Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Nokia Corporation Strategic Management

Nokia Corporation Strategic Management Introduction I have chosen Nokia Corporation as the company to write about in this assignment. Nokia Corporation is based in Keilaniemi, Finland and is, by far, the largest manufacturer of mobile instruments in the world. There are other fields that the company is engaged in, such as multimedia and networking.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Nokia Corporation Strategic Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Nokia Corporation has been in the telecommunications field since the last 50 odd years. But prior to venturing in the telecommunication field, Nokia had tried its luck in various sectors such as paper mill, rubber boots, car tyres, electricity, televisions etc. Presently, the company has its manufacturing facilities across the globe in various European and Asian countries. Nokia Corporation’s logo, ‘Connecting People’, is tantamount to its line of business. According to Datamonitor, Nokia â€Å"employs about 129,355 people. The company recorded revenues of â‚ ¬42,446 million ($56,363.6 million) during the financial year ended December 2010 (FY2010), an increase of 3.6% over 2009† (Datamonitor, 2011). Nokia Corporation can be considered as the pioneer in mobile technology. â€Å"On July 1, 1991, Finnish Prime Minister Harri Holkeri makes the world’s first GSM call, using Nokia equipment. And in 1992, Nokia launches its first digital handheld GSM phone, the Nokia 1011† (Nokia). In order to have a better understanding about the company, it is always better to do a SWOT Analysis. SWOT Analysis of Nokia Corporation Strengths of Nokia Corporation Well equipped research and development department. World’s first GSM call was made from a Nokia instrument. Largest manufacturer of mobile phones with manufacturing facilities in not less than 15 countries worldwide. Largest marketing network. Follows the ‘Diverse Workforce Management’ policy. Nokia products are marketed in not less than 160 countries worldwide. Nokia has a strong financial base. Better re-sale value as compared to other brands. Weaknesses of Nokia Corporation Profits of the company dropped by almost 40% in the year 2010. In spite of global presence, Nokia Corporation does not have specific presence in the United States of America. The same is the case in Japan though the reason is greater competition from local brands such as Panasonic, Sharp etc. In India Nokia has an appreciable presence but the after sales service is not up to the mark. Some of Nokia’s products are not compatible with the available software. Pricewise, Nokia mobiles are costly as compared to Chinese mobiles. Opportunities of Nokia Corporation Nokia Corporation entered into a joint venture with Germany’s Siemens and as such now there are greater opportunities for the company to expand in the hitherto neglected European markets. Nokia has specific presence in t he Asia Pacific region and it is encouraging that this particular market is one of the fastest growing ones. Nokia mobiles are stylish and colourful. This feature is liked by the younger generation. There is tremendous scope for Nokia in developing countries. There is an incessant growth in the telecommunication industry. Threats of Nokia Corporation Due to the launch of several Chinese brands, Nokia’s monopoly in the mobile market has started to diminish. Other brands like Apple etc. have introduced mobiles with better and more user-friendly software. Due to a variety of choices available in the market, customers have more and better options. Past, Present and Future Position of Nokia Corporation Nokia Corporation ruled the mobile market for about 14 years but due to its not paying attention to the emerging competition from brands like Apple and Samsung, there has been a drastic drop in its sales. Initially, Nokia provided its customers with value for their money. Nokia h andsets were considered to have the latest technology. When Apple introduced the Android phones, Nokia did not suffer much because the Android phones were meant for high-end customers whereas Nokia phones were meant for the masses. But unfortunately, the different models launched by Nokia had only some minor changes and since the customers wanted something different, Nokia started losing ground.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More During this period, Samsung also launched its Android phone but with a difference and at a lesser price. â€Å"All these factors created an opening for Samsung which gave the public exactly what they wanted – variety of prices in the smart phone segment, with touch screens, with android and with fabulous marketing plan† (Bhasin, 2012). As a result, Samsung took over the number one position in mobile phones and it is expected to be there until Nokia Corporation comes up with some innovative features in its mobile phones. Following is a table depicting the comparison of sale of mobiles using different operating systems: â€Å"Looking at the present scenario, Nokia has started to make efforts to enter smart phone market by collaborating with Microsoft and bring its smart phones to the market, with Nokia Lumia 800 being the recent one in the stable† (Raina, 2011). Market share of Nokia According to Gartner, â€Å"Nokia’s share of the mobile phone market dropped to 25 percent in the first quarter of 2011, the lowest for 14 years, down from 30.6 percent at the same time last year† (as cited in Globaltimes, 2011). Talking about Nokia’s market position, Gartner further reported that â€Å"It is still ranking well ahead of second place Samsung, which holds 16 percent, followed by LG in third with 5.6 percent, Apple in fourth with 3.9 percent and RIM with 3.0 percent† (as cited in Globaltimes, 2011). Alex Webb reported that â€Å"Nokia, the world’s biggest mobile phone maker, reported that first-quarter profit fell as it continued to lose market share to competitors† (Webb, 2011). Target Market of Nokia Initially, Nokia did not pay much attention to the European and the US markets but as mentioned earlier in the paper, it entered into a joint venture with Germany’s Siemens and as such now there are greater opportunities for the company to expand in the hitherto neglected European markets. But the main area that Nokia is paying attention is the Asia-Pacific region, to be more specific, India and China. Both these are developing countries and as such there is a lot of potential in these markets.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Nokia Corporation Strategic Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Marketing Strategy and Strategic Marketing Plan of Nokia â€Å"Nokia has un veiled a ‘youthful’ and ‘revitalised’ marketing strategy, using the internal strap line ‘live adventure everywhere’ for the launch of its debut windows phone devices as it looks to reclaim its position at the top of the smart phone market† (O’Reilly, 2011). The following are the main points of Nokia’s marketing strategy (Source: www.authorstream.com). Focused on handset manufacture only Enhance product portfolio Increase distribution channels Adjust preferences for specific markets Customer satisfaction Focused on replacement Increase commitment to emerging market Improve collaboration on designs Ensure accountability and quality Aggressive pricing (Source: www.authorstream.com) Nokia’s strategy is to â€Å"Create irresistible solutions through vibrant ecosystems with our partners, user experience at the heart of all we execute, intensify pulse on consumer needs, bringing the best devices to all markets, smart cont ext aware services with people places† (Nokia, 2009). Analysis of Samsung and Apple â€Å"Midway through the fourth quarter earnings season, it’s becoming apparent that while Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) had a record breaking quarter with 37 million iPhone sales and Samsung did nearly as well, most other handset makers are struggling or facing stagnation† (Goldstein, 2012). Goldstein further suggests that â€Å"Analysts point to the unique attributes that have buoyed Apple and Samsung, including their access to components, scale, brand recognition and overall product execution† (Goldstein, 2012). One of the major advantages that these two companies have is that all the components are manufactured indigenously. Both the companies have invested huge amounts in their research and development programmes. Another advantage that these two companies have is the instant delivery of products in the markets. Apple’s iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy range have creat ed a brand name of their own. Key competitive factors between Nokia, Apple and Samsung For comparison purpose, we shall consider the latest models of each company i.e. Nokia’s Lumia 800, Apple’s iPhone 4S and Samsung’s Galaxy S2. Factor Nokia Lumia 800 Apple iPhone 4S Samsung Galaxy S2 Winner Design Basic design of Nokia N9. The material used is polycarbonate that makes the body light weight. Almost similar to that of iPhone 4 but there have been major improvements in the downloading speed. Designed sleekly with only one button (the home key). Samsung Galaxy S2 Screen 3.7 inches, clear black OLED screen, Gorilla glass 4.3 inches, AMOLED plus technology 3.5 inches, retina display, Samsung Galaxy S2 and Apple iPhone 4S Camera 8 MP 8 MP 8.1 MP Samsung Galaxy S2 Processor Qualcomm MSM8255 Dual core A5 1.2 GHz dual core AARM Cortex A9 iPhone 4S Battery 1450 mAh. 265 hours standby with 2G and 335 hours standby with 3G Li-Ion Li-Ion 1650. 710 hours standby with 2G and 601 hours standby with 3G Samsung Galaxy S2 and iPhone 4S Price (without contract) $699 $749 $600 Samsung Galaxy S2 Conclusion The chart clearly shows that Samsung Galaxy 2S is the clear winner based on most of the factors. If Nokia wants to retain its top most position, it has to work hard on various aspects such as pricing, innovation, customer satisfaction, after-sales service etc. The management of Nokia Corporation has to evolve a long term business strategy and implement it religiously. It’s beyond doubts that Nokia is a giant company and can sustain the competition in a healthy manner.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The brand Nokia has been the favourite of consumers since long and an emotional bond has been created. It’s only that new and innovative products have entered the mobile market that people have diverted their attention. But if Nokia maintains the innovation that it has shown in Lumia 800, the time is not far when Nokia will retain the top-most position. The only thing required is positive approach and value for money to the end-users. References Bhasin, H. (2012). Nokia loses its top position after 14 years to Samsung. Retrieved from marketing91.com/nokia-loses-top-position-14-years-samsung/ Datamonitor. (2011). Nokia Corporation – SWOT Analysis. Retrieved from researchandmarkets.com/research/e2b6c5/nokia_corporation Globaltimes. (2011). Nokia’s share of market slips down to 25%: Gartner. Retrieved from globaltimes.cn/business/world/2011-05/657066.html Goldstein, P. (2012). Analysis: Why Apple and Samsung are killing it in the smart phone market. Retrieved from fiercewireless.com/story/analysis-why-apple-and-samsung-are-killing-it-smartphone-market/2012-01-27 Nokia. (2009). Nokia’s vision of the future. Retrieved from nokia.com/NOKIA_COM_1/About_Nokia/Company/Vision_and_Strategy/pdf/NokiaStrategy10.pdf Nokia. (n.d.). The Nokia Story. Retrieved from nokia.com/global/about-nokia/company/about-us/story/the-nokia-story/ O’Reilly, L. (2011). Nokia reveals youthful global marketing strategy. Retrieved from marketingweek.co.uk/nokia-reveals-youthful-global-marketing-strategy/3031339.article Raina, R. (23012). Why Nokia lost its market share. Retrieved from marketing91.com/nokia-lost-market-share/ Webb, A. (2011). Nokia profit declines as market share falls. Retrieved from telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/telecoms/8466235/Nokia-profit-declines-as-market-share-falls.html

