The guarantee of freedom of (and from) religion in America Assignment

The guarantee of freedom of (and from) religion in America - Assignment Example For example, the government is prohibited from enacting laws that aid any religion or establish an official state religion. All this is in a bid to achieve the separation of the state and church at both the state and national levels of government. In the Everson v. Board Education, the court provided a list of activities that violate the establishment and are prohibited by the First Amendment (National Paralegal College 1. They include: the setting up of a state church; the passing of laws which particularly aid one religion or aid religions generally; the forcing of or influencing of persons to attend or not attend church; the punishing of individuals for ascribing to particular beliefs or disbeliefs or for not attending or attending church; the levying of taxes to support religious activities or institutions and; the participation of government in religious organizations or participation in government by religious organizations. The Free Exercise clause is a provision that guarantees an individual the right to propagate or practice a religion without interference by government. Several activities violate the free exercise clause. First, if the purpose of any government action or state law is singling out religion for adverse treatment or hindering or discriminating against a particular religion, then it amounts to a violation of the free exercise clause. ... In Engel v. Vitale in 1962, the Supreme Court termed as unconstitutional a prayer recommended to be part of the public school curriculum in New York State. The Supreme Court struck the prayer down as unconstitutional. In Lemon v. Kurtzman in 1971, a three-pronged test known as the Lemon test was established to determine if a statute is in violation of the establishment clause. Students in public schools are not allowed to recite prayers. However, the practice of a legislature by the state to open its sessions with a nondenominational prayer that is recited by a chaplain has managed to withstand constitutional challenges. In Marsh v. Chambers in 1983, the Supreme Court made a ruling that such a practice was not in violation of the establishment clause (LII 3). In Edwards v. Aguillard in 1987, the Supreme Court struck down a Creationism Act in Louisiana that prevented the teaching of evolution in public schools. This issue still creates debate even today regarding creationism and evolu tion. Other key rulings include Lynch v. Donnelly, West Virginia State Board of Educatio v. Barnette, Wisconsin v. Yoder, and United States v. Lee. 3. What does Tocqueville observe with relevance to these matters? Tocqueville approaches the issue of religion in a pragmatic manner. Tocqueville observes that the American society has a scarce history of state-church alliance. Also, it has a constitutional guarantee against this alliance. Despite this, the American society is extremely open to religious practice’s favorable influences. In his observations, Tocqueville (1) notes that all Christian groups propound a similar morality which is based on loving God and loving their neighbors. This means that they all agree that man has duty to other men.

Primordial Sound Meditation Essay Example for Free

Primordial Sound Meditation Essay Donna Miesbach opens the lecture asking if anyone participates in meditation. Her knowledge begins for her at the age of 17. The passion she emits when teaching primordial sound meditation is evident with the discussion she leads. Informative about Dr. Deepka Chopa making the Vedic tradition of India available and able to read to many people. Bringing meditation back into society. Meditation can be described as entering a state of complete awareness. Meditation is about oneself; you with your mind. A place you can fulfill your purpose, get in tune with your soul, no stress, anxiety or fear. Meditation relieves stress and helps to remember self wholeness. It rejuvenates the cells to wake up, relaxes the physical, mental and energy body, introduces serenity, bliss and clarity all while bringing balance to every area of life. Meditation is stated as a three step process. The basis starts with our state of mind.; many thoughts stimulate and stress our emotional, mental, energy and physical bodies. The meditation station describes the normal state of mind of not being normal but abnormal with effects of receiving sensory stimuli that react in uncontrolled ways. Also that our thoughts can be opposing of each other, thoughts that bring warm, cuddly, relaxed emotions can also initiate fear, anxiety and paranoia. A tool used to transition thru meditation is Mantra, defined as man=mind and tra=instrument so as a whole Instrument of the mind The first step of meditation is gaining control over our mind, to concentrate. All effects are directly or indirectly in all areas of the body and mind. Concentration derived from the Latin words To Center or fixed center