Benchmarking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Benchmarking - Essay Example Performance benchmarking provides a way in which organizations compare its performances with set performance metrics. Performance benchmarking takes the form of reviewing the company’s income statements and balance sheet to ensure they are made in accordance with the required standards. The performance gaps identified can be prioritized, corrected and follow-up can be made to ensure improvement in performance. Strategic benchmarking ideally is the comparison of companies to the long-term goals and objectives. It additionally involves identifying the winning strategies employed by top organizations and adopting them to the organizational strategies. Strategic benchmarking is majorly utilized by the top level management. Importance of benchmarking There are several key advantages of benchmarking. One major advantage is that it leads to cost-cutting for the businesses. Benchmarking lower the labor costs as a company can identify that a top company is used technology instead of la bor. Based on this review the company can adopt the technology has aided in cost-cutting. Benchmarking boosts a company’s product quality. A company can decide to purchase a rival company’s products for review. The information that will be acquired may utilize in developing a product whose quality is similar or even better compared to that of the competitors. Benchmarking can aid in increasing a company’s sales and profits. A company that is involved in benchmarking tends to improve its products, services, and even processes.

Journal entry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Journal entry - Essay Example The characteristics of learning materials were concurrently expounded providing discussions on language, culture and viewpoints of learners, as necessary. Various techniques were likewise presented regarding soliciting information regarding materials and getting the most from them. One would definitely benefit from the contents of the article in terms of recognizing the role that instructional materials play in learning English as a second language. In the process, the techniques that were discussed are tools that would provide direction and guidelines in determining which materials are most effective and what particular information could be used to maximize learning. If one would be required to work on a particular project within the course module, the materials would provide the theoretical framework within which various applications could be generated. Therefore, through recognizing and awareness of instructional materials’ relevance to the course, one is made more sensitive and discerning in selecting and using the most effective materials to ensure that learning objectives are appropriately met. Kitao, K., & Kitao, S. K. (1997, April). Selecting and Developing Teaching/Learning Materials. Retrieved February 6, 2012, from The Internet TESL Journal :

Professional Sports and Michael Pore Essay Example for Free

Professional Sports and Michael Pore Essay Athletes are almost as bad of role models as criminals. Athletes get called role models a lot but they do not fit the definition of a role model. Athletes set bad examples for teens. They make poor choices and are easily forgiven due to their athletic abilities. Athletes are bad role models for teens and kids because a lot of athletes have bad habits, set unrealistic expectations, and set bad examples. In spite of their abilities, athletes are not good role models for anyone of any age. Many athletes have bad habits like drug use, fighting, and gambling. Laura K. Egendorf says many unrealistic expectations are set; not everyone can become famous or a professional athlete. Too many teens and kids look up to major athletes so they should not be setting the bad examples that they are setting (Laura K. Egendorf, 64). Not only are they setting bad examples but they have bad habits as well. Also, as teens grow older they read about their athlete hero and their bad habits. Michael A.  Pore states that any law breaking or wrong thing a professional athlete does, there is a story posted in newspaper, online, or even said on television. Michael Jordan had a gambling problem, Sammy Sosa had a steroid issue, and Riddick Bowe had a fighting problem (Michael A. Pore, 41). Some teens realize athletes are not good role models. Professional athletes are easily forgiven for their mistakes. However, professional athletes set bad examples for teens and young athletes. Michael A. Pore states that athletes are too easily forgiven for their bad behavior. You don’t need to use drugs to be good at something. They feel money comes easily, but money is not everything and does not come easily. Athletes send bad messages to kids; if you buy a certain product the athlete promotes, you will not perform better (Michael A. Pore, 40). Not everyone will perform the way professional athletes do and become famous. In Addition, athletes set unrealistic expectations for the teens and kids looking up to them. Not everyone can and will become a professional athlete. Very few people will make millions of dollars a year just for playing a sport. Michael A. Pore says teens feel if they wear a brand promoted by an athlete they will fit in with the rest of the players playing the sport. For the kids looking up to the professional athletes, they feel they have to look as strong as them or be as muscular as them to plat the sport well (Michael A. Pore, 43). A few athletes get their muscular look from steroids, not actual strength. However, steroid use is not that bad once in a while. In the article, Athletes Are Role Models it states; If you have no time for practice, steroids improve your performance. Steroids make you feel better when you do well in your game. No one will know if you do it once in a while (http://www. ickscorner. com). Steroids can help anyone any age. In any case, no one of any age should use steroids. Steroids are an illegal substance and if you get caught using them you can get a huge fine or even jail time. If you use steroids, you are just cheating yourself and the game. Not only does steroid use get looked down on but it also kills brain cells (http://forum. bodybuilding. com). If you do not have time to practice and feel like that is a reason to use steroids and perform better, than you should not have the time to be on the team. Accordingly, athletes can set realistic expectations and help teens and kids go for their dreams. Laura K. Egendorf explains how most young kids and teens want to be famous when they are older; professional athletes help them reach for that dream. As teens grow older, they continue to watch their favorite professional athlete. Watching them do well in a game will make teens want to perform like them (Laura K.  Egendorf, 64). Professional athletes make a lot of money just for playing a game, but money is not everything. On the other hand, many kids and teens get motivated but is it realistic? Very few people in the world become famous. The chances of becoming a professional athlete are really small; there are about 301,000,000 people in the United States and only about 17,000 professional athletes. â€Å"http://forum. bodybuilding. com† Being like a professional athlete is not always good; drugs are not a good thing for a teen to get into. As a result, athletes should not be role models for anyone of any age; they have bad habits, set unrealistic expectations, and set bad examples. A lot of athletes have bad habits like steroid use and gambling. Professional athletes set unrealistic examples, not everyone can and will be famous. Many bad examples are set within athletes. People get motivated for unrealistic dreams. Athletes can teach teens how to try to achieve in athletics but they can’t help with homework or real world family issues, they should not be considered role models.

