Problem of Obesity Essay Example for Free

Problem of Obesity Essay Think about your classmates or schoolmates and try to describe them! Do it! Now count how many of them you described as FAT. You can always name one, cant you? At least I can. Obesity can cause a lot of disease like diabetes and high blood pressure, which may cause the overloading of Hong Kongs healthcare system. Thats what makes obesity not just a problem of patients but also a problem of the public. So, what causes obesity? Sure youve heard ‘being fat is cute and healthy and brings good luck from different TV programmers or even your parents or grannies. Thats one of the reasons why 13. 4% of boys and 10. 5% of girls between the ages of 6 and 18 are overweight. Adults, especially the old ones, love rewarding kids with snacks, usually the unhealthy one like chocolates, chips, etc. Not just obesity it caused, but also diabetes. These snacks contain a large amount of energy, sodium, and fat, which they get 35 – 45% calories from. Remember Augustus Gloop in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? Yes, hes the fat boy who loves chocolate and ends up being sucked out of the chocolate river. Do you want yourself or your children look like Augustus? Sure nobody wants to look like Giant be? r, so stop rewarding them with snacks, but whole grains, vegetables, and fruit instead. Now, count the total time of your exercise in a week. I got about 120 minutes, what ? bout you? Less than 30 minutes? Youre just like most young people in Hong Kong. This is also the main cause of obesity. According to a survey make by HKU, 69% of local secondary school students dont do enough exercise to achieve health benefits from it and almost 20% got NO exercise at all and somehow they think they can maintain good health with little or no physical activity. Ridiculous isnt it? Or you have the same thought? Dr. Jack Hodgins from the Chinese university said that a large percentage of children have no exercise. He said that children were spending too much time on activities such as playing computer games and watching TV. Dr. Hodgins said young people ought to include more physical activity in their daily routines. Exercise was particularly important for young people because it helped to build and maintain strong bones and muscles. With too little exercise their bones and muscles would not develop properly. How many sit-ups can you do in 5 minutes? 10 years ago, children in Hong Kong can do 100, now they can only do 50. Children are becoming less and less fit. When youre not fit, your heart gets weaker and needs to work harder to keep your body going and if it has to work too hard for a long period of time, you can develop serious problems such as heart disease and high blood pressure. Dont let this happen to you! Keep fit! Stay healthy! We got lots of homework and exams; we got no time at all, students said. Well, no time is never a reason since WALKING IS ALSO A KIND OF EXERCISE. Walking home is quite a good way to do exercise if youre not living too far away from school Do you eat your breakfast every morning? Do you know that skipping breakfast is also a cause of getting fat? People who skipped breakfast usually become so hungry by mid-morning that they need to fill up on high-fat or high-sugar snacks and beverages. As a result, they consume too many calorie and gain weight. So dont forget to have a healthy breakfast every day. In conclusion, we should always have a healthy breakfast every morning, have a b? lanced diet, and, most importantly, do enough exercise so we can stay? way from obesity and diabetes.

