How To Make Macys More Competitive Business Essay

How To Make Macys More Competitive Business Essay A larger chunk of the total workforce is at Macys are categorized as employees who are floor managers, supervisors, cashiers, handlers, and sales associates at Macys retail stores. We have found that this category of employees have a really high turnover rate. There are several repercussions associated with a high turnover rate. If the turnover rate is high, the employees become demoralized in their work duties which results in inadequate efficiency. Although, the high turnover is found amongst the lower level staff but still there is a humungous cost associated with turnover. The cost to recruit, select, and train new employees often exceed 100% of the annual salary of the position being filled (Allen, Bryant, Vardaman, 2010). Based on the exit interviews conducted by the management, it is found that most of the turnover is voluntary and controllable turnover. Voluntary turnover is when employees leave the company by their own choice whereas controllable turnover is when employees decide to leave for reasons that are influenced by the employer. Therefore, it is evident that the high turnover rate has resulted due to lack of managerial effectiveness. Macys employs a diverse workforce of more than 167,000 employees because of which it is difficult to have a flat hierarchical structure. As a result the communication between lower level staff and high level staff is almost non-existent. Therefore, it is important for us to restructure the way we recruit our workforce especially for the positions that require managerial activities. The HR department along with the collaboration with the department of IT, Marketing, Finance, and Operations has realized that there is a need for an urgent strategy to reduce employee turnover because reducing this ratio is one of the ways to make Macys competitive again. The strategy will be dual phased. The first phase of the strategy will focus on how to effectively recruit individuals for managerial positions in the stores. For this pre-employment testing will be introduced in to the workplace which will test the managerial skills of the selected candidates for those positions. The first phase will also consist of conducting employee surveys every six months which will focus on employees feelings and attitudes about their jobs and the organization. The second phase of the strategy will be the creation of a blog with collaboration with the IT department. The blog will give a platform for the employees at all levels of management to communicate with each other and discuss their pr oblems, job duties, problems at the workplace, and how they feel about the organization. The strategy to reduce turnover and increase Macys competiveness will be discussed further in detail in the Strategy Formulation and Strategy Implementation Phase. Macys employee turnover rate is 3.726% compared to an industry average of 3.1%. It is computed by dividing the number of employees in the beginning of the year (167,000) by the number of employees remaining at the end of the year (161,000). The resultant figure (1.03726) is then subtracted from one (0.03726) and multiplied by a hundred (3.726%) to determine the employee turnover in terms of percentage (Department of Labor, 2010). Although, the employee turnover rate is very close to the industry average, a small difference in the percentages could translate into a significant monetary amount. The cost of turnover is usually the cost to find, interview, train, and equip a new hire. Research shows that a minimum of $1,500 per employee is the cost of a turnover. While $1,500 may not be a huge amount of money for a store to cover that cost. Macys Inc. has a net profit margin of only 1.49% which means that the company has to sell million dollars worth of items to cover that cost (Wolfe, 2010). Since most of the workforce at Macys comprises of lower management staff such as floor managers, cashiers, supervisors, handlers, and sales associates, it is important to lower the employee turnover rate because otherwise the employees will become demoralized in their work duties which eventually results in decreased efficiency. In order to make Macys more competitive there are a number of strategies that need to be pursued specifically by the Human Resources department. The strategy consists of developing an internal blog for better communication, conducting exit interviews for valuable feedback, and hiring managers and supervisors effectively and efficiently. The reason to develop a blog is to give the lower management a platform where they can communicate freely with the upper management. This will not only result in increased communication between the two but also, a relationship between the two will be developed. In this blog, the employees will have liberty to write, comment, and share anything they would want coworkers and upper management to consider. This could be complaints, recommendations, opinions, workplace ethics, job duties, or job descriptions. The reason to conduct exit interviews is to primarily get feedback from departing employees. Secondly, it gives the management an opportunity to retain the employee so as to overcome the cost of recruiting a new employee. The departing employees could be given a questionnaire which highlights job duties, management, job variety, work environment. This way the management can review the recommendation and opinion given by the departing employee and take necessary actions. Effectively recruiting managers and supervisors is also related to the high employee turnover rate. It is evident that the current managers were not effectively recruited because they lack the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to effectively manage and supervise a team of employees. During the hiring process, the HR department can develop a questionnaire which shall test the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the candidates and determine if they have the key competencies to over achieve their job duties. In order to make Macys more competitive, the HR department has developed