles. Mathias has a background in the faculty of economics and business science from university of pompeu fabra while Lodovic on the other hand, studied in university of Toulouse. After the analysis, the author arrived at the following conclusion, the company strategy evolved along deliberate emergent continuum as proposed by Mintzberg. In the case of ALCAN, the direction was from emergent toward deliberate strategies. The second conclusion was that there was some correlation between the firm strategy and its organization. This means that the evolution of the firms from emergent to deliberate was parallel to its evolution of the firm organization. This long run historical analysis confirms that using a framework that looks at continuum of deliberate and emergent strategies eliminate the notion of top down process. This suggests that Mintzenberg ideal applies in carrying out historical studies of company strategy. At the same time the study, add a crucial insight to the existing frame wok by highlighting the role of emergent imposed strategies. These strategies according to Mintenzberg represent extreme cases. Design school is one of the schools of thought on strategy formation. The design proposes a simple model that views the process as one design to achieve a balance between external threats and opportunity and internal competence. The paper discusses and later criticizes the model focusing on the concept of conscious assessment of strengths and weakness, of the need to make strategies explicit and separation between formulation and implementation (Potter, 2001). In doing so, it question the beliefs in the strategic management. The critique is not intended to dismiss the design school model; lather, it opposes the assumption of its universality. The author of the paper has vast experience in
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Divine Power and Divine Retribution in Jose Saramago’s Blindness Essay Example for Free
Divine Power and Divine Retribution in Jose Saramago’s Blindness Essay Divine Power and Divine Retribution in Jose Saramago’s Blindness Introduction            Often, writers in literature pilfer from the world of reality in their quest to present compelling characters and gripping plots. Nonetheless, others replicate the real world in an abstract sense to sensitize or communicate the malicious and malignant threats, epidemics and plagues prevalent in the world. Such episodes of these phenomena inflict mass threats and destructions, nefarious villains as well as innocent victims who apparel and enthrall novelists. In some instances, divine retribution follows the nefarious villains as well as grapples the ignorant innocent victims. This is well presented by Jose Saramago in his epic novel, Blindness. This paper explores divine power as well as divine retribution in the book Blindness by Jose Saramago arguing that divinity intervention follows in instituting justice. Besides, divinity intervenes to punish ignorance.            Indeed, the novel does not state explicitly that the onus of the swiftly hitting epidemic is resultant from the hands of a divine power such as God. However, the author does not resist writing on a divine power, God. This is because Jose Saramago introduces and trails the action of the churches in supplementing the government’s effort to contain the situation. Moreover, there are multiple references to church leaders all observable in the novel. Besides, Jose Saramago’s presentation in the novel suggests that divine retribution followed a nefariously villainous person. He or she was inflicted or struck with blindness. Additionally, it is interesting to note that literal authors cannot write a masterful work in a spiritual, religious or cultural vacuum. Deductively, it is evident that Saramago alludes to divine intervention and divine retribution.            Interestingly, the Blindness novel depicts a thrilling plot with an incessantly straying narrator from presentation of dialogues and facts to reflection on moral academic and ethical analysis at great lengths. Divine intervention and retribution features at the onset of the story in the first page. It is here that the author dexterously delineates in detail the expected features at an ordinary road intersection. These include flickering of lights and pedestrians crossing the road. Everything is a routine, and the events unfold as usual. However, a car at the intersection does not move or give way to the traffic behind, in spite of the flickering green light, creating an unusual situation.            The author is innate to this situation and goes on to consider rational motives behind the car’s stillness. He states, â€Å"there have to be some mechanical flaws, a loose accelerator, a stuck gear level, suspension problems†(1-2) and many other listings of things that could have gone wary. This situation does not go unnoticed because a bystander comes to the attention of the driver. He opens the door catching the attention of the driver as well as the reader. It then dawns to the reader that the driver was struck with blindness. This is rather bellowing and discomforting. It is not incidental that blindness just hit the driver cum blind. The cause of the blindness can only be explained in terms of divine retribution or intervention.            Saramago twists and turns the novel literally betwixt calamities. The â€Å"Good Samaritan†that came to the aid of the blind man later emerges that he is a thief. On driving the old man home, he steals his car. It is rather ironical that the good natured helper turns to be an immodest, insensitive and hands down thief. Indeed, it is immoral for an able person to take advantage of a handicapped person and exploit them taking advantage of their helplessness. The reader is appareled by the thief and only wishes for divine punishment. Therefore, the thief’s catching of blindness comes as a sigh of relief to the reader for what he or she considers as an immoral and ungracious act.            The scene of people being struck with blindness becomes an incessant phenomenon in the following pages. The narrator trails the lives of victims, and it emerges that they all had crossed paths one way or another. It is here that the narrator philosophizes divine retribution and intervention as calamity strikes the nation ravaging and resulting to outbursts among people with â€Å"I’m blind, I’m blind†uproars. In a series of skits between philosophical argument and conventional wisdom, the narrator presents a vivid account of the actions and motives of the escort and the car thief. Finally, blindness strikes these characters long before the narrator can conclude on the cause of the plague. Interestingly blindness strikes immediately without any bouts to announce its arrival. Divine retribution causes a fierily spread of the plague without a scientific explanation or physical symptoms. Blindness strikes swiftly, strange ly and impartially. For instance, the doctor realizes that he too is blind while watching television. The plague replicates in nature and strangeness to ancient floods and plagues that were acts of divine retribution such as in the bible.            