5 Steps to Increasing Your Emotional Intelligence at Work

5 Steps to Increasing Your Emotional Intelligence at Work Emotional intelligence at work won’t just help you be a better coworker and employee. It is instrumental if you want to become a leader, or a mover and shaker within your field. Figuring out what other people may be thinking, wanting, feeling, and needing, and being sensitive and adaptable to those things will also, of course, make you a better person. Developing these skills would be a win-win personally and professionally, and may just be the secret weapon you need to distinguish yourself and achieve that extra level of success.Here are 5Â  strategies that you can use to start honing (and eventually mastering) your emotional intelligence at work. Start early and see how your career can change.1. Self-AssessIt’s not just about knowing who you are, or what you like, or even what your wants and needs are. It’s not even merely being honest with yourself about your strengths and weaknesses. It’s about understanding these things and having the confidence to w ork from within them, with an aim of accepting your current state, but constantly striving to improve. If you master this, and know exactly where and who you are- in work and in life- you’ll be much better equipped to get where you need to go.2. Self-regulateDevelop your inner Zen master. Keeping your cool in a crisis will help distinguish you for leadership. And being disciplined enough to control your emotions and disruptive or destructive tendencies might eventually reroute them entirely. Cultivate calm and positivity. Worst case scenario, you’ll stress much less. Best case, you’ll become the office guru, then Queen of the Universe.3. Practice empathyYou may think your manager or your co-worker is a total jerk, maybe even an incompetent one. But before you write them off, try to imagine being in their shoes. Are there complicating factors in their lives that you may or may not know about that might be affecting their work or behavior? If you can try and imagi ne how others might be feeling, you’ll be better able to feel for them- and able to exercise compassion. The selfish upside here is that you’ll get much better at understanding what motivates people, and able to maneuver yourself and your team accordingly.4. Relate to peopleReal connections are hard to come by. Cultivate them. Don’t just treat people like stepping stones and distractedly try to maintain your relationships. Work at it. It’s much easier to do if you work on #3 and actually listen to and care about people. And it’s crucial for developing #5.5. CommunicateYou’ve heard a million times that effective communication is the biggest key to leadership and real success. That’s probably because it’s true. Cultivating all of the above skills will help you to avoid misunderstandings, miscommunications, bruised feelings, and mixed signals. It will make your team stronger, and it will make you better- at your job and at your li fe. You’ll have a much easier time developing your sense of purpose and working on your own and with your team to achieve that purpose.

