Thursday, November 28, 2019

The Author to her book Essay Example For Students

The Author to her book Essay The author to her book is a poem written by Anne Bradstreet in the 17th century. The poem revolves around the narrators baby which seems to be a personification for a book or collection of poems she has written. The flaws that the narrator sees in her work of literature are portrayed by a series of metaphors and similes in relation to her baby throughout the poem. The speaker in the poem appears to be the mother, alternatively the author of the collections of poem or the book, of the baby is a personification of. In the first line Thou ill formd offspring of my feeble brain the speaker refers to themselves stating my brain also claiming the offspring as their own stating it was from their brain. In the final stanza the speaker asserts that if for thy father askt,say, thou hadst none: And for thy Mother, she alas is poor, here the speaker refers to the mother in the third person however it is still possible to assume that the mother is in fact the speaker in the poem as she claims that the child had no father and that she is the creator of the offspring. The poem is written in iambic pentameter and consists of only three sentences it is nonetheless relatively long. It moves at a relatively fast speed and all lines apart from line 19-22 rhyme in the form A-A,B-B and so on. We will write a custom essay on The Author to her book specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Literally the poem tells the story of a mother whose child is snatch from her side and then is exposed to the public view. The child is severally flawed from being madein raggs, halting and blemished. The child is however a personification of the mothers work of literature which presumable was published without her consent, this becomes apparent when the speaker states it was snatched from thence by friends, less wise than true. It is possible to detect that the child is just a trope for the work of literature partly due to the fact that the mother states that the offspring is from her brain, rather than her reproductive organs. Additionally it is possible to presume that the child is just a trope from the line my rambling brat (in print) where the speaker states that the child is in fact in print. The poem consist mostly of metaphors and similes all showing how flawed the child, or work of literature, is. The mother says I washd thy face, but more defects I saw, and rubbing off a spot, still made a flaw. I stretcht thy joints to make thee even feet, yet still thou runst more bobbling. No matter how much the speaker tries to improve her work of literature she still feels that it is flawed. She compares this to a child whose face is dirty however when washed of it is still not immaculate. The mother says In better dress to trim thee was my mind, but nought save home-spun cloth, ith house I find, even though the mother wishes to dress the child better she does not have enough cloth to do so which could be an attempt from the speaker to describe that no matter how she tried to improve her work of literature she was incapable of doing so because she did not have the necessary means to do so. The poem is written in iambic pentameter and rhymes at all but four sentences. The rhyming creates a faster pace for the poem it also gives the poem a less sad or even desperate feel to it which is otherwise maintained by the harsh criticism the mother offers herself when saying that no matter how hard she tried she did not manage to improve child so she cast thee by as one unfit for light this creates a state of synaestesia where the reader feels both sorrowful for the mother who is ashamed of her child but through the rhymes not too somber. .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e , .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e .postImageUrl , .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e , .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e:hover , .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e:visited , .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e:active { border:0!important; } .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e:active , .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u5e9ba3bc5919cb7eb3550d840b28706e:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Poetic analysis of Ben Jonson EssayIn the last couplet the speaker states And for thy Mother, she alas is poor, which causd her thus to send thee out the door. This line suggests that the speaker allowed her work of literature to be published to some extent which is contradictory to what she suggested earlier in the poem. It states that the mother is poor however this sentence could both by literally and figuratively. Literally it could mean that the speaker had too little money to get by and therefore she felt compelled to allow her work of literature to be published even though she did not feel that it was fit for light. Figuratively however it could mean that her mind w as too poor which is what cause her to send thee out the door, the door however metaphorically describing the act of dismissing something due to being ashamed of it. Throughout the poem the speaker criticizes her child starting from the first line where she states that it was created from her feeble brain, giving the impression that her mind was too weak to create something good, down to the end of the poem where the speaker states that mongst vulgars mayst thou roam, presumably feeling that her piece of literature is not worthy of anything classier. Using examples of normal troubles with children such as them having dirtied their face, or wearing tawdry clothing, Anne Bradstreet manages to portray the flaws in her piece of literature; however when it is normally possible to solve the problems with children by for example washing their face or switching their clothing, the speaker in the poem finds herself incapable of doing so and so the poem can be seen as a form of self criticism.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

