Term Paper on Advanced Theories of Urban and Regional Planning

Term Paper on Advanced Theories of Urban and Regional Planning Planning Theory The meaning of planning theory depends on the context in which it is defined. There are two categories of planning theories namely, the procedural and the substantive theories. The procedural category encompasses the theories of planning, whereas the substantive consists of the theories in planning (Galloway Mahayni, 1977, pp. 62-69).Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Term Paper on Advanced Theories of Urban and Regional Planning specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In the procedural context, planning theory refers to the underlying ideologies, purposes, principles, and values in the planning process (Galloway Mahayni, 1977, pp. 62-69). In the substantive context, planning theory refers to the descriptive and predictive body of knowledge about the morphology and functioning of a city. Generally, planning theory can be perceived as the tools and techniques that facilitate planning processes such as da ta generation and communication. Importance of Planning Theory The main objective of planning theory is to enable planners to determine the circumstances under which human activities can lead to creation of a better city that benefits all its residence (Fainstein, 2005, pp. 121-130). In this context, planning theory has the following benefits. First, it establishes the relationship between planning procedures and the expected outcomes. This helps planners to identify appropriate planning procedures in order to achieve the desired outcomes. Second, planning theory provides guidelines for determining the attributes of an ideal city. For instance, Friedmann (2000, pp. 460-471) states that a good city should have adequate housing and affordable healthcare. By considering these elements, planners are able to meet the expectations of citizens concerning the acceptable standards of living within a city. Finally, planning theory provides a framework for choosing the best strategies for plan ning and developing a city that satisfies the needs of its residents. It facilitates identification of the bottlenecks that are likely to hinder the design and development of a good city. Types of Planning Theories There are three types of planning theories namely, the substantive, procedural, and normative theories. Procedural theory focuses on the planning process, by providing a framework for transferring knowledge into the actual activities associated with planning. Thus, it encompasses procedural issues such as making decisions, selecting participants in the planning process, and identifying the best planning processes. Substantive theory provides the knowledge base that planners use to develop city plans (Healey, 1992, pp. 143-162). It includes the theories associated with the various disciplines that are relevant in the planning process. Normative theory is concerned with the role of planning in the society. According to the normative theory, planning facilitates achievement of specific economic, historic, and political objectives that improve the lives of all citizens (Normativity in urban planning, n.d, pp. 76-99).Advertising Looking for term paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Justification of Planning From an economic perspective, planning is a form of intervention that is justified by the following reasons. First, planning helps in correcting market failure (Normativity in urban planning, n.d, pp. 76-99). A free market is considered to have failed if it cannot facilitate efficient and equitable distribution of goods. Public goods are often not provided by the private market because they are non-rivalrious and non-appropriable. This leads to market failure that can be avoided through planning for the provision of public goods. Second, planning helps in the prevention of negative externalities such as pollution (Normativity in urban planning, n.d, pp. 76-99). Third, the government can prevent the prisoner’s dilemma by mobilizing the citizens to combine their efforts to achieve a common goal. The prisoner’s dilemma is a situation where a person cannot achieve a certain objective by acting independently. Finally, planning helps in addressing the problem of the tragedy of the commons that occurs when a shared resource is depleted due to uncontrolled usage by its beneficiaries. This problem can be eliminated through plans that either regulate the use of the resource or expand it in response to the increase in demand. The Rational Synoptic Approach to Planning In synoptic planning, the systems perspective is adopted to articulate and to solve planning problems. This involves using mathematical models that establish the link between ends and means (Hudson, 1979, pp. 387-396). Ends refer to the objectives that planners intend to achieve through planning, whereas means refer to the available resources and the constraints associate d with the planning process. The effectiveness of synoptic planning depends on the availability of quantitative data and analytical tools that enable planners to achieve their objectives. The synoptic planning process has four stages. In the first stage, planners set the goals that they intend to achieve through planning. The second stage involves identification of the policies that can be employed to achieve the objectives of the plan (Hudson, 1979, pp. 387-396). At the third stage, the available resources (means) are evaluated against the identified objectives (ends). The fourth stage involves implementation of the policy identified in stage two. It is worth noting that planners do not have to follow these stages sequentially since they are intertwined.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Term Paper on Advanced Theories of Urban and Regional Planning specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Although the synoptic approach is superior to other planning methods in terms of simplicity, it has several weaknesses. To begin with, synoptic planning promotes centralization of planning activities such as problem definition and decision-making, thereby reducing the participation of the public in the planning process (Hudson, 1979, pp. 387-396). The synoptic approach fails to acknowledge the fact that some planners have cognitive limits that hinder them from developing optimum solutions. The synoptic approach is also criticized because it presumes the general public interest instead of the pluralist interest. Process Verses Outcome The democratic proceduralists believe that process is the most important element of planning. Thus, planners should always focus on following democratic procedures to develop plans that lead to achievement of public interest. This perspective is opposed by the Kantian idealists who believe that the most important aspect of planning is its outcome. In this regard, planners should foc us on the outcomes rather than the procedures used to achieve them. A third perspective in this debate is that planners should use any means to achieve their objectives as long as their intentions are ethical. They should focus on revolutionary change by developing new plans to replace existing ones. Friedmann (2000, pp. 460-471) argues that process and outcomes or ends and means should not be considered as separate elements of the planning process. He further states that both process and outcome are important in planning. Thus, planners should not focus on process at the expense of outcome and vice versa. In my view, both process and outcome are important in planning. However, democratic procedures should be followed only if they lead to achievement of the interests of the public. Similarly, the expected outcome of planning should be considered acceptable only if it is likely to satisfy the needs of the citizens. The Goodness of New York City According to Friedmann (2000, pp. 460-4 71), a good city is characterized with the flourishing of the human population, multiplicity, and good governance. The human population flourishes if the city has adequate housing, social provision, remunerated work, and affordable healthcare. In New York City, majority of the residents have housing and jobs. However, healthcare is not affordable since a large number of residents still lack health insurance to access medical services.Advertising Looking for term paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Multiplicity refers to â€Å"an autonomous civil life relatively free from direct supervision and control by the state† (Friedmann, 2000, pp. 460-471). New York City has met this criterion since the statutes of New York State and the constitution of the United States protect the citizens’ right to liberty and speech. This has led to the development of a vibrant civil life in New York City. The residents are free to form organizations to articulate their challenges without the interference of the state or government. Governance refers to the procedures used to make and enforce binding decisions in cities (Friedmann, 2000, pp. 460-471). New York City has good governance that focuses on transparency and responsiveness to the needs of the citizens. The governance is also inclusive since citizens have the right to participate in the formulation of policies that affect their lives through consultations. The political leaders in the city are directly elected by the citizens b ased on their inspiration and ability to create a shared vision for the electorate. In sum, New York is a good city since it has most of the attributes identified by Friedmann (2000, pp. 460-471). References Fainstein, S. (2005). Planning theory and the city. Journal of Planning Education and Research, 25(1), 121-130. Friedmann, J. (2000). The good city: In defense of utopian thinking. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 24(2), 460-471. Galloway, T., Mahayni, R. (1977). Planning theory in retrospect: The progress of paradigm change. Journal of the American Planning Association, 43(1), 62-69. Healey, P. (1992). Planning through debate: The communicative turn in planning theory. The Town Planning Review, 63(2), 143-162. Hudson, B. (1979). Comparison of current planning theories: Counterparts and contradictions . Journal of the American Planning Association, 45(4), 387-396. Normativity in urban planning. (n.d). Web.

