Reason We Go to College Essay

Everyone has their own reason for wanting to get a degree in higher learning. Some of the reasons are; the love of learning, the chance to get away from their parents and be on their own. While others do it for the promise of a better future or just because they think that it is the right thing to do. Needless to say, there are countless reasons why we choose to further our education. Just like there are different reasons people go to college, there are different ways that people learn best. I will be telling you a little bit about my desire to earn my college diploma and how I think I learn best. Lots of people like to make money ever since currency was created and that is one of my motivations to complete college. According to Shaffer (2010), the top five reasons that people go to college are: to get an education, to expand their circle of awareness, to discover their passion, to network and to challenge themselves. I agree with all of these but as a parent, I also want to provide a great lifestyle for my children and complete what I’m teaching them to aim for. I love learning new things and having knowledge in my head instead of having to grab a dictionary, my phone or a computer to understand something. Though I love to increase my knowledge base, there are certain styles of learning that I excel in learning over others. Learning styles is new to me. All through high school and the first two years of college I have never heard of learning styles. I did know that I was more interested in a subject if a teacher/professor was lively, animated or just really excited about what they were teaching. I thought that’s how everyone else was. I was mistaken with that mindset. I took a couple of quizzes and learned that a few styles were my preferred method of learning. As written in Attribute advanogy. om (2004), There are seven main learning styles and they are: Visual (spatial), Aural (auditory), Verbal (linguistic), Physical (kinesthetic), Logical (mathematical), Social (interpersonal) and Solitary (intrapersonal). The tests that I took with Attribute (2004) and The Center for New Discoveries (2012), show that my preferred learning styles are verbal, aural, social and physical. My logical score was pretty high but it only showed up on one of the test results. The result are based on what I call the normal person standard, but I do not consider myself normal. Since that is the case, I will let you know if I agree with the results. Do I see myself as a verbal learner? Yes, because I love to talk and I like being able to get feedback instantly. I would rather give an oral presentation than type up a paper. If someone is lecturing on a subject, I will retain it easily if there is dialogue going back and forth in the class. The aural style I do not agree with as much because I can listen to music all day but if it is about school and it is something that I have to listen to, I will be going to sleep. I really enjoy touching things so the physical is a no brainer for me. I crave taking things apart to see how they work. As I said, I love to talk and I cannot talk to myself without being considered crazy, so yes, I am a social learner and I thrive off of others ideas. So, the tests got a three out of four which is not bad. Earning a college degree does not only hold the reward of monetary increase but it provides a sense of accomplishment and an example for our children who will be our future. Knowing how you learn best as an individual can help you know your shortcomings and prevent pitfalls and roadblocks on the road to a degree.

How to Be Old Poem Analysis

â€Å"How to Be Old† It is easy to be young, (Everybody is, at first.) It is not easy to be old. It takes time. Youth is given; age is achieved. One must work a magic to mix with time in order to become old. Youth is given. One must put it away like a doll in a closet, take it out and play with it only on holidays. One must have many dresses and dress the doll impeccably (but not to show the doll, to keep it hidden. ) It is necessary to adore the doll, to remember it in the dark on the ordinary days, and every day congratulate one's aging face in the mirror. In time one will be very old. In time, one's life will be accomplished.And in time, in time, the doll–– like new, though ancient––will be found. – May SwensonWho is the speaker? What is the point of view? What is the mood? What is the tone? What is the imagery? What is the form? What is the theme? What is the figurative language? The speaker in the poem â€Å" How to Be Old† by May Swenson is an elder teaching children about growing old. The poem is in third person point of view. The mood is kind of sad because your moving on from childhood and growing up. The theme is serious, the author is telling you to hide your inner child and only take it out on special occasions. While reading this poem I imagined a little girl putting her doll away and then growing up into adulthood. The theme of the poem is cherish the past, but embrace the future. In this poem the word doll is used to describe childhood, because childhood like a doll is fun and playful, but at some point in your life, you're going to have to put that doll in your closet and move on. You're growing up and maturing, you can still think about your childhood and even bring out the inner child in your heart but not often because there is a time and a place to release your inner child.

Ace Jeans Speech or Presentation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Ace Jeans - Speech or Presentation Example Ace Jeans views is the designer collection of denims, aimed at the sophisticated, feminine, stylish and confident lady, who is not afraid to showcase her intrinsic beauty! Ace Jeans, which is a new entrant in the denim pants market, embarks on its USP, which is its composition---certified organic cotton, non-toxic, denim. The production is based in Mexico, which significantly lowers production costs; and manufacturing is done though Border Assembly Inc. With L'Atelier as the west coast and east coast distributor in the United States, Ace Jeans is all set to invade the market. The brand will be available in local boutiques in Los Angeles and New York, as well as high-end department stores such as Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Nordstrom , thus entering the horizon associated with elite wear. Say the brand owners, "We currently do not have our own brand store, therefore saving a good amount of money and cutting certain overhead charges that would typically occur running a store.

Nellie McClung Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Nellie McClung - Essay Example ves and today they are recognized as government officials, CEOs, established professionals, sometimes the Head of their household and now have access to certain rights and privileges. Nellie McClung, a Canadian Activist is credited for the progress of the women in today’s Canadian society. She was the voice for the women who didn’t have the privilege to speak and her contribution to fighting for women’s rights is the reason they can obtain white collar jobs and favourable divorce and custody laws. 1She is famous for her superb humoured public speaking and determinant abilities to get women recognized and accepted as individuals who deserve equal rights and other privileges. 2 Nellie Letitia Mooney was a Canadian Feminist, suffragist, social reformer, legislator, author and politician.3 Born in Chatsworth on October 20th 1873, she was raised on a homestead in rural Manitoba and is an inspiration to women everywhere. Her father was an Irish Methodist and her mother a Scottish Presbyterian. Nellie McClung helped to shape the history of women’s rights in Canada. Inspired by Dickens’ novels she decided that she wanted to be the voice for the voiceless as Dickens’ was a defender for the weak. 4Cross referenced literature declared that Mooney started school at the age of 10 but by the age of 16 had received a teaching certificate and taught school, which was a highly respected profession for women at the time, until she wed Robert Wesley McClung, a pharmacist in 1896. The couple had four children and produced a fifth when they relocated to Winnipeg and from all sources seemed to have had a happy and productive marriage. McClung had contributed greatly to Canada actively campaigning for women’s suffrage, safety legislations, prohibition of the sale of alcohol, labour reforms, mother’s allowances, public health nursing, free medical and dental care for children, divorce laws and property rights.5 McClung had a rather extensive career profile; a rural

Paper of Qualitative Methods course Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Paper of Qualitative Methods course - Essay Example One of the main elements and aspects of Omans economy was the quest to diversify the economy and enhance and promote different sectors, which included tourism as a means of generating foreign exchange (Daher, 2007). In order to enhance the nations tourism potential, there is the need for Omans human resource base to be improved significantly. To this end, there is the need for a structured and critical study to be conducted into the countrys human resource base in the tourism sector, identify issues and analyse the options available for improvement. The aim of this paper is to present a research-design on how "tourism education can be enhanced in order to promote human resource management in the tourism industry of Oman". In order to attain this end, the following objectives will be explored: In order to conduct a qualitative research, there is the need for the researcher to utilise various research methods and research processes. This will enable the researcher to undertake a critical review of the facts and circumstances and come up with a theory or explanation to a social matter or situation. The essence of qualitative research methods lie in the fact that researchers need to find ways and means of universally analysing issues in order to come up with generally accepted conclusions. Banks identifies that there can be differing way of looking at the same issues and that several viewers may have different opinions on the same thing in the social sciences (2013). Therefore there is the need for some kind of consensus and conceptual frameworks that will enable researchers to conduct research and study issues in order to come up with acceptable conclusions. Banks (2013) goes on to identify five sociological modalities through which qualitative research is conducted. They include compositional interpretation, content analysis, semitoic analysis, psychoanalytical analysis and discourse analysis (Banks, 2013). This paper will investigate elements and

All fascists are Nazis. Discuss Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

All fascists are Nazis. Discuss - Essay Example The fascists are in favour of acquiring land and resources for a national cause. The acquisition of land and other resources such as labour, capital, etc are the rights of the fascists to establish their dominance over other parts of the world. The fascists believe that the weaker territories and nations could be rightly displaced and captured for expanding the territories of their nation. The fascists demand the supremacy of the state as the highest consideration in their rule. Various fascist leaders such as Mussolini established their supremacy by following the ideology of supremacy of the state (Goldberg 2009, p. 68). The fascist leaders claimed undisputed control by following the principles in which allegiance to the state is the bottom line. The fascist approach brings an end to the class conflicts within the nation and integrates the masses with obedience to the state power. The fascists are proponents of mixed economy in which the private business classes are also allowed to direct the economic progress. The fascists believe in a self-sufficient economy with the factors of production being sufficient to meet the demands of the economy. Such an economy is called a closed economy. The fascists tend to promote a closed economy and building an economy that offers protection to the domestic industries. The protection of domestic industries shields them from foreign competition and reduces the scope of drainage of national wealth. Due to national factors of production meeting the demands of the economy, the circular flow of money is restricted within the boundaries of the country that leads to an integral growth of the national economy. The fascist policies lie in between the approaches of socialism and capitalism. Although fascism allows private capitalists to participate in the process of economic growth, the ideology of a fascist includes belligerent forms of nationalism with not much belief in the foreign factors of production. The fascists believe in mil itarism with the style of living being maintained on the military lines and discipline (Felice and  Ledeen 1976, p. 57). In the left-right spectrum, the position of the fascist lies in the extreme right position. The fascists are opponents of the views of socialism and communism. Nazism is a form of fascism that incorporates the beliefs and ideas of biological racism and anti-Semitism. The Nazis believe in the ideas of racial superiority and consider themselves as the most superior race in the world. The ideology of anti-Semitism held by the Nazis resembles hatred and opposition towards the Jews and the Jewish religion. The Nazism developed in Germany and spread to other places where movements were held by the Nazis before the Second World War. The Nazi ideology is an integral part of the national movements that were held in Germany in the era of post-World War I. In order to fight the dominance of communism and spread the territory of the national boundaries, the Germans who are the proponents of Nazism focussed on establishing a paramilitary force under the reign of Adolf Hitler. The Nazis believed that they are, by far, the most superior race in the world and had the policies of expanding their national boundaries by the acquisition of other weaker states (Grand 2004, p. 49). The growth of industries

