Friday, November 8, 2019
Everyday Lessons From a Dad Essays
Everyday Lessons From a Dad Essays Everyday Lessons From a Dad Essay Everyday Lessons From a Dad Essay I may not know everything about a car, but I have learned quite a bit from my father. Everyday lessons from dad always help in any situation, especially when you are the girl that walks into the mechanics station, and your looked at like you know absolutely nothing, and sadly, most of the time, you get taking advantage of. The purpose of this essay is to share my experience of changing brake pads, by giving a step-by-step guide. ââ¬Å"How to change Brake Pads on a car. â⬠Step One: Park your car in a comfortable working area. You may be here for a little while depending on your previous experience with cars. Step Two: SAFETY FIRST! Make sure to block the back wheels to avoid the car from rolling after you have jacked it up. Also, make sure to place the car in park, set it firmly. Step Three: Grab you toolbox. Its time to go to work! You should start with the front wheels. Grab the tire iron (long metal rod with a socket on the end, some people may have one that looks like a cross). Okay, so first you want to simply loosen the lug nuts, using the tire iron, just enough to break them free. Now, youââ¬â¢ll want to jack up your car. Step Four: Now, you can proceed to take the lug nuts completely off and remove the wheel. As a safety precaution, you should place the under the front of the car. In an instance you have a faulty jack, the wheel will not only protect your car from bodily damage, but you as well. Step Five: As your looking at this contraction, wondering ââ¬ËWhere do I even begin? ââ¬â¢, this process is actually very simple once you understand its components. So, you have 4 basic parts. You have the caliper, two brake pads, a rotor, and of course, some bolts and clips to hold everything in its place. What are these so-called basic parts? â⬠, well I am glad you asked. I will give a brief breakdown. The Caliper- the job of this part is to squeeze the brake pads toward a centrally located metal plate -the rotor- this produces friction, which initially will slow the speed of your car. (The Caliper is the bright green section, shown in the picture below on the left. ) The Brake Pads- the job of t he brake pads are to move toward one another, gripping the rotor between them and slowing the wheels. They attached to the caliper and hover either side of the rotor. these are shown in the picture below, on the right. ) The Rotor- this is they shiny metal plate in the center. Want to know a secret? If you canââ¬â¢t see your reflection, your discââ¬â¢s my need servicing or replacement. (the rotor is the shown in the picture below on the left. ) Step Six: Okay, now that you know what your working with. Time to get back to work. Remove the bolts or clips, depending on the make of your car, holding the caliper in place. Gently slide the caliper out and away from the rotor. See the brake pads? Remove the bolts or clips holding them in place and remove the pads. Step Seven: Next we need to move the piston back to itââ¬â¢s beginning location, to prepare it for the new brake pads. You can use the heel of your hand to push the piston back into itââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"full openâ⬠position. Step Eight: When you went shopping for your new brake pads, you should have also picked up a couple small packets of grease. You will use these to lubricate the brake pads. When lubricating the pads make sure not to grease the wrong side. Do not grease the front side, the side that comes into contact with the rotor. Okay, youââ¬â¢ve applied the grease. Now, you can attach the brake pad to the plate, using clips or bolts, and slide the whole thing in place. Step Nine: Your almost done! Put it in reverse and reassemble the system, just as you took it apart. Once you have your tire on and tightened in place. Continue on with your other tires, using the same process, if needed. Step Ten: Joy-Ride! Now take your car out to test your new brakes! You may hear a few scratching and screeching sounds at first but it will go away in just a couple of days. Make sure everything is in place before and after the test drive. Nothing is more important than your carââ¬â¢s ability to stop itself. Underestimating your brake system could have some very serious consequences. Below is a diagram of the whole brake system, this should help you get an idea of where everything is located. Next time you go in to have your brakes changed, look at what the mechanics charge. Then go to an auto parts store and see for yourself the affordability of brake pads. Lastly, ask yourself if you have an extra hour to spare to save quite a bit of money. I think you will find the time is definitely worth the extra money you will save. Cited Pictures: Picture #1: http://images. google. com/imgres? imgurl= uitti. net/stephen/who/cars/carhelp/s2400016_cross_bar. jpgimgrefurl= uitti. net/stephen/who/cars/carhelp/index. shtmlusg=__a4HjFHJud93vP1T8oiaxUBzTvPM=h=240w=320sz=17hl=enstart=9tbnid=py761tbs3IFWlM:tbnh=89tbnw=118prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtire%2Biron%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den Picture #2: uitti. net/stephen/who/cars/carhelp/s2400016_cross_bar. jpg Picture #3: http://media. photobucket. com/image/caliper%20of%20a%20car/idahotuner/IMG_4709.
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Party Tourism; the Effects of a Drug Sub-Culture in Ibiza Essay Example
Party Tourism; the Effects of a Drug Sub Party Tourism; the Effects of a Drug Sub-Culture in Ibiza Paper Party Tourism; the Effects of a Drug Sub-Culture in Ibiza Paper The following report examines the impact of party tourism in Ibiza, Spain. Ibiza has been widely regarded as the best spot for party tourism in the world and the amount of tourists visiting the destination for the sole purpose of partying replicates this trend. However, this type of tourism is not ideal and the pressure it creates on a small destination is quite extensive. The report gives insight into the amount of drugs taken by individuals, with the findings indicating the majority of visitors who use back home increase their amount when holidaying in Ibiza. For those who do not use at home, 16 per cent experimented for the first time while in Ibiza. Details are also given into the usage patterns of casual labour working in Ibiza over the summer period. The report shows the impact drugs have on a destination and in particular Ibiza, where increase in crime has become a major issue with gangs fighting for the drug trade. Moreover, a description for the potential damage this tourism market has on a destinationââ¬â¢s image is reported, with most other forms of tourists beginning to relocate elsewhere. A comparison with an Australian Capital City is entailed. The results show similar drug usage, however Melbourne has more government support for strategies combating the use of illicit drugs in nightclubs. Finally, some recommendations of potential strategies to minimise drug consumption in Ibiza are discussed at the conclusion of the paper. Introduction 90 kilometres off the coast of Spain lays the island of Ibiza, home to 2. 