Concept Proposal Beach Bum Gym Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Concept Proposal Beach Bum Gym - Essay Example Apart from these, the gym will also provide playground facility for members who have family and children. All facilities and services of the gym will be developed focusing on two aspects which include motivating the customers and increasing the market share, with core objective of developing a healthy lifestyle for the people. Problem Statement The â€Å"Beach Bum Gym† will be responsible for providing effective fitness service to the people in order to achieve a healthy and fit life. The purpose for this project is to develop a healthy society and generate sense of maintaining fitness for citizens of Hampton. The level of employees required for fulfillment of the project will be almost 10 which will serve the local people who regularly go to the beach. The business project will provide gymnasium facility with up-to-date equipments from quality producers. The members of the gym will be benefitted not only because of gym facility, but also due to enhanced working environment al ong with affordable cost. There are several competitors in the Hampton area which provides standard services. However, this project will not only provide differentiated services with variety of facilities but also will seek to develop a long-lasting social and professional relationship with the customers (Bryman & Bell, 2007). The reason for which people will pay for the services of â€Å"Beach Bum Gym† is that it will provide numerous membership subscription plans according to the preferences of customers. Besides, there will be skilled instructors which will help the members of the gym for accomplishing good consequences without wasting much effort. The idea for the project came from the problem of maintaining healthy life. Presently, obesity is considered as one of the most significant health issues for American people. Obesity not only results in harmful diseases such as diabetes and heart syndromes, but also reduces the flexibility and stamina of body (Verheijden, Jans, Hildebrandt, & Hopman-Rock, 2007). The reasons for which people are unable to maintain healthy lifestyle can be lack of time, increased social responsibility, high pressure of education and job and inappropriate environment for workout (Fitzgerald & Spaccarotella, 2009). Thus, the business project will help to reduce the problems of people which prevent them from maintaining healthy lifestyle. It will provide innovative place for workout, where people can easily make time for gym. Majority of individuals prefer to visit seaside for recreational purposes, and providing gym facility on beach area can attract them to enjoy the gym facility. Thus, the research problem for the â€Å"Beach Bum Gym† project relies on how better it can serve the customers to maintain healthy life as well as increase market share. In order to accomplish the problem, the project will install new advanced tools, recruit trained employees and educate them to motivate and maintain effective relationship w ith customers. As the project will help to accomplish the health objective of members, therefore before staring the workout at gym, every person will be evaluated by the trainers about the desired weight as well as proportion of fat in body. It can help to measure the effort and time that will be required for completing the objectives of the project. The funding requirement for this project will be accomplished by lease agreement, personal capital membership fees and mortgage

Romantics cautioned Essay Example for Free

Romantics cautioned Essay Whereas the great minds of the Enlightenment has placed great value on the pursuit and acquisition of knowledge, the Romantics cautioned that knowledge, unrestrained by a proper respect for the natural order, could lead to despair. There are several episodes in the book that point to the destructive power of knowledge that does not respect proper boundaries. The readers impression of Victor undergoes a transformation from a light, idyllic childhood, to a darker, more solitary figure pursing his passion by moonlight at Ingolstadt. His retelling of the story takes on a rushed, obsessive mood as he talks of nights in graveyards and charnel houses, foraging in the ground for human flesh and body parts. He remarks, I seem to have lost all soul or sensation but for this one pursuit.(Shelley 39) In his obsessive pursuit of knowledge and the power to create life, Frankenstein oversteps the boundaries of nature. In a moment of reflection, Frankenstein warns Walton, Learn from me how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow. (Shelley 38) In a similar manner, the innocence and naivetà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ of the monster undergoes a transformation while sitting outside the cottage increasing his knowledge from tales in Ruins of Empire. Retelling this new knowledge to Frankenstein, the monster laments, I could not conceive how one man could go forth to murder his fellow, or even why there were laws and governmentswhen I heard details of vice and bloodshed, my wonder ceased and I turned away in disgust and loathing. (Shelley 104) Having previously been enamored with the beauties of nature, and capability of man, the monster reflected a sense of disillusionment when he asked, Was man, indeed, at once so powerful, so virtuous and magnificent, yet so vicious and base?(Shelley 104) Perhaps the most powerful caution against knowledge that does not respect natural laws comes when Shelley invokes the themes of Genesis, and Miltons Paradise Lost. What more powerful image could there be to prove this point, than that of Adam and Eve disobeying Gods laws, eating from the forbidden tree of knowledge, and being cast out of the Garden of Eden into the dark world? Shelleys portrayal of Victor and the monsters evolution seem to align the innocence of childhood with the Romantic themes of sentiment, emotion, and an idealized view of the world. Victors depiction of his childhood seems to be filled with hope and happiness. He retells fond memories of family and friends that appear in stark contrast to the path his life took after the death of his mother. Similarly, the monster is initially described as possessing a childlike inquisitiveness, innocent and optimistic, until the outside world changes him. I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend.(Shelley, 84) Experience and knowledge change both of these characters for the worse. It is only the return of a friend from Victors childhood, Henry Clerval, which can pull Victor out of his darkness and rekindle an appreciation for the beauties of nature. Romantics believed that people should look to the natural world around them in order to provide insight into their inner selves. (Spielvogel 152) Frankensteins obsessive and reclusive studies cause him to neglect correspondence with his family for two years, and it is only Clervals appearance that can draw him out of seclusion and into nature. Their explorations through the countryside restore life to Victor. His renewed appreciation for nature makes him temporarily forget the dark, destructive path he was on. Clerval is the epitome of a Romantic character, well read in books of chivalry and romance, a composer of heroic songs, and an author of tales of enchantment and knightly adventure. (Shelley 23) These are the themes of the Romantic Movement! Shelleys depiction of Victor and Clerval are not meant to be an indictment of education and knowledge, or even of science for that matter. According to Patricia Neal, Shelley considered education essential for improvement. (Neal) In fact, it is the knowledge the monster receives by reading great works of literature that allow him to develop a sense of awareness and truth about himself. Shelley cautions against the unrestrained quest for knowledge, as Victor warns Walton you seek for knowledge and wisdomand I ardently hope that the gratification of your wishes may not be a serpent to sting you, as mine has been.(Shelley 15) It is the selfish pursuit of knowledge, to the detriment of an appreciation for natural beauty, which leads her characters down destructive paths. An important theme of Romantic literature, and one very present in Frankenstein, is the idea that the progression of industrialization would cause people to become estranged from their inner selves, their identity, and the natural world all around them. (Spielvogel 152) The Movement placed a great deal of emphasis on nature and a glorified past because the Industrial Revolution was destroying nature and creating a gloomy environment. Victor is so immersed in his selfish scientific pursuits that he becomes oblivious to natural beauty all around him, Never did the fields bestow a more plentiful harvest or the vines yield a more luxuriant vintage, but my eyes were insensible to the charms of nature. (Shelley 40) Waldmans characterization of scientists penetrating the depths of nature to discover its secrets, draws attention to industry and Sciences attempt to master the natural world, and the disruption of the delicate balance between humankind and nature that had existed in a previous era. (Shelley 33, Damyanov) The early days of the Industrial Revolution held so much promise and potential for improving civilization, but the results were not always so beneficial. Similarly, Victor had noble intentions when he began his research, but a lack of self-restraint meant the outcome was destructive. Shelley was alarmed by the absence of conscience, or awareness of implicit obligation to provide safeguards in scientific creations. (Neal) She was concerned about the long-term effects as Victor/mankind focused on his ability to manipulate nature, and lost sight of the bigger picture. The creation that held so much promise in the beginning, whether it was Shelleys monster or the Industrial Revolutions machines and science, had become a scourge upon society and a threat to its very existence. Shelley issues an eerie warning as the monster threatens the lives of Victors loved ones, Remember that I have poweryou are my creator, but I am the master. (Shelley 152). The countless adaptations of Frankenstein that have been drawn from the original, fail to capture the essence of the story and the societal conflict it addressed. Victor Frankensteins desire to challenge the laws of nature led him down a path of self-destruction. His pursuit of knowledge and glory consumed him as he lost sight of the larger purpose, and lost respect for the natural world. Shelley intended his story to be a lesson to a rapidly changing society. Originally applied to the Industrial Revolution, these same lessons are still appropriate to a contemporary society engaged in a Technological Revolution. Works Cited Bushi, Ruth. The author is become a creator-God (Herder). The deification of creativity  in relation to Frankenstein' October 15, 2002 http://www.kimwoodbridge.com

Money Obsession in David Herbert Lawrences The Rocking-Horse Winner Es

Money Obsession in David Herbert Lawrence's The Rocking-Horse Winner We have all heard the expression, "Money makes the world go round." But does this make it worthwhile to abandon happiness in order to gain more of it? David Herbert Lawrence reveals the folly of substituting money and luck for family and love in "The Rocking-Horse Winner," the story of a woman's insatiable need to become rich, and her son's struggle to gain her approval. The mother, Hester, obsesses over money. She comes from a fairly rich family, seemingly, as "there was never enough money ... not nearly enough for the social position which [the family] had to keep up" (363). She grows bitter through the years of her marriage not only due to her unluckiness (for "'[Luck is] what causes you to have money'" (364)), but also due to the presence of three children. These children are nothing but a burden to her. Because of this, she treats them all the more lovingly in public so as not to draw the suspicion of others. Even so, "when her children were present, she always felt the center of her heart go hard" (363). She is unsure of the reason why she dislikes them so much, but it seems obvious: they require the spending of money that might otherwise be going toward satisfying her expensive tastes. This bitterness seeps into the very house, and it does not escape her children. The family spends so much money to maintain their image that they become entrenched in debt, and the house constantly whispers of it: "There must be more money! There must be more money!" (363). The children hear it just as well as their mother, and it is no surprise that eventually her son, Paul, becomes curious of it. He seeks to learn of his family's situation, but Hester... ... mostly unconscious, lost in a "brain-fever" (373) and chanting the winning horse's name. Paul is hospitalized, Oscar bets on the predicted winner, Paul's prediction proves correct and Hester receives the winnings, "'Over eighty thousand pounds! I call that lucky, don't you, mother?'" (374). Paul pleads for her acceptance a final time as he lies dying, but she can find nothing to say. Oscar, though, realizes the inevitability of the situation. Hester's constant need for more money and inability to love her children because of it drove Paul into folly. And "'poor devil ... he's best gone out of a life where he rides his rocking horse to find a winner'" (374). Work Cited Lawrence, David Herbert. "The Rocking-Horse Winner". Literature: Reading, Reacting, Writing. Ed. Laurie G. Kirzner and Stephen R. Mandell. Forth Worth: Harcourt, Inc., 2001. 362-374.