Prison Labour Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Prison Labour - Essay Example There has been a debate for centuries over the issue of imprisonment labour effects upon both prison and non-prison employment. Such effects are based on only subjective confirmation. Supporters of prison labour publicize its communal advantages through minimized prison's expenses, better performance among the inmates, probable decline in inmate violence, and corrective remedy by means of social skills development. Whereas antagonists raise the objection that prison labour creates joblessness and decline in sales in the outer world.1 Significance of Prison Labor As stated by Buck2 labour is said to be a fundamental element within prison's affairs. It is considered as a source of not only the reprimand but a corrective measure also, it is being perceived as a straitlaced compulsion and a rehabilitation attempt as well. According to Focault3, prison labour aims to create a legitimate power relation, a notion of submission on the part of inmates and a corrective and constructive mechanism. Focault marks down the value of profit as a work stimulus, though, during the period of escalating industrialized development, the amounts of profits are great. As incarceration work is based on the dynamic of compliance to authority and dominance, thus it always has a threat of revolt and aggression, that is, to respond ethically and morally in debauched circumstances full of oppression and humiliation. Forced labour seems to be morally wrong although being validated for centuries by the church as a corrective mode. Efficiency and labour may not be parallel at times. Labour is a calculated product for organizing pursuit of mankind apparently to have profit, but may be different for others who claim to have all sources of production like human resource, minerals, land etc. They inscribe it through an ethical angle for the development of improved lifestyle such as stability, compliance and passivity. Labour, if viewed as a planned and quantifiable object, seems to be a manipulation of human resource and an inspiration for producing worth. Mental labour is also probable to be apprehended by those making payments to scientists and educators, o r giving salaries to technical employees.4 Rights of Prisoners for Prison labour Prisons are not meant to be particularly hospitable places, punishment as a goal of imprisonment implies a certain level of discomfort. Since the establishment of punishment by incarceration, prison conditions have had notably harsh effects upon the human body and mind.5 As stated by Johnston6 although conditions have varied over time and between institutions, reformers have constantly voiced concerns over the treatment of prisoners. Approximately four decades ago, federal courts began responding to complaints of inhumane treatment by applying the Constitutional Eighth Amendment prohibition against brutal and extraordinary punishment to demarcate a line between conditions of confinement that are uncomfortable and those which are unconstitutional.7 Along with the expansions of civil rights for inmates, courts mandated the costly reorganization of prisons. The prisons, once characterized by local autonomy and self-rule, were transformed into modern bureaucratic institutions designed to protect prisoners' newly acquired rights.8 International

Considering censorship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Considering censorship - Essay Example of a community uses in order to maintain community’s values and ideals against real (or imagined) â€Å"bad† effects caused by media and thought to impact negatively on community’s core values and ideals. Typically, media censorship is controversial. That is why one finds strong opponents as well as staunch advocates on both sides. But when has censorship – of whatever form – ever managed to subdue rights to thought, information, and freedom? Indeed, censorship may not only impact, for example, on quality and meaning of a performance in an entertainment show but also on how people think – or made to think – of how and when community’s values and ideals should be, well, protected. Precedents are abundant. The Ed Sullivan Show, a well-known American entertainment show over thirty years (1940’s – 1970’s) provides more than illuminating examples on how censorship can impact on people’s perception of community’s values and ideals. Perhaps Bob Dylan’s response to Ed Sullivan Show’s producers speaks persuasively of an artist’s expression of community’s at large accepted values as opposed to censors’ control on meaning and perception: We fought for the song [â€Å"Talkin John Birch Society Blues"] ... I said I couldnt understand why they [John Birch Society, an extremist right-winged group] were being given such protection. But the network [CBS, where Ed Sullivan Show is aired] turned us down. They told us they understood and sym ­pathized ... but insisted they had previously handled the Birch Society on network news programmes, and couldnt take the subject into entertainment. (qtd. in Inglis 561) Another good example from same show is how producers’ censorship forced The Rolling Stones to drop â€Å"Night† from â€Å"Let’s Spend The Night Together,† making song’s tag line sounds odd given song’s overall meaning. Interestingly, entertainment – of all media shows and programs – impacts human mind in many different ways.

Business Entities, Laws, and Regulations Paper Essay Example for Free

Business Entities, Laws, and Regulations Paper Essay There are different scenarios with three different forms of entities that require taking control, taxation, and possible liability issues into account. These considerations will not only serve to ensure compliance is met but also so that each establishment is protected. In the first scenario Lou and Jose plan to open a restaurant/sports bar, the issue is that they have not accumulated of the money, but Miriam, a prosperous investor is willing to contribute the funds although she doesn’t have time to be physically involved in the business. In the second scenario Frank happens to be a wealthy investor who has a strategy to open up a chain of exterminating businesses throughout the United States. The third scenario is Akiva and Tara wants to open a licensed obstetrician office, they will take out a loan for startup costs. The fourth and final scenario a construction company is hiring and has specific job requirements that must be met in order to be selected as the final candidate. Restaurant/Bar Lou and Jose plan to open a sport bar/restaurant, a place where customer will be able to socialize while watching sports on large-screen TVs. The major issue is that Lou and Jose do not have the funds to put these plans to action. But they do know of a wealthy investor Miriam, who is willing to invest her wealth in making the sport bar/restaurant happen. Miriam doesn’t have much time to be involved in the day to day operation but is willing provide capital in return for a percentage of ownership. It is at Lou’s and Jose’s best interest to make their business a Limited Partnership business. A limited partnership is the best option for Lou and Jose since they have one partner who will invest capital but will not participate in management (Cheeseman, 2010). In order to do so Lou and Jose must file for a certificate of Limited Partnership through the secretary of state and must comply with the statutory requirement of the RULPA (Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act) (Cheeseman, 2010). Once the certificate of limited partnership is filed a limited partnership is formed. Each partner will be responsible for filing his or her own tax information and they will also be responsible for the reporting of the company tax information as a whole. Extermination business scenario Frank is a prosperous investor who would like to open a chain of exterminating businesses throughout the United States. Since Frank is interested in opening several establishments throughout the United States, the best option for him would be to have his business set up as a franchise business. In his particular case a chain-style franchise would be more beneficial as this would allow each establishment to make and sell its services to the public in the different parts of the country. Frank as the franchisor would be responsible for his own contracts and torts and the franchisee is liable for his own contracts and torts. Each prospect franchisee would have to apply with franchisor for a franchise. If approved the parties would enter a franchise agreement and the franchisor and franchisee would be set up as separate entities. Therefore each operation owner is responsible for filing his or her tax documents and ensuring that they are in compliance. Professional Practice Akiva and Tara have completed all the requirements needed for them to open up their own obstetrician’s office. Since Akiva and Tara are just newly out of the medical field, I think that they may want to consider having an LLC. A limited liability company (LLC) is an unincorporated business entity that combines the most favorable attributes of general partnerships, limited partnerships, and corporations. An LLC is taxed as a partnership unless it chooses to be taxed as a corporation, the owners can manage the business, and the owners have limited liability. Many entrepreneurs who begin new businesses choose the LLC as their legal form for conducting business† (Cheeseman, 2010. P. 267). An LLC is a separate legal unit (or legal individual) separate from its associates. LLCs can sue or be sued by people who have entered into a legal contract. Construction Scenario In this scenario Surebuild, Inc is a new construction company and Mei-Lin is the hiring manager and is found in the middle of a dilemma of which candidates to interview as she has specifically stated in the description that a high school diploma is required from that of the successful candidate. The first thing Surebuild, Inc needs to do is to hire a Human Resource Manager to ensure that Surebuild is in compliance with the federal, state, and local government. Regarding the applicants that have applied Surebuild needs to avoid making any decision that may violate discrimination of sex, age, origin of nationality. One of the applicants is Michelle, who is 35 years of age who shows to be pregnant and happens to be a high school graduate, and was once employed as a jackhammer operator. In this case Surebuild, Inc need to make sure there is no discrimination against Michelle since she is a female who happens to be pregnant or the company will be liable and probably sued. Especially because Michelle has met the requirement listed as a qualification for a successful candidate. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was enacted to eliminate job discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. Another applicant is Eric who is 55 years of age who has experience with a jackhammer without a high school diploma. In this case if the company is specifically looking for experience on the jackhammer they need to focus on that and make their decision based on the same and not on Eric’s age because then they would be committing discrimination against age. The defense the company can have is that Eric does not have a high school diploma a specific requirement that must be met. Felipe is a 38 year old applicant who does not speak any English and also has no high school diploma. The requirement for this position also states that the candidate is required to have a high school diploma, something Felipe does not have. The fact that Felipe does not speak English can be seen as a discrimination of origin of nationality but the company has proof that the applicant did not meet the requirements as he does not have a high school diploma. The last applicant is Nick a 23 year old college graduate who happens to be epileptic, and no experience with a jackhammer. Under the Title I of the ADA states that employment discrimination against individuals who are qualified with disabilities in respect to job application procedures, hiring compensation, training, promotion and termination is prohibited. Cheeseman, 2010. In this case the company should interview Nick as they would any possible candidate and make their determination based on their job requirements and the positions requirements. In this case he has more than a high school diploma but lacks the experience, he can be given training and possibly learn how to use a jackhammer but if the job cannot accommodate his epileptic condition and or will he be at a higher risk of injury because of the type of job then the company. Every company’s top priority for its employees is to ensure the safety of its employees and if Nick’s elliptical condition can cause severe injury to him or those around him while working on the jackhammer then the company needs to make a decision of not hiring Nick. Should they hire him with his condition and an accident takes place that cause’s major injury to Nick or another employee the company can be liable and required to pay the expenses, medical bills, and punitive damages. The company can possibly even be sued. Everyone business has a responsibility of ensuring that not only are they in compliance with the secretary of state when it comes to the proper registration of their business but they also have a huge responsibility to society, its employees, and to themselves. It is important that every business understand that there are federal, state, and local regulations they must abide by in order to avoid liability and possibly law suits. It is also important that they abide by them in order to give fair and proper treatment to its personnel as those are the individuals that drive the company and most of the times make it a successful business. This not only is beneficial to the company but to the employees and to our world economy.