A Case Study on Amazon

A Case Study on Amazon The organization additionally plans to augment the estimation of its venture by likewise utilizing innovation to give more extensive and better vender stages, web administrations, computerized activities, and development of new and existing item classes. This demonstrates that engineering is at the center of the organizations business methodology, and will remain so for quite a while. The organization has received a long haul business method, which has seen it through troublesome times. Subsequently it must be said that the organization has been exceptionally viable at creating and executing business methods that rely on upon engineering The accomplishment of Amazon depends in the practical administration of its administrations and utilization of data innovation. The plan of action of Amazon is reflected by its brand and the chain of clients with a huge developing client database, its conveyance channels and easy to use web store front Amazon for this situation benchmarks the business-to-purchaser technique catching up the coordination idea and making a harmony in the middle of obtaining and offering. In straightforward words, the rent is to be sure the same as that in the physical world (retail locations, mail request, wholesalers). An alternate methodology made by Amazon is the client connection administration which is fundamentally a business technique to choose and deal with the association with clients in order to streamline the worth to an endeavor in long haul. This business system obliges a client situated business reasoning and society to help and encourage powerful advertising procedures over all immediate and circuitous client dispersion channels The business is recognized regarding business exercises, for example, business to business (B2b), business to clients (B2c) or customers to purchasers (C2c). Amazon catches up business to client show and puts stock in offering its clients the best administration Amazons B2b technique has two prongs – one to place contenders items close by its items through its affiliate stage, and two, to structure vital cooperations with different organizations to dispatch diverse brands client strengthening is a key gimmick of ecommerce. With a couple of clicks, clients can skip starting with one site then onto the next. The way to holding clients in this situation is to guarantee that the clients are furnished with all that they need in the site. Value examination destinations are the best of companion of todays sharp clients. Amazon has ripped in on this side of the business through its affiliate stage. By giving affiliates a space on its principle site, the organization is giving the little organizations a space on an exceptionally known site. This is an extremely alluring playing point to numerous organizations. Amazon likewise picks up by this game plan in two ways –it makes a benefit when the affiliate makes a deal, it additionally keeps hold of adroit clients by not giving them a chance to leave the site. Other huge contenders have really missed out on a significant open door for this situation Amazons second B2b procedure of making vital partnerships is however somewhat imperfect in that it is debilitating its fundamental brand name by making a lot of people more littler brand names. Generally as Wal-Mart has started to pine boxes, and Tesco broadband, Amazon ought to have the capacity to effortlessly extend its item go without losing its place in charge of Internet ecommerce. On the other hand, the organization has fail to do this. Its shoe store, Endless.com is a prime sample of a line of item that could have been incorporated under the Amazon.com pennant – if Amazon.com as of now offers clothing, why would it be able to not offer shoes? Endless.com has truth be told turned into a contender to Amazon.com, therefore debilitating the organization The business demonstrates fruitful with client based items like books, electronic utilities, basic need and so forth. Besides, the business permits spreading the business from national fringes to global limits. Thusly, the business examination demonstrates that the e-retailers deal worldwide was pretty nearly US $438 Billion in 2008 It was contended that there is a high rivalry in the business wherein the organizations that wish to enter the business sector needs monetary elements and the danger of high rivalry from existing entrenched firms. Notwithstanding, lower cost and item benefit conveyance has turned into a pattern of e-trade with a specific end goal to win piece of the pie The staggering accomplishment of Amazon is credited to Bezos who made keen utilization of innovation and comprehended the idea of online business. With far reaching statistical surveying, item examination, client needs and requests and so forth. Bezos discovered favorable element in offering books because of the way that it obliged low aggregate transaction and picking up colossal business section of generally safe purchasers who makes restless purchasing of items on the web. Through outsized piece of the overall industry in books, incorporated systems, client administrations, item conveyance and better business acquisitions Amazon harvested the soil grown foods of its diligent work in this way remaining as a brand symbol in industry The Blue Ocean made by Amazon is the consequence of its separated and advanced client administration conveyance for its book business. Firstly, it had made simple for clients to pursuit books online with a large number of titles of books furthermore gave a secured installment strategy. Esteem advancement of Blue Ocean was upheld by making quality to clients fulfillment by inventive thoughts, for example, knowing their clients practices and information mining as a data advantage. Moreover, it likewise upgrades correspondence with its clients as inputs when the clients shop web giving the criticism of their shopping background. As the accomplishment from the earliest starting point depends in client center, the system intimated by Bezos constantly considered putting all the more in foundation and making utilization of incorporated client frameworks and administration operations and obviously the safe technique for instalment By making utilization of Hamel Prahalads system of being recognized Amazon made the web administration and distributed computing where any representative can run its business. It has been dissected that the income created by the web administration is past the ecommerce business The presentation of Amazons Kindle digital book peruser in 2007 was a shrewd development. Amazon has a secured and built place in the online market because of its lower costs, client comfort, productive conveyance, solid advertising aptitudes, web administration and administration. A year ago, it was guaranteed by Amazon that they sold 500000 Kindle digital book perusers accepted that the related books downloads and periodical membership would yield countless dollars. At this spot, Amazon takes position as red sea technique by beating existing rivalry on the grounds that there were numerous digital book perusers accessible in the recent past So as to survive this rival, Amazon needs to make stride forward and receive a Blue Ocean method approach. This might be possible by separation in item and ease. Thus, item separation can be as far as client administration conveyance or utilizing admirably engineering to grow their base. Notwithstanding that, they need to consider client Buying Hierarchy, their propensities and conduct and capacity development. Before settling on choice to buy item clients experience different capacities, for example, unwavering quality, comfort, value and capacity Amazons client administration theory is based on three client experience columns low costs, unfathomable choice, and quick, advantageous conveyance (Amazon,2009a). The organization expects that these needs wont change in the long haul. The organizations business procedure is rotated around fortifying its capacity to convey these three things to clients. It expects that by creating a notoriety for offering everything at the least expensive cost and speediest conveyance it will have the capacity to collect rehash business. Thus it is ready to take a littler overall revenue with individual things with the expectation that the volume of offers will permit it to make sufficient benefit The organizations client administration methodology is a round, depending toward oneself one. An organization that needs to offer its products at low costs will need to depend on producing a substantial volume of offers. An organization that hopes to have an extensive volume of offers will bring to the table a boundless choice of things, as it cant anticipate that clients will purchase the same things again and again. Brynjolfsson et al (2006, pg. 68) clarifies that clients have a more prominent profundity of inclination that can be served by a physical storefront, and Amazon has exploited this The organization likewise plans to amplify the estimation of its speculation by additionally utilizing innovation to give more extensive and better vender stages, web administrations, advanced activities, and extension of new and existing item classes. This demonstrates that engineering is at the center of the organizations business technique, and will remain so for quite a while. The organization has embraced a long haul business methodology, which has seen it through troublesome times. Thus it must be said that the organization has been exceptionally successful at creating and actualizing business procedures that rely on upon innovation.

