Time Management Essay Example for Free

Time Management Essay Time Management in the Business World It is true that the majority of the time, people learn to manage their time the proverbial hard way (i.e. working late at night, trial and error, barely meeting deadlines, etc.). The definition of time management can be stated to be the process of both controlling and understanding the time spent on a variety of activities. Time management is by and large affected by a variety of certain methods, techniques that are utilized to accomplish the goals, objectives and tasks at a company within a particular time frame. Time management has typically been discussed in business sectors, however, throughout the years; there have been an incorporation of personal activities within the topic. Literature has noted that how one manages their time is a fundamental question that should be inquired upon within the business management arena. The subject of what is time has also been expressed in the business area in order to get individuals to better understand how to utilize it more effectively and more efficiently. The definition of effectiveness is being able to accomplish a given project in a prudent manner; while efficiency operates on ensuring that the tasks associated with the given project run as smoothly as they possibly can (Adair and Allen, 2003; Covey, 2004; Saunders et al., 2004). Ritter (1989), Irons (2003) and Schwartz and McCarthy (2007) ruminate that the core issue surrounding time management is that time is a resource that is restricted and that employees have to have energy for a business to run successfully. Schwartz and McCarthy (2007) took a step further by stating that the behaviors and rituals associated with employees at companies have a direct effect on that companys revenue and reputation in addition to the factors of performance and productivity. Hence, time management becomes an even more precise concept to both analyze and examine in order that businesses function to the best of their ability (Jex and Elacqua, 1999). Time management is a â€Å"balancing act† ( Friemann, 2000). Employees and staff at certain companies and corporations have problems with time management mostly as a consequence of not learning how to manage their time prior to entering  into the career world (Chase, 2003; Gamauf, 2012), personal and/or workplace stressors (Adebisi, 2013) and a lack of discipline (Viswanathan and Olsen, 1992; Kay, 2011; Mancini, 2003). To combat the issue of time management, certain journal articles have posited that management needs to implement certain types of strategies that help employees, managers and staff manage time well within certain projects and tasks that they are given (Anonymous, 2009; Chesbrough and Appleyard, 2007; Oshagbemi, 1995; Oncken and Wass, 1999; Nagra, 2011). There is reason to believe that certain strategies along the lines of goal setting (Irons, 2003), Pareto analysis; and quadrant goal implementation also referred to as the Eisenhower Method (Adair and Allen, 2003; Mancini, 2003; Thatcher, 2006), as well the my time or yours strategy noted in (Saunders et al., 2004), which outlined the importance of time management for companies and corporations that operate on both virtual teams and what would be perceived as the typical 9-5 work routine. Certain literature has even posited that certain strategies work better at particular times of the year (Bingham et al., 2011). What essentially the n is the best practice associated with time management? How can companies and corporations ensure that their staff is managing time to the best of their ability so that they run smoothly? Statement of the Problem Time management is a problem. Many companies and corporations often suffer at the hands of goals and projects not being completed on time. This results in cutbacks, frustrated employees and workers who are not being recognized accordingly (i.e. appraisals, compensation) (HRLook.com, 2007; Mancini, 2003) and a lack of output for the companys products. While trial and error is typically the best way individuals learn to manage their time better, it becomes all the more important in the business management setting that time is managed, and managed properly; just not at the expense of the employees, managers and staff. Description of the Problem The focus of my research then will be to determine the best strategy (ies) that companies can implement to curtail the issue of time management. What courses of actions and methods best suit all sectors? While that is a loaded question, as there are many strategies that can be put into motion within  companies and corporations, there is rationale to ascertain that one strategy or two at a minimum can be employed in all areas of business management (in all sectors). As aforementioned, there are many different courses of action that a company can take in terms of aiding employees and staff to manage their time better so goals are properly executed. Stephen Covey (2004), in his book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People stated that time management could be approached from any of his four categories: first generation, which was noted to be based on timepiece, whose job is alerting individuals that a duty needs to be completed; second generation, which was more along the lines of planning solely based on setting goals; third generation, which was a prioritization technique utilizing certain objects daily to elucidate priorities efficiently and fourth generation, which was a blend of the first through third categories with urgent matters taking precedence (Covey, 2004). Perhaps, his discussion on time management can be expounded upon in the research to better understand what strategy actually works and what does not, the best. Definition of Key Terms Each of the presented key terms will be used throughout the research to highlight the topic of time management in the business sector. * Attention management which relates to an