Video game controversy Essay Example for Free

Video game controversy Essay Video game controversies are unresolved societal and scientific arguments about whether or not the content of video games can change the behavior and attitudes of a player. Since the early 1980s, advocates of video games have emphasized their use as an expressive medium, arguing for their protection under the laws governing freedom of speech and also as an educational tool. Detractors argue that video games are harmful and therefore should be subject to legislative oversight and restrictions. The positive and negative characteristics and effects of video games are the subject of scientific study. Results of investigations into links between video games and addiction, aggression, violence, social development, and a variety of stereotyping and sexual morality issues are debated God Of War Series – Saudi Arabia The Guy Game – USA 8. RapeLay – Argentina/Indonesia/Malaysia/Thailand EA Sports MMA – Denmark Manhunt 2 – Various Postal 2 http://whatculture. com/gaming/10-infamously-banned-games-around-world. php/11 10 Video Game Endings With Disturbing Implications You Totally Missed Read more at http://whatculture. com/gaming/10-video-game-endings-with-disturbing-implications-you-totally-missed. php/2#0LO1TBf6EwdT9Ea3. 99 Heavy Rain: The Neglectful Father Metal Gear Solid 2: The Hangover After the giant Arsenal Gear crashes into New York city and Raiden and Solidus Snake are forced to fight one another (after a myriad of narrative revelations involving pregnancies, double agents and adoption,) Raiden emerges victorious and is reunited with his girlfriend Rose, who is now with child. Aside from a few loose ends, the narrative ends on a nice positive note, with man and his love reunited and a bright new dawn rather insistently represented by the growing life in her belly. But wait†¦ Half of New York is now squashed. People are no doubt dead, thanks to the Arsenal Gear stomping a big hole in Manhattan, and those who survived are likely to take a massive beating from the tax-man in the coming years to fix the damage caused to the Big Apple. It’s rather short-sighted to call this a victory, simply because the hero gets his girl. What about the legacy of destruction, not to mention the giant robot lying in the middle of the city? Noone ever thinks about the clean-up job. Read more at http://whatculture. com/gaming/10-video-game-endings-with-disturbing-implications-you-totally-missed. php/3#t8VahiJ4DfS6AhYp. 99 Medal Of Honor: Warfighter – AWOL Warfighter caused some serious controversy – not least when it was revealed that seven members of Naval Special Warfare Development Group who worked as consultants for EA had been disciplined for releasing classified information – and the ending was another of those modern â€Å"Horrors Of War† endings that sought to make the player think. EA decided to have Preacher weighing up whether to report back for duty, or desert to fix his family life, despite the formerly gleeful embrace of the mythology of the soldier (the idea of them as supermen.). The idea might be half-baked, and slightly odd considering the trajectory of the rest of the narrative (and the presentation of characters specifically) but it was an interesting way to leave the game. But wait? Doesn’t desertion still carry a fairly hefty punishment? Honour and dedication to his family is one thing, but winding up locked up in prison for ignoring a mission (which is presumably what awaits if he were to answer his mobile) is a fairly counter-productive solution. The key thing is that Preacher’s desertion would weaken the unit, especially in deployment, and his punishment would presumably be greater than any â€Å"normal† soldier. There’s also a further implication. Though he’s seen some serious action, and untold horrors of war by the end of the game, and the ending suggests he has had his fill of duty, Warfighter is keen to stress that the soldiers involved are action-hero-like thrill seekers, as opposed to particularly patriotic men. And if Preacher cannot get his thrills from his own army, which he may or may not desert (the implication is he does,) he may find himself tempted to go mercenary, which would presumably be deemed joining another force while AWOL. That’s often called treason (depending on the client,) and the penalty for that tends to be fairly severe†¦ Read more at http://whatculture. com/gaming/10-video-game-endings-with-disturbing-implications-you-totally-missed. php/4#ILEhM7Obvv7HWdJY. 99 Uncharted 2: Shambhala Destroyed. As the events of Uncharted’s excellent sequel come to a head, Nathan Drake is thrust onto a journey of vengeance when Elena (his new lady friend, obviously) is almost killed by a grenade just after the pair discover the invulnerability applications of the blue resin found at the Tree Of Life. Drake gets to the tree just after the nick of time, and watches his latest mortal enemy drink from the tree’s sap and become almost invincible, before deciding the best way to kill him is to explode the sap and then leave Lazarevic to be killed by the Guardians of the secret, sacred city of Shambhala. He dies, Nathan and Elena kiss, and sunsets are ridden off into. But wait†¦ Much like Indiana Jones – the single most careless archaeologist in the history of the subject, thanks to his tendency to destroy previously perfectly preserved artefacts – Nathan Drake is awful at his job. He is supposed to be committed to discovering and preserving articles and locations of historical significance, and yet his destruction of the Tree Of Life pretty carelessly destroys the wonderful kingdom of Shambhala. Rather than sharing the spiritual significance of the place, or helping its inhabitants (such as those Guardians) escape, Drake blows the entire place up, and enjoys a sexy kiss to seal the deal. Quite how he deserves his reputation in the industry is beyond me. Read more at http://whatculture. com/gaming/10-video-game-endings-with-disturbing-implications-you-totally-missed. php/5#2v72bY4C1ojLYBPL. 99 Freedom Fighters: The Russians Are Coming (Back) Read more at http://whatculture. com/gaming/10-video-game-endings-with-disturbing-implications-you-totally-missed. php/7#8VePctXW3iZsJJUx. 99 Hurray, we killed the Russians and stopped them from invading Good Old America! Just like Hollywood always promised us we could. We’ve saved democracy, and hot dogs, and Mountain Dew. It’s time to party, since there definitely won’t be any come back from defying a nation of the might and malevolent will to invade the Greatest Country In The World EVER! But wait†¦ It’s not over. Like termites temporarily pushed away from their quarry, the Russians will inevitably return, and in greater numbers with greater force. They are not to be denied, and though they were once defeated, they won’t be again, with the morbid realisation then being that America is not long for this Earth. It might be a victory party by the end of Freedom Fighters, but there’s no chance it lasted long, as Chris himself points out in the clip below†¦ Read more at http://whatculture. com/gaming/10-video-game-endings-with-disturbing-implications-you-totally-missed. php/7#8VePctXW3iZsJJUx. 99 10 Outrageous Sexy Moments Hidden In Video. Games Read more at http://whatculture.com/gaming/10-outrageous-sexy-moments-hidden-in-video-games. php#MLJkrZvCm3CV6eOt. 99 1. San Andreas – Hot Coffee Mod Where else could we start? San Andreas’ Hot Coffee Mod was the moment that realised ever adults’ fear that their GTA-loving children were playing something not altogether wholesome. As if murder, soliciting prostitutes and revelling in a life of crime weren’t enough San Andreas included the remains of an ultimately cut sex mini-game that cheeky modders found and duly shared with the world. Okay so admittedly it’s pretty difficult to actually do anything other than simulate sex with all of your clothes on, but the grinding was probably more than enough for prudish mothers everywhere to explode with righteous indignation when they discovered their sons playing through the mini-game. Read more at http://whatculture. com/gaming/10-outrageous-sexy-moments-hidden-in-video-games. php#MLJkrZvCm3CV6eOt. 99 Pantless Meryl – MGS A classic. If you followed Metal Gear Solid’s Meryl Silverburgh into the toilet quickly enough when she was disguised as an enemy soldier and you’d catch her with her pants down. Naturally upset, Meryl pulls a gun – which is probably even more understandable given that this is actually the second time it’s possible to catch her in her underwear in the same game. Earlier, when you enter the B1 lock up it’s possible to watch her doing exercises in her pants, provided you’re willing to keep exiting and entering the vents to spy on her – and apparently some gamers were more than willing†¦ Read more at http://whatculture. com/gaming/10-outrageous-sexy-moments-hidden-in-video-games. php/2#5thdRWFtCM0EsfdW. 99 3. SiN Hottub Scene. It’s not exactly the greatest shooter series in the history of the genre, but the Activision published SiN series, which ran on the Quake 2 engine was remarkable for an easter egg that allowed the hero John Blake to break through some walls and spy on the enigmatic and villainous Elxis Sinclaire, owner of biotech firm SiNtex enjoying a bit of bath-time fun. By noclipping through some walls, the player could walk in on Sinclaire in her hot tub (wearing a bikini despite her assumed privacy), rubbing herself and shouting â€Å"sexy† phrases. To be honest, the â€Å"sexy talk† isn’t exactly top notch, by any means, but back in those heavily pixelated days, we had to make do with what we could get. And the site of a nubile sprite fondling her own slightly squared breasts while saying â€Å"rub-a-dub-dub† was about as sexy as it got†¦ Read more at http://whatculture. com/gaming/10-outrageous-sexy-moments-hidden-in-video-games. php/3#FSghlsiY5BXEMz5J. 99 Metroid Sexy Reveal Talk about obligatory semi-nudity! It probably says a great deal about the way gamers and developers think that one of the most profound revelations in the early days of gaming came in the shape of Metroid’s â€Å"secret† female hero. Completing the original game revealed that the hero we had just guided through saving the galaxy was in fact a girl, and just to almost entirely wipe out the Girl Power sentiments of that narrative twist, the developers decided to objectify her just a little bit by having her strip down to a bathing suit for those lucky enough to complete the game. Do it in under three hours – which was basically impossible – and Samus would strip a little further, revealing more skin in a bikini to show her gratitude to the gamer for being so incredibly talented, in a very much not sexist at all manner. Read more at http://whatculture. com/gaming/10-outrageous-sexy-moments-hidden-in-video-games. php/4#DqTImrz17SoMY3zF. 99 Banjo Kazooie’s Dirty Geography Spend enough time exploring Terrydactyland from the air in Banjo Tooie and you’ll see the unmistakable sight of an ejaculating penis carved out of the landscape and coloured conspicuously in emerald green, just in case you missed it first time. You might think it’s just a coincidence, even despite the very obvious design, if it weren’t for the fact that Banjo has previous, and the hidden adult-appropriate secrets hidden in the games could probably run close to the hundreds. It all gets forgiven as Rare’s British sense of humour and fun, but is it really appropriate to have an ejaculating penis is a game so obviously marketed at a younger audience? Well no, but that doesn’t make it any less hilarious. Read more at http://whatculture. com/gaming/10-outrageous-sexy-moments-hidden-in-video-game s. php/5#LV3tCq31g4DwjvCx. 99 GTA IV: Stripper Bonus One of the most notorious GTA moments from the history of the franchise, and facilitated by the move to greater graphics, GTA IV’s stripper sequences were about as authentically sexy as the series had ever got. Sure, up to this point the player had been able to use prostitutes (and kill them for their money,) as well as some cheeky devils gaining access to the Hot Coffee mod previously mentioned, but that was all just pixelated suggestion compared to the rampant sexuality on show in GTA IV. And it was fairly difficult to explain to the girlfriend why you were sitting watching what amounts to a bunch of very cleverly arranged squares making sexy moves – especially when access to the internet and real naked ladies was but a few simple clicks away. Not content with offering â€Å"normal† stripping services, the game’s Pink Triangle Club also provided special services like the particularly colourful dance session below†¦ Read more at http://whatculture.com/gaming/10-outrageous-sexy-moments-hidden-in-video-games. php/7#leuecMuobHdGjsgx. 99 10. Tomb Raider Nudity Strictly speaking, this one doesn’t quite fit with the others, since the infamous Lara Croft Nude cheat code was in fact a great big hoax and resulted in the slinky archaeologist exploding in a shower of limbs, but that doesn’t in any way dillute its infamy or its impact on the controversy-hating communities of complainers who pick up on anything a little untoward. Ironically, the Tomb Raider devs’ trick actually convinced hackers to create a mod that allowed PC gamers the opportunity to see Croft naked, and though it wasn’t hidden in the actual game, the genesis of the mod, and the crucial part the developers played in pulling the switch means the nude mod actually qualifies for this list. Sadly, the closest we ever got to legitimately seeing Lara naked was this ever so slightly titivating, but all too murdery shower scene from Tomb Raider 2. Seems something of an over-reaction to us just hanging around in the bathroom†¦ Read more at http://whatculture. com/gaming/10-outrageous-sexy-moments-hidden-in-video-games. php/10#m1TTIw1UmUll01c4. 99 GTA V: 12 Dirty Hidden Secrets And Easter Eggs You Probably Missed Read more at http://whatculture. com/gaming/gta-v-12-dirty-hidden-secrets-and-easter-eggs-you-probably-missed. php#Ih5PUmoxVDvwArlt. 99 Don’t Be A Perv Taking selfies is a big thing in this Rockstar world, and the fully functioning camera on the player’s phone can lead to some hilarious situations, as we have already pointed out in our recent run-down of the best GTA V selfies we’ve seen so far in the game. Slightly bucking the trend of naughtiness at the same time as reinforcing it, it is possible to take pictures of the topless girls partying at the Playboy Mansion. Unfortunately, and somewhat confusingly, the girls won’t actually react as positively as they would in a real, legitimately organised photoshoot with a photography professional as opposed to a crazed man running through the grounds of their haven with several high-powered weapons and a worrying look on their face. Taking photos with your phone without request will lead to the girls kicking right off, calling you a creep (understandably) and then getting their boyfriends to pick a fight with you. This is clearly only a minor disruption, since fully automatic weapons are far more powerful a dissuasion tool than disgruntled boyfriends. Read more at http://whatculture. com/gaming/gta-v-12-dirty-hidden-secrets-and-easter-eggs-you-probably-missed. php/2#Ffq5iVE9orj3vs8E. 99 Obsessed With 69? There’s nothing childish about Grand Theft Auto’s concept – in fact, it is provocatively anti-childish, and its controversy comes largely because of the way the franchise invites players to enjoy adult activities in a fundamentally child-like way. It’s perverse, occasionally puerile, and hugely entertaining, and it’s mostly thanks to the commitment to story-telling, the vast open-world and the characters – but then you start to notice the little jokes and nods that add a whole new level, such as Rockstar’s apparent obsession with the number 69. It’s nice to see the commitment to furthering the school-yard fascination with the number, and its sexy (and logistically quite difficult) implications, peppered throughout the GTA V world, like the graffiti tag on the back of the Vinewood sign, or the fact that the game has 69 main missions. And if you’re looking even closer, you might find some tittering in the fact that the Los Santos Country Club has a hole length of 169 yards. This of course all follows on from the presence of Area 69 in San Andreas, which was far less sexy than it initially sounded. Read more at http://whatculture. com/gaming/gta-v-12-dirty-hidden-secrets-and-easter-eggs-you-probably-missed. php/3#otq0FVM4OyWlaxqS. 