With regard to inventory management

With regard to inventory management, discuss the difference between a replenishment philosophy and a requirements philosophy. BY koptgak0722 They are some difference between a replenishment philosophy and a requirements philosophy. The Inventory replenishment refers to the way an organization puts into place adequate procedures and methodologies to prevent shortages in its sales and production processes. Consistent stock deficits ultimately may generate losses, because production workers wouldn't have the necessary resources to finish batches nd factories would come to a halt.Replenishment tactics often focus on internal or external routes. Internal replenishment means periodically moving merchandise from reserve storage to factory warehouses. External replenishment calls for analytic dexterity and logistical acumen, and It deals with how production laborers work with accounting personnel to send purchasing orders to vendors and service providers. The requirements philosophy as Merch andise requirements is the product of manufacturing knowledge and sales expertise, especially when it comes to evaluating ustomers' needs and anticipating bulk orders.This dlsclpllne enables department heads and business-unit chiefs to review production logs, compare them with pending sales orders and determine whether the company will have sufficient merchandise to meet commercial commitments. Middle management does so to support the production work stream and keep manufacturing foremen abreast of items to produce and discontinue and potential overproduction risks. Chapter 1 Question 2: What is the difference between the terms â€Å"production management† and â€Å"operations management†?Production Management is on the focuses specifically on the production of goods and services and is concentrated upon churning output from input. It is a broad sum of activities that go into turning raw material into final, finished product. One may feel that production management Is a subset of operations management, but production management In itself Is a broad subject that comprises production planning and control, inventory management, and operations control. Production management includes all management activities spanning selection.Designing, operating, controlling and updating production system. Operation Management Is a broad sum of activities that go Into turning raw material Into final, finished product. One may feel that production management is a subset of operations management, but production management in itself is a broad subject that comprises production planning and control, inventory management, and operations control. Production management Includes all management actlvltles spanning selection. Designing, operating, controlling and updating production system.Question 3: What is the different between operations management and supply chain management? produce a service or product for a customer. On the other hand, managers over supply chains are tasked with the responsibility of getting the goods or materials to the place of production. A high emphasis on the supply chain managers is getting those raw materials to the operation at the precise time that the materials will be converted by the operation. If the delivery timing is off, an operation will face either shortages or increased inventories.

Positive and Negative Effects of Having Boyfriend/Girlfriend

â€Å"Determination for Nature† It was 3:00 am, June 30, 2012. This day is Pista Y ang Cagueban, where all citizens of Puerto Princesa were ask to participate in planting a tree. It’s still dark that time but through the help of lights around the city Coliseum we are able to saw our group. Everyone was excited for the trucks to came, but the happiness was replaced by irritation of waiting the right truck for us. It was 6:30 am but the truck is not arriving yet. Others use their time talking to each other while the others keep silent.Different ways to enjoy that moment. Of course together with our ever supportive teacher Ma’am Meorom who guide us what to do. And the thing we have been waiting for finally came so we leave. But going to Irawan is not really easy, through our way riding that truck, we feel tension because every time the truck is turning it makes an impact to us which is a dangerous one. But with the determination we did it, but we have to walk severa l miles to reach the venue, as we our footwear’s don’t look as it is before our footwear’s looks messy that time.But we enjoy walking because we knew that we are doing this for our mother earth. Going there requires patience and determination without it we are not able to do it. Then you will realize that all the effort you had put will be replaced by the feeling you have if you reached that place. The trees are tall, the air is fresh, and everything there was perfect. Together with my classmates we did it successfully and it is our turn to do something to our nature. Some students plants mahogany and others plant bamboo.After we finished planting we use that moment for taking pictures together. I’m so happy that day because even though that place is difficult to go through many peoples did it, so it means there are still people who are concerned with nature. As we walk through our way home, I had remembered a person said â€Å"You can do things possible if you will exert determination on it†. By:Deocelle BSED I-A

Suicide in the Trenches Essay Example

Suicide in the Trenches Essay Example Suicide in the Trenches Paper Suicide in the Trenches Paper Essay Topic: poem In the poem Suicide in the Trenches Siegfried Sassoon uses figurative language, descriptive detail, tone, structure and sound to create a powerful impression of the horror and wastage of war. War is viewed as a product of ignorance and it is equated with intense suffering and the destruction of all that is beautiful and innocent. The first stanza of the poem depicts a boy who is too simple or naive to understand the true horrific nature of war. The boy is described as carefree with no worries and sees nothing bad in life; he was a normal boy. He is able to sleep with no worries in a lonesome place with no light or hope unaware that his life is to change dramatically. The tone in this stanza is quiet upbeat for a poem that is about war and death. The boy symbolizes all the guys that went to war for us and lost their lives in many different horrific situations. Stanza two presents imagery, which provides a stark contrast to the descriptive detail in stanza one. We notice the effects of war on this once innocent and simple boy. Sassoon describes the trenches as being a cold and depressing place with below average living standards. In the third line the boy puts a bullet through his brain a quick and deliberate end to his life. The pressure of war got to him and with a pull of the trigger he was forgotten about, as many soldier boys were when they passed on. Stanza three uses powerful and confronting language to highlight the fact that the war is based on ignorance and hypocrisy. By the abrupt use of the second person to open the stanza it makes the opening line seem confronting and vulgar. Sassoon put the people to shame by telling them to sneak home for they are cowards. This stanza has an angry tone to it, which creates guilt to the readers. Suicide in the Trenches is an antiwar poem, which appeals to both emotions and interest to the audience because of its effective use of techniques and language.

Movie review of Yentl

Movie review of Yentl MOVIE REVIEW: YENTLEveryone at one time or another has felt out of place. Feeling unsure of one's place in society is an experience that every young adult faces but deals with differently. Some rebel while others comply with whatever has been set out for them by society or their parents, or both. The role of the woman in society is forever changing. Where women were once obligated to stay in the home and dote on their husbands, they are now working in the same types of jobs as their husbands. What was typically the male role has been blurred and practically obliterated. Religious roles have followed society's lead in their evolution. For example, since its creation over five thousand years ago, the Jewish religion has evolved in some movements to involve women and men equally in ceremonies. The orthodox movement has always remained traditional in its belief that women have their place in the home, cooking and raising children, and serving their husbands.Barbra StreisandEducation rema ins the man's duty. The movie Yentl starring Barbara Streisand, shows this traditional belief through its plot, characterization, music, lights, camera angles, and symbolism.Set in Eastern Europe in 1904, Yentl captures the essence of the Jewish woman's eternal struggle. It is the story of a young girl, in love with learning but forbidden to do so by Jewish tradition. Upon her father's death, Yentl disguises herself as a boy to attend a yeshiva (religious school) and continue her studies. She befriends Avigdor, a male scholar at the yeshiva, and falls in love with him. Driven by her love for him, Yentl will do all that she can to ensure that he is near her and that her secret is not revealed. Yentl struggles with her secret until the day she can no longer...

How to Identify the Larch Pine Tree

How to Identify the Larch Pine Tree Larches are conifers in the genus  Larix, in the family  Pinaceae. They are native to much of the cooler temperate northern hemisphere, on lowlands in the far north, and high on mountains further south. Larches are among the dominant plants in the immense boreal forests of Russia and Canada. These trees can be identified by their coniferous needles and dimorphic shoots which bear singular buds within clusters of needles. However, larches are also deciduous, meaning that they lose their needles in the fall, which is rare for coniferous trees. North American larches are typically observed as either tamarack  or western larch and can be found in many parts of North Americas lush deciduous  forests. Other conifers include bald cypress, cedar, Douglas-fir, hemlock, pine, redwood, and spruce. How to Identify Larches Most common larches in North America can be identified by their coniferous needles and single cone per shoot of needle clusters, but also by the larches deciduous quality wherein they lose these needles and cones in the autumn, unlike most evergreen conifers. The female cones are uniquely green or purple but ripen to brown five to eight months after pollination, however, northern and southern larches differ in cone size - those in colder northern climates have small cones while those in southern climates tend to have much longer cones. These differing cone sizes use to taxonomize this species into two sections - the Larix for the shorter and Multiserialis  for the long bracts, but recent genetic evidence discovered suggests these traits are merely adaptations to climate conditions. Other Conifers and Distinctions Larches arent the most common conifers in North America, cedars, firs, pines, and spruces - which also all happen to be evergreen - are much more common throughout Canada and the United States due to their ability to survive in harsher and warmer climates. These species also differ from larches in the way their shoots, cones, and needles are shaped and grouped.  Cedar  trees, for instance, have much longer needles and often bear cones in clusters with shoots containing multiple clusters. Firs, on the other hand, have much thinner needles and also bear one cone per shoot. Bald cypres,  hemlock, pine, and  spruce  are also included in the same family of coniferous plants, each of which is also evergreen - with only a few exceptions in the redwood family, which only contains a few larch-like genus.

Soul Individualism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Soul Individualism - Essay Example Historically speaking, human life revolved around the idea of serving the divine being to gain worldly profits and satisfactory existence. A number of practices like human sacrifice for the sake of making the divine being happy are clear indicators of the fact that humans societies of the past were willing to go to any extent merely for the purpose of satisfying the blood thirsty nature of the divine being; and the fact that divine being is satisfied by bloodshed was merely their own thought with no solid proof behind. The concept of soul originated to explain a number of phenomena that could not be explained by ordinary means. The perception that soul is not destroyable appears to be a modern way of explaining the concept of soul. Human beings as individuals have been considered to be the embodiments of soul; every soul being enclosed within the body till the time of death; death being a state that results due to separation of body and soul. The coexistence of body and soul provided existence to an individual; the individual in turn possesses a self. In ancient languages like Hebrew, a word to explain ‘essential self’ is lacking; the self that could survive death (Watson 143). Politically speaking, around 510/509 BC, the Roman law manifested a number of changes that were more inclined towards preserving the rights of individuals rather than the divine being or the state (Watson 154). Law was becoming more and more powerful whereas the concept of depriving the ruler of unlimited powers was gaining pace. With the promotion of the concept of accountability, the individuals were gaining more and more power, and the system to run the state was becoming more and more humanistic. The conditions which led to the rise of the west appear to be similar to these conditions. In America from example â€Å"democracy was established on the western shores of the Atlantic and–equally important–that it was similar from community to

How Technology Has Increased Connectivity In The World Essay

How Technology Has Increased Connectivity In The World - Essay Example James: I agree, but the level of immorality has increased rapidly. Today, a lot of people are threatened through the cell phones; some are tracked to their homes and their property gets stolen, or even they get killed. Technology has made the world a place where secrets are no longer there. James: Because I do not like the idea of technology. People die every day when they travel from one area to another visiting their friends or relatives, plain crushes, vehicles get accidents, ships do sink, cannot you see that. Me: I see that but do not you like the idea of the world being a small place. That you can travel from here to the other country in just a few hours. In the early day, one could walk from one area to another for days and even weeks but today its easy. When I get lost for example in a place I do not know, I just make a call, and I get the necessary help. James: If you look at things like Facebook, Twitter all of these are killing our children’s mind and dreams. Students spend most of their time surfing and chatting with their friends and relatives, what’s for? They could be utilizing that time to study or even help their parents. Me: How could you say that yet they benefit from that a lot, for example, in our community we have a Facebook page where we discuss our issues. It’s a page where if a person has a problem for example drug addition, he/she comes and post the issue there, and we all discuss and give our opinion. The page has from the last 60 days helped 20 men and 12 women with different issues. James: That is good, but what about the pages created where our girls and boys share nude photos of themselves, what about the pages which preach that drug consumption is good for health, what about the pages formed to incite the people.

