Is Meteorology Science? Essay

Many books and academic articles describe Meteorology, the study of the Earth’s atmosphere, as a science. While this may have been unquestionably accepted by many students and even scientists, it may well be worth to examine the subject more closely and ask, is Meteorology really science? Encyclopedia Britannica (2006) defines science as â€Å"any system of knowledge that is concerned with the physical world and its phenomena and that entails unbiased observations and systematic experimentation†. Science does not regard unverified personal beliefs and opinions but instead rely on systematic methods of analysis. The scientific method, as this method is called, is generally attached to all fields of science through which facts and conclusions are derived. Accuracy and consistency also matter and thus, measurement is important in science. Science in its Latin origin scire means â€Å"to know† and as such reflects the objective of scientific studies: to know and understand phenomena that can be observed or detected. For Meteorology to qualify as a science, it should meet the premises that make up science itself. Meteorology can be considered as science in that it involves a study of the physical world. Meteorology studies the physical and observable aspects of the atmosphere such as the formation of rains, thunderstorms and clouds, and weather events such as rainbows, mirages and halos. Meteorology can be considered as science because it does not rely on personal beliefs and opinion but rather on measurable data and analytic observations. In Meteorology, analytic observations are developed based on the measurement of such variables as wind speed, air temperature, relative humidity, and barometric pressure. These observations and measurements are used to predict weather conditions. Meteorology can be considered as science in that it involves scientific methods. Meteorologists adhere to a meticulous system before they give weather forecasts. They make observations through satellites and radars so as to be able to collect the necessary data such as Is Meteorology Science? Page_#2 variations in temperature and pressure. These data will be analyzed and made into charts, maps and graphs which will be used to predict weather conditions (Encarta 2006). While Meteorology meets some of the requisites of science, it also has its loopholes that can disqualify it from being considered a science. In science, subjects must be examined, tested and verified. Meteorology comes short in this foundation because meteorologists cannot test the correctness of their hypothesis, which is commonly regarded as the weather forecast, unless the weather phenomenon has already occurred. Meteorology cannot be considered a science because it is lacking in the accuracy and consistency in the variable measured. The direction of the wind, for example is not precisely measurable and cannot be certainly predicted (Mill). Moreover the atmosphere itself, the main subject of Meteorology has no known boundary from the outer space. Meteorology cannot be considered a science because it falls short of the thoroughness in the scientific method. The scientific investigation does not precisely end with a conclusion or a finding but rather in a prediction which can be regarded merely as a theory. A guess, interpretation, theory and hypothesis are not science (Colby). As contented herein, Meteorology can be considered science in that it has met basic elements that make up science. However, it also has certain flaws that can disqualify it from being considered as such. Regardless of this, it is noteworthy that that the applications of Meteorology especially in weather forecasting have already been considered as among the contribution science can make and as such, Meteorology, with its ambiguity in some of its scientific elements can well be considered as an imperfect science. References Colby, K. M. , & Stoller, R. J. (1988). Cognitive Science and Psychoanalysis. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Retrieved October 2, 2006, from Questia database: http://www.questia. com/PM. qst? a=o&d=10104147 â€Å"Meteorology†. (2006). Retrieved September 30, 2006, from Microsoft ® Encarta ® Online Encyclopedia 2006: http://encarta. msn. com/text_761571037__1/Meteorology. html Mill, John Stuart. (n. d). The Logic of the Moral Sciences. Retrieved September 30, 2006, from http://www. la. utexas. edu/research/poltheory/mill/sol/sol. b06. c03. html â€Å"Science†. (2006). In Encyclop? dia Britannica. Retrieved September 20, 2006, from Encyclop? dia Britannica Online: http://www. britannica. com/eb/article-9066286.