A clout to divine retribution is protracted from the doctor’s wife. She is the only victim of blindness who separates human flaws and godly affairs thereby attributing the epidemic to divinity. According to her, â€Å"this is unbearable filth of the soul of a human. Of the human body†(279). According to the narrator, â€Å"she said, as if to correct this metaphysical thought, then she added, it is all the same†(Saramago 279). The reader is left the quarry of the thoughts of divine power and retribution. Arguably though, why does divine power not punish the malicious and nefarious villains, as well? Thomas Talbott in his article, â€Å"Punishment, Forgiveness and Divine Judgment†argues that retributivist punishment theory. He justifids punishment by questioning if the punishment befits the error or crime committed. Therefore, punishment is not a rehabilitation or crime deterrence tool but a justice and equalit y feature (Talbott, 154).            Just like other narrations, the Blindness narrator is obsessed with the behavior of people when put under extreme conditions. It is interesting to see the huge and expansive wary and panic among people following the blindness plague. Indeed, such a mega scale panic and social disarray contends the prevalence of a divine power with much stronger abilities than man can think. Different institutions in the society fall and crumble thanks to the plague for fear of the plague. The military cannot contain the massively and swiftly spreading plague create a heat of battle and confusion amidst the crisis. The government is also initiated into the crisis. It imposes a quarantine effort to control the contagion unsuccessfully resulting to collapse of the media, military and businesses.            Divinity fabling is also evident in the identity of the characters in the novel. For instance, the author does not give them real names but rather opts to identify them in generic form. For instance, there is the blind man, the Good Samaritan cum the car thief, the doctor, the doctor’s wife among many others. The book begins with the first blind man trailing him as his eyesight elopes while at an intersection, in his car. The first blind man is rescued by the Good Samaritan who takes him home. Later on, the good Samaritan steals his car and eventually loses sight. Indeed, divine retribution strikes and the thief is blinded just like other noble souls. The level of blindness infliction is as a resultant of divinity. It trails people who have crossed paths. For instance, the doctor was struck with blindness. Interestingly, he had attempted to treat the first blind man. People who had sat at the waiting room also got struck with blindn ess.            Saramago presents the proclamations of the churches and the church leaders, as well. They preached the end times claiming that the world was coming to an end. The narrator states, â€Å"they were proclaiming the end of the world†. He adds that they preached, â€Å"redemption through the visions of the seventh days, through penitence, †¦the purity and sanctity of the lymph, the black cat’s blood, the sleep of the shadow, the logic of anthropophagy, the rising of sea, painless castration and mainly divine tattoos..†(Saramago, 298). This presents the existence of divine power that claimed the people. References Cooper, Kate, and Thomas Talbot. Punishment, Forgiveness and Divine Judgment. Retribution, repentance, and reconciliation: papers read at the 2002 Summer Meeting and the 2003 Winter Meeting of the Ecclesiastical History Society. Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK: Published for the Ecclesiastical History Society by the Boydell Press, 2004. 154. Print. Saramago, JoseÃÅ' . Blindness: a novel. New York: Harcourt, 1998. Print. Source document
Sunday, October 27, 2019
Evaluate Student Satisfaction With Different Course Modules Nursing Essay
Evaluate Student Satisfaction With Different Course Modules Nursing Essay To define the drivers of student opinions and satisfaction, one needs to initially understand the role of student in an educational setting in terms of academic life. Educational institutions worldwide use the form of satisfaction questionnaires to investigate student views, therefore this is the student satisfaction measurement conducted for masters programme (MSc International Business Management) to develop the programme and to improve the student satisfaction levels. According to Kotler, the rapid development in education industry, significant increases in colleges and universities and demographic shift in the population may force the universities to think about the role of student satisfaction for their strategic improvement and survival in the competitive education industry (Kotler Fox, 1995). According to (Crawford,1991) in UK Higher Education (HE) institutions students were considered to be primary customers of a university even before they were liable for payment of fees as direct recipients to service provided by a one year masters degree programme made up of number of modules at each level. So it confirms the status of students as customers and there is scope in this evaluation to include students experiences rather than limiting it only to assessment of quality of teaching and learning (Aldridge Rowley, 1998) According to statistics which indicates that more than 40 % of all entrants leave higher education without earning a degree, 75% of the students drop out in first two years of college and more recent 46.2% of freshmen do not graduate from college (Kara DE shields, 2004) So based on statistics we can see how important for university administrators and researchers to focus their attentions on service quality which gives rise to student satisfaction for better chance to compete Satisfying the students to retain them is important for educational universities. It might be argued that dissatisfied students may slash back on number of courses or drop out of university completely. The main aim of the study is to critically analyse the student satisfaction levels and quality dimensions in assessing the MSc International Business Management (IBM) programme. 1.1 Background of the Industry: Liverpool John Moores University have 180 years of experiences in delivering high quality superior educational services and have 24,000 students plus 4500 oversees students of which 4100 are pursuing their post graduation education. Since the majority of the student are pursuing their under graduate education and only 17% student are post graduate or masters education there is a chance that post graduate student may be left dissatisfied. To measure the satisfaction level there is a need of undertaking a research it offers full range of post graduate and under graduate programs, of which MSc International Business Management is one which is recently launched in the year 2009 so total eight students were enrolled in the first batch September intake. It is a post graduate program to provide theoretical and practical perspective on International Business Management issues, to enhance students potential with in todays dynamic behavior environment. This program has been designed to develop , achieve aims and objectives by integrating skills and academic knowledge with case studies taken from real world situation it has a range of assessment methods selected to be appropriate to what is being taught, and designed as far as possible to reflect the real-world tasks. These include written reports, individual reflection, class tests, group presentations, and dissertation. The analytical nature of the programme, particularly at the Research project stage, will require students to investigate a business or management problem that require independent research and the synthesis of acquired knowledge and data to address the problem (www.ljmu.ac.uk). The main intention is to critically appraise the student satisfaction levels, service quality and the development of the programme. 