99 10. Goatse 9. The Naughty Gnomes Not even the simple world of the garden gnome is left untouched by the sordid pervery of Rockstar’s developers. Out in Vinewood Hills, on the edge of the desert, not far from the runaway bride’s home, there is a small collection of garden gnomes, posed harmlessly by a white fence. It all seems pretty picturesque – an idealised version of the American suburban dream – as you look at the first two gnomes, painted and posed traditionally, one with a fishing rod and the other with a lantern. And then you see the third gnome, bent over, with his pants down, and clearly spreading his cheeks. Read more at http://whatculture. com/gaming/gta-v-12-dirty-hidden-secrets-and-easter-eggs-you-probably-missed. php/5#vHMHQ7hpqcPIoMIO. 99 Some Easter Egg hunters have suggested that the dirty little devil might be presenting ready for penetration, or that he’s simply offering a cheeky moon to anyone lucky enough to find him. But it’s fairly obvious, given the Goatse reference previously mentioned, that the distasteful spreading action is another nod to that unfortunately viral, bottom-based activity. Elsewhere in the game, the same gnome is posed bending over in front of another of his less naughty-looking friends, giving the impression, as in the image at the top, that the two have been rumbled about to make sweet, sweet porcelain love. Read more at http://whatculture. com/gaming/gta-v-12-dirty-hidden-secrets-and-easter-eggs-you-probably-missed. php/5#vHMHQ7hpqcPIoMIO. 99 Sexy Yoga Rockstar’s dedication to bringing in more past-times and leisure activities to while away the hours within GTA V’s world is one of the reasons why the game is so successful: it has become more than a simple endeavour to complete missions, it’s more like a second life style game where the real world simulations are engaging mini-games and side concerns in their own rights. And chief among those past-times is the ability to take yoga lessons under the private tutelage of Master Private Yoga Instructor Fabien LaRouche, whose particular brand of Yoga differs somewhat to the traditional, tranquil set-up yoga fans might be accustomed to. Positions include the Punching Starfish (requires slow entry, in case the partner weeps), the Downward Facing Camel (encouraging the third eye to open to increse the flow of divine love) and the Lucky Triangle (which often requires a safe word). It’s pretty clear from the positions (above) and the descriptions alluded to, that these are particularly sexualised versions of normal yoga poses, and that LaRouche is just as sordid as the rest of the GTA cast of characters. Read more at http://whatculture. com/gaming/gta-v-12-dirty-hidden-secrets-and-easter-eggs-you-probably-missed. php/9#DcTR5MZymzFUJaOg. 99 Sexy Golf Following on from GTA V’s sordid version of yoga, there’s also a reference to an altogether more dirty version of golf than you might be used to, if you’re a fan of dragging a heavy bag of metal around a giant field and unsuccessfully navigating big holes full of sand. This one isn’t actually taken from the game itself, but rather the Los Santos Blaine County Travelogue, which hinted at what GTA V players could get up to in the game ahead of release. Under the country club section, the Travelogue talks about the progressive club, which ignores the usually limited rules on gender-bias in the sport of golf, as suggested in the message below, which accompanies the image above: â€Å"Thanks to equality laws passed recently, the LS Country Club has announced the admittance of two carefully selected women. Of course all are welcome to enroll for membership, though the selection criteria are kept confidential for legal reasons. † Clearly that means adding strippers to the course to make aiming for the hole a whole new ball game. Now, that’s probably not the kind of behaviour that your normal, run-of-the-mill golf course would accept, and there was certainly very little mention of it in Bagger Vance, and it probably explains why the country club comes with a hefty price tag of $150,000,000 for anyone who wants to sell out for that type of luxury. Read more at http://whatculture. com/gaming/gta-v-12-dirty-hidden-secrets-and-easter-eggs-you-probably-missed. php/10#A41YkISjRuzdTIW3. 99 Life Invader Extra Features Not content with simply killing Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, Rockstar clearly wanted to bait the king of nerds even more by casting aspersions on some of the social network’s more sordid users, as well as offering a side-swipe at one notoriously failed technological off-shoot of the website. As just one of the immersive, cleverly executed commercials to appear in the GTA V universe, it would be quite easy not to notice some of the details within Rockstar’s in-game ad for Life Invader (the thinly-veiled stab at Facebook) but you don’t have to be particularly attentive to have noticed that the website also has a tablet (a parody of Zuckerberg’s failed Facebook phone, no doubt. ). Read more at http://whatculture.com/gaming/gta-v-12-dirty-hidden-secrets-and-easter-eggs-you-probably-missed. php/11#UlvHXSGdTeDuXxyY. 99 Without too much explanation, the advert clearly suggests that the tablet allows the user to insert their penis into the tablet, to â€Å"dock† with other users, and while the advert seems to suggest that as a holding technique for hands free typing, the subtler moments, like the artwork of two phalluses coming together, and the inference of the term â€Å"docking† suggests a far more dirty reason. For the uninitiated or sheltered players out there, docking involves the coming together of two penises, in a unique, and wholly inappropriate-for-here manner. Read more at http://whatculture. com/gaming/gta-v-12-dirty-hidden-secrets-and-easter-eggs-you-probably-missed. php/11#UlvHXSGdTeDuXxyY. 99 The Nudist Colony†¦ Sort Of The presence of a cult in GTA V was heavily publicised ahead of release, and the pay off in the game was oddly sexual, especially if you really like the sight of middle-aged men with paunches and no pants. The Altruist Cult, as they are officially known are a group of old men, with a hatred of both modern technology and underpants, in some cases, who can be fed young drifters (they’re cannibals, obviously) and taking them four people leads to Trevor being taken into the camp at gunpoint (despite an implied history of him bringing regular â€Å"offerings† without incident. ) Trevor then must fight his way out, while being confronted by semi-nude, deranged men with heavy weapons. Some of these men, for some reason are entirely nude, with carefully crafted penises on show, which it is very easy to miss, especially if you don’t spend your time scrutinising the groins of NPCs. This of course confirmed the pre-release rumours of full-frontal male nudity, which appeared after the game’s ESRB rating was unveiled, and mentioned â€Å"non-sexual† male nudity. Imagine the poor intern/work experience lad (probably) who was forced to spend their coding and design days making sure the penises and testicles of the nudists cult members looked and responded in an authentic way. Sadly for some, there is no option to shed your own clothes and embrace the welcoming bond of your fellow nudes. In Trevor’s case, this can only be a good thing. Incidentally, the same ESRB rating that confirmed we’d see male nudity in the game also mentioned one brief reference to necrophilia, which so far has proved elusive. Not that we’re looking too hard, but it’s interesting to see something so openly discussed ahead of the release, and then so difficult to find (no matter how brief. ) Perhaps Rockstar’s DLC is going to be REALLY bold. Did we miss any Dirty Easter Eggs or hidden messages that you think should have made this list? Share your own finds in the comments below. Read more at http://whatculture. com/gaming/gta-v-12-dirty-hidden-secrets-and-easter-eggs-you-probably-missed. php/13#qYw1X3o7lktHeAtx. 99 7. Lawsuits Against The Franchise Total Over $1 Billion Read more at http://whatculture. com/gaming/gta-v-9-facts-that-will-blow-your-mind. php/3#zJ1PsYbf7ted734A. 99 GTA and controversy go together like peanut butter and jam; the franchise is never going to steer away from it, and as you’ll learn in a minute, it often even encourages it. Rockstar’s history in court has been well-documented, perhaps best of all their legal feud with disgraced Florida attourney Jack Thompson, who once referred to GTA as a â€Å"cop-killing simulator†, and has filed a litany of lawsuits on behalf of families who lost loved ones â€Å"because of the game†. You might think these suits frivolous, yet Thompson clearly meant business, filing a $246m suit against Rockstar a decade ago after two teens murdered two other motorists. That’s just one example, though; the man has filed countless suits in the name of his self-righteous crusade, yet they never seem to come to anything. Still, as it stands, Rockstar’s combined lawsuits surrounding the franchise total over $1 billion, which little – if any – they’ve ever had to pay out. Let’s see how many more games it takes them to reach the $2 billion milestone†¦ Read more at http://whatculture. com/gaming/gta-v-9-facts-that-will-blow-your-mind. php/3#zJ1PsYbf7ted734A. 99 7 Reasons We Should Be Worried About Video Game Violence Read more at http://whatculture. com/gaming/7-reasons-worried-video-game-violence. php/2#KwUUcZepH9gdxhEP. 99 7. High Level Of Graphics Realism Read more at http://whatculture. com/gaming/7-reasons-worried-video-game-violence. php/2#KwUUcZepH9gdxhEP. 99 Games today are far more aesthetically pleasing and with this often comes a greater degree of realism. Most game players can understand the difference and progression in game graphics – even if it’s simply between hand held and next generation game consoles. But along with the quality of the graphics also comes the detail. Take, for example, the game Mortal Kombat – which along with Grand Theft Auto is a tabloid aphrodisiac – and its ‘fatality’ finishers. The original game was released in 1992 and of course garnered plenty of debate regarding video game violence; but if you look at the fatalities from that game compared to today, it’s startling. Check out Raiden’s finishing moves – he shoots some blue lighting into the stunned opponent whose head then explodes into low quality cartoonish spurts of blood. Raiden shouts something like â€Å"heynamameeeh† and we all high five. Read more at http://whatculture. com/gaming/7-reasons-worried-video-game-violence.php/2#KwUUcZepH9gdxhEP. 99 6. Desensitisation With the realism and popularity of games comes the risk that we might become desensitized to violence. The majority of the research literature on video game violence focuses on this theory in one way or another; be it that it allows us to mute our own acts of aggression as suggested by Tobias Greitemayer in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, or that games are just part of a gradual global desensitisation to violence, as noted by Carnagey, Anderson and Bushman. Although much of modern research points away from violent video games reciprocating real world violence, the issue of desensitisation seems to be a constant theme. After all, if you see something over and over again it’s far less likely to shock you. However, what has changed along with video games, is the ease of access to violent and graphic images or video. Most owners of a Facebook account will have accidently played a shared video only to find half way through that it’s something sinister, like a cretin throwing puppies into a river, or the horrific video doing the rounds of a woman being decapitated. Also: as mentioned in the previous chapter, the depiction of violence on some of the most popular television shows is becoming increasingly more realistic and graphic. Several recent studies point to other mitigating, â€Å"real world† factors – and given the sheer number of us playing video games that are deemed violent, it’s these findings that make more sense to me. After all, if every Grand Theft Auto player replicated the game, we would need a Kevlar vest just to go fetch the newspaper. A study in the Journal of Psychiatric Research suggests that matters such as depression, antisocial personality traits, exposure to family violence and peer influences were the best predictors of youth aggression. This idea of video games merely being a piece of the desensitisation pie is further supported in recent research. A study in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence, funded in the wake of the Sandy Hook shootings – this will be discussed in a later chapter – tried to address the discrepancies in research. The study by Ferguson and Olson looked at vulnerable groups, namely children with pre-existing mental health problems. They concluded that the association between video game violence and aggression was minimal, but did point that further work was needed when looking at children’s attainment of violent stimulus. Read more at http://whatculture. com/gaming/7-reasons-worried-video-game-violence. php/3#Mc34jEfUCkm8wtJf. 99 5. Children Playing Adult Games With many video games now marketed exclusively for adults, the content can be unapologetically violent and graphic†¦ but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. With many games now seemingly more like interactive films, you’d be rather disappointed if when you shot the game’s villain, blue glitter poured out and a care bare gave you a hug. For example, in the recent GTA V, the torture scene with Trevor is incredibly detailed and forces the player to engage in order to continue the game. Apart from being uncomfortable – which was the point – it reminds you that you’re in a very adult world. Yes, you can have sex with a prostitute then beat her to death with a baseball bat to recoup your money, but you can also take your character for a jog around the block, or play a round of golf. The point is – it’s your choice. You are essentially controlling a character in a godfather sandbox. As an adult who understands that this is a game, the implications of game violence are minimal. Otherwise, as stated earlier with around 13 million people buying the recent Call Of Duty, we would all need to know effective covering fire when leaving the house. The danger comes when you imagine children playing adult games. Aside from the point of desensitisation, a child’s mind is still developing and their view and understanding of the world is still being shaped. Therefore they are far more susceptive to influence, which is why film and television is so carefully scrutinised. In 1994, the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) was put together to give age and content advisories on games. However this was only in Canada and the US and was not enforced by law. Fast forward to 2012 and the Pan European Game Information (PEGI) system becomes legislated, meaning anyone selling a game to an individual under-age faces a possible 6 months in prison and a ? 5,000 fine. Of course, how well enforced the ratings are is debatable, with most games still fairly easily bought online by teens. What’s interesting about the PEGI system is that violence can be present in games for ages as young as 12. For 12 year olds, it has to be in a fantasy setting such as Lord Of The Rings. For 16 year olds it can be explicit and once you get to 18 you can engage in graphic violence towards defenceless people including multiple, motiveless killings – hooray. The point is that whilst there are now more stringent controls on violent games, it’s only recently becoming enforced with any vigour. This in itself brings with it another reason to be worried about violence in video games†¦. Read more at http://whatculture. com/gaming/7-reasons-worried-video-game-violence. php/4#d0pyFo3jvDHcpzJK. 99 4. Stricter Controls Leading To Less Brave Games Read more at http://whatculture. com/gaming/7-reasons-worried-video-game-violence. php/5#R4q8EqZIh4V4Lrtu. 99 With the increase in game ratings and restrictions, there’s the risk that video games might follow their Hollywood counterparts.

