Managing People Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Managing People - Essay Example An organisation should therefore strive to reduce constant absenteeism that has direct and indirect negative impacts. Most companies are now focusing on the proactive ways of checking and reducing absenteeism by indentifying and dealing with causes of non-attendance rather than focusing on the absenteeism as a negative entity (Coughlan 2004, P.5). The moist common causes of absenteeism are related to sickness and other genuine reasons though in some cases employees may fail to show up at work place without a genuine reason due to lack of motivation, bullying, personal issues and stress. A company should therefore focus on addressing the cause of absenteeism rather than completely eliminating absenteeism. Keenly addressing workers absences will help to make a major variation to the absence intensity currently and in future. The proactive ways helps to reduce employee’s absence as well as creating conducive working conditions that helps to increase production and staff retention . This paper will critically analyse proactive approaches in reducing absenteeism. Approaches to reduce absenteeism Most companies are focusing on reducing absenteeism in their through proper proactive approaches that also helps to improve employees’ services delivery. ... The second step is the administration level that helps to allocate resources to implement the set rules, regulations and policies to achieve the organisational goals (Devanna at el 1981, P. 53). The require recourses may include time, employees, funds, information and other parameters stated in the strategic plan. And finally the implementation level that involves the day to day running of the organisation by the management that brings together all departments in the organisation to allow smooth learning of the organisation which is the overall goal of reducing absenteeism. To effectively reduce absenteeism the company must assess the current situation; come up with the desired situation and the plan to achieve the future situation. A company can adopt several proactive methods to anticipate reduce absenteeism in workplace as follows. Recruitment A company should lay a strongly highlighting of the significance of consistent turnout to work in the organisation from the recruitment sta ges. The interview should ask questions aimed at determining the applicants’ attitude towards chronic absenteeism depending on the organisational goals (Liste n.y.) and if possible the applicant can be asked to show his attendance record from the previous employer. The employer should seek to know personal traits that can increase chances of absenteeism without genuine reasons such as personal honesty, commitment to work, truthfulness and personal integrity (Salisbury 2010). According to Morgan (2012), some of the company may concentrate on a policing and implementing of principles set to ensure full attendance rather than developing a culture of consistence in attendance of employees. Developing a civilized and constructive attendance in an organisation starts

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP) Essay Example for Free

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP) Essay The United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP) and the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) are both effective ways to report financially account for one’s business assets but they have several differences. in this paper I will attempt to outline a few of the more significant differences and allow you to make up your mind as to which of these two systems is the better one. The first difference that is widely accepted between the two methods is that U. S. GAAP is rules based and IFRS is principle based. This means that IFRS allows more for adaption of the circumstances and allows for professional judgment while U.S. GAAP is more stringent and less forgiving. The argument back and forth is that the rules for U.S. GAPP are too large and broad stroked which doesn’t allow for different odd situations, while it is argued that the IFRS is too biased which can allow for too much manipulation. A primary difference between the U.S. GAAP and the IFRS is the way the business financial statements report the value of the company’s property and holdings. The U.S. GAAP method utilizes the Historic Cost Principle (HCP) while the IFRS uses the Fair Market Value (FMV). Under the HCP the asset owned by the company if forever recorded at the price for which it was initially purchased while the FMV approach allows for a periodic re-assessment of the current value of the asset. This has both positive and negative effects based on the economy and the housing market. Over time you would expect that the value of property to rise, for example if a company had bought my parents 2 bedroom home for the listed price of $19,500 in 1980 knowing that the same house is now appraised at $105,000 then it would be beneficial to re appraise the house under the FMV as the asset is worth a lot more than the original $19,500. The down side for using the FMV would have been in 2009 when the housing market collapsed. At that point the house was appraised at $87,000. If the year prior the company recorded its asset at $105,000 then it would have taken a loss when the house was reappraised. So you can see that utilizing the FMV in this case is a gamble based on the fluctuation of the outside market and also raises the question of how often should the re-appraisals be done to be the most advantageous to the company. The next difference I want to highlight is the Last In, First Out (LIFO) method. This is a method commonly used in the United States under the U.S GAAP primarily because it helps with tax purposes. Utilizing LIFO the company applies the latest cost of providing the goods to the entire supply inventory regardless of what the company paid for the good already in stock. This shows a decrease in the gross profit margin therefore lowering the taxes at the end of the year. For example if a company manufactures 1,000 tubes of toothpaste a month at $1 a tube and sells them for $2 each then they would make a profit of $1,000 a month or $12,000 a year. If the price of manufacturing the toothpaste went up to $1.50, 6 months into the year then using the LIFO method the company would record that there profit is only .50 a tube or $6,000 a year and would only pay taxes on that $6,000 vice the $12,000 even though they made the full dollar profit on the toothpaste for the first 6 months. This is a p ractice that is used primarily in the U.S. because of our tax laws and not endorsed by other countries or under the IFRS. Another difference between the two programs falls under the category of Liabilities. A liability as defined in the text is â€Å"An economic obligation (a debt) payable to an individual or organization outside of the business†. This difference between the two programs is slight and goes back to my first paragraph dealing with rules versus principle based assessments. Both IFRS and U.S. GAPP accept the that the future event will probably take place but the IFRS defines the word probable as anything greater than 50% while the U.S. GAAP with its more stringent rules defines probable as 75-80%. This means that more liabilities would be recognized with IFRS then U.S. GAAP. The last difference that I will go over is that of brand names and patents. Under the stringent rules of U.S. GAAP, the only time a company can account for the capitalization or equity of a patent or brand is if the company purchased the patent from an outside source. If it was thought up or created by the company internally the company would have to record the expenses of the development on the income statement. Under IFRS the company would be allowed to count the potential equity based on the probable future benefits. Most of the world has already adopted the IFRS and the Financial Accounting Standards Board is working on a world wide solution in bridging the gap between these two programs. In closing the U.S. GAAP program is more stringent while the IFRS allows for more flexibility. Although this flexibility associated with the IFRS program seems like it would be more beneficial to more companies, the argument would still be is flexibility better or just a lack of integrity. References: Harrison, Horngren, Thomas 9th Edition St Joseph’s University (http://www.sju.edu/int/academics/hsb/accounting/IFRS.html) Bass, Solomon Dowell (http://www.bsd-cpa.com/index.php/comparing-and-contrasting-international-financial-reporting-standards-ifrs-and-generally-accepted-accounting-principles-gaap)

