Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Nordstrom Case Analysis Essay

Previous Nordstrom representatives blame them for utilizing uncalled for work and oppressive practices to threaten workers and power them to perform undertakings like stocking and getting stock during non-working hours . Nordstrom representatives get minimal conventional preparing when employed or elevated to new positions, yet they are relied upon to play out their obligations predictable with the â€Å"Nordstrom Way† which is client support well beyond what would have been acceptable anyway. Preparing is casually given through hands on correspondence, which expands the open door for miscommunication. This correspondence can be intentional because of companion rivalry and weights to prevail from chiefs, or absence of information by colleagues and directors from whom they are urged to look for preparing. The executives abilities are not required to oversee workers, nor is preparing given to representatives who accomplish the board positions. There is no genuine assessment framework set up to quantify representative execution. There is no objective setting process that requires â€Å"manager †representative pair sets benchmarks for estimating progress, especially when the worker is new in the role† (Harvard Business School Press, 2007). Objectives help to characterize what directors anticipate from their representatives. The main worker metric utilized that is quantifiable is Sales every Hours (SPH) despite the fact that there are other execution models, for example, client assistance and cooperation which are a piece of the representative assessment process. Representatives who don't accomplish the base required SPH are ordered as under-entertainers. In the event that SPH is reliably beneath the base standard set by the office administrator, this can prompt end or disengagement as workers feel awkward and insufficient. After being recruited by Nordstrom workers are informed that â€Å"the three Nordstrom execution rules: client support, efficiency and teamwork† (Buller, Paul F. furthermore, Schuler, Randall S. , 2003) are should have been advanced. Anyway representatives are not exhorted concerning how the measures will be assessed. The main assessment representatives get is from their chief, there is no optional layer of the executives to audit the worker execution assessment to guarantee decency. Nordstrom doesn't have a proper extensive assessment structure, subsequently there is no consistency in the assessment procedure. The assessment strategy is distinctive for every administrator, making it hard to think about representative execution over the diverse practical territories in the organization. Representatives performing undertakings not legitimately identified with stock deal, are not made up for a considerable length of time worked. Observational learning was utilized to urge representatives to work non-auctioning hours off the clock â€Å"If one worker is giving a great deal of time it powers others to do the same† (Buller, Paul F. also, Schuler, Randall S. , 2003). Workers are compelled to hold fast to the casual authoritative culture or they are not viewed as cooperative people. Nordstrom ought to build up formal and reliable Standard Operating Procedures, to which their representatives can fall back on for direction. Chiefs ought to be required to go to preparing programs. This would empower directors to furnish their workers with formal preparing base on the company’s arrangements and strategies. Formal preparing alongside hands on preparing would assist with easing a portion of the obstructions looked by current or new workers who are elevated to new situations inside the association. Representatives ought to be furnished with handbooks as well as preparing materials that explicitly traces how execution models will be estimated and assessed. Directors and representatives need to set up objectives and approaches to accomplishing them. They should meet on an on-going premise to talk about representative advancement for every exhibition models. Nordstrom has utilized their decentralized administration way to deal with fabricate a fruitful and beneficial retail domain. They support innovative open doors among their workers. New representatives are given business cards and urged to manufacture associations with their clients, by making individual â€Å"thank you† letters, and tracking stock they sell. They are additionally urged to build up a strong client base. Nordstrom permit representatives to be associated with the dynamic procedure, by not limiting them with heaps of rules, for example â€Å"Nordstrom supplanted its 20-page rule book with a one-page sheet and scarcely any useful tidbits: â€Å"Use your best judgment in all situations† (Buller, Paul F. nd Schuler, Randall S. , 2003). This permits workers to take the necessary steps to guarantee their clients are fulfilled. Self-inspiration courses are offered to the two representatives and chiefs with accentuation on setting every day achievements. Representatives are permitted to set their very own objectives and the pace at which they accomplish those objectives. For instance one worker expressed â€Å"the first year I intentionally set quarterly objectives to accomplish the Pacesetter requirement†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦and firmly checked my progress† (Buller, Paul F. also, Schuler, Randall S. 2003). Representatives are given the adaptability to basically oversee themselves and track their own advancement with one goal: keep deals every hour high comparative with hours worked. Representatives are appropriately made up for their difficult work and commitment â€Å"Nordstrom workers acquire probably the most significant compensations in the retail business† (Buller, Paul F. what's more, Schuler, Randall S. , 2003). They additionally support difficult work by advancing from inside which persuades representatives to try sincerely as an advancement could prompt a more significant compensation and different motivating forces. Nordstrom