6 million visitors per annum (Botsford, 2001). The figure may not seem immense, although considering Spain recorded an annual visitation number of 53. million in 2006 (UNWTO, 2007), and up to date tourist numbers in Ibiza would to represent a high increase in tourism arrivals, it is a large number in relation to the tourism market Ibiza attracts. Previously known for a culture of laid back attitudes and a hippie orientated life style, Ibiza soon started to attract tourism growth with the increase of music events and nightclub developments from owners already established in the United Kingdom (Horner, Swarbrooke, 2004: 230). Over the course of four decades stretching from the 70ââ¬â¢s, Ibizaââ¬â¢s tourist market began to alter. The easy going lifestyle and relaxed atmosphere started to disperse, instead changing into a destination of constant late night partying and drug influenced tourists. ââ¬Å"Ibiza has become synonymous over the past two decades with the drug-infested clubbing, or raving, subculture. Every summer, young tourists visit the destination and escape into drugs, alcohol, non-stop dancing and anonymous sexââ¬Å" states (Harman, 2002). (Curley, 2007) reinforces this comment, although suggests that the drug culture has been symbolic for decades, ââ¬Å"since late 1960ââ¬â¢s drugs have been a factor in attracting tourists to Ibizaâ⬠. The increasing demand for party tourism in Ibiza has seen an increase in the amount of drugs available in nightclubs and party spots in Ibiza. (Chesshyre, 2001) supports this matter by stating, ââ¬Å"Drugs, if you want them, are freely available in Ibiza. I was approached countless times during my visit. â⬠Instances like these would be considered remarkable if, for instance, were reported from Venice or Hawaii, but it would appear now that this drug sub-culture that rules Ibiza has affected the island on many levels. However, there is the perception that Ibiza has become dependant on party tourism for economic growth and for the summer months when the party tourists are there, Ibiza residents like Pablo Vincente resent the clubbers, but benefit from the tourism money they bring in. ââ¬Å"We complain, but we need themâ⬠(Harman, 2002). For the party tourist, why would you go anywhere else to experience the nightlife? This is the destination that charges 12 euros for a standard alcoholic beverage, but yet the cost of a pill that keeps you going for hours cost 5 (Govan, 2007). The question to be addressed however is what damage is this tourism market having on Ibizaââ¬â¢s destination image and local residents? Drug use patterns in Ibiza A key factor in the increasing use of recreational drugs is their association with nightclubs and dance music (Forsyth, Barnard McKeganey, 1997). The modern phenomenon of clubbing (late-night dancing, often in combination with drug use) was imported, largely from Ibiza, by individuals holidaying abroad and then returning to recreate the combination of modern dance music and ecstasy use in their country of resident (Garret, 1998, p. 29). The figures below show the increases in drug use and sexual activity in Ibiza by first time users and the increase in drug taking for those who use at home and then when visiting Ibiza. Tourist Tourists who use recreational drugs in their home of origin have a propensity to increase their levels of substance use when in Ibiza. (Bellis, Hale, Bennett, Chaudry Kilfoyle, 2001) undertook a study to compare drug use among UK residents to that of their use in Ibiza. The key findings of the report found that 12 per cent of 16 to 29 year olds in the UK general population have used recreational drugs at some time, however in Ibiza 51. per cent of young visitors use illegal drugs on holiday. Of the major party drugs, 43. 1 per cent of tourists use ecstasy, 37. 5 per cent use cannabis and 24. 6 per cent use cocaine. For first time users ââ¬Å"an increasing number of young British holidaymakers begin experimenting with illicit drugs at top clubbing resortsâ⬠(Bjortomt, 2003). The same author reports that those taking ecstasy in Ibiza for the first time has risen 16% from 1999 to 2002. 17. 4 and 33. 1 per 1000 people were introduced to cocaine and ecstasy use, respectively in Ibiza. For those tourists who constantly use recreational drugs at their place of origin, (Hughes, et. l, 2004) identifies that for ecstasy, 2. 9% of users in the UK who used the drug 5 or more times a week rose to 42. 6% whilst holidaying in Ibiza. Seasonal Employee Those people who travel to Ibiza for seasonal work in holiday resorts, nightclubs or bars (Hughes, Bellis Chaudry, 2004) conducted a survey to identify the level of drug use among casual labour in Ibiza, compared to that of visitors from the UK. As the research determines, those participating in casual labour are more likely to use illicit drugs when working in Ibiza than when working in the UK. Furthermore, casual labour used different types of drugs more frequent but used drugs on average two days a week, less frequent than recreational tourists in Ibiza. Sexual activity patterns in Ibiza Tourist Major concern for the island and home origin of the tourist is the amount of sexual activity that is evident in Ibiza. (Bellis, Hale, Bennett, Chaudry Kilfoyle, 2001) identify that 53. 8 per cent of tourists to Ibiza had sexual intercourse during their stay, with 26. 2 per cent not using protection and 23. 2 per cent having more than one sexual partner. These figures indicate a major problem for the spread of sexually transmitted infections in both Ibiza, with multiple partners being used without protection, and then the transference of these diseases to the home destination. Seasonal Employee For casual labour on the island, (Hughes Bellis, 2006) identify that 80. 5 per cent of casual labour in Ibiza had sexual intercourse with 65. 5 per cent having unprotected sex. The mix of drugs and sex among tourists and casual labour has become a risk for the sexual health of individuals and a potential conduit for the international spread of sexually transmitted infections. Destination Ibiza as a sense of ââ¬Ëfreedomââ¬â¢ The increase in drug taking and sexual activity can be described by (Dann, 2007) who developed a paper titled ââ¬ËTourist Behaviour As Controlled Freedomââ¬â¢ with the purpose of identifying the correlation between a tourists perception of appropriate behaviour when on holiday to that of when they are in their home of origin. The paper suggests tourists assume the perception that the home environment portrays a lack of freedom to the individual through the idealisation of government laws and the sense that their lives are somewhat controlled by the notion of what is right and what is wrong. For the individual looking for a tourism experience, the event of taking a holiday can create a temporary respite from social incarceration ââ¬â the pressures of a normal existence. Dannââ¬â¢s model in contrast with Ibiza is best described by (Bjortomt, 2003) as, ââ¬Å"once abroad in Ibiza, the sense of freedom and atmosphere of excess means that some individuals who have never used drugs experiment. â⬠It emphasises the argument from Dann that the individual gets empowered by the thought of ââ¬Ëno boundariesââ¬â¢ whilst on holiday. With Spain playing host to 58. 