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Frankenstein Quotes Explained

Frankenstein Quotes Explained The following Frankenstein quotes address the novels key themes, including the pursuit of knowledge, the power of nature, and human nature. Discover the meaning of these important passages, as well as how each quote connects to the novels broader themes. Quotes About Knowledge It was the secrets of heaven and earth that I desired to learn; and whether it was the outward substance of things or the inner spirit of nature and the mysterious soul of man that occupied me, still my inquiries were directed to the metaphysical, or in it highest sense, the physical secrets of the world. (Chapter 2) This statement is made by Victor Frankenstein at the start of the novel as he recounts his childhood to Captain Walton. The passage is significant for outlining the main obsession Frankensteins life: achieving intellectual enlightenment. This ambition, combined with a desire for glory, is Frankensteins driving force, motivating him to excel in his studies at university and later to create the monster. Yet, we later learn, the fruits of this labor are rotten. Frankenstein is horrified by his creation, and in turn the monster kills everyone that Frankenstein loves. Thus, Shelley seems to be asking whether such an ambition is a worthwhile goal, and whether such knowledge is truly enlightening. The â€Å"secrets† mentioned in this passage continue to appear throughout the novel. In fact, much of Frankenstein revolves around the secrets of life- things that are hard or impossible to understand. While Frankenstein discovers the physical and metaphysical secrets, his creation is obsessed with more philosophical secrets of life: what is the meaning of life? What is the purpose? Who are we? The answers to these questions are left unsolved. So much has been done, exclaimed the soul of Frankenstein - more, far more, will I achieve; treading in the steps already marked, I will pioneer a new way, explore unknown powers, and unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of creation. (Chapter 3) In this quote, Frankenstein describes his experience at university. He personifies his soul- â€Å"the soul of Frankenstein†- and claims that his soul told him he would discover the secrets of the world. This quote plainly lays out Frankensteins ambition, his hubris, and his ultimate downfall. Frankenstein seems to suggest that his desire to be the greatest pioneer of science is an innate characteristic and a predetermined fate, thus removing any responsibility over his actions. Frankensteins desire to push beyond the limits of humanity is a flawed goal that sets him on a path of misery. As soon as the creature is completed, Frankensteins beautiful dream turns into a deformed, hideous reality. Frankensteins achievement is so disturbing that he runs away from it immediately. The die is cast; I have consented to return if we are not destroyed. Thus are my hopes blasted by cowardice and indecision; I come back ignorant and disappointed. It requires more philosophy than I possess to bear this injustice with patience. (Chapter 24) Captain Walton writes these lines in a letter to his sister at the close of the novel. After listening to Frankenstein’s tale, and faced with an unrelenting storm, he decides to return home from his expedition. This conclusion demonstrates that Walton has learned from Frankensteins story. Walton was once an ambitious man in search of glory like Frankenstein. Yet through Frankenstein’s tale, Walton realizes the sacrifices that come with discovery, and he decides to prioritize his own life and the lives of his crew members over his mission. Although he says that he is filled with â€Å"cowardice† and that he comes back â€Å"disappointed† and â€Å"ignorant,† this ignorance is what saves his life. This passage returns to the theme of enlightenment, reiterating that the singleminded search for enlightenment makes a peaceful life impossible. Quotes About Nature I remembered the effect that the view of the tremendous and ever-moving glacier had produced upon my mind when I first saw it. It had then filled me with a sublime ecstasy, that gave wings to the soul, and allowed it to soar from the obscure world to light and joy. The sight of the awful and majestic in nature had indeed always the effect of solemnizing my mind and causing me to forget the passing cares of life. I determined to go without a guide, for I was well acquainted with the path, and the presence of another would destroy the solitary grandeur of the scene. (Chapter 10) In this quote, Frankenstein details his solitary trip to Montanvert to grieve the death of his brother William. The â€Å"sublime† experience of being alone in the harsh beauty of the glaciers calms Frankenstein. His love for nature and the perspective it provides is invoked throughout the novel. Nature reminds him that he is just a man, and therefore powerless to the great forces of the world. This â€Å"sublime ecstasy† gives Frankenstein a kind of enlightenment wholly different from the scientific knowledge he sought through chemistry and philosophy. HIs experiences in nature are not intellectual, but rather emotional and even religions, allowing his soul to â€Å"soar from the obscure world to light and joy.† He is reminded here of nature’s ultimate power. The â€Å"tremendous and ever-moving glacier† is more permanent than humankind will ever be; this reminder calms Frankensteins anxiety and grief. Nature allows him to experience the transcendence he hoped he would find in his search for true knowledge. Quotes About Humanity These thoughts exhilarated me and led me to apply with fresh ardour to the acquiring the art of language. My organs were indeed harsh, but supple; and although my voice was very unlike the soft music of their tones, yet I pronounced such words as I understood with tolerable ease. It was as the ass and the lap-dog; yet surely the gentle ass whose intentions were affectionate, although his manners were rude, deserved better treatment than blows and execration. (Chapter 12) In this quote, the creature relays part of his story to Frankenstein. The creature compares his experience in the De Lacey cottage to the fable of the ass and the lap-dog, in which the ass pretends to be a lap dog and gets beaten for his behavior. While living in the De Lacey cottage, strove to gain acceptance from the family despite his harsh appearance. However, the De Lacey family did not treat him with acceptance; instead, they attacked him. The creature sympathizes with the affectionate intentions of the ass and argues that the violent treatment of the gentle ass is reprehensible. The creature clearly sees a parallel to his own story. He understands that he is different from others, but his intentions are good, and he desires acceptance and approval. Tragically, he never receives the approval he yearns for, and his alienation turns him into a violent monster. This passage points to one of the novels essential points: the idea that judgment based on external appearances is unjust, but is nevertheless a tendency of human nature. The quote also raises the question of ultimate responsibility for the murders committed by the creature. Should we blame only the creature, or do those who were cruel to give him a chance to prove his humanity deserve some of the blame? I was dependent on none and related to none. The path of my departure was free, and there was none to lament my annihilation. My person was hideous and my stature gigantic. What did this mean? Who was I? What was I? Whence did I come? What was my destination? These questions continually recurred, but I was unable to solve them. (Chapter 15) In this quote, the creature asks the fundamental questions of life, death, and identity. At this point in the novel, the creature has only recently come to life, but by reading Paradise Lost and other works of literature, he has found a way to question and reflect on his life and its meaning. Unlike Frankenstein, who searches for the scientific secrets of human life, the creature asks philosophical questions about human nature. By bringing the creature to life, Frankenstein succeeds in his inquiry, but that form of scientific â€Å"enlightenment† cannot answer the creatures existential questions. This passage suggests that science can only go so far in helping us understand the world, as it cannot answer our existential and moral questions. Accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust? God, in pity, made man beautiful and alluring, after his own image; but my form is a filthy type of yours, more horrid even from the very resemblance. Satan had his companions, fellow devils, to admire and encourage him, but I am solitary and abhorred. (Chapter 15) In this quote, the creature compares himself to Adam and Frankenstein to God. According to the creature, Adam is â€Å"beautiful† and â€Å"alluring in the image of the almighty, but Frankenstein’s creation is â€Å"filthy† and â€Å"horrid.† This contrast demonstrates the stark difference between the abilities of God and the abilities of Frankenstein. Frankensteins work has been a crude attempt to wield the power of creation, and according to the creature, his hubris is rewarded with wretchedness, ugliness, and loneliness. Furthermore, Frankenstein will not take responsibility for his creation by taking the creature under his wing; thus, the creature considers himself even more solitary and abhorred than Satan. By pointing out Frankensteins folly, the creature again points out the dangers of attempting to go beyond ones own humanity by seeking God-like glory.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Management Enquiry and Research Methods (MBA) Essay

