Friday, January 24, 2020

Intelligent Extraterrestrial Life Essay -- Science

Intelligent Extraterrestrial Life When I look up at the stars at night, I just have to wonder who or what is looking back at me from some distant planet in some distant galaxy. We’ve all probably wondered what lies beyond our small, self-contained little world. The question many have pondered is whether or not there is intelligent life beyond earth. In the words of Metrodorus, a Greek philosopher of the fourth century, "To consider the Earth as the only populated world in infinite space is as absurd as to assert that in an entire field of millet, only one grain will grow." I believe that intelligent extraterrestrial life does exist. Critics of the theory of intelligent life beyond earth will argue that there is no such thing because they’ve never seen a "little green man." There are those who want proof of extraterrestrial life before they can accept the fact that there is any life besides what is on our Earth. They have a point. I’ve never seen an alien. I’ve never talked to anyone whose had a "close encounter." Sure, we’ve all seen the shows on TV with convincing footage of flying saucers, but we have no actual proof of intelligent life dependent from earth. It is true that we have no evidence of intelligent life beyond earth, but to claim that none exists because we’ve never seen aliens is like saying that the atom doesn’t exist because you can’t see one. We who have a grasp of our physical surroundings, and a basic knowledge of chemistry realize that the atom is the basic building block of matter. Those who say that there is no intelligent life other than our own need to realize several things. First, our universe is infinite. This leaves literally infinit... ...ence, why is our government so concerned about it? Although we can’t prove the existence of intelligent life beyond earth, it is very likely that it does exist. When one considers the vast infinite universe we live in, it would be completely foolish to believe that life on earth is unique. It is not just me who says that other intelligent life exists, though. Many scientists and philosophers have speculated about life on other planets for centuries, and today the search for life is a major driving factor in space exploration. Extraterrestrial life is not just an idea reserved for those who watch The X-files every night with all the lights out, it is an important concept in our current space-age, and to ignore the fact that extraterrestrial life would be like those of our ancestors who refused to believe that the world was round.