Prehistoric Life During the Paleogene Period

Prehistoric Life During the Paleogene Period The 43 million years of the Paleogene period represent a crucial interval in the evolution of mammals, birds, and reptiles, which were free to occupy new ecological niches after the demise of the dinosaurs following the K/T Extinction Event. The Paleogene was the first period of the Cenozoic Era (65 million years ago to the present), followed by the Neogene period (23-2.6 million years ago), and is itself divided into three important epochs: the Paleocene (65-56 million years ago), the Eocene (56-34 million years ago) and the Oligocene (34-23 million years ago). Climate and Geography. With some significant hiccups, the Paleogene period witnessed a steady cooling of the earths climate from the hothouse conditions of the preceding Cretaceous period. Ice began to form at both the North and South poles and seasonal changes were more pronounced in the northern and southern hemispheres, which had a significant impact on plant and animal life. The northern supercontinent of Laurasia gradually broke apart into North America in the west and Eurasia in the east, while its southern counterpart Gondwana continued to fracture into South America, Africa, Australia, and Antarctica, all of which began drifting slowly to their present positions. Terrestrial Life Mammals. Mammals didnt suddenly appear on the scene at the start of the Paleogene period; in fact, the first primitive mammals originated in the Triassic period, 230 million years ago. In the absence of dinosaurs, though, mammals were free to radiate into a variety of open ecological niches. During the Paleocene and Eocene epochs, mammals still tended to be fairly small but had already started evolving along definite lines: the Paleogene is when you can find the earliest ancestors of whales, elephants, and odd- and even-toed ungulates (hoofed mammals). By the Oligocene epoch, at least some mammals had begun to grow to respectable sizes, though they werent nearly as impressive as their descendants of the ensuing Neogene period. Birds. During the early part of the Paleogene period, birds, and not mammals, were the dominant land animals on earth (which shouldnt be all that surprising, given that they had evolved from recently extinct dinosaurs). One early evolutionary trend was toward large, flightless, predatory birds like Gastornis, which superficially resembled meat-eating dinosaurs, as well as the meat-eating avians known as terror birds, but subsequent eons saw the appearance of more diverse flying species, which were similar in many respects to modern birds. Reptiles. Although dinosaurs, pterosaurs and marine reptiles had gone completely extinct by the start of the Paleogene period, the same wasnt true for their close cousins, the crocodiles, which not only managed to survive the K/T Extinction but actually flourished in its aftermath (while retaining the same basic body plan). The deepest roots of snake and turtle evolution can be located in the later Paleogene, and small, inoffensive lizards continued to scurry underfoot. Marine Life Not only the dinosaurs went extinct 65 million years ago; so did their vicious marine cousins, the mosasaurs, along with the last remaining plesiosaurs and pliosaurs. This sudden vacuum at the top of the marine food chain naturally spurred the evolution of sharks (which had already been around for hundreds of millions of years, though in smaller sizes). Mammals had yet to venture fully into the water, but the earliest, land-dwelling ancestors of whales prowled the Paleogene landscape, most notably in central Asia, and may have had semi-amphibious lifestyles. Plant Life Flowering plants, which had already made a cameo appearance toward the end of the Cretaceous period, continued to flourish during the Paleogene. The gradual cooling of the earths climate paved the way for vast deciduous forests, mostly on the northern continents, with jungles and rainforests increasingly restricted to equatorial regions. Toward the end of the Paleogene period, the first grasses appeared, which would have a significant impact on animal life during the ensuing Neogene period, spurring the evolution of both prehistoric horses and the saber-toothed cats that preyed on them.

Compare and contrast Poes Prospero to Alan Stanford Essay

Compare and contrast Poes Prospero to Alan Stanford - Essay Example For prince Prospero the external world could take care of itself while he took care of himself. Once prince Prospero’s territory became half depopulated instead of attempting to save the remaining population he summons a thousand hale and light hearted friends of his court and retires into the deep seclusion of the crenellated abbeys. The rooms of the palace are decorated in single colors. The room which is the eastern most is decorated in blue along with blue stained glass windows. The next room with purple and in this pattern the rooms westward continued to be designed with the color scheme of green, orange, white and violet. The seventh room is designed in black and red windows along with an ebony clock. The pendulum swung with a dull monotonous clang that struck a sound that was loud and deep and with a peculiar note that enabled the orchestra pause their performance and to hearken to the sound wherein the waltzers grew pale and confused. Once the chimes had stopped laughter once again pervaded the gathering. Midnight opens up the doors for a new guest who is mysterious and ghoulishly dressed and whose face is resembles a corpse with spots of blood. Indeed this guest has been a victim of Red Death. Prospero naturally is angry when the character is void of humor and levity and who crashes the party, â€Å""Who dares"--he demanded hoarsely of the courtiers who stood near him--"who dares insult us with this blasphemous mockery? Seize him and unmask him--that we may know whom we have to hang, at sunrise, from the battlements!" (Poe, 1984) This nameless awe did indeed inspire the party but none had the courage to put forth their hand to seize him. â€Å"But first let me tell of the rooms in which [the masquerade] was held.† (Poe, 1984) Unimpeded this guest stealthy moved around and made his way around uninterruptedly but with the same solemn and measured step which had distinguished him from the first, through the blue chamber to the