8 Stages of Man

Cameron Roney Lifespan Development Eight Stages of Man Interview General question on childhood: I interviewed a seventy year old woman named Virginia that I met while doing my community service. I asked her to think about her first ten years of life and to describe times that she can remember being cared for. She said that it was her grandmother that did most of the caretaking for her, especially when she was sick. She recalled one time when she had a really bad sinus infection that her grandmother helped her through.When I asked her if she could think of any time she was not very well cared for, the only time she could think of is when her father would come home bombed, which sparked some intense arguments in the family. She recalled feeling very lost during these times. Fun times in her childhood consisted of time with her family since she did not have any friends as a child. Specifically, she remembered having a lot of fun planting pumpkin seeds with her family. Trust vs. Mistrust : I asked her to describe her relationship with her parents. She said they were very close, and she went hunting with her father often.She got a lot of adult attention. She considered herself to be pretty self reliant and optimistic despite her loneliness. She feels that her seclusion from children her age was a big factor in developing her independence and self reliance. She was trustful of her parents and family, and trustful in herself to deal with most problems that arose in her life at that time. Autonomy vs. Shame/Doubt: Virginia reported to be fairly active, and she is. She runs a local community donation center and does a great deal of work for her church. She describes herself as self reliant.When looking back, she does not feel that she relied on others very much. She considered herself to be adventurous, but not careless. She was not overly fearful, but she wasn’t overly risky either. All in all, she is a very active woman for being seventy years old. Initiative vs . Guilt: When I asked her about her efforts to stay active, she spoke about her work involving the construction of a new church, her being the chairman of the building committee, and her work at the community donation center. She does a lot to help care for her mother and helps her children when she can.She says that all of this is a handful, but she enjoys the activity. She says that when she was younger she did consider herself to be a creative person and could think outside the box. She is an extremely able bodied woman for her age. Industry vs. Inferiority: I asked her to describe her career and her accomplishments. She recalls her thirty five years as a physical therapist. She considered it her responsibility and calling in life. She talked about one boy in particular that she worked with who lived out of town.She worked with him for three years because no one else could reach him. When I asked her about times when she felt that she had been competent and productive and develop ed her skills. She recalls doing a lot of odd jobs which taught her a lot of new skills. She found creative ways to solve problems unique to the different fields she worked in. When I asked her to describe some times that she felt incompetent or ineffective she talked about times when she would overburden herself with too many jobs or trying to handle an extremely large workload herself.She considers herself competent and capable, and really has accomplished a lot in her time. General Question on Identity: I asked her to think about her encounters with her peers when she was between 10 and 19 years of age. She said that she was not so accepted by those around her. She was overweight as a kid. She moved to a new high school which was in a city. This was tough on her because she had grown up in a very secluded setting and she lagged socially. She considered this a huge cultural shift for her. She felt very lost and really had a hard time finding herselfIdentity vs. Identity Diffusion: When I asked her about her experiences as a teenager trying to find herself and who she was and what she wanted out of life, she said that she had always wanted to help people. She wanted to be an architect for the longest time, but she was discouraged when her sister got very sick and saw the therapy she went through. She said that is when she decided to become a therapist. She says that she has a very strong sense of who she is and what her purpose is now. She also says that she is fairly headstrong and not easily influenced by others.To sum up, she has a strong sense of identity. General Intimacy Question: I asked Virginia to think back to her twenties and thirties and the experiences with imported others in her life at that time. She said she had a lot of support and encouragement from those close to her. She was not dependant, but it definitely helped her through some rough times in her life. Intimacy vs. Isolation: I asked her to describe her marriage, and this is where the b ulk of the interview took place. She said that her marriage was rough at first.Her husband was an ex-marine who killed 14 men during his time in the military. He was introverted and very little communication took place between them. It took him thirty years to open up to her. She says that the last years of their marriage have been the most rewarding. Her only sibling died when she was eighteen, but when she was alive they were very close. She was teased a lot, although there was not much fighting between them. They relied on each other for fun which brought them very close together. I asked her who she felt the most comfortable confiding in.She said that she only really felt comfortable confiding in her grandmother and father, but they have both passed away. I asked her if there was anyone close to her that she felt she couldn’t really open up to. Aside from her husband until the later part of their marriage, she talked about her children. She has four, and of all of them th e oldest is the most independent. This caused a lot of friction between them during his adolescents and young adulthood, but they have since grown closer. Her third daughter has been diagnosed with social anxiety disorder and she has spent a lot of time trying to help her open up.In my opinion, the only time that she has had any real intimacy with those close to her was during her early childhood and late adulthood. Most of her life between those times she seems to have been pretty isolated. General Generativity Question: I asked her to reflect on her life from ages thirty to sixty five. I asked her to describe he experiences of taking care of others around her. This was a pretty depressing part of the interview. She said that she often felt inadequate as a mother. She says that she should have gone another direction regarding the way that she brought them up, and that she often regretted having children.She is now pretty involved with her children, and she helps her youngest daught er financially. She gives advice when she is asked. She has definitely taught and helped her children, but I think that it is pretty clear that she lacks a feeling of generativity. Generativity vs. Stagnation: I asked if she feels that she has done enough to have a positive impact on those around her. She feels that from her experiences she has learned to do better and guide gently. She considers herself to be pretty understanding. I asked her in what ways she has tried to pass along her knowledge.She says that she has passed her knowledge along to her children, and she has done a lot of work with juvenile offenders in her community service. She says that she always tried to accept them for who they were, regardless of what they were dealing with. Regarding generativity, she has had a hard time with it, but she feels that she does a lot better now that she has her experiences to draw back to. General Question on Integrity: I asked her about her lifestyle compared to others, and she said that she lives a relatively laid back life. She is fairly chilled out and relaxed. She tries to do her part, but she does not feel pushed.I asked her about how she felt about her mortality. She said that she is not joyous about it, but she is accepting. She finds comfort in her faith. Integrity vs. Despair: I asked her about her current goals. She says that she strives to stay active, she wants to learn to play the piano, and she wants to lose twenty pounds. She feels comfortable about her life and the decisions she made. When I asked her about her opinion about the future of the united states, she said that she is very pessimistic about President Obama, the recession we are experiencing, and the national defeciet.

