Essay on Lord Of The Flies - Setting - 680 Words

In the novel Lord of the Flies, by William Golding the setting had a very strong influence in the actions and attitudes of the characters. Setting is the defined in literature as where the story takes place. In Lord of the Flies, the setting is on a deserted tropical island in the middle of the ocean, where a microcosm is able to be established. Three specific examples of how setting influenced the actions and attitudes of the characters are: The isolation from a civilized world, the mysteries of an unfamiliar place, and different social types being forced to live with one another. How these examples are to be proven will be developed in the following paragraphs. Being on an island in the middle of the ocean, cut off the life line,†¦show more content†¦The crave for the hunt over being rescued, and the demotion of Ralph as chief. The mysteries of the island also had a huge impact on the actions of the boys. Because The tropical island, and England are two totally different environments there was not much know to the boys about the unfamiliar surrounding possessed by the island. The vines that hung from the trees caused the quot;littlunsquot; to have nightmares because they reminded them of snakes, or quot;beastiesquot;. What was unknown to the boys caused great fear. This fear of the unknown caused differences amongst the boys which lead to their destruction. Since Simon knew that there was no such things as quot;beastiesquot; He tried to dispel the mysteries of the mountain top, he is brutally murdered, due to the fear rooted in the mysteries of the island. Having such a divers array of people living in such close proximity, and not being able to escape one another also influenced the attitudes, and actions of the boys. In normal circumstances, when two people don’t get along it is relatively easy to not be around them, and hang around with others in which your more compatible with. However due to the fact that they are on a rather small island, and that their society only consists of a few people, it is not so easy for rare intellectual to escape people with ideals opposite to their own. Therefore often suffers defeat. This is very true in the case of Piggy.Show MoreRelatedCompare the Ways H.G. Wells in the Island of Dr Moreau and William Golding in Lord of the Flies Examine the Struggle Between Civilisation and Savagery in an Isolated Setting.2029 Words   |  9 PagesCompare the ways H.G. Wells in The Island of Dr Moreau and William Golding in Lord of the Flies examine the struggle between civilisation and savagery in an isol ated setting. H.G. Wells and William Golding diversely explore the struggle between civilisation and savagery in an isolated setting, through their novels: The Island of Doctor Moreau and Lord of the Flies. Both texts feature an untainted island location, where characters morality and humanity is challenged by fear and lack of order. WellsRead MoreAnalysis Of Lord Of The Flies And Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins1208 Words   |  5 Pagesit. The novels, Lord of The Flies by William Golding and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, demonstrate this prospect as through the narrative techniques of characterisation, plot, setting and style, they exemplify the moral decline of man under pressure to survive, ultimately resulting in savagery. Characterisation plays a major role in both texts as each character serves as a representation humanity and the faults within it. Throughout Lord of the Flies there is a developingRead More How Plot, Setting and Characters Influence Readers Response Essay example903 Words   |  4 PagesHow Plot, Setting and Characters Influence Readers Response The writer of a fiction text uses plot, setting and characters to create imagery and influence the readers response to how the author wishes the reader to perceive a situation. This can be done through many methods, which include detailed descriptions of any settings, detail of weather, characters stereotypical of society and colour association. In the novel Lord of the Flies careful attention is payed to the way the in depth descriptionsRead MoreLord Of The Flies, By John Milton Essay1639 Words   |  7 PagesWhile reading the epic, Paradise Lost, by John Milton, something came to my mind: Lord of the Flies. There were similarities between these two readings, almost like Lord of the Flies is a biblical allegory to Paradise Lost. I was discovering biblical allusions in the novel Lord of the Flies, something I didn’t discover when I read the novel three years ago, Many debates between critics have been made about Lord of the Flies being a biblical allegory due to its substantial amount of allusions to Judeo-ChristianRead MoreI Only Came to Use the Flies1000 Words   |  4 PagesI Only Came to Use the Flies In Lord of the Flies and â€Å"I Only Came to Use the Phone†, the setting and actions of the characters work together. Both are used to show the multiple cases of irony in the stories. The irony in both stories reveals the true and basic nature in all humans. First, the authors show readers irony through the customs that the isolated characters bring with them from their previous homes. Ideally, the setting that Maria and all the boys come from represents civilization andRead MoreLord of the Flies: Defects of Society Due to Nature of Individuals883 Words   |  4 PagesLord of THe Flies: Defects of Society Due to Nature of Individuals The venturesome novel, Lord of the Flies, is an enchanting, audacious account that depicts the defects of society as the incorrigible nature of individuals when they are immature and without an overlooking authority. The author of the novel, William Golding, was born in Britain, which accounts for the English, cultured characters in the novel. After studying science at Oxford University for two years, he changed hisRead MoreLord of the Flies: World War IIs Impact Essay1064 Words   |  5 PagesLord of the Flies: World War II’s Impact Lord of the Flies by William Golding was influenced strongly by his experiences as a naval officer during World War II. Golding’s wartime service gave him a darker and more realistic look on life, and contributed to the novel’s imagery. As Golding described, World War II woke him up from his falsified beliefs about human nature by showing him the true human condition (â€Å"Lord of the Flies,† Novels 175). Lord of the Flies, as Golding explained, is â€Å"an attemptRead MoreResponse To The Characters In Lord Of The Flies By William Golding1532 Words   |  7 Pagesreport examines the connections of characters and their response towards the setting. The texts that I have used and believe best reflect this connection is; Lord of The Flies by William Golding, Bullrush by Carl Nixon, The Green Beret by Ho Thien and the film I am Legend directed by Francis Lawrence. I felt that all of the text mentioned above accurately illustrate two different perspectives in respo nse to the setting. This allowed me to interpret key similarities in the character s behavior betweenRead MoreThe Environment Makes the Person.1000 Words   |  4 PagesThe Environment Makes the Person. The environment makes the person. Whether it is being on an island or a mental asylum; any normal person can change. Between the stories of Lord of the Flies and I Only Came to Use the Phone uses a setting of isolation to mesh events to show how the main theme of dehumanization, by how the characters are coping with isolation in the environment. Whether it is facing the fact that there is no escape, then trying desperate ways to escape, and seeing the illusionRead MoreThe Lord Of The Flies By William Golding1065 Words   |  5 PagesThe Lord of the Flies Essay The Lord of the Flies written by William Golding and published on September 17, 1954 is a story told about a group of stranded boys and their fight for survival against the wilderness and themselves. In this story many signs of symbolism are used by Golding to point out certain aspects of society that Golding thought strongly of. This story on first read may just seem to be a survival- esque piece of literature but, on a deeper look one can find Golding’s true motive

D.W. Griffiths Movie, Birth of a Nation Shows the Reality...

Birth of a Nation uses its histrionic plot to show how tangled destinies of a southern and northern family before and after the Civil War. It willingly portrays southern blacks as spiteful and uncivil, the northern whites as crafty, dishonest, and conceited, and the film’s southern whites as anguish recurrent radical and erotic mortifications at the hands of white northerners and black southerners before factually being saved by the thoughtful, Ku Klux Klan. The film is divided to show the different aspects of those two sides during this historical time. During this time Africans were coming to America and it started the reconstruction on our country. D.W. Griffith made this film to show us the reality of racism at this point in time.†¦show more content†¦This movie in particular was three hours long, for most viewing a three hour film with speaking is draining. Seeing that I could barely endure my focus on what was being shown. I decided to divide the movie up into t hree days for an hour. For those days I took notes and really analyzed what I thought was wrong and miss told. In the movie the embellishments about Africa Americans was misguiding. The beginning of the second half, the whites were holding up signs stating they wanted â€Å"Equal rights, equal politics and equal marriages.† Realistically speaking, we all know that was not the case. For the most part whites only wanted that for themselves not for the whole community. The way that Griffith tried to reveal whites was in a way that said they were in favor for equal rights for all. That they were the â€Å"helpless white minority.† And to be quite honest I think that’s pushing it. â€Å" Some of these early productions have racial themes which reorganize the world in such a way that black heritage is rewarded over white paternity; they are schematic renunciations of the prevailing order of things in white American society where, historically, the discovery of black blood meant sudden reversal of fortune, social exclusion, or banishment.† (Gaines, P.3) Within the movie the amount of mistruths about African Americans was sad. Within the movie you notice that the blacks were always or seem to be yelling, acting uncivilized and doingShow MoreRelatedRacism Enacted Throughout the History of Black Films Essay1254 Words   |  6 PagesAfrican Americans in early Hollywood films originated with blacks representing preconceived stereotypes. D.W. Griffith’s 1915 film, Birth of a Nation, stirred many controversial issues within the black community. The fact that Griffith used white actors in blackface to portray black people showed how little he knew abou t African Americans. Bosley Crowther’s article â€Å"The Birth of Birth of a Nation† emphasizes that the film was a â€Å"highly pro-South drama of the American Civil War and the Period of ReconstructionRead MoreSatire and Stereotyping in the Birth of a Nation and Bamboozled3034 Words   |  13 Pageshumiliating minstrel stereotypes which was first brought to film in 1915 by D.W. Griffiths The Birth of a Nation. ‘Blackface minstrelsy is a disturbing legacy that began as a tradition in the early 1800s on stage, with white actors using burnt corks to darken their skin and allowing them to portray African-American slaves, usually as lazy, child-like providers of comic relief (4). This eventually evolved into Vaudeville-style parody shows consisting of songs, dances and comic skits. This tradition representedRead MoreRacism and the Ku Klux Klan Essay1663 Words   |  7 PagesRacism and the Ku Klux Klan Since the early development of society in the United States, racism has always been a divisive issue faced by communities on a political level. Our country was built from the immigration of people from an international array of backgrounds. However, multitudes of white supremacists blame their personal as well as economic misfortunes on an abundance of ethnic groups. African-Americans, Jews and Catholics are only some of the of groups tormentedRead MoreRace Film : The Great And Only Essay10250 Words   |  41 PagesChapter One Race Films as a Genre in American Cinema â€Å"Most people pronounced his last name ‘Mee-show,’ though some who knew him insist it was ‘Mi-shaw.’ The correct pronunciation of his name is only the beginning of the ambiguities and mysteries associated with Oscar Micheaux† Patrick Mulligan—Oscar Micheaux: The Great and Only: The Life of America s First Black Filmmaker From the very beginning of the early stages in American cinema, African Americans had a presence on the silver screen. The