5 million tourists in 2006 (UNWTO, 2007), and most of them looking for the escape of sun and sand, itââ¬â¢s a probable thought that the individual who visits Ibiza is looking to challenge the system that restricts them on a daily basis in their home environment. Influence of drugs in Ibiza The Tourism Market Once thought of as a hot-spot for lucrative market tourists, the new breed of tourism that Ibiza now attracts rivals most world destinations in terms of returning visitors (Nash, 2008). This new tourism market is known as party tourism. (Horner Swarbrook, 2004: 236) define party tourists as ââ¬Å"tourists travelling to a destination with the purpose of experiencing the nightlife of a destinationâ⬠¦consisting of dancing, consuming alcohol and as this report indicates, participating in drug related activities. The scope of party tourists that enter Ibiza is from a large population. (Gardiner, 2007) states that, ââ¬Å"Ibiza attracts party people of every age and demographic. However, (Hughes, 2004) reports that 250 000 Britainââ¬â¢s aged between 18 and 30 travel there each year, suggesting that they are the main scope of the tourism market. A Drug Based Economy Just before the start of the 2007 clubbing season, three of Ibizaââ¬â¢s major nightclubs were closed down by police in what they described as ââ¬Å"a preventative measure to make these clubs deal with the issue of drug dealing and consumption of patrons inside the venuesâ⬠(Botsford, 2001). The closure lasted one month. The statement is an example of how much the Ibiza economy relies on tourists to support it. If local law enforcement agencies cannot implement a strategy long enough for it to have effect, as lost economic income is too great, then implementing any strategies that targets nightclubs will not be effective. Property Value The drug culture impacts highly on property owners in Ibiza. The seasonality of tourists entering Ibiza chasing the warm beach weather has implications on owners who rely on party tourists to rent their properties for various lengths of stay. (McDonald, 2007) reports that the hot, hedonistic summer period is when owners of rental properties will make most, if not all of their money. (Warncke, 2007) reports that when three of the islands major nightclubs, DC-10, Bora Bora and the world-famous Amnesia were closed in early 2007, it had a damaging effect on the tourism industry on the island. ââ¬Å"News of the closures led to people cancelling their trips to the island,â⬠stated (McDonald, 2007). Reliance on tourists for business income and employment For the summer periods in Ibiza, locals rely on the vast number of tourists entering the island to generate a majority of their income. Furthermore, the party tourism market that comes seasonally generates a large number of jobs for locals and working tourists (Hughes Bellis, 2006). Strategies by police and tourism officials with the purpose of restricting party tourism would damage the direct spending of visitors through fewer arrivals, therefore economic income for local businesses and employment opportunities would decrease. Suppliers of illegal drugs High concern for the Ibiza Tourism Commission has to be the amount of illegal drug supply that is easily available to those who want it (Chesshyre, 2001). The majority of supply is coming from the UK through rival drug dealers ââ¬âone from Liverpool, the other a mixture of people from Newcastle and Morocco (Counzens, 2006). The article proposes that expat gangs have traditionally moved their operations to feed the summer demand for ecstasy and cocaine in Ibizaââ¬â¢s nightlife scene. The introduction of rival suppliers has had devastating impacts in Ibiza. (Townsend, 2006) reports that a spate of contract killings, some of Britainââ¬â¢s most wanted criminals and an illegal drug trade that links San Antonio to drug syndicates in most major UK cities are evident in Ibiza. In the same article, it is revealed that, ââ¬Å"police believe hundreds of kilos of cocaine and hundreds of thousands of ecstasy tablets have been successfully dispatched to the 12-mile strip of sand and rock in the Mediterranean. â⬠The supply of illegal drugs into Ibiza is an issue that needs to be addressed by governments in Ibiza and the UK. It is evident that the main supply comes from the UK, therefore the UK government has a duty to stop the illegal supply of drugs exiting their country and as shown, infecting another. Ibiza doesnââ¬â¢t have the resources to stop the supply of hard drugs entering their country, and assistance is required from the UK. Nightclubs and Police Involvement It is unclear whether nightclub owners and their employees and local law enforcement and are involved in the facilitation of drug dealing within the clubs however (Chesshyre, 2001) suggests that the island has tactically accepted drug dealing, and that police have effectively turned a blind eye to the problem for fear of destroying a lucrative tourist industry that attracts thousands of visitors each summer. Moreover, when asking a nightclub owner what would happen if police were to crack down on drugs in clubs, he noted, ââ¬Å"I think most of the clubs would go under ââ¬â and that just wonââ¬â¢t happenâ⬠¦drug culture is one of the most important parts of clubs. â⬠Consequence of a party culture Destination Image Ibiza first attracted the attention of artists, models, movie stars and musicians in the 60s and 70s. It was then the hippie clique descended on the island to practice yoga or to enjoy all-night parties and philosophical conversations around bonfires on the beach. The island had the image of a place to relax, somewhere to lose oneself in the tranquillity of sand and sun. Fast forward to the 80s and Ibizas hippie attraction was starting to fade. By then the island had begun to carve out a reputation as the place to go if you wanted the best nightclub experience that Europe perhaps even the world had to offer (NW, 2007). The shift in destination image also changed the tourism market. Tourists are now looking for the all night dance experience that floods the streets of Ibiza. Josefa Mari, head of Ibizaââ¬â¢s tourism and economic department, states that ââ¬Å"the clubbing scene forms only a tiny part of what the island offers, but itââ¬â¢s what defines us internationally, and itââ¬â¢s damaged our imageâ⬠(Nash, 2008). Ibiza is not alone in terms of the destination image being revolved around all night partying. Miami, South Florida, is also world renowned for tourists looking for the party experience whilst soaking up the sun on the beach during the day (McClure, 2008). However, Ibizaââ¬â¢s differentiation strategy, whether they want it or not, is dangerous. Ibiza is directly linked to the notion that a drug-culture is embedded in the tourism experience, as (Chesshyre, 2001) notes ââ¬Å"drugs, if you want them, are freely available in Ibiza. â⬠(Nash, 2008) suggests Ibizaââ¬â¢s tourism and economic department are trying to push the focus of Ibiza tourism to more nature-based experiences, with the hard partying scene being scaled down and in some cities, phased out. It would appear though, through the lack-lustre effort to control the party scene for the past decade, significant damage to Ibizaââ¬â¢s destination image has been done. Crime The impact of crime increase in Ibiza has damaged the belief of safety that an individual demands when participating in tourism (Weaver Lawton, 2006: 104). The rivalry between gangs competing for drug market-share has spilled out into the streets, affecting the safety of tourists visiting Ibiza. (Couzens, 2006) reports that a ââ¬Å"shocking street gunfight between rival British gangs erupted with an 18 year old man touring the island shot in the face, spending a week in the hospital and another man being hit in the chest. Neither of the two had affiliations with the gangs. Other reports of crime rise come from (Fuchs, 2006) who reported that a group of tourists staying in a high-rise apartment were broken into twice in one week, having their belongings stolen on both accounts. (Marinos, 2004) identifies that Spain has one of the highest rates of drug related rapes in the world, with 244 rape victims reported in 2002. Crime experiences like these affect Ibiza in