utilizes uplifting comments by giving different motivators to workers to urge them to accomplish high SPH, for instance free meals, money rewards and store limits. Workers who accomplish the most noteworthy deals are perceived by having their image shown in the store and furthermore having their names communicated over the store’s amplifier framework. Representatives can follow how they are acting corresponding to their companions all the time, as SPH figures are shown for all to see by means of outlines and electronic printouts. The issue emerged in light of the fact that Nordstrom didn't have any proper organization arrangements which are vital so as to build up required conduct from singular workers. Representative desires were not unequivocally conveyed and desires were set up by supervisors without worker inclusion. Supervisors didn't set aside the effort to â€Å"find out what workers think about the proposed expectations† (Harvard Business School Press, 2007). Their lone center was guaranteeing that Sales every Hour (SPH) stayed high, worker advancement was not critical to administrators. Nordstrom’s recruiting strategy expects representatives to be natural â€Å"Nordies. † Nordies are â€Å"nice, roused, hardworking†¦.. self-engaged individuals who have a pioneering spirit† (Buller, Paul F. furthermore, Schuler, Randall S. , 2003). Representatives and supervisors never work together to set individual objectives, rather objectives were set by departmental directors or head supervisors, however representatives are as yet expected to accomplish objectives. Extraordinary execution was normal from all representatives despite the fact that objectives were not separately custom fitted. Representatives who â€Å"regularly experienced difficulty meeting deals portions or adapting to strain to improve execution were dismissed† (Buller, Paul F. also, Schuler, Randall S. , 2003). Steep negative results were endured by representatives that didn't perform acceptable with their companions. Defining singular worker objectives and approaches to accomplish them will yield the most wanted outcome in the long haul. By giving proper preparing to representatives, and unequivocally expressing what is normal from the worker, will bring about greater efficiency from workers over the long haul and diminish the company’s turn-over rate. This will likewise decrease the expense for recruiting new workers, as supplanting representatives cost one and a half times the current worker pay to enlist another worker, in this way setting aside Nordstrom cash in the long haul. On-going survey of representative advancement will assist with evening the odds and ease a portion of the weights and terrorizing a few representatives feel working at Nordstrom. Formal preparing of representatives is both exorbitant and tedious. The time spent preparing representatives brings down SPH as this time would be considered non-selling hours. Workers who are effective under the current framework may oppose changes. Representatives probably won't have the instructive ability to learn new strategies. Representative preparing is the best choice, and will yield the most wanted long haul results. Create and reveal a vast Standard Operating Procedure handbook utilizing contribution from outside sources so as to accomplish wanted outcomes. Build up an expansive assessment structure empowering normalization of the manner in which workers are assessed by directors. Turn out hands on preparing for all workers, guaranteeing that all representatives see how to play out their activity capacities. Furnish representatives with composed sets of responsibilities. Set up reliable broad objectives. Objectives would then be able to be custom-made for every office. Work together with every worker to set up how the objectives will be accomplished and the achievement dates for accomplishing those objectives. Set up a particular time period for checking on representative objectives. Offer representative criticism on an on-going premise.

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

The Overwhelming Benefits of Power Napping

The Overwhelming Benefits of Power Napping Stress Management Management Techniques Print The Overwhelming Benefits of Power Napping By Elizabeth Scott, MS twitter Elizabeth Scott, MS, is a wellness coach specializing in stress management and quality of life, and the author of 8 Keys to Stress Management. Learn about our editorial policy Elizabeth Scott, MS Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Carly Snyder, MD on November 10, 2019 facebook twitter linkedin Carly Snyder, MD is a reproductive and perinatal psychiatrist who combines traditional psychiatry with integrative medicine-based treatments.   Learn about our Medical Review Board Carly Snyder, MD Updated on January 02, 2020 Westend61/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images More in Stress Management Management Techniques Physical Techniques Relaxation Time Management Effects on Health Situational Stress Job Stress Household Stress Relationship Stress While small children typically take naps in the afternoon, our culture generally frowns upon mid-day sleep; however, even in those who get enough sleep (but particularly in those who don’t), many people experience a natural increase in drowsiness in the afternoon, about 8 hours after waking. And research shows that you can make yourself more alert, reduce stress, and improve cognitive functioning with a nap. Mid-day sleep, or a ‘power nap’, means more patience, less stress, better reaction time, increased learning, more efficiency, and better health. Here’s what you need to know about the benefits of sleep and how a power nap can help you! How Much Sleep Do You Need? Most experts agree that the body needs 7-9 hours of sleep per day, depending on personal and genetic factors.  