individuals devotion of the resources mentally to a particular outcome or task (Mancini, 2003; Warren, 2008). * The action item which is defined as what needs to take place within a particular task (Mancini, 2003). * Chronemics the study of nonverbal contact within the field of business management. Perceptions associated with interfacing and promptness fall within the realm of chronemics (Mancini, 2003). * Goal Matrix – technique associated with prioritizing what is most essential to be completed (Mancini, 2003). * Pareto Analysis – a statistical technique used to have efficient use of resources (Mancini, 2003). * Prospective memory – which is remembering to perform tasks when they are needing to be performed (Srivannaboon and Milosevic, 2006). * Perception of time – a psycholog ical term that refers to the subjective interpretation of what time is (Adair and Allen, 2003; Dight, n.d.). * Time management systems – tools that aid and support employees and staff to better manage their time (Mancini, 2003). Purpose of Study/Methodology Literature will be examined regarding time management. Each of the terms presented will be explicitly defined and discussed. In addition to the literature, questions will be asked throughout the research paper regarding time management such as why has certain strategies been more effective than others throughout the years; is it a manager’s job to motivate their staff to properly carry out duties; what has happened to companies that did not employ any kind of time management skills and strategies to their business; why is time management such an issue; can time management really be trained. In addition to these questions being answered in detail, much attention will be paid to the types of strategies associated with time management. Common strategies and not so common strategies will be important. With the methodology area of the research paper, interviews and/or surveys will be needed to assess and examine how individuals manage their time. While the crux of the research paper is on time management in business, time management is an important component in daily living as well. Thus, the function of the interviews and/surveys will be twofold: to delineate whether time management is a problem or is it laziness; and whether certain strategies that are being implemented by individuals in their daily activities can be incorporated into the business arena and vice versa. This will serve to highlight both the importance of time management and efficient use of time. Additional methodologies may arise throughout the course of the research that may lend itself to more literature reviewing, and analysis of a quantitative nature. Presently, there appear to be no limitations with this particular scope of topic, given the considerable and vast amount of information on it. While that does not contend that limitations will not present themselves over the course of the research, it can be posited that the research question will be answered. References Adair, J., Allen, M. (2003). Time management and personal development (ebook ed.). London, UK: Thorogood Publishing Ltd. Adebisi, J. F. (2013). Time Management Practices and Its Effect on Business Performance. Canadian Social Science, 9(1), 165-168. Anonymous (2009). Defining ‘‘strategy’’. Strategic Direction, 25(4), 9-11. Bingham, C. B., Eisenhardt, K. M., Furr, N. R. (2011, Fall). Which Strategy When?MIT SLOAN MANAGEMENT REVIEW, 53(1), 70-79. Chesbrough, H. W., Appleyard, M. M. (2007). Open Innovation and Strategy .CALIFORNIA MANAGEMENT REVIEW, 50(1), 57-76. Covey, S. R. (2004). The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Free Press. Dight, E. (n.d.). How do you view time? asks Eileen Dight. Retrieved July 16, 2013, from PerceptionsofTime.com website: http://perceptionoftime.com/ Friemann, M. (2000, September 14). Time management a key homebuilding skill. The Pantagraph, 1-2. Gamauf, M. (2012, October 1). Time Management Skills. DOM Notebook, 108(10), 1-3. Herbane, B., Elliott, D., Swartz, E. M. (2004). Business Continuity Management: time for a strategic role? Long Range Planning, 37(4), 435-457. HRLook.com (2007, J une 29). Time-management skills concern employers. C2. Irons, L. M. (2003, May). Time Valuing: A Teaching Strategy for Time Management. American Journal of Health Education;, 34(3), 172-173. Jex, S. M., Elacqua, T. C. (1999). Time management as a moderator of relations between stressors and employee strain. Work Stress, 13(2), 182-191. Kay, B. (2011, March). 3 Strategies for Better Time Management. Journal of Financial Planning, 26-27. Mancini, M. (2003). Time Management (ebook ed.). New York, NY: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Nagra, M. M. (2011, October). Human Capital Strategy: Talent Management. October-December 2011 33 THE ARMY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT JOURNAL, 31-37. Oncken, Jr., W., Wass, D. L. (1999). Management Time: Whos Got the Monkey? Harvard Business Review, 1-7. Oshagbemi, T. (1995). Management development and managers’ use of their time.Journal of Management Development, 14(8), 19-34. Ritter, M. G. (1989). Cultivating time management skills. Case Notes, 16(6), 264-265. Saunders, C., Van Slyke, C., Vogel, D. R. (2004). My time or yours? Managing time visions in global virtual teams. Academy of Management Executive, 18(1), 19-31. Schwartz, T., McCarthy, C. (2007, October). Manage Your E nergy, Not Your Time.Harvard Business Review, 1-10. Srivannaboon, S., Milosevic, D. Z. (2006). A two-way influence between business strategy and project management. International Journal of Project Management,24, 493-505. Thatcher, M. (2006, March). Breathing life into business strategy. Strategic HR Review,5(3), 28-31. Viswanathan, M., Olsen, E. M. (1992, Winter). The Implementation of Business Strategies: Implications for the Sales Function. The Journal of Personal Selling Sales Management, 12(1), 45-57. Warren, K. (2008, Spring). Dynamic Strategy. Business Strategy Review, 68-70.

