Architecture of Olympiapark in Berlin - 1040 Words

Part 1: Description of This Building Olympiapark is a Postmodern collection of buildings located in Munich, Germany and was constructed for the 1972 Summer Olympics. Olympiapark consists of 4 main areas: Olympic area, village, media city, and park. The main focus of my paper is on Olympic Stadium which is pictured above. The design for Olympiapark was chosen through a national competition that was won by the German architect Gà ¼nter Behnisch’s design company Behnisch und Partner. The 1 square mile area where Olympiapark was built at that time was known as Oberwiesenfeld (‘upper meadow-field’). Oberwiesenfeld before that was a dumping area for World War II debris and a landing strip. The area was designed to ‘be green’ and to make use of†¦show more content†¦Only 30 years before Olympiapark was built Germany hosted the Olympics under Nazi control and the buildings were strong and almost ‘harsh’ portraying the Nazi people as a su perior and dominating group of people. â€Å"His idea was that the Park was to be a total contrast to the previous bombastic architecture of the 1936 Nazi Olympics, with modern buildings helping to create an atmosphere of egalitarianism and freedom† (Childs 2010). I agree with both commentaries on the Olympiapark. These buildings were not only beautiful in design but had a purpose and came to bring the German people up from a devastating war and reputation. I myself have family in Germany and this is one piece of architecture that is easily recognized by most Germans. It not only revolutionized architecture in Germany but revitalized the people of Germany. Part 4: Why This Building Appeals to Me I chose this building for multiple reasons, the most important being I really appreciate Gà ¼nter Behnisch’s work. His buildings, my favorite being the Bundehaus in Bonn, are simple but very symbolic. To him, a building is more than just material and a blue print. Olympiapark was a futuristic building that was built on the grounds where only years before, lay the infrastructure that was destroyed during World War II. Olympiapark was built to represent the German people as free-thinking and liberated from the axial and rigid structure of the