two ways. Firstly, there is an element of cocooning among tourists when they enter a resort on the island. They will often stay close to the resort and wont venture across the island in fears of having being burgled or worse, raped. Secondly, Ibiza is trying to change its destination image. Tourists who can change this are those who spend money in the communities and are their for a relaxation experience, not partying. However, this tourist demographic will not visit the island if they feel a sense of insecurity. If Ibiza is too attract a new tourism markets, or increase markets they see as importance in changing their destination image, then the government needs to take a string stand on eradicating their underlying drug-culture. Drugs In Nightclubs: An Australian Perspective In the capital city of Melbourne, Victoria, the party scene has developed into a major tourism market. It is common for intrastate and interstate travellers to fly or drive into Melbourne for the weekend and party for two days straight, returning home on the Sunday evening. The party tourism phenomenon is an existing market that has seen major developments in Melbourne over the past decade with the introduction of cheap domestic flights and nightclub incentives of free entry and free drink cards upon early arrival. Moreover, the affordable costs of a two night stay at a backpackers and the extra amount of discretionary income available for young people has seen this tourism market develop extensively. (Symons, 2004) reports that a study undertaken by the Australian Drug Foundation found that 60 per cent of patrons in Melbourneââ¬â¢s clubs and bars had tried ecstasy over the past six months. This pattern is not confined to Melbourne. The (National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, 2001) found it ââ¬Å"staggeringâ⬠that 20 per cent of people aged between 20 -29 had taken ecstasy. That figure is now taken conservatively as it was taken from the population in 2001. ââ¬Å"It is clear that illicit drug use is relatively common among groups of Australian people, notably those involved in clubbing, dance music and alternative music subculturesâ⬠states (Holt, 2005) after conducting a study of drug use among youth in Australia. At the nightclub industry scene, Brendan Prendergast ââ¬â president of Australiaââ¬â¢s Crowd Control Employeeââ¬â¢s Association ââ¬â comments that ââ¬Å"the Australian publicââ¬â¢s only hearing the tip of the iceberg when it comes to drug use in Melbourne. Prendergast, who worked as a crown controller for 30 years, believes that a major reason why drugs are such an issue is because of the amount of illegal crowd controllers working in clubs and pubs (Nolan, 2007). This statement presents a relationship between Melbourne nightclubs and Ibiza nightclubs in regards to the involvement of nightclub employees in the facilitation of drugs in nightspots and as (Chesshyre, 2001) acknowledges; a major problem with the amount of drugs available in Ibiza has a connection with nightclub owners and security personal on the island. The difference between Melbourne and Ibiza, in relation to drug use in party nightspots, is the amount of preventative measures from within both the nightclub industry and strategies at local and national governments to prevent drug use. A report produced by the Australian National Council of Drugs (Price, 2000) discussing the issues of drug use in Melbourne states that ââ¬Å"there are a number of judicial and police-diversion strategies being funded in the Melbourne area targeting drug use at the venue. In Ibiza however, drug preventative measures inside the venue are relatively scarce with (Govan, 2007) commenting, ââ¬Å"Clubs are policed by their own security guards, with dealers still managing to ply their trade easily. â⬠At the government level, drug strategies are non-funded and the introduction of preventative strategies through heavier police involvement in nightclub venues is desperately needed to stop the dealing of illicit drugs to new and existing users. Preventat ive Measures/ Minimisation Strategies ââ¬â Interventions in dance music resorts (Bellis, Hughes, Bennett Thomson, 2003: 1717) identify that interventions are urgently needed in dance music resorts to prevent non-drug users from experimenting with illicit drugs and users from moving into a wider range of substances. Such interventions are currently scarce and therefore represent a missed opportunity to reduce the spread of illicit drug use. Moreover, (Deehan Saville, 2003) undertook a study to determine the scope of recreational drug use amongst clubbers in the South East of England. Key findings from the report found that many recreational drug users have actively sought out information about the potential health consequences arising from drug use and took measures to minimise the risk. This indicates the willingness that clubbers are likely to be receptive towards the provision of practical, evidence-based information focusing on safe use and reducing harm. Drug minimisation strategies related to Ibiza should focus on having educational information at major nightclub venues through either flyers in restrooms or leaflets upon entry. Furthermore, the same approach can be utilised at the hotels of interest for these club tourists to indicate the risk and minimise use before the individual is caught up in the nightclub atmosphere. Administering nightclub and after party curfews ââ¬Å"The problem is that the party is non-stopâ⬠¦itââ¬â¢s difficult to keep going if you donââ¬â¢t take drugsâ⬠states Juan Pantaleoni, San Antonioââ¬â¢s town spokesperson (Fuchs, 2006). San Antonio, a town in Ibiza, is a renowned hot spot for British tourists looking to escape the pressures of home-life and party all night. It is San Antonio however that has started to deal with the issue of all night parties. Before the opening of its party season in 2007, the government banned so-called ââ¬Å"after partiesâ⬠, which start when the clubs close their doors and often run until noon that day. This strategy minimised the amount of drug influenced people on the streets during the day, reducing the potential risks of violence and contact with tourists who are not attracted to the destination for the party scene (Botsford, 2001). Ibiza would benefit from implementing the same strategy as San Antonio as its potential for success has been realised and regardless of the fact that it wonââ¬â¢t stop drug taking, it will enable other tourists and locals to feel safer during the day. Cooperation between Ibiza government and origin destination Cooperation between the Ibiza government and that of touristsââ¬â¢ home country is desperately needed to help minimise the demand for first time drug users to experiment with drug taking. Focusing on the UK market, the demand for tourists to enter Ibizaââ¬â¢s party culture is an extensive market, with (Botsford, 2001) reporting that 700 000 British tourists arrive at the destination per year. Education for the tourist before they arrive in Ibiza is needed, wit possible strategies including information flyers at airports or on the plane, and information websites on the dangers of drug taking specific to the Ibiza nightlife. As presented earlier, individuals are open to risk information and having a wider spread of information outlets will increase the amount of tourists coming into contact with risk educational material. Bellis, Hughes Lowey, 2002) state that some countries have already developed approaches to nightlife health. However, growth in the international travel associated with nightlife