The nature of relationship marketing in Greek SMEs Essays

The nature of relationship marketing in Greek SMEs Essays The nature of relationship marketing in Greek SMEs Essay The nature of relationship marketing in Greek SMEs Essay Essay Topic: Marketing Marketing is defined by the American Marketing Association as the process of planning and carrying out the design, pricing, promotion and the distribution of ideas, goods and services to create exchanges that will satisfy individual and organizational objectives.(Lancaster, 1998) A study by (Hogarth-Scott et al., 1996) examined how complex the marketing practiced in small business was and how it is used to strategically gain a competitive advantage over a competitor. Carson (1990) in a longitudinal study of small firms in Belfast area has made a strong contribution to the understanding of market practice of marketing in small firms and concludes that marketing is often seen as peripheral to small firms requirements. Research has found some small businesses use sophisticated marketing strategies and others use no marketing. Small business owners are seen as generalists and should not be expected to change to specialists in marketing. In their work Fitchew, Stokes and Blackburn (Jack, 1998) aimed to provide an understanding of what marketing means to small business owners and stated that small firms share a number of characteristics differentiating them from larger organizations. They continued by stating that empirical work suggests that these characteristics lead to a number of marketing problems. To illustrate their point they use the following factors as examples; limited customer base, limited activity, owner/managers marketing competency, lack of formalized planning and evolutionary marketing, and, innovation, niches and gaps. Jack and Bower (Jack, 1998) found that the firms they studied attributed their success to the product/service supplied, their willingness to adopt to and meet customers requirements, helping to build, maintain and retain customer loyalty and building a marketing strategy around their competitive advantage. It follows therefore that marketing is particularly relevant to the small business, the use and application may determine the winners from the losers. The relationship and affinity that many SME owners/managers have with their customer base has frequently been cited as an advantage of the SME sector. For instance Carson (1990) discussed the importance of customer relationships for the small business. Similarly Carson, Crombie, McGowan and Hill (1995) who implied that the best strategy a small business can adopt is to fully appreciate and exploit any existing customer base, prior to attempting an expansion of this base. Similarly, McAuley (Jack, 1998) discussed how important it is for the entrepreneur to be interested in the customer, developing a relationship and building on it over time, not just for the domestic market but also for the internationalization of the small business. This relationship between the firm and the customer is called relationship marketing Thus Shani and Chalasani (1992) define relationship marketing as an integrated effort to identify, maintain, and build up a network with individual consumers and to continuously strengthen the network for the mutual benefit of both sides, through interactive, individualized and value-added contacts over a long period of time Aims The aim of this project is to develop an explanatory theory that will associate certain factors to the effectiveness of relationship marketing in small business in Greece. It will seek to determine how relationship marketing can be practiced by small businesses. It will try to further understand the special features of relationship marketing implementation in small businesses. It will also try to highlight the importance of the entrepreneur in practicing relationship marketing. Research questions 1. If small business in Greece practice relationship marketing 2. How effectively do small business use relationship marketing in Greece? 3. How important is the entrepreneur in practicing relationship marketing? 4. Are there any other elements that need to be considered in relation to small business use of relationship marketing? Plan of Investigation Literature review Surveying 2000 SMEs in 1991 and 1995, the study sought to identify the particular factors which small firm owners-managers believe contribute most to their competitive advantage (Cambridge Small Business Research Centre, 1992; Kitson and wilkinson, 1996). In 1991, the main competitive advantage of small firms was found to be personal attention to client needs, although established reputation, the provision of specialized expertise and product quality were also believed to be important factors. In the marketing domain it is essential for managers and others to keep in close touch with customers to assess their needs and aspirations. It is also beneficial to maintain a long-term relationship with customers. Loyal customers who continue to purchase particular goods or services over time are very attractive to business. The costs of acquiring new customers is considerable and the latter are likely to be more fickle and responsive to marginal additional benefits provided by competitors. Long-term relationships generate a self-sustaining dynamic, which allows each party to weather the storms that arise between interdependent people. (Carson et al., 1995) In 1990s, the topic of relationship marketing has become one of great interest to both marketing scholars and marketing practitioners. In the increasingly mature and complex markets in which organizations are now operating, building relationships and sustaining then are frequently, ore important than customer acquisition. McKenna (1991) offers a more strategic view of relationship marketing by putting the customer first and shifting the role of marketing from manipulating the customer (telling and selling) to genuine customer involvement (communicating and sharing the knowledge). Berry (1993), in somewhat broader terms, also has strategic viewpoint on relationship marketing. He stresses that attracting new customers should be viewed only as an intermediate step in the marketing process. Developing closer relationship with these customers and turning them into loyal once are equally important aspects of marketing. Thus he defines relationship marketing as attracting, maintaining, and-in multi-service-organizations-enhancing customer relationships. A considerable amount of work has focused on the relevance and applicability of relationship marketing to all customers and suppliers as well as the limitations of relationship marketing. Blois(1996) examines the conditions under which a customer is willing to become involved in and then to continue a relationship. The customer must be convinced of the overall benefits of the relationship, so that the advantages outweigh the costs of obtaining similar supplies through discrete transactions. Some researchers have questioned whether relationship marketing practices benefit both customer and supplier. Worthington and Horne (1996) consider whether relationship marketing operates in a mutually beneficial way across customer-supplier with reference to the affinity card industry. Other researchers, such as Murphy (1996), have examined the financial services industry and found that both customers and suppliers benefit from relationship marketing. For the customer a long-tern relationship helps reduce perceived risk in purchasing financial services, whereas for the supplier it allows enhanced retention rates and therefore improved profitability. Other academic work by Palmer (1994) explores the role of relationship marketing in the marketing curriculum and the alternative perspectives of relationship marketing held by a sample of U.K managers (Palmer Mayer, 1996) Unfortunately there is a lack of research of relationship marketing in SMEs sector. In the vast majority of the academic literature we found out about the importance of relationship marketing in firms and especially in SME. But there is very limited research on how a firm can implement relationship marketing and relationship marketing techniques. In this study we will try to understand how relationship marketing is been practiced in the SMEs sector in Greece. Greece could be a very helpful example as personal relations are very important and quite different to U.K Also be aware that effective working relationships emerge: (1) when interacting parties communicate openly and regularly; (2) when a degree of trust develops between individuals and groups; (3) when the parties understand the viewpoint of their counterparts; (4) when non-coercive methods of influence are utilized; (5) when those who interact accept their adversaries have a legitimate right to express their point of view; and (6) when joint decision-making is neither unduly emotional nor hard-headed (Carson et al., 1995). Sample The sampling frame will consist of small manufacturing enterprises in the Attica district of Greece. As Athens, the capital of Greece, is located in Attica, this district contains a high concentration of small enterprises. An estimated population of 4000 SMEs in the district operating in a variety of different manufacturing sectors. ICAP (Greek Business Information Company) will be contacted to generate the sample required from their database. Through the use of stratified random sampling the population is divided into three strata of non-overlapping groups. These are based on the number of employees outlined in the EC February 1996 definition of small businesses. ICAP will carry out three separate searches, draw a random sample from each subset to form the total sample of businesses. Probability sampling will be used to answer the research questions by making inferences from the sample about a population. This sampling technique is used to obtain a representative sample. Overall research design A multi-method approach was felt to be the most suitable for this study as the in depth knowledge of social contexts acquired through qualitative research can be used to inform the design of survey questions for structured interviewing and self competition questionnaires.(Bryman, 2001). The use of qualitative methods would generate information on individual views and opinions and quantitative to facilitate theory testing. The issues of reliability and generability of qualitative research findings can be overcome through the use of quantitative research at the same time. Method-qualitative This was felt to be appropriate to the research strategy, as in depth understanding of a number of small businesses in Greece would be obtained. It would also enable the understanding of managers views and opinions of the implications of relationship marketing strategies. Interviews are the most appropriate method as they are insightful and able to focus on the relationship between marketing and small businesses. The disadvantage is the bias associated with poor questions, not objective interpretation of results and also time consuming. Interview Design The types of interviews to be used are in-depth, face to face as a natural conversation and personal contact can be achieved. They allow exploration, probing of interviewee and story-telling to generate theory. To achieve an equivalence of stimulus the same types of topics will be asked to all participants. The researcher will make sure that the interviewee understands any theoretical concepts used. The final questions will be formed after the literature review. Relevant information on the themes of the interview will be supplied to participants before interviews so they are able to gather appropriate information. This also helps to promote validity and reliability. (Saunders et al., 2000) Data processing and analysis Categorization of the themes and sub themes will be developed when reading the data to identify relationships and patterns. Categories are then named using existing theory and parameters will be implemented so no confusion of what is included. The categories will be analyzed to see how they fit together. Unitizing then takes place when the data is assigned to a category through the dissection of the transcripts. Hypotheses will be developed and tested to identify relationships between categories (Saunders et al., 2000). Method-Quantitative The most appropriate method is a survey. It will allow the collection of a large amount of data from a sizeable population in a highly economically way.(Saunders et al., 2000) It is used to describe population characteristics and to test practices on small business relationship marketing. Other quantitative methods are incompatible with the nature of research and are not selected. The data collection tools consists of questionnaire, structured observation and structured interviews. In using a questionnaire the data is in a standardized form and comparison can be made easily and quickly. Structured interviews and observations were not selected as it was felt that in depth interviews would generate richer information on the topic. Sample The questionnaires will be sent by post to the remaining business from the sample. Questionnaire Design In designing the questionnaire, time will be spent planing, collecting and analyzing the data required, as you are unable to use prompts to explore further and have only one chance to collect the data. Self-completion questionnaires will be used, as they are inexpensive. As the questionnaire is completed independently the answers will not be contaminated or affected by other peoples opinions. The owners of small businesses are unlikely to have assistants so it is felt that they will fill it in themselves. A disadvantage of a postal survey it is low response rates and incomplete data. This can be solved by attaching a covering letter to the questionnaire explaining the purpose of the study will maximize response rates and the importance of completing it along with a pre paid envelope. The questionnaire is designed with an attractive layout, clear instructions and a minimum number of questions. A reminder will be posted one week after the questionnaire to the sample. Data processing and analysis The closed questions will be coded at the design stage. Open questions will be grouped into categories and coded once the questionnaires have been received. A unique identification number will be assigned to each questionnaire to help when checking for errors after inserting data. The computer programme SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) will be used to process and analyze the data. The data is manually keyed and stored in the SPSS worksheet. The advantage is that data can be input quickly with few errors. In using the commands available statistical tests can be carried out easily and quickly. (Tukey, 1997). emphasizes the use of diagrams to explore and understand your data. (Saunders et al., 2000). The results can then be presented in the form of tables and graphs appropriate to the research questions. Ethical issues As an external researcher the main weakness is how to gain access to small business, as it could be difficult to negotiate and time consuming. To overcome this the selected businesses will be contacted by telephone and informed of the study and its purpose allowing them to agree to take part in the questionnaire and interviews. Managers will be informed of the value and credibility of the research. The goodwill of the organizations in allowing access will be relied on. A consent form will be constricted and signed by all those participating. All information will be anonymous, as the study does not need to name participants. Appropriate data protection principles will be put in place to maintain confidentiality and privacy. Due to the anonymous nature of questionnaire unique identification numbers will not be used.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