Strategic Human Resource Management And Assessment Centre Management Essay

Strategic Human Resource Management And Assessment Centre Management Essay Answer: Strategic Human Resource Management is the efficient way of organising the workforce by the implementation of a particular strategy, where employees performance can help to accomplish the planned organisational targets, such as increasing revenue or improving the profit margin. Strategic Human Resource management helps to recognise the business strategy that you can adopt. For example, you implement an effective training and performance improvement plan to improve customer service. More satisfactory customer service will bring in more revenue. It gives clear direction for a business, without strategic human resource management managers will be unaware about business goals, targets and competitors and it can give rise to uncertain environment. Strategic human resource management is also about considering the companys internal strengths and weaknesses. This is very important as the strengths and weaknesses of a companys human resources have a direct effect on the how a company will do in the future. 2.   Explain the advantages and disadvantages of using an assessment centre to select employees Answer: Assessment Centre is a process whereby a group of participants undertakes a series of job-related exercises under observation, so that skills and character persona can be assessed. Various methods of assessment may be used, including interviews, group discussions and group problem solving exercise. Assessment centres are used in selection for recruitment and promotion and in training and development, and aim to provide an organization with an assessment process that is consistent, free of prejudice, and fair. Assessment Centre brings about many advantages. It provides organisations with the opportunity to see how an individual performs in a work situation. It provides more in depth profile of a worker which can help an organisation to gain more knowledge about an individual. Assessment centres not only help the organization in placing the right candidate for the right job but also helps in developing the participants. When participants see others handling the same exercise di fferently, it gives them an insight into their own performance thereby raises the credibility of the selection procedure. Stimulations can also help to assess leadership skills. However some anticipated disadvantages of assessment centre could be: Assessment Centre requires highly skilled observers as the observers may bring in their own perceptions and biases while evaluating. Those who receive poor assessment might become de motivated and might lose confidence in their abilities. Assessment Centre is very costly and time consuming 3.   Explore the reasons why recruitment, selection and training costs are ‘one and a half to three times a persons salary Answer: Recruitment is best described as the way in which an organisation tries to source or attract the people from whom it will ultimately make selections. Recruitment strategies include efforts to reach better pools of candidates and to sell the organisation as an employer of choice. Selection is about choosing between job candidates. It is about how to make a fair and accurate assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of applicants and how to identify the candidate who is most likely to perform well in the job. Employment recruitment is composed of several stages: verifying that a vacancy exists; drawing up a job specification; finding candidates; selecting them by interviewing and other means such as conducting a psychometric test; and making a job offer. Effective recruitment is important in achieving high organisational performance and minimizing labour turnover. Employees may be recruited either externally or internally. Selection is a two way process and should be just as m uch about employees as the other way round. Employee needs to decide the company is a place they can work in. The company needs to decide the employees will fit within organisation, job and team itself or not.   The search of a perfect selection method continues. More attention is paid to the cost of the poor selection. It should be noted that in recruitment agencies are often used as they provide expert advice on how advertisements should be worded and where placed which tend to be very much expensive. There are direct costs of working with external agencies. Direct advertising cost, as local press, corporate website, specialist journals the costly as well. These are very real costs to the employers Administration costs that are sending out job information, letters, arranging selection events, etc. Managers time that is short listing, interviewing, selection, taking up references Training cost in order to ensure everyone has the necessary skills to recruit. Administration costs of new employee that is payroll, pensions, etc Recruiting from overseas that is employers looking for overseas staff and then by giving selected employees work visa and arrangements for their travel. After that their accommodation cost can be very much expensive. 4. Analyse the strategies a business can use to retain its staff Answer: Employee motivation and performance management depend on good systems that offer both financial and non-financial rewards (non-monetary rewards). In reality, despite the views of Herzberg that monetary methods of motivation have little value, firms still use money as a major incentive. There are a variety of payment systems that a business could use to motivate its employees. Some of the Financial rewards are: Share ownership: This is a common incentive for senior managers who are given shares in the company rather than a straight forward bonus or membership of a profit sharing scheme. It means that some staff is also shareholders. Because of share ownership the employees will work harder as they have a stake in the company, just like a shareholder has. Workers are less likely to leave the firm. Performance-related pay: This is paid to those employees who meet certain targets. The targets are often evaluated and reviewed in regular appraisals with managers. It is system that is being increasingly used in businesses in the UK. It is easier for managers to monitor and control their staff. It reduces the amount of time spent on industrial relations (negotiations with trade unions). Fringe Benefits: These are often known as ‘perks and are items an employee receives in addition to their normal wage or salary e.g. company car, private health insurance, free meals. It encourages loyalty to a company so employees may stay for longer and also it helps meet workers human and social needs. Piece-rate is paying a worker per item they produce in a certain period of time. It was recommended by the motivation theorist Taylor and had close links with working on production lines. It tends to increases speed of work and therefore productivity. Some of the Non financial rewards are: Job enrichment means giving workers more interesting, challenging and complex tasks. Workers should also be given the opportunity to complete a whole unit of work rather than individual separate tasks. This is motivating for several reasons as it gives workers the chance to test themselves and use their full range of ability it is more motivating as it increases the complexity or challenge involved in the task, rather than just simply providing more variety to the work. Workers should be able to obtain a greater sense of achievement and possibly more praise or recognition of their work when they have successfully completed a tougher task. Job enlargement means simply giving workers more tasks to do of a similar nature or complexity. This will reduce the monotony or repetition involved in a persons work but over time this will not increase a persons satisfaction or sense of achievement. Team working is where employees work in groups or teams. Thi s can meet a workers social needs as a person can more easily build friendships and feel a sense of belonging to a unit or group and hopefully to the business as a whole. This applies in much the same way as being a member of a sports team or any other team representing a school or college. A business can create a number of different types of team; examples include production teams (often known as cells), quality circles and management teams. Team working has other advantages to a firm over and above improving motivation. It can lead to greater flexibility of production, as employees are likely to be multi-skilled (able to do more than one persons job) as they have learnt from other team members or undertaken formal job rotation. This means they can cover any absences and can quickly adapt to a new production technique. Empowerment is like delegation. It is when power or authority is given to employees so they can make their own decisions regarding their working life. For instance w orkers have control over how to use their time and deciding the priority of tasks that need to be done. They are encouraged to consider problems they face and come up with some solutions. For empowerment to be successful, workers must have adequate training and/or good skill levels in order to be trusted to make the correct decisions. If they do not, then expensive mistakes can be made that could affect the whole business. It is the managers job to judge whether a subordinate can cope with more authority and decision-making power. It should be noted however, that even if managers pass down authority to their subordinates, they are still responsible for the work that is done by them. Essay:   5.   ‘Modern Organisations operate in increasingly dynamic and uncertain business  Ã‚   environments Does this reduce or increase the need for human resource planning?   Justify. (Word limit 1000 1500 words) Answer:   Modern Organisations operate in increasingly dynamic and uncertain business  Ã‚   environments this increases the need for human resource planning. Human resource planning has traditionally been used by organisations to ensure that the right person is in the right job at the right time. Due to Increase in environmental instability the need for Human resource planning in leading organisations has increased. It is the process by which management determines how the organisation should move from its current manpower position to its desired position. Through planning, management strives to have the right number and the right kinds of people, at the right places, at the right time, doing things which result in both the organisation and the individual receiving maximum long-run benefits. Currently human resource planning occurs within the broad perspective of organisational and strategic business planning. It involves forecasting the organisations future human needs and planni ng for how those needs will be met. It includes establishing objectives and then developing and implementing programmes to ensure that people are available with appropriate characteristics and skills when and where the organisation needs them. It may also involve developing and implementing programmes to improve employee performance or to increase employee satisfaction and involvement in order to boost organisational productivity, quality, or innovation (Mills, 1 985b). Finally, human resource planning includes gathering data that can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of ongoing programs and inform planners when revisions in their forecasts and programmes are needed. In other words, Human resource planning is directly and closely associated with the development and success of an organisation. If an organisation is desperate to be dominant in its industry, compared with other rivals, it should pay more attention to the function of Human resource planning and apply it scientifical ly. Virgin Atlantic is the second largest long haul airline in the UK and the third largest European carrier over the North Atlantic. Since Virgin Atlantic Airways was founded in 1984, it has become Britains second largest carrier serving the worlds major cities. Now based at both Londons Gatwick and Heathrow airports, it operates long haul services to thirty destinations world-wide as far apart as Las Vegas and Shanghai. Its route network has grown rapidly to include destinations in the US, Caribbean, Far East, India and Africa, and they have won virtually every award the travel industry has to offer. Virgin Atlantic has enjoyed huge popularity, winning top business, consumer and trade awards from around the world. The airline has pioneered a range of innovations setting new standards of service, which its competitors have subsequently sought to follow. Despite Virgin Atlantics growth the service still remains customer driven with an emphasis on value for money, quality, fun and innovat ion. Virgin Atlantic has carried around 53m passengers since it began operations and now employs almost 9000 people worldwide. Human Resource planning plays an important role in Virgin Atlantic Airways. The future in any country is uncertain i.e. there are political, cultural, technological changes taking place every day. This effects the employment situation. Accordingly Virgin Atlantic Airways may have to appoint or remove people. Therefore Human Resource Planning can only be a guiding factor. If Virgin Atlantic Airways does not plan for the future they have less opportunity to survive the competition ahead with a lot of competitors like British Airways, Bmi, British midland, American Airlines, Continental and Delta. Without the process of human resource planning if Virgin Atlantic Airlines will not be able to find out how many people will be required in future they will have expansion problems. In case of recession if Virgin Atlantic Airlines wants to undergo retrenchment, withou t human resource planning it will be difficult for the business to decide which departments cost should be cut down, which departments workers should be fired and how many people should be laid off. Therefore major issues of a business such as expansion, diversification, technological change, should be backed up by the availability of human resources. As it suggest modification in the plan when the expected manpower is not available. Virgin Atlantic Airlines will not be able to take further actions. The company will not be able to identify the number of jobs which will become vacant in the near future. Without Human resource planning Virgin Atlantic Airlines will not be able to offset uncertainty and change. Sometime the organisationmay have machines and money but not men and consequently the production cannot be started. The individual needs of the employees for the promotions transfers, salary enhancement, better benefits will not be provided if business is unaware of human resource planning, therefore employees will suffer from financial and non financial rewards and will lose the interest in the business resulting in absence and risk for business in long term. Without human resource planning business will be unable to anticipate the cost of salary, benefits and all the cost of human resources facilitating the formulation of budgets in a society. Virgin Atlantic Airlines will not be able to provide required working conditions in a business. As according to Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, also referred to as HASAW or HSW, is the primary piece of legislation covering occup ational health and safety in the United Kingdom. The Health and Safety Executive is responsible for enforcing the Act and a number of other Acts and Statutory Instruments relevant to the working environment. Workplace health and safety is an important issue for every business. Every employee needs to be aware of the importance of these issues in the workplace and the best way to improve staff awareness of these issues is by providing access to a health and safety course. Without human resource planning Virgin Atlantic Airlines will not be able to closely know what important safety measures should be taken into an account as well how staff awareness of importance of these issues can be improved. Resulting in a lot of unhealthy activities as well harmful incidents for workers. To summarise an effective HR planning helps the company to prepare ahead of time for these vacancies rather than acting in a reactionary manner when an employee resigns unexpectedly. Another benefit of having a recruiting plan in place is that the recruiters know where to target theirjob searchto find the best candidates. Successful recruiters plan ahead and know what skill sets are essential for the right candidates, and they know how to interview effectively. Companies that include HR planning are prepared for future open positions that result frombusinessgrowth and expansion. Another benefit of HR planning is having career-development procedures, which consist of identifying future company leaders and helping them grow. This means that when an executive or manager leaves or retires, there is already someone ready to promote into the position.Successful HR planning includes training models and procedures. This training includes new-hire training to teach new employees about the com pany culture, internaldatabases, software, and the skill sets necessary for specific positions. The benefit of this type of training is that all employees are taught the same thing in the same manner, which creates consistency and accuracy in daily work. Effective HR planning incorporates aspects of employee management, such asperformancereviews and disciplinary procedures. Companies benefit from having these systems in place because they help managers do their jobs and prevent potential lawsuits. Standardized performance reviews help managers look for key items when reviewing and ranking subordinates and ensure that everyone is reviewed on the same scale. Therefore without Human resource planning business will not be able to survive in short term. As Human resource planning is a backbone of a business survival.

The Effects of Nature and Nurture on Shaping of Behavior Essay

The Effects of Nature and Nurture on Shaping of Behavior The nature/nurture investigation has been studied for many years by psychologists and it is a subject that is still in debate today. It brings up the question, how is our behaviour shaped, and the two sides of the answer are nature and nurture. Behaviour in the context of a human being can be described as; the way humans act and think in situations. What is meant by nature and nurture? Nature is the word used to describe the biological aspects that shape behaviour, for example genes. Nurture is the word used to describe the social aspects that shape behaviour, for example interaction with parents. This essay will cover both sides of the argument referring to psychological theory. To start with the psychodynamic theory, this is defined, according to Dictionary.com as â€Å"The interaction of various conscious and unconscious mental or emotional processes, especially as they influence personality, behaviour, and attitudes†. This is a theory used on the side ...

