To Kill a Mockingbird Moral Essay Example for Free

To Kill a Mockingbird Moral Essay The depth behind this novel is too see how Scout has progressed throughout the course of two years. Slowly but surely, she realizes the life lessons that have been waiting for her all along. She does this with the help of her family and her community. One man importantly sticks out the most, and his name is Arthur Radley, but Scout and the children like to call him Boo. Lee incorporated Mr. Radley to really show Scout the important lessons of life through the experiences and the encounters she faces with him, while also helping her grow into maturity. In the beginning, Atticus says â€Å"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view –until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.† (Lee 30). Boo Radley helps Scout realize the lesson her father is trying to teach her in a copious amount of ways. First off, the children believe that Boo Radley is the child-eating monster, when in reality he is not. He turns out to be quite the opposite to Scouts suprise. Boo does this by leaving the pennies and bubblegum in the hollow of the tree for Scout and Jem as a gift, yet not revealing that it was him. Also, when Scout, Jem, and Dill all try to peep into the Radley house, Jem gets his pants stuck on the fence and Boo sews them back up for him. Surprised, yet still weary of Boo, Scout still hasnt completely walked around in Boos skin for her to see what a good person he is yet. When Miss Maudies house catches on fire that cold night, Boo comes up behind Scout and puts a blanket on her. Scout in fear pays no attention to the blanket and runs away. Even though Scout doesnt recognize the kind acts that Boo is paying her, all these things help her realize the lessons of the novel at the end. If it werent for Boo and his encounters with Scout, she wouldnt understand the meaning of stepping into someone else shoes, and seeing things from their point of view. The second lesson that Boo helps teach Scout is the meaning of a mockingbird, and how a mockingbird can be the personality and heart of a person. Mockingbirds are the only birds that Jem and Scout arent allowed to shoot with the rifle by Atticuss words because it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. Miss Maudie explains this later by saying Mockingbirds dont do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They dont eat up peoples gardens, dont nest in corncribs, they dont do but one thing but sing their hearts out for us. Thats why its a sin to kill a mockingbird. (Lee 10). This correlates to when Bob Ewell tries to murder Jem and Scout, until Boo saves them and winds up killing Mr. Ewell himself. Later, the Sheiff explains that he does not want to make Boo out to be a hero or publicize him, so they use a cover story instead. The Sheriff knew this would be a bad idea because he is such a recluse, and doesnt want him to have to justify himself to the public and face ridicule. Atticus explains this to Scout, and she says she understands because it would be like shooting a mockingbird. At this point the maturity is shown and she has just applied one of the lessons, thanks to Boo Radley. She realizes that Boo has never actually harmed someone (opposite to the rumors) and has done nothing but looked out for her. She now realizes that people can be mockingbirds too. At the very end of the novel, when Scout walks Boo home across the street, she is standing on his porch. She remembers what her father said about standing in someone elses shoes and she says Just standing on the Radley porch was enough. (Lee 31). From his perspective she can see the town and her house right across the street from it. She realizes how he protected them and watched out for them. If it wasnt for Boo, she wouldve never started looking through the grown-up perspective. The lessons that Atticus was trying to teach her wouldnt have been applied, and Scout wouldnt know how a person could symbolize a mockingbird. She says to Atticus he was real nice and Atticus replies Most people are, Scout, once you finally see them. (Lee 31). Works Cited Page: To Kill a Mockingbird. Goodreads. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2013. To Kill a Mockingbird Study Guide Essays. To Kill a Mockingbird Study Guide Literature Essays. N.p., 1999. Web. 06 Feb. 2013. To Kill a Mockingbird. Goodreads. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2013

Impact of the Digital Environment on Copyright

Impact of the Digital Environment on Copyright Critically assess the blurring of the boundaries between the expression of an idea in a material form (which is protected by copyright) and an idea itself (which is not). In your response, you will need to examine the impact of the digital environment on copyright and initiatives like open access and Creative Commons. Discuss whether protecting original works is becoming obsolete, considering the effect of a copyright-free world on individual creators, producers and distributors. Be explicit about how you respond to and extend the examples presented in the topics podcast and town meeting. Copyright can be defined as the ownership of the expression of ideas, not the ideas themselves (Bourne 2008). The issue of copyright is perhaps facing its greatest challenge. The line between the expression of ideas in a material form (which is protected by copyright) and an idea itself (which is not) is being increasingly blurred due to the increasing prevalence and penetration of digital technologies in the national (Australian) and international (global) communication environment. With the proliferation of copyright violations as digital technologies offer file sharing capacities, the development of author favouring initiatives approximating to Open Access and Creative Commons eroding the corporate power of copyright corporations, the existence of legally protected copyright protections a creator craves, corporations pursue and governments protect, is under serious threat. Traditionally the free market economy has envisioned a hierarchy from producer to consumer in the development and dissemination of cultural information. Conventionally, the mode of production had envisioned a role for creator, manufacturer, distributor and consumer. This was a centralised system. Copyright pervaded and that which was protected by copyright was difficult if not impossible to illegally obtain without paying the royalties to the creator or copyright holder. Yochai Benkler believes there has been a decentralisation of the process due to the onset of the digital revolution, particularly with Internet technologies, while technology