Management Enquiry and Research Methods (MBA) - Essay Example These steps include data collection, analysis, presentation and validation as well as goal setting, the creation of a proposal for targeted team building efforts and the implementation of the proposal. 1. Data collection-In general data collection will be done in a confidential manner by interviewing each team member. During the interview process, it will be the aim of the researcher to identify the common sentiments of the group members and ascertain the strengths and weaknesses of the team as a whole. 4. Validation of Data-This is a very important step in that the findings need to be checked for accuracy. During this process, the data collected is relayed to the team and the team is asked for input with regards to its accuracy. 5. Goal Setting-Before a team can begin to solve its problems, it is prudent that the team identify the direction in which it intends to go. This will serve as a means of shaping and formulating the future of the company in a structured manner. 6. The Proposal-This is an integral part of any action research. During this phase, the team considers the current issues and devises a plan for their solution. Much of this phase involves discussion and focuses on accountability. 7.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Nursing Theories Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Nursing Theories - Essay Example How might the concepts we are discussing related to theory and management be applied in community settings, including Third World countries? According to Watson (2008), the theory of human caring offers a structure that nurse leaders can employ to reinstate the nurses’ value-oriented mission of care that permits the leaders to care for nurses and promote wellness. As a result, Watson’s theory of human caring can be used to solve staffing issues in the organization (Wade et al., 2014). In reference to Douglas (2010), staffing of nurses is an imperative aspect of patient care delivery. Nurse leaders can adopt the theory of human caring to solve staffing issues in myriad ways. One way can be through impacting nursing staff through supporting them to take part in self-care activities and practice kindness and love for self and others. Additionally, the nurse leaders can use the theory to develop and adopt policies that guarantee healthy work settings, restricting work hours and offering time for the nurses to relax and rejuvenate (Wade et al., 2014). By portraying the application of the theory by the nurse leaders, it offers an alleyway for the nurses to commence caring in an analytical manner in their practice, and change in the way they interact with patients (McEwen & Wills, 2014). This can assist in reducing compassion fatigue, which results in many nurses resigning from acute care where they are needed most.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Heritage assessment Essay Example for Free

Heritage assessment Essay Kizlik [2014] argues that the purpose of a learning objective is to communicate, and that a well-constructed behavioral learning objective should have little room for doubt about what is intended. Health professionals in designing educational programs to engage both patients as well as families, should be able to taper the task or objective to the specific patient and their family; for them to be able to explain what you taught them and for them to be able to demonstrate it. On the Euromed Info website, on Developing Learning Objectives. Retrieved from http://www.euromedinfo.eu/developing-learning-objectives.html/ [n.d.] state that â€Å"a simple and practical way of developing learning objectives is to start with the words, WHO, DOES WHAT, HOW and WHEN.† For the purpose of this exercise the learning objective will be for the patient and the family to be able to change an ostomy bag in a patient with a newly formed colostomy. It is important to find out from the patient and the family which learning styles work for them, example whether reading of pamphlets, one on one teaching or visual aids. Also the condition or ability of the patient to perform the task, e.g. is the patient strong and well enough to perform the task or are they too weak from being ill. In using the learning objectives cited above, WHO- will be the patient and family DOES- list the components needed WHAT-changing a stoma bag HOW – by performing task or stating how to WHEN- by discharge The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations [JCAHO] as cited on the Euromed Info website on Family Structure and Style, retrieved from [http://www.euromedinfo.eu/family-structure-and-style.html/] defines the family as â€Å"the person or persons who play a significant role in the individual’s life including persons not legally related to the individual. â€Å"How a family functions influences the health of its members as well as how the individual reacts to illness† retrieved from http://www.euromedinfo.eu/family-structure-and-style.html . In the light of this , having the family understand the rationale behind the treatment and steps on how to help the patient change this stoma bag will assist the  patient to be more confident in changing their stoma bag and also in dealing and coping with this new health change. REFERENCES http://www.adprima.com/objectives.htm http://www.euromedinfo.eu/developing-learning-objectives.html/ http://www.euromedinfo.eu/family-structure-and-style.htm