Analysis The Three Sisters English Literature Essay

Analysis The Three Sisters English Literature Essay Review of Three Sisters Three sisters is a fictional Russian drama. The play was written and produced in 1900s.anton Chekhovs three sisters is produced specifically for Moscow art theatre .the writer has also written two other plays, the seagull and uncle vanya .the captivating drama has extra ordinary characters. The Three Prozorov sisters who are in their twenties namely Olya, Masha and Irina And their only brother Andrey .solders in a nearby camp are the supporting characters. Its about three unhappy prozorov sisters who despise the life of small town in Russia which is miles away from the nearest railway station .the town is enlivened by the presence of a military facility. The all yearn to go to Moscow where they previously lived. The fictional drama starts with commemoration of the sisters father first anniversary which coincides with Irinas baptismal day. Soldiers and the family members pay tribute to the late father. Olga the eldest sister gets elevated to a headmistress position. Olga is presented as a teacher in this act but later in the play shes is promoted to a Headmistress position. Masha, the middle sister, is a trained pianist married to a younger and witty teacher Feodor Kulygin.. Irina, the youngest of the three sisters is obsessed about to visit Moscow. Andrey is only boy in the family is in love with Natasha who is naive .the three sisters becomes unhappy with the marriage of their only brother who goes ahead and gets a child. In the twist of events Natalie is extra marital affairs with Andrey boss, Protopopov. Strong bond starts to form between Masha and lieutenant-colonel Vershinin secretly. Two solders, Tuzenbach and Solyony compete for Irinas love. Masha, Olga and Irina are angry with their only brother, Andrei, for mortgaging their house, spending money on gambling debts and relinquishing all his authority to his infidel wife Natasha. the eldest sister, Olga, is not interested with teaching career and longs quietly for an out, but her dreams for marriage are slowly fading away; Masha, the middle sister, so unhappy with her husband. She seeks extra marital affair from married soldier, the youngest, Irina, moves from one soul-crushing job to another. She resists getting married to noble man. More adrenaline is released in the climax the play. There are bloodshed and friendship bonds in this scene. Solders have created an everlasting bond with the three sisters. Aristocratic Tuchenbach is murdered by his lover Solyony competitor in a challenge. This section reveals that Masha and Vershinin get married after a brief stint of romance. Natasha maintains her hatred nature and Andrey is stuck in the maternal led marriage with two children. The play ends on a happy note. Olga embraces her two sisters as the band music is playing. She encourages her sisters. Anton Chekhov has managed to point out the major theme to his audiences. The Major theme that is emerging is the uncomplaining nature of women in the Russian society. The play brings out vividly the loneliness and desperation of the three sisters. They therefore, accept their situation without complaining. According to the play Moscow is symbolic to three sisters. Each of the sisters is yearning to go back to Moscow. The city is associated with happy and perfect life. However, their aspirations to go back to Moscow remain only mere dreams. Irina initially believes by going to Moscow she will get her true love there The play lacks a flowing story line at some point as an audience I got lost along the way. The story development is complicated such that audience can be confused. Conflict has not been maturely developed. On the first scene, a delicate tone is constructed as the three sisters celebrate the anniversary of their deceased father which coincides with Irinas baptismal day. Unfortunately, the tone is not maintained the rest of scene one. The play has been translated from Russian to English. Therefore, the rich meaning of the plot has been diluted by the translation. Three sisters is a story that cannot get old. This is because it echoes what is happening in the contemporary time. The very same issues such as infidelity, romance, gambling, and marriage are still happening in the contemporary times. The roles of Andrey and the three sisters are brought out clearly. Andrey is supposed to relinquish his intellectual ambitions. He is trapped in very complicated marriage. The three sisters yearn for Moscow is well introduced in the plot of the story. The costumes of the play are supposed to be a combination of military wear for the solders and the 1900 civilian clothes. This is well depicted in the play. However, the aristocrat Baron Tuchenbach costumes have no large difference with the other cast. The baron should have expensive clothes in order to bring out the issue of bourgeoisie and proletarians. The costumes did manage to convince the audience the play was a staged in 1900s.The lighting and sound of the overall play were excellent. the audience enjoys the band music that plays at the climax of the play. In my views, Anton Chekhovs three sister play is a very captivating. The play has managed to bring out the traditional picture of the modern day Russia. The choice of characters is excellent. They have managed to communicate the intended message from Chekhov. Symbolism has been brought forward as a tool to glue the audience to the play. The play should improve on conflict and flow of the storyline.

