Philosophy of Leadership

The purpose of this research is to examine the Philosophy of Leadership. I will be discussing different terms that relate to philosophy of leadership, theories and definitions. I will be discussing transactional leadership how it relates to philosophy, situational leadership, and generative leadership. Leboeuf (1999) he defined philosophy as the rational investigation of the truth and principals of being knowledge or conduct(p. 28). Philosophy assumes that leadership rest in individuals who must be capable of inspiring and influencing others to solve problems and achieve goals (Sandmann, 1995). According to Peter (1966) philosophy should involve a particular mode of thinking directed to the disciplined demarcation of concepts, the patient explication of the grounds of knowledge and of the presuppositions of different forms of discourse (p. 15) The educational institution leader is first and formost a teacher. Their primary duties are to teach those that they lead and through them the students of the institution. Someone must make the decisions and take the responsibility to enforce them. There is no point in being a leader, however if no one is willing to follow and to be effective authority figures we must have the cooperation of those we lead. It is important for the leader to understand internalize and consider the perception of the host countrys leaders an the influence these leaders have in the smooth operation of the institution in conjunction with the local community . It is the responsibility of the leader to understand the complexities of the host community and to communicate to each of its member the attempt to actually participate in resolving issues. Leadership is personal unless you know who you are, what you are prepared to do and why then you cant hope to achieve anything very grand. Leaders are judge by how they stand up for their adopted principles and values, but most importantly by how they live a life according to these principles and values (Pelonis & Stefanos, 2010). According to Sergiovanni (1992) Our goal should be to develop a leadership practice based on professional moral authority (p. 29) . The uniqueness of the individual leader must be considerd and one should take cre to adopt strategies and behaviours that fit with the core personality (Pelonis & Stefanos, 2010). Generative leaders recognizes that there are multiple ways of knowing and surround themselves with other thought leaders, including those with whom they disagree. They use holistice, systems perspective in their thinking and move beyond perceived limitations of time,space,traditional thought and their own views of the world . Generative leaders are similar to transformative leaders in working with others to effect change, a generative leader however is one whose definition of success includes finding new options and solutions (Disch, 2009). Transformational leadership occurs when leaders broaden and elevate the interests of their employees, when they generate awareness and acceptance of the purpose and mission of the look beyond their own self-interest for the good group. Transformational leaders achieve these results in one or more ways. They may be charismatic to their followers and thus inspire them; they may meet the emotional needs of each employee and they may intellectually stimulate employees (Bass 1990). Transfomational leadership communicates a vision that inspires and motivates people to achieve something extraordinary. Transformational leaders also have the ability to align people and systems so there is an integrity through-out the organization towords vision (Hughes & Curphy,1994). According to Cacioppe (1997) Transformational leaders have a vision and an ability to inspire followers to incoperate higer values. It pulls them towards achieving an important challenge (p. 336) Context of Problem Academic leadership is necessary now more than ever. Leadership for today’s world requires enlarging one’s capacity to see the whole board. Leadership is define by the authors as the continuous act of influencing others to accomplish a common objective. Academic leadership is further define as the continuous act of influencing all constituents of an academic institution to accomplish its mission and to provide the best possible educational experience for students. Leadership is personal unless you know who you are ,what you are prepared to do and why, then you can’t hope to achieve anything very grand (Pelonis & Stefanos, 2010). Knowledge is define as the state or fact of knowing and it usually refers to knowledge gained by schooling and study. With that being said, it is very important to be knowledgeable about whatever your career of choice is. As an educator ,which I know that it is important to find different ways that one can become knowledgeable about what they do in the work place because most importantly teaching and interacting with others on a daily basis. Take this situation for an example, it is your first year as a teacher and the first semester is finally over. You are not an experienced teacher but you know the overall morale at your school is low, student achievement is down, and discipline issues are overwhelming. This is definitely not the atmosphere that they talked about in your teaching classes in college. You want to go to the administration but in your past meetings, you have not felt comfortable expressing your concerns. The principal talks to the teachers in a very disrespectful manner, does not address teacher issues and concerns, and never gives any positive feedback at faculty meetings. On top of that administration has visited your room several times and has never given you any feedback about what was seen or how you could improve your teaching. You feel unsupported, overwhelmed, and headed toward a rocky second semester. You need someone to talk to and you begin to think about a upport group that can give you some knowledge about your profession. You more than likely want a teacher that has been around for a while that knows all the ropes about education. Support groups are a great way to grow professionally and create knowledge. As a