Purpose of copyright Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Purpose of copyright - Essay Example One of the primary aims of 'copyright' is to ensure society is rich with creative works. Without copyright, those who create different works would not create new works. When the government or the supposed agency provides laws that regulate the use of an artist’s work, it becomes easier and mandatory for any other potential author, musician, or producer to come up with his or her creation (Nadel, 2004:790). This ensures that the society continues to receive new creative works purposefully because a writer has no claim over other’s personal creation. Profoundly, the society gets to enjoy fresh talent in terms of music creation, production, broadcasting, and writing since there are laws, which govern, regulate, and protect previous work done by somebody else (Collins, 2010:4). This makes it hard for the interested author, scholar, or any type of artist to take someone else work and claim it as own (Netanel, 1996:5). The copyright law has a purpose of promoting the progress of substantial science and arts by safeguarding the exclusive rights of the author and the patent ownership of an inventor (Seville, 2006:22). According to the stipulations set out by the copyright agencies, this aspect of protecting the patent rights of an inventor or author helps creators of certain works benefit from their authorship works (Collins, 2010:5). An author is, therefore, to maintain his or her daily activities mainly because he or she is receiving benefits from his creative work. Musicians, actors, and producers, for instance, pocket substantial amounts of financial gains frequently majorly from their creative works (Nadel, 2004:796). Musicians are able to perform their own songs in different functions where they receive money in exchange for entertainment through their works of creation. With reference to the contemporary world, entertainers are taking over the world of riches by being the most paid individuals on the planet. The US Copyright Act (1976) indicates that copyright protects all creative works including but not limited to unpublished work, which is in a tangible form, published works, and work kept in a record form among others (Macmillan, 2005:77). This means that, even writers whose works are in a tangible and fixed state are able to receive protection from the copyright law. In the United States as well as in many other countries, the federal government or any other responsible arm of the government regulates the copyright law by registering all the copyrighted works via the Official Copyright Agency (Netanel, 1996:8). It also ensures regulation of the copyright law by enforcing copyright laws in the court of law. Maintaining the works of an artist by keeping original and owned by the same

Diversity interview Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Diversity interview - Assignment Example The obvious differences between us is the manner we practice our faith. I am a Catholic while Cyrus is a Muslim. We also have gender differences, he is male while I am female. We also have generational differences with him belonging to Generation X while I belong to Generation Y. Cyrus and I enjoyed talking about our adjustment here in the USA especially when he narrated the funny things he did just to fit in and to some extent, the cultural shock he experienced. I am most comfortable with this topic because this is funny and not sensitive to talk about. The aspect that is least comfortable for me to talk about him was religion. Before asking about it, I had to explain myself at length that this is for a diversity class and that I do not mean to be offensive, and that if I already am, he could interrupt me anytime during the interview. I am not comfortable with the topic of religion because I do not want to be offensive to Cyrus especially that I am a Catholic. I do not want our differences cause friction between us because is such a nice man. You see, Catholic launched a crusade against Islam during the Middle Age and this makes the topic touchy. The most important insight I develop is that our fears and anxiety about Muslims are baseless. For example, I was not comfortable talking about religion especially comparing Catholicism and Islam and that he might still be hooked with the idea of the Crusade. To my surprise however, he is more eager to talk about it and is more conciliatory than I am. Just like the most of us, he does not want to make religion an issue that divides people. He also worries about terrorism in the same manner that we worry about it. This relates to our discussion of our diversity in a manner that our seeming differences after all are not insurmountable if only we keep an open line of communication and if we are willing to talk about it. In talking to

The growth of the U. S. Military Research Paper

The growth of the U. S. Military - Research Paper Example In the 21st century, the American army has the largest defense budget in the world. The military makes use of advanced technology and is greatly organized. The military has participated actively in multiple wars since its inception. However, this paper will focus on the contribution of the Cold War and Vietnam War to the growth of the American military and highlight the current situation and organization of the army. The Cold War As the world war reached its conclusion, Russia had managed to control the Eastern Europe while the United States had gained control of the west. The west started a slow withdrawal from establishing an additional front in east Europe (Cowley, 2005). In addition, the United States resolved to discontinue aids to the Soviet Union after conclusion of World War II. These actions initiated tension between the two regions. Enmity was building in between the two world powers. Each of the global power had allies. One unique difference between the two countries is th e fact that Russia believed in socialism while America was capitalistic and industrious. Most of the countries in Europe were struggling to rebuild their nations after the end of World War II in1945. The Soviet Union was determined to win allies among European countries and introduce communism. The US introduced the containment policy requiring the leaders of most of the countries to remain cautious so that the Soviet Union did not get space to introduce socialism (Levy, 2004). The Soviet Union had previously threatened to expand their socialist system. The Soviet Union believed that capitalism exploited people. In addition, the Great Britain collapse contributed to the start of the Cold War. Before its collapse, Britain brought about a balancing effect in west Europe. Now that Britain was out of the picture, the United States took over. It was evident that the United States and the Soviet Union had differing goals on reconstructing the world after the world war two and the differen t interests gave rise to a cold threat. Towards the conclusion of the World War II, the American military had succeeded in making the first nuclear bombs and bombed Japan, causing immense damage. There was an intense fear of the nuclear warfare and this heightened the tension between east Europe and the west. Both countries wanted to exert a form of social and political control in countries that depended on their aid. Truman declared the Cold War officially when he decided to give financial aid to Greece. The Cold War lasted for a long time. The USSR armies and US did not have direct attacks. However, countries in support of the United States formed a military alliance. This was the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). This organization reached the decision that the United States would attack if the Soviet Union extended its influence to any NATO country. Russia already had control over all Eastern Europe, except Yugoslavia. The Cold War constituted of many proxy wars such as Korean War, Vietnam war and others (Gaddis, 2011). The Cold War persisted for some time and the world still experiences the effects. During the 1970-1980s, the Soviet Union was coming down because of the financial crisis. The union lacked adequate finances to run the system. Russian political and social reforms that came under new leadership did not favor the survival of the union. In 1991, the union split and withdrew from the Cold War