US Government - Checks And Balances :: Political Science Government Essays

US Government - Checks And Balances "There is no more important function for all of government to define the rights of its citizens." (Norman Dorsen) In this essay I will give a short history of the government in United States of America (U.S.). Then I will describe each of the three branches of government in the U.S. and the relationship between them. In principle, the U.S. is a democratic republic, they govern themselves by choosing their leaders by secret ballot, and these leaders in turn make the rules. Americans started "governing themselves" as a nation on July 4th, 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia by representatives of the thirteen British colonies in North America. These states joined together formally in 1781 under a first "constitution," the Articles of Confederation. That loose union of the states was replaced by the Constitution of the U.S. in 1789. This document (amended 26 times) is still the political foundation of the U.S. Being based on a written constitution, the U.S. government is committed in principle to the rule of law. To guarantee the rights of free speech, a free press, freedom of religion etc. the first ten amendments, called the "Bill of Rights" were adopted in 1791. There are three levels of government in the U.S. Local government (city/county), state government, and federal government. Here I will pay most attention to the federal government. Many of the concepts of the U.S. government can be traced to progressive thinkers of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, e.g. Locke, Spinoza, Blackstone, and Montesquiueu. Out of some of their thoughts the U.S. government system with the three branches were made: A legislative branch (Congress), an Executive branch (President), and a judicial branch (Supreme Court). The Constitution is most of all a document of checks and balances: among the three branches of the federal government; and between the levels of government, nation and state. The legislative branch (Congress) that has the power to make laws valid for the whole country. Powers like the regulation of taxes, regulation of commerce between the states and with foreign countries, the power to declare war, and the power to impeach the President are some of the other matters the legislative branch have to deal with. Congress has two chambers (or "houses"): the Senate and the House of Representatives ("the house"). The Senate consists of one hundred senators: Two senators from each of the fifty states.