Cigarettes And Their Destruction Of The Brain :: essays research papers fc

Cigarettes and Their Destruction of the Brain Smokers generally feel more comfortable after that especially important first cigarette of the day. Within just a few seconds of "lighting up," smoking activates mind-altering changes. Smokers are well aware of the long-term risks of their habit: such as lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema, and other deadly illnesses. However, smokers are attracted by the immediate effects of smoking: "a stimulant that makes them seem to feel more alert, clearheaded and able to focus on work." Smoking however, does not really have these effects; what the smoker perceives is an illusion. Nicotine begins to act on brain cells within ten seconds of inhalation, fitting into "keyholes" on the surface of the brain; the same "keyholes" as acetylcholine(an important neurotransmitter), and mimicking epinephrine and norepinephrine, giving the smoker a rush, or stimulation. Within 30 minutes, smokers feel their energy begin to decline, as the ingested nicotine is reduced. This process continues, as the smoker's attention becomes increasingly focused on cigarettes. Nicotine causes smokers' brain cells to grow more nicotinic receptors than normal; therefore, the brain may function normally despite the irregular amount of acetylcholine-like chemical acting upon it. The brain is reshaped: the smoker feels normal with nicotine in his system, and abnormal without it. A series of tests were conducted on nonsmokers, "active" smokers, and "deprived" smokers. The "active" smokers were given a cigarette before each test, while the "deprived" smokers were not allowed cigarettes before tests. The tests started simply, and then moved towards more complex problems. In the first test, subjects sat in front of a computer screen and pressed the space bar when a target letter, among 96, was recognized: smokers, deprived smokers, and nonsmokers, performed equally well. The next test involved scanning sequences of 20 identical letters and as one of the letters was transformed into a different one, responding with the space bar. Nonsmokers responded fastest, and active smokers were faster than those who were deprived from smoking. In the third test, subjects were required to memorize a sequence of letters or numbers, and to respond when they observed the sequence among flashed groupings on the screen. The purpose of this experiment was to test short-term memory: nonsmokers again ranked highest, however, deprived smokers defeated the active smokers. Subjects were required to read a passage and then answer questions about it in the fourth test. "Nonsmokers remembered 19 percent more of the most important information than active smokers, and deprived smokers bested their counterparts who had smoked a cigarette just before testing. Active smokers tended not only to have poorer memories but also had trouble

Foods/Typical Meal Essay

Talking about Belgian food, Earl Steinbicker (2006) says: Regular meals tend to be enormous and lengthy, as compensation for the small continental breakfast. A great deal of fat is often used in traditiononal Belgian cooking, so you will probably want to limit yourself to one full meal a day. some typically Belgian meat dishes are:Carbonnades flamandes(beef cooked in beer),Biftek et frites(beefsteak with French fries) and jambon dArdennes(smoked ham). the favorite seafood seems to be moules(mussels)served in very large quantity. Shrimps is often prepared as tomatoes aux crevettes (stuffed in tomatoes). Vegetable dishes: Chicoree-witloof (Belgian endive)-Asperges a’la flamande (white asparagus with egg sauce). the most common snack, sold every where is frites (French fries eaten with mayonnaise), and try gaufres (Belgian waffles). Belgium is the land of beer no one can make better brew. Like: pils, kriek. Another fowl treat is Oie aIinstar de vise'(goose boiled and then fried). Daily Schedule There is no illiteracy in Belgium. Schooling is free and compulsory from ages 6 to 14. The nation’s primary and secondary school systems are divided between private denominational (usually Roman Catholic) schools and nonsectarian government schools. The subsidized private schools educate more than one half of the pupils. Most schools work a half-day on Wednesday, though the afternoon is sometimes given over to sporting or cultural activities. These can also happen on a Saturday morning (Encyclopedia Britannica Online, 2007). Your Reaction Place you’d like to see The Castle of Veves A fascinating castle in the village of Celles . It has been built on 1410 and still lived in by the same family and is fully furnished. The castle is overlooking the picturesque village of Celles, which is considered one of the â€Å"Most Beautiful Villages of Wallonia†; it is composed of five magnificent towers. Inside, there’s a remarkable half-timbered gallery from the 16th century. From far a way you may think that it’s a fairy tail castle and a charming prince will come out of it any time. (See Figure 4). Figure 4. Event you would like to attend Choco-Late, the Bruges Chocolate Festival This festival takes place from 6 April until 10 April, in the historic city centre of Bruges. 72 exhibitors presented their products of chocolate to a large number of visitors. For the chocolate lover, it will be a good opportunity to taste many kinds of it with different new ways of preparing it. Once again visitors to the festival will have the privilege of tasting, experiencing and appreciating chocolate in all its forms. Well it would be a great chance to be missed. Time of year/Place to avoid Any time of year is good time to visit Belgium, but you may avoid July and August are since many take vacation during that period and Most Catholic holidays are celebrated in Belgium so check dates before attempting to schedule. Also avoid visiting Ghent on Monday when many of its important sights are closed. References Belgium. (2007). In Britannica Student Encyclopedia . Retrieved April 23, 2007, from Encyclopedia Britannica Online: http://www. britannica. com/ebi/article-228985 The Belgian school system. (2006, Oct). Expatica. Steinbicker, E. (2006). Daytrips Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg: 40 One Day Adventures by Rail, Bus or Car. Winter park, Florida: Hastings house/Daytrips publisher. The Belgian Tourist Office (BTO) in the US. Retrieved April 23, 2007, from http://www. visitbelgium. com/.