point offers mental influence and mental imaging, looking at the word as a whole can be further defined as bring to a common point. and the act or state of bringing to a fixed point or focus. With concentration you are bringing the highest forms of energy, power and forces to a focus point , keeping it from dissolving over multiple areas. Focused concentration can be difficult to achieve with current lifestyle, duties of family, work, school, schedules, appointments all correlate to keep the mind restless. With the obstacles of swirling thoughts, applying the control of voluntary attention and exercising self will are key to facilitate ones control of attention and will . Practicing paying attention to concentration, you gain the experience to exercise your will to just be witness to any distracting thoughts that populate; instead of using imagination or daydreams in lieu of concentrating on the object of your meditation. So primarily the goal in the first area of meditation is to concentrate, provide un forced attention and focus on one object whether its a personalized mantra, a saying, chant or actual object. The next step instructed is mind and body connection and silencing of the mind best known as Meditation. In meditation the attention is unbroken, effortless, a steady flow of concentration. The focused attention is also applied to the object of meditation and the state of meditation that initiates deeper and deeper concentration which then proclaims true knowledge, universal awareness and can begin to restore balance. You become connected to feelings, sensations and everything connected to that object. Best quoted is Albert Einstein Everything in the universe is relative to everything else This deep concentration and connection ultimately brings your meditation to connect you to everything; uniting your object and your mind. The final step of meditation occurs in the state of contemplation and ultimate consciousness. The experience of not being conscious of just our body and thoughts but being part of the universe and cosmos. Some imply it is a birthright and destiny to attune to this state of realization, truth, consciousness and bliss. You become connected to the universe as it is connected to you in a simple, spontaneous action. Nothing is forced, what happens is what is supposed to happen. Meditation takes practice. Overall patience and understanding to accomplish the deepest form of meditation requires you to have the abilities of focusing on an object, reject unwanted/unwarranted thoughts not related to the object, promoting the power to controlled thoughts, the capacity to stop them, comprehension to separate ones self from thoughts, and all is done to master and achieve a silent mind. This deep state of meditation refers to the silent mind as a powerful experience. A silent mind is related to being alert and sensitive to surroundings, compassionate towards others, removing harmful notions from the mind, judgments, rejection, hatred, anger, jealousy and any thought process that is implying one of being wrapped in ones own confusions. Primordial sound mediation is best explained as a healing practice. Experience inner peace and it reminds oneself of our essence, improves inspiration, compassion, love, health, enthusiasm and creativity in daily living and relations. Primordial sounds consist of basic, essential sounds and vibrations from nature. Mantras are primordial sounds that are depicted from the Vedic mathematics, which determine the exact sound or vibrations developed using the date, time and location of a persons birth. If used correctly to influence the quieting of the mind, you can fall into meditation easier and faster. The mantra guides you from levels of clustered thought activities, to complete silence. You are no longer affected by internal commotion and are able to in-tune to true, and peaceful awareness of the universe. This allows the mind, physical body and energy network that supports and sustains the physical body ability to function at maximum effectiveness. Mantra deepens meditation, it blesses our lives with the universe ,provides true knowledgeable wealth of the soul, gives a roadmap to heightened awareness and clears, relaxes, and rejuvenates the body.. There are many types, forms and ways of meditation. All meditation types possess the ability to restore physical, mental and emotional self well being. The fact that we use roughly 5% of our minds substantiates the importance of relaxing beyond the busyness and ciaos. Other meditation can include walking, simple, mindfulness, journey, vibrational and central channel meditation, all techniques allow anyone to incorporate and fit into their lifestyle. The tasks of the present day insist that people are more human doings with the constant feeling of needing to be doing something or going somewhere, always doing. We need to be referring to ourselves as human beings so it incorporates the importance of attention, concentration, self peace and we are just beings; here to be!