Corporate startegy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Corporate startegy - Essay Example Cookson group plc notable has enhanced its strategic position which put the company forward as a competitive in the industry. The company business model and strategies takes into account the changing corporate environment and the systematic realization of the underlying positioning. The company has achieved this through devise of a desired position in the future based on the foreseeable and present developments as well as strategizing to realize this positioning. Focus and emphasis is laid on the company continuity and the determination of character and contents of the organization activities. The company strategic position is underpinned on several aspects including leading global markets positions in its industry and development of market exposure to increase revenue and profits. Others include enhanced technology, increased R&D capability, acquisitions, strong cash flow momentum and expansion into international markets. Cookson group plc has two main divisions in its business model which are Performance material section and Engineering Ceramics where it operates under Alent PLC and Vesuvious PLC respectively. These divisions facilitate in supplying specialist consumable materials and chemicals in industrial production processes. It is notable that both divisions have adopted the same business model and the way operations are carried out. The company notably sells its products based on added value as opposed to just price (Cookson Group Plc 2006). Cookson group plc also focuses on sustaining and maintaining strong financial position enhancing support on its businesses in the divisions. This business model strives to achieve this through enhanced long-term financing arrangements with ample liquidity and low leverage headroom. Cookson business model and strategy can be summarized as follows:- This analysis involves study on the corporate environment that the company operates so as to

State Tax Reform Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 17

State Tax Reform - Essay Example Investments in education and infrastructure have escalated. In response to the continuously weak economic performance of North Carolina, a significant change to the tax system has been proposed. According to research conducted by Civitas Institute, chaired by Arthur Laffer, it is claimed that a reduction of tax rates for the wealthy and the elimination of corporate tax will revive North Carolina’s economic performance and induce the creation of numerous job opportunities (Johnson, 2013). The Civitas/Laffer proposal would profoundly change North Carolinas tax framework by abolishing the personal income tax, franchise tax and corporate tax, which in aggregate generate 65 percent of the states income, and to a great extent supplanting this income with a higher sales tax that would apply to more products and services. In particular, the proposal would: first, abolish the personal income tax. Second, abolish the tax on corporate income (Johnson, 2013). Third, abolish the tax imposed on franchise business. Franchise businesses are businesses that benefit from already established brands and models by another organization. In California, the franchise tax is proposed to apply only to those franchise businesses incorporated within the State. The franchise tax is significant to the government since it is a source of revenue. The tax generates $ 650 million, thus the source of its significance. However, it is not as important as a corporate tax since the latter generates more revenue to the State government – $ 1.1 billion. Personal tax is the most important since it generates the highest amount of revenue to the government - $ 10.3 billion based on the fiscal period 2011-2012 (Johnson, 2013). Â  

The dysfunctional family dynamics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5500 words

The dysfunctional family dynamics - Essay Example Tom’s authoritarian methodology of controlling his wife and children is akin to a command-and-conquer mentality much like that of a militant. His psychological maladjustment appears to be a direct result of self-esteem depletion that provides the foundation for his deviant and abusive behaviours. Tom’s inefficiency in farming does not provide adequate income or sustenance to the household which exacerbates the problem in their marriage and the rituals that occur in the family dynamic. Carrie maintains an uninvolved parenting style which is borne of her growing depression and anxiety caused by Tom, her miscarriages, and the financial situation that drives the current family dynamics. In relation to family dynamics and roles, in most well-adjusted households, children learn about appropriate behaviours through social role modelling under social learning theory. This states that children will learn from adult role models based on what is punished and what brings punishment (Neubert, Carlson, Kacmar, Roberts & Chonko, 2009). However, in order for this learning to be adopted, the role model must be a credible and attractive person in the eyes of the child (Neubert, et al.). This is compelling support for why each of the children maintain a unique method of coping with the abuse behaviours that they experience or witness vicariously as it is directed at Carrie. Tom does not represent a worthwhile role model and, due to the father’s controlling methodology and distorted values on autonomy, the children have a distant and uninvolved relationship with both parents. Tom’s refusal to allow the children to socialise with neighbours or school peers continue to degrade healthy adjustment, especially in the older children. â€Å"Peer acceptance and friendships are distinct constructs and contribute positively to youth development† (Brown & Lohr, 1987, p.48). Under Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and personality development, in ord er to find higher concepts for healthy adult adjustment, a sense of belonging needs to be established in the family or social environment (Gambrel & Cianci, 2003). Individuals in society need to feel that they have a certain level of control over their circumstances and receive recognition from others in order to build self-confidence (Gambrel & Cianci, 2003). Tom contributes highly to the depletion of self-confidence by removing elements of autonomous living and decision-making from both Carrie and the children. He serves as a catalyst for maladjusted youth behaviours and personality, such as that of Fiona who simply deserted the family in favour of receipt of these more important affiliation and belonging needs. A non-affiliatory environment dictates the level of relationship between family members and is borne of passive and uninvolved parenting style. Tom: Tom appears to have a low locus of control, which under this theory is a person’s belief that external parties have c ontrol over their destiny (Treven & Potocan, 2005). A more healthy and adjusted adult tends to have a higher locus of control, believing that through perseverance and internal motivations that their own destiny is controllable and manageable without blaming the external world. Tom exerts these characteristics of having a low locus of control with his animosity against those who hold college degrees (since he did not complete higher education) and with his admonishment of neighbours as being nosey or without value. Tom is using inferior coping mechanisms and defence mechanisms common to those with distorted perceptions of the world that directly impacts the family unit and individual mental health. Violence and Children: Violence

Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 9

Report - Essay Example This report is about the development and analysis of a database system for a recruitment agency that is operating worldwide and specializing in short contracts for programming and website development work. This report will offer a deep analysis of the main database design and development aspects for the business of recruitment agency. According to Oz Effy (2008), the processes of decision making and problem solving both are based on information. In addition, the decision making is vital process of everyone’ life, people work, play, communicate or do anything they need and use information. In the same way, in a corporation gathering the correct information efficiently, keeping it properly consequently thus it could be utilized and manipulated when needed, as well as making use of it to facilitate the corporation or individuals to attain personal or business objectives. Consequently, the main intention of database and information systems development and implementation is to have facility and support in the above discussed areas. We can use and apply these understanding and database information for getting success in every department of a business. However, in a corporation information system consists of databases, hardware, data, telecommunications, software, procedures and people. In addition, the use of in formation systems and databases can be seen in every walk of life. Their capacity to facilitate and resolve problems as well as making decisions makes them fundamental in our lives, society, business and management (Oz, 2008; Whitten, Bentley, & Dittman, 2000; Turban, Leidner, McLean, & Wetherbe, 2005). The recruitment agency has carried out a survey among 30,000 people and taken response against different personnel, job and web development related aspects. This data is available in form of flat file database. In other words, the

The dysfunctional family dynamics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5500 words

The dysfunctional family dynamics - Essay Example Tom’s authoritarian methodology of controlling his wife and children is akin to a command-and-conquer mentality much like that of a militant. His psychological maladjustment appears to be a direct result of self-esteem depletion that provides the foundation for his deviant and abusive behaviours. Tom’s inefficiency in farming does not provide adequate income or sustenance to the household which exacerbates the problem in their marriage and the rituals that occur in the family dynamic. Carrie maintains an uninvolved parenting style which is borne of her growing depression and anxiety caused by Tom, her miscarriages, and the financial situation that drives the current family dynamics. In relation to family dynamics and roles, in most well-adjusted households, children learn about appropriate behaviours through social role modelling under social learning theory. This states that children will learn from adult role models based on what is punished and what brings punishment (Neubert, Carlson, Kacmar, Roberts & Chonko, 2009). However, in order for this learning to be adopted, the role model must be a credible and attractive person in the eyes of the child (Neubert, et al.). This is compelling support for why each of the children maintain a unique method of coping with the abuse behaviours that they experience or witness vicariously as it is directed at Carrie. Tom does not represent a worthwhile role model and, due to the father’s controlling methodology and distorted values on autonomy, the children have a distant and uninvolved relationship with both parents. Tom’s refusal to allow the children to socialise with neighbours or school peers continue to degrade healthy adjustment, especially in the older children. â€Å"Peer acceptance and friendships are distinct constructs and contribute positively to youth development† (Brown & Lohr, 1987, p.48). Under Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and personality development, in ord er to find higher concepts for healthy adult adjustment, a sense of belonging needs to be established in the family or social environment (Gambrel & Cianci, 2003). Individuals in society need to feel that they have a certain level of control over their circumstances and receive recognition from others in order to build self-confidence (Gambrel & Cianci, 2003). Tom contributes highly to the depletion of self-confidence by removing elements of autonomous living and decision-making from both Carrie and the children. He serves as a catalyst for maladjusted youth behaviours and personality, such as that of Fiona who simply deserted the family in favour of receipt of these more important affiliation and belonging needs. A non-affiliatory environment dictates the level of relationship between family members and is borne of passive and uninvolved parenting style. Tom: Tom appears to have a low locus of control, which under this theory is a person’s belief that external parties have c ontrol over their destiny (Treven & Potocan, 2005). A more healthy and adjusted adult tends to have a higher locus of control, believing that through perseverance and internal motivations that their own destiny is controllable and manageable without blaming the external world. Tom exerts these characteristics of having a low locus of control with his animosity against those who hold college degrees (since he did not complete higher education) and with his admonishment of neighbours as being nosey or without value. Tom is using inferior coping mechanisms and defence mechanisms common to those with distorted perceptions of the world that directly impacts the family unit and individual mental health. Violence and Children: Violence

Business Ethics Week 2 Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Business Ethics Week 2 - Term Paper Example â€Å"Eminent Domain shall not be exercised unless it substantially furthers an important Government interest, and with respect to housing unless it specially fulfills an overriding Government purpose† (Ryskamp, 2007, p. 31). One can accept Eminent Domain as a positive activity if done to take over a decayed or unused area, for constructing institutions like hospitals, schools and other inevitable human requirements, for real economic development of the land, which is in public interest. It will also open up employment avenues and increase revenue of the community. Thus, the final result will be the revitalization of the community around that vicinity. Eminent Domain right will negatively affect individual who are living in that area for a long time, or have been locating their business centre in that area over a considerable period of time. Obviously, their fear that it will affect their business negatively is justified. Therefore, they may not be willing to part with their properly. The confiscation of one’s property without his full will despite for being a ‘just compensation† relates to a person’s feelings and emotions. A person apart from the money worth has feelings and memories attached to a place because it might be his or her roots. Therefore, it hampers the individual’s sentiments when the property or place is confiscated without the full permission of the individual. Quality and professional standard will have distinguished improvement and professional entry will be restricted which will help both government and public to avoid malpractices and encourage healthy competition. Renuemaration and wages of the professionals will have positive changes. Demerits includes factors like consumer cost will be relatively higher and it will force the consumer pay more for specialized work. Besides, it will also restrain the mobility of practitioners.