Thursday, January 16, 2020

An Argument Against Gun Control Essay

Gun control has become more and more of a hot-button topic in the United States, especially after events like the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012, when many people questioned the necessity of the second amendment in this day and age. Indeed, upholding the second amendment continues to be a difficult prospect when it does not seem like these guns are being used for good. However, the vast majority of people not only use them responsibly, but also protect themselves and their families, using these guns. For this reason, guns should not be limited by the government. Essentially, the issue of gun control boils down to two primary issues that have been in conflict with each other since the founding of America: freedom vs. security. Anti-gun control advocates insist that their guns are necessary for their own security, but also satisfy the freedom requirement by allowing them to freely practice their second amendment rights. Anti-gun advocates see things differently, however, since, to them, h aving most people in America brandishing a firearm represents a profound security threat to them. However, this security risk that is touted by pro-gun control activists is negated by the need for guns in order to ensure security, and that the odd shooter is a problem with society at large, not the guns themselves. If gun control were in full effect, and it were made illegal to own a firearm, criminals would simply acquire guns illegally, and would virtually have free reign of whoever they wanted to kill, since law-abiding citizens would not have the means to stop them. Evidence of the effectiveness of firearms as a self-defense tool can be seen in numerous studies. For example, according to a study in 2000, an estimated 989,883 U.S. citizens used some form of gun to defend themselves (Agresti and Smith, 2). In addition, in 1993, 3.5% of households had used a firearm to defend themselves â€Å"for self-protection or for the protection of property at home, work, or elsewhere† (Agresti and Smith, 3). These numbers put gun control in a much more positive light, especially from the perspective that they should be used to increase security in an increasingly insecure country. The best way to prevent shooting incidents like the Sandy Hook shooting is not to simply remove all guns, as that will not fix the underlying problem, but to focus on rehabilitating people who either have had violent tendencies in the past, or  exhibit symptoms that are consistent with mass shooters. Those who support gun control see each person in possession of a firearm, especially those with a concealed weapons license, as another potential Sandy Hook or Virginia State shooting just waiting to happen. That is a valid claim, since the potential is certainly there. The argument that â€Å"people don’t kill people, guns kill people† is another popular quote heard in the pro-gun control community, and while it has some merit, it requires some closer examination in order to determine the validity of the statement. While it is certainly true that a gun has the potential to kill someone, it is only a tool. The bigger issue when it comes to violent crimes, especially gun-crimes, is the individual behind the gun. To this end, one of the most effective solutions to the problem of gun violence in this country is to fix the underlying problem, not to simply take away the guns, because that would only invite more violence, especially from the more hardcore gun activists. And, of course, many deaths and injuries from violent crime come from firearms. For example, in 1996, 65 percent of all murders between spouses were performed with a firearm (Rand, 3). This is where the concept of firearms as a tool comes into play. A criminal who was determined to commit a crime would likely commit the same crime, regardless of whether or not firearms were allowed. Limiting firearms only succeeds in making everybody a potential helpless victim in the event of a shooting. In order to understand how firearms actually work as a deterrent to gun crime, it is necessary to understand that those who use guns for violent purposes (i.e. not in self defense) should be grouped into a different section than those who only use firearms for sport and self-defense. This has actually been done before, and refers to two types of gun ownership: criminal gun ownership and non-criminal gun ownership. For instance, a study taken in 1995 showed that â€Å"Where non criminal gun-ownership is higher, criminal gun ownership is also higher; and where criminal gun ownership is higher, the percent of crimes which are committed with guns is higher† (Squires, 197). Essentially, this means that guns beget more guns, which, in turn, beget more violence, or at least that is what this study shows. However, the issue is a little more complicated than that. For instance, many areas of the nation are simply violent by virtue of their inhabitants, and, even if guns were outlawed, they would still fight amongst themselves using whatever weapons are  available. In addition, it is possible that many who live in these areas with large amounts of violence actually purchased guns themselves for the sole purpose of self defense, so that if they themselves were attacked by an assailant using a gun, they would not be completely helpless. Although firearms work well as a way to protect oneself, they also act as a threat of immediate vengeance by the victim, assuming the victim is in possession of a firearm. â€Å"A study showed that, in a survey of male felons in 11 state prisons, 34% had been â€Å"scared off, shot at, wounded, or captured by an armed victi m,† while 40% said they decided not to commit a crime because they knew or believed that the victim was carrying a gun, and 69% said they knew of another criminal who had not committed a crime because the victim had a firearm† (Agresti and Smith, 6). This helps to show what gun-advocates call the brighter side of the gun-control debate: that guns can, and oftentimes are, used as a self defense or deterrence measure, rather than a pure instrument of violence. This theory seems to hold some water, since a study shows that, in 1988, only about 30% of citizens owned guns. Yet, in 1996, that number had increased to 50% (Lott, 38). In 2004, that number remained steady. The interesting thing about these figures is that violent crime in America has actually been decreasing at a slow rate. While it would be foolish to blame this entirely on guns, it is a good indicator that guns at least function, on some level, as a deterrent and personal defense tool. The only problem, of course, stems from the fact that criminals have guns as well, but allowing virtually anyone to own a gun levels the playing field to an extent. If guns were totally outlawed, encounters would be much more one-sided, as criminals could attack citizens with little to no fear of immediate reprisal on the part of the victim. Gun control is a fairly black-and-white issue, yet seems to only have extremists on one side or the other. While it would be easy to simply dismiss all pro-gun control arguments, they do have some merit. For this reason, there must be consolations made in order to make guns a little bit safer for everybody. The best way to deal with this issue is continue allowing citizens to use firearms, but perhaps limit access to guns in order to ensure safety for the greatest number of people. Allowing firearms if the gun user registers and carries a permit for the firearm would help to reduce the number of homicides with firearms, if not as many people have them. Each action has  its own drawbacks, however, and it is important to understand that, especially for this issue, which has undergone something of a deadlock in the recent past. Freedom and security should be balanced in equal measure, and it is important to come up with solutions to this issue with that in mind. Works Cited Agresti, James D., and Reid K. Smith. â€Å"Gun Control Facts.† Just Facts (2008). 2-3 Lott, John R. More guns, less crime: Understanding crime and gun control laws. University of Chicago Press, 2013. 37-38 Rand, Michael R., et al. â€Å"Violence by intimates: Analysis of data on crimes by current or former spouses, boyfriends, and girlfriends.† (1998): 1-30. Squires, Peter. Gun Culture Or Gun Control?: Firearms and Violence: Safety and Society. Routledge, 2002. p.197

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Benefits Of Watching Movies At Home - 861 Words