Successfully Trained Employees and their Importance

Successfully Trained Employees and their Importance Lindsay Bootz Starting a new job is often a new learning experience, but it can also be stressful and overwhelming. When employees walk into their new place of employment for the first time, their impressions on the company begin and for the next few weeks they will be training to be an integral part of their new organization. For an organization, training a new employee is a very important process for its success as sales associates are most often the part of staff involved face-to-face with the customers, the importance of their knowledge of the company or products they sell is very high. Great training leads to less expenses, less employee turnover, and better customer service. There are many financial factors to consider when training a new employee. Instruction materials, equipment, wages for both the employee and the trainer all have an impact on the organizations finances. Per Levy, it costs retailers more than $4,000 to replace a store employee (2012 p.440). More than one individual becomes part of the process, often the human resources operations manager, supervisor and/or other employees will be involved in the success of the new associate which will have its own financial setbacks. Going through training materials such as e-learning software, books, and equipment can also use up resources. Hiring skilled employees and retaining them if possible, and having consistent performance reviews to identify more training needs can ensure employee confidence and show them more likely to stay, is one way to keep costs low (Taylor, 2016, p. 3). Hiring a new employee with no experience will take a significant amount of time to properly train and will cost more m oney, on the other hand, hiring skilled workers will require only a short amount of training, typically a week, to help them acclimate to a new work environment thus costing less to train. For example, a company that specializes in lumber will most likely decide not to hire someone more familiar working in fast food if given a choice for the simple fact that it will take a significant amount of time and money to train them. The Model of Excellence was designed by author and trainer Nick Drake-Knight in an attempt to find a better way to train employees and help them retain the information given to them. After extensive research, he discovered that the best sales people all follow a common pattern, a patter which connects (2012, p. 8). The Model of Excellence includes three steps, level one: explicit standards, level two: consistency, and level three: sustainability. All three are meaningless unless used together. The first level, is an explicit set of standards that spell out exactly what is expected of the employees, such as: a daily maintenance list, personal presentation, upselling, and customer acknowledgement (Drake-Knight, 2012, p. 9).   Typically, companies will have a standard time frame for each associate as they go through their training. Training generally does not stick and has little impact after the training sessions are finished as most associates grow bored when subjected to e-learning or classroom type of training. On-job-training would be ideal but can be more difficult to train as situations arise. Since the common way of training employees does not seem to work, it is important to implement the explicit standards as a way for employees to know their job even after their training is complete. Consistency, level two of the model, is a major goal that managers will strive for. Consistency means everything will stay at the same high standards, all the time. The managers that are best at achieving as much consistency as possible are aligning it with level one of the model, and including themselves as part of the selling process. A bad example of consistency is allowing an employee to go through training and months down the road giving no feedback as to their performance and keeping them in the dark about new company procedures.   Training should be done every day along with practicing correct sales procedures; managers can make sure this gets done by recapping goals and quotas throughout the day, actively staying part of the team, and holding regular meetings to keep associates up to date on store news and training. Sales training is a waste of energy (and worst of all hope) unless it is made sustainable (Drake-Knight, 2012, p. 17).   Training is usually something that does not go far after the training events are finished. Much of the information tends to get lost and employees must ask questions later about a subject they should already be familiar with. Sustainability, level three of The Model of Excellence, says that training should be sustained long after training is finished (2012, p.18) Momentum Management is the key to sustainability, it is a way to keep training consistent and constant throughout the day. It is like on-the-job training, but comes when the time is necessary.   