Learning Organization Essay Example for Free

Learning Organization Essay The evolution of Organizational Learning has started in 1938 when John Dewey, in his book Experience and Education, publicized the concept of experiential learning as an ongoing cycle of activity. But, how did this concept emerge? Or, what does it really mean for the businesses? In order to understand this, we have to analyze the problems and needs. The core idea behind learning organization is that organizations of all kinds will not survive, let alone thrive, if they do not acquire an ability to adapt continuously to an increasingly unpredictable future. Or in other words, in order to survive and succeed for businesses, it is essential to establish or build stronger relationships with customers, where there are rapidly changing, turbulent and/or highly competitive market. Through learning, organizations may be better equipped to meet the challenges caused by continuous environmental turbulence. In addition, where products and processes can rapidly be copied, according to Arie de Geus, head of strategic planning department of Royal/Dutch Shell, the only real source of competitive advantage is to stimulate learning by employees. This may allow these individuals to identify new ways of working more closely with customers, which in turn permits the organization to differentiate itself from competition. However, the style of learning has to reflect the operational needs of the organization. For instance, a manufacturer which has adopted a transactional marketing style would probably choose to operate in a relatively stable market, produce standard components and focus primarily on offering adequate quality goods at a competitive price. In such circumstances, assuming that the organizational systems are based around repetition of routine procedures, the firm would probably be well advised to focus upon creating a single-loop learning environment as the most appropriate way fur sustaining employee development aimed at organizational efficiency. 2 On the other hand, in market situations where firms face periods of significant, discontinuous change and/or there is a desire to differentiate  the firm from competition through the adoption of a relationship marketing style, then possibly an incremental, more adaptive learning style, which is called double-loop learning may be more appropriate, so to involve the exploitation of new knowledge to evolve new practices, perspectives and operational frameworks. Figure 1: Single- vs. double-loop learning. II. DEFINITION OF LEARNING ORGANIZATIONS Keeping in mind what we have so far discussed, now let us check some definitions of the Learning Organizations. Peter M. Senge, who is also named as the father of this concept, describes learning organizations as organizations where people can continuously expand their capacity to create results which they truly desire. In such organizations, new and expansive patterns of thinking are nurtured, and collective aspiration is set free. Individuals learn to learn together. He declares Deep down, we are all learners. It is not only our nature to learn, but we love to learn. Chris Argyris and Donald Schon defined the concept of learning organizations through the help of the definition of organizational learning: where the process of detection and correction of errors rules. 3 Moreover, how de Geus defined learning organizations is very remarkable: Forget your tired old ideas about leadership. The most successful corporation of the 1990s will be something called a learning organization? The ability to learn faster than your competitors, may be the only sustainable competitive advantage. One last definition might be the one of Kim, D., a learning organization is one that consciously manages its learning process through an inquiry-driven orientation among all its members. III. FIVE DISCIPLINES OF SENGE I have already mentioned that Senge was called as the father of the concept of Learning Organizations. When he first published his book The Fifth Discipline: The Art Practice of The Learning Organization in 1990, he caught a significant attention from academics and the business world. Peter M. Senge (1947- ) was named a ? Strategist of the Century by the Journal of Business Strategy, one of 24 men and women who have ? had the greatest impact on the way we conduct business today. Moreover, Senge has founded the Center for Organizational Learning at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1991 while he is also the founding chairperson of the Society for Organizational Learning (SoL) and a senior lecturer at MIT. Being maybe the most important, namely the person having the most influence in Learning Organizations I will study his so called five disciplines in my project. 4 3. 1 PERSONAL MASTERY 3. 1. 1 Introduction to Personal Mastery  Senge says, Organizations learn only through individuals who learn. Individual learning does not guarantee organizational learning. But without it no organizational learning occurs. The people are the main active force in every aspect of the business. Since, people have their own will and mind, and their own way of thinking; it is essential that they be sufficiently motivated to challenge the goals of growth and complexity. In todays practices, the manager should not be willing to dominate controlling, planning and organizing the workers activities. Instead they should be enabling the people in the business have their own enriching lives through establishing and maintaining the conditions needed. One should be living his own life from a creative viewpoint, so as to turn the life into a creative work. Personal Mastery is the phrase Senge and his colleagues use for the discipline of personal growth and learning. People with high levels of personal mastery are continually expanding their ability to create the results in life they truly seek. From their quest for continual learning comes the spirit of the learning organization. 3. 1. 1. 1 Mastery and Proficiency. There are two main underlying movements when personal mastery becomes a discipline, one of which is always continually making clear what is important for oneself, whereas the other movement is to continually learn how to see the current reality more clearly. It is vital to know where you are now in moving toward a desired destination. People with a high level of personal mastery share several basic characteristics, one of which is that they have a special sense of purpose that lies behind their visions and goals. 5 For such a person, a vision is an aspiration rather than simply a good idea. One other characteristic is that they live in a continual learning mode, where they never arrive. They know that personal mastery is not something one possesses, but is a process, a lifelong discipline. Those with a high level of personal mastery are acutely aware of their ignorance, their incompetence; and they know, or better to say truly believe that the journey itself is the reward. 3. 1. 1. 2 Why We Want It We want it because people with high levels of personal mastery are more committed, take more initiative, have a broader and deeper sense of responsibility in their work, and learn faster. Kazou Inamori, founder and chairman emeritus of Kyocera Corporation and president of the Inamori Foundation, who holds a bachelor of sciences in applied chemistry, says that Our employees agreed to live in a community in which they would not exploit each other, but rather help each other so that we may each live our life fully. 3. 1. 1. 3 Resistance One of the issues against the personal mastery is the resistance, which in turn is a valid fear for companies in which the managers couldnt build a shared vision along with shared mental models. It is useless to have personal mastery as solely without other disciplines of the organizational learning. Thats why we always have to keep in mind that personal mastery must go together with a shared vision and the other disciplines. 6 3. 1. 2 The Discipline of Personal Mastery 3. 1. 2. 1 Personal Vision Most adults have goals and objectives, but these are not visions. Thus, we can say that most have little sense of real vision. When asked what they want, many adults will say what they want to get rid of, as if they delineate themselves as given-ups, rather than grown-ups. Senge points that The ability to focus on ultimate intrinsic desires, not only on secondary goals, is a cornerstone of personal mastery. Vision is different from purpose, since purpose is similar to a direction, a general heading, whereas vision is a specific destination, a picture of a desired future. Vision is the image of your desired future. It shouldnt be confused with competition; it shouldnt be isolated from the idea of ones purpose. It is something which has personal aspects along with material aspects, such as where we want to live and how much of savings we want, or issues like health or freedom contribute, relatively. 3. 1. 2. 2 Holding Creative Tension One testimony of Senge says that there is something called the creative tension which is the source of energy derived from the gap between ones vision and where it stands in reality. This gap can push someone forward to get closer to the vision; however it might also discourage some other people, so as to leading to feelings and emotions associated with anxiety. Imagine a rubber band, stretched between your vision and the current reality. When stretched, the rubber band creates tension, representing the tension between vision and current reality. What does tension seek? Resolution or release. There 7 are two possible ways for the tension to resolve itself: pull reality toward the vision or pull the vision toward reality. Which occurs will depend on whether we hold steady to the vision. Figure 3: Creative Tension Negative emotions caused by anxiety of the creative tension, shouldnt be realized as the creative tension itself. What Senge argues, is that after some time what we call emotional tension will arise due to the negative emotions. In such cases, we feel deeply discouraged about a vision that is not happening and tend to lower the vision as an immediate so called remedy. It is clear that escaping emotional tension is easy; but what we really pay against is giving up something what we profoundly want, our vision. In the context of organizations we can say that goals are slowly lowered because of low tolerance for emotional tension. What we have to do is to understand thoroughly what the creative tension is and allow it to operate without lowering our vision; only then the vision becomes an active force in personal mastery. The gap in between should be used to generate energy for change. 8 Mastery of creative tension transforms the way we judge failure. It is simply an opportunity for learning. 3. 1. 2. 3 Structural Conflict: The Power of your Powerlessness A research done by Robert Fritz has shown that practically all of us have a dominant belief that we are not able to fulfill our desires. This in turn, is an obstacle one should get rid off. These beliefs, which are mandatory as a child to survive, were taught us so that we learnt our limitations. Most of us hold one of two contradictory beliefs that intrinsically limit our ability to create what so called we really want. The more common belief is in our powerlessness, namely our inability to bring into being all the things we really care about, whereas the other belief focuses on unworthiness, that we do not deserve to have what we truly desire. Fritz uses a metaphor to describe how contradictory underlying beliefs work as a system, which he calls the structural conflict, the metaphor counter to achieving our goals, through symbolizing the concept by another rubber band example. Figure 4: Effect of structural conflict to the creative tension. Later on, he identifies three generic so called strategies to cope with the forces of structural conflict, each of which has its own limitations. Accordingly, one is letting 9 our vision to erode. This strategy will lead to the sacrifice of what we truly want as discussed earlier. The second strategy is to conflict manipulation which is actually the strategy of people who mostly worry about failure. What they do is to focus on avoiding what they do not want to happen. This strategy makes one to spend his/her life in worry and fear. For those following this strategy, which is also called the negative vision, there is little joy in their life, even when they achieve their goals because this time they immediately tend to begin worrying about losing what they have gained. The last and most favorable strategy is defined as the willpower, where we simply psyche ourselves up to overpower all forms of resistance to achieving our goals. Simply saying, motivating through heightened will. In the next section, we will discuss Senges strategy for dealing with structural conflict: telling the truth. 3. 1. 2. 4 Commitment to the Truth People often want a technique that they can apply to solve the problem of structural conflict. But, in fact, being committed to the truth is far more powerful than any technique. So, what does it actually mean? It means a relentless willingness to root out the ways we limit or deceive ourselves from seeing what is, and to continually challenge our theories of why things are the way they are. The first critical task in dealing with structural conflicts is to recognize them, and the resulting behavior, when they are operating. This helps us to develop so called internal 10  warning signals, such as when we find ourselves blaming something or someone for our problems. What Senge suggests in this context is that we have to work on developing skills to discuss such situations with the people involved without producing defensiveness. We shouldnt always act in a manner where we always think of what others have done in the situation, rather we have to concentrate on what we can do. This in other words, relates to the fact that we have to understand, or better to say, realize the situation, the current reality in which we are, so to use this as a generative force. This has even been concluded in religions like Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Jewish, Buddhism. One example might be the statement of The truth shall set you free. 3. 1. 2. 5 Using the Subconscious One of the most fascinating aspects of people with high levels of personal mastery is their ability to accomplish extraordinarily complex tasks with grace and ease. But, how does this come to happen? It is through the subconscious that all of us deal with complexity. What distinguishes people with high levels of personal mastery is they have developed a higher level of understanding between their normal awareness and their subconscious. Even the daily activities of us like walking, talking, eating or putting on your shoes are enormously complex tasks, for which we have learned the required skills of the tasks, which in turn led that the whole activity gradually shifts from conscious attention to subconscious control. People with high levels of personal mastery focus on the desired result itself, not the process or the means they assume necessary to achieve that result. This allows the person in focusing on the artistry of the result as well. 11 In other words, we can say that we must work at learning how to differentiate what we truly want, from what we think we need to do in order to achieve it. In order to develop a subconscious understanding it is also important to commit to the truth, because when not telling the truth, most people create some level of internal stress. The principle of creative tension recognizes that the subconscious operates most effectively when it is focused clearly on our vision and our current reality. One effective way to focus the subconscious is through imagery and visualization. For instance, world-class swimmers have found that by imagining their hands to be twice their actual size and their feet to be webbed, they actually swim faster. Mental practicing of complex tasks has become a routine psychological training for professional performers from different areas of interest. A strict reliance on only conscious learning could never have achieved this level of artistry, even if there was all the willpower in the world present. Contradictorily, it had to depend on a high level of subconscious understanding. 