Emotional Isolation in Mary Shelleys Life and in...

Emotional isolation in Frankenstein is the most pertinent and prevailing theme throughout the novel. This theme is so important because everything the monster does or feels directly relates to his poignant seclusion. The effects of this terrible burden have progressively damaging results upon the monster, and indirectly cause him to act out his frustrations on the innocent. The monsters emotional isolation makes him gradually turn worse and worse until evil fully prevails. This theme perpetuates from Mary Shelleys personal life and problems with her father and husband, which carry on into the work and make it more realistic.(Mellor 32) During the time she was writing this novel, she was experiencing the emotional pangs of her†¦show more content†¦Henry Clerval had a striking resemblance to Percys alter ego, and Mary most likely wanted to spend the rest of her life with a man like this. Mary also blamed Percy for the death of her baby because when she needed a doctor, h e would not allow her to immediately see one. Following the death of their child, he was by no means supportive of Marys needs and feelings, which ultimately propelled her into further pain and dejection. This feeling of resentment shows in Frankenstein when Victor shuns his newly created monster and casts it out of his life. The monster goes as far as saying, I am malicious because I am miserable. Her feelings of isolation can be established with But it was all a dream; no Eve soothed my sorrows nor shared my thoughts; I was alone. I remembered Adams supplication to his Creator. But where was mine? He had abandoned me, and in the bitterness of my heart I cursed him. Marys feelings of resentment, regret, despair, and even hatred are very clear and unwavering throughout the story, and the isolation the monster feels is heavily dependant on her situation. The monsters gradual descent into evil most likely follows the path of depression Mary Shelley takes in the course of her life. First, her father is taken away, much like the separation the monster feels when Victor shuns him. Next, she suffers the extreme losses of her half-sister and newborn, which parallelsShow MoreRelatedMary Shelley and Flannery OConnor: Gothic Isolationists1724 Words   |  7 Pagesdeveloped into a 19th century phenomenon. The success of this dominant genre in England is frequently attributed to Mary Shelley. Despite its success during this time period, gothic fiction ceased to be a dominant genre by the Victorian Era. However, in many ways it had now begun to enter into its most ingenious phase. This paper will analyze the influence of Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein on Flannery O’Connor’s work, specifically her novel Wise Blood. Flannery O’Connor emerged as a crucial and contemporaryRead MoreFrankenstein, By Mary Shelley1650 Words   |  7 Pagesthe book of Frankenstein does one just think of a mythical science fiction book that really has no meaning? Frankenstein can have numerous meanings depending on how a person perceives it. Frankenstein can be analyzed into many themes; some say religion, feminism, or scientific symbolization, it all depends on ones own perception. When one analyzes further into Mary Shelly’s life and then interprets the novel it is obvious that is a sociological theme. One can simply assume that Mary Shelley createsRead MoreMary Shelley s Frankenstein - Original Writing1489 Words   |  6 Pagesrecurred, but I was unable to solve them (Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein).† Mary Shelley’s book, Frankenstein, parallels her own experiences. 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Due to their adaptations to feelings of sadness, love, and isolation, zombies have been rising in popularity. Their emotional adaptations have extended as far as zombies having romantic relationships, allowing the new genre of film, zombie romance, to peak the horizon and contribute to their prominence throughout history. In addition, the effects of their popularity on society include studies that have shown children obtainingRead MoreEssay on Frankenstein: Reflecting Mary Shelley’s Life Experiences2738 Words   |  11 Pagesis especially true in the case of Mary Shelley. Shelley began her novel at the age of 18 when the most prominent materials in the consciousness and unconsciousness of Shelley were concerned with the conflicts stemming from the death of her mother. Frankenstein is the outcome of Shelley’s unresolved grief f or the death of her mother which was the crisis she needed to work through to forget her own adult identity. Mary was the daughter of a revolutionary author Mary Wollstonecraft who is regarded asRead MoreScience May Be Interesting To Most, But Its Development1781 Words   |  8 Pageswarned of this in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. This extremely famous novel is about a scientist named Victor Frankenstein who creates a grotesque creature, using electricity. Many assume the creature’s name to be Frankenstein as it may be depicted in movies but this is false, as the scientist’s name is Frankenstein and the monster does not have a name. New developing science allows Victor to create this creature which, as we learn throughout the story, should never have been created. Mary Shelley uses

The Epic Of Gilgamesh And The Odyssey - 888 Words