For instance, if a manager overhears an employee answering the phone with the incorrect script, they can correct the employee after they hang up and inform them of the correct thing to say. Practicing sustainable techniques are a sure way to be involved and ensure that employees are being trained corr ectly and handling their jobs well. The Model of Excellence shows that with these techniques, after training is complete, with all three levels being used to their full potential, it could be beneficial with making sure employees know their job well, and are continue to learn as they continue their careers. As employees are the face of the store, it will always be important that they are properly trained. Staying consistent and sustained will make sure of that. Another simple solution to be sure an employee is getting the proper training and knowledge they need to handle their new job is to have better structured orientation at the beginning of employment. In her book New Employee Orientation Training, Lawson begins to compare the typical orientation session to a more successful approach. Typical orientations at an organization are generally presenter centered and tend to be boring for the applicant. The employee does not have much room to participate aside from only listening. Bored employees do not tend to retain the needed information to perform their jobs well and thus feel incompetent on the job. This could be a culprit of why the turnover rate is so high. Four percent of employees leave their jobs after the first day, and within thirty days know if they feel welcome or unwelcome in the work place (Lawson, 2016 p.4). A solution to this type of orientation is to have a more interactive and hands-on environment for training. Socializing the new employee and helping them integrate into their new workplace from day one of training can help them increase engagement in the workplace, better job satisfaction, and of course better job performance. Socializing also gets them involved in the workplace before the training is complete, employees can interact with the new employee and begin to adapt to one another (Mujtaba, 2006 p.262). In other words, taking the time to properly train and teach new employees how to do their jobs is worth the investment as they would not quit as quickly causing need for hiring new employees. It could also be beneficial in the sense that the employer would not have to pay for any mistakes the employee could potentially make. Having improved training programs for employees are critical to the employees success and especially to the employers success in keeping the business running smoothly. Employees that are not trained properly can end up wasting not only their time but another employee or managers time when they do not understand how to solve a problem. Proper training will also provide better overall customer service and more customers returning. When a customer enters an establishment, they expect to get help when they need it and that the employee will be knowledgeable on the product they are interested in. As training is the employees first impression into a company, it is important to get it right. Although many finances are part of the training process, it is important to make sure the employee is knowledgeable in all areas of their job. For instance, executing The Model of Excellence is one way to ensure a constant training of employees which also keeps them motivated. When employees are motivated and sure of what their job consists of, it shows a lower turnover rate for employment which is great financially and from a customer service standpoint. Customers enjoy seeing the same people and getting great service in the process. A well equipped employee is one that will be able to give the best customer service. To sum it up, Training is a very important part of a companys process for hiring new employees. Some companies tend to have a higher turnover rate due to poor training and lack of knowledge about the organization or product they may be selling. It is worth spending more time and resources on one person, than to spend them all repeatedly on the same failing training program. Employees should be treated like assets to their organization and get the proper tools they need to learn their job efficiently.   Proper training results in less finances wasted, less employee turnover, and a more fulfilling customer base.   References: Drake-Knight, N. (2012). Training and coaching boost performance of sales staff at BQ. Human Resource Management International Digest, 20(1), 14-17. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy2.apus.edu/10.1108/09670731211195918 Lawson, K. (2015;2016;). New employee orientation training (1st ed.). Alexandria, Virginia: Association for Talent Development. Levy, M. Weitz, B. (2012). Retailing management, 8th Ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Mujtaba, B. G., Sims, R. L. (2006). Socializing retail employees in ethical values: The effectiveness of the formal versus informal methods. Journal of Business and Psychology, 21(2), 261-272. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy1.apus.edu/10.1007/s10869-006-9028-3 Taylor, T.C. (2016). The cost of training new employees, including hidden expenses. Retrieved from https://www.adp.com/thrive

The Lack of Nutrition In Africa Essay -- Nutrition