The Impact of Social Media Technology on Individuals Essay

The Impact of Social Media Technology on Individuals - Essay Example Browsing these sites makes one feel connected to a much larger community. However, such an easy and casual connection on the internet can also have its pitfalls (Ramli 646). The social media technology has an immense psychological impact on individuals. The positive aspect of this entire experience lies on social media’s capability to connect several people together. The central part USP of social media such as Twitter and Facebook is their ability to connect the world across every nation, and this has brought a certain sense of joy to its users. One is capable of meeting old friends on Facebook, and be in touch with these people irrespective of where they are located makes it have a strong psychological impact on individuals (Das 223). However, it has its detrimental side too. It is exciting to see a good number of adults and several teens wake up, and the first thing they do even before brushing their teeth is to log to Twitter and Facebook. Facebook encourages idling, and t his has made a number of people to get distracted completely from what they initially intended to do. It begins with two minutes of Facebook to two hours, and this may stretch to days. This addiction to social media sites has made some individuals become unaware of their time zones; thus, creating negative impacts on the mindsets of individuals. The prioritizing of these activities has led to misplaced priorities over varying many very important activities (Ahn 23). The social media technology has also led to revolutionary impact. The prominent power of this technology is its ability to muster support for social causes within a short time. A good example is an unrest in the Arab world. This is one of the achievements of social media (Ahn 24). Both Facebook and Twitter have been used in galvanizing the dictator regime, as well as to remove it from office. The Tahrir Square uprising in Egypt is a perfect example of how social media played a significant role in the struggle for change. In as much as social media brought about the revolution; it triggered tension and fear among people as a result of the threats and posts that were being spread through it (Ramli 645). So far, the biggest negative impact of social media technology revolves around the unfairness that they have intrinsically created on the private life of its users. These sites have encouraged many people to engage themselves and expose their private life to the public. This is because the intimate details of their lives can be posted so easily. This is attributed to the fact that some users are likely to bypass the filters that they should employ when discussing their private lives. Worse still, the things that are posted remain available indefinitely for people all over the world to see. While the users of these sites are capable of controlling the number of people who see what they post, these limitations are forgotten, and leakage of information through friends is also possible. Social media has a lso led to cyber infidelity, and this is capable of destroying relationships. It enables people to connect and make new relationships with people all over the world. You can imagine waking up and finding out that your spouse has updated her Facebook status as single. People posting comments of this sad break up in your relationship can make one extremely miserable. This shows how relationships of this age have been made cheap by social media.  

The Analysis of the Song Run Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Analysis of the Song Run - Essay Example The song is written in a way to highlight a strong or unique vocalist, as it becomes the primary responsibility of the vocalist to imbue the song with life. Similar styles have been witnessed with such vocalists as Nico from the Velvet Underground, or the underground alternative rock artist Cat Power. The music begins with the song’s lyrics start. A snare drum is heard playing slow and hushed-like. An electric guitar plays a minimalist melody. Two to three chords are played, currently, there is no bass being used. After a few minutes, the guitar and drum combo ends. The bass guitar and the drums continue as the vocals finally started. The first three lines state, â€Å"I go away to a place/ Way far out in space/ That is away from the things I know†. This line refers to the imaginative process that I go under when I play music or think in lyrical terms. Additionally, the reference to space refers to the aesthetic qualities of the universe as the great unknown of human experience. The lyrics here are relayed in a subdued tone in accordance with the minimalist melody that has already been established by the bass guitar and drums. Overrated/ But can’t think of/ What to do about it † Here the bass guitar and snare drums continue in a minimalist style along with the vocals. The lyrics are composed in a purposely meandering way. In this way, they do not follow the strict pattern of grammatically correct discourse, but instead, adopt a logic that is acceptable within the confines of music. The lyrics additionally reflect a general existential malaise that is recurrent throughout the track. One imagines the vocalist spending the day alone and lazily reaching over and grabbing a guitar. The music in terms of the vocals and the melody is then improvisational in an aesthetic sense. The bass guitar melody as does not need to be incredibly consistent. Instead, this could even be reinvented for each song.

Stress and Health Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Stress and Health - Essay Example e body to any demand whether it is caused by, or results in pleasant or unpleasant conditions†¦We must, however, differentiate within the general concept of stress between the unpleasant or harmful variety, called â€Å"distress† (from the Latin dis = bad, as in dissonance, disagreement), and â€Å"eustress† (from the Greek eu =good, as in euphonia, euphoria)†¦However, the fact that eustress causes much less damage than distress graphically demonstrates that it is â€Å"how you take it† that determines ultimately, whether one can adapt successfully to change.(p.6) Thus, stress may affect an individual positively or negatively. It depends on one’s outlook of the situation. Does stress affect the well being of individuals? This paper attempts a response to this question and provides certain practical solutions that can be used to ease the burden of stress on one’s health. Firstly, today’s society demands that an adult is faced with several responsibilities namely, children, family, work, or one may even be in the process of fostering a social relationship which will require quality time. As Seyle implied distress or eustress is determined by the individual’s perception of the circumstances. For example, an individual who has family responsibilities and is also a full-time student may view the course as a distressing factor because the time lost in attending these courses may have been used to obtain a job that would provide income to attend to the needs of the family. This individual may experience and perceive this lost time as depressing and as a result may respond negatively to the conditions, thus worsening his/her mental and physical well-being. Contrastingly, the same individual could decide to take a different perspective and recognize the value of this time as an investment into procuring a job with better-quality remuneration that could not otherwise be acquired. This student, then by changing his/her viewpoint can reduce the stress level from a