Some research shows that  6 hours or less triples your risk of a car accident. The Effects of Missed Sleep Sleep is cumulative; if you lose sleep one day, you feel it the next. If you miss adequate sleep several days in a row, you build up a ‘sleep deficit’, which impairs the following: Reaction timeJudgmentVisionInformation processingShort-term memoryPerformanceMotivationVigilancePatience Fatigued people also experience more moodiness, aggressive behaviors, burnout, and more stress. The Benefits of a Power Nap Studies show that 20 minutes of sleep in the afternoon provides more rest than 20 minutes more sleep in the morning (though the last two hours of morning sleep have special benefits of their own). The body seems to be designed for this, as most people’s bodies naturally become more tired in the afternoon, about 8 hours after we wake up. How Long Should I Sleep? When you sleep you pass through different stages of sleep, known together as a sleep cycle. These stages include light sleep, deep sleep (which is believed to be the stage in which the body repairs itself), and rapid-eye-movement sleep, or REM sleep (during which the mind is repaired). Many experts advise to keep the nap between 15 and 30 minutes, as sleeping longer gets you into deeper stages of sleep, from which it’s more difficult to awaken. Also, longer naps can make it more difficult to fall asleep at night, especially if your sleep deficit is relatively small. However, research has shown that a 1-hour nap has many more restorative effects than a 30-minute nap, including a much greater improvement in cognitive functioning. The key to taking a longer nap is to get a sense of how long your sleep cycles are and try to awaken at the end of a sleep cycle. (It’s actually more the interruption of the sleep cycle that makes you groggy, rather than the deeper states of sleep.) As there are pros and cons to each length of sleep, you may want to let your schedule decide: if you only have 15 minutes to spare, take them! But if you could work in an hour nap, you may do well to complete a whole sleep cycle, even if it means less sleep at night. If you only have 5 minutes to spare, just close your eyes; even a brief rest has the benefit of reducing stress and helping you relax a little, which can give you more energy to complete the tasks of your day. But dont confuse a brief rest with microsleep. Tips For a More Effective Nap If you want to obtain more sleep and the health benefits that go with getting enough sleep, here are some tips for more effective napping and sleep at night: Avoid caffeine after 3 p.m. It’s a stimulant that can disrupt your sleep and stay in your system longer than you think; its half-life is four to six hours!If you don’t want to nap a long time, set an alarm.If you don’t have time for a power nap or don’t feel comfortable napping during the day, try meditation; it gives your body a rest and produces slower brain waves similar to sleep.

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Conflict Between The Political Factions Of Palestine

PART II THE INTRACTABLE CONFLICT AMONG THE POLITICAL FACTIONS OF PALESTINE CHAPTER 3 AN INTRACTABLE CONFLICT: SOCIAL CLEAVAGES WITHIN THE POLITICAL STRUCTURES OF PALESTINE The Intractable Conflict: What It Is How Does it Correlate with the Political Factions of Palestine? Intractable Conflicts go by many names, such as the Protracted Social Conflicts or the Identity Related Conflicts. These are long conflicts that are self-sustaining, deep-rooted and the product of long-lasting hatreds and wars; since WWII, which has made international politics unpredictable and unstable.[footnoteRef:1] Most of these prolonged conflicts (not all) have had international interventions or have involved superpowers that have made efforts to end the conflict through diplomatic, mediatory, peacekeeping, humanitarian development assistance and in extreme cases, military intervention means. However, some of these conflicts have resisted any kind of settlement and/or resolution, which can complicate the situation further.[footnoteRef:2] [1: Chester A. Crocker, Fen Osler Hampson, and Pamela Aall Ed., Grasping the Nettles: Analyzing Cases of Intractable Conflict, (United Stat es Institute of Peace Press: Washington, D.C., 2005), 4.] [2: Ibid. ] The intractable conflicts or the protracted social conflicts have various unique components such as religious, cultural, or ethnic communal identities; they may be functioning of the fundamental needs of security, communal recognition, andShow MoreRelatedIsrael Is A Small Democracy At The Eastern End Of The Mediterranean1349 Words   |  6 Pagesdistinct population of Arabs living in Palestine, the territory between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, that predates Israeli independence. Arabs living in Palestine began developing a distinct ethnic identity at least two centuries prior to World War II, although until the founding of Israel, the term â€Å"Palestinian† was used by most of the world to denote all the inhabitants of Palestine, including Jews. Before World War I (1914–18), however, Arabs in Palestine began using the term to describeRead MoreEssay about The Palestinian Liberation Organization1147 Words   |  5 Pagesaims in the period of 1964-1974, had a significant and enduring effect on the events in the Middle East. Created in 1964 on the initiative of Egyptian president Nasser, the PLO would soon become one of the most influential bodies of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Born out of a desire to liberate the Palestinian homeland in an ‘armed struggle’, it was largely responsibly for the fedayeen raids that contributed to the outbreak of the 1967 war. Following the 1967 war, Palestinian nationalism grew, and a strongerRead MoreSources of Conflict BetweenPalestine and Israel 2374 Words   |  9 PagesThe conflict between Palestine and Israel stems from disagreements about the land, differences in the opinions of historical change of boundaries, differences in religion and also disagreements among international actors that have influenced how the conflict has played out since the boundaries of Israel were drawn up after World War II. This paper will focus on the armed conflict between Palestine, specifically the Hamas-backed Gaza strip and the state of