In Africa there are about 276 million individuals who are affected by lack of nutrition. Moreover, 399 million individuals live on one dollar a day in Africa. Developing countries carries 90% of the disease burden, yet benefit from only 10% of the resources allocated to health (Kinabo, 2001), even though the majority of the population is located in these countries. Approximately â€Å"43% of the children in the developing countries experience stunted growth due to malnutrition, and 36% of the children are underweight† (Bone and France, 2003). There are many organizations trying to improve the overall lack of nutrition in Africa. Despite the great number of organizations minor changes in the affected population has changed. A few deficiencies have even seen an increase. Malnutrition is increasing â€Å"due to HIV/AIDS epidemic and the changing global environment in socio, politico and economic relations† (Kinabo, 2001, p. 114). Therefore, good nutrition needs to be empha sized due to it links directly with the economic issues within the country. Additionally, the ability to increase the budgets for governments to address health, education and nutrition on account of education is great device to help the population understand the importance of nutrition within their daily lives. The great lack of sufficient nutrition in Africa is outrageous. Malnutrition â€Å"in various forms exist and persists in all countries of Africa† (Kinabo, 2001, p. 103). There is a different problem issue within different countries that is directly linked to the development of the country. For instance, â€Å"the type of malnutrition that exists in Seychelles and Mauritius is that of obesity and associated diseases† (Kinabo, 2001, p. 103). The most common nutritional problems... ...ese deficiencies. Although the main step that should be taken is that of withdrawing individuals who are particularly skilled for another countries benefit, which would reduce the â€Å"brain drain† and allow the individuals to help develop their country within Africa. Works Cited Bone, P. and France, K. (2003). International harmonization of food and nutrition regulation: the good and the bad. Journal of Public Policy and Marketing 22(1): 102-110. Retrieved from JSTOR database. World hunger and poverty facts and statistics (WHPFS). (2011). Hunger Notes. Retrieved from http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/Learn/world%20hunger%20facts%202002.htm#What_are_the_causes_of_hunger Kinabo, J. (2001). Nutrition in africa in a global economy: perspectives challenges and opportunities. African Study Monographs, 22(3): 103-122. Retrieved from ProQuest Database. The Lack of Nutrition In Africa Essay -- Nutrition In Africa there are about 276 million individuals who are affected by lack of nutrition. Moreover, 399 million individuals live on one dollar a day in Africa. Developing countries carries 90% of the disease burden, yet benefit from only 10% of the resources allocated to health (Kinabo, 2001), even though the majority of the population is located in these countries. Approximately â€Å"43% of the children in the developing countries experience stunted growth due to malnutrition, and 36% of the children are underweight† (Bone and France, 2003). There are many organizations trying to improve the overall lack of nutrition in Africa. Despite the great number of organizations minor changes in the affected population has changed. A few deficiencies have even seen an increase. Malnutrition is increasing â€Å"due to HIV/AIDS epidemic and the changing global environment in socio, politico and economic relations† (Kinabo, 2001, p. 114). Therefore, good nutrition needs to be empha sized due to it links directly with the economic issues within the country. Additionally, the ability to increase the budgets for governments to address health, education and nutrition on account of education is great device to help the population understand the importance of nutrition within their daily lives. The great lack of sufficient nutrition in Africa is outrageous. Malnutrition â€Å"in various forms exist and persists in all countries of Africa† (Kinabo, 2001, p. 103). There is a different problem issue within different countries that is directly linked to the development of the country. For instance, â€Å"the type of malnutrition that exists in Seychelles and Mauritius is that of obesity and associated diseases† (Kinabo, 2001, p. 103). The most common nutritional problems... ...ese deficiencies. Although the main step that should be taken is that of withdrawing individuals who are particularly skilled for another countries benefit, which would reduce the â€Å"brain drain† and allow the individuals to help develop their country within Africa. Works Cited Bone, P. and France, K. (2003). International harmonization of food and nutrition regulation: the good and the bad. Journal of Public Policy and Marketing 22(1): 102-110. Retrieved from JSTOR database. World hunger and poverty facts and statistics (WHPFS). (2011). Hunger Notes. Retrieved from http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/Learn/world%20hunger%20facts%202002.htm#What_are_the_causes_of_hunger Kinabo, J. (2001). Nutrition in africa in a global economy: perspectives challenges and opportunities. African Study Monographs, 22(3): 103-122. Retrieved from ProQuest Database.

Prewriting Assignment Essay

Times I Saw an Adult Cry I. I was very young when I first saw an adult cry.   I did not actually see an adult cry in person; I saw it on television.   Nonetheless, it was the first time I have seen an adult shed tears.   That night, I was at home with the babysitter when my mother left to run some errands.   I remember that the babysitter tucked me to my bed early and I immediately fell asleep.   After some time, I was awakened by the sounds of people talking.   It was rather loud, and I could hear the voices of a man and a woman in conversation. Out of curiosity, I got out of bed and opened the bedroom door.   At first, I thought that maybe the babysitter had some company. So I carefully walked downstairs to the den, where the babysitter usually stays.   I took a peek and found her alone.   The sounds I heard came from the television; she was only watching a movie.   I remember that it was an old movie, as it was in black and white.   To my surprise, the woman in the movie began to cry.   I was surprised because I have never seen the adults in my house cry.   