Thursday, November 14, 2019

The Time Traveller by H G Wells. :: English Literature

The Time Traveller by H G Wells. 'Time Travel' For my English Coursework Wide Reading Assignment I have read two S F novels. Even though they were written over 50 years apart they are similar in some ways and different in others. Both the books were based around 'time travel'. The first was the Time Traveller by H G Wells. A scientist had discovered a way to travel through time and when he travels to the future he finds that civilisation has broken down. The other book I read was 'The Sound of thunder' by Ray Bradbury, this was about a group of people who travelled back in time to hunt and kill animals. I think that this shows how Bradbury perceives the way we use the technology we have. It does not seem to be for the benefit of all mankind just as a toy for those who can afford it. It could be used for so much more than hunting dinosaurs. Both authors deliberately make their characters two-dimensional. This may be because the stories are about time travel and civilisation rather than the individuals in the narrative. When Wells wrote his novel there were no telephones or aeroplanes, technology was not so advanced and the reading public would be sceptical about time travel His characters are professional men who will convince the reader that Wells' ideas are possible: QUOTE (the professional bit) It is strange that much of what Wells wrote has come true, even though people may have felt it was far fetched over 100 years ago. In 100 years from now perhaps those 'far fetched' stories of today may come true. It could be that people like Wells and Bradbury had a real insight into the future. Perhaps they saw the way civilisation was going in their own time. Bradbury is more contemporary than Wells and his vision, though fantastical in its own way does not seem so far fetched to a late 20th Century audience. Ray Bradbury generally just uses the character's surname in the story. This keeps a more macho feel to the 'hunting' activities and there are no women. The characters described are hunters: Quote (opening advert) There are several men who have paid their money to travel back to Jurassic times to hunt and kill the dinosaurs: Quote (rules) The tenor of the story remains masculine with the rules reinforced in a curt way: Quote (speaks to Eckles etc.) Bradbury's short story focuses more on the effects of time travel than Wells. In Bradbury's tale when the travellers go back to the past Eckles goes off the suspended path and stands on a butterfly causing great changes when they travel back to their own time.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Ikea Supplier Selection

Building a sustainable supply chain An IKEA case study Page 1: Introduction [pic] It is easy to think about the present without considering the future. Consumers want more goods and services to improve their standard of living. The problem is they make choices about goods and services that have long-term consequences for the environment. In our modern world, organisations need to show responsibility. This means that they use resources efficiently, do not harm the environment and consider how what they do affects the ability of future generations to meet their needs. [pic] IKEA aims to be a responsible organisation.It sells low-price home furnishing products around the world. These include furniture and accessories for kitchens, bedrooms, living rooms, bathrooms and children†s rooms. IKEA now has stores in 36 countries around the world. It has come a long way in its 60 years of business. IKEA vision The direction for the organisation is provided by its vision. This acts as a gui de for everybody within and outside the organisation about what IKEA wants to achieve. IKEA's vision is ‘To create a better everyday life for the many people. ‘ To meet its vision IKEA provides many well-designed, functional products for the home.It prices its products low so that as many people as possible can afford to buy them. [pic] However, in creating low prices IKEA is not willing to sacrifice its principles. ‘Low price but not at any price' is what IKEA says. This means it wants its business to be sustainable. IKEA supplies goods and services to individuals in a way that has an overall beneficial effect on people and the environment. Customers all over the world have responded positively to IKEA's approach. This is evident in its increasing sales. In 2006 IKEA had a group turnover of nearly 18 billion euros.Page 2: Sectors of industry and sustainable supply chains When consumers go to a retailer like IKEA, they will be looking at the different ranges of pro ducts and how they are presented. They may also look for quality customer service. However, consumers may not be aware that before products reach them, they must move from being raw materials through a variety of stages to become finished products suitable for sale. This is known as the supply chain. [pic]The supply chain involves a flow of production and processes through each of the three industrial sectors: [pic]IKEA takes its responsibilities seriously and organises its operations in order to have a positive effect upon the environment: [pic] †¢ It aims that all the products and materials it takes from the primary sector do not harm the environment. †¢ Its products are manufactured in a responsible way. The case study looks in detail how IKEA has achieved its aim to be a responsible business in each of the three sectors of the supply chain. Page 3: The primary sector [pic] IKEA is not a primary sector organisation but it needs raw materials to develop its products.It t herefore works closely with primary sector suppliers to ensure a sustainable impact on the people and the environment in which it operates. The primary sector involves the development of the raw materials. IKEA designs its own products. At the design stage, IKEA checks that products meet strict requirements for function, efficient distribution, quality and impact on the environment. Low price is one of the main factors that IKEA considers in producing well designed, functional home furnishings available to everyone. IKEA buys products from more than 1,300 suppliers in 50 countries.It uses a number of trading service offices across the world. They negotiate prices with suppliers, check the quality of materials and analyse the environmental impacts that occur through the supply chain. They also keep an eye on social and working conditions at suppliers. Environmental impact [pic] IKEA uses a tool – the ‘e-Wheel' – to evaluate the environmental impact of its products . The e-Wheel helps IKEA to analyse the four stages within the life of a product. This also helps suppliers improve their understanding of the environmental impact of the products they are supplying.Approximately 50% of IKEA's 9,500 products are made from wood or wood fibres. This is a good resource as long as it comes from sustainable sources. It can be recycled and is a renewable resource. [pic] IKEA creates many design solutions to minimise the use of materials. For example: †¢ some tables are made out of recycled plastic †¢ some rugs are made of material clippings that would otherwise be wasted †¢ products such as water cans are designed to be stacked. This means that more can be transported in each load, reducing the number of lorry journeys and therefore lowering fuel costs.Each of these ideas helps IKEA's products to be more sustainable and reduce the impact on the environment. Supplier codes of conduct A key part of IKEA's success is due to its communications with materials' suppliers and manufacturers. During manufacturing IKEA specifies to its producers that waste should be avoided. Where waste does occur IKEA encourages suppliers to try to use it in the manufacture of other products. IKEA has a code of conduct called the IKEA Way of Purchasing Home Furnishing Products (IWAY). This contains minimum rules and guidelines that help manufacturers to reduce the impact of their activities on the environment.The IWAY code complies with international legislation. A product in use should not have a harmful effect upon consumers or their environment. For example, it should not cause allergies. If it uses energy, it should do so efficiently. When a product comes to the end of its useful life, it should be possible to reclaim or recycle the materials that make up the product. Such materials can then be re-used for making other products. Page 4: The secondary sector Manufacturers within the secondary sector create IKEA products from raw materials.A s products move through the supply chain, the process of value-added takes place. [pic] [pic] IKEA designs many of its products so that the smallest amount of resources can make the best products. For example, IKEA saves on resources by using hollow legs in furniture (e. g. the OGLA dining chair). Another example is by using a honeycomb-paper filling material instead of solid wood for the inside of table tops (e. g. the LACK series). As manufacturers or suppliers add value to products, the IWAY code of practice identifies IKEA's minimum requirements.The IWAY code of practice expects suppliers to: †¢ follow national and international laws †¢ not use child labour †¢ not use woods and glues from non-sustainable forests †¢ reduce their waste and emissions †¢ contribute to recycling †¢ follow health and safety requirements †¢ care for the environment †¢ take care of their employees The application of the code raises standards. Each of the requireme nts within the code of conduct helps to develop sustainable business activities. They have a positive impact on the business environment in which the suppliers operate.They also improve the experience of people working for those businesses. To monitor suppliers, IKEA regularly carries out an IWAY audit. This involves talking to employees and inspecting documents and records. IKEA visits suppliers on-site on a number of occasions to ensure that they are following the code of conduct. The code of conduct for suppliers and the work with other organisations underlines IKEA's commitment to ‘low price but not at any price'. Although IKEA wants its customers to enjoy low prices, this should not happen at the expense of its business principles. [pic]Sustainable partnerships In 2000 IKEA formed a partnership with UNICEF to work on a community programme in Northern India. The aim of the work was to prevent child labour by raising awareness and addressing the root causes. IKEA has also f ormed a partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). IKEA and WWF have committed themselves to promoting the sustainable use of natural resources. This helps to ensure that forests can be used both now and in the future. To support sustainable partnerships with suppliers, IKEA works with other organisations. For example, IKEA and WWF actions have led to: a series of training courses for people in Russia, Bulgaria, Romania and China on responsible forest management †¢ the development of forestry plans in China †¢ demonstrations to managers in Latvia on the benefits of responsible forestry All these projects show IKEA's commitment to supporting sustainable practices. Page 5: The tertiary sector [pic] Businesses in the tertiary sector provide a service, such as banking, transportation or retailing. They do not extract the raw materials or make products themselves. 11% of businesses within the UK are retailers.In the tertiary sector, IKEA's retail stores add value to manufa ctured goods by providing a form of shopping different to the usual high-street experience. IKEA has more than 260 stores in over 36 countries. These meet the needs of consumers in a number of different ways: Retailing turnover in the UK was more than ? 250 billion in 2006. †¢ Each IKEA store is large and holds more than 9,500 products giving lots of choice. †¢ Within each store, there are a number of realistic room settings that enable customers to see what the products would look like in their own homes. The IKEA store is built on a concept of ‘you do half, we do half; together we save money'. This refers to, for example, the customer assembling furniture at home. †¢ Customers handpick products themselves using trolleys. †¢ IKEA provides catalogues and home delivery to save customers† time. †¢ IKEA stores have restaurants that provide Swedish dishes alongside local food choices. To make its activities more sustainable, IKEA has set up many loca l UK initiatives: [pic] †¢ In 2006 IKEA UK recycled more than 70% of its waste products. Its goal is to recycle 90% of materials. To reduce environmental impact, in 2006 IKEA UK started to charge for carrier bags. This reduced the use of carrier bags by 95%. In June 2007 IKEA UK removed carrier bags from its stores completely. †¢ In December 2006 IKEA UK gave a brand-new folding bike to each of its 9,000 employees. It also gave subsidised travel tickets to encourage them to travel to and from work on public transport. †¢ IKEA UK has provided low-energy light bulbs to its entire UK workforce and switched its fleet of company cars to low-emission hybrid models. Page 6: Conclusion [pic] IKEA's long-term ambition is to become the leading home furnishing company.However, for IKEA, getting there is not simply about developing profitability and market share. As a global organisation IKEA has chosen to undertake a leadership role in creating a sustainable way of working. It h as educated suppliers to understand how and why sustainable production is vital. This has helped IKEA differentiate itself from its competitors. Consumers are made aware of IKEA's commitment to sustainability through its involvement with many other organisations such as the WWF and UNICEF. IKEA is now considered by both suppliers and consumers to be a responsible company that they can trust.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Response to Obedience as a Psychological and Moral Problem Essay

