Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Role of Knowledge Management in Improving Performance of Operations Departments

Role of Knowledge Management in Improving Performance of Operations Departments Introduction Knowledge is arguably the most important asset an organization has. Its good management is crucial if the organization is to succeed in a competitive environment. In the past, many organizations did not recognize this and few resources were dedicated to managing the knowledge that the organizations had.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Role of Knowledge Management in Improving Performance of Operations Departments specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, this has changed in the course of the last decade and knowledge management (KM) has emerged as an important field that provides the rationale for managing knowledge in order to achieve the increased productivity of the organization. Baskerville and Alina (2006) note that knowledge management has become such an important concept that many executives today characterize their most important task as leveraging organizational knowledge (p.83). It has been recognized the KM plays a crucial role in the accomplishment of organizational goals and KM has therefore become one of the necessary tools for modern organizations. Against this background, this paper will set out to discuss the role that knowledge management plays in improving the performance of operations departments of an organization. The paper will demonstrate how KM strategies can help an organization to improve its performance and therefore remain competitive. Overview of Knowledge Management Knowledge is a justified personal belief and it is a mix of framed experiences, values, contextual information, and expert insights. It provides the framework through which new information or experience is evaluated or incorporated. Knowledge is a very important and strategic resource for an organization. However, it can only be utilized properly if an organization makes an effort to discovery patterns and rules where knowledge works. This can only be achieved through the proper m anagement of the knowledge; a task that is essential for a business to improve its efficiency and effectiveness in delivering of services and goods to its clients. Knowledge management is defined by King (2009, p.4) as the planning, organizing, motivating, and controlling of people, processes and systems in the organization to ensure that its knowledge-related assets are improved and effectively employed. KM aims to increase competition between organizations and increase the level of effective decision making. Management of the knowledge base is a very important issue and King (2009) proposes that for KM to be optimal, a large number of employees should be relied upon to contribute their knowledge. Relying on specialists to enter and manage the knowledge base greatly limits the effectiveness of KM Systems. Role of KM in Performance Improvement KM helps the organization to identify the factors which lead to superior performance and capitalize or make further improvements on these asp ects. Baskerville and Alina (2006) state that for many organizations, these factors include: organizational creativity, high quality of products and services offered by the organization, and enhanced effectiveness of operations.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The operations department can use KM to identify these factors and once this has been done, the department is able to make improvements on them and hence increase its productivity. KM plays a very important role in enabling the department to make the best use of organizational knowledge. This kind of knowledge is very beneficial since most of it is laboriously developed over a long duration of time through the trial and error method. Baskerville and Alina (2006) state that most organizations fail to make good use of this knowledge because they lack KM systems and therefore, the organization does not know what it knows. Decision making is one of the most important roles of management in any organization. The quality of decisions made often determines the future success of a business and with this consideration, many organization invest resources in measures to assist in the decision making process. KM plays a very major role in the decision making process of operations departments (King 2009). Normally, knowledge has a more critical function in decision making process than resource and data. KM helps to sort the knowledge and define it as accurate and non-accurate knowledge. The managers are then able to make the best decision since they can identify the contexts where the knowledge works by using KM. Increased productivity is a core goal for all organizations and for this to be achieved; the performance of each employee has to be optimal. KM assists in increasing employee performance since it increases the interaction between co-workers. There is therefore a higher level of kno wledge sharing among employees and this increases the chances of organizational goals being met. Employees are able to keep track of projects in progress and easily obtain the assistance of their peers though KM. As has been noted, the productivity of the operations department depends on the ability of the individuals who make up the departmental team. Therefore, the productivity of the department is dependent on the skills possessed by the employees. When some employees lack proper skills, the total output of the entire department is reduced. KM assists in ensuring that all employees possess the desired level of skills. This is achieved since KM assists in the sharing of knowledge between employees and at the same time the prevention of non-educated employees (Baskerville Alina 2006).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Role of Knowledge Management in Improving Performance of Operations Departments specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In an increasingly competitive market, innovation and creativity have become the defining characteristics of successful organizations. Big profitable organizations such as Microsoft and Wal-Mart are continuously looking for new ideas and innovations in order to stay ahead of their competition. Innovation has today become paramount to the growth of a company and in most cases it comes from individuals in the company. This innovation can then be utilized to advance the goals and objectives of an organization. Skinner (2007) asserts that the presence of innovation alone is not good enough; innovations must be disseminated and reach’ target users for uptake and utilization to be possible (p.53). KM assists in the innovation process of the department in a number of ways. To begin with, it increases knowledge sharing among employees which results in the generation of new ideas and innovations by the employees. KM also captures the reasons behind the adoption of disseminated innovation and the practitioners are therefore made aware of new innovations and the relative advantages that they offer. Skinner (2007) reveals that previous experiences as articulated in the KM system will inform users current practices. In addition to this, they will integrate their existing knowledge as they adopt and implement new innovations. Many organizations are faced with the need to improve their organizational performance so that they can acquire greater benefits and better cope with the changes they constantly face. A chief consideration in KM is that the best outcomes can be achieved if the organization is engaged in a continuous learning process. This means that the efficiency and effectiveness of the operations department can only be guaranteed if the members of the department are willing to learn before, during and after activities. Chen and An-Pin (2006) suggests that KM enhances the learning process of the individual through the provision of the ne cessary information. It then focuses on knowledge flows and the process of creation, organization, and retrieval of knowledge. The capability of workers is enhanced since their core competencies are supported by KM. By using staff knowledge, the department is able to improve its processes and therefore operate in the most efficient and effective way. Businesses are constantly seeking ways to decrease their operational costs and therefore increase their profit margins. KM offers a good way of achieving this by helping to get rid of some of the activities that previously cost the organization. Some KM systems automate tasks previously performed manually such as the training of new staff members therefore decreasing the costs associated with such actions (Chen An-Pin 2006).Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In a company that has a high number of new employees either due to high rate of employee turnover or business growth that necessitates hiring new employees, such a KM assists greatly in keeping training costs manageable. The KM also makes sure that knowledge transfer takes place in a seamless manner and the new employees are able to gain the necessary knowledge to work efficiently in the shortest time possible. Profitable growth strategies can only be achieved by understanding the needs of the customers and responding appropriately to them. Many organizations therefore invest significant resources in an attempt to increase the knowledge of their managers on the key drivers of customer satisfaction. Chen and An-Pin (2006) highlights that when business leaders have an expanded knowledge of the key drivers of customer satisfaction and business process excellence, the can engage in strategies that expand their consumer base and hence increase the companys profitability. The relationship that the organization has with its customer base is also important and organizations seek ways to improve these relations. KM helps to achieve these goals by assisting in the development of customer relationships and therefore increasing shareholder equity. A common reality for most organization is that key staff can leave at any time. The loss of such key personnel is normally accompanied by a loss of knowledge which is of critical use to the organization. Shaw and Baker (2003) states that this knowledge erosion which is caused by people leaving the organization or even changing jobs within it can be damaging to the organization since knowledge plays a crucial role in decision making and running the organization. KM can help deal with this by enabling a department to have a memory that goes beyond the people in it. This knowledge is archived and remains with the specific department even if the key staff is lost. Discussion While many organizations acknowledge the importance of KM, many of them do not know how to go about implementing it. Razi and Abdul-Karim (2010) reveal that contemporary organizations have spent billions of dollars in the implementation of KM and from this, only marginal improvements have been attained with failure rates at the implementation stage ranging up to 70%. The risks of failure during KM implementations are therefore high and if an organization is to reap the benefits of KM, ways of mitigating these risks need to be looked at. Research indicates that there is a relationship between workers and successful KM implementation and as such, organizations need to determine the individual members responsible for KM implementation. These members are responsible for the creation, promotion and identification of knowledge in the organization and their role in KM is crucial. Having a KM system in place is a good move but it is not enough; there also needs to be a metric for measuring the relative success of KM strategies. Chen (2008) suggest s that performance evaluation should be an integral part of the KM plan of any company. Such performance evaluation will help the department to better understand its KM level and offer a basis to improve its KM. Conclusion Knowledge management has emerged as a potent way of increasing the efficiency of an organization. It helps organizations to accomplish their objectives and remain profitable in an increasingly competitive market. This paper set out to discuss the role that knowledge management plays in improving the performance of operations departments in an organization. The paper began by describing what KM is and its relative significance in organizational growth. The paper has demonstrated how a lack of KM can seriously hinder operational departments. It has revealed that for knowledge to be of optimal use, it has to be shared among various parties in the organization. The development of skills and professional qualification in the companys staff can also be assisted by KM. W hile some organizations may have questions as to whether it is worthwhile to invest in KM, this paper has demonstrated that here are numerous benefits that the operations department can get from KM implementation. References Baskerville, R Alina, D 2006, â€Å"The theoretical foundations of knowledge management†, Knowledge Management Research Practice, 4(1): 83–105. Chen, M An-Pin, C 2006, â€Å"Knowledge management performance evaluation: a decade review from 1995 to 2004†, Journal of Information Science, 32 (1): 17–38. King, WR 2009, Knowledge Management and Organizational Learning, Springer, Boston. Chen, R 2008, An Evaluation Method for Enterprise Knowledge Management Performance Based on Linguistic Variable, International Seminar on Business and Information Management, Shandong, China Razi, M Abdul-Karim, N 2010, An Instrument to Assess Organizational Readiness to Implement Knowledge Management Process, Proceedings Knowledge Management 5th Intern ational Conference, Georgia. Shaw, D Baker, B 2003, â€Å"Achieving closure through knowledge management strategy. Electronic Journal on Knowledge Management, 1(2): 197-204. Skinner, K 2007, â€Å"Developing a tool to measure knowledge exchange outcomes†, The Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation, 22(1): 49–73.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Find out What the MILF Acronym Means