Musical Instrument Digital Interface Technology In Music Teaching Education Essay

Musical Instrument Digital Interface Technology In Music Teaching Education Essay MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) was created in 1980s as a system to connect different synthesizers and sequencers together. (Ballora, 2003). Today it has widely used into  various  fields, involving videogame, mobile media, film, live performance and etc. Similarly, the improvement of MIDI technology in music education has been significant. It offers numerous opportunities and benefits to teachers and students in the process of teaching and learning. Additionally, there are limitations of MIDI that need to be paid attention to. The purpose of this paper is to examine the integration of MIDI technology in music education. The paper presents a literature review of MIDI technology effect on music education; the benefits of using MIDI in music teaching and learning; the limitations of MIDI technology in education and some recommendations of  how to utilize MIDI to better serve music education. Literature review Music technology has greatly advanced over the last decade, thus opening up new possibilities in music education. The technology of MIDI has infiltrated all levels of education. From classes for the youngest of children to classes for college music majors, MIDI has enabled instructors to develop new curricular for the teaching of music skills. MIDI enables the user to control musical parameters, thus allowing one to experience and create a great variety of music with a simple keyboard and computer. Computers can also test musical skills and provide instant and intuitive feedback. This opens the door for the development of a wealth of software designed for the pedagogy of music skills. Mager (1997) researched the status of MIDI and technology in higher education. A vast majority of teachers responding to his questionnaire indicated that technology was enhancing student learning. Music theory was listed as one of the highest areas using technology, according to the study. The availability of several fine software programs, which can help to develop basic music skills, contributes to this. The respondents also felt that music technology will continue to play an increasing role in higher education. Several studies have shown that computer-assisted instruction (CAI) is an effective tool for gaining music skills. Even as early as 1984, shortly following the invention of MIDI, studies began to determine the effectiveness of CAI in music education. John J. Deals study at the University of Iowa determined that software could significantly help music majors develop skills in error detection (John, 1991). Chang also provided a study showing the increase of CAI in the music classroom (Chang, 2001). Using many surveys to back his hypothesis, he asserts that the use of CAI will increase the students learning curve in music fundamentals. To summarize briefly, most studies only focus on à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. it has not identified à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. Such as à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. This research will indicate three advantages of technology and MIDI used for the music courses. Analysis 3.1 Benefits: Incorporating MIDI technology into the music curriculum helps achieve some objectives: students truly learn through experience by the use of synthesizer labs and workstations; they acquire skills and techniques as means of attaining ends which make direct vital appeal: the use of technology to serve art; and they certainly become acquainted with changing world, one in which computers are not confined to the electronic music labs in colleges and universities, but are used to make music for recordings, televisions, films, live performances and etc. MIDI helps educators teach existing courses more effectively. The ability to create music for the class, project it on a screen, and play it back with high fidelity audio are made easier with these technologies (David 1991). In the meantime, student utilizes MIDI to write their own music. During this process, MIDI enables them to revise, edit and highlight every note freely. The series of actions are accomplished by just moving the mouse and pressing the keys on keyboard. In MIDI technology extends the range of music technology applications beyond the record keeping, teacher communication, preparation of paper handouts and teacher presentations that dominate todays uses for computers in music education. Notation, accompaniment, and sequencing software gives students direct control over the elements of music-making melody, rhythm, harmony, tone color, dynamics, and form. It provides the tools to actively create and edit music and then easily hear what new material sounds like and how changes affect it. Synchronization of sight and sound under direct student control provides significant advantages over what might be achieved with paper, pencil, and other types of recordings. The ability to prepare interactive homework assignments stimulates the students interest and increases their excitement about the music learning process. Computers and synthesizer technology make learning and practicing music more fun. Technology and MIDI allow music students to be more actively involved in the learning process, instead of playing the role of passive listener. In a general lab, students can extend one-time or short-term creative activities into a composition process that continues over time. If students are not yet ready to use the symbols of staff notation to represent sounds, they can click icons into place on a piano roll grid or type the letter names of chords. Initial ideas can be generated and then edited and altered through a series of successive drafts into a finished, or composed, form. Using MIDI increases the number of students in a class involved simultaneously in the thinking and decision-making process. Students are challenged to make frequent choices and solve numerous problems regarding their projects or assignments rather than passively observing other students answering teacher questions or merely following the directions of the conductor during a rehearsal. This involves students in actively working with the elements of music, making decisions, and solving musical problems. Technology and MIDI also allow educators to provide the students with skills they will need to meet some of the challenges of music industry in the future. 