1.2 Problem Statement: As IBM is newly introduced programme in LJMU the student expectations are not up to level of satisfaction due to lack of in sufficient students enrolled in this programme and the tuition fees is also high and the time tables arranged were not up to satisfaction due to work life balance with studies and students part time jobs author want to critically analyze the student satisfaction quality levels in new course. 1.3 Research Aim: The main aim of the research is to critically appraise student satisfaction levels in MSc International Business Management (IBM), service quality measurement and to develop the programme at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU). 1.4 Research Objectives: To investigate and evaluate student satisfaction with course modules of perceived program quality To investigate and evaluate student satisfaction with perceived quality of life with academic facilities and support To investigate the perceived quality of outcomes To propose recommendations to improve student satisfaction levels 2. LITERATURE REVIEW The literature review is a concise step by step guide to conducting a literature search (Ridley, 2008). 2.1 Student Satisfaction: According to (Danielson, 1998) student satisfaction refers to the attraction, pride, or positive feeling that students develop towards the program. But according to Kotler and Clarke (1987) defines satisfaction as a state felt by person who has experience performance that fulfils his or her expectation. According to (Stike, 1984) suggested that level of students positive feeling is associated with students being able to find adequate resources to meet their academic and social interests. But according to previous studies shows that students who report positive academic and social experiences expressed greater satisfaction with overall college experience. Interaction between faculty members and students is also a factor affecting student satisfaction in academic experiences (Tinto, 1993) which implies sufficient and positive faculty student interaction will contribute to overall student satisfaction (Danielson, 1998). The most student satisfaction studies focuses on perspective of customer oriented, researchers facing the problem of creating standard definition for student satisfaction which provides a basic need of theory to be selected and modified so that it can explain the meaning of student satisfaction. Even though there is a high risk involved in marketing place of higher education, there is a new moral prerogative that students have become customers as fees payers (Tuition Fees) which has a reasonable demand that their views be heard and acted upon (William,2002). 2.2 Service Quality in Higher Education: Quality may be defined as idea that quality has to be judged on assessment of user or consumer of the service. The focus on quality in services in this research is a broad aspect particularly service in higher education as it plays a key role in improving its services throughout the globe were urged to operate more commercially, quality been identified as core ingredient to success. Owlia Aspinwall (1996) pointed out that in order to measure quality, characteristics of quality need to be identified first. Whereas Cheng Tam (1997) emphasizes importance of defining characteristics of quality for measurement of education process. Zhao (2003) proposed the quality of a university online education to be evaluated from stand point of its course effectiveness, academic satisfaction and student satisfaction. But Devinder and Datta (2003) argue that organizations which want to deliver quality program and services to students must be concerned with every aspect of student experiences and support on campus. Quality in education not only includes lecturers, note taking and guidance but also includes student experience while interacting with various non academic personal components in university. Jones Suh (2000) concludes that transaction specific satisfaction influences overall satisfaction, repurchase retention. In fact students also found to place great importance degree acceptance and university reputation in selection of university and the course program (Chun, 2005). By taking different views into consideration the definition and dimensions of quality, researchers vary in measurement standards as they measure service quality used customer satisfaction as indicator for quality. 2.3 Conceptual Service Quality Models in Higher Education: From the past decades various service quality models were used and practised to cover the aspects of conventional services to latest web services, so total 19 service models were used so as quality management of higher education was handled differently from manufacturing industries. Popular service quality models were practised by business world. E.g: TQM has been applied to schools and universities in U.K and U.S.A According to (Chua, 2004) a model called SERVQUAL was used to measure the quality in education which is a well known fact that service quality is influenced by attitude and behaviour of a service customer. There are three methods available to measure the service quality in education First method adapts the SERVQUAL instrument second uses methods for assessing the quality of teaching and learning and the third method for assessing quality of the total experience. SERVQUAL is the well know tool to measure the satisfaction and the perception on the service quality. But according to (Jabnoun Al-saad, 2004) SERVQUAL is based on 5 quality dimensions which includes Tangibles, Reliability, Responsiveness, Assurance and Empathy. So it is best used for 5 point Likert scale to measure the student satisfaction and improve their satisfaction levels and development of the program. 