Saturday, September 7, 2019
The Measure of a Man Essay Example for Free
The Measure of a Man Essay And in this way, smiling, nodding to the music, he went another mile or so and pretended that he was not already slowing down, that he was not going to turn back, that he would be able to drive on like this alone, and have the right answer when his wife stood before him in the doorway of his home and asked, Where is he? Where is your brother?(Wolff 269) What is the measure of a rich man? Is it his material possessions, the extent of his spirituality, or is it how he chooses to share his wealth with others, whether it is material or spiritual? Are we really our brothers keeper or are we keepers of only our own wants and desires? These are all questions posed by Tobias Wolff in his short story, The Rich Brother. However, he provides an underlying answer to these questions. Is Pete really the richer brother because he has more material possessions? Wolff leads the reader to believe that this statement is not accurate. Although Pete has more money and material possessions than his brother, Donald is truly the richer brother because of his spiritual insight and the care he exhibits toward Pete. Money alone is not the measure of a rich man. Wolff conveys this message through Petes values, his attitude toward Donald, and through religious symbolism. Wolff makes it very evident to the reader what Petes values are throughout the story. When Pete has the dream about being blind it allows the reader to draw the conclusion that he is blinded by his own wealth. He cannot see what is really important in life. Pete is more concerned about being seen as a prosperous individual than he is about being seen as a spiritual individual. Because of this it is hard for him to understand his brother Donald and this is evident when the narrator says, Pete couldnt make sense of it. Their parents were both dead, but while they were alive neither of them had found it necessary to believe in anything. They had managed to be decent people without making fools of themselves, and Pete had the same ambition(Wolff 257) Pete believes that money is a sign of your success in life and he feels that Donalds life is worthless because he doesnt have any money or material things to show for it. This is made apparent when Pete says, You dont know! How could you know? You get money by holding out your hand You work too. Dont kid yourself brother(Wolff 267). Another example of this is when the narrator says, He handed down his judgements in ways that he seemed to consider subtle: through significant silence, innuendo, looks of mild despair that said, Brother, what have you come to? What Pete had come to, as far as he could tell, was prosperity. That was the real issue between them. Pete prospered and Donald did not prosper(Wolff 257) Another instance in which his values are illustrated is when Donald asks him what he dreams about and Pete says, Sex and money. Mostly money. A nightmare is when I dream I dont have any(Wolff 261). This allows the reader to see that all Pete cares about is money and it makes it hard for the reader to sympathize with him. Petes attitude toward his brother also makes it hard for the reader to sympathize with him. He views his brother as a waste of his own time and money and is very jealous of Donald as well. Wolff makes this clear to the reader when Donald says, Youre basically a very frightened individualVery threatened. Youve always been like that. Do you remember when you used to try to kill me?(Wolff 262). It becomes apparent that Pete used to try and kill Donald because he received more attention from their mother. This is also evident when Pete says, Mom was in a state every time you burped(Wolff 262). Pete also continuously tries to free himself from the responsibility of taking care of his brother. This is illustrated when he finds out that Donald gave the money away. Pete tells Donald, You just keep quiet or I swear to God I wont be responsible(Wolff 267). Petes jealous tendencies also become visible when he thinks about Donalds promise from Webster coming true. And it came to him that it would be just like this unfair life for Donald to come out ahead in the end, by believing in some outrageous promise that would turn out to be true(Wolff 268). Allà these factors help aid the reader in drawing the conclusion that Donald is the richer of the two brothers. Although Wolff uses the actions and dialogues of the characters to emphasize the fact that Pete is not as rich as he may seem, Wolff also uses religious symbolism to help the reader make this connection as well. This entire story parallels the biblical parables of The Prodigal Son and Cain and Abel. Pete thinks to himself, What a joke if there really was a blessing to be had, and the blessing didnt come to the one who deserved it, the one who did all the work, but to the other.(Wolff 268). He is very jealous that someone could get ahead of him in life just by doing nothing. At the end of the story narrator says, hepretendedthat he was not going to turn back, that he would be able to drive on like thisand have the right answer when his wife stood before him in the doorway of his home and asked, Where is he? Where is your brother?(Wolff). This provides evidence for the reader to see the parallel between Wolffs story and Cain and Abel. Wolff also uses many subtle symbolic gestures to add to the religious theme of the story. The names of all the towns mentioned in this story have a religious meaning. For example, Santa Cruz, Paso Robles, and Soledad. Santa Cruz means holy cross, Paso Robles means, withered tree, and Soledad means loneliness. He also uses the character of Webster to symbolize Greed and Hell. Wolff makes this evident when Webster states, The doctors have no name for it, but I doGreed. My greed, not hers.(Wolff 264). It is also symbolic when Webster gets dropped off in Soledad. It is insinuated that love of material things only results in loneliness and love of material things can only lead to Hell. When Webster speaks of the Lowlands, he is speaking about Hell. All these aspects of the story help add to its religious connotation. We all have heard the famous cliche, Money is the root of all evil. It is easy for a person to say that he would be charitable if he was rich, but money is a very powerful object in todays society and it definitely can change someone. Money cant buy happiness, it only brings loneliness. What is the use of having material possessions if we dont have anyone to share them with. There are many people in the world that are in need and it shouldà be our goal to provide assistance. We are our brothers keeper no matter how bad we would like to forget it.