Rich Resource Countries and Economic Growth

Rich Resource Countries and Economic Growth Vikram Mashru Why have resource rich economies so frequently failed to achieve sustained economic growth? In the late 20th Century, Sachs and Warner extensively documented the negative correlation between a country’s resource endowment and their rate of economic growth.[1] They focussed on point-source natural resources because they can be easily traded and exploited by others. Their paper built upon previous research leading to the so-called resource curse being widely accepted. However, the explanations of the phenomenon are disputed with the constantly fluctuating prices of natural resources being a possible explanation. In addition to this, other industries could be crowded out by the export-based natural resource industry an appreciation of the real exchange rate could also be problematic. Yet, the quality of a country’s institutions could be a better explanation for low levels of economic growth because they determine the way in which natural resources are exploited and consequently the impact the natural resource shave on the economy as a whole. The revenue brought about by natural resources tends to be extremely volatile because natural resources have a low price elasticity of supply as production cannot be altered easily altered without incurring large costs.[2] Oil prices are particularly variable because they are often affected by political instability, natural disasters and economic downturns. This volatility is problematic because it leads to uncertainty in the country and exposes the country’s economy to changes in the world price in commodities. This problem may be exacerbated if the country has not economically diversified and the majority of a country’s foreign currency comes from exports of natural resources. The fluctuating prices can lead to a risky cycle where the government spends a lot when prices are high, but have to introduce harsh austerity measures when prices drop because they can no longer afford to maintain their expenditure.[3] The unpredictability of the government’s fiscal poli cy may make the country less attractive to foreign investors. A dependence on a volatile primary product has been shown to inversely correlate with investment in education, foreign direct investment and overall economic growth[4]. However, if fluctuating prices were the only cause of the low rates of economic growth there would certainly be periods of significantly higher growth when prices are high. Thus, fluctuating prices alone are not enough to explain the natural resource curse. Dutch disease is a theory that suggests the discovery of resources in a country may lead to a decline in export-oriented industries and particularly the manufacturing sector. The export of natural resources like oil could lead to an appreciation in the real exchange rate because of the increase in demand for the currency.[5] The high exchange rate could harm the manufacturing industry as their exports would consequently be more expensive than before. Thus, the manufacturing sector would be less competitive on the global market and could lead to lower economic growth in the country. The term itself was originally used to describe this process after it happened in the Netherlands after the discovery of natural gas in 1959, but it has since been observed elsewhere.[6] Russia, for example, is one of the largest exporters of natural resources in the world and has experienced an increasing real exchange rate. Oomes and Kalcheva demonstrate that Russia has also displayed the other three maj or signs of Dutch disease including a slowdown of the manufacturing industry, an increase in service sector growth and an increase in wage growth. While this may not be enough to conclusively state that Russia has fallen foul of Dutch disease, it does appear that likely that the country has experienced it to some degree. Furthermore, industries that compete with imports may be adversely affected as the stronger exchange rate would increase the purchasing power of consumers. The country’s labour and capital may be redistributed towards local non-tradeable sectors and the country may then lose out on the benefits of having a strong manufacturing sector such as technological progress and good management.[7] There were significant fears that the artificially high exchange rate from North Sea oil revenue would have this impact in the UK if corrective policies were not enacted.[8] On the other hand, Dutch disease appears to be an inadequate explanation for Nigeria’s poor economic performance because the sustained increase in price of tradable goods in the 1980s and early 1990s did not improve their economic performance and because the decline of the agricultural sector was offset by the growth of the public sector.[9] Furthermore, Norway’s extraction of oil from the early 1970s has hugely improved its economic growth and allowed it to catch up with Denmark and Sweden. Its rapid growth suggests that Dutch disease is not an economic inevitability and that there are other important factors. Larsen argues that Norway’s success where so many other countries have failed is indicative of the superior quality of its pre-existing institutions, an attribute that most primary product dependent countries do not have.[10] Norway’s government explicitly discussed the problems natural resources posed in parliament and used policies to counteract t hese negative impacts. For example, they tried to protect the economy from excessive demand and exchange rate appreciation by establishing a Petroleum Fund abroad and paying back foreign debts.[11] The discovery of natural resources often leads to disputes over the ownership of them and rent-seeking behaviour such as civil wars which may crowd out other beneficial behaviour. Nigeria demonstrates the institutional problems with the discovery of a large pool of natural resources. Corruption and waste has ruined the country and prevented the large quantity of oil in the country from making a positive contribution to the national economy. Conflicts over ownership of oil fields such as the Biafran war of the 1960s and successive military dictatorships have not only disturbed the extraction of oil but have disrupted unrelated economic activity.[12] Moreover, poor institutional quality leads to a lack of trust in government especially when corruption is widespread and widely known about. Multinational corporations respond to problems of corruption by taking part in enclave development where they minimise their activity in the country so that they can avoid all the problems associated with poor institutions. Large firms extract oil from these countries but process it elsewhere, which means that there is little value added in the resource rich country. Consequently, countries like Nigeria are forced to rely on exports of raw materials and there is little value added to commodities in their economies so little profit is made within the country. Overall, it seems that oil is not enough on its own to create economic and civil disturbances, but instead exacerbates pre-existing issues. In the Niger Delta, oil was discovered amidst a backdrop of weak institutions and thus conflicts and exploitation follows.[13] However, part of the prob lem is that the discovery of oil and consequent accumulation of wealth at the top of the political hierarchy, as Birdsall points out, may hinder the development and improvement of institutions that could have otherwise taken place.[14] The explanation for resource rich countries lack of growth is particularly complex. The volatility of raw material prices are in part to blame for this because they lead to uncertainty in the economy and exposes the country to price changes on the global market. This is made worse by the following unpredictability of government fiscal decisions. However, the volatility is not enough to truly understand why these countries have such slow rates of economic growth. The Dutch disease is a slightly better explanation, with the export of raw materials leading to an appreciation in the exchange rate. However, multiple examples like Norway show that Dutch disease can be avoided through careful macroeconomic planning on the part of the government. This demonstrates that the most important explanation is the quality of institutions at the time of resource discovery. If they are weak, like Nigeria’s, natural resources can lead to civil conflict and economic hardship. Yet a country with s trong institutions like Norway allows natural resources to boost prosperity and economic growth. BIBLIOGRAPHY Birdsall, N Subramanian, A. (2004) Saving Iraq From Its Oil. Foreign Affairs 83.4 Larsen, E.R. (2004) Escaping the Resource Curse and the Dutch Disease? Statistics Norway, Research Department Oomes, N. Kalcheva, K. (2007) Diagnosing Dutch Disease: Does Russia have the Symptoms? IMF Working Paper The Dutch Disease (1977) The Economist Sachs, J.D. Warner, A.M. (1995) Natural Resource Abundance and Economic Growth. National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper Sala-i-Martin, X. Subramanian, A. (2003) Addressing The Natural Resource Curse: An Illustration From Nigeria. National Bureau of Economic Research Ramey, G. Ramey, V.A. (1995) Cross-Country Evidence on the Link Between Volatility and Growth. American Economic Review Watts, M. (2004) Resource Curse? Governmentality, Oil and Power in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. Geopolitics 1 [1] Sachs Warner, Natural Resource Abundance and Economic Growth [2] Oomes Kalcheva, Diagnosing Dutch Disease, p.7 [3] Birdsall Subramanian, Saving Iraq From Its Oil [4] Ramey Ramey, Cross-Country Evidence on the Link Between Volatility and Growth, pp.1138-1151 [5] Oomes Kalcheva, Diagnosing Dutch Disease, p.7 [6] The Economist, The Dutch Disease, pp.82-83 [7] Birdsall Subramanian, Saving Iraq From Its Oil [8] Forsyth Kay, The Economic Implications of North Sea Oil Revenues, p.17 [9] Sala-i-Martin Subramanian, Addressing The Natural Resource Curse, p. 16 [10] Larsen, Escaping the Resource Curse and the Dutch Disease? [11] Larsen, Escaping the Resource Curse and the Dutch Disease? P.13 [12] Sala-i-Martin Subramanian, Addressing The Natural Resource Curse, pp.12-15 [13] Watt, Resource Curse? pp.73-76 [14] Birdsall Subramanian, Saving Iraq From Its Oil

