NHC The Importance of a Human Resource Manager

In a poor community one of the most important things to have is a health facility. Health is wealth as the saying goes, a simple statement but true. A successful career and all the material wealth that comes with it is incomparable to health. But poverty provides barriers for those who are not insured and could not afford to pay the fees of a medical doctor or avail of the health services of a private clinic.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on NHC: The Importance of a Human Resource Manager specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Thus, in poor places like North Suburbia it is imperative to maintain the Neighborhood health clinic (NHC). However, the NCH is plague with monetary and employee-related problems. There are many solutions that NHC leaders can consider but it can be argued that hiring a competent human resource manager is the most effective solution that can create an immediate positive effect. The Trouble at NHC There was a time when North Suburbia was an attractive place to live. Due to an economic boom in the 1980s, Caucasians, African-Americans, and Hispanics began to replace the American-Indians that used to dominate the region. After a while, and because of significant shifts in the economic climate of the place, African-Americans became the majority. However, this trend did not last for long because high cost of living and expensive housing drove many away and the vacuum left was soon filled in by Hispanics. The only common denominator is that most of the residents are poor regardless of their ethnic background. Poverty easily creates a chain reaction of negative effects. The workload increases but the patients that come to NHC cannot afford to pay the bills. The NHC cannot run on good will and compassion alone. It must have a steady cash flow in order to buy medicines, purchase necessary equipment and pay for the wages of the health workers. Thus, the members of the board and top leaders of NHC must also divide their time to not only manage the facility but also to raise funds for the health center. But aside from the lack of funds other pressing concerns threatens to shut down the NHC. There is a culture and communication issue. There is a need to have equal representation in terms of ethnic composition of the work force.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More If NHC fails to attract African-American workers then the members of the black community would not be encouraged to use the services of the said facility, thinking that the place is run by Hispanics. If the situation is reversed the same thing will happen to the sentiments of the Spanish-speaking members of North Suburbia, they too will feel uncomfortable in availing the services of the NHC. The most sought after members of the community that should work in the health center are African-America ns; however, they are some of the most unreliable groups of workers that can be found at NHC. These are undependable workers because they are the byproduct of an environment struggling with a high crime rate, gangs, and drug use. According to one health officer: â€Å"some potential employees also had criminal records, were recovering from problems with substance abuse or had complicated family issues that could potentially interfere with their work schedules† (Denend, 2005, p.65). The situation calls for an expert in human resource management. It is of great importance to upgrade the workforce and the leadership core of NHC, nevertheless, â€Å"despite the tremendous need for training, NHC had been limited in the amount of time and money it devoted to staff development† (Denend, 2005, p.65). There must be continuous training to update the skills of the health workers. At the same time it is also crucial to bring them to a level of maturity and confidence in order to m inimize the risk of errors. Most Effective Solution At first glance the root cause of the problem is poverty and the lack of funds. But in truth these are social issues that NHC must not focus on. Surely it is important to increase the earning capacity of the members of the community but the main task of NHC is not to stimulate the economic recovery of the said region. At first glance it seems that members of the board must work harder when it comes to fund-raising endeavors. But weighing all the problems there is one action that can address a major portion of the issues. The leaders must put their heads together to attract and hire a competent human resources manager.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on NHC: The Importance of a Human Resource Manager specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The core problem was echoed by one employee who said, â€Å"There’s no HR here, so everything goes to management† ( Denend, 2005, p.66). Imagine the confusion and the burden carried by the officials of NHC when they try to put out fires without solving the root cause of the troubles that they face. They have to realize quickly that even if they raise funds, the money will be wasted on hiring the wrong people and the added cost of errors in the workplace, not to mention work-related violence, can close down the NHC. Members of the board must remember that there is a close connection between employee performance and customer satisfaction (Buttle, 2004). This is the domain of an HR manager. They are able to deal with an assortment of employment problems. The first order of business is to develop the correct strategies in order to hire the right personnel. It is therefore imperative to hire a competent HR manager because the HR department acts like a filter that will sift through the application data, in order to choose the right candidate for the task at hand. It is important to realize that recruit ment processes and strategies must be enhanced to adapt to the challenges faced by the community (Buttle, 2004, p.9). The HR manager must learn to use information to be able to predict to a certain degree that an applicant possess the right characteristics suited for the job. A competent HR manager possesses the right qualification to provide the necessary training for the employees. A competent HR manager also understands the ethical issues that are in existence. Therefore, the hiring process as well as the methodologies used for training the employees must be carefully studied so that there would be no complaints from the community. Nevertheless, it is not enough to hire the right people and train them; an effective motivation program must also exist.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More HR managers know the value of motivation and the need for employees to work at the highest levels. They are aware that motivation enables health workers to strive for a higher standard of service excellence (Moynihan Pandey, 2007, p.803). HR managers are trained to develop and maintain a system of monitoring in order to determine the performance of the members of the staff. They know how to detect a significant drop in performance levels and when that occurs a competent HR manager is also capable of raising-up the standards once again. HR managers must work closely with the management team at NHC to pinpoint proven methods of motivation so that it will meet changes in the community and at the same time inspire the workforce (Boella Goss-Turner, 2005, p.42). The members of the board and other managers are focused on the medical aspect of the health center and can easily neglect the needs of the workers. The need to motivate employees is imperative in every form of business but in t he case of NHC it is a matter of life and death. It is not just about profit but the survival of the community. Without a reliable workforce, the health center will be forced to shut down. Motivation is the key but it is not a byproduct of wishful thinking, it is the result of careful planning. It requires specific knowledge and experience on how to manage the human resources aspect of the NHC. Conclusion It is easy to understand why the members of the board focused on raising funds. Without a sustainable source of income the NHC can close down in a year or two. However, a focus on the monetary aspect of the problem will never solve most of the issues because at the core of the problem is the lack of management expertise, especially in the area of human resource management. Even if the said facility has access to money, the current crop of employees are unable to maximize it to help those in need. Tardiness, errors in the workplace and unsatisfactory service easily defeat the purpos e of the NHC. The goal is to help people and therefore aside from the need to purchase medicines and equipment it is imperative to have well-trained and well-motivated health workers doing their job. The most important step is to hire a competent HR manager in order to increase the efficiency of the NHC and reduce its overhead costs so that the funds can be stretched even further to provide service for those who are desperately in need of medical care. References Boella, M. Goss-Turner, S. (2005). Human Resource Management. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann. Buttle, F. (2004). Customer Relationship Management. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann. Denend, L. (2005). Neighborhood Health Clinic: Serving the Underserved in a Complex Environment. CA: Stanford Graduate School of Business. Moynihan, D. S. Pandey. (2007). Finding Workable Levers Over Work Motivation: Comparing Satisfaction, Job Involvement, and Organizational Commitment. Administration and Society, 39(7), 803-832. This case study on NHC: The Importance of a Human Resource Manager was written and submitted by user Rene K. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Fascist Germany The Result of Instability essays

Fascist Germany The Result of Instability essays The 1930s were turbulent times in Germany's history. World War I had left the country in shambles and, as if that weren't enough, the people of Germany had been humiliated and stripped of their pride and dignity by the Allies. Germany's dream of becoming one of the strongest nations in the world no longer seemed to be a possibility and this caused resentment among the German people. It was clear that Germany needed some type of motivation to get itself back on its feet and this came in the form of a charismatic man, Adolf Hitler. Hitler, a man who knew what he wanted and would do anything to get it, single-handedly transformed a weary Germany into a deadly fascist state. In order to understand why exactly Hitler was able to make Germany a fascist state, we must study the effects that the end of World War I had on the country. Germany was left devastated and vulnerable at the end of the war. The Treaty of Versailles had left the country without a military and with a large debt that it just couldn't pay. Aside from that, it was forced to withdraw from its western territory where most of its coal and steel were located. This was a major implication for Germany because without these resources, it had no industrial growth (steel and coal are the forces behind industry), which meant that there was no money going into its economy. Without any economic development there was no way that Germany would be able to get out of debt. The Allies did not make any effort to help Germany during this time and left Germany to fend for itself (they seemed to be aware that this had been a mistake by the end World War II when they helped Japan out of its economic cri sis; this is an example of history influencing future actions). The "humiliation imposed by the victors in the World War I, coupled with the hardship of the stagnant economy," created bitterness and anger in Germany (Berlet 1). This is the reason that, when the Allies tried to est...