The Importance Of Critical Thinking Skills Education Essay Free Essays

string(121) " most prima or developing states like the United States, England and Singapore \( Nagappan, 2001 ; Willingham, 2007 \) \." Moore viewed critical thought accomplishment is highlighted as an indispensable foundation to bring forth womb-to-tomb scholars for Twentieth Century acquisition. This chapter will discourse on the importance of critical thought accomplishments, critical thought and employability, execution and challenges of learning critical thought in Malaysia every bit good as theory and schemes to learn critical thought. This chapter will besides lucubrate further on the interconnectedness between engineering, linguistic communication and higher order believing accomplishments, argumentative cognition acquisition and eventually, depict the Toulmin ‘s Model. We will write a custom essay sample on The Importance Of Critical Thinking Skills Education Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now The importance of critical thought accomplishments Harmonizing to Edmonds et Al. ( 2005 ) , critical thought has many definitions over the past old ages ; nevertheless, it can be concluded as an active mental procedure that includes mental accomplishments such as conceptualizing, analysing, using, synthesising and measuring information in order to emerge with an reply or decision. Everyone needs to hold an ability to work out jobs throughout their lives. Therefore, many educational experts have stressed on the importance of transfusing higher order believing accomplishments in one ‘s instruction as it helps pupils to analyze the state of affairs, learn the undertakings better before emerge with solution both in academic and non-academic fortunes ( Chance, 1986 ; Tama, 1989 ; Ennis, 1992 ; Elder A ; Paul, 2001, ) . This is because believing and larning are interrelated as one has to independently believe and seek solutions to a job or state of affairs in order to derive cognition. Research findings indicate that critical thought accomplishment can be taught and improved in everyone and this accomplishment should be integrated in the course of study at all degrees ( Grant, 1988 ; Paul et al. , 1989 ; White, Burke, 1992 ; McKendree et al. , 2002 ) . Sternberg ( 2003 ) stated that one of the ends of instruction is to bring forth womb-to-tomb scholars who posses the qualities of intelligent, critical minds which is believed to be able to believe independently, analytically and critically to see a better calling accomplishment in order to derive personal satisfaction and hopefully, contribute to national accomplishment to develop his state. This is because larning is an on-going procedure that may happen in academic and non-academic fortunes. Without critical thought accomplishments, Sternberg ( 2003 ) further elaborated that schools and universities will merely bring forth extremely fleeceable pupils and alumnuss who may be knowing, but deficiency of the accomplishments to believe critically and analytically over a state of affairs. This is because they are merely passively having information exhibited by the political leaders as information can be easy transmitted by the media via assorted signifier in this epoch of rapid develop ment of Information Technology ( IT ) . Without ability to believe critically, they besides would subsequently confront some jobs when they become employees as they need to pass on well-reasoned thoughts and would non be able to actively lend to educational treatments due to hapless communicating accomplishments and deficiency of analytical logical thinking to a state of affairs at manus ( Education Reform in Malaysia Report, 2012 ) . Critical thought and employability Paul ( 1995 ) claimed that critical thought is a critical foundation to the accommodations needed for mundane societal, personal and professional demands of the twenty-first Century. It is further supported by Elder ( 2000 ) who claims that it is of import to learn higher order believing accomplishments to pupils in schools and universities as today ‘s society has become more complex due to rapid alteration in engineering. The society demand to be able to analyze the huge information that can be gathered effortlessly via online and merely choice necessities from it ( Chartrand, 2009 ) . Henwood ( 2007 ) claimed this state of affairs besides applied in twenty-four hours to twenty-four hours existent life state of affairss. Hence, he farther stated that pupils who are ill-equipped with critical thought accomplishments will non be able to get by with the challenges and demands of current occupation market. This is because higher order believing accomplishment is believed as one of the most indispensable soft accomplishments for future employability of the new coevalss. â€Å" aˆÂ ¦workplace literacy in the following millenary will be synonymous with job resolution. † ( Mariam Jean Dreher, 2000 ) Mariam Jean Dreher ( 2000 ) predicts that the hereafter will name for a life style ; both in instruction and calling field ; of independent job convergent thinkers that requires multiliteracies which involves higher order believing accomplishments. In Malaysia, the research findings claim that critical thought accomplishment is extremely valued in the workplace today ( DETYA, 2000 ; Chartrand, 2009 ) . Norshima ( 2011 ) studies that Malaysia produces 60, 000 alumnuss yearly in which at least 30 per centum of these alumnuss are unemployed every twelvemonth as they are lacked of these powerful accomplishments. This is farther supported by Gurvinder Kaur and Sharan Kaur ( 2009 ) who claimed that in Malaysia, six out of 10 university alumnuss take every bit much as six months to be employed due to miss of critical thought accomplishments and hapless communicating accomplishments. Fong ( 2004 ) and Vijan ( 2007 ) findings stated that the grounds that Malayan alumnuss are unemployed because they are non able to affect their possible hereafter employers during interview due to hapless presentation and communicating accomplishments particularly if it is done in English. Besides, Malayan instruction system is said to be excessively exam-oriented and therefore, the alumnuss could non lend every bit much once they start working as they are merely theoretically competent but non equipped with sufficient practical exposure ( Henwood, 2007 ) . This is farther supported by Rosnani ( 2009 ) and Education Reform in Malaysia Report ( 2012 ) findings which stated that employers in Malaysia, specifically in concern sector, complain about the low quality of most alumnuss from Malaysia are lacking in footings of critical thought accomplishments which in return affect the quality of their work. Execution of critical thought in Malaya Due to the uprising employees ‘ concern over the lacking of this powerful soft accomplishment amongst newly alumnuss employers globally, course of study of educational system has been bit by bit revamped over the old ages. This state of affairs is particularly true in most prima or developing states like the United States, England and Singapore ( Nagappan, 2001 ; Willingham, 2007 ) . You read "The Importance Of Critical Thinking Skills Education Essay" in category "Essay examples" The demand to instill critical thought accomplishments into Malayan instruction system is therefore undeniable in order to carry through Vision 2020. This demand is supported by Rosnani ( 2009 ) who proclaims that Malaysians, in general, have non been able to use the content of cognition gained throughout their school old ages into existent life state of affairss even after undergone at least 11 old ages of schooling and hence, Malaysia educational system demand to be analysed and some alterations nee d to be made. Ministry of Education ( MOE ) has realised the dismaying demands of the aforesaid state of affairs and therefore, Integrated Curriculum for Secondary School ( KBSM ) was introduced in the late eightiess ( Nagappan, 2011 ) . The content of this new course of study was revamped in which originative and critical thought accomplishments were integrated in most of the topics taught in schools with a emphasis on treatment, find and enquiry ; the higher round of Bloom taxonomy ( Curriculum Development Center, 1989 ) . As it is realised that the instructors need to be competent to learn critical thought accomplishments to the pupils, a few attempts were besides been conducted as to fix the instructors and teachers-to-be with the new undertaking in front of them. As educational findings have reported that most instructors in Malayan schools are missing in footings of cognition and accomplishments to learn critical thought accomplishments to their pupils ( Education Reform in Malaysia Report, 2012 ) , a few amendments have been made to meet this job from the instructor ‘s portion. Nagappan ( 2001 ) studies that Teacher Education Division ( TED ) had revamped the course of study for Teacher Training Programme such as in Post Degree Teaching Programme ( KPLI ) in early 1994 to integrate a programme that teaches the schemes to learn believing accomplishments utilizing the extract attack which is based on Boston Model. As for the instructors in schools, Ministry of Education ( MOE ) had introduced the Programme for Instruction in Learning and Thinking Skills ( PILTS ) in 1992 ( Rosnani, 2009 ) . This programme was introduced to place the nucleus thought accomplishments to be taught and the schemes to inculcate these accomplishments into the content of the lesson being learnt. Apart from that, Ministry of Higher Education ( MOHE ) has besides made an effort to cultivate undergraduates ‘ critical thought accomplishments through the content and undertakings assigned throughout each programme. Harmonizing to Hairuzila, Hazadiah A ; Normah ( 2010 ) , the course of study for undergraduates has been infused with relevant soft accomplishments such as communicative accomplishments, critical thought and job resolution accomplishments, womb-to-tomb acquisition, squad work force and leading accomplishments into its course of study. They further elaborate that in order to aline with Vision 2020 of bring forthing holistic persons for the state, the appraisals or undertakings given to the undergraduates are geared towards fixing them for their calling life as most are based on real-life jobs, with less emphasis on pen and paper trials like antecedently. Challenges in learning critical thought accomplishments in Malaya Due to the exam-oriented civilization that has been practised for old ages in Malayan instruction system, instructors are shouldered with the duty to complete the course of study and give every bit much boring exercisings as they can to their pupils as to maintain up with the society ‘s outlook and over-emphasis on academic consequences. This in return has caused the instructors paying the least attending to pupils ‘ character edifice and soft accomplishments such as critical thought accomplishment ( Education Reform in Malaysia Report, 2012 ) . It can be seen here that Malayan instructors are non merely missing in footings of accomplishments to learn critical thought accomplishments ( Rosnani, 2009 ) , but besides are less than competent to fix and carry on a lesson that infuses critical thought accomplishments in a traditional schoolroom. This is due to the fact that learning critical thought accomplishments needs a batch of clip allotment during the pre-preparation cat egory and undivided committedness both of portion of the instructor and pupils to guarantee an active advancement during the acquisition procedure ( Willingham, 2007 ) . Apart from that, large size schoolrooms in most Malayan schools are besides one of the grounds that contribute to the failure of incorporating critical thought accomplishments in learning a topic in traditional schoolroom. A study done by Kamaruddin ( 2011 ) stated that schoolroom in Malayan schools are by and large consists of 35 to 50 pupils per schoolroom. This indirectly shows that most pupils will look as inactive scholars and synergistic activities that are believed to cultivate pupils ‘ critical thought can non be good conducted in such large size category. In contrast, many surveies have shown that a little size category of 20 pupils and below are said to be efficient and frequently associated with increased pupils ‘ public presentation and therefore, most likely leting smooth nurturing procedure of their soft accomplishments ( Carson, Badarack, 1989 ; Berliner, 1990 ; Kamaruddin A ; Bhasah, 2004 ) . The force per unit area to accomplish excellence in academic consequence in a less contributing environment in most of Malayan schools left the instructors with no pick but to fall back rehearsing teacher centred attack in go toing their duties. Hence, pupils are non given ample chance to see synergistic, active acquisition that could really assist to cultivate their critical thought accomplishments ( Kamaruddin, 2011 ) . Teacher centred attack, in return, will undeniably do one-way cognition transmittal to happen and hence, less opportunities being given to the pupils to convey their sentiments to actively build their ain cognition ( Willingham, 2007 ) . Without chance to actively build ain cognition, one is said to pay less attending to cultivate and foster his ain critical thought ( Toulmin, 1958 ) . Due to this state of affairs, most of Malayan pupils who are subsequently become employees are said to hold hapless communicating accomplishments and this visibly shows in their defic iency of ability to critically reassigning an sentiment or cognition when pass oning with others ( Education Reform in Malaysia Report, 2012 ) . Educational Learning Theory and Schemes Due to that, instructors ‘ manner of learning should pitch towards incorporating higher order believing accomplishments and rehearsing positive communicating accomplishments in order to bring forth holistic persons align with Vision 2020. Woolfolk ( 1993 ) suggests that theoretical foundation of acquisition and schemes used in a acquisition procedure will assist to model the type of pupils that a instructor wants to foster. Lai ( 2011 ) suggests the instruction of higher order believing accomplishments should be based on the followerss: Constructivism Theory Bruner ( 1996 ) stated that the basic thought of constructivism is that scholars actively construct ain apprehension by accepting certain experiences and choosing necessities from assorted beginnings of cognition. Naismith et. Al ( 2006 ) besides claimed that constructivism attack is about constructing new cognition upon what have been gathered in old acquisition. Woolfolk ( 1993 ) stated that constructivist larning theory indirectly learning the pupils to â€Å" larn to larn † as it involves believing procedures in which pupils need to be able to travel beyond the information given, use their ain cognition, evaluate opinions before generate new thoughts out of it. Students are required to actively affect in the acquisition procedure to develop their thought accomplishments through their experiences in schools ( Prawat, 1991 ) . Lai ( 2001 ) stated that constructivism can be used as a foundation to foster one ‘s higher order believing accomplishments via self-questioning , analyzing written papers for comprehension and besides holding collaborative treatments with equals. Social Constructivist Theory Social Constructivist Theory, on the other manus, is a theory that states each single cognitive development is at its best when one constructs the significance of new cognition by actively take parting in building and sharing the cognition through communicating with others ( Burningham A ; Cooper, 1999 ) . These theories believes that equal to peer treatment will assist one to actively build new cognition and learn by sharing and discoursing the stuffs gathered in a positive societal environment ( Schwandt, 2003 ) . Problem Based Learning ( PBL ) Teaching critical thought accomplishments is normally being paired with Problem Based Learning attack as it triggers and provokes scholars ‘ thought as to make to a solution to a job with relation to daily state of affairss ( Woolfolk, 1993 ) . Problem Based Learning ( PBL ) attack teaches pupils to believe critically as it takes existent universe fortunes which normally involves experiential, inductive acquisition that requires oppugning and believing that is purposive and purposive ( Lai, 2011 ) . More frequently than non, it involves a undertaking that encourages the scholars to â€Å" larn to larn † which is an of import constituent in constructivist attack ( Kuhn, 1999 ) . This necessarily will promote active larning procedure including through speaking, brainstorming and in-depth probe of cognition via legion collaborative acquisition experiences. Collaborative acquisition A figure of critical thought research workers recommended that societal experiences in a learning procedure can significantly lend to one ‘s cognitive development procedure which obviously occurred in a collaborative acquisition attack ( Heyman, 2008 ; Thayer-Bacon, 2008 A ; Nelson, 1994 ) . This is farther supported by Woolfolk ( 1993 ) who claimed that collaborative acquisition is fundamentally based from Piagetian and Vygotsky theory which reciprocally agree that societal interactions extremely contribute to one ‘s cognitive development procedure. In a collaborative acquisition, it is believed that Piaget theory is applied in footings of its instructional facet in which scholar ‘s cognitive development can be triggered via interactions with another individual of a higher developmental phase which is usually the instructor or a more knowing equal ( Woolfolk, 1993 ) whilst Vygotsky belief is identified in footings of one ‘s zone of proximal development that distinguishes between what an person can achieved by himself and what can be accomplished via interactions with a more competent equal or grownup ( Nelson, 1994 ) . Thayer-Bacon ( 2008 ) further viewed that societal interactions with others in collaborative acquisition is an of import facet to instil critical thought accomplishments onto pupils as they need to constructively contribute and portion sentiments and at the same clip learn to esteem other parts during group treatments. Collaborative Problem Based Learning ( CPBL ) Gokhale ( 1995 ) findings stated that pupils who are actively engaged in a collaborative undertaking demonstrate better Higher Order Thinking Skills ( HOTS ) as compared to the 1s who work separately. This determination is farther supported by Vygotsky ( 1978 ) who claimed that collaborative acquisition helps to further the development of critical thought accomplishments via treatment, justification of thoughts and analyzing other ‘s positions. A few research findings have shown that uniting collaborative attack on job work outing learning scheme has really increase pupils ‘ meta-cognitive on work outing the jobs and therefore, better their higher order believing accomplishments ( Johnson A ; Chung, 1999 ; Mergendoller et al. , 2000 ) . They further elaborate that the interaction between equals about the job at manus, brainstorming for solutions and measuring each other ‘s positions during the procedure has encouraged more frequent coevals of thoughts and solution and therefore, allow pupils to believe critically and analytically. Collaborative acquisition, as defined by Correndo and Alani ( 2007 ) , is an instructional scheme that consists of pupils from assorted proficiency degrees work together in a group while assisting each other towards accomplishing one common aim or larning result. On the other manus, Problem Based Learning is an instructional teaching method that uses job as a larning context to dispute the pupils to â€Å" larn to larn † in order to happen solutions to the job ( Duch, Groh A ; Allen, 2001 ) . Hence, Collaborative Problem Based Learning ( CPBL ) is a combination of Collaborative Learning and Problem Based Learning which can be concluded as an instructional scheme that provides chances for the pupils to work within little groups and actively take part in assorted activities including treatments a state of affairs, analyzing others ‘ positions and eventually collaboratively measuring possible solution to the job at manus ( An, 2006 ) . The advantages of CPBL CPBL encourages pupils to work together in building new cognition to seek a solution of the job at manus. Hence, pupils are given huge chances to go critical minds by sharing thoughts and actively prosecuting oneself in treatments and be responsible of their ain acquisition every bit good as others ‘ ( Totten, Sills, Digby, A ; Russ, 1991 ) . This place is farther supported by Johnson and Johnson ( 1986 ) who stated that the coaction on job work outing promotes higher degree of thought as the participants need to analyze others ‘ sentiment before clear uping ain sentiment. They farther claimed that this helps to advance longer cognition keeping as compared to the 1s who worked separately to seek cognition. Besides, An ( 2006 ) besides stated that CPBL provides reliable larning experiences every bit good as fostering their communicating accomplishments while interchanging thoughts during the treatments. Hence, CPBL helps to further autonomous acquisition accomplishments that could be utile to assist pupils go womb-to-tomb scholars and critical minds ( Norman and Schmidt, 1992 ) . Albanese and Mitchell ( 1993 ) besides proposed that pupils who undergone CPBL attack performed better than the 1s who received traditional attack in larning as they have first manus experience that rewards them with in-depth understanding about the undertaking at manus. This is believed because the pupils actively building their ain cognition via interaction with their equals ( Smith A ; MacGregor, 2001 ) . Vygotsky ( 1978 ) besides views that instructor is non the lone cognition sender that the pupils can larn from ; equal instruction is besides one of the ways to promote active acquisition. The restrictions of CPBL Despite of these benefits, CPBL attack besides has its just portion of defects when it is being applied in a traditional schoolroom. In any group activities, particularly in a traditional schoolroom as it is rather hard for the instructor to accurately measure every pupil ‘s parts to the group, there is ever freeloading jobs. The freeloading members normally take credits of the work of others and this may do struggle amongst pupils ( Bower A ; Richards, 2006 ) . Bower and Richards ( 2006 ) further stated that this may diminish some assurance of some pupils as psychologically, every pupil demand to be acknowledged where recognition is due in order for them to foster build their ain cognition in an active mode. They besides claimed that it is about impossible for the instructor to reasonably administer the grade based on every pupil ‘s part to the group. Hence, this may either do some pupils to either frustrated for being credited below the belt and subsequently de-motivated to lend in the hereafter or worse, become freeloaders and merely basking the free tiffin ( Bonwell, 2006 ) . Other than that, since CPBL activities need the pupils to collaboratively work towards accomplishing a end or solution to a real-life job, the readying of these activities are usually take great attempt and commitment both from the instructor and pupils. This is difficult to accomplish if it were to be done in a traditional schoolroom due to clip and infinite restraint ( Bonwell, 2002 ) . Apart from learning, Malayan instructors particularly, are burdened with other excess course of study or out of-school activities that take a batch of their personal clip ( Rosnani, 2009 ) . Without proper readying, CPBL that is hoped to promote pupils to actively build their ain cognition and at the same clip fostering their higher order and communicating accomplishments may non be turn into an accomplishable terminal ( Hmelo-Silver, 2004 ) . This is farther supported by Smith and MacGregor ( 2001 ) who claimed that collaborative acquisition is a fantastic attack to promote critical thought, nevert heless, it is besides may make quandary between pupil ‘s procedure of acquisition and the coverage of the lesson ‘s content. Computer Supported Collaborative Learning ( CSCL ) Due to the rapid development of Information Technology ( IT ) in this modern age, these twenty-first Century pupils ‘ manner of acquisition has besides changed ( An, 2006 ) . Today, one of the ways to back up active acquisition can be materialised in a more fun manner through the usage of engineering tools. Computer Supported Collaborative Learning ( CSCL ) is an instructional scheme infused with constructivist attack to learning and larning utilizing engineering to back up coaction in order to make a more contributing and prosecuting larning atmosphere ( Johnson A ; Johnson, 1996 ) . They farther stated that a technology-rich acquisition environment is able to increase pupils ‘ societal interaction, cooperation and coaction and therefore, promote their cognition building. Harasim, Hiltz, Teles, and Turoff ( 1995 ) besides claimed that CSCL promotes on-line collaborative acquisition that may positively promote pupils ‘ towards active acquisition. This is because pu pils can acquire information about effortlessly via online and so discourse with their equals before emerge with a solution to a job. CPBL in an online environment In this epoch of rapid development of Information Technology ( IT ) , there have been attempts to unite CPBL into CSCL environment ( An, 2006 ) . Many research findings have indicated that CPBL in an online environment has been demoing positive effects towards pupils ‘ cognition building every bit good as societal interaction accomplishments. One of the fringe benefits by using CPBL into an on-line environment, apart from treatment with the teacher and their equals via online with no limitation to clip and topographic point, is that it encourages autonomous larning amongst pupils as it provides pupils with huge choices of information needed about effortlessly ( Bonk A ; King, 1998 ) . This is because it allows the pupils to larn via Web 2.0 tools as larning AIDSs such as electronic mails, on-line group treatment in the confab suites, collaborative authorship via Wiki, societal bookmarking and so forth to go on anytime and anyplace. This limitless and easy entree on information will open ways for the pupils to accommodate to autonomous acquisition and therefore, promote active cognition building to happen. Besides, this online larning environment allows the function of the instructor as the exclusive supplier of cognition to transform into the function of facilitator, which aligns absolutely with student-centred attack in PBL ( Vrasidas A ; McIsaac, 2000 ) . Here, pupils are encouraged to build their ain cognition with small counsel from the instructor and go an active subscriber towards their ain acquisition alternatively of passively having cognition from anyone else. This attack opens manner to cultivate one ‘s higher order believing accomplishments ( Harasim et al. , 1997 ) as it besides promotes positive interaction between the instructor and the pupils ( Relan A ; Gillani, 1997 ) . Most significantly, Althaus, ( 1996 ) viewed that CPBL in an online environment allows computing machine mediated communicating that gives an ample clip for the pupils to analyze, reflect the content of the treatment, happen excess information needed via online and evaluate others ‘ sentiments before supplying a thoughtful response. The treatment via online besides allows the pupils to make self contemplation at their ain convenient clip as they can publish out the treatment due to its permanency discourse, as opposed to confront to confront treatment ( Bonk A ; King, 1998 ) . Bower and Richards ( 2006 ) stated that one of the restrictions of utilizing PBL in a traditional schoolroom is that the collaborative treatment in a traditional schoolroom frequently consequences in off-task behavior amongst pupils. In contrast, many research findings have proven that pupils emit less off-task behavior in an on-line treatment and they tend to concentrate and intently work outing the job at manus ( Angeli et al. , 2003 ; Bonk et al. , 1998 ; Bonk A ; King, 1998 ; Bonk et al. , 2004 ) . In fact, many psychological surveies have indicated that collaborative treatment via online shows more engagement from the pupils than the face to confront treatments ( Bonk A ; King, 1998 ; Chong, 1998 ; Cooney, 1998 ) . This state of affairs is particularly true for the pupils who have shy personality or deficiency of ego assurance to speak publically. Leasure et Al. ( 2000 ) proposed that this could be due to the comfy and â€Å" safe † societal acquisition environment that the on-line atmosphere provides for these pupils. Here, it can be said that CPBL in an on-line environment is a possible acquisition attack to advance positive alterations in cultivating critical thought every bit good as to promote one ‘s societal interaction with others. 