When two characters are so much alike yet so different, it makes a comparison of Gilgamesh and Odysseus an interesting subject. Both stories, â€Å"The Epic of Gilgamesh† and â€Å"The Odyssey† identify the characters as successful warriors with many adventures to be told. Gilgamesh and Odysseus are human with many god-like qualities. Their perception of immortality, as well as regard for death and the influences of the gods in their lives and adventures, are similar; however, the characters are quite different. Gilgamesh was two-thirds God and one-third human with no regards for the subjects he ruled. He mostly did as he pleased by taking advantage of his subjects, especially abusing women; therefore, he was feared rather than respected by his subjects. The gods of heaven declared, â€Å"Gilgamesh would leave no girl to her mother! The warrior’s daughter, the young man’s spouse, goddesses kept hearing their plaints† (Gilgamesh 60). The great physi cal abilities that Gilgamesh inherited from his immortal parent gave him an advantage in all of his endeavors. The fact that he had very few successful adversaries caused him to be arrogant and displeasing to his subjects. Odysseus was also a successful warrior, but his personality, unlike Gilgamesh, was more accommodating to his subjects, making him a well-respected ruler. Odysseus’s old friend, Mentor, who had been in charge of Odysseus’s home in his absence, stated, â€Å"For all that any of Odysseus’ people remember him, a godly king as kind asShow MoreRelatedThe Epic Of Gilgamesh And The Odyssey1636 Words   |  7 PagesThe Epic of Gilgamesh and the Odysseus both are poems that have since early times been viewed as stories that teach the reader valuable life lessons, almost like a self-help book in today’s society. They both teach a lot of the same general lessons but there are some key similarities and differences throughout both works. Such as pe rseverance, and the inevitability of death are both lessons that are taught in each poem but they are presented to the reader through different interpretations. In theRead MoreThe Epic Of Gilgamesh And The Odyssey Essay790 Words   |  4 Pagestaken by characters as a tool to exhibit the alteration of the character’s nature. Examples of such can be found in The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Odyssey. The journeys undertaken in The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Odyssey were transformative experiences for the characters in each and provided valuable cultural insights to the audience. At the start of The Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh is the arrogant ruler of the city Uruk. 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Such as the nostro (the Greek term for homecoming), xenis (guest/host relationship), oikos (household), and aganoriss (recognition). In both epics these themes are illustrated. In The Odyssey the theme of nostro is very prevalentRead MoreThe Iliad, Odyssey, And Epic Of Gilgamesh1466 Words   |  6 PagesThe Iliad, Odyssey, and Epic of Gilgamesh all demonstrate the transformational process of their respective epic heroes through their strengths and weaknesses. Epic heroes such as Achilles, Odysseus, and Gilgamesh all possessed superior qualities that separated them from other individuals. 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John Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men - 1880 Words

â€Å"Everyone always says that anything is possible, but some things in life just can’t be reached. Sometimes your dreams just can’t be achieved.† (Carl Johnson) All humans living in America have dreams. These could all easily be described as the American Dream. The American Dream can frequently change from time to time due to the time period. It can also change due to the age of the person at hand. Children grow up having these dreams, but who knows how long these dreams will last. Some elderly people develop new dreams or are still chasing to fulfill the dreams they’ve had since they were much younger. These dreams are all things that people want and desire to have. Some of these dreams are unrealistic and could never happen.†¦show more content†¦There is another point when the American Dream is found unachievable in Of Mice and Men. This is when Curley s wife tells the story of wanting to become a photography model. She was unsuccess ful in this though. This can easily be found in the book, Of Mice and Men. Stated on Page 86, â€Å" ’Nother time I met a guy, an’ he was in pitchers. Went out to the Riverside Dance Palace with him. He says he was gonna put me in the movies. Says I was a natural. Soon’s he got back to Hollywood he was gonna write to me about it.† She looked closely at Lennie to see whether she was impressing him. â€Å"I never got that letter,† she said. â€Å"I always thought my ol’ lady stole it. † Receiving a letter from that man was something that was very important to Curley’s wife. She really wanted to receive that letter. She desired to become someone that was somewhat famous. She desired to have nice clothing and to have wealth. Then, this man talks to her and says that he wants to put her in movies and photographs. He says that he will write to her when he gets back to Hollywood. Though, the man didn’t ever write to Cu rley’s wife. This upset her and made her somewhat disappointed. Through this example, it shows that Curley’s wife wasn’t able to fulfill a great dream and desire of hers. It also shows that Of Mice and Men portrays the American Dream to be most certainly unachievable. The American Dream during the 1930s compared to now hasShow MoreRelatedJohn Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men1248 Words   |  5 PagesIn Steinbeck s novel Of Mice and Men, He uses imagery many times to create a realistic setting and plot. Steinbeck’s depiction of migrant workers and their daily complications during the depression are objectively precise due to his use of imagery with idioms, dreams, nature, loneliness and animal imagery. The main theme of the book transpires to be loneliness and fate. While George and Lennie, the main characters have a synergetic relationship, fate steps in and does away with their dreams, whichRead MoreJohn Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men897 Words   |  4 Pagesthat we possess. Many people feel certain emotions based on events that have taken place in their lifetime or how they were raised throughout their childhood. In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, he