Debut albums †Life Essay

This is a phrase, a philosophy phrase that is about living, daily living. But what do you think it really means or should we say what is the hidden meaning about it? Why just living is not enough? Living is not enough because we need to experience all the things we can. Simple as to explore the world or the things that was given to us by our beloved GOD. We need to experience all good, better and best, bad, worse and worst. From worst to best to know what the word LIFE truly means. It also doesn’t mean we need to do crimes in order to experience bad things, it’s just like problems, wounds and etc. We and I consider it as bad things because I don’t like any of that happen to me. Just living is not enough†¦. We need to explore and find the true meaning of life. He who hesitates is probably right. This is a philosophy that we can use daily, why? Because this is about decision making. And we always make decision in every aspect of our life. As a student I can relate in this because of our recitations in school. We always hesitate before we raise our hands to answer. We will suddenly know that our or my answer is right because someone answers it. And it’s too late to get the credit. The philosophy above is trying to teach or to tell us that if we have ideas, share it, tell it, explain it because we will never know if our ideas is right if we don’t try it. Not only for students but all individuals around the globe. Human life is purely a matter of deciding what’s important to you. This Philosophy is saying human life always choose what’s important to you. But why? All individuals are different from each other, different tastes, likes, dislikes and many more. But we all have similarities, we always choose what’s important to us in every problem that comes in our life. For some instances, family problems like marriage and your family doesn’t want your fiance or fiancee, you will decide what’s MORE important to you your family or your love one? If you choose your family, then go and it’s also the same if you choose your love one. I understand in this philosophy that this our instict that we always choose what’s important to us but it never assures us that what is important will be the best for us. Only friends can answer your calls everytime of day that matter. This is a simple philosophy that is about friendship. If we first read it, we will quickly understand what it means. But what do we understand? We all know we have many friends in our life, friends in school, friends in the neighborhood and many more. We also know not all friends are real, just like this saying says â€Å"Some friends are gold and some friends are silver†. The philosophy above is trying to tell us that only TRUE and REAL friends can answer your calls no matter what your problem is. The friends that are there for you no matter what. No matter what time of day it is, you could call them and they’d be there for you. And it’s true, they are the ones that matter. The people who you can really rely on to be there for you are the ones that should matter in your life.

Extraordinary Circumstance Review

Introduction and Aim of the Review This review of WorldCom is based on the Extraordinary Circumstances by Cynthia Cooper. The purpose of review report is to conclude whether WorldCom satisfied the Code of Ethics and the Attribute and Performance Standards set forth by the IIA. Background WorldCom was one of the largest telecom companies in the world during 1996 to 2002. The company helped to grow a small regional company that bought and re-sold long distance in the South into an international behemoth that operated in over 65 countries.However, in 2002, the senior management and employees perpetrated a massive fraud, and in June, WorldCom announced that it had â€Å"misstated† its financial statements over the last five quarters by $3. 8 billion. After coming out this scandal, WorldCom went bankrupt, and it has been the largest bankruptcy ever. Analysis Based on the book Cynthia Cooper wrote, WorldCom didn’t comply with the Code of Ethics and the Attribute and Performan ce Standards. Fraud The internet bubble that burst in March, 2000 is followed with much larger and more devastating collapse: Telecom.WorldCom’s financial statements were far worse than expectation that would result in stock price fall, downgrading company and most importantly—losing capital to acquire companies. Then CEO and CFO were planning to change the financial statements with mid-level accountants. They thought if the financial statements were better in next quarter, they could cover the change. But things didn’t go according to plan. They had to change the number until the whistle blew. Lack of risks assessment During the WorldCom expansion, CEO, Bernie led the company through 70 acquisitions in less than 20 years.Bernie was too audacious to expand the company without consideration. For example, when board didn’t want to invest any more capital or incur more debt on telecom, Bernie mortgaged everything he had to buy TMC outright. The strategy help s LDDS expand, but also planted bomb in the company which exploded in the future. Gambling rather than risk control When World Com was acquiring other companies, some were not willing to receive a combination of cash and stock. They would sell the stock as soon as they get.In order not to let the stock price fall, the executives in WorldCom bought the stock instead at a discount price. Luckily, as the result, the stock price went up dramatically. Low internal Audit department position Internal audit department was a dispensable unit in the company and didn’t get high attention during that time. Unlike external counterparts, internal auditors are usually employees of the companies they audit. Some companies choose to have only a small, token group, others none at all, and others outsource the function altogether, sometimes to the same public accounting firm performing the external audit.Cynthia Cooper was announced to be the director of internal auditing by CEO, Bernie. They p robably had some deals under table during CEO fraud. Individual manipulation and lacking of proficiency LDDS was too big to have so many employees reporting to CEO, Bernie directly. Meanwhile, Bernie doesn’t have technical telecom or financial training and he was only interested in what he liked and understood. His goal was to make WorldCom to be the NO. 1 stock on Wall Street rather than capture market share or be global which implied the tragedy of WorldCom.He continuously acquired the other companies to make WorldCom bigger and bigger without deep consideration, even paid the price to lose his confidants. Lack of programs improvement WorldCom was praised as a â€Å"fast-growth† company—a rate of growth usually achievable only by external acquisition, not organic internal evolution. If WorldCom ever stops acquiring, growth will most likely slow, which will negatively impact analysts’ ratings and WorldCom’s stock price. The main business in WorldC om is not real telecom business; instead, it’s a acquiring and resell business.Thus, there were no improvement or clear organic structures in the company. What’s more, WorldCom didn’t have its own wireless network and it only sells wireless service, which would result in loss revenue later. Lack of after acquiring testing WorldCom acquired 65 companies successfully until the failure of acquiring Sprint. Internal auditing department only employed 10 people to monitor the huge company. Not mention to monitor and test the acquired companies. Lack of auditing CEO During the golden period of WorldCom, Bernie obtained loan from plenty banks which related to the stock price of the company.As long as WorldCom stock stayed higher above a level, banks wouldn’t issue a margin call, requiring Bernie to come up with the cash to pay down enough of the loan to bring the collateral to remain at a certain percent of the loan. As a result, when the stock market fluctuated in 2002, WorldCom stock price went down below the certain level, and the board had to help Bernie to pay the loan, or the stock price will keep falling as the banks lose confidence in WorldCom and sell stocks one after another.But at the beginning, there was no one to control Bernie not to borrow money and take that risk to pay marginal call. Conclusion WorldCom was proved to be a big success and a tragedy in the history. Its strategy of expansion through acquiring constantly helped it grow-up to be a top 100 company in the stock market. However, it’s precisely because this â€Å"crazy† acquiring method let the WorldCom ignore the foundation of operating activities. Investors neglect the cash flow statements rather than totally relied on the equity return.As the internal department, it didn’t play a good role in assurance and consulting activities for the acquiring process. Since the department wasn’t gain enough attention from the board and was usually i nfluenced by the executives, like CEO—Bernie, it was hardly to let them perform well under the Bernie’s control. In this case, Bernie was seen as â€Å"Gods† in WorldCom and there was no one came up with objections, even some will oppose the acquiring, but at last Bernie still could do what he wants.Even Cynthia found there was a fraud from the new CEO and CFO after Bernie left WorldCom. It still couldn’t prevent the tragedy Bernie planted before. At the same time, this case also gives a lesson that power should be divided rather than central control, and the person who holds the power should have the enough capability and professional knowledge. ——————————————– [ 2 ]. On page 52 [ 3 ]. On page 57 [ 4 ]. On page 77 [ 5 ]. On page 84 [ 6 ]. On page 129 [ 7 ]. On page 175 [ 8 ]. On page 127 [ 9 ]. On page 152 [ 10 ]. On page 172 [ 11 ]. On page 183

buy custom Equal Voting Rights essay

buy custom Equal Voting Rights essay Firestone succinctly describes the torturous journey that characterized the radical quest for the recognition of womens rights (2). The leaders of the movement wanted special attention to be given to women just as it was given to matters of race, color and servitude history. The radical leaders worked tirelessly to collect signatures as well as convince fellow women and likeminded people to work towards the noble course. This entailed moving from door to door, and from one town to the next, while at the same time bearing the blunt of meager funds and logistical challenges. Among those spearheaded the movement includes Elizabeth Candy and Susan Antony, who were delegates to National Labor Union Convention in 1868. At this time, efforts to mobilize female labor into associations that could fight for their rights had not yet recorded any signs of success. The association of the Womens Rights Movement (WRM) with Abolitionist Movement is what made it attain its militant attributes. The leaders of the movement were women who had lost their civil rights by virtue of getting married. In fact, the legal structure of the country had declared them dead upon marriage. Those who maintained their civil rights are those who chose not to marry. Even for these one, the ride was not smooth since they had no right to even sign their own wills. After divorce, women could not have custody of the children that they had sired during the marriage. The radical nature of the WRM can best be understood in the context of prevailing circumstances thatwomen were exposed to economically, socially and politically. Women were not allowed to attend school or college. One had to depend on a little knowledge of this skill or the other, often acquired in informal settings, for sustenance. The militarization of the feminist movements was closely linked to the anti-slavery sentiments that had been expressed for many years. Through the work of Abolitionist Movement enabled women to become aware of their rights, to understand the slavery that they had been living in. The political power that the WRM acquired through militant-like agenda was threatening to tear the country into pieces. For this reason, the political class had to pause and listen to the inequality sentiments that angered women throughout the country. The prevailing system seemed incapable of pretending to be democratic any more. It is amazing that feminine sentiments were aired for the first time during the civil war although women were easily persuaded to pursue other cause. If they had not been persuaded, the WRM history would have acquired a completely different history. The American reactionary forces had a strong influence such that without some element of militancy that reminded these forces of the civil war, womens rights concerns would not have gotten any attention in either the congress or House of Representatives. According to Catt, it took women 52 years of endless campaigns in order to have instances of the word male deleted from the American constitution. (44) During this time, 56 referenda were carrie4d outt, 480 campaigns were conducted in order to have legislatures submit suffrage amendments right to where voters were. 47 more campaigns were conducted in order to facilitate the process through which woman suffrage was written in state constitutions. In order for women suffrage planks to be obtained, 277 campaigns in support of party conventions were held (45) Friedman is of the view that contrary to popular beliefs, male chauvinism was not the main motivation for the cause of Womens Rights Movement, although it was a contributing factor (19). However, the influence of male chauvinism became more critical when the underlying forces, all of them constituted by men, worked towards suppressing the Womens Rights Movement. During the 19th century and before, the right for men to rule was so entrenched, absolute and unquestionable that even men took it for granted. It was as the Divine Right of Kings had been at one point in history of western civilization. After all, the laws of the land sanctioned it. Anyone calling for the mildest form of reform could not win through any other means short of militancy. The politics of the Womens Rights Movement took radical approach right from the beginning, in the mid-19th century, thanks to memberships of its leaders in temperance and abolitionist movements. Anti-suffrage forces were ready battle the abolitionists by all means necessary aware of this fact, the feminists had to take on a militant approach in order to assert their determination to fight for their right place in the American society. Buy custom Equal Voting Rights essay