Israel that has led to the loss of manyRead MoreAnalysis Of Street Art Of Israel And Palestine1370 Words   |  6 PagesBefore the study of street art in Israel and Palestine can begin, first, one must understand why these artworks are there - a basic principle in any art theory. For instance, taking Picasso’s Guernica (see fig. 1.1) as an example, it appears at first glance to be a disturbing painting, very abstract in style and chaotic in its composition. The appeal of abstract art is that it is less superficially explicit. I would argue that this conveys deeper meaning to the viewer because of the personal journeyRead MoreAn Analysis of the Islamic Resistance Movement: Hamas Essay example3513 Words   |  15 PagesBackground: Radical Islamism in the Middle East Throughout the course of history, particularly over the last century, the Middle East has been identified as a growing source of hostility and violence due to its extensive involvement in religious conflict, ethnic rivalry, territorial dispute, and war. Poor governance, as well as the absence of an effective civil society and the lack of the rule of law, has led to the demise of several states within the region. Such instability has fostered the growthRead MorePower, Ideology, and Terror in the Atomic Age Worksheet1675 Words   |  7 Pagesfollowing questions with a short sentence or phrase: 1. Why were many Palestinians angered by the creation of Israel in 1948? Palestinians who lived in Palestine before 1848 thought that they had rights over the entire country and not just half. The State of Israel was proclaimed on May 14 1948, but the Arab states rejected the partition of Palestine and the existence of Israel. In 1948 Palestinians were driven out of the new Israel into refugee camps in Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon and other regions. Read MoreEthnic And Religious Division Of The Lebanese Civil War1227 Words   |  5 Pagesand family (Angrist). This shows that despite the cohesiveness and threads that attach us, it has the power to pull people, families, and in some cases countries apart. This conflict comes to a head when religion and ethnicity are interwoven. Hence when divisions occur, this can lead to violent wars that destroy trust between individuals. This can ingrain a sense of uneasiness and distrust that plagues people’s ideas and leaves a country divided. This is particularly evident in Lebanon. Ethnic andRead MoreEffects Of Religion On The Northern Africa And Southern Asia1171 Words   |  5 Pagesgroups have been fighting to have control of the specific regional sites such as the Western Wall, Dome of Rock and the Church of Nativity (Rowntree et al., 2011). For example, there have  been conflicts between Israel versus Palestine for Jerusalem to protect their sacred grounds; and the Israeli- Iranian conflict that would spur trouble even to the US. Earlier in history, the religious trends involved the Judeo-Christian practices of monotheism until after A.D 622 when the advent of Islam saw the regionRead MoreAnalysing the Israel-Palestine Conflict in International Relations Perspective1976 Words   |  8 PagesAnalysing the Israel-Palestine Conflict in International Relations Perspective Introduction to International Relations Analysing the Israel-Palestine Conflict in International Relations Perspective Background Since the early 20th Century, Israelis and Palestinians have been fighting over the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. With the assumption that Palestine is a state to facilitate discussion, this report sketches out the most significant elementsRead MoreThe Palestinian And Israel Conflict2619 Words   |  11 PagesPeace negotiating can be an extremely daunting task. The demands of opposing factions can create a list of the perfect ingredients to an impossible comprise which leads to a recipe of everlasting quarrels. Throughout history, there has been many nations with internal conflict that has been a victim of the recipe of quarrels time and time again. In my paper I will focus on two different conflicts, one in which who has been able to create a recipe for successful peace in the land, and another in which

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Mutual Fund investors versus Shares Investors - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 6 Words: 1723 Downloads: 2 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Finance Essay Type Argumentative essay Did you like this example? Are There Any Significant Differences? Introduction: The title of the research is drafted as Investment profile of mutual funds versus shares investors. Are there any significant differences? The study aims to discuss the market of investment preferences of consumers in stocks and funds. After the global crisis period starts, there was a major downfall in investment sectors. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Mutual Fund investors versus Shares Investors" essay for you Create order Stocks of big multinational companies came down. People who invested in funds didnt received even the amount in the price they bought the funds. There were huge redemptions in many mutual funds. Many millionaires lost a big amount in money market. But the investing in funds and shares still didnt stop by public and again they started to invest in market. What is the preference given by investors while investing in the market? Because the conditions before and after the crisis are totally different. Do the investors preferred to invest in mutual funds more or in shares. The title of the research is drafted as Investment profile of mutual funds versus shares investors. Are there any significant differences? The study aims to discuss the market of investment preferences of consumers in stocks and funds. After the global crisis period starts, there was a major downfall in investment sectors. Stocks of big multinational companies came down. People who invested in funds didnt received even the amount in the price they bought the funds. There were huge redemptions in many mutual funds. Many millionaires