Find out What the MILF Acronym Means Similar to a cougar but not exactly the same, the acronym MILF has been a part of our cultural lexicon since it popped up in the 1999 hit movie American Pie. It refers to a woman, specifically a mom, who becomes an object of sexual fantasy for her childrens teenaged friends. Or, to be blunt, a mother Id like to f***. FILFs and DILFs Yes, there are male equivalents to the MILF, but its interesting to note that what makes these dads sexy are their parenting skills. In other words, DILFs are attractive in part because of their nurturing qualities, not despite them. Cultural Origins Its impossible to pinpoint the first time MILF was used, but stories about the fantasy- and the reality- of young men having sexual relationships with older women have been played out time and again throughout popular culture. Aristophanes addressed the subject as early as B.C.E. 391 in his comedy, Women of the Assembly, in which the women of Athens take over the government and decree that no man can have sex with a young woman without first having sex with an elderly one. Nearly 2,000 years later, American writer Edith Wharton pens The Age of Innocence, a novel of the social stratifications that exist among the upper-crust denizens of Gilded Age New York City. Its major plot point centers on the love affair between young lawyer Newland Archer and his fiances cousin, the 30-year-old Countess Olenska, who at the time would have been considered an old maid. And we have countless films that tackle the topic, from The Graduate to Harold and Maude to Bull Durham. Cougar vs. MILF Many of the women in these books and movies could be referred to as cougars, a term that describes a woman over the age of about 35 who exhibits so-called predatory behavior toward men who are 10 or more years younger than they are. Unlike MILFs, cougars dont necessarily have children, and they are usually the ones doing the seducing. Implicit in the definition of a MILF is that she is primarily a fantasy. In addition, a MILF is not just any older woman, she is a mom, more specifically, a hot mom, a mother whose childrens friends find sexually attractive. American Pie Probably the first time that MILF achieved buzzword status was in the 1999 coming-of-age movie American Pie. In it, comedic actress Jennifer Coolidge plays the attractive mother of a teenage boy named Stifler. One of Stiflers rivals, Paul Finch, finds himself lusting after Stiflers mom, and although she plays her part for laughs, Coolidge infuses her performance with enough seductiveness that Stiflers mom became the prototypical MILF. The term was so ubiquitous that the band Fountains of Wayne were inspired to write a 2003 song riffing on the topic called Stacys Mom, complete with a video that borders on the scandalous. Congratulatory or Derogatory? By and large, in our culture, women are seen as vital only so long as they remain fertile. Once they enter menopause, many women are treated as invisible- and they begin to feel invisible as well. Which is why some women consider it a compliment to be called a MILF. After all, it confers a sense of prolonged youth, and the ability to still wield sexual power over men. But the term is also problematic. First of all, it qualifies the extent to which an older woman is considered attractive. In other words, you may look good, but you look good for an old hen- just dont go thinking youre still a spring chicken. More troubling, however, is the fact that the teenagers who find their friends mothers attractive are underage. Sure, one could argue, MILFs do not necessarily take advantage of their childrens friends. They are simply the objects of their fantasies. Yet, in American Pie, Stiflers mom does end up having sex with Paul Finch. Imagine if the roles were reversed and Stiflers mom was Stiflers dad- hed be arrested for statutory rape and branded a pedophile.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Response Paper for Deloria's chapter,"Patriotic Indians and Essay

Response Paper for Deloria's chapter,"Patriotic Indians and Identities of Revolution" - Essay Example The chapter delves deeply into various incidences, events and practices that have centralized Indian culture at the heart of American people. Symbolism plays a critical role in every aspect of Indian culture that the author gives credence to for serving the purpose of uniting Americans. Indian culture plays a significant role in the formation of American culture as it is seen as the unifying factor. In this chapter, the author has continued to advance the thesis of the book, which essentially is â€Å"striving to the Indian-like.† Whites in the United States have been depicted as having embraced the Indian culture and made significant effort to look like Native Indians. Deloria takes his readers back to the historic times when the famous Boston Tea Party served as the turning point of America’s journey to independence. The author notes that Americans often disguised themselves as Indians whenever there was a need to express dissatisfaction. The author points out in this chapter that crowds would don in Indian style before demonstrating their dissatisfaction of the political and economic scenarios. For instance, the revolutionaries disguised themselves as Indians and dumped all the tea into the Boston harbor. The disguise was not intended to lay blame on the Indians or complicate the matter over to them (Deloria 34), but a demonstration of unity. The Indian dress s omehow served as uniting symbol for them. The author also suggests that the donning of Indian garb served to lay the first foundation of patriotism. He shows that though oblivious of the role it would serve, the donning of the Indian garb to protest against the British served to lay the foundation of independence. The white Americans from them onwards protested against laws that were demeaning. With such foundation laid, other similar foundations geared towards liberation later followed. The Tammany Society was formed in the aftermath of the Boston Tea Party. The society

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Segmentation, Targeting & Positioning Case Study

Segmentation, Targeting & Positioning - Case Study Example Other criteria that will be considered is the frequency and sustainability of each market: while the need for ornamental art might be erratic, a long-term advertising campaign would provide a much more stable demand and is therefore a more profitable market. Related products can be grouped initially into â€Å"commercial† and â€Å"non-commercial.† Commercial products are mostly composed of advertising and similar artwork, which can be further broken up into long-term advertising campaigns, singular advertisements, and miscellaneous items. Non-commercial products would include decorative artwork and illustrated content. Products are defined mostly by the need for the products that are produced by the aforementioned artist. Purchasing habits, as dictated by influences such as socio-economic status, demographics, location, and other psychologically-influenced factors will also be taken into account. The commercial art would mostly be targeted at business and advertising agencies. As the artist in question has a degree, he is therefore more likely to be hired by an advertising agency or business for long-term campaigns. This makes long-term campaigns the most profitable market, as individual art for businesses can be sporadic. Also, singular advertisements are not so dependent on the stipulation that the artist has a degree, making it a less-profitable, though still primary, market. Ornamental and content-based artwork will be a secondary market. Ornamental artwork and content-based artwork can be sold to individuals. The price range required in order to make decorative artwork profitable as a primary limits the market to wealthier individuals, but as a secondary market, there is opportunity for smaller works to be offered to culturally-aware individuals throughout the upper- and middle-class. Also, there is significant competition in this field, which makes it a less profitable market. Content-based artwork, which includes web-based art

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Concept of Delinquency Essay Example for Free

