Leadership Style in Predicting Engagement Free Samples to Students

Question: Discuss about the Leadership Style in Predicting Engagement. Answer: Introduction The effective performance parameter of the organisational staffs is necessary to achieve the competitive advantage in the business scenario. Therefore, it is essential for every organisation to determine the necessary methods for motivating the employees to keep the more focused and engaged to the business functionalities. Judge et al. (2014) implied that different people present their different demands. Therefore, it is difficult to ensure the exact process of motivating the employees. The human resource management of the organisation takes the responsibility to motivate the employees and bring out the effective performance outcome more specifically. Understanding the theoretical approaches will be helpful in analysing the impact of employee motivation on employee engagement. However, David, McClelland, the professor of psychology described the three major types of the motivational factors, such as achievement, affiliation, and authority and power. The study will thus focus on the s pecific motivational process ensured by the organisations to keep the employees engaged towards their job responsibility. The theoretical analysis will provide the clear ideas about the associated the motivational process that help in engaging the employees. The involvement of these factors will be helpful enough in determining the engagement of the employees within the organisational process. When the top management recognises the efforts of the employees, it generates the sense of security among them and accordingly helps them to achieve the personal and professional goals. According to Strom, Sears and Kelly (2014) motivation is the method of boosting the employee morale for encouraging to accomplish the assigned goals. In fact, motivation is conceptualised as the process of achieving the extraordinary results. The skilled performance parameter of the employees is necessary to achieve the organisational success. Hence, it is necessary to adopt certain initiatives that will provide both the monetary and non-monetary facilities to the existing employees (Breevaart et al. 2014). Various types of motivational factors are influencing the employee behaviour in an organisation. The human resource management of the organisation takes the resp onsibility to motivate the employees and bring out the effective performance outcome more specifically. Understanding the theoretical approaches will be helpful in analysing the impact of employee motivation on employee engagement. Theory of Motivation In order to understand the employee behaviour, Frederick Herzberg introduced the two-factor theory. The theory is much helpful in recognising the attitude of the employees. The two factors associated with this theory are motivators and hygiene factors. Hygiene factors are suggesting some of the basic needs of the employees. Usually, these factors do not lead to any kind of positive satisfaction, but the absence of these factors may lead to dissatisfaction. The hygiene factors include the salary structure, company policies, fringe benefits, status, physical working conditions, job security, and interpersonal relationship (Lepper and Greene 2015). The competitive pay structure is essential for the employees to keep them engaged towards the work. The human resource management needs to ensure that the administrative policies are not too rigid for the employees (Shuck and Reio Jr 2014). It will be effective for the employees to feel secure about their position. The employees even seek the fringe benefits, like health care plans and other employee health programmes (Nie et al. 2015). On the other hand, it is necessary for the human resource management to maintain the proper interpersonal relationships with the employees. It is necessary to generate sense of transparency among the employees. On the other hand, the motivational factors include recognition, responsibility, sense of achievement, meaningfulness of work, and growth and promotional activities. It is to be indicated that the motivational factors usually yields the positive satisfaction that are inherent to work. The involvement of these factors will be helpful enough in determining the engagement of the employees within the organisational process. When the top management recognises the efforts of the employees, it generates the sense of security among them and accordingly helps them to achieve the personal and professional goals. It is essential for the employer to provide the proper promotional and growth opportunity to the employees to keep the engaged in performing the organisational functionalities (Nuttin 2014). Hence, it can be inferred that the concentration on such motivational factors to motivate the employees and engage them in the organisational works. In fact, it can be interpreted that the positive outcome of the employees performance can help the organisation to achieve the competitive advantage. Links with the Articles The journal articles provide the insightful ideas about the effectiveness of the employees performance in enhancing the organisational profitability. The subject has the clear links to the topic. The maintenance of the effective performance is eventually increasing the productivity of the entire organisation (Crawford et al. 2014). However, if the employees lack the proper motivation from the top management of the organisation, it will affect their morale. In fact, it may make them more reluctant to perform the organisational activities. Hence, it is essential for the human resource management to keep the focus on the basic needs and demands of the employees (Saks and Gruman 2014). The motivation not only comes from the monetary benefits. The employees even seek some of the non-financial benefits that will serve as the motivational process for the existing individuals. For example, when the employer is paying attention towards the knowledge sharing process of the employees, it will b e helpful for them to improve the professional skills and become competent. The article, Motivating Knowledge Sharing in Knowledge Management Systems: A Quasi-Field Experiment suggests that using the knowledge management system is one of the significant process of motivating the existing