portrays the feelings of isolation and loneliness in three different characters. George’s isolation is illustrated in Steinbeck’s, Of Mice and Men. George expresses many hard feelings towards Lennie at the opening of this story. â€Å"‘...you’re a lot of trouble,’ said George. ‘I could get along so easy and soRead MoreJohn Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men1243 Words   |  5 Pagesis what John Steinbeck achieves by portraying this through the characters in his novella Of Mice and Men. The main characters are affected by loneliness in their own different way throughout the novella. rf The loneliness is maintained by the challenges that the characters have to face, and they sustain those challenges of being inhumane towards each other. Crook, a figure in the story who experiences discrimination encounters the challenge of race, due to the book’s setting in the 1930’s duringRead MoreJohn Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men1080 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"I want you to stay with me Lennie. Jesus Christ, somebody’d shoot you for a coyote if you was by yourself.† The novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck shows the relationship between two migrant workers in the 1930s, George and Lennie, along with the other members on the new ranch that they began working on. Georgie and Lennie dreamed of following the American Dream and owning their own patch of land and the novel revolves around the dream and the obstacles that stand in their way. Lennie, a strongRead MoreJohn Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men2167 Words   |  9 Pagesjobs. In John Steinbeck’ s Of Mice and Men, George Milton and Lennie Small wander through California in search of a new job that would help them make enough money to live their American dream on â€Å"the fatta the lan’†(Steinbeck 14). George and Lennie’s hard work and determination is not enough for them to live their dream. Lennie has a mental disability that slows the two friends down from living their dream; they have to run from job to job because of Lennie’s unintentional actions. Steinbeck incorporatesRead MoreJohn Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men1286 Words   |  6 PagesThe realistic fiction novella Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck explains the journey of two migrant farm workers. Lennie and George are forced to overcome the Dust Bowl and The Great Depression around 1938. This makes jobs even harder to come by because everyone wanted one. Lennie and George were kicked out of Weed and they now work at a ranch in Soledad. 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he growth of New Social Movements is evidence of a post-industrial society Free Essays

The aim of my investigation is to see whether the society we now live in is the fragmented post-industrial society that is described by post-modern thinkers and whether the growth of New Social Movements is actually evidence of this fragmentation. I have chosen to study this area because of the low interest shown towards party politics at the 2001 General Election which had a turnout of just 59%. My first objective is to look into whether there has been a so-called death of class in voting behaviour. We will write a custom essay sample on he growth of New Social Movements is evidence of a post-industrial society or any similar topic only for you Order Now Traditionally, the working class were seen to vote Labour and the middle class conservative; this is often referred to as voting on class basis. Secondly, I am going to examine reasons for why there is disillusionment with the ability of the state to distribute welfare as I saw on some government statistics that the approx 74% of the wealth in the UK is owned by the richest 25% of the population. This means that the welfare is distributed unevenly with the wealthier being at an advantage, so therefore 75% of the population of Britain has less than adequate welfare. Finally, my third objective is to investigate the disillusionment of ideas offered by political parties because they seem to make promises and often not carry them out. I am also interested in this aim because when political parties offer lower taxes no matter who comes into power the taxes always seem to rise every April. Context Post-modern sociologists generally see the society that we now live in as a fragmented post-modern society. Post-modernity as a whole entails a declining faith in party political organisation because of the disillusionment of the ideas offered. A research questionnaire carried out by Michael Llangberg (2001) on a small scale at a university in America showed that out of every 10 people he questioned 4 of them felt that political parties offered ideas that were worded to sound a lot better than they actually were. This finding links to my third objective of my rationale as I am investigating into this area. My three objectives stated in my rationale are interrelated social developments, which are used by some as evidence of a post-industrial society, one where traditional class struggle and political issues no longer exist. For Hallsworth (1994) the term New Social Movement â€Å"is one developed to refer to the wide and diverse spectrum of new, non-institutional political movements which emerged in Western Liberal Democratic societies during the 1960’s and the 1970’s. Some sociologists see New Social Movements (NSMs) as reflecting a move away from class-based politics, which mainly focused around economic issues. NSMs encompass gay rights, animal rights, environmental issues and more; they are seen to draw support from individuals across class divisions. Paul Bagguley argues that a key difference between traditional (old) social movements and NSMs is that NSMs are less interested in economic issues but more in a post-modernist sense of focusing on lifestyle and/or identity politics. This