Beyond Leadership, the Social Architecture for the Future Essay

Beyond Leadership, the Social Architecture for the Future - Essay Example The significant policies for this purpose may include Risk Management, Human Resource Management, and Procurement of goods and services, marketing.† (File Format†¦) The listing of legal responsibilities is long. Some of the important ones are annual business plans, long term plans, capital needs and budget, manpower planning, preparation of quarterly operating results, and framing a perfect system of internal audit, planning joint ventures, fulfill the demand of the revenue and regulatory authorities. Warren Bennis (1997) writes, â€Å"The new leader is one who commits people into action, who converts followers into leaders, and who may convert leaders into agents of change. â€Å"(p.3) In a military environment, the four actions that should be taken on assuming a new leadership position are: Determine what is expected of your unit; determine what is expected of you; determine the strengths and weaknesses of your subordinates; determine what other key people whose willing support is necessary to accomplish your job.(Military†¦.) A leader immediately after his posting, has to quickly take stock of his duties and responsibilities in the given environment and with the tools available to him. He is a poor leader who has the habit of complaining about the inadequacies and the facilities not provided. In any organization, including the military set-up, there are compulsive limitations of financial resources and constraint of policy decisions. If your resources are not adequate, you need to carry on with the available resources. But the discipline in the unit needs to be perfect; as a leader you cannot say, I somehow carry on with the available discipline! The co-leader may or may not have the power of positional authority, but such an individual does enjoy the authority that may be delegated to him from time to time. Or a co-leader may be given fixed duties and responsibilities to manage and take care of the unit in a military set-up, for which he will be held

A religious or moral issue Essay Example for Free

A religious or moral issue Essay Analyse and explain the way in which a religious or moral issue of concern to Christians has been dealt with in a television soap opera The moral issue that I have chosen to follow is adultery, which is when a married person has voluntary sexual intercourse with other married or not married people, rather than his or her spouse. The reason I have chosen this moral issue is because it is part of everyday life, many people are doing it and are not taking notice of the hurt and pain they are causing. I have chosen Eastenders for my soap opera, because it is a popular soap and the moral issue adultery is shown, through Natalie and Rickys affair. Christians have a strong view on adultery, they believe that you should keep sexual intercourse for marriage because it makes it part of a religious or spiritual contact and it makes it dependant on a commitment to spend the rest of your life with someone, also Do not commit adultery is one of the ten commandments, so Christians are totally against adultery. The main characters involved were Ricky, Natalie, Pat and Barry. The storyline begins with, Ricky and his son Liam coming back to the square after a few years away. After a few weeks Ricky is starting to settle down and he is renting a flat with Sam Mitchell his ex-wife, Natalie and Ricky are friends at this point. After a while Natalie realizes she still loves Ricky, her first love, and starts meeting up with him secretly and has sexual intercourse with him. Natalie makes up excuses saying that shes working overtime and during her lunch breaks when shes really meeting up with Ricky. One night Pat sees Ricky picking up Natalie from round the corner from their house. The next morning Pat confronts Natalie about what she saw and tells her to end it but Natalie starts crying and says that she still loves Ricky, but Pat tells Natalie about her own love life and that she would be making a big mistake by seeing Ricky. Natalie is still confused and not sure whom she wants to be with. On Rickys birthday Natalie stays home and looks after Jack and Liam, Rickys son. So Barry, Pat and Roy can go to Rickys party soon after they arrive Barry persuades Roy and Pat to go home and baby-sit so Natalie can come to the party. When Natalie arrives she gives Ricky his card and on the back of the envelope Natalie wrote meet me outside the back where she tells him that she is going to leave Barry. Pat and Natalie talk again and Pat shows Natalie the secret tape, which Barry has recorded for Natalies birthday it is a really special tape because Barry says how much he loves her, how important she is to him and how happy she makes him feel, after seeing the video Natalie realises that she is doing wrong and tells Ricky its over. Natalie realises she cant forget Ricky and soon their affair is back on and they plan to move away from the square and start afresh. They plan to leave on Natalies birthday, Natalie doesnt even care about the preparations that Barry made for her birthday party in the Vic. They are ready to head off but Rickys car has broken down so they have to take the car that Barry bought for Natalie. Barry is still in the Vic waiting for the guest of honour to arrive but Janine knows about Ricky and Natalie and tells Barry. Barry runs outside and sees Natalie driving off but he stops them. Natalie then tells Barry shes leaving him, Barry takes her into the Vic and shows her what he has organised for her, Natalie runs off to the toilets Barry runs after her and tries o make her change her mind but her minds already made up. Natalie is ready to leave but then Janine tells Natalie that Ricky slept with Sam, Natalie leaves the square only taking her son with her. Barry is left heartbroken, he then finds out that Pat knew about Ricky and Natalie, Pat and Roy end up having an argument about it, Roy has a heart attack and dies. The issue seen was dealt sensitively because the different characters feelings were expressed, although it was Natalie who was having the affair, you could see that not only was it the innocent partner that was confused but the partner which was committing adultery was even more confused, Natalie wasnt sure who she wanted to be with at some points and was getting very upset over it. Pat tried to help her make the right decision but Natalie didnt care. This soap opera made the moral issue less appealing, I think that it made people think more about what they are doing is totally wrong. The reason it did not make it more appealing is because it showed all the different circumstances people were left in, Natalie ended it with Ricky because he slept with Sam, Barry was left with no son and no wife, the baby was left with no father, Pat was left as the enemy and homeless because Roy dies and leaves the house to Barry, so the issue was shown well balanced because all the main characters feelings and circumstances were shown, many of the characters were feeling hurt. Overall I think this soap opera has shown adultery to be unpleasant because it shows just how many peoples lives are ruined not just the adultery committers, but people who try to help them understand what they are doing is wrong, but are then given the evil for not telling the truthful partner. So this teaches most viewers that adultery is not a good thing. I dont think that soap operas might affect peoples behaviour because mostly they deal with issues to express the circumstances of good and bad. This issue would not cause offence because although it is an issue, which is happening in everyday life it is not based on particular people.