Japanese Cars in America Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Japanese Cars in America - Research Paper Example The Americans want economy and performance. They see the features of the car and the Japanese are ahead in this respect. Also, the Japanese are ahead because of their capability to meet customers' demands. The Americans liked their cars with a "swagger and attitude" (Americans Still Think Japanese Cars Best, 2007). The Japanese cars provided just that. While the domestic cars did not fare so badly at 29%, it was the Japanese car that gave the clear lead at 44%. The Japanese car models were clear winners because of their eye for details. The Americans were impressed with the capability of Japanese cars to perform for longer periods at lower costs. The Japanese cars were closely followed by American models. The Americans, by and large, prefer cars' performance over its nationality. The American models lacked in the strategy of staying a step ahead in the competition although they were adept at closing the gap once foreign cars established the lead. However, that is all that the American models succeeded in achieving. They could not overtake the lead. Having closed the gap, the American models still failed to supersede the foreign cars in the areas of economy and performance, "Eighty-five percent of foreign car owners said they were very satisfied with their cars, while eight in 10 owners of American cars were very satisfied" (Americans Still Think Japanese Cars Best, 2007). ... The American models lacked in the strategy of staying a step ahead in the competition although they were adept at closing the gap once foreign cars established the lead. However, that is all that the American models succeeded in achieving. They could not overtake the lead. Having closed the gap, the American models still failed to supersede the foreign cars in the areas of economy and performance, "Eighty-five percent of foreign car owners said they were very satisfied with their cars, while eight in 10 owners of American cars were very satisfied" (Americans Still Think Japanese Cars Best, 2007). The American models were close second even in this respect. It appears the American models have been done in because of the inability of the manufacturers to align with the buyers' demands and also the devil-may-care attitude of the American buyers. The Americans are cagey about models that appear inferior. The cost-conscious Americans also believed in better economy and chose to purchase second hand and well-maintained Japanese cars over brand new domestic models. "It's more attractive financially to obtain a car directly from Japan, even when you include the extra fees and monies you pay for shipping and taxes. It's simply cheaper to buy a car directly from Japan than it is to buy a similar car made in the U.S. Another reason behind this great demand of Used Japan cars is that Japanese drivers are careful to maintain their car cosmetically and mechanically so virtually all cars put up for sale or export will be in great condition" (Advantages of Buying Used Japan Cars, 2008). Conclusion It is all in the mind! The difference in the American psyche and the Japanese psyche reflect in the position of their

Morris Luries Pride and Joy Essay Example for Free

Morris Luries Pride and Joy Essay Write about how one character from Morris Luries Pride and Joy is presented and how this character develops key concerns in the story. Billy in Morris Luries Pride and Joy is initially presented as a 16 year old boy who literally lives his life in the footsteps of his abusive, irresponsible, bohemian father, Ned Mathews. By the end of the story Billys character has undergone a transformation to become his own person; he has broken away from his father. This short story is told in first person narrative by an anonymous narrator. This narrator is a tourist on an island in the Great Barrier Reef who tells his account of his encounter with millionaire Ned Mathews and his son, Billy. Through his characterization of Billy, Morris Lurie conveys themes of self realization, responsibility, judgment, and parenting. This essay will show how Billys characterization develops Morris Luries themes. Wealth, ownership, control and his desire for his fathers approval shows how Lurie, through his characterization of Billy conveys his theme of lifestyle choices. Ever since Billy and his father come to the island they act like they own everything and everyone on it. When they go to eat breakfast in the morning, Billy deals with the very pretty waitress like she is a prostitute, Whats ya name, honey? he said Why? said the girl. I always like to know the names of the girls I sleep with. Luries use of a colloquial language and inappropriate language such as honey and sleep with during Billys dialogue with a waitress show his desire to control a situation and to please his father; Easy, son said Mathews, but his face was beaming with pride. Billys self-confident and commanding swagger, He [Billy] walked with an exaggerated swagger is an example of a movement which Lurie associates with Billy to show yet another aspect of his desire to dominate over everyone else in the restaurant. By exploring Billys inappropriate choice of lifestyle in great detail, Lurie expresses his theme, which is to take care when choosing your lifestyle. Billys desire to please his father and to control is reiterated by the motif of alcohol. Billy is too young to be drinking as much alcohol as he does, yet he does and he does it