3. METHODOLOGY According to (Kumar, 2005) methodology refers to the theoretical analysis of the methods appropriate to the area of investigation. The research is beneficial in two ways that is to maintain the whole research controlled, unbiased and straight forward and secondly to ensure that the audience conviction will be that the script is accurate and convincing. Research is seeking through methodological processes that adds to ones own body of knowledge and to that of others, by discovery of nontrivial facts and insight (Sharp, Peters and Howard, 2002) and have different layers and acknowledged as Research Process Onion and it is illustrated in Appendix (4), which consists of research philosophy, research approach, In order to improve the quality of the research (Saunders, Adrian Thornhill, 2003) explain that the research processes research strategies, time horizons and finally data collection methods 3.1 Research Approach: A research hypothesis refers to a pattern or a model for research. It involves the philosophy of research, practices of research, preferences of practices and beliefs and identification of research questions (Denscombe, 2010). According to (Leedy Ormrod, 2001) methodology is just an operating frame work within which the facts are placed so that they can be accurately measured, observed and interpreted, thereby find a solution. It is something that people undertake in order to find out new things in a systematic way, thereby increasing their knowledge. The research must be developed in such a way that it is able to make out and get all the key information which will help finding result for the research conducted. To be able to ascertain the aims of the research, it was envisaged mixed methods research design. According to Creswell Plano Clark (2007) mixed method research design is a procedure for collecting, analyzing and mixing both qualitative and quantitative research methods in a single study to understand the research problem. By assessing both outcomes of qualitative and quantitative process we can develop a complex picture of social phenomenon (Greene Caracelli, 1997). The researcher uses Triangulation mixed methods design (Jick, 1979) in order to gathers both qualitative and quantitative data, analyzes both datasets separately, compares the results from the analysis of both datasets, and makes an interpretation as to whether the results support or contradict each other. Qualitative approaches to data collection, analysis and report writing differ from then traditional, quantitative approaches. Use of purposeful sampling, collection of open ended data, analysis of text or pictures, representation of information in figures and tables, and personal interpretation of the findings all inform qualitative procedures (Creswell, Research Design, 2003) Qualitative research lacks internal validity; qualitative analysis is not designed with an end goal of generalising to large group of population of people, times and settings (Charles Robert, 2009). Whereas the process involved in Quantitative methods are of collecting, analyzing, interpreting and writing the results of study. Specific methods exist in both survey and experimental research that relate to the sample and population, specifying the strategy of inquiry, collecting and analysing data, presenting the results, making an interpretation, and writing the research in a manner consistent with a survey or experimental study(Charles Robert, 2009). According to Hammersely and Martyn (1989) qualitative data analysis should not be viewed as a distinct stage in research but then it continues throughout the research from problem formulation to final writing up. The data that is being analyzed should not only be made of primary data collected from field work but also the relevant secondary data should be taken into account. This meaning is true for any analysis either qualitative or quantitative. The data analysis consists of three elements data reduction, displaying the data and drawing the conclusion and these are the same for any research (Miles and Huberman, 1994). For finding meaningful data in the gathered information surely the process of analyzation must include interpretation but not just techniques. Although there are similarities between different types of analysis it should be recognized that the selection of the analyzation technique depends on the type of research being done. 3.1.1 Data Collection: As (Morse Richards, 2002) point out, the volume of data that qualitative researchers must manager is enormous. Researchers tell stories of drowning in data of stacking piles of data in their basements, or of not being able to use their dining room table for several months while the process of analysis in ongoing. The clear explained in a detail way please refer Appendix (5). 4. METHODS The following methods and procedures will be used to collect data for Quantitative Analysis Qualitative Analysis 4.1 Quantitative Analysis: 4.1.1 Questionnaire Survey: 4.1.2 Questionnaire Design: Questionnaire provides a more structured approach to gathering data for quantitative analysis. It is a series of written question for which the respondent provides answers. A well defined questionnaire motivation the respondent to provide complete and accurate information (Sharp, Peters Howard, 2002). The survey questionnaire should not be viewed as a standalone tool. Along with questionnaire there is field work rewards for the respondents and communication aids, all of which are important components of the questionnaire process. The strength of closed questions is that they are quick to complete and analysis; the weakness is that the data obtained may be very superficial. Open questions allow the possibility of asking deeper questions and obtaining unanticipated perspective on an issue, but the corresponding weakness is that completion and analysis can be difficult and time consuming (Smith, Thorpe Lowe, 2006) 4.1.3 Sample selection: Sample selection is sub-group of population which is taken to represent the entire population. Most important feature of a sample is it is representative and displaying similar characteristics to the population as a whole they may be totally random or may be stratified to ensure that there are sufficient cases from each category example male/female students, different faculties, levels, modes of study. A purposive sample is the one where the researcher deliberately selects cases which are considered to be representative or relevant (Creswell J.W, 2008) In this instance the target population is that of those students enrolled on the post graduation MSc IBM program at LJMU and the sample population will be selected from this group. Quantitative analysis conducted for students in MSc International Business Management(IBM) by using 5 point Likert scale statements were presented to students they agree or disagree with in them on five point scale from 1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree and then total numerical value can be calculated using response. It consists of total 50 questions one through eight were concerned with gathering demographic data. Question 9 to 20 focused on Course content Assessment. Question 21 to 30 focused on Facilities. Question 31 to 40 focused on Lecturer Faculty. Question 41 to 50 focused on Social Activities Student support 4.1.4 Questionnaire Collection: The Questionnaires will be handed out within university to all the MSC IBM students to complete questionnaire. Complete questionnaire will be collected and then all information from questionnaires is imported and coded in to SPSS. Since the time scale is involved we will design the survey is survey monkey and also send the web page link via email. Statistical package for analysis and hypothesis were tested using analysis of variance that is ANOVA which is used to uncover the effects of independent variables on an interval dependent variable. This procedure employs the statistic (F) to test the statistical significance of the differences among the obtained means of two or more random samples from the given population where statistic (F) is a ratio, which if sufficiently larger than 1, indicates that the observed differences among the obtained means are statistically significant. It is important to note here, however the samples were not random, which reduces the generalization of our results. 