3. 2 MENTAL MODELS 3. 2. 1 Introduction to Mental Models  Mental models can be described as the views and assumptions we hold in our minds about how things are and how things work. A mental model is like ones way of looking at whats happening in the world. In other words, it determines how we think and act. Mental models depend on the past experiences, and the perception as a result of those experiences, and observations. In the introduction I had introduced the experiential learning, which was the style of learning through past experience and some other elements 12 like concrete experience, observation and reflection, and forming abstract concepts. Accordingly, a child without knowing that it might cut his hand might take a knife in his hand and try to push it in his hand. This in fact, will hurt him a lot. However, grown ups already know how to deal with a knife, so they wont do the same mistake as the child does. All the experiences learnt are added up so to form or build up the mental models. 3. 2. 1. 1 Why the Best Ideas Fail? From the business point of view, one thing which is known by all managers is that many of the best ideas never get put into practice. Even brilliant strategies fail to get translated into action. New insights fail to get put into practice because they conflict with deeply held internal images of how the world works, images that limit us to familiar ways of thinking and acting. That is why the discipline of managing mental models ? surfacing, testing, and improving our internal pictures of how the world works- promises to be a major breakthrough for building learning organizations. Our mental models determine not only how we make sense of the world, but how we take action, namely they shape how we act which puts them into an active sense. But, why are mental models so powerful in affecting what we do? In part, because they affect what we see. As psychologists say, human beings observe selectively. Mental models also exist in the organizations, and also in management. Mental models could cause big losses in the business world as it can also prevent us from seeing the current situation. Loosing Americas car market share to German and Japanese countries was a result of the mental models of the management, where they are prevented to see the situation because of their models in mind, and perceptions. 13 The problems with mental models lie not in whether they are right or wrong-by definition, all models are simplifications. The problems with mental models arise when the models are tacit-when they exist below the level of awareness. 3. 2. 1. 2. Overcoming The Basic Diseases of the Hierarchy In the traditional authoritarian organization, the dogma was managing, organizing, and controlling, whereas in the learning organization, the new dogma will be vision, values, and mental models. In addition, in traditional organizations, merit means doing what the boss wants, openness means telling the boss what he wants to hear, and localness means doing the dirty stuff that the boss doesnt want to do. However, in learning organizations these concepts will get new understandings. 3. 2. 2. The Discipline of Mental Models Developing an organizations capacity to work with mental models involves both learning new skills and implementing institutional innovations that help bring these skills into regular practice. 3. 2. 2. 1 Managing Mental Models Throughout An Organization A concept of scenarios should be adapted in pursuit of mental models, so to force managers to consider how they would manage under different alternative paths into the future. This offsets the tendency for managers to implicitly assume a single future. When groups of managers share a range of alternative futures in their mental models, they become more responsive to those changes. 14 Mental modeling should be implemented as a philosophy. It is important to note that the goal in mental modeling is not agreement or congruency. Many mental models can exist at once. What is important is that we have to consider all of them and test against situations that we confront. Only after the process works it leads to congruency. 3. 2. 2. 2 Managing Mental Models At Personal and Interpersonal Levels The learning skills of action science practitioners such as Chris Argyris fall into two broad classes: skills of reflection and skills of inquiry. Where skills of reflection concern slowing down our own thinking process so that we can become more aware of how we form our mental models and the ways they influence our actions, inquiry skills concern how we operate in face-to-face interactions with others, especially in dealing with complex and conflictual issues. Reflection skills start with recognizing leaps of abstraction, which mean that our minds move at lightning speeds. Ironically, this often slows our learning, because we immediately leap to generalizations so quickly that we never think to test them. Namely, leaps of abstraction occur when we move from direct observations to generalization without testing. Here it is important to distinguish direct observation from generalizations inferred from the observation itself. To distinguish it, explicitly separate it from the data which led to it. A second technique from action science is the left-hand column, which in turn is a powerful tool for beginning to see how our mental models operate in particular situations. It reveals ways that we manipulate situations to avoid dealing with how we actually think and feel, and thereby prevent a counterproductive situation from improving. The most important lesson that comes from seeing our left-hand columns is how we undermine opportunities for learning in conflictual situations. Here, a process called balancing inquiry and advocacy comes into action. 15 Managers are mostly trained to be advocates. In many companies, being a competent manager means, being able to solve problems, figuring out what needs to be done, and enlisting whatever support is needed to get it done. In such organizations, employees are rewarded according to their ability to debate forcefully, and influence others, where the inquiry skills are unrecognized. Those rewards unfortunately can bring the employees to managerial positions, where they suddenly face the fact that they do not learn while they should learn. Advocacy without inquiry between two people can end up in vicious circle. The more vehemently one argues, the more it creates a threat to the others position, so that the latter argues vehemently, which causes a threat to the first ones position, therefore, the first one argues even more vehemently. This reinforcing advocacy can be stopped by inquiring. Then it gives a chance for the both parts to understand each others conflicts, and reasoning. When in pure advocacy, people do not want to show the weak parts of their reasoning, and discard them. Definitely it does not bring any learning to us. Instead it brings polarization within the group. When operating in pure advocacy, the goal is to win the argument; however, when inquiry and advocacy are combined the goal is no longer to win the argument but to find the best argument out of all. This combination allows us to discover completely new views. What we have to keep in mind is that practicing inquiry and advocacy means being willing to expose the limitations in your own thinking, namely the willingness to be wrong. 16 3. 3 SHARED VISION 3. 3. 1 Introduction to Shared Vision 3. 3. 1. 1 A Common Caring A shared vision is not an idea, it is rather a force in peoples hearts, a force of impressive power. It may be inspired by an idea, but once it goes further ? if it is compelling enough to acquire support of more than one person? then it is no longer an abstraction. It is tangible. People begin to see it as if it exists. Few forces in human affairs are as powerful as shared visions. At its simplest level, a shared vision is the answer to the question, What do we want to create? Just as personal visions are pictures or images people carry in their heads and hearts, so too are shared visions pictures that people throughout an organization carry. When people truly share a vision they are connected, bound together by a common aspiration. Shared vision is one of the vital fundamentals of learning organizations, because it provides energy and also focus for learning. People should have something that really matters to them, something that makes them excited. A shared vision is not one dictated by that top management; it only exists when people are personally committed, since it is their personal vision. 3. 3. 1. 2 Why Shared Visions Matter? In an organization, a shared vision changes peoples relationship with the company. What they so far called as their company, becomes our company. It helps to create a common identity. Only this way, a learning organization can really succeed. You cannot have a learning organization without shared vision. 17 How can a commitment to the long term be fostered is the key question in efforts to develop systems thinking in management. People do not focus on the long term because they have to, but only because they want to. 3. 3. 2 The Discipline of Building Shared Vision Shared visions emerge from personal visions. This is how they derive their energy and how they foster commitment. The management should encourage individuals so as to let them create their own visions, as was told earlier in this project. However, these visions are not the shared vision itself. This is needed so that it will be easier for the individuals to accept visions of others and work in the same manner. In this way, the synergy which will be established is needed for the organization indeed. The shared vision shouldnt be written and taught to employees because this will establish a fear. Instead, everyone should adopt this vision and commit itself to the whole vision of the organization. 3. 3. 2. 1 From Personal Visions to Shared Visions To make it clearer, lets imagine a picture of a landscape. When you cut this picture into smaller parts, you will not be able to see the whole sight. However, if you have a picture of an ocean in which all the organisms, like fish, plants, etc. live, and you cut it into pieces, you will still be able to see the whole sight because the vision of the ocean is the same in that part. Its like the shared vision. When you take the shared vision person by person into consideration youll see that they match each other and reflect the whole image. 18 So, it is the fact that when more people come to share a common vision, the vision may not change fundamentally. But it becomes more alive, more real in the sense of a mental reality that people can truly imagine achieving. Writing a vision statement, which is often a one-shot vision, can be a first step in building shared vision but, alone, it rarely makes a vision come alive within an organization. Another problem with the so called one-shot vision that was prepared by the top management is that the resulting vision does not build on peoples personal visions. Contrarily, it only reflects the personal vision of one or two people at the top. The last problem might be explained in the manner as the vision is not a solution to a problem. Building a shared vision must be seen as a central element of the daily work of leaders. It is ongoing and never-ending. It is not truly a shared vision until it connects with the personal visions of people throughout the organization. Moreover, visions that are truly shared take time to emerge. They grow as a by-product of interactions of individual visions. Experience suggests that visions that are genuinely shared require ongoing conversation where individuals not only feel free to express their dreams, but also learn how to listen to each others dreams. 3. 3. 2. 2 Spreading Visions: Enrollment, Commitment, and Compliance There is a big difference between compliance and commitment. The committed person brings energy, passion and excitement, which in turn brings the synergy; he does not play by the rules of the game, instead feels responsible for the game, and will not hesitate to change the rules of the game if they stand in the way of achieving vision. On the other hand compliant followers only accept the vision, but do not have a personal desire. They may want it in order to keep their job, or to get a promotion etc. , but they know that its not their vision at all. For an organization to survive, it must ensure that a shared vision with the commitment of the individuals is established. 19 However, there are the types of genuine compliant followers, which may often be mistaken for enrollment or commitment. What then is the difference between being genuinely compliant and enrolled and committed? The answer is deceptively simple. People who are enrolled or committed truly want the vision, where genuinely compliant people accept the vision. They may want it in order to keep their job, or to get a promotion etc. , but they know that its not their vision at all. 3. 4 TEAM LEARNING 3. 4. 1 Introduction to Team Learning 3. 4. 1. 1 The Potential Wisdom Teams In order to understand team learning, it is important to understand what teams are. The word team can be traced back to the Indo-European word deuk (to pull); it has always included a meaning of pulling together. (The modern sense of team, a group of people acting together, emerged in the sixteenth century) We define teams as any group of people who need each other to accomplish a result. This definition is derived from a statement made by former Royal Dutch/Shell Group Planning coordinator, Arie de Geus: The only relevant learning in a company is the learning done by those people who have the power to take action. Team learning is a process of aligning and developing the capacity of a team to create the results its members truly desire. It builds on the discipline of developing shared vision. It also builds on developing personal mastery, for talented teams are made up of talented individuals. But shared vision and talent are not enough. The world is full of teams of talented individuals who share a vision for a while, yet fail to learn. 20 Here we can discuss the terms unaligned and aligned teams. The fundamental characteristic of the relatively unaligned team is wasted energy. Individuals may work extraordinarily hard, but their efforts do not efficiently translate to team effort. By contrast, when a team becomes more aligned, a commonality of direction emerges, and individuals energies harmonize. There is less wasted energy. In fact, a resonance or synergy develops, like the coherent light of a laser rather than the incoherent and scattered light of a light bulb. There is commonality of purpose, a shared vision, and understanding of how to complement one anothers efforts. Individuals do not sacrifice their personal interests to the larger team vision; rather, the shared vision becomes an extension of their personal visions. In fact, alignment is the necessary condition before empowering the individual will empower the whole team. Team learning is possible in every area, sports, business, performing arts, science, etc. It can even have extra ordinary results where the teams can be coordinated and even intelligence of the team can exceed the intelligence of its members totaling. In such an environment, team members can also show a rapid growth, than they could gain individually, namely constructing the synergy. With the changes in the organizations, team learning has never been that important. No matter if its a product development team, management team or cross-functional task forces. As they are teams, they are the people who need one another to act. The three critical dimensions of Team Learning can be described as; 1. Insightful thinking is necessary for complex issues. Teams must learn to end up with one more intelligent solution when compared to each of the participants solutions. 2. Innovative and coordinated action is vital.