Sustainable Tourism Development Essay Example

Sustainable Tourism Development Essay Example Sustainable Tourism Development Essay Sustainable Tourism Development Essay 1993). Faced with the dramatic growth in international tourism from the 25 million trips of 1950 (WTO, 1993) to the 531 million of 1994 (WTO, 1995a) and its continued predicted growth (WTO, l995b), the replacement of mass tourism with the sustainable tourism promoted by the two positions was illogical. Being small scale, sustainable tourism lacked the capability (Butler, A Framework of Approaches to Sustainable Tourism 227 Downloaded by [113. 210. 1. 106] at 07:28 22 March 2013 1990; Cohen, 1987; Cooper et al. , 1993; Fennell Smale, 1992; Pearce, 1992). Sustainable tourism could neither manage the number of arrivals nor replace the economic benefits accrued (Butler, 1992; Cohen, 1987). For Wheeller (1990, l991a, l991b), the idea was a ‘micro solution’ struggling with a ‘macro problem’. Furthermore, this understanding was inward-looking, failing to recognise the importance of other industry sectors and the wider perspective of sustainable development (Hunter, 1995). Indeed, the second pair of positions better demonstrate the influence of the sustainable development landmarks that shaped the concept (for example, IUCN, 1980, 1991; The World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987; the GLOBE ’90 and ’92 conferences; The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development with Agenda 21). Other criticisms concerned issues such as elitism (Cazes, 1989; Richter, 1987), the problems of ensuring local ownership and control (Cater, 1992), and inbalances in power (Wheeller, 1990, l991a, l991b). Butler (1990) argued that the approach to sustainable tourism portrayed a static picture of impacts. The revision of features related to time and process produced a less flattering scenario (Butler, 1990). For example, the more intense contact between host and guest over a longer duration resulted in greater damage to the fragile host culture than was readily apparent in the ‘good’ versus ‘bad’ tables. The emergence of these tables was partly a response to an over-simplistic interpretation of Krippendorf’s work (1982, 1987). Krippendorf (1987) was not opposed to mass tourism as long as it progressed towards ‘harmonious’ tourism. In fact, he urged that: only if we succeed in living with tourism as a mass phenomenon, ? , can we claim to have made a decisive step forward, (Krippendorf, 1982: 111, author’s emphasis) an assertion often overlooked by proponents of a polar opposite or continuum approach. The third position of movement Criticisms of the earlier understandings of sustainable tourism, coupled with a closer alignment to sustainable development, resulted in the demand to change mass tourism to more sustainable forms (see, for example, Bramwell, 1991; Butler, 1990, 1991; Cohen, 1987; De Kadt, 1990; GLOBE, 1990; EIU, 1992). If the main problem of modern tourism is that of its huge number, (Krippendorf, 1987: 42, author’s emphasis) then mass tourism was the most visible and sensible candidate for initial reform. The sustainable tourism as understood under movement differed from the earlier definitions of sustainable tourism on three key dimensions: Â · The issue of scale became more objective and less emotive. Mass tourism became the subject for improvement, rather than the derided villain. Â · Sustainable tourism became the goal for attainment, rather than the possession of an existing scale of tourism. Operationalising current knowledge to move towards the goal became the 228 Journal of Sustainable Tourism (’mass tourism’) Large scale tourism Sustainable Tourism Goal Downloaded by [113. 210. 1. 106] at 07:28 22 March 2013 Figure 3 Position 3: movement practical focus of effort, rather than the ‘is it or isn’t it sustainable tourism’ debate of previous years. F igure 3 illustrates the understanding of sustainable tourism by movement advocates. As a label, large scale tourism is preferred to mass tourism, for it sheds the negative connotations. Viewed objectively, large scale tourism possesses strengths which could be used to advantage: Â · The environment is attacked by other industries, such as mining and manufacturing (EIU, 1992; McKercher, 1993), and tourism is dependent on environmental quality. The tourism industry must protect its assets; size is important, as large players exert pressure through lobbying power. Â · Large scale operators have the marketing and communication skills, plus contact opportunities in bulk, to actively foster interest in sustainable tourism amongst the millions of consumers who purchase their products. Large size confers influence over suppliers and distributors, which could be used as a persuasive force for the introduction of sustainable policies along the supply chain. Of course, there are less altruistic reasons for large scale tourism to instigate movement towards the sustainable tourism goal. The imposition of environmental regulatory control by governments grappling with world prob lems of acid rain, ozone layer depletion and global warming require a minimum response of compliance. From the demand side, the rise of consumer interest in green issues (see ETB, 1992a, 1992b; Green, 1990) provides the classic incentive of consumer needs. The interest expressed by consumers through financial institutions in environmental practices is a further motive. There are over thirty an ag em en im ts pa ct ys -e as nv ses tem iro nm s s re ent men use t al Guid , re au eline cyc di s for le, red t susta uce inab le to urism Equity Company/organisation focus ta lm s pac im cts al pa lob G im al sic y ph al/ gic olo Ec (’sustainable tourism’) Small scale tourism iro nm en En v -e nv iro nm e nt al A Framework of Approaches to Sustainable Tourism 229 Downloaded by [113. 210. 1. 106] at 07:28 22 March 2013 environmental or ethical funds in the United Kingdom, representing approximately ? 750 million of investment; according to independent financial advisors Holden Meehan (1994), the idea of ‘profit with principle’ has moved from the fringe to the mains tream. Investors are stakeholders requiring satisfaction. There are many examples of large scale tourism proactively moving towards the goal of sustainable tourism (see Middleton Hawkins, 1993, 1994; WTTERC, 1991–1994). British Airways was one of the first tourism companies to publish an environmental report (British Airways, 1991), the International Hotels Environment Initiative was a sector-specific project (Van Praag, 1992), whilst the ‘Green Globe’ programme was targeted across the tourism sectors (WTTERC, 1994). The World Travel Tourism Council, a coalition of Chief Executive Officers from international tourism companies, established the World Travel Tourism Environment Research Centre (WTTERC) to monitor, assess and communicate objectives, strategies and action programmes in respect of environmental management (WTTERC, 1992). Over one hundred guidelines and codes of practice relating to tourism were identified (WTTERC, 1993); the environmental guidelines of the WTTERC itself provide a useful synopsis of the large scale understanding of sustainable tourism (WTTERC, 1992). As Figure 3 demonstrates, the focus of this approach is on the physical/ecological environment, with an emphasis on environmental management systems, incorporating techniques such as environmental audits of products, processes and issues, and environmental impact assessments. The fourth position of convergence The framework culminates in a position of convergence (see Figure 4). This position represents the latest understanding of sustainable tourism as a goal that all tourism, regardless of scale, must strive to achieve (see, for example, Inskeep, 1991). Accepting that the concept of sustainable tourism is still evolving, the absence of a precise goal definition is less important than general movement in the correct direction. Appreciating the wider role of sustainable development, this final position recognises two interpretations of sustainable tourism. The large scale interpretation of sustainable tourism (as portrayed in position three) has a dominantly physical/ecological perspective expressed as a business orientation. The small scale interpretation of sustainable tourism offers a social slant from a local or destination platform. It is akin to the understanding of sustainable tourism as alternative tourism under position one, except for the crucial recognition of the concept as a goal rather than a possession. Both interpretations: Â · focus on the implementation of their current knowledge of sustainable tourism to move towards the ultimate goal of sustainability; Â · seek future progress towards the desired goal through the twin processes of further development of ideas inherent in their own interpretation and by adaptation of ideas found in the other. Together, this results in convergence towards the goal of sustainable tourism. For example, in this quest, large scale tourism is experimenting with techniques for inducing shifts in tourist behaviour compatible with environmentallyfriendly travel, an educational component instigated by the small scale enterprises. Thomsons now provide environmental guidelines for guests; TUI 230 Journal of Sustainable Tourism Downloaded by [113. 210. 1. 106] at 07:28 22 March 2013 Large scale tourism al nm vi ro En Figure 4 Position 4: convergence ave produced an environment ranking for products featured in all their mainstream Euro-brochures. In turn, small scale enterprises are learning about the development of effective environmental management systems, originally the territory of large scale organisations. In the UK, the environmental audit was promoted for small scale concerns by the West Country Tourist Board’s (1993) ‘Green Audit Kit’; the project was then taken nationwide . In addition, by embracing sustainable development, both interpretations are receptive to further ideas generated from outside the tourism sector. Like large scale tourism (see position three), the small scale interpretation of sustainable tourism has produced guidelines and codes of good practice (see, for example, ETB, 1991; Countryside Commission, 1991; Green, 1990), established destination-based projects (for example, the Devon-based Tarka Project) and offered and disseminated advice to interested parties (ETB, 1992a, 1992b, 1993). -e nv iro nm en ta l en t im g olo Ec m an ag em y ph al/ ic al sic en ts pa ct ys -e as nv s e s te m ir o nm sm s re en use tal ent Guid , re au eline cyc s for le, r dit sust edu aina ce ble t ouri sm Equity Company/organisation focus ba Gl p l im s act p im Sustainable Tourism Goal ts ac Local area identity focus Equity Guid e Loc lines for al c sust ont aina Ed rol ble t uc ouri ati To sm on u of Au ris hos tc th t/to e n ha r uri tic act st ity eri s ti cs s act ts mp pac y al i rit ultur l im a c teg loc In o cial/ tion/ a S stin De Small scale tourism A Framework of Approaches to Sustain able Tourism 231 The completed framework Taken as a whole, the framework both structures and partially explains some of the conflicts and debates that have occurred in sustainable tourism. Although due regard should be given to the limitations of a framework based purely on a literature review and purporting to be complementary in nature rather than encompassing, it does present insights to past development whilst taking a view as to the direction of future advances. References Beioley, S. (1995) Green tourism: Soft or sustainable? English Tourist Board Insights, B75–B89. Boo, E. (1990) Ecotourism: The Potentials and Pitfalls. Washington, DC: World Wide Fund for Nature. Brackenbury, M. (1992) Ecotourism: Introduction to ecotourism - A sustainable option? The Bulletin of the Tourism Society 76, 10–12. Bramwell, B. 1991) Tourism environments and management. Tourism Management 12 (4), 363–4. British Airways (1991) British Airways Environmental Review: Heathrow and Worldwide Flying Operations. London: British Airways and Tecnica. Brown, F. (1991) Alternative tourism. English Tourist Board Insights, D27–D29. Buckley, R. (1993) International Cent re for Ecotourism Research. Research Report 1993. Australia: Griffith University. Butler, R. W. (1990) Alternative tourism: Pious hope or Trojan Horse? Journal of Travel Research (3), 40–5. Butler, R. W. (1991) Tourism, environment, and sustainable development. Environmental Conservation 18 (3), 201–9. Butler, R. W. (1992) Alternative tourism: The thin edge of the wedge. In V. L. Smith, and W. R. Eadington (eds) Tourism Alternatives: Potentials and Pitfalls in the Development of Tourism. Philadephia: University of Pennsylvania Press and the International Academy for the Study of Tourism. Cater, E. (1992) Profits from paradise. Geographical 64 (3), 16–21. Cazes, G. H. (1989) Alternative tourism: Reflections on an ambiguous concept. In T. V. Singh et al. (eds) Towards Appropriate Tourism: The Case of Developing Countries. Frankfurt: Peter Lang. Cohen, E. (1972) Toward a sociology of international tourism. Social Research 39 (1), 164–82. Cohen, E. (1987) Alternative tourism: A critique. Tourism Recreation Research 12 (2), 13–18. Cohen, E. (1989) Primitive and remote: Hill tribe trekking in Thailand. Annals of Tourism Research 16 (1), 30–61. Cooper, C. et al. (1993) Tourism: Principles and Practice. London: Pitman Publishing. Countryside Commission (1991) Visitors to the Countryside: A Consultation Paper. Cheltenham: Countryside Commission. Davidson, R. (1992) Tourism in Europe. London: Pitman Publishing. De Kadt, E. (1990) Making the Alternative Sustainable: Lessons from Development for Tourism. Sussex: Institute of Development Studies (DP 272). De Kadt, E. (1992) Making the alternative sustainable: Lessons from the development of tourism. In V. L. Smith and W. R. Eadington (eds) Tourism Alternatives: Potentials and Pitfalls in the Development of Tourism. Philadephia: University of Pennsylvania Press and the International Academy for the Study of Tourism. Dernoi, L. A. (1988) Alternative or community-based tourism. In L. J. D’Amore and J. Jafari (eds) Tourism, a Vital Force for Peace. Vancouver, Canada: Color Art Inc. Economic Intelligence Unit (1992) The Tourism Industry and the Environment (special report no. 2453). London: EIU. English Tourist Board (1991) Tourism and the Environment: Maintaining the Balance. Report by the government task force. London: ETB and Employment Department Group. Downloaded by [113. 210. 1. 106] at 07:28 22 March 2013 232 Journal of Sustainable Tourism English Tourist Board (1992a) The Green Light: A Guide to Sustainable Tourism. London: ETB et al. English Tourist Board (1992b) Tourism in National Parks: A Guide to Good Practice. London: ETB et al. English Tourist Board (1993) Local Tourism Heritage Trust Guidelines. A Guide for Businesses and Associations Interested in Raising Money to Conserve the Environment. London: ETB et al. Farrell, B. H. and Runyan, D. (1991) Ecology and tourism. Annals of Tourism Research 18, 26–40. Fennell, D. A. and Smale, B. J. A. (1992) Ecotourism and natural resource protection: Implications of an alternative form of tourism for host nations. Tourism Recreation Research 17 (1), 21–32. Global Opportunities for Business and the Environment (1990) An Action Strategy for Sustainable Tourism Development. Vancouver: GLOBE. Green, S. (1990) The future for green tourism. English Tourist Board Insights, D5–D8. Heath, E. and Wall, G. (1992) Marketing Tourism Destinations: A Strategic Planning Approach. Chichester: John Wiley and Sons. Holden Meehan (1994) An Independent Guide to Ethical and Green Investment Funds (5th edn). London: Holden Meehan. Hunter, C. (1995) On the need to reconceptualise sustainable tourism development. Journal of Sustainable Tourism 3 (3), 155–65. Inskeep, E. (1991) Tourism Planning. An Integrated and Sustainable Development Approach. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold. International Union for the Conservation of Nature (1980) World Conservation Strategy. Geneva: IUCN. International Union for the Conservation of Nature (1991) Caring for the Earth: A Strategy for Sustainable Living. Geneva: IUCN. Krippendorf, J. (1982) Towards new tourism policies: The importance of environmental and sociocultural factors. Tourism Management 3, 135–48. Krippendorf, J. (1987) The Holiday Makers: Understanding the Impact of Leisure and Travel. London: Heinemann. Lane, B. (1989) Will rural tourism succeed? In S. Hardy, T. Hart and T. Shaw (eds) The Role of Tourism in the Urban and Regional Economy (pp. 34–9). London: Regional Studies Association. Lane, B. (1990) Sustaining host areas, holiday makers and operators alike. In F. Howie (ed. ) The Proceedings of the Sustainable Tourism Development Conference. Queen Margaret College, Edinburgh. Lanfant, M. and Graburn, N. H. H. (1992) International tourism reconsidered: The principle of the alternative. In V. L. Smith and W. R. Eadington (eds) Tourism Alternatives: Potentials and Problems in the Development of Tourism. Philadelphia: University of Pennslyvania Press and the International Academy for the Study of Tourism. McKercher, B. (1993) The unrecognised threat to tourism: Can tourism survive sustainability? Tourism Management 14 (2), 131. Middleton, V. T. C. and Hawkins, R. (1993) Practical environmental policies in travel and tourism - Part 1: The hotel sector. Travel and Tourism Analyst 6, 63–76. Middleton, V. T. C. and Hawkins, R. (1994) Practical environmental policies in travel and tourism - Part 2: Airlines, tour operators and destinations. Travel and Tourism Analyst 1, 83–97. Murphy, P. E. (1994) Tourism and sustainable development. In W. Theobald (ed. ) Global Tourism the Next Decade. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann. Nash, D. (1992) Epilogue: A research agenda on the variability of tourism. In V. L. Smith and W. R. Eadington (eds) Tourism alternatives: Potentials and Problems in the Development of Tourism. Philadelphia: University of Pennslyvania Press and the International Academy for the Study of Tourism. Pearce, D. G. (1992) Alternative tourism: concepts, classifications, and questions. In V. L. Smith and W. R. Eadington (eds) Tourism Alternatives: Potentials and Problems in the Downloaded by [113. 210. 1. 106] at 07:28 22 March 2013 A Framework of Approaches to Sustainable Tourism 233 Development of Tourism. Philadelphia: University of Pennslyvania Press and the International Academy for the Study of Tourism. Przeclawski, K. (1993) Tourism as the subject of interdisciplinary research. In D. G. Pearce and R. W. Butler (eds) Tourism research: Critiques and Challenges. London: Routledge and the International Academy for the Study of Tourism. Richter, L. K. (1987) The search for appropriate tourism. Tourism Recreation Research 12 (2), 5–7. Tourism Concern (1992) Beyond the Green Horizon. London: Tourism Concern and World Wide Fund for Nature. Travis, A. S. (1988) Alternative tourism. Naturopa 59, 25–7. Valentine, P. S. (1993) Ecotourism and nature conservation. Tourism Management 14 (2), 107–15. Van Praag, H. J. (1992) Industrial leadership: A practical example in the hotel industry. Tourism and the Environment: Challenges and Choices for the 90s, November, 62–66. West Country Tourist Board (1993) Green Audit Kit. Exeter: WCTB. Wheeller, B. (1990) Is sustainable tourism appropriate? In F. Howie (ed. ) The Proceedings of the Sustainable Tourism Development Conference. Edinburgh, Queen Margaret College, November. Wheeller, B. (199la) Is progressive tourism appropriate? Tourism and Hospitality Management: Established Disciplines or Ten Year Wonders? Guildford: University of Surrey. Wheeller, B. (199lb) Tourism’s troubled times: Responsible tourism is not the answer. Tourism Management 12 (2), 91–6. Wight, P. (1995) Sustainable ecotourism: Balancing economic, environmental and social goals within an ethical framework. Tourism Recreation Research 20 (1), 5–13. 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Research proposal Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Research proposal - Dissertation Example A growing and more substantial body of research and studies provide evidence of conflict between intrinsic motivation (a person’s own motivation for undertaking a task) and extrinsic motivation (external and conditionally imposed motivation for undertaking a task) (Benabou & Tirole, 2003; Holmstrom & Milgrom, 1991; Kreps 1997). In response to the diverse range of motivational studies a number of motivational theories have emerged that endeavor to account for the various findings. Such theories include those that focus either on incentives, expectancies or goals, and those that seek explanation of how employees respond to different types of incentives provided. The objective of this study is to take an investigative approach to research the various motivational theories and how they are being implemented within the workplace. A study will then be undertaken in order to determineundertaking a study that will focus on employee perceptions of the motivational incentive systems ope rating within their company, and how they impact on their performance and effort. ... research literature in relation to motivational systems and theories used within the workplace, and has the potential to provide suggestions for future incentive systems that take both intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors into account and foster best opportunities and maximum efficiency and effectiveness of personnel. Literature review Motivational theorists consider that for each and every thing we do (behavior and actions) there is a fundamental reason or cause. They also believe that appreciation of the causes will enable prediction and thus allow for influence on those behaviors or actions (Franken, 2002). Motivational research today focuses mainly on the determination of what spurs motivation - what stimulus is required to increase motivation - and takes both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation into consideration. Intrinsic motivation according to Oudeyer & Kaplon (2007) is best understood when contrasted with extrinsic motivation, which relates to any activity that is un dertaken because of some of kind of reward or discrete outcome. Intrinsic motivation by contrastive definition refers to activities that are undertaken solely for pleasure with no price or value imposed on it (Ryan & Deci, 2000). An important distinction however, is that intrinsic and extrinsic do not mean the same as internal and external and are not synonyms. Internal motivations receive internal rewards, whereas external motivation receives external rewards; intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation however is not determined by where the reward comes from but on the type of reward that is given (Oudeyer & Kaplon, 2007). The theory of incentives has traditionally assumed that concrete and/or intangible rewards such as money, power or investments (Hoy & Miskel, 1991) that are given