Affect of Fast Food Free Essays

string(29) " generations tend to prefer\." Primary Factors that Affect Choice of Fast Food PRIMARY FACTORS THAT AFFECT CHOICE OF FAST FOOD AMONG INDIVIDUALS OF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AND DIFFERENTIATIONS IN HEALTH PERSPECTIVES RELATED TO CONSUMPTION OF FAST FOOD ABSTRACT The objective of this research is to identify the impact that culture has on the consumption of fast food and to compare the difference in buying behavior in different countries. Finally, this work will investigate the major factors that affect customer’s choice in fast food and to understand the relationship between food consumptions and health. This study has made a qualitative examination of fast food consumption among individuals of various nationalities and ethnicities in various countries specifically as related to consumption of fast food through an extensive review of literature in a study reported in interpretive and descriptive findings. We will write a custom essay sample on Affect of Fast Food or any similar topic only for you Order Now Literature reviewed in this study is of an academic and peer-reviewed nature and published in journals, books, and professional literature and is of a recent nature. Globalization is greatly changing society and culture all around the globe in terms of consumer choices, lifestyle, individual preferences, socialization and custom and at the same time all of these factors are individualizing and changing specific aspects of marketing for fast food restaurants such as McDonald’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and others. In short, understanding factors affecting consumer choices regarding fast food is a complex focus of research because many diverse and various factors must be taken into consideration in terms of fast food and indeed the non-foodness’ (Kwan, 1999) this study has found that non-food related factors affecting consumer choice of fast food establishments on a local and international basis include factors such as: (1) individual choice; (2) religious; (3) group preferences; (4) health-related factors; (5) location and availability of restaurant choices; (6) costs; (7) socialization; (8) time available for eating; (9) with whom they are eating the food; (10) whether the individual is a student in a college or university within the proximity of a fast food restaurant. OBJECTIVE The objective of this research is to identify the impact that culture has on the consumption of fast food and to compare the difference in buying behavior in different countries. Finally, this work will investigate the major factors that affect customer’s choice in fast food and to understand the relationship between food consumptions and health. INTRODUCTION This study focuses on the factors that affect the choice of fast food by individuals in various countries throughout the world and specifically as related to buying behavior as related to consumptions of fast food and health perceptions among these individuals and different cultures. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY Many studies have cited health-related affects from fast food consumption therefore this study has sought to investigate the factors that affect the choice of fast food among different individuals in various countries throughout the world and the related health perceptions of these individuals as related to consumption of fast food. METHODOLOGY This study has made a qualitative examination of fast food consumption among individuals of various nationalities and ethnicities in various countries specifically as related to consumption of fast food through an extensive review of literature in a study reported in interpretive and descriptive findings. Literature reviewed in this study is of an academic and peer-reviewed nature and published in journals, books, and professional literature and is of a recent nature. INTRODUCTION Globalization is greatly changing society and culture all around the globe in terms of consumer choices, lifestyle, individual preferences, socialization and custom and at the same time all of these factors are individualizing and changing specific aspects of marketing for fast food restaurants such as McDonald’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and others. In short, understanding factors affecting consumer choices regarding fast food is a complex focus of research because many diverse and various factors must be taken into consideration in terms of fast food and indeed the non-foodness’ (Kwan, 1999) of fast food must be examined. ‘Non-foodness’ is a term coined in the work of Kwan (1999) which is a term used to refer to other reasons that fast food is chosen for consumption among consumers internationally. These factors will be specifically focused on in this study. RESEARCH QUESTIONS ) What different views are held among different cultures in countries throughout the world relating to consumption of fast food? 2) What are the health perspective differentials existing among individuals in various countries throughout the world related to fast food consumption? 3) What are the primary factors that affect the consumption of fast food by college-age students from various countries of the world? 4) Is consumption of fast food an addition to- or an extension of- cultural issues surrounding food consumption? 5) What non-food related factors affect consumer choice of fast food establishments internationally and locally? LITERATURE REVIEW The work of Jiang (2006) entitled: â€Å"American Fast Food in Chinese Culture† states that the research reported is of a study that examined the affects of American fast food culture on Chinese eating habits and the perceptions that the Chinese population have on their general health statuses and the effects of American fast food on Chinese health. Factors listed in this study for consumption of fast food included: (1) Convenience; (2) Speed; (3) Clean and quiet environment; (4) Children being the reason for visiting fast food establishments. Included in reasons for visiting fast food establishments by the Chinese individuals interviewed by Jiang were the reasons stated as: (1) Cleanliness; and 2) Preference for the food. In the country of China Jiang (2006) states that places: â€Å"†¦such as McDonald’s and KFC represent the attainment of the desired urban Chinese life. They are places where small companies started by recent college graduates hold office meeting s. They are popular dating spots among the young adults and quiet places to get away from the hustle and bustle of metropolitan life for the increasing population of white collar workers. The well lit, standardized and clean restaurants represent the antithesis of the traditional Chinese restaurant in which franchises are rare, busy meal time are always loud, and the older generations tend to prefer. You read "Affect of Fast Food" in category "Papers" (Jiang, 2006) Jiang relates that these fast food restaurants in China place an emphasis on the culture and social status which is reflected in â€Å"†¦the business strategies of the fast food companies in targeting the younger generation with weight loss salads, quiet environments and trendy music. † (2006) The younger generation in China have different values than do their parents â€Å"†¦the standards for social status have changed as well. Changing standards which American fast food among other companies have been catering to include the creation of â€Å"†¦non-smoking, clean, professional franchises that make the younger generation feel comfortable and upscale. At McDonald’s for example, they are treated in the same manner as a successful businessman thirty years their senior. At Starbucks, the standardized menu allows them to have their favorite drink made the same way no matter which franchise they visit. At KFC, one can sit down to study without being bombarded by loud yells from smoking middle-aged men talking business over beer. Whereas previous generations favored personal attention, the new generation now favors personal comfort. In order to be successful, consequently, new businesses have to target the intra-generational cultures. † (Jiang, 2006) The work of Wai Yin Kwan entitled: â€Å"American Fast Food in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China† (1999) relates some very interesting facts. Kwan (1999) conducted a survey among Texas students from Hong Kong, Taiwan and China. Findings of the survey include the following stated reasons why these individuals choose fast food: (1) Because it is â€Å"something new and different† – Kwan relates that â€Å"since hamburgers, pizzas, and french fries are not items found in the traditional Chinese diet, many first time customers went to the fast food places just to find out what the food and the entire fast food experience were like. † (1999) (2) American – Kwan relates that for some of these individuals the aspect of the individuals in this study because it provided them with a â€Å"change to participate in and associate themselves with the American culture. (1999) Kwan’s study revealed that because â€Å"people have differing conceptions of what America is, the exact aspects of American culture that the consumers found appealing also differ. For the younger generation the American fast foo d/tee-shirt and jeans culture represents a lack of formal rules, casualness, and youth. For young adults who are involved or wish to be involved in the business world, American fast food represents the modern, global culture. † (1999) (3) Something special – Kwan relates that in the advent of the fast food chains â€Å"†¦their prices were relatively high compared to lower end, traditional eating establishments. The high prices prevented most people from going there on a regular basis, and therefore fast food was seen a special treat. (1999) (4) Tourist destination – Kwan relates findings that since fast food places are generally concentrated in the large urban areas â€Å"†¦and have not yet reached rural towns, many rural tourists who visit large urban cities in China make a special trip to fast food places. Many tourists have their picture taken in front of the McDonald’s sign or with the Ronald McDonald statue outside the restaurant to docume nt their contact with an exotic culture. â€Å" (1999) (5) Location, location, location – Over a period-of-time, Kwan’s study notes that â€Å"†¦as the number of fast food outlets increased, the reasons why people go to fast food places changed. All the interviewees who have become accustomed to the presence of the fast food chains now cite the numerous locations as a major reason for going to fast food outlets. Some of the students said while they would never make a special trip to go to a fast food place, they sometimes ate fast food because they happened to walk by a fast food place when they were hungry. † (1999) Additionally, other than the number of fast food outlets, the locations were noted to play an integral role in the popularity of fast food among the students from Hong Kong, Taiwan and China as many of these outlets are located nearby schools and college campuses and students were stated to be prone to gather in these outlets in the late afternoon and early evening following classes. (6) The Toys! – McDonald’s was found to be popular among youth from Hong Kong, Taiwan and China because of the toys provided with the Happy Meal. Kwan states: â€Å"Recently the Happy Meal toys also attracted the attention of the adult market. The sales of Happy Meals at McDonald’s in Hong Kong jumped 80% in 1998 after the introduction of the Snoopy doll, and jumped 10% in 1999 after the introduction of the Hello Kitty doll This increase in sales was driven by both kids and adults who bought and then resold the dolls at twenty times the original price. † (1999) (7) Friendly staff – According to Kwan another reason cited for the popularity of fast food was the friendly staff and atmosphere. Findings of the survey relate that quality of service varies at other high-end expensive and traditional restaurants â€Å"while the quality of service at traditional places varies greatly depending on the personality of the waiter, the students said that the cashiers at the fast food places are always smiling and polite. † (1999) (8) Cleanliness – Kwan relates the fact that Taiwanese and Chinese students â€Å"†¦were also impressed by the cleanliness of the fast food places. One reason for the cleanliness is the fact that unlike traditional restaurants where the customers leave all the dishes on the tables when they leave, the customers at the fast food places throw their own trash away. The students were also impressed by the fact that employees were constantly sweeping the floors and cleaning the windows. † (1999) The students from Hong Kong however, â€Å"†¦didn’t express the view that the service and cleanliness of American fast food chains are superior to domestic eateries. † (1999) Kwan reports that in survey questions that focused entirely on fast food at McDonald’s the following findings were stated: (1) Friendly atmosphere – Kwan relates that the tops reasons for choosing McDonalds among the students from Taiwan and China included: (a) clean atmosphere; (b) friendly atmosphere. Secondary was the food itself. 2) Cheap prices – Kwan relates that unlike China and Taiwan â€Å"†¦where the prices at McDonald’s were higher than traditional food eateries, the prices at McDonald’s in Hong Kong are cheaper than most other eateries. The low prices were very attractive to the young students who had a limited supply of money. † (1999) Kwan relates that among the students he surveyed that â€Å"none of the students I interviewed expressed a strong negative view of the American fast food chains. Also stated in the findings of the study conducted by Kwan (1999) is: â€Å"While there is a bias against American fast food, especially among the older generation, the bias isn’t for reasons that American critics normally cite. Many of the students said that their parents never even wanted to try American fast food because of the fact that they didn’t consider it real food. In their opinion a real meal consists of rice or noodles, some meat and vegetables, not â€Å"two slices of bread, a small piece of meat and some ketchup. †(Kwan, 1999) The students from Taiwan, China and Hong Kong, held the view that the more choices available to them all the better and as well nearly all of the students held the belief that â€Å"†¦of the students also shared the common belief that the introduction of American fast food companies was not a threat to their culture, because they believe that the Chinese people are too proud of their food culture to ever let fast food replace traditional food. † (Kwan, 1999) This study reports that among those students who enjoyed eating fast food it was viewed as â€Å"†¦more as alternative to their daily diet, rather than being the main part of their diet. † (1999) Kwan relates that there was no expressed concern among Hong Kong and Taiwanese students â€Å"over the widespread presence of fast food back home, some of the students from China were bothered by the rapidly increasing presence of fast food in China. One student said while she readily accepts the presence of McDonald’s in the urban cities, she is less supportive of the idea of McDonald’s spreading into the rural areas. † (Kwan, 1999) Kwan humorously states: â€Å"Relax people, it’s just capitalism! (1999) It is reported that the students surveyed held a belief that the fast food corporations are just â€Å"corporate behavior as a natural part of doing business†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (1999) The students surveyed by Kwan did not have a negative image of America n fast food companies and some even held the belief that local food culture has been improved by the introduction of the fast food restaurants. The reason stated for this is: â€Å"Previous to the introduction of fast food, not much attention was paid to the service and cleanliness of inexpensive, small scale eateries; good service and a clean environment were high priorities only in expensive, high scale restaurants. The students, who are old enough to compare the conditions of local eateries before and after the introduction of fast food, said that some local restaurants are trying to improve their service and cleanliness in response to the competition from the American fast