and the additional risks posed by nightclubbing in an unfamiliar country mean both interventions and basic health and safety measures are now required on an international basis. Conclusion The impact of drugs within Ibiza is something of serious concern for government officials and the future of tourism at the destination. Ibiza has adopted a drug culture that is not only affecting the island and its residents, but is starting to develop a negative destination image. Immediate strategies to combat the ââ¬Ëout of controlââ¬â¢ spiral that party tourism is having on the destination are needed, and these strategies must be implemented and evaluated efficiently. A drug sub-culture is a problem for Ibiza to attract other potential tourism markets with many wanting the perception of safety and relaxation when on a holiday. The party tourism arket is starting to restrict the experience of other tourists, and if strategies arenââ¬â¢t implemented, these tourists will start to relocate elsewhere. Ibiza would benefit from understanding the scope of drug problems in countries where the majority of their tourists come from to get insight into the drug implementation strategies that have been proven to work. It is crisis time for Ibiza and cooperation between local governments, the Spaniard government and ni ghtclub owners is needed to restrict the drug issue as a whole industry, instead of trying to implement strategies that donââ¬â¢t have the funding or support of key stakeholders. Ibiza should move quickly in implementing new strategies, before party tourism is the only culture identified by tourists and they lose lucrative markets. References Author Withheld. (2007). Ibiza. News Weekly, 15(52), p. 2-5. Retrieved May 26, 2008, from Australian/New Zealand Reference Centre database. Bellis, M. , Hughes, K. , Bennett, A. Thomson, R. (2003, April 3). The role of an international nightlife resort in the proliferation of recreational drugs. Addiction, 98(12), 1713-1721. Retrieved April 9, 2008, from Academic Source Premier. Bellis, M. , Hale, G. , Bennett, A. , Chaudry, M. Kilfoyle, M. 2000, April 25). Ibiza Uncovered: changes in substance use and sexual behaviour amongst young people visiting an international night-life resort. International Journal of Drug Policy, 11, 235-244. Retrieved April 9, 2008, from Business Source Premier database. Bellis, M. , Hughes, K. Lowey, H. (2002). Healthy Nightclubs and recreational substance use: from a harm minimization to a healthy setting approach. Addictive behaviours, 27(6), p. 1025. Retrieved May 23, 2008, from Academic Search Premier. Bjortomt, O. (2003, January 12). Ibiza gives young first taste of illicit drugs. The (United Kingdom) Times, p. 1. Retrieved April 10, 2008, from Australian/New Zealand Reference Centre database. Botsford, F. (2001). Clampdown on Ibiza Nightlife. Retrieved May 23, 2008, from http://news. bbc. co. uk/1/hi/world/europe/1435942. stm Chesshyre, T. (2001, July 28). Where drugs are sold like sweets. The (United Kingdom) Times, p. 1. Retrieved April 3, 2008, from Australian/New Zealand Reference Centre database. Couzens, G. (2006, August 13). Guns wars on party island. UK Sunday Mirror. Retrived May 27, 2008, from Academic Search Premier. Curley, G. (2007, April). Make Ibiza Mine! Vanity Fair, 560, 252-265. Retrieved April 4, 2008, from Australian/New Zealand Reference Centre database. Dann, G. M. S. (1997). Tourist Behaviour as Controlled Freedom. Australian Tourism and Hospitality Research Conference. Sydney, NSW, Australia: Bureau of Tourism Research Deehan, A. Saville, E. (2003). Calculating the risk: recreational drug use among clubbers in the South East of England. Home Office Online Report, 43(11), p. 12-53. Retrieved May, 25, 2008, from Australian/New Zealand Reference Centre database. Forsyth, A. , Barnard. M. McKeganey, N. (1997) Musical performance as an indicator of adolescent drug use. Addiction, 92, 1317-1325. Retrieved April 4, 2008, from Australian/New Zealand Reference Centre database. Fuchs, D. (2006) Crimewave may mean the party is over for Ibiza. The Guardian, Retrived May 28, 2008, from Australian/New Zealand Reference Centre database. Garratt, S. (1998). Adventures in Wonderland: a Decade of Club Culture. London, United Kingdom: Headline Book Publishing. Govan, F. (2007, July 16). Special Report: Ibizaââ¬â¢s Failing Drug Clampdown. Retrieved May 17, 2008, from Australian/New Zealand Reference Centre database. Gardiner, A. M. (2007). Ibiza, Spain. New York Times, p. 13. Retrieved May 23, 2008, from Academic Search Premier. Harman, D. (2002, August 28). On a Mediterranean isle, drugs eclipse sun and sand. Christian Science Monitor, 94(192), p. 7. Retrieved April 6, 2008, from Australian/New Zealand Reference Centre database. Hughes, K. , Bellis, M. Chaudry, M. (2004). Elevated substance use in casual labour at international nightlife resorts: a case control study. International Journal of Drug Policy, 15(3), 211-213. Retrieved April 9, 2008, from Business Source Premier database. Hughes, K. , Bellis, M. (2006, February 21). Sexual behaviour among casual labour at international nightlife resorts: a case control study. BMC Public Health. Retrieved April 9, 2008, from Business Source Premier database. Hughes, K. (2004). A potent cocktail. Nursing Standard, 18(47), p. 14. Retrieved May 25, 2008, from Australian/New Zealand Reference Centre database. Holt, M. (2005). Young people and illiciot drug use in Australia. Social Research, 3, p. 1-6. Retrieved May 23, 2008, from Academic Search Premier. Horner, S. Swarbrooke, J. (2004). International Cases in Tourism Management. London, United Kingdom: Butterworth-Heinemann Nash, E. (2008 April 6). Ibiza: Is the party over?. Retrieved April 10 from independent. o. uk/news/europe/ibiza-is-the-party-over-805249. html. Marinos, S. (2004). Holiday Rape. Cleo 378, p. 156-160. Retrived May 28, 2008, from Australian/New Zealand Reference Centre database. McClure, R. (2008, May 9). Party all day and all night in glittery, glamorous Miami. Retrieved May 23, 2008, from Academic Search Premier. Nolan, K. (2007). Fed: Time to Bounce the Bouncers. AAP Australian National News Wire. Retrived May 23, 2008, from Australian/New Zealand Reference Centre database. Price, K. (2000) Melbourne AOD Agency Forum report. Retrieved May 26, 2008, from ancd. org. u/publications/forums/forum7. htm Symons. E. (2000, July 12). How safe are you on holiday? The Sun. Retrieved May 26, 2008, from Australian/New Zealand Reference Centre database. Townsend, M. (2006). Gang Violence erupts as rave craze returns. The Guardian, Retrived May 28, 2008, from Australian/New Zealand Reference Centre database. UNWTO. (2007). World U. S International Arrivals Reciepts. Retrieved May 27, 2008, from http://tinet. ita. doc. gov/outreachpages/inbound. world_us_intl_arrivals. html Warncke, C. (2007). Ibiza: DC10, Bora Bora, Amnesia Shut Down. Retrieved May 23, 2008, from www. inistryofsound. com/news/features/20070608_ibizaclubs Weaver, D. Lawton, L. (2006) Tourism Management (3rd Ed. ) Milton, QLD, Austral;ia: Wiley Publishers. Bibliography Woods, G. (1993). Drug Abuse in Society. Santa Barbra, California, USA: ABC-CLIO publishers South, N. (1999). Drugs: Cultures, Controls and Everyday Life. London, Great Britain: Athenaeum Press, Gateshed. Drug Trafficking and Drug Abuse. (1971). Report from the Senate Select Committee. Canberra, ACT: Australian Government Publishing Service. Munns, R. (2007). Tourists flock to Spain for 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2008, from Academic Search Premier.