Oil and Gas Prices Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Oil and Gas Prices - Essay Example History has been riddled with many incidents of oil price increases due to conflicts and fighting between and among countries. Emily Witten (2008) documents the history of oil price increase and is hereinafter summarized. In the 1970s, oil price increased to as much as $46 a barrel when the OPEC imposed an embargo on the U.S. and its allies for the latter’s support of Israel in the Yom Kippur War. In order to keep up the high prices of oil, the OPEC even decreased oil production. In 1978, when the Shah of Iran was deposed from power and a radical Islamic government was installed, oil prices rose to $42. In the 1980s, oil prices decreased as many Western countries made an effort towards conservation, however, these efforts were thwarted when Iraq invaded Iran and oil prices rose to $86 per barrel. Following the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, oil prices increased from $21 to $26. The U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 sparked another increase in oil prices from $32 in 2004 to $60 in 2006. Interspersed in these oil price increases were efforts towards conservation and peace which noticeably settled or decreased oil prices. However, the trend became clear, whenever there were conflicts between nations, oil prices went up. In the case of Colombia, oil facilities have been under constant threat of attack by guerilla groups in the region. Attacks on oil installations and civil conflicts in the region have made oil-importing countries like the United States concerned about oil supplies. These oil importing countries opined that â€Å"attacks on energy infrastructure in Colombia, and especially the implications of Colombian instability for the broader energy-rich Andean region, pose a threat to a key source of oil supplies† (Dunning & Wirpsa, 2004). These conflicts, in the light of the September 11 attacks on American soil gave license to the US to

Case study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Case Study Example This implies that older employees are of more importance to the organization. The firing of such employees must identify those resistant to change or those considered ineffective and offer them an effective retirement package. The plan for the changes thus begins with the study of the market. An extensive market research reveals new mechanisms of doing business and the changing trends in service delivery. This enables the management strategize and effective come back plan that will inform the subsequent decisions. After an effective audit of the market, the second step in implementing the change is a study of the organizational structure. This includes a study of the nature of service delivery and product design and distribution. A reconciliation of the two research reports reveal the discord thereby informing the necessary changes. Changes are often bold and begin by review the employee status in the firm thereby resulting in the firing of ineffective employees and hiring new ones. It also includes the installment of newer better technologies to aid the management process. This subsequently result in either the expansion or contraction of the organization. Either of which, presents a number of both challenges and opportunities. Question 2 One of the most important operational components is diversification. The original company failed to realize profits because of the resultant miscommunication between the company’s productions and the requirements of the market. While the market kept changing, the company stuck to previous means of doing business thereby resulting in the subsequent failure. The changes in the market should often dictate the changes in operations of an organization, one way of ensuring such is through diversification. By diversifying the products and services, the organization targets a wider market. Furthermore, the wide market provides an effective market research through monitoring sales. This way, the management observes the most pre ferred products and therefore strategies the production in accordance to the patterns in the sales of the specific products. Diversification often demand changes in the means of doing business. The organization must have a constant consultative nature of relationship with the market. This implores the need for constant market research in order to effect the necessary changes to meet the demands of the market. The new management of the organization carries out an audit of the company’s operations and the results show major discrepancies even in the new dispensation. The fact lack of grooming in the employees’ of the firm stifle the sales despite the extensive research. This implies that while the new management has carried out effective market research, it fails to carry out an audit of its internal structures in order to determine the best ways of conducting business in the new market in order to realize the profitability (Thomas & Michael, 2001). Question 3 Interperso nal skills refer to the human management skills. Managers plan, control, organize and motivate numerous employees depending on the size of the organization the managers must therefore have relational skills to enable them work effectively with their employees, such skills help determine the factors affecting their employees’ productivity thereby crafting the necessary cha

Known and Unknown Limits of Space and Time Assignment

Known and Unknown Limits of Space and Time - Assignment Example This essay demonstrates that black holes have attracted much attention from scientists and physicists due to their association with high gravitational pulls which is why it is important for understanding the limits of space and time, as well as the broader universal context. Black holes are curious due to the high amount of gravitational force surrounding its edges. As a result, light energy is trapped in its core because it cannot escape a large amount of pull. Since gravity is an important parameter in the understanding of space and time, black holes are also points of interest for scientists and physicists who want to study the behavior of gravity surrounding black holes in order to figure out its relation to velocity, space, and time. Known limits include matter and the continuation of time. The existence of matter with respect to space is a limit in itself as explained by Hegel.Black holes are understood of being curious stars that can only be examined by observing its impact on the surrounding spatial objects.It all comes down to Einstein’s Theory of Relativism whereby gravity is a result of distortion of a given mass of matter in space and time. Therefore there are still many mysteries to unlock regarding black holes in order to understand the limits of space and time beyond matter and its relation to the age of physical objects. The known limits of space and time largely relate to Einstein’s findings regarding the behavior of matter in space and time as it is impacted by gravity in different spatial situations.