employee (Wang, Noe and Wang 2011). The empirical study present in this article is highlighting the psychological factors of the individuals that lead to satisfaction or the dissatisfaction. The employee dissatisfaction even leads to employee attrition. Hence, it is essential to keep the focus on the satisfaction level of the employees. The other article, The Impact of High-Performance Human Resource Practices on Employee Attitude and Behaviours also suggests the necessity of retaining the employees with proper motivations. The article is quite different to the previous article, because it suggests the improvement of the HR roles and responsibilities (Kehoe and Wright 2013). The maintenance of the proper interpersonal relationships by the human resource management is necessa ry to influence the positive behaviour of the existing employees. The obtained information from the data collection process in this article indicates that the high performance of the employees depend on the proper behavioural manner maintained by the human resource management team. The article, Collective Organisational Engagement: Linking Motivational Antecedents, Strategic Implementation, and Firm Performance presents the idea about the comprehensive theoretical implication of the organisational engagement (Barrick et al. 2015). The article clearly portrays the idea that it is essential to motivate the employees in a significant way. It is noted that the employee engagement is facilitated by maintaining three major aspects, such as motivation, human resource roles, and the effective leadership style. Such organisational resources are maximising the psychological conditions that are necessary for engaging the employees in a significant way. Differences between the Articles and Integrated Interpretation The information received from the articles is concentrating on the similar subject matter. However, even though all the articles are conducting the empirical researches, there are some of the dissimilarities between the research processes. The individual articles have used the different types of the tests are associated with the study. The articles needed to present more elaborative ideas about the collective perceptions. The major limitation of the article information is these articles lack the suggestions for the innovative procedures that can be applied to the business processes. The current business world is much advanced. Hence, it is essential to upgrade the methods that can be beneficial for the employees as well as the employers. In fact, the articles do not even include the essential resources for managing the proper motivational process. The lack of the sufficient resources can lead the organisation towards negative consequences. The assimilation of the logical networking i s essential for every individual organisation. The effectiveness of the human resource management is necessary in such cases. Conclusion The skilled performance parameter of the employees is necessary to achieve the organisational success. Hence, it is necessary to adopt certain initiatives that will provide both the monetary and non-monetary facilities to the existing employees. The human resource management needs to ensure that the administrative policies are not too rigid for the employees. It will be effective for the employees to feel secure about their position. The employees even seek the fringe benefits, like health care plans and other employee health programmes. The maintenance of the proper interpersonal relationships by the human resource management is necessary to influence the positive behaviour of the existing employees. The articles needed to present more elaborative ideas about the collective perceptions. The major limitation of the article information is these articles lack the suggestions for the innovative procedures that can be applied to the business processes. The current business world is much advanced. Hence, it is essential to upgrade the methods that can be beneficial for the employees as well as the employers. References Barrick, M., Thurgood, G., Smith, T. and Courtright, S., 2015. Collective Organizational Engagement: Linking Motivational Antecedents, Strategic Implementation, and Firm Performance. Academy of Management Journal, 58(1), pp.111-135. Breevaart, K., Bakker, A., Hetland, J., Demerouti, E., Olsen, O.K. and Espevik, R., 2014. Daily transactional and transformational leadership and daily employee engagement.Journal of occupational and organizational psychology,87(1), pp.138-157. Crawford, E.R., Rich, B.L., Buckman, B. and Bergeron, J., 2014. The antecedents and drivers of employee engagement.Employee engagement in theory and practice, pp.57-81. Judge, T.A., Simon, L.S., Hurst, C. and Kelley, K., 2014. What I experienced yesterday is who I am today: Relationship of work motivations and behaviors to within-individual variation in the five-factor model of personality.Journal of Applied Psychology,99(2), p.199. Kehoe, R. and Wright, P., 2013. The Impact of High-Performance Human Resource Practices on Employees Attitudes and Behaviors. Journal of Management, 39(2), pp.366-391. Lepper, M.R. and Greene, D. eds., 2015.The hidden costs of reward: New perspectives on the psychology of human motivation. Psychology Press. Nie, Y., Chua, B.L., Yeung, A.S., Ryan, R.M. and Chan, W.Y., 2015. The importance of autonomy support and the mediating role of work motivation for well?being: Testing self?determination theory in a Chinese work organisation.International Journal of Psychology,50(4), pp.245-255. Nuttin, J., 2014.Future time perspective and motivation: Theory and research method. Psychology Press. Saks, A.M. and Gruman, J.A., 2014. What do we really know about employee engagement?.Human Resource Development Quarterly,25(2), pp.155-182. Shuck, B. and Reio Jr, T.G., 2014. Employee engagement and well-being: A moderation model and implications for practice.Journal of Leadership Organizational Studies,21(1), pp.43-58. Strom, D.L., Sears, K.L. and Kelly, K.M., 2014. Work engagement: The roles of organizational justice and leadership style in predicting engagement among employees.Journal of Leadership Organizational Studies,21(1), pp.71-82. Wang, S., Noe, R. and Wang, Z., 2011. Motivating Knowledge Sharing in Knowledge Management Systems: A QuasiField Experiment. Journal of Management, 40(4), pp.978-1009.