Friday, September 6, 2019
Crim 101 Notes Essay Example for Free
Crim 101 Notes Essay What is criminology? A social science studying crime and related phenomenon such as law making, criminal behavior, victimization and punishment Discipline of criminology is a recent development Most ideas and concepts we now have about crime and criminals emerged over last 2 or 3 centuries Modern criminology is multi-disciplinary (inter-disciplinary) Influenced by sociology, psychology, and biology The fascination with crime Crime is popular topic for newspapers, TV shows , books and movies There is little relationship between crime news and actual amount of crimes Media focus primarily on violent crimes, even though such crimes forms only smart part of all criminal activity Appears as though police solve more crimes and arrest more cirminals than they do in reality The appeal of crime stories and crime news Crime related stories are often dramatic and lurid Deal with moral questions of good vs evil Criminals appear in stories as insane or dangerous psychopaths Stories happen in short time span- between newscasts or newspaper editions Easy for the public to understand Felsonââ¬â¢s 10 fallacies about crime Book 1. the dramatic Fallacy o keep ratings high, media seek strange/violent incidents to report/create dramas around murder makes up less than 1% of all crime, yet from watching TV or reading the papers, it seems like a commonplace events seems that most murders are well-planned, grisly affairs, or they happen solely by random chance in fact, most murders start as arguments that escalate into violence most crimes are relatively minor property crimes Actus Reus: a real event, in which somebody has committed or failed to commit an act b. Men Rea: criminal intent; you must have the intent to commit the act c. No legal defense or justification d. Must be contrary to a provision of criminal law Crime as normative violation pictures Mala in Se Mala in se: ââ¬Å"something bad or evil in itselfâ⬠Laws that criminalize acts most societies and cultures agree are inherently wrong, e. g. , murder and incest Mala Prohibita Mala prohibita: something that is deemed to be wrong or criminal only because it is prohibited Acts where there might be considerable disagreement from society to society re: their legality Concensus vs. conflicy * consensus| * conflict| * Society as a functional organism| * Society and social transformation rooted in social conflict| * Norms/expectations based on shared values/interests| * Society not organic or natural. But forced upon us| * Those who are different (e. g. ,criminals) are deemed to be abnormal| * Society/laws based on values and interests of those with the power|
Thursday, September 5, 2019
Safety of Miners in the Opal Fields
Safety of Miners in the Opal Fields Summary This essay focuses on safety of miners in the opal fields. It looks at the major potential hazards in the opal fields and ways to ensure safety from these hazards. These hazards include explosives, unstable ground, shafts, machinery and dust. The claim is only as safe as the miners who are working on it. If miners can not follow laws and preventions outlined then the claim will not be as safe as it could be. Introduction Opal mining is an exciting but potentially hazardous occupation. A responsible miner should be able to identify and minimise risks. Many people can come onto a claim such as noodlers, miners and tourists. The claim can either be current with people working or it could be old and abandoned. The condition that the claim is left in has a major impact on the safety of any person who walks onto the claim. Specific laws and regulations have been set down by the government, which must be abided by to ensure a minimum safety standard is set. The top five potential hazards are explosives, unstable ground, shafts, machinery and dust. Content Claim Preparation Many risks arise from previously worked areas. Old workings such as drill holes and backfilled or covered shafts, which could be covered by vegetation, are potential risks. Shaft positions should be approximated if mining nearby. As these old shafts can collapse, it is advisable to leave a safe distance between shafts. If work is to be commenced in old shafts a number of checks should be completed. Drives, pillars and levels poor ground should all be checked and noted. Notes may include workings on two levels with the lower level directly beneath the upper. Large un-pillared areas, thin crowned pillars and fretting or cracking of pillars. Lastly cracks in the wall and roof and pillar size should also be checked. Claim boundaries are also a key point to avoid breaking into other neighbouring shafts. Explosives Experience in using and handling explosives can often lead to complacency. Inexperienced people not only can be potentially dangerous to them but can also pose risks with miss fires, unstable walls and fly rock. Licences to purchase, transport, store, handle and use explosives must be acquired and kept up to date. This ensures a minimum standard of safety is achieved. Not only are licenses important to ensure safety but storage, transport and use of explosives can be more important. Ensuring that