teacher, you fulfill a number of roles for your students both intellectually and socially. In addition to learning about different teaching tech niques, support groups can help you deal with the responsibilities and pressures that come with the profession. I believe that every new educator needs a teachers' support group at their school. Taking the sole responsibility for starting a well-planned support group can be time-consuming but also be very rewarding for a teacher who is seeking to create knowledge in the workplace. It may also be helpful to invite colleagues to meet for a general discussion at least once a week so any questions or concerns can be addressed. As the group evolves, the details concerning agenda and procedures will iron out as you customize the group to fit whatever the knowledge one is seeking within the workplace. As we all know everyone does not know it is very important for an educator to be knowledgeable about what they do. Educator holds some very important lives in our hand and they need knowledge. For instance, if educators fail to make the goals attainable, students will never internalize or truly comprehend the skills and make them work in their own brains. Experts say they should steer clear of teaching children as if they were unfilled vessels for information (Barth, 2001). As an alternative, educator should allow them to construct knowledge in a process-oriented way. Instead of worksheets we should incorporate publishing and technology effectively. Then, your classroom will replicate the technological powerhouse society in which students live. Finally, always think about standardized test scores instead of unofficial evaluation statistics and urge parents to do the same. Teachers and teams of teachers must make certified, knowledgeable verdicts based on their individual students’ requirements and skill levels, in relation to curricular necessities and framework. To do this, teachers must be directed and sustained in an uninterrupted learning progression about successful ways to make students learn. Which brings me to my point, an educator must have knowledge and if they do not have knowledge then there are ways to create knowledge in the workplace as I mentioned before. Goodlad (2004) believe that school teaching and leadership are moral endeavors and that preservice teacher education programs seldom address the needs for moral leadership in democratic school (p. 27). According to Pelonis and Gialamas (2010) Successful leadership in the international academic arena calls for leaders to have the following qualities to be continuous learners, risk takers ,visionaries , performing well under stress and able to promote and accommodate change. The ability to cope with and promote change will in fact determine to a large degree the effectiveness of the leader during transitional times ( p. 73). Successful leaders are sensitive to the situation and their followers, are flrxible,and able to adopt to the use situation to ensure that the vision is achieved. A challenging, worthwhile vision is also characteristic of a good leader. The leaders helps the follower transcend their own self-interest and participate in a vision for greater good (Cacioppe,1997). According to Leboeuf (1999) the first element to consider in developing a philosophy of leadership is vision (p. 29). Nanus (1992) contends that vision must be idealistic a mental model of future state of the organization. He also stated that vision must also possess the properties of appropriateness, standards of excellence, purpose and direction (Nanus, 1992). Philosophy examins how meaning is determined and knowledge is established through language usage (Peter, 1966). Leadership philosophy reflects his principals , values,personal , professional goals and talents. It is essential to identify strategies and be st practice for implementing the adopted philosophy. If one adopts the model of leadership in partnership with flexibility, then strategy would require the leader and the leadership team to meet and clearly precisely define the authority and accountability of each (Pelonis & Stefanos, 2010). The idea of shared leadership is variously termed dispersed, roving, distributive,collective,or group-centered leadership, and organizations are referred to as leaderful. All of us have leadership qualities that can be pooled and drawn upon as needed. (Nirenburg, 1993) Generativity is the ability to produce or originate , and generative leaders are individuals who create new options or new approachers to old problems and work with and through others to effect needed change, Generative leaders are intellectually curious and never satisfied with the status quo; they are resilient and optimistic, seeing opportunties where others see insoluble problems (Disch, 2009). According to Disch (2009) Generative leaders model creativity and innovations,work with others to enhance their capabilities and create environ,environments in which people can do their best work (p. 173). Transformational leaders are individually considerate, that is, they pay close attention to differences among their employees; they act as mentors to those who need help to grow and develop. Intellectual stimulation leader are willing and able to show their employees new ways of looking at old problems to be solved, and to emphasize rational solutions. (Bass, 1990) Situational leadership is one of several transaction al approaches to leadership. Other transactional theories like path goal theory and leader-participation theory describes the major task of the leaders to guide motivate task of he leader to guide and motivate their followers in the direction of established goals and to reward their efforts in ways that are fair and valued by followers Situational leadership uses the two dimensions of supportive and directive to describe four leadership styles that are most appriopate depending on the situation and the developmental level of the person or group. The major advace of the situation approach is the recognition that for different development levels and different types of situation, different leadership styles are more effective (Cacioppe ,1997).