These are rules rather than orders that most people are given choice whether it is to obey or suffer some sort of consequence, despite not knowing what the consequence are many may choose to obey the order; however the question is, should we obey all orders that are given to us, despite of our moral of ethnical problem with the order that are ordain to us? Regarding this matter of disobedience as being â€Å"a psychological and moral problem† according to the author Eric Fromm, I would like to point out the concept of â€Å"autonomous obedience,† which gives us an opportunity to rely on our â€Å"own powers and to become fully human,† hence gaining our own knowledge, intellect, independence and freedom by being dictate by our very own â€Å"humanistic conscience† that helps and guides us to discern right from wrong and to justify what’s is just and unjust. Just may be the world will be a much better place if we learn to be autonomously obedient based on humanistic discipline, whilst being conscience wise in decision making and being bold enough to face the outcome whether it is good or bad. To be control and govern by â€Å"an institution or men† who rely only upon the power to give vigorous orders and to rule with a vast amount knowledge to intimidate, manipulate and create just and unjust laws to exercise authority and use all sorts of judgment with no ounce of logical thinking. In full grasp of these trademarks one who have not fully grounded in courage and are unsure of their conscience is left with no other choice, but to be submissive and obey, therefore there are no different from a slave who has his rights taken away. Although through the traditional meaning of slavery we know that it is a person who has their rights stripped. A complete obedient person has thus fallen into intellectual slavery. As his rights to question, assess, and evaluate the authority have been consciously or unconsciously taken away, this doesn’t deny the fact that he is in a case of complete and blind submission to the higher authority he submits to intellectual domination. Throughout history there have been a lot of exploitation and abuse of power, especially by those in higher authority, such as the government structure and the constitution, which in some nations creates and pass unjust laws through legislature that clearly violates human and civil rights. To make sure these law are uphold several types of initiative are introduce in the process. The act of negligent brute and â€Å"sheer force† always seem to be the best alternative for these laws, in attempt to secure the system and the infrastructure; anyone who may defy and attempt to cause treason may face with some type of harsh punishment; for example the  controversial Jim Crow laws  where state and local laws in the United States between the year 1876 and 1965 that mandated racial segregation, the separation in practice led to conditions for African Americans that tended to be inferior to those provided for  white Americans systematizing a number of economic, educational and social disadvantages. Some examples of Jim Crow laws are the segregation of public schools, public places, and public transportation, and the segregation of restrooms, restaurants, and drinking fountains for whites and blacks. The U. S. military was also segregated. From the mid 1960s through the end of the decade, more than half a million Blacks participated in rebellions that rocked some 300 American cities. More than 60,000 Blacks were arrested, more than 200 were killed, and tens of billions of dollars worth of property was damaged. Despite of the consequences of these acts, humanistic conscience and stirred emotions drove the blacks to disobey the high authority they were cognizant that their entire life have been jeopardize by this unjust law, in other words they were being treat like rejects from another planet, scorned like a plague, and ordered around like a mule on a saddle, hence the introduction the Civil Right Movement that revolutionize worldwide political movements for equality before the laws. This ruckus could have been impeded if they have had some sort of reasoning, however the government being pompous in there thinking and also claiming â€Å"omniscience and omnipotent† they clearly lose sight on the outcome and they did not prevail over the crisis that t hey single handedly created, moreover; their laws were over thrown and their high authority openly defied, by those who they may label as rebels and not a type of revolutionist since they so called oppose the natural flow cycle  of things. A great instance comes from a recognizable man Nelson Mandela, who stood side by side with his beliefs and humanistic conscience, together with determination and resilience to defy, fight and break â€Å"White Supremacy† and the apartheid system in his home country South Africa where their beliefs that the white race is inherently superior to other races and that whites should have control over people of other races. Though Mandela strove to benefit his people and ultimately society on a whole, he was accused of treason and thrown in prison for 27 year since he opposed the normal flow of interaction between the higher authority and its subordinates. Another fine example was displayed by an officer of the U. S armed forces, Lieutenant Ehren Watada, who refused deployment to Iraq, he created fury with his objection and public condemnation of the war in January 2006. Watada therefore believed his own involvement would be constituted as crimes against peace under command responsibility. He asked to be deployed to Afghanistan, where he felt there was a true moral imperative to defend the United States, his request for his resignation was declined. He was force in court on a double jeopardy trial regarding the accusation of insubordination. Today Watada works at Fort Lewis with the continuous threat of a 6-8 year prison term looming over him for the crime of speaking truth to power. We have the authority and are our own individual, whether we choose â€Å"to say no or to obey,† the power is in our hands and not in the hands of others that control you like a puppet on a string. Blindly obeying authority often results in disobedience to one’s personal morality. Since rules were established and exist for the common interests of the general population, some would say follow the rules and be obedient. However, when rules conflict with people’s morals, one has the right, and furthermore the responsibility to disobey. Contrary to popular belief, disobedience does not center around rebellion. In fact, disobedience is the manner in which people shed enlightenment on the well-traveled journey of intellectual ignorance, by offering another point of view. Nevertheless, if people do not challenge their very surroundings, then they will never discover the true freedom that exist behind the castle gate of control and pressure. Through choosing to disagree, a person is exclaiming the fact that they will not negotiate the most personal aspects of their lives, such as their morals theory and still today they neglect to acknowledge an essential partner in the undisputed credibility of moral decisions. This essential is one’s own conscience. By allowing one’s conscience to govern ideals and decisions, the community as a whole rises to a heightened understanding of its surroundings. As conscious individuals, humans acknowledge the fact that not everyone holds the same opinion, and therefore, not everyone is governed by the same rules. .