Concept of Delinquency Essay The National Criminal Justice Reference Service defines the offenses committed by status offenders as the following: â€Å"behaviors that were law violations only if committed by a person of juvenile status. Such behaviors include running away from home, ungovernability (being beyond the control of parents or guardians), truancy, status liquor law violations (e. g. , underage drinking, and other miscellaneous offenses that apply only to minors (e. g. , curfew violations and tobacco offenses. In the Federal Criminal System, juvenile delinquents are juvenile offenders processed in the Federal justice system, with charges of delinquency, which are in violation of state or federal laws. Looking at the definitions of these two, there seems to be a very thin line dividing the two which is why the justice system treats them similarly, which is by having the cases processed by the juvenile courts. From the point of view of the law enforcers, the treatment should be the same as both are violating certain laws and regulations. The other sectors however believe that the treatment should not be the same as status offenses are considered as minor offenses while the juvenile delinquency offenses are of graver status. Therefore the status offenders should not be processed in the same manner as the juvenile delinquents. The latter are considered to have more serious violations of either state or federal laws or municipal or local ordinances. A master’s study that was archived with the Central Connecticut State University Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice supported the claim that the treatment should not be the same. A review of a state program created to deal with status offenders was made and here it is asserted that the treatment of status offenders should not be the same. The paper asserts that status offenders should not be punished without having committed crimes and that they should not be referred to the courts as they have not committed crimes. Further, the juvenile courts should not be used to order children into placement. Why are males more delinquent than females? Is it a matter of lifestyle, culture or physical properties? A study of gender and delinquency entitled Crime Delinquency in the United States presents official statistics that suggest that males are significantly more criminal and delinquent than females. Data show that the teenage gender ratio for serious violent crime arrests is approximately 6 to 1, and for property crime approximately 2. 5 to 1, male to female. Similarly, the study by Melissa Sickmund (Juvenile Justice Bulletin, Oct. 2000) indicates that the males are involved in about 8 in 10 delinquency cases each year. Although they constitute only half of the juvenile population, males were involved in well over 70% of person, property, and public order offense cases and in 85% of drug law violation cases handled by the courts in 1997. The male proportions were somewhat higher in 1988. Here it is seen that males are more likely to be â€Å"frequently delinquent† than females and more likely to engage in serious felony-type acts. The explanations range from the biological to the sociological to the social. Each of the reasons identified in the question is a factor to consider: lifestyle, culture or physical properties. As to the lifestyle, males are more extroverted and therefore more exposed to the environment outside the homes. Even in the modern non-patriarchal societies, the males are seen to perform more roles outside of the house. Culture is an important reason too. Our general notion of the females relates to being mothers and therefore also naturally clinging to maternal support. This natural tendency explains why females will more likely not want to commit crimes. The physical or biological properties are also helpful in explaining this gender issue relative to delinquency. In their physical development, females are more expressive of their emotions, more open to family bonding and ties compared to males. Females have the tendency to be more closely monitored by the parents compared to the males. Should there be mandatory incarceration for chronic juvenile offenders? Those who are in favor or mandatory incarceration are of the opinion that offenders, regardless of gender or age should be incarcerated and that chronic offenders should be punished on a mandatory basis in order to reduce and deter crime . On the other hand, those who do not favor mandatory incarceration are of the opinion that for reform to take place, rehabilitation and not incarceration is the remedy. The paper written by Joseph B. Sanborn Jr. asserts that the traditional primary purpose of the juvenile justice system, which is rehabilitating young offenders, should be preserved. Because of the problem of excluding some juvenile delinquents from being prosecuted in the juvenile courts but only in the criminal courts, Sanborn believes that there must be developed a rationale for this exclusion. Summarizing the arguments for or against mandatory incarceration, a study on Serious Juvenile Offenders , quoting Schuster (1978), observes that the serious violent delinquent is an insignificant part of the total population and only a small part of the delinquent population. Because of their small numbers it is more appropriate to rely on the traditional juvenile court waiver mechanisms than to create new laws for the special handling of serious juvenile offenders. From another perspective, however, although serious juvenile offenders are few, they cause considerable social harm, such that measures must be taken to rotect society from them. This view, combined with an emphasis on crime reduction through incapacitation, has led to a policy of mandatory incarceration for serious juvenile offenders in some States. Another view holds that the incapacitation of chronic juvenile offenders will not substantially reduce the crime problem, because so many serious delinquent acts go undetected according to self-report data; however, the same studies suggest that the more frequent and serious violators eventually become â€Å"official† delinquents. Another perspective neither minimizes the problem of serious juvenile crime nor suggests that the rehabilitative goal of juvenile justice be abandoned. It advocates that juvenile justice develop programs that will facilitate change in serious juvenile offenders while providing adequate protection for society. While research can provide more information on what does and does work with such offenders, youth policy ultimately rests on ethical considerations that lie beyond the province of the legal and behavioral science realms. References http://www.ncjrs.gov/app/publications/Abstract.aspx?id=88858 http://www.ncjrs.gov/html/ojjdp/jjbul2000_10_3/contents.html

Friday, November 15, 2019

Jack Kerouac and The Beat Essay -- Biography Biographies Essays

Jack Kerouac and The Beat      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Jack Kerouac, was born on March 12, 1922 in Lowell, Massachusetts, as the youngest of three children.   Jack decided to be a writer after his brother Gerard died at the age of nine.   From the life and death experience of his brother's death, and the Catholic faith of his childhood, he developed a spiritual tendency in his character that would last throughout his life.   The fact that Kerouac was a spiritual "seeker," may be the most vital aspect of his life.   In post WWII, Eisenhower America, Jack Kerouac came from a poor rustic industrial community to change the face of American Culture forever.   He chronicled the wild rebellious culture of "the Beats" in the late 50's and early 60's, paving the way for a more accepting American Society and the tolerance of alternative lifestyles enjoyed today.         Ã‚  Ã‚   As a Roman Catholic who grew up in Calvinist New England, Jack took in a double dose of guilt and sensitivity to sin.   In his book Dr. Sax his first "bout with sexual desire, masturbation, is interrupted-in a virtual parody of crime and punishment- by the news that his dog had been hit by a car."   Jack probably could have handled this "double dose" trebled by the death of his brother.   Jack gave up Catholicism early on, but carried inside him the "sad peasant mystery of Quebec Catholics "(59 Kerouac).   The Catholic association of Kerouac's thought are as plain as an idea of his total incompatibility with Catholicism, but sometimes mistaken for it" the idea that the suffering oppression are saintly"(17, Victor-Levy).   Kerouac rejected materialism and liberalism of middle class America; for example he was not political or religious but emotional (Rumsey).         Ã‚  Ã‚   Jack r... ...the Beats" in the late fifties and early sixties, paving the way for a more accepting American society and the tolerance of alternative lifestyles we enjoy today. I.Introduction II.America Prior to the Beats   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A.Puritan Culture and Calvinism   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   B.Post WWII Culture   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   C. Consumption   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   D.Sacrifice for the Common Good III.Kerouac's Impacts on the Fifties and Sixties Through his Writings   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A.Glorified Individuality   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   B.Promoted Cultural Diversity   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   C.Romanticized Alternate Lifestyles   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   D.Acceptance of Recreational and Personal Substance Abuse IV.Society's Alteration as a Result of Jack Kerouac   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A.More Accepting American Society   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   B.the Romantic Vision of the American Rebel   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   C.Teen Rebellion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   D.Popularized Aspects of Classic Literature V.Conclusion

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Introducing Speech of UHCL Student

I introduce myself as ________ currently employed as a _______- The right information and the means to use it intelligently can provide an organization an edge over its competitors. Businesses are increasingly looking towards technology not only to realize their short term goals but also to place them strategically for their long term success. This strategy and smart application of technology in Business Processes captivates me.As the process of globalization has reached the frontiers of business, education and technology; it is the only indispensable way for the global organizations to face the challenges of the ever evolving field of technology. I aspire, therefore, to pursue Masters in Management Information Systems at your esteemed University. Throughout my education, I always exhibited a high level of competency and proficiency in my schooling as well as my under graduation.Having scored excellent scores in my higher secondary education, I went on to equip myself with an undergr aduate degree in Instrumentation and Control Engineering, at GNITS, Hyderabad. My career curriculum enhanced my knowledge in subjects like C Programming, Data Structures, Control Systems, Neural Networks, Analytical Instrumentation, Microprocessors, Management Science and Digital Signal Processing. It was during this period that my teachers instilled in me a strong inclination towards Information Management and Computer Programming.During my final year undergraduate course, I presented my project on ‘Color Image Recognition Using Neural Networks'. My project involved coding a programme using MATLAB technology which solves a pattern recognition problem and has a relevance to the filed of Medical Diagnostics, Satellite Imagery and Remote Sensing. As an undergraduate student I also organized an ISTE student chapter symposium, quizzo and mini-project competition. This was made a possibility owing to my excellence in communication skills, technical know-how, analytical aptitude and an intelligent outlook.After my undergraduate education, the strong desire to understand the business process and the requirements of the industry propelled me to accept an employment before pursuing graduate studies. My employment as a Software Engineer at Accenture, a global fortune 500 company, demonstrates my overall aptitude.I found this to be a very good opportunity to gain training and real time work experience in the Information Management domain with primary focus on DW/BI – Data warehousing/ Business Intelligence. Having worked for over 2.5+ years, now I have gained good knowledge on the overall SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle), picked up a few additional skills like Data Modeling techniques, SQL/PLSQL, and experienced with different flavors of UNIX,. This exposure to DW/BI sphere even fostered my interests further in Information Systems Management. Accenture, with its rich heritage in consulting and technology has provided me ample opportunities to gain doma in specific experience and to the ability to provide innovative BI solutions.My project in DW/BI capability was in the consumer goods and services domain for Astra Zeneca, a client, which is a leading pharmaceutical company. My project at _____ was based on an onshore – offshore operating model and it required me to interact closely with the onsite team as well as the client team. This helped me gain new insight into oracle BI tools and also resulted in a training stint at the onsite (Milan) . The time I spent Onsite, in Milan, broadened my vision, had great value additions and helped me become a fully rounded DW/BI professional.Working in the Information Management domain enabled me to gain confidence and to be appreciative of the subjects of MIS and also encouraged me to shoulder bigger responsibilities. My competency and leadership skills were rewarded by my company which awarded me with prestigious Young Achievers Award (2008) and also Best Team Award as mark of my outsta nding performance and contribution. I have done well in all my engagements and have always delivered to the utmost satisfaction of the client.I was successful in taking up Oracle vendor certifications with 100%. I feel it a privilege to have come up first in elocution, debates and other language proficiency competitions held at a district level during my school days. I also showed an aptitude towards innovative skills by participating and winning several prizes in science exhibitions and other technical events. During my under graduation I presented several technical papers which were highly appreciated. I also took active part and  volunteered for social service and community events. All these activities have helped me to develop into multifaceted personality with strong interpersonal skills.I aspire to pursue M. S. in Management Information Systems (MS-MIS) because of my strong interest in information technology and its applications to business settings. I have seen how informat ion systems can serve as a bridge between technology and business by supporting its planning, operations and critical decision making.Now through MIS program I desire to refine my skills and deliver technology-driven business solutions for global organizations to meet their strategic objectives. I believe that MIS program at University of Houston, Clear Lake will enhance my knowledge and help me greatly in attaining my career goals. Amidst the brilliant academic setting of UHCL, I desire to gain the expertise and eventually make an indispensable contribution to the field of Information Systems. It is with sincere hope that I look forward to be a part of UHCL