4.configuring a MIDI setup is straitforward and inexpensive. MIDI and music courses In the following part, this report will present the details of how can MIDI help in music technology courses, composition courses and music history courses. MIDI and music technology courses Sound recording courses, for music students who want to familiar with recording technology, can certainly benefit from the use of MIDI to augment the number of tracks available for recording. This is accomplished by the capability of computers to record musical performances into virtual tracks that are performed by synthesizers, drum machines, and samplers. These virtual tracks are then added to the tape tracks, used to record vocals, guitars, winds, and percussion instruments, making even small studios sound like larger recording facilities. Sound design and synthesis courses can also benefit from the use of computers. The graphics capabilities and the high audio quality of computers and digital audio boards allow teachers to demonstrate concepts such as additive and subtractive synthesis, wave editing, and sampling. MIDI and composition courses Composition courses can benefit in several ways from use of technology and MIDI. Using sequencer software, students can hear their music as they write it. Modern synthesizers, sound modules, and samplers provide immediate access to a great variety of orchestral instruments, thus benefiting orchestration courses. Notation software (one type of music software utilizing MIDI technology) can be used to prepare scores and individual parts for performance. Music student can use algorithmic composition software and digital converters to perform their ideas. MIDI and music history courses There are numerous programs, many of them available on CD-ROM format that allow music history educators to present information about composers, their biographies, and their work. Students can see pictures, read background information, hear the music, or watch the score. The music can be stored in MIDI format, so that the students can hear the whole score, or any of the individual parts, or just a small segment. The student can also print scores, biographical information, or comments or reviews from music historians or musicologists Limitation There are several issues that need to be considered by music educators and institutions about music technology and MIDI. As educators attempt to learn how to use the technology that currently exists in the music industry, and how to integrate these technologies into teaching of music courses. However, the information changes rapidly and is available from many different sources. It becomes very hard for the music educator to keep up-to-date. Regarding MIDI itself, there are also several issues to consider: The cost of acquiring the instruments and facilities (recording studios, workstations) and updating the programs The amount of space required to house the instruments Sound quality that differs greatly from that of acoustic instruments In terms of MIDI sound quality, there are two contrasting views. Some students thought that the sounds created using the synthesizer were not an attempt to imitate a real instrument but, rather, had possibilities to create exciting new sonorities. So whether the sounds were realistic or not seemed to be unimportant to them.  The others asserted that the realism of sounds played an essential role in music composition.  They needed the realistic sounds to inspire them and the realism of timbres for these students equated closely with the quality of their final product. The use of MIDI keyboard is the major issues. Some students considered that MIDI keyboard was not an ideal input device for them, because they lacked keyboard skills and they found it was difficult to use a keyboard to play some instruments, like drums. In terms of MIDI sound quality, there are two contrasting views. Some students thought that the sounds created using the synthesizer were not an attempt to imitate a real instrument but, rather, had possibilities to create exciting new sonorities. So whether the sounds were realistic or not seemed to be unimportant to them.  The others asserted that the realism of sounds played an essential role in music composition.  They needed the realistic sounds to inspire them and the realism of timbres for these students equated closely with the quality of their final product. 4. Recommendation There are many good reasons for the integration of music technology and MIDI into the curricula of traditional music programs as well as in to music technology programs. However, this report will give a few suggestions about the potential of the integration of music technology and MIDI into music programs. The first recommendation is the development and implementation of an introductory course on MIDI designed for music education, composition, performance majors. This course would emphasize practical experience. For example, the students should (1) learn the basic computer skills needed to run MIDI software on a personal computer, how MIDI can help transfer data to and from computer, (2) become familiar with some of the CAI programs available and how these programs exercise required to master some of the basic music concepts, and (3) learn how the basic principles of MIDI sequencing and notation can be used to facilitate the teaching and learning of basic music skills like harmony, counterpoint. Secondly, internet access should be included in the curriculum. MIDIà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Based on research of Mager, he believes that the internet plays an important role in music education, and in the future it will play a much greater role (may be essential one) than it does today (Mager 1997). The explosive growth of World Wide Web and its multimedia interactive capabilities, like exchanging information, transferring files, research data gathering, will make internet an invaluable tool for music education. Once all educational institutions are wired for internet communication, the distribution of music and information about music will change dramatically. Music and information can be stored in computers and made available for downloading instantly and at faster speeds than it is today. 5. Conclusion Music technology and MIDI are there to waiting educators to explore, learn, and take advantage of them, to make lecture better teachers and to make students ready for the challenges that they will face as musicians in the future.