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Multiplication Tricks and Tips for Faster Learning

Multiplication Tricks and Tips for Faster Learning Like any new skill, learning multiplication takes time and practice. It also requires memorization, which can be a real challenge for young students. The good news is that you can master multiplication with as little as 15 minutes of practice time four or five times a week. These tips and tricks will make the job even easier. Use Times Tables Students usually begin learning basic multiplication by second grade. This skill will be essential as kids advance in class and study advanced concepts like algebra. Many teachers recommend using times tables to learn how to multiply because they allow students to begin with small numbers and work their way up. The grid-like structures make it easy to visualize how numbers increase as they are multiplied. Theyre also efficient. You can complete most times tables worksheets in one or two minutes, and students can track their performance to see how they improve over time. Using times tables is simple. Practice multiplying the 2s, 5s, and 10s first, then the doubles (6 x 6, 7 x 7, 8 x 8). Next, move to each of the fact families: 3s, 4,s, 6s, 7s, 8s, 9s, 11s, and 12s. Start by doing one sheet and see how long it takes you to complete it. Dont worry about how many right or wrong answers you get the first time you complete a worksheet. Youll get faster as you become better at multiplying.  Do not move to a different fact family without first mastering the previous one.   Play a Math Game Who said learning multiplication has to be boring? By turning math into a game, youre more likely to remember what youre doing. Try one of these  games  in addition to times tables worksheets. The 9 Times Quickie 1. Hold your hands in front of you with your fingers spread out.2. For 9 x 3 bend your third finger down. (9 x 4 would be the fourth finger)3. You have 2 fingers in front of the bent finger and 7 after the bent finger.4. Thus the answer must be 27.5. This technique works for the 9 times tables up to 10. The 4 Times Quickie 1. If you know how to double a number, this one is easy.2. Simply, double a number and then double it again! The 11 Times Rule #1 1. Take any number to 10 and multiply it by 11.2. Multiply 11 by 3 to get 33, multiply 11 by 4 to get 44. Each number  to  10 is just duplicated. The 11 Times Rule #2 1. Use this strategy for two-digit numbers.2. Multiply 11 by 18. Jot down 1 and 8 with a space between it. 1__8.3. Add the 8 and the 1 and put that number in the middle: 198 Deck Em! 1. Use a deck of playing cards for a game of multiplication war.2. Initially, children may need the grid to become quick at the answers.3. Flip over the cards as though you are playing Snap.4. The first one to say the fact based on the cards turned over (a 4 and a 5 Say 20) gets the cards.5. The person to get all of the cards wins!6. Children learn their facts much more quickly when playing this game on a regular basis. More Multiplication Tips Here are some easy ways to remember your times tables: Multiplying by 2: Simply double the number that youre multiplying. For example, 2 x 4 8. Thats the same as 4 4.Multiplying by 4: Double the number youre multiplying, then double it again. For example, 4 x 4 16. Thats the same as 4 4 4 4.Multiplying by 5: Count the number of 5s youre multiplying and add them up. Use your fingers to help count if you need to. For instance: 5 x 3 15. Thats the same as 5 5 5.Multiplying by 10: This is super-easy. Just take the number youre multiplying and add a 0 to the end of it. For instance, 10 x 7 70.   Want more practice? Try using some of these fun and easy  multiplication games  to reinforce the times tables.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