Cesare Lombroso :: criminology

Cesare Lombroso was an Italian university professor and criminologist, born in Nov. 6, 1835, in Verona, who became worldwide renowned for his studies and theories in the field of characterology, or the relation between mental and physical characteristics. Lombroso tried to relate certain physical characteristics, such as jaw size, to criminal psychopathology, or the innate tendency of individuals toward sociopathy and criminal behavior. As such, Lombroso's approach is a direct descendant of phrenology, created by the German physician Franz Joseph Gall in the beginning of the nineteenth century, and closely related to other fields of characterology, such as craniology and physiognomy. His theory has been scientically discredited, but Lombroso had the merit of bringing up the importance of the scientific studies of the criminal mind, a field which became known as criminal anthropology. Lombroso studied at the universities of Padua, Vienna, and Paris, and was later (1862-1876) a professor of psychiatry at the University of Pavia and of forensic medicine and hygiene (1876), psychiatry (1896) and criminal anthropology (1906) at the University of Turin. He was also the director of a mental asylum in Pesaro, Italy. Lombroso's main idea was partly inspired by the evolutionary and genetical studies at the end of the nineteenth century, and proposed that certain criminals had physical evidence of an "atavistic" (reappearance of characteristics which were present only in distant ascendants) or hereditary sort, reminiscent of earlier, more primitive stages of human evolution. These anomalies, named as stigmata by Lombroso, could be expressed in terms of abnormal forms or dimensions of the skull and jaw, assymmetries in the face, etc, but also of other parts of the body. These associations were later shown to be highly inconsistent or plainly inexistent, and theories based on the environmental causation of criminality became dominant.

The aztecs :: essays research papers fc

A Travel Guide to the Aztecs ______________________ Honor Code This is the 13th century and this is Nadir, from the History channel 13. This guide will show to you how fun and amazing a trip to the Aztec civilization can be, so if you ever want to visit the Aztec civilization this paper should be your travel guide. I have lived almost all my life learning about the Aztecs and working for the History channel 13. I will guide you through the Aztec civilization, how they live, their economy, food, geography, government, language, people and religion. The Aztec empire was discovered was discovered and conquered by a conquistador known as Cortes. Cortes arrived in Mexico in 1519 and at arriving he burnt all his ships, so that no one could go back. Cortes kidnapped Montezuma 1, and bribed the whole Aztec tribe. Montezuma 1 ended up dyeing and Cortes escaped. But Cortes came back and by 1527 totally finished the Aztec empire. During the 1100s and1200s, the Aztec people were searching for a new home. â€Å"They decided to settle close to the ruins of the old city, Tula. One of the Aztec gods had told the Aztec people that there would be a sign which would show were the Aztec people should settle, and this sign was an eagle carrying a serpent.†* After traveling for about two-hundred years they saw this sign. This sign was actually an eagle sitting on top of a cactus, but as they had been searching for a long time they took this as the sign. But this new place had a lot of hostile inhabitants and they were not happy with the Aztecs coming to their land. They made the Aztecs pay taxes to their king, and they treated them very badly. They ended up killing the Aztec king to gain full authority. The new king of the Aztecs joined up with the Texcoco and overcame the Tepanec Empire. After this war, the Aztecs got their first king Montezuma 1st. The Aztecs also defeated the city of Tlateclolco, which ended a fter a long time. In 1519, when Cortes arrived, Tenochitlian was a place where merchants and soldiers controlled a substantial amount of Meso America. The Aztec Empire started falling in 1521 when the Spaniards and their leader Cortes captured their king Montezuma and cut down their food supplies. A person who was an Aztec needed to follow eight rules, to lead what is called an â€Å"exemplary life†*.

Arbitration

Arbitration is the process of resolving an argument outside the formal court system.   An arbitrator listens to both parties and determines an agreement that is fairest to both parties.   As a part of the hiring process, many employers are mandating voluntary arbitration agreements between the employee and the company as part of the application process for hiring. These types of arbitration agreements have caused concern from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for employee protection.   One famous case arose between the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Waffle House.   The rulings from the case by both the Circuit Courts and the Supreme Courts have changed the structure and proceedings for the mandatory arbitration agreements between employees and employers. When an employee of Waffle House was fired after having a seizure during work hours, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed legal action against Waffle House. Because the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission was not part of the mandatory arbitration agreement between Waffle House and the employee the case was taken to the courts â€Å"In EEOC v. Waffle House, Inc., the Supreme Court held that an agreement between an employer and an employee to arbitrate employment disputes does not bar the EEOC from pursuing an independent lawsuit on the employee’s behalf and seeking employee—specific judicial relief.† (Labor and Employee Relations, 2002)   The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a complaint that Waffle House was in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and sought punitive damages and back pay for the employee. At first glance, one might come to the conclusion that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has essentially replaced the arbitration process between employers and employees.   If the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission can file complaints because a representative of the commission had not signed an agreement with the company, it is natural to assume that companies would find such agreements to be futile and worthless.   Now employees can file an arbitration claim and an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claim against employers. The main purpose of the mandatory arbitration agreements was to keep employee suits out of the court system to save both the employee and the company legal fees.   Under the Supreme Court rulings it would appear that employers are no longer protected and the use of arbitration agreements with employees would potentially increase the possibility of having a suit filed against the company. However, employers know that the number of cases that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission actually takes to the courts is extremely low in comparison to the number of cases the commission receives annually.   The chances of a case going to litigation is significantly low as long as the employer has examined the wording of the mandatory arbitration agreements and has maintained safe and fair working practices. Even though the Supreme Court left open the statue of limitations on cases filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the type of damages that could be sought, mandatory arbitration is still viewed as a cost effective method to settle employee disputes with companies.   â€Å"If the employee failed to mitigate his or her damages, any recovery by the EEOC would be limited accordingly.† (Labor and Employee Relations, 2002) Employers who practice sound business procedures are still protected by the mandatory arbitration agreements because an employee is limited on the types of compensation that can be claimed either by the employee or by the commission on the employee’s behalf.   In addition, many employees that sign the mandatory arbitration agreements are completely unaware of the existence of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or that they can file outside of the company’s chosen arbitrator for law suits against the company.   Even though technically employees have two methods to file against an employer, the reality is that most employees are ignorant of the resources at their disposal. The Supreme Court’s decision to allow the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to represent employees outside of mandatory arbitration has not deterred companies from continuing the practice of these requiring these agreements.   Arbitration remains the most cost effective method to settle employee disputes by avoiding high legal fees for both the company and the employee.   The Supreme Court’s decision resulted in companies practicing more equitable work procedures. In addition, the decision forced companies to examine existing agreements and modify them to be more equitable to the employer.   With the changes in the arbitration agreements, the low percentage of cases taken to court by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the lack of knowledge by employees of the commission’s existence the use of mandatory arbitration agreements to settle employee disputes is still cost effective and on the rise for companies.