food industry. † (1999) The study conducted by Kwan also reveals the situation that occurred in Hong Kong: â€Å"In 1974 the founders of Cafe Coral changed the eatery from a traditional style restaurant, to a self-service system that combined Chinese style food with Western style concepts of mass production, quality, service, cleanliness, and value. By 1999 Cafe de Coral had 112 fast food outlets in Hong Kong, second only to McDonald’s 147 outlets. These domestic fast food companies have taken what they have learned from Western fast food companies and created viable alternative for local consumers who want both the service, cleanliness, and low prices associated with Western fast food and the taste of traditional Chinese food. † (Kwan, 1999) Kwan relates that the rapid spread of American fast food in China â€Å"†¦China should not simply be seen as one-way process of foreign business imposing their product on local consumers. Consumers have as much affect on the way the product is perceived and used, as the corporations that market the product. † (1999) Adjustments have been noted in the menu offerings by the fast food restaurants in order to adapt to the tastes of the locality which includes offering of the Teriyaki burger by McDonald’s and the offerings of a seafood Pizza by Pizza Hut topped with shrimp and squid. Students in numbers have made note of the fact that the Spicy Chicken Wings at Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) were greatly liked and Kwan states this is due to the fact that â€Å"Chinese people generally consider the wings, not the breast or the thigh, as the juiciest and best part of the chicken. † (1999) Another aspect of the attraction of fast food to consumers that differentiates American and Hong Kong customers is the time spent at a fast food establishment. American consumers are stated to spend, on the average, 11 minutes while the Hong Kong consumers reporting spending, on-the-average, 20-25 minutes at the fast food establishment. Kwan relates: â€Å"One student I interviewed said she and her friends would often go to McDonald’s for a â€Å"quick† thirty minute meal before going somewhere else such as the movies. While for Americans the idea of spending thirty minutes eating fast ood seems to contradict the purpose of going to a â€Å"fast† food pl ace, to Chinese consumers this behavior is quite normal. † (1999) Also stated among the findings of the study of Kwan is that the fast food establishment is a â€Å"place to hang out†¦a social gathering place for people, especially youths and college-age people. † (1999) The location of these establishments centrally located to schools, universities, and colleges and allowed those who frequented these fast food restaurants to hang out as long as they like, although the study reveals that other waiting customers did often apply pressure and hurry those with tables to eat and surrender the table and with other customers soon to follow to pressure those just having gained the table to give it up to them. Kwan specifically relates that one of the primary reasons for fast food restaurants becoming a chosen hangout is because â€Å"†¦there are no other food establishments that students and their friends could hang out. The owners of small, family-owned Chinese restaurants expect the customers to finish eating in a reasonable amount of time so that new customers can be seated. The fancier restaurants, that are more accommodating to people who stay for longer periods, are too expensive for most youths. â€Å" (1999) The social aspect of fast food restaurants reflects that status of eating in socialization among these students. Kwan relates findings that eating, among the students surveyed â€Å"was considered a social activity to be shared with others. All of the students said that they would usually or almost always go out to the fast food places with someone else. Some students even said that they would never go out to eat alone. For some students the primary purpose of going to the fast food places was to hang out, not to eat. A few of the students said that they went to the fast food places, even though they didn’t like the food, because their friends wanted to go. They would order a drink and maybe something small like fries or a dessert, and spend quite a while there just hanging out and talking with their friends. † (1999) Kwan notes the ‘Non-foodness of fast food† in that it has been assimilated into accepted local culture†¦Ã¢â‚¬  although this is certainly on a global scale, et this type of food is not viewed the same as traditional Chinese food in the Chinese culture. Chinese food is not only traditional in its content but in its cultural form as well the vast array of available dishes when eating in a Chinese restaurant is accompanied by a great and lengthy discussion as to the ‘quality’ of the food â€Å"†¦and urging others to eat more. † (Kwan, 1999) Furthermore, it is revealed in this study that Chinese fast food consumption is through â€Å"a simple routine of picking which number value meal they want. † (Kwan, 1999) One of the primary findings in this study is that â€Å"many people don’t expect to get full from fast food. Kwan states that students related: â€Å"†¦they would feel ripped off if they went to a traditional place and didn’t get full, the fact that they didn’t get full from McDonald’s never bothered them. A few of the students even commented on the fact that two or three hours after eating fast food, they would get hungry again. If they had eaten a real meal, meaning rice, meat, and vegetables, then they would be full for the rest of the night. † (1999) Kwan’s study notes that the reactions of the overseas students to fast food in America includes the findings that to these students interviewed from China, Taiwan and Hong Kong: â€Å"Chinese made American fast-food tastes better† accredited to the spices in China which are put in the burgers make them taste better than in America. Chinese students state that pizza is even better in China and stated in the survey: â€Å"Many of the overseas students said that they were disappointed the first time they ate pizza here in America because they were used to eating pizzas with five or six toppings back home. They thought it was a rip off that the pizzas in the U. S. usually only come with one topping. † (Kwan, 1999) Among the students interviewed Kwan states findings that â€Å"the ubiquitous nature of fast food is also another reason for their decreased interest in fast food. Since the allure of eating something â€Å"different†, something â€Å"American† is gone, the only reason left to go to the fast food places is the food itself. For most of the students I interviewed, the food just isn’t enough of a reason to go to the fast food places. † (1999) Kwan concludes the study by stating: â€Å"The reasons consumers in China, McDonald’s and Hong Kong go to fast food places is much more complex than the fact that â€Å"Chinese consumers are obsessed with all things American. † Their reasons for going to fast food places range from characteristics shared by consumers throughout the world, such as convenience, location and hunger, to reasons that based on specific cultural values, such as the view that eating is a social activity. Ironically the food itself only plays minor role in the popularity of fast food. The emphasis on going to a fast food place as a social activity, rather than a eating activity, offers a definition of the term â€Å"fast food† that is vastly different from the one created by the business executives. † (1999) The work entitled: â€Å"Fast Food: Faster Way to Ill Health† published in ‘The Hindu’ relates that while country has â€Å"the largest epidemic, in any nation, of malnourished people†¦Ã¢â‚¬  as well India â€Å"will soon be the largest epidemic of any national, of obese and diabetic people who will be prone to trouble with their kidneys, eyes, nervous systems, or other parts of the body. † (Balasubramanian, 2008) This is attributed to policies, or actually a lack of policies â€Å"of successive governments, central and state†¦Ã¢â‚¬  ((Balasubramanian, 2008) This report relates that fast food or ‘junk food in India’ â€Å"does not come any faster than the traditional idli, vada, dosa, samosa, pakoda or chat in our shops and stalls; indeed it comes slower. † (Balasubramanian, 2008) The report relates a typical scene in India stating: â€Å"One report says that over 23 per cent of the children in Delhi are obese. One hopes that this estimate is not true; if it is, one shudders to think of the numbers in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, Kolkata, Gurgaon and other nouveau riche cities with their fast pervading mall culture and fast food attractions. Here is a typical scene from one such mall in Hyderabad. It has a 4-movie multiplex theatre, surrounded by 40-odd fast food kiosks and 20-odd shops that sell clothing, perfumes and jewelry, music and video CDs and DVDs and the like. Not one of them sells traditional Indian meals or snacks. And the mall, like 20 others in the city, is filled with thousands of youngsters who obviously have enough to spend. We did not have such scenes in India twenty years ago, but this mall and fast food culture is expanding explosively across India. This too is part of the globalization of India, a part that auses great concern about the health of its citizens. † (Balasubramanian, 2008) Balasubramanian reports a research conducted by the research firm ‘S ynovate’ recently among thirteen countries on â€Å"food habits and health, particularly fast food culture and obesity. † (2008) Findings in the study reported by Balasubramanian (2008) state the â€Å"†¦the number one fast food nation in the world is the United Kingdom. About 45 per cent of the people there are fast food eaters, and say â€Å"I like the taste of fast food too much to give it up. † (Balasubramanian, 2008) Following a close second are Americans at 44% and Canadians in very close behind in third place consumption of fast food and 37%. Very different findings are stated for the French who reject fast food at a rate of 81% and Singaporeans who reject fast food at a rate of 71%. Balasubramanian notes that while â€Å"†¦these two countries too are globalized, developed nations, and yet their people reject fast food. † (Balasubramanian, 2008) Balasubramanian states that a paradox exists among the French in that there are so very few incidences of metabolic type disorders and diseases. This could well be the fact that only 30% of those in France are overweight while â€Å"less than 24 percent in Singapore†¦Ã¢â‚¬  are overweight. Those overweight in China are at approximately 18% and 15% of individuals were obese in India until 1980 when that rate climbed rapidly to 27%. Balasubramanian makes a comparison of fast food and traditional food in India and states: â€Å"A hamburger with toppings yields 300 calories (cal) and 10 grams (g) total fat. A slice of pepperoni pizza has 180 cal and 7 g fat. A 12-oz (340 ml) can of Coca Cola yields 155 cal, and a small portion of McDonald’s French fries has 210 cal, and as much as 15g total fat (and the bad ones, the trans fats, form 4g of this amount). More often than not, these are eaten as snacks and not as meals, and thus add to the calorie and fat content- contributing to obesity and associated ill health. † (2008) Balasubramanian states that in comparison to Indian snacks nd ‘tiffin’ that these â€Å"†¦one midsize idli offers 70 cal and 0. grams fat, a sada dosa 140 cal and 5 grams fat (hence a set dosa or steamed dosa is better), and a samosa packs 370 cal and 18 grams fat (matching a pizza slice or a plate of fries). A glass of lassi (200 g) gives you 140 cal and 2 grams fa t (only if it is not ‘malai dal ke’). In the list of fattening dishes of India, korma and biryani stand on top, while ‘tikka’ items cooked in dry oven are low fat. This comparison is not to say: â€Å"avoid burger and fries, and eat only idli vada,† but to request to use moderation and caution. † (Balasubramanian, 2008) In another report from the University of Austin Texas entitled: â€Å"Research Examines the Incorporation of Fast Food Culture† it is related that although McDonald’s the work of Dr. John Traphagan and Dr. L. Keith Brown which is published in the Journal of Ethnology (2002) which relates that fast food is among many and â€Å"†¦often is disparaged as imposing American culture upon unsuspecting global consumers, a new study shows that in Japan fast food restaurants may have positive cultural effects. † (2002) This study â€Å"†¦highlights examples of how McDonald’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken and other Westernized fast food restaurants provide an opportunity for Japanese families to interact with a sense of intimacy and conviviality that is not seen in more traditional Japanese fast food establishments. † (Traphagan, 2002) T Traphagan states in the findings of the study: â€Å"We became interested in fast food in Japan as a result of casual observations of people in restaurants. It seemed to us that the patterns of eating and interaction were different from what is often reported in the media and in various scholarship in relation to the role of McDonald’s and other fast food venues in modern societies. We also were interested, in this age of globalization, in how the products of multinational corporations such as McDonald’s fit into other, non-American cultures,† he said. â€Å"We were interested in how such global, or American, products are perceived in other cultures, how those products are consumed and used in other cultures, how they are adjusted or changed to fit with the local culture and what effect such things have on other cultures. † (2002) Through observation of the behavior of those eating in fast food restaurants the researchers were able to note differential eating patterns between Japanese and American consumers including findings of the sharing of food among co-workers, friends, and members of family. Traphagan states: â€Å"It is very common for Japanese to have plates of common food in the center of the table, from which they take small portions. Intimacy is sometimes evident by the manner in which people use their chopsticks. If they turn the chopsticks around and take the food from the common plate with the back ends of the chopsticks, this indicates a degree of social distance. One would not do this with family members. The tendency of having common food in the center of the table holds in restaurants like McDonald’s, where people usually dump all of the french fries onto a common tray in the center of the table and then draw from them as desired. † (2002) Fast food was also found in the study conducted by Traphagan to be differentiated in Japan from fast food in the United States in that Japanese fast food â€Å"†¦involves a range of options wider than the burgers and fries or fried chicken that typifies the American example, ramen, yakitori and sushi can all be fast food. In some ways, many aspects of Japanese cuisine are fast food in that they can be prepared, kept and eaten quickly — although by no means do Japanese always eat quickly. (2002) It is important to note the findings stated by Traphagan that the Japanese â€Å"†¦view foods like hamburgers and fries as snacks, rather than as a full meal. The lack of rice puts these foods into a somewhat different catego ry from that typical in the U. S. † (Traphagan, 2002) Traphagan states findings that certain customs of the Japanese were â€Å"†¦sustained in fast food restaurants. One is that a woman in the group — the wife, mother or girlfriend — will go to the counter to place the order and pay, while the rest of the family is seated. In a society where family dinners are rare, the researchers found this time was used by the father to interact with his children, making a trip to McDonald’s an important family outing. † (Traphagan, 2000) The work of Douglas Kellner entitled: â€Å"Theorizing/Resisting McDonaldization: A Multiperspectivist Approach† (nd) states that no doubt exists that â€Å"McDonaldization is spreading as an international phenomenon. † This work states that in 1996 the Economists made note of the fact that McDonalds reported the intention to open approximately 32,000 new restaurants and that two-thirds of these would be located outside of the United States. It is stated that the analysis conducted by Ritzer while acknowledged McDonalds in terms of its ‘product, architecture, and atmosphere to local conditions†¦Ã¢â‚¬  fails to analyze the â€Å"meanings, social functions, and experiences†¦Ã¢â‚¬  that are experienced by customers as McDonald’s â€Å"generates a variety of local conditions. † (nd) It is noted that McDonald’s, just as any global artifact â€Å".. as very different meanings and functions in different regions and parts of the world, a nd a concrete analysis should interrogate local conditions in which consumers provide their own narratives of their site-specific and particular experiences to capture the variety and diversity of meanings of the McDonald’s effect. † (nd) Kellner states that he would argue for what I call a multiperspectivist social theory (Best and Kellner 1991 and 1997; Kellner 1995) to engage the phenomenon of McDonaldization and to provide a more contextual and multidimensional paradigm for analyzing the multiplicity of economic, socio-political, and cultural aspects of McDonaldization. This requires mobilizing the resources of both modern and postmodern theory, using both Marx and Weber, and Baudrillard and postmodern theory, as well as the resources of cultural studies and a critical multiculturalism, to theorize the full-range of the phenomenon of the global hybridization of McDonaldization, its cultural and ideological construction, and its complex effects. McDonaldization is a many-sided phenomenon and the more perspectives that one can bring to its analysis and critique, the better grasp of the phenomenon one will have and the better one will be able to develop alternative readings and generate oppositional practices. † (nd) The work of Jack Marr and Alcinda Hatfield entitled: â€Å"Fast-Food Restaurants: Just What Eastern China’s Consumers Ordered† states that the growth of fast food restaurants in the country of China has â€Å"mushroomed† in both ‘number and diversity’. Specifically stated is that â€Å"as recently as 1993, Chinese consumers had few fast-food choices. Restaurant food was limited to five-star hotels, traditional Chinese restaurants and street-side wonton, pulled noodle and tea-egg vendors. † (2004) The favorite fast food in the country of China is Kentucky Fried Chicken who has combined a popular mid-priced menu, featuring fried chicken, some of which is adapted to local tastes. Its modern atmosphere and marketing target Chinese children. (Marr and Hatfield, 2004) The primary competitor of Kentucky Fried Chicken in China is McDonalds with â€Å"sixteen of its current 120 restaurants in China are located in Shanghai. † (Marr and Hatfield, 2004) The work of Shiva Dindyal and Sanjay Dindyal entitled: â€Å"How Personal Factors, Including Culture and Ethnicity, Affect the Choices and Selection of Food We Make† published in the Internet Journal of Third World Medicine relates that the major cities in the world â€Å"are made up of diverse societies, consisting of a wide range of individuals from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Ethnicity refers to a social group, which shares certain distinctive features, such as language, culture physical appearance, religion, values and customs. Culture on the other hand refers to how we do and view things in our group. For example a shared set of values, assumptions, perceptions and conventions based on a shared history and language can make a certain group. In order for a society to function efficiently and smoothly these individuals must learn to integrate and coexist together. This will involve among other things, accepting and sampling different types of foods and even adjusting their diets. † (Dindyal and Dindyal, 2008) Dindyal and Dindyal relate that consumption of specific foods may be encouraged or discouraged among groups as well as the consumption of specific foods during certain life stages and under certain conditions. Religion is also stated to play a great role in food choice, selection and consumption in certain societies and cultures. Another personal factor affecting food choice and selection is â€Å"patterns of eating, which include for whom the food is being made. † (2008) Stated as an example is that in traditional eastern cultures â€Å"food tend to be prepared for a large number of people at regular times of the day. The opposite is true in western cultures, where food prepared less frequently during the day and often the same mea is eaten more than once during the day. † (Dindyal and Dindyal, 2008) Another personal factor affecting choice of foods is the individuals’ occupation which is a factor stated to â€Å"†¦directly influence the people’s social class. (Dindyal and Dindyal, 2008) Another factor is the â€Å"mood and individual personality† of the individual† as well as â€Å"geographical factors such as where people live and the rang e of shops situated near them†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Dindyal and Dindyal, 2008) A recent survey conducted among 975 girls and 13 boys relating to fast food reports that when asked â€Å"Do you enjoy eating fast food? † respondents replied as shown in the following chart. Figure 1 Do you enjoy eating fast food? [pic] Source: (Report on would you Like Fries with that? – Latest Survey Results, nd) When asked â€Å"How often to you eat fast food? † respondents in this survey revealed that they eat fast food between one and three times each week while the second largest group replied that they eat fast food between two and three times each month as shown in the following chart. Figure 2 How often do you eat fast food? [pic] Source: (Report on would you Like Fries with that? – Latest Survey Results, nd) When respondents were asked the question of: â€Å"If you don’t eat fast food, why? † respondents were asked to reply by stating: (1) I don’t like it; (2) My family never goes out to eat; (3) There are no fast food restaurants near my house; (4) It is unhealthy; (5) I eat fast food so this question does not apply to me; (6) I am a vegetarian/vegan; (7) It costs too much; or (8) other, the respondents stated as shown in the following chart. Figure 3 If you don’t eat fast food, why? |whynoeat | |dntlike |41 |5. 05 | famnoeat |51 |6. 28 | |noffrest |13 |1. 6 | |unhealth |126 |15. 52 | |eatff |550 |67. 73 | |Vegetarian |17 |2. 09 | |toomuch$ |6 |0. 74 | |other |8 |0. 99 | Source: (Report on would you Like Fries with that? – Latest Survey Results, nd) When respondents in the survey were polled in relation to what their favorite typ e of fast food was choices provided included burgers, pizza, Chinese food, chicken, tacos, salad, soup, breakfast, hotdogs, chicken, fish and chips, nachos, french fries, subway, pasta, sweets, and none. The respondents stated preferences for fast food type as shown in the following chart. Figure 4 What is your favorite type of fast food? [pic] Source: (Report on would you Like Fries with that? – Latest Survey Results, nd) When respondents were asked if they had a favorite fast food restaurant among the choices of McDonald’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, Wendy’s, KFC, Jack in the Box, Arby’s, Jollibee, Subway, Pizza Hut, In and Out, Panda express, Long John Silvers, Tim Hortons, Dairy Queen, Checkers, or some random fast food place the replies stated were those as follows with McDonalds in the lead: Figure 5 Do you have a favorite restaurant? [pic] Source: (Report on would you Like Fries with that? – Latest Survey Results, nd) When respondents in the survey were polled as to whom they usually went to fast food restaurants with the choices stated as parents/family, brother/sisters, friend, by myself, coach/team, grndrent, don’t eat, boyfriend/girlfriend, coworkers, or other, the replies given by respondents are shown in the following table. Figure 6 Who do you usually go to fast food with? Count Percent |whoeat | | | | parents/fam |526 |54. 73 | |brosis |63 |6. 56 | |friends |272 |28. 3 | bymylf |14 |1. 46 | |coach/team |1 |0. 1 | |grndrent |20 |2. 08 | |donteat |48 |4. 99 | |bf/gf |7 |0. 73 | |coworkers |5 |0. 52 | |other |5 |0. 52 | Source: (Report on would you Like Fries with that? – Latest Survey Results, nd) When respondents were asked â€Å"What do you enjoy most about fast food? † respondents stated the tastes as being the number one enjoyment with the second and third most stated reply being t he ‘fast’ and ‘cheap’ nature of the fast food as what is most enjoyed about fast food. All results are shown in the following chart. Figure 7 What do you enjoy most about fast food? [pic] Source: (Report on would you Like Fries with that? – Latest Survey Results, nd) When respondents were polled concerning what they liked the ‘least’ about fast food, respondents replied as shown in the following chart. Figure 8 What do you like the least about fast food? [pic] Source: (Report on would you Like Fries with that? – Latest Survey Results, nd) When respondents were polled as to their perceptions of fast food in terms of health the respondents gave the following replied stated in percentages concerning their view of fast food was that is it ‘unhealthy’. Only 104 disagreed with this statement and only 12 strongly disagreed. The overwhelming majority of respondents stated an agreement that fast food is not healthy. Figure 9 Fast Food is Unhealthy [pic] Source: (Report on would you Like Fries with that? – Latest Survey Results, nd) When respondents were asked â€Å"If you eat at a fast food restaurant, what is your main reason? † respondents stated reasons as shown in the following chart with liking the tastes of fast food and because their parents eat fast food as primary reasons for eating at fast food restaurants. Figure 10 If you eat at a fast food restaurant, what is your main reason? [pic] Source: (Report on would you Like Fries with that? Latest Survey Results, nd) Finally, this study asked respondents in this study the question of whether: ‘If you were forced to choose between cooking at home or eating fast food for the rest of your life, which would you choose? † Respondents overwhelmingly stated that they would choose to cook the rest of their life if forced to make a choice at the rate of approximately 82%. The study of Marsh, Fanning and Stiegert (2003) entitled: â€Å"Socioeconomic Determinants of Fast Food Consumption† states that: â€Å"Fast food consumption has increased dramatically over the past three decades in U. S. , accounting for nearly 35. 5% of total away-from-home expenditures in 1999. It is interesting to note the findings of this study which states: â€Å"Lin, Lucier, Allhouse, and Kantor examined the influence of fast food growth on frozen potato consumption. They report that on any given day that 13% of consumers eat french fries with fast food establishments accounting for 67% of the french fry market. They also report that french fry consumption varies by age, region, urbanization, race, and ethnicity, but independent of income. † (Marsh, Fanning and Steigert, 2003) Also stated in the findings of this study is: â€Å"Important regional and socio-demographic factors emerged. Consumers in the South and Midwest were most likely to consume fast food. In terms of gender, males were more likely to consume fast food than were females. Individuals were more likely to consume fast food until they reached 20-30 years of age at which point the likelihood that they consume fast food decreases throughout their life. Larger households (especially those with more than four persons) were less likely to consume fast food. Although the impact of income on the likelihood of consuming fast food was statistically significant, it was very inelastic. The likelihood of consuming fast food was much more sensitive to age relative to household size and least sensitive to income. † (Marsh, Fanning and Steigert, 2003) SUMMARY OF THE LITERATURE REVIEWED The findings of the present study acknowledge first that fast food consumption is global in nature stretching from India, to China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, to the United States, fast food and fast food restaurants are relevant to a great majority of the world’s consumers. This study has found that fast food restaurants located near schools, colleges, and universities, are frequented regularly by students and that places such as McDonald’s represent more than food consumption because these places are also places of socialization for college students and other young people where these individuals study and ‘hang-out’ with their peers. The largest majority of individuals who eat fast food have been found in this study to e completely aware that fast food is unhealthy however, this study has found that fast food is not considered by most individuals to be ‘real food’ and that fast food such as McDonalds is acknowledge as less nutritional, les s healthy and less filling than what is considered to constitute ‘real food’ cooked at home. FINDINGS OF THE STUDY This study has posed the questions of: (1)What different views are held among different cultures in countries throughout the world relating to consumption of fast food? ; (2) What are the health perspective differentials existing among individuals in various countries throughout the world related to fast food consumption? (3) What are the primary factors that affect the consumption of fast food by college-age students from various countries of the world? ; (4) Is consumption of fast food an addition to- or an extension of- cultural issues surrounding food consumption? ; and (5) What non-food related factors affect consumer choice of fast food establishments internationally and locally? This study has found that consumption of fast food is viewed pretty much the same across cultures, race, and ethnicity in various countries as most individuals acknowledge fa st food to be generally snack type food and not really to be considered a meal such as ‘real food’ cooked at home. Fast food, when contrasted to real cooked food would be cast aside if individuals had to make a life-choice of the type of food they preferred to consume. This study has also found that the largest majority of those who eat fast food acknowledge that fast food is unhealthy to consume on a regular basis. The primary factors influencing college-age students in their consumption of fast food are factors of socialization and availability of fast food restaurants near schools, universities and campuses. Fast food consumption has been found by this study to be both in addition to as well as an extension of cultural issues and customs surrounding food consumption. Finally, this study has found that non-food related factors affecting consumer choice of fast food establishments on a local and international basis include factors such as: (1) individual choice; (2) religious; (3) group preferences; (4) health-related factors; (5) location and availability of restaurant choices; (6) costs; (7) socialization; (8) time available for eating; (9) with whom they are eating the food; (10) whether the individual is a student in a college or university within the proximity of a fast food restaurant. CONCLUSIONS Having reviewed an extensive amount of literature in the subject area of factors affecting consumers in the consumption of fast food this study concludes that the factors that affect fast food consumption among consumers are great in number in all countries in which fast food in consumed. Non-food related factors are just as great in the influence of fast food consumption as are food-related matters such as taste and nutritional value of the food be ing consumed. However, traditional restaurant dining is greatly preferred among older consumers and among more discerning younger consumers although this does not greatly impact younger consumers in terms of reducing their consumption of fast food or increasing their consumption of more traditional restaurant dining food items. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH Future research will likely undertake studies of a longitudinal nature relating to factors affecting food consumption differences among different nationalities and ethnicities and as well will focus specifically on tracking the consumer patterns of individuals that follow those individuals over many years and life health-related transitions in gaining a complete understanding of the primary health-related factors that affect fast food consumption patterns among individuals of different nationalities and ethnicities. How to cite Affect of Fast Food, Papers

