No System Can Maintain Efficiency And Sustainability...

No system can maintain efficiency and sustainability without a leader. Similar to how a bird leads a flock, or the heart powers the body, a governing system is mandatory to stabilize a country, not only with rules and regulations, but through economic intervention. The government is reliable in areas of weakness in the country’s social issues, geographical issues and financial issues, and is liable to bring prosperity to Canadians through support. Government intervention is an essential component to Canada’s economy to ignite sustainable economic growth. Government efforts to revive social issues facing Canadians are essential to improve the standard of living and spark economic growth. For instance, efforts from the government are essential to reduce poverty in further developing a long-term stable economy. Primarily, the government reduces poverty with increases to the minimum wage; Canada’s recent â€Å"minimum wage increase†¦benefit[s] Barrie, and in particular single parents†¦ allowing them to feel less stressed about finances and living from paycheque to paycheque†¦[as] the new act further increases workers’ wages by tying future minimum-wage increase to the [CPI]† (Browne, 2014). From 2007 the government has raised minimum wage faster than employment (See Appendix E) meaning the economy is strengthening. Increased wages decrease the poverty by allowing more citizens to keep up with inflation, seek jobs, and stimulate the economy with disposable income, increase demand, andShow MoreRelatedMg t 498 Week 4 Advantages Paper962 Words   |  4 PagesRiordan could use to improve innovation and sustainability of business operations both in the United States and in the global market. Last week our group researched and discussed two companies that have many competitive advantages in common with Riordan Manufacturing. After discussing, we decided that the commonalities could all be related to one of three main advantages. Theses advantages are: 1. Being an industry leader – Riordan is an industry leader in the field of polymer materials solutionsRead MoreAnalysis Of The Quarterly Reporting System Of The Past884 Words   |  4 Pages Mr. Williams, You have hired me to build build a case for Suncor to forego the quarterly reporting system of the past. In order to adopt a model that is more suitable for a sustainable business in todays ever evolving energy sector. This executive brief is directed at providing you with the tools, facts and necessary information to convince the board that Suncor must discard shot-term reporting goals, in order to position Suncor for long term sustainable success whilst maintaining Suncor’s visionRead MoreFuture Fuel Is A Small Oil Company Essay1379 Words   |  6 Pagesa small oil company characterized by individuals who are supporters of sustainability and have legitimate concern for the environment and are also aware of the growing green movement .As a result we have plans of increasing the research and development budget for seeking new renewable and viable alternative sources of energy as well as equipping the headquarters and 8 other sites in the west with renewable energy system s .Questions like what we are aiming to achieve, our position on corporateRead MoreEffective Governance And Sustainability : An Definition Of Sustainable Development1398 Words   |  6 PagesEffective governance and sustainability are increasingly important considerations for governments, organizations, business leaders, investors, consumers and many other stakeholders throughout the world. Good corporate governance and complexity of sustainable development demands for global cooperation, based mainly on joint co-ordination of strategies and adopting of the best decisions. 1.1 Definition of sustainable Development: the term sustainable development was popularized in our common futureRead MoreStrategic Goals Of Vancouver Coastal Health1532 Words   |  7 PagesInnovation and Culture Advisor, within the Human Resources department, acting as an internal specialist and providing leadership in the development and implementation of strategic and operational initiatives designed to strengthen organizational and systems effectiveness. In my role I partner with senior management to develop and implement strategies to improve organizational effectiveness in support of the strategic goals of Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) which include implementing organizational developmentRead MoreNokia s Competitive Advantages Of Nokia1571 Words   |  7 Pagesthe fifth most valued brand globally by 2000. However, there were some competitions in mobile phone industry from companies like Apple, RIM and Samsung. Consequently, the managers of Nokia decided to transfer the company from engineering-centered system to consumer-centered model, emphasizing on providing a portfolio of handsets and services. When it comes to 2010, Nokia still had the largest market share but lower revenue from developed market and