I thought crying were only for babies and young children.   After that, I learned that adults can also cry. II. When I was younger, my family and I were on a road trip. The trip was generally smooth, until my father decided to take a short cut.   He was driving the car, and he turned left to a narrow dirt road.   It proved to be a wrong decision; the road led to a cemetery, where a burial was taking place.   The width of the road made it difficult to pass through, but the parked cars on both sides of the road made it more problematic. The traffic caused my father to drive slowly, allowing me to witness the burial.   I saw all of the mourners; all of them were dressed in black.   However, a man stood out in the crowd out of his sheer size. As a child, I was terrified of bald, stocky men.   They all seemed intimidating to me. The man in the cemetery was tall, stocky and bald.   Because he appeared intimidating, I did not expect him to cry in the burial. I was not used to seeing men cry, especially those of his size.   I was expecting him to be simply serious but not emotional.   Besides, it was said that men do not cry.   As we drove past the cemetery, I caught a glimpse of him pulling out a handkerchief and wiping his eyes.   He was indeed crying.   I contemplated that maybe the grief over the loss of a loved one may have been too much to bear, that it prompted a seemingly intimidating man to cry. III. Our next door neighbor was a woman with two children.   The woman had fair skin and dark curly hair. She was remarkably thin and was rarely seen at home.   My mother said that she worked two jobs so she could pay the rent and feed her children. I always liked her because whenever she was around, she would smile at me and her eyes would seem to smile too. She had those distinct smiling eyes.   One day, my mother and I went out of the house as we were hearing loud noises from her home. We saw this tall man coming out of her house, dragging the children with him. She was screaming while grabbing on to the man’s arm. She tried to stop him, but her small frame was no match to the man’s physique. The children were shouting for their mother as the man dragged them into the car. The man immediately hopped in the driver’s seat, closed the door, and drove away.   The woman just stood there in the street, her eyes still fixed on the car that just disappeared. A minute later, she bowed her head and covered her face with her hands. Then she began to cry.   Her cries became louder, and soon all our neighbors were already watching her.    I later found out that the man was her former husband and her children’s father. She worked so hard to take care of her children, only for them to be taken away from her.   I never saw her smiling eyes again.   She soon moved out. I believe it was after that incident when I truly began to have respect for single mothers who work hard to take care of their kids. IV. I am used to witnessing marriage proposals on television.   I have seen programs wherein the men would go down on one knee and the woman would then gasp in shock, cover their mouths with their hands and become motionless for a few seconds. Afterwards, they would become hysterical in glee. In the past, I thought that such moments were too emotional.   My opinion changed when I witnessed a marriage proposal firsthand.   I was in a coffee shop with a friend when a couple entered. They looked like the average couple; nothing seemed extraordinary about the two of them. The woman took her seat, while the man went to the counter to order.   I did not pay them much attention afterwards. It was not until much later when I realized they were deaf-mute, when I noticed that they were using sign language. I did not expect a proposal to occur, not in a coffee shop.   So when I saw the man go down on one knee, I was taken aback.   My friend and I watched closely, along with the other customers, as the woman nodded and hugged his future husband.   As the people in the shop cheered, tears were streaming down her face. Unlike other women, she did not overreact.   She was just happy, and her tears showed it.   I guess true love does make people happy, and the happiness does not have to be showy to be expressed. V. One time, I had the chance to watch The Oprah Winfrey Show.   I can remember that the episode featured a middle-aged African-American woman who took care of many children.   I cannot recall if she was married, but I know she had three children.   When the woman’s siblings died, she took the responsibility of raising them as well.   She and the children had to cram themselves in a small three-bedroom house.   She worked several jobs to support these kids, most of which are not even her own.   The problem was that the home was not hers and if she did not pay a certain amount within the specified time, they would be evicted. The woman and the children were invited to the show where they were to receive gifts from Oprah. They were given things they needed; they received new beds, kitchen appliances, and even a van.   However, the biggest surprise of all was when Oprah announced that they would be shopping for a new home. The woman hugged Oprah tight, and wiped the tears running down her face.   I knew the woman was happy because of all the material things she received. Most importantly, I know those tears were of gratitude.   It was not the material things per se that she was grateful for; she was thankful for the help that those things could offer her and the children.   I knew she deserved those things for all her dedication and hard work. Still, she was very grateful.