simultaneously sustains the centralisation of cultural information. I will suggest that we call the combination of these two trends the radical decentralization of intelligence in our communications network and the centrality of information, knowledge, culture, and ideas to advanced economic activity the networked information economy (Benkler 2003, p.1252). The strength of Benklers argument is that its a fresh idea that argues somewhat from a political economy perspective, the production process. The production process has been decentralised due to digital technologies and therefore individuals who previously held no part can create their own ideas by either mimicking, disseminating, copying, plagiarising without consequence. This networked information economy (or decentralisation of production) has led to a blurring of the lines between the expression of ideas in a material form (which is protected by copyright) and an idea itself (which is not) due to the increasing mobility and creativity individuals can utilise as a result of the onset of digital technologies. Benkler believes ubiquitously available cheap processors have radically reduced the necessary capital input costs. What can be done now with a desktop computer would once have required a professional studio (Benkler 2003, p.1254). According to Benkler, a primary contributor to cultural production is pre-existing information, a publicly accessible good while others include human creativity and the physical capital necessary to generate, fix, and communicate transmissible units of information and culture like a recording studio or a television network (Benkler 2003, p.1254). The Internet and digital technologies have to an extent decimated the dominance of the capital generators, those owners and proprietors of copyright such as the television networks and publishers, and allowed consumers to edit pre-existing copyrighted material, or create their own, to the detriment of copyright holders. This leaves individual human beings closer to the economic centre of our information production system than they have been for over a century and a half (Benkler 2003, p.1254). The failing of Benklers argument is that it views digital technologies as offering endless opportunities for individual production. While this may be true, usually the product produced is usually distributed for free and those who attempt to make economic gain are wiped out by the competition that produce free and higher quality software and programs. The impact of the digital environment has led to the proliferation of copyright violations and use of materials by consumers in their own productions and ideas without regard for the intended royalties. This has been seen no better than in the rising prevalence of file sharing software on the Internet, its popularity, dominance, and targeting by corporations for law suits. The most radically new and unfamiliar element in this category is commons-based peer production of information, knowledge, and culture, whose most visible instance has been free software (Benkler 2003, p.1254). An example of these peer network systems Benkler speaks of includes file sharing systems such as Limewire, BitTorent, eMule and Gnutella. Based on peer-to-peer technology (Fattah 2002; Oram 2001), so-called filesharing systems offer the possibility to exchange any sort of digital data for free and without restriction (Quiring 2008, p.435). Considerable losses in revenues have resulted in the film, gaming and particularly communications industries due to the illegal copying and sharing of their products. According to the communications industry, it misses out on considerable revenues each year due to the illegal exchange of communications data (Quiring, von Walter Atterer 2008, p.435). Similarly there has been propagation in the amount of quality free programmes on the Internet that supplant those supplied by corporations and have no copyright protections of their own. The networked information economy opens for radically decentralized collaborative production peer production† a process by which many individuals, whose actions are coordinated neither by managers nor by price signals, contribute to a joint effort that effectively produces a unit of information or culture (Benkler 2003, p.1254). Free software has become the quintessential instance of peer production in the past few years. Over 85 percent of emails are routed using the sendmail software that was produced and updated in this way (Benkler 2003, p.1254). Over 60% of Australians use msn, yahoo, Google or other free E-mail providers as their primary E-Mail account and the development of free virus scanning software such as AVG, free communications composing and artistic programs have gradually eroded communications corporations copyright power and grip on the consumer market. However here, within these filesharing and producing communities the lines between the expression of ideas in a material form and an idea itself are more deeply blurred as the providers of free programmes and those who illegally copy and distribute software, programmes and cultural files (such as communications), known as warez have developed their own codes of production and consumption. An academic of Southern California University, D. Thomas alludes to this in his article Innovation, Piracy and the Ethos of New Media identifies three key fundamentals in the warez ethos (Thomas 2002, p.87). Firstly, keeping information free and open in the face of corporate control, an act which they see as embodying the spirit of the Internet; communications or game lovers right to redistribute goods they have purchased providing they do not profit financially. Secondly the sense of an entitlement to digital content, as after buying a computer and internet access they see the content as already paid for (Thomas 2002, p.87). It can therefore be seen that the digital environment erodes copyright protection and the benefits copyright brings to its owners and distributors. Due to the erosion of copyright protections, debate has arisen as to whether the erosion of copyright is desirable. According to Spinello, while they are evermore protected by government legislation, property rights are often dismissed or disparaged in academic circles. Post-modern critics, for example, find it hard, to accept that creative works have a single author, so the assignment of a property right loses intelligibility (Spinello 2003, p.2). It has therefore been argued by many academics, including Lessig that innovation and creativity depend upon free, uncontrolled resources and more precisely, according to Lessig the Internet forms an innovation