Annotated Bibliography & Article Comparison-Sample for Students

Question: Compare the two articles. You should Compare and Contrast various ideas expressed in the articles and evaluate which article is more relevant or helpful to understanding the essay topic and why. Answer: Critical reading, critical thinking: Delicate scaffolding in English for Academic Purposes (EAP) - ScienceDirect. (2017).Sciencedirect.com. Retrieved 16 August 2017, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1871187116301365 According to the article, Critical thinking includes evaluation of factual evidence or skeptic, rational and unbiased analysis of evidence. In the current generation, the ability to critically analyzing an argument is uttermost important. To dissect thesis and reasons, structure and components is very important. The ability to be malleable and considering both traditional and non-traditional perspectives and alternatives is the path allowing critical thinking. According to the article one needs to become disciplined, directed, corrective thinker and monitored, giving assent to volatile standard. Raising Vital Problems and Questions and Formulating them Precisely and Clearly such as Students should understand thoroughly the requirement of the subject, how the subject will be taught and the role he/she have to play in the class. Student should ask about marking policies and should seek advice about what and how to prepare themselves for class. Assess and Gather Information, Interpret I nformation for that student should aim to be active learner, innovate new ideas and gather knowledge to implement it into thinking through active writing, examining, listening and interacting. Come to Reasoned about Solutions and Conclusions, Test Them against Relevant Standard and Criteria in order to do that students should look for connection and correlation, avoid learning like a parrot; instead, the approach should be like a detective operating implication into new learning with old. Adopt Point Of View Of The Discipline then Recognize and Assess it so that student think themselves as one of the team member, practicing thinking elucidated by the instructors. Bahr, N. 2017.International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.Digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu. Retrieved 16 August 2017, from https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1229context=ij-sotl According to Bahr Occurrence of thought in human being comes from within and across, domains and disciplines of experience and knowledge, though only few students can cultivate the art of critical thinking. Probing mind, can master variety forms of education and questions, by self commanding tools about learning and intellectual dedication. Communicate Effectively with Others by routinely asking question, discussing matter and rationally think about the topic alone with fellow students, it will give birth to new points of discussion and constructive criticism. Relate Learning in a subject to an Extent it resembles Significance in Life for that student should try to figure content relation at any time possible just to understand problems, issues in rational situations in day-to-day lives. Student if find it hard to connect it with life, than he/she do not know it. To conclude both the journal says to give the students complex material or to give students contrary information so that it will indulge them to think it through, to make their way (McPeck, 2016).It is important for the student to analyze the given situation on basis of their intellectual abilities. It will create the room for discussion, constructive criticism, new ideology and unique perspective to work upon. It will build character and create openness to rejection, it will make students evaluate things both logically and reasonably, which is important in students viewpoint for their overall thinking critically ability. The Science direct article however has an elaborate discussion on the implementation of different ways of critical thinking in the education system (Moore, 2013). It also has an elongated overview about how High School students need to mould critical thinking in their approach to learning. However according to Bahrs article human mind plays a vital role in critical communication, the implementation and the reasoning of human brain. However, both the article begs to differ on the approach one should accumulate, but the zest on the overall understanding and learning remains same (Halpern, 2014). Both the journal says teaching of thinking critically is very important because it define the state of the nation. In democracy, to live soundly citizen should critically think to make well and profound decisions for civic, professional, and personal affairs. Students caliber of critically thinking over an issue, shows that they are matured enough to use strategic thinking as a way to live life reasonably and prolifically (Jackson, 2015) References Bahr, N. (2017).International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.Digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu. Retrieved 16 August 2017, from https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1229context=ij-sotl Critical reading, critical thinking: Delicate scaffolding in English for Academic Purposes (EAP) - ScienceDirect. (2017).Sciencedirect.com. Retrieved 16 August 2017, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1871187116301365 Halpern, D. F. (2014).Critical thinking across the curriculum: A brief edition of thought knowledge. Routledge. Jackson, S. L. (2015).Research methods and statistics: A critical thinking approach. Cengage Learning. McPeck, J. E. (2016).Critical thinking and education. Routledge. Moore, T. (2013). Critical thinking: Seven definitions in search of a concept.Studies in Higher Education,38(4), 506-522.

The use and Value of a Data Research an Example of the Topic Psychology Essays by