all explosive equipment is stored appropriately is a must. Explosives should be stored correctly in a cool, dry place with detonators stored separately from explosive material. Other storage measures which should be met is that the explosive boxes are wood lined and locked. The boxes must be wood lined to ensure no static build up occurs and creates a spark. The storage areas of diesel and Nitropril should be well separated to ensure if there is a spill that they do not mix. Many laws are already put in place for the way explosives are transported, prepared and blasted. These laws are put in place for a specific reason which is safety, any deviation from the processes set out could result in a potential injury. Explosive Fumes Various gases are generated due to blasting. Gases such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides along and other noxious gases pose a potential health hazard after a blast. The reason these gases are dangerous is because they displace the oxygen available for breathing. For this reason adequate ventilation is required to release these gases before entering the blasted area. When a blast occurs a blast radius should be put in place to ensure the safety of other miners. In underground mines there is no law but it is recommended that miners do not stay underground. Gases generated from the blast can disperse throughout other shafts and may also cumulate their if there is inadequate airflow, the blast may also cause sections of the roof to collapse. Gases which are dispersed throughout the mine can cumulate in low or high cavities depending on the gas. Carbon Dioxide is heavier than air and can cumulate in low spots and floor cavities. Carbon Monoxide is lighter than air and can cumulate in high spots and roof cavities. Areas of known for having inadequate airflow should be checked after blasting to ensure the gas levels are at a safe level. Fans, blowers and other ventilation systems should be used to extract the noxious gases from the mine. These should be used in preference to natural ventilation as they are much quicker. Unstable Structures The geological structures of opal fields vary. There are some structures which can support a wide underground area, yet others are blocky material with faults which makes mining difficult and not recommended. Opal mining in South Australia is quite difficult as the general bearing rock is weathered, brittle and fractured. Each place in SA is different due to the stress distributions and rock types. With all of these factors it is up to the miner to decide weather it is safe to start underground mining in that area. In certain geological structures cave-ins can occur. A survey of the underground mining area should be done, noting old workings. Whenever underground a miner has to be constantly aware of the conditions especially the roof stability. An unstable roof which could be due to hidden faults could result in a rockfall which could be fatal. Weather conditions can also affect the wall structure and integrity. Air entering the mine can dry out ground and open up cracks, slides or faults. This drying of material can cause slabs of ground to fall. If a large amount of water gets into the mine the supporting strength of walls and pillars may be reduced. Care should be taken to identify if and fretting has occurred at the base of structures. Any operating shaft should have the entrance to it kept in good condition. Loose rocks, material and tools should all be cleared from the entrance as these can easily be knocked into the shaft. The likes of wind, weathering or even a blast close by could cause material to fall. For all of these reasons outlined with falling objects it is essential to wear a hard hat at all times. All of these factors can potentially be fatal, but these factors are generally overlooked as miners often become complacent and do not check the stability and strength of walls and roofs very often. These checks should become essential to a miners daily routine. Shafts Shafts are the key entry point to the underground sections of the mine. Keeping the shaft in good condition is essential to safety. Support structures at the top of the shaft, such as timbers and pipes, should be kept in good condition. When entering any new shaft weather it is blind or dead it is essential to ventilate the shaft to clear away gases. Underground areas must have at least two means of exit. This is in case one exit gets blocked for some reason which could be due to a rock fall. Having two exits requires regular maintenance to ensure that both mechanisms, which are subjected to corrosion and weathering, are safe to use. There is a significant risk of people falling down an open shaft. Not only are tourists at risk but also the miners. Small shafts can catch a persons leg or ankle and cause injuries whereas larger shafts pose risks of vehicles and people falling in. It is recommended to leave a ring of dirt around the shaft entrance to signify that a shaft is there. When a miner leaves the claim, it is their responsibility to leave the shaft and its surroundings in a safe condition. Manner Machinery When operating any machinery either above or below ground a pre-start