to please his father and to control by demonstrating that he is able to drink as much as his father. This is shown in the quotation, His son [Billy] matched him drink for drink. Luries use of the narrators voice is very significant here because the narrator is presented to readers as very moral and sensible, so when the narrator talks about a boy drinking as much as a man we worry. This concern is further addressed by the narrative voice in the line, I watched the boy. How long could he last? I thought. How long could he keep it up? and also when he thinks, Dont tell me Billy is outdrinking him. I thought. His own son. His own pride and joy. The pace is significantly sped up during these two quotations by the shorter more choppy sentences. This serves two purposes, first it makes the passage stand out from the rest of the paragraph and second it permits the narrator to clearly state his point. The repetition of I though in both quotations creates an effective link of the two quotations. It is therefore reasonable to assume that the meaning of the two quotes are linked and that the narrator is wondering if Ned Mathews own ride and joy, his son Billy is already better at living the life of a spoiled, rude man than Ned Mathews. This is ironic because Billy is just a boy, so of course the narrator wonders How long can he keep it up? Another example is, When are we going to have some real drinking, Dad? I thought you told me we was gonna have some real fun.' Billys arrogance and the awkwardness of having an adolescent talking about drinking with his father really shines through here. He is almost criticizing his father because he has not had any real drinking. Lurie employs dialogue and colloquial diction such as we was to make the conversation sound even more out of place. Luries selection of alcohol as a motif in the story is important because alcohol has negative connotations and is illegal for adolescents to buy. By associating Billy with alcohol Lurie is implying that the life he is living where alcohol is a daily part of his routine is not suiting. Through Billy, Lurie evokes a theme of self realization which results in Billys character development. The first time there is evidence of this change in character is when Billy meets the Princess and eventually when he started to cry after him and his father got into a fight over his fathers abuse of the Princess. The most blatant example of this change however comes from Billys request for tea as opposed to the routine coffee and beer, Not for me, said Billy, in a voice I had never heard him use before. A young boys voice. Can I have. a cup of tea?' In this quotation Lurie utilizes related diction such as Can which has connotations of manners and kindness. Even the narrator recognizes Billys character development because he states that Billy spoke in a young boys voice which is a voice he had not spoken in before. The narrator is referring to Billys transgression from a boy who acts like an indecorous adult to a boy who acts like a young boy. There is also more subtle evidence of Billys character development in the text. The adjectives and adverbs change to correspond with the two different aspects of Billys character. In the first part of the text adjective and adverbs such as bleary and cocky then in the second part of the short story Lurie uses a new selection of adjectives and adverbs such as, neat, polite and young. Luries ability to reveal Billy through three different viewpoints: his fathers, the narrators and Billys own view of himself gives different perspectives to his character which helps position the readers to the themes of the short story. The overwhelming amount of dialogue in this text between Billy and his father Ned Mathews shows Billy and his fathers view that everything revolves around them. They are the only voice, which is heard in the story through dialogue despite the fact that there are roughly 80 other people on the island. The movements and actions of Billy convey part of his character. Billys actions are often direct or closely linked to the actions of his father. This shows the way that Billy looks up to the actions of his father, and how his father will abuse that respect throughout the story. Directly after his father tells the bartender to get off his fat behind and give a bit of service Billy says, Yeah, shake it up there. This quotation creates a nice image of the typical clichà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ where a father says something and then his son repeats it. Except Billy is mimicking a very offensive and inappropriate thing that his father just said. This shows the reader how Ned Mathews is a inconsiderate role model and a poor parent. Through Billys actions Lurie also shows that Billy is not prepared to live the lifestyle of his father. The boy I noticed had to take a breath half way down. This quotations refers to the fact that Billy cannot drink all of the beer in one gulp when his father can as proof that his fathers life is not necessarily appropriate for him. This concern of Billy not being suited for his fathers life is restated by the narrator when he wonders, How long can he last? Through Billy, Lurie is able to express his themes and concerns in an interesting and realistic manner. The themes and concerns developed in Pride and Joy may appear to be very simple and obvious but that by no means makes them less important. Themes such as self realization, responsibility, judgment, and parenting are very significant in everyones lives.