The use and Value of a Data Research Introduction. Many areas in business nowadays need a lot of research to be carried out by both the parties involved and the well wishers. In the modern world, there is a lot of competition in the business industry and the only way to keep abreast with the competition is by investing in the research sector. There are many research centers but they do not focus mainly on business. They deal with other aspects of life rather than business. Need essay sample on "The use and Value of a Data Research" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed The paper shall focus on the need to establish a data research center and also the value that it will add to the market. The research center will deal with writing up of business proposals for the existing and upcoming business people, it will focus on research designing, data collection, data analysis and also report writing among other customized requests from the customers. Many businesses have continually performed terribly and below standards due to lack of innovations and research driven ideas. Those that have deployed this mode of approach can attest to it that it is really working and it has helped the businesses achieve their short and long term objectives and goals. This research paper shall address the values and the uses that accompany a good data research center. It shall go ahead to define the problem in question and give relevant implications and conclusions as appertains to the research. Aims and Objectives of the Research In this section of the research proposal, the paper discusses the problem and the question at hand. Data centers have been viewed as vital revolutionary tools in the business industry. It is therefore the aim of this proposal to expound and shade light on the same. The values and uses of the data research centers shall be discussed at length with the objective of improving the business environment both locally and internationally. In addition, the role of data centers shall be outlined keeping in mind that businesses need to go in this direction of doing business. Today, many businesses are being encouraged to adopt this type of approach and effect it if they have to realise any substantial gains in terms of business competition and growth. The other objective of the research proposal is to enlighten the public and all stakeholders on the importance of data research centers and encourage them to respond positively to the idea (Thompsen, 2003). There has been a lot of speculations in the media and among the public that research centers are just focused on money making and that they have forgotten the main reason as to why they are in business. The aim of the research data centers is to carry out various researches and brief the business community on the findings and also advice them accordingly. By demystifying these speculations and allegations, there is likely to be positive response from the public. Scope and Limitation. This research proposal shall be limited to the business industry. It will also be limited to the use and the value of the data research centers as this is where the real problem lies. It is important though to note that many types of businesses shall be put into consideration and not just a specific type of business. The research shall extend its recommendations to the health and also the eduction sector. It shall not go beyond the set aims and objectives and will stick to the introduction title in order to address the issues contained therein. Literature Review. This section shall focus on the type of literature used in the research proposal keeping an eye on the works that have been done by different people relating to the topic of research. It is important to relate to the works that have been done by different researchers so that the ideas can be used to expound on this research. The context of the research, the background information on the research as well as the benchwork studies on the research shall be looked at critically. Recent studies on the same research including limitations of the research, gaps in the research and criticisms shall also be incorporated in this section of the research. Value Line Researching center (VLRS), is an independent international company that deals with research world wide (Thompson, 2003). It does data collection and analysis especially of the stock exchange of New York (NY) and that of the American stock exchange (ASE) and also that of various securities in the world. The idea was borne from the fact that there had been a problem initially relating to the way data analysis was being done in some of the big stock exchange traders in the world. The company collects and analyses the data after which the various traders are informed of how the companies are doing. The information is always presented in form of supplementary reports, the opinion of the company, reports that show the ratings of the stock exchange companies, various indexes and ratings plus the companies' updated news not excluding charts that give an overview of how the companies are performing. A research was done by an American researcher by the name Sigmond Johnson on the us e and value of the data research centers in the U.S. He focused on the importance of the data research centers in the business community and other organisations at large. Various businesses ended up adopting the model and the recommendations that he suggested concerning the importance of research in business. Those businesses that adopted his recommendations benefited in the following ways; they increased their sales, created more awareness of their products and commodities, acquired more customers for their products and also increased their competitiveness in the market. After the research was a success, it was implemented by many businesses within and without the region with the aim of increasing their sales too. Other institutions and sectors such as health and education were also advised to take up the recommendations made by the researcher. The importance of a Data Research centers. A data research center as a tool for prosperity in businesses has various benefits both to the businesses and to the recipients of the services offered by these businesses (Parlker 2004). A research center formulates and develops research proposals for the businesses. If a businessman wants to ask for some money from well wishers for the purposes of expanding or putting up a business from scratch, he/she will have to write up a business proposal in order for their sentiments to be heard and taken seriously by the necessary bodies concerned. Serious business proposal have always gotten approval from the donors and banks (Parlker 2004). Such proposals can be found at the research centers which have the necessary experts trained to specifically write up the proposals. Research has shown that those businessmen that have approached the issues blindly have ended up losing the deals because of poorly written up business proposals. The other importance is that research centers have easened the businesses' responsibility of performing duties. Such duties as report writing and balancing the books of accounts have been delegated to the data centers with the aim of being helped out with the tasks. Many companies and business units have outsourced most of their jobs to these data centers with the aim of cost cutting and ease of managing their businesses (Milner 1998). Many such centers have come up in the country and they are increasingly becoming popular day after day. Today, both students and lecturers are taking advantage of the data research centers with the aim of making maximum use out of them. Data analysis and collection is also one of the reasons as to why data centers are becoming very important in the modern era (Blackwell 2001). Many organisations lack the time and resources to carry out analysis of their data. The research centers have the latest tools and equipment that they use in their day to day data analysis and compilation. Programs such as SPSS and STA are some of the vital tools that are used in the research centers to do data analysis (Blackwell 2001). The type of analysis that is done in these data research centers is of quality and can always be relied on by many organisations. The personnel in the data centers go to the field to collect data on behalf of the businesses, analyse the data and give recommendations on the same. Such time wasting and too demanding tasks are not a cup of tea to the businesses and therefore the need to direct them to the data research centers. Some data research centers also act as education centers. They are equipped with various learning materials which are aimed at imparting knowledge to the students. They offer cheaper courses compared to the chartered institutions and other accredited institutions of higher learning (Blackwell 2001). The courses offered by these centers are short courses which are aimed at the students acquiring some information and skills so that they can fit in the society. Skills such as analytical skills, problem solving skills, learning of foreign languages, report writing skills, research skills and other necessary skills are offered by these data research centers. Another but vital reason as to the existence of the data research centers is the fact that they create employment. Most people have been absorbed in these research centers either directly or indirectly. According to a research carried out by Blackwell (2001), the number of people employed by this sector constituted to three percent of the total population of employees in the United States. This, according to him was a significant percentage that meant that the research centers have a vital role to play in the employment sector. From then, one can say that the percentage of the employees in this sector has gone up and really giving other employers competition in terms of numbers. Criticisms that have befallen the Data centers. There is an attitude by the general public and the media that has engulfed the data research centers. They have been viewed as strictly business platforms where people are only concerned with money making instead of giving quality services. This has made people to shun away from them with the notion that they are just spending their money with no fruits at the end of the day. Such allegations to some extend are true because that is what has been happening especially with the rate at which the centers are coming up. Some of the people take advantage of the situation to exploit the innocent businessmen instead of helping them meet their objectives. The public outcry and complain has raised eyebrows and even forced the government to step in and quell the situation. As a result of the criticisms concerning the centers, there has been much improvement thus resulting to the positive response by the public. Limitations and gaps in the data research centers industry. The research centers have also experienced a lot of problems since their emergence. Problems range from social to economic to tactical and finally to financial. Research has shown that many of the research centers start very actively but somewhere along the way they lose focus and disintegrate. The collapse of such businesses has led to a lot of concern to both the owners of the research centers and the businesses at large. Some of the reasons are as a result of misappropriation of the funds that are allocated to the centers and poor management. Centers that have come up with the aim of making money regardless of the quality of service provided are the ones that have been hit seriously by the trend. This has made many people to shun away from the business and as a result opted for other avenues of making money. Lack of sufficient money to run the research center is also a menace that is really hitting the sector very hard. Most of the upcoming centers require money for set up while those that are already running equally require funding for their expansion. This has made some of the centers to collapse or perform smaller tasks compared to those that are doing well. Donors have moved in to try and help the centers raise money for their expansions in order for services to be dispensed to the community at large. More and more funds are needed for the centers to provide quality services and continue winning the hearts of many businesses globally. The other limitation is the lack of enough awareness to the business community and the general public (Parlker 2004). This is a problem that has been addressed time and again by all the concerned parties in this field. Many people find it very difficult to trust the data research centers with their jobs and assignments because of the negative picture th at has been portrayed of them. The customers end up doubting the quality of services provided and also puts the intention of the data centers to question. The amount of money charged by the data centers also raises eyebrows. One expects to pay more for a specific service offered to him/her but when it turns out that they are paying less for the same services, they tend to wonder. This is simply because the data centers are supposed to offer affordable services so help those that are not well off but at the same time offer quality services to them. Research Methodology. In this research proposal, interviews and questionnaires shall be used in data collection. Questionnaires shall be mailed to different businessmen within the country with the aim of finding out their views on the data research centers. Interviews will be used in situations where the respondents are thought to have some time for the interviewers. The number of face to face interviews will depend with the physical availability of the respondents. Other interviews shall be carried out through the phone. These interviews will be applied in situations where the respondents are willing to give information but they are not physically available. One hundred questionnaires shall be mailed as this is thought to be a representative sample of the number of data center research businesses in the country. These methods of data collection shall be used mainly because they tend to give first hand information compared to other data collection methods (Kirky and Miller, 1998). They also have an advantage in that they always come in handy whenever there is need for clarifications, corrections or explanations. The questionnaires will contain questions on the use and value of the data research centers in the modern business driven world. Other sources of data collection other than the primary ones will include secondary data collection methods. Sources such as books, journal, newspapers and magazines shall be used as information for data collection. They will be used to give relevant additional information that would otherwise not be found in the primary sources of data collection. Data Analysis methods. Most of the data collected shall be analysed using qualitative methods of data analysis. This means that secondary data will be used to ascertain whether the findings are viable. These methods will also be used to test the hypothesis of the research proposal. In the event that the research proposal is rejected, another research will be done, otherwise, it shall be adopted as a successful research. On the other hand, quantitative techniques will also come into play. The ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) method will be used in this case (Sigmond 2003). Ninety five percent confidence level and a freedom of one degree will be used to test the hypothesis. For this research, the two way ANOVA shall be used. It will be able to tell whether the hypothesis will be accepted or rejected. This type of data analysis will be the best as it compares two sets of populations that are sampled and distributed normally. It is also best suited in that it allows for the comparison between more than two sets of data unlike other data analysis methods that can only compare between two sets of data. Proposed Timetable for the Research. The timetable stipulated below will be used to show the period and time frame within which the activities will be carried out. Face to face interviews with the businessmen will take place within the first one and a half months of the research. This means that it will start in September and end in mid October. The questionnaires that will be used for the research shall be drafted within the first fifteen days of September and sent to the respondents to be filled and returned by mid October. Thereafter, data compilation and analysis will take place between October fifteenth and thirtieth. The dissertation will actually be written starting from November first to November thirtieth. Implications of the Study. This research is aimed at making businesses and other organisations appreciate the value and use of the data research centers. The research will show that the value of these research centers cannot be ignored by any means despite the many limitations and drawbacks that are associated with them. After the research, necessary recommendations shall be made with the aim of seeing to it that they are adopted and implemented by the various affected businesses, organisations and institutions. Conclusion. The value and use of the data research center has been seriously considered by many businesses and other organisations. Many centers have come all over the world with the aim of making work easier for businesses and the public as well. These research centers have helped in the solving of many problems that businessmen and businesswomen face in their day to day running of the businesses. In addition, such centers have also played a major role in areas such as health and education. The values and uses of the data research centers have to be taken seriously by all stakeholders in order for the objectives of both the businesses and the research center owners to be met. It is therefore worth noting that without data research centers it would be very difficult for businesses to cope with the ever increasing market urgency and demand. References Blackwell, D. 2001. Research on data centers: A complete analysis of the data research centers. NY: Routlege. Parlker, P. 2004. The importance of data research centers: The value and uses of data research centers. London: Intellect Books. Sigmond, J. 2003. The use of Research Data centers: A break down on the use and value of data research centers. London: Univ of Chicago press. Thompsen, R. 2003. Understanding the use and value of research centers. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press.