About Traditional Hispanic Food Essay

Hispanic American: â€Å"Heritage† is defined as the customs and traditions that are handed down from generation to generation of families and society. A person with Latino heritage is a descendant of a family from Mexico, Central America, or South America. Peeps who are Hispanic are from a country where Spanish is spoken. Let’s check out some of their traditions. Hispanic Food Hispanic foods have many different characteristics, but one of the main things that make it distinctive is that it tends to be spicy! Here are some traditional Hispanic dishes: * Moles: Pronounced Mo-lay, the name of this dish comes from the Aztec word for â€Å"mixture.† Mole Poblano de Guajolote, is a mixture of dried chiles, nuts, seeds, vegetables, spices and chocolate. * Tortillas: This flat bread is made of wheat flour or masa and forms the base of tons of tasty Mexican dishes like enchiladas, burritos and fajitas. * Ceviche: A Mexican dish of raw fish marinated in limejuice, often in a chopped salad. * Poc Chuc: A Yucatecan specialty made with pork fillet cooked with tomatoes, onions and spices. About Traditional Hispanic Food Traditional Hispanic food is full of flavor and a variety of textures: crunchy; chewy; gooey; and stringy. The most popular Hispanic foods are derived from rice and vegetables and use a flavor base called sofrito to season their dishes and soups. Sofrito is a mild tomato base that is a staple in traditional Hispanic food cooking methods. Many restaurants carry some form of Hispanic food on their menus, such as rice-filled enchiladas, tacos, nachos or flan. History The word â€Å"Hispanic† describes someone who comes from Spain or Spanish-speaking Latin America. The Spanish colonial period took place between 1492 and 1898, when Spaniards migrated from Spain and brought with them traditional Hispanic foods. Hispanic food stems from the traditional cooking methods of ancestors from the countries of Spain, Portugal, Andorra and Gibraltar; it is from here that Hispanic people draw their heritage and roots as well as their primary methods of cooking and developing recipes. The history of Hispanic food dates to when the Hispanic population began to learn how to cook off the land by growing rice, chilies, beans, tomatoes in the rich, moist climate of Spain. The population added meat and dairy into the recipes, providing meat for tacos and cheeses for garnishing. Hispanic food has transitioned over the years and taken on slight variations of the original corn tortilla that is now cooked in oil, as well as spicier forms of rice implemented with cheese and peppers to include foods that are found in many fast-food restaurants, chain restaurants and supermarkets. Types Tortillas are served plain, warm or fried and can be used as the base for many Hispanic food dishes. Corn tortillas can be made into tacos or corn chips that can be used as an accompaniment to salsa or bean dip. Flour tortillas are also popular and provide a substitution when necessary for tacos and other Hispanic food dishes. Rice and beans make up a huge part of traditional Hispanic food recipes. Rice and beans can be used as a side dish that goes well with tacos and enchiladas as well as a filler for burritos, tacos and chimichangas. Meats, such as shredded or crumbled beef, shredded chicken and pork, make up the majority of Hispanic food’s main dishes, some of the most popular being parrilladas, tampiquenas and fajitas. Variations of vegetables can found throughout traditional Hispanic food, such as varieties of chiles, potatoes, jicama, yucca, nopales, tomatillos and some types of squash. Significance Traditional Hispanic food is eaten every day in Hispanic households, with foods such as quesadillas, tacos, nachos, Mexican pizzas, taco salads and burritos being the most popular. The celebration of Hispanic holidays, such as Cinco de Mayo, brings out the full tradition of traditional Hispanic food across many areas around the world. Many traditional Hispanic drinks are also served for this celebration of Hispanic heritage and pride, such as tequila, margaritas and Mexican beer. Some of the most popular Hispanic dishes that are prepared during Cinco de Mayo are carnitas, barbocoa, moles and menudo. Identification Traditional Hispanic food can be identified by the appearance of the tortillas and the thick, rich enchilada sauces that can be green, brown or red and resemble a thick gravy. Rice and refried beans typically are served inside of the tortillas or on the side, and this dish can be referred to as an enchilada or as a chimichanga if it is deep fried on the outside. Melted cheese over the top of the dish is also a good indication of Hispanic food. Function The function of Hispanic food is to fulfill the traditional ways of growing, eating and serving Hispanic food. Hispanic food is high in carbohydrates, making it a filling meal because of the beans and cheese that are served along with it. The combination of the beans and cheese with the spicy seasonings and salsa give the food added flavor and traditional Hispanic flair. Hispanic food can be made into meals for large groups of people and large families quickly, cheaply and easily. Most Hispanic food keeps for a long time and does not spoil if stored in a cool, dry location. Reference: http://www.ehow.com/about_4578072_traditional-hispanic-food.html CUBA : Cuban Cuisine Cuban cuisine has been influenced by Spanish, French, African, Arabic, Chinese, and Portuguese cultures. Traditional Cuban cooking is primarily peasant cuisine that has little concern with measurements, order and timing. Most of the food is sauteed or slow-cooked over a low flame. Very little is deep-fried and there are no heavy or creamy sauces. Most Cuban cooking relies on a few basic spices, such as garlic, cumin, oregano, and bay laurel leaves. Many dishes use a sofrito as their basis. The sofrito consists of onion, green pepper, garlic, oregano, and ground pepper quick-fried in olive oil. The sofrito is what gives the food its flavor. It is used when cooking black beans, stews, many meat dishes, and tomato-based sauces. Meats and poultry are usually marinated in citrus juices, such as lime or sour orange juices, and then roasted over low heat until the meat is tender and literally falling off the bone. Another common staple to the Cuban diet are root vegetables such as yuca,malanga, and boniato, which are found in most Latin markets. These vegetables are flavored with a marinade, called mojo, which includes hot olive oil, lemon juice, sliced raw onions, garlic, cumin, and little water. A typical Cuban breakfast consists of a tostada and cafe con leche. The tostada is a portion of Cuban bread which is buttered then toasted on an electric grill. The cafe con leche is a combination of strong, espresso coffee with warm milk. Cubans break the tostada into pieces, then dunk them into the cafe con leche, as Americans would dunk their doughnuts into their coffee. Additionally, some may eat ham croquetas, smoky creamed ham shaped in finger rolls, lightly breaded, and then fried. For those on the run, with no time or desire to eat, a shot of cafe cubano, Cuban coffee, will revive the dead. Lunch consists of empanadas, chicken or meat turnovers, or cuban sandwiches. The sandwich could be a media noche (midnight sandwich), consisting of a slice of pork, ham, and swiss cheese and then topped with pickles and mustard on sweetened egg bread. The pan con bistec is a thin slice of palomilla steak on Cuban bread garnished with lettuce, tomatoes, and fried potato sticks. One may also order a side ofmariquitas, thinly sliced plantain chips, to accompany their hearty sandwich. For snack time, Cuban bakeries are famous for their finger foods, such aspastelitos, croquetas, bocaditos, and empanadas. Pastelitos are small flaky turnovers in various shapes filled with either meat, cheese, guava, or a combination of guava and cream cheese. Bocaditos are small bi te size sandwiches layered with a ham spread. Dinner will usually consist of a meat, chicken, or fish dish as the entree accompanied by white rice, black beans, and maduros, sweet fried plantains. At times, a small salad of sliced tomatos and onions or avocados might be added to the meal. The meal is followed by dessert, such as the typical flan, a Cuban caramel-flavored custard, and another shot of cafe cubano. Other equally popular alternatives for dessert are bread or rice puddings. For holidays or special occasions, the one dish that typifies Cuban cuisine would be a small pig, marinated with salt, garlic, and sour orange juice, and then roasted over an open fire, and slowly cooked for several hours. The accompaniments for such a dish could consist of congri, a white rice and black bean mixture also known as Moors and Christians, boniato in a garlic dressing, and maduros. For refreshments, the most typical drinks are the daiquiri and the mojito. Both are made with lime juice and pure cane rum. Reference: http://www.education.miami.edu/ep/littlehavana/Cuban_Food/Cuban_Cuisine/cuban_cuisine.html Puerto Rican cuisine has its roots in the cooking traditions and practices of Europe (Spain), Africa and the Amerindian Taà ­nos. In the latter part of the 19th century, the cuisine of Puerto Ricowas greatly influenced by the United States in the ingredients used in its preparation. Puerto Rican cuisine has transcended the boundaries of the island, and can be found in several countries outside the archipelago. The cuisines of Spain, Taà ­no and Arawaks Amerindians, and parts of the African continent have had an impact on how food is prepared in Puerto Rico. Although Puerto Rican cooking is somewhat similar to both Spanish and Latin American cuisine, it is a unique tasty blend of influences, using indigenous seasonings and ingredients. Locals call their cuisine cocina criolla. The traditional Puerto Rican cuisine was well established by the end of the nineteenth century. By 1848 the first restaurant, La Mallorquina, opened in Old San Juan. El Cocinero Puertorriqueà ±o, the island’s first cookbook was published in 1849. Puerto Rican dishes are well seasoned with combinations of flavorful spices. The base of many Puerto Rican main dishes involves sofrito, similar to the mirepoix of French cooking, or the â€Å"trinity† ofCreole cooking. A proper sofrito is a sautà © of freshly ground garlic, tomatoes, onions, recao/culantro, cilantro, red peppers, cachucha and cubanelle peppers. Sofrito is traditionally cooked with olive oil or annatto oil, tocino (bacon), salted pork and cured ham. A mix of stuffed olives and capers called alcaparrado are usually added with spices such as bay leaf, cumin, sazà ³n and adobo. List There are plenty of recipes. Here are just a few: * Albondigà ³n – Puerto Rican meatloaf. * Alcapurrias – made from a mixture of mainly yautà ­a and may contain ground squash, plantains, green banana and other starchy tropical tubers filled with ground meat or seafood and deep fried in oil. * Almojà ¡banas – cheese-flavored rice fritters. * Araà ±itas – a combination of fried ripe and unripe shredded plantain, seasoned with salt, garlic and spices. Squash and other tubers can also be added. * Arepas / Domplines – Puerto Rican dumplings; fried rounds of flour-based dough. Sometimes they can contain coconut (known as arepas de coco). They are sometimes stuffed with seafood. This dish is particular to the Eastern and Southern parts of Puerto Rico. * Arroz con habichuelas – Rice and beans, a staple. Pink and red beans are the most common. The beans are cooked together with recaito base, stock, chunks of ham, potatoes and/or calabaza(tropical pumpkin), alcaparrado, tomato sauce to thicken stew, and flavored with spices. When done, the beans are then ladled over a mound of rice. Sticky medium-grained rice is more popular in Puerto Rico than long grain rice. * Arroz con pollo – Chicken and rice cooked in the same pot. Traditionally, chicken is seasoned with adobo, then placed in a pot with rice, annatto oil, sofrito, stock, beer, olives, and capers. * Bacalaà ­tos – These are fritters made from a pancake-like batter containing codfish, flour, and seasoning. * Buà ±uelos – Yam fritters. * Tortilla – Puerto Rican style omelette. * Tostones – twice-fried plantains. * Trifongo – similar to mofongo, but made with fried cassava, green plantains, and ripe plantains. * Tripleta – A sandwich made with a combination of three meats, such as beef, roast pork, chicken, and ham * Quesitos – cheese pastries Holiday dishes Pasteles / similar to the Mexican â€Å"tamales† * Arroz con dulce – Puerto Rican rice pudding, made with coconut milk and coconut cream, as opposed to only bovine milk or cream used elsewhere. Other flavors added into Arroz con Dulce include cloves, ginger, raisins soaked in rum, vanilla, cinnamon, brown or white sugar, heavy cream or milk and sometimes lemon zest. * Arroz con gandules – a yellow-rice-and-pigeon-pea dish with alcaparrado (capers and olives stuffed with