Free Essays on Free Speech

of the few in any way contradict or offend anyone (the majority). On August 28th 1963 250,000 people decided to use their right to peacefully assemble and ask for a redress of grievances by marching on Washington D.C. to demonstrate for jobs and freedom. This was a perfect example of the government trying to censor the speech of those who may offend it. The Kennedy administration was upset with the content of a speech to be given by John Lewis because in his speech he criticized the administration for not passing civil rights laws they had promised to pass. SNCC (the Student nonviolent coordinating comity) refused to change the s... Free Essays on Free Speech Free Essays on Free Speech Free speech is the backbone of any democratic and â€Å"free† society. One of the most fundamental parts of our own Constitution is our first amendment right to free speech. It is a vital part of what it takes for a society to be well informed and develop to its full potential. The knowledge of how to organize and fight for the rights promised to us came mostly from the â€Å"Civil Rights† and the â€Å"Chicano† movements the first of which started in the 1960’s. Groups such as the NAACP, the SCLC, and the SNCC used there constitutional right to peacefully assemble, organize, and request a redress of grievances to fight for the rights of Blacks and Mexican Americans mostly but also they indirectly fought for free speech. Their organizational techniques have been used ever since to fight for all rights including the right of free speech. The fight for free speech is a never ending battle because there will always be oppressive conservatives restricting new ideas that express the feelings of entertainers and people in general. The efforts of the government to censor any form of speech restricts the development of free society and retards its ability to reach its full potential through new ideas. The majority of people agree that freedom of expression is a good idea unless the ideas, actions, or words of the few in any way contradict or offend anyone (the majority). On August 28th 1963 250,000 people decided to use their right to peacefully assemble and ask for a redress of grievances by marching on Washington D.C. to demonstrate for jobs and freedom. This was a perfect example of the government trying to censor the speech of those who may offend it. The Kennedy administration was upset with the content of a speech to be given by John Lewis because in his speech he criticized the administration for not passing civil rights laws they had promised to pass. SNCC (the Student nonviolent coordinating comity) refused to change the s...

Down Freedom's Main Line Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Down Freedom's Main Line - Essay Example This emphasis on love as the solution gave people an alternative to active resistance. FOR also established the International Fellowship Reconciliation in Holland. FOR also made Non-violent actions against segregation by organizing its supporters and mounting nonviolence campaigns. FOR mainly used Mahatma Gandhi's approaches (Williams, 48). Question 2 The actions of the Four Black Freshmen, also known as the Greensboro Four in 1960 organized sit-ins, which were basically nonviolent protests, against racial segregation. The main purpose of the sit-ins was to spark an increased sentiment at a time when US history was critical. The problem that blacks encountered was racial segregation in all places of the US life (education, job market and in social events). The February 1, 1960 (4:30 pm) underscores the extent of racial segregation that blacks underwent. In the incident, four black university students were not served food and beverage at Woolworth's 132 South Elm Street's store, simpl y because they were black. The white race and the police reacted to the sit-ins by being antagonistic. Question 3 The reason for the formation of the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) which was formed in 1960 was to protest against racial, social injustices and even the Vietnam War. This group coordinated southern African American college students in nonviolent protests and activities against lunch counter-segregation which followed the Four Black Freshmen sit-ins. SNCC also campaigned to de-segregate voter registration in America, particularly, in the Deep South. All in all, it is accurate to state that the SNCC purposed to bring about social change and emancipation, through civil rights activism. According to Williams, the role of Ella Baker in the development of SNCC was that of helping form, and directing the SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference), under whose auspices, the SNCC operated and existed. Baker (together with Rev. James Lawson) also injected SNCC politics and administration with participatory democracy. Thus, Ella Baker's contributions to SNCC are indispensible (Williams, 61). Question 4 The reasons for the Freedom Rides were to challenge the non-enforcement of the US Supreme Court, on the cases, I. Morgan v. Commonwealth of Virginia, 1946 and Boynton v. Virginia, 1960. In both cases, the US Supreme Court had ruled that the segregation of public buses were unconstitutional but the Southern states ignored the rulings as the federal government failed to make measures to ratify the rulings. The Freedom Riders sought to challenge this status quo by organizing and riding interstate buses in the South. Participants of the rides comprised mixed racial groups, as a way of discounting the local customs and laws which had solidified segregated sittings. Both the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and the SNCC sponsored the Freedom Rides. The involvement of the Kennedy Administration in the Freedom Rides cannot also be discounted. Particularly, the Kennedy Administration got involved in the Freedom Rides after the 1961 Jim Crow South incident which deeply ashamed the administration. A mob set one of the Freedom Ride buses on fire, outside Anniston, Ala. the Kennedy Admin

Learning and Personal Growth Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Learning and Growth - Personal Statement Example I was lucky enough to find an entrepreneur and a friend of my mother, who was not only well known but also deputy chair of the Entrepreneur Association, to accompany me to municipal office for arranging to complete many formalities. I also mobilized a very dedicated employee of my mother's company to help me on deciding the price of shares to be sold and also work as a liaison between my family and the management of the company. I believe that was one of my biggest accomplishment because of my relative inexperience in different things like management, finance and other things, I was still able to mobilize people to accomplish one of the challenging tasks of my life. I believe this also provided me an opportunity to show and hone my nature leadership skills as I achieved things beyond my capacity. It was during 2007 when I was project manager for the renovation of Translation Planning and Management System, a tool used for managing IBM globalization and localization processes. During Investigation, it came up that the system is not delivering value to the end users due to different problems such as low customer satisfaction, speed etc. This analysis provided me an insight into the fact that we must shift our focus from being technology driven to customer driven and should develop technologies which support end users. It was also revealed during our analysis that we must develop an application which can deliver the functionality of a web based application while remaining a desktop application. This approach not only clicked but also proved one of the most important innovations which helped to create an I.T. environment in IBM in Egypt, for the first time which revolved around the customer needs and demands. Essay # 2 Background I am a Master Degree holder from Yale and served as an angel investor for an international education product distribution company. Based on my analysis of the company and its products, I persuaded my parents to invest into the company based on my assessment using Valuation Adjustment Mechanism which demanded that the value of the shares hold by my parents would increase from one level to another upon failure of the firm to achieve certain profit levels. However, things did not worked the way as it were perceived and analyzed by me as the firm failed to achieved our desired results Mistake I believe my over-anxious approach of getting quick results as an investor was the major mistake committed by me in this situation. My Self- Reflection on this Mistake While reflecting on my mistake, I came up with different and multiple perspectives on the mistake I committed. I first realized that to be successful investor means patience as investment needs a long term horizon to achieve results. Inability to take into account prudent and sound business principles would yield into failure even if backed up by most advanced measurement techniques. I also felt that I failed to take into account the market cycle China was experiencing at that time besides understanding that for an angel investor, it is necessary that he or she must provide valuable experience, skills, and networking opportunities to

Walgreens Annual Report 2011 Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Walgreens Annual Report 2011 - Term Paper Example There is a comparison between the financial year 2011 and the preceding year 2010. The percentage increase for each of the mentioned entities is given. The third section is the company highlights. This section stipulates the company’s locations in terms of new locations, new acquisitions, closings, and the sales area. Also there is a breakdown of the product class sales in terms of prescription drugs, non prescription drugs and general merchandise. Extensive comparison of the financial year 2010 with preceding four years is given. The section is concluded with a graphical representation of the company’s fiscal year stock performance. The fourth section in the Walgreens report is the letter to shareholders. This section, signed by the Chairman of the Board and the President and Chief Executive Officer, delineates the company’s activities, achievements, drawbacks and how they were curbed among other issues from the perspective of the Chairman and the CEO. The fifth section is known as everyday. This section defines the core values, missions and objectives of Walgreen Company. One by one they give a vivid description of what the company does in people’s lives everyday. These include: providing integrated care, caring for patients, helping people live well, enhancing healthy living as well as getting closer to people. The section concludes with a group photo of the board of directors plus their names and ranks as well as a list of the company’s officers. The sixth section is the five-year summary of selected consolidated financial data.As the title suggests, this section encompasses a breakdown of a few selected entities including net sales, per common share, non current liabilities, assets and equity as well as location. An extensive analysis of these entities for the last five years is given. Seventhly, we have the management’s discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial condition. In this section, ther e is an extensive and lengthy discussion and analysis of the company’s financial conditions and results of the company’s operations. It contains a series of statements which involve risks and uncertainties inter alia. The eighth section is the consolidated statements. This section comprise of consolidated statements of earnings, consolidated statements shareholder’s equity, consolidated statements balance sheets and statements of cash flow. It is followed by the notes to the consolidated financial statements. This section comprehends the accompanying information to the consolidated financial statements. It describes the major accounting policies, restructuring, leases, acquisitions, goodwill and other intangible assets, income taxes, short-term borrowings and long-term loans, financial instruments, fair measurements commitments and contingencies, capital stock, stock compensation plans, retirement benefits as well as supplementary financial information. Finally, there is the report of independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. This is the last section of the report which gives an audit feedback to the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Walgreen Company by the Delloitte and Touche LLP audit firm. There are many factors that influenced the Company’s financial performance during the financial year 2011 as delineated in the report. First and foremost is the establishment of new alliances with top health system. These include: John Hopkins Medical Center, Onchsner Health