BayState Realty Case Study Essay

1. Use a table to identify the software products sited above that fall within the following categories of software: System Software General Purpose Software Application Specific Software An operating system built to control and operate the hardware system Protect the firm’s hardware platforms from intrusion, malware, and computer viruses Dell laptops and desktop computers running Microsoft’s Windows operating system Allows users to accomplish simple computer related tasks Standardizes and minimizes implementation costs Facilitates staff training Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Outlook, and Microsoft SharePoint For an end user Document and management system The CRM system, an Accounting System, a Human Resource Management System, a Real Estate Sales Documentation and Management System, and a Rental Property Management System 2. Use a second table to identify and explain the various elements in the total cost of software ownership and then list the steps taken by the CIO to limit the firm’s software TCO expenditures. Elements in the Total Cost of Software Ownership Steps Taken by the CIO to Limit the Firm’s Software TCO Expenditures Software and hardware upgrades Time to renew hardware and software Training for new and current employees Hiring MIS or IT personnel Sale Price Licensing 1. Focus on the procurement and deployment of a limited set of well-established, off-the-shelf products 2. Negotiate favorable licensing terms with Microsoft for the initial acquisition of products, to standardize and minimize implementation costs, and to limit firm investments in ongoing staff training and product documentation and support 3. Work closely with their line-of-business colleagues to select best-in-breed application specific software 4. Adapt their business processes to make the best use of the software and by doing so, better control the TCO for that software 5. Implement Linux (an open source software product) as the operating system of choice for servers running shared applications 3. List the reasons why BayState Realty chose to go with off-the-shelf software instead of developing their own software packages in house. BayState is mainly focused on their real estate agencies, so by doing so they can continue to focus on their business which means it is preferable for them to go with off-the-shelf software The software has already been tested by the company. Besides the test, the software company also provides warranty service It is available for computer shops, so there are lots of computer shops solving Window software problems It can easily find the same users so they can share their experiences easily and answer any questions about the system 4. List the reasons why it makes sense to go with Linux. Be sure to include how this particular use of open source software mitigates the risks typically associated with the choice of an open source software product. Linux is free or cheaper so it is beneficial for users that it is not owned by the company The software is unlikely to get computer viruses or other malware Hardware independent – operating system in advance and advantage Community relationship – Instead of establishing customer relationships, Linux shares with lots of vendors and is part of the community not a single user. Interoperability – able to connect to networks and communities easily You can select the best tools you need 5. Compare the advantages and the disadvantages associated with outsourcing the hosting of the firm’s three web sites. Advantages: Hosts the firm’s three Web sites Saves time – Do not have to spend time to manage the website Better equipped – Proficiency in creation, innovation, and design Low cost – helps customers manage their money wisely Use the correct Internet strategy, like formulating marketing programs Disadvantages: Hidden cost – it has a low cost for website outsourcing, but there are several costs behind the price, such as signing a contract Exposing data – BayState Company is sharing their information with a third party Lack of focusing on their customers – instead of customizing, vendor may be creating an expertise-need

Infancy and Childhood Development Essays

Infancy and Childhood Development Essays Infancy and Childhood Development Essay Infancy and Childhood Development Essay Infancy and Early Childhood Development An infant is completely dependent, and the trust an infant develops is based on how dependable and reliable the caregiver is. Erik Erikson theory states that between birth and one year of age is the most important stage in psychosocial life development. Although it may not seem a significant amount of time, newborns and infants go through a lot of development compared to the rest of their average 75 years of life expectancy. This paper will explain how families affect the development of infants and young children. Evaluate different parenting styles and their influence on development during infancy and early childhood. It will also discuss early childhood education and its influence on cognitive development. How Families Affect Development Parents and cultures are pivotal to this process, which makes it biosocial not merely biological development (Berger, Ch. 5, 2007). Families greatly affect and infants developmental stages more than just socially, brain development is also affected. Parents and caregivers behaviors influence schedule and expectations of sleep patterns. Starting from birth is important to setting a pattern because sleep becomes regular and distinct sleep-wake patterns develop by age 1 (Berger, Ch. 5, 2007). Sleep deprivation is detrimental to brain development. The child gains its patterns from how structured the caregiver makes the scheduled. A mother who takes their child out