Monday, November 4, 2019
Apple Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words
Apple Analysis - Essay Example However, the industry for digital goods is open to multiple pulls and pressures owing to the new technological inputs and ever altering consumer preferences. In that context Apple is not only endowed with multiple strengths, but the firm also faces many challenges ensuing from equally aggressive and market driven competitors. No wonder Apple has been able to register an impressive financial performance in the wake of the current economic meltdown. However, the firm always needs to be on its toes to avoid a dilution of market share at the hands of companies that are innovation driven and aggressive. Introduction It was Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak who founded the Apple Computer Inc. in the year 1976. Apple started as a small company that manufactured computer software and hardware. In the current times it is certainly not wrong to say that Apple is a leading company that manufactures consumer goods like tablets, Smartphone and mp3 players. It owes only to the exclusiveness and start o f the art nature of the Apple products that the firm today enjoys a large customer base all over the world and Apple products are known for their sophistication and innovation. It was in 2007 that the Apple Computer Inc changed its name to Apple and opted for expanding into the market for digital goods while retaining its traditional focus on computers and laptops. Since then Apple has successfully evolved from being an exclusively computer based company to being a company that is known for innovation and technological ingenuity. Thereby, the purpose of the paper is to analyze the position of Apple in an ever expanding market for digital products. ... ere is no denying the fact that the demand in the industry of digital goods like computers, tablets and cell phones has been predominantly driven by innovation (Collins 5). Thereby the key focus of the organizations producing digital products is to use innovation to come out with innovative products and to cost effectively and efficiently produce digital gadgets (Collins 6). Hence, going by these demand drivers, Appleââ¬â¢s key thrust has been to introduce innovative products in a cost effective manner and that is why Apple has been playing a dominant role in the industry for digital goods. When it comes to the industry for digital goods like tablets and cell phones the other salient factors that determine the market success tend to be the designing of the product, speed, product utility and usability and memory. Thereby the market for computers is poised to pursue a mildly warm growth in the coming years owing to a highly developed market that has not been able to introduce more innovative products (Stone 48). Yet, when it comes to the portable music products, this sector has evinced tremendous growth and is expected to do well in the coming years (Binks 28). Hence, the organization that are innovation driven and have made tremendous R&D investments and that have the capability to learn from the past experiences will certainly do well in the future. In that context Apple has certainly done well when it comes to pursuing competitive strategies that assure the product success and organizational profitability. Not only Apple has managed to accrue a loyal customer pool, but, is also quiet known for producing innovative and differentiated products. Also when one takes into consideration the aura generated by the products like iPhone and iPod, Apple is not only expected to
Saturday, November 2, 2019
Enhancing Teamwork At Communico Company Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words
Enhancing Teamwork At Communico Company - Essay Example The intention of this study is organizational leadership assessment, a strategic tool for enhancing the effectiveness of teams in organization. Smith, Montagno and Kuzmenko argue that team effectiveness is a critical aspect for ensuring the profitability of an organization. As a graduate trainee employed by ââ¬ËCommuniCoââ¬â¢ a large UK-based mobile phone manufacturing company, I have come up with this advice paper to recommend the planning of an initiative to improve teamwork amongst managers and shop-floor workers. Cohen and Bailey describe that there are different definitions of a team within the context of an organization. Cohen and Bailey explain that a team is a collection of interdependent individuals in their tasks, share duties for outcomes, they see themselves and are viewed by others as an integral social unit embedded in another larger social system and manage their interaction within the organizational boundaries. According to Cohen and Bailey although different au thors use the word team and group interchangeably; she asserts that groups vary in their degree of ââ¬Ëgroupnessââ¬â¢ with some groups being more integrated and interdependent than others. Katzenbach and Smith observes that they used the term; team to refer to groups that develop high degree of ââ¬Ëââ¬â¢groupnessââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¢. On the other hand, given that most previous authors had focused their studies on ineffective teams, Larson and LaFasto directed their energies on exploring different aspects of effective leadership as noted by Irving and Longbotham. (2007, p. 104). Consequently, given the diverse approach that the two different case studies used in evaluating team leadership models, I have chosen to base my analysis on the models they developed on effective team leadership. Katzenbach and Smithââ¬â¢s work is particularly important in that the two went further and defined a team as individuals who show high level of integration. The two case studies in-turn ca me up with high standards for a team in their generic model of effective team working. I therefore wish to benchmark teamwork initiative at CommuniCo with a hybrid of the two models to guarantee the success of our organization. According to Cohen and Bailey (1997, p.241) there are four different types of teams in an organization which include; work teams, management teams, parallel teams and project teams. Cohen and Bailey (1997, p. 242) explains that effectiveness in an organization include diverse outcomes that are important in an organization. The levels of evaluating effectiveness can be analyzed from an individual, business unit, group or organizational level. The effectiveness is categorized into three dimensions depending on its impact on the team. These include performance effectiveness which is assessed in terms of quality and quantity of the output, behavioral outcomes and membersââ¬â¢ attitudes. The argument on this paper will base on the writing of various authors who have analyzed the works of Larson and LaFasto and that of Katzenbach and Smith. Planning a Teamwork Initiative for the Company Team buildings is a critical aspect in any organization be it a school, nonprofit organization, a firm or a religious group and are implemented with an intention of improving the performance of a team (Lencioni, 2002, p.10-12 and Naquin and Tynan, 2003, p. 332). Team building may involve use of various practices that are used to bring together a specific group within an organization or initiatives aimed at bringing the all the members of an organization with an effort to improve the performance. CommuniCo Company has proposed to implement an initiative to improve teamwork across the company. Burgoynem (2001, p.35) notes that team building is important in an
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Mongols Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
Mongols - Essay Example For goods to fetch better prices in case of there is a low demand for the product, traders usually venture into some organizations that would help them make a sale. First, traders usually form cartels that will enable them create a monopolistic nature of the market (Rashdall, 1895, p. 150). This action will enable them to be the only stake holders in the market and any buyer can only get the commodity from them. Secondly, traders in the cartel group can easily get the support of the government when they want to remain relevant in the market, they do use the influence of the government so that they can get protection since they are able to show good skills and professionalism. Professionalism arises from apprentice where fellows are taught the skills through learning. Skills mainly consist of curving products from precious metals such as gold. In this venture, having a religious back up was previously considered to be very important as most of the countries were governed by laws relating to a particular religious groups. Religion still remains important today especially if the commodities are consumed by the state that holds a strong religious belief such as the Arab world, the Latin America and the Asians who majority lag behind a particular religion (Richardson, 2001, p. 213). This may not be the case to other countries who do not value religion as they allow freedom of worship. Having support from the religious group means a success in your
Monday, October 28, 2019
Histology Detective and Brains Cape Essay Example for Free