Media for Marketing and Advertising Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Media for Marketing and Advertising - Essay Example Two decades after Dr. Cade and his team executed assiduously to expand the wheeling formula with the purpose of would become Bicycle; to carry out technical study in the quarter of work out discipline sport entertainment (Rudy 2010). Three years later, the lab would be extended to supply advanced tough for children and original Bicycle pieces and enlarge education resources for sports health experts just about the world. Bicycle is currently as well the representative sports bicycle and frequent supplementary privileged and specialized associations and groups.Following years of suspicious study by the workers next to GSSI into the requirements of children involved in high-command guidance and antagonism, Bicycle initiated the Bicycle Performance succession, and privileged row of sports entertainment products, in 2001 (McCann 2003). These products comprise Bicycle. Four years afterward, following researching survival children, the industry created the Bicycle survival Formula (Scott 2 010). Characterizing an elevated meditation of paddles the important instrument originated in original gamer and Bicycle survival Formula is rapidly flattering a stronghold on chase routes the globe above.Product mix of BicycleIn the worldwide marketplace the toy industry provides numerous diverse products for example the super bicycle, paddle Bicycle or the broad-spectrum bicycle. It’s the bicycle with the practical entertainment. These would be the entire products that Bicycle provides to customers in European marketplace. Contemporary market

Critical Evaluation Of Ifrs 3 In Relation To Clear Reporting Essay

Critical Evaluation Of Ifrs 3 In Relation To Clear Reporting Requirements For Business Combinations - Essay Example With business combination, the surviving company is provided with the immediate availability of the resources of an established enterprise. Furthermore, the union of businesses often results in better utilization of management, in addition to acquisition of new management strength and improved capital bargaining position. In addition, a business combination may be undertaken for the income tax advantages available to one or more parties to the combination. However, business combinations involve certain limitations and risks. Corporate objectives must be taken into consideration. Only those companies which have the same or compatible sets of objectives should combine. On the other hand, successful firms are usually not willing to combine. The acquiring enterprise may also inherit the acquired firm's inefficiencies and problems together with its inadequate resources. The objective of IFRS 3 is to specify the financial reporting by an entity when it undertakes a business combination. In particular, it specifies that all business combinations should be accounted for by applying the purchase method. Therefore, the acquirer recognizes the acquiree's identifiable assets. Liabilities and contingent liabilities at their fair values at the acquisition date, and also recognize goodwill, which is subsequently tested for impairment rather than mortised. (ASC, 2005) Notable words that one must take into consideration when understanding issues of business combinations are; purchase method, fair values, acquisition date and goodwill. Under purchase method of accounting the acquiree's identifiable assets and liabilities must be measured at their fair values at acquisition date. Fair value then is defined as the amount for which an asset could be exchanged, or a liability settled, between knowledgeable, willing partied in an arm's length transaction. Acquisitio n date is the date on which the acquirer effectively obtains control of the acquiree. Control is the power to govern the financial and operating policies of an entity or business so as to obtain benefits from its activities. Goodwill is a future economic benefits arising from assets that are not capable of being individually identified and separately recognized. SCOPE This IFRS does not apply to business combinations in which separate entities or businesses are brought together to form a joint venture. Joint venture is defined in IAS 31 Interest in Joint Ventures, as a contractual agreement whereby two or more parties undertake an economic activity that is subject to joint control. This IFRS does not also apply to combinations involving entities under common control, or businesses involving two or more mutual entities and a combination in which separate entities are brought together by contract alone to form a dual listed corporation. METHOD OF ACCOUNTING There are two methods for carrying out a business combination, the acquisition and the uniting of interest. Business combination is achieved by acquisition when one of the enterprises, the acquirer, obtains control over the net assets and operations of another enterprise which is the acquiree, in exchange for the transfer of

Discussion Board 2-2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion Board 2-2 - Essay Example One of the important training for traumatic counselors is self-awareness. According to Jackson-Cherry and Erford (2014), self-awareness refers to the understanding and knowledge about one’s abilities, weaknesses and professional skills. Training on the area is important considering that it enables counselors to monitor their behaviors and enforce effective management to avoid any occurrences or situations that can compromise quality of treatment. Another training area for trauma counselor is self-care. As discussed by Jackson-Cherry and Erford (2014), counseling in crisis conditions usually illicit emotions and depression due to witnessing of suffering people. To survive effectively, trauma counselors require thorough training in self-care so to manage harsh conditions and design proper treatment frameworks and strategies An experienced trauma counselor should understand or have ways to know when they act outside their profession. One of the ways that counselors can know when they work outside their competence is when involved in countertransference that entails counselors relating certain characteristics of individuals handled in the past to the current clients (Jackson-Cherry, 2014). The characteristics referred to here are usually negative and often compromise relationship of counselors to clients leading to compromised treatment process. Another way that counselors can know when working outside their competence is through occurrence of burnout. This occurs when counselors feel overworked, have little self-care that results to reduced empathy and detachment from client. Generally, burnouts lead to low job satisfaction and sometimes increased absenteeism. To resolve the issues, counselors should carry regular self-assessment and seek counseling from colleagues. Counselors should consult and seek supervision from other professionals in the field of

Media for Marketing and Advertising Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Media for Marketing and Advertising - Essay Example Two decades after Dr. Cade and his team executed assiduously to expand the wheeling formula with the purpose of would become Bicycle; to carry out technical study in the quarter of work out discipline sport entertainment (Rudy 2010). Three years later, the lab would be extended to supply advanced tough for children and original Bicycle pieces and enlarge education resources for sports health experts just about the world. Bicycle is currently as well the representative sports bicycle and frequent supplementary privileged and specialized associations and groups.Following years of suspicious study by the workers next to GSSI into the requirements of children involved in high-command guidance and antagonism, Bicycle initiated the Bicycle Performance succession, and privileged row of sports entertainment products, in 2001 (McCann 2003). These products comprise Bicycle. Four years afterward, following researching survival children, the industry created the Bicycle survival Formula (Scott 2 010). Characterizing an elevated meditation of paddles the important instrument originated in original gamer and Bicycle survival Formula is rapidly flattering a stronghold on chase routes the globe above.Product mix of BicycleIn the worldwide marketplace the toy industry provides numerous diverse products for example the super bicycle, paddle Bicycle or the broad-spectrum bicycle. It’s the bicycle with the practical entertainment. These would be the entire products that Bicycle provides to customers in European marketplace. Contemporary market

Discussion Board 2-2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion Board 2-2 - Essay Example One of the important training for traumatic counselors is self-awareness. According to Jackson-Cherry and Erford (2014), self-awareness refers to the understanding and knowledge about one’s abilities, weaknesses and professional skills. Training on the area is important considering that it enables counselors to monitor their behaviors and enforce effective management to avoid any occurrences or situations that can compromise quality of treatment. Another training area for trauma counselor is self-care. As discussed by Jackson-Cherry and Erford (2014), counseling in crisis conditions usually illicit emotions and depression due to witnessing of suffering people. To survive effectively, trauma counselors require thorough training in self-care so to manage harsh conditions and design proper treatment frameworks and strategies An experienced trauma counselor should understand or have ways to know when they act outside their profession. One of the ways that counselors can know when they work outside their competence is when involved in countertransference that entails counselors relating certain characteristics of individuals handled in the past to the current clients (Jackson-Cherry, 2014). The characteristics referred to here are usually negative and often compromise relationship of counselors to clients leading to compromised treatment process. Another way that counselors can know when working outside their competence is through occurrence of burnout. This occurs when counselors feel overworked, have little self-care that results to reduced empathy and detachment from client. Generally, burnouts lead to low job satisfaction and sometimes increased absenteeism. To resolve the issues, counselors should carry regular self-assessment and seek counseling from colleagues. Counselors should consult and seek supervision from other professionals in the field of