The Loss of a President :: essays papers

The Loss of a President On November 22, 1963 at 12:30 P.M., the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, was shot and killed while riding through the streets of Dallas, Texas in an open limousine with wife Jackie Kennedy, and Governor John Connally. This single event in history has created more controversy than any other. Still today, more than 27 years after the shooting, there is still speculation as to who killed John F. Kennedy. Today, so many possible theories remain, it is hard to determine what actually happened. Today many people believe that it was Lee Harvey Oswald that killed JFK. They believe that he was just a â€Å"lone nut† acting out of his own feelings, and he was not influenced by anyone else. Many others believe there was a conspiracy set up by the CIA to kill President Kennedy, and others believe that it was Communist Russians. In my paper I will try to explain some of the theories as clear as possible, and let you decide for yourself what you believe happened November 22, 1963. If Lee Harvey Oswald was not the assassin as thought, who else would possibly want the president dead? The Mafia Anti-Castro Cubans The CIA Communist Russians. When John F. Kennedy became president, he had many great ambitions. He wanted to pull more troops out of Vietnam and lessen the war effort, cut back on organized crime, end the Cuban Missile Crisis, and limit the power of the CIA. With these ambitions it is no surprise he made so many new enemies, some even being in the US government itself. Many of these new enemies he had found were very powerful, and would stop at nothing to see his new ways come to an end, even if it meant killing him. Shortly after the incident, the government founded the Warren Commission, and a government investigation began on the assassination. The Warren Commission was a group made of â€Å"outstanding citizens† to "ascertain, evaluate and report upon the facts relating to the assassination ... and the subsequent violent death of the man charged with the assassination Lee Harvey Oswald.† The Commission was instructed by the government to examine evidence brought forth to them by the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation), or and any other organization or person. With the examination of the evidence, the Commission was then to make a decision on exactly what occurred that day. In under a week the Commission was able to come to the conclusion that Lee

The U.S. Involvement in the Vietnam War Was Justified Essay example --

The U.S. Involvement in the Vietnam War Was Justified   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Vietnam conflict has been known for being the most unpopular war in the history of the United States. The war of 1812, the Mexican war and the Korean conflict of the early 1950's were also opposed by large groups of the American people, but none of them generated the emotional anxiety and utter hatred that spawned Vietnam. The Vietnam war caused people to ask the question of sending our young people to die in places where they were particular wanted and for people who did not seem especial grateful.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Vietnam has a very rich and cultural diverse background dating all the way back to 1066 when William the Conqueror invaded and paved the way for English colonization. The French had been colonizing since the 19th century. The French role in Vietnams history is critical; they started out by bringing these simple peasants to the latest technology of farming and hunting (Yancey 37). The French helped these people out greatly in the beginning, but like all stories of occupation go they just got worse. They started forcing rules and laws on the people of Vietnam. Thus started the First Vietnam War, also known as the Indochina War between France and Vietnam. "The French possessed military superiority, but the Vietnamese had already the hearts and minds of the country. (38). Even from the beginning the Vietnamese had the odds to there favor. The French looked at the wars in numbers and how many lost on each side. They gathered from all the battles that they were winning because the Vietnamese casualties far outweighed the French; nonetheless they were wrong. To a certain point the French were fighting a game that they could not win at any cost. The French had the military superiority but the Vietnamese had the manpower and the Guerilla tactics. The Indochina War ended with French loosing terrible at Dienbienphu, where a whole French garrison was wiped out.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When Vietnamese revolutionary Ho Chi Minh and his political organization, the Vietminh, seized control of their independence from France United States Politicians saw it as another communist take over. When really Ho was more a nationalist than a communist. All Minh wanted was for the United States to recognize its independence from France and to send aid to help it reach its nationalistic goals. "Before the Cold War Ho and the Vietmin... ... of South Vietnam that resulted in the fall of Saigon on 30 April. In the previous month a RAAF detachment of 8 Hercules transports flew humanitarian missions to aid civilian refugees displaced by the fighting, and carried out the evacuation of Vietnamese orphans before finally taking out embassy staff on 25 April (Dudley 179). The US did the same exact thing except there were many people left behind that we could not transport due to the importance of emptying out embassy. Over fifty countries pooled resources together but out of all the United States had a much bigger sacrifice, the ultimate sacrifice, the sacrifice of our young men. These men started coming into Vietnam as early as 1962.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Vietnam War was a very mismanaged war but our involvement was very crucial. Some people believe that the side we were on was wrong, and the author of this completely agrees. Ho Chi Minh was really a quite conservative communist leader. He was fair and he was also was balanced. He treated his people very fairly. The beliefs of the author are that if Truman would have not set the precedent of opposing all communist leaders than the Vietnam War would have been a lot different. The U.S. Involvement in the Vietnam War Was Justified Essay example -- The U.S. Involvement in the Vietnam War Was Justified   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Vietnam conflict has been known for being the most unpopular war in the history of the United States. The war of 1812, the Mexican war and the Korean conflict of the early 1950's were also opposed by large groups of the American people, but none of them generated the emotional anxiety and utter hatred that spawned Vietnam. The Vietnam war caused people to ask the question of sending our young people to die in places where they were particular wanted and for people who did not seem especial grateful.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Vietnam has a very rich and cultural diverse background dating all the way back to 1066 when William the Conqueror invaded and paved the way for English colonization. The French had been colonizing since the 19th century. The French role in Vietnams history is critical; they started out by bringing these simple peasants to the latest technology of farming and hunting (Yancey 37). The French helped these people out greatly in the beginning, but like all stories of occupation go they just got worse. They started forcing rules and laws on the people of Vietnam. Thus started the First Vietnam War, also known as the Indochina War between France and Vietnam. "The French possessed military superiority, but the Vietnamese had already the hearts and minds of the country. (38). Even from the beginning the Vietnamese had the odds to there favor. The French looked at the wars in numbers and how many lost on each side. They gathered from all the battles that they were winning because the Vietnamese casualties far outweighed the French; nonetheless they were wrong. To a certain point the French were fighting a game that they could not win at any cost. The French had the military superiority but the Vietnamese had the manpower and the Guerilla tactics. The Indochina War ended with French loosing terrible at Dienbienphu, where a whole French garrison was wiped out.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When Vietnamese revolutionary Ho Chi Minh and his political organization, the Vietminh, seized control of their independence from France United States Politicians saw it as another communist take over. When really Ho was more a nationalist than a communist. All Minh wanted was for the United States to recognize its independence from France and to send aid to help it reach its nationalistic goals. "Before the Cold War Ho and the Vietmin... ... of South Vietnam that resulted in the fall of Saigon on 30 April. In the previous month a RAAF detachment of 8 Hercules transports flew humanitarian missions to aid civilian refugees displaced by the fighting, and carried out the evacuation of Vietnamese orphans before finally taking out embassy staff on 25 April (Dudley 179). The US did the same exact thing except there were many people left behind that we could not transport due to the importance of emptying out embassy. Over fifty countries pooled resources together but out of all the United States had a much bigger sacrifice, the ultimate sacrifice, the sacrifice of our young men. These men started coming into Vietnam as early as 1962.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Vietnam War was a very mismanaged war but our involvement was very crucial. Some people believe that the side we were on was wrong, and the author of this completely agrees. Ho Chi Minh was really a quite conservative communist leader. He was fair and he was also was balanced. He treated his people very fairly. The beliefs of the author are that if Truman would have not set the precedent of opposing all communist leaders than the Vietnam War would have been a lot different.