People watch movies for all different reasons, for entertainment, relaxation, humor, and even pleasure. For instance, going to a movie on a date or on a family outing can be fun or entertaining. Although going to a movie theater has its benefits, watching movies at home has numerous benefits from watching movies at a theater. In contrast there isn’t any distraction when watching the movie at home, being able to watch the movie at any time or place and not having to pay for over price foods or tickets. At home no one should have to face as much distraction as someone would at a movie theater. In the movies they are annoy previews, rude customers, cell phone ringing or others walking in front of you while you are trying to enjoy the movie. Other examples of distraction at a movie theater are strangers talking through the important parts of the movie and some adults bring little kids to adult rated movies that kick on the back of the chair. On the contrary, watching the movie at home eliminates annoy previews, advertisements, kids crying or kicking your seats, people talking though the movie and people walking in front of the screen when you are trying to watch the movie. Some might say that someone can still have some of these distraction at home while watching a movie. However, it is easier to control these distraction at home. For instance, turning off the cell phone during the movie, watching the movie when the kids are asleep, and watching the movie when your home alone.Show Mo reRelatedThe Performance Of The Nielson Company1552 Words   |  7 Pagesis based on your favorite book, legend, or you simply were captivated by the preview you saw on television, movies have constantly brought in large revenues for the producers and theaters. However, with the growing availability of online streaming people now have the ability to access movies in the comfort of their own homes, which brings about the debate of whether watching a movie at home or in a theater creates the most enjoyable experience. The Nielson Company is a business that produces televisionRead MoreCompare and Contrast Essay660 Words   |  3 PagesContrast Essay Cinemas can be a great time , but staying home and watching a movie can be just as great. Americans last year on average spent 9.87 billion dollars on tickets alone. Americans who stayed home saved a lot of money, were more comfortable, and probably had just as good of a time. I feel that going out to have a good time is essential in life, but money saved is money earned. The financial aspects of going out to the movies is the most appalling factor when you consider the factsRead MoreDriving Force of Movie Rental Industry929 Words   |  4 Pagesopportunities to view movies 1. Increasingly numbers of households had combination DVD player/recorders, so they could easily record TV programs and movies and then replay them at their convenience. 2. Moreover, consumers were increasingly interested in watching movies on their big-screen high-definition TVs and were upgrading to BLu-ray DVD player or player/recorders; both Blu-ray and high definition technologies enabled more spectacular pictures and a significantly higher caliber in- home movie-viewingRead MoreIs It Creates A Culture?1532 Words   |  7 Pagesknowledgeable and more aware of what is available in the market. A survey conducted in 2014 revealed that a third of Australians download illegally, and more than half does so due to lack of access. They have tried to obtain them legally, but the movies weren’t available in Australia (McNab, 2015). Similarly, paid subscription movie providers such as Netflix or Foxtel doesn’t show latest shows, as mentioned by Popcorn time’s spokes person, â€Å"A lot of the project is about showing†¦ other companies likeRead MoreNetflix SWOT Essay1331 Words   |  6 Pageslist at NetFlix.com. Next, Netfli x will rush you movies from your list. Then, watch the movies at your convenience. There is not due date or late fees. And finally, once you have viewed your movie return it to Netflix and get another movie from your list. More that 95% of subscribers live within 1 business day delivery. Netflix delivers over 1.8 million DVD’s each day. Here are a few Netflix facts. Netflix allows customers to rate the movies. There are over 2 billion reviews currently onRead MoreNetflix Case1639 Words   |  7 Pagesthe on – line movie rental market. Netflix’s strategy in the movie rental market is differentiation from traditional movie rental stores. Instead of attracting customers to a retail location, Netflix offered home delivery of DVDs through the mail. Why only DVDs? In 1998, most available movies were in VHS cassette format but Netflix concentrated on using only DVDs because its marketing strategy was to develop cross promotional programs with the manufacturers and sellers of DVD players, providing aRead MoreNetflix Case1624 Words   |  7 Pagesthe on – line movie rental market. Netflix’s strategy in the movie rental market is differentiation from traditional movie rental stores. Instead of attracting customers to a retail location, Netflix offered home delivery of DVDs through the mail. Wh y only DVDs? In 1998, most available movies were in VHS cassette format but Netflix concentrated on using only DVDs because its marketing strategy was to develop cross promotional programs with the manufacturers and sellers of DVD players, providing aRead MoreNetflix s Business Idea For The Love Of Movies1310 Words   |  6 PagesIn 1997 Reed Hasting launch his business idea for the love of movies. Reed Hastings, founder and CEO of Netflix launched an internet based company in 1999 in America that signed 239,000 movie watchers in the first year. Hasting vision was to start a company that allowed all Americans access to movies via his based website, which included mailbox delivery. It was a brilliant idea and Netflix has flourished since the start up. The basis for Netflix was to allow all movie watchers across America toRead MoreNetflixs Business Idea For The Love Of Movies1315 Words   |  6 Pages In 1997 Reed Hasting launch his business idea for the love of movies.(Hastings) Reed Hastings founder and CEO of Netflix launched an internet based company in 1999 in America that signed 239,000 movie watchers in the first year. Hasting vision was to start a company that allowed all American assess to movies via his based website, which included mail box delivery. It was a brilliant idea and Netflix has flourish since the start up. The bases for Netflix was to allow all movie watches across AmericaRead MoreNetflix Information Systems Are Used For A Number Of Reasons866 Words   |  4 PagesNetflix information systems are used for a number of reasons. One major reason is to find out what their users are watching. This information is particularly useful to them so that they can provide users with a personalized list of shows and movies. They know what you want to watch before you. Netflix also studies how many of its customers watch movies or shows with a particular actor and invests in that content. They do this by collecting data based on what each user has previously watched. Netflix