constantly and has inconsistent hours may find it hard for their child to develop a sleep pattern as they get older. Mother who set a strict schedule in the early stages finds their children able to settle in to a consistent sleep pattern. Although giving a balance to what the infant is exposed to is just as important. Every gesture, move, sound and sight is a new experience for the infant. Early experiences help with the development of the parts of the cortex that are dedicated to senses and motor skills. The experiences are vital to synapses link to neurons. If the neurons go unused the brain will redirect that region to other sensations causing a lack of development in certain areas. Caregivers and parents need to constantly expose the infant to new experiences especially during the first year. Because each culture is different experience-dependant brain growth is different in each infant, but all well developed infants have the same potential in capabilities of emotion, linguistics, and sensory. Some emotions began at birth but other develop over time anger emerges with restriction and frustration, between 4 and 8 months of age, and becomes stronger by age 1 (Berger, p. 201, 2007). Fear develops at the end of age 1 as well but behaviorist believe that babies learn many things from their parents including fear. What to fear and what brings joy can come from learned actions of the parent or caregiver. The first 2 years are considered extremely important in all theories, caregivers and parents highly influence the child’s behaviors. In the epigenetic theory it is expressed that the influence even affects genetic traits such as temperament. Temperament is genetic but how the child inhibits it is influenced by the parent’s behaviors. Since human development in general is directly related to its cultural environment the caregiver-infant relationship has a huge impact on the infant’s development. The interaction the parent or caregiver has with the infant shapes the behavior. Influence from Parenting Styles Early years of a child are very important in developing emotional, social, physical, language, and even think skills. Parents are ongoing role models through the child life but the aspects of parenting that are linked with development of young children are social and emotional development. Parenting styles can be defined along two important dimensions: 1. Responsiveness: how well the parent is attuned to the child and able to respond to the child’s needs and interests, and 2. Control: how much the parent supervises and disciplines the child and requires obedience and self-control. (Canadian Council on Learning, p. 2, 2007) The style of parenting my parents used would be a combination of both responsiveness and control. However my mother was more controlling and less responsive compared to my father. I believe the affect that my parents parenting style had on me was somewhat positive although I do lack an emotional closeness to my family. I look for more of a friendship with my family versus a loving emotional connection. Socially I am not as strong as I think I could have been because I had trouble gaining friends in my early childhood. My interests were driven by what my parents wanted and what I believed would make them happy versus my own deep desires. Early Childhood Education and Cognitive Development Piaget and Vygotsky had quit a few differences but there bases where very similar. In general both theories state cognitive development happen throughout time. The differences however are between stages and zones, and interaction with more knowledgeable beings. Vygotskys theory emphasized the need of a MKO or More Knowledgeable Other. Piagets theory doesnt need any outside influence learning is internally stimulated. Piaget believed during early childhood maturity is achieved through stimilizing the cognitive ability. The maturing of the mind and thought process occurs from an education rich in hands on learning and sensory driven activities. During the child’s life span the child’s imagination and creativity become the main source that drives the learning process. Around this stage, 2-7 years old, education depends on maturing the cognitive schemes and developing new ones. Vygotsky and Piaget theories also differentiate by the use of Zone of Proximal Development, ZPD, and Stages. I believed Vygotsky to be more accurate. I think his learning theory of scaffolding and using different levels of assistance from a MKO is important to cognitive development. Also language has a very important role in learning development. Yes both Piagets and Vygotskys theories both put and emphasis on the environment playing a significant part in the cognitive development process but Vygotsky provided a very influential theory which provided a meaningful social context in the development of learning (Eddy, n. d. ). Conclusion Society, parents or caregivers, and environment are major influence in infant and early childhood development. Behaviors and personalities are molded beginning earlier than age 1. Education during the early childhood not only promotes growth intellectually but develops social maturity. The parent must find the balance and guide the infant not force them through their experience in order to obtain a beneficial development process. I believe the saying is true, â€Å"it takes a village to raise a child†. Reference Berger, Kathleen Stassen. (2007). The Developing Person Trough the Lifespan seventh edition. Canadian Council on Learning. (2007). Lessons in Learning. p2. Retrieved July 22, 2011 From ccl-cca. ca/pdfs/LessonsInLearning/Dec-13-07-Parenting-styles. pdf Eddy, Samuel. Psycho Hawks Making Psychology Simple for Everyone. . Retrieved July 24, 2011. From http://psychohawks. wordpress. com/about-the-blog/