The Way of Life Frank Represents Compared to Ritas :: Educating Rita Relationships Willy Russell Essays

The Way of Life Frank Represents Compared to Rita's Rita is seeking a better way of living her life and Frank represents the life style she wishes to live. She understands she is of a working class background, and wants to be more cultured. Rita wants more meaning to her life. She wants to know the right things to say and what wine to buy, the type of attributes she admires in Frank, and people similar to him. She does not want to be just a housewife and mother, the two exact things Denny her husband wants her to be in order that she fits in with the rest of their society. He tries to control her and prevent her from learning, he burns her books and constantly nags at her to come off the pill so that she can have a child and settle down, just like everyone else they know. Denny's ideas are evident when he says; 'There's a time for education. An' it's not when y' twenty-six an' married.' Basically she has to make a choice between her education or her family, because as she changes to become a more sophisticated and educated woman, she widens the gap between her and the people in her old life, them being ignorant and uncultured. First of all, it is noticeable that because of Rita's working class background, one particular quality of hers is her lack of self-consciousness, which prevents her from being prudish. This is revealed in Act 1 Scene 1 when Rita comments on Frank's picture on the wall; "Look at those tits," she says bluntly, within minutes of meeting her new tutor. Frank, having had a middle class upbringing is embarrassed by her frank observation. He has the good judgment to realise that on first being acquainted with someone this kind of comment is not really appropriate, whereas Rita is almost like a child, not having the expected amount of subtlety and the sense to be discreet. These qualities are what hinders Rita from becoming more like Frank. However, it is this type of behaviour which draws Frank to Rita, he finds her new, unique, and original because she does not follow the unspoken rule of how to behave on meeting a stranger. In Act 1 Scene 1 he describes her as; "The first breath of air that's been in this room for years." He views his life as dull and stale, Rita stepping in begins to make his life seem more interesting, she livens it up. On becoming more educated, Rita also has to leave behind a positive aspect of her old life, a close-knit community with close links.

Campbell Management Consulting Case Analysis

Campbell Management Consulting Case Analysis Situation Analysis In the Campbell Management Consulting case, Lauzon Automotive hopes to become more efficient. Central Engineering Manager, Peter Cole, has hired Colin Campbell to conduct a series of studies, beginning with the role of â€Å"tug operator†. The workload carried by the tug operator position has decreased in recent years due to decreases in the amount of waste generated at the plant; however, staff level of the role has remained constant over the same period. Campbell is observing and analyzing the utilization of workers in the position to determine if cutbacks would be beneficial. Campbell is met with hostility, however, on the part of the union workers who fear losing their jobs. In addition to being openly hostile towards Campbell, the workers have opted to participate in a â€Å"work-to-rule† campaign to show their dissatisfaction with the study. The campaign is a strike technique in which workers do the minimum amount of work necessary, or follow the policies and procedures so closely, that productivity is hampered or halted altogether. Since huge losses result from the shutdown of the plant, which could be a result of their work-to-rule campaign, it is wise to avoid its enactment. The root causes of the issues include job design problems, specifically with inflexibility. This narrow description has caused workers to be able to enact the work-to-rule campaign. In addition, general management of the workforce is another concern. Cole, a young manager, needs to get a better grip on the tenured union employees and enforce company policies. Issues with the union also abound; under no circumstances should a consultant be harassed, as Campbell was, by one the Lauzon employees. PROJECT TITLE: | Campbell Management Consulting| Date:| 9/13/2011| | Owner:| Michelle Crawford| Background| | Recommendations| *In 1998, Japanese automakers have 30% share of industry vs. the decreasing 60% share held by North American manufacturers. *Production rates for American automakers had dropped 2-3% in few years leading up to 1998. | | A job analysis and reformation of the job description is required to impede any future attempts at enforcing a work-to-rule or other strike tactic. The measurable will be compliance from the workforce as well as increased efficiency in the tug operator role. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Current Situation| | | *In order to remain competitive, Lauzon Automotive is looking to become more efficient. *Colin Campbell has been hired to diagnose problems and inefficiencies, beginning with the role of â€Å"tug operator†. *The workload carried by the tug loader position had decreased steadily in the past few years due to decreases in waste production, yet staff level of this role remained constant over the same period. The tug operator position is occupied by senior union employees, who are reacting negatively to the study and staging work-to-rule protests. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Plan| | | 1 – Perform job analysis on the tug operator position. Redefine the role so that it includes measurables like timeliness of deliveries as well as safety regulations. Include any duties that may have been previo usly undefined in the description. 2 – Have Peter, and perhaps a more senior employee, meet with union leaders on the hostility issues. A â€Å"no-tolerance† rule on harassment should be implemented – and offenders immediately fired. 3 – During this meeting, Peter should assure the tug operators that their jobs are not at risk. Given that most of them are within one year of retirement, Peter should allow their retirement to naturally reduce the number of workers in the role, and only hire on/promote more tug operators as necessary based on utilization calculations, which will need to include travel time between gondolas. – Peter should explain the reformation in the job description. This will be instrumental not only in preventing work-to-rule protests from employees, but will also aide when training newly hired tug operators, when the time comes. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Goal(s)| | | Effectively manage the number of workers in the tug operator position for maximum efficiencies, without causing unrest amongst the union employees and possibly causing a strike. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Analysis| | | | | | | | Utilization rate of workers per shift (assuming one refuel per shift): 180 (# of gondolas) X 5. 35 m (average service time per sample gondola) = 984. 25 m (total time to service gondolas per shift) 510 m (per shift) – 30 m (lunch) – 60 m (breaks) – 15 m (refuel) = 405 m (per worker per shift) 405 m (per worker per shift) X 5 (workers per shift) = 2025 m (total time workers available) 984. 5 / 2025 = workers operating at 48. 6% capacity. However, it should be noted that Campbell's data is incomplete because it does not include travel time between the gondolas. This would clearly effect the recommendations, so I do not think it would be acceptable for Campbell to consider cutting jobs at this time. Root causes *Job design – too narrow a definition, allowing workers to enact work-to-rule. Management of the workforce: Peter, the young manager, seems to be getting pushed around by the tenured union employees, hampering productivity *Issues with the union: ho stility and unrest that should not be tolerated | | Follow up| | | Meet with union leaders and tug operators again to discuss any issues with the new job description. Enlist their support in providing feedback to enhance the description. They should view the consulting team as their allies. Finally approve new description, and then monitor retirement dates for when to expect an increase in role productivity. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Assumptions and Missing Information The key piece of information that is missing is the travel time between one gondola and the next. Without this data, it is impossible to accurately determine the utilization of tug operators. Problem Definition The key issue in this case is the narrow job design and definition of the tug operator position, allowing for strike tactics. The secondary issue is management of the workforce and issues with the union. Development of Alternatives One alternative would be to continue the study to acquire the data necessary. Campbell could return to the floor and observe the time it takes to travel from one gondola to another, and then complete his utilization rate analysis. Evaluation of Alternatives and Recommendations If Campbell decides to complete his evaluation of the role, it might further damage the relationship between management and the union, causing more unrest and workplace disruption. I would advise against this, especially since the majority of tug operators are planning to retire within one year. In light of this, I recommend that Campbell abandon his study of utilization rate in favor of job analysis on the tug operator position. The job description should then be modified as necessary so that work-to-rule campaigns will no longer be an issue. Campbell should also advise Cole on how to handle his relationship with the union in the future. Implementation Plan The implementation timeline should look as follows: * Perform job analysis on tug operator position. * Redefine the role so that it includes measurables like timeliness of deliveries as well as safety regulations. Include any duties that may have been previously undefined in the description. * Cole should meet with union leaders on hostility issues and address strike concerns. * Assure them that their jobs are safe and that not cooperating with or expressing hostility towards Campbell will not be tolerated. Cole should also explain the changes to the job description and enlist the help of the tug operators for any future developments with it. Conclusion Narrow job descriptions can become host to numerous workplace issues, including strike protests like the one exhibited in this case. Evaluating them, and maintaining a good relationship with the workforce, is crucial to success, efficiency, and sustainability. References Cruji, Colin. Richard Ivey School of Business. (1999) Campbell M anagement Consulting.