Tuesday, December 31, 2019

William Faulkner s A Rose For Emily - 1528 Words

1. From what point of view is A Rose for Emily told? Why? In William Faulkner s short story A Rose for Emily the reader is given the account of an old woman who is rejected by society. The reader is acquainted with Miss Emily Grierson by a spectator, somebody who is not Miss Emily, but rather part of the town that rejects her. The storyteller has a somewhat omniscient perspective, knowing more than the normal town s individual, however not all that matters there is to think about Miss Emily. The storyteller is available for the greater part of the scene, however never assumes a noteworthy part which would have him talk or do anything critical. William Faulkner purposely composes the story in this design to indicate precisely how†¦show more content†¦The storyteller being more seasoned was not an oversight, and had a reasonable reason, in light of the fact that the storyteller was more established her knew more, and permitted the reader to experience direct what happened in the past through blaze backs. The data that give to us thro ugh the storyteller is a noteworthy part of the plot, and seeing how the town and its kin look and see Miss Emily. During that time the town from taking a gander at Miss Emily as a landmark to thinking about her as a fallen landmark, obviously the storyteller s town saw Miss Emily as the landmark that has fallen for the new era s town. The whole town would prattle about her, being cheerful for her when she would discover somebody and feeling frustrated about when she was allowed to sit unbothered. The town just about felt sorry for Miss Brill. Miss Emily disengagement from the town is somewhat her own issue. This is another advantage of having a more seasoned part as a storyteller; we can contrast him with Miss Emily. The storyteller in the story is still part of the town, saying we and our. So why not Miss Emily? From the earliest