Analyzing Danielle Harper’s ‘A Slice of Sleep’ Essay -- Literary Analy

The great screenwriter and director Robert Bresson is quoted as saying â€Å"Make visible what, without you, might never have been seen.† This statement is incredibly true of Danielle Harper’s screenplay ‘A Slice of Sleep’. Harper has created a world full of colour that reads to be a world of bleak darkness as it can be joyfully bright and uplifting. The word ‘journey’ is much overused, but perfectly describes the contents of Harper’s script. The following discourse will be looking at how Harper has followed screenwriting conventions, such as the ‘where’, ‘what’, ‘why’ and ‘how’ and using popular screenwriting theorist texts such as Robert McKee’s ‘Story’ (1999) and Syd Field’s ‘The Definitive Guide to Screenwriting’ (2003)as guides to analysing Harper’s script. The script is split into three parts; each part is identifiable by a number of factors, the use of the starry night’s sky, the change in room colour collections, the sleeping patterns of the characters and the change of tone in the voice-over. Harper’s screen play is a theoretically unconventional collective of scenes, which primarily focus’ on the sleeping behaviour of its habitants’. Characterisation is dictated throughout by the colour schemes of the various abodes. ‘A slice of Sleep’ offers a sociological view of a cross section of society, which is enabled by the use of abstract characterisation. The first two sections of the screenplay take place within single rooms, mainly bedrooms. These rooms have all carefully been colour coordinated to differentiate between the different scenes; this also allows the tone of the scene to be set. Harper states in her covering letter how she wanted to create â€Å"pronounced distinction instantly between the different segments of the scrip... ...that is strengthened by the use of a narrator, whose changes in tone match the production design revealing an intimate and thought provoking tale. Reference List Books- McKee, R, 1999. Story. 1st ed. London: Methuen Publishing. Field, S, 2003. The Definitive Guide to Screenwriting. 1st ed. London: Random House Publishing. Journals- Rodman, Howard. â€Å"What a Screenplay Isn’t.† Cinema Journal, [Online]. 45.2. Winter 2006.86-89.Available at http://www.jstor.org [Accessed 02 April 2012. Websites- Screenplayology.2012.screenplayology.[ONLINE]Available at: http://www.screenplayology.com/.[Accessed 31 March 12] Screen Writers Utopia. 2012. 127 Hours Three Act Structure. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.screenwritersutopia.com/2012/03/18/127-hours-3-act-structure/. [Accessed 01 April 12] Films- Pulp Fiction.1994 [DVD] Quentin Tarantino. USA: Miramax