Human resource training and development Essay

1.0 INTRODUCTION Employees play a vital role in organization performance. Effective training and development are very important because it can help an organization to improve on its performance as well as on its productivity. Gilmore and Williams (2009) pointed out that only the trained workforce can effectively respond to the new challenges as well as to the existing ones in their jobs .Basically, skills are capacities and expertise in particular occupation. Gilmore and Williams (2009) continue saying that higher productivity is increasingly driven by skills. Besides, the degree of competitive advantage of a firm depends increasingly on its skilled labor 1.1 Definition of Training Training is the modification of behavior through learning (Kisire, 2010). The main aim of training progress is to help employees to do things differently for better performance and to increase their level of job satisfaction. Basically, training touches on knowledge, skills and abilities. Thus training should be done strategically in order to meet the long term development of the people and achieve organizational goals. In fact, it is only when employees understand very well the right way to do their jobs that the employer can hope for excellent results. 1.2 Justification for Training by (Armstrong 2011) †¢The knowledge or skills cannot be acquired satisfactorily in the workplace or by self directed learning. †¢Different skills are required by a number of people which have to be developed quickly to meet new demands and cannot be gained by relying on experience. †¢The tasks to be carried out are so specialized or complex that people are unlikely to master them on their own initiative at a reasonable speed. †¢When a learning need to be common to a number of people, has to meet that which can readily be dealt with in a training event or programme e.g. induction, essential IT skills, and communication skills. †¢Training helps the organization to gain competitive advantage. That is, the training practices have to help the business to grow and improve customer service by providing employees with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful. †¢Training prepares employees to use new  technologies, function in new work systems such as virtual teams, and communicate and cooperate with peers or customers who may be from different cultural backgrounds. †¢Training helps organizations provide high quality service for example through quick responds to clients needs. 1.3 Development Bernardin (2010) describes development as learning opportunities designed to help employees grow. Developing people in organizational context is to help them to progress within their careers. One key factor in employee motivation and retention is the opportunity employees want to continue to grow and develop job and career by enhancing their skills level of performance and productivity .Gary Dessler (2011) describes training as a process with 4 steps that an employer uses to give new or present employees the skills required for effective performance. Training and development process emphasize on what employees want in training and development opportunities. Providing training to employees benefits both organization and employees themselves. 2.0 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT †¢Training raises knowledge and skills required for efficient performance of a particular job, while development is a continuous general and dynamic expansion of skills and knowledge, and is aimed at long term career growth rather than immediate performance. †¢Training focuses on short term (basing on the current job) while development focuses on the long term (the future careers) e.g. finding a mentor within your organization to introduce you to the structure and culture at senior levels in your organization and give you more exposure to senior management. 3.0 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRAINING AND EDUCATION †¢Purpose of learning: In training the employee acquire new skills and knowledge while in education the purpose is to acquire or deepen mindset or profession. Thus education is general and wider in general purpose than training. †¢Length of the learning process: in education it takes one to four years while in training it takes one to five days or several weeks. †¢Place of delivery: Training is generally imparted at the work place while education is imparted in schools or colleges. †¢Training effect: Training  has immediate effect as compared to education. †¢Change: In education, change program requires one to be skillful at thinking, transformational, deeper and more radical while in training needs to be skillful at doing shallower and more superficial programs 4.0 NEED FOR TRAINING †¢Increases organizational commitment †¢Develops the cognitive, physical and spiritual dimensions of the employee †¢Improves job performance †¢Contributes to flexibility to adapt to changing internal and external factors †¢Develops interpersonal skills †¢Creates an interesting and challenging environment †¢Fosters greater organizational stability less employee turnover and conflicts †¢Helps reduce costs in the secretariat †¢Heightens employee morale †¢Increases knowledge and awareness of the total environment †¢Helps achieve overall organizational objectives †¢Helps retain a competent and efficient workforce †¢Develops creativity and problem solving skills †¢Helps improve and acquire technical skills. 4.1 Aligning Strategy and Training. To be effective, training must play a strategic role in supporting business. Employers today want to make sure their training programs are supporting their firms’ strategic goals. 4.2 Planning and delivering learning events and programs †¢Training Needs Analysis It involves the determination of the types and specific training necessary to improve current knowledge, abilities and skills of the workforce. This can be done through personal, task and organizational level of analysis. The data can come from target participant supervisor’s management, and even from customers, using multiple data gathering methods like survey, interview, observation at work, and performance appraisal results. Other possible sources of training needs are the long-range human resource plans of the company, practices of other organizations, requests for training of affiliate/subsidiary companies, and legislation requirements. The Training Needs Analysis (TNA) results serve as important inputs in designing the  training program. TNA should be done regularly to ensure that training would respond to the needs of trainees. †¢Training Design This pertains to the planning of the entire training program. It starts with the identification of the goals and objectives that should be achieved. The topics or contents to be covered and the appropriate training methodologies for adult learning are then determined. The corresponding visual aids and learning materials are also specified. The training design and the TNA are usually done by the training staff of the organization and sometimes by outside consultants. The services of training consultants are usually availed of the large companies for this purpose. A typical training design will contain these parts: Training Title Venue Date Goal Specific Objectives Sequences of Topics Time Allocation Per Topic Methodology Resources Needed Evaluation The training objectives of the training design are a critical element that should be written properly to be able to decide on the contents, methodology, and the duration of tackling the topics. The preset objectives also become the basis for evaluating the success of the program. The standard criteria for objective formulation is SMART. Whether the training will facilitate the learning of cognitive, affective, or psychomotor skills, it is important that the objectives are specific, measurable/observable, attainable, relevant to training goals, and time-bound. On the other hand, the choices of any or a combination of the following training methodologies will largely depend on the objectives, type of participants, and the duration of the training. †¢Training Implementation Implementation covers the logistical aspects like venue, food, budget,  equipment, resource persons, transportation, and participants. These should be properly attended to during the actual conduct of the training. Therefore, training programs are done within the company or outside depending on the nature of the program and the financial capability of the organization. In cases where the organization has earmarked a sufficient budget for major training program especially for managers, these are done outside of the company with external consultants as trainers. Companies like Fortune Medicare Inc. and Nestle Philippines have this kind of practice. Based on the above-mentioned importance of training, specific training conducted by the organizations may be classified as technical or behavioral training. The skills/technical type focuses on facilitating the learning of competencies related to the employees’ knowledge and skills. The behavioral type, on the other hand, pertains to ensuring the learning of competencies related to the workforce attitudes and habits. †¢Training Evaluation This last phase of the training process requires the assessment of the conduct of the training activity. The evaluation is concerned with the measurement of the training success or effectiveness to establish whether an investment in a particular training has paid off. The training effectiveness is usually determined based on the achievement of the previously set objectives and results, considering the needs, methods, and other areas of training administration. According to Kirkpatrick (1998), there are four levels of evaluating training programs. These are the (1) reaction; (2) learning; (3) behavioral change; and (4) impact to organization. The reaction level measures the participants’ feedback right after the conduct of the training. Feedback are taken related to attainment of objectives, processes, methodologies, time, reading materials, resource persons/facilitators, and other logistics of the training. On the other hand, participants’ learning level determines what specific skills, knowledge or even what they learned is commonly asked at the end of the training period. There are many ways by which the training evaluation can be done. The use of the questionnaire form administered at the end of the training is very often done to measure the reaction level. However, it should be noted that using a questionnaire form is only one of the methods to evaluate training. Other ways to assess training according to Hargraues  and Jarius (2000) are: (1) formal or informal interviews; (2) feedback from line managers; (3) feedback from the Training Unit; (4) meet a cross-section of suppliers or customers; (5) discuss with staff who attended; (6) wander into offices and talk to people; (7) number of requests to attend other events; (8) academic or practical standards reached; (9) formal certification; and (10) a cost- benefit analysis. While the paper & pencil or practical test is used to assess knowledge learning of the participants. A good example of this is the pre-test and post-test method using different designs. The learning is usually also undertaken simultaneously within the reaction level. The behavioural change level assesses the changes on the attitude and/or habits of the trainees after the training that is usually observable at the workplace. This will involve a follow up of the trainees in coordination with the immediate supervisor. Examples of behavioural indicators are attendance, promptness, courtesy, cooperation, and level of participation. The impact to organization level measures the effect of the training on the unit where the trainees belong and on the entire organization. This level can focus on productivity sales profits, and customer satisfaction. 4.3 Identification of Training Needs †¢Appraisal Systems Many organizations see performance appraisal schemes as an integral part of their employee development strategy. Schemes vary considerably from one organization to another, and nowadays may have a variety of names, but almost all of them include the identification of training needs as a key component. Most also consider the longer-term career options available to employees, and allow them to express their preferences. It follows that anyone with responsibility for training and development should influence the design of the scheme and ensure that notice is taken of the information generated by it. This is not always readily achieved. Sometimes the scheme will focus on short-term performance issues, and line managers may not regard the consideration of developmental issues as important. The appraisal may also be considered to be confidential within the department concerned. Sometimes the section covering training and development needs is detachable, so that the training function only gets to see the appropriate information. This approach has its merits, but excludes the underlying performance issues  which contribute towards identifying the training and development needs. There are many issues to be addressed when designing and implementing an appraisal scheme, and some of the aims of the process may conflict with each other. For example, a scheme linked to the determination of pay increases may inhibit the appraisee from being honest about aspects of the job that he or she finds difficult, whereas it is precisely these aspects that must be discussed to identify training needs. Care is required to minimize these conflicts . †¢Survey Methods Surveys can be very useful in the gathering of data, including information on attitudes. People usually participate willingly if the completion of a survey form is not too complex or lengthy and if they think some good will come out of the exercise. When designing a survey you must decide on: 1) the size and nature of the sample 2) the format of the questions 3) exactly how the survey is to be conducted. †¢Interviews Interviewing is a technique that can appear to be very simple when used by an experienced practitioner. Although some people are naturally better at interviewing, the key skills of a good investigative interviewer are all capable of being learned. The first two skills are common to all types of interview – questioning and listening. These two investigative skills are inseparable; one supports and reinforces the other. For trainers these skills are crucial not only at the stage of identifying training needs but also during instruction and evaluation. Many trainers who recognise that the ability to talk well is vital often underestimate the importance of questioning and listening. Hearing, which is an ability that may be difficult to improve, is not the same as listening which is a skill that can be significantly enhanced by training. Questioning is something that everyone can do, but which some people learn to do much more effectively than others. In an interview to determine training needs, the interviewer may be delving into very emotive and sensitive areas. To ensure that the interviewee feels comfortable in talking about these issues, the interviewer must appear to be listening. To ensure that full understanding is attained, the interviewer must not only appear to listen, but must actually do so with real concentration. †¢Job and Task Analysis There are many reasons for analyzing jobs and tasks. One common reason is to provide a basis for job evaluation; another is to be precise about requirements in a selection situation. There are also many different systems of analysis. Some seem to generate a multitude of documents; others use highly involved and sophisticated methodology. Different types of analysis are: Job analysis; Task analysis; Skills analysis and Fault analysis. 5.0 TRANSFER OF TRAINING Be relevant, avoid difficult material. Transfer is more likely if systematic training and just in time training approaches are used. 5.1 Systematic Training We have to ensure that training is specifically designed, planned and implemented to meet defined needs. It is provided by people who know to train and the impact of training is evaluated. Systematic training follows five steps ADDIE) model. Effective training uses the systematic approach with an emphasis on skills analysis. The focus of training should be to develop transferable skills. The training should be evaluated on the basis of the extent to which it has achieved its purpose. 5.2 Just in Time Training It is delivered as close as possible to the time when the activity is taking place. The training will be based on an identification of the latest requirements, priorities and plans of the participants. 5.3 Types of Training Armstrong (2012), indicates that training programs or events can be concerned with any of the following: †¢Manual skills including apprenticeship †¢Information Technology(IT) skills †¢Team leader or supervisory training †¢Management training †¢Interpersonal skills such as leadership, teambuilding and group dynamics †¢Personal skills for example assertiveness, coaching, communicating and time management. †¢Training in organizational procedures or practices such as induction, health and safety, performance management, equal opportunity  or managing diversity policy and practice. 