ACT Strategies

Extracurricular Strong Students College Admissions and SAT / ACT Strategies SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Do you have great extracurriculars? Maybe you’re captain of the football team or president of a top debate team. Your approach to college admissions will be quite different than a typical student’s, and your SAT / ACT prep process should be uniquely tailored to you. In this article, we talk about what unique opportunities you have in test prep and what traps you should avoid. In this guide, first we'll discuss the different academic and extracurricular strengths students can have and which categories you fit into. We'll also go over why extracurriculars are important to colleges and why certain schools care about them more than others. In the next sections, we'll discuss specific strategies you can follow based on the strength of your extracurriculars and academics. Our final section is for students who are being recruited or otherwise meet special admissions requirements. How Good Do You Have to Be? The best way to approach admissions and test prep depends on two factors: extracurriculars and academics. First, are you relatively good at extracurriculars (think captain of the chess team), or are you truly stellar (think second-best high school football player inthe entire US)? Second, are you already doing well academically (90 percentile or higher on SAT/ACT) or are you more towards the middle? We'll define each of these terms below and give you advice that best fits your situation. Extracurriculars For this article, Relatively Good extracurriculars means that your percentile in an extracurricular is at least three times as good as your academics. For example, if you are an 85th percentile academic (perhaps a GPA of 3.8 unweighted), then you are Relatively Good in extracurriculars if you are at least a 95th percentile in extracurriculars. Likewise, if you are 97th percentile academically (perhaps a GPA of 3.95 unweighted), then you’re relatively strong in extracurriculars if you’re in the 99th percentile. Having Relatively Good extracurriculars is a challenge, and it does make you stand out. Conversely, for Stellar extracurriculars, I’m not talking about being the president of a chess team that you started with five people. I’m not talking about winning second place in a county track meet. You need to be ranked in the top 500 in the country in a popular area (e.g. football, math, debate), or you need to be ranked top 50 in a less popular area (e.g. javelin throwing, Model UN). When calculating these rankings, do it honestly. Don’t kid yourself by making artificial categories. Top 500 in touch football doesn’t count, nor does being top 500 in the uncommon Mandelbrot math competition. If you have to ask whether you’re within the top500, I would play it safe and count yourself out for now (but you can always improve!). Those who are clearly ranked in the top 500 of a popular extracurricular will know without having to mull over the question for hours. Academics Finally, different advice applies to students with strong academic baselines versus those who are more moderate academically. For the purpose of this article, we define a strong academic baseline as someone performing at the 90th percentile forboth their GPA and SAT / ACT score. That is, you’ve looked up your SAT percentile or ACT percentile, and it’s above 90. You’ve also asked your guidance counselor for your class rank, or informally polled your classmates, and you’ve found that that you’re performing at least 90th percentile there too. Those who are performing much less than this have a standard or moderate academic baseline. Of course, there is some flexibility here. Some may say 80th percentile is a strong baseline, and if you’re targeting an institution outside of the US News top 20, this is true. A GPA or class rank that’s 70th percentile or lower is probably no longer strong enough for the definition of this article. Why Do Colleges Care About Extracurriculars? Which Colleges Care More? To begin understanding why students with great extracurriculars are viewed differently by colleges, it’s useful to review the ideas behind why colleges even look for extracurriculars in the first place. Extracurriculars, in general, allow great colleges to have a student body that is more than just students who did well in school.Colleges have their own values, often shaped by the social landscape to which they belong. They may care about social impact, richness of student character, diversity of student body, and so on. Extracurriculars are the method by which colleges select students in furtherance of these values that they hold. However, colleges, at their core, are academic institutions. They believe the most important things are academic: learning subjects, doing well in classes, furthering knowledge through research, etc. Colleges generally value academics more than other areas. This is demonstrated by their emphasis of SAT/ACT scores and GPAs over other applicant qualities like extracurriculars. Think of academics and extracurriculars as being in a â€Å"pyramid of college needs." The academic layer is the lower half, and extracurriculars are the higher half. Colleges want to fill the lower half before filling the upper half.Only colleges that have already had their fill of strong academics will start caring more about extracurriculars.Analogously, in humans, we say that eating is a more fundamental need than watching a movie. If we don’t have a movie and we’re starving, we look for food first. Only if we have enough food do we start caring about the movie. Figure: The hierarchy of college needs. Academics come before extracurriculars. With this model, it’s easy to see why the top colleges care disproportionately more about extracurriculars.The top colleges (generally defined as US News top 50), can already get their full fill of strong academics. There are hundreds of thousands of students every year with GPAs above 3.8 unweighted or with ACT scores above 30 (SAT scores above 1300). These strong academics are more than enough to fill the academic needs of top colleges. Therefore, these top colleges will start using extracurriculars more to differentiate students. If you’re already strong academically, then you’ll likely be targeting higher ranked schools, and your extracurriculars will matter more. Conversely, colleges ranked below 50 in US News (which can still be great colleges for a number of reasons) will care a lot more about academics. If you’re performing only mediocre academically, extracurriculars won’t carry you (unless you are specially recruited, as we’ll discuss below). The next part of this guide will give you specific strategies depending on your current academic status. If your grades and test scores are about average, read the next section for Moderate Academics. If your grades and test scores put you in at least the 90th percentile, skip two sections down to the section for Strong Academics. The final section is for students who are being recruited or who otherwise have special admissions requirements. Moderate Academic Baseline? Shore Up Your ACT / SAT First! As we saw above, your extracurriculars will only really matter if you're great academically as well. Academics and extracurriculars complement each other. After all, the top-ranked schools care about extracurriculars the most, and only then in students who already have a good academic baseline. If you're not currently in the 90th percentile academically, the advice in this section applies to you, regardless of whether your extracurriculars are Relatively Good or Stellar. As we mentioned previously, our rough cutoff to be academically moderate is being below the 90th percentile on the SAT / ACT. If you’re less than that cutoff academically, the most important thing you can do for college admissions is improve your SAT / ACT score and GPA while maintaining your extracurriculars. The further you are from that 90th percentile transition point, the more important academics become. In the extreme, if you’re scoring average or below average academically (ACT 20 out of 36, SAT 1000 out of 1600), your admissions will depend nearly entirely on your academics. Now, how do you solve this? Of course, don’t lose your extracurricular it will be important to admissions later. Also, if you’re so good at this activity, you probably do it because you enjoy it too. However, recognize that, if you’re mediocre academically, you should mainly focus on improving those scores. How will shoring up your academics be different from normal students trying to raise their grades? For one, since you have a great extracurricular going on, that presumably takes up a lot of time. Therefore, you want to increase your academics in the most efficient way possible. This often means that SAT / ACT prep is probably the best way to improve. Just a few hours of study will increase your points substantially and move you up a few percentiles. It’s not uncommon to see a gain of 20 percentiles on the SAT or ACT in return for just 40 hours of study. Contrast that with improving your GPA. Suppose you put in 40 extra hours on your academics. Over the course of your high school career, between classwork and homework, you’re already putting in over 4000 hours of work into academics. An extra 40 hours moves your GPA less than 1 percent! Maybe your GPA will go up from a 3.50 to a 3.53 barely moving the needle. When it comes to time efficiency for college admissions, classes andGPAs are often a wasteland. Thus, the conclusion is that, if you’re not doing superb academically, definitely work to improve that first. Regardless of whether your extracurriculars are Stellar or Relatively Good, if your academics aren't great, the best way to improve your college chances is to work on improving your academics. And, as we explained above, the easiest and fastest way to significantly improve your academics is through ACT / SAT prep. Strong Academically? Here’s What You Should Do Now, suppose you are already performing at the 90th percentile on both your GPA and the SAT / ACT. That’s great news because you have a goodshot at the top 50 US News ranked schools. This is when your extracurricular will start to shine! First, your extracurricular will be the differentiator at this point, so make sure whatever strategy you do, you don’t ruin your main selling point, your main extracurricular strength. If you are in tennis, I would avoid doing activities that injure your arm. If you’re trying to improve academics, then realize that 90th percentile is already good, and be careful not to take any actions that will endanger your special strength. For example, suppose you are a US ranked tennis player. Your GPA is above the 90th percentile, but your ability to write essays about world literature is merely average. You are considering missing some tennis practice sessions to take an essay-writing improvement course. My strong advice: Don’t do it. Your ability to write a bit better about Shakespeare won’t make an impact on college admissions, whereas your tennis ability will. You should understand at this point that colleges will care more about quality than quantity of extracurriculars.Being state-ranked (top 100) in debate and also state-ranked in math is far worse than being nationally-ranked in just one of the categories. Choose one or two things that you are especially good at. Once you go into the â€Å"three somewhat good extracurriculars† area, you seem like a dilettante to colleges, a negative. If you’re good at three or more activities, focus on the one that you’re strongest in, you’re making the most progress in, or that is most recognized by colleges. Thus, my number one advice to you is to focus on that one great extracurricular. At this point, if you’re Relatively Good at an extracurricular, you want to turn that into a Stellar. If you are already Stellar, you want to improve your rank even more. There are two cases when you should still pay attention to academics. First, you should always pick the low hanging fruit. If an easy project or essay comes your way that will boost your score by a lot for very little work, you should definitely still do it. You should also still invest in some SAT / ACT prep, whether by yourself or some other way.Studies show that the first few hours of prep improve your score by the most. While some students study hundreds of hours, 40 hours of prep often is very low-hanging fruit for you to pick to improve your application by a lot. Also, if you are very Stellar already (but not recruited I’ll talk about recruited below), it is worth re-examining your academics. If you are in the Stellar category, you’re probably in the top 0.1 percentile in terms of extracurriculars. If you are just â€Å"merely† top 90th percentile in academics, then your academics are still trailing behind. In that case, it’s worthwhile to push your academics harder still getting up to 98th or 99th percentile. This doesn’t mean a perfect score: you just need to get around a 1500 out of 1600 on the SAT or a 33 out of 36 on the ACT. Again, ACT / SAT Prep is your friend for the above goal. Being Stellar, you likely won’t have much time to invest. Because ACT / SAT prep is a relatively fast way to boost your percentile, it’s a great fit for you. Extra Advice for Students Stellar at Extracurriculars: Recruitment and Special Slots All students who are strong in extracurriculars have an advantage. Usually this advantage is implicit, a wink or a nod from an admissions officer approving of your math team trophy or debate win. However, for some students who are truly stellar, the implicit becomes explicit. A nudge turns into a likely letter. Waffling about flexibility in ACT scores turns into explicit ACT cutoffs. Therefore, if you are really Stellar in an extracurricular, you should look to see if you have explicit special admissions requirements. Special admissions requirements are more advantageous, so you should definitely find out about this if you can. If you’re a Stellar athlete, I would talk to your coach, your local association, your trainer, or even the school you’re interested in attending. Athletes in popular sports like football, baseball, basketball, and so forth especially are recruited. If you are a top athlete looking to continue playing for a college team, this section applies to you! Special admissions requirements also apply for Stellar students of non-athletic fields. For example, if you are a stellar scorer on the USA Math Olympiad (USAMO), both MIT and Caltech have relaxed admissions requirements. Caltech, in fact, explicitly asks for USAMO type scores. Students admitted to the prestigious RSI science community are even given guaranteed admissions to MIT and Caltech. There is no single rule when it comes to explicit special admissions for stellar students. Explicit special requirements depend on each school and each activity. The special SAT / ACT requirement for a USAMO winner at MIT will look very different from that of a Division 1 recruited football player. The best way to find out more information is by researching your particular field. If you’re stellar in a field, chances are you have much deeper and unique resources than a blog can give you. I should also mention that explicit spots depend very much on school, activity, and year, and the specific interaction of all three parts. If Harvard is looking for a flutist in 2004, being good at the flute will give you a much stronger advantage at Harvard than it would at a similar school (like Yale) not recruiting flutists that year. Similarly, if Harvard has a much greater need for a flutist in 2004 than they do in 2006, a flutist who applies in 2004 will have a much better chance of getting in than a flutist who applies in 2006, even if their applications are identical. If one school offers you explicit admissions requirements one year, don't think all schools will give you the same advantage all years. Luck and timing become are important parts of the process. Once you find out about explicit special requirements, you should follow the specific advice you get from your recruiter or mentor about SAT / ACT guidelines. However, it is very common for recruited students, especially in sports, to need to hit a hard SAT / ACT score quota (which is also called a target, goal, or baseline). Recruited Students: Need to Hit an SAT / ACT Quota? In sports and athletics, it’s very common for the best athletes to have explicit SAT or ACT score cutoffs. This means that a recruiter will call you and literally say that, if you get a 30 on the ACT, you will be admitted. Even if it’s not a guarantee, your chances of admissions jump from 10% to 90% at this hard cutoff. This was the case for one of my tutoring students who was a tennis star, and it’s a very common situation for exceptional athletes to find themselves in. In these cases, you should understand that the reason colleges use the SAT / ACT is because these scores tend to be more objective thanteachers or school districts. Colleges are afraid that an easy high school or an easy teacher will give a popular athletestrong grades despite her performance being poor. The internal politics of the college also revolve around ensuring that the stellar extracurricular student can pass everything. If you’re a basketball star, you don’t need to be getting an A in Organic Chemistry. If you’re a math genius, you don’t need to be writing research papers on Voltaire. However, if you start failing out of classes, that will embarrass your future coach. Having an ACT / SAT cutoff is supposed to reduce admitting students like this. When aiming for the SAT / ACT quotas, you should take the test in ways that are different from usual. Suppose you’re reasonably sure that you’ll hit the quota. Then you’re in a good position, and the name of the game is to play it safe and don’t waste time. Unless you are really above the cutoff by a ton, it’s useful to do some ACT / SAT prep. The prep will take just a few hours (no more than 40 hours, or the same amount of time as 1-2 weeks of rigorous sports practice), and it will very effectively improve your score. You don’t want a program that interrupts your sports training; classes that make you miss practice are a bad idea. Now, suppose you’re getting much lower scores than your quota. For example, you usually score a 28, but the quota is a 30. First, it would an extremely good idea to prep in this case because this one number literally will make or break everything.Most students don’t have the good fortune to be told an ACT score can (virtually) guarantee them admissions. You do have that opportunity, so the gains test prep can give you matter more than ever. Second, you will want to take the ACT / SAT as many times as you need so you can maximize your chance of getting above that score. Each time you take the exam, you will want to have higher variance. Try out different strategies read the passage before the questions during one test and vice versa during another. Any strategy that increases the volatility of your score will increase your maximum score attained, and thus your overall chances of getting over the quota. You should invest every bit of time you need in SAT / ACT prep to hit the quota because if you miss it, at least for admissions to that college, all your talent and hard work in that sport or activity will have amounted to nothing. While having so much depend on the ACT / SAT hardly seems fair, it’s actually an advantageous position to be in because the quota is likely a lot less than what you’d need to get if you were applying normally to that university! Conclusion For students who are strong at extracurriculars, here's a handy chart to guide you through the test prep and college admission process: Advice Strength at Extracurriculars Moderate Academically (90%tile) Strong Academically (90%tile) Relatively Good: Percentile-wise, extracurriculars at least 3x stronger than academics. Academics is your first priority. Focus on SAT / ACT prep while maintaining extracurriculars. Your single best extracurricular is the priority. Get low hanging academic fruit like SAT / ACT prep. Stellar: Top 500 in the US (in a popular activity) See if your stellar extracurriculars qualify you for special admissions. Otherwise, focus equally on improving extracurriculars and academics. Your single best extracurricular is the priority. However, make sure your academics don’t fall too far below extracurriculars. Recruited: Your mentor in your field tells you about special circumstances Follow recruiter guidelines. SAT / ACT quota likely. Take the SAT / ACT multiple times. Follow recruiter guidelines. SAT / ACT quota likely. Take the SAT / ACT safely. Most students who are strong in extracurriculars are in the Relatively Good category, as opposed to the absolutely Stellar category (and that’s not a problem, be proud of your strength!). In the Relatively Good category, those who fall below the 90th percentile are urged to focus mainly on academics. At your target colleges, academics are still the bread and butter, and extracurriculars are merely a garnish. Push academics as hard as you can, and often that will mean SAT / ACT prep. If you are already academically strong, though, you are better off continuing to improve your extracurricular. For students with Stellar extracurriculars, it’s always worthwhile to see if you can berecruited or get special admission requirements. At this point, you should be very careful to keep your extracurricular top-notch.If your academics are moderate, though, they will hold you back improve to at least 90 percentile. Once you’re at 90%, extracurriculars become more important, unless you become so good at extracurriculars that it makes sense to notch up academics just a bit more. Finally, recruited students and special admissions students you have the best deal of the bunch. Follow the advice that your recruiters and mentors give you, and remember that, as a general rule, put your extracurricular first. For students of all types, SAT / ACT prep is a relatively low hanging fruit a fast and efficient way to improve your academic standing. What's Next? Want more information on athletic recruiting?Check out our guide which goes throughthe entire process, from beginning to end. Looking for ways to strengthenyour extracurriculars?Check out four examples of amazing extracurricular activities that are sure to impress colleges. Want more tips for test prep?We have lots of guides for SAT prep and ACT prep!