Monday, December 23, 2019

Friendship Essay What Makes A Good Friend - 965 Words

A friend is someone difficult to find. A friend is someone you can always count on when times are tough. The dictionarys definition of a good friend is a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard. A good friend is there when you are struggling. For example, when a boy breaks your heart a good friend walks you through it and offers a shoulder to cry on. According to Bree Neff, a good friend is someone who is trustworthy, doesnt talk behind your back, listens to your problems, gives good advice and tries to lend humor along with his or her support. There are also bad friends, those who pretend to care and then turn around gossiping and starting drama. Good and bad friends are all around you, involved in†¦show more content†¦You want friends that show they care and do not resent your achievements. A good friend sees good in your accomplishments; because of this they will not want you to do poorly and will always be looking out for you, hoping you do your best. A trustworthy friend is someone you can count on no matter what. They are someone you can call in the middle of the night and vent to, or just talk. They are someone who, if they say they are going to do something, they do it and dont bail out. Good friends are people with whom you can talk to and trust with your secrets. You can tell a friend anything and know they wont open their mouth just for the fun of it because they like and respect you too much to hurt you. If you have something you feel like you can’t tell anyone about, they are the friends you can tell. A good friend is someone who when you tell them personal stuff you dont have to worry, you know your secret is safe. Trusted friends are those you can tell your flaws to and know your revelations are safe. Sometimes after you tell people certain information you think: â€Å"What in the world was I thinking?† but a trustworthy person wont ever make you feel like that. What is a loyal friend? A loyal friend is someone who never lets you down. They are someone who does things with you even though these things maybe totally boring, but they still do them. Loyal friends won’t back out at the last second. They stick withShow MoreRelatedFootball And Aristotle s Philosophy Of Friendship880 Words   |  4 Pages Friendships are a main aspect of what we seek for in life, for Aristotle says that â€Å"without friends, no one would choose to live,† (Football and Aristotle s Philosophy of Friendship, Pg 32). Through excerpts from Gallagher’s â€Å"Football and Aristotle s Philosophy of Friendship†, McMahon’s â€Å"Seinfeld Subjectivity, and Sartre,† Condella’s â€Å"Why can’t we be virtual friends,† and finally Thalos’ â€Å"Why I am not a friend,† we can determine the reasons why we hold friendships so dearly to us. In Gallagher’sRead MoreDefinition Of Friendship Example Essay1172 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Friendship Read the following information about friendship. Using the information presented, your own experience, observations, and/or readings, write an article for your school newspaper about the meaning of friendship. As you write your speech, remember to: Focus on the definition of friendship. Consider the purpose, audience, and context of your article. Organize your ideas and details effectively. Include specific details that clearly develop your article. Edit your speech for standardRead MorePsychology Tma021554 Words   |  7 PagesCompare and Contrast the approach to studying children’s friendships taken in the Bigelow and La Gaipa (1975) study with that taken by William Corsaro. In this essay you will read about the many similarities and differences of the study and research of children’s friendships expectations, which were approached by Bigelow and La Gaipa (1975) and William Corsaro (2006). Firstly I will introduce both of the different approaches and methods and I will then later go into the results of their work.Read MoreEssay about Emersons Friendship737 Words   |  3 PagesEmersons Friendship I believe that in his essay, â€Å"Friendship†, Emerson’s main point is that people should not be afraid to expand their friendly horizons. They should more try to open up and be honest with people. The essay investigates simply how to be more open with others and gives tips on differentiating between true friends and those whom we just refer to as friends. There are many people whom we speak to and meet on an everyday basis. In everyday conversations we show othersRead MoreAristotle on Friendship Essay1134 Words   |  5 PagesAristotle on Friendship We are social creatures. We surround ourselves with other human beings, our friends. It is in our nature. We are constantly trying to broaden the circumference of our circle of friends. Aristotle understood the importance of friendship, books VIII and IX of the Nicomachean Ethics deal solely with this topic. A modern day definition of a friend can be defined as â€Å"one joined to another in intimacy and mutual benevolence independently of sexual or family love†. (OxfordRead MoreVirtuous Friendship Essay756 Words   |  4 PagesAristotle is right to claim that young people cannot form complete friendships because they allow convenience to rule their lives instead of correct discernment and virtue. According to Aristotle, a complete friendship is the friendship of good people similar in virtue (1156b8). This means that the argument of whether or not young people can form complete friendships is rooted mostly in virtue. Aristotle distinguishes human beings unique ability to commit virtuous, voluntary actions when heRead MoreTaking a Look at Nicomachean Ethics957 Words   |  4 Pagesabout how the virtuous human being needs friends from Book VIII from Nicomachean Ethics. In this essay I will talk about the three different kinds of friendship that (Utility, Pleasure, and Goodness) that Aristotle claims exist. I will also discuss later in my paper why Aristotle believes that Goodness is the best type of friendship over Utility or Pleasure. In addition to that I will also talk about the similarities and differences that these three friendships share between one another. And lastlyRead MoreA Curiosity Of Benefits And Self Love1463 Words   |  6 PagesBenefits and Self-Love in Friendships Reading Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, it is tempting to conclude that Aristotle provides clear explanation about the benefits of friendship and the idea of self-love. Throughout his examples of friendship, Aristotle supports his assumptions with evidence and real-world situations. His arguments about self-love and benefits from having friends seem clear and understandable to the reader. However, Aristotle unsuccessfully explains why friendship is primarily about activityRead MoreAristotle And Aristotle On Friendship1480 Words   |  6 Pageshis work The Nicomachean Ethics Aristotle addresses the question: what is the good life? Aristotle acknowledges that the generally accepted notion of the human good is happiness or, alternatively put, eudaimonia. The difficulty surrounding the age old question, and the topic that Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics primarily addresses, is not what we call the human good, but rather how happiness is defined and what contributes to a goo d, eudaimonic, flourishing life. Aristotle writes that happiness isRead MoreTrue Friend1081 Words   |  5 PagesFriendship is a very special relationship between two people or more. That’s why you need some time a power to understand them . I agree that friendship require time and energy .I think that friendship contains love, faith and honesty, and for that you need to spend time to know that other side very quit, so friendship require time and energy for two reason. First reason is that some friends are friend for life second is that people cannot live alone. The first reason why friendship worth time and