Sunday, November 10, 2019

The Silver Linings Playbook Chapter 13

Do You Like Foreign Films? Cliff asks about Veronica's dinner party in a way that lets me know my mother has already discussed it with him – probably in an effort to get me to wear the collared shirts she bought me at the Gap, which Mom loves and I do not love. As soon as I sit down in the brown recliner, Cliff broaches the subject, pinching his chin the way he does every time he asks me a question my mother has already answered. Even though I now recognize Cliff's tell, I am excited to let him know he was right about wearing the shirt my brother had given me. Surprisingly, he does not want to talk about what clothes I wore; he wants to talk about Tiffany, and he keeps asking what I thought about her, how she made me feel, and if I enjoyed her company. At first I am polite and answer by saying that Tiffany was nice and well dressed and had a pretty good body, but Cliff keeps pushing for the truth like therapists do, because they all have some sort of psychic ability that allows them to see through your lies, and therefore they know you will eventually tire of the talking game and will offer up the truth. Finally I say, â€Å"Well, the thing is – and I don't like saying this – but Tiffany is kind of slutty.† â€Å"What do you mean?† Cliff asks me. â€Å"I mean she's sort of a whore.† Cliff sits forward a little. He looks surprised, and uncomfortable enough to make me feel uncomfortable. â€Å"On what do you base your observation? Did she dress provocatively?† â€Å"No. I told you already. She wore a nice dress. But as soon as we finished our dessert, she asked me to walk her home.† â€Å"What's wrong with that?† â€Å"Nothing. But at the end of the walk she asked me to have sexual intercourse with her, and not in those words.† Cliff removes his fingers from his chin, sits back, and says, â€Å"Oh.† â€Å"I know. It shocked me too, especially because she knows I'm married.† â€Å"So did you?† â€Å"Did I what?† â€Å"Have sexual intercourse with Tiffany?† At first Cliff's words don't register, but when they do, I become angry. â€Å"No!† â€Å"Why not?† I cannot believe Cliff has actually asked me such a question, especially since he is a happily married man himself, but I dignify the inquiry with an answer anyway. â€Å"Because I love my wife! That's why!† â€Å"That's what I thought,† he says, which makes me feel a little better. He is only testing my morals, which is perfectly understandable, because people outside of mental institutions need to have good morals so that the world will continue to work without any major interruptions – and happy endings will flourish. Then I say, â€Å"I don't even know why Tiffany would ask me to have sex with her anyway. I mean, I'm not even an attractive guy; she's pretty and could do a lot better than me for sure. So I'm thinking now that maybe she's a nymphomaniac. What do you think?† â€Å"I don't know whether she is a nymphomaniac or not,† he says. â€Å"But I do know that sometimes people say and do what they think others want them to. Maybe Tiffany really did not want to have sex with you, but only offered something she thought you would find valuable, so you would value her.† I think about his explanation for a second and then say, â€Å"So you're saying that Tiffany thought I wanted to have sex with her?† â€Å"Not necessarily.† He grabs his chin again. â€Å"Your mother told me you came home with makeup on your shirt. Do you mind if I ask how that happened?† Reluctantly, because I don't like to gossip, I tell him about Tiffany's wearing her wedding ring even after her husband died, and the hugging and the crying we did in front of her parents' house. Cliff nods and says, â€Å"It seems like Tiffany really needs a friend, and that she thought having sex with you would make you want to be her friend. But tell me again how you handled the situation.† So I tell him exactly what led us to the hug and how I let her get makeup on my Hank Baskett jersey and – â€Å"Where did you get a Hank Baskett jersey?† he asks me. â€Å"I told you. My brother gave it to me.† â€Å"That's what you wore to the dinner party?† â€Å"Yeah, just like you told me to.† He smiles and even chuckles, which surprises me. Then he adds, â€Å"What did your friends say?† â€Å"Ronnie said that Hank Baskett is the man.† â€Å"Hank Baskett is the man. I bet he catches at least seven touchdowns this season.† â€Å"Cliff, you're an Eagles fan?† He does the Eagles chant – â€Å"E!-A!-G!-L!-E!-S! EAGLES!† – which makes me laugh because he is my therapist and I did not know therapists could like NFL football. â€Å"Well, now that I know you too bleed green, we'll have to talk Birds off the clock,† Cliff says. â€Å"So you really let Tiffany cry her makeup onto your brand-new Hank Baskett jersey?† â€Å"Yeah, and it's one with stitched-on numbers, not the cheap iron-ons.† â€Å"Authentic Hank Baskett jersey!† he says. â€Å"That was certainly very kind of you, Pat. It sounds like Tiffany only really needed a hug, which you gave her because you are a nice guy.† I can't help smiling, because I really am trying hard to be a nice guy. â€Å"Yeah, I know, but now she's always following me all over town.† â€Å"What do you mean?† So I tell Cliff that since the dinner party, whenever I put on a trash bag and leave my house for a run, Tiffany is always waiting outside in her little running outfit and pink headband. â€Å"Very politely, I told her that I do not like running with other people and asked her to leave me alone, but she ignored my request and simply jogged five feet behind me for my entire run. The next day, she did the same thing, and she keeps on doing it. Somehow she's figured out my schedule, and she's always there when I leave my house an hour before sunset – ready to shadow me wherever I jog. I run fast, and she stays with me. I run on dangerous streets, and she follows. She never tires out either – and just keeps running down the street when I finally stop in front of my house. She doesn't even say hello or goodbye.† â€Å"Why don't you want her to follow you?† Cliff asks. So I ask him how his wife, Sonja, would feel if some hot woman shadowed him every time he went for a run. He smiles the way guys do when they are alone and talking about women in a sexual way, and then he says, â€Å"So you think Tiffany is hot?† This surprises me because I did not know therapists were allowed to talk like guys do when they are buddies, and I wonder if this means that Cliff thinks of me as his buddy now. â€Å"Sure, she's hot,† I say. â€Å"But I'm married.† He grabs his chin and says, â€Å"How long has it been since you've seen Nikki?† I tell him I don't know. â€Å"Maybe a couple of months,† I say. â€Å"Do you really believe that?† he asks, grabbing his chin again. When I say I do, I hear the yelling in my voice and even allow the f-word to slip out. Immediately I feel bad because Cliff was talking to me like a friend, and sane people should not yell and curse at their buddies. â€Å"I'm sorry,† I say when Cliff starts to look scared. â€Å"It's okay,† he says, and forces a smile. â€Å"I should believe that you really mean what you tell me.† He scratches his head for a second and then says, â€Å"My wife loves foreign films. Do you like foreign films?† â€Å"With subtitles?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"I hate those types of films.† â€Å"Me too,† Cliff says. â€Å"Mostly because – â€Å" â€Å"No happy endings.† â€Å"Exactly,† Cliff says, pointing a brown finger at my face. â€Å"So depressing most of the time.† I nod wholeheartedly in agreement, even though I haven't been to see any movies for a long time, and won't until Nikki returns, because I am now watching the movie of my life as I live it. â€Å"My wife used to beg me to take her to see these foreign films with subtitles all the time,† Cliff says. â€Å"It seemed like every day she would ask me if we might go to see a foreign film, until I broke down and started taking her. Every Wednesday night we'd go to the Ritz movie theater and see some depressing movie. And you know what?† â€Å"What?† â€Å"After a year we simply stopped going.† â€Å"Why?† â€Å"She stopped asking.† â€Å"Why?† â€Å"I don't know. But maybe if you take an interest in Tiffany, ask her to run with you and maybe to go out to dinner a few times – maybe after a few weeks, she will grow tired of the chase and leave you alone. Let her get what she wants, and maybe she will not want it anymore. Understand?† I do understand, but cannot help asking, â€Å"Do you think that will really work?† And Cliff shrugs in a way that makes me believe it will.