helps to link to the so-called death of class based voting discussed in my rationale because it shows how people are more interested in NSMs (a move away from class-based voting) which in turn is shown by the 59% turnout of the 2001 General Election. For those attracted to postmodernist ideas, ‘NSMs are important as they indicate the existence of a new type of society and a new type of politics where class divisions are no longer a central political issue around which debates may focus’ stated sociologist Ulrich Beck in his book Risk Society. This more evidence for my first objective in my rationale. Butler and Stokes’ (20th century) study into voting behaviour maintained that there was a strong relationship between occupational class and voting behaviour. When it was a two-party system, Butler and Stokes argued that about 4/5 of the middle-class electorate voted Conservative and 2/3 of the working classes voted for Labour. If you refer to my first objective in my rationale, you will see that these results reflect it. They also argued that this partisanship was learnt through a process called political socialisation at an early age. Then, in the 1980’s a political scientist, Ivor Crewe presented a number of studies of voting behaviour in Britain and argued that the partisan relationship between class and voting behaviour was breaking down. Crewe concluded that although still significant, class has declined considerably in importance and that voters had to be seen as acting rationally when voting rather than simply voting on class basis and political socialisation. Whereas other sociologists argue that, the apparent decline in class-based voting simply reflects changes in the class structure and a more complex political system. In my rationale, my first objective can be looked into thoroughly using this material. Heath et al, argue (from their study) that class-based support for the major parties has remained at a significant level since the 1960’s, although there has been a slight decline in the relationship between class and voting. As there is many studies into my first objective from my rationale that all have the result of yes or no to a decline in class-based voting behaviour I will have to ensure I conclude this for myself from my research. Refer to my second objective in my rationale and you will see that when New Right thinkers Marsland and Murray argue that the welfare state has created a dependency culture and that the correct role for the state is simply to protect the freedom of the market to enable it to function effectively. In this way, the state would not act in a biased way protecting the interests of one class, but would enable all to have the opportunity to maximise their potential. According to Marsland and Murray, reducing the state to the minimum institutional framework necessary for this task would empower all citizens equally and thus the distribution of the welfare state would be equal. Methodology I have chosen to use a questionnaire for my investigation so that my research will be representative of a wider group. For my research to be of sociological value, I need to address the issue of the relationship between my situation research and the wider society. In order to do this I feel that using a quantative method of surveys and a technique of stratified sampling will work best. Practical and ethical issues also have their influence on research. Possible practical problems that may arise include time, money and access. Time should not be a problem for my questionnaire as it is on a relatively small scale and it is low cost so therefore money is not a problem either. Some social groups may not be willing to participate in my questionnaire because they may feel it is a biased questionnaire or for other reasons. The research participants that will partake in my questionnaire are informed at the top of the sheet that it is confidential and that they do not have to answer any questions they do not want to because participants have a right for the research to be confidential and private. My questionnaire is not covert research; therefore, I do not need to discuss this area. My sample will be a small-scale representation of the sampling frame ensuring that my research can be related back to the survey population. The advantages of using a questionnaire include the possibility to obtain a large number of respondents in a short amount of time and the advantage of the respondent having time to consider the questions. This will help ensure that my answers are more accurate. My main concern is the possibility of a low response rate as I have decided to allow respondents to take the questionnaires away ensuring more confidentiality. Another concern is that the questions can not be explained to the respondent if they do no understand what the question is asking; to limit this, I am going to try and make my questions simple, easily readable and explain my questions in brackets after that particular question. As questions can be either open or closed I have decided to use a range of both. I will include a majority of closed questions to give me comparative data while also including a few open questions so that the respondent feels they can explain their opinion on the issue. This will give me more of an insight to feelings about my topic. An example of my questionnaire is show in appendix A. Looking at appendix A. 1, you can see the population of the UK in age and gender, from this I have worked out how many people I will need to survey to get address the issue of the relationship between my situation research and the wider society. I am not going to be using any of my population aged 0-14years as I feel that they are not capable of understanding my questionnaire or for most of them reading it. Therefore, my final survey population total will be 39 males and 42 females with a grand total of 81. My table on appendix A. 1 shows you the ages and number of people to be surveyed for each age. Evidence As you can see (refer to appendix B answers to question 1) only 29. 