Do video games contribute to teen violence? Essay

Two teens in black leather coats waited with their vehicles near the west entrance of Columbine High School. The teens, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold , headed toward the school. Armed with four guns, several knives and dozens of home-made explosives, they launched their assault, injuring several students and killing two before entering the building. The school shooting that took place on April 20, 1999, was evidently a very devastating and emotional day, but what many fail to comprehend is what led these two students to such drastic measures. After various studies, and concrete evidence, a rational explanation may be that these two killers were fanatical players of violent video games. Unfortunately, the destructive impact violent media has on today’s youth doesn’t end there. Violent video games have been known to cause aggression in players, increased reports of bullying, violence and ruins the virtuous morals instilled in today’s generation. Studies support that there is a strong link between violent video games and aggressive conduct. Many children that take part in playing violent games often report feelings of aggression and violence. According to the Michigan Youth Violence Prevention Center, â€Å"It is intuitive that young kids who play violent video games, compared to young kids who do not play violent video games, will be more aggressive in certain real-life situations. † In other words, children who play violent video games tend to see the world from a hostile perspective, triggering them to be verbally as well as physically aggressive. This is obvious considering the fact that violent video games portray violent behaviors and suggestive material. Procon states, â€Å"A 2009 study found that it takes up to four minutes for the level of aggressive thoughts and feelings in children to return to normal after playing violent video games†. These four minutes of aggression is enough to compose violent thoughts in children. Exposing our adolescents or even our general population to these sorts of behaviors can lead to serious and possibly fatal consequences, for instance bullying and school shootings. Violent media can be very influential and unhealthy exposure may result in disastrous consequences, such as bullying. Though it may seem extreme, studies reveal that after just 10 minutes of violent video games the mind becomes desensitized to the fact that you’re killing someone, and according to psychologist Michele Borba, it can also result in less empathy towards others . Adolescents that play violent video games tend to associate pleasure with the ability to cause pain in others(â€Å"Do Violent Video Games Contribute to Youth Violence†). Players can sometimes confuse fantasy with reality and at the very least, their brain finds happiness in the suffering of others, which could possibly lead to bullying. The 2008 study Grand Theft Childhood reported that 60% of middle school boys who played at least one Mature-rated game hit or beat up someone, compared to 39% of boys that did not play Mature-rated games (â€Å"Do Violent Video Games Contribute to Youth Violence†). Young people that bully others often times are also involved in playing violent video games, and the violence portrayed on screen, lead players to violence in real life. Not only do violent games contribute to bullying, scientists also suspect that violent games may play a role in school shootings and other massacres. One of the most extreme, and disturbing effects of violent media is evident in school shootings such as the Newton Elementary Shooting, killing 26 first graders and the Columbine Massacre, killing 13 students. The Hartford Courant has reported that, â€Å"Adam Lanza, Newton Elementary school shooter, spent hours playing graphically violent video games in his basement before the shooting that killed 26 children and faculty at the school and Lanza’s mother at her home. † Obviously, Lanza was influenced by the violence in the video games which then caused him to commit these horrific murders of young, innocent children. According to the Carey Benedict, a journalist for The New York Times, families of the victims of the Columbine shooting sued Sony, SEGA and Capcom for the violent video games the gunmen, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, played. Klebold and Harris were avid players of violent games, The New York Times states, â€Å"They [Klebold and Harris] relied on(†¦) games to express their rage and(†¦) cutting them off in 1998 sent them into crisis. † When the teens lost their priviledges, they went on a violent rampage to express their rage and committed a mass murder, The gruesome images portrayed in games can possibly lead to extreme mental issues and destroy the morals we strive to instill in our youth. Our adolescents today will create an impact on tomorrow but our hopes of a bright future may be marred due to the violent nature of video games. Video games cause a decrease in sensitivity and compassion in adolescents, making them less caring and unsympathetic. The American Psychological Association states, â€Å"playing violent games is also related to children being less willing to be caring and helpful towards their peers. † Video games decrease compassion in kids, and could possibly lead to an insensitive, hostile generation. In addition to reducing sympathetic emotions, video games also allow children to witness foul language, teaching them vulgar words which could influence them to use them in real life (â€Å"The Positive and Negative Effects of Video Games†). Another effect, violent media has on today’s generation are gender inequality. In a majority of video games, women are often portrayed as weaker characters that are helpless or sexually provocative. Procon has stated that, â€Å"A 1998 study found that 21% of games sampled involved violence against women. † Victoria Beck, a professor at University of Wisconsin , states that, Video games showing sexual objectification of women and violence against women resulted in statistically significant increased rape rape-supportive attitudes for male study participants. † This proves that exposure to sexual violence in video games is associated to increases in violence directed at women and fake attitudes about rape such as, women incite men to rape or that women secretly desire rape. This sort of an outlook on women could greatly harm our adolescents and laws of today’s and tomorrow’s society, possibly causing rape and therefore, leading to all sorts of violence. Insensitivity and rape, these are only a few of the critical effects of violent media, but what exactly is the cause of these disasters? It is apparent that playing violent video games has many destructive effects, but the serious psychological effects are often overlooked. Douglas A. Gentile, a psychologist in Handbook of Children, Culture and Violence, states, â€Å"In a series of studies with children adolescents found that video game violence exposure was related to a wide array of aggression. † Video games seemingly cause aggression in people, and extended exposure could put our future in jeopardy. People who played video games obsessively could also become socially withdrawn, like the shooters in the Columbine Massacre. Constant exposure to digital violence could fuel their minds and give them the idea that it’s okay to commit acts of violence. The opposition may claim that, not everyone is affected by the violence presented in some video games, but violent media affects everyone, at least, to some extent. For example, playing video games could be compared to smoking cigarettes. A single cigarette won’t cause lung cancer, but smoking over weeks or months or years greatly increases the risk. In the same way, repeated exposure to violent video games may have a cumulative effect on aggression. Though, only one third of smokers get cancer that does not necessarily mean that smoking is acceptable for the other two thirds of smokers. Similarly, video games may only have an extreme effect on those with mental health issues, but this does not mean that the repeated acts of violence portrayed in these games is suitable for others to observe, in fact, the repeated exposure could have a damaging effect over time.