Private Educational Sector Performance Appraisals In Mauritius Business Essay

Mauritius, soon a rapid development and diversified income state in this communicating and technological universe where the authorities is consolidating the changeless support of people through the release and variegation of the economic system even though late hit by the consequence and impact of the brewing planetary fiscal crisis. The authorities is playing its full function to foreground the importance of transparence in all administrations together with greater attending on client support for edifice and guaranting better services. Concurrently, the authorities is carry throughing its duties with new tendencies and new development in the programme of instruction at all degrees with particular consideration in the secondary schools through the dependant and ministry directing organic structure of the Private Secondary Schools Association ( PSSA ) . The Mauritanian authorities introduced Performance Management System ( PMS ) on a pilot footing in its 3 different administrative sections in the twelvemonth ( 2006 ) after several old ages of formulated planning and scheme as devised in the beginning of ( 2001 ) after holding been followed by an discerning debut in the mid-1990s.At nowadays, PMS has been launched in all 25 ministries as of 23 June ( 2010 ) and all near concerned constitution as agencies indicated by positive feedbacks obtained from the pilot undertakings that was extended to other sections in January ( 2007 ) .The thought buttocks was to better the populace sector in Mauritius for better economic system and for responsively moving as an built-in portion in the fast-moving and modernised planetary direction. In the twelvemonth ( 1987 ) , the wage Research Bureau ( PRB ) which governs the general wage reappraisal of public sector in Mauritius with mention to private educational schools came with the tendency for alliance of conditions of service, wages, makings and competences of both private secondary schools with province schools. The chief purpose for this homogeneous attack was that instruction to be dispensed in a unvarying mode for the benefits of criterions and the society at big The subsequent study of the Bureau in ( 2003 ) came in the way of reforms with specific conditions of service for nucleus intent to better and achieve aims in the educational sector. From recommendations in the PRB study ( 2008 ) , schemes of public presentation assessment and public presentation related wage wages would take into consequence as from 1 August ( 2008 ) to accomplish optimization of resources. This research paper attempts to look into into the demands, effects/impacts and the results of the proviso of the two new issues in geting at the wage bundle in relationship with PA and public presentation related wages systems in the private secondary schools as recommended by the PRB ( 2008 ) . The survey should therefore take to reply the undermentioned inquiries: How is public presentation assessment perceived among offices and the conducive factors in the incremental system in schools? Is it genuinely applicable? Give us your sentiment about the evaluation of PA methods with the type of PMS being introduced. Make you happen the specified conditions used for ciphering the learning responsibilities allow? Are the present officeholders of pedagogues justified? What do you believe on the appraisal of the strengths and the failings of the existent PA system on the work environment and measure your overall satisfaction ; what is your purpose about the system? Research OBJECTIVES The aims of the research are to: 1. Find out whether private secondary pedagogues in Mauritanian schools understand the importance of PA in analysing what these indexs are. 2. Sketch the usage of assessment and public presentation wage mechanisms to actuate the private secondary educational sectors and raise the private direction. 3. Research the possible benefits and defects associated with public presentation measuring the private sector and discourse ways to right the permeant failings of the wage construction. 4. Measure the current operation of public presentation assessment and stairss in the planing systems and to guarantee consistence and transparence when measuring public presentation of staffs. RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS Some illustrations of the hypothesis formulated for the intent of this HR research are H0: An overall cognition and apprehension of P.A systems/will non assist private secondary offices in run intoing the aims of the modernized direction. H1: An overall cognition and apprehension of P.A criterions will assist Private Secondary Military officers in run intoing the aims of the modernized direction. H0: An designation of the specific intents and utilizations will non assist private secondary schools satisfy the possible impact of P.A as perceived by administrative members. Hello: An designation of the specific intents and utilizations will assist private secondary schools satisfy the possible impact of P.A as perceived by administrative members. LITERATURE REVIEW PSSA, besides known as Private Secondary Schools Association was set up in ( 1976 ) after the coming of free instruction both at primary and secondary degrees, granted by the so Labour authorities and started its activities on 20th September of the same twelvemonth. The caput office although ab initio stationed at Royal Road, Rose Hill, subsequently moved to Beau Bassin and still operates from the premises once occupied by the Teachers ‘ Training College. Although at the get downing the PSSA was meant chiefly to be merely a & lt ; paying agent & gt ; it shortly blossomed into a fully fledged administration and put up its frogmans sectors viz- Inspectorate, Establishment, Discipline, Finance, all under the duty of a Director who is appointed by the Ministry of Education and Human Resource ( MoE ) so that the Authority can ever be under the supervising of the Government of Mauritius through the Ministry of Education. The work and behavior of each and every