Impact Of Social Networking In The Airline Industry Marketing Essay

Impact Of Social Networking In The Airline Industry Marketing Essay Social Networking is increasingly emerging as an essential communication tool for the travel industry. The growth of social networking phenomena in the Airline industry initially commenced through sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Myspace since it has been growing with more professionalism with the turn up of new industry specified social networks (e.g., Tripadvisor.com). Without much research on how to engage with potential customers, many airlines have started using Twitter streams. Addressing the customer concerns and complaints is not possible by many airlines on social networking sites since they do not have any defined strategy. (Kirby, 2010). Over 2000 airlines operate more than 23,000 aircrafts, providing service to over 3700 airports in todays Global Airline Industry. The worlds airlines flew almost 28 million scheduled flight departures and over 2 billion passengers were carried in 2006. Over the past 30 years, the growth of air travel has averaged 5% approximately, with annual variations due to the differences in the economic fluctuations and circumstances in different regions of the world. The total revenue for the industry expected by IATA will be about $545 billion in 2010, rise of 13% from $483 billion in 2009. Every corner of the globe has been served by the international airline industry which has contributed in the creation of a global economy. (IATA, 2010a) As many authors have researched about social networking no such book or an article has described social networking impact in the Airline industry perspective. A better understanding of social networking has been brought out in this paper. Evaluation of social networking with the airline industry throughout this research will be an essential platform since most of the companys fear from embracing social networking. The impact of social media on airlines and the directions for successful deployment of social media have been detailed in the report. The aim of this report is to educate and help Airline companies to formulate strategic responses for a brand and distribute opportunities since social networking has being taken into consideration as a marketing tool. Sharing and gathering of exclusive information through social networking helps to decrease the advertising budgets and in return increase the revenue and build brand loyalty. Methodology of the Research The intention of this research is to prove that the Airline industry has a great potential in social networking as it cant be ignored in 2010. As few major airlines such as JetBlue, Virgin America and British Airways have started social networking which has changed their process fundamentally by improving customer satisfaction, reducing costs and increasing brand loyalty. Through an inclusive literature review by following academic literature, white papers, popular media, journal articles and books, the following areas which are associated with social networking on the Airline industry have been explored Critical research about social networking emergence with the purpose to establish the potential impact of it on the Airline industry. To find out how social networking will change the Airline consumer behavior and what should be the strategic response from the industry in response to these changes. What marketing professionals should do to find their feet in the social networking arena in terms of their skills, attitudes and behaviors? In order to ensure credibility, reliability and viability of information which have been used for this article, comparison of that information has been done using different similar sources. Accuracy of that information has been evaluated in the Analysis of Included References (9.0) of this document. Industry Analysis European airline giants such as Cathay Pacific, Emirates, US Airways, Japan Airlines, Air France-KLM and Southwest Airlines have dominated the airline industry. Over 2000 airlines operate more than 23,000 aircrafts, providing service to over 3700 airports in todays Global Airline Industry. The worlds airlines flew almost 28 million scheduled flight departures over 2 billion passengers were carried in 2006. The Airline Industry is an intensively competitive market which was negatively affected by the economic downturn and hike in the oil prices over the past two years. The Airline Industry saw a loss of $16 billion in 2008 followed by $9.9 billion in 2009. According to IATAs most recent financial forecast, carriers are projected to earn $2.5 billion in 2010. (Refer Appendix I for further details) Source: ATW World Airline Report 2010 Figure 1: Revenue/Expenses vs. Net Profits by Year Figure 2: International Passenger and Freight Growth Figure 3: Number of Scheduled International Passengers Carried in 2009 Impact of Social Networking in the Airline Industry Social Networking, incorporating Web 2.0 technologies, has been credited with the ability to expand social contacts, accelerate business processes, improve customer relations, cost-effective recruitment of high-caliber staff and the improvement of morale, motivation and job satisfaction among staff (MessageLabs, 2007a). Is Social Media Evolution or Revolution? Since social networking is emerging and has hit its tipping point, conventional networking sites are cannibalizing and competing with each other for members (Neisser, 2008). Today, Web 2.0 is extremely changing customers expectations and behaviour. Social networks such as Facebook, Myspace, and YouTube etc. will change industries than the Internet since they allow customers to communicate with each other, without the involvement of companies (Boynes, 2008). Figure 4: Growth of Facebook by Country and Top 10 Social Networking Sites Source: Nielsen/NetRatings Report, 2009/2010 Liveliness of Social Networking in the Airline Industry Why? As Social networking in a corporate context will become impossible to be ignored in 2010 most of the major airlines have started using social media to re-invent and enhance their clients facing parts which they were doing on a one to one basis. Most of the airlines have created a Facebook or Twitter fan page in regards to this as a start but no one seems like getting the potential out of it by doing active social networking. Social media reveals many transformative opportunities within the airline industry. The Industry is using social network sites to simplify customer contact and response by proactively monitoring and responding to the online chatter. How? The immediate social media based feedback elevates stress and tension for the flyers who have lost their luggage or missed a flight. UKs low cost carriers such as easyJet has over 45,000 followers on Twitter, where Virgin Atlantic and airBaltic have 8000 and with 8500 followers accordingly (Field, 2008). Facebook has been used as a platform by American Airlines in which they have launched Travelbag where the users are able to share their travel experiences and plans and also set up countdowns for upcoming events or trips. According to the airline, they are trying to differentiate and segment its passengers along with identifying their buying habits. Social Networking the Catapult for the Airline Industry Presently, the entire world is evolving towards technological know-how with continuous improvements in ICTA developments in many industries. Airline/Aviation industry has driven a massive growth in all over the world due to ICTA development which has influenced recently. The 12th annual SITA/Airline Business Airline IT Trends Survey, out of 129 airlines that took part, 56% expected an increase in IT spending next year, with only 10% expecting a decrease. As being recovered from the economic downturn, the survey shows how global cost pressures continue to influence IT strategies. Figure 5: ICTA Spending in Airline Industry Source: The Airline IT Trends Survey. 2010 The above mentioned ICTA trends are evident resources that infrastructure and spending are available to drive the change and impact which has been created by social networking Taneja (2008) Flying ahead of the airplane has mentioned that Social Networking/Media is increasingly emerging as an essential communication tool for the travel industry. The growth of social networking phenomena in the Airline industry initially commenced through sites such as Facebook and Bebo since it has been growing with more professionalism with the turn up of new industry specified social networks. Presently people are looking to complete their activities via their mobile phones. With the arrival of social networking it has become an essential part of their life as they get used to mobile social networking. This is a potential impact for the Airline industry as they have already started online digital marketing such as E-tickets, E-flyers, etc. How Consumers Drive the Fundamental Change With the growth of the internet many firms use online consumer reviews as marketing tools which are also strategically manipulated since it can help the consumers to discover quality products (Dellarocas 2003). According to a survey by an Internet marketing Research Company comScore (2007), 24% of the internet users access online reviews before making payments for services delivered offline. Li and Bernoff (2008) argues that the consumers expect 24 hours customer service capabilities along with broad self-serve online options. Return on Influence would be another suitable theory in the matter of WOM and Marketing should be strategically carried out by influencing and identifying those who have the most influence over others (Brogan and Smith, 2008). Around 60% of the worlds population visit social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace or blogging sites as according to the Nielsen Global Online study. Figure 6: Global Social Network Traffic Source: Nielsen/NetRatings Report, 2009/2010 Traditional behavior before the introduction of social media Before social networking became an intermediate support for the airline passengers, they have been gathering information, planning their trips and reserving their tickets through particular airline companies or travel agents. Customer service was also not regular, identical and reasonable among all passengers. Flight availabilities, delays etc. couldnt be informed to consumers. The places such as blogs, forums and specialized websites were limited to talk about the negative and positive impacts which have been faced by the passengers. Traditional versus Online Consumer behavior Traditional ways of consumer behavior has changed fundamentally by social networking since it has overhauled traditional methods of communication with the use of Word of Mouth method to create a positive effect. WOM was considered as an alternative to the traditional marketing tools by several books. According to (Misner, 1999) it is a least understood strategy but yet effective. Since traditional ways of communication are diminishing, marketers are interested in understanding WOM (Nail, 2005). Presently mobile social networking has emerged to help social networking spread all over the world. According to Nielsen Mobile, the U.K. and U.S. stands ahead of many markets in mobile social networking. Social networks were accessed on phones by 1.6% of U.S. mobile subscribers and 1.7% of U.K. mobile subscribers in December 2007 January 2008 as compared to 0.6% in France, 0.2% in Germany and 0.8% in Spain. Figure 7: Personnel vs. Social Benefit in Social Networking Figure 8: Where Do Consumers Search Info According to a study done by  OTX Research  on behalf of  DEI shows that consumers currently obtain information of brands, companies or products with the use of social media. According to the Nielsen online report, users from each segment visit social networking sites as part of their normal routine activities. The emerge of social networking has exposed particular industry products and services and hence majority of the young users are the key influences and are involved in purchasing decisions rather than depending on their parents who were previously influenced with the traditional method. Figure 9: Use of Social Networking Sites by Age Source: Nielsen/NetRatings Report, 2009/2010 AISAS (AIDA) Model This model was another version of the traditional AIDA (Attention, Interest, Desire and Action) model to accurately describe consumer behavior on the internet. AISAS online consumer behavior model concept was developed by the Dentsu Group and it is being used since 2004 to describe online consumer behavior. Figure 10: AISAS (AIDA) Model Source: Concept developed by Dentsu Group How AISAS models Work with Social Networking Social networking sites have the ability to get the attention of consumers by displaying banners, information, etc as they cannot rely on traditional one-way methods of communication e.g. TV and print ads. Interested customers will be searching for more information to take decisions. This helps companies to spread their message for a low cost since interested consumers who are unable to buy the product can still share details through social networking as this model can work in many ways than the traditional AIDA model. In terms of communication it may work in four ways as explained in the above diagram. Social networking can be used to get the initial attention towards a company by publishing photos, videos, advertisements, current affairs and through connecting people. In order to hold the attention of the consumers, news articles, future promotions, travel packages, CSR factors and service information can be sent. Once the interest is built, promotions such as low cost tickets and other offers will make the consumers to search more information before taking decisions. This will enable to create desire and make their service believable and collect reasons to buy. Social networking can do this process predominantly as it can direct the consumers to e-ticket sites or a travel agent who is available online and make a purchase. Positive or negative feedback will be shared as per individual experience. Consumers can upload photos and share experiences with one another. Attention Interest Search Actions Share Consumer Satisfaction effects in Social Networking Airline Industries can increase the customer satisfaction with the help of social networking since it can provide better services, suggest or share ideas to others. Regarding the consumer behavior, companies have given more consideration to satisfaction. Figure 11: Conceptualized Model: Satisfaction effect of the consumer Why Consumers are moving towards social networking sites The passengers can make the best choice and get a clear picture of what to expect from each airline such as services and products E.g.