Summary about Oklahoma movie Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Summary about Oklahoma movie - Essay Example Despite the fact Laurey wants to show she does not care so much about Curly, she is in love with him. They finally decide to go together, but because Laurey is afraid of Jud she suddenly changes her mind. At the box-social, Curly pays the biggest price in a contest over Laurey’s food box. He has sold what he owned and was able to pay $42.31, quite a big sum for that time (the beginning of the 20th century). In three weeks, Curly and Laurey are to marry. Their merry event is overshadowed by Jud’s drunk intrusion. Jud breaks in and threatens his ex-rival with a knife. A brawl starts. Jud falls on his own knife and dies. Curly is acquitted of Jud’s murder and the newlyweds ride off on their exciting honeymoon. The second pair, Ado Annie and Will Parker, too, get married at the end despite Ado was about to change her mind. Specifically, Will wanted to marry Ado, but had to get the sum of $50 just because her father said so. When he returns from the fair in Kansas-city, he finds out that he has to compete for Ado’s affection with Ali Hakim, a Persian peddler. While Will was away, Ado fell for Hakim who was just flirtatious but did not mean to marry her. Ado’s father insists that Hakim marry Ado as he sees his flirt, at the same time Will has lavishly spent his $50 on gifts. Because Hakim, a ladies’ man, does not want to marry Ado and thinks it will be good if Will did, he pays him $50 for his presents, which is the way for Will to win Ado’s hand. Finally, Will and Ado get together to discuss their future prospects, i.e. their