Friday, November 8, 2019

buy custom Plenum Enclosures and Site Survey Analyzers essay

buy custom Plenum Enclosures and Site Survey Analyzers essay A plenum can be defined as an opening or a space left deliberately during construction for the purpose of air circulation within a building (Missouri Geneaology, 2011). Since introducing plenum enclosures for wireless LAN access points does not interfere in any way with air circulation within a building, it makes it more acceptable to install them within the plenum. This is because they are installed in a manner that presents them as new ceiling tiles of the building. Wireless local network access points are always vulnerable to interferences from various sources. Therefore, there is a need to secure them. Modern technology dictates that ceiling is one of the most reliable ways to do that. Most of modern structures have plenum enclosures that which appear as protruding features on tiles. This is the most common mode of installation where the device appear as if one ceiling tile has been replaced with another one with protruding antennas. This is commonly found in buildings with suspe nded ceilings. The main advantage of such installations is that it is easy to install plenum enclosures for wireless LAN access points within the tiles without necessarily introducing new features that could be obstructive (Missouri Geneaology, 2011). A plenum enclosure for wireless LAN access points keeps the access points away from the floor by raising them higher. This ensures that they are situated further from the ground, which is commonly known to be a common source of interferences. Fixing the system at such positions means that there will be a stronger connection thus boosting reliability on the local network connections (Thompson). These installations also eliminate other common disturbance caused on soft wares such as routers found in desktop hardware. Plenum enclosures for wireless LAN access points should be installed with the antenna being able to rotate upon the enclosures. This gives a stronger and a wider coverage; thus, allowing the network perform better within the intended surroundings. This implies that the antenna should be placed strategically to allow their rotation for preferential coverage, meaning that operators can tilt them in a specific manner to enhance wide coverage (Missouri Geneaology, 2011). Plenum enclosure for wireless LAN access points are very important because they reduce installations cost by huge margins. For instance, it is costly to use wired LAN because they require many wire connections. This is for obvious reasons that the wire cables need to be bought at high prices, in addition to their lengths. These installations arealso untidy because they introduce many cables on the desk and office floors. Plenum enclosure for wireless LAN access points are very common in modern networks within many buildings because they provide better methods to IT specialists to create better connection infrastructures. This device uses small radio frequency transceivers, which are, distributed the target area thus establishing a network within the area. The device improves radio frequency, in addition to preserving surveying of a site. The cost of these installations is not discouraging if the services they offer are anything to go by. Single devices may cost up to $150, which is not very high if weighed against the services. It is also worthy noting that the device is not subject for subsequent replacements. They are durable and implying that their cost should be of less concern to potential buyers. Most companies that deal in selling the equipments offer free installation services in the form of after sale-services thus cutting further into the overall cost. Site Survey Analyzers Site Survey can be defined as wireless communication devices designed to provide wireless solutions. This technological application is sometimes referred to as wireless site survey; it involves visiting a site to check its RF interference and then in establishing reliable position for installing access points. This technology has a number of merits and demerits although it is obviously more beneficial. Site Survey Analyzers are very effective in verifying RF coverage. It does so by showing how an end user is using a network by use of connection speed, packet data statistics, and throughput data. This culminates into establishment of a full end-user WI-FI associated with all critical RF. Metrics obtained from the end user are also obtained easily using Site survey analyzers (Unknown Author, 2011). In addressing the end user requirements further, the Site Survey Analyzers enables users to design pre-deployment probabilities, obtain customized survey reports, and integrate with the professional analyzers of obtained spectrums. This also aids users in verifying the requirements of end user networks and end user capacity planning. AirMagnet is such a site survey analyzer that enables user to do a WI-FI surveying of a site. It has the ability to identify a signal, noise, and even performance of the user. According to AirMagnet, Site Survey Analyzers can be installed in form of multi-floor fashion for outdoor survey, voice verification, network verification, and RF spectrum analyysis (Fluke Networks, 2011). Site Survey Analyzers come in many languages meaning that they are flexible and thus can serve people of different ethnic backgrounds. However, this is limited to the most common languages such as German, English, and Japanese among other. Therefore, this is a disadvantage for people who would prefer using their languages because they may not be included in the Site Survey Analyzers. The synthesis of hybrid site surveys is also instrumental in improving the quality of services from the Site Survey Analyzers. This is because the hybrids allow simultaneous active and passive surveys thus boosting their efficiency. Specific survey tools such as Ekahau mobile survey offers a good WI-FI tool for tablet and smart phone users (Unknown Author, 2011). This is strengthened by the fact that the Site Survey can detect and locate any interference that could be coming from a non-WI-FI gadget. Most users acknowledge that this helps in fixing the problem in time thus making a network more reliable. For instance, Ekahaus Wi-Fi 802.11 has the ability to analyze WLAN spectrum thus allowing end users to detect and visualize mishaps, which could be fatal to a network. The decision by the Ekahau Inc. in 2009 to introduce an optimized spectrum analysis tool Wi-Fi (802.11 WLAN) to its site survey was a positive move because it can be used simultaneously with Ekahau Site Survey for spectrum analysis (Unknown Author, 2011). This has made detecting and eliminating interferences easier and timely thus sustaining services obtained from various networks. The dual band spectrum analyzer can handle up frequency band of up to 2.4 GHz, thus ensuring that users can design and maintain performing WI-FI networks for voice data sensors, location and applications and real-time applications. Site Survey Analyzers are very important for users because they ensure timely detection of interferences by external entities. This is crucial in fixing the problem on time thus preventing any further damage. There are different service providers such as the AirMagnet and Ekahau Inc. However, services vary according to the providers. The only disadvantage associated with the Site Survey Analyzers is that they may be complicated for anybody to use and thus requires attention from experts. Ekahau Inc. seems better placed compared to other and thus more recommendable. It comes with many features such as language variety, new improved versions like (802.11 WLAN). In addition, it is also cheap and easy to use making it a better option for many users. Buy custom Plenum Enclosures and Site Survey Analyzers essay

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Top 100 Common Job Interview Questions