-: meals drinks offered, in-flight entertainment, crew service standards etc. and also share their ideas by uploading pictures, videos and status updates about their personnel experiences on Facebook, Twitter etc. Figure 12: Technographics ladder: Consumer Behavior in Social Networking Source: Forrester Research, 2006 Internet ticket reservation has been accelerated by social media as most of the airline consumers are selling and promoting their tickets using social networks. E.g, JetBlueCheeps: A Twitter stream devoted to last-minute fares sales. There are uncontrollable events which cannot be prevented such as weather delays, union strikes etc. which causes a negative impression on the minds of the customers. Therefore the airline sites should be able to address such situations. E.g., The CEO of JetBlue went on Youtube and addressed the concerns of the people due to Snow storm delays which occurred on the 14th February 2007 which received a positive feedback. Why consumers are involving in Social networking With the availability of many touch points the consumers can make correct decisions with referrals and recommendations. Although there are some voices withholding assents with regards to social media as a marketing tool, social media have essential applications for customer relationship management programs, marketing campaigns and public relations activities. The following diagram describes how the Airline consumers are involving with social networking sites. Figure 13: Airline Consumer Involvement in Social Networking Benefits of social networking to the airline consumers Share their own ideas and plan trips with more ease Travel applications have been introduced by social networks such as TripIt and Dopplr Purchase air tickets at a low rate and get further discounts from social networking sites Disintermediation such as Travel agents More convenience and less time consuming to make the correct decision Get additional information about airline brands Greater expectations of customer service and managing relationships Free availability of valuable information Findings and Discussions Social Media platforms improve reach and promote campaign messages and airline industry activities. Through the research it has been identified it will be able to capture the public mood, emotion and knowledge about airline related issues. This will enable a range of opportunities to tailor messages and engage the public in a conversation about airline promotions with transparency which would improve loyalty and trust. Creating of a Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, Blog or forum under a company name is not social networking (Hernandez, June 2010). Presently most of the airlines have social networking but apart from few airlines majority are not doing active social networking which means they dont practice social networking components to build their market. Following are the few examples of how some major players actively engage in social networking. October 5th 2010 Malaysia Airlines won the Best Use Of Social Media To Drive Revenue Award at the inaugural Simpliflying-Airline Business Social Media Excellence Awards for Airlines. (Malaysia Airlines, 2010) As per facts/statistics that have been published in the previous chapters, the consumer behavior is changing very rapidly towards social media. In order to cope with these changes airline companies needs to have good strategies and specified skills from their marketing experts. (Please refer Recommendation section for further details.) Besides the famous conventional social networking sites there are airline specific websites, forums and blogs in different languages such as Tripadvisor.com, Flying.org, Aerhub.com, genflylounge.com, and Aircollector.com, etc With the ever shrinking global differences and the ever evolving technology highway, the airline industry has great potential to expand as the global opportunities have increased and the world is becoming a local market for all the businesses. This has paved way to increased travel opportunities, which could be targeted efficiently through the increased use of social media. Summary of the Research Paper According to the literature review, social media plays a significant role in the modern marketing world. Although there are some voices withholding assents with regards to social media as a marketing tool, it has essential applications for customer relationship management programs, marketing campaigns and public relations activities. As most of the Airline companies have not embraced social networking prominently there are potential opportunities which the Airline industry can snatch and make Social media as a marketing tool. With the emergence of social networking and mobile phenomenon behaviors, attitudes of customers are changing rapidly as they are looking forward for more convincing and unique customer services. To facilitate this fundamental change Airline companies must have to build a strong strategic response which can increase their company goodwill, market share and image by attracting more consumers. Special set of skills, attitudes and behaviors needs to be adapted by marketing professionals in the industry to make the best out of social networking. More research is required to articulate the accurate impact of social media on consumer awareness, behavioral change, nature of competition and B2B opportunities. Coordination of social media material and collaboration with airline companies at all levels of the government will become increasingly critical. Recommendations Social networking: Building the Airline industry Market Social networking has been able to revolutionize many industries by helping to build market share and earn more revenue since it can be used as a marketing tool. Airline companies would greatly benefit through social networking since it has a greater visibility into the customer needs and their opinions and facilitate quick and direct interaction. In 2007 the use of social networking deeply became popular among the internet users. (Nilesen, 2009). By the Airline industry, Social media marketing is taking off in a major way with sites like Facebook and Twitter E.g., Westjet have been investing in Facebook and Twitter during the past six months for opening and enhancing communication with the consumers (Field, 2008). Strategic Response to Emerge As a Social Marketing Pioneer Even though majority of airlines havent embraced social networking utterly, components of it such as online advertising is being used since longtime ago. Advertising will not be a good strategic response to emerge social networking in the airline industry. In order to reply to this fundamental macro theme the airline industry must have a proper strategy to get the potential of this which will open up new opportunities. According to a new forecast from ZenithOptimedia (www.zenithoptimedia.com), online-marketing will account for a greater proportion in the global ad sector in 2012 than it does now-17.1 per cent of overall ad spending in two years time compared with 12.7 per cent in 2009. Creating a buzz around services is the requirement for airline companies. It doesnt start from creating a Blog or creating a video, its a social media strategy that encompasses social media and word-of-mouth marketing. There are so many social marketing tools that can be used to fulfill the potential of internet business. Figure 14: Development of Strategies (Sims and Smith, 2003) According to the above mentioned framework when developing a strategy, Airline companies should consider three factors mainly. What Basis?: Every Airline company defines their basis (corporate main purpose) when it has been started such as cost leadership, differentiation, cost differentiation focus according to Porters generic strategy. Which Direction?: As social networking has become a frontier in communication, usage of proper social media can change the direction of Airline companies. According to many authors, consumers are embracing new media experiences with a staggering speed. How?: Airlines need to develop a technological savvy skill in order to drive the growth of social networking in terms of market development. This means that the marketing professionals should develop their skills and behavior in response to the emerged macro environmental theme. (Refer chapter 8.2 for further details) According to the Ansoff Matrix, by becoming a social media leader, Airline companies can develop their market since it is highly penetrated. Figure 15: Ansoff Matrix for the Airline Industry (Ansoffs, 1957) There are so many categorizations with the industry such as budget, low cost, premium, national and regional, etc. Requirements will always be different to each other. Following are the main factors that airlines should consider before compiling a market development strategy. What is the pitch and the strategic intentions Anticipation of the market development initiative (Awareness, sales and loyalty) Current Relationship with the passengers How is the current behavior in terms of social media The ways you are going to address them to build the market Execution and Identifying success Most of the airline companies are using traditional digital marketing steps such as email campaigns, online banners, etc. To get the use of social media they need to use digital marketing moderately in a different way. Figure 16: Change in Online Marketing Usage/Spending in 2009 (Source: Ad-Olgy Research, 2008) New Cynosure for Market Building, Customer Service and Goodwill A Market development strategy should be mainly backed up by social networking components. With this strategy more results with a less marketing budget can be expected than traditional marketing procedures. Many airline companies accept social media as emerging and a proper digital marketing tool. Figure 17: Social Networking Components (The Digital EcoSystem) (Infuz Whitepaper, 2010) How Social Media helps to build the Airline Market Figure 18: Traditional Process vs. Social Networking Process The following section will describe how social networking can be used as a prominent marketing tool to develop the market according to Ansoffs Market development strategy Identification of New Segments: Social networking has been used by many consumer segments which will enable to identify new customer segments other than targeting offline. (Please refer Figure 19) Take advantage: Opportunities to reach an audience would be by Blogging, Twittering and maintaining Facebook fan sites which would ease the decision making process and allow them to share ideas. Spark discussions: With social media, companies can interact with their customers regarding their thoughts about the operations of the company. Channels should be kept distinct: Channels such as blogs, Twitter, Facebook etc. can be used for spreading news, promotions etc. and enable the users to visit different outlets rather than sticking to one. Composition: It consists of the means which the message should be delivered such as channels, digital tools etc. Exposure: Once the digital tools are selected the organization needs to find the ways these tools need to be implemented. Content Ideas: This consists of the process in which the organization ensures that the public receives the message which can be through news feeds, promotions etc. Monitoring and Controlling: Gaining control and continuous monitoring of digital medium activities against set KPIs. Have fun: There should be fun as a team and it should help the company to position them as friendly, customer driven and a convenience Airline. Figure 19: Social Networking Site User Segments (Ofcom, 2008) How the Marketing Professionals Should Adapt to the Change As per the above discussions, social networking is emerging rapidly without any obstacles. Social networking components can be used as digital marketing tools such as online advertising, sharing, blogging, etc to increase the market share and brand loyalty. To keep competitive sales, marketing professionals need to keep their skills up-to-date and effective (Victor et al, 2009). Todays economical condition is extremely different to that of five, ten or twenty years ago. Long complex proposals and contracts are the norm these days. According to Cheverton (2004) there are few important skill types that marketing professionals should acclimatize according to the macro environmental changes occurring rapidly. Those are Communication Skills, Social Skills, Flexibility, Openness to Diversity, Thinking Skills, Personal Development and Learning Skills. Social media marketing will be unsuccessful if it doesnt match with the corporate culture or people are resistant to change. Following are the few of new skills, attitudes and behaviors which requires to be adapted by marketing professionals. Figure 20: Social Networking Skills, Attitudes and Behaviors Marketers should offer various competitive prices, promotions, and tactics in order to build their market. Skill/Attitude/Behavior Description Expert researchers A deep research would provide information for making the correct decisions and overlay a solid platform for doing the required tasks in order to develop a simple tactic or a social media plan. Business acumen The requirement for the growth of the business needs to be figured out and acumen social media tactics will fulfill it. Strategic thinking and planning If the company wants to target the right group of people, it is very essential to think beyond single tactics and instead take all the tactics which can help to achieve the objectives. Strong journalistic writing and storytelling Communication leads to success in social media which in turn creates an opportunity for businesses to share their stories directly with the people. Video/Image production Videos and images should be uploaded on social networking sites to attract consumers. Innovative and Creative Innovative ideas needs to be generated in terms of advertising, networking, connecting people, etc. Relationship development Social media relationship development is all about the value the brand can give to others rather than the benefit others can give to the brand. Experts in social media platforms Expert knowledge in social media should be adapted by marketing professionals to build their company. Self-Directed Learning In order to stay competitive in the market, further learning about social media can be completed by supporting groups and discussions, reading blogs and visiting sales training web sites. Restive Curiosity People in every industry are very curious and restless regarding new developments and are always finding new alternative ways to accomplish tasks. Analysis of Included References Source Description Credibility Reliability Merits Relevance Principles of Marketing This book looks at the major decisions that marketing Managers face in their efforts to balance an organizations objectives Many peer reviews specially from industry experts, CEOs Authors: Philip Kotler, Gary Armstrong, Veronica Wong, John A. Saunders (Written by well know masters in the marketing arena) High Marketing in Travel and Tourism This book aims to guide and support readers through the complexities of tourism marketing in the 21st Century. The report has been reviewed and used content for other publications Illustration: 4 Editions Butterworth-Heinemann (well known publisher) Authors: Victor Middleton has been an independent management consultant, academic and author since 1984. Professor at Oxford Brookes University and the University of Central Lancashire. Medium Journal of Marketin