Project Strategy and the Leadership Culture for a large construction Assignment

Project Strategy and the Leadership Culture for a large construction project - Assignment Example When developing a strategy for procurement, it is essential to consider all the factors that are vital to the project such as the project objectives, resources that are available, the total budget and the project duration. The assessment of these factors will ensure that the team has a tailor made procurement plan that contributes towards the project’s objectives. Before any purchase is made, the procuring officer must be able to answer the question as to why that item is being purchased, and if it is the most cost-effective option. All options must be considered, and, since there are some items that can be prepared on site, it is important to consider all available options. An example is concrete. Some companies sell concrete that is ready for use and is delivered to the site in trucks. However, the project managers can decide to buy cement separately and mix it at the site for use (Ward, 2009). All these options have to be considered so that the supervisors find one that is not only cost effective but also saves on labor cost, time and use of mechanical equipment. Sustainability is also a factor that determines the duration for which we keep up with certain purchases. Considering the budget allocated, we should be able to determine whether our procurement decision can be supported in the long run. An important factor in the procurement process is finding suppliers. Suppliers are weighed based on various standards such as reliability and the cost. The procurement process should be done in a cost-effective manner that saves on the estimated figures. This can be done by identifying suppliers who are inexpensive. However, this is not the only measure of a good supplier.Reliability is equally important when it comes to choosing a supplier of choice. A good supplier must be able to supply high quality products within the required time and at an affordable cost; it does not have to be the cheapest option. It is acceptable to pay slightly more