TRAINING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR EMPLOYEES IN VIETNAM Dissertation

TRAINING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR EMPLOYEES IN VIETNAM AIRLINES - Dissertation Example When asked about the improvement areas of training in terms of training phases, training design surprisingly received the highest percentage, with training needs analysis succeeding it. Eight out of the 21 soft skills which were assessed in terms of the priority accorded to them by Vietnam Airlines were rated as high priority areas by more than 50% of the sample. These soft skills include the following: drive to achieve; dealing with others effectively; managing relationships; leadership; developing people; team empowerment; strategic thinking; and effectively adapting to change. Nearly half say that they have IDPs in place, while majority have agreed that their training policy is effective. Half of the respondents claim being involved in the assessment of their training needs and how the organisation has shown how training influences job performance. Performance evaluations, which is a support mechanism to training and development, is carried out at least once a year, according to a ll of the respondents. Attendance to both in-house and external training was experienced by at least half of the respondents at least once within the past 12 months. ... Additionally, the following obstacles to training and development must be addressed: operations being given greater priority than training and development and the unclear role of training as a promotion criterion. Significant and positive correlations were yielded for both OCB and employee engagement, underscoring the critical importance of the training and development function for Vietnam Airlines, in its bid for competitiveness within the airline industry. Table of Contents Chapter 1 Introduction 7 1.1 Introduction 7 1.2 Vietnam Airlines 8 1.3 Relationship of Training, Employee Engagement and Organisation Citizenship Behaviour 12 1.4 Research Aim 14 1.5 Research Objectives 14 1.5 Overview of the Study 14 Chapter 2 Review of Related Literature 16 2.1 Review of Related Literature 16 2.2 Importance of Training and Development in the Airline Industry 16 2.3 Phases of Training Function 21 2.4 Analysis 22 2.5 Design 23 2.5 Development 24 2.6 Implementation 25 2.7 Evaluation 25 2.8 Factor s that Influence the Effectiveness of Training 26 2.8.1 Training Needs 26 2.8.2 Formal Training 28 2.8.3 Informal Training 28 2.9 Employee Engagement 34 2.10 The Constructs of Employee Engagement 38 2.10.1 The constructs of employee engagement include job satisfaction, involvement and commitment. 38 2.10.2 Organisational Citizenship Behaviour 39 2.10.3 Constructs of Organisational Citizenship Behaviour 40 Chapter 3 Methodology 47 3.1 Introduction 47 3.2 Research Approach 47 3.3 Research Design 50 3.4 Sampling Plan 51 3.5 Data Collection Procedures 52 3.6 Instrument 53 3.7 Ethical Considerations 56 3.8 Method of Data Analysis 57 3.9 Conclusion 57