lost a big amount in money market. But the investing in funds and shares still didnt stop by public and again they started to invest in market. What is the preference given by investors while investing in the market? Because the conditions before and after the crisis are totally different. Do the investors preferred to invest in mutual funds more or in shares. The introductory guide discover to reflect the rise and growth and worthy across the globe of mutual funds and shares as a mode of investing in worldwide economic development, whether to construct a fund for retirement or something else. Retail investment market get the investment services are generally divided according to wealth and can be distinguishing into three parts, self-directed, mass market and wealth management. The mass market exhibit the qualities where sales of investment product takes pla ce. In the same way, straightforward product sales, is also the investment service market. The self-directed element describes the condition where investment affairs of an individual investor are monitored by the investor himself. It control can be with or without professional advice. After then it comes wealth management services, which are generally categorised as mass affluent and high net value. In case of shares, if we owned share then we earn a portion and when we sell, we get capital gain. Also if we sell the shares below prices then there are chances of capital loss. In shares you can earn more profit as well as excess losses also. But in shares the time of profit earning is quicker than mutual funds. Who want to take more risk, go with the shares and who is satisfied with low margin is satisfied in mutual funds. It is not that in mutual funds v cant get more profit, but criteria will be different in that. Literature Review: According to Russel, future changes are likely to take the form of a broad different application of the product, instead of just structural change of the product itself. Regulators are starting to relax the restrictions on the nature of assets that may be held in a mutual fund accessible by the investors and possibly then more ‘hedge funds and ‘mixed funds being offered. The difference between the international markets, specially UK, Europe and USA are addressed while explaining both open-ended and closed-ended funds. Russel says, that public use the ‘funds and by that they mean both the hard cash which they have as their starting capital and is available for investment and also any mode or transport through which investments are made and controlled. Public shall take a responsibility to funds set aside or keeping up for their future needs or any commitments, but at least public can afford some of their extra funds as well as spare funds into an investment inst ead leaving that fund at home or just keeping like this, they also k now that its better to invest instead of leaving heavy damage of inflation weather as un invested cash or as interest earning savings. Russel agrees that most public has lack substantial wealth or enough wealth to investing of their personal funds directly into stocks and shares a practical and low-risk undertaking. Similarly, many people do not have the knowledge of economics or other subjects relating to that issue or we can say no specialist advice, business markets and individual companies which identify sheep out of goats. There is time required for this and paperwork also, which related with keeping the track of personal portfolio, and then can keep an eye on taxation facilities and obligations, especially a bit tricky , if its a global portfolio. Rothwell explains that administration of investment has a success key, which can play in several and different investment products and services that are suppo rting to retail investment market. This supply important background and internal information on the industry. After then, investors can have a look at the major activities that are follower by them but also keep in mind the subordinate areas as diverse as power of attorneys and trust. Mutual funds offer a solution and are a form of collective investment. Any number of individual investments and there participate in a greater and more complicated portfolio on investments than would otherwise can be possible. Mutual funds are build either as investment companies or trusts. The different between two forms is important as it affect ownership of the underneath stocks and the nature of investors interests in those products. Investing in shares is like public will get more profits. Baumol argues on what characterizes the transactions between shareholders of a mutual fund and its advisor? One approach for this question is provided by the literature which deals with the economies contr actual relationships. Contract analysis reflects on the related portion of a transaction and the nature of the single parties to the transaction. This attention provides knowledge about the kinds of contracts and enforcement mechanisms required to prevent either party to a performance from engaging to self looking behaviour. However, contracting is costly, and public try to avoid in entering in contracting. In shares, individuals have to involve with brokers and cannot deal directly. Sometime individual fear of this and avoid to invests in shares. According to Boumal, an analysis that communicates with the shareholders role of a mutual fund and its consultants as that of contracting agents allows a dual assessment. First, it permits an assessment of the role of regulation to make the task easier in execution of the implicit contract between advisors and mutual fund shareholder. Second, it allows to judge whether the organisation of advisor-shareholder transaction is effective in minimizing the performance costs that suddenly arise in exchanges between the two parties. Bodie explains savings as not spending all current income on consumption but investing and to selecting what assets to hold. The choice of selecting the investment is of investors and has rights to select risky assets or safe assets or