Nanotechnology Advantages Disadvantages within the Business Context

Introduction Emerging technologies, in their varied forms and scope, are transforming the world of work, how business entities function, change and progress, and the nature of leadership, managerial and professional careers within the context of the 21st century’s business environment.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Nanotechnology: Advantages Disadvantages within the Business Context specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Indeed, these technologies have evolved into fundamental components of business, industry, and commerce throughout the world, driving growth and competitiveness of organizations to unprecedented levels (Forster 1). Consequently, governments and industry are investing heavily in these technologies with a view to harnessing the raw power that derives from them, particularly in providing a framework for organizations to be innovative and to offer new and improved processes for competitive advant age (King Gibbs 33). It is the purpose of this paper to evaluate one such technology known as nanotechnology, and to put into perspective some of its advantages and disadvantages within the business context. Understanding Nanotechnology Nobel Prize winner Richard Smaller defined nanotechnology as â€Å"†¦the creation of materials that have new and unique properties because of their extremely small size† (King Gibbs 34). Nanotechnology has also been described as the production and utilization of materials at the smallest possible scale, which scientists peg at 100 nanometers or possibly less (Davies, 3, 7). Extant research has demonstrated that nanoparticles have been around since the prehistoric era in the form of combustion byproducts, but the field was not identified until 1959 when Nobel physicist Richard Feynman came up with the concept of the â€Å"staggeringly small† (Davies 8). Its potential impact on businesses remained unknown until several years ago (F orster 3). As has been the case with other emerging technologies, nanotechnology has received mixed receptions characterized by elevated expectations of its potential benefits on the one hand, and reservations and fears about its potential consequences on the other. Below, the merits and demerits of nanotechnology are evaluated.Advertising Looking for essay on other technology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Advantages of Nanotechnology Among the major advantages, nanotechnology is expected to present business organizations not only with new and improved processes and products but also with an expanded global market base (Canton 4). According to the National Science Foundation projections, the market for products that contain nanomaterials will hit the $1 trillion mark by 2015 (Davis 8; King Gibbs 34). Although there still exist a dearth of data on the number of organizations using nanotechnology, it is clear that these enti ties are increasingly using the technology to develop new and improved applications (e.g., car bumpers, composites etc), which are inarguably stronger, lighter, more reactive and more durable. For example, nanotechnology has enabled technology firms to develop a new application in the name of iPod Nano, which uses Samsung memory microchips made â€Å"with precision† less than 100 nanometers (Davis Gibbs 36). Such applications translate into new and emerging markets for business markets, along with improved performance and competitiveness for the entities involved. Closely linked to the above advantage is that nanotechnology has allowed business organizations to become increasingly innovative as they attempt to enter new markets. Courtesy of nanotechnology, consumers are now enjoying faster, smaller and enhanced hand-held devices and other electronics in the market, which translates into increased profitability for the companies manufacturing these innovative products (Foster 14). Such innovativeness drives prosperity and global competition (Canton 4) The increasingly competitive business environment of the 21st century has caused many organizations to look for avenues for cost reduction, and nanotechnology provides one such avenue (Gilligan Bowman 239). Researchers and practitioners are in agreement that the controlled manufacturing processes which nanotechnology promises to make a reality will have a positive impact on the organization in terms of low-cost, economical production, and high output.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Nanotechnology: Advantages Disadvantages within the Business Context specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In equal measure, it can be argued that nanotechnology has afforded organizations the much-needed platform to develop miniaturized applications, which are in sync with the current market trends (Gilligan Bowman 239). For example, the high capacity memory chips found in the market today, courtesy of nanotechnology, has enabled firms to develop complex but miniaturized applications, such as the Apple iPads, which can be used to communicate and conduct business anywhere at the touch of the screen, hence serving as a stimulant for economic growth for organizations and governments (Forster 17). As pointed out in one article, organizations operating in the industrial era stimulated growth by their ability to make things big, but those operating in the 21st-century attempt to stimulate growth through the power to make things tiny (Forster 2). Nanotechnology provides the much-needed platform for such miniaturization of products and, consequently, growth. In information technology, available literature demonstrates that nanotechnology will make it possible for the development of â€Å"†¦even more powerful computing technologies, which may lead to the creation of the first artificial intelligent entities† (Forster 10). Indeed, re searchers and practitioners are predicting