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Lead and Manage a Team Within a Health and Social Care Setting Free Essays

The features of effective team performance are set out in Brian Tuckman’s phases of team development theory, ‘Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing. ’ This outlines the phases that a team will go through in order to become effective and reach maturity. At the ‘Forming’ stage of team development individual roles and responsibilities are unclear and each member of the team is concerned to avoid conflict with each other. We will write a custom essay sample on Lead and Manage a Team Within a Health and Social Care Setting or any similar topic only for you Order Now From this point the team will go through the ‘Storming’ phase which is when they start to conflict as individuals put forward ideas which will be challenged by others in a bid to gain power and position over others. After this the ‘Norming’ phase follows and it is at this point that individual roles are defined and accepted and ground rules and conduct are agreed. After each of these stages the team then reaches the ‘Performing’ stage which is where they are all working towards the same shared goal. This theory shows that for all teams to be effective each individual needs to be clear on their role, responsibilities and shared end goal. This is achieved through positive leadership, utilising the skills of the team and addressing weaknesses to make the team more effective. The challenges experienced by developing teams are often due to organisational change. Staff may be resistant to change such as moving to join a new team or working with people they do not know. A health and social care organisation needs to identify the skills and knowledge that are required for the service plan and recruit staff according to this to ensure that the diversity and skill mix needed is met to fulfil the service outcome. Newly appointed staff should complete an induction that ensures they understand and comply with the organisations values and objectives and their role and support systems should be clarified as quickly as possible to ensure they can contribute as quickly and effectively as possible to the team. An established team experiences different challenges to a developing team. They may have more difficulty maintaining staff enthusiasm and momentum. To overcome these challenges the organisation needs to be aware of changes to workload and conflict between individuals to resolve issues quickly before they impact on other staff and then service users. Also feedback should be given to staff in order for them to maintain or improve performance levels and recognition should be expressed for good work to maintain a high level of staff morale. Once momentum is built then it is easier to maintain and helps staff to remain enthusiastic and continue o communicate and trust their colleagues and manage their time efficiently and keeps them orientated to the important work tasks. Challenges to effective team performance can be overcome by the organisation being clear about the values and objectives in relation to staff and service users and communicating these and the time frame in which these are expected to be achieved. Support should be given to those who are capable of sharing the organisations objectives so they can become committed to ensuring that the service outcomes are met. If this is not done then it can be difficult to maintain effective team working. Dawes and Handscomb performed a review on team leadership in 2005 and suggested that these difficulties stemmed from competing professional interests. In different settings they reviewed the relationship between team working and care outcomes and it was found that within a long term care setting the care outcomes required effective team working to be met. It is considered that management styles can be divided into three categories. * Autocratic- characterised by individual control over all decisions and little input from group members. Paternalistic- a type of fatherly managerial style typically employed by dominant males where their organizational power is used to control and protect subordinate staff that are expected to be loyal and obedient. * Democratic- a style in which members of the group take a more participative role in the decision making process. A leader can be anyone who has the ability to influence other members of a team. It is considered that a manager and a leader are different but they are complementary to tasks being carried out. Management styles will change to reflect the stage of development the workforce’s stage of development. When starting a new team a manager will have to be clear about setting goals, establishing rules and assigning responsibility and then taking on the more troublesome tasks of organising resources, motivating and creating a cooperative team. As the team develops then roles can be delegated and appropriate support provided. Doing this enables the team to become more confident and the style of management and leadership changes so team members begin to take on more leadership functions. The primary focus of a leader is to develop and maintain trust between the service user and the staff. The service user will look at the staff to establish with them character and competence. If these two characteristics are met then this develops trust with the service user. Character relates to motive and intent, whether the staff are working towards the same objectives. Competence relates to skills and results, whether the staff are able to care for the service user and meet the objective set by the organisation. Staff that are registered with professional bodies have accountability and are answerable for their actions. They are accountable by law for meeting the standards and objectives that are set out for them. Even when staff are working towards a common goal, conflict can still arise. This can be due to different personalities, communication styles, sense of priorities and changes to workload. Trying to prevent conflict is best practice so a manager should try to build an environment that is supportive, positive and stable to try and reduce the likelihood of conflict developing. If conflict does develop then a manager should try to: * Address it at the earliest opportunity. * Keep the discussions positive. Look at what can be done to resolve the conflict. * Encourage the team to focus on the problem, not the person. Encourage honest dialogue between the team, welcoming different points of view that do not create blame. Each individual should be allowed to voice their point of view and also listen to and respect each other’s views. * Ask each individual to accept ownership of their part of the problem. * Discuss a variety of options before settling on an agreement that is based on o bjective criteria that will resolve the conflict. Conflict does not always necessarily have to be a bad thing, as if it is dealt with constructively, can lead to increased productivity, development of new ideas and personal development of team members. How to cite Lead and Manage a Team Within a Health and Social Care Setting, Papers