An Undesirable Quality

Respect is perhaps one of the initial virtues taught to any individual. As a person living in a community, the aide of respect is a pre-requisite to be able to subsist in the light of socialism and harmoniously interact with other people. This form of virtue cannot be comprehended nor understand through readings and factual information alone—it needs to be done, experienced and be consistently noted in any person’s daily handbook of attitude so as to evaluate whether a person’s act is flowing on the stream of respect or on the unethical state of the opposite.In the case of the academic perspective, student discipline and classroom management have always been a concern for teachers, administrators, and teacher educators. Control has become a greater problem in the last half century, for troubling historical and sociological reasons that we do not attempt to explore here. Yet at the same time the problem has grown, and the public has become increasingly agitated, t he educational dialogue about discipline and management has attenuated.This is why the drive for respect must be taken in full force in any entity or in any group—this saves lives even, not only for this immediate purpose, but for the future generation as well (Lightfoot, 2000). Respect on the social context Social psychology stresses that respect is the key to etiquette across all of the class and ethnic divisions as well as with the basis of gender. Apparently, to be able to gain respect from others, one must have dignity—a social equivalent of the term, â€Å"rights†Ã¢â‚¬â€hence the receiving and granting leads to what is preferably called as â€Å"friendship† or interpersonal relationship.This kind of â€Å"taking and receiving† of respect is then characterized to be a vital factor in achieving a higher level of understanding with each other, and on the brighter side of the explanation, a form of â€Å"contentment† by which both of the individuals would later state as a â€Å"form of acceptance. † Further, respect does not come from facts or ideas or the exchange of such, it is how the person actually interacts with another in a manner wherein the other person does not pay high regard on what, who, or whatsoever it is the one has.In most cases, the virtue of respect helps a stranger identify a person’s personality. As philosophers state it, the idea of being accepted is considerably one of the highest achievements a person may have. It then proves the idea that individuals have the innate need of being â€Å"respected† in who he or she is, what he or she does, and of course, on what the other person preferably wants one to treat him or her. Mutual respect Like trust, many people say that respect has to be earned, but they never quite tell you what actions a person is required to take in order to earn this respect.It's probably also true that in most people's thinking, respect is not very disti nct from agreeing with or liking. For example, when people say, â€Å"I respect her opinion,† what are they really saying—that they agree with it, that they like it? And what do people mean when they say, â€Å"I respect him†? The essence of respect is accepting a person for what they are and what they present themselves to be. Respect exists in a range from mild acceptance to total admiration. On the acceptance end of the spectrum, we decide that the values and the behavior of someone is within the wide range of what we find to be tolerable.We may not fully understand the person or her motivation, but we've found a way to accommodate her that minimizes conflict. On the admiration side, we fully endorse the values and behavior of the person and hold them up as a model for ourselves and others. When I hear people say that they do not respect anyone, my guess is that they are saying that there is no one that they admire in all aspects of life. Very few people hold up to this high standard for respect, especially in these days when the private lives of public figures are put under the close scrutiny of the media.In coaching people, it's not necessary that you maintain this high-end standard of respect. What is required is that we respect clients in the domain of activity in which we will be coaching them, and within the day-to-day relationship that we personally have with them. Understanding the need of â€Å"respect† There are many people who do not understand the exact and precise definition of respect. It may be taken to assumption that this is because they lack the immense establishment of such or either they are not yet mature enough to understand how important it is to respect.In most cases, respect is only sought in one’s life if the person experiences the opposite of it—being disrespected. Several cases have been noted with regard to â€Å"fights† or â€Å"misunderstandings† because one person has hu rt another person’s feelings. In critical analysis of similar situations, the misunderstanding starts by either the person, making an act which is undesirable or not giving importance to what is called â€Å"laws† or rules. By not following these rules, the person is then marked with the concept that he or she is not giving importance to what is â€Å"righteous† or â€Å"deferential† in the majority.The level of respect comes in various forms, normally, a person who is selfish and is not properly oriented with the â€Å"flow† of respect often times commit the mistake—all forms of culture, race and religion is demanding for it. Respect has always been an issue. Moreover, it has been in written in the face of literature and of history, it is odd to realize that there are still those who is not enlightened by its importance that they continue to commit the fury of â€Å"disrespect. † The exact opposite of respect Our parents are the most important teachers in one’s life.Parents teach their offspring the desirable quality that their children must possess and correct them for any form of undesirable quality which may eventually come along the life of the child. Disrespect is not taught in schools, nor at home, is happens when a person is not able to understand its importance. Tracing back history there commenced numerous civil wars on the issue of â€Å"disrespect†Ã¢â‚¬â€black Americans were treated â€Å"with no respect† by making them slaves—and so they fought for their freedom. That certain point of glitch which has been found between both parties has caused lives.As a matter of fact, there were numerous works in literature by famous authors who presented the agony of those who were â€Å"disrespected† so to speak that it fired up their emotions, making them have the cry for respect on the battlefield. Furthermore, as portrayed on movies, when a child