increasing revenue from emerging market. Given itsRead MoreSustainable Development1618 Words   |  7 Pagesthese needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come. The term sustainable development was used by the Brundtland Commission which coined what has become the most often-quoted definition of sustainable development: development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainable development ties together concern for the carrying capacity of natural systems with the socialRead MoreExplain how continuous improvement models, knowledge management systems, quality systems and sustainability principles can be incorporated into business systems.1624 Words   |  7 PagesExplain how continuous improvement models, knowledge management systems, quality systems and sustainability principles can be incorporated into business systems Continuous Improvement Models To close the gap between actual and desired performance, decisions need to be made. Decision making involves making a selection from among alternative courses of action. Implementation and evaluation of the implementation provide feedback into the next cycle of group decision making. Effective problemRead MoreUsefulness of the Balanced Scorecard Essay2029 Words   |  9 Pagesobjective is to be the world’s leading supplier of premium products and services through to 2020 (BMW Group Annual Report, 2010). This vision has been translated into strategic objectives within the BSC which all work towards the same goal of sustainability which has been outlined in Appendix A. The objectives will now be explained as to why the measures were chosen. The balance scorecard applied to BMW (Appendix A) Financial Perspective: Measuring market share is directly in line with the visionRead MoreClimate Change Is Becoming A More Serious Issue1275 Words   |  6 Pagesnature all over the world. There are several little things that can be done by every person to make a big difference in the long run. For starters, let’s avoid CO2 emissions by stopping the air plane costs of sending businessmen to meet in person with video conferencing instead, and improve energy efficiency. Other solutions can be as simple as stopping forest loss and replacing high-carbon coal with low-carbon gas. Limiting climate change can be done, but it is up to the community to make it happen. When

X Hire Writer Essay Topics Essay Checker Donate A Paper

X Hire writer Essay topics Essay checker Donate a paper Log In RESILIENT ROWERS OF THE 1936 OLYMPICS ESSAY Custom Student Mr. Teacher ENG 1001-04 30 April 2016 Resilient Rowers of the 1936 Olympics â€Å"In an age when Americans enjoy dozens of cable sports channels, when professional athletes often command salaries in the tens of millions of dollars†¦it’s hard to fully appreciate how important the rising prominence of the University of Washington’s crew was to the people of Seattle in 1935† (Brown 173). As seen by this quote, America is a much different place than what it was in the 1930s. The times have changed significantly. In today’s day and age we have it all too good. The world we live in is one of leisure and not nearly as much hard†¦show more content†¦Over five thousand banks closed and huge numbers of businesses, unable to get money, closed too. Those that continued laid off employees and cut the wages of those who remained, again and again. Industrial production fell by 50 percent, and by 1933 perhaps 15 million†¦were out of work† (Zinn). This description by Howard Zinn really paints a picture of the turmoil that was occurring in the US during the depression. The depression caused people to be afraid of the future because of all the uncertainty that came with it. This was especially true for Joe Rantz. Joe came from an extremely poor family and had been hit hard by the depression. He knew that if he wanted to rise above the depression and the sad life he lived, he would have to make the cut for the University of Washington crew team. Joe knew all too well that â€Å"failing at this rowing business would mean, at best, returning to a small, bleak town on the Olympic Peninsula with nothing ahead of him but the prospect of living alone in a cold, empty, half†built house† (Brown 13). It was this that motivated Joe and it was this that pushed him to succeed. The Great Depression sparked the fear of an uncertain future into Joe, which is demonstrated by Brown in the quote,†Whether you were a banker or a baker, a homemaker orShow MoreRelatedFundamentals of Hrm263904 Words   |  1056 PagesDavid Levy  ©Michael Eudenbach/Getty Images, Inc. This book was set in 10/12 ITC Legacy Serif Book by Aptaracorp, Inc. and printed and bound by Courier/Kendallville. The cover was printed by Courier/Kendallville. This book is printed on acid free paper. Copyright  © 2010, 2007, 2005, 2002 John Wiley Sons, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording

Lorraine Hansberry s A Raisin Of The Sun - 1527 Words