can be also both. Generally, saving is often understand as investing in safe assets like in insured bank account. The portfolio of an investor is his all investment assets collection and once this set up then it is updated by selling or buying in securities or can also invest additional funds to grow the portfolios size or by selling securities decrease the size structure of it. Aims and objectives: The main aim of this assignment is to analyse the preference of investors to invest in shares or mutual funds. After the global crises, there were high redemption in mutual funds and many share prices came down. Many large profit making companies started getting losses during the recession period. What is the opinion of public as they are the one who invests in market? do they still prefer to invest in shares or in funds or they will go for safe investment like in saving accounts in banks. Aim has been to provide the reader with a basic appreciation of mutual funds in their many forms, in the hope that, apart from proving a useful reference, it will stimulate further exploration of the subject and encourage still greater appreciation, advocacy and use of the mutual fund as a sensible, efficient and ultimately rewarding means of investment, suitable for the vast majority of people. (Book 5) The objective of this is to explain what mutual funds are. How they have developed and how they are used, regulated and administered across the globe. (Book 5) The problem and the challenge is knowing how to select investments that meet our objectives for return and suit our appetite for risk. (Book 5) Research Sources: Mutual funds are run by professional fund managers, who may choose to appoint other professional bodies to undertake, under contract, one or more aspects of running their funds, such as: Investment managers to manage the portfolio of the investments; Marketing companies to advertise and promote the funds; Selling agents to actively sell the funds shares or units; administrators to perform accounting and servicing functions; registrars or transfer agents to maintain registers of shares- or unit holders. (Book 5) Methods of Data Analysing: Presentation: References: 1) Baumol, W.J., Goldfeld, S.A., Gordon, L.A. Koehn, M.F. (1990) The Economics Of Mutual Fund Markets: Competition Versus Regulation, Massachusetts: Kluwer Academic Publishers. 2) Bodie, Z., Kane, A. Marcus, A.J. (2009) Investments, 8th Edition, New York: McGraw-Hill. 3) Bryman, A. Bell, E. (2007) Business Research Methods, Second Edition, New York: Oxford University Press Inc. 4) Rothwell, K. (2007) Handbook of Investment Administration, Chichester: John Wiley and Sons Ltd. 5) Russel, R. (2007) An Introduction to Mutual Funds Worldwide, Chichester: John Wiley and Sons Ltd. Bibliography: 1) Bogle, J.C. (1999) Common Sense on Mutual Funds, New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc. 2) Gregoriou, G.N. (2007) Diversification and Portfolio Management of Mutual Funds, New York: Palgrave Macmillan. 3) Gregoriou, G.N. (2007) Performance of Mutual Funds, New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Psycho, the greatest film of all time Free Essays

This essay will attempt to show you the brilliance that is Psycho and how Alfred Hitchcock managed to create a film which even today grabs and retains the interest of any audience. The music in the film Psycho was a brand new idea at its time in the 1960s and acted like magic on audiences, making them sit in horror at the edge of their seats. The music in Psycho is ‘non-diagetic’ and is performed by an all-strings orchestra. We will write a custom essay sample on Psycho, the greatest film of all time? or any similar topic only for you Order Now At the time when Psycho was released, using music that was played by an all-strings orchestra in horror movies was a brand new idea and startled film critics and the audience alike. This method of using high-pitched, sharp music was such an effective idea that many other horror films and television series adopted the thought and this style of music is still used to this day (for example, in Nightmare on Elm Street. Using an all-strings orchestra in Psycho was a fantastic way of building tension and it worked very effectively. The reason it worked so well was because the sound was so recognisable. This is because, as the music was played on and on-and-off basis, the audience gradually noticed that when the music played, something bad was probably about to happen. No other music could have been used in Psycho which would have created the same amount of tension in the movie and sounded so shrill and discordant. To a pre-1970s audience, the all-strings music was remarkably effective and the music by itself built tension. Nowadays, when a modern audience watches Psycho, they react in the same way as audiences over thirty years ago, even though they are used to music like this. The eerie sound of string instruments playing sharp scratchy notes, e. g. in the shower scene, still makes modern audiences sit on the edge of their seats and watch in suspense as the plot unfolds. The music in Alfred Hitchcock’s horror films was so important and effective that without it the films would not have succeeded. It is possible to see that when his films are watched on mute, the suspense disappears and the film becomes boring and not at all exciting. Even the brilliant use of lighting and shadows is not enough to keep the interest of any audience watching Psycho without the music. The plot of Psycho is ingenious and has to be one of the greatest stories of all time. Alfred Hitchcock used a brilliant technique in all his films for retaining the audience’s interest which he called â€Å"the McGuffin†i. Alfred Hitchcock used this technique in all his films to catch the viewer’s attention and drive the plot. In Psycho, the McGuffin was the $40,000 in cash stolen by Marion. In the first half of the film, the audience is led to believe that the movie is essentially about the stolen money, and this alone envelops the viewer’s attention because the plot is so tightly