HIV Vaccine Clinical Trials: The Standard of Care Debate Essay

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is a retrovirus infecting approximately 35.3 million people worldwide that leads to the development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV-1 selectively infects certain host immune cells, including CD4+ T cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells, resulting in the continual depletion of the host immune system (Global Report, 2013). More specifically, HIV-1 prevalence is concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa and other developing countries worldwide. In recent years, there has been much effort devoted to developing an effective vaccine against HIV-1. The vaccine clinical trials are typically held in these developing countries where HIV-1 prevalence is highest. The dilemma that continues to plague vaccine trials in developing countries pertains to the standard of care that should be provided to the participants who inevitably become infected with HIV-1 during the trial (Bloom, 1998). This standard of care debate revolved around top ics such as what type of treatment should be provided to the participants, how long should the treatment continue, will treatment continue after the trial has concluded, who has the obligation to ensure the standard of care protocols are enforced, what are the repercussions in failing to do so, and most importantly, who is paying for all of this (Berkley, 2003). The Declaration of Helsinki clearly endorses the view that all trial participants are entitled to the worldwide best standard of care (Lie et al, 2004). Unfortunately, efforts to devise an accepted standard of care have continued without success since the 1990s (Berkley, 2003). The root of the problem revolves around the expenses associated with treatment. This is an especially difficult ... ... 7. Lie RK, Emanuel E, Grady C, Wendler D. (2004). The standard of care debate: the Declaration of Helsinki versus the international consensus opinion. J Med Ethics 30: 190-3. 8. Macklin R. (2008). Standard of care: an evolution in ethical thinking. The Lancet 372(9635): 284-5. 9. Scott BR, Tsevat J. (2006). Is antiretroviral therapy cost-effective in South American? PLoS Medicine 3(1): 14. 10. Shapiro K, Benatar SR. (2005). HIV prevention research and global inequality: steps towards improved standards of care. Journal of Medical Ethics 31: 39. 11. Specter, M. (2003). The vaccine. The New Yorker 78(45): 56. 12. The Kaiser Family Foundation. Health expenditure per capita (PPP; $US). 2002. 2007. 13. UNAIDS/WHO, 2007 WHO/UNAIDS. Ethical considerations in biomedical HIV prevention trials: guidance document. Geneva: Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.