check should be completed. This is to ensure the machine you are about to operate is in a safe working condition. Items which should be checked are fluid levels, tyre inflation and condition, track tension, gauges, lights, hydraulic rams, lines and buckets, brakes and steering. Any diesel machinery in operation gives off carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and other noxious gases. These gases are similar to blasting gases and can be fatal if inhaled in large concentrations. When in large concentrations these gases can not be seen or smelt. Care should be taken when operating any machinery underground ensuring adequate ventilation. Dust A major hazard when working at a mine is dust. Dust can cause or trigger numerous health problems such as skin irritation, allergies and respiratory damage. Generally particles of dust are caught within the nose, throat and bronchial tubes. A small amount of these particles however get into the breathing system, due to their size and shape. It is these particles which cause the most respiratory problems. Dust particles which are of a particular concern are silica. Silica is found predominantly in sandstone host rocks. High exposure to small silica particles can potentially cause a fatal lung disease called silicosis. Although all dust can not be tested for silica it is essential to restrict dust exposure to a minimum. Ways to control dust include extractors, collection systems and maximum airflow. Wearing a respirator or a dusk mask at the absolute minimum will help prevent the amount of dust that a miner will inhale. Although it is essential that the correct respirator or dust mask is used, as each one is different, depending on what cartridge is installed in the device. Electrical Operating machines or tools underground will generally use electricity. It is important to remember that electricity seeks the path of least resistance to earth. Most cases the path of least resistance is the human body as it is 80% water. It is vital that the design and installation of any electrical supply is safe. The miner can not come into contact with any live electrical component. Personal protective equipment Personal protective equipment (PPE) will help in protecting a miner from potential hazards. PPE is not a replacement for getting rid of a specific problem. It would be preferable to fit an extraction system for dust rather than wearing a dust mask. A number of items should be worn when working in a mining area such as hard hats, footwear, breathing, hearing and eye protection. Hard hats can be uncomfortable, fall off and restrict clearance in small spaces, but these inconveniences save lives. Footwear suitable for miners are steel capped boots. They provide much more support for ankles and grip when walking on loose and rugged surfaces. The steel cap provides protection for your toes if something drops or falls onto your feet. Breathing protection general comes from dust masks either rubber of paper. Both are designed to sit on a clean shaven face. If the miner has a bear or stubble the effectiveness of these masks is reduced. Hearing protection generally comes in two forms which are ear plugs and ear muffs. Ear protection only cuts out part of the noise, usually around 20db(A). Since only part of the noise is cut out it is important to ensure that the miner realises that higher levels of ear protection is required when working next to excessively noisy machines such as jack hammers. In general eye protection should be worn at all times. There is a constant risk of particles of some nature being airborne and possibly entering the eye. Damage to the eye may be something small like a scratch to actually losing an eye. Discussion These rules and advised safety precautions to be taken are put in place for a reason. It is solely to help protect the individual from getting injured or killed. But miners in the opal fields generally have the shell be right attitude. A large amount of preventions can be put in place to help ensure safety but if the miner does not follow them these are next to useless. They may think only a short amount of exposure to dust is fine, but if they continue to have exposure to dust containing silica they could cause the onset of silicosis. Not only can you do internal damage through various noxious gases and dusts, but a lot of damage can be done to the body itself. Cuts, sprains and broken bones are a number of things which can occur depending on how safe, cautious and or ignorant the miner is. Conclusions The top five potential hazards in opal field mining are explosives, unstable ground, shafts, machinery and dust. All of these potential hazards have laws, regulations and precautions put in place to ensure a minimum standard of safety. This minimum standard of safety is only reached if the person who enters the claim follows the guidelines. The bottom line being that safety in the opal fields comes down to each individual that enters the claim. If the miner is ignorant, complacent or plain lazy the safety of not only themselves but for others working with them could be at risk. It is the miners responsibility to ensure that not only are they safe but also fellow co-workers.