commons,† that is, a space where innovation and creative expression can flourish (Spinello 2003, p.3). In an effort to protect themselves from the increasing breaches of copyright brought about by these kind of principles and digital technologies that facilitate these breaches of copyright, copyright owners have lobbied governments to extend copyright protection to lifetime plus seventy years and are attempting to override exceptions granted to institutions such as universities and parliaments along with removing the copyright ownership from creators to themselves. This has facilitated the rise of movements against this trend known as Open Access and Creative Commons in order to protect creators and consumers. Open Access and Creative Commons are two organisations that espouse opposing, yet fundamentally similar goals to deal with the blurring of the boundaries between the expression of ideas in a material form and ideas themselves. On the one hand Creative Commons argues for the protection of creators through the benefits of minimal copyright protections known as moral rights by issuing their own legally recognised copyright licenses. The moral rights extend the rights of creators to the basic entitlements of attribution and integrity that have adopted in the developed world, including Europe and Australia (excluding USA). While attribution is the right of the creator to have his work recognised by attribution, integrity is the right of the creator not to have his work falsely portrayed or misused. Creative Commons aims to promote better identification, negotiation and reutilization of content for the purposes of creativity and innovation. It aims to make copyright content more active† by ensuring that content can be reutilized with a minimum of transactional effort (Fitzgerald Oi 2004, p.1). Alternately, Open Access seeks to minimize copyright in its entirety. Open Access† means access to the full text of a scientific publication on the internet, with no other limitations than possibly a requirement to register, for statistical or other purposes (Bjà ¶rk, Roos, Lauri 2008, p.1). The purpose of this initiative is to accredit creators with their copyright and offer access to materials at minimum or no cost so as not to stifle creativity due to excessive copyright protections under the law. However one must consider the implications of the erosion of copyright as discussed above and whether protecting old works is becoming obsolete. Some scholars and economists believe that copyright is crucial to the development of society and its advancement due to the protections of copyright and their benefits owners of copyright aspire to. A particular point raised in the town meeting was the relevance of copyright if individuals can merely download audio, visual and software files from file sharing programs on the Internet for no-charge. However a report commissioned by the Australian government in 1998 raised the interesting point that copyright is crucial to the capitalist system of innovation and development. These industries form a significant and, to date, growing part of the Australian economy in 1992-93, the net contribution of copyright based industries to the total economy was an estimated $11 billion in constant prices, or 2.9% of the total GDP and the report concluded Copyright is the glue in the various transactions between creators and investors the legal mechanism which ensures that the value of creative effort or investment is not undermined and devalued by others taking a free ride on that effort or investment (McDonald 1999, p.2). It can be affirmed then, that a system of copyright, limited even, is desirable, if not to protect creators, then to at least achieve a balance between the rights of creators and copyright producers and distributors for revenue and moral accreditation, while allowing access to the public for consumption. A system of limited intellectual property protection is justified both as an inducement for future creative activity and as a reward for the intellectual labor associated with that socially valuable activity (Spinello 2003, p.2). It has been argued by many academics that the complete erosion of copyright protections may dislodge the profitability of many industries such as the gaming, communications and film, to the detriment of future production as creators see no purpose in creation without economic gain (McDonald 1999; Lee 2005). For example Illegal file sharing on the internet leads to considerable financial losses for artists and copyright owners as well as producers and sellers of communications (Quiring, von Walter Atterer 2008, p.434). It can therefore be strongly stated that while at times, when applied without distinction, copyright can be an encumbrance if argued from n Open Access perspective. However one must consider copyright as the glue that McDonald describes it as when considering the incentive effect copyright has in relation to the development and dissemination of cultural information (McDonald 1999, p.2). In conclusion it can be seen that the blurring of the boundaries between the expression of ideas in a material form (which is protected by copyright) and an idea itself (which is not) has led to the development of what Benkler has named the networked information economy (Benkler 2003, p.1245). The networked information economy makes it possible for nonmarket and decentralized models of production to increase their presence alongside the more traditional models, causing some displacement, but increasing the diversity of ways of organizing production rather than replacing one with the other (Benkler 2003, p.1247). This has led to the decentralisation of the process of cultural production files (mp3s, film, communications, etc) and is what has ultimately led to the blurring between ideas in material form and ideas themselves as seen with the development of filesharing and peer-to-peer production networks against the backdrop of the digital environment. This has gradually led to the erosion of copyright and the strengthening of legislation in reponse, in turn leading to the development of movements such as Creative Commons and Open Access. The ensuing debate over whether copyright is desirable to retain in the digital environment has led me to conclude that while copyright can act as encumbrance to creativity and learning, by removing its protection the incentive it generates for innovation and cultural production, have necessitated the need for a balance of the two. References: Thomas, D. (2002) Innovation, Piracy and the Ethos of New Media, pp. 82-91 in D. Harries (ed.) The New Media Book. London: British Film Institute.