employee both instruction and non-teaching is monitored closely and recorded in his personal file which is stored at the caput office. Generally, all policy determinations are taken by the Government in close coaction of Ministry and the PSSA operating in analogue with the Ministry of Education has the duty of implementing same. In other words, its cardinal purpose is to supply instruction conductive to acquisition and where every pupil would stand out in order to be perceived as a visible radiation of the existence in order to run into the challenges and criterions of life. The responsibilities of being dedicated to the cause of instruction are assigned to pedagogues once instructors and later Education officers severally. Their instruction and non instruction staffs are recruited by the directors of the several schools. At present, the establishment size of working forces with instructors and non learning members bases at around 3923 and 1575 severally. Today there are a sum of 110 registered schools in Mauritius and Rodrigues. Classes up to Cambridge Higher School certification are run in 47 of the to the full grant aided schools while 48 of them provide instruction up to the Cambridge School Certificate. By and large, the cardinal purpose of private sector is profit oriented instead than public assistance or service as for public service but given the figure of protagonism groups strengthened with the turning degree of instruction accompanied by the consequence of globalization which promote a strong demand to win, and to protect Mauritanian citizens from the traditional procedure where public presentation was no longer enhanced. Since the ambitious attack to drive betterment for knowing calling which would emerge in taking to portion capacity, resources and people, it was indispensable for a straightforward model action for public presentation results which reflected none other than PMS. In fact, the PRB study, prepared by a Mauritanian organic structure in charge for finding wage and guiding reforms in the populace sector as far back as in ( 2003 ) , highlighted that the public sector must utilize ‘performance direction ‘ as one of the arrows for assorted degrees of productiveness as practiced abroad, particularly in European states. It is worthwhile observing in this context that Armstrong ( 2000 ) defines public presentation direction as a â€Å" strategic and incorporate procedure that delivers sustained success to organisations by bettering the public presentation of people who work in them and by developing the capablenesss of single subscribers and squads † . It ab initio started through the usage of the confidential study. This was being extremely criticized because it had non shown effectivity in bettering public presentation for in service people. Consequently, the docket changed for PMS where officers were given ample preparation to understand the construct for proper execution.DEFINITIONS of PMS & A ; PAPerformance Management Performance Management is an on-going procedure that involves both the director and the employee in identifying and depicting the occupation responsibilities and maps associating to organisation ‘s mission and strategic ends through appropriate public presentation criterions on the intent of giving and having feedback for development and bettering employee work. Performance Appraisal Performance Appraisal is a procedure of measurement, sum uping and development the work public presentation of an employee to measure if he is efficaciously in line with the aims set. Performance Management and Performance Appraisal However, many people get confused with public presentation direction and public presentation Appraisal.It should so be clear that these are two different footings with same functional intent. Performance assessment is besides identified as public presentation reappraisal which is the procedure of basically reexamining the public presentation of employees. Alternatively, public presentation direction has a larger significance and embraces public presentation assessment. Performance direction translates the overall organisational ends into single employees ‘ aims, preceded by a meeting with the employee, to supply chance for common understanding based on the public presentation indexs for the appraisal which provides feedback for steps such as preparation, compensation, publicity, amongst others, to prolong public presentation over the long term. Fig 1 PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT AND PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL. Mission Aims& A ;Goals Conformity of public presentation Continuous Performance Management Management Planning Performance related wage: 1 ) Compensation 2 ) Promotion 3 ) Transportation Preparation for reappraisal Performance evaluation Performance Appraisal 0 Development and calling: 1 ) TrainingThe above diagram can be simplified as the followers:Management Planning Management squad design strategy of work and provides planning chances for staffs to take duty for their ain to ease in lending to the professional development of the other staff including the initiation and appraisal of new and provisional members. Mission aims and Goals To be to the full committed to the cause of instruction, to leave quality instruction in an ambiance lending to conducive acquisition where every pupil outshine to be recognized as an enlightened and of all time reflecting lamp and to hike the instruction service that would assist to run into up with the rivals of the approaching clip. Conformity of public presentation In order to continue the values and vision of the establishment, it is imperative to implement the scheme as laid down in the recommendation of PRB study.Besides ; it can besides be achieved through convincing and self-asserting treatment between executives and officers. Continuous Performance Management To work both at quantitative and qualitative abilities that would lend to updated occupation description based on uninterrupted feedback get the better ofing barrier, if any, towards run intoing the aims, irrespective