Drugs In The Music Industry Essay -- essays research papers

Drugs in the Music Industry The Music World-glamorous, fast paced, and a world most of us will never be part of. But if we knew what it entailed, would we still want to be? The whole world seems to be building itself around drugs more and more every day, and music industry isn't immune. In fact, music is one of the most influential art forms of today's society, and drugs, especially to today's youth, just add to the attractiveness of it all. In the last two or three years, drugs, especially heroin, have risen in use dramatically. Kurt Cobain was the most high-profile drug-related rock star since the 1970's and was still battling heroin addiction when he committed suicide in 1994. Along with him, his wife Courtney Love made it fashionable to be a "junkie". In the last year, Stone Temple Pilot's singer Scott Weiland and Depeche Mode singer David Gahan, among others, have been arrested for cocaine or heroin possession. The number of top bands that have been linked to heroin through a member's overdose, arrest, admitted use or recovery is staggering: Smashing pumpkins, Everclear, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Dr. Dre, Blind Melon, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Breeders, Alice in Chains, Sex Pistols, Sublime, Iggy Pop, the list goes on and on. Together, these bands have sold more than 60 million albums(Newsweek pgs 50 & 53). Since kids emulate popular musicians, what is there to keep them from emulating their drug use? Moreover, what's to keep the majority of the population from doing the same? In the 60's and 70's, drug use was never spoken of nor did anyone admit that it was a problem. Nowadays, there is not a person in the world who hasn't heard about the rising drug use. But what are they doing about it? Back in the 80's, higher prices, the fear of contracting AIDS, and lower purity kept drugs out of the mainstream. Now, drugs are cheaper and easier to get then ever, being imported into the country at double the rate it was in the 1980's. Unfortunately, the outsider's view of drug use isn't the harsh reality. Janis Joplin, Billie Holiday, and Charlie Parker are among the many to die from heroin and other drug addictions. Drugs seem to make you a funnier, wiser, cooler person, but what the younger generation fails to realize is that they are fatal. Despite this, drug... ...are easy because they are wealthy, popular, and sublimely happy. Being rich and famous isn't all it's cracked up to be. They lead normal lives, have kids and pay bills just as we do, but this is still no excuse to put your life into your own hands. The music industry may be finally facing up to the truth that drug abuse has become a serious problem, though. The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences gathered in 1996 to discuss what could be done about it. The sense of crisis has been growing since Kurt Cobain committed suicide, blamed at least partly on his heroin abuse.(Time p57)Expressions of concern are easy to come by, but the chances for meaningful industry action are less clear. Record executives refuse to be drug police, especially in a society where drug abuse has long been accepted, and even condoned, as part of the creative process. Geffen Records has retained a drug counselor for it's musicians who seek help. (Time p 58). But the industry must recognize that pressure from the label to keep tutoring and recording can blow a drug problem out of proportion. It is a minimal step, but at least a start toward trying to keep musicians healthy, productive, and alive.