6.0 IMPLEMENTING TRAINING PROGRAMS (TRAINING METHODS) 6.1 On the Job Training On-the-job training is training that takes place while employees are actually working. It means that skills can be gained while trainees are carrying out their jobs. This benefits both employees and the business. Employees learn in the real work environment and gain experience dealing with the tasks and challenges that they will meet during a normal working day. The business benefits by ensuring that the training is specific to the job. It also does not have to meet the additional costs of providing off-the-job training or losing working time. Requirements for effective On the Job Training (OJT) programs by (CIDP 2008a) †¢A policy statement that describes the purpose of OJT and emphasizes the company’s support for it. †¢A clear specification of who is accountable for conducting OJT. If managers conduct OJT, this is mentioned in their job descriptions and is part of their performance evaluation †¢A thorough review of OJT practices (program content, types of jobs, length of program, cost savings) at other companies in similar industries. †¢Training of managers and peers in the principles of structured OJT †¢Availability of lesson plans, checklists, procedure manuals, training manuals, learning contracts and progress report forms for use by employees who conduct OJT †¢Evaluation of employees levels of basic skills (reading, computation, and writing) before OJT. The virtual classroom: This is another training technique as presented by Dessler (2011). It uses special collaboration software to enable multiple remote learners, using their PCs or laptops to participate in live audio and visual discussions, communicate via written text and learn via content such as PowerPoint slides. Informal learning: Informal learning occurs e.g. through capitalizing on work related discussions, for example, to place tools in strategic areas like cafeteria to take advantage of the work-related discussions taking place. Apprenticeship Training: An apprenticeship program combines on-the-job training with academic instruction for those entering the workforce. Also called dual-training programs because of the combined occupational and in-class components, apprenticeships help individuals put their academic skills to practical use in various careers. Whereas internships are often  short-term, rarely lasting more than a year, apprenticeships can last as many as four or five years. Apprenticeships also differ from internships in that most apprentices are paid, with salary increasing as the apprentice completes parts of the program.. Job Instruction Training: (JIT) is a step-by-step, relatively simple technique used to train employees on the job. It is especially suitable for teaching manual skills or procedures; the trainer is usually an employee’s supervisor but can be a co-worker. Lectures: Don’t start out on the wrong foot. For instance, don’t open with an irrelevant joke or by saying something like â€Å"I really don’t know why I was asked to speak here today.† Give your listeners signals if for example you have a list of items, start by saying something like, â€Å"There are four reasons why the sales reports are necessary†¦.the first†¦. Again be alert to your audience, maintain eye contact with your audience during your presentation, and break a long talk into a series of 5 minutes talks Programmed learning: It is a learning methodology or technique first proposed by the behaviorist B. F. Skinner in 1958. According to Skinner, the purpose of programmed learning is to â€Å"manage human learning under controlled conditions†. The medium can be a textbook, Personal Computer (PC), or internet. Programmed learning is a step by step, self learning method that consists of three parts: presenting questions and facts to the learner, allowing the person to respond, and providing the learner feedback on the accuracy of answers. The advantage is that it reduces training time Computer based training (CBT): A type of education in whic h the student learns by executing special training programs on a computer. CBT is especially effective for training people to use computer applications because the CBT program can be integrated with the applications so that students can practice using the application as they learn. Training via the internet and learning portals. The training may include posting videos, written lectures or power point slides or sophisticated simulations. This method may be applied in colleges where the employer use internet based learning to training. Company’s also convey their employee training through their internal internet portals for example by contracting with service providers such as skill soft (www.skillsoft.com) or for health and safety training, pure safety (www.puresafety.com) to deliver online training courses to the firms employees. Mobile learning: This refers to delivering  of learning content on demand via devices like cell phones and i-phones whenever the learner wants to access it. Audiovisual and traditional distance learning techniques: Audiovisual tools including DVDs, films and closed circuit TV e.g. firms’ use various distance learning methods for training which may include traditional correspondence courses as well as video conferencing and internet based classes. Behavior modeling: It involves showing trainees the right (or Model) way of doing something, letting each person practice the right way to do it and providing feedback regarding performance. The basic behavior modeling procedure is: †¢Modeling: first trainee watch DVDs, showing model persons behaving effectively in a problem situation. †¢Role playing: the trainees are given roles to play in a stimulated situation. †¢Social reinforcement: the trainer provides praises and constructive feedback based on the trainee performs in the role play. †¢Transfer of training: finally trainees are encouraged to apply their new skills when they are back on their jobs In summary: Training and development applies both On-the-job and Off-the-Job training methods On the Job Training Methods: On the job training takes various forms including apprenticeships, job rotation, creation of assistant to positions, orientation, delegation, vestibule training, promotion and transfers and self directed training programs Off the Job Training Methods include training by management institutions, lectures, seminars and conference, case study, brainstorming, management games and role playing 6.1 Advantages of Off-the-job Training method †¢Non production error: the employees are trained outside the work environment therefore they are not involved in production process as in on the job training method. †¢Economy: A large group of trainees are trained simultaneously at a time. †¢Free on production: when the trainees are not involved in production process, the production activities can be carried without any interruption hence, it runs freely, moreover, costly errors and injurious can be avoided †¢Less time of training: training will take less time because the trainees are not involved in production. †¢It is free from pressures of working environment †¢Risk free of damaging organization’s valuable equipment. This is because  they are not trained using organization’s facilities. †¢Off- the- job development techniques remove individuals from the stresses and ongoing demands of the work place, enabling them focus fully on the learning experience. In addition they provide opportunities for meeting people from other departments or organizations. Thus individuals are exposed to useful new ideas and experiences while they make potentially useful contacts. 6.2 Disadvantages of Off-the-job training method †¢Lack of feedback: there is lack of feedback to employees because they are trained away from the organization work environment. †¢Expensive: organization has to prepare extra place for training outside the actual environment. †¢No production: employees are kept away from the actual work place, thus the organization bears cost without output. †¢Outside the work station: employees are unknown with actual machines and equipment thus transfer of training is sometimes difficult. †¢Not effective: as employees are trained in an artificial classroom they are unfamiliar with actual environment as result of which it requires long time for them to learn. 6.3 Advantages of On-the-Job Training Method †¢Organization doesn’t have to pay a training company or college therefore it is less costly. †¢Senior highly skilled and experienced staff can teach new staff the exact skills needed for a particular job †¢The business can acquire an experience in house training team hence no need for trainees to adjust to real work situations and trainers †¢It builds relationships/bonds between learner/teacher in the work place. 6.4 Disadvantages of On-the-Job Training Method †¢Productivity can be interrupted †¢Senior highly skilled and experienced staff has to leave their job to teach/train. †¢Skills learned are job specific leaving staff less flexible to changing roles. †¢Working environment can be busy, noisy and not conducive for learning. †¢It may lead to high rate of spoilage of material and damage of valuable equipment 7.0 IMPLEMENTING MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS Management Development and training is any attempt to improve managerial performance by imparting knowledge, changing attitudes or increasing skills. It thus includes in-house programs such as courses, coaching and rotational assignments, professional programs such as management seminars and university programs such as executive MBA programs. The ultimate aim of such development programs is to enhance the future performance of the organization itself. For this reason the overall management development process ideally consists of assessing the company’s needs for example to fill the future executive openings, appraising the managers’ performance and then developing managers themselves (CIDP 2008a). The program should make sense in terms of the company’s strategy and goals. This means involving top management in formulating the program’s aims and in specifying competencies and knowledge outcomes. The most popular development methods include classroom based learning, executive coaching, 360-degree feedback, action learning, mentoring and job rotation. 7.1 The Management Development Process It includes assessing the company’s strategic needs for example to fill future executive openings or to boost competitiveness, appraising managers’ current performance and developing the managers and future managers. Development programs aim to fill specific positions, such as CEO, for example, GE Caterpillar Company spent years developing, testing, and watching potential replacements for CEO before finally choosing Jeffrey Immelt (Dessler 2011). In any case, assessment is usually part of development programs. 8.0 METHODS OF MANAGEMENT TRAINING PROGRAMS 8.1 On-the-Job Methods On the job methods are usually preferred in management development programs. Often such training is informal. The supervisor trains the worker as he performs the work. David (2009), says there are four major on-the-job development methods: †¢Coaching/understudy Approach: here the trainee works directly with senior manager or with a person he or she is to replace. The training of mangers by his or her immediate supervisors- is by far the most effective management development technique; unfortunately, many managers are either unable or unwilling to coach those they supervise. On- the job  coaching must be tempered with considerable restraint- managers who cannot develop unless they are allowed to work out problems in their own way. †¢Job rotation: It involves shifting mangers from position to position so they can broaden their experience and familiarize themselves with various aspects of the firms operations.The trainee can be a recent college graduate, and spend several months in each department, learning the department’s business by actually doing it. Or can be a senior manager being groomed for CEO by being exposed to a range of domestic and foreign challenges.   †¢Training positions: Trainees are given staff posts immediately under an experienced manager, often with the title of assistant. Such assignments give trainees a chance to work with and model themselves after outstanding managers who might otherwise have little contact with them. †¢Planned work activities: This involves, giving trainees important work assignments to develop their experience and ability. Trainees may be asked to head a task force or participate in an important committee meeting. Such experiences help them gain insight into how organizations operate and also improve their human relations. 8.2 Off-the-Job Methods The most common off the job development methods are in-house classroom instruction and management development programs sponsored by universities and organizations such as American Management association. Almost every management development program includes some form of classroom instruction in which specialists from inside or outside the organization teach trainees a particular subject. Classroom instruction is often supplemented, with case studies, role playing and business games or simulations. For example managers may be asked to play roles on both sides in simulated labor- management dispute. Some organizations send selected employees to university-sponsored management programs. Many major universities have such programs, which range in length from one week to three or more. Off-the-Job Management Training and Development Techniques †¢The case study Method: The case study method presents a trainee with a written description of an organizational problem. The trainee then analyses the case, diagnoses the problem and presents his or her findings and solutions in a discussion with other trainees. E.g. crime investigation, u  can write a script showing all the procedures. The scenario aim is to develop specific training skills, such as interviewing witnesses. †¢Management games: Management games are effective; people learn best by being involved. With computerized management games trainees divide into five or six person groups each of which competes with the others in simulated marketplace. Each group must decide for example how much to spend on advertising, how much to produce, how much inventory and how many of which product to produce. Thus they make computerized decisions. †¢Outside seminars: Many universities and companies offer web-based and traditional classroom management development seminars and conferences. E.g. specialized associations such as Society of Human Resource Management, provide specialized seminars for their professional members. †¢University related programs: Many universities provide executive education and continuing education programs in leadership, supervision etc. these can range 1 to 4 day programs to execute development programs lasting 1 to 4 months. The advanced Management Program of Harvard’s graduate school of Business administration is a well known example according to (Dessler 2011). Students are experienced managers from around the world. The school uses cases and lectures to provide them with the latest management skills. †¢Role playing: The aim of role playing is to create a realistic situation and then have the trainees assume the parts or roles of specific persons in that situation. The role play can trigger the discussions among the role players/trainees. The aim is to develop trainees’ skills in areas like leadership and delegating. †¢Corporate Universities: Many universities particularly the larger ones establish in-house development centers; IBM is one of the examples. In-house development centers typically offer a catalogue of courses and programs aimed at supporting the employers, management training and development program providers and web-based education portals to create packages of programs and materials. For example Brain and Company, a management consulting firm, has such a web based virtual university for its employees. It provides a means not only for coordinating all the company’s training efforts but also for delivering web based modules and cover topics from strategic management to mentoring. †¢Executive Coaches: Firms retain executive coaches to develop their top managers’ effectiveness. An executive coach is an outside consultant who questions the executive boss, peers,  subordinates and sometimes family in order to identify the executive’s strengths and weaknesses and counsel the executive so he or she can capitalize on those strengths and overcome the weaknesses. †¢The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Learning System: SHRM, encourages HR professionals to qualify for certification by taking examinations. The society offers several preparatory training programs. The self-study option includes text and DVD. The college/university option provides classroom interaction with instructors and other students. 8.3 Other Methods †¢Panel Discussion †¢Skill Practice †¢Problem-Solving Activity †¢Questionnaire †¢Role Play †¢Physical Continuum †¢Presentation †¢Synergy Activity †¢Lecturette †¢Observation †¢Project †¢Fishbowl †¢Full-Group Discussion †¢Experiential Activity †¢Feedback Activity †¢Story †¢Inter-group Discussion or Exchange †¢Interviewing †¢Index Card Match †¢Information Sear †¢Anonymous card †¢Demonstration †¢Dyadic Discussion or Exchange †¢Games †¢Group Inquiry †¢Contracting †¢Creative Activity †¢Checklist †¢Closing Circle †¢Brainstorming †¢Case Study †¢Reference †¢Trio Discussion or Exchange †¢Writing Task †¢Self-Assessment and Self-Evaluation †¢Small Group Discussion †¢Whip †¢Peer Consultation †¢Peer Teaching †¢Simulation †¢Read and Discuss †¢Read and Teach Group †¢Mental Imagery 9.0 CONCLUSION Organizations make arrangement for development of its executives so as to improve efficiency of management. Managers need generalized knowledge in lieu of technical skills on particular job. Therefore, training of executives is often known as development. It is good to focus both on Training and development to ensure that our team members are able to perform to the best of their ability, not only in short term (their current job) but also in the long term (their future careers). REFERENCES Bernardin, H. J. (2010). Human Resource Management: An Experiential Approach.5th Ed. New York: McGraw-Hill. Dale Carnegie and Associates (2006), Managing Through People, New York, USA David M.(2009), Human Resource Development. UK. Oxford University Press. Dessler G. (2011), Human resource Management. 12Th Ed, USA, Florida International University Prentice Hall. Dessler, G. (2011). A Framework for Human resource Management. 6th Ed. Delhi: Dorling Kndersley. Kisire, S. J. (2009). Simple Revision Guide Human Resource Management. Nairobi: Bernard Bongo DPW. Noe A.R. 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