2.8 Language larning issues in Malaya In traveling towards carry throughing Vision 2020, instruction system in Malaysia is undergoing a few alterations as to bring forth holistic persons who are competent physically, emotionally, spiritually and intellectually ( Education Reform in Malaysia Report, 2012 ) . Along with the alterations introduced, Ministry of Education ( MOE ) has decided to incorporate the instruction of critical thought accomplishments within the course of studies of the topics taught in schools including English topic. The alterations is hoped to bring forth womb-to-tomb scholars who are able to believe critically and analytically over a given state of affairs. Sadly, nevertheless, the result of our instruction system has proven a contrasting consequence in which most of Malayan pupils and university undergraduates are said to be lacking in footings critical thought accomplishments and show hapless communicating abilities particularly when it is done in English ( Normazidah, Koo A ; Hazita, 2012 ) . A survey by Koo ( 2008 ) revealed that this is due to the fact that Malaysians schools in general, placed a high value of importance on national scrutiny. This has indirectly caused the English instructors to concentrate on the instruction of grammar, reading a transition and composing accomplishments instead than concentrating on the communicative facet of the linguistic communication itself, allow entirely to model pupils ‘ critical thought ability while larning the linguistic communication ( Normazidah, Koo A ; Hazita, 2012 ) . This is farther supported by Amigapathy ( 2002 ) findings on his analysis of KBSM course of study which indicated that the content of current course of study requires the pupils to larn excessively many grammatical constituents which subsequently are to be tested in scrutinies. Here, it can be seen that the instruction of English is chiefly focused on the mechanical facet of the linguistic communication without doing any connexion with how it should be used in existent life communicative events. He farther documented that in order to carry through the demands of the society to bring forth pupils with good classs in scrutinies, English instructors in Malaysia frequently resorted to teacher-centred attack in learning the linguistic communication by supplying chalk-and-talk boring method of past twelvemonth documents, manus outs and infinite paper exercises. This finally will necessarily bring forth scholars who know about the linguistic communication but do non cognize how to utilize it in existent life state of affairss ( Amigapathy, 2002 ) , show limited critical ability in analyzing and reacting to an academic transition ( Ahmad Mazli Muhammad, 2007 ) as pupils are merely exposed to come up attack to reading ( Noorizah Mohd Noor, 2006 ) . Here, it can be concluded that there is a mismatch between the policy made with the existent practise of instruction and acquisition of English in Malaysia which make it rather hard to bring forth scholars as critical minds with acceptable degree of English proficiency. This state of affairs is reported leads to a greater job when the pupils make the passage from secondary school to university as the pupils will confront jobs to travel off from school spoon-feeding learning civilization ( Normazidah, Koo A ; Hazita, 2012 ) . Research surveies have indicated that most Malayan pupils are non prepared to run into the academic demand that requires them to hold both linguistic communication literacy every bit good as critical literacy ability in order to carry through the academic reading and academic authorship undertakings imposed on them at university ( Rosniah Mustaffa, 2006 ; Krishnakumari, Paul-Evanson, A ; Selvanayagam, 2010 ) . Therefore, it is safe to state that the clip has come for Malayan instructors to handle the pupils as the focal point of linguistic communication acquisition by doing a little alterations in learning the linguistic communication and at the same clip, whenever possible, supplying a contributing environment of larning. As CPBL is geared towards cultivating one ‘s critical thought ability ( An, 2006 ; Totten, Sills, Digby, A ; Russ, 1991 ) and critical thought accomplishments is viewed as important portion in the acquisition of linguistic communication accomplishments ( Elder A ; Paul, 2006 ; Shaharom Abdullah, 2004 ; Moore, 1995 ) , it merely seems appropriate to accommodate CPBL attack in the instruction and acquisition of English in Malaysian schoolrooms. Besides, linguistic communication acquisition can besides be mediated via engineering tools because as mentioned earlier, CPBL in an on-line environment brings enormous advantages and benefits to the pupils in footings of cr itical thought and linguistic communication acquisition as it involves legion chances for societal interactions amongst the pupils and pedagogue. Technology, linguistic communication acquisition and critical thought Technology has besides been proven utile in the instruction of linguistic communication and development of one ‘s critical thought at clip and infinite convenient to both the instructor and pupils ( Cheong A ; Cheung, 2008 ) . For case, the treatments in the treatment boards or chew the fat suites between the pupils and the instructor and besides between pupils have been used as a medium to positively develop pupils ‘ communicating accomplishments every bit good as linguistic communication accomplishments ( Chitravelu, Sithamparam and Teh, 2005 ) . Kroop, Nussbaumer and Fruhmann ( 2010 ) reported that the development of Web 2.0 tools are able to better one ‘s linguistic communication skills every bit good as support one ‘s critical thought accomplishments development by leting its users to make collaborative treatment that includes discussing, reasoning, reexamining, measuring, composing and re-producing an thought. By utilizing Web 2.0 tools such as electronic mails, treatments in confab suites or treatment boards that could be done either synchronously or asynchronously, pupils become more participative and therefore, bettering their linguistic communication and communicative accomplishments ( Berry, 2006 ) . Another Web 2.0 tools that is often used in an on-line environment to learn linguistic communication is Wiki. Wiki is said has the potency to better pupils ‘ linguistic communication accomplishments every bit good as communicating and thought accomplishments ( Goodings, 2008 ) . Fuchs-Kittowski and Kohler ( 2005 ) mentioned that Wikis is able to ease the collaborative treatments that encourage coevals of cognition by supplying a medium to portion creative activity and edit paperss. Bruns and Humphreys ( 2005 ) besides added that Wiki is a learning tool that support societal constructivist larning as it allows argumentative-based larning experience ( Chong A ; Yamamoto, 2006 ) , facilitates knowledge determining ( Reinhold, 2006 ) , allows coaction ( Kim et al. , 2006 ) and allows enquiry acquisition and collaborative building of cognition ( Yukawa, 2006 ) . This procedure is known as Argumentative Knowledge Construction. Knowledge building within a traditional schoolroom is frequently relied to a great extent on the instructors which necessarily produce inactive scholars who may or may non be able to critically decode the cognition received to use it in existent life state of affairs ( Weible, 2011 ) . By utilizing Web 2.0 tools, on the other manus, it encourages and facilitates active engagement of each user as everyone has a just portion and chance to make, portion, edit, add on and go through the cognition and these actions reinforce single ‘s cognition building by actively larning from others ( Correndo A ; Alani, 2007 ) . Besides, Web 2.0 tools value are increased as the more people are utilizing it as the content cognition and the information are provided chiefly by the users and construct up over the clip with other users ‘ part ( Weible, 2011 ) . This procedure encourages argumentative cognition building amongst its users as they learn from each other and develop higher other bel ieving accomplishments as the users need to measure others ‘ sentiment apart from offering one in the treatment. This is in line with constructivism attack in which larning takes topographic point and retain longer when it is achieve via societal context ( Woolfolk, 1993 ) . Argumentative Knowledge Construction Harmonizing to Weinberger and Fischer ( 2006 ) , Argumentative Knowledge Construction is described as a manner for the pupils to build their ain cognition via educational debate and interaction with their learning spouses. They besides stated that each single cognition building is depends on is refined and evidenced throughout their active engagement in analyzing sentiments of others, measuring possible solutions or results available from emerge with ain point of views via treatment and debate with equals. Argumentative Knowledge Construction in CPBL Aalst ( 2009 ) stated that Argumentative Knowledge Construction is a procedure in which the pupils solve a job and concept meaningful comprehension of a peculiar state of affairs in relation to their anterior cognition by societal interaction within a peculiar group. He farther added it involves a huge sphere of cognitive procedures as it involves critical-explanation seeking oppugning techniques, construing and analyzing new information, sharing, knocking, reorganizing thoughts, sum uping and synthesising before emerge with a new construct of the affair. In CPBL, for illustration, pupils learn by take parting in experiential acquisition and garner the indispensable cognition by work outing a job and reflecting on their collaborative experiences ( Hmelo-Silver, 2004 ) . CPBL activities encourage pupils to work in little collaborative groups in order to look into, understand, explicate and happen a solution to meaningful, real-life contexts ( Barrow, 2000 ) . He farther viewed that CPBL attack is widely used to cultivate one ‘s critical thought accomplishments as its acquisition procedure starts by showing the pupils with a job scenario in which the pupils try to work out the job collaboratively by place the lacks within the job, sharing sentiments and facts before coming out with hypotheses as to critically supply solutions to the job. Therefore, it can be said that CPBL is a suited attack to learn pupils to develop schemes in work outing jobs which may heighten their critical thought ability and besides assist them to heighten their argumentative cognition building ( Hmelo-Silver, 2004 ) . Argumentative Knowledge Construction in CSCL Student ‘s argumentative cognition building procedure can be enhanced rather expeditiously through pupils ‘ treatments and composing with the assistance of fast growing and spread of Web 2.0 engineering, particularly in linguistic communication instruction and acquisition ( Stegmann et al. , 2007 ) . Bocconi ( 2010 ) proposed that CSCL may help to the Argumentative Knowledge Construction via the usage of Web 2.0 tools integrates with societal package to ease pupils interaction and coaction within a peculiar group. This is an accomplishable state of affairs as Web 2.0 tools such as weblogs, wikis, societal bookmarking, treatment boards, societal networking sites and others allow its users to pool information that triggers communications that leads to knowledge sharing and therefore, cognition is constructed ( Strijbos, Martens and Jochems, 2004 ) . Apart from that, the research conducted by Boulos et Al. ( 2006 ) stated that Wikis have the possible to ease autonomous acquisition of one to build ain cognition in order to derive deeper apprehension over a affair. Another research done by Bocconi ( 2010 ) shows that the usage of Web 2.0 tools, the Wikis to be specific, has shown positive consequence to catapult pupil ‘s argumentative cognition building procedure by analyzing the quality and frequence of the single argumentative Acts of the Apostless throughout the procedure. This is farther supported by Armin et Al. ( 2006 ) who claimed that by utilizing Wiki, pupils learn how to reason within a sphere and facilitates scholars in building their ain cognition and this taking them to a deeper apprehension. Bocconi ( 2010 ) stated that pupils ‘ higher order believing accomplishments are evidenced via their statements throughout the treatment procedure. He farther suggested that one of the methods to analyze and supervise pupils ‘ statement that emits their degree of higher order believing accomplishments can be done by utilizing Models of Argument such as Toulmin ‘s Model Models of Argumentation Model of Argumentation is defined as the basic layout as to sketch the best possible ways to organize an effectual procedure of common sense logical thinking or controversy in supplying a persuasive point of views ( Georgia State University, Department of English, 2008 ) . There are a few theoretical accounts of debate that are widely used in educational discourse in linguistic communication acquisition viz. the Classical Approach, the Rogerian Approach and the Toulmin Approach. The Classical Approach is fundamentally used to convert the audience to hold and take side or do determination that favours one ‘s personal point of view ( Beale, 1986 ) . He farther elaborates that this attack consists of five elements of composing the statements viz. the Introduction in which to province the general claim of an statement to the audience ; the Narration as to supply a relevant drumhead background of peculiar state of affairs ; the Confirmation as to supply back uping grounds to a claim. Then, it is followed by the Refutation in which the talker or author provides a counter-argument to any opposing claims before terminals it with the Conclusion as to which the talker or author summarizes the chief points and reiterates the claim made in Introduction portion. The Rogerian Approach, on the other manus, is based on the thought that the talker or the author needs to happen a â€Å" common land † with his audience as to make to a more conciliatory and less confrontational solution ( Moxley, 2012 ) . There are besides chiefly five elements in sketching debate thoughts harmonizing to Rogerian Model of Argumentation. It begins with an Introduction that province the issue ; followed by a non-judgemental opposition ‘s place ; a impersonal statement of ain point of view ; an analysis of common land of both places stated and eventually a proposal of concluding statement that satisfies the demands of both places made. Whilst Toulmin ‘s Model of Argumentation in which it was developed by a British philosopher, Stephen Toulmin. He suggested that a realistic statement normally starts with a individual makes a claim over a affair, so supply a land that support the claim which is followed by a warrant to endorse up the land made ( Toulmin, 1958 ) . This is the Model of Argumentation chosen to be used in this survey and will be elaborated at length below. Toulmin ‘s Model Harmonizing to Toulmin ( 1958 ) , his strategy of statement analysis is based on six parts, which could be depicted utilizing Figure 2.1 as follows: Datas Claim Warrants Backing Qualifier Rebuttal Figure 2.1: Toulmin ‘s Model of Argument Claim: the statement or decision being argued ; Datas: The grounds or fact to back up the claim made ; Warrants: the logical statements that serve as a connexion between the informations and the claim made ; Backing: the basic premise that is made to farther support a warrant ; Qualifiers: states the restriction under which state of affairs the claim can be regarded as true ; Rebuttals: the counter statements to picture circumstance when the claim made is non true. ( Toulmin, 1958 ) In add-on, Bocconi ( 2010 ) indicated that the basic construction of each of these phases can be identified and represented as follows: â€Å" because ( informations ) . . . since ( warrant ) . . . on history of ( endorsing ) . . . therefore ( decision ) † Bocconi ( 2010 ) Karbach ( 2010 ) stated that Toulmin suggested that one ‘s statement can be analysed by looking at his or her cognition building at four stairss viz. ; claim, informations, rebuttal and backup as to see whether the statement made solidly backed, sufficient and relevant to back up the old statements made. Hence, Karbach ( 2010 ) believed that Toulmin ‘s Model of Argumentation is a clear theoretical account to observe one ‘s inductive, deductive and logical logical thinking. Kneupper ( 1978 ) besides viewed that this layout strategy can be efficaciously used to analyze the constituents of an statements in linguistic communication acquisition. Decision The instruction of higher order believing accomplishments can non be taught in isolation ( Lai, 2011, Nagappan, 2001 ) . Hence, it has to be integrated into the course of study as to supply the pupils with the existent life medium and purposeful acquisition results apart from its importance to cultivate one ‘s critical thought and communicating accomplishments ( Education Reform in Malaysia Report, 2012 ) . In this fast growing of Information Technology ( IT ) epoch, the usage of engineering such as Web 2.0 tools can be used to efficaciously heighten the instruction of these accomplishments anytime anyplace ( Winston, 2006 ) . Besides, the usage of these engineering tools are proven to be effectual to promote pupils to larn collaboratively as human makes significances and can make at a deeper apprehension by pass oning with others ( Vygotsky, 1978 ; Johnson and Johnson, 1986 ; Gokhale,1995 ; An, 2006 ) . Through the communicating and interaction in a collaborative treatment via online, one can actively develop his or her ain cognition building in order to organize deeper apprehension in a safe and unafraid societal environment ( Chitravelu, Sithamparan A ; Teh, 2005 ; Weinberger A ; Fischer, 2006 ) . How to cite The Importance Of Critical Thinking Skills Education Essay, Essay examples