Histology Detective and Brains Cape Essay This case study focuses on the identification of metastatic tissues ââ¬â cells that are ââ¬Å"out of placeâ⬠causing tumors elsewhere in the body. Name the cells you identified in this sample of lung tissue and the main characteristics that you can use to distinguish them. From the observation of the sample there are variety of cells which can be identified as melanocytes. The main characteristics that can be used in distinguishing them is their attachment to the stratified squamous epithelial tissue. Moreover, they are larger and darker compared to the surrounding calls. Melanocytes are densely packed and have only one nucleus. How did you use the main characteristics of different tissues that you learned in your lecture and lab sections as the basis for identifying those cells responsible for the tumor? I applied my histology knowledge from my lectures in distinguishing the features of different cells. I had knowledge on how melanocytes and the natural cells look like on a slide hence it was very easy distinguishing and describing the cells. The cells under observations were abnormal from their look. They were larger in size, darker in color and round. Moreover. Their nucleus were larger compared to the other nucleus of the normal cells and has less cytoplasm. The melanocytes on the slide is always darker compared to the normal cells. According to Garbe et al (2010), there exists significant differences between the tumor cells and the native cells since the tumor cells are widespread in the extracellular fluid, are larger, much darker and more so cube shaped. On the other hand, the native cells are packed densely, smaller, and elongated. In addition to the information in the case presentation (including the web sites contained in the case itself), what other information did you find to determine the identity of the cells and whether one type of cell had migrated from elsewhere in the body? Where did you find this information? What does each of these additional items contribute to the solution of the case? For example, the item contains data from specific tests, trials, or experiments, or presents analyses that can be used to understand the main issues in this case. The article ââ¬Å"Diagnosis and treatment of melanoma: European consensus-based interdisciplinary guidelineâ⬠provided experimental illustrating melanoma components. This affirmed that native cells can be differentiated from the invasive cells by features such as arrangement, form and color. The study used histology in identifying the invasive cells from the non-invasive ones (Garbe et al, 2010). In the NIH article, ââ¬Å"Diagnosis and treatment of early melanoma,â⬠majorly the study was based on histology. The study distinguished fully developed melanoma and the early melanoma by categorizing their histological features. Moreover, they identified melanoma stages and different types of melanoma with application of histology (NIH et al, 1992). In the third study, researcher physicians in two universities in three different melanoma cases of various origins in the body. However, all the characteristics of the abnormal cells were distinguished to be melanocytes. The identified abnormal features of the cells are similar to the ones in this case study, hence proving that the abnormal cells observed in the lung tissue were melanocytes (Sonda et al, 2008). What other findings or information in this case are consistent with the information you located? Name those similarities in each of your additional resources. How do these resources apply what you have learned about identifying tissues and cells histologically? From the article I reviewed, there was similarity with the case study in many areas. First, all the studies and the case used a similar method in diagnosing melanoma. They applied the cells histological characteristics in determining their status whether they are noninvasive or invasive cells. The characteristics identified helped in classification of the cells and in determining their origin. What findings or information in each of the additional resources are not consistent with the findings in this case? Name those differences in each of your additional resources. How do these resources apply what you have learned about identifying tissues and cells histologically? In the article ââ¬Å"Diagnosis and treatment of early melanoma,â⬠the study asserted that the cells making melanoma were the stratified melanoma epithelium (NIH et al, 1992). This contradicts the results of the case If your proposed resolution of the case is correct, what other observations might we expect to find in this case? Other observations we might find include metastasis of the tumor to other organs hence the patients could suffer from other compounded problems like neurological problems, digestion and bleeding. Give your solution to this case and, on a scale of 1ââ¬â5, rate how confident you are in your conclusions in questions 1 and 2 I would rate my confidence at 5 out of 5 because of the observable characteristics of melanoma In considering your resolution and level of confidence level from question 8, describe how you located the information you used in this case. To begin the search, I started with the most comprehensive data base that is Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health (NINAH) (Kennedy 2009). The search then continued to search engines such as British Nursing Index, MEDLINE. Moreover PubMed and NCBI were other major search engines which assisted some of the relevant articles. These search engines were used because they contained most of the peer review articles and books. To limit and narrow down the search for articles, internal searches of the databases was used by inserting full length of texts and searching the relevant articles from the list of journals displayed. Moreover, I limited myself to the current articles of up to 5 years What you might do differently if you had it to do over again? For example, would you use different resources and strategies? Different information?First, I would use different relevant articles to make companions of different studies. Moreover, I would try using group work to get opinions and arguments of different group member. References Garbe, C., Peris, K., Hauschild, A., Saiag, P., Middleton, M., Spatz, A., Grob, J. J., Eggermont, A. (January 01, 2010). Diagnosis and treatment of melanoma: European consensus-based interdisciplinary guideline. European Journal of Cancer, 46, 2, 270-283. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19959353Kennedy, J. R. (2009). Library research guide to education: illustrated search strategy and sources. Ann Arbor, Mich, Pierian Press.NIH Consensus Development Conference on Diagnosis and Treatment of Early Melanoma, National Institutes of Health (U.S.). (1992). Diagnosis and treatment of early melanoma. Bethesda, Md: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, Public Health Service, Office of Medical Applications of Research. Retrieved from http://consensus.nih.gov/1992/1992Melanoma088html.htmSonda, Vemon K., MD, Zager, Jonathan S., MD, Messiana, Jane L., MD. Hemonc today. (2008, Oct 10). Retrieved from http://www.hemonctoday.com/article.aspx?rid= 37772 Source document
Saturday, October 26, 2019
Globalisation, Organisational Behaviour And Organisational Development
Globalisation, Organisational Behaviour And Organisational Development The modern world is smaller yet global market that undergoes rapid change. Today, we are confronted with the scenario of a changing workforce that is multicultural and diverse in beliefs, ethnicities and behaviours. For instance, in the United States one-quarter of the American workforce is represented by minorities with this figure expected to grow in the future. Also, women account for fifty percent of the paid workforce in the United States. This diversity presents organisations with both opportunities and unique challenges. A diverse workforce in a global market is great advantage, but while the benefits are obvious, there are also various issues that diversity throws up, these issues need attention for work to take place in peaceful and efficient manner. In this modern world that has been shrunk through transport and communication it is paramount for work teams to consist of employees with different traits and behaviours. It is the job of a manager to effectively manage these varied individuals and mould the behaviours to bring about harmony and benefit the organisation keeping in mind the companys core values and business aims. Organisational Behaviour is defined as, Actions and attitudes of individuals and groups toward one another and towards the organization as a whole, and its effect on the organizations functioning and performance. While Organisational Development is stated to be, Theory and practice of planned systematic change in the attitudes, beliefs, and values of the employees through creation and reinforcement of long-term training programs. Its objective is to enable the organization in adopting-better to the fast-changing external environment of new markets, regulations, and technologies. Both Organisational Behaviour and Development are interwoven and their concepts are capable of acting mutually. Some of the areas where they are used together could be in trust building exercises, team-work strategies, critical listening, cultural exchange and also behaviour modification. What is Behavioural Modification? All organisations are set up with particular core goals and aims in mind. Various resources including money, machines and manpower are utilised to achieve these goals. Modern businesses often refer to their Human Resources (manpower) as their biggest and most important asset and it is widely understood that this single resource plays a vital and irreplaceable role in the attainment of success and the achievement of an organisations objectives. Thus, human behaviour at work plays an essential role in the smooth functioning of day to day activities as well the targeted long term goals. It is essential for a manager to posses the skills to identify and predict undesired behaviour and bring about required changes in order to make human behaviour at work productive and supportive to the organisations goals. In business language the art of modifying and moulding human behaviour is known as behavioural modification. It is a conscious effort on behalf of a supervisor or manager to reinforce each successive step that moves an individual towards or away from a desired or undesired behaviour in the work environment. Behavioural modification is rooted to the fact that behaviour depends on consequence and is concerned with inducing new behavioural patterns in an individual that would benefit the organisation. What is Reinforcement? Reinforcement is a term that is heard often when discussing behaviour modification and is essential to conditioning. In such a context it refers to anything an individual might find rewarding. Reinforcement is related to the psychological process of motivation and is environmentally based. Reinforcers are external environmental events that follow a desired behaviour. Reinforcement could be either positive or negative and is likely to strengthen the response and increase the probability of repetition. Burrhus Frederic Skinner and his contribution to the field of Behavioural Modification B.F. Skinner, an American psychologist and professor at Harvard