Wednesday, September 4, 2019
Health Care Within the NHS Essay -- Health Care
ââ¬ËThere is a minimum level of care that every person with diabetes deserves and should expect from their health serviceââ¬â¢ (DiabetesUK, 2011) During her time of care, Mrs Kaur will be entitled to regular checks of her cholesterol, blood glucose and blood pressure. Also her weight, legs, feet, eyes and kidney function should be regularly monitored and help with accessing educational courses and specialist treatments that are available. Mrs Kaur should also be entitled to emotional support, advice on quitting smoking, psychological support and an individual care plan. Other services that should be made available to Mrs Kaur are free prescriptions, support in managing her condition, access to support groups and the ability to take part in diabetes events such as the ââ¬Ëliving with diabetes dayââ¬â¢ event. There are many risk factors for diabetes which include smoking, low HDL levels, high LDL levels, obesity, impaired glucose tolerance, impaired fasting glycaemia, severe mental health problems, high blood pressure, previous heart attacks or strokes and overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Other risk factors are close family members (parents or siblings) with the same condition, women that have had gestational diabetes and the damage of any blood cells of any major organs. The reasons behind Mrs Kaur being at risk are firstly, her high level of junk food intake, as this has caused low HDL levels which is mainly caused by smoking, being overweight, poor diets, high carbohydrate diets, lack of physical activity and uncontrolled diabetes; the level of junk food she consumes has also caused her to have problems with her gallbladder which is most likely to be linked to gallstones as it is the most common reason for problems in this... ...itionist is the consultant nutritionist who is usually in private practice working with patients on an individual level creating meal plans specifically for increasing the patientsââ¬â¢ health and losing weight. They also work with sportspeople creating specific meal plans for athletes. Lastly is the management nutritionists that largely work with schools to create healthy meal plans while being responsible for the ordering of all food supplies, keeping track of how all food is prepared and portion control for all meals supplied to students as well as this management nutritionists overseas all meal preparation in hospitals, schools, nursing homes and day care centres. Basically management nutritionists tend to work wherever there are big groups of people i.e. hospitals & nursing homes. Works Cited www.diabetesuk.org.uk www.prospects.ac.uk www.jobdescriptions.net
Tuesday, September 3, 2019
Raymond Carver (what We Talk About When We Talk About Love) Essay
Mel McGinnis of ââ¬Å"What We Talk About When We Talk About Loveâ⬠seems like that one guy that everyone seems to know. He stands out from others; heââ¬â¢s unique. You either love him or hate him. Mel is very much like one of my good friends. They are both very individualistic and hey are both annoying drunks. They are both interesting characters though. I think the author Raymond Carver created the character Mel based off someone he knew. Carver created Mel for one reason or another. à à à à à Mel is just like one of my good friends. One day I like him; the next day I hate him. People like this tend to get annoying to others around them. They are very argumentative. My friend will argue forever and Mel is the same way. Mel is touchy and does not seem to take a joke well. Despite these characteristics that frustrate most people; Mel stands out. He seems to be a leader. à à à à à Mel is very individualistic. He is a Cardiologist who is always busy. This job creates for good stories. Mel is telling stories throughout this whole story. He will start to tell a story, get sidetracked, argue all of his points, and then go on to the story again. He is constantly talking. It seems like there would not be much of a conversation between Mel, his wife Terri, Nick, and Nickââ¬â¢s wife Laura if it was not for Melââ¬â¢s constant babbling. He surely leads the group. The problem is that he never clearly express...