As I Lay Dying, by William Faulkner Essay Example For Students

As I Lay Dying, by William Faulkner Essay In As I Lay Dying, by William Faulkner, all of the Bundren family members are quite eccentric and would be difficult to travel with; but the worst member would have to be Addie because she smells and slows us down. While traveling with the Bundrens, one of the reasons I most despise Addie the fact that her grotesque smell makes me sick and the trip very unpleasant. The first smell I have to endure and hate the most is the smell of her rotting body alone. After her body has been decomposing for 9 days, people can smell her miles away! Imagine the smell I have to experience just a few feet away from her. The next smell is the disgusting fish water that her body is saturated in. That smell just adds to the horrid stench to create a smorgasbord of disgusting odors. The rotting body and dirty river water would be enough, but the she has to go and burn herself too! That fool Darl lit her on fire; and Jewel, the idiot he is, went and saved her. Now I have to travel with the stench of a burnt carcass. The combination of all three smells is so unbearable that I can not stand Addie one second longer. Furthermore, instead of enjoying my well-earned vacation to Jefferson, not only do I have to worry about the safety of Addie? ody, but she is also a nuisance to every family in one way or another. If it were not for Addie, we would get to Jefferson much faster and enjoy our vacation. Without her, there would have been no trouble crossing the river. She is an inconvenience to every single member of the family starting with Jewel whom goes through the trouble of saving her from the river and the fire. Next, Cash breaks his leg and has to have a concrete cast because of his attempt to get her body safely across the river. Anse is obviously frustrated with Addie for many reasons. He wants to get to Jefferson as soon as possible to get his teeth, and he also needs to get a new wife to do his work for him. In addition to Anse, Dewey Dell also wants to get to Jefferson as soon as possible to have her abortion. Finally, Darl pays the biggest price for his mother and is sent to an insane asylum because of his selfless act to try giving her a respectful burial. Every single member of the family makes sacrifices for Addie and is inconvenienced in some way by her existence. This is why Addie Bundren is the most difficult member of the family to travel with.