62% of the population I surveyed felt that they were represented by a certain political party. All of these people felt they were represented by one of the three main political parties and these same people felt they were strongly part of the social class they ticked. In addition, approx 90% of these people said they are more than likely going to vote at a General Election. This shows that even though there has been a decline in class-based voting, there has not been a so-called death of class in voting behaviour patterns. This finding from my research agrees with the study by Ivor Crewe (discussed in context) but on the other hand conflicts with the conclusions made by Heath et al (also discussed in context). The results from my questionnaire answers 3a showed a large number of respondents to be supportive of single issue politics whereas the answers to 3b showed that a considerable percentage of those respondents did not know who to go to deal with their single issue. Answers to questions 4 and 5 showed some strong support towards New Social Movements although the number was small, as discussed earlier many respondents did not know where to go with their single issue. The previous two findings from my research agree with Paul Bagguley’s research, which was discussed in my context. The low percentage of people voting on class-basis and the higher percentage of people supporting New Social Movements agree with some sociologists when it is said that NSMs, which are mainly focused around economic issue such as gay rights, are also reflecting a move away from class-based politics. Therefore, I have considered my first objective discussed in my rationale and according to my small-scale study there has not been a death of class-based politics, just a decline. My second objective in my rationale should be answered by question 7b on my questionnaire. One answer by a 24year old female stated, â€Å"The welfare of Britain is unfairly distributed by the government among the top social classes, it is unfair but I feel there is nothing I can do to change this as the government seem to show fair distribution but it is not that way at all. † I feel this sums up the majority of the other answers I received in this particular question which shows that there is a disillusionment with the state to distribute welfare. The majority of scoring for the Sectors discussed in 7. focused around the 6-8 areas, which shows there is a general feeling that the sectors discussed although worryingly there are a range of scores with some people obviously being very unhappy with the sector and the way it has served them. If you refer back to my context to the study discussed by Marsland and Murray my findings contradict this as it is stated that the correct role of the welfare state is to simply protect the freedom of the market to enable it to function properly. Obviously, some people are displeased with the welfare state as they scored sectors quite low indeed. Looking back at my third objective in my rationale, I cannot comment on findings as I have realised my questionnaire did not cater for any answers for evidence to this point. Evaluation and Conclusions From my evidence, I conclude that in the Huntingdon area where my research was carried out that there has been a decline in class-based voting but not a complete death of it. In order to link this to wider society I would have to carry out further research as discussed near the end of this section. Secondly, I deduce that there is disillusionment with the state to distribute welfare discussed in my evidence section. Although, I do not feel that I gained enough information to make further conclusions on this particular objective of my investigation. To further my research I need to include some questions in my questionnaire that can answer and reflect my third objective discussed in my rationale. From the information I gathered, I could not make a fair conclusion or judgement on this objective. In order to gain a more accurate idea of the fragmentation of our society in this so-called post-industrial society where class-basis voting behaviour and political issues are no longer as important, it would be sensible to do some further research. Possible ways of furthering my research include recreating a questionnaire that would be suitable to a larger population and then to survey them to get an idea of the wider picture in societies other than Huntingdon area. I would like to continue research into the so-called death of class-based voting behaviour because my questionnaire was not accurate enough to say whether there has been or not. This is also a very popular topic but no one seems to have come through with a definite answer as many sociologists’ findings from research and studies is contradictory of each other. I could do this by holding interviews of certain people, analysing questionnaires and government statistics on electorate turn out at elections and the so-called social class definitions to try to understand what is happening in this post-industrial society as far as class-based voting behaviour is concerned. Overall I think my investigation was only valid for my first objective discussed in my rationale because I became to focused on this particular area and did not realise that my questionnaire did not really cater enough for my second and third objectives. Other than that I feel my response from my survey population was excellent as everyone I gave a questionnaire to returned it promptly for me to analyse and evaluate for my research. The respondents were all understanding and answered all questions necessary as I made it clear that it was completely confidential and that ethical issues and been evaluated. How to cite he growth of New Social Movements is evidence of a post-industrial society, Papers