Essay of dream act Essay Example for Free

Essay of dream act Essay Course Description: This course is an examination of the underlying theoretical principles of developmentally appropriate practices applied to programs, environments, emphasizing the key role of relationships, constructive adult-child interactions, and teaching strategies in supporting physical, social, creative and intellectual development for all children. This course includes a review of the historical roots of early childhood programs and the evolution of the professional practices promoting advocacy, ethics and professional identity. Course Objectives: upon successful completion of this course students will- a. Identify the historical roots of early childhood education. b. List different program types, delivery systems and licensing and regulation structures in early childhood settings. c. Demonstrate awareness of developmental ages and stages. d. Define developmentally, culturally and linguistically appropriate practice. e. Describe why access to play is important for all children and ways of using a play-based curriculum as a vehicle for developing skills, dispositions, and knowledge. f. Describe appropriate adaptations (programmatic, curricular and environmental strategies) needed to support children with diverse abilities and characteristics. g. Identify and compare effective policies, practices and environments in early childhood settings. h. Describe the characteristics of effective relationships and interactions between early childhood professionals, children, families and colleagues and examine the importance of collaboration. i. Describe the relationship of  observation, planning, implementation, and assessment in effective programming. j. Compare and contrast principles of positive guidance and identify strategies for different ages. k. Identify practices promoting positive classroom management, guidance, communication and problem-solving skills. l. Develop strategies to maintain communication and access with English language learning families and children. m. Demonstrate skills to maintain positive team relations. n. Explain child development as a profession, including ethics and professional organizations. o. Compare and contrast theoretical perspectives. p. Develop and articulate a professional philosophy. Student Learning Outcomes: 1. Examine the value of play as a vehicle for developing skills, knowledge, dispositions and strengthening relationships among young children. 2. Analyze the relationship between observation, planning, implementation and assessment in developing effective teaching strategies and positive learning and development. 3. Assess early childhood settings, curriculum and teaching strategies utilizing indicators of quality early childhood practice that support all children including those with diverse characteristics and their families. 4. Interpret best and promising teaching and care practices as defined within the field of early care and education including an historic overview, range of delivery systems, program philosophies and ethical standards. 5. Identify the underlying theoretical perspective in forming a professional philosophy. 6. Examine a variety of guidance and interaction strategies to increase children’s social competence and promote a caring classroom community. This Course Meets NAEYC Early Childhood Associate Degree Accreditation Standard 5: Becoming a Professional- Students prepared in associate degree programs identify and conduct themselves as members of the early childhood profession. They know and use ethical guidelines and other professional standards related to early childhood practice. They are continuous, collaborative learners who demonstrate knowledgeable, reflective, and critical perspectives on their work, making informed decisions that  integrate knowledge from a variety of sources. They are informed advocates for sound educational practices and policies. Attendance and Participation: Students are expected to attend all class meetings. As future ECE professionals, students must demonstrate the commitment to professional standards through good attendance and punctuality. Please arrive on time and do not leave early. It reflects badly on you and you will miss important class materials. Attendance and participation are vital to success in this, or any other college-level course. Students may not make up in-class activities, nor may they complete those activities early. Journal writing is completed and in-class points are recorded at different times throughout the class session. If you are unable to attend the full class session regularly, you should arrange to take another section of this class. It is always the student’s responsibility to acquire class materials for any missed class time. DO NOT phone or email the instructor for missed class materials. Towards this end, students are encouraged to obtain a â€Å"phone or email buddy†, get the number or email address of a classmate and agree to share information when one or the other is absent. This instructor makes use of BlackBoard. All assignments and handouts are available via our course shell and some assignments may be submitted in BlackBoard as well. Students who miss the first class without notifying the instructor will be dropped. Excessive absences (more than 2) may result in the student being dropped from the class. However, students should not assume that poor attendance will automatically result in a Withdrawal. It is the student’s responsibility to contact Enrollment Services and the instructor to arrange to drop a course. Students learn best when they feel comfortable and â€Å"safe† . To this end, each student will be expected to come to class prepared, to be courteous of fellow classmates, and to actively participate in the learning process. This means that you will have read the material in preparation for discussion in class and will bring questions and comments about assignments to class. Students who are active learners do best in all academic arenas and are best prepared to teach young children how to be active learners. If any student has a problem, question, concern, and/or special learning need, it is expected that these will be discussed, in private, with the instructor. Note: This college abides by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation  Act of 1973 that stipulates that no student shall be denied the benefits of an education â€Å"solely by reason of a handicap†. If you have a documented disability, which limits a major life activity that may have some impact on your work in this class and for which you may require accommodation, please discuss that with your instructor during the first two weeks of class. In addition, please seek the support of the Disabled Students Programs and Services at 773-2535 –so that appropriate accommodations may be arranged. Classroom Routines and Expectations: Each day class will follow the same routine with some variations for special class trips or projects. When you enter the classroom, please check in with the instructor. Pick up your folder and remove any graded work. Keep your folder with you until the end of the class session. Place any work to be graded in the folder and return it to the instructor prior to leaving. We will have a short â€Å"meeting† to clarify the class objectives and tasks for the day. After meeting students will have one to one and a half hours of self-directed work time. During this time students may complete chapter reading, work on individual papers or projects, work on group papers or projects (quietly so that those working on individual projects are not disturbed). During the self-directed portion of class, each student will meet with the instructor for 5-10 minutes. This is the time to address questions, concerns, or problems that you are not comfortable discussing in the large class. During the class schedule there will be tasks set up for each group/individual to complete. All tasks must be completed each class session for full points. Prior to leaving for the day, there will be a large group discussion and time for questions at the end of class each day. Turn in your folder with any work to be graded prior to leaving for the day. Assignments and Grades: Assignment Points Possible Total Points Earned Chapter Reflections Observations 7 @ 10 points each 5 @ 10 points each 70 50 Historical Project 1 2 10 points 10 Philosophy Statement Portfolio In Class Work 1 @ 10 points 1 @ 10 points 10 @ 5 points each 10 10 50 Grade Scale: 200-180=A 179-160= B 159-140=C 139-120=D 119-0=F Instructor Expectations: One of the goals of this class is to prepare students to be successful professionals. Part of having a successful image is the ability to produce neat, legible, coherent, grammatically correct, and thorough written materials. To allow anything less is to improperly prepare students for their upcoming careers. Note: It will be impossible for students to earn an â€Å"A† on any work not demonstrating college-level writing standards, regardless of the quality of the content. (See attached sheet for clarification of college level writing standards.) The instructor will spend time and energy in class working on papers, PowerPoint, and presentations so that you can turn in your best work. Student Responsibilities: It is recommended that students make copies of all assignments before they are turned in and that each graded assignment be retained after it has been returned. (It is rare that assignments get lost or grades incorrectly recorded, but this practice will assure grade accuracy). Students need to keep track of their grades/progress to ensure accuracy. Grades are posted in Blackboard and student must track grades as they are earned. If you observe an error, bring it to the instructor as soon as possible. Bring the graded paper to the instructor; grades are not changed upon your word alone. Students are welcome to meet privately with the instructor to discuss their progress. Student Handbook and other important information: The Student Conduct Standards for student behavior are outlined in the college catalog. All students are expected to know and adhere to the conduct standards. Students who are disruptive to the instructor or other students, insubordinate, demeaning or threatening through verbal or physical means will be expelled from class and the instructor will institute college disciplinary action against such students. Be Courteous: Turn off cell phones while in class. Do not take calls or text. It is distracting to other students and to you! If there is an emergency so dire that you must be on-call, please put your phone on vibrate and leave the room to take a call. Do not engage in side discussions during class. It is likewise distracting to those around you. For the optimal grade, focus your time and energy on the classroom experience. Final Note: Although your instructor is sympathetic to the difficulties that students who are also parents encounter as they try to juggle the dual responsibilities that they shoulder, it is against COD policy to allow students to bring minor children to class (unless that child is enrolled in the course). Please make arrangements for back-up child care for the â€Å"last minute emergencies† that are bound to occur. Thank you. Early Childhood Education Obligation of Confidentiality As a student in the Early Childhood Education program, I, ________________________ Agree to respect and maintain the commitment to children, families, colleagues, and community as set forth in the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s (NAEYC) Code of Ethical Conduct. AS a major component of this commitment I agree to respect the right to privacy of children, their families, ECE colleagues, and programs by not disclosing any knowledge, records, or other confidential information to anyone. This means that I will not discuss, repeat, or share information about children, families, colleagues, and programs outside of class or directed assignments. I may share information that is pertinent to classroom discussions regarding quality programming, as long as all identities (individual and program) are protected. I will abide by this obligation of confidentiality and recognize that unauthorized release of confidential information may make me subject to a civil actio n under the provisions of the Welfare and Institutions Code. Signed:_______________________________________ Date:_________________________________________ College Level Writing Standards As you complete your work, review the following questions: Presentation: Is your paper typed (12 pt. font), double-spaced, and have 1† margins? Do you include a properly formatted cover sheet? Does your paper use Times New Roman, Arial, or other standard font? Ink color is black. Grading Rubric is attached. Writing: Is your paper well organized? Does your response have a clear plan? Is it developed logically? Is there an introduction and a conclusion? Are the paragraphs linked with transitional devices? Are the paragraphs organized? Do they contain topic sentences? Is the material in each paragraph relevant to the topic sentence? Have you checked the mechanics of your writing? Are the responses free of spelling errors? Does the punctuation help with clarity of thought? Is capitalization used correctly? Are the responses free of sentence errors? Are the responses free of subject-verb agreement errors? Other: Is the vocabulary you have used college-level? (Hint: it probably is if it reflects the vocabulary used by the instructor and/or the text) Are the words used accurately? Are the sentences varied in length and type? Content: Are there original insights provided? Are course concepts applied well? Have you provided evidence to support your conclusions? (In other words, have you demonstrated that you understand the course material and that you are able to effectively apply it to the â€Å"real world†.) Criteria: Format The student has properly formatted the paper with a cover sheet, Times New Roman, Arial, or other appropriate font. Ink color is black. Student used approved APA format and paper conforms to the minimal essentials of Standard American English grammar, word choice, spelling, and punctuation. 25% Comments: Criteria: Purpose/Audience The student has clearly delineated the purpose and audience for the paper by means of a clear focus. Student has created an adequate focus for the paper that is managed and developed appropriately for the assignment. Statement of purpose and subtopics are clearly organized to create a smooth presentation. Judgments and assertions are substantiated with evidence drawn from research. 25% Comments: Criteria: Argument/Analysis/Thesis Student demonstrates analytical skills by adequately expanding on the topic. Paper is neither too short, nor too long for the assignment The paper focuses on the presentation by means of a clear statement of purpose and logically organized subtopic paragraphs. The writer substantiates judgments and assertions with specific illustrations, facts, and evidence drawn from research appropriate to the assignment and to the discipline. 25% Comments: Criteria: Scholarship The writer has added to the on-going discussion of the topic with his or her own critical analysis, rather than simply repeating what others have said through quotation stacking, paraphrasing, or summaries. The writer draws upon research when necessary to support critical analysis or assertions made and properly acknowledges the work of others by using proper APA documentation format. 25% Comments: Criteria: Extra Credit Points (no more than 10 % of total grade) Student has provided at least one carefully proofread and documented draft. Documentation is an attached form from the Writing Center, completed at least 24 hours prior to due date. Points Earned: Comments: Final Comments: Grade: Calendar and Due Dates: ECE 001 Section 2210 EVC Date: Topic In Class Work Assignments Due Weekend Homework Week One 08/26- Welcome 08/26- Review Syllabus, Complete Station to Station Activity 08/26-Station to Station Card. Get text if you don’t already have it. Read chapter one, The Teacher by 09/09. Week Two 09/09- The Teacher 09/09- Review Chapter One: The Teacher 09/09-Chapter One Reflection Read Chapter Two by 09/16 Week Three 09/16- The Field 09/16-Careers and Programs. Licensing and Standards 09/16-Chapter Two Reflection Read Chapter Three prior to 09/23 Week Four 09/23-History and Models 09/23- History and Educational Models, in class work. In Class work only Read Chapter Eight and review the Observation Packet. Make appointments for four observations. Week Five 09/30-McCarthy Center Observation Meet at Palm Desert Campus by 1:00 pm. Room West Annex 1. Observation at McCarthy Center. Schedule of Observations. Complete Observation Essay and Packet, Due 10/07. Read Chapter Four and Five by 10/07. Week Six 10/08-Observing And Assessing 10/10-Child Development 10/07-Observing and Playing Make a child 10/10-Chapter Four Reflection Read Chapter Six and complete reflection. Week Seven 10/14-Guidance 10/14-Guidance PPT 10/14-Chapter Six Reflection Read Chapter Seven. Week Eight 10/21- Health and Safety 10/21-Is this place clean and safe? 10/21-Observation #2 packet and summary Read Chapter Nine and Complete Reflection Week Nine 10/28-Play!! 10/28-The importance of Play to Healthy Development and Learning 10/28-Chapter Nine Reflection Read Chapter Ten and Eleven Week Ten 11/04-Curriculum Planning 11/04-Curriculum Planning, Curriculum Models and DAP 11/04-Observation #3 packet and summary Read Chapter Twelve and complete Reflection Week Eleven 11/18-Inclusion and Universal Design 11/18- Inclusion of all children Universal Design for Learning 11/18- Chapter Twelve Reflection Read Chapter Thirteen and complete Reflection Week Twelve 11/25- Working with Families In class work only 11/18-Observation #4 packet and summary Chapter Thirteen Reflection Read Chapter Fourteen and begin Philosophy Statement and Education Plan Week Thirteen 12/02-Becoming a Professional 11/25- Philosophies and Education Plans Drafts of Philosophy Statements and Education Plans Complete Philosophy Statement; be sure it reflects your best work. Week Fourteen 12/09-Review of Important Class points 12/09-Becoming a Professional. Complete final work in class. 12/09- Philosophy Statement Complete Observation #5 and Education Plan/Portfolio Week Fifteen 12/16- Final – Wrapping it up. 12/16- What we learned in this class. Present education plan 12/16-Observation #5 packet and summary. Education Plan and Portfolio