that the world’s first quantum computer (system will be 100 million times faster at processing data than the most powerful crop of contemporary supercomputers) could be ready for the market by the end of 2012. These developments are beneficial not only in their ability to enable second-generation self-learning entities to be created but also in enabling people within organizations to delegate more mundane duties to these intelligent machines, which will be able to employ their â€Å"initiative†, provide suggestions and make decisions (Forster 10). It is even suggested that these machines will also have the capacity to interpret and respond to human emotions.Advertising Looking for essay on other technology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More While the above may be the direct benefits of quantum computers to the organization if nanotechnology will indeed be able to operationalize these trajectories into reality by the end of 2012, there exists a myriad of indirect organizational benefits in terms of: automating work processes; reducing overhead costs associated with staff employment; reducing operational costs; faster flow and exchange of information, and; tending to employees who may experience emotional breakdowns. Of importance to note here is that nanotechnology will enable computers and information systems to â€Å"†¦evolve to an even higher level of complexity and sophistication, as the age-old distinction between technological and biological systems starts to dissolve and both starts to operate in tandem at the molecular level† (Forster 10). These benefits, in combination or in isolation, will inarguably function to enhance competitiveness and profitability for the organizations involved while maintain ing an emotionally stable and satisfied workforce. Disadvantages of Nanotechnology Among the disadvantages, researchers and practitioners are in agreement that the risks posed by nanotechnology bring into the limelight sweeping effects on the market cycles, manufacturing cycles, safety and security of employees, along with the safety, security, and well-being of consumers. Indeed, the technology adds an exclusively new, and principally untested and unexplored, realm of potential risks spread across the entire spectrum of contemporary business environment (Forster 23). Although organizations operates under risk through careful planning and forecasting, it becomes strenuous to forecast the possible risks associated with nanotechnology due to the fact that its an emerging technology, and hence the dearth of literature. It is these risks which cannot presently be forecasted using any available measure that puts many organizations adopting nanotechnology under immense strain (Kuzma Prie st 1689). Available literature demonstrates that â€Å"†¦the characteristics that make engineered nanomaterials attractive in the first place – small size, large surface area, reactivity and other properties – are the same characteristics that may cause these particles, if released, to threaten human health and the environment† (King Gibbs 34). This view is supported by other analysts, who argue that there is increasing concern that a number of artificially engineered nanoparticles may be posing a human health risk to an estimated 1.5 million employees who are currently exposed to the nanoparticles in the respective workplaces, with the figures set to increase to approximately 3.5 by 2015 (Gilligan Bowman 240). Not only can nanoparticles be deposited in the lungs, resulting in negative health consequences for workers and consumers, but they can also access the brain through the nasal passages and even enter the body through the skin, situations which coul d potentially jeopardize the health and safety of people (Kuzma Priest 1690). The regulatory frameworks that exist to manage the usage of nanotechnology are, at best, haphazard (King Gibbs 35). Such a disposition is not good for business as potential users of the technologies may not have the know-how or the capacity to incorporate them into their business processes and systems without proper regulations from governments and other interested players. Lack of streamlined regulations and lack of data on the use of nanotechnology translates to the fact that the public perception and awareness of the existing nanotechnologies is extremely low. Conclusion From the discussion, it is indeed clear that the capacity of nanotechnology to traditional transverse sectors holds incredible economic and social benefits (Canton para. 2). However, as with previous technological progressions, including the World Wide Web, such benefits are often accompanied by a range of potential disadvantages (Gil ligan Bowman 240). The task, therefore, is for the organizations to strike a balance through which they can maximally benefit from nanotechnologies while exposing employees and workers to minimal risks. Works Cited Canton, James. The Strategic Impact of Nanotechnology on the Future of Business and Economics. Institute for Global Futures, 2001. Web. Davies, Clarence J. Managing the Effects of Nanotechnology. (n.d.). Web. Forster, Nick. â€Å"The Impact of Emerging Technologies on Business, Industry, Commerce, and Humanity during the 21st Century.† Vision 10.4 (2006): 1-27. Gilligan, George, Diana Bowman. â€Å"Netting Nano: Regulatory Challenges of the Internet and Nanotechnologies.† International Review of Law, Computers Technology 22.3 (2008): 231-246. King, Gregory E., Larry Gibbs. â€Å"The Little Known.† Industrial Engineer 42.7 (2010): 33-37. Kuzma, Jennifer, Susanna Priest. â€Å"Nanotechnology: Risk, and Oversight: Learning Lessons from Related Emer ging Technologies.† Risk Analysis: An International Journal 30.11 (2010): 1688-1698. This essay on Nanotechnology: Advantages Disadvantages within the Business Context was written and submitted by user Axel Allison 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.