â€Å"A Raisin in the Sun† is about the Younger Family who live in a small apartment in Chicago. The family is torn apart as every member has different dreams and goals, yet Mama and her daughter-in-law Ruth desperately attempt to hold the family all together. In both the movie and the play, the family’s dreams remain the same. Mama wants her family to get along and she wants to purchase a house. Her son, Walter, wants the life insurance money from his father to invest in a liquor store to achieve his goal of becoming a businessman. These dreams remain the same, but in the movie, certain scenes are added in order to give Walter a motive for his desire, other than pure greed. The additional scenes make it less obvious that his friend Willy is going to scam them. The movie visually displays the apartment in a better light than the play describes but still had the characters talk about the roaches and cracked walls. In â€Å"A Raisin in the Sun† by Lorraine Hansberr y, the differences in script between the original play and the movie increase the family’s desperation to get out of their apartment, and add to the complexity of Walter’s motivation, all which make the movie more powerful overall. In both the movie and the play of â€Å"A Raisin in the Sun,† money is very important to every member of the family, but not as significant to Travis. Many of their dreams require money: Walter wants to invest in the liquor store, Mama dreams of a house for her family, and Beneatha wants to be a doctor.Show MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Lorraine Hansberry s A Raisin And The Sun Essay2363 Words   |  10 PagesPoverty is always a great place to start a story, yet is there a lesson to be learned if the characters ends up right where they started? That is one of the several predicaments in the story â€Å"A Raisin in the Sun† by Afro American writer Lorraine Hansberry. The story takes place in Chicago during the late 1950’s the civil rights era, and the most prevalent question is what makes an African American different to any other person. The story dives deep into what that is through the use of money, as theRead MoreAnalysis Of Lorraine Hansberry s A Raisin Of The Su n 1854 Words   |  8 Pageseven drink from the same water fountain. Schools being desegregated has helped young American people grow together in an educational environment, where they can build friendships with students of other races. Throughout the play, â€Å"A Raisin in the Sun†, Lorraine Hansberry vividly portrays the racism and discrimination of white people towards African-Americans in the fifties, as well as similarities to her own childhood. Walter Lee Younger, husband of Ruth Younger, works as a chauffeur for a rich whiteRead MoreSummary of Lorraine Hansberry ´s A Raisin in the Sun676 Words   |  3 Pages â€Å"A Dreamed Deferred† The drama â€Å"A Raisin in the sun† was release February 25, 2008; written by Lorraine Hansberry as a play and directed by Kenny Leon as a movie. The film main character are Walter Younger Jr (Sean Combs) anaa Lathan (Beneatha Younger), Audra Mcdonald (Ruth Younger), Phylicia Rashad (lena Younger), Justin Martin (Travis Younger) Bill Nunn (bobo), David Oyelowo (Josepj Asagai), Ron Jones (willy harris), Sean Patrick Thomas (George Murchison), and John Stamos (carl Linder). AsRead MoreAnalysis Of Lorraine Hansberry s A Raisin Of The Sun 1797 Words   |  8 Pages Worthless money itself All money brings is nothing but dreams and evil. Where there is money there is also dishonesty or corruption.. In a play called â€Å"A Raisin In The Sun† by Lorraine Hansberry, she focuses on the struggle that was faced by one African American family from late 1950s. As the play opens, the family are about to receive an insurance check for $10,000. This money comes from the death of Mr.Younger’s insurance policy. Everyone was very excited and were waiting for the money to beRead MoreAnalysis Of Lorraine Hansberry s A Raisin Of The Sun 1876 Words   |  8 PagesA Raisin in the Sun is a play written by Lorraine Hansberry in 1959. This is a story about an African American family striving to reach the American Dream despite significant financial difficulties and a racially oppressive environment in the postwar era. The passage I chose was from Act 2, scene 3 of the play. This is when the chairmen of the neighborhood committee in Clybourne Park, Mr. Lindner comes to speak with the Younger family about their future presence in the neighborhood. This passageRead MoreBeneathas Dream in Lorraine Hansberry ´s A Raisin in the Sun604 Words   |  2 Pagesyour sleep, it is the desire, the want, the need of something happening in your life. Dreams give uou a purpose and a reson to live. Chasing your dreams will help you have courage and independence. A Raisin in the Sun, written by Lorraine Hansberry, is a play about an African American family in the 1950’s who receive an insurance check of $10,000. Each member of the family has their own dream of what they would like to do with the check. While it is true that Walter’s dream of owning his own liquorRead MoreAn Analysis Of Lorraine Hansberry s A