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Theories of Motivation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Theories of Motivation - Essay Example The fifth level is of self actualization. Self actualization consists of fulfillment of goals and creativity. Need for fulfillment of goals is because one has this, he or she gains the desire to fully realize his or herself and become the best he or she is capable of becoming. the creativity part is needed for one to be creative about something then through this he or she gets dedicated and faces challenges which he or she enjoy and after accomplishing the results, he or she feels very enthusiastic about the deed and this motivates them1. Next is level four of needs which is on self esteem. Under self esteem, there is self respect and acceptance and brain power. Self respect and acceptance is all about prestige, reputation and recognition from others. This contains the desire of wanting to feel important, strong and significant and once one accepts him or herself the way they are, they tend to proud to stand with other people proudly. Brainpower is all about one displaying his or her talents and skills. With this, one gets attention from others which he or she appreciates as well as gaining self confidence2. Level three is on Love and Relationships which is inclusive of communication and response as well as validation. Communication and response is about having the desire to be loved and to love as well as have a sense of affection and belonging. Through this, one is able to communicate his or her inner feelings on love and affection to the party concerned. Validation is about joining various clubs and groups, being able to talk to others, contributing to society, marrying and having a family. With this, one is able to live life fully with family and friends and have a very satisfying life. Level two is family and work. Under this lies a social safety and security and survival skill. Social safety and security is all about the need to be safe from physical and psychological harm in ones daily life. When one is assured of his or her present safety, they will alw ays have trust in a safe future3. Survival skills are about working , saving for the future, improving skills and talents and wanting to be organized world. When one thinks about his or her future he or she gains the motivation to work very hard in life. Level one is all about one’s body. Under the body there is physical safety and survival skills again4. Physical safety and security is all about the need and enthusiasm one has of staying alive. This includes ensuring one has enough food, air and water to survive. About the survival skills it is all about eating, sleeping, taking care of bodily needs and being free from pain. The basis and value of this theory in understanding human motivation is the fact that human beings have lower needs as well that need to be satisfied in order to be whole as humans. â€Å"In this manner, Maslow's model indicates that fundamental, lower-order needs like safety and physiological requirements have to be satisfied in order to pursue higher- level motivators along the lines of self-fulfillment. As depicted in the following hierarchical diagram, sometimes called 'Maslow's Needs Pyramid' or 'Maslow's Needs Triangle', after a need is satisfied it stops acting as a motivator and the next need one rank higher starts to motivate†