4.2 Qualitative Analysis: Qualitative analysis was conducted on group of four students in MSc International Business Management (IBM) at LJMU based on Sample selection, Interviews, Interview preparation and setting and analyzing the interview. 4.2.1 Sample Selection: This piece of research will be carried by interviewing the students of MSc IBM group management. Total there were 25 students enrolled for this program out of 25 a group of four students were selected for interview process. Prior to the interview the organization permissions will be sorted and their ethical considerations will be abided and held confidential in the course of research. 4.2.2 Interviews: The author will carry out an interview with group of four students will be interviewed and data will be collected regarding the factors what they feel that are responsible for organization success and so on. The researcher will carry on a semi-structured interview where the researcher has a list of questions or fairly specific topics to be covered. Questions may not follow on the way outlined on the schedule. Questions that are not included on the list may be asked as they pick on things said by the interviewers. 4.2.3 Interview Preparation and Setting: As individual will design the questions as per the literature review because as he is the student representative for MSc IBM program in order to identify the appropriate questions. Prior to the interview pilot interviews will be done. The questions will be reviewed by experienced people as what is straight forward to you as the investigator may be baffling to another person not fully in the picture. Sometimes you are too close to something and others can be more objective (Wragg.E.C, 1978). The Interviewer will inform the participants before the date of interview and requests them to arrange a comfortable location for the interview. The interview will be a one-to-one interview. The answers will be recorded in a camcorder borrowed from the university. 4.2.4 Analyzing the Interview: All the interviewed information will be loaded into the computer and saved in RTF so that it can be loaded into the (QSRNvivo) where it can be analyzed. Then the necessary nodes will be developed by the individual and formulated to generate the necessary themes. 4.3 Instrument Reliability and Validity: A goal of good research is to have measures that are reliable several factors can result in unreliable data. To determine the form of reliability, the researcher test at two different times to same participants at a sufficient time interval. Validity means that the individuals scores from an instrument which enables the researcher to draw attention about conclusion. In quantitative analysis the questionnaire was designed by using survey monkey software tool through web services. Questions added to the survey were directly derived from existing literature pertaining to student satisfaction and course program evaluation because this survey was designed significantly to adapt the technology used in web based courses, the researcher performed a reliability analysis after data collection phase. The researcher will use an interval scale of a parametric test and he shall code words in numbers and further the program will examine the information and it will generate complex statistical resul ts in a reliable way. Utilising a t-test analysis for the questionnaires, an evaluation of means (gender and age) will be done. A value of p The data was examined according to statistical assumptions by using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. In order to examine linearity, several bivariate scatter plots were generated and examined which reveals abnormalities between variables due to instrument being a Likert scale. The Pearson correlative coefficient was examined to correlation matrix in order to determine multi co linearity. In order to this pilot studies were performed in order to establish reliability and validity of the instrument. A confirmatory factor analysis was performed to subtract factors relevant to student satisfaction to examine construct validity of satisfaction survey which includes Demographic data, Course content Assessment, Facilities, Lecturer Faculty, Social activities student support 5. RESEARCH SUITABILITY The researcher has software background from Computer Science Engineering and is currently pursuing his Masters in MSc International Business Management (IBM) at Liverpool john Moores university. Since author is doing research on the same university where he is studying and he is the student representative for that program with his experience as a student he is well known about students opinions and suggestions, so it makes him easier to collect all the required information and in taking interviews and having questionnaire with students .Author have knowledge in research as he done coursework as a part of study where he collected some statistical data .Author also feels that SUPERVISOR is the key resource to the success of research he wants to take guidelines of supervisor and keep in contact with supervisor physically or via mails. Through the self experiences of author by all his observations about student satisfaction and quality of studies in LJMU he feels that definitely this is an interesting area. 6. TIME SCALE AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT A draft of the project plan is showed in the appendix. The time taken by the research will be determined by the cross sectional time horizon i.e., the research will be based on the information gathered in a short period from group of students in LJMU. Coming to the resources required, all the travelling expenses will be beared by the researcher himself and the survey and questionnaire is carried out in university from group of people. The time line of the project starts on the 15th of June 2010 and goes through the various steps involved such as the literature review, the quantitative and qualitative research involving interviews, the collection and analysis of the data regarding the cases studied, report preparation, meeting with the supervisor and finally leading to the submission which has been set tentatively to the first week of December. The time factor is going to be the most important and decisive factor determining the execution of the dissertation 7. ETHICAL ISSUES Please refer appendix (1). 8. RESEARCH ORGINALITY There are very limited amount of researches available in this topic with concept of student satisfaction and development of the MSc International Business Management (IBM) program at LJMU University, researcher being a student representative research has a potential opportunity to provide a new view in student satisfaction which examines different dimensions in the Service Quality, satisfaction levels. More over this research used both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Researcher feels that this research can provide the problems in MSc International Management program, satisfaction levels and the development of the program. 9. PROTOCOL Please refer appendix (2). 10. Bibliography
Friday, October 25, 2019
In Search of My Community :: Personal Narrative essay about myself