a three phased strategy. The first phase of the strategy deals with effective recruiting of managers and supervisors. This will require a development of new hiring techniques such as the use of latest technological instruments to filter the best candidates from job postings. Furthermore, online testing and questionnaires will be developed so as to test and hire the most competent candidate. The second phase of the strategy deals with conducting exit interviews from the departing employees. This will require the HR representative to take notes while interviewing the departing employee because his/her comments, recommendations, and opinions will help in improving working conditions and retaining employees. Sometimes, these interviews could save a company from being sued as some employees depart and later sue the company for reasons they were never aware of. The notes that the HR representative takes can become useful in the courtroom. Furthermore, in collaboration with the IT department, this phase will require a creation of a database to store and manage the feedback received from the questionnaires and interview. Phase three is the most important part of the strategy which is the creation of a blog which will be formed with collaboration from the IT department. The costs associated with creating the blog are negligible except the cost of time. Usually, the cost to create a blog is around $100 which includes a domain name, unlimited uploads and downloads, and unlimited backup of data uploaded on to secure servers. Effective recruiting, creation of a blog, and conducting exit interviews will serve as the basis to evaluate and control the high employee turnover. It can also be evaluated by checking the employee turnover rates at the end of first quarter of the year 2011. A low employee turnover would mean more cost savings from the HR department which could eventually be used to for higher profits and higher dividends to stockholders. Additionally, to evaluate the effectiveness of the strategy, the HR department will have to collaborate once again with the IT department to develop a database of the departing and departed employees. The reason for doing that would be, as these employees would be already trained and already knowledgeable about the company, it could help cut recruiting costs for the company.

Demonstrating Achievement of Learning Outcomes in Nursing

Demonstrating Achievement of Learning Outcomes in Nursing Analytical summary of portfolio to demonstrate achievement of the learning outcomes This essay is primarily aimed at analytically reviewing the portfolio that I have assimilated in the recent past. It effectively is a record of a number of key episodes in my student career. The portfolio itself documents a number of different aspects of events in my practice whereas this essay sets out to take an overview of the aims, goals and achievements that have been set and the degree to which they have been achieved. (Green J et al. 1998) The portfolio opens with a statement of intent as far as the original preparation was concerned. Although I have addressed the issues of professional requirement I have also approached the project form the viewpoint of my own personal benefit. I appreciate that this tool gives me the ability (amongst other things) to review my professional development and to document my evolution through my time as a student nurse. During its preparation I have therefore always kept in the forefront of my mind the eight learning goals enumerated in this statement. Reflections on academic and clinical experiences Continuing professional development and lifelong learning Decisions about the quality of my work Effective critical thinking Reflection on professional growth Empowerment to take responsibility for my own learning Development towards being a critical, reflective practitioner Document achievements (Pearce, R 2003). In terms of an analytical assessment of this portfolio, one should consider the work of Knowles and others in the field of adult education (Knowles, M. 1984 a ). Knowles’ theory of andragogy highlights the necessity for the adult student to appreciate the need to know something and the fact that adult students learn most effectively through experience and adaptation (Knowles, M. 1984 b ). Although not explicitly expounded by Knowles, the adaptive process is helped to a considerable degree by the process of reflection. As such my experiences have been recorded in a series of case studies and other investigations, and the process of adaptation has been illustrated through the mechanism of reflective practice. (Palmer in Bulpitt Martin 2005) The move towards evidence based practice has been one of the most noticeable aspects of the various changes in emphasis in practice in most areas of medically related work in recent years. (Berwick D 2005). I have been at pains to consider the evidence base which supports the various areas that I have either worked in or examined. To illustrate this point, let us consider the section presented on the subject of moral reasoning and health care law. This chapter examined a wide spectrum of ethical issues and associated moral dilemmas. Ethics is an area which in some respects is universal but in others is determined by local issues which include environment, culture and belief systems. (Kuhse Singer 2001) The evidence base for the various views expressed is presented and documented. An analytical assessment of this piece would have to include the fact that it only covers a small area of the whole potential issue. There is no apology for this, as the whole area of ethics is vast and the literature on the subject is extensive. It was not considered appropriate to do more than present an overview of one area. But the elements of this area are covered and presented with the important guiding principles that form the evidence base being set out, such as Bolam and the professional guidelines together with specific examples such as the precedent of the Charlotte Wyatt case. The evidence base element is also demonstrated in the clinical spectrum and I can cite the case study on Mrs Y (an MRSA infection