Dorian Grey’s Reaction to the Change in the Painting Essay

â€Å"The Picture of Dorian Grey† by Oscar Wilde, Dorian has a profound reaction each time he views the change in the painting, and he reacts with a self-pitying, vain attitude. Vanity haunts Dorian, and he cares only about how this change in the painting will affect himself and his outer beauty only. At first, Dorian worries about how his treatment of Sibyl Vane will affect the painting. He cares not about the cruel acts he committed, but rather dwells on how it will taint or tarnish the beauty of his portrait. (â€Å"A sense of infinite pity, not for himself, but for the painted image of himself, came over him. It had altered already, and would alter more. Its gold would wither into grey. Its red and white roses would die. For every sin that he committed, a stain would fleck and wreck its fairness. But he would not sin. † – Chapter 7) The change Dorian views on his painting does not make him regret his cruel treatment of Sibyl, or pity the girl. On the contrary, he pities the painted portrait of himself. His vanity consumes him, and he becomes obsessed with the notion that the painting will soon lose its beauty if he would continue to commit sins. He then decides to change his ways, and no longer sin. He vows to return to Sibyl and rekindle their love. However, he vows to do so in vanity, rather than to become a better man. His unwillingness to watch the exquisite portrait succumb to degradation is the only reason behind his decision to return to Sibyl, which he considers the honorable action to take. He is scared that the painting and his soul would be destroyed if he does not do so, and therefore, in a vain effort to save their beauty, promises to make amends. However, upon waking up the next morning and viewing the painting, he becomes very worried that his actions had indeed been cruel. He reacts to this realization by writing a letter to Sibyl. (â€Å"Finally, he went over to the table and wrote a passionate letter to the girl he had loved, imploring her forgiveness and accusing himself of madness†¦ There is a luxury in self-reproach. When we blame ourselves, we feel that no one else has a right to blame us. It is the confession, not the priest, that gives us absolution. When Dorian had finished the letter, he felt that he had been forgiven. – Chapter 8) Dorian writes this letter not to take accountability for his actions, but rather to comfort himself. He is not necessarily doing this for the sake of comforting Sibyl, but rather for the sake of comforting himself. He believes all blame for his cruelty has been lifted from his shoulders by committing an act of self reproach, and confessing his cruelty. He believes he is for given for his actions, by writing a mere letter. He did so in concern of himself, not Sibyl. He then claims (â€Å"I am perfectly happy now†¦ I want to be good. I can’t bear the idea of my soul being hideous† – Chapter 8) He feels completely satisfied and happy upon writing the letter after viewing the change in the painting, despite not knowing whether or not he is forgiven for his actions; he thinks only of himself. He then claims he has noble, good-hearted intentions after writing the letter, as he is too vain to bear any part of him being deemed ugly. He writes the letter to assure himself his soul is not tainted. However, upon receiving news of Sibyl’s suicide, and speaking with Lord Henry, his reaction to the change in the painting alters, and he no longer views the change in a bad light. â€Å"If the picture was to alter, it was to alter. That was all. Why inquire too closely into it?†¦ What did it matter what happened to the coloured image on the canvas? He would be safe. That was everything. † – Chapter 8) Lord Henry convinces Dorian that Sibyl’s suicide was a remarkable feat he wishes he could himself have accomplished. Dorian falls captive to his words, and deems the events a â€Å"marvelous experience†, and wishes an experience as marvelous should come again. Henry assures him such an event will come, for as long as Dorian’s beauty is retained. Thus, the change in Dorian’s paradigm occurs, as he realizes his beauty will be retained, for as long as the portrait will change. He disregards his past reactions to the change: of worry for the portrait’s beauty, or regret for his cruelty against Sibyl, and his vanity consumes him; he believes he is safe, for as long as his outer beauty is maintained. The change in the painting was proof that he will remain young and beautiful while the painting loses its youth and beauty, and this now pleases him. Dorian has many different reactions to the change in the painting, however, all display his newly obtained vain and selfish attitude; his reaction is a demonstration of his corruption at the hands of Lord Henry, and the fall of his character. In the novel, â€Å"The Picture of Dorian Grey† by Oscar Wilde, Dorian feels an onslaught of emotions during Sibyl Vane’s performance, all of which result in a loss of passion for Sibyl Vane and a profound change in his character. When watching an awkward performance, typical viewers would not have such a reaction but simply think themselves un-entertained. However, Dorian is not a typical viewer but Sibyl’s fiancee, and very much in love with her artistic ability as well; the unconvincing performance leads to an onrush of feelings for Dorian. This star struck lover’s initial response to Sibyl’s performance is confusion. (â€Å"The voice was exquisite, but from the point of view of tone it was absolutely false. It was wrong in colour. It took away all the life from the verse. It made the passion unreal. He was puzzled and anxious. † – Chapter 7) Dorian has a passion for art and luxury; overall, the beauty of objects. The central reason he falls in love with Sibyl is her ability to perform on stage. He was captured by her ability to immerse herself in a role, regardless of the play. Therefore, he has an inability to process the change in her acting, and it is hard for him to believe that such a talented actress could ‘fail’ him by performing so badly. After the disappointing first act, he still waits to see the second, as if he still expects her to make a comeback. He is consumed by Sibyl’s ability to immerse herself into a role and is unable to come to the realization of her poor performance. Dorian’s secondary reaction to the performance is disappointment. His disappointment leads him to lose all and any love or passion he once had for her; a passion which he boasted about. (â€Å" ‘My God, Harry, how I worship her! ’ Hectic spots of red burned on his cheeks. He was terribly excited. † – Chapter 4) Dorian’s outwardly display of his love showed the passion he once had for the woman and her talent. His cheeks once burned with passion and excitement for Sibyl Vane. This plays as a contrast to his reaction when watching the play. (â€Å"Dorian grew pale as he watched her†¦They were horribly disappointed. † – Chapter 7) This incident changes the tone and surfaces Dorian’s dying love. While once his cheeks burned a bright red with his love, they have now lost all colour and have gone pale. He once spoke very highly of Sibyl to both Basil and Lord Henry, and her mediocre performance also undermined his past statements; he continuously boasted about how Sibyl’s ability to perform despite Henry’s doubts, and she failed to live up to his past remarks. These two reactions lead to a profound change in Dorian;s character. Dorian’s realization that his love was not for Sibyl Vane, but rather for her acting and artistic talent, reveals his romantic vanity and his valuation of artistic beauty above all else. After the show, Dorian goes to Sibyl, not with the intent to woo her like his previous visits but rather to treat her as beneath him as opposed to a beloved equal, due to her ‘failure’. (â€Å"She rose from her knees, and with a piteous expression of pain in her face, came across the room to him. She put her hand upon his arm and looked into his eyes. He thrust her back. ‘Don’t touch me! ’ he cried. † – Chapter 7) He is heavily influenced by the opinions of Lord Henry when he uses cruel words to power his cold attitude towards Sibyl as he breaks all ties he once had with her. His words are not like those of a man speaking to his past love but rather of an impatient man speaking to a less than efficient servant. He acts very cruel towards Sibyl, and believes he has a right to do so due to Sibyl’s performance. He believes that she has completely failed him, and this grants him a superiority over the woman; this is a perception he gained from Lord Henry’s infiltration of his mind. Dorian does not see the fault in his behavior and believes he has a right and reason to treat Sibyl as below him, without a single thought given to Sibyl’s perspective on the situation. Dorian’s insensitive and heartless dismissal of Sibyl is a clear demonstration of the growing corruption of his character. Dorian’s reaction to Sibyl’s bland performance shows his character developing into a colder, crueler individual. He raves on about his love for her and her talent to an end, but as soon as her talent is gone, his love fades just as swiftly. The plethora of emotions that overcome Dorian and ultimately lead to his rejection of Sibyl Vane after just one displeasing performance is evidence of the change in his morals, and therefore, the fall in his character.