Nature and Society in The Dharma Bums and Goodbye, Columbus :: Dharma Bums Essays

Nature and Society in The Dharma Bums and Goodbye, Columbus      Ã‚  Ã‚   From its beginning, the literature of the 1960s valued man having a close relationship with nature. Jack Kerouac shows us the ideal form of this relationship in the story of Han Shan, the Chinese poet. At first, these concerns appear to have little relevance to Goodbye, Columbus by Philip Roth. However, by mentioning Gauguin, Roth gives us a view of man's ideal relationship to nature very similar to the one seen in the story of Han Shan. The stories of Han Shan and Gauguin offer an interesting commentary Neil and Brenda's relationship, as well as insight into its collapse.    From the beginning, 60s literature advocated that man have a close relationship with nature. This is easily seen in Kerouac's The Dharma Bums. In this book, he repeatedly invokes the names of older writers concerned with living a life in harmony with nature. By mentioning such writers as Muir, Thoreau, and Whitman, Kerouac makes a statement about man and nature. The behavior of the characters in the book is in keeping with this environmentalist message. The high points of the book are characterized by a nearness to nature. A good example of this is when Ray and Japhy climb the Matterhorn. The fact that Kerouac peoples his book with characters inspired by people important to the Sixties, such as Gary Snyder and Allen Ginsburg, helps tie these environmental concerns to the decade as a whole.    The most direct example of what Kerouac feels is the ideal relation between man and nature is the story of Han Shan. We are told that Shan is Japhy's hero because he "was a man of solitude who could take off by himself and live purely and true to himself"(Kerouac, The Dharma Bums, 22). By escaping society and living close to nature, he was able to live his life the way the was supposed to. If he had remained in a society in conflict with nature, he would have been twisted and distorted, unable to obtain his true shape. Both Ray and Japhy see reflections of Han Shan in each other.    At first glance, there seems to be little in common between these environmental concerns and Goodbye, Columbus. Nature and Society in The Dharma Bums and Goodbye, Columbus :: Dharma Bums Essays Nature and Society in The Dharma Bums and Goodbye, Columbus      Ã‚  Ã‚   From its beginning, the literature of the 1960s valued man having a close relationship with nature. Jack Kerouac shows us the ideal form of this relationship in the story of Han Shan, the Chinese poet. At first, these concerns appear to have little relevance to Goodbye, Columbus by Philip Roth. However, by mentioning Gauguin, Roth gives us a view of man's ideal relationship to nature very similar to the one seen in the story of Han Shan. The stories of Han Shan and Gauguin offer an interesting commentary Neil and Brenda's relationship, as well as insight into its collapse.    From the beginning, 60s literature advocated that man have a close relationship with nature. This is easily seen in Kerouac's The Dharma Bums. In this book, he repeatedly invokes the names of older writers concerned with living a life in harmony with nature. By mentioning such writers as Muir, Thoreau, and Whitman, Kerouac makes a statement about man and nature. The behavior of the characters in the book is in keeping with this environmentalist message. The high points of the book are characterized by a nearness to nature. A good example of this is when Ray and Japhy climb the Matterhorn. The fact that Kerouac peoples his book with characters inspired by people important to the Sixties, such as Gary Snyder and Allen Ginsburg, helps tie these environmental concerns to the decade as a whole.    The most direct example of what Kerouac feels is the ideal relation between man and nature is the story of Han Shan. We are told that Shan is Japhy's hero because he "was a man of solitude who could take off by himself and live purely and true to himself"(Kerouac, The Dharma Bums, 22). By escaping society and living close to nature, he was able to live his life the way the was supposed to. If he had remained in a society in conflict with nature, he would have been twisted and distorted, unable to obtain his true shape. Both Ray and Japhy see reflections of Han Shan in each other.    At first glance, there seems to be little in common between these environmental concerns and Goodbye, Columbus.