Psychological Contract And Motivational Problems Management Essay

Psychological Contract And Motivational Problems Management Essay The recent change of management at Wingos incorporating the new mission statements has seen a lot of changes with employees both the managers and non-managers. This report will analyse the current issues at Wingos (Reading Store), what as gone wrong, why it has gone wrong and how to make it better. The acquisition of Wingos by Melrose Plc has brought about a drastic change which has seen a change in the management style. Staffs have embraced this change with resentment and resistance which will be outlined in the report. Some staffs have become disillusioned and left while some had decided to stay and resist the changes and this as seen a great rise in lateness and absenteeism as well as low productivity. The fundamental areas addresses are the psychological contract, motivation and the management problems. This report has been structured in the following way. The first part addressed the issues with the use of relevant theories and research. The second part draw up conclusions on the findings and analysis and finally, the third part of the report suggested some attainable recommendations. One major problem identified with Wingos is the psychological contract. The psychological contract has been broken on both the management and the employees side. According to Robinson, Kraatz, Rosseaus(1994) the psychological contract is an unwritten agreement that exist between employers and their employees, meaning what employers expects from it employees and what the employees expect of their employers (Mullins, 2005). As well as the managers expectation of the staffs such as displaying a positive attitude, be responsive to leadership influence and working diligently, the employees also expects the management to be fair, trustworthy and create opportunities for development (Boddy, 2008). Before the new management started, the staffs dwell on the old psychological contact which is I will work hard for and act with loyalty towards my employer. In return I expect to be retained as an employee provided I do not act against the interests of the organisation. I also expect to be given opportunities for development and promotion should circumstances make this possible. (Torrington et al, 2008). The new Wingos management have broken this psychological contract. Staffs who had joined straight from school and having the impression for a job for life, hoping to stay until retirement and get promoted according to their length of service has seen all of this taken away from them. This has resulted to lack of commitment from staffs as well has lack of motivation. Some of the staffs believe the new management has broken the psychological contract and this can be supported by Parks Kidder (1994) who suggest that when the psychological contract is broken, staff reduce their commitment to the organisation and some of them are less willing than ever to give their all for the good of their organisation. (Cited in www.internationalmta.org). Some staff playing by the old psychological contract became disillusioned and left the organisation whilst some staff decided to stay and resist the changes. This action can be supported by Herriot and Pemberton (1995) where they describe a typical reaction to breach of the psychological contract as to leave to stay or keep your head below parapet, or to stay and take your revenge. Some of the staffs that decided to stay and resist the change can be seen as taking revenge against the management and by doing this, it could lead to de-motivation and can result in low productivity and high absenteeism. B. MOTIVATIONAL PROBLEMS Motivation is one of the major problems Wingos is facing currently. De-motivation has been made obvious by the attitude and behaviours of the staff after the change in management. Motivation is very important to Wingos because there are a lot of potential gain from it such as high productivity, low labour turnover and low absenteeism. It is obvious from the staffs that they are de-motivated seeing from their performance as well as the stores performance. There is evidence that staff had low morale and according to Herzberg 2 factor theory (1959) the staffs wants to have a sense of achievement, and chance of improvement (Mullins, 2005). Staffs come in whenever they want, the shop floor looks generally untidy which reduces productivity and staff are not in agreement. 1. Low Productivity: Less motivated staffs tend to have low productivity. It is evident that the traditional Wingos and the new Wingos have productivity issues. With the traditional Wingos profit had fallen drastically which lead to the new system but despite productivity did not improve. The lack of motivation has resulted in some staff delivering reduced level of productivity. Low productivity could be as a result of various factors. Such factors includes competency (www.team buildinginc.com) that is the staffs from the traditional Wingos had fairly routine work and not particularly challenging, which means they were not really interested in the root of how to carry out their work. And in the new Wingos, conversations with various staffs have made it clear that staffs find it difficult to do their job properly because of general lack of training. Taylor (1911) motivation theory describes how the application of scientific methods to the management of workers could improve productivi ty. (www.netmba.com). He also went ahead to argue that workers need close supervision and control to enjoy there work and they should be given the necessary training in other for them to work efficiently. McGregors (1960) Theory X supports this reaction that workers are viewed as lazy and wish to avoid responsibility (www.tutor2.net). Another factor which can cause low productivity is the productivity standard (www.teambuildinginc.com). It is evident at Wingos that there has been lack of communication between the staff and their line managers and the line managers with their district manager. There are no set standards or clear definition of the standard performance and this could result to de-motivation amongst staff. Locke (1975) supports this reaction to identify this motivation behaviour. According to Lockes goal- setting theory Wingos staffs have been de-motivated because there is no clear goals on what they need to achieve to increase productivity and there is no appropriate f eedback on why there has been decrease in their productivity (Mullins, 2005). 2. Lateness and Absenteeism: Following the acquisition by Melrose Plc and the introduction of new ways of doing things and also the break in the psychological contract, there has been a marked increase in lateness and absenteeism. This lateness and absenteeism increase could be as a result of various factors such as stress. Mitch McCrimmon in his article on How to Manage Absenteeism states that Motivated employees overcome obstacles to make it to work. The key to reducing employee absenteeism is to create a culture where employees want to come to work. (www.suite101.com). He also mentioned that factors such as stress keep staffs away from work because they are not motivated enough to be at work in the first place. Signs and Symptoms of stress within Wingos staffs includes low morale, absenteeism, performance (levels of produce wastage were high), relationship at work (tension and conflict between colleagues) etc. According to Vroom (1964) motivation theory, he believes that all three core concept of his expectancy theory must be met for staffs to be motivated. Currently, staffs at Wingos are not getting the intrinsic rewards they expect such as caring managers. All of this could lead to stress and as a result lateness and absenteeism is common. 3. Lack of Team Spirit: Another problem identified was the lack of team spirit. Staff are not seen to be productive because they are seen working on their own and there was less practiced of team working. The lack of team spirit as seen, as resulted to staff feeling de-motivated and lacking direction. One staff cannot do a teams work and if the team is not working together, individual will become stress which could lead to de-motivation and the task will not be achieved. This can be supported by Adairs model of leadership function that a task needs to be achieved by not one person but a team, the team needs should be met because if not met, an individual will be dissatisfied which could lead to de-motivation and the performance of the task will be impaired (www.teambuilding.co.uk). This therefore suggests that, management has set up teams and has not directed in the right way and therefore leaving the staffs de-motivated. 