Top 100 Common Job Interview Questions SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Job interviews are a key part of the hiring process. They can also be incrediblynerve-wracking! The best way to calm anypre-interview jittersis to prepare well-crafted responses to the major questions comingyour way. While you can’t predict exactly what the hiring manager will ask you, you can come upwithanswers to the most common questions. This guide contains the top 100 questions that hiring managers ask in a job interview. Before getting to the list, let’s consider why it’s so important to prepare for job interview questions, rather than just winging it. Why Should You Prepare for Job Interview Questions? Interviews are important; there’s no getting around that. They’re often your first opportunity to communicate directly with a hiring manager and advocate for yourself as the best person for the job. While some interviews are more conversational than others, none of them feel like the most natural socialdynamic. The interviewer’s going to ask you some open-ended, some specific questions about your skills and experiences, and you should be prepared to answer them in a strategic way. The last thing you want to do is go blank or start rambling about your childhood dog. To excel in your interview, you should prepare your responses to common interview questions.With enough mock interview practice leading up to the real thing, you can make sure your answerssound natural and leave an excellent impression. For more on how to answer common interview questions, check out our guide with tips and sample responses! For now, let’s go over how this list of 100 questions is sorted into categories. How Does This List Work? No interviewer's going to ask you 100 questions in a row unless they possess King Joffrey levels of cruelty. However, they might sample a few questions from each of the below categories to get a full sense of your skills and experiences. There are five categories of questions in this list: traditional, behavioral, cultural fit, logistical, and curveballs. Traditional questions are the ones with which you might already be familiar. They tend to be open-ended and ask about your background, goals, and work style. Behavioral questions are some of the trickiest, because they ask you to provide specific examples that illustrate an achievement, a learning experience, or even a failure. Cultural fit questions are also common, and they’re particularly important for organizations that place high value in workplace culture. These may feel more personal or creative, but your answers should still be tailored to the organization at hand. Logistical questions tend to focus on your work history, how long you plan to stay, and salary expectations. Curveball questions are the random ones that you might expect during an icebreaker on your first day of summer camp. Don’t dismiss these questions as unimportant, though, as they’re an opportunity to let your personality shine through. Curveball questions can also be another way that the manager gauges cultural fit. You’ll find 99 questions sorted into these five categories. As for the special 100th question? That one’s at the end of the list, and it’s a virtually universal question that every interviewee must be prepared to answer! Before getting to that final essential question, plus some extra tips on how to prepare, let’s start in with some of the most common traditional job interview questions. The "tell me about yourself" prompt is an old classic, like apple pie at Thanksgiving. Don'tbe surprised if your interviewer brings it to the table. Traditional Questions: Who Are You? What Are Your Qualifications for the Job? The questions in this category are fairly common interview questions that interviewers have been asking for years. They’re often some of the first questions in an interview that get the conversational ball rolling as the interviewer explores your professional skills, attitudes, and experiences. Check out the traditional job interview questions below, and then scroll down for some tips on how to prepare for these types of questions. Common Traditional Job Interview Questions 1. Tell me about yourself. 2. What do you consider to be your greatest professional strengths? 3. What would you say are your weaknesses? 4. Why do you want this job? 5. Why should we hire you? 6. What would you contribute to this job? 7. If you had a personal mission statement, what would it be? 8. If you had to describe yourself in one word, what would it be? 9. What do you feel makes you unique? 10. What do you find motivating? 11. How do you define and measure success? 12. Where do you see yourself in five years? 13. How does this position fit in with the career path you see for yourself? 14. Would you consider yourself a big-picture person or a detail-oriented person? 15. What are some of your hobbies? 16. What were some responsibilities in your previous job? 17. What’s your work style like? 18. What were some of your favorite things to do in your last position? 19. What were some of your least favorite things to do in your last job? 20. What would your manager say are your best strengths? 21. What would your manager say are areas that you need to develop more? 22. How do you make decisions? 23. What could you contribute to make this company better? 24. What are you looking for in your next position? 25. What’s your style of management? 26. Can you describe the best boss you ever had? 27. Can you describe the worst boss you ever had? 28. How do you manage your time? 29. What are you looking for regarding career development? 30. What’s a goal you have for self-improvement in the next year? 31. How has your education gotten you ready for your career? 32. If you got this job, what would some of your goals be? 33. How do you keep yourself organized? 34. Do you prefer working in a team or alone? Tips for Answering Traditional Questions As you can see, traditional questions tend to ask about your skills and what you would bring to the job. While some of the questions may sound more personal, like â€Å"tell me about yourself† or â€Å"what makes you unique?† they’re all openers to advocate for your professional qualifications. Your answers, therefore, should be tailored to the job and organization. A common mistake is to talk onlyabout your own goals and what you’re looking for in a new job. While a hiring manager does want to see your motivations and passions, she's also concerned withmaking a successful hire. She needs to see not just what you want, but what you could do for her organization. As you prepare your responses, then, you should consider the job description and what the company seeks. If one of the core competencies, or main skills, of the job is teamwork and collaboration, then you probably shouldn’t start talking about how much you prefer to work alone. You should bring in the core competencies of thejob in your responses, albeit in a natural-sounding way. In addition to tailoring your responses, a second tip for answering these questions is bringing in specific examples. Who doesn’t like to hear a good story? Even if the question doesn’t ask for a specific example, you could often benefit from sharing one, especially if you're someone who tends to drift into vague language. To make your answers more concrete, you could pinpointparticularinstances from your past. The next category, behavioral questions, explicitly asks you to bring in specific examples. Unless you’re a pro at thinking on your feet, these can be some of the most difficult questions to answer on the spot. Luckily, you’ll be prepared with your examples before you walk in the door! Interviewers ask behavioral questions so that you'll give specific examples oftimes that you succeeded, handled conflict, or, like this tired corkscrew, went above and beyond the call of duty. Behavioral Questions: How Do You Acton the Job? As someone who struggles to come up with a specific example when put on the spot, I think behavioral questions are pretty much the worst. At the same time, they’re also super common. Chances are, you’ll get asked a bunch of behavioral questions in your job interview. Hiring managers don’t just want to hear abstract ideas about your work ethic or skills. They want to hear about specific times when you achieved something, managed conflict, or bounced back after a failure. One rationale for these questions is that past behavior indicates future behavior. By gaining a sense of what you’ve done in the past, the hiring manager has a clearer vision of how you’ll perform in the future. The other reason behind these questions is that behavioral questions and answers are simply more interesting. They call for specific stories, and these stories make your candidacy more memorable and colorful. You want to leave a great impression, and intriguing anecdotes are one way to accomplish this. Below you’ll find some common examples of behavioral questions, followed by some tips for answering them. Common Behavioral Questions 35. Can you describe a time you demonstrated leadership? 36. Can you speak to a time that you had to handle criticism of your work? 37. Tell me about a time when your workload was especially heavy and how you dealt with it. 38. What would you do if you were asked to take on more assignments than you could conceivably finish by the expected deadlines? 39. Can you give me an example of a time you had to follow a policy with which you didn’t agree? 40. Tell me about a time you went above and beyond expectations at work. 41. Have you ever worked on a time when someone was not pulling his weight? What did you do? 42. Have you ever had trouble working with a manager? 43. Can you tell me about a time your boss disagreed with something you did? How did you deal with it? 44. How do you handle difficult customers? 45. How do you deal with stressful situations? 46. Have you ever had to deal with a coworker who put you down at work? What did you do? 47. Can you tell me about a time that you faced a difficult situation with a colleague? 48. Give me an example of a time that you failed. 49. Have you ever had to give someone tough feedback? How did you go about that? 50. Have you ever gone against official policy or directives? Why? What were the results? 51. Can you give me an example of a challenge or conflict you faced at work? Describe how you handled it. Tips for Answering Behavioral Questions As you can see, behavioral questions explicitly ask you to give specific examples. Your mission, then? To highlight success stories that show you possess some of the core competencies the interviewer is looking for. Just as all your answers should be tailored to the job at hand, so too should your examples be chosen based on the job description and organization. If problem-solving is a big part of the prospective job, then choose an example, if possible, that demonstrates your problem-solving skills. Similarly, if you’re asked to provide a failure, don’t choose a story where you failed because you lack one of the core competencies. If the position wants you to be highly organized, don’t go on and on about your problems with organization. In fact, you could subtly highlight the opposite; maybe there was a time you failed to look at the big picture because you were too concerned with details of organization, and you’ve since learned how to balance the two. As you know by now, you should tailor your responses, but don’t just tell the interviewer what you think she wants to hear or choose a cop-out answer, like â€Å"I work too hard† or â€Å"I care too much.† You still want to be authentic and true to yourself. The best way to ace these behavioral questions is to show up with a few prepared success stories in your mental suitcase. Perhaps you can packfour or five that relate to the most common questions - a time you showed leadership, a challenge you faced, a story about teamwork, an example of problem solving, and an instance of failure. One final tip about that â€Å"describe a time that you failed† prompt - don’t focus too much on failure. Be honest about the failure, but show how you saw it as a learning opportunity. Talk about how you acknowledged, addressed, and grew from your mistake. Your attitude toward setbacks may be just as important as the story you share. Now that you have a sense of those tricky behavioral questions and how to prepare for them, let’s look at the next major category: questions that aim to gauge your cultural fit. Maybe your ideal workplace values teamwork, innovation, or indoor climbing walls. Let the interviewer know what draws you to itsculture. Cultural Fit Questions:Do You Share Our Values? Organizational culture has always been important for employees, and today it seems tobe even more so. Many private companies, in particular, pay a ton of attention to workplace values and the happiness levels of employees. Good morale and workplace perks can improveindividual performance, retention, andteamwork, as well as prevent workplace conflict. Many hiring managers, therefore, will ask interview questions aimed at gaining a sense of your cultural fit. Check out some of the questions below, and then read on for a few tips on how to prepare for them. Common Cultural Fit Questions 52. What does teamwork mean to you? 53. What three qualities do you look for in a workplace? 54. How would you deal with a coworker you don’t get along with? 55. How well would you say you adapt to change? 56. What are you passionate about? 57. Describe your ideal company culture. What four or five characteristics does it have? 58. Who inspires you and why? 59. What motivates you to come into work everyday? 60. What was it like working at your last company? 61. What are some of your workplace values? 62. Do you prefer a more structured work environment or one where you can be more entrepreneurial? 63. What personality types would you say you work best with? 64. What are some activities you like to do outside of work, and how do they benefit your day-to-day job? 65. What would your friends tell me about you? Tips for Answering Cultural Fit Questions As you can see, a lot of these cultural fit questions focus on workplace values. They also bring out soft skills, like communication, flexibility, motivation, passion, and outside interests. While these questions are opportunities to let your personality shine through, don’t forget that you’re in a job interview. You still want to customizeyour answers to the organization, and the best way to do this is to research its culture online and, if possible, by speaking to its employees. The company website’s a great resource, as well as sites like LinkedIn and Glassdoor. If you know any people who work there, definitely reach out and ask them about their experiences. These cultural fit questions work two ways. The manager wants to see how you’d fit in, but you also want to make sure the culture aligns with your values and work style. Make sure it’s the sort of place you’d like to work and could be successful. Find out about values, and, if you share them, reflect this understanding and alignment in your responses. Logistical questions might ask about a gap in employment or a career change, such as, "Going from a dog walker to a NASA astronaut seems like a big change. Could you speak on that a bit?" Logistical Questions: Employment History and Salary Expectations Logistical questions tend to be straightforward. They might ask about details on your resume, your professional goals, or your salary expectations. Some of these questions, especially about salary, may show up later in the hiring process, like in a second interview. You should be prepared to discuss them, though, just in case. Below are some common questions that fall into this logistical category. Common Logistical Questions 66. You worked at your last company for a long time. Will it be difficult moving to a new firm? 67. Why have you changed jobs so often over the past few years? 