Monday, September 2, 2019
The Economic Future in the Year 2000 :: essays papers
The Economic Future in the Year 2000 The economy has performed exceptionally well for the past several years, combining rapid growth and very low unemployment with declining inflation. ââ¬Å"Not only has the expansion achieved record length, but it has done so with far stronger growth than expected,â⬠stated Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan in his remarks to the National Community Reinvestment Coalition annual conference in Washington (Business Week, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Economic Outlook, March 6,2000). Figures show that since 1996, the growth of GDP has averaged more than 4 percent, compared with an average of about 3 percent since 1973. Because of those four years of rapid growth, the unemployment rate has fallen to 4.1 percent, its lowest level since January 1970. Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation, excluding food and energy prices, had been vacillating at about 3 percent per year earlier in the decade but was roughly 2 percent over the past year (Bank of America, Economic in Brief, November 1, 1999). Much of the auspicious recent economic developments can be attributed to a surge in productivity growth. Alan Greenspan noted in his statement that output per hour in the non-financial corporate sector had increased since 1995 at nearly double the average pace of the preceding 25 years (First Union, Monthly Economic Outlook, March 7, 2000). This rapid productivity growth allowed the economy to grow at a faster pace without raising the rate of inflation. However, the growth of consumer demand is exceeding the increase of productivityââ¬âboosting employment, tightening labor markets, and raising concerns that recent growth rates may not be sustainable without sparking a rise in inflation. After spending the past several years, extolling the virtues of improved productivity in allowing higher growth with less inflation, the Federal Reserve Chairman, seemed to turn the tables in his Humphrey Hawkins testimony, stating that the spurt in productivity has produced expectation of hi gher profit growth, which, in turn, have resulted in higher equity valuations. That surge in equity prices is seen as the primary driver of the ââ¬Å"wealth effectâ⬠, which he believes has created an ââ¬Å"imbalanceâ⬠between demand and supply, raising inflation pressures (Business Week, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Economic Outlook, March 6,2000). Speculations of this occurrence may over the long term indicate that the higher the trend growth of productivity, the lower the inflation rateââ¬âdue to the restraint of labor costs.
Sunday, September 1, 2019
Barriers to Communication Essay
Organisational communication relates to the way organisations adapt themselves to changing environments, externally and internally. The focus is on interaction with stakeholders and within the organisation and with co-workers. In these interactions different perceptions (in meanings and interests) must be dealt with to create common ground. Barriers to communication refers to any kind or form of communication impediment within an organization such as noise, bureaucracy and semantic differences. The organisation that I used to work for is SIRDC and it is primarily involved in scientific research and innovation. It is located around 15kilometres away from town in the Hatcliffe Extension area. The barriers to communication in the organisation include the following: Semantic barriers Did you hear what I meant for you to hear? This has been a frequent statement in the boardrooms! With todayââ¬â¢s increasingly diverse workforce, it is easy to believe you have conveyed information to someone, but you are not aware that they interpreted you differently than you intended. Unfortunately, you wonââ¬â¢t be aware of this problem until a major problem or issue arises out of the confusion. This usually arises due to the interpretation of different words. Due to the diverse educational and cultural backgrounds [http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=backgrounds&%3Bv=56] in my organisation, semantics acts as a hindrance to effective communication as people [http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=people&%3Bv=56] would argue that we agreed to pursue another option in the last meeting when it was not the case. This is usually prevalent when the business [http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=business&%3Bv=56] people [http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=people&%3Bv=56] in the organisation are discussing issues with the scientists on the viability of their innovations. The organisation has chemists, engineers, marketing [http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=marketing&%3Bv=56] personnel, financial analysts, nutritionists, electricians, biotechnologists among manyà others. Bureaucracy When organizations are just getting started, their leaders can often prize themselves on not being burdened with what seems as bureaucratic overhead, that is, as extensive written policies and procedures. Writing [http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=Writing&%3Bv=56] something down can be seen as a sign of bureaucracy and to be avoided. As the organization grows, it needs more communications and feedback to remain healthy, but this communication is not valued. As a result, increasing confusion ensues ââ¬â unless management [http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=management&%3Bv=56] matures and realizes the need for increased, reliable communications. This was the case when the