Social Security Administration Hiring Freeze May Cause Backlog

Social Security Administration Hiring Freeze May Cause Backlog SSA Hiring Freeze May Contribute to Increased Backlog in Disability Cases The Social Security Administration recently announced a hiring freeze, which could increase the backlog in Social Security Disability cases.Andrew Saul, the new SSA Commissioner, announced the freeze on July 31, and the notice stated the freeze was enacted in an effort to help improve hearings and field office wait times.The freeze affects all headquarters and regional offices.Hiring Freeze Announced After Nearly Decade-Long Budget Cuts This announcement comes in the wake of nearly a decade of significant cuts in the administration. As reported in a previous blog post, The SSA has made reductions in staff as its operating budget was decreased by 9% from 2010-2018.In that time, 67 field offices were closed, resulting in roughly 2,000 less field office staff members to serve beneficiaries.This decrease in offices and staff occurred although the number of beneficiaries increased by 17%, contributing to the backlog in cases.The Effect of SSA Budget Cuts Felt Sharply by Disability Applica nts Increased wait times in an already complex process can be challenging for those applying for disability benefits. One of the most shocking and tragic outcomes of the backlog in cases is that many applicants die while waiting for an appeal.In fact, 9,714 people died while waiting for an appeal in 2016.Uncertainty About Effects of the Freeze The recent freeze may affect the hiring of a new class of Administrative Law Judges. The hiring of more judges could help decrease wait times, as the average wait time for a hearing is a year and a half.We Can HelpIf you are disabled and unable to work, call  Disability Attorneys of Michigan  for a free confidential consultation. We’ll let you know if we can help you get a monthly check and help you determine if any money or assets you receive could impact your eligibility for disability benefits.Disability Attorneys of Michigan  works hard every day helping the disabled of Michigan seek the  Social Security Disability Benefitsà ‚  they need. If you are unable to work due to a physical, mental, or cognitive impairment, call  Disability Attorneys of Michigan  now for a free consultation at  800-701- 5524.Let Michigan’s experienced Social Security Disability law firm help you get the benefits you deserve. Michigan Disability Attorney, Social Security Disability, Social Security Disability Backlog, Social Security Disability Lawyer

How to Create a Character Profile the Ultimate Guide (with Template)