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Reconstructing gender Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Reconstructing gender - Essay Example Although chromosomes do play a certain role in gender development, it is definitely not the only determinant (Gibson, 2014). Social interactions and especially socialization of gender roles also play a part. The other important issue that is discussed here is the fact that gender is not a choice between two gender types, but it is a spectrum whose range cannot be defined definitively. Michael Messner also agrees with Lorber. In his article which looks at organized sports and its use on the gendering process, he argues that gender is not something that people have, but is a process, which he calls gendering process. Michael Messner goes to the point of arguing that the development of organized sports in the 20th century was a gendering process and a response to the rising economic feminist movement. He argues that organized sports were deliberately made over competitive and physically demanding in an attempt to make the male gender look more powerful and to give it hegemony. Michael Kimmel also agrees with this view. He argues that he father is the first person who evaluates the masculinity of the person and that this then affects a man for the rest of his life. Additionally, it is evident that gender is a scan process rather than a genetic one. Jill Nelson talks about gender, especially femininity and the way it relates to race. She argues about how three features have always defined what a beautiful woman is; hair, skin complexion and body shape. And because all the three factors with regard to how a woman is regarded as beautiful or not seen to favor Caucasian race as opposed to the Negro race. The black woman has always not received the appreciation she deserves as a woman. Although Jill Nelson’s essay seems to border more on the issue of race and not gender, she does forward a string point of how social processes define gender. According to what she talks about, not only is gender conceived

Monday, November 18, 2019

The Mid West region in Western Australia Case Study

The Mid West region in Western Australia - Case Study Example include: Murchison (Sandstone, Yalgoo, Murchison, Shires of Cue, Meekatharra Mount Magnet and Wiluna) Batavia Coast (Irwin, Chapman Valley, Northampton shires, and Greenough-City of Geraldton) North Midlands (Coorow, Morawa, Mullewa, Three Springs, Prenjori, Shires of Carnamah and Mingenew) (Government of Western Australia, 2011). Regional development has been a major concern in Mid Western Australia. Being the region where there exists social, economic and environmental diversity a state planning strategy has been launched by the â€Å"Western Australian Planning Commission† to figure out the effective usage of state-wide land till the year 2029. The strategies prove to be a guide for both the government and the local sector. Main areas of concern include: Population Transport Economy The community The regions â€Å"Public Utilities and services† Midwest and Western Australia Population: The population in the Mid West Region of Australia has rapidly progressed from the past two decades. Till June 2006, it was estimated to be almost 51,748. 9.3 % population are local residents that makes up 2.5 % of the total country population. The census results of 2001 declared that the population growth in the region is recorded to be 0.7% every year. This amount has further surpassed in the year 2006, when annual growth rate was reported to be 3.5% per annum. Present population of the region makes it the state’s six largest in a total of nine. It has been estimated that the number will reach 55,400 till the year 2016 while year 2031 might experience a population of 68,100 (Midwest development commission, 2008). The population distribution is uneven. City of Greenough has estimated population of 35022 i.e. 67% of the total region. In the year 2000-2006 the growth rate improved to 1.8% per annum in the coastal municipalities e.g. Irwin, Chapman Valley etc. Due to farm amalgamation, the population in farmlands is observed to decrease with the coming years including Morawa, Coorow and Carnamah. Among the inland shires the population is variable mostly because of the economic status of regions (Midwest development commission, 2008). Population Distribution 2001 - 2006 Local   Government   Authority 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Annual Growth 2005-06 % AAGR   2000- 2005 % Carnamah 804 765 743 709 692 787 13.7 -0.4 Chapman Valley 876 884 892 957 984 957 -2.6 1.8 Coorow 1,375 1,366 1,362 1355 1320 1,256 -1.7 -1.8 Cue 394 391 370 366 352 359 2.0 -1.8 Geraldton/ Greenough 32,764 32,654 32,452 32,156 32,604 35,022 7.4 1.3 Irwin 3,059 2,996 2,989 3034 3247 3,240 -0.2 1.2 Meekatharra 1,453 1,466 1,486 1529 1529 1,296 -16.4 -2.3 Mingenew 584 585 582 557 525 501 -4.6 -3.0 Morawa 985 963 957 904 880 888 3.4 -2.1 Mount Magnet 851 841 829 757 719 496 -31.7 -10.2 Mullewa 1,118 1,120 1,104 1057 1057 1,011 -4.4 -2.0 Murchison 160 160 162 162 162 127 -21.6 -4.5 Northampton 3,333 3,329 3,320 3313 3237 3,360 3.8 0.2 Perenjori 612 589 585 584 573 5 64 -1.4 -1.6 Sandstone 133 143 150 150 150 130 -13.3 -0.5 Three Springs 751 746 745 743 722 713 -1.2 -1.0 Wiluna 898 924 955 951 960 770 -20.5 -3.0 Yalgoo 325 325 328 327 327 271 -17.1 -3.6 MID WEST (total) 50,475 50,247 50,011 49,611 50,015 51,748 3.5 0.5 Population increase in Mid-Western Region In comparison, the population of Western Australia improved to a great extent. Till June, 2010, the population of Western Australia was found to be 2.3 percent or nearly 511, 300 persons with the annual increase observed to be 1.8 percent (387, 100