Primary Behavior Changes and Cide Effects of LSD Essay -- Chemistry Ch

Primary Behavior Changes and Cide Effects of LSD LSD (D lysergic acid diethylamide) is a very potent synthetic hallucinogen. It is manufactured from lysergic acid, found in ergot, which is a fungus that grows on grains. In its original form, LSD is a white or clear, odorless, water soluble crystal that can be crushed into a powder and dissolved. LSD goes by the street name â€Å"acid† or â€Å"blotter† and is sold in tablets, capsules and sometimes liquid form. Oftentimes LSD is added to absorbent paper and sold in individual squares or â€Å"doses† which are then dissolved on the tongue. LSD is an extremely potent mood changing chemical. A person’s subjective world changes drastically once LSD is taken (Blacker, Jones, Stone, & Pfefferbaum, 1968). Users refer to their experience with LSD as a â€Å"trip.† These experiences generally begin about 30 to 90 minutes after taking the drug, and last from 6 to 12 hours. LSD is sometimes described as a drug that breaks down barriers, but the results of taking LSD are complex and variable. Every trip is different and users show a wide range of reactions (Terrill, 1964). The first signs of LSD are usually physical, and can include dilated pupils, salivation, sweating and nausea, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, tremors, dry mouth, chills, raised body temperature, rapid heartbeat and elevated blood pressure. As the trip progresses, one’s mood, perceptions and sensations become affected (Palfai & Jankiewicz, 2001). In the first phase of the trip there may be abnormal body sensations, changes in mood, space and time distortions and visual hallucinations (Palfai & Jankiewicz, 2001). Time may seem to stand still, or race forward or backward... ... lasting LSD side effect [Letter to the editor]. American Journal of Psychiatry, pp. 1233-1234. Blacker, K.H., Jones, R.T., Stone, G.C.,& Pfefferbaum, D. (1968). Chronic users of LSD: the â€Å"acidheads.† American Journal of Psychiatry, 125, 341-351. LSD JustFacts. (n.d). Retrieved February 8, 2005, from http://www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/jf/drugs/lsd.asp Pahnke, W. (1967, March). LSD and religious experience. Paper presented to a public symposium at Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT. Palfai, T., & Jankiewicz, H. (2001). Drugs and human behavior (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw Hill. Terrill, J.(1964). LSD, the consciousness expanding drug. New York: David Solomon. Ungerleider, J.T., Fisher, D.D., Fuller, M., & Caldwell, A. (1968). The â€Å"bad trip.† The etiology of the adverse LSD reaction. American Journal of Psychiatry, 124, 1483-1490.

Life Styles Inventory (LSI): Self Analysis Essay -- self-assessment di

Introduction The Life Styles Inventory (LSI) is a self-assessment diagnostic instrument that measures 12 key thinking patterns, or "styles". The LSI promotes performance change and improvement by increasing personal understanding of one's thinking and behavior. By responding to these 240 inventory items, individuals learn exactly where they need to focus their development efforts, without ambiguity or guesswork. The results of the self-description are plotted on a circular graph for easy visualization of how the individual thinks and behaves in the 12 LSI styles. This profile acts as a personalized developmental needs assessment, calling attention to the individual's strengths as well as areas needing improvement. Part I: Personal Thinking Styles (primary, backup, limiting) According to my LSI profile shows my primary style is achievement. My backup thinking style is dependent. My backup style was closely followed by avoidance. Refer to attachment â€Å"A† The LSI . My limiting style appears to be is two fold. dependent and avoidance. It illustrates that these two â€Å"limit† my self-actualization and achievement percentages. I do not find myself to be overly defensive or aggressive when dealing with individuals. I tend to listen more to what people have to say. This result was not new to me. avoidance and dependent evidently are the areas that are causing me not to excel. According to the LSI information provided, when your achievement score is greater and the humanistic-encouraging and affiliative scores are less, a concern for task accomplishment will diminish a concern need for others. Evidently this imbalance is reducing my overall effectiveness. When I put this under my microscope, I find that this charact... ...te achiever I need to lead by example, and encourage individuals to give their best effort on every project. Although I am a limited self-starter I must learn to communicate more realistic performance standard/goals and promote teammate input. As I continue to study Leadership and Organizational Behavior, I hope to change my thinking style that is geared to personal effectiveness. Limit my passive / dependent styles and obtain more constructive styles. The Life Styles Inventory from Human Synergistics International was a good wake up call, and offer a way to change your profile. The Challenge of Change section in the LSI will enable me to document a self-improvement plan utilizing my LSI profile. With this, my change suggestions and self-improvement plan will give me a guided direction to properly focus my personal development goals on the way I need to go.