Semantic Personal Deixis Essay

Semantic Personal Deixis Essay Semantic: Personal Deixis Essay How do the concepts of ‘anaphora’ and ‘deixis’ help to determine more precisely the functions of pronouns? Discuss, giving examples to support your argument. According to Strawson,â€Å"a use of a single term invokes a mental file in the mind of the interpreter and is successful only if the interpreter actually connects the singular term with the right mental file†. Although most words will mean the same regardless of the speaker and the time of the utterance, some words such as pronouns, can have a different meaning depending on the context. It is therefore necessary for the speaker(s) and the hearer(s) to manage to understand each other. Deixis and Anaphora are two concepts that help to clarify the different uses and functions of pronouns. It also ensures that all the participants of a speech act are constantly on the same wavelength regarding the topic(s) of their utterances. Deixis is reference to the orientation or position of entities by means of an expression whose interpretation is relative to the extralinguistic context of the utterance; such as who is speaking (personal deixis), the place (special deixis) or the time of t he speaking (temporal deixis). Anaphora is coreference of one expression with its antecedent. The antecedent provides the information necessary for the expression’s interpretation. Although pronouns used in deictic and anaphora will be treated separately, it is important to keep in mind that some can be used anaphorically and deictically at the same time. Personal Deixis in conversation include the speaker (I,we) ,the address (you) and sometimes a third party( he ,she they). They allow us to identify ourselves or someone else through our utterances. The most common way to do it is by using the pronouns I and the pronoun You. However these pronouns differ with respect to the person who makes the utterance. They are necessary in conversations where each person constantly change from being I to being You or seen from a different perspective. For example ,I am having a conversation with my friend Manuel : G :I think you should exercise more often Manuel M:Well†¦ I think you should mind your business. In the first utterance, I used to pronoun I to refer to myself and the pronoun You to identify my friend, however the I in the second utterance no longer identified me but my friend Manuel who was speaking. Personal deixis also show how gender,number and social status are identified and differentiated through the uses of pronouns. First, gender is usually marked in third person pronouns, in French il for masculine and elle for feminine or English with he for masculine and she for feminine. In some other languages like Ngala both the first and second person have a masculine and a feminine form.When the pronoun he in English is used the hearer automatically knows that he should be looking for a male. In a room full of women, having a pronoun to refer to the only man rather than having to describe his features ma kes it easier to identify the specific person. Then number is pointed out by different pronouns. Ellas and ellos in Spanish. Again, personal deixis make it easier to understand who is concerned. For instance when Ricardo say: Ellas son pequeà ±as. ¿puedes buscar conmigo ? ( they are small, could you look for them with me?) The other person will automatically know that he/she

Martinez Surname Meaning and Family History

Martinez Surname Meaning and Family History Martinez is a patronymic surname meaning son of Martin. Martin comes from the Latin Martinus, a derivative of Mars, the Roman god of fertility and war. Surname origin:  SpanishAlternate Surname Spellings: Martines, Martins, Martinson; see also Martin Fun Facts Martinez is the second most common surname in the Spanish language, and the second most popular Spanish surname in America, just behind Garcia. Famous People With the Surname Olivier Martinez: French actorPedro Martinez: Pitcher for the New York Mets baseball teamYsidro Martinez: Inventor of a below-the-knee prosthesisMayre Martinez: Winner of the first season of Latin American Idol Where Is the Surname Most Common? The Martinez  surname is the 74th most common surname in the world, according to surname distribution information from  Forebears, and is among the top 10 surnames in Honduras (#1); Nicaragua and El Salvador(#2); the Dominican Republic and Paraguay (#3); Mexico (#4); Spain, Colombia, Venezuela, Cuba and Panama (#6), and Argentina and Belize (#8). This means that tracing a familys possible origin based on the surname is of little use. According to  WorldNames PublicProfiler,  the Martinez surname is fairly prevalent throughout Spain, but is especially common in the Murcia region, followed by La Rioja, Communidad Valencia, Castilla-La Mancha, Asturias, Navarra, Galicia, and Cantabria. Genealogy Resources Martinez DNA Project: Open to any male with the Martinez surname or its variant from anywhere in the world.Martinez Family Genealogy Forum: This free message board is focused on descendants of Martinez ancestors around the world. Search the forum for posts about your Martinez ancestors, or join the forum and post your own queries.  FamilySearch: Explore over 11  million  results from digitized  historical records and lineage-linked family trees related to the Martinez surname on this free website hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.GeneaNet: Includes archival records, family trees, and other resources for individuals with the Martinez surname, with a concentration on records and families from France and other European countries.Ancestry.com: Explore over 14  million digitized records and database entries, including census records, passenger lists, military records, land deeds, probates, wills and other records for the Martinez surname on the subscripti on-based website, Ancestry.com. References Cottle, Basil.  Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967.Dorward, David.  Scottish Surnames. Collins Celtic (Pocket edition), 1998.Fucilla, Joseph.  Our Italian Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003.Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges.  A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989.Hanks, Patrick.  Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003.Reaney, P.H.  A Dictionary of English Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1997.Smith, Elsdon C.  American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.

Sustainability issues in providing Healthcare Services at Nicaragua Research Paper

Sustainability issues in providing Healthcare Services at Nicaragua Canal Project - Research Paper Example The HCSS proposed project’s objectives are focused towards developing a new canal project in Nicaragua whose most beneficiaries are employees and their families in conjunction with provision of healthcare services to the indigenous people. In addition, the proposed project has provoked the HCSS and CSR expertise to design a health management program that proactively identifies evacuating and healthcare services related issues with aims of reducing accidents, trauma and congestion of shipping traffics. Therefore, marketing, environmental management, and human resources related issues are identified within the organization illustrating environmental, Capacity Building and Corporate Social Responsibility dilemmas as the central challenges that needs resolution for mitigation measures (Frutos-Bencze, 2014). The analysis presented in this paper is helpful in understanding sustainability and health care services in relation to Nicaraguan canal development. Further analysis in this paper uncovers the entire organization dilemma, issues, and concepts or approaches used to tackle in tackling all the related issues in relation to HCSS developers, locals, and Federal Government agencies. In details, the paper explores and explains the Nicaraguan environmental issues exposing out the significance of the government structure and the corporate social responsibilities and the theories generated to support the arguments (Ogawa & Suzuki, 2015). Based on international context for sustainability, capacity building, and Corporate Social Responsibility the paper critically evaluates the impacts of environmental implications in relation to the Nicaraguan environmental issues as well as business growth (Grove & Berg, 2014). As Nicaraguan health care program experiences foundational dilemmas from different components of marketing, environmental management to human

Family centred care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Family centred care - Essay Example The author has rightly presented that the family plays a vital role in the nursing of the patient. Since the discovery of this fact, there has been vast interest on the topic of family-centered care. For purposes of establishing the role of the nurse in family centered care, the essay has its basis on a case study. The patient, Joan, who is in hospital, has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. It is evident that she has a family, a husband. In planning the discharge of this patient, the nurse has to consider a number of issues. Some of these issues are the feelings that her husband has, and the fact that he may be unable to cope with her condition, managing Joan’s agitation, assessing the risk that the disease brings about to Joan. In addition, the nurse should consider the stress that Joan’s disease puts on the relationship between the members of the family and the possibility that the family might have limited knowledge on the disease and may need guidance on how to cope. The paper will focus on four major topics with regard to family centered care. The first of these is the risk posed by Alzheimer’s. Secondly, the paper will look into the issue of the stress that Joan’s sickness could cause on the relationship between members of her family. The third topic entails the possible reasons for Joan’s agitation and the best way to manage it. The last issue to be discussed is the feeling that the family members may have towards Joan, and with regard to her condition and the part, they play in caring for her.... This kind of care, the institute adds, is applicable to patients of all age groups, and is recommended in all settings that deal with health care. This would mean that for the sake of quick recuperation of patients, the family would have to be heavily involved in the process of nursing, while acquiring relevant and vital information on what steps to take from the nurse in charge of their sick relatives. In the case study, Joan has dementia. Joan is set for discharge from the health facility where she has been. Family centered care begins from within the hospital. This means that the family is also heavily involved in the decision to discharge. At this point, the family needs to get reassurance that Joan is in a stable enough condition to go home. In addition, the dependent state of the patient warrants their involvement for purposes of establishing whom her primary caregivers will be and where she will be living (Davidson et al. 2007). Before the nurse releases her into the care of h er family, it is important that they come up with a family care plan that will aid in assessing the situation at home (Gulanick & Myers 2011). An example of the nurse’s family care plan is as shown. Table 1: Family care Plan for Joan with dementia Family Problem Goal of care Objectives of Care Intervention Measures Method of nurse-family contact Resources Evaluation -little knowledge on risks posed by Alzheimer’s . - possible source of stress for family - patient agitated - To put the patients at ease -Prevention of self-harm by patient Enabling the family to empathize with the situation and learn the understand the sickness -provide health teachings to the family on Alzheimer’s