Friday, November 15, 2019

The Skills Of Professional Networking

The Skills Of Professional Networking Professional Networking is a widely used skill that many people lack. There are four main steps that a person must focus on while trying to build an effective professional network. The first step in building an effective professional network is to contact businesses in the best possible way. Next, it is extremely important to build an individual relationship with each business. Giving an effective presentation is the third step. The last and ongoing step is to maintain the current relationship while expanding the network to new contacts. There are many benefits to professional networking. Having an outstanding professional network can lead to ultimate success. Better jobs and stronger support can come from this. There are many different ways that a person can build an effective profession network. This leads to the essential question. Essential Question How does a person build an effective professional network? Supporting Questions What is the best way to contact businesses? What is the best way to build an individual relationship with each business? What is the most effective way to give a presentation? What is the best way to maintain the current relationships while expanding the network to new contacts? What is the best way to contact businesses? It is impossible to build a relationship without first having contact with any businesses. Beverly Newton, Nebraska FBLA State Adviser, Career Field Specialist, Communication and Information Systems, claimed, The best way to contact a business is through a personal contact from someone you know who has recommended a specific name in the business to contact. It is also appropriate to write a letter to the name recommended to you and then indicate that you will follow-up the letter with a phone call (personal e-mail, December 20, 2010). In retrospect, the first and most important step for someone who wants to contact businesses is to work towards building connections through networking. However, if a person was not knowledgeable enough to start early, there is still hope for them. For someone who is just starting, they need to focus on friends and family. In making personal contacts, the person must start small with the businesses closest to him or her. This is extremely important because as Lao-tzu (2004) said, A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step (para. 1) Taking these small steps will lead to future success. Randall Hansen (2010) from Quintessential Careers states, There is probably not an easier way to expand your network than to simply ask your current friends, family, and associations for the contact information of others whom they think would be beneficial for you to know. The friend-of-a-friend connection is quite strong and usually very successful (para. 4). Once these smaller contacts have been established, it is time to use them to enlarge the network. Every business will be related to many other businesses in some way. Be sure to use these previous connections to expand and make new connections. Peoples previous contacts can be e xtremely important for future development. There are numerous ways to contact businesses. The most prolific way is to begin at an early age and build contacts throughout an entire lifetime. Since everyone knows someone else, the friend-of-a-friend connection is the best possible method to attain contacts. But, just because there are these contacts, does not necessarily mean that they will be willing to negotiate. It is extremely important to write a professional business letter to each business. This format consists of a heading, the date, the opening, the body, and then a conclusion. After the conclusion, a farewell and a signature with the name and title printed below should be included. In these letters, the writer needs to sound sincere and professional. The contactor should be sure to ask for support from the business, not a monetary donation. Following these steps will result in many business contacts. What is the best way to build an individual relationship with each business? Contacting is easy, but the truly skilled will develop a relationship with each business they contact. A contact is just establishing of communication with someone or receiving of a significant signal from a person or object (Guralnik, 1970, p. 306). However, a relationship is a significant connection or similarity between two or more things (Guralnik, 1970, p. 1198). Matthew Moran (2010) thinks, One of the most pressing challenges with networking effectively is that many professionals never take the time to go where such relationships can happen (para. 21). This is important because in order to make a sustainable professional network, there must be a relationship to keep the network alive. Newton stated, It is important for the business to understand what purpose you have for them. The business usually wants to do something other than donate money (personal e-mail, December 20, 2010). When attempting to build an individual relationship, it is essential to know the business purpose. A business representative will not be swayed to donate their support if the contactor does not even know how the business can be used. Having an organized and detailed plan is extremely important, as well as sounding professional, sincere, personable, and confident. Doing these things will create a strong one-on-one bond with each business. What is the most effective way to give a presentation? Once the door is opened with a relationship, it is time to slam the door shut and strike up a deal with a presentation. Giving an effective presentation can be extremely difficult. Darrell Zahorsky has eight secrets to a knockout business presentation. These eight steps are: dig deep, avoid info overload, practice delivery, forget comedy, pick powerful props, minimize you, speak the language, and use simple slides (Zahorsky, 2010). Mastering these secrets can be extremely difficult and may require practice. Great presenters give their presentations numerous times to a plethora of audiences for practice before they give their polished show. However, a good presentation in itself will not be effective without further details. The presenter needs to be dressed in proper attire to give a professional look. This consists of a business suit for both men and women. Presenters must be there early in order to ensure that their equipment is running properly and to introduce themselves to the companys business leaders. What is the best way to maintain the current relationships while expanding the network to new contacts? After closing the deal with an amazing presentation, be sure to keep the door locked by maintaining the relationship and open new doorways by expanding to new contacts. Follow-up with the business is important by connecting with the business at least twice during the year. (B. Newton, personal e-mail, December 20, 2010). After making a connection, establishing a relationship, and giving an effective presentation, it is extremely important to maintain each and every relationship. Jennifer Vo (2010) declared, Never burn a bridge because no matter how big the industry is, companies within an industry often keep in close contact with one another (para. 5). The next step is to expand the network to new contacts. This whole process acts as a cycle. Since a lot of work has already been done, it is advised to reuse the letters that were previously written. Sometimes things need to be tweaked a little bit for improvement. Be sure to update all of the documents so they are viable. The final step of maintaining the current relationships, while expanding the network to new contacts, is extremely important. Since relationships take so much time and effort, no relationship can afford to be lost. Also, expansion is a necessity. A network without growth is the same as a dying network. How does a person build an effective professional network? There are many steps that must occur in order to build a professional network. These steps play out as a never-ending cycle. The first step is to contact the businesses. The friend-of-a-friend connection is the best possible method to attain contacts. Next, build an individual relationship with each business. Remember to have a purpose for each business. Also, there needs to be extra steps taken to reach this higher level. Giving an effective presentation is the third step. Be confident, dress appropriately, and practice, practice, practice. Lastly, it is a necessity to maintain the current relationships while expanding the network to new contacts. Every network needs to continue to grow by attaining new contacts; previous relationships also need to be maintained. All-in-all, communication is essential. Each of the four steps heavily incorporates communication as the most important piece. This communication is done through many forms, including verbal, written, and nonverbal. The contactor must be polished in every area in order to ensure his or her success. It is imperative to proofread each letter, practice each presentation, and send a professional message through physical appearance. When building an effective professional network remember to follow these four main steps: contact the businesses, build an individual relationship, give an effective presentation, and maintain the current relationships while expanding the network to new contacts. Following these steps will create a strong professional network for the practicing individual. The network established will be a helpful tool that can be employed throughout an entire lifetime. A single individual can build an effective professional network by utilizing basic communication skills and establishing business relationships. Annotated Bibliography Hansen, R. S. Ph. D. (2010, November 4). How to build and expand your career network: 10 proven techniques. Retrieved from http://www.quintcareers.com/expanding_career_network.html. This source was useful because it stated that using friends, family, and associations create strong connections. It also introduced the friend-of-a-friend connection that I referred back to several times throughout my paper. This source was very reliable and was extremely helpful. Guralnik, D. B. (Ed.). (1970). Websters new world dictionary of the American language. (p. 306 1198, 2nd ed.). New York, NY: The World Publishing Company. I used this to state the definitions of contact and relationship. This was important to my paper because I use both of these words numerous times. There is also a need to clarify the difference between the two. Moran, M. (2006, July 21). Professional networking made easy: priming the pump. Retrieved from http://www.ciscopress.com/articles/printerfriendly.asp?p=486105. This source explains the importance of building a relationship to keep a professional network alive. Without the information provided by this source my statements would not have any support. Tzu, L. (2004, September 1). The quotations page: classic quotes. Retrieved from http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/24004.html. I used this quote to back up my statement about making personal contacts with people who are close to them. I also said how everyone has to start off small, so this quote works hand-in-hand with what I said. Vo, J. (2010, February 15). How to start networking: the best ways to expand a professional network. Retrieved from http://www.suite101.com/content/how-to-start-networking-a198785. I used this resource to back myself up when I was talking about the importance of maintaining each and every relationship. Zahorsky, D. (2010). 8 secrets to a knockout business presentation. Retrieved from http://sbinformation.about.com/od/sales/a/presentationtip.htm?p=1. This resource defined the eight steps of giving an effective business presentation. This was extremely important because one of my supporting questions was completely about how to give an effective business presentation.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Comparing Two Seafood Restaurants :: comparison compare contrast essays