Class Project Presentation Essay

In narrow perspective, PA is a documentation, filling form, checking boxes, once-a-year drill, annual fiasco, meeting held between lower and higher worker, and they will meet again next year (Grote, 2002; DelPo, 2007; Tourish, 2004). It s a common misconception that performance appraisal entails simply filling out an evaluation form answering prefabricated questions and checking boxes. If this were the case, you wouldn t need an entire book to help you do it right, and your evaluation wouldn t be worth the paper you wrote it on. When done correctly, performance appraisal is a process, not a document it is a way of structuring your relationship with your employees. A good appraisal system includes observation, documentation, and communication. It envisions a workplace in which supervisors know what is happening in their departments (who is doing what and how well) and document employee performance as it occurs. Supervisors and their employees should have open lines of communication. Employees should know how they are doing so they can make adjustments when they veer off track. Supervisors should know what obstacles get in the way of their employees performance so they can remove those obstacles as they arise (DelPo, 2007). PURPOSE Study shows that PA is commonly used by companies now, from every level or industrial background (Nakervis and Leece, 1997; Bach, 2003). Of course the phenomenon is not without cause, consider that sometimes PA is a hectic and hated job, time and cost consuming. Grote (2002) case in No. 14 is cited from DelPo (2007)- list the purpose of PA as follow: 1. Providing feedback to employees about their performance 2. Determining who gets promoted 3. Facilitating layoff or downsizing decisions 4. Encouraging performance improvement 5. Motivating superior performance 6. Setting and measuring goals 7. Counseling poor performers 8. Determining compensation changes Encouraging coaching and mentoring Supporting manpower planning or succession planning Determining individual training and development needs Determining organizational training and development needs Confirming that good hiring decisions are being made Providing legal defensibility for personnel decisions Case : A hospital fires an African-American doctor. She does not have an employment contract, so the hospital does not need just cause to ire her. Nonetheless, the doctor files a wrongful termination lawsuit, claiming that she was fired because of her race. When she files her lawsuit, she has no real evidence of racial discrimination; her case is based on her belief that she was always treated more harshly than her coworkers, most of whom were white men. The hospital responds by asserting that she was fired because of her poor diagnostic skills and her inability to get along with her coworkers. Her attorney requests her performance evaluations. Well managed PA system can prevent this kind of situation. Further reading about the issue of legal practice and PA, read The Performance Appraisal Handbook; Legal & Practical Rules for Managers by Amy DelPo. 15. Improving overall organizational performance Performance Appraisal is an integrated part of company s Performance Management Strategy (PMS). Performance Management is a set of regular, ongoing human resource activities carried out by managers and supervisors relative to their subordinates to enhance and maintain employee performance toward the achievement of desired performance objectives (Vance and Paik, 2006). Why company need to create such job, what are the job requirement, job description, the most important thing to do in this job, issue surround the job, etc. 2. The Jobholder Who is suitable for the job? What are the requirements? 3. The Person Now, you have to know the person deeper. How is his performance compare to the previous year. Remember, know the person based on the job, not based on individual prejudices 4. The Self-Appraisal or Accomplishment List If you asked the individual to prepare a list of accomplishments or complete a self-appraisal (and return it to you in advance), this will be a worthwhile source of performance data. This information then can be gathered by assigned appraiser (supervisor, specialist, peers, appraisee, or all). There are two types of information: 1. Qualitative: Information of behavioral remarks, comments, symptom, process, expectation, etc. 2. Quantitative : Numerical information. Information about sales number, revenue, productivity (number of product per hour or per day), and area covered, etc. Quantitative is easier to be measured and less subjective. There are two types of quantitative information; pure numerical information, and scaled information. Scaled information is subjective and non-numerical information, but converted into number by scaling method. For example, 5 for Excellent, until 1 for very poor. Or 1 for Approved, 0 for Rejected (see additional exhibit, example of performance appraisal form of University of California). The appraiser can use combination of questionnaires, observation and interview to gather the information (an example of the standard PA form can be seen in the exhibit 1). The job can be very useful, yet sensitive because: 1. Common agreement among HR specialist that subjectivity cannot be avoided. . Legal consideration (sexual harassment, racism or libel issue) 3. No standard question or appraisal method available. Most of the organizations have to adjust the method for their organizational style. Performance Appraisal by only one appraiser sometimes might trigger subjectivity and bias. To prevent this, the method known as 360-degree Performance Appraisal is implemented. This form deviates from the vertical, hierarchical arrangement in that every member of an organization is placed at the centre point of a circle embracing all related employees, superiors and colleagues. Manager hates to measure their employee for some reason, while in the same time, employee hate to be scrutinized. Time consuming, high cost, and focused on past result rather than future development, are among the arguments, also additional findings show that performance appraisal can actually lead to poorer rather than better performance, tend to create prompt argument between appraiser and employee (Rothwell and Kazanas, 2003, cited from Martin and Bartol, 1998; Kikoski, 1999). Gloomy predictions about the end of performance appraisal even have been prophesied by some writer. As Bach (2003) noted, some have predict that appraisal would fall apart at the seams (cited from Margerison, 1976), due to employee ambivalence and union opposition, and added that the days of standardized appraisals were number (Bach, 2003, cited from Fletcher, 1993). (Cited from my journal study). Tourish (2004) revealed even more shaking