IM in the Workplace Harnessing the Power of the Virtual Hallway

Abstract The technology convergence witnessed in the 21st century has heralded a new technological communication frontier for organizations. This report specifically aims to delineate how instant messaging (IM) could be harnessed to drive the business and organizational strategies of MM’s into the future.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on IM in the Workplace: Harnessing the Power of the Virtual Hallway specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The success of MM’s has been attributed to many factors, including eye-catching and distinctive advertisements and promotions, effective employee and consumer participation and feedback, extensive marketing strategies, affordable pricing, and a broad assortment of customized product possibilities. Through a critical evaluation of existing literature, it has been demonstrated that the real-time functionality of IM, simplicity of use, unique affordances, collaboration cap ability, and rich presence has endeared many organizations to adopt the technology. Other factors such as presence awareness, visual alerting, and capability to support multiple synchronous conversations have been highlighted as strong points for IM. Among the disadvantages, it has been noted that IM can not only turn into a productivity drain if misused, but it can open a can of worms in terms of security risks and legal issues if it is ineffectually used. IM represents one of the most rapidly proliferating communications tools that are swiftly being adopted by global organizations. A critical review of literature contained in this report demonstrates that corporate IM use is substantial and growing. Consequently, the most fundamental thing for MM’s to do is to swing into action and ensure that policies and frameworks are put in place with the aim to holistically harness the power and communication capabilities offered by IM. Introduction The technology convergence witnessed in the 21st century has heralded a new technological communication frontier for organizations as unprecedented discoveries and innovations continue to bombard the global business scene with a panorama of communication technologies aimed at establishing and sustaining the groundwork for organizations to meet their business goals and objectives.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Business leaders are taking notice of the advantages offered by new and emerging technologies such as email, videoconferencing, mobile telephony, teleconferencing, and in recent times, instant messaging (Primeaux Flint, 2004; Cameron Webster, 2005), and many organizations have adopted either one or several of these communication platforms depending on their business needs and objective of use (Symon, 2000). While consecutive studies have been published to demonstrate the efficacy and productive capab ilities of the emerging communication technologies, the knowledge of their weak links and perceived disadvantages is also in the public domain. This report specifically aims to delineate how instant messaging (IM) could be harnessed to drive the business and organizational strategies of MM’s into the future. A Synopsis of MM’s Company For the over 60 years that it has been in existence, MM’s has created a market share that is yet to be matched by the company’s close competitors. In 2004, the company was on record for realizing an impressive $201 million in candy sales in the United States alone, a feat that propelled it into the top spot in the market for boxed and bagged chocolates in the country (Wax, 2010). The success of MM’s has been attributed to many factors, including eye-catching and distinctive advertisements and promotions, effective employee and consumer participation and feedback, extensive marketing strategies, affordable pricing, and a broad assortment of customized product possibilities(MM Website, 2010). According to Nash (2000), for contemporary businesses to remain competitive and be profitable, they must develop the right communication tools aimed at eliciting maximum employee and customer satisfaction. Although MM’s has a hierarchical organizational structure to allow for efficient leadership through the rank and file of the company, the management takes cognizance of the fact that its corporate culture must emphasize the brand essence, promise, and unique personality (Rehoboth, 2004). The concept that the company’s products, services, and experiences are a major constituent of its personification has been well enshrined in the company’s strategies geared towards fulfilling the needs and expectations of an expanding market base.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on IM in the Workplace: Harnessing the Power of the Virtual Hallway specifically for you for on ly $16.05 $11/page Learn More MM’s take cognizance of the fact that employees are the organization’s most valued asset and, as such, it exercises an open-door communication strategy aimed at availing to employees the leverage to be flexible, creative and innovative as long as products meets or surpasses customer expectations (Wax, 2010). MM’s has been in the frontline in adopting computer-based technologies with the view to integrate them into the frameworks and platforms that guide the day-to-day running of the company, especially in terms of management-employee interactions, management-customer interactions (feedback), and sales improvement (Rehoboth, 2004). The organizational culture in MM’s is aligned to the basic principles of enhancing employee value preposition, provision of unmatched products and services, and improving efficiency, effectiveness, and productivity through continuous uptake of relevant technologies. According to Keyto n (2005), â€Å"†¦organizational culture is the set of artifacts, values, and assumptions that emerge from the interactions of organizational members† (p. 1). At MM’s, the management is aptly aware that creating an enabling environment for free and effective management-employee communication is the cornerstone to a prosperous and resilient organizational culture. A Comprehensive Analysis of the Impact of IM in the Workplace According to Cameron Webster (2005), â€Å"†¦Instant Messaging (IM) represents a communication technology that allows employees to send and receive short text-based messages in real time and to see who else is on line and currently available to receive messages† (p. 86). Intrinsically grounded on a previous technology known as the Internet Relay Chat, IM was initially intended to offer home internet users a platform through which they could socialize with friends and family members. However, as the efficient and cost-effective capa bilities in supporting informal communications came into the public limelight in the 1990s (Huang Yen, 2003), conscientious and assiduous managers grabbed the opportunity and started to experiment with the technology, especially on how it could be applied to solve or lessen workplace communication challenges.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The discovery and adoption heralded a new form of communication medium that is today known as instant messaging. The uptake of IM by organizations has been unprecedented, with available statistics demonstrating that 26 percent of organizations operating in the U.S. were already using the technology as an official communication service by 2004, and an additional 44 percent of organizations had employees who used the technology on their own (Primeaux Flint, 2004). Market analysts’ projections for corporate IM stood at 229 million users worldwide in the first quarter of 2005 (Cameron Webster, 2005), and IBM (2008) â€Å"†¦estimates are that by 2011 business use of IM will have risen to about 400 million accounts – with applications designed for businesses used in 150 million of those instances† (p. 4). The statistics demonstrates the scope of IM adoption by organizations across a span of less than 10 years, with all indications showing the adoption is on an upward trend. The factors assessed below clearly demonstrate why such a trend in IM adoption is in the offing. IM and Employees Communication Patterns Collaboration is primarily perceived as the initiator of innovation (IBM, 2008), and innovation is key to achieving organizational efficiency, effectiveness and productivity. In today’s competitive business environment, sharing information and experiences can be decisive in driving organizational success and set outcomes, and the IM protocol guarantees an outstanding framework through which employee communication patterns can be molded to enhance information sharing and collaboration within the organization as well as across geographical locations (Quan-Haase et al., 2005). Traditional communication patterns may fail to strike a cord with today’s business requirements especially with the realization that many organizations have switched into virtual workplaces (IBM, 2008), and that employees are expected to have timely i nformation to make sound judgments relating to the daily operations of the organization. As such, IM proactively influences their communication capacities and patterns by not only extending a framework through which relevant knowledge can be tapped from the relationships established with other stakeholders, but also ensuring that the needed information is immediately available when it is needed due to IM’s aspect of immediacy (Symon, 2000). According to Cameroon Webster (2005), IM systems contain a presence or peripheral awareness capacity, implying that the management or employees will have a general sense of who is around what they are currently engaged on at specific times in the workplace. The authors further suggest this type of â€Å"†¦presence awareness represents a type of peer monitoring designed to enhance communication between colleagues† (p. 86). As such, IM greatly influences employee communication patterns by virtue of the fact that users can active ly see the status indicators of other subscribed users who are online, and who are presently available to perform certain functions as may be deemed fit by the organization. This function greatly reduces time wastage, and enables the organization to focus on the available manpower resources to perform tasks that may have great ramifications in terms of enhancing its competitive advantage. Time usage, according to IBM (2008), is critical to the attainment of productive capacities. Huang Yen (2003) observes that the solid and reliant communication patterns extended to employees by IM systems has enhanced workflow processes within organizations and across locations. It is also imperative to note that IM influences employees’ communication patterns by extending to them the capability to engage in multiple, concurrent, and synchronized conversations to influence consensus or decisions made in meetings or other corporate gatherings (Rennecker, 2005). For instance, an employee enga ged in a meeting convened by stakeholders may text his boss to request for advice or clarification while still actively engaged in the normal face-to-face conversation with the stakeholders. Lastly, it is true that the nature of communication in work-settings has dramatically changed and that â€Å"†¦managers and professionals often communicate in fluid, multiple social networks rather than being sorely embedded in a single work group† (Quan-Haase, 2005, para. 1). IM certainly influences the communication patterns in the social networks. Potential Impact of IM to the Organization Many researchers and business analysts have demonstrated a clear interest in evaluating the possible impact of IM as an emerging tool for business communication. The real-time functionality, simplicity of use, unique affordances, and rich presence has been noted by Greengard (2003), Cameroon Webster (2005), Primeaux Flint (2004), and Rennecker et al (2003) as some of the foremost factors why m any organizations are using IM systems for communication purposes. According to Rennecker et al (2003), IM provides the ability to not only detect when other employees are available for communication via the network (presence awareness), but the system makes use of visual prompts to notify recipients of an impending message (visual alerting). In the workplace, these capacities are fundamentally important to drive efficiency, productivity, and ensure that critical time is sparingly used to drive the organization’s agenda forward. The real-time function enables users to get immediate responses, thus are able to act and make decisions based on knowledge and collaboration. This, according to IBM (2008), is a plus in today’s knowledge-based economy. According to Rennecker et al (2005), â€Å"†¦IM is unique in its capability to support multiple, simultaneous, synchronous conversations† (p. 199). This capability, known as polychromic interactivity, is essentially needed in today’s business environment, especially in organizations dealing with offering a wide array of services to multiple clients. In such an arrangement, IM can be used by employees to communicate