Comparing Two Seafood Restaurants From a succulent fresh lobster tail to a mouth-watering red snapper filet, everyone loves some type of seafood. The residents of our city are lucky, restaurants specializing in seafood are plentiful. Many locals consider Pappadeux and Joe's Crab Shack to be the best. Although they both serve wonderful, fresh seafood, the differences in the menu, the service, and the overall atmosphere set them apart from one another. Pappadeux offers elegant, elaborate dishes on its menu, while the food described on the menu of Joe's Crab Shack is the sort which tastes best when accompanied by an ice-cold beer and a large plate of french fries. For example, my favorite meal at Pappadeux consists of a flaky filet of red snapper blackened in hot Cajun spices and smothered in a rich Bearnaise sauce. It is then topped with lightly sauted crawfish tails and mushrooms. Once this concoction touches the tongue, it simply melts. On the other hand, Joe's Crab Shack has been made famous for its barbecued crabs. The cook begins by slowly cooking small dungeoness crabs in a large barbecue pit. Once the crabs have been seared to perfection, the cook tosses them on a large tray, and they are ready for presentation. The waiter then serves these divine crabs with a hammer, a bib, and a roll of paper towels. After pounding on the shell for five minutes, the lucky diner discovers a piece of crab meat which, like the sna pper filet, melts in the mouth. Distinguishing each restaurant further is the service; although it is impeccable at both Pappadeaux and Joe's Crab Shack, the manner in which one is served varies greatly. When dining at the classy Pappadeux, each patron is greeted by an exquisitely dressed staff. The waitstaff is clad in black slacks, white tuxedo shirts, and classic bow ties, while the hostess dons an elegant dress. The staff greets each diner with the traditional "ma'am" and "sir" and treats her or him with the utmost respect and dignity. In contrast, at the relaxed Joe's Crab Shack the entire staff wears t-shirts and shorts or jeans and treats everyone as if they are life-long friends; greeting patrons with "Hey! How's it going?

Sunday, November 10, 2019

An Analysis of Michael Coogan’s Article “The Great Gulf Between Scholars and the Pew”