The Day My Life Changed Forever Essay Example for Free

The Day My Life Changed Forever Essay I believe it is a severe tragedy that children’s pastimes have changed drastically today from what they were years ago: from riding bikes, playing house, and having imaginary friends to texting, playing video games, and listening to mp3 players. When I was young, children learned to use imagination, self-entertain, and willingly respect their elders. I remember going across the street to play with the other neighborhood kids. I would impatiently wait for them to come out on Saturday morning, anticipating all the excitement we were going to have that day. I spent the whole day (until suppertime) outside playing ball, riding bikes, making mud pies, or conquering other planets that were actually just huge piles of dirt. Children today are lazier, more disrespectful, and more unsociable. My kids prefer to spend the day watching cartoons, playing video games, surfing the web, or listening to music. I try to encourage them to spend time outdoors and immediately the boredom whine begins or else they’re too hot/cold. â€Å"There’s nothing to do† is a common phrase that I hear when I say, â€Å"Go outside and play†. Many parents fear that their children are turning into geeks because of their preoccupation with gadgets, gizmos, and anything with a battery in it. They lament that children now lack social skills and that the real fun has been taken out of playtime as they spend hours glued to the computer (Selvarani, 2011). The increase in violence may play a role in parents keeping their children  indoors these days. Rape, murder, kidnaps, and pedophiles are concerns that parents face every day. Danger seems to be lurking around every corner; as a result, we’re terrified to let our children out of our sight. By keeping kids confined to a small enclosed area, are we really protecting them and keeping them safe or are we doing more harm to them? Child obesity has become a problem today because of the lack of movement by children. â€Å"8- to 18-year olds’ daily exposure to televisual media reaches 8 hours a day. As television viewing time has increased, time spent in other activities such as playing, reading, and family interaction has correspondingly decreased† (â€Å"Children†, 2008). Although experts seem to agree that â€Å"the shift to an indoor childhood has accelerated† (Cauchon, 2005), there is a vast difference in the explanation as to why this change has occurred. Whether it’s the change in the parent’s attitude, the increasing violence, or some other unknown phenomenon the change is still undeniable. It is true that pastimes today are geared to entertain just as they always have, but shouldn’t they also educate? If we turn off all the technology and take kids for a trip back in time, then perhaps we can manage to turn pint-sized zombies into active, well-rounded adults. REFERNCES Cauchon, D. (2005, July 12).Childhood pastimes are increasingly moving indoors. USA Today. Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-07-11-pastimes-childhood_x.htm Children, Impact of Television on. (2008). In Encyclopedia of Violence, Peace, and Conflict. Retrieved from http://www.credoreference.com.ezp-01.lirn.net/entry.do?id=8445608 Selvarani, P.; Choe, T. C. (2011, August 21). Those cool games of yesteryear. New Straits Times. P. Main Section

Managing Employee Retention and Turnover Essays -- Human Resource Mana

Managing Employee Retention and Turnover Employee retention has always been an important focus for human resource managers. Once a company has invested time and money to recruit and train a good employee, it is in their own best interest to retain that employee, to further develop and motivate him so that he continues to provide value to the organization. But, employers must also recognize and tend to what is in the best interest of their employees, if they intend to keep them. When a company overlooks the needs of its employees and focuses only on the needs of the organization, turnover often results. Excessive turnover in an organization is a prime indicator that something is not right in the employee environment. We will look at the differences between retention and turnover, why employees stay, reasons why they leave, and what can be done to save them. We will also examine some external factors that will make employee retention and turnover reduction highest priorities for human resource professionals. Basically, employee retention is measured by an employee's longevity with a company, and is the desired outcome of a company hiring workers it wants and needs. Many organizations find it more productive and profitable to redirect resources formerly allocated to recruiting, hiring, orienting, and training of new employees and use them instead toward employee retention programs. Such programs identify good performers who are likely to leave the company and work proactively to retain them. Although there is no tried-and-true prescription for retaining good employees, there are five factors that have a proven positive impact on retention and they should be taken into consideration when developing an employee retention program:  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Supervisor/Employee relationship - "Immediate supervisors who are also leaders of people will be the most important people in the workplace of the future..." (Jamrog, 2004) Today's supervisor is expected to be a coach, a trainer, and a mentor. Foremost, he must be able to communicate well up and down the organization. Employees who have honest, open relationships with their supervisors feel a sense of commitment to them.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Employee engagement - The best employees are motivated by tasks that are intellectually stimulating and provide variety and challenge while contributing value. Studies from the Gallup organizat... ...and preparation will help employers more readily adapt. References AARP. 2002, Staying Ahead of the Curve: The AARP Work and Career Study. Wahington, D.C.: AARPRetention rodeo. Buhler, Patricia M. The exit interview: a goldmine of information Source: Supervision v. 63 no4. (Apr. 2002) p. 15-17. Database: WilsonSelectPlus. Ceridian Employee Services, http://www.ceridian.com/myceridian Christian & Timbers, www.ctnet.com Frank, Fredric D. The Race for Talent: Retaining and Engaging Workers in the 21st Century. Source: Human Resource Planning v.27 no3 (2004) p. 12-25. Database: WilsonSelectPlus Jamrog, Jay. The Perfect Storm: The Future of Retention and Engagement. Source: Human Resource Planning v. 27 no3 (2004) p. 26-33. Database: WilsonSelectPlus. Society for Human Resource Management (2003). Older Workers Survey. U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (2003) Customized Data Compilation, November 20. "Demographics and Destiny: Winning the War for Talent," Watson Wyatt Worldwide, Bethesda, Maryland; 301.581.4600 http://www.hermangroup.com/retentionconnection/ http://www.capitalhgroup.com/weAre/research/KeepingTopTalentSurvey.pdf

Good Communicator Essay

Effective communication begins when a specific message is conveyed to people and that your idea is being received and people understand what you are saying to them. This is especially important in the healthcare industry because proper interpretation from patients is critical in them receiving the utmost care and proper diagnosis. Interaction between healthcare workers, doctors and patients is critical in communicating symptoms, diagnosis and test results and treatment of patients. When workers are able to communicate with each other it makes it easier to interact with the patients by having all the needed information, whether it was symptoms relayed from patient, test results relayed from lab or diagnosis relayed from the doctor. There are six characteristics of both supportive and defensive relationships, where one set of characteristics focus on compassion and empathy and defensive characteristics are to the point and abrupt without any interpersonal communication between parties involved. Supportive relationships would seem to be the better choice for the healthcare industry because like a broken wheel halts forward progress, so does non-communication among professionals and patients. When there is no empathy present with a patient they feel like no one understands their problem and feel like they are not getting the help that they deserve. Assertive communication allows an idea to be brought up and talked about but making sure all parties are respected. By being assertive is a learned technique to use and if not done correctly can cause conflicts among the workplace because people do not like abrupt changes in the workplace. Once changes are felt by all and are eventually practiced, it becomes part of a daily routine in the office and there are no longer conflicts having to be resolved. When being assertive one must not become aggressive also or a person would become known as a â€Å"bully† in the workplace and doesn’t care what the consequences of actions will entail. Not only can assertive behavior be bad if not utilized correctly, it may also cause undue stress on the coronary system and could ultimately lead to a heart attack or stroke. When using an assertive style in the workplace, one must be aware of negative reactions that could occur and be able to be ready with additional information to sway the receiver. One must not be too aggressive with tone and pitch of the voice and it will send off the wrong impression to receivers and not sway them to understand what is being said. When faced with aggression most people react negatively and this would not be advisable in a healthcare setting. An example would be when a medical coder has a question on what a doctor has documented in a patients file that doesn’t seem appropriate for the diagnosis so a doctor must be spoken to get more information to code correctly but without pointing fingers at the doctor. If the coder inquires aggressively then the doctor would become irate over being questioned but if the coder were to inquire assertively they would seem more like they just wanted more information to properly code the patient’s records. I fall under the type B personality because I am very easy going, but I do want to be heard when needed. I don’t feel that aggression is the answer but I do feel that one can be assertive and get a point across without being viewed as being too aggressive. Assertiveness takes into account what others feel and say and aggressiveness is all about what â€Å"I† want and need and not what â€Å"they† want or need. Previous positions that I’ve worked, I had many supervisors that used very assertive behavior and they really didn’t get good feedback. When workers became assertive about their needs for specific things at work, then supervisors are more likely to hear what they want and react appropriately. I do have a hard time getting my point across because I know what I want to say in my brain but when it comes out of my mouth it becomes all jumbled and does not make sense. I’m trying to work on my communication skills and am hoping that this course will increase my skills so that I can speak more clear and concise and have people understand what I want to accomplish in the workplace.