In Search of My Community While trying to examine how my community has changed economically since the 80's, I found myself pondering what my community really was. I have had the unfortunate experience to understand how a person can feel as if they don't really belong. Since I had moved about nine times within my life, and I am only eighteen years old, I became stuck, without any ideas of what to write about. While facing this assignment, I realized that I did not know if I had a place I would consider my "community," or even my true "home." In the year of 1984, when I was born, my family lived in Reading, Pennsylvania. Reading was not an area known for its good economic reputation. Most of the people in the area could be considered lower-income, middle class individuals. Our community was composed mostly of factory workers and small business owners. My father was self-employed at the time, for he owned a retail establishment. In our neighborhood, we may have been one of the families that earned the most money per year. We lived in a duplex, but even then, we were still considered upper-middle class. My mother was working nights as a medical technologist, and this was all so she could stay at home with me during the day. My father never completed his college career, but my mother did. She needed that degree to pursue her career in the medical field, and to have the potential to earn more pay. Throughout the 1980's we moved around a lot. First we moved to Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania in 1985, and then we moved to Stafford, Virginia in 1987. In Sinking Spring we finally owned our own house, and we lived in a wealthier neighborhood than before. We were now neither the richest, nor the poorest, people on the block. The richest people living in the neighborhood worked as engineers, and the poorest were factory workers. In Virginia, it was about the same as it was in Sinking Spring. My father was no longer running his own retail establishment, he was now working in the sales and marketing field for a company named AMP.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
African American In The 1920s Essay
The aspect of African-American Studies is key to the lives of African-Americans and those involved with the welfare of the race. African-American Studies is the systematic and critical study of the multidimensional aspects of Black thought and practice in their current and historical unfolding (Karenga, 21). African-American Studies exposes students to the experiences of African-American people and others of African descent. It allows the promotion and sharing of the African-American culture. However, the concept of African-American Studies, like many other studies that focus on a specific group, gender, and/or creed, poses problems. Therefore, African-American Studies must overcome the obstacles in order to improve the state of being for African-Americans. According to the book, Introduction to Black Studies, by Maulana Karenga, various core principles make of the basis of African-American Studies. Some of the core principles consist of 1)history, 2)religion, 3)sociology, 4)politics, and 5)economics. The core principles serve as the thematic â€Å"glue†which holds the core subjects together. The principles assist with the expression of the African-American Studies discipline (Karenga, 27). The core principle of history is primary factor of African-American Studies. History is the struggle and record of humans in the process of humanizing the world i. e. shaping it in their own image and interests (Karenga, 70). By studying history in African-American Studies, history is allowed to be reconstructed. Reconstruction is vital, for over time, African-American history has been misleading. Similarly, the reconstruction of African-American history demands intervention not only in the academic process to redefines and reestablishes the truth of Black History, but also intervention in the social process to reshape reality in African-American images and interests and thus, self-consciously make history (Karenga, 69). African American History or Black American History, a history of African-American people in the United States from their arrival in the Americas in the Fifteenth Century until the present day. In 1996, 33. 9 million Americans, about one out of every eight people in the United States, were African-American. Although African-American from the West Indies and other areas have migrated to the United States in the Twentieth Century, most African- Americans were born in the United States, and this has been true since the early Nineteenth Century. Until the mid-20th century, the African-American population was concentrated in the Southern states. Even today, nearly half of all African-Americans live in the South. African-Americans also make up a significant part of the population in most urban areas in the eastern United States and in some mid-western and western cities as well . Africans and their descendants have been a part of the story of the Americas at least since the late 1400s. As scouts, interpreters, navigators, and military men, African-Americans were among those who first encountered Native Americans. Beginning in the colonial period, African-Americans provided most of the labor on which European settlement, development, and wealth depended, especially after European wars and diseases decimated Native Americans (http://encarta. msn. com). Thus, history plays a role in the way African-Americans have shaped the world over time. The core concept of African-American religion has always played a vital roles in the African-American life since its beginnings in Africa. Religion is defined as thought, belief, and practice concerned with the transcendent and the ultimate questions of life (Karenga, 211). The vast majority of African Americans practice some form of Protestantism. Protestantism’s relatively loose hierarchical structure, particularly in the Baptist and Methodist denominations, has allowed African Americans to create and maintain separate churches. Separate churches enabled blacks to take up positions of leadership denied to them in mainstream America. In addition to their religious role, African American churches traditionally provide political leadership and serve social welfare functions. The African Methodist Episcopal Church, the first nationwide black church in the United States, was founded by Protestant minister Richard Allen in Philadelphia in 1816. The largest African American religious denomination is the National Baptist Convention, U. S. A. , founded in 1895. A significant number of African Americans are Black Muslims. The most prominent Black Muslim group is the Nation of Islam, a religious organization founded by W. D. Fard and Elijiah Poole in 1935. Poole, who changed his name to Elijiah Muhammad, soon emerged as the leader of the Nation of Islam. Elijiah Muhammad established temples in Detroit, Chicago, and other northern cities. Today, Louis Farrakhan leads the Nation of Islam. A small number of African American Muslims worship independently of the Nation of Islam, as part of the mainstream Islamic tradition (http://encarta. msn. com). Presented with the fact that African-American religion is predominately Judeo-Christian, the tendency is to view it as â€Å"white religion in black face†. However, the rooting of the two religions