Second Conjugation Italian Verbs - Conjugating Italian Ere Verbs

Second Conjugation Italian Verbs - Conjugating Italian Ere Verbs The infinitives of all regular verbs in Italian end in –are, –ere, or –ire and are referred to as first, second, or third conjugation verbs, respectively. In English the infinitive (linfinito) consists of to verb. amare to love  Ã‚  Ã‚  temere to fear  Ã‚  Ã‚  sentire to hear Verbs with infinitives ending in –ere are called second conjugation, or –ere, verbs. The present tense of a regular –ere verb is formed by dropping the infinitive ending –ere and adding the appropriate endings to the resulting stem. There is a different ending for each person. Characteristics of the Second Conjugation The  «passato remoto » (historical past) of the second conjugation verbs has two diverse forms of the first and third person singular and third person plural:io temetti/temeiegli temette/temà ©essi temettero/temeronoio vendetti/vendeiegli vendette/vendà ©essi vendettero/venderonoNote! In standard usage the forms –etti, –ette, and –ettero are preferred. The majority of verbs whose root ends in t though, such as battere, potere, and riflettere, take the endings –ei, –à © and –erono.battereio batteiegli battà ©essi batteronopotereio poteiegli potà ©essi poteronoriflettereio rifletteiegli riflettà ©essi rifletteronoThe verbs fare and dire are considered second conjugation verbs (because they are derived from two third conjugation Latin verbs- facere and dicere) as well as all verbs ending in –arre (trarre), –orre (porre), and –urre (tradurre).Verbs ending in –cere (vincere), –gere (scorgere), or â€⠀œscere (conoscere) have a particular phonetic rule. C, g, and sc of the root maintains the soft sound of the infinitive before the declinations that start with e or i. They take the hard sound before the declinations that begin with a or o: vinceretu vinciche egli vincaspargeretu spargiche egli spargaconosceretu conosciche egli conoscaconosciutocresceretu cresciche egli crescacresciutoMany irregular verbs ending in –cere (piacere, dispiace, giacere, nuocere, tacere) maintain the soft sound by inserting an i before declinations that begin with a or o; if the verb has a regular past participle ending in –uto, an i is also added:nuocereio nuocciotu nuociessi nuocciononuociutopiacereio piacciotu piaciessi piaccionopiaciutogiacereio giacciotu giaciessi giaccionogiaciutoVerbs ending in –gnere are regular and maintain the i of the declinations iamo (indicative and present subjunctive) and iate (present subjunctive):spegnerenoi spegniamoche voi spegniateVerbs ending in –iere drop the i of the root before declinations that start with i:compieretu compinoi compiamo

Timeline of the Viking Age

Timeline of the Viking Age This Viking timeline is a part of the About.com Guide to the Viking Age. 793: Norwegians attack Lindisfarne monastery, England795: Norwegians run assaults on monasteries in Scotland and Ireland799: St. Philibert Monastery (France) sacked800: Norwegians settle Faroe Islands810: Danes under King Godfred attack Frisia 814: Charlemagne dies834: Danes attack Dorestad, now in the Netherlands841: Norwegians over winter in Ireland850: Longphorts established in Ireland 850: Danes spend first winter in England852: Danes spend first winter in Frankia853: Norwegian Olaf the White established as king at Dublin865: Danish Great Army arrives in East Anglia866: Norwegian Harald Finehair subjugates Scottish Isles870: Danes rule over one half of England880s: Norwegian Sigurd the Mighty moves into the Scottish mainland873: Ingolf Arnason founds Reykjavik, Iceland 902: Vikings expelled from Ireland917: Vikings retake Dublin930-980: First Norse invaders in England become established as settlers954: Eirik Bloodaxe dies and Vikings lose control of York959: Danelaw established98 0-1050: Newly established Norwegian and Danish kings launch attacks on England 985: Norse farmers led by Erik the Red settle Greenland 1000: Leif Erikson finds North America 1014: Vikings defeated at Clontarf by Brian Boru1016: Danish King Cnut named king of England, Denmark and Norway1035: Cnut dies1066: Norman Harald Hardrada dies at Stamford Bridge This glossary entry is a part of the About.com Guide to the Viking Age and part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. See the Viking Age Bibliography for sources.