privately with other employees and request for clarifications or instructions while still engaged in another coordinated interaction, preferably with the customer. When employed in this manner, IM has the capacity to essentially alter the â€Å"†¦temporal ordering of meeting-related interactions, including fact-finding, consensus formation, and decision-making† (Rennecker, 2005, p. 199). This implies that IM does not only saves time, but also enables organizations to enhance their productive capacities by virtue of the fact that the interactions, consensus reached, and the decisions taken will have either positive or negative ramifications on the organization. IBM (2008) underscores the fact that some emerging communication technologies such IM boosts an organizati on’s collaborative capacities, hence its productive acumen. Collaboration, more than anything else, institutes the innovation needed to enable organizations achieve an edge over their competitors. Employees in a virtual workplace are now collaborating using IM, either as a complimentary platform to email communication or as its substitute. According to Quan-Haase et al (2005), IM is also popular among workers since â€Å"†¦it adds speed and ease to workplace communication, and eliminates the time typically lost to ‘telephone tag’ or wasted trips of a coworker who is absent or otherwise occupied† (p. 2). This has obvious time and productivity implications for the organization, not mentioning the fact that it acts as a bridging tool between departments, therefore saving more time and ensuring efficient coordination. Below, some of the disadvantages of IM are evaluated. Disadvantages of IM There has been some weak links and disadvantages associated with emerging technologies, and IM is no exception. Greengard (2003) acknowledges that â€Å"†¦while the goal of staying in touch with employees, customers, and business partners is noble enough, today’s technology can create more than a few diversions and even devastations along the way† (p. 84). According to the author, IM can not only turn into a productivity drain if misused, but it can open a can of worms in terms of security risks and legal issues if it is ineffectually used. The above sentiments are also shared by Chudoba et al (2005) and Primeaux Flint (2004), who argue that most employees take advantage of the communication technology to chat with each other on issues unrelated to business, and to friends and family members outside the organization. Available statistics reveal that â€Å"†¦30 to 40 percent of internet use in the workplace isn’t related to business, and employee misuse of the internet is a $63 billion problem for cooperate America † (Greengard, 2003, p. 85). While IM is only a small component of the enormous internet universe, there is no guarantee that such systems will not be abused by employees in the absence of a strict regulatory framework. Harmful computer viruses can be transmitted via IM protocols, with some having the capacity to sabotage critical business processes. Indeed, hackers and data thieves can easily penetrate the security settings of some free IM services such as Yahoo! Messenger and AOL Instant Messenger due to the fact that the texts sent through IM are not encrypted. Legal challenges can also be potentially dangerous. By virtue of the fact that IM communications are not electronically recorded at the organizational level, â€Å"†¦companies can find themselves in a netherworld where it’s one party’s word against another’s† (Greengard, 2003, p. 84). There are concerns that IM, due to its easy usability, may be a source of interruption of workplace ta sks (Garrett Danziger, 2008). A recent ethnographic study extensively quoted by these authors â€Å"†¦revealed that workers spent an average of just 11 minutes on a task before being interrupted or moving on to a new task, and more than half the interruptions (57%) were unrelated to the task at hand† (p. 1). While it is known that the most common types of workplace interruptions revolves around receiving calls and conversations, some computer-mediated communication platforms such as IM and email can actually exacerbate the problem. In many workplace scenarios, IM supplements other existing forms of communication, resulting in an increase in the overall volume of communications taking place during work hours, thus the disruption of workflow processes (Garrett Danzinger, 2008). In addition, most IM communications are neither initiated nor scheduled by the recipient, and therefore often results in disruption of current activity or workflow processes on the part of the rec ipient. What’s more, companies using the IM protocol to dismiss employees may find themselves being accused of wrong termination in the absence of necessary precautions (Greengard, 2003). Communications Best Suited for IM Due to security concerns, highly sensitive communications should be reserved for other communication channels rather than IM unless the organization has the capacity to encrypt the texts or use a secure IM platform (Greengard, 2003). However, other forms of communications such as customer feedback, employee sensitization and awareness, company notices, strategies and advice, sales and order requests, advertisements, employee collaboration, and human resource decisions can be communicated via IM (Huang Yen, 2003). This is in line with the numerous activities supported by IM such as multi-tasking, informal communications for effective collaboration in the workplace, coordination and scheduling of work-related tasks, organizing short-notice meetings, and socia l networking with friends and family (Nardi et al., 2000). Recommendations MM’s takes cognizance of the fact that enhanced communication between management and employees on the one hand and between management and customers on the other is of fundamental importance in assisting the company to drive its success story into the 21st century (MM Website, 2010). As such, it is recommended that the organization takes a bold step towards formalization of IM as a preferred communication platform especially in communicating general organizational policies to employees and receiving feedback from customers. Available literature has revealed that the communication technology’s real-time functionality, simplicity of use, unique affordances, and rich presence (Greengard, 2003; Cameroon Webster, 2005; Primeaux Flint, 2004; Rennecker et al., 2003) are key ingredients that are destined to drive MM’s success story forward. MM’s greatly depend on its innovative employees to come up with new and enticing candies. To further drive the urge for employees to remain innovative, it is highly recommended for the company to fully adopt IM technology in the workplace so as to enhance interdepartmental collaboration and the development of new ideas. Such a platform will indeed extend frameworks through which the management collaborates with customers to evaluate feedback, and hence develop mechanisms for improvement. According to IBM (2008), IM enhances informal and formal collaboration in the workplace. Lastly, MM’s should come up with ways of utilizing the interactive and immediacy capabilities of IM (Cameroon Webster, 2005) by channeling its advertisements through the platform in efforts aimed at complimenting other mainstream media used by the company for advertisement purposes. At MM’s, it is not difficult to manage IM for optimal deployment since the company exercises an open door communication style that encourages open and independent decision making and responsibility at the individual level. The organizational culture reverberates well with the wishes and aspirations of employees (MM Website, 2010), and as such, it is almost a guarantee that employees will utilize the new technology for the betterment of the organization as well as for their own collaboration. Chudoba et al (2005) argues that many organizations employ several communication technologies to ensure their communication needs are sufficiently met. This internet-based communication technology fits well within MM’s existing frameworks of communication, which are also technology-based. The company mostly utilizes email and telephone communications in the workplace, and satellite communications across geographical locations (Rehoboth, 2004). IM will not only serve in complimentary roles with email in inter-departmental communications, but can also substitute the use of telephones to communicate company policies and strategies to employees. IM can be used to replace satellite communications in areas with network connectivity, further bringing down operational costs and enhancing both efficiency and productive capacities (IBM, 2008). The successful implementation of IM technology in MM’s can only be hindered by security and productivity concerns. As such, the CEO is allowed to introduce austerity measures aimed at curtailing the improper use of the technology by employees. It is also the duty of the chief executive to develop a solid ICT team which will constantly look into ways through which the IM technology can be optimally used by the company and its employees without causing security vulnerabilities as demonstrated by Greegard (2003). As such, end-user security regulations must be introduced to successfully harness the power of IM. The company should also introduce regulations aimed at informing the employees about the complimentary or substitute roles of IM vis-à  -vis other existing platforms so that it is used for the purposes it is intended. This will go a long way in ensuring its success, while curtailing the potential drawbacks already discussed comprehensively in this report. To submit the concluding remarks, it is a well known fact that the pursuit for instantaneous connections and enhanced communication has occasioned the adoption of a wide array of technologies purposely designed to speed up organizational activities (Cameroon Webster, 2005). IM represents one of the most rapidly proliferating communications tools that are swiftly being adopted by global organizations. A critical review of literature contained in this report demonstrates that corporate IM use is substantial and growing. Consequently, the most fundamental thing for MM’s is to swing into action towards ensuring that policies and frameworks are put in place with the aim to holistically harness the power and communication capabilities offered by IM. Reference List Cameroon, A.F., Webster, J. (2005). Unintende d consequences of emerging communication technologies: Instant messaging in the workplace. Computers in Human Behavior, 21(2), 81-103. Chudoba, K.M., Wynne, L.V. M., Watson-Manheim, M.B. (2005). How virtual are we? Measuring virtuality and understanding its impact in the global organization. Information Systems Journal, 15(4), 279-306. Retrieved from Business Source Database. Garrett, R.K., Danziger, J.N. (2008). IM = Interruption management? Instant messaging and disruption in the workplace. Journal of computer-mediated communication, 13, 23-42. Greengard, S. (2003). IM speeds workplace communication, but it can also spell trouble: Workforce Management, 82(7), 84-86. Retrieved from MasterFILE Premier Database. Huang, A.H., Yen, D.C. (2003). Usefulness of instant messaging among users: Social vs. work perspective. Human Systems Management, 22(2), 63-65. Retrieved from Business Source Premier Database. IBM. (2008). The new collaboration: enabling innovation, changing the workplace . Web. Keyton, J. (2005). Communication and organizational culture: A key to understanding work experiences. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc. MM Website. (2010). History. Web. Nardi, B.A., Whittaker, S., Bradner, E. (2000). Interaction and outeraction: Instant messaging in action. Proceedings of Conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW), Philadelphia PA, 70-88. Nash, E.L. (2000). Direct Marketing: Strategy, Planning Execution, 4th ED. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Quan-Haase, A., Cothrel, J., Wellman, B. (2005). Instant messaging for collaboration: A case study of a high-tech firm. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 10(4). Web. Primeaux, R.O., Flint, D. (2004). Instant messaging: Does it belong in the workplace. Intellectual Property Technology Law Journal, 16(11), 5-7. Retrieved from Business Source Premier Database. Rehoboth, W.G. (2004). Dandy Candy. Convenience Store News, 40(13), 28-31. Rennecker, J., Dennis, A.R., Hansen, S. (2005). Invisib le whispering: Instant messaging in meetings. Sprouts: Working Papers on Information Systems, 5(24). Web. Symon, G. (2000). Information and communication technologies and the new network organization: A critical analysis. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 73(4), 389-414. Retrieved from MasterFILE Premier Database. Wax, B (2010). Target Marketing Thrives on the Web. Property Causality Risk Benefit Management, 114(14), 32-36. This report on IM in the Workplace: Harnessing the Power of the Virtual Hallway was written and submitted by user Jovani S. 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.