case), as an example which not only allowed me to examine the issues of evidence (citing Pennington) but also to reflect and learn from the experience. (Taylor, E. 2000). It is always possible to criticise writing as not being totally inclusive of all of the available evidence and clearly such a criticism could be levelled at my work. In defence, I would suggest that much of the private reading and research that I have done that has helped to inform me in my professional life does not appear in the portfolio on grounds of expediency. In addition one is aware that the evidence base is constantly changing as new work is published and assimilated into the pool of accepted medical knowledge. (Sackett, 1996). In the case study that I presented relating to Angela, the evidence base played a large part in both the study, the learning experience derived from it and also the actual presentation of the evidence. I suggest that it is obvious that I clearly spent a great deal of time researching the various elements of the case and presenting them in an authoritative and evidence based fashion. I believe that this gives the work a greater credibility and also a greater learning potential for myself. (Holland K et al. 2003) Reflection is a large element in this portfolio. I make no apology for this as I have found reflective practice to be an invaluable learning tool and as can be seen in the substance of the portfolio I have used it extensively. It should be noted that although I have recorded a number of instances of reflective practice using the Gibbs model, (Gibbs, G 1988) it is a technique that I frequently use in my daily practice. Stockhausen, (L. 1994) makes a differentiation between reflection on practice and reflection in practice. I think that his analysis is both valid and relevant. Reflection on practice is a retrospective process that encompasses those processes that allow reflection at a stage after the event, and allow for modification in processing and response mechanisms to be employed when a similar situation is encountered for a second time. Reflection in practice refers to a dynamic process that occurs at the time of an action or intervention and is a shorter and more truncated process than the previously cited example. It is accepted however, that such a shorter process may not have the intellectual validity of a more protracted process. I have used both mechanisms both in the portfolio and also in my daily practice the case study of Angela demonstrates my ability to reflect on practice and the case study (year 1 chapter 3) shows that I am also quite able to use reflection in practice. As such I think that the portfolio is representative of my abilities in a clinical situation. I note that I frequently return to the concept of self assertiveness in my analysis of a situation. This is an area which is difficult to promote as a student nurse as one is hampered by both inexperience and lack of seniority. As I have progressed through my training, I feel that the process of reflection has helped me to identify situations where I can usefully be more self assertive, either to put forward my own point of view based on my own knowledge and beliefs, or to act as the patient’s advocate in situations where I believe that the patient’s best interests may not have been fully considered. (Koole S. L. et al. 19990 This element of self assertiveness has another and more profound implication. There is an implied responsibility incumbent on all healthcare professionals to disseminate and knowledge or experience that they may have to their professional colleagues. The element of learning and teaching comes within this remit. (Yura H et al. 1998). I fully recognise that, as a student, I have not been in a position to consider the possibility of teaching, as my own knowledge base has been dependent, at least in part, on the benevolence and knowledge of others. I am aware however, that as my own knowledge base has increased, I have been better placed to offer opinions and to add specialist knowledge into situations that are appropriate. I believe that this aspect of my training and development has also bee clearly demonstrated in the portfolio. For example, I can cite the section on basic life support that is presented in the portfolio. Having completed this element of the course, I now feel empowered to pass this specific knowledge on in areas where I encounter people (both patients, carers or other professionals) who may not have this type of specific knowledge at their fingertips. (Fawcett J 2005) I have little doubt that, as my professional knowledge increases, I shall be able to assume this role in a greater variety of areas and help to play my part in the future education of both patients and aspiring professionals. A large proportion of the portfolio documents my assessment of the impact of policy on the current mechanisms of health care delivery. The entry relating to equality in the health management of minority groups could be considered typical in this regard with a review of the issues of the Care Standards Act (CSA 2000) and the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA 1995). This particular case study was a major learning experience for me as it was by doing this analysis that I became more professionally aware of the possibilities for overt and covert discrimination both in terms of sexuality and disability and the need to be fully aware of these possibilities and to take positive steps to ensure that they do not colour my professional activities. There is a great deal of literature on the subject of discrimination in its widest applications and a critical analysis of my work could reasonably conclude that such a large area is underrepresented in the overall portfolio. This particular critici sm could clearly be levelled at virtually any work in this area and I am aware that I have had to make a judgement in this (and many other areas) where the line of balance between presenting all of the arguments both in favour and against a particular topic, can be drawn in the interests of both expediency and practicality. It would have to be conceded that even it