Personal Learning Journal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Personal Learning Journal - Essay Example ce, for the tasks assigned to our group, we first determined all the realistic objectives to be achieved as recommended by Hammond, Keenye and Raiffa (2006). Through our leader, we identified the strengths and weaknesses of each team member which guided in the allocation of tasks based on the capabilities of each individual. This not only made the team more effective but also made everyone enjoy their tasks. This experience provided an opportunity for me to apply the Rational Model. Rational Decision-Making Model involves a cognitive process where each step follows a logical order from the step before. Being a cognitive process meant that we had to think through and weigh up and to compare in order to get the best possible results. The six steps in this model start with defining the problem, then identifying the decision criteria, allocating weights to the criteria, developing the alternatives, evaluating the alternatives and finally, selecting the best alternative (Eisenhardt, 1989) . However, the Rational Model assumes that the decision maker has a consistent system of preferences and is aware of all alternatives. The outcome will be completely rational and there will be no time constraints. This model clearly analyzes the experience of distribution of tasks within a group. As much as possible, our leader was well informed about all the team members because of the consultations that made him aware of the strengths and weaknesses of each member, thus helping in the easy and logical distribution of tasks. Another experience involves the forks challenge undertaken during lecture time. The game required us to model up a tall structure using forks. With a time span of 15 minutes, it was a difficult task. We conflicted on whether to build a square or triangle structure causing us to sub-divide into two smaller groups. However, after sometime, we realized that we could not come up with the tallest model without being united. Eventually, our group won, having agreed in

Google+ report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Google+ report - Essay Example An extension of this is co-branding, which is networking in a way, but with brands and organizations that share the values of Pedal Forward, and which can propel Pedal Forwards own brand awareness too. For instance, Pedal Forward can co-brand with an organic food company that has national traction, or a cosmetics brand that focuses on natural ingredients such as The Body Shop, to raise awareness about Pedal Forwards own campaign in Google+. The idea here is to align the co-branding strategy with what Pedal Forward wants to achieve, and what it stands for (Leap, 2012). Another recommendation is for Pedal Forward to utilize Google+ Hangouts to connect with its fan base in real time, and to then capture that real-time interaction and post it on the Google+ page of Pedal Forward so that a larger population of fans can keep viewing that Hangout session after the event, for their benefit. A Google+ Hangout allows for Pedal Forward to interact via text and via video with a group of followers about a specific topic, say bamboo bike trails, and then capture that interaction for later posting. This is a great idea to do on a regular basis, as a way to stay relevant and connect meaningfully with the audience The idea is for Pedal Forward to try and stay fresh and relevant while reaching out to other pages and communities to increase visibility and to engage existing and new fans. Related recommendations along this line of thinking include setting up hooks from Google+ and from Pedal Forwards website to other social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twit ter, Instagram Pinterest, and Kickstarter, to broaden the social media reach of the campaign (Leap 2012). The idea of being able to broadcast Google+ Hangout sessions is great, and something that can differentiate the platform from other platforms such as Facebook. One way Google+ can further improve on this is to hook up these Hangout

Pharaphrasing the Purple Hibiscus Essay Example for Free

Pharaphrasing the Purple Hibiscus Essay Kambili and Jaja both come of age in Purple Hibiscus as a result of their experiences. The book opens with Jaja rebelling against his devout Catholic father by skipping communion on Palm Sunday, an important religious holiday. The following chapters detail the events that culminate in Jaja’s defiance. The book is narrated by Kambili three years after this incident. Since she has been stunted by the severe punishments of her father, Kambili barely speaks. Her narration is striking because it can be concluded that she finds her own voice throughout this ordeal. Both Kambili and Jaja take steps towards adulthood by overcoming adversity and being exposed to new thoughts. Part of growing up is building your own identity by choosing which paths to follow. In Enugu, the only path Kambili and Jaja are allowed to follow is Papa. He writes out schedules and severely punishes them when they stray. When Kambili and Jaja visit their Aunty Ifeoma in Nsukka, they are astonished by what they find. Though her home is small and devoid of luxuries, there is love and respect. Her children Amaka and Obiora are allowed to question authority and choose their own paths. Obiora, though he is three years younger than Jaja, is articulate and protective. He has been initiated into Igbo culture by performing a rite of manhood. Jaja was not allowed to participate and is ashamed that he is lagging behind his cousin. In Nsukka, Jaja is encouraged to rethink his allegiances and make his own decisions. Aunty Ifeoma encourages Kambili to reconsider her stance on Papa-Nnukwu. As she has been taught by Papa, her grandfather is a heathen. But when she searches his face, she sees no signs of godliness. After witnessing his innocence ritual, Kambili questions the absolute rule of her father. Both Kambili and Jaja take major steps towards adulthood by claiming their individuality. Religion There is a contrast between Father Benedict and Father Amadi. Priest at Papa’s beloved St. Agnes, Father Benedict is a white man from England who conducts his masses according to European custom. Papa adheres to Father Benedict’s style, banishing every trace of his own Nigerian heritage. Papa uses his faith to justify abusing his children. Religion alone is not to blame. Papa represents the wave of fundamentalism in Nigeria that corrupts faith. Father Amadi, on