Advantages and Disadvantages of Biological Control

Advantages and Disadvantages of Biological Control Summary Following numerous discussions of the risks associated with biological control, (see Howarth, 1991; Simberloff Stiling 1996; Thomas Willis 1998) literature was reviewed in order to investigate whether biological control was an environmentally friendly or a risky business. Although a lack of firm evidence suggests that risks may be perceived rather than real, the release of the biological control agent Harmonia axyridis by countries lacking in regulation has severely damaged biological controls reputation and ecosystems all over Europe. Biological control is the most sustainable, cost efficient and natural method of pest management and therefore it should be used to its full potential. Harmonized regulation is required to improve biological controls reputation by preventing the release of risky agents in the future. Regulation should facilitate rather than restrict the use of biological control below its potential. Regulation should be specifically designed for biological control an d should enforce the use of an environmental risk assessment (ERA). Scientifically based methodologies are required to ensure an efficient ERA is conducted for potential biological control agents. An efficient ERA should identify unsuitable agents as early as possible to reduce cost and time requirements. This will allow the continued growth of the biological control industry. Biological control should be utilised as part of Integrated Pest Management to ensure the most efficient control of each pest. Introduction and objectives Insects are the foundations of ecosystems, vectors of disease and agricultural pests around the world (Gassmann et al. 2009). Table 1 shows that as agricultural pests, insects cause economic losses of billions every year. The economic damage caused by insect pests (see Table 1) and the increased consumer demand for blemish free produce has led to the utilisation of different approaches to pest management (Castle et al. 2009). For example, modern pesticides have been used since their development in the 1940s and it has recently been estimated that 8000 metric tons of insecticide (FAO, 2009) are used around the world at an approximate cost of $40 billion every year (Akhabuhaya et al. 2003). The advantages of pesticide use include the short time between application and effect, the eradication of the pest in the area of application and the predictability of success (Bale et al. 2008). The speed and assumed efficiency of pesticides led to their great popularity up to the 1970s when concerns arose about their effects on health and the environmental (see Table 2). The rise in public concern and increased evidence of the negative effects of pesticides (see Table 2) led to the reduction of their use in the 1970s (Chiu Blair, 2009). Pesticides associated with the more serious risks were made illegal, such as DDT in 1984 (Attaran Maharaj, 2000). The great reduction in pesticide use over the last 50 years has allowed other pest management techniques, such as biological control, to be further developed and utilised (Suckling Brockerhoff, 2010). Biological control has received great support due to its natural mechanisms. For example, van Lenteren (2005) estimates that 95% of native insects are already controlled through natural biological control. In addition, a continuous increase in international trade and travel has led to increased insect dispersal between countries (Waage Mumford, 2008). For example, 62,000 pests were reported following an Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) studycarried out on airplane and boat passengers in the USA (Dunn, 1999). Also, there has been a recent increase in the number of crops grown in glasshouses across Europe. Glasshouse conditions are much more suited to invasive insects, so this has allowed increased establishment (Hunt et al. 2008). The movement to reduce pesticide use, popularity of natural control, increased levels of insect invasions and the use of glasshouses to grow crops greatly increased the demand for biological control in the 1980s (Sheppard et al. 2003). Biological control is the use of living organisms to actively reduce the population density of a pest species. A biological control scheme is deemed a success if the pest population densities are lowered to the extent that they are no longer considered an economic or environmental threat (van Klinken Raghu, 2006). Biological control can be further classified as classical, augmentative (inundative) or conservation. Classical biological control is the permanent reduction in the population of an exotic pest species through introduction of its exotic natural enemy. The introduced control agent is required to establish as it is meant for self sustaining control of the pest (Eilenberg et al. 2001). A classical biological control scheme that has reached great success is the use of Rodolia cardinalis against the invasive scale insect Icerya purchasi. Following its accidental introduction into California, I. purchasi was threatening to ruin the Californian citrus industry. R. cardinalis was selected as a monophagous natural enemy and 128 individuals were introduced to California. Populations of I. purchasi were controlled within a year (Frank McCoy, 2007). Classical biological control schemes that only reached partial success, i.e. pest population densities were reduced but the agent did not fully est ablish, led to the development and use of augmentative biological control. Augmentative biological control is the release of natural enemies in an inundative or seasonal inoculative manner (van Lenteren, 2005). Inundative biological control is the mass release of biological control agents to quickly reduce a pest population density (Eilenberg et al. 2001). Inundative control agents are not meant to establish so agents may require reintroduction. An example of this is the mass release of the parasitoid Trichogramma brassicae to control the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) (Bigler, 1986). Seasonal inoculative biological control is the release of a natural enemy species with the aim that they will reproduce, survive and control pests throughout a crops growing season (van Lenteren Woets, 1988). Conservation biological control is the alteration of the environment towards one more suited to the pests natural enemy. For example, the provision of extra host plants (Anethum graveolens and Coriandrum sativum) for the natural enemies (Edovum puttleri and Pediobius foveolatus) of the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) (Patt et al. 1997). The aim is a long term increase in natural enemy populations resulting in increased control of pests (Landis et al. 2000). Until the mid 1980s, the introduction of over 2000 natural enemy species and the successful control of over 165 invasive pest species, led to the belief that biological control was an environmentally safe and cost effective alternative to pesticides and GM organisms (van Lenteren et al. 2006a). However, Howarths (1991) argument that there were serious risks associated with biological control was followed by a flood of papers discussing evidence of similar risks (for example, Simberloff Stiling, 1996; Louda et al. 2003). It was recognised that an unsuitable biological control agent may cause the problems associated with an invasive insect. The potential risks of biological control include the possibility that the exotic agent could be poisonous, allergenic or the vector of a disease that is dangerous to humans (Howarth, 1991). Introduced species could become essential crops pests or they could indirectly cause an increase in other crop pest populations (Howarth, 1991). For example, the reduction in target pest species may allow previously outcompeted insects to increase population size to pest densities (Kenis et al. 2009). Biological control agents may kill a plant that other insects rely on for food or shelter (Simberloff Stiling, 1996). For example, the destruction of ash by the Chinese buprestid Agrilus planipennis has threatened the whole Frazinus genus of leptidoptera (Kenis et al. 2009). Further-more, biological control agents may predate or outcompete insects involved in plant in tri-trophic interactions or they may kill plant essential pollinators (Simberloff Stiling, 1996). The greatest risks of biological control are those that impact on the environment. These risks include non target effects (Hokkanen, 2003). For example, the generalist biological control agent Compsilura concinnata has threatened the extinction of six non target Lepidoptera species in North America (Boettner et al. 2000). The effect of a biological control agent on non target organisms may be direct, such as the parasitisation of a non target host when the target is unavailable, or the preference of exotic prey over the target (Simberloff Stiling, 1996; Kriticos et al. 2009). For example, Cotesia glomerata parasitised the non target butterfly Pieris oleracea which is now at risk of extinction (Van Driesche et al. 2003). A reduction in non target population size may reduce their genetic diversity and therefore ability to adapt to future environmental changes (Kenis et al. 2009). Introduced agents may hybridise with native species or be a vector of a disease to which native invertebra tes have no resistance (NRC, 2002). The possible indirect effects of biological control include resource competition (Delfosse, 2005). For example, the introduced parasitoid C. concinnata appears to have outcompeted the native silk moth parasitoid (Lespesia frenchii) in New England (Parry, 2009). Biological control agents may share predators with a native herbivore. This may result in the disruption of natural biological control: reduced predation of the native herbivore may allow its population to increase to pest densities. Severe alterations to the ecosystem may occur if the introduced species affects an ecosystems keystone species or becomes a keystone species (Wagner Van Driesche, 2010). This would alter natural co-evolved relationships (Strong Pemberton, 2000) inducing evolutionary changes (Kenis et al. 2009). Finally, biological control agents may disperse from their area of introduction. This means the risks described are relevant to any neighbouring habitats and countries (Howarth, 1991). The increased discussion of these risks has led to demand for regulation implementing a thorough risk assessment to ensure that only safe biological control agents are released (Delfosse, 2005). Numerous publications have been released by organisations and countries (such as IPPC, 1997; EPPO, 1999; EPPO, 2001; EPPO, 2002; EU-funded ERBIC, 1998-2002; OECD, 2004; IOBC/WPRS, 2003; IPPC, 2005; REBECA, 2007). These publications provide useful regulatory guidelines but they are not legally binding, they are also too vague as they do not state appropriate Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) methods (Kuhlmann et al. 2006). Many countries have not produced regulations or do not actively utilise them and this has resulted in extremely patchy regulation across the globe. Advocates of biological control argue that the discussions of the potential risks do not provide adequate evidence that observed effects were due to biological control (Lynch et al. 2001). Also, insect invasions occur accidently all the time with little evidence of any harm and therefore, an increase in regulation is not required. To answer the question posed (is biological control an environmentally friendly or risky business?) this review will address the following questions: Are the perceived risks of biological control founded on relevant evidence? What and where are the current biological control regulatory systems? Are ERA methods described and if so are they efficient ortoo strict, expensiveor vague? Do they acknowledge the differences between classical and inundative biological control and are they applicable to both? What should an efficient ERA comprise of? Is biological control compatible with other pestmanagement schemes? Methods The initial literature search was conducted to identify the scope of the topic: Web of Knowledge was used because this search engine has a database holding a wide range of journals. The use of Web of Knowledge also has the advantage of being able to read the abstract before downloading the paper and the search can be restricted to Science Citation Index Expanded to increase the relevance of results. In order to study the full history of biological control, there was no restriction placed on the year of publishing and a range of broad key words were used including insect biological control AND history. Following the initial search and study of primary papers, key areas of interest were identified where further research was required in order to answer the question posed. Papers of interest were found using article reference lists and topic specific searches. These searches were conducted using key words for each area that required more detailed research. For example, papers on the problems associated with pesticide use were searched for using PubMed. PubMed is a biomedical database so was a more relevant search engine for this particular topic. Key words used included pesticide limit* AND human health. Once found, citation searches were used on key papers to help establish their importance and accuracy. Boolean operators were used to combine keywords in the Topic search. An asterisk (*) was typed at the end of words that could have various endings. This allowed a wider search including titles with singular and plural word forms. The OR operator was used between possible key words to allow for variation in terminology. When a search found too many results (over 100), AND or NOT were used between words and more specific key words were identified to help make the results more relevant. More specific keywords were identified using terminology that was common in the titles of interesting papers. When a search resulted in less than 100 papers all abstracts were read. If the abstract suggested the paper might provide evidence towards answering the question posed, the full paper was read. This search strategy allowed the efficient search of specific papers relevant to each area of interest. Key Papers Effects of a Biological Control Introduction on Three Non-target Native Species of Saturniid Moths Boettner et al. (2000) Conservation Biology, 14, 1798-1806. To answer the question posed, (is biological control an environmentally friendly or risky business?) this review needs to consider whether or not the risks discussed for biological control are founded on relevant evidence. Examples used to demonstrate non target effects are often criticized because they do not account for native predation causing non target mortality (Lynch et al. 2001). This study is pioneering as it is the first to directly assess the non target effects of the classical biological control agent Compsilura concinnata and compares these effects to native predators. The effects of C. concinnata on the non targets Hyalophora cecropia, Callosamia promethean and the state endangered Hemileuca maia maia were studied. This experiment was conducted following observations that these non target species populations had declined since the introduction of C. concinnata. Cohorts of 100 H. cecropia larvae, densities of 1 100 C. promethean larvae and wild H. maia maia eggs were observed in the field. The percentage mortality of each species that was due to C. concinnata was calculated. Boettner et al. (2000) found that 81% of H. cecropia mortality was due to C. concinnata (see Table 5). 