and perfectly constructed. By the end of the film though, few people remember that the money even existed, as the McGuffin is only really needed to move the audience into the Bates Hotel. The plot was designed very cleverly by Alfred Hitchcock. To grab his audience’s attention, he made the audience ask questions. He does this right from the very beginning of Psycho until the end of it. For example, in the first scene alone, when Sam and Marion are meeting secretly during their lunch break, the audience is made to think: can Sam pay off his father’s debts and his wife’s alimony? Will they get married? Will they get caught together? etc. , etc. Forcing the audience to ask questions mentally, traps their attention, as they want to know the answers. Another way that the plot does well to catch and retain an audience’s focus is the suspense which is built up so frequently. When suspense is built up, the audience always wants to know what will happen next. As the storyline twists and turns and the viewers get surprises, the audience becomes drawn into the film and becomes more involved. For instance, when the main character is suddenly killed halfway through the film in an unforgettable scene, the audience is left wondering: what will happen next? Who will be the new main character? All of these sudden changes in plot shock the viewer more and more and make the film more exciting and interesting. Another change in plot is when Sam, Lila, the sheriff and his wife meet after church in broad daylight. This break in the tension allows the viewer to relax and watch a different scene; one in daylight, which is not eerie and in shadow. This may appear to be an odd change in plot, but it helps keep all audiences focused. A very clever ingredient in Psycho, was Alfred Hitchcock’s excellent positioning of objects on the film set. Using his complicated knowledge of filming and positioning, he created scenes which convinced the eye of an alteration to the truth. He set objects up, for instance, in the eerie house, which looked so normal and blended in with the film perfectly. He placed typical old-woman-objects in Norman’s mother’s bedroom to make the audience convinced that there really was an old woman living in the house and that she was still there. He also placed objects such as a toy fire engine and a male dole in Norman Bate’s old room to make it suit its part. These little things are actually precisely positioned so that they suit the atmosphere and the audience sub-consciously notices them. All audiences, modern and old alike, notice these little differences and it is things like this which manage to retain the interest of an audience watching Psycho. Set pieces were not all small though. The large old Victorian style house atop a hill was specifically chosen for its image and its evil and dark appearance. The camera, throughout the whole film, always filmed this house from below, making it appear to tower over all else and cast a dark shadow over everything. The actors chosen for Psycho, despite in the case of most, being famous before its creation, were all picked after long deliberation by Alfred Hitchcock for their particular skillsi. Janet Leigh, for example, who played the part of Marion in Psycho, was chosen out of a list of seven possibilities. Most of the actors in Psycho were all very professional, popular and they all fitted perfectly; without them and their talent, the film could have easily turned out to be a failure (as Psycho’s remake was). As all of the actors were so capable and Alfred Hitchcock directed them all so well, their talents shone through in this movie and they all appeared so realistic and their body language in Psycho was flawless. This goes for their dialogue too. They may have all been able to say their scripts, but the timing and their expressions and tones were all planned out by Hitchcock perfectly. The camera angles and lighting in Psycho are arguably the cleverest and most effective ever used in a film. Alfred Hitchcock personally worked out every camera angle and every scene in Psycho. He used the camera to guide the story, build the tension and throw twists into the ending. The camera angles used are legendary. Using Alfred Hitchcock’s directing genius, one of the most famous scenes in cinematic history was created. In this one scene (the ‘Shower Scene’ as it is now commonly known), seventy camera angles were used, intermixed with quick cuts to emphasise the brutality of the act; yet the knife is never actually seen penetrating Marion’s body. Marion is filmed in the shower from so many different angles so that suspense is built up as the audience knows something bad must be about to happen. She looks vulnerable in the shower without any clothes and she is unsuspecting – her expression is one of concentration, on showering. All this put together, combined with Alfred Hitchcock’s directing, creates an extremely scary, exciting and memorable scene. Alfred Hitchcock was obviously very talented, and when it came to the camera’s positioning and lighting, he always managed to create brilliant pictures. Without using sound, Hitchcock could make people look nervous, vulnerable, strange, powerful, dangerous etc. by just using camera angles. For instance, to make the private investigator look vulnerable as he walked upstairs and reached the landing, the camera filmed him from above, looking down on him so that he looked alone and vulnerable. There was only one poorly created scene in the whole film. This was the stair scene, when Arbogast, the private investigator, falls down the stairs with a knife wound. To a 1960s audience, this scene seemed to be extremely realistic and well filmed. Unfortunately it is spoilt on a modern audience as nowadays everyone is so used to graphics and special effects that the stair scene appeared comical to us, as it wasn’t realistic. It was quite obvious that there was a film of stairs coming towards the audience being played behind the falling private investigator. The lighting in Psycho was used to great effect and was directed