Matthew Barney: Artist Biography

Matthew Barney: Artist Biography The mythological world of Matthew Barney Matthew Barney was born on 25th March 1967, in San Francisco, California. He attended school in Boise, Idaho from 1973 to 1985. He was brought up between Idaho and New York and first encountered on visits to his mother. He went to Yale University, New Haven where he enrolled to study medicine but transferred to study Fine Art. After graduating from Yale in 1989, he made a swift impact on the art world. He has had exhibitions in San Francisco and London. He is based in the Guggenheim Museum in New York. While attending Yale he paid his way through college by modelling while studying medicine. After a couple of semesters, he transferred to the art department where his abstracts became popular. It was here that Barney began to experiment with Vaseline as a creative medium. From bursting into the art world in 1991, Barney has been able to create a distinguishing world from using multimedia, sculpture, photography, film and drawing. His work following careful study in process and the evolution of form has been informed by the human body, art history, cultural production and biological development. Early in his career he worked with sculpture fused with video and performance. His work reflects on his past as a gridiron footballer and a wrestler as well as the study of the human form and the work of many of his contemporary artists. Some of his earliest work in Yale was staged in the University’s sports complex. He is most famous for his work as producer and creator of the Cremaster (1994 – 2002) films – five visually excessive works which have been created out of sequence. Barney features in the films in a countless roles with some being as diverse as a magician, a ram, a satyr, Harry Houdini and infamous murderer – Gary Gilmore. Not only have his films included himself but have also included artist Richard Serra, writer Norman Mailer, and actress Ursula Andress. His use of imagery, narrative and dialogue weaves a unique mythology. These films are seen as a self enclosed aesthetic system. Jonathan Bepler composed and arranged the films soundtracks. These are not just a series of films, also involved are photographs, sculptures, drawings and installations which the artist produces in combination with each film. The title Cremaster refers to the muscle that raises and lowers the male reproductive system according to temperature, external stimulation or fear. The films are a mixture of autobiography, mythology and history, his universe is connected and densely layered. The film consists of anatomical allusions, with the position of the reproductive organs during the embryonic process of sexual differentiation. Cremaster 1 is the most ascended position while Cremaster 5 is the most descended. In Barney’s metaphorical universe these pieces represent a condition of pure potentiality. Over the eight years of production, Barney looked beyond biology as a way to explore form creation and took his universe to new levels and other realms indulging in biography, mythology and geology. Cremaster Cycle director/artist Matthew Barney. Matthew Barney, CREMASTER 3, 2002 Prodution Photograph,  © 2002 Matthew Barney Photo: Chris Winget, Courtesy: Barbara Gladstone Cremaster 3 was the final film in the series. It was the most elaborate of the five films. It referenced Barney’s position in the art world. This final film is set on location at Fingal’s Caves in Scotland and Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. Both of these locations are symbolic. They resemble each other and are entrenched in deep mythology. These films have depicted a parallel mythological world, with rich and complex symbolism. It delves into the dilemmas and traumas that shape today’s society. This was Barney’s ambitious project which took a decade to make. It was packed with references to pagan mythology, modern architecture, popular culture, human biology and art history. The Cremaster Cycle has earned Barney much praise despite its notorious scenes of solipsism and banal masculine trials. It is a highly ambiguous piece. The Drawing Restraint series began in 1997 as a series of studio experiments, which draws upon an athletic model of development in which growth occurs only through restraint. When the muscle encounters a resistance, it breaks down and becomes engorged, but through healing the muscle becomes stronger. This series is well documented through video and photography especially 1 – 6 (1987 – 1989). Drawing Restraint 7 is marked with narrative. His concept lies in three elements – situation, condition and production. These constitute the origins of Drawing Restraint. They are illustrated in highly intricatecreative process of sexual energy divided into the three elements. This series was inspired by the condition of hypertrophy where the muscles of the body develop strength and size when they are placed under restraint. Barney has turned this from artistic production that investigates restraint as a source of creativity. It was in the project Drawing Restraint 9, a feature length film whose song track was composed by Bjork which consisted of sculptures, photographs and drawings which built upon the Shinto religion and on whaling. There are sixteen of these pieces. It’s as if his work is meant to shock. He art is a form of abstract and surrealism, with the use of aesthetic athleticism which underscores the sports iconography which is evident in his work. Through his work the audience can see his icons and who he idolizes in a cult status – Harry Houdini and Jim Otto and the system which he uses to portray these idols. He portrays them as satyrs, with athletic iconography, medical gadgets, mythological creatures etc. It leaves the audience wondering where he gets his ideas from. Once of Barney’s influences seems to be the work of Antonin Artaud and his ‘Theatre of Cruelty’ as it tends to stage events rather than men. When he broke onto the scene with his surreal sculptures and videos and form of art he was instantly successful. He is a phenomenon of his time and from his breakthrough his art has gotten strange and stranger. His is seen as the most important American artist of his generation. His unique production of films, which he also appears in, houses his sculptures and objects which he has designed especially for the use in his films. His ideas come from a host of sources – books and photographs. His work is not regarded by him or others as subsidiary to any others, they are an expression of him in different forms of the same ideas. Barney’s work is very ambiguous and it is best to accept it this way as this is his basic point. If the art is unresolved it is interesting. In the Cremaster series, he has stated that this idea is as a sexual metaphor, that the characters in his films can not be identified as being either male or female. He considers his work as abstract. He has been seen as a bad, late surrealist or because of the nature of his work as a sensationalist and that some of his critics are upset by the scope of his success. His success mirrors the success of Jasper Jones who made his debut some 40 years ago. After graduating from Yale, the word had begun to circulate about him around influential artists, dealers, editors and critics in New York. In the early 1990’s he was taken on by two galleries – Barbara Gladstone in New York and Stuart Regen in Los Angeles. At this point he was a huge phenomenon and he had not even had a solo show yet. By his absence he was present on the art scene, which is his trademark. His work was more accepted due to bad economic times as the galleries where more willing to take a risk on an artist without a track record than they had been in more prosperous times. It was through this that Barney’s work became marketable as well as his Yale connections. His early art work reflects the use of elaborate sexual and biological references and allusions to the world of fashion and sports with obvious links to those who went before him in the 1960’s and 1970’s the likes of Vito Acconci, Chris Burden and Bruce Nauman. His reviews seemed orchestrated because they were so good. Any bad reviews which he received were dismissive, like those of Hilton Kramer and through these reviews only heightened his profile. In the early 1990’s the art scene had become about conceptual art on identity politics and the body and sex which was visually meager. The peak was reached with Whitney Bienneal in 1993 and with this it seemed that the art work was doing a penance for all the excesses of the 1980’s. Critics had professed that he was a video version of Mapplethorpe and gay artists openly joked that he was the most successful young gay artist who was not gay. Barney’s idea of art is obviously meant to make the audience la ugh, it has its own strange sense of glamour and it is definitely not preachy. Formally his work was in tune with the younger generation’s priorities, where cross media and installations replaced painting as the dominant art form. His films instantly became collectables, as this medium was not traditionally used but with the advent of this technology it became hot property. This video art was making a comeback with performance art – two of his art forms, from the 1970’s when low technology videos had been used to record artist’s performance. The early 1990’s saw conceptual art be enabled by the technology which was now available and became about the story which the artist felt they had to tell. It was about gender identity and diversity politics and the more eccentric the art/ story the better. Barney’s work mirrored this image, his stories were plentiful and were all eccentric. He has even been referred to as the Wagner of the art world, as like Wagner, he has operated in a mythological language which has seemed irrational and his plan for the Cremaster series would take years to complete. His works are lavishlessly wordless, with soundtracks composed by Jonathan Bepler. They are very slow moving films with fantastic desolate settings. As the series progressed they became more visual with more saturated colours and costumes. His budgets were constantly growing but seemed non existent. He earns back the costs of his films through the limited editions of his photographs, sculptures and laserdiscs. He has, of course, sold his work through private buyers but it is the big museums which compete for his work and through this he has become somewhat of a cult figure. In the 1990’s he was American art star. He does not have any social ambition, public profile or interest in money which seems to enhance his allure. He feels that the bad reviews are more memorable to him than the good ones. He insists that he pays no attention to the critics and insists that his primary focus for art is as a sculptor and that his films reflect this. He is increasingly focused on the visual effects such as colours, shapes, and forms. He is ultimately the most important artist of his generation, in America at least, and as the audience have experienced his imagination is so big. His art is intensely visual and makes use of visual imagery. His works – performance works, sculpture and cinematic works are portraying a civilisation which is in decline. His work is full of references to freemasonry. His works are loaded with initiations and is full of symbolism. He has been proclaimed as the pioneer and saviour of video art and his work is most successful in the genre of body and performance art. He seamlessly creates dramas which are compelling with a compulsive force that are alive in a zone between the psychological and physical. He has a clear mythological vision which can be seen in his work. His practice is that of a diverse array including use of media, which includes performance art, sculpture, drawing, photography and i nstallation. He uses a varied variety of both traditional and unconventional set of materials to create this innovative work. His sculptures are the reinterpretations of his film themes for the gallery setting. Art critic, Jerry Saltz wrote of Barney: ‘One of the most interesting artists to emerge in the 1990’s, and hands-down†¦the most interesting when it comes to the way he works with video.’ Barney tries to establish narratives in which both characters and the environment are interchangeable and with the use of symbols he conveys the meaning or feelings. Matthew Barney has also been compared to the avant garde and this concept of the artist avant garde has been widely used in theories about modern art. This is a key component of modern art and has become synonymous. The terms of artistic freedom throughout the nineteenth and twentieth century through a succession of objects and practices. The modernist sense of avant garde has implied that art does not require external justification, whether it be political or ethical. Modern art critics have claimed that Barney is an advocate and paid up member of the present avant garde movement as well as being an important influence of modern art. His work definitely confirms the existence of a modern avant garde movement which he has followed on from the works of Clement Greenberg, Meyer Shapiro, Walter Benjamin and Thomas Crow. This avant garde movement emerged in the 1930’s in art but also in early socialist tradition. Once this tradition was established, work such as Barney’s has been more readily placed at the forefront of the movement. Thomas Krens, director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation has acknowledged that from Barney’s first gallery show in 1991 he has developed a uniquely aesthetic vocabulary. Barney draws his ideas from all walks, from Hollywood movies, professional sports, mythology, medical processes, biological systems, and psychological pathologies. He has also drawn from hardcore music and spiritual tendencies and mixed them all to provide a blend of allusive narrative structures which he uses the media of film, sculpture, photography and drawing to articulate to his audience. He has been recognised in the artistic community as a great American artist whose work has attracted a vast audience both nationally and internationally. Matthew Barney matches all the cri teria for being of the avant garde persuasion which is active in the present art culture. David Hopkins, in his book After Modern Art 1945 -2000 recognises Barney’s work as interpretation that could be a parody of masculine aspirations. When Barney began to create his art it was widely recognised that there had been a crisis of masculinity which was tied to the social shift which arose from the empowerment of woman in the 1990’s. There were also the issues regarding cloning and genetic engineering. Hans-Ulrich Obrist, a contributing editor of the Tate Magazine described Barney’s work as ‘dense, compacted and multi-layered.’ Obrist is interested that the Cremaster series reaches back to a time of mythology, biology and the geology of creation while jumping forward to a time of modified genetics and the mutation of identity. Culture attempts to articulate changes but finds it hard to keep pace with the changing culture. Barney is on a journey alone in his efforts to build his parallel mythological world which probes into the traumas and dilemmas experienced in modern society. Barney in an interview with Scott Foundas spoke of his desire to communicate the tension within our culture between the male and female forms and the wavering between the sexes. Barney is interested in creating a field that attempts to locate desire and eroticism in an undifferentiated way. His work aims to challenge the grounded notions of gender through making a critique of society as a whole and the insistence of society to only view gender through binary opposition. The Guggenheim Museum in New York continues to exhibit young upcoming artist’s work while their careers are still young. Barney began his relationship with the Guggenheim Museum in 1996 when he was awarded the museum’s Hugo Boss award for excellence and innovation in the visual arts. But it was five years earlier that his status was declared as great. He was honoured with a solo exhibition at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Matthew Barney’s innovative work has been recognised by the contemporary art world and has won many accolades but despite these his work remains difficult to understand especially by the mainstream. And it seems to be only accessible to a subculture of artists and his supporters. Without these members he would never have received the attention or acclaim for his work. Barney once said in an interview with Michael Kimmelman (1999) Barney said ‘Art needs to be defended.’ And also ‘It’s fragile. If a work of art is shown too many times, something gets stolen from it. You come to it with preconceptions, or you get tired of it.’ Barney feels that when something becomes an image it is unrecognisable and because they are invested in the subject they cannot operate as an image. He is also worried about his work losing it authenticity due to issues of reproducing the images. Barney is able to draw his themes from issues which are relevant to modern society. Barney meets the criteria of the avant garde group in that he challenges the social conventions, he is an active member of a cohesive group, he maintains an authentic quality despite reproductions and he serves as a social mediator between social classes with drawing from themes of everyday life. His works, therefore, shows evidence that an avant garde does exist in modern and cotemporary culture and this work still remains a motivator for social advancement. Barney redefines the boundaries between the artist and the audience as he focuses on the broader theories of his medium. With his work, he is able to compartmentalise strategically the creative process w hich he then exploits the experience into one giant spectacular. He forges the different media together to create his tangible and imaginary worlds. Barney’s singular vision has created works which fuses performance and video with sculptural installations. The audience can see reflections of Barney’s past i.e. athletics but is able to tune into the new politics of the body which are evident in the work of many of the contemporary artists. His careful exploration of the body draws upon the athletic model of development which only occurs through restraint. Damien Hirst has been acknowledged as one of Matthew Barney’s contemporaries. Hirst was born in Bristol, UK in 1965 and now lives and works in London and Devon. He is the most prominent member of a group known as ‘Young British Artists’ (YBA’s). He has been dominant in the British art scene since the 1990’s and is internationally renowned. His career was closely linked to collector Charles Saatchi in the 1990’s but due to increasing frictions this relationship collapsed in 2003. Hirst was an organiser and organised an independent student exhibition while in his second at Goldsmith’s College in London where he studied Fine Art. Hirst has since admitted that he had drink and drug related problem which spanned a ten year period from the early 1990’s, during this time he was famous for his wild behaviour and extrovert acts. Hirst, too, has tried to challenge the boundaries between art, science and popular culture. He, like Barney, has a wide ranging practice of using sculptures, installations, painting and drawing. He has been praised for his work, his energy and his inventiveness. His work has made him a leading artist of his generation through his constantly visceral and visually arresting work. His work consists of the exploration of the uncertainty at the core of human experience, life, death, love, loyalty and betrayal. Hirst is best known for his work Natural History which features animals in vitrines suspended in formaldehyde. Hirst uses the vitrines to put meaning as both a window and a barrier, providing a minimalist frame but also to attract the attention of the audience. Hirst is also renowned for his paintings which includes his Butterfly Paintings which feature actual butterflies suspended in paint. Tracey Emin compared Hirst to Andy Warhol, in the mid 1990’s Virginia Bottomley descr ibed him as a pioneer of British art. Hirst sees the real creative theme as being the conception of the project not the execution. Death is a central theme in Hirst’s work and he became famous for a series in which dead animals a shark, a cow and a sheep, are preserved after sometimes been dissected in formaldehyde. The Physical Impossibility of Death in Mind of Someone Living. This piece became an iconic work of the British art world and its sale in 2004 made him the world’s second most expensive living artist after Jasper Jones. He has since eclipsed Jones when Lullaby Spring sold for  £9.65 million on 2007. Hirst has been a controversial figure not only through his art work but also on the public stage, on the eve of the first anniversary of the World Trade Centre attacks, he commented to BBC News Online (Allison, 2002): ‘ The thing about 9/11 is that it’s kind of like an artwork in it’s own right†¦Of course, it’s visually stunning and you’ve got to hand it to them on some level because they have achieved something which nobody could have ever thought possible – especially to a country as big as America. So on one level they kind of need congratulating, which a lot of people shy away from, which is a very dangerous thing.’ Following public outrage at his remark, he had to issue a statement through his company, Science Ltd (Science Photo Library Press Release, 15th March 2005): ‘I apologise unreservedly for an upset I have caused, particularly to the families of the victims of the events on that terrible day.’ In comparison, both Barney and Hirst are contemporaries in the modern art world. They are both renowned in their field. They are both out to shock and maybe this is not their intention. Barney through his use of mythological imagery and his use of the human form has been criticised but are these criticisms right. Can an artist not express themselves in this way? It seems that modern art is full of debate with regards to style and appreciation. There is plenty of shock value in both Barney’s and Hirst’s work. Critics have asked if the audience needs to see the imagery these two have produced. Barney’s work Cremaster is full of this imagery and it is based for a specific audience. He is trying to convey in his imagery the use of the body and how unstable the relationship between male and female is. He has both been praised and criticised for his work, Hirst has also been criticised for his work. It seems that the only way to grow within the art world is to prompt discussion and criticism. Both of these men are at the top of their profession through getting acclaim and winning various awards and prizes. They both use the abstract to create a surreal and almost sensationalist image. While Hirst is very public, Barney stays in the background with no public profile to speak of. Bibliography Allison, R., (2002) 9/11 wicked but a work of art, says Damien Hirst, The Guardian, 11th September 2002 Artaud, A., (1958) The Theatre of Cruelty in The Theatre and its Double, trans. Richards, M.C., Grove Press Crow, T., (1996) Modernism and Mass Culture in the Visual Arts, Yale University Press Edwards, Steve. Art and Its Histories: A Reader. New Haven: Yale University Press,  1999. Foundas, S., (2003) Self Portraiture Meets Mythology: Matthew Barney Talks about his Cremaster Cycle, IndieWire on the Web Hopkins, D., (2000) After Modern Art: 1945 – 2000, Oxford University Press Kimmelman, M., (1999) The Importance of Matthew Barney, New York Times. 10th October 1999 Obrist, H., (2006) Artist Project: Matthew Barney, Tate Magazine: Issue 2. 15th February 2006 Science Photo Library Press Release, 15 March 2005