67.5% of C. promethean larvae and 36% of H. maia maia mortality were also found to be due to C. concinnata. Boettner et al. (2000) found that C. concinnata was responsible for the majority of non target deaths and that the numbers of individuals surviving may be less than the minimum viable population size for each species. Biological control should never result in a loss of biodiversity (Kuris, 2003). Methods utilised were supported by previous studies and were conducted in realistic conditions. This is important because host selection is effected by physiological conditions including the availability of hosts (van Lenteren et al. 2006b). However, the species were reared in a laboratory before and after exposure to parasitoids. This is undesirable as larvae were reared in unnatural conditions which could alter the parasitoids host selection (van Lenteren et al. 2006b). In addition, repeats should have been conducted for each experiment to allow for natural variation in host selection (Bigler et al. 2005). Although this paper accounts for mortality due to native predators, it is still limited by the assumption that the observed reduction in saturniid moth populations was due to increased levels of predation. Other possible reasons for non target population declines and the parasitisation rate prior to the introduction of C. concinnata require consideration. Van Lenteren et al. (2006b) states that firm evidence non target population declines are due to biological control is often lacking. Therefore, it may be argued that this study does not provide substantial evidence that C. concinnata has caused the observed decline in non target populations. Overall, Boettner et al. (2000) provide evidence that C. concinnata parasitises non target species. Since its initial release in 1906, C. concinnata has been observed parasitizing over 180 native North American species. In combination with other evidence of non target effects and with the knowledge that non target studies are rarely conducted following introductions, this study assists in the argument that non target effects are a reality (Louda Stiling, 2004). Therefore, biological control has the potential to be environmentally risky. Changes in a lady beetle community following the establishment of three alien species Alyokhin Sewell (2004) Biological Invasions, 6, 463-471. The successful introduction of Rodolia cardinalis was followed by the introductions of numerous coccinellids without a thorough risk assessment (van Lenteren, 2005). As a result, many indirect effects have been recorded. However, numerous experiments that appear to provide evidence for indirect effects have been criticized because they took place over such a short time scale. This means that limited conclusions can be drawn because they do not allow for natural variation in species abundances (Alyokhin Sewell, 2004). Long term research is required in order to provide adequate evidence for the indirect effects of biological control. This is particularly relevant to coccinellids as they are known for population fluctuations (Alyokhin Sewell, 2004). This paper provides evidence of the biological control agents Harmonia axyridis, Coccinella septempunctata and Propylea quatordecimpunctata competitively displacing native coccinellids. This paper is pioneering as the change in coccinellid populations was observed over a 31 year period so it allows for natural variation. Alyokhin Sewell (2004) found that prior to 1980 the majority of coccinellid species recorded were native. Following the establishment of C. septempunctata in 1980, native species were outcompeted; the abundance of C. septempunctata increased from 6.1% in 1980 to 100% in 1994 (see Figure 1). In 1993 and 1995 P. quatordecimpunctata and H. axyridis established respectively (see Figure 1). Alyokhin Sewell (2004) concluded that the increase in exotic coccinellid establishment was strongly correlated with a statistically significant decline in native coccinellid populations. This study provides evidence for the indirect effects of biological control. The methodology allows for natural population fluctuations and both methods and results were supported by previous studies (such as Brown Miller 1998; Elliott et al. 1996). However, controls were obtained from an archive, this is undesirable as it does not ensure the use of the same protocol. Experiments should always include appropriate positive and negative controls to enable the drawing of accurate conclusions (van Lenteren et al. 2006b). In addition, this study does not consider other factors that might have affected native species populations such as temperature and other native species. The establishment of exotic coccinellids did not result in the total displacement of native species; native species were present throughout the study in reduced abundance. This may indicate that although competition took place, it was not substantial enough to place the native coccinellids at risk of extinction. Therefore, it may be argued that the benefits of aphid control are worth a reduction in native coccinellid populations (Pearson Callaway, 2005). In addition, this study is further limited as it took place on a potato field and potato is exotic to the area. Therefore, this experiment may not reflect the effects of an introduction exotic insect to a naturally evolved ecosystem. For example, potato and native coccinellids did not evolve together and this may have provided exotic species with a competitive advantage (Strong Pemberton, 2000). Despite the limitations discussed, this study provides evidence of habitat displacement in biological control. Alyokhin Sewell (2004) utilised appropriate statistical tests to provide valuable insight into the change in native species populations following biological control agent establishment. The regulations and assessments under which biological control agents such as H. axyridis and C. septempunctata were released needs to be reassessed to ensure biological control is environmentally safe. Harmonia axyridis in Great Britain: analysis of the spread and distribution of a non-native coccinellid Brown et al. (2008) BioControl, 53, 55-67. Harmonia axyridis has been released to control aphids and coccids across Europe (for example, Ukraine in 1964, Belarus in 1968, France in 1982, Portugal in 1984, Italy in 1990s, Greece in 1994, Spain in 1995, Netherlands in 1996, Belgium in 1997, Germany in 1997, Switzerland for a short period in the 1990s before it was deemed too risky and finally, Czech republic in 2003). Since its introduction into these countries, H. axyridis has also been observed in Austria, Denmark, the UK, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Norway and Sweden (Brown et al. 2007). This paper provides evidence of H. axyridis dispersal into Great Britain, where it has never intentionally been released. This paper was selected as unlike other countries, Great Britain has monitored the spread of H. axyridis since its initial arrival in 2004 (Majerus et al. 2006). Brown et al. (2008) utilised a web based survey to follow the dispersal of H. axyridis across Great Britain. Between 2004 and 2006, the analysis of 4117 H. axyridis recordings indicated that H. axyridis dispersed an average of 58 km north, 144.5 km west and 94.3 km north-west per year. The increased western dispersal rate is suggested to be due to multiple invasions from the European mainland. H. axyridis recordings increased by an average of 2.9 fold each year and the mean number of adults per recording increased from 2.9 in 2004 to 6.2 in 2006. The results from this study indicate that H. axyridis has invaded Great Britain on multiple occasions and through multiple methods. For example, a single northern population of H. axyridis was recorded in Derby. This indicates that this population must have arisen from a separate invasion than those populations spreading across the UK from the East. Public recordings were verified before inclusion in the analysis. Although this would have increased the accuracy of results, 4316 recordings were not verified so were not included. Some of the non verified recordings were likely to be H. axyridis but verification was not possible. Therefore, the analysis in this paper could be a huge underestimate of the actual dispersal and abundance of H. axyridis across the Great Britain. This data set is also limited due to the uneven spread of human populations across Great Britain. This would have resulted in a variation in the frequency of recordings in different areas. Therefore, these results may not accurately represent the species abundance. This paper demonstrates that the currently inconsistent regulation for biological control across Europe is not adequate. The release of a biological control agent in one country will inevitably affect neighbouring countries. For example, H. axyridis has never been intentionally released in the UK but it has been estimated that since its invasion, H. axyridis could negatively affect 1, 000 of Great Britains native species (Majerus et al. 2006). The release of H. axyridis provides evidence that patchy regulation is a risk of biological control in itself. Review of invertebrate biological control agent regulation in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA: recommendations for a harmonized European system Hunt et al. (2008) Journal of Applied Entomology, 132, 89-123. Whilst the potential risks of biological control have only recently been acknowledged in Europe, they have been recognised and regulations have been implemented to avoid them for over forty years in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA. Following a thorough and pioneering review of current regulation, Hunt et al. (2008) have discussed the adaptation of some concepts for Europe. Hunt et al. (2008) found that although most European countries have regulation in place, only eight countries utilise them. Therefore, like Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA, Europe requires the passing of legislations to enforce the safe use of biological control. Australia is the only country to have a governing body specifically for biological control. Regulations in New Zealand, Canada and the USA fall under plant, conservational, environmental or endangered species Acts (Hoddle, 2004). Europe requires an EU level body and regulation specifically for insect biological control. This body should cover both environmental and agricultural issues and should be composed of experts representing each country. The EU body should implement regulations across Europe and should make decisions for the release of biological control agents. Like Canada, the USA, Australia and New Zealand a group of scientific experts should be utilised to review applications and recommend decisions to the EU body. This will ensure the decision for each introduction is based on the opinion of experts covering a broad range of expertise. Following the establishment of an EU wide body and the passing of legislation, scientifically based ERA procedures need to be developed. In both Australia and the USA, approval is sought for the non target list prior to host specificity testing, however, this may restrict the ideally flexible nature of host specificity testing where species should be added or removed when appropriate (Kuhlmann et al. 2005). Hunt et al. (2008) suggest European regulation should follow New Zealand by involving discussions with experts. This will ensure the consideration of all risks, costs, benefits and the use of a scientifically based ERA. Discussion with experts will also reduce costs and time wasted on projects that do not have potential or are not being completed in an efficient manner. This paper uses examples from the USA and Canada to demonstrate that a regulatory body over the whole of Europe is possible. It also emphasises the importance of utilising previous experiences of regulated countries to implement effective regulation in Europe. However, Messing (2005) argues that the USA has unresolved legislative problems between their federal and state governing boards. For example, Hawaii has such strict ERA regulations that the use of biological control is hindered and the federal ERA regulations are insufficient as they do not involve adequate application review. In addition, Cameron et al. (1993) argues that only 24% of biological control projects in New Zealand have been a success. Goldson et al. (2010) adds that Australian and New Zealand legislations are too strict. For example, in order to receive approval for release, evidence is required to prove agents do not pose any risks but this is often impossible due to time and cost constraints. Care is required when reviewing the regulation of biological control in other countries. The presence of regulation does not necessarily mean it is enforced and information from government employees may be susceptible to political issues. Europe wide legislation is required but time and cost constraints need to be taken into account. In conclusion, regulation is needed to enforce the environmental safety of biological control but it should not restrict its effective use. Establishment potential of the predatory mirid Dicyphus hesperus in northern Europe Hatherly et al. (2008) BioControl, 53, 589-601. Many guidelines have been released for an ERA (such as EPPO, 2001; NAPPO, 2001; IPPC, 2005) but none state a clear and effective methodology to test for establishment. As a result of this, climate matching has been widely accepted as an efficient predictor of establishment (for example, Messenger van den Bosch, 1971; Stiling, 1993). However, the augmentative biological control agent, Neoseiulus caliginosus has proved its inadequacy as individuals with diapause ability were released unintentionally (Jolly, 2000). McClay Hughes (1995) use of a degree-day model to predict establishment potential has also been criticized due to its labour intensive nature (McClay, 1996). In addition, the numerous methods utilised to determine developmental thresholds have led to differing conclusions for the establishment potential of the same insect (Hart et al. 2002). Hatherly et al. (2008) utilise a clear and scientifically based methodology for a test for establishment that should be used as an alt ernative to climate matching and day degree models. Each experiment involved treatments of fed and unfed first instar nymphs, adults and diapause induced adults. Supercooling points (SCP), Lower lethal times (see Figure 2) and temperatures were determined. Field experiments were completed to study the effects of naturally fluctuating temperatures and a control experiment was conducted to ensure experimental conditions did not damage the mirids. Statistical tests (one way ANOVA and Tukeys HSD test) found no significant differences between the SCP (-20oC) for different life cycles and Ltemp90 was found to be -20.4oC for diapausing insects. After 140 days in the field, 5% of fed nymphs and 50% of fed diapausing adults were alive. After 148 days, 15% of fed non diapausing adults were alive. Following transfer to the lab, the survivor adults were observed laying viable eggs. Overall, it was concluded that D. hersperus were able to diapause and individuals from each life cycle were able to survive outdoors in the UK. Feeding increased survival times and the polyphagous nature of D. hersperus meant it was likely to find food. Laboratory methods to test the establishment potential of possible biological control agents need to be environmentally relevant (Hoelmer Kirk, 2005). To determine SCP, the rate of temperature decrease was 0.5oCmin-1, this could be reduced to make it more realistic. Mortalities for lower lethal temperatures were recorded after 24 and 48 hours, however, winter lasts for four to six months. In this case, this was appropriate as 90% mortality was reached at each temperature exposure within the timescale. To make this study more realistic, it was ensured that D. hersperus was experimented on in the condition received by commercial buyers. To ensure that the results did not occur by chance, lower lethal temperatures and time were determined in addition to SCPs (Bale, 2005). To determine establishment potential, both b