talks back to the parent, t hat is a form of disrespect. It only denotes that idea that the child does not give importance on what his or her parent is trying to say. In cultural scenario, once somebody steps on a religious group’s sacred entity, it is punished—also termed to be disrespect on their supernatural being.Ecuadorians are known for being particular in the degree of ‘respect’, the Chinese community is also famous for this certain point of characteristic that tourists must have. One significant example of the practice of respect would be the isolated vicinity of North Korea, wherein each citizen is obliged to pay respect over their hailed leader that whosoever shall cross the borderline of this â€Å"respect† shall be hated by all of their nationality. Aside from the mentioned instances, this form of undesirable quality often happens in the basis of status quo or social hierarchy.In the social aspect of the country, there is a demarcation line between the elites, the average, and the oppressed—whether it is taken on the account of financial, social, mental or religious subject. Moreover, the most important basis of this argument all boils down to the focal and fundamental passage and fact in humankind, the 10 Commandments of the Holy Bible (Exodus 20: 1-17). The Ten Commandments or the basic laws deliberately and literally stress the fact that respect is a must. It has been literally emphasized that individuals must respect—all these commandments show the need of respect.There are several forms of disrespecting others—stealing another person’s property is a from of disrespect, by not adhering to what is â€Å"legal† is disrespecting the law, to commit others’ rights as one’s own is disrespecting one’s own worth, not to remember important and necessary dates is disrespecting them as to not giving them importance—hence, some may not be able to notice the grave effect of one’s ac tions, one may be able to realize these things if he or she experiences the pain of being reprimanded or not respected, at that. How to avoid being disrespectfulSometimes, we oversee the importance of respect in our lives. We disregard others’ feelings that we are unaware that we are stepping on them. For a person to be able to avoid committing ‘disrespect’ or disrespecting others, one must keep in mind the importance of it. Perhaps by facing one’s shoe on one’s foot, by then, a person may realize if he or she is about to say or do something which is disrespectful. Oftentimes, the act of being disrespectful is triggered because of swank personality or arrogance that one is not able to see the â€Å"mistake† hitting the ground.To expunge away from committing such, one must fall in the streamline of the â€Å"basic laws† or to glue their rationality in the vortex of tradition and linger on the virtues taught by our parents—to resp ect other people especially the elders. These merits are taught in almost any form of organization or in any subject. Reason enough to be remembered and inculcated in any person’s being. Being able to get knowledgeable of others’ culture, or others’ belief shall also serve of good help.Primarily, trying to understand the differences of every individual and trying to decipher the meaning behind this diversity that unfolds any human being shall open the doors of respect. As a matter of fact, greetings and other respectful words are taught to individuals so as to use them in dealing with others. Respect for human rights that can be understood as a moral imperative from the perspective of the ethic of justice. From a feminist orientation, the ethic of care in schools is a moral necessity. An ethic of care fleshes out the skeleton of justice, adding relationship, motivation, and meaning to the educational mission.The ethic of justice forms the crucible for practices of care. Precisely, both the ethic of justice and an ethic of care need to be differentiated and articulated in order to imagine the valuable insights each has to offer to teachers. The ethic of justice is externally visible in practices and behavior while the ethic of care is fundamentally inside the one-who-cares and the one-cared-for. This â€Å"insideness† of care is not initially visible to an observer, but remains a highly potent aspect of the relationship.The ethic of care does eventually become observable in the growth of belonging, motivation, and empathy in learners. Conclusions and further remarks It is indeed true that for a person to understand respect in the most concise definition of the word, one must be able to understand the exact opposite of it. It may have compromised my self-admitted arrogance and desolate form of understanding on how to care to other people, but indulging my own self on how to keep my mouth closed, or not to follow what I want is a benef icial thing to do in order to achieve respect from others.If I want to be respected by other people, then I must give them the exact point of respect that they want. Not only on the sole basis of my rationality and understanding on the term, but on comprehending their understanding of it as well. There may be no exact and similar definition on ‘respect’ but there is a universal one on ‘disrespect’—stepping on other people’s rights would be the most fitting term. To be able to prudently understand â€Å"disrespect,† one may base the fact on the literal basis of the term, in any dictionary that may possibly define such; it shapes up to exponentially negative thoughts:â€Å".. boldness, coarseness, contempt, discourtesy, dishonor, flippancy, hardihood, impertinence, impiety, impoliteness, impudence, incivility, insolence, irreverence, sacrilege† To have these characteristics is driving away other people from the circle of â€Å"mut ual understanding. † As I have researched on the different synthesis of â€Å"disrespect† and the effects that I may have, I am fortunate enough to be given the chance to correct this undesirable quality which is in no doubt unadvisable.Nobody would want to befriend a disrespectful person, worst, if not corrected in the soonest time possible, then the consequences may not be paid much attention and rigor repair. I have learned that it is important to follow rules and to follow what our parents and our teachers tamed us to be. Not to take the course of life like a game or that of â€Å"trial and error† scenario. Being a person living in a community, interaction with other people is imperative—not unless a person lives in an island with nobody to interact and respect, then the wrath of superciliousness and arrogance may keep one on his or her leash. Reference Lightfoot, S. L.-. (2000). Respect: An Exploration (1st ed.). New York, NY: Perseus Publishing.