68. If you got this job, how long would you plan to stay with us? 69. What did you earn at your last job? 70. What are your salary expectations? 71. Why do you have a gap in your job history? 72. Why do you think you can lead a team without any previous managerial experience? 73. Why do you want to join our company? 74. Why do you want to move from an academic field to the business world (or vice versa)? 75. Why should we give you the job over other applicants? 76. Would you jump ship if you received another offer? 77. What other companies are you applying to? 78. Why did you freelance for a long period of time? 79. What caused you to leave your last position? 80. Why do you want to leave your current position? 81. Why did you take a job that seems unrelated to your career path? Tips for Answering Logistical Questions While you may have already talked about your skills and experiences, these logistical questions will get you talking specifically about your professional history. Be prepared to speak on your last job, its responsibilities, and your reasons for applying elsewhere. If you have any gaps in employment or are making a career change, you should also be ready to speak on that. As for salary, interviewers may save this question for later in the hiring process, like a second interview. You shouldn’t be dishonest about what you’ve made in the past, but you may decline to share by saying that the two jobs are so different, you don’t feel your last salaryappliesto the current situation. If you’re just not sure, do some research on the company website and sites like Payscale and Glassdoor to see what you could expect from a comparable position. I’ve found these sites sometimes have such a big range it’s hard to be sure, but you can look at the available information and then decidewhat's a reasonable range for you. Again, as you should in all your responses, make sure to communicate your enthusiasm for the position and commitment to the organization should you be hired. Finally, let’s consider the fifth category of questions, the curveballs. Don't get thrown by randomquestions, like, "If you were a vacation, would you be a camping trip, agrouptour, or a luxury spa?" Actually, maybe that one's from a Buzzfeed quiz. Curveball Questions: The Odd and Unexpected We've reached the quirky curveball questions. Like they sound, these questions run the gambit of total randomness. They tend to be odd and imaginative, and are mainly asked to gain a sense of your personality and ability to think on your feet. Of course, if you've already prepared for the right ones, then you won’t have to think on your feet! Some questions aim to root out your entrepreneurial qualities or vision. Others seek to see how you self-reflect and make decisions. Others, well - it’s hard to say what some of these are getting at. That’s why I decided to call them curveballs! Check out some potential curveball questions below, along with tenreal-life examples that interviewers from big companies, like Dropbox and Trader Joe’s have asked prospective employees. Then check out some tips on how to prepare for the unexpected! Potential Curveball Questions 82. If you could live your life over again from the beginning, what’s one thing that you would change? 83. If you could be an animal, which one would you be and why? 84. If you could relive the last 10 years of your life, what would you do differently? 85. If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be? 86. What’s one new thing you taught yourself in the last year? 87. What would the name of your app be? 88. You have two minutes. Teach me something. 89. Why do people climb mountains? 90. From Space Exploration Technologies: When a hot dog expands, in which direction does it split and why? 91. From Whole Foods Market: Would you rather fight 1 horse-sized duck, or 100 duck-sized horses? 92. From Dropbox: If you’re the CEO, what are the first three things you check about the business when you wake up? 93. From Urban Outfitters: What would the name of your debut album be? 94. From J.W. Business Acquisitions: How would you sell hot cocoa in Florida? 95. From Hubspot: If I gave you $40,000 to start a business, what would you start? 96. From Trader Joe’s: What would you do if you found a penguin in the freezer? 97. From Boston Consulting Group: If you were a brand, what would be your motto? 98. From Delta Air Lines: How many basketballs would fit in this room? 99. From Uniqlo: If you had $2,000, how would you double it in 24 hours? Source of questions 90-99: Glassdoor.com Tips for Answering Curveballs Is it possible to prepare for the unpredictable? Sure, to some extent. While you may not know exactly what questions you’ll get asked, you can hone your skills of thinking on your feet. Improv actors, for example, don’t just get up on stage and see what happens. They keep their imaginations active and flexible with improvactivities. You might similarly try a rapid-fire question and answer practice session to see what you come up with. You should find that your answers come easier and more creative the moreyou warm up. As with all your other answers, you might be able to tailor your responses to the job. For instance, if you get asked about what kind of animal you would be, you could choose one that’s associated with leadership, like a lion, cleverness, like a monkey, or strong work ethic, like an ant, depending on what the job's looking for. At the same time, try not to overthink these too much. They’re more lighthearted and chances to reveal your personality and sense of humor. And if you find your mind totally goes blank, you could try to buy a little extra time with the old trick of, â€Å"That’s a great question. I’ll have to think about that for a second...† Now that you’ve read over 99 common interview questions in the five major categories, let’s take a look at the final question that almost every interviewer asks at the end of your meeting. Even if your interviewer doesn't ask you any of the previous 99 questions, you can be pretty sure that she'll ask you this next one! Final Crucial Job Interview Question Finally, you’ve made it to the end of the list and have seen 99 of the most common traditional, behavioral, cultural fit, logistical, and curveball questions that might come your way in the job interview. But we promised you 100 questions, and saved the nearly universal question for last. This question is an absolute must for your interview preparation. Almost every interviewer asks it, and there’s definitely a way that you can answer it wrong. Here it is: 100. Do you have any questions for me? Tips for the Final Question This final question’s not a particularly hard one, but it is very important. The biggest mistake you could make here is to say, â€Å"Nope!† The answer to this question should always be yes, and you should have at least two thoughtful questions to ask your interviewer. You may be sick of reading about how your answers should be tailored to the job and organization at hand, so I’ll just say it one last time: your questions should be tailored to the job and organization at hand (sorry). Your questions are one more opportunity to show your interest and enthusiasm. You can show that you’ve researched the organization and have a strong understanding of its culture and mission.Don’t ask questions that can be easily answered with a Google search. Similarly, don’t ask ones that you just talked about ten minutes before. What you already know about the company can inform your questions, though, as it shows you’ve done some digging. You might say, "I saw on your website that one of your long-term goals is xxx. Could you tell me about some of the specific steps you’ll be taking in the next few months to work toward this?" You couldask about a typical day in the office, what your team members would be like, or what qualities the company values most in its employees. For more suggestions on questions to ask at the end of your interview, check out this question and answer guide. So there you have it, one hundred of the most common questions that get asked in job interviews. In closing, let’s go over thekey pieces of adviceto remember as you prepare to rock your job interview. Here's one piece of advice: Do yourpreparation before you get to theinterview! Preparing forInterview Questions: FinalWords of Advice Interviews can be an intimidating hurdle in the hiring process, but believe it or not, they can also be exciting! They’re your opportunity to speak with your next potential manager and teammate, learn more about an organization, and show that you’re the best person for the job. With enough preparation, you can give succinct, thoughtful responses to any interview question. While you may not be able to completely eliminate all the unknowns, you can definitely reduce them considerably. As you consider how you would answer the above questions, make sure you keep thesefourmain guidelines in mind. Research the Job, Organization, and Your Interviewer In order to give a good interview, you mustbe knowledgeable about the job you’re applying for and the organization you wish tojoin. This knowledge will help youprepare tailored responses and present yourself as the best candidate for the job. You should thoroughly read the job description and learn about the organization from its website. You might read about it in news articles or reach out to current or former employees for their views.Once you have a clearer understanding of the job and workplace culture, you can start to analyze your own skillset to see how it matches up. This process of deconstructing the job description is an important step in customizing your answers, as you'll read below. Beyond researching the job and company, you should see also seek to learn more about your interviewer. You might track the person down on LinkedIn or via a bio on the company's website. You might discover a shared interest or personal connection that could spark conversation, whether you bring it up explicitly or not. I have a friend who learned that his next interviewer grew up on a military base in Georgia. When he interviewed, my friend used a bunch of military-related metaphors when describing his ideal management style. Apparently, his interviewer loved it, and my friend got the job. You don'twant to creep out your interviewer by repeating her LinkedIn profile back to her, but you mightdiscover a shared interest and work it into the conversation. In addition toshowing your enthusiasm for the job and organization, making a personal connection with your interviewer can never hurt! Collect Your Success Stories Have you ever heard the phrase, "Show, don't tell"? It means that you should give specific, illustrative examples and avoid vague, abstract language. It's a good rule forimproving your writing, and it's a good rule for improving your interview answers, too. Anyone can talk about how detail-oriented they are, but only people who actually possess this quality can share specific examples. Not only will anecdotes prove what you say about yourself, but they'll also be more memorable to the interviewer. As you read above, behavioral questions are all the rage these days. Interviewers want to get beyond the basics and dig into your past behaviors and experiences. They want to learn about how you've met a challenge, handled conflict, or interacted with your team in the past to get a clearer vision of how you'll behave in the new role. To answer these questions, you should be prepared with a few tried-and-true "success stories" from your past. These may come from your past job, or, if you're new to the workforce, from your education or perhaps volunteer work. You should be prepared to speak on some common themes, such as a time that you showed leadership, solved a problem, collaborated with your peers, faced a challenge, handled stress and pressure, or resolved conflict. As for the questions that ask about conflict or failure, try to choose an example that you learned. Frame itless as a failure and more as an opportunity for growth and improvement. Consider the context of your examples, like what led up to them and what the ramifications were.The interviewer may very well ask follow-up questions,so you should prepare to speak at length about your stories. This brings us to the next point, preparing for follow-up questions. The interviewer may be happy to follow your lead once the conversation gets flowing. Prepare for follow-up questions on your responses. Prepare for Follow-Up Questions An interview's not an interrogation. Most interviews aren't just going to shoot one question at you after another with nothing more than a nod in response to your answers. While the questions are important, the interviewer is also seeking to have a conversation and get to know you in a relatively brief period of time. Just as you can expect from any conversation, you'll probably get follow-up questions based on your responses. Your interviewer might ask you to give some more detail or provide some more context. If you talked about a challenge at work, the interviewer might ask what situations you think led up to that challenge or what changes in procedure you've made since. Once you've prepared your responses, consider what the interviewer might ask as a follow-up. What details could you elaborate on? How could your response branch into a related, but distinct direction? Just as you don't want to sound too rehearsed, you don't want your responses to be so tightly structured that you can't add additional ideas and details. If you find you have little to say about one of your success stories, then consider choosing onewith a bit more substance. Customize All of Your Answers As you read in the tips above, you can try to customize just about every one of your responses to the job at hand. Focus on your skills as they relate to the job description. In other words, what you say should not just be about you. It should also very much be about them. In most circumstances, the interviewer wants to make sure her next new hire possesses certain core competencies. Figure out what those core competencies are, and then reflect them in your responses. On the flip side, you might leave out other skills that aren't relevant. Highlight the ones that are most important in this particular context. Even if you don't have direct experience, you can show that you have skills that would transfer well to the role. By highlighting your transferable skills, you can show that you'd be successful in the new role, with or without previous experience. This idea of tailoring your answers to the job and organization is pretty much the fundamental overriding principle of all your interview prep. Aim to be knowledgeable, specific, and prepared to speak at length about what makes you the best person for the job! What’s Next? We’ve picked out the top interview questions to help you prepareyour best answers. Check out this guide with tips and sample answers to the most common job interview questions. What else can you do to rock your job interview? Check out this guide with tips for acing your interview, from picking out your power outfit to following up with a personalized message. Are you on the job hunt? This guide will help you write an excellent cover letter with a step-by-step template and six free cover letter samples.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