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller :: Papers

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller In every family unit or household there are roles that each members have to play. These are there so that each person knows what is expected of them and what to expect from other people. They can be basic roles such as the housework, for example one of a housewife's roles would be to keep the house clean. Or they can be less obvious, for example always being available to offer emotional support and being a friendly shoulder to cry on. These varied roles within a group of people can be recognised and discussed by the members, overt, or it can be that the members themselves don't even realise they exist or that any of these roles are assigned to them within the family group, covert. The roles that each member plays can be dependant on several things, for instance age, experience, sex or even the job that they do. Over time these have changed. In past the roles were rigid and ascribed. Women were expected to be housewives and mothers and men to be the breadwinners being able to support their family financially. Nowadays these set roles have become more blurred and conjugal roles in particular are often joint. However in the 1950's we have to remember that the roles within the family were somewhat archaic and traditional compared to today's society. Biff has several roles like all the members of the Loman family. As an elder brother to Happy he offers him advice and help. The two of them get on very well and have a good relationship. We see this at the start of Act I when the two boys are in their bedroom. They talk candidly and with ease sharing a laugh and joke. They have grown up together and Biff has always supported his brother and helped him out, we learn this from when Biff set Happy up with a girl for his first time. He is a good brother to Happy. Biff's other roles in the family are mostly all set by Willy his father.

How Intermittent Fasting Can Help You Lose Weight Essay

Food is a nutritious substance that humans and animals take in and benefit from because it causes growth and maintains life. Everyone thinks that diet is only associated with weight loss but the real definition of diet is looking after what you eat to either gain or lose weight or just to maintain your current weight. Some people go on diets for medical reasons or just for personal preference, for example to gain weight a meal need consists of fiber foods and a person that wats to gain weight needs to consider the nutritional and energy balance, this means to gain weight you need to put on more calories than you lose during physical activities and body function and the opposite for people who want to gain weight they need to make sure to lose more intake less and calories and lose more during physical activities e.g. gym. The most calories are usually from bigger food intakes, this is called meals. Meals are a time in the day where a reasonable amount of food is consumed. People trad itionally have about 3-4 meals per day and Snacks are food that is taken in between food, this is not encouraged if you are in a weight loss program or diet. Nutrients is providing the food needed for life and growth. There are six parts of nutrients that everyone should include in their diet. Carbohydrates, fats, proteins this is essential for growth and repair, vitamins, minerals and water. It’s very important for everyone to include these 6 nutrients in their meals every day. Deficiencies can later in life cause difficulties such as disorders or diseases. Malnutrition and undernutrition are two different things, malnutrition could mean excessive nutrients in a diet caused by a very unhealthy diet. Undernutrition just means that the person is in need of specific nutrients. Deficiency is lacking specific types of nutrients for example one vitamin like vitamin D can be supplemented or people with anemia can be prescribed with iron tablets or people can avoid anemia by increasing their intake of red meat and nuts. Red blood cells carry oxygen around the body. A lack of this leads to needing to get iron transfusion or even a blood tr ansfusion. To avoid deficiencies and complication everyone should refer to the eat well plate and 5 a day which gives everyone a rough guideline to how much of each food groups should be included in your meals. Checking the nutrients per portion could also help giving you an insight on how good specific types of foods are, these are found on the back of any type of food you find. Overweight is having more body fat than the average person now 1 in 4 adults are overweight, being overweight increases the chances of getting diabetes type 2 or even heart diseases, the fatter the person the more likely there are health complications. Obesity is more extreme than being overweight and can get more severe to the point where you can get an operation that reduces the size of your stomach so you can get full quicker without having to eat as much. BMI is used to measure if your body mass is average according to your height and weight. A person with a body mass bigger than 30 is considered obese .to avoid this people usually follow the daily intake guidelines (2,500 Cal for men and 2,000 for women). Another way to find out if you are the average height and weight for your age is to check growth charts, the same as BMI you enter your age, height and weight.

Private School Teacher Recommendations

Private School Teacher Recommendations Teacher recommendations are an important part of the  private school admissions process. These assessments schools to hear from your teachers, the people who know you best in the classroom environment, in order to get a better idea of what you’re like as a student. The idea of asking a teacher to complete a recommendation may be intimidating to some, but with a little preparation, this part of the process should be a breeze. Here are some common questions, along with the information you need to prepare your recommendations:   How many teacher recommendations do I need? Most private schools will require three recommendations as part of the admission process, even if you complete one of the standard applications. Typically, one recommendation will be directed to your schools principal, head of school, or guidance counselor. The other two recommendations  are to be completed by your English and math teachers. Some schools will require additional recommendations, like science or a personal recommendation. If youre applying to a specialty school, like an art school or a sports-focused school, you may also be asked to have an art teacher or coach complete a recommendation. The admission office will have all of the details you need to ensure that you complete all the requirements.   What is a personal recommendation? A great characteristic of private school is that your experience goes beyond the classroom. From arts and athletics to living on dorm and being involved in the community, who you are as a person is just as important as who you are as a student. Teacher recommendations showcase your academic strengths and areas in need of improvement, as well as your personal learning style, while personal recommendations cover life beyond the classroom and share more information about you as an individual, a friend and a citizen. Remember that not every school requires these, so dont be concerned if its not an option when you apply.   Should my teachers complete my personal recommendations, too? Personal recommendations should be completed  by an adult who knows you well. You can ask another teacher (not the same teachers completing the academic recommendations), a coach, an advisor, or even a friend’s parent. The goal of these recommendations is to have someone who knows you on a personal level speak on your behalf. Perhaps you’re looking to play in a  private school athletics  program, have a strong passion for  art, or are regularly involved in community service activities. Personal recommendations can tell the admission committee more about these endeavors. In these cases, its a good idea to pick either a coach, art teacher, or volunteer supervisor to complete the personal recommendation. Personal recommendations can also be used to share information about areas in which you need personal growth, which isn’t a bad thing. We all have areas of our lives to improve, whether it’s your ability to get places on time, a need to not overcommit yourself to activities or the ability to keep your room clean that you need to work on, private  school  is the perfect environment in which to grow and gain a greater sense of maturity and responsibility. How do I ask my teacher or coach to complete a recommendation? Some students can get nervous when it comes to asking for a recommendation, but if you take the time to explain to your teachers why you’re  applying to private school,  your teachers will most likely be supportive of your new educational endeavor. The key is to ask nicely, make it easy for your teacher to complete the application (guide them through the process) and give your teachers plenty of advance notice and a set deadline to submit. If the school has a paper form to complete, be sure to print it out for your teacher and provide them with an addressed and stamped envelope to make it easier for them to return it to school. If the application is to be completed online, send your teachers an email with a direct link to access the recommendation form and, again, remind them of a deadline. It’s always nice to follow up with a thank-you note once they have completed the application.   What if my teacher doesnt know me well or doesnt like me? Can I ask my teacher from last year instead? The school to which you’re applying needs a recommendation from your current teacher, regardless of how well you think he or she knows you, or if you think they like you. The goal is for them to understand your mastery of the materials being taught this year, not what you learned last year or five years ago. If you have concerns, keep in mind that some schools will give you the option to submit personal recommendations, and you can ask another teacher to complete one of those. If you are still concerned, talk to the admission office at the school youre applying to in order to see what they recommend. Sometimes, they will let you submit two recommendations: one from this years teacher and one from last years teacher.   What if my teacher is late submitting the recommendation? This one is easy to answer: Don’t let this happen. As the applicant, it’s your responsibility to give your teacher plenty of notice, a friendly reminder of deadlines and to check in to see how its going and if they have completed it. Don’t pester them constantly, but definitely don’t wait until the day before the recommendation is due. When you ask your teacher to complete the recommendation, make sure they clearly know the deadline, and ask them to let you know when it’s done. If you haven’t heard from them and the deadline is approaching, about two weeks before it’s due, do another check in. Most schools today also have online portals where you can track the progress of your application, and you can see when your teachers and/or coaches have submitted their recommendations.   If your teacher recommendations are late, make sure you immediately contact the school to see if theres still time to submit. Some private schools are strict with deadlines and will not accept application materials after the deadline, while others will be more lenient, especially when it comes to teacher recommendations.   Can I read my recommendations? Most simply put, no. One reason why you have to work closely with your teachers to ensure they submit the recommendations on time is that teacher recommendations and personal recommendations are all typically confidential. That means, the teachers need to submit them themselves, and not give them to you to return. Some school even require recommendations to come from the teachers in a sealed and signed envelope or via a private online link in order to make sure the confidentiality of it is preserved. The goal is for the teacher to give a full and honest review of you as a student, including your strengths and areas in need of improvement. Schools want a true picture of your abilities and behavior, and your teachers honesty will help the admission team decide if you are a good fit for their  academic program, and in turn, if their academic program will meet your needs as a student. If teachers think youre going to read the recommendations, they might withhold important information that could help the admission committee better understand you as a scholar and a member of your community. And keep in mind that the areas in which you need to improve are things that the admission team expects to learn about you. No one has mastered every aspect of every subject, and there’s always room to improve. Should I submit more recommendations than requested? No. Plain and simple, no. Many applicants mistakenly think that stacking their applications with dozens of really strong personal recommendations and extra subject recommendations from past teachers is the best way to go. However, your admission officers don’t want to wade through dozens of pages of recommendations, especially not ones from teachers in elementary school when youre applying to high school (believe it or not, that happens!). Stick with the required recommendations from your current teachers, and if requested, choose the one or two individuals who best know you for your personal recommendations, and stop there.