Michael Coogan’s article, â€Å"The Great Gulf Between Scholars and the Pew,† basically discussed and expounded in detail basically how people from different walks of life, particularly the scholars, and the lay members of the Church, understood and interpreted the Bible and its text. Basically, according to Coogan, the Bible, which has been long accepted as a symbol of perfect authority and absolute truth for it contains the word of God, is flawed in a lot of aspects due to its historical loopholes and inconsistencies. Based on Coogan’s writing, both past and modern scholars have used these inconsistencies and loopholes, which is a method called historical-critical method, to surmise that the Bible itself is not a book by a single author, but â€Å"many books by many authors† (Coogan, n. p. ) who also reflect their backgrounds and beliefs in their writings. However, as Coogan pointed out, this non-traditional understanding of the Bible, has very little effect on the way most people, whether religious or not, think of the book. This led to a situation that Coogan calls a canon within a canon, a set of laws within a set of laws or more specifically, a set of Holy Scriptures within a set of Holy Scriptures. In this case, most people, despite the widely accepted inconsistencies on the Bible, still accept and adhere to certain parts of its texts. In other words, what Coogan meant by a canon within a canon is that people select certain texts or scriptures within the Bible despite their errors and contradictions to actual historical findings and consider them as absolute truths which they base their beliefs on. More specifically, people such as lay members and pastors choose to believe these questionable texts and scriptures and use them to serve their personal interests. This, according to Coogan, is best shown in the way that politicians use quotes from the Bible as if they were truths, the way ministers preach the words of the Bible, and, most of all, the way students treat the Bible as an authoritative figure. Certain prominent inconsistencies in the Bible include the question of whether Canaan was invaded by Israel through a military assault or a gradual assimilation or what was the true color of the robe Jesus was wearing when he was being tortured before he died or whether he was born in Bethlehem or Nazareth, among many others.. In addition, there are also Christian believers who accept a certain gospel, such as Paul’s but reject the words of James and the Gospel of Matthew, which have been shown to contradict Paul’s writings, while, in effect, rejecting dozens of other biblical texts. The fact that there are inconsistencies between the writings of two of Jesus’ disciples and yet people choose to believe in one of them goes to show that the historical-critical method of understanding the Bible has been very influential. In short, despite these questions about important facts in the Bible, a lot of people still accept them as undeniable truths, which forms a canon within a canon Moreover, Coogan explained that the church tacitly accepts the use of a canon within a canon partly because it is their way of countering the results of the scholars’ historical-critical method of the Bible. The church made it appear to its followers that results of the scholars’ studies is a direct challenge to their authority because most of its teachings are derived from the Bible itself. In other words, if the Bible is full of inconsistencies and errors, then the Church’s Episcopal letters and pontifical documents, which they derive from the Bible as well, are also flawed and questionable. This is also why the church accepts the use of a canon within a canon as it corrects the perception of the Bible created by the scholars. They simply cannot allow an influential force that would question their authority as it would also taint their credibility and, in effect, their control over their members. Another reason behind the church’s tacit acceptance of a canon within a canon is that it does not trust people to correctly interpret and understand all that are written in the Bible. In other words, the church simply limited the exposure of people to the Bible because in truth, as Coogan stated in his article, there are certain texts and scriptures in the Bible that are subversive to the teachings of the church. According to Coogan, certain texts that are conspicuously limited by the church to most people include the portrayal of the violent yet â€Å"divine† extermination of the people of Canaan in the book of Joshua, the depiction of sexual assault in Judges chapters 11 and 19, the eroticism in the Song of Solomon, and most of all the text of the book of Job which more or less challenges the predominant perception of a fair and caring God. Meaning to say, the church firmly believes that if people are able to read the texts mentioned above, then there is a possibility that they may doubt the dogmatic views and teachings of the Bible which is embodied by the church itself. Furthermore, based on Coogan’s writing, in a way, biblical scholarship has also contributed to the use of a canon within a canon. According to him, for one, these biblical scholars, who have been committed to studying and deciphering the Bible for the past century or so, have failed to correctly translate what the original languages such as Greek and Hebrew of the book’s texts exactly mean. Most biblical scholars, avoid shocking people by making it appear that the Bible is an internally consistent book rather than a compilation of doctrines that are full of errors and inconsistencies. Moreover, Coogan also noted that recent biblical studies were done primarily for self-righteous reasons rather than educational purposes and as such, the use of a canon within a canon or a set of widely-accepted and used scriptures within a set of widely-accepted and used scriptures has become more established and unchallenged throughout the years.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Organizational Learning Journal

Organizational Learning Journal Introduction The journal explores the role of trust, as well as, knowledge tacitness in mediating mechanisms involved in partner characteristics and the related alliance outcomes. It presents study results on the role of trust and knowledge tacitness in achieving learning and innovation between cooperating partners. The sample study had involved 120 International Strategic Alliances across 1851 companies. It also analyses background information on the already available literature.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Organizational Learning Journal specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Journal Analysis Nielsen Bo and Nielsen Sabina (2009, 1050) established that learning and innovation can be achieved be simultaneously, although they result from different mix of relational quality, partner characteristics as well as knowledge characteristics. They demonstrate that inter-firm learning may create innovative outcomes. H owever, this purely depends on the relation characteristics of the alliance and the quality of the relationship. These characteristics are classified as knowledge protectiveness and collaborative know-how. Knowledge protectiveness inhibits both learning and innovative outcomes of international strategic alliances since it creates mistrust, which in turn negatively impacts on open collaboration. Collaborative know-how, on the other hand, enhances transfer and internalization of knowledge, as well as the ability to utilize effectively the acquired knowledge. It enhances innovation since it helps eliminate mistrust and perceptions of opportunism between cooperating partners. Knowledge tacitness can hinder knowledge transfer as well as learning between cooperating firms, but at the same time, can create opportunities for innovation. According to Collinson (1999, 342) knowledge management practices may not be easily transferred between cooperating organizations due to differing organizat ional values, culture, and structure as well as knowledge resources. For example, Gray and Yan (1994, 1486) established that Chinese firms always experienced significant problems in acquiring complex manufacturing skills from US Companies. More specific example is the differences in quality of Nokia and Huawei phones which are cooperating partners. Trust, on the other hand, increases knowledge transfer between the cooperating firms, and strengthens the potential advantages tacitness which is significant for innovation. Trust reduces uncertainty, facilitates social interaction and increases transparency. This increases sharing of valuable information as well as knowledge. The study established positive interaction between trust and learning as well as trust and innovation. Most important, it established a positive correlation trust and knowledge tacitness versus learning, and the same for trust and knowledge tacitness versus innovation (Nielsen Bo Nielsen Sabina 2009, 1049).Advertis ing Looking for critical writing on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Implications of the results of the study Innovation is highly related to knowledge sharing where each partner has access to its partner’s information reserve so as to exploit complementarities. Innovation, therefore, requires means of coordination which can reduce costs of extensive inter-firm learning. High costs of codifying tacit knowledge can undermine the benefits of mutual learning. Close collaboration can enable partners to utilize their know-how in developing innovating outcomes without having to transfer the tacit knowledge. According to Serat (2009, 3) it is important to understand the requirements of joint task initiatives in order to develop a working interface with the partner. This should be enhanced by leadership commitment sharing, monitoring and evaluating the progress of joint innovation initiatives (Doz Hamel 1998, 23). The study reveals that it is possible to achieve innovative outcomes without codifying the partner’s knowledge (Nielsen Bo and Nielsen Sabina 2009, 1052). For an organization to benefit from tacit knowledge, it has to adopt ways codifying the knowledge so as to transfer it for its application. It must also develop ways of retaining the information in its tacit form for purposes of innovative application. It should maintain a distinctive base for the tacit information and be able to codify the knowledge in a way that does not reduce its value. Reference List Collinson, S., 1999. Knowledge management capabilities for steel markers: a British–Japanese corporate alliance for organizational learning. Technology Analysis and Strategic Management, Vol. 11, pp. 337–358. Doz, Y., Hamel, G., 1998, Alliance advantage: The art of creating value through partnering. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press. Gray, B., Yan, A., 1994. Bargaining power, manag ement control, and performance in United States–China joint ventures: a comparative case study. Academy of Management Journal, Vol. 37, pp.1478–1517.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Organizational Learning Journal specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Nielsen, B., B., Nielsen, S., 2009. Learning and innovation in international strategic alliances: An empirical test of the role of trust and tacitness. Journal of Management Studies, Vol. 46, No. 6. Serat, O., 2009, Learning in strategic alliances. Manila: Asian Development Bank.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Definition of Wormhole - Theory of Relativity