American Government - Bush Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

American Government - Bush - Essay Example He receives the same treatment as would any other major political figure who is prone to take a rigid stand on an issue, the same as any political figure who arrogantly believes that it is his way or the highway. McCain’s amendment passed in the House by a 99 to 9 vote. It was so substantial, albeit Bush was opposed, he was left with no other option except to sign the amendment. In his own recalcitrant demeanor, at the signing ceremony, President stated; In a manner consistent with the constitutional authority of the President to supervise the unitary executive branch and as a commander in chief and consistent with the constitutional limitations on the judicial power, which will assist in achieving the shared objective†¦of protecting the American people from further terrorist attacks. (Bush LA Times) One does not have to project a personal bias when the principle puts forth statements such as the above quote from President Bush. He lets it be known that he begrudgingly af fixes his signature to the amendment. But even though he is compelled to sign it, he will encourage and approve disobedience when he deems it necessary. While scanning the LA Times I came across another article on Bush, which was written by a writer from the Washington Post. I felt compelled to draw a parallel between the two writers and the two papers. The piece from the Washington Post was laid out in an objective manner with all of the facts and a minimum amount of editorializing. Specifically, it was titled â€Å"Port Deal to Have a Broader View†. ... He receives the same treatment as would any other major political figure who is prone to take a rigid stand on an issue, the same as any political figure who arrogantly believes that it is his way or the highway. McCain's amendment passed in the house by a 99 to 9 vote. It was so substantial, albeit Bush was opposed, he was left with no other option except to sign the amendment. In his own recalcitrant demeanor, at the signing ceremony, President stated; In a manner consistent with the constitutional authority of the president to supervisethe unitary executive branch and as a commander in chief and consistent with theconstitutional limitations on the judicial power, which will assist in achieving theshared objectiveof protecting the American people from further terroristsattacks. (Bush LA Times) One does not have to project a personal bias when the principle puts forth statements such as the above quote from President Bush. He lets it be known that he begrudgingly affixes his signature to the amendment. But even though he is compelled to sign it, he will encourage and approve disobedience when he deems it necessary. While scanning the LA Times I came across another article on Bush, which was written by a writer from the Washington Post. I felt compelled to draw a parallel between the two writers and the two papers. The piece from the Washington Post was laid out in an objective manner with all of the facts and a minimum amount of3 editorializing. Specifically

Friday, November 1, 2019

European Discovery of the Americas in 1492-1650 Assignment

European Discovery of the Americas in 1492-1650 - Assignment Example Trade started booming as English merchants got raw materials for their industries and the farmers and settlers found land to cultivate and a large land to put their large population. The lack of religious persecutions also made them opt to stay and start to develop this previously â€Å"bare and underdeveloped land.† With peace and stability prevailing in this new land while there was an increasing instability in the old one (at least the Europe part of it) and lack of political shenanigans, the new world‘s development soared and started even surpassing that of the old world (Elliot 25).The arrival of the Europeans in the Americas brought both negative and positive effects. The Colombian Exchange brought in animals (specifically livestock which were previously lacking in the Americas), some different varieties of crops and pets. These included cattle, horses, pigs and crops such as sugarcane which were planted in the southern part of the new world (which is now South Ame rica specifically the Dominican Republic and even Haiti). Since the new world also had its own unique products in the form of raw materials which were transported to Europe, trade began to grow which benefitted the new world more since its proceeds were used to invest more in their nation (Crosby 64).The negative effect brought by the arrival of the Europeans was that they brought with them diseases (these diseases included smallpox) that were previously nonexistent in that land. These strange diseases had no cure and they killed much of the population of the new world. They also brought much stronger weapons like the guns which could not be compared to the swords and arrows and they, therefore, killed many native Americans that tried to fight them much easier and faster. There was also an introduction of religion and new cultures which was both positive and negative (positive in that there was an emergence of religious diversity and negative as it led to the abolishment of the trad itional beliefs and cultures).