information. As he cited from various research, that Appraisal should be avoided if it linked to numeration and payment, because sometimes may lead to moral hazard and even bankruptcy. As he wrote it: An illuminating example of what happens when this research is ignored may be in order. Enron was an organisation that combined both a ranking system and the linking of performance to pay. Its bankruptcy in 2001 stands (at the time of writing) as the biggest in US corporate history. As with many other aspects of its internal culture, its approach to appraisal is a valuable case study in what not to do. An internal performance review committee rated employees twice a year (Gladwell, 2002). They were graded on a scale of 1 to 5, on ten separate criteria, and then divided into one of three groups A s, who were to be challenged and given large rewards; B s, who were to be encouraged and affirmed, and C s, who were told to shape up or ship out. Those in the A category were referred to internally as water walkers. The process was known as rank and yank. The company s propensity to disproportionately reward those who were high achievers and risk-takers was widely acclaimed by business gurus (e. g. Hamel, 2000). Faculty from the prestigious Harvard Business School produced 11 case studies, uniformly praising its successes. However, problems multiplied. People chased high rankings because the potential rewards were enormous, while low rankings imperilled both their salaries and eventually their jobs. The appearance of success mattered more than its substance. In addition, internal promotions due to the appraisal system reached 20% a year. This made further evaluation more difficult, and inevitably more subjective how could you honestly rank someone s performance when they did not hold a position long enough to render sound judgement possible? Paradoxically, Enron had a punitive internal regime ( rank and yank ) but loose control (those adjudged to be top performers moved on too fast to be pinned down). In this case, ratings and performance pay formed a lethal mix. Internal staff churn, and a relentless emphasis on achieving high performance ratings in the interests of obtaining ever-greater personal rewards, contributed to the lax ethical atmosphere that precipitated the company s downfall. Versions of rank and yank have been used by many organisations, including General Electric and IBM. IBM, in the early 1990s, actually required that one out of every ten employees be allocated a poor rating, and given three months to improve or be fired (Gabor, 1992). The research evidence overwhelmingly suggests that such practices produce only defiance, defensiveness and rage (Kohn, 1999). However, despite all the criticisms, number of companies utilize this system is still growing. I think this is understandable because some findings correlate the implementation of effective and well created performance management system and performance appraisal, with employee s or organizational success. Waal (2008) in his research titled The effects of performance management on the operational sales results of a bank , showed that the PM related key events had a significant and lasting positive impact on the quantitative result of the division (Waal, 2008). Table 1: Disadvantage of PA, as identified from literature Source : Kourkit and Waal (2008) Other study conducted by Kourkit and Waal (2008), strengthen the previous findings. In this research, writers try to find out the correlation between advantageous and disadvantageous of Performance management, with companies success. The research showed that in general the advantages were experienced to a much greater degree than the disadvantages, and that specific reasons for use achieved specific advantages. With the research results, management can convince organizational members that SPM (strategic performance management), indeed beneficial for the organization (Kourkit and Waal, 2008. Italic added). Kourkit and Waal try to find the answer for dissatisfaction of PA process and they found out that there is no correlation between advantages created by Performance Management with dissatisfaction. In other word, companies where PA system works well will create the advantages it has promised. Future studies are needed to identify about what is going on with PA system in bankrupt companies (like Enron). Is it poor performance management might result their bankruptcy? Figure 2 : Relation Model developed by Kourkit and Wall (2008). Source : Kourkit and Wall (2008) TQM (Total Quality Management) by some also seen as the opposite of PA. Adoption of TQM, which emphasize more in team effort (Wikipedia, accessed 2010), didn t seems to lessen the spreading and growing importance of PA. Some have tried to reconcile the difference by creating a PA system that actually works so well in TQM (Marr and Kussy, 1993). This criticism is closely related with argument of team (emphasized by TQM) Vs. individual appraisal (PA). However, Kessler (2003) find out that, There is some evidence to suggest that use of team pay to support job design may have positive outcomes in terms of individual and organizational performance (Wageman 1995; Burgess et al. 2003). However, the take-up of team pay remains low with well under 20 per cent of organizations using it (CIPD 2003). Salary progressions based on team performance is even less in evidence; these findings are confirmed by other surveys (Thompson and Milsome 2001: 13). This low takeup suggests that despite some evidence of effectiveness, administrative difficulties remain in introducing team pay. It is not always easy to find a standard of team performance that can be linked to pay because teams often break up quickly and do not therefore represent a stable base for a pay. Moreover, it remains questionable whether team working in the strictest sense is as widespread as assumed (see Cully et al. 999: 43). Team-based pay may well be rare simply because genuine forms of team working are scarce. AVOIDING THE PERIL Performance Appraisal process, as we have seen, proven to be a dangerous game. However, it is necessary for company s success. Failure of PA process can sometimes attributed to human shortcomings. Tourish (2004) list 8 of that phenomenon that must be carefully avoided: 1. Appraisers frequently fall victim to the halo effect. There is a tendency to assume that a positive attribute or a job related success in one area automatically implies success in others. 2. Personal liking bias means that when supervisors like a subordinate, for whatever reason, they generally give them higher performance ratings, their judgment of the subordinate s work performance becomes less accurate and they show a disinclination to punish or deal with poor performance. 