Raisin Of The Sun 914 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"A Raisin in the Sun† is an autobiographical play written in 1950 by Lorraine Hansberry, an African American writer. The main characters are the Younger family, Mama, his son Walter and her dau ghter Beneatha. The play dramatizes a conflict between the main characters’ dreams and their actual lives’ struggles in poverty and racism. The main characters’ lives as African-Americans contribute to their feeling of entrapment by poverty and racism. The play predicts the black society struggles in the yearsRead MoreAnalysis Of Lorraine Hansberry s A Raisin Of The Sun 1343 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"A Raisin in the Sun† is play written by Lorraine Hansberry about a struggling African American family. Set in the nineteen-fifties, the play explores the dynamics of how the family operates in a time era Chicago that challenges the family with poor economic status and racial prejudice. Hansberry uses dreams as one of her main themes in this play. Three of the characters, Walter, Beneatha, and Mama, all have a similar goal in their respective dreams, to improve the life of the whole family, butRead MoreLorraine Hansberry s A Raisin And The Sun, There Is A Poem By Langston Hughes1034 Words   |  5 PagesThe epigraph to Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun, there is a poem by Langston Hughes titled: â€Å"What happens to a dream deferred?† I believe the reason why Hansberry chose this particular poem as the epigraph to her play to be a form of foreshadowing and metaphor for the Younger family. In Hughes’s poem, there are four potential outcomes for when a raisin is left in the sun. It could fester like a sore and then run. A could smell like rotten meat. It could crust and sugar over. Or does it explodeRead MoreWalter Lee ´s Evolution in A Raisin In the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry685 Words   |  3 Pages In many works of literature, some characters change and grow while others remain the same. A character who changes is known as a dynamic character. In the novel A Raisin In the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, the main character, Walter Lee Younger, is an example of a dynamic character. Walter lives with his wife Ruth, his sister Beneatha, his son Travis, and his mother Lena in a small, one family apartment in the southside of Chicago. The black Younger family lived in a time period between 1945 and

Is Money Happiness free essay sample

Benjamin Franklin, a well known Founding Father of the United States among other avenues of pursuit once said, â€Å"Money has never made man happy, nor will it, there is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more of it one has the more one wants. † This excerpt founds the question of whether or not money can buy happiness; and can it really? In no way can monetary value equate to true serenity. To closely examine the question in subject, the definition of money and its origin must be examined in coherence with what happiness really is. To compare the two contrary parties, the investigation of state facts of Swaziland, a â€Å"poor† country, and The United States, a â€Å"wealthy† country will be explored. A final analysis and comparison will close the article. A monetary value simply cannot purchase a state of being; that is money cannot buy happiness. II. Money and Happiness A. We will write a custom essay sample on Is Money Happiness or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page What is money? 1. Money is simply a unit of exchange in which the transfer of goods and services is exchanged for. Money is synonymous with currency and cash. (Wikipedia: Money) 2. Money allows for the creation of set values of goods and services, and facilitates those trades between producer and worker and consumer and recipient. 3. Money can be recognized as any form of currency, or a medium of exchange a. Shells b. Bones and fossils c. Tokens d. Special rocks and minerals B. What is happiness? 1. Happiness is defined by the Merriam Webster dictionary as â€Å"a state of well-being and contentment or a pleasurable or satisfying experience. (Merriam Webster Dictionary) C. A Time Before Money. Generally, historians agree that money was created at approximately 100,000 B.C. (Wikipedia: History of Money) 2. Before that time, a system of bartering was the only way goods or services could be exchanged. a. â€Å"Barter is a type of trade that doesnt use any medium of exchange, in which goods or services are exchanged for other goods and/or services. † (Wikipedia: Barter) b. For example, if a farmer needed an iron plow for his field, he would have to find a blacksmith that needed apples who then in turn could fabricate a plow for the farmer. In other words, they had to have a coincidence of wants. The transition period between mainstream bartering and a monetary system seems to have emerged from Swaziland at approximately 100,000 B. C. a. This emergence of money was in the simple form