fantastically. Alfred Hitchcock managed to create different atmospheres in different scenes by his use of lighting and shadows. For instance, in the climax scene, when Norman Bates runs into the fruit cellar with a knife, the lighting is fantastic. When the camera turns to look at Norman’s mother’s wrinkled, mummified face, as the bulb swings creating strobe flashing, in the hollows of her eyes, shadows dance against the inside of her skull which creates an illusion of a mad, mirthful response to the scene before her. Today, Psycho is still looked upon as a brilliant and unique film, which even now manages to grab and retain the interest of any audience. No other film has ever managed to outclass Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece in complexity or in cleverness. The black and white photography used is perfect for the film’s tone and mood – colour would merely have blurred the nightmarish quality. Psycho is an exceptional film, which altered the course of cinematic history, and its brilliance will always be recognised. How to cite Psycho, the greatest film of all time?, Papers

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Volunteer Paper Essay Example For Students

Volunteer Paper Essay For my Volunteer Paper Essay I wanted to volunteer at an animal hospital or shelter since I am majoring in Pre-Vet. Then I decided to do something different. I chose to student teach 1st graders at Mckinley Elementary. It is very surprising to me that I chose to do this. I always said that I hated kids and had no desire to ever work with them I even said I would never give birth to any kids because I hated them so much. The thing is that I actually enjoyed my experience very much. I chose this activity because I wanted to try something different that I thought I wouldnt like. The teacher that I did this volunteer work for was my 1st grade teacher at Mckinley Elementary when I went to school there back in 1986. The reason that I hate kids so much is because had a really bad experience with them. In the summer of last year I baby-sat these kids across the street from me that moved here from New York. They were the kids from hell. They were so annoying, and ungrateful. For instance they always asked me to buy them Taco Bell, and when I did, they would say, why did you buy me this?, or I want more, you better buy me more. I hated them. I was so stressed from them that I would cry at night. I really didnt want to baby-sit them anymore but I felt bad if I said no. So I thought I couldnt judge all kids on those three. I had to give others a chance, and didnt want to give up on having kids. I did many fun and exciting things while I was working with these kids at Mckinley. The first day Mrs. Aiken introduced me. She said, Boys and girls this is Taysha, and I was her teacher when she was your age. They were all in awe. They couldnt believe that I had her as a teacher. The first kid I helped was a black girl named Shontele. I helped her with her math work and reading. I taught her to group thins in Math when you are adding or subtracting. For example: Say you have ten subtract three. I told her to put ten into groups of five, then cross out three, and count how many there was left. She enjoyed that and thought it was now much easier to do her Math. I also learned the difference between what was right and wrong. The first day I went I had my eyebrow ring in and she didnt like it too much. She asked if it was OK with my mother. She said, Does your mother say you can have that? I told her no and she asked why I didnt listen to her. She then ! asked if I still live at home, and told her yes. She said that if I still lived at home, I had to respect her because it was her house and her right to tell me what to do. She said even if I was eighteen she still had the right to decide what I can do if I lived in her house. Well I listened and took the eyebrow ring out they next day. When it was time to leave they were all mad at me, they wanted me to stay longer, so I promised them I would come back the following week. The second day I went to the class I work with the class altogether. I work on some math problems on the computer, I had to help them work the problems out in their head and when they had the answer they got to type it in and it would tell you if it was right or wrong. .u6d4c200f03ed4e5eb615bf3a38bce711 , .u6d4c200f03ed4e5eb615bf3a38bce711 .postImageUrl , .u6d4c200f03ed4e5eb615bf3a38bce711 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u6d4c200f03ed4e5eb615bf3a38bce711 , .u6d4c200f03ed4e5eb615bf3a38bce711:hover , .u6d4c200f03ed4e5eb615bf3a38bce711:visited , .u6d4c200f03ed4e5eb615bf3a38bce711:active { border:0!important; } .u6d4c200f03ed4e5eb615bf3a38bce711 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u6d4c200f03ed4e5eb615bf3a38bce711 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u6d4c200f03ed4e5eb615bf3a38bce711:active , .u6d4c200f03ed4e5eb615bf3a38bce711:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u6d4c200f03ed4e5eb615bf3a38bce711 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u6d4c200f03ed4e5eb615bf3a38bce711 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u6d4c200f03ed4e5eb615bf3a38bce711 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u6d4c200f03ed4e5eb615bf3a38bce711 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u6d4c200f03ed4e5eb615bf3a38bce711:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u6d4c200f03ed4e5eb615bf3a38bce711 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u6d4c200f03ed4e5eb615bf3a38bce711 .u6d4c200f03ed4e5eb615bf3a38bce711-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u6d4c200f03ed4e5eb615bf3a38bce711:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Tennessee Williams And The Southern Belle Essay As it turned out they got all of them correct out of three levels After that activity I helped them write out and sound out words that started ended with (ck) like tack or pack. If they were right they were allowed to color. After I finished I then corrected papers. The majority of them got all of them right .