the other hand, is an African priest who blends Catholicism with Igbo traditions. He believes that faith is both simpler and more complex than what Father Benedict preaches. Father Amadi is a modern African man who is culturally-conscious but influenced by the colonial history of his country. He is not a moral absolutist like Papa and his God. Religion, when wielded by someone gentle, can be a positive force, as it is in Kambili’s life. Papa-Nnukwu is a traditionalist. He follows the rituals of his ancestors and believes in a pantheistic model of religion. Though both his son and daughter converted to Catholicism, Papa-Nnukwu held on to his roots. When Kambili witnesses his morning ritual, she realizes that their faiths are not as different as they appear. Kambili’s faith extends beyond the boundaries of one religion. She revels in the beauty of nature, her family, her prayer, and the Bible. When she witnesses the miracle at Aokpe, Kambili’s devotion is confirmed. Aunty Ifeoma agrees that God was present even though she did not see the apparition. God is all around Kambili and her family, and can take the form of a smile. The individualistic nature of faith is explored in Purple Hibiscus. Kambili tempers her devotion with a reverence for her ancestors. Jaja and Amaka end up rejecting their faith because it is inexorably linked to Papa and colonialism, respectively. Colonialism Colonialism is a complex topic in Nigeria. For Papa-Nnukwu, colonialism is an evil force that enslaved the Igbo people and eradicated his traditions. For Papa, colonialism is responsible for his access to higher education and grace. For Father Amadi, it has resulted in his faith but he sees no reason that the old and new ways can’t coexist. Father Amadi represents modern Nigeria in the global world. Papa is a product of a colonialist education. He was schooled by missionaries and studied in English. The wisdom he takes back to Nigeria is largely informed by those who have colonized his country. He abandons the traditions of his ancestors and chooses to speak primarily in British-accented English in public. His large estate is filled with western luxuries like satellite TV and music. Amaka assumes that Kambili follows American pop stars while she listens to musicians who embrace their African heritage. But the trappings of Papa’s success are hollow. The children are not allowed to watch television. His home, modernized up to Western standards, is for appearances only. There is emptiness in his home just as his accent is falsified in front of whites. Over the course of the novel, both Kambili and Jaja must come to terms with the lingering after-effects of colonialism in their own lives. They both adjust to life outside their father’s grasp by embracing or accepting traditional ways. Nigerian Politics Both Kambili and the nation are on the cusp of dramatic changes. The political climate of Nigeria and the internal drama of the Achike family are intertwined. After Nigeria declared independence from Britain in 1960, a cycle of violent coups and military dictatorship led to civil war, which led to a new cycle of bloody unrest. Even democracy is hindered by the wide-spread corruption in the government. In Purple Hibiscus, there is a coup that culminates in military rule. Papa and his paper, the Standard, are critical of the corruption that is ushered in by a leader who is not elected by the people. Ironically, Papa is a self-righteous dictator in his own home. He is wrathful towards his children when they stray from his chosen path for them. In the wake of Ade Coker’s death, Papa beats Kambili so severely she is hospitalized in critical condition. Both in Nigeria and in the home, violence begets violence. Kambili and Jaja are kept away from the unrest at first. They witness protests, deadly roadblocks, and harassment from the safety of their car. But when they arrive in Nsukka, they are thrust into political debate. Obiora says the university is a microcosm for Nigeria – ruled by one man with all the power. Pay has been withheld from the professors and light and power are shut off frequently. Medical workers and technicians go on strike and food prices rise. There are rumors that the sole administrator is misdirecting funds intended for the university. This is a parallel to what is happening in the country at large. Kambili and Jaja now understand firsthand the struggle of their cousins. The personal becomes political, and vice versa. Silence Several characters are gripped with silence throughout the novel. Kambili suffers the most, unable to speak more than rehearsed platitudes without stuttering or coughing. Her silence is a product of the abuse that she endures at the hands of her father. Kambili does not allow herself to tell the truth about her situation at home. When her classmates taunt her for being a backyard snob, she does not explain that she does not socialize out of fear. She is not allowed to dally after school lest she be late and beaten. She finally learns how to speak her mind when she is taunted continuously be her cousin Amaka. Aunty Ifeoma encourages her to defend herself and only then can Amaka and Kambili begin their friendship. Kambili begins to speak more confidently, laugh and even sing. The titles of the second and fourth section are Speaking With Our Spirits and A Different Silence. Kambili and Jaja communicate through their eyes, not able to utter the ugly truth of their situation. Mama, like her daughter, cannot speak freely in her own home. Only with Aunty Ifeoma can she behave authentically. The silence that falls upon Enugu after Papa is murdered is, as the title suggests, different. There is hopelessness to this silence like the one that existed when Papa was alive. But it is an honest silence. Mama and Kambili know the truth and there is nothing more that can be said. Jaja’s silence betrays a hardness that has taken hold of him in prison. There is nothing he can say that will end the torment he experiences. The tapes that Aunty Ifeoma sends with her children’s voices are the only respite he has. Silence is also used as punishment. When Kambili and Jaja arrive in Nsukka for Easter, Jaja refuses to speak to his father when he calls. After the years of silence that he has imposed upon his children, they use it as a weapon against him. The government also silences Ade Coker by murdering him after he prints a damning story in the Standard. When soldiers raid Aunty Ifeoma’s flat, they are trying to silence her sympathies with the rioting students through