Definition of Wormhole - Theory of Relativity Definition: A wormhole is a theoretical entity allowed by Einsteins theory of general relativity in which spacetime curvature connects two distant locations (or times). The name wormhole was coined by American theoretical physicist John A. Wheeler in 1957, based on an analogy of how a worm could chew a hole from one end of an apple through the center to the other end, thus creating a shortcut through the intervening space. The picture to the right depicts a simplified model of how this would work in linking two areas of two-dimensional space. The most common concept of a wormhole is an Einstein-Rosen bridge, first formalized by Albert Einstein and his colleague Nathan Rosen in 1935. In 1962, John A. Wheeler and Robert W. Fuller were able to prove that such a wormhole would collapse instantly upon formation, so not even light would make it through. (A similar proposal was later resurrected by Robert Hjellming in 1971, when he presented a model in which a black hole would draw matter in while being connected to a white hole in a distant location, which expels this same matter.) In a 1988 paper, physicists Kip Thorne and Mike Morris proposed since that such a wormhole could be made stable by containing some form of negative matter or energy (sometimes called exotic matter). Other types of traversible wormholes have also been proposed as valid solutions to the general relativity field equations. Some solutions to the general relativity field equations have suggested that wormholes could also be created to connect different times, as well as distant space. Still other possibilities have been proposed of wormholes connecting to whole other universes. There is still much speculation on whether it is possible for wormholes to actually exist and, if so, what properties they would actually possess. Also Known As: Einstein-Rosen bridge, Schwarzschild wormhole, Lorentzian wormhole, Morris-Thorne wormhole Examples: Wormholes are best known for their appearance in science fiction. The television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, for example, largely focused on the existence of a stable, traversible wormhole that connected the Alpha Quadrant of our galaxy (which contains Earth) with the distant Gamma Quadrant. Similarly, shows such as Sliders and Stargate have used such wormholes as the means of traveling to other universes or distant galaxies.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Create and Interpret a table that compare the prevalence of Diabetes Essay

Create and Interpret a table that compare the prevalence of Diabetes in the US(age 18+ age adjusted Males and Females) Mountain and pacific regions from 2000-2012 - Essay Example The trend indicates that there is prevalent decrease in diabetes over the years from 2002 to 2012. The overall rudimentary prevalence was similar for males (Attaining 24.9 percent in 2012) and females (Attaining 17.6 percent in 2012) (National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases 65). Trends across the different regions in America show similarity in rudimentary prevalence for males and females in the two regions under study. The pacific region shows even a lower level of diabetes prevalence throughout the years and across the sexes. Generally, the rates decreased from 36.9 percent between 2002 and 2004, to 27.1 percent by the close of 2012. A notable aspect between the mountain region and the pacific region is that fewer males get diabetic in the pacific region as compared to the mountain region. However, the pacific region still indicates a decrease in the trend across the years for the two sexes. Murphy, Sherry., Xu, Jiaquan and Kochanek, Kenneth. Division of Vital Statistics CDC/NCHS, Deaths: Final data for 2010. National vital statistics reports; vol 61 no 4. Hyattsville, MD: NCHS; 2012. Accessed September 18, 2014 http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr61/nvsr61_04.pdf National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases. National Diabetes Statistics Fact Sheet, 2005. Bethesda, MD, U.S: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health,

Friday, November 1, 2019

Shakespeare's life Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Shakespeare's life - Research Paper Example Speaking about the personal history of the Shakespeare himself, we cannot state the precise date of his birth, because only according to the information from the church archives we can know that Shakespeare was baptized on April 26, 1564. He lived in Stratford-upon-Avon. Some details about the origin of legendary playwright we can take from his plays, sonnets, and other poems, however, more light can shed official documentation. However, they provide only very brief sketches of the important events of the Shakespeare’s life. From the official documents comes the information that the Shakespeare was baptized at the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon. From this moment many people consider the beginning of the Shakespeare life. On November 28, 1582, in Worcester, in Canterbury Province, William Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway. Hathaway was from Shottery, it was small village a mile west of Stratford. William was 18 and Anne was 26, and, she was pregnant. Their first child, a daughter they named Susanna, was born on May 26, 1583. Then, after two years they had twins, Hamnet and Judith. However, Hamnet died of unknown causes when she was eleven. Then the history of records ends and seven years considered to be the â€Å"lost years†. These years are undocumented and there are much information from various sources regarding this hidden period of time. Some of them tell that Shakespeare has gone into hiding from the local landlord. Another possibility that Shakespeare could work as an assistant to the schoolmaster of the Lancashire.