4 Tips for Writing Stellar Virginia Tech Essays

4 Tips for Writing Stellar Virginia Tech Essays SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Are you hoping to be part of Virginia Tech’s next matriculating class? If so, you’ll need to write strong Virginia Tech essays to supplement your application. All Virginia Tech applicants are required to answer four short answer questions as part of their application. In this article, we’ll break down what the Virginia Tech essays are and what the admissions committee is looking for in your answer. Why Does Virginia Tech Require Applicants to Answer Essays? Virginia Tech requires all applicants to answer four short answer questions. If you’re applying to the Honors College, your answers will also be shared with the Honors College admissions committee. You don’t need to answer any separate questions as an applicant to the Virginia Tech Honors College. The Virginia Tech essays are designed for the admissions committee to get a better sense of who you are, both as a student and a person. The short answers questions ask about your character, leadership, and goals. The admissions committee will use your answers to better understand you as a person - who are you? What do you care about? How will you fit in on Virginia Tech’s campus? It’s important to put some serious effort into your Virginia Tech essays so that you represent yourself well to the admissions committee. These essays are your chance to present a well-rounded version of yourself that makes the admissions committee say, â€Å"We have to admit this student!† What Are the Virginia Tech Essays? Virginia Tech requires that every applicant answer four short answer questions. These short answer questions are just that - short! Each has a word limit of 120 words. Let’s take a look at the questions: #1: Virginia Tech’s motto is "Ut Prosim" which means 'That I May Serve'. We are interested in learning more about your interests and how you have been involved and/or served. Briefly describe a group, organization, or community that you have been involved with. Is this a special area of interest for you, and why? How long have you been involved? What role did you play? What contributions have you made to this group? Were you able influence others and/or influence decisions for the good of the group? #2: Describe a situation where you were involved or witness to an act of discrimination. How, or did, you respond? Do you wish you would have responded differently? Did this situation cause any change to happen based on this event and did you have a role in that change? What did you learn from this experience? #3: Describe an example of a situation where you have significantly influenced others, took on a leadership role, helped resolve a dispute, or contributed to a group’s goals. What was your role, what responsibilities did you take on? Did you encounter any obstacles, and if so how did you respond, were you able to overcome them? What would you do differently? #4: Briefly describe a personal goal you have set for yourself. Why this goal, what is your timeline to achieve this goal, what precipitated this goal? Have you turned to anyone for advice or help, what was their role, what did you learn about yourself, are you still working toward this goal? Virginia Tech Essays, Analyzed Now that we know what the Virginia Tech essays are, let’s break down how to answer each one as best as possible. Since the Virginia Tech essays are so short, the key is to be super targeted in your responses. For each prompt, we’ll break down what the essay is asking and how you can tailor your response to make sure it’s what the admissions committee wants to hear. Virginia Tech’s motto is "Ut Prosim" which means 'That I May Serve'. We are interested in learning more about your interests and how you have been involved and/or served. Briefly describe a group, organization, or community that you have been involved with. Is this a special area of interest for you, and why? How long have you been involved? What role did you play? What contributions have you made to this group? Were you able influence others and/or influence decisions for the good of the group? This essay question is asking about your involvement or service with a specific organization. The admissions committee is looking for you to demonstrate a genuine commitment to a cause - what the cause is doesn’t matter as much as the fact that you genuinely care about it. You should pick an organization that you’ve made real, lasting change at. Don’t choose the committee or group that sounds the best if you haven’t actually done a lot for them. For instance, if you were a member of your school’s Habitat for Humanity club but didn’t actually attend very many meetings, don’t talk about how meaningful it was to build houses for disadvantaged people just because you think it sounds nice. Any insincerity in your application will be very obvious. Consider groups that you’ve had significant leadership roles in, as well as any organizations where you’ve affected policies or made choices about activities. These will be service experiences the group wants to hear about. Describe a situation where you were involved or witness to an act of discrimination. How, or did, you respond? Do you wish you would have responded differently? Did this situation cause any change to happen based on this event and did you have a role in that change? What did you learn from this experience? This second question can seem intimidating - are you supposed to represent yourself as a social justice warrior? What if you haven’t witnessed too many forms of discrimination? Luckily, the key here isn’t to show that you’ve tackled the patriarchy or changed racist laws in your community. Instead, the admissions committee simply wants to know if you approach situations with compassion and an open mind. They want to know that you can reflect on your behavior and asses how your choices affect others. You don’t need to pick a big incident. You can even choose something small that you’ve noticed daily. You also don’t need to pick an example where you were in the right - the key is to demonstrate that you’ve reflected on and learned from your experiences, not that you’ve known how to act and stand up for others from day one. Describe an example of a situation where you have significantly influenced others, took on a leadership role, helped resolve a dispute, or contributed to a group’s goals. What was your role, what responsibilities did you take on? Did you encounter any obstacles, and if so how did you respond, were you able to overcome them? What would you do differently? This prompt wants to know two things: first, have you taken on the responsibility of leading other people? Second, how do you deal with challenges? The admissions committee wants to know that you don’t shy away from leadership roles and growth opportunities. You don’t have to be president of a club or captain of a sports team to demonstrate leadership. Perhaps you took on the role of project coordinator for a classroom project or are section leader of a few instrumentalists in the band. The size of the role isn’t as important as the scope of your influence - how did your choices and actions influence others? The second half of the question focuses on overcoming obstacles. What challenges did you face? How did you defeat them? The key here isn’t to show that you can overcome problems easily. It’s to show that you’re open to growth. Admitting that you handled a situation poorly and would do so differently in the future is more powerful than saying â€Å"I was a great leader who did nothing wrong.† Show humility and self-reflection in your answer. Briefly describe a personal goal you have set for yourself. Why this goal, what is your timeline to achieve this goal, what precipitated this goal? Have you turned to anyone for advice or help, what was their role, what did you learn about yourself, are you still working toward this goal? The final Virginia Tech short essay question assesses your commitment to growth. Notice that the question asks about a personal goal - that means you don’t have to pick something lofty or world-changing. You just have to pick something that resonates with you. Maybe you decided to wake up 30 minutes earlier every day so you can meditate or do yoga before school. Maybe you made it a goal to complete all of your essays two days before they were due so you could revise your work. Maybe you made it a goal to try a sport this year when you normally hate sports. Whatever your goal is, you want to demonstrate that you’re capable of self-reflection and of positive growth - that you’re constantly assessing how to better yourself. You also want to show humility in this prompt - that you can rely on or ask for help from others when you need it. The admissions committee doesn’t expect that you’ll have all the answers yourself. They want to see that you can collaborate with and learn from others when you need to. Tips for Answering Your Virginia Tech Essays Follow these general tips for making sure that your Virginia Tech essays are as strong as possible. #1: Demonstrate Growth and Self-Reflection Virginia Tech places a strong emphasis on service and self-reflection. These qualities are reflected in the choices of essay topics. You should demonstrate these qualities in your answers. Show that you’re constantly working to better yourself. Demonstrate humility and understanding. Virginia Tech wants students who will grow on their campus - not ones who will matriculate already thinking they’re perfect. #2: Be Honest and Sincere All of the experiences that you outline in your Virginia Tech essays should be real - they need to have actually happened to you. It can be tempting to lie about or exaggerate your experiences to make them seem more impressive. Don’t do this! First of all, lying on your application is a major ethics violation and can get you in some pretty serious trouble if you’re caught. Second all, insincerity will be super obvious. The admissions committee reads thousands of applications every year. They can easily sniff out people who are lying. Be as honest as possible in your Virginia Tech essays and remember - they WANT to hear about how you’ve grown. #3: Proofread! It should go without saying, but your Virginia Tech essays should be the best examples of your work possible. Don’t just write your essays and be done with them. Take the time to formulate an answer and then go back and edit it. Make sure to proofread and run your work through a spelling or grammar checker to ensure it’s polished. #4: Get a Second Opinion Getting a second opinion on your work can be a helpful way to assess whether your Virginia Tech essays are demonstrating your best qualities. Ask someone to read your work who really knows you, so they can tell you whether or not you’re underselling yourself or missing a key feature of your personality that the admissions committee should know. That being said, there’s a fine line between getting a second opinion and plagiarism. It’s okay to ask for someone’s opinion on your work. It’s not okay to steal their ideas and pass them off as your own. Make sure you’re doing the former, not the latter. Recap: Responding to the Virginia Tech Essay Prompts The Virginia Tech essays are designed to show who you are as a student and how you’ll fit in on Virginia Tech’s campus. Do: Be honest and sincere. Highlight opportunities you’ve taken to grow and change. Edit and proofread your work to make sure it’s as strong as possible. Don't: Lie or over exaggerate to make yourself seem better. Steal anyone else’s ideas. Sweat the short answers too much. They’re important, but they won’t make or break your chances at admission to Virginia Tech. What’s Next? Want to know how to make your extracurriculars stand out even more?Check out this guide to four amazing extracurricular activities and learn why they're so impressive to colleges. Thinking of applying to other great schools likePrinceton, Brown, or Columbia? Then be sure to check out our guides to learn how you can write amazing essays for these schools' supplements. Want to write the perfect college application essay? Get professional help from PrepScholar. Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We'll learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay that you'll proudly submit to your top choice colleges. Don't leave your college application to chance. Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now:

Good Country People Essays

Good Country People Essays Good Country People Essay Good Country People Essay ChidchanokKasetpibal 5240131722 ANAL LIT Reading Response # 3 The Significance of OConnors Short Storys Title â€Å"Good Country People† In my opinion, Flannery OConnor has decided to use â€Å"Good Country People† as the title of this short story because she wants it to be sarcasm. The title of the story is completely reverse to all the characters appearing in the story. All of them are not actually good country people at all. They are just some people who seem to be good. We can see how â€Å"Good Country People† is sarcasm by looking at each characters but in here I would like to give some examples of the characters that express the idea that â€Å"Good Country People† is real sarcasm. Joy or Hulga, the protagonist of the story, is the obvious example of the titles sarcasm. She is a disabled girl who has lost one of her legs since she was ten. Its normal for disabled people to have some mental disorder or strage personalities due to stress or pressure in life but in this story the point isnt about effects from her deformity but its about her sense of superiority. : The thing is that she has a chance to go to college so she thinks that she is superior to everyone around. We could say that her education helps confirm her superiority. She is also introvert and anti-social even with her own mother. Another thing that makes her become different is that she thinks that ugliness is what makes her special. She has changed her name from Joy to Hulga which has an ugly meaning to emphasize her ugliness and also dresses up like a young kid. Her personalities only make her life become worse. The second example is the bible salesman Manly Pointer. At first, he claims that he is a real religious man and tries to convince Mrs. Hopewell to believe that hes friendly and sincere. But actually he comes to this home because he wants to seduce Joy and take her wooden leg away. He has already planned everything. Its like he tries to prove that the lower-class person like him can overcome someone in the upper-class like Joy or Mrs. Hopewell. Even Mrs. Hopewell who seems to be the nicest person in the story is also not a real good country person. The good side of her is that she is a very positive thinker. For example, her favorite quote is â€Å" Nothing is perfect. †. However, she still looks down on people like Mrs. Freeman and thinks that at last she is superior than others. She also thinks that her daughter Joys philosophy knowledge is kind of useless. From these charaters above, we can see that the title â€Å"Good Country People† is real sarcasm.

From These Beginnings Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

From These Beginnings - Essay Example Thomas Jefferson suggested that new nations should have a written constitution. During the war, congress exercised a high level of political, diplomatic, military and economic authority. Among the many things that happened was adoption of trade restrictions, developed and established an army, created a military code among others. The constitution had major omissions especially in the clauses regarding fugitives of the law would be punished. The bill of rights of 1787 empowered the constitution that said that; no excessive bail will be required, no excessive fines or no cruel and unusual punishments to the fugitives. The bill of rights also made sure that all people were treated as the constitution dictated. The powers not given to the state by the constitution was reserved to the people. Alexander Hamilton was the first treasury secretary. He convinced congress to pass an elastic interpretation of the constitution. Thomas Jefferson rejected the motion because what they were about to do was unconstitutional. Hamilton was a federalist while on the other side Jefferson was an anti-federalist who advocated for the poor and the rights of the state. When Jefferson was voted in office, he did not change the federalists programs. The only thing that he changed was revoking the excise tax (Howard 72). Jefferson philosophy in leadership was due to the weak central government of his administration. As most of the power was in the state. The philosophy stated that the power should be limited, to prevent undermining the state and its people. Hamilton philosophy differed greatly from Jefferson, who advocated for the strict interpretation of the constitution. When Jefferson was elected in office, he hardy touched the federalists programs. The major thing that he did was to revoke the excise tax. It led to outraging of the federalists. By cancelling or revoking the excise tax, which meant that no more taxation from alcohol and cigarettes hence little money for the

What does the tree represent and what does Melinda learn from her Essay

What does the tree represent and what does Melinda learn from her creation of a tree - Essay Example The significance of the tree in the book Speak, is the growth that it symbolizes for Melinda in the story. At first Melinda is unhappy with her choice to paint a tree, but Mr. Freeman tells her that she cannot choose another option as it is her destiny. Mr. Freeman also implies that one has to be at peace with one’s self before you will be at peace with the art that you create and this is significantly shown throughout the story as Melinda struggles to be happy with the tree’s that she paints and struggles to bring her tree’s to life. It is clear to see that the author of the book deliberately chose for Melinda’s artwork to be about a tree as a tree is the symbol of life. In this book the tree first symbolizes death as Melinda seems to be struggling and wilting on the inside after the rape that she had endured. Melinda’s art also follows a pattern of death to life One example of Melissa’s painted trees reflecting her tortured mind is after th e pep rally where Melinda’s art consists of painted watercolors of trees that have been hit by lightning and is so dark that you can almost not see the trees. This is a symbol of the torment, teasing and daily struggles that Melinda faces in school from her previous friends as well as from certain teachers. The darkness also represents Melinda’s struggle to keep the secret that she is hiding in the dark as she is not willing to speak up about it. The painting of trees by Melinda and the story that unfolds in the book go hand in hand as Melinda’s painting projects her frame of mind and the turmoil inside of her. The greatest contributing factor to Melinda’s struggle is the Antagonist Andy Evans who had viciously raped Melinda at Kyle Rogers end of summer party, which forced Melinda to call the police. This incident led to Melinda being an outcast as her friends