How to Create a Character Profile the Ultimate Guide (with Template) How to Create a Character Profile: the Ultimate Guide (with Template) Ask any great novelist and they’ll likely tell you that good writing starts with good characters. But sharp character development is also one of the toughest hills to climb, especially if you’ve struggled to think through those tried-and-true questions that keep you up at night:Are my characters convincing?Do my characters have depth?How do I make sure my character has an arc?If you’re having these doubts, you might want to turn to the age-old solution: a character profile. In this post, we take you through all the steps of creating a character profile requires - and give you a character template that you can use with any story you’re writing.Why create a character profile?What’s the point of filling out a character template? I never end up using all the information in my story, anyway! That’s true. In fact, you shouldn’t try to pack every character detail into your novel. Only use what's relevant to the actual story - otherwise you risk turning off readers with the dreaded "info dump."But the author always needs to understand their characters like the back of their hands. In Creating Unforgettable Characters: A Practical Guide to Character Development, Linda Seger compares the depth of a character to an iceberg. The audience will only see a fraction (maybe 10%) of all that the writer knows about their character. But the remaining 90% is what makes characters actually feel well-drawn, flawed, and real - as though they could live outside of the book itself.Those are the kinds of characters our character questionnaire is here to help you write.PRO-TIP:  If you're still in the beginning stages of building a character and need a name, this character name generator may come in handy.So what makes a good character profile?There are a lot of character questionnaires out there - some are good. Then there's the character template that asks you, â€Å"If your character was a color, what color would they be?†On ce you start answering those kinds of questions in a character template, you might be dealing with overkill. It won’t move the needle at all when it comes to character development.A better character profile is one that actually helps you build a holistic picture of your character in the context of your story. With this in mind, we built a character profile worksheet in three parts. If you treat a person like an apple, they’re going to have three layers of depth: the â€Å"skin,† the â€Å"flesh,† and the â€Å"core.† (Otherwise known as their physical appearance, backstory, and psychology.) That’s how this character template is structured - and if you have a particular area that you’d like to hone, you can skip to it below. Otherwise, this questionnaire will start with the eagle eye’s view of your character. And if you'd like to download it nicely formatted for you already in a PDF format, feel free to do so below! Ready? Let’s begin.PART 1: The Outer Layer, or Physical Appearance PART 2: The Flesh, or Backstory PART 3: The Core, or PsychologyPart 1: The Outer LayerTo be able to identify a criminal, detectives build a painstakingly thorough file of said criminal’s physical characteristics.That’s the goal of this section, which covers the â€Å"skin† of your character: everything from their outer appearance to the way that they speak. Think of it as a kind of offender profile - one that can help you spot your character in the middle of a crowded Times Square.ðŸ“â€" THE BASICSNameAgePlace of birthCurrent locationNationalityEducationOccupationIncome👀 PHYSICAL APPEARANCEWhat's their:eye color?hair style?build?Do they have any distinguishing features (tattoos, scars, birthmarks)?What's their preferred outfit?Do they wear glasses?  Ã°Å¸â€˜â€œWhat accessories are ALWAYS associated with them (cane, pipe, necklace, etc.)?  Ã°Å¸Å'‚What's their usual level of grooming?DisheveledSmart, very put togetherUntidy but cleanOther?Do they have any distinguishing â€Å" tics† and mannerisms?What's their health like? Do they suffer from chronic illnesses?  Ã°Å¸  ¥Describe their handwriting (sloppy, neat, careful, unintelligible).  Ã¢Å" How do they walk?  Ã°Å¸â€˜ £Confident, powerful stridesLazy strollFast, walks at a clipDistracted, eyes on the groundOther?💠¬ SPEECH AND COMMUNICATIONHow do they talk (rapid, slow, measured, drawl, etc.)?What's the style of their speech (elevated, educated, peppered with slang, etc.)?Do they have an accent?Posture:Stiff, militarySlouchingCasual and relaxed‘Turtle,’ tiredOther?Do they gesture?Only when agitated or eagerDoesn’t gestureCompulsive â€Å"hand-talker†Controlled, only to make a pointOther? If so, explain:How much eye contact that they like to make (direct, shifty, etc.)?What's their preferred curse word?What's their catchphrase?Any speech impediments?What are any distinguishing speech â€Å"tics†?What's their laugh like? What do they tend to find funny?D escribe their smile?How emotive are they? Do they wear their emotions on their sleeve? How easily can others to read them?They have a resting _____ face.Bitch 😒Angel 😇Neutral 😠Other?Part 2: The FleshCharacters don’t exist in a vacuum - they’re a product of their environment.This section in the character template dives a bit deeper into your character and covers their â€Å"flesh†: the people, circumstances, and formative influences that filled them out and made them who they are today. It’s the springboard to your character’s biography.⠏ ª THE PASTWhat's the name of their hometown?  Ã°Å¸  ¡What type of childhood did they have (sheltered, neglected, etc.)?Describe their education?  Ã°Å¸  Were they involved in organizations and clubs at school?Sports âš ½Debate ðŸâ€" £Gay / Straight AllianceModel UNDrama 🎠­Other? If so, explain:At graduation, they were named Most Likely To ___________ in the yearbook.  Ã° ŸŽ“Jobs (if applicable)? What would their rà ©sumà © look like?  Ã°Å¸â€™ ¼What was their dream job as a child? Why?Who were their role models growing up? Describe them.  Ã°Å¸â€˜ ¨Ã¢â‚¬ Ã°Å¸â€˜ ¦What's their greatest regret?What were their hobbies growing up?  Ã¢â€º ³Favorite place to be as a child?What's their earliest memory?What's their saddest memory?What's their happiest memory?What's their clearest memory?What are their skeletons in the closet?  Ã°Å¸â€™â‚¬If they could change one thing from their past, what would it be? Why?  Ã¢  ³Describe the major turning points or â€Å"life beats† in childhood.What are three adjectives to describe them as a child?What advice would they give to their younger self?List their criminal record.   👠ª FAMILYFather  Ã°Å¸â€˜ ¨Age (if living)OccupationBriefly describe their relationship with your characterMother  Ã°Å¸â€˜ ©Age (if living)OccupationBriefly describe their relationship with your characterSiblings👠§How many?What are their names and ages?Briefly describe their relationship(s) with your characterChildren  Ã°Å¸â€˜ ¶(if applicable)Age (if living)OccupationBriefly describe their relationship with your characterExtended family  Ã°Å¸â€˜ ´GrandparentsUncles and auntsCousinsOtherWhat's their family's economic status?  Ã°Å¸â€™ °How often do they see their family in a year?ðŸ’Å" EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIPSWho are their closest friends? Describe them.Who are their other significant friends?  Ã°Å¸â€˜â€¹Enemies? Describe them.  Ã°Å¸Ëœ ¡How are they perceived by:strangers in the street?acquaintances at a work function?colleagues in the office?authority figures?friends in their friend circles?children?the opposite sex?extended family?What social media platfo rms are they on?TwitterTumblrFacebookRedditInstagramSnapchatOther? If so, explain.How would they use their social media platforms?How would they fill out an online dating profile for themselves?  Ã¢Å" ¨What’s their role in a group dynamic?  Ã°Å¸â€™ ¡LeaderJokerParentHype manMoochOther? If so, explain.Who do they depend on for:practical advice?mentoringa wingman?emotional support?moral support?How quickly do they respond to emails?  Ã°Å¸â€œ ¨What do they want from a relationship?Who would be their ideal partner?  Ã°Å¸â€™â€"Who is their significant other? Describe them.  Ã°Å¸â€™â€¢How many people would attend their funeral?Part 3: The CoreWe’ve come now to the â€Å"core†: who your character is deep down.This section in the character profile worksheet covers the â€Å"heart† of your character. If a backstory shapes a dynamic character, this will define them. More importantly, it will help inform the two most important points leading up to your nov el: the character’s story goal and story motivation.💠­ PSYCHOLOGYWhat do they do on rainy days?Are they:Street-smart or book-smartAn optimist or pessimistIntroverted or ExtrovertedWhat is their favorite sound?  Ã°Å¸â€Å Favorite place in the world?  Ã°Å¸Å'ŽWhat secrets do they keep? What are they most afraid of people finding out?  Ã°Å¸â€â€™What do they want the most?  Ã°Å¸â€ What's their biggest flaw?What's their biggest strength?What's their biggest fear?What is their biggest accomplishment?  Ã°Å¸â€œË†What is their idea of perfect happiness?What's their favorite quote?  Ã°Å¸â€˜Å'Do they want to be remembered? What for?  Ã¢Å'Å¡How do they approach:power?ambition?love?change?What is the one object or possession that they would rescue from their burning home?  Ã°Å¸â€ ¥What (or who) bores them?  Ã°Å¸â€™ ¤What makes them angry?  Ã°Å¸â€™ ¢What do they look for in a person?How strong is their moral compass? When, specifically, are they willing to co mpromise their morals?List the last 10 books they read.  Ã°Å¸â€œÅ¡Which fictional world would they most wish to visit?If they didn’t have to sleep, what would they do with the extra time?What are their pet peeves?  Ã¢Å¡  If they won the lottery, what would they do?Describe the character’s bucket list at the ages of 15, 20, 30, and 40.List the 10 songs that would occupy their All-Time Most Played playlist on Spotify.  Ã°Å¸Å½ µWhat is the best compliment that someone ever paid them?In an elevator, do they push the elevator button more than once?  Ã°Å¸Å¡ ªWhat would they want their tombstone to say?🔠® THE PRESENT AND FUTUREWhat is their story goal? (answer in a single paragraph)Story motivation (answer in a single paragraph)In other words: what does your character want in the story? Why do they want it? Every other answer in the character template builds up to this. This is critical information to know because it’ll make up the unshakable foundation - and raison d'à ªtre - for your story. Whenever you feel like your story is straying off course, go straight back to your character’s story goal and motivation.And if you lose physical sight of this character template, don’t sweat because we made it a portable resource for you.The Ultimate Character Profile TemplateThis downloadable character profile template will come as a fillable PDF file. Simply save it on to your computer and start typing in the text boxes to start developing your character.Additional resourcesIf you’re in an interrogatory mood and want even more questions outside of this character template, we’ve got your back. Here are some more famous tests with which to quiz your character - and a character questionnaire or two for your further perusal!The Proust QuestionnaireWhat it is: A set of questions popularized by Marcel Proust that digs into an individual’s personality.Some sample questions:What do you regard as the lowest dep th of misery?What is the trait you most deplore in others?On what occasion do you lie?Arthur Aron’s Intimacy TestWhat it is: A questionnaire of 36 questions that the New York Times in 2015 said would break down emotional barriers and accelerate intimacy between two strangers.Some sample questions:Is there something that you’ve dreamed of doing for a long time? Why haven’t you done it?Of all the people in your family, whose death would you find most disturbing? Why?If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself your life, the future, or anything else, what would you want to know?The Book of QuestionsWhat it is: A series of questions by Gregory Stock that was initially published in 1987. (Note: you can find a PDF of 300+ questions here.)Some sample questions:At a meal, your friends start belittling a common acquaintance. If you felt their criticisms were unjustified, would you defend the person?Are you able to separate sex from love?When you make a big sacrifice, do you tell people about it or keep it to yourself? What would you never willingly sacrifice? Your life? Your health? Your integrity? Your dreams?Vault’s 101 Behavioral QuestionsWhat it is: A set of 101 interview questions from career site, Vault.Some sample questions:Where do you see yourself in ten years? Twenty years?Tell me about yourself in 30 seconds.Tell me about a time you had to break a promise. What was the situation and how did you handle it?If you're looking to hone your characters even further, here are seven of the best character development exercises. Keep an open mind as you work through every question and you'll be on your way to creating well-drawn, interesting characters in no time at all.Have you used a character profile or a character questionnaire to develop your characters before? Do you have any dependable character questions that our questionnaire lacks? Tell us in the comments below!