Managing Priorities in Volkswagen of America

Managing Priorities in Volkswagen of America Introduction Volkswagen is an international motor vehicle company that has subsidiaries across the world. Volkswagen of America is the company’s subsidiary in the North American region that oversees the regional operations.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Managing Priorities in Volkswagen of America specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This paper seeks to review the new process for managing priorities of the subsidiary. The paper will carry out an assessment of the new management priorities, review criticisms for the new priorities and compare the new process with the subsidiary’s old process. Review of the Subsidiary’s New Process The Volkswagen Company is an old company that realized it automobile model in the second quarter of the twentieth century. The company then started its operations but was to wait till the years of 1960s for a boom in the market for its market products. The company’ s productivity however was then startled with an up and down trend in its sales and revenues after the boom period. The introduction of a new brand in the year 1977 witnessed an improvement in the company’s performance that again fell later on. This led to the perception that the company’s management was only relying on new products as a solution to the company’s problems. This trend was continued with the diversification of product brands after the year 2000, a move that made the Volkswagen of America to institute strategies into adjusting to the changes. The management of the group’s American subsidiary also based their operation management on marketing and sales of products. Information technology was overlooked and its expenditure and personnel even cut down. This however relayed a long term effect as the impact of insufficient knowledge in IT was evident in the company. The company then resorted to the development of its IT which was then established to be the basis of managing its priorities. In the new strategy, established IT departments would collaborate with consultants prioritizing projects for the group. Under this approach, questions such as why, who, what, where and when would be employed by the experts to establish ground for prioritizing the projects.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The new development ensured a comprehensive consideration of the entire group with respect to opinions, functions and information in departments. The established IT teams were the major players in the use of the new system for prioritization of the subsidiary’s projects that included invitation for projects presentation and identification of dependencies of various projects, the formal presentation of projects by departments and the final work by the IT teams over the submitted projects. The team would then work out the proposals to give them an organizational perspective contrary to departmental ones before prioritization were made to the funding of projects. This process however led to poor funding of projects that were critical to the groups operations calling for adjustments for their funding. Assessment of the New Process The integration of information technology into the management system of an organization is very instrumental to the operational processes. One of the primary benefits of information technology is the developed level of efficiency in processes. This is coupled with a significant level of information that the management is offered from the application of technology. The process of decision making with respect to prioritizing projects of the Volkswagen Company of America would thus provide the management with more information that relates the projects together so as to establish a base for informed decision making process. The use of information technology is also benefi cial in the sense that it aids planning. By bringing the organization’s departmental proposals together and running a review into their relationships, a better understanding into the correlation of the processes is established for a final decision making (Joia, 2003). Application of information technology into a management’s system is also characterized with an increased level of productivity of processes. Whether in the production processes or in decision making process, information technology will improve the productivity level.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Managing Priorities in Volkswagen of America specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Better knowledge of processes through analysis and monitoring of information is another tool to accurate decision making. Better information models can also be achieved through the capacities of information technology. The efficiency as realized in the use of the tec hnologies also reflects on the time taken to attain required analysis into decision making (DuBrin, 2008). The use of information technology is however identified to be more applicable in service oriented organizations than in manufacturing industries. Its application in such commodity based organization as Volkswagen of America is therefore expected to at least face a few challenges. Justification of application of information technology in such is also a challenge to manufacturing organizations (Akpan, 2007). Discussion and conclusion The new management process at the Volkswagen of America is satisfactory in terms of the analysis that proposals are accorded with respect to the objectives of the organization. This ensures that projects geared to the attainment of the organizations objectives such as increasing sales are prioritized. Criticisms to the systems are justified due to its inability to prioritize all projects. This is however not significant because the benefits of the sy stem outweighs its failure and shortcomings. The new system which incorporates analytical approaches is in general terms better than the old system in which regards were only made to marketing and sales initiatives that actually had not proved successful to the firm. References Akpan, E. (2007). Strategic Alignment: The Business Imperative for Leading Organizations. Mustang: Tate Publishing. DuBrin, A. (2008). Essentials of Management. New York, NY: Cengage Learning.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Joia, L. (2003). IT-based management: challenges and solutions. London, UK: Idea Group Inc (IGI).

Management Info Systems Individual Work wk8 Essay

Management Info Systems Individual Work wk8 - Essay Example In reality, however, internet markets are more similar to traditional markets than they are different. Hence, successful e-marketing strategies, such as traditional ones, rely on the creation, distribution, promotion and pricing products that are required by the customers and not just developing a brand name or lowering the costs associated with online transactions (Morley & Parker, 2009). Electronic commerce is believed to have developed from three main stages: Innovation, consolidation and reinvention (Pyle, 1996). The innovation of electronic commerce is the phase that occurred in the period lasting 1995-2000. This era was typified with a great excitement in both the traders and their customers particularly due to anticipations that electronic commerce would increase the ease at which quality information on business systems as well as commercial goods and both parties (Pyle, 1996) could attain services. The phase of consolidation began in 200 and was characterized by an increased number of classical business organizations utilizing the Web for purposes of enhancing their business transactions. The last phase, reinvention, of electronic commerce had its advent in the year 2006 when there was a bolstered utilization of social networking and Web 2.0 applications in electronic commerce. This led to an increase in the number of new models of business being created. Whol e during the innovation stage the emphasis of commercial organizations was on attaining market shares and visibility, the consolidation stage was characterized by an increased desire to establish commercial ventures that were successful (Whinston, 1997). The emphasis in the present day is placed on the ability of electronic commerce to encounter a growth of audience and social network. Morley and Parker (2009) claim that this model comprises of the

International Operations Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

International Operations Management - Essay Example In the process different business strategies are also learnt and shared by the companies (Plenert, 2002, pp.35-38). The present study focuses on the international operations management and the related theories and considering the Unilever Company and studying the motivation, benefits, process and form of internationalization. Internationalization: Its Motivation, Benefit, Process and Form: The primary motive of a company trying to be global or become internationalized is to earn competitive advantage over other companies playing in the same industry but in other countries, with the help of the advancements in their knowledge and expertise. Motivations can be proactive or reactive that leads a company towards internationalization. Proactive motivations generally result from the company’s intentions to gain competitive advantage over others. A reactive motivation arises when a company plans to internationalize on requirement in a particular economic status of the country or the business. In many cases, expansion of a business to other countries proves to be beneficial in handling the pressures of competition from other companies. The several benefits that underlie the process of internationalization include the company’s being able to spread across the world thus reaching out to greater number of customer and shareholders. Moreover, the company gets to learn the new technologies and processes prevailing or used in the other countries and businesses (United Nations, 2009, p.9). Thus it can be understood that some companies follow the process for the enhanced results for their businesses, while others indulge in expansion as a result of the need for the company. Now in order to process the internationalization of a business, proper method needs to be followed such that the company does not experience a failure. This requires management committees to get involved and decide efficiently on the utilization of resources available to the company. The inves tment requiring finances is an essential factor that needs sufficient decision making. Also, since internationalization would involve expanding the businesses to other countries, several difficulties or problems might arise that the company should be able to encounter and handle effectively (United Nations, 2009, p.10). As far as the process and form of internationalization is concerned, the process would depend on the motivation of the company, its internal and external handling of operations, its similarity with the foreign market, the locations where the company already has its operations, as well as the mode that the company follows in performing its functions (United Nations, 2009, p.11). Considering these motivations, benefits, processes and forms of internationalization of a company can be understood. In the following section, the study would focus on the Unilever Company and its internationalization and try to associate the company’s state with the theories of interna tionalization. Unilever Company and its Internationalization: The Unilever Company is an extremely popular company and has its presence felt internationally. The company has always