department that I was under was at its infancy level and this was done to have confidence of other institutes within the organisation, since our department was mainly support in nature. Organisational Structure However, at the organizational level, authority tends to be centralised at the top and this usually results in information taking too long to reach all the employees. The Director-General has the final say in the all the organizational decision making process. The Public relations department is responsible for all the organizational communication even on technical aspects unless the technical people [http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=people&%3Bv=56] are given the authority to talk to the media. Assumed Knowledge If I know it, then everyone must know it. Perhaps the most common communications problem is managementsââ¬â¢ (leadersââ¬â¢ and managersââ¬â¢) assumption that because they are aware of some piece of information, than everyone else is, too. Usually staff are not aware unless managementà [http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=management&%3Bv=56] makes a deliberate attempt to carefully convey information. This has been the case especially on the technical fields where the managers think that every employee is aware of the ââ¬Å"basicsâ⬠in the related field. Sometimes, employees will be scared to ask because the boss has already assumed that everyone knows the principles. The result is that the job [http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=job&%3Bv=56] is not done properly and incompetence is labeled to the subordinates. Information Ownership Some people [http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=people&%3Bv=56] within the organisation would not want to share information with others and this has been termed HITES ââ¬â Holding Information To Enhance Status. This is usually the case in fields such as information technology (IT) where a person is solely employed because of the knowledge of a particular program. If he is to teach others the he loses his expert power and negotiating power within the organisation. Such group of people [http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=people&%3Bv=56] can make the organisation be at ransom if their demands are not met. Ethnocentricity This is mainly to do with judging people [http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=people&%3Bv=56] according to oneââ¬â¢s culture and thinking. This is a result of diverse cultures and different levels of education [http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=education&%3Bv=56] within the organisation. ââ¬Å"Campsâ⬠within an organization Camps are usually created based on political persuasion, religious beliefs, as well as on tribal grounds. Since my organization is a parastatal and it is in the Presidentââ¬â¢s Officeà [http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=Office&%3Bv=56], it is expected that within the organization we should be pro-government. However, some people [http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=people&%3Bv=56] are known to support other parties, so communication tends to be hindered as one is not so sure how to respond to certain issues raised. Tribal issues tend to hinder communication in my organization as some people [http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=people&%3Bv=56] feel one tribe is getting the attention of the senior executive in the organization. This has been further worsened in the recruitment exercise for senior posts. Managers failure to recognize the efforts of subordinates If I need your opinion, I will tell it to you. Communications problems can arise when management [http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=management&%3Bv=56] simply sees no value whatsoever in communicating with subordinates, believing subordinates should shut up and do their jobs [http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=jobs&%3Bv=56] as assigned. This kind of attitude discourages the subordinates and might force them to just leave the mistakes that their superior has done which might be detrimental to the organizational objectives and goals. The attitude of ââ¬Å"I know everythingâ⬠has retarded the learning [http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=learning&%3Bv=56] process in the organization. Inexperienced managers are usually the culprits in this regard as they find no need to communicate with subordinates. So whatââ¬â¢s to talk about? Communications problems can arise when inexperienced management [http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=management&%3Bv=56] interprets its job [http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=job&%3Bv=56] to be solving problems and if they are no problems/crises, then there is nothing that needs to be communicated. Conclusion Effective internal communications start with effective skills in communications, including basic skills in listening, speaking, questioningà and sharing feedback These can developed with some concerted review and practice. Perhaps the most important outcome from these skills is conveying that you value hearing from others and their hearing from you. Sound meeting management [http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=management&%3Bv=56] skills go a long way toward ensuring effective communications, too. A key ingredient to developing effective communications in any organization is each person taking responsibility to assert when they donââ¬â¢t understand a communication or to suggest when and how someone could communicate more effectively.
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