the portfolio were 100 times as long as it is, it could not reasonably be expected to cover all of the arguments in the area. A sensible overview has had to be taken and I would suggest that the finished article is the product of these two opposing considerations. Some elements of the portfolio are specific and detailed case studies. I again refer to the case study of Angela, a 58 yr old lady with anal cancer. I cite this is being particularly informative for me as it not only is a demonstration of my research into the many issues that were impinging on this case but also in my ability to follow Angela through her illness trajectory (Newell et al. 1992) and I was able to reflect at length on the issues that she faced as her diagnosis was faced and the treatment. The major learning issue here, which is probably applicable to virtually all areas of professional work, is that effective communication is one the most important skills that the professional nurse can acquire. Effective communication can help to deal with some of the elements of the sequelae that can arise in this situation such as depression as well as the more positive aspects such as empowerment and education of the patient. (Mason T et al. 2003). This particular case study also highlights the need to assess and assimilate the social (and other) elements of the patient’s case. The reductionist school would have us regard the patient as a set of symptoms and nursing problems to solve. Although reductionism can be a useful analytical tool to assess the most appropriate forms of treatment, it can be criticised for removing the human angle from the professional assessment of the patient. (Jacobs, B B 2001) I have always been a staunch advocate of the holistic approach to patient care and reductionism is diametrically opposed to this viewpoint. (Thompson C 1999) I believe this is demonstrated in my presentation of the socio-economic situation as it pertains to Angela. The consideration that her mother lives alone and has a Yorkie dog to contend with is all part of the overall spectrum of consideration for Angela, as her hospitalisation will effectively impair her mother’s ability to both survive independently and also to care for her dog. These are vital and important elements in a patient’s care and should realistically be incorporated into the decision making process that evolves from the patient management considerations. (Hewison, A. 2004). I hope that this particular essay demonstrates my ability to pursue a logical and rational approach to decision making based on a strong evidence base and a holistic care plan. In terms of my own professional development, this portfolio represents a number of â€Å"snapshots† in my trajectory through the undergraduate course. It has helped to focus my attention on a number of specific issues, some were specified by the tutors and some were self determined. It is a feature of adult education that learning in one area often opens up possibilities for research and interest in other related areas.(Merriam S B 2001) I have certainly found this to be true, as my reading on one issue will frequently be punctuated with explorations into other areas that may be related. This may not necessarily feature in the portfolio itself, but will inevitably add to the knowledge base that I have accumulated throughout my undergraduate career. This comment is not intended to be viewed as a weakness but is presented as a strength. It has to be said that the portfolio does not fully reflect the professional development that I have been able to achieve and is not intended to do so. It should be more critically seen as a record of the stages of my development and some of the areas that have been actively explored. I am aware that it is in the nature of a professional career in nursing that every interaction with patients and staff brings the possibility of new learning experiences. (Hogston, R et al. 2002). It is my hope and belief that this portfolio illustrates the fact that I have taken advantage of these possibilities as they have presented themselves to me. I believe that I have grown in professional stature and competence as a direct result of having had the experience of completing it. In viewing the work there are a number of areas in which the portfolio could be considered deficient. The very act or recording and writing is itself a trophic and dynamic process (Meleis A. 1991) and thereby records a process of evolution from my early days as a nursing student to the present. It can be therefore seen that some of the earlier entries lack the degree of maturity and knowledge that the later entries clearly have. I do not believe that this is actually a deficiency as, to a large extent, this documentation of process is one of the major functions of the portfolio. I believe that I learned a great deal relating to the processes of effective reading, efficient research and informative presentation during this process which I believe are just some of the less well publicised attributes of the modern nurse every bit as much as the clinical skills and knowledge that is perhaps more generally accepted as a core requirement. (Clarke J E et al. 1997). It would appear to me that a critical assessment of the portfolio would also have to include the realisation that some of the earlier elements are clearly not as sophisticated nor perhaps as informatively written as the later ones for this very reason. The very fact that I have been able to take a critical overview in this particular essay, to a large degree, underlines the point that I would not have been able to write an essay of this nature when I started on my undergraduate career but I feel that I have now been enabled to assimilate sufficient knowledge to reflect critically on the learning process and to comment on it. With the benefit of hindsight, I feel that if I had appreciated the importance of the evidence base in discussions at an earlier stage in my education, I believe that I would have placed a greater emphasis on it in my earlier writing. As I have observed earlier however, it is this learning evolution coloured by experience which is