of red ochre i. Red ochre are pigments made from naturally tinted clay. Chemically, it is hydrated iron oxide. (Answers: Red Ochre) C. The Symbolic Meaning of Money 1. There are many variants of the true symbolism of money a. One theory directly refers to coin money i. The shape of coin money is generally round. This shape represents the eternal continuation of currency. This round shape also represents the world; again, in it’s ever continuing and developing cycle iii. Together, these ideals represent the ongoing continuation of money throughout the world. b. Another theory applies to paper money i. The square shape that paper money ideally holds is representative of a solid foundation, trust, and solidness. ii. Often times, faces of strong leaders or portraits of influential people will be printed in the currency. These leaders often created the foundation (pioneering or renewed) of any given state, and thus are represented by and represent the country.

Referral and Assessment for Assistive Technology

Introduction Assistive technology assessment is an evaluation process carried out on disabled students engaged in learning process (Beard, Carpenter and Johnston, 2011).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Referral and Assessment for Assistive Technology specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The most fundamental role of AT assessment is to generate data on disabled students, which are later used to recommend an appropriate assistive technology device type (AT) to the learner. Notable to mention is that this assessment process must be conducted globally in order to gather information from variety of sources (Beard et al, 2011). This step entirely relies on information collected from variety of sources worldwide. Such sources include student personal record and information gathered directly through observation by an AT specialist (Beard et al, 2011). Additionally, the AT specialist may also collect information by interview ing the disabled students family members and even fellow friends. Importance of assistive technology assessment Conducting an AT assessment is important since it specifically reveals specific special needs for students with disabilities. On the other hand, the assessment also helps in classifying the disabled based on their unique abilities (Beard et al, 2011). Most importantly, family members and friends also help the AT specialist to collect accurate information about the disabled learner. This is vital especially when making final decision concerning the AT devices type to be recommended for the disabled. The AT assessment also provides an accurate feedback, which best describes the students abilities (Beard et al, 2011). It is also easy for the AT specialist to recommending an appropriate education program teacher to work with the disabled student. IPad has revolutionalized learning for ASD students Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental disability, which prec isely affects communication and socialization aspect of life (Autismparenthood, 2012).Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Moreover, ASD is a genetic spectrum disorder that can manifests severely in some people while in others it can manifests mildly. It is evident that many students who have ASD face a lot of challenges during learning process. The major challenge they face is communication difficulties with their teachers and other students. The use of iPad has revolutionalized learning processes for students with ASD. This is because, iPad provides a proper venue for both children and adults with ASD to speak out and be heard. iPad is the best technological gadget recommended to people with ASD. This is because it is portable and has varieties of applications. Additionally, it is easy to customize most applications on iPad in the best way it can help the non-verbal child to communicate (Autismparenthood, 2012). It is also possible to download varieties of pictures and symbols, which can guide the child in communication. When the child desires something, it is easy to touch the picture on the screen using the finger and the iPad speaks out. The child can also construct sentences using pictures or symbols in the iPad. The child will only touch several pictures as the iPad reads out. For example â€Å"I want to go out† (Autismparenthood, 2012). According to Autismparenthood (2012), it is evident that iPad helps in transforming the social status of the disabled child, by giving him a chance to speak out. It is also easier for the child to say yes or no to various events. It is also possible for the child to tell people what to do or what he wants by just pointing at a picture on the iPad screen. The iPad also has more entertaining applications like cartoons and songs, which attracts the child to it. The beautiful pictures and symbols on the iPad also help the child learn more and more. Incorporating iPad in lesson plan for ASD students It is possible to incorporate the use of iPad in school lesson plan. This is because learners with ASD will find it easier to communicate with the teacher. However, the lesson plan for disabled learners with Autism should differ with traditional lesson plan.