varies due to the historical and social experiences (Karenga, 212). African-American over time has somewhat declined in its power. The church was once the sole basis of the community, especially to those in need. Today, this is speculated to be the link in the decline in the bonding of the African-American community. The core principle of African-American sociology integrates the various aspects and social reality from an African-American perspective. African-American sociology is defined as the critical study of the structure and functioning of the African-American community as a whole, as well as the various units and processes which compose and define it, and its relations with people and the forces external to it (Karenga, 269). African-American sociology involves the study of family, groups, institutions, views and values, relations of race, class and gender and related subjects. The African-American community, like other communities, is defined by the sharing of common space. Parts of its common space, however, are bounded areas of living, such as ghettos, which not only close African-Americans in the community, but simultaneously shuts them out from the access and opportunities available in the larger, predominately Caucasian society (Karenga, 302). The concept of isolation creates areas of poverty. Socially, isolation in ghettos prevents the cycle of diversity society, allowing prevailing stereotypes to surface. The immense concentration of African-Americans is a reason for disadvantages, such as joblessness, poverty, etc. Statistics suggest that the employment rate issue is an essential on among African-American women. The average rate of unemployment among African-American women in the 1980’s was 16% and was higher for African-American men (Giddings, 350). Thus, the concept of diversity prevents African-Americans from thriving socially. The core concept of African-American politics can be defined as the art and process of gaining, maintaining and using power (Karenga, 311). The institution of politics has played a role in the African-American community since the 15th amendment was passed, allowing African-American men the right to vote (Constitution). In order to obtain political power, however, there are eight bases: 1) key positions in government 2) voting strength 3) community control 4) economic capacity 5) community organization 6) possession of critical knowledge 7) coalition and alliance and 8) coercive capacity. In order to attain these, African-Americans must unite, for unity strengthens weak groups (African-Americans) and increases the power of others (Caucasians) (Karenga, 363). Over time, African-Americans have made substantial strides in politics. Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, who ran for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988, brought exceptional support and force to African-American politics. In 1989, Virginia became the first state in U. S. history to elect an African- American governor, Douglas Wilder. In 1992, Carol Moseley-Braun of Illinois became the first African-American woman elected to the U. S. Senate. Today, Moseley-Braun is a candidate for the Presidency of the United States (Franklin, 612). There were 8,936 African-American office holders in the United States in 2000, showing a net increase of 7,467 since 1970. In 2001, there were 484 mayors and 38 members of Congress. The Congressional Black Caucus serves as a political alliance in Congress for issues relating to African- Americans. The appointment of African-Americans to high federal offices? including Colin Powell (chairman of the U. S. Armed Forces Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1989-1993; Secretary of State, 2001-present), Ron Brown (Secretary of Commerce, 1993-1996), and Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas? also demonstrates the increasing power of African-Americans in the political arena (http://encarta. msn. com). Despite the advances of African-Americans in the political scene, the rate of voting has immensely declined compared to 40 years ago. According to statistics, less than 20% of African-Americans between the ages of 18 and 24, the most vital voting age group, voted in the last 40 years (http://www. rockthevote. org ). African-American voting’s disappointing decline over time has become a setback in regards to power, for politics control most of the issues that concern society, such as healthcare, housing, and employment: issues that the African-American community are in need of improving. The core concept of economics is defined as the study and process of producing, distributing (or exchanging) and consuming goods and services. Economically, African-Americans have benefited from the advances made during the Civil Rights era. The racial disparity in poverty rates has narrowed to some extent. The African-American middle class has grown substantially. In 2000, 47% of African-Americans owned their homes. However, African-Americans are still underrepresented in government and employment. In 1999, median income of African American household was $27,910 compared to $44,366 of non-Hispanic Caucasians. Approximately one-fourth of the African-American population lives in poverty, a rate three times that of Caucasians. In 2000, 19. 1 % of the African-American population lived below poverty level as compared to 6. 9% of Caucasians population. The unemployment gap between African-Americans and Caucasians has grown. In 2000, the unemployment rate among African-Americans was almost twice the rate for Caucasians. The income gap between African-American and Caucasian families also continue to widen. Employed African-Americans earn only 77% of the wages of Caucasians in comparable jobs, down from 82% in 1975. In 2000, only 16. 6% of African-Americans 25 years and older earned bachelor’s or higher degrees in contrast to 28. 1% of Caucasians. Although rates of births to unwed mothers among both African-Americans and Caucasians have risen since the 1950’s, the rate of such births among African-Americans is three times the rate of Caucasians (DeBose, 1). Thus, the state of African-American economics have flourished over time, yet remains in a state of improvement. Whether one talks about poverty, incomes, jobs, etc. , all imply and necessitate the concern with economics in the African-American community (Karenga, 355). Conclucively, the possibility of problems arising towards the discipline of African-American Studies are rooted in the birth of the discipline itself (Karenga, 476). The mission of the discipline, problematic administrators, and campus opposition are examples of obstacles that often attempt to prevent the missions of African-American Studies. However, African-American Studies has continued to defend its stance over time. Thus, as long as there is an African-American culture, the quest for knowledge in the African-American studies field will remain. Works Cited DeBose,Brian. â€Å"Reclaiming the Mission†. Nov. 2002 . Franklin, John Hope. From Slavery to Freedom. Nashville, TN: McGraw-Hill, 2000. Giddings, Paula. When and Where I Enter . New York:Perrenial, 1984. Karenga, Malauna. Introduction to Black Studies. Los Angeles: University of Sankore Press ? Third Edition, 2002. http://encarta. msn. com http://www. rockthevote. com.