perhaps one of the greatest benefits that can be both seen in and derived from a portfolio such as this. It is the act of research, reading and then the committing of analytical concepts to paper, which is a fundamental learning stimulus of the adult student. Looking forward, I believe that the experiences that I have derived from compiling this portfolio will stand me in good stead for my future professional career, not only in terms of the factual knowledge that it contains but also the conceptual methodologies that it represents and that I have now been able to experience, evolve and put into practice. (Kazdin A E 1998). I now more fully appreciate the need for critical analysis and evidence based practice particularly if I wish to enhance my professional status by imparting good practice and knowledge onto other colleagues in due course. References Berwick D 2005 Broadening the view of evidence-based medicine Qual. Saf. Health Care, Oct 2005 ; 14 : 315 316. Clarke J E Copcutt L 1997  Management for nurses and Healthcare Professionals.  Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone 1997 CSA 2000  Care Standards Act. (2000).  Government White Paper  HMSO : London 2000 DDA 1995  Disability Discrimination Act. (1995).  Government White Paper HMSO : London 1995   Fawcett J 2005  Contemporary Nursing Knowledge: Analysis and Evaluation of Nursing Models and Theories, 2nd Edition  Boston: Davis Co 2005 ISBN : 0-8036-1194-3 Gibbs, G 1988  Learning by doing: A guide to Teaching and Learning methods EMU Oxford Brookes University, Oxford. 1988 Gilbert T 1995  Nursing : Empowerment and the problem of power  Journal of Advanced Nursing 21 (5) : 865-871 Green J, Britten N. 1998  Qualitative research and evidence based medicine.  BMJ 1998 ; 316 : 1230-1233 Hewison, A. 2004  Management for Nurses and Health Professionals: Theory into practice. Blackwell Science: Oxford. 2004 Hogston, R. Simpson, P. M. 2002  Foundations in nursing practice 2nd Edition,  London: Palgrave Macmillian. 2002 Holland K, Jenkins, J Solomon J, Whittam S 2003  Applying the Roper-Logan-Tierney Model in Practice Churchill Livingstone 2003 ISBN 0443071578 Jacobs, B B 2001  Respect for Human Dignity: A Central Phenomenon to Philosophically Unite Nursing Theory and Practice through Consilience of Knowledge. Nursing Models of Care  Advances in Nursing Science. 24 (1) : 17-35, September 2001 Kazdin A E 1998  History of Behaviour Modification: Experimental foundations of contemporary research.  Baltimore: University Park Press. 1998   Knowles, M. 1984 a .  The Adult Learner: A Neglected Species (3rd Ed.).  Houston, TX: Gulf Publishing.   Knowles, M. 1984 b .  Andragogy in Action.  San Francisco: Jossey-Bass 1984 Koole S. L. ; Smeets K. ; Van Knippenberg A. ; Dijksterhuis A 1999  The cessation of rumination through self-affirmation  Journal of personality and social psychology (J. pers. soc. psychol.) ISSN 0022-3514 Kuhse Singer 2001  A companion to bioethics  ISBN : 063123019X Pub Date 05 July 2001 Mason T and Whitehead E 2003  Thinking Nursing.  Open University. Maidenhead. 2003 Meleis A. 1991  Theoretical thinking: development and progress. 2nd edition.  Philadelphia : Lippincott Company, 1991. Merriam S B 2001  Andragogy and Self-Directed Learning: Pillars of Adult Learning Theory  New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education Vol 2001 Issue 89 Ppg 3-14 Newell and Simon. 1992  Human Problem Solving.  Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs: 1992. Palmer 2005  in Learning about reflection from the student Bulpitt and Martin Active Learning in  Higher Education.2005 ; 6 : 207-217. Pearce, R 2003.  Profiles and Portfolios of Evidence.  Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes 2003 Sackett, 1996.  Doing the Right Thing Right: Is Evidence-Based Medicine the Answer?  Ann Intern Med, Jul 1996 ; 127 : 91 94. Stockhausen, L. 1994  The Clinical Learning Spiral: A Model to develop Reflective Practitioners.  Nurse Education Today 14, 63371. 1994 Taylor, E. 2000.  Building upon the theoretical debate: A critical review of the empirical studies of Mezirow’s transformative learning theory.  Adult Education Quarterly, 48 (1) , 34-59. Thompson C 1999  A conceptual treadmill : the need for middle ground in clinical decision making theory in nursing  Journal of Advanced Nursing Volume 30 Page 1222 November 1999 Yura H, Walsh M. 1998  The nursing process. Assessing, planning, implementing, evaluating. 5th edition. Norwalk, CT: Appleton Lange, 1998. ############################################################### 3.7.06 PDG Word count 3,549

Longitude Essay -- essays research papers

Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time is written by Dava Sobel. The book is called Longitude because it is about a clock maker who was able to determine longitude. Determining longitude was the superlative scientific question in the eighteenth century that Galileo and Newton were not able to resolve.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The principal inspiration behind the invention completed in this book is that many sailors were lost at seas as a result of their ignorance regarding longitude. So, without the competence to determine longitude, many innocent lives were disintegrated at seas.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  England’s Parliament was desperate for an answer to this problem. So, in 1714 England’s Parliament offered 20,000 pounds to anyone who invented a method or a device for measuring longitude and then proved successful.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As a result, a Frenchman, sieur de St. Pierre, frowned on the moons of Jupiter as means of determining longitude. He theorized that longitude could be found by the position of the moon and select stars. At the time, Dr. Edmond Halley proved this theory wrong. After many observations, Halley concluded that the moon’s rate of revolution around the earth was accelerating overtime.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  John Harrison was a simple clockmaker and a self-educated person who was accredited for finding longitude by means of a timeke...