Report Toys4U Ltd Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Report Toys4U Ltd - Essay Example The legal implications are the following: On March 3, 2010 eight Polaris toy missiles arrived at toys4u from the supplier instead of the 10 because it was claimed that the two other were damaged during handling by the fork lift, and the other one was clearly badly broken due to transporting. The redundancy of broken toys from one delivery should have alarmed Toys4u that the whole stock might be defective; however instead of being careful and cautious the retailer went on disposing the product. Toys4U has been negligent to put first the safety of their clients. Mrs. Sharma can make her legal claims against the toy retailer for negligence. However, in the absence of proof that there has been neglect, Mrs. Sharma just the same can make a claim for the injury her son Pritam has suffered. Mrs. Sharma can also make a claim for a damage property under the same Act. These can be done even without proving the negligence of the producer as long as they can prove that the injury and the damage are direct result of using the product (P roduct Liability, Defective Products, Unsafe Products Quick Facts 2007). The Polaris missile that was sold to Mrs. Sharma was clearly defective and therefore can be categorized as ‘unsafe product’. An unsafe product means in general something that the consumer does not expect from what she or he bought. When a consumer buy a product there is a general assumption that the product is safe for use. In the event that accidents like that of what took place at the house of Mrs. Sharma, there is provision in the law. Consumer Protection Act 1987 made a strict and clear liability concerning damage that is a result of a defective product. Damage means death, or injury; or loss or damage to a property including land (Derbyshire County Council Trading Standard Service 2010, p.1). The Act entitled Mrs. Sharma to a legal claim for the injury suffered by her son and for the glass ceiling lamp

Self Assessment Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Self Assessment - Personal Statement Example The most important strength that is given by this test to me is introvert, sensing, thinking and judgement. Whereas, the other are the weakness and are usually belongs to the one who are shy and have weak judgement senses. I got ENTJ result in which I agree with N but do not agree with E. the thing is that introvert are usually the more sensible persons as they use to think more and extrovert speaks what they feel. The one who is more bold use to speak what they feel but have less time to think but introvert are the one who use to think more and has more powerful judgement. Moreover, the sensing is the most important factor in self assessment as the sensing only provides results with solid reasons. For example according to strong sense it is clear that the people join the profession according to their type and field and this is practically true also where as the intuitive way do not provide such solid reasons. According to my results and self assessment this ENTJ support my results as this is on more solid reasons and provide the true examples in daily life. The thinking is better than feeling.