Free Essays on Mexico Stats

Mexico History - Independence from Spain was proclaimed by Father Miguel Hidalgo on September 16, 1810. - A republic was proclaimed in December 1822 and established in 1824. - Augustin de Iturbide, defeated the Spaniards and ruled as Mexican emperor from 1822- 1823. - Napoleon III of France established as Emperor of Mexico, was deposed by Juarez and executed in 1867. - The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), is the most important political force in the nation. - For almost 70 years, Mexico's national government has been controlled by the PRI. - The PRI has won every presidential race and most gubernatorial races. Economy - Sustained economic growth is vital to Mexico's prospects for a successful evolution to a more competitive democracy. - In recent years, Mexico has sought economic prosperity through liberalization of its trade regime. - In January 1994, Mexico joined Canada and the United States in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which will phase out all tariffs over a 15-year period. - Four months later, in April 1994, Mexico joined the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). - Mexico was the first Latin American member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC), when they joined in 1993, and in January 1996, became a founding member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). - In 1996, Mexico's economy grew over 5%, recovering from the recession more briskly than anticipated. Inflation fell, unemployment fell, and the peso stabilized. - Mexican real GDP grew about 7% in 1997. Politics - The Congress is composed of a Senate and a Chamber of Deputies. - The executive is the dominant branch, with power vested in the president. - Consecutive re-election is prohibited. Senators are elected to 6-year terms. - Deputies serve 3-year terms. ... Free Essays on Mexico Stats Free Essays on Mexico Stats Mexico History - Independence from Spain was proclaimed by Father Miguel Hidalgo on September 16, 1810. - A republic was proclaimed in December 1822 and established in 1824. - Augustin de Iturbide, defeated the Spaniards and ruled as Mexican emperor from 1822- 1823. - Napoleon III of France established as Emperor of Mexico, was deposed by Juarez and executed in 1867. - The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), is the most important political force in the nation. - For almost 70 years, Mexico's national government has been controlled by the PRI. - The PRI has won every presidential race and most gubernatorial races. Economy - Sustained economic growth is vital to Mexico's prospects for a successful evolution to a more competitive democracy. - In recent years, Mexico has sought economic prosperity through liberalization of its trade regime. - In January 1994, Mexico joined Canada and the United States in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which will phase out all tariffs over a 15-year period. - Four months later, in April 1994, Mexico joined the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). - Mexico was the first Latin American member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC), when they joined in 1993, and in January 1996, became a founding member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). - In 1996, Mexico's economy grew over 5%, recovering from the recession more briskly than anticipated. Inflation fell, unemployment fell, and the peso stabilized. - Mexican real GDP grew about 7% in 1997. Politics - The Congress is composed of a Senate and a Chamber of Deputies. - The executive is the dominant branch, with power vested in the president. - Consecutive re-election is prohibited. Senators are elected to 6-year terms. - Deputies serve 3-year terms. ...

Online Education Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Online Education - Research Paper Example the biggest segment of online education is covered by massive open online courses that provide people from all over the world with free and sometimes pre-paid online courses on multiple disciplines. These courses are collections of particular courses, previously learned by students of different universities (Mayadas, Bourne, and Bacsich 85). The professors who taught them in the universities also work for the massive open online courses’ services and read the lectures for everyone who signs up for their courses online. Massive open online courses (MOOC) are internet classes with large-scale interactive participation and public access through the Internet, so learning content is available online to any person who wants to take a course with no limit on attendance. They are structured similar to traditional higher education courses (Martin 26), in which students watch lectures, read assigned material, participate in online discussions and forums and complete quizzes and tests on the course material. Nevertheless, MOOCs try to make the online education more effective than the traditional class room methods (Kolukuluri n. pag). Further claims have been made that short videos complement the optimal attention span of students and that discussion forums provide an adequate replacement of direct teacher–student interactions, which would be considered as normal for a class delivered on campus (Glance 5). MOOCs are typically provided by higher education institutions, often in partnership with â€Å" organizers† such as Coursera, edX and Udacity, though some MOOCs are being offered directly by college or university (as Stanford does). The MOOCs’ constructions are rather similar from source to source, but let’s consider the structure of Coursera courses as an example. In the description of each course the level of required previous knowledge for its successful mastering is indicated. Many courses are available for the beginners, while other courses require the

Moral Relativism in the movie Gattaca Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Moral Relativism in the movie Gattaca - Essay Example The irony of the circumstances is that Jerome was not able to translate his excellent genetic profile to a real achievement who only won silver in a swimming competition. Yet, Vincent made the most out of it despite of his seemingly â€Å"inept† genetic structure. Example 3 Vincent Freeman did not believe that genetics determine a romantic compatibility in a relationship. His relationship with Irene Cassini proves that he does not subscribe to the convention that genetic in-valids cannot be with somebody who has a better genetic disposition. In the first place, genetics has no place in a romantic relationship whose goal is for two people to be happy together and to provide love and support to each partner. Conclusion The movie Gattaca depicts high-technology discrimination where society’s preference and opportunities in life is genetically determined. Not so long ago, this kind of discrimination also exists, only that the segregation was more obvious but it still involv es a person genetic make-up; that is the color of his skin through racial discrimination. An unjust societal structure that upholds injustice and unfairness cannot perpetuate for a long time because there will always be somebody who is a â€Å"moral relativist† who will go against its established norms. Any society whose established rules of morals and ethics segregate a man from another because of a genetic predisposition will definitely invite a â€Å"moral relativist† to challenge it. As what had happened before with any discriminatory practices such as racial discrimination, moral relativist or crusaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King challenged the prevailing norm that man should be judged by his character and not by the color of his skin. In Gattaca’s case, the... According to the research findings the most appropriate application of the definition of moral relativism in the movie Gatta is the Metaethical moral relativism which states that â€Å"the truth or falsity of moral judgments, or their justification, is not absolute or universal, but is relative to the traditions, convictions, or practices of a group of persons. Simply put, the metaethical definition of relativism is that the standard of morality, ethics and the determination of right and wrong are based on culture, norms and traditions and is therefore subjective and can be subjected to an individual’s choice and interpretation. In the movie Gattaca, Vincent Anton Freeman was moral relativist because he did not subscribe to the established rules by Gattaca that a man’s success is determined by genetics alone. An unjust societal structure that upholds injustice and unfairness cannot perpetuate for a long time because there will always be somebody who is a â€Å"moral r elativist† who will go against its established norms. Any society whose established rules of morals and ethics segregate a man from another because of a genetic predisposition will definitely invite a â€Å"moral relativist† to challenge it. In Gattaca’s case, the moral relativity that is founded more on a solid moral ground is the idea that every man should be given a chance in life whose success should depend on its own will, determination and character and not by his genetic disposition.