being independent Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Graduating and getting out on your own is a difficult step to make. There are a lot of things that you have to take into perspective. The choices that you make when you get out of highschool believe it or not are crucial and life altering. Decisions that you have to make are ones like what you want your career to be, where you want to live, and a big decision is buying a house. In making these decisions you have to do a lot of research and things to be prepared. I did a lot of research in hopes of finding a career that I would like and three things that I could see myself doing was owning my own spa ($100,000 yearly salary), managing a spa($60,000 yearly salary), or being an Esthetician. After thinking long and hard about it however, I decided I would like to be en Esthetician. An Esthetician is a person who gives care to skin in a non-medical way. An Esthetician makes a decent amount of money which is important to have if I want to be able to afford a house.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Being an Esthetician would be fun because I enjoy working with people and I am good at working with them. I am also good with my hands which is necessary in my job Making other people feel better about themselves makes me feel better about myself. One set back in that job however would have to be foot fungus. Feet aren?t my favorite thing on the human body especially with any kind of fungus on them. Going into a job that has a high paying salary often requires experience or schooling. I would have to take classes and work hard to get my license so that it is easier for me to find a job. To become an Esthetician it is only required to have at least 17 weeks of classes which would cost under $1,000.00 and at the end of the classes I would graduate with my license in esthetics. I looked at job offers and have came to the conclusion that if I was an Esthetician I would make an estimated amount of $50,000.00 a year. That salary however can vary depending on your qualit ies and experience.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I plan on living in Long Beach, California and the reason being is I have always had the desire to live near the beach. Living far away I would have to take into consideration transportation. Being on my own requires you to be financially stable. So I figured out that if I had a 2002 Jeep Gand Cherokee La... ... in Long Beach which is a wealthy town. So the price of my house is very reasonable for the area I am going to be living in. It could be cheaper to take out a 20 year loan and pay $100 a month more which would cover the interest but with my salary it is better for me to take a 30 year loan.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I asked myself two questions at the beginning of this project, one being what if I run out of equity on my home with a reverse mortgage? I found that answer on www.google.com and it said that you can?t run out of money and they can not force you to move out of your home. Another question was, when I am old if I have to go to a nursing home what will happen to my house? That answer was also found on www.google.com and it was that if you are moved out for a year or longer then my home can be sold. All of these things and more have to be considered before you even buy a house. So researching and taking your time thinking about every detail is extremely important. You want to be able to afford what you have and still have money to save or spend at your discretion. I hope that one day this bit of research gives me some backing for when I actually do move out on my own.