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Referral and Assessment for Assistive Technology specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This is because, in most cases, the age group of students with disabilities in a class is always different. Therefore, an individualized lesson plan for each student is recommended (Davila, 2012). This helps the teacher focus on each student educational needs at different level. The lesson plan for ASD students should be more repetitive. This is because students with Autism benefit more from repetitive learning. This is because it helps them master and remember new conc epts from the iPad more easily (Davila, 2012). Another education value of incorporating iPad in lesson plan is that it allows the teacher to download new applications that can train learners on spelling and writing skills (Autismparenthood, 2012). Conclusion It is important for the society to advance, embrace and use new technology to support learners who are disabled. It is a wrong for parents to neglect disabled children since, at individual level, they bear unique abilities and skills. References Autismparenthood. (2012). Autism in Children: iPad Revolutionalize Learning. Web. Beard, L. A., Carpenter, L. B., Johnston, L. B. (2011). Assistive technology: Access for all students (2nd Ed). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc. Davila, M. (2012). Lesson Plan for Teaching Autism. Web. This essay on Referral and Assessment for Assistive Technology was written and submitted by user Puff Adder to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

To what extent do the mass media influence their audience Research Paper Example

To what extent do the mass media influence their audience Research Paper Example To what extent do the mass media influence their audience Paper To what extent do the mass media influence their audience Paper Essay Topic: Sociology It is generally believed that daily newspapers, television, radio, films, the Internet, or any form of message communication that is targeted at a large audience has an influence on behaviour, (Moore 1996) but to what extent? How much influence do the mass media really have on society and the individuals within a society that have now become a media loyal audience? (Moore 1996) and how do people gauge the extent of this influence? The aim of this essay is to look at the theories of the mass media effects. Such effect theories as the hypodermic-syringe model, the cultural effects theory, the two-step flow model, and the uses and gratification theory, and then determine from these theories the true extent of the mass media influence upon society. The Hypodermic-syringe model, that is also referred to as the silver bullet model (Schramm Porter 1982) is the idea that the mass media are so powerful that they can inject their messages into the audience. Or that, like a magic bullet, they can be precisely targeted at an audience, who irresistibly fall down when hit by the bullet. In brief, it is the idea that the makers of media messages can get people to do whatever they want them to do. (Schramm Porter 1982) Whilst it could be argued that no media analyst holds such a view today, it remains popular amongst the public and the media moralists. For instance, in the aftermath of the murder of a young child, Jamie Bulger, in the United Kingdom in 1993 by two young boys, the video of childs play 3, in which a similar kind of murder was to be seen, was evoked as a cause of the murder. Macionis Plummer 1998 p593) Whilst it is possible to say that the film may have played a part, along with other factors, it cannot be said to have simply caused the two boys to murder the young child. (Macionis Plummer 1998) Another factor was that the senior police officers that interviewed the two young boys at the time agreed that there was no evidence that either child had even seen the video of childs play 3. (J. Petley 1994) Many theorists believe that it is really more of a folk belief than a model. Chapman 2000) It could be argued that methodologically, the model is very weak because it ignores the fact that social characteristics of audiences differ in terms of class, age, gender and ethnicity. (Chapman 2000) But still the theory that people are passively injected with media messages crops up repeatedly in the popular media whenever there is an unusual or grotesque crime, which they can somehow link to supposedly excessive media violence or sex and which is then typically taken up by politicians who call for greater control of media output. If it applies at all, then probably only in the rare circumstances where all competing messages are rigorously excluded, such as in a totalitarian state. Nazi Germany being a prime example, where Dr Joseph Goebbels centrally controlled the mass media, and in doing