Epic of Beowulf Essay - Ambiguous Allegories and Imperfect Symbols

Ambiguous Allegories and Imperfect Symbols in Beowulf   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Though Beowulf contains apocalyptic elements from beginning to end, perhaps the most important apocalyptic element of Beowulf is the poet's historicizing of the biblical monsters in his characterization of Grendel, his mother, and the dragon. Of course, the many ambiguities found in Beowulf is the source of considerable confusion. For instance, on the one hand, early in the poem we read that the Danes in their dire necessity pray at heathen temples, invoking the devil for aid: "Such was their custom, the hope of the heathens; they thought of hell in their hearts; they knew not the Lord, the Judge of deeds, they knew not the Lord God, nor could they praise the Protector of the Heavens, the Ruler of Glory" (Beowulf: 175-188). On the other hand, Hrothgar and Wealhtheow constantly pray to the Christian God, whom they are supposed not to know, according to the lines cited above! In Beowulf and in the Book of Apocalypse, identity between symbols and realiti es, between allegories and their significations is ambiguous and imperfect. A few scholars have pointed out eschatological elements in the poem. John D. Niles writes: "Although God's final judgment of humankind is affirmed by only a few verses (977b-979, 3069a, perhaps 2741a and 3083b), the prospect of judgment is implicitly present throughout the poem. Similarly, the reality of Christ's incarnation is also implicit--in fact, it is never mentioned" (192). The last things are alluded to in Beowulf's seeking out "the judgment of the righteous," (2820), in Scyld's going "into the Lord's keeping" (27b), in Hrethel's finding God's light (2469-70), and in Heremod's, Unferth's, and Grendel's suffering torments in hel... ...duction. Cambridge: Univ. Press, 1967. Collins, John J. "Apocalyptic Literature," Harper's biblical Dictionary, ed. Paul J. Achtmeier. San Francisco: Harper, 1985. Emmerson, Richard K. and Bernard McGinn. The Apocalypse in the Middle Ages. Ithaca: Cornell, 1992. Garmonsway, et. al. Beowulf and Its Analogues. New York: Dutton, 1971. Gang, T. M. "Approaches to Beowulf." RES 3 (1952):.6-12. Gildas. De Excidio Britanniae in Wade-Evans, A. W. , trans. Nennius' History of Britons. London: Methuen, 1938. Goldsmith, Margaret. "The Christian Theme of Beowulf." Medium Aevum 29 (1960): 81-101. Green, Martin. "Man, Time, and Apocalypse in The Wanderer, The Seafarer, and Beowulf," JEGP 74 (1975): 502-518. Hieatt, Constance B. "Envelope Patterns and the Structure of Beowulf," English Studies in Canada 1 (1975): 249-265.   