Deconstruction in Architecture Essay -- Architects Architecture Physic

Deconstruction in Architecture Deconstruction is first developed by the French philosopher Jacques Derrida. The definition for deconstruction is not easy to understand, and Derrida and his interpreters actually intend it to be difficult. It was first meant a method of interpretation and analysis of a text or a speech. He introduced the concept of deconstruction in connection with his linguistic philosophy and grammatology. When deconstruct a text or a speech, it is to draw out conflicting logics of sense and implication, with the object of showing that the text never exactly means what it ways or says what it means . Though, it has been applied not only to text but also to the visual arts and architecture. The approach of deconstruction in architecture is to get architects to think of things in a new way, to view architecture in bits and pieces. Also to develop buildings which show how differently from traditional architectural conventions buildings can be built without loosing their utility and still complying with the fundamental laws of physics. Especially in 1988, when deconstruction was first promoted in architecture. Different architects of different places seemed to be placing buildings and bits of buildings at odd angles so that they clashed and even penetrated each other. The geometry in these architectures had been set up, but has at least one overlaid and clashed with the other. Also, there are many different kinds of clashes such as: clashes in historic and modern, clashes in plan, clashes in section or elevation, clashes in three dimensions, clashes in grids and clashes in angles. Deconstructionist architecture must start from deconstruct the construction at first, with a name indicates its schemes, its intuition and its concepts, or its rhetoric. Deconstruction also contains an insight of fundamental importance for the historian ¡Ã‚ ¦s conception of what he or she is doing. It uses theory to understand history, and history to understand the theory to construct a more perceptive view of the cultural and social. As deconstructs a structure, it strictly meets the terms of architectural construction and the philosophical construction of the concept of architecture. Therefore, deconstruction is understood to be un-problematically architectural, as it combines with the idea of the system in philosophy, and theory, also the practice and logic ... ...re of architecture. The fundamental idea of architecture consists of primary forms such as cubes, cones, cylinders, and cetera. Although, deconstructionist architecture made clear to the observer that the architecture is an art and not just an engineering discipline, and it is a representation of a material that represent of abstract data. Although deconstructionist architecture does not succeed in the nature of architecture, however, deconstruction is philosophical in the sense that it deploys a distinctive mode of argument in raising certain problem about knowledge, meaning and representation. My opinion on deconstruction is that some of the architecture can be really beautiful but others can be strange. Bibliography  ¡P C. Andreas, Reconstruction Deconstruction, Academy Group LTD, 1989, USA  ¡P H. Kevin, Trespass of the sign: deconstruction, theology and philosophy,  ¡P N. Christopher & B. Andrew, What is Deconstruction, Academy Editions LTD, 1996, USA  ¡P S. Bronwyn, Contemporary Discourse in Interior Architecture and Design  ¡V Unit Reader 2002, Monash University, 2002, Melbourne  ¡P W. Mark, The Architecture of Deconstruction, MIT Press, 1993, USA

Identities and Cultures Essay

Everybody in the world is a unique person within themselves. We are all our own person and express the person we are through different forms. We also show who we are through identities and also through our culture that we are in. The identity we choose to have is up to us, so is the way that we express our identity. This was shown in our class through many different activities such as our YouTube list, reading, graffiti, movies, etc. As I stated earlier people convey their identities in many different ways, which makes conveying your identity so much more interesting, due to the fact you choose how to show the person you are however you want. We can also express our identity through different genres. Different genres call for different genre conventions, and the way we show our identity. I believe that all genres allow us to show the person that we are, but all of the different genres show who we are in different ways. Twitter allows us to display our opinions for others to see, Graffiti allows us to show the type of person we are through pictures, while YouTube allows us to show people who we are through sound. All of these genres depend on the culture or identity of the person presenting them. We saw a movie (Bend It Like Beckham) that displayed the Indian, and English cultures. We also saw graffiti in our reading that can show many different identities, and cultures. The cultures represented in genre convention all depend on the person who is presenting their work, or genre, to you. I presented my identity in many different ways to the class. I displayed my identity to the class through YouTube, and a Comic Strip, and communication with my peers also showed my identity. Outside of class I display my identity through social media networks such as Twitter. Through the process of making my presentations I did come through some small minor problems. When it came it to producing my comic strip  and YouTube video, the only problem was choosing a situation in which I should present to the class. After I choose what to do, the creation of my final product that represented my identity was very easy because I knew everything that happened. Personally, I don’t have a problem presenting these comic strips and Music Videos to the class because those are all part of who I am, and I have no problem with who I am. My presentations that I showed to the class were mostly through visuals, and communication. For my YouTube list I showed a song by Zac Brown Band featuring Jimmy Buffet called â€Å"Knee Deep†. It  is a country song that gives off a very relaxing vibe, and the relaxing mood is also shown in the video and lyrics. I choose that song because I believe that everybody needs to relax, and take it easy. Everybody deserves a break once in a while, and when that opportunity comes to relax, you should take advantage of it. For my comic strip I choose a situation I was in when I went to basketball camp at the University of Notre Dame. I was scared going into it because I didn’t know anybody else that was going. After a while of being with my team I was assigned to I wasn’t scared anymore because everybody I  