3. The horn effect arises when a problem in one area is assumed to be representative of defects elsewhere 4. The consistency error suggests that we have an exaggerated need to feel consistent in our opinions and judgments, and to assume that people and circumstances are more stable than they actually are (Millar et al. 1992). 5. The fundamental attribution error, discussed above, means that an appraiser tends to attribute poor performance to the personality of the interviewee, rather than to the situation. 6. The similarity bias means that we are attracted to people who look like us, sound like us and form a convenient echo chamber for our own ideas. 7. The what is evaluated problem arises when the behaviors being evaluated differ from those required to obtain organizational goals. 8. Each of these problems is exacerbated by ingratiation effects. People with lower status habitually seeking to influence those of greater status by exaggerating how much they agree with their opinions, policies and practices, and so ingratiate themselves with the powerful, and sometimes might create bias to these so called powerful. DelPo (2007) also found that unwise selection of words can lead to poor PA system. Not only create false hope and false impression, it also might lead to legal problem. Brief, based on the fact, rather than personal conclusion is better than a long, trying to be funny or conclusive word. The latter, might bring not only false facts, but also future problem. Organization is comprised of human, which is all unique, so also the organization. Standardized PA schemes from industry to industry, from size to another size will be better if was avoided. The common mistake that also always lead to rejection to PA is, the believe that PA is just an annual ordered ritual. Useless but a must. In fact, PA is a never stop process. The shift in paradigm regarding PA is needed now days. Formal, written and companies scale PA can be held annually, monthly, quarterly or half-a-year, but everyday informal PA through Management By Walking Around, Management By Objectives, through constant communications and immediate daily basis feedback, might lessen the hectic work of annual PA and might reduce the frighten about PA. If I can extent the scope of Performance Management Process, PMS actually started since the recruitment. If the recruitment ran well, it will reduce the burden of PA, since all employees are ready, or willing to improve. Future study also needed in this part to know whether good recruitment system is correlated with successful PA scheme, and vice versa. Communication is also the most important. Employee must have the willingness to hear the feedback, while management also must be willing to receipt critics regarding the PA schemes and procedure. At very last, but one of the most important, Company s value, philosophy, vision and mission is also are fundamental in PA system. CONCLUSION y PA is an integral part of human life. We have experienced it since the moment we can remember and understand word. We live by it, cope with it, and shaped by it. Strengthened and weakened by it. In school we received report card, in university we get grades, those all are part of life s Performance Appraisal. Even as Christian, I believe that PA will continue in the afterlife. Appraisal is needed, it is necessary for company s or employee s development. Some study reported that PA is correlated with performance, and the growing number of user of this method, strengthen its position of importance. y PA is needed to measure performance, personally. PA is irrelevant under assumption that all member of organization has done and will do a fine job with, or without evaluation.

Lord Capulet Essay

Within the scene where Capulet is crossed by Tybalt at his masked ball, Capulet differs again. His mood suddenly changes from being humorous and charming to being hot headed and flying of the handle. I believe he is short tempered and is unable to control it; he becomes very angry towards Tybalt. â€Å"Why, how now, kinsman! Wherefore storm you so?† This demonstrates to the audience how infuriating he can be. I speculate the audiences learn that Capulet is a changeable character, as he is logical and caring but he becomes deadly serious when someone tries to challenge him. He assumes people should respect his authority. In act three, Lord Capulet informs his wife about the proposal. Lady Capulet deems Juliet will be overjoyed with the news â€Å"hath sorted out a sudden day of joy that thou expect’st not nor I look’d not for† she has a positive view to marriage and feels all she needs is a man. She reveals the news to Juliet. At first Juliet considers the proposal as good news. But she then says she would rather marry her enemy than marry Paris. This is amusing because she has previously married her enemy, Romeo, in secret. â€Å"I will not marry yet; and, when I do, I swear, I shall be Romeo, whom you know I hate, rather than Paris† This shows Juliet is intensely in love with Romeo. Lady Capulet says â€Å"here comes your father; tell him yourself.† I imagine she wouldn’t tell him, Presuming Capulet will go insane. As he evidently did so, â€Å"I will drag thee on a hurdle thither, out, you green- sickness carrion! Out, you baggage! You tallow -face!† This demonstrates how contrasting his thoughts really are, he can not believe she is being so ungrateful. Previously He was praising her up, saying how dearly he loves her and how divine she is. But now he states she is worthless that Juliet is like a curse and wishes she was no longer here. In addition he told Paris that it was Juliet’s decision if she’d like to marry him. He went back on his word and gave Juliet no choice of the matter, using his authority to over rule her, this is proof he was contradicting himself. In this time women were owned by their fathers until their time of marriage when they became property of their husbands. Capulet’s goal was to find a suitable match for his darling daughter, having so Juliet refused and Capulet became immoral, he bellowed wicked things to Juliet, which today no father would dare say. I presuppose Capulet thinks he has the right to speak to his daughter in such a way because she is his ‘property’ I don’t think this is right, nobody should be spoken to in that manner. I sense Juliet was distressed because of this. â€Å"I’ll to the friar, to know his remedy if all else fail, myself have power to die† Lord Capulet is an over powering man, he demands and receives what he w ishes, no matter if he hurts someone’s feelings, especially his own flesh and bloods. Overall I have discussed that Lord Capulet has two completely opposite sides to him. He can be kind, loving, and charming, e.g. scene one, but he can soon flip to becoming unmistakably hot- headed, controlling and malicious preparing us for his actions in scene five.