Friday, December 6, 2019

Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses

Questions: 1.Explain the planning process adopted by managers in organizations.2.Provide a brief summary of Ferguson Plarres organizational history.3.Describe Ferguson Plarres approach togoal setting.4.How does Ferguson Plarretrack progress toward goal achievement? Answers: 1. The planning process includes the setting of goals and the commitment that is required to develop these goals. To achieve these goals an action plan is required by the organizations that will help them in proceeding towards the goals in a systematic manner. These action plans need to be tracked so that the progress can be measured, which will help in calculating the time that will be required to achieve these goals. The plan needs to be flexible in nature so that if any contingency arises, it can be able to work on that and then again proceed towards its goal (Armstrong and Taylor 2014). The first step in the planning process is the setting of goals, which will help the organization to have an aim that it will want to achieve in the market. The goals have to be specific so that it will provide the organization a target, which it will aim to achieve and maintaining its standards at the same time. for example, Tesco has SMART objectives and goals and is specific in nature. The first objective of Tesco is no deforestation, which means that the trees that will be cut down by the company will be replaced by them. The goal of the company is measurable as they can keep a track of the number of trees they have cut down and replaced it with new saplings. The goal of the company is also specific as it has set a target that the they will stop deforestation by 2020, which helps them in achieving the goals (Kerzner 2013). The next step is the commitment that is shown towards achieving the goals. The goals of the company should motivate the employees to work in a smarter way in the organization. The goals of the company need to be set after being discussed with the employees so that it can be achievable. It should be realistic in nature and the senior management of the company needs to be committed so that they can inspect that it can be achieved by the employees. This will encourage the employees to be committed towards the organization and help them in achieving its target. Tesco is committed towards its policy of zero deforestation, which in turn has motivated the employees to serve in the organization in a better way. Since, the company hires people from the local community, it allows the employees to gain trust in the company by doing these activities for the community. This helps in attracting customers too for the company (Davenport 2013). The third step in the planning process includes the development of action plans that are effective in nature. The action plan helps an organization by listing the steps and the resources that will be required by the employees to help the company achieve its goal. Tesco has developed its action plan in such a way that they have managed to regain their competitive factor in the market. The main themes of the company were that they wanted their customers to experience shopping in an easier and better way. The company kept the products that were required daily by the customers, which made its availability in the store very frequent. This helped the company to maintain their loyal customers. The third strategy that was adopted by the company is that the prices of the products will be low, which cannot be matched by their competitors (Hill, Jones and Schilling 2014). The business model that is followed by the company mainly revolves around three pillars that are the customers, products and the channels. The company keeps its customers at the core of the business model and listens to the queries that are raised by the customers. This helps the company in delivering the products at the best price possible along with the best service. The products of the company is thoroughly looked after the product team who keeps a track of the products that are being available in the stores after discussing it with the potential customers. This allows the company to keep the most needed products in the store so that the customers can get what they are looking for. The company has a wide network of channels that allow them to purchase the products from small and big shops and through the online business. The company tries to improve its channels by making it more convenient and efficient for the customers (Harper 2015). The fourth step includes the tracking of the progress with respect to the achievement of its goals. The methods of tracking the goals are divided in to proximal goals, which are short-term goals and distal goals, which includes the long-term goals that the company wants to achieve. The proximal goals help the company to achieve its distal goals in the long run. Progress can be tracked through another method as well that includes the feedback regarding the performance of the company and its employees. These feedbacks allow the managers to know their employees in a better way and their contribution towards achieving the target set by the company. Tesco maintains a good communication pattern that helps them in getting feedback from the customers and the employees. The main goal of the company is to provide values based on the services that it renders to the customers (Simons 2013). The fifth and final step is to maintain flexibility that will lead to achievement of the goals. Tesco has shifted to broad banding, which has helped them in increasing their flexibility to achieve their goals and objectives. The company has to use the resources that are available to them so that the strategies that they have formulated will help them in the future. This has helped them in opening of more stores and continue their operations overseas