was surrounded by was so friendly. This represented who I was because after that camp I realized that most people are friendly, it’s just the fact that they’re just as scared to talk to you as you are, and you just need to be who you are and everything will work itself out. For these pieces I addressed my peers as my audience due to the fact I knew I was going to be presenting these in my class with people are in the same age level as I am. When I was producing the products I was wondering what the people would think of my presentation. Not nesecarrily if they would like it because I don’t really care if they like  the presentation or not, but rather just overall what they thought of the experience I was presenting to them. Also when creating the presentations I was thinking about the people who helped shape the identity I became today such as friends, family, pets, coaches, etc. Those people are the reason I am the person I am today, and I also take credit to for being the person I am and having the identity I have because I am the person who has made the decisions I have made throughout my life that have helped to form my identity. Through the whole process I did feel disconnected from some of the material we studied. One of the assignments I felt disconnected from was the comic strip â€Å"Persepolis†. The reasoning behind the feeling of disconnect is due to the fact that I am neither a women, nor part of the culture that is represented in the comic strip. Also, the comic strip confused me a little. I think this because I was ignorant of the situation that her and her family were apart of. Also, I felt disconnect, and confusion initially when reading the script that was assigned for the movie â€Å"Bend It Like Beckham†. This was mainly due to confusion because the script jumped around a lot because it was a script for the trailer. I thought I was going to be disconnected from the movie too, due to the fact the main characters are different genders than I am, and they are also from a different culture than I am. I did find connection to my identity in the movie though through soccer because I have always had a great interest in sports. Soccer isn’t my favorite sport, but I still respect the game and enjoy watching the World Cup, and International games. My research process has basically been the same since the start of high school. I start out by getting all the materials I need or even think I might need when writing my paper. By doing this I eliminate writing a sentence stopping and looking for more info. In my opinion it’s quicker to gather all materials initially. After that I look through material to gather information that I might need for my presentation by highlighting the information or writing it down. After this I write my introductory paragraph. Once that is completed I then look at information that I will need for my first paragraph. Then I write my first body paragraph on all the information I choose from the materials that I found. This process is then repeated until my paper is ultimately complete. Of course then I will  read the paper a few more times to check for grammatical errors, and other mistakes. Other parts of my research process include listening to music. Music is big part of my writing because it helps me focus a lot. I love listening to Music, and do it all the time when walking to class, working out, homework, or sometimes when I have free time. Listening to music isn’t just a key part to writing papers. It is a key part in my identity and helps me express who I am to others. Overall this assignment and research that we have done in class has made me realize how much our identity actually means to us. Everyone is unique and has the exact same identity as another person. Everyone’s identity is unique which really makes it that more special. As much of a cliche it is, everyone really is unique in their own way, but in todays world some people’s identities aren’t acceptable in certain countries, and cultures. The world has seemed to have evolved into a place where only certain identities are accepted, but it shouldn’t be like that. We should be able to accept people for who they truly are and that is one of the main lessons that I have learned from this chapter on different cultures and identities.

Personal Response

Both of these videos were enjoyable to watch, I thought it was great to hear others love stories from their point of view. One of the first similarities between them was of course, they're both love stories. During both of them it is described of how much they love each other, and it truly shows through their emotion and compassion. In both their love is Just a quick shot of faith in that they will be together for the rest of their lives. The first one of the younger couple, she comes from another country and after eight short days together, he then realizes that he can't let her go home toBangkok and that they must get married. In the second one, the man sits down with her on a date and straight up tells her that he can't lose her and that they need to be married. All of these things that happen in these stories happen very quickly, in both it is as if they Just absolutely know for certain this Is their one true love and they very quickly decide to get married. Although these storie s are very similar In some aspects, they still have their differences. The story of the younger couple they come from opposite sides of the world, the man Is from Waco, Texas and the female Is from Bangkok, China.How they become acquainted Is from their names, somehow these two different people have the same exact name, and her work email ended up In his inbox one day by mistake therefore leading to their start In conversation. While In the second film they are from the same place, and they most definitely do not have the same name as In the first video. Finally, there Is a tragic flaw; In the second film the older gentleman ends up receiving terrible news of having terminal cancer so the woman ends up losing the true love of her life. Fortunately this did not happen to the younger couple that was In the first video. Personal Response By Dalton-SnowMIFF com I it is as if they Just absolutely know for certain this is their one true love and they very quickly decide to get married. Al though these stories are very similar in some from opposite sides of the world, the man is from Waco, Texas and the female is from Bangkok, China. How they become acquainted is from their names, somehow these two different people have the same exact name, and her work email ended up in his inbox one day by mistake therefore leading to their start in conversation. While in the same name as in the first video. Finally, there is a tragic flaw; in the second film younger couple that was in the first video.