red peppers), and pieces of meat (bacon, smoked ham, smocked turkey orchorizo). The spices and seasoning usually include cumin, bay leaf, annatto oil, sofrito, banana leaf, dry oregano, thyme, and stock. It is part of Puerto Rico’s national dish, along with pig roast. * Coquito – A popular Christmastime drink is coquito, an eggnog-like rum and coconut milk-based homemade beverage. The holiday season is also a time that many pià ±as coladas are prepared, underscoring the combination of pineapples and coconuts seen in Puerto Rican cuisine. [7] * Ensalada de pulpo – Octopus salad * Pasteles – For many Puerto Rican families, the quintessential holiday season dish is pasteles (â€Å"pies†), usually not a sweet pastry or cake, but a soft dough-like mass wrapped in a banana or plantain leaf and boiled, and in the center chopped meat, shellfish, chicken, raisins, spices, capers, olives, sofrito, and often garbanzo beans. Puerto Rican pasteles are similar in shape, size, and cooking technique to Latin American tamales. The dough in a tamal is made from cornmeal; while in a Puerto Rican pastel it is made from either green bananas and/or starchy tropical roots. The wrapper in atamal is a corn shuck or a banana leaf; the wrapper in a Puerto Rican pastel is a banana leaf. * Pig roast – Pork is central to Puerto Rican holiday cooking, especially the lechà ³n (spit-roasted piglet). Holiday feasts might include several pork dishes, such as pernil (a baked fresh pork shoulder seasoned in adobo mojado), morcilla (a black blood sausage), tripa (tripe), jamà ³n con pià ±a (ham and pineapple), gandinga (stewed pork innards) and chuletas ahumadas (smoked cutlets). * Stuffed turkey – Popular from November to January. The Thanksgiving turkey is often seasoned with adobo mojado and stuffed with mofongo or ground beef or pork mixture containing almonds,raisins, olives, hard boiled eggs, tomatoes, and garlic. Instead of the thin slices seen in the North, a baked turkey in Puerto Rico is often cut into large blocks or chunks to be served on a plate. Riceis a mandatory course in dishes such as Arroz con Gandules (rice with pigeon peas), Arroz con Tocino (rice with bacon), Arroz Mampostea’o, and the sweet dessert Arroz con Dulce (rice pudding). * Sweets – Sweets are common in Puerto Rican cuisine. During the holidays, the most popular are desserts such as Arroz con Dulce (sweet rice pudding), Budà ­n de Pan (bread pudding),Bienmesabe (little yellow cakes soaked in coconut cream), Brazo Gitano – Puerto Rican style sponge cake with cream and / or fruit filling), Buà ±uelos de viento – Puerto Rican wind puffs soaked in a vanilla, lemon and sugar syrup), Barriguitas de Vieja (deep-fried sweet pumpkin fritters), Natilla, Tembleque (coconut pudding), Flan (egg custard), Bizcocho de Ron (rum cake), Mantecaditos (Puerto Rican shortbread cookies), Polvorones (a crunchy cookie with a dusty sweet cinnamon exterior), Turrà ³n de Ajà ³njolà ­ (a toasted sesame seed bar, bound together by caramelized brown sugar),Mampostiales (a very thick, gooey candy bar of caramelized brown sugar and coconut chips, challenging to chew and with a strong, almost molasses-like flavor), Dulce de Leche (milk and key lime peelingsà ¢â‚¬â„¢ caramel pudding), pastelillos de guayaba (guava pastries), Besitos de Coco (coconut kisses), Tarta de Guayaba (guava tarts), and Tortitas de Calabaza (pumpkin tarts). Haiti: Haitian cuisine originates from several culinary styles from the various historical ethnic groups that populated the western portion of the island of Hispaniola, namely the French, African, and the Taà ­no Amerindians. Haiti is similar to the rest of the Latin-Caribbean (the French and the Spanish-speaking countries of the Antilles), however it differs in several ways from its regional counterparts. Its primary influence derives from French and African cuisine, with notable derivatives from native Taà ­no and Spanish culinary techniques. Though similar to other cooking styles in the region, it carries a uniqueness native only to the country and an appeal to many visitors to the island. Haitians use vegetables and meats extensively and peppers and similar herbs are often used for strengthening flavor. Dishes tend to be seasoned liberally and consequently. Haitian cuisine tends to be moderately spicy, not mild and not too hot. In the country, however, many businesses of foreign origin have been established introducing several foreign cuisines into the mainstream culture. Years of adaptation have led to these cuisines (e.g.: Levantine from Arab Migration to Haiti) merging with Haitian cuisine.  "Manje Kreyà ²l† (Haitian food) is the equivalent of criollo cooking (criollo meaning â€Å"creole†) in other countries. This encompasses most of what is regularly cooked in Haiti, involving the extensive use of herbs, and somewhat unlike Cubancooking, the liberal use of peppers. A typical dish would probably be a plate of diri kole ak pwa (rice and beans), which is brown rice with red kidney or pinto beans glazed with a marinade as a sauce and topped off with red snapper, tomatoes and onions. The dish can be accompanied by bouillon (bouyon), known as sancocho in some neighboring countries. Bouillon is a hearty stew consisting of various spices, potatoes, tomatoes, and meats such as goat or beef. Rice is occasionally eaten with beans alone, but more often than not, some sort of meat completes the dish. Chicken (poul) is frequently eaten, the same goes for goat meat (kabrit) and beef (bà ¨f). Chicken is often boiled in a marinade consisting of lemon juice, sour orange, scotch bonnet pepper, garlic and other seasonings and subsequently fried until crispy. Legim is a thick vegetable stew consisting of a mashed mixture of eggplant, cabbage, chayote, spinach, watercress and other vegetables depending on availability and the cook’s preference. It is flavore d with epis, onions, garlic, and tomato paste, and generally cooked with beef and/or crab. Legim is most often served with rice, but may also be served with other starches, including mayi moulen (a savory cornmeal porridge similar to polenta or grits), pitimi (cookedmillet), or ble (wheat groats). Other starches commonly eaten include yam, patat (neither of which should be confused with the North American sweet potato), potato, and breadfruit. These are frequently eaten with a thin sauce consisting of tomato paste, onions, spices, and dried fish. Tchaka is a hearty stew consisting of hominy, beans, joumou (pumpkin), and meat (often pork). Tchaka is eaten by people and also used as an offering to the lwa in Vodou. Spaghetti is most often served in Haiti as a breakfast dish and is cooked with hot dog, dried herring, and spices, served with ketchup and sometimes raw watercress. One of the country’s best known appetizers are Pate, which are meat or salted cod patties surrounded by a crispy or flaky crust. Other snacks include akra (crispy, spicy fried malanga fritters), banann pese, and marinad (fried savory dough balls). For a complete meal, they may be served with griyo (fried pork) or other fried meat. These foods are served with a spicy slaw called pikliz which consists of cabbage, carrot, vinegar, scotch bonnet pepper, and spices. Fried foods, collectively known as fritay, are sold widely on the streets. Regional dishes also exist throughout Haiti. In the area around Jà ©rà ©mie, on Haiti’s southwest tip, people eat a dish called tonmtonm, which is steamed breadfruit (lam veritab) mashed in a pilon, and is very similar to West African Fufu. Tonmtonm is swallowed without chewing, using a slippery sauce made of okra (kalalou in Haitian Creole), cooked with meat, fish, crab, and savory spices. Another regional dish is poul ak nwa (chicken with cashew nuts), which is from the north of the country, in the area around Cap-Haà ¯tien. Waves of migration have also influenced Haitian cuisine. For example, immigrants from Lebanon and Syria brought kibbeh, which has been adopted into Haitian cuisine. The flavor base of much Haitian cooking is epis, a combination sauce made from cooked peppers, garlic, and herbs, particularly green onions, thyme, and parsley. It is used as a basic condiment for rice and beans and is also used in stews and soups. Increasingly, imported Maggi bouillon cubes are used by Haitian cooks. This is indicative of the growing availability of imported, often artificial and inexpensive, foods, such as Tampico beverages. Beer Beer is one of several common alcoholic beverages consumed in Haiti, often drank at festivals, parties, and occasionally downed with a meal. The most widely drank brand of beer in Haiti is Prestige, a nationally popular mild lager with a taste similar to many commercialized beers such as Budweiser and Miller Light. The beer has a light and crisp yet mildly sweet taste with a vague yet strong flavor reminiscent of several American-style beers. Prestige is brewed byBrasserie Nationale d’Haiti (owned by Heineken). Rum Haiti’s rum is extremely popular among its inhabitants , in addition to those in other societies. The most known company in the country is the world-renowned Rhum Barbancourt; one of the nation’s most famous exports and by international standards, the country’s most popular alcoholic beverage. It is unique in that the distilleries use sugarcane juice directly instead of molasses like other types of rum. The rum is marketed in approximately 20 countries and uses a process of distillation similar to the process used to produce cognac. The liquory creamed drink called crà ©mas is also drunk in Haiti. It is a popular beverage usually consumed as part of dessert or simply by itself. It has a sweet like flavor that you can taste. Clairin Clairin or kleren is another popular drink; it is equivalent to moonshine and is distilled from molasses, it is distilled twice sometimes to have a higher proof of alcohol. It is widely popular and small distilleries can be found throughout the countryside. Clairin is at least 100 to 120 proof. Double distilled, it can easily be 150 to 190 proof. Clairin may be more popular than rum, because it is much cheaper and less labour intensive to make. Cremas Cremas, also spelled Cremasse (Kremas in Haitian Creole), is a sweet and creamy alcoholic beverage native to Haiti. The beverage is made primarily from creamed coconut, sweetened condensed and/or evaporated milk, and rum. The rum used is usually dark; however, white rum is used frequently as well. Various other spices are added for additional flavoring such as cinnamon, nutmeg, anise, as well as miscellaneous ingredients such as the widely used vanilla extract or raisins. Recipes vary from person to person with a few differences in ingredients here and there. However the overall look and taste is the same. The beverage possesses a creamy consistency similar to a thick milkshake and varies from off-white to beige in color. The drink is popular in Haiti and is served regularly at social events and during the holidays. It is usually consumed along with a sweet pastry of some sort. The drink is often served cold however it can be served at room temperature. The beverage has become recent ly marketed in Haiti as well as the United States. One of the popular brands is Dorobe. It is similar to Puerto Rican Coquito. Non-alcoholic Due to its tropical climate, juice is a mainstay in Haiti. Juices from many fruits are commonly made and can be found everywhere. Guava juice, grapefruit juice, mango juice, along with the juices of many citrus fruits (orange, granadilla,passion fruit, etc.) are popular. Juice is the de facto beverage because of its variety of flavors, easy production, and widespread accessibility. Malta is also a popular non-alcoholic drink consisting of unfermented barley with molassesadded for flavor. In more urban areas of the nation, the people enjoy Americanized drinks such as an array of soft drinks, in which Coca-Cola dominates all other local soft drinks. Milkshakes are also drunk regularly. Desserts Many types of desserts are eaten in Haiti ranging from the mild to sweet. Sugarcane is used frequently in the making of these desserts however granulated sugar is also used often. One very popular dessert is fresco which can be whipped up quickly. Fresco is similar to an Italian Ice, however it consists primarily of fruit syrup. The syrup is moderately thick and very sweet. It is frequently sold by street vendors. The sweet smell of this candy-like snack often attracts honeybees and a common sight on the streets is a hurried vendor handing out frescos surrounded by swirls of bees. Pen Patat is a soft sweet bread made using cinnamon, evaporated milk, and sweet potato. It is usually served cold from the refrigerator but it can also be eaten at room temperature. Akasan is a thick corn milkshake with a consistency similar to that of labouille (in Creole, â€Å"labouyi†) (a popular porridge made from corn). It is made using many of the same ingredients as Pen patat consisting of ev aporated milk, sugar, and corn flour.