4. Personality Issues: Huczynski and Buchana(2007) defines personality has The psychological qualities that influence an individuals characteristic behaviour patterns in a stable and distinctive manner. (cited in Armstrong,2009) The differences in an individual can determine what motivates them. Every person is different from every other person in some respects but similar in other respects. As it can be seen with the staffs, some staffs left the company because the psychological contract of promotion was broken while some staff stayed behind to resist the change. C. MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS 1. Leadership Style/Management Structure: One major issue identified is the leadership and management style. About.com 18/11/09 defines leadership as the art of motivating a group of people to act towards achieving a common goal (www.about.com). The current situation in Wingos suggests that there is a fault with the leadership because, rather than the employees getting motivated, they have been de-motivated. According to Carnall (2007) when problems such as low motivation and low morale of employees, conflict between departments as seen amongst full-time and the weekenders and lack of capacity to adapt to changing circumstances as seen with the staffs generally occurs then there is a reason to conclude that the structure of the organisation is poor (Carnall, 2007). It has become obvious that most of the staff in regardless of their working time or days have found the top-down management style oppressive. According to Kotter (1990) Management is more to do with planning, controlling and putting appropriate structures and systems in place while leadership is more to do with anticipating change, coping with change and adopting a visionary stance. (McKenna, E 2001). Before February 2008, the management style that exists was the Laissez- Faire style. Managers provided little or no direction and gives staffs as much freedom as possible. After March 2008, the management adopted the autocratic leadership style. Manages retain as much power and decision making and did not consult staffs or allowed them to give any input. Herzbergs (1966) two factor theory supports this behaviour that before the change, staffs were motivated by the motivators (satisfier) such as chance of promotion, sense of achievement, interest in the job etc. While after the change, with the hygiene factors such as pay, company policy, the kind of supervision etc do not lead to higher levels of motivation but without them there is dissatisfaction (www.accel-team.com). Scholl (1981) claims that pay alone will not motivate an individual (Mullins, 2005). 2. Performance Management System (PMS): The critical factor of bringing this change in to place is to have the right number well trained staff and motivated. As a result of this change, the opposite of the aim was evident. Staffs were easily de-motivated and lost their morale which can be seen as a result of the managers behaviours. The managers assume according to McGregor Theory X (1960) that employees must be threatened with punishment to get them to put in adequate effort at work (Thomson, 2002). The staffs felt the system is unfair and this is as a result of improper use by the managers. This is an evidence of the autocratic leadership style. The managers can be seen not consulting the staffs or allowing them to give any inputs. The system that has been put in place to benefits the company, the managers and the staffs by seeing to the needs and development of staffs has been used improperly. Some studies over the past years shows that this type of leadership could see organisati on having high turnover and absenteeism and this is evident at Wingos. (www.essortment.com) 3. Lack of communication: Wingos has introduced a drastic change following being part of Melrose Plc. The management style had change. There is no evident to suggest that staff were fully enlightened about the new changes introduced. One main complaint identified was that there is lack of communication between employees and the management and even within the managers and the next level up. 4. Lack of training: Staffs had not been properly trained on the new changes and this has reduced their output and not able to do their jobs properly. CONCLUSION The analysis and findings concludes that staffs have become de-motivated as a result of the drastic change in the management and leadership style. The change has caused insecurity amongst the staffs such as staffs leaving and some staying back to resist the change. Psychological contract as been broken and which has seen some staff left the company and there has been low productivity. This is supported by Parks Kidder (1994). Managers had used tools such as Performance Management System which is supposed to motivate staff to de-motivate them. There has been lack of communication which has resulted to staffs being resentful and resisting change. All this issues needs to be addressed for the company to be successful. If not resolved, there could be a further decrease in productivity, increase in absenteeism and staff loss to competitors. In other for all of this to be resolved, there are key areas that need to be addressed, such as the psychological contract, motivation of staffs and the management style. RECOMMENDATION Psychological Contract Due to the fact that, the psychological contract is perceived to have been broken, a new contract should therefore be established. Rousseau and Greller (1994) describe the psychological contract as a contract that encompasses the actions employees believe are expected of them and what response they expect in return from the employer.'(Cited in www.gowerpublishing.com). The only way for staffs to be aware of the actions expected of them by the management and what response they expect in return from the management is by undertaking a staff survey, to be completed by both staffs and managers. This should help identify the expectation from both staff and could help understand the new contract. Effective Change For an organisation to be successful when carrying out changes, there are three necessary conditions to be met which includes awareness, capability and inclusion (Carnall, C). It is important for staff to be aware of the changes that are going to take place in any organisation because according to Mayo (1949), he concluded that workers are best motivated when there is better communication between them and their managers. (www.tutor2u.net). As well as communicating with staffs, if they are included in the decision making, they are more likely to accept change. Staffs also need to be capable and be sure they know what is required of them and this can only be effective if staffs are given adequate training. Therefore, it is recommended that staffs should be well informed by having regular meetings with their line managers (this can bridge the gap between the full-time staffs and the weekenders and also create good team spirit), staffs should be well trained in other for them to do their jobs accurately and should be involved with decision making by creating suggestion boxes and implementing some of the suggestions. And if a suggestion is used, the staff should be rewarded. Employee Appraisal It is recommended that, the management re-visit the PMS which is to see to employee appraisal rather than punishment. Staffs needs to understand why the PMS has been put into place and what benefits are available for them in it. Staffs have different personality and are diverse in their own way and managers needs to understand the individual needs of their staffs. Following a staff appraisal, knowing that the managers are aware of their personal needs and goals, they will tend to be more motivated, and in return there will be high productivity, high labour turnover and staff retention. Relationship The managers should develop an interest in their staffs by getting to know them, their way of life and their families. According to a CIPD survey, a good relationship between employees and line manager is the most important factor for motivating staff and establishing a positive psychological contract (Thomson, 2002). The staff appraisal can also build the relation between the staff and their managers. One of the benefits of appraisals is that, staffs experience improved relationship with their managers and vice versa (Thompson, 2002). This recommendation can help build the gap between the workforce by creating a good team spirit. Monitoring Absence Staffs sickness absence should be monitored. It is recommended that line managers should interview staffs when they return back to work to identify the reason for their sickness. And if the sickness is work related, managers should ensure that the situation is dealt with appropriately. Management Training The type of leadership style recommended at Wingos is the Democratic style. Before February 2008, the type of leadership practiced was the Lassie Faize style which saw the company going down. After March 2008, the new management introduce the autocratic style which saw staff de-motivated and some staff left the company. Introducing the democratic leadership style, will increase motivation amongst staff and staffs will support the vision of the company and the company generally will see growth. Therefore, all managers should be trained on how to motivate their staffs and learn the approach of the democratic or participative leadership style. Although this is a good recommendation as it will see increase in staff inputs towards Wingos, however cost of training should be considered. Exit Interviews Retention of employees should be addressed by interviewing staffs before they leave to identify why they are leaving. If the reason for leaving is given, it should be dealt with in a positive way and it should be treated discreetly. Although some staffs may choose not to disclose their actual reason of leaving, it is highly recommended that manager doing the exit interview should not be well known to the staff leaving. This is because staffs tend to open up more when they are in a neutral environment.