so, he influenced a country into believing that Adolf Hitler was the saviour of Germany. (Wistrich 1997) As you read through the various approaches however, it could be argued that a rather weaker version of the hypodermic syringe model underlies many of them, notably in the cultural effects approach. The cultural effects approach or the mass-culture theory, as it is otherwise known implies that some of the media audience will accept media messages rather uncritically and in other cases resist media messages. (Haralambos Holborn 2000) Clearly this suggests not only different types of media messages but also the idea of different audiences. (Haralambos Holborn 2000) It could be argued that the media actually target these different audiences, these cultures, and effect the way these people look upon the world. The idea is that the mass media have created a mass culture in society, but, at the same time, they have the effect of maintaining cultural individuality. (Burton 2002) The idea that the mass media has created a mass culture in society is particularly associated with Marxism. (Chapman 2000) Marxists argue that the once popular cultures or folk cultures used to be the product of the family and revolved around such activities as folk music, dancing, folk tales and carnivals, but now, in a capitalist society, they argue that it is no longer a product of the family but more down to mass production, or more commonly, the mass media. Chapman 2000) It is seen by Marxists, such as Marcuse in particular that people have become passive recipients of culture rather than actively participating in it. (Chapman 2000) Marcuse believed that people consequently absorb mentally, such things as violent images from movies or television, and then, just as any advertising is seen to do, it gives an appeti te for things that the viewer cannot have, and therefore fuels crimes. (Chapman 2000) Although Marxists such as Marcuse have argued that this type of popular culture is responsible for stifling creativity, imagination and critical thought in society, (Chapman 2000) a number of the mass-culture arguments have come from other directions. Pluralists argue that the pre-industrial folk culture has been over romanticised by the Marxist critics and they also argue that the mass media in modern society has also had a positive effect on people. They claim that literacy has been encouraged, and knowledge and awareness of the world around them has been encouraged. They claim that people have much more choice of cultural products and opinions than they ever had before. (Chapman 2000) In many ways, the mass-culture theory, or the cultural effects approach is similar to the hypodermic-syringe model of media effects and like that model, it is also difficult to prove an effect. (Chapman 2000) It is generally believed that a more acceptable approach is the two-step flow theory for understanding the influence that the mass media have on their audience. The two-step flow model is slightly different to the previous two methods, in that it suggests that people are not influenced directly by the media. It implies that people interpret media messages through a framework of attitudes that they acquire from primary groups or opinion leaders. It was first recognised by Paul Lazarsfeld, along with Bernard Berelson and Hazel Gaudet (Lazarsfeld, Berelson, Gaudet 1948) in The Peoples Choice, a paper analyzing the voters decision-making processes during an early nineteenth century presidential election campaign. Lazarsfeld found that voters, who already knew how they were going to vote in the election, had read and listened to more campaign material than the people who still did not know how they would vote. (Lazarsfeld, Berelson, Gaudet 1948) The researchers found that voters who made a decision late in the campaign were not likely to be influenced by the media, but rather by opinion leaders who swayed their vote. It as been suggested that these so called opinion leaders are not a general characteristic of a person, but rather, limited to specific issues. It is seen that, any Individual, who acts as the opinion leader on one issue, may not be considered influential in regard to another issue. (Burton 2002) Their research was originally based on something like the simplistic hypodermic syringe model of media influence. However, their investigations suggested that media effects were minimal, that the conception of a mass audience was inadequate and misguided and that social influences had a major effect on the process of opinion formation and limited the medias effect. (Burton 2002) As with the other two methods, it could also be argued that the two-step flow method also has its arguments. One being that the Influence, if any, or be it a small amount of influence, tended to be straight across a particular social economic class, except that in the higher social classes there was a tendency for people to find opinion leaders in the next class up. No opinion leader was an opinion leader in all aspects