Finding Self Essay -- essays papers

Finding Self I realize that the whole universe is at my fingertips, as is my willingness to manifest what is needed in my reality. Every experience of life is God teaching me. As I look in this pure state of awareness, I feel this pure energy within my whole body. From the rhythm of my breathing, I feel a quiet state of attunement — one with God. My soul incarnated into a specific form on earth for a unique purpose. My journey is now and exists at this moment, whether I want to realize it or not. Knowing my life’s purpose and acting on it will give me direction and is a necessary step in achieving true happiness. To have this deeper experience requires the ability to have conscious awareness of Soul, or Higher Self. I find my life runs much more smoothly when I let the Universe run itself without any interference from me. As a matter of fact, the less my brain does its "stuff'', the more fulfilling my life becomes...hence more enriched. This above all: to thine own self be true, and it must follow the night and day, â€Å"Thou canst not then be false to any man.† â€Å"But I tell you to love your enemies and pray for anyone who mistreats you.†(Matthew 5:44) Humans are not all alike, one will hate you and the other will love you. The difference in moods is the reason why humans are who they are. The knowledge that everyone is different in some way, will lead to one giant leap on my journey. Loving thy neighbor no matter what, as stated in the Ten Commandments, will enrich my spiritual progression. Not being familiar with my actual role in this Universe at this stage of my existence is at times very frustrating and often very far-fetched. Nothing happens by chance. We are a part of a universe that is forever giving us... ...nnection. Balance, harmony, and compassion are the natural state of my innermost self. Since spirituality is an experience, the degree to which I reflect the qualities of balance, harmony and compassion in my everyday moment-to-moment experience will support my connection to God. These problems are made visible in the two opposite notions of the loss of the self, or alternatively, the absorption with the self, both of which impoverish our sense of self. I will argue against the notion of the self as one that is constantly changing to meet the demands of the competing voices surrounding it. Rather, I will not argue that I must find a vantage point from which to view the world and create a sense of self that persists through time. I cannot be, â€Å"populated with the character of others.† Being a â€Å"self† must mean more than being an image, wearing a mask, or playing a role.

Organizational behavior Essay

1. Give examples of behaviors that provide evidence you possess at least two of these competencies. Does/will your possession of these competencies make you a better leader? Explain. An example of the evidence to the increasing reality that as a leader and someone entrusted to do persuasion in the kind of influence I do, I employ emotional competencies as well as insightful strategies. According to Kramer in Beyond Max Weber: Emotional Intelligence and public leadership, â€Å"relationships are the DNA of governance† which immediately brings to mind the full implication that it binds and runs public offices. I believe that I have what every leader would covet which is sufficient emotional intelligence. Kramer succinctly points to the American bureaucratic system and the failure to function effectively because the effects of individualism has tragically influenced and impacted people’s ability and interest to build and sustain relationships. The study by Kramer develops on the idea that the relationships mentioned hinge on the emotional competencies of people (Kramer website). 2. Identify at least one of these traits you would like to develop. Explain how a higher level of competency in this area could make you a better leader. I would like to develop this area further despite the fact that I somehow know that I have the natural ability to feel and understand people and get into their shoes. I need to know that leadership is also more than understanding people; it is also leading them to where they hardly are able to visualize to getting into. That is, helping them to transform their ideas into workable outputs towards individual and group attainments is a leadership trait that is still difficult to achieve by any manager and leader. 3. What is your overall opinion of this perspective? Should companies embrace this perspective? If so, what practical steps should they take to put it in practice? How can companies avoid any ethical issues associated with limitations? In Peter Northouse, author of Leadership: Theory and Practice observed the revival of an all-encompassing skills-based model of leadership distinguished by a map for how to reach efficient leadership in organizations (Northouse, 2004). He recommended that the classification of specific skills which can be improved by training has an intuitive appeal: â€Å"When leadership is framed as a set of skills, it becomes a process that people can study and practice to become better at their jobs† (Northouse, 2004). He also suggests that although the skills-based approach claims not to be a trait model, it includes individual attributes that look a great deal like traits. The act of leadership is also an exercise of moral reasoning. In their book Unmasking Administrative Evil, Guy Adams and Danny Balfour caution against elevating the scientific-analytical mindset higher than all other forms of rationality. Even as the rise of â€Å"technical rationality led inevitably to specialized, expert knowledge, the very life blood of the professional,† it also â€Å"spawned unintended consequences in the areas of morals and ethics as the science-based technical rationality undermined normative judgments and relegated ethical considerations to afterthoughts† (Adams & Balfour, 2004). Distinguished scholar Ronald Heifetz on the other hand, developed a definition of leadership that takes values into account. He maintains that we should look at leadership as more than a means to organizational effectiveness. Efficiency means getting achievable decisions that execute the goals of the organization. â€Å"This definition has the benefit of being generally applicable, but it provides no real guide to determine the nature or formation of those goals.† (Heifetz, 1994).   Heifetz went on to say that values such as â€Å"liberty, equality, human welfare, justice, and community† are inculcated with first-rate leaders (Heifetz, 1994). It is a necessity then, the infusion of these principles into the leader and from the leader into the organization.