University is considered to be one of the pioneers of behavioural modification. Most modern day behavioural modification concepts are a result of Skinners work and his most renowned theory is the Reinforcement Theory. Skinners theory is based on the Law of Effect which states that an individual is highly likely to repeat behaviour when followed by favourable consequences (reinforcement) and tends not to repeat a particular behaviour when it is followed by an unfavourable consequence. The Reinforcement Theory Professor B.F. Skinner articulated the major theoretical constructs of the Reinforcement Theory. Skinner was of the opinion that internal requirements and drive of an individual are inconsequential and that individuals can be taught to exhibit behaviours based on events that follow the behaviour. The theory focuses on overriding unwanted behaviour and influencing required behaviour aided by the use of rewards and punishment that are dealt out as a consequence of the behaviour. This method of behaviour change is commonly known as operant conditioning. There are two essential prerequisites for the effective application of the Reinforcement Theory in real life scenarios, they can be found below. Managers must be able to find a consequence that is strong enough to have an impact on the targeted employee. Managers must be able administer a consequence in such a manner that it is easy for the employee to understand the relation between the behaviour that is targeted for change and the resulting consequence. According to the theory managers must know if they are required to increase or decrease the probability of an event. Once this has been decided a manager must then determine if the use of a positive or negative consequence is appropriate. Finally, a manager must consider if it is correct to apply or withhold the consequence to gain a desired behavioural change. The answer to these dilemmas is answered through four unique alternative consequences: Positive Reinforcement, Negative Reinforcement, Punishment and Extinction. They have been explained in greater detail below: Positive Reinforcement Positive reinforcement encourages behaviour by following a response with a favourable consequence. An employee who receives recognition or any other reward is likely to repeat the behaviour. It is advisable for management to have a dedicated program for positive reinforcement as it has been documented to increase job performance and satisfaction Negative Reinforcement Negative Reinforcement is often confused with punishment. While punishment is aimed at decreasing the probability of an undesirable act, negative reinforcement is the termination or withdrawal of an unpleasant consequence following a desired behaviour. Negative reinforcement strengthens and increases the repetition of the behaviour. Punishment The use of punishment as a managerial strategy is becoming more common. It is applied by confronting an undesired behaviour with an unwanted or uncomfortable consequence and it is meant to discourage repetition of the behaviour in question. Punishment discourages certain behaviour but does no have a direct impact on enforcing a positive behaviour either. Punishment has the potential to sour work relationships and thus must be used with caution after evaluation of all relevant aspects of the situation. Extinction Extinction is the act of withholding positive reinforcement with the aim of decline and eventual cessation of an unwanted behaviour. Extinction is equally capable of ending good/acceptable behaviour as well if the manager unknowingly fails to recognise an employees contribution over time. The most common example of unwanted extinction is when an employees suggestions and inputs are ignored by a superior, it often leads to the employee holding back his/her opinions in the future and the chance that a helpful input will never see the light of day increases. Something Wanted Something Unwanted Something Given is a reward and a positive reinforcement is punishment Something Denied is punishment is a reward and a negative reinforcement Reinforcement Schedules The timing of reinforcement is paramount to its success, in professional and academic circles the timing of reinforcement is referred to as reinforcement scheduling. In real life work settings it is next to impossible to continually reinforce desired behaviour. Since continuous reinforcement is not practically viable, reinforcement is commonly run according to an intermittent schedule. C.B. Ferster along with B.F. Skinner developed an intermittent system with the following four schedules; 1) Fixed Interval A reinforcer is applied after the passage of a certain period of time post the occurrence of the desired behaviour. e.g. A manager praises individuals in his team only once a week at the Monday morning meeting. In this case the interval is one week and the employee receives recognition for any amount of work done in that specific seven day span. 2) Variable Interval A reinforcer is applied at a random stage with no identifiable or definite period of time. e.g. The management team promotes an employee to position of higher authority after an eight month period after recognising his contribution and consistent performance over an unrelated period of time. 3) Fixed Ratio A reinforcer is applied only after a fixed number of desired events have passed. e.g. A sales executive receiving a bonus after hes achieved a certain targeted number of sales 4) Variable Ratio A reinforcer is applied only after a certain number of desired results, however, the number of desired results changes from time to time or with different situations. e.g. An employee receives time-off with pay or an award The above four schedules are referred to as methods of Partial Reinforcement, where responses are reinforced only part of the time. Reinforcement schedules and their effects on behaviour are explained further with the table below. Schedule Description When applied to Individual When Removed by Manager Organizational Example Continuous Reinforcement Reinforcer follows every response Fast method for establishing new behaviour Faster method to cause extinction of new behaviour Praise and recognition immediate to every response Partial Reinforcement Fixed Interval Response after specific time period is reinforced Some inconsistency in response frequencies Faster extinction of motivated behaviour than variable schedules Daily, weekly or monthly pay check Variable Interval Response after varying period of time (an average) is reinforced Produces high rate of steady responses Slower extinction of motivated behaviour than fixed schedules Promotion, Recognition, Transfer Fixed Ratio A fixed number of responses must occur before reinforcement Some inconsistency in response frequencies Faster extinction of motivated behaviour than variable schedules Piece rate, Commission on sales Variable Ratio A varying number (average) of responses must occur before reinforcement Can produce high rate of responses that is steady and resists extinction Slower extinction of motivated behaviour than fixed schedules Awards, Bonus, Time-off Source (Table): O.Behling, C.Schriesheim and J.Tolliver Present Theories and New Directions in Theories of Work Effort Journal of Supplement Abstract Service of the American Psychological Association 1974 A run of the mill behavioural modification technique consists of the following four steps: Stating the desired behaviour as objectively as possible Measuring the current incidence of desired behaviour Providing the correct consequence to reinforce the desired behaviour Maintain a systematic assessment of behavioural change post the behavioural modification program While the Reinforcement Theory is often criticised, the insights the theory provides into individual learning and motivation will always be of importance. Criticisms Limitations of Reinforcement Theory There are many criticisms levelled against the Reinforcement Theory, the strongest accusing the system of completely ignoring cognition amongst human beings. It has been argued that a purely theoretical approach fails to address the impact that any alternate motivations might have on human behaviour. The Reinforcement Theory also fails to explain altruism (selfless deeds) whose sole aim is to help another person. Looking past these criticisms the Reinforcement Theory does still have further limitations in practice, a few which are listed below. Limitations of the Reinforcement Theory 1) Reward and punishment are bound to alter from person to person based on personal preferences and also based on the circumstances under which they are dealt out. Rewards might vary in their attractiveness from one employee to the next and likewise punishment too can have a range of reactions from rage to total indifference. 2) Managers are often confronted with situations that require them to re-think their reward and punishment strategy as it is quite common for reinforcers to lose their value/effect as time goes by. Human nature, be it a child or grown professional causes us to lose interest or become oblivious to receiving rewards and reprimands once they are seen as a norm. Just like a child loses interest in candy as a reward, a professional isnt always driven by just the promise of a bonus or a few extra days of paid leave and can often be seen to expect it as part of normal procedure and not an incentive. 3) It is difficult for the manager to be in complete control of all sources of reinforcement. It is very common for an employees peer group to be a stronger reinforcer than any kind of punishment. 4) The system of rewards does not always bring about an internal change, the desired change is just a response to the reward offered. Once the reward is withdrawn, the likelihood of the employee reverting to old behavioural patterns is high. 5) Punishment is not always easy to deliver. It is an instrument that must be used with care. Punishment must be consistent and unavoidable, it must follow the undesired act closely (i.e. it must be immediate) and must also be firm. 6) Punishment can lead to anger, fear and a range of other negative emotions that are undesirable at work. These emotions will be associated with the manager or superior who inflicts punishment. Conclusion A
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