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Attitude Towards Women Essay
One of the most prominent themes in the Canterbury Tales is the attitudes of the pilgrims towards women. There are two distinct sides in the dispute: that women are simply objects of lust that must never be trusted, and that women are highly respectable and loving. The Shipman’s Tale starts off this debate with his depiction of women, which was less than favorable. The woman who is depicted in this tale is the wife of a merchant. She is not treated well by her husband, but certainly is not trustworthy or honorable herself. She sells her body to the best friend of her husband for a measly 100 francs. Her faithfulness to her husband was worth only a few extravagant garments for her to wear. It is her greed for these material goods that drives her into cuckolding her unsuspecting husband. Her worldly desires are more important than her marriage, and in the end she is hardly punished at all. She does manage to keep her husband from finding out, by saying that the Monk was simply repaying his debt and she used the money to buy some clothes. So, she gets away with a crime that would have dealt her a far greater punishment. This outcome, while it certainly wasn’t perfect for the wife, was much less than she deserved (Rossignol). The Prioress steps in with the next tale, and takes a much different view. The Prioress herself is a very humble and well-mannered woman, as she is described in the General Prologue. She is also extremely compassionate towards all of God’s creatures. Her tale is a tribute to the greatest woman of all, the Virgin Mary. While it is a tribute to the Virgin, the focus of the story is more on the little boy and his widowed mother. The mother is greatly distressed at her son’s disappearance, and is eventually led by Jesus himself to the place where her son has been tossed. The idea that Jesus himself was consorting with this woman and answering her prayers makes a strong statement. Jesus certainly would not aid an evil person, so this widow must have been virtuous and humble (Rossignol). And upon her finding of the little boy, the miracle of the Virgin Mary is presented. The boy, who had praised her and loved her throughout his short life, now sang because of the grain placed on his tongue by Mary herself. The story praises a woman who is unmatched in virtue by any mortal man, and shows a widowed mother to be humble and virtuous herself. Certainly a different view than was displayed in the Shipman’s Tale. The tales of Chaucer himself followed the Prioress’ Tale. The first of which, the Tale of Sir Thopas, didn’t take as strong stance on any attitude towards women as did the two tales that preceded it. It did, however, portray women to be objects of lust and affection which could put a man in grave danger. This is what the reader might expect from Chaucer, since he does place himself among some of the other rascals of the group in the General Prologue. The other rascals (the Reeve and Miller especially) had already told stories that depicted women as objects of male desire. Sir Thopas, the knight, left his hometown of Flanders because he had become bored with the local maidens. On his adventure, he dreamt of a beautiful Elf Queen, with whom he fell desperately in lo ve (Ruud). He searched the forest in search of her, and vowed to never stop until her found her. When he met the three-headed giant who stood in his way, he went back home to prepare to fight. He was ready to risk his life to gain the love of the Elf Queen. The Elf Queen in this story is an object of lust and desire, much like the merchant’s wife in the Shipman’s Tale. Since the story is cut short, though, the reader never gets a chance to see what this Queen is really like. All that is seen is that she has captured the heart of this young and noble knight, which has him risking his life in search of her. After Chaucer’s first sorry tale is cut short, he moves on to the Tale of Melibee. In this story some different attitudes towards woman are actually discussed verbally amongst the characters. Melibee talks of how all women are evil and none are good. But, his wife Prudence responds to that by saying that Jesus would never have been born to an evil woman, nor would he have appeared to a woman after his resurrection. So, not all women could be evil. This point is accepted by Melibee, as her point has been clearly made. Also, she points out women who have saved the lives of their husbands and who were truthful to them. As this argument continues, Prudence continues to sway Melibee to accept her argument. She does this with good intentions as well. She does not want her husband to go to war with these enemies of his which certainly could put them all in danger. By the end of the story, she has convinced him so thoroughly that he ignores the advice of his counsel, and follows her advice almost to the letter (Ruud). He does, however, give his enemies a bit of a verbal chiding against her wishes. It is quite possible that he did this simply to maintain himself as the sovereign lord of his estate, and to show Prudence that she has not gained complete mastery over him. This story takes an opposite approach towards women than Chaucer did in the Tale of Sir Thopas. But, since Chaucer does portray himself in the tales as a dunce, it is possible that this character is simply to doltish to make up his mind and take a solid stance on the issue. The Nun’s Priest has the final say in the matter. The Priest is traveling with the Prioress, so before reading this tale one might think that he will be afraid to offend her. This story deals extensively on this issue, and has to main points which reveal the Priest’s attitude towards women. Chauntecleer quotes a Latin phrase that he says means that women are the bliss of men. However, the phrase actually said that women are men’s ruin. So why did Chauntecleer lie to Pertelote when he told her this false translation? Well, quite possibly because he didn’t want to upset her any further, and because he was about to spend the whole morning having sex with her. If he had upset her further, she may have turned him away. Chauntecleer also began to compliment her looks along with changing the meaning of the Latin phrase because he loved her and he wanted to make love to her. So, this is in fact showing that women are the bliss of men, since Chauntecleer is going out of his way to please Pertelote (Scala). By afternoon of the same day, the story takes quite a turn. Pertelote had criticized Chauntecleer for being so cowardly after his dream, and he flew down from his safe perch because of her insults. Because of this, his vision soon came true, and he was captured by the fox. If it had not been for Pertelote berating him because of his cowardice, he would have stayed in his perch in safety. Now, the true meaning of the Latin phrase is also shown as true, as Pertelote has caused the ruin of the great Chauntecleer. There is one substantial difference in this story, however. When Chauntecleer is taken away by the fox, Pertelote shrieks and is quite distressed, as the story emphasizes. She expresses genuine concern for Chauntecleer, unlike the wife in the Shipman’s Tale and Dalilah in the Monk’s Tale. So, the Nun’s Priest’s point on the matter is quite simple. Women are the bliss of men, but, whether intentionally or not, also bring about the ruin of the men they love. Works Cited Rossignol, Rosalyn. â€Å"‘The Shipman’s Tale’.†Critical Companion to Chaucer: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2007.Bloom’s Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. Web. Rossignol, Rosalyn. â€Å"‘The Prioress’ Tale’.†Critical Companion to Chaucer: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2007.Bloom’s Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. Web. Scala, Elizabeth, and Michelle M. Sauer.†‘The Nun’s Priest’s Tale’.†In Sauer, Michelle M. The Facts On File Companion to British Poetry before 1600. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2008. Bloom’s Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. Web. Ruud, Jay. â€Å"‘The Tale of Sir Thopas’.†Encyclopedia of Medieval Literature. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2006. Bloom’s Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. Web.
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