of life. (Burton 2002) For example, a car mechanic in the local pub may not use the media much at all because hes always working late. Nevertheless, he knows a lot about cars and so what the rest of those in the pub know from the media about different makes of car will be influenced by his views. Similarly, a Politics lecturer for example, may not use the media anything like as much as his or her students do, but the lecturers reading and viewing is targeted on political issues. Together with the lecturers broad knowledge of political theory and history, which is likely to make the lecturer the opinion leader as far as the Politics class is concerned. Allowing for the differences from one class to another and from one subject area to another, people could probably recognize in opinion leaders the characteristics which Lazarsfeld suggested, in particular that opinion leaders will be more active users of the mass media than others, (Burton 2002) As a result of this theory, attention began to turn from the question of what the media do to the audience to what the audience do with the media, or, the uses and gratifications theory The uses and gratifications theory focuses on the active use made of the media by the audience itself, to seek gratification of a variety of needs. (Chapman 2000) The standard saying is that, where effects research asks, What do the media do to audiences? the uses and gratifications approach asks, What do audiences do with the media? (Chapman 2000) In this theory, it is said that audiences use the media to gratify needs. The needs being most commonly identified as surveillance, such as monitoring whats going on in the world, or, personal relationships, family interaction, or just to escape from a normal routine. (Chapman 2000) Readers of a newspaper for example, might open the paper, turn past the hard news and head straight for the gossip section, or to the stars section because they need entertainment. Also, as with television, one person might understand their favourite soap opera because their favourite character holds power, and they relate it to their own needs for power. Another person may understand the same soap opera as being mainly about love and understanding because they have strong needs for security and choose to bring out those aspects of the story in their minds. (Burton 2002) But as with all the theories, the uses and gratifications theory also holds arguments. The biggest argument directed at the Uses and Gratifications theory, is that it is seen as being non-theoretical. Other arguments are that it is seen as being vague in key concepts, and being nothing more than a data-collecting strategy. However it is still the most modern theory to date. (ODonnell G, 1994) After looking at the theories of mass media effects, to actually determine the mass media influence upon their audience is no easy task. It could be argued that modern theories of the mass media effect, such as the two-step flow theory or the uses and gratification theory show that people are more likely to reinforce existing attitudes and behavior than to change them. It could be argued that peoples existing attitudes act as a protective net preventing any direct effect at all. It could be said that the media has most influence when an audience lacks knowledge and clear opinions, as with the hypodermic-syringe model or the cultural effects theory. (ODonnell G, 1994) Even so, after looking at these theories, there is no overwhelming evidence that the mass media actually influences its audience at all. However, there is more evidence, to suggest that the audience actually influences the mass media. (Chapman 2000)

Discussion Board Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion Board - Case Study Example In other words, Cole and Driscoll acknowledge that philosophy alone cannot revolutionize the mindset of a church organization when practice and identifiable roles are lacking. Another interesting similarity involves the impact of roles on leaders especially when they are imparting philosophical objectives upon the followers. Unlike Driscoll’s On Church Leadership that is often guided by religious doctrines and mores, organic contexts are free of dogmas. Therefore, both writers note that religious and secular settings should not hinder the nurturing of new leaders within the church. Alternatively, in organic leadership, according to Cole, mentors and re-energizes the follower by creating new practices and philosophies (Cole, 2009). Driscoll argues that church management is often hindered by lack servant leadership and succession plans by pastors. Interestingly enough, the writers might join hands in streamlining the ministry through recruitment of new followers dedicated to becoming leaders. This is through the empowerment of others as a key step toward enhancing the overall leadership vacuum. It implies that leadership debate by the two writers dem onstrates the shifting demographics determined mostly mentorship programs and strategic servant