intimidation. Silence is a type of violence. Domestic Violence On several occasions, Papa beats his wife and children. Each time, he is provoked by an action that he deems immoral. When Mama does not want to visit with Father Benedict because she is ill, Papa beats her and she miscarries. When Kambili and Jaja share a home with a heathen, boiling water is poured on their feet because they have walked in sin. For owning a painting of Papa-Nnukwu, Kambili is kicked until she is hospitalized. Papa rationalizes the violence he inflicts on his family, saying it is for their own good. The beatings have rendered his children mute. Kambili and Jaja are both wise beyond their years and also not allowed to reach adulthood, as maturity often comes with questioning authority. When Ade Coker jokes that his children are too quiet, Papa does not laugh. They have a fear of God. Really, Kambili and Jaja are afraid of their father. Beating them has the opposite effect. They choose the right path because they are afraid of the repercussions. They are not encouraged to grow and to succeed, only threatened with failure when they do not. This takes a toll on Jaja especially, who is ashamed that he is so far behind Obiora in both intelligence and protecting his family. He ends up equating religion with punishment and rejects his faith. There is an underlying sexism at work in the abuse. When Mama tells Kambili she is pregnant, she mentions that she miscarried several times after Kambili was born. Within the narrative of the novel, Mama loses two pregnancies at Papa’s hands. The other miscarriages may have been caused by these beatings as well. When she miscarries, Papa makes the children say special novenas for their mother’s forgiveness. Even though he is to blame, he insinuates it is Mama’s fault. Mama believes that she cannot exist outside of her marriage. She dismisses Aunty Ifeoma’s ideas that life begins after marriage as â€Å"university talk.† Mama has not been liberated and withstands the abuse because she believes it is just. Ultimately, she poisons Papa because she can see no other way out. The abuse has repressed her to the point that she must resort to murder to escape. Nature/Environment The book’s namesake flower is a representation of freedom and hope. Jaja is drawn to the unusual purple hibiscus, bred by a botanist friend of Aunty Ifeoma. Aunty Ifeoma has created something new by bringing the natural world together with intelligence. For Jaja, the flower is hope that something new can be created. He longs to break free of his Papa’s rule. He takes a stalk of the purple hibiscus home with him, and plants it in their garden. He also takes home the insight he learns from Nsukka. As both blossom, so too do Jaja and his rebellion. Kambili’s shifting attitudes toward nature signify her stage of transformation. During one of the first times she showers at Nsukka, Kambili finds an earthworm in the tub. Rather than coexisting with it, she removes it to the toilet. When Father Amadi takes her to have her hair plaited, she watches a determined snail repeatedly crawl out of a basket. She identifies with the snail as she has tried to crawl out of Enugu and her fate. Later, when she bathes with water scented with the sky, she leaves the worm alone. She acknowledges that God can be found anywhere and she appreciates its determination. In the opening of the book, Kambili daydreams while looking at the several fruit and flower trees in her yard. This same yard, a signifier of wealth, leaves her open for taunts of â€Å"snob† at school. But here she fixates on the beauty of the trees. When she returns from Nsukka after her mother has miscarried, Kambili is sickened by the rotting tree fruit. The rot symbolizes the sickness in the Achike household but also that Kambili is seeing her home with new eyes. Like the trees, she is trapped behind tall walls. Weather also plays a role in the novel. When Ade Coker dies, there are heavy rains. After Palm Sunday, a violent wind uproots several trees and makes the satellite dish crash to the ground. Rain and wind reflect the drama that unfolds in the Achikes’ lives. Mama tells Kambili that a mixture of rain and sun is God’s indecision on what to bring. Just as there can be both rain and sun at the same time, there are good and evil intertwined. In nature, Kambili gleans that there are no absolutes. Papa is neither all good or all bad, her faith does not have to be either Catholic or traditionalist, and she can challenge her parents while still being a good child. * 1-310-919-0950 * Log In | * Sign Up * 1) Five major issues explored in purple hibiscus are; domestic violence, oppression, religion, education and love. 2a) Adichie uses a narrative point of view to explore the theme of domestic violence. The book is narrated in the first person by a 15 year old who is directly affected by domestic violence. Because of her young age she is quiet honest and this allows her to paint a great picture to the audience of the brutal abuse that Eugene bestows upon his family. This is as a result of her sensitive, intelligent and observant nature. 2b) Oppression is explored through narrative point of view. Adichie uses the point of view of Kambili to show the audience how oppressed the country is not only in the Achike household but the whole of Nigeria. Again Kambili’s honesty and good descriptions help to give the readers an idea as of how oppressed the country and Eugene’s household really is. 2c) Adichie uses narrative point of view to explore the theme of religion. She uses this because Kambili the narrator is exposed to different kinds of religion, such as, fanatic Catholics, liberated Catholics and Traditionalists. Again, it is Kambili’s observant nature that helps to give the readers a good idea of what all of the practices are like. Kambili’s narration is also used to show the great impact that religion has on life. 2d) Education is also explored through narration. In the narration Kambili has an encounter with her father and Kambili’s father’s past gives us an idea of how important he thinks education is. 2e) Love is also explored through narration. Although Kambili is a 15 year old through her narration we are able to see that she loves father Amadi. The love however is immature in because they have known each other for a very short time. Although the love narrated is not very mature it is still love. Adichie uses narration to show the audience that Kambili is in love and Adichie uses her narration to give us some hints of this love. 3a) Adichie bring out [continues]