as well. The company has undertaken the total reward policy, which has helped them to maintain their employees by giving them rewards on a constant basis, which helped them achieve recognition (Harper 2015). Benefits of Planning Planning in the organization will help in determining the objectives that has been set by the company. It will help in focusing the attention on the goals of the company for the employees. It helps in minimizing the risks of the firm. Proper planning will provide the firm an opportunity to stay away from any obstacle that it might get while trying to achieve its objectives. It helps in greater coordination amongst the employees as the employees under the proper guidance of the managers will strive to reach to the goal set by the firm. It helps in boosting up the morality of the employees as it creates discipline within the organization. Lastly, it encourages innovations to take place in the organization. The planning process provides various opportunities that helps in improving the performance of the employees (Hill, Jones and Schilling 2014). Pitfalls of Planning There are however limitations to planning as well such as the rigidness of the planning procedure. It tends to make the working administration within the organization inflexible and the procedures and the policies have to be strictly followed under all circumstances. Planning may lead to over-ambitiousness of the policies that may not be achieved within the stipulated time. the planning process is time consuming in nature as it has to collect the information that needs to be analyzed before making further plans in the organization. There is a chance of probability in the planning process as it is based on the future forecasts of the company. It does not follow the real situation as the predictions are all made for the future. Planning process requires an investment of money, which may prove to be expensive for the company in the future (Simons 2013). 2. The Ferguson Plarre Bakehouse is a family owned business venture who are still in operation. The company has a long history, which can be traced back to the 1800s. the company was started by two families Fergusons and the Plarre families who are of European ethnicity and established their company in Australia a century ago. The company was established in 1901 in the Northern and the Western suburbs of the country in Melbourne and became household names in the locality at a faster rate. The company continued its trading business during the World Wars and even faced the harsh conditions of Great Depression but they managed to survive through these times. The company saw its fourth generation take over the business in 2012 and they managed the business through retail shops, franchising their bakery and the daily operations of the company. The company continues to deliver quality products through better service and continuous innovation techniques. The products include chicken, beef t hat is free from hormone injection and freshly made cream in their manufacturing unit. The company is recently run by Steve Plarre who relaunched the original store of the company (Ferguson Plarre 2013). 3. The mission of the company is to provide the materials that are organic in nature so that their consumers do not face any health issues in the future. The vision of the company is to upkeep the satisfaction level of the customers by providing them with the best quality products that is available in the market. they will not compromise on their product quality, which may lower their customer base. The strategical plan of the company after the Plarre family bought the Fergusson family is to promote the brand throughout the country by establishing various franchisees. This will help the company as more number of customers will get a taste of the historical company in Australia. The company has built its brand on a fresh note that pertains to the history of the company. The company recently faced a few problems when they changed the senior managers but it was done in a positive manner. The company has a good network of communication pattern that has helped them set their goals as communication helped the company to interact with the customers in a proper manner. The major goal of the company is to have a turnover of $24 million AUD, which is more than the turnover from the previous year of $20 million AUD. The company plans to achieve this turnover by adding new stores and the growth of the existing stores needs to be increased by 10 percent. The company has launched point of sales system, which will help them in keeping a track of the products that will be sold. Earlier it used to maintain a register, which caused problem in understanding the transactional values of the company (Ferguson Plarre 2012). 4. From the video, it can be understood that Ralph Plarre has introduced a system of graphical representation in the company. The particular products that achieve more sales in the market are marked with a green line and the products that do not do well in the market are marked with the red line. This helps the company to get a better hold of the products and the situation in the market. The strategy of the company is to review its goal every month, which will help them in maintaining a flexible strategy so that when they face any problem they can come up with a different solution. The production process of the company is also tracked so that the products that sell more in the market can be manufactured, which directly results in increasing the profits of the company (Ferguson Plarre 2012). Reference List Armstrong, M. and Taylor, S., 2014.Armstrong's handbook of human resource management practice. Kogan Page Publishers. Davenport, T.H., 2013.Process innovation: reengineering work through information technology. Harvard Business Press. 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