of coaching. Preparation for Review Both director and employee, with much attending in the educational sector where the valuator should chiefly be of two hierarchy classs above the appraise so as to run into together with the cardinal purpose for appraisal based on competences public presentation to look chiefly at behavior and attitude in a occupation like lateness, promptness. Performance Appraisal At the terminal of the pattern or sooner after each assessment conducted individually between regular timeframe, usually twice or at most one time a twelvemonth, based on brooding procedures normally lending towards strengths and failings of the officers. PA is so put to public presentation evaluation and single public presentation that can easy associate to pay. Performance Rating This theoretical account should be based on a evaluation graduated table of 1-5 ; five being the highest and it should include some infinite to compose remarks refering to the evaluations that the valuator gives to his subsidiary. The description should give grounds of the true degree of public presentation and non where unenrgetic people would be stating that he has achieved to acquire information and produced appropriate consequences, accordingly needs to be associated to pay and development. Therefore, a double evaluation system can be more accurately reflecting the existent input of the employee in inquiry being rated. Performance evaluation has two subdivisions that can either be associated with trust and common apprehension ensuing in related wage or secondly as rating for preparation or strictly a countenance. Integrative LITERATURE Performance Appraisal started long back as a simple construct of evaluation employee ‘s work outcomes and has now evolved in a systematic procedure of measuring the work of an employee. It besides looks at a series of causative factors in the vena of how to make togetherness with environmental friendly conditions, participative direction squads and most significantly doing staffs capable of developing greatest accomplishment in capacity edifice for successful calling. Once, in the absence of the P.A ( as structured today ) , the C.R ( Confidential Report ) was the lone arrow towards the grade of efficiency of the employee. Rather than the of import constituents of work consequences and increment facet, it further provides foundations for good work conditions, finding competent direction squads, preparation and development of bing staff successfully whereby actuating and keeping a guaranteed quality of work force by decently honoring the work public presentation of forces which enable to vouch great degree of satisfaction. Carraher et Al. ( 2006 ) province that the most of import factors of work and compensation satisfaction are occupation term of office, construction and disposal of the compensation system. The existent study of P.A consists of two ( 2 ) primary intents viz. ; public presentation related wage and development. The rating of wage intent is carried out to inform staffs of their necessary ability rooted merely on collected public presentation informations which are normally intended to compensate high performing artists and punish low public presentation actors. The developmental purpose is to utilize to categorise officers into different degrees and therefore place uninterested and unsupportive employees who are ever faced with problem at work. However, progressively based on the procedure of ego rating and progressive planning, some employees steadfastly believe that many other factors are more of import than wage. Therefore, modern direction stresses non merely on public presentation but on a set of appraisals and self development based acquisition. On this footing, it is really of import to work significantly for better keeping of competent and difficult working employe es. It would be of much concern if an established usage in all private secondary schools in Mauritius could be applied irrespective of ain and conservative direction manners to warrant significant pay-reward consistent to the productiveness, particularly where instruction staffs are invariably endorsed in magnetic involvement of students which is a challenging and encephalon striking undertaking. In add-on, secondary schools are considered as model organic structures since they promote the general advancement, good being of students and uphold socio economic alteration in the society. Further, they are viewed as beginnings in set uping and run intoing cultural values and promoting preparation, therefore easing socialization. So, good degree of motive is indispensable for staffs to be in line with the inventions in instructions as it is necessary to react to the altering calling and reforming system for implementing expeditiously choice instruction. Since the early 1990s, authorities involvement in public presentation support and budgeting for higher instruction has well increased in OECD states ( Burke & A ; Serban, 1997 ; El-Khawas & A ; Massey, 1996 ; Jongbloed & A ; Koelman, 1996 ; Layzell, 1998 ; Peters, 1992 ; Piper & A ; Issacs, 1992 ) . However, developed states which have late harnessed and witnessed the alterations in the society with the acceptance of latest digital engineering besides being really trendy in periodic manner with instance in point, Mauritius presently immersed in this stage of influence, still tonss of private educational establishments are bonded with antique manner of direction and one manner enforcing executive confined to simply top- bottom direction. The relationship between the alteration in society and the alteration of instruction degree demands to be better understood in order to be more expeditiously managed ( Bjarnason and Brennan, 2003 ) . It is hazardous to presume and much harder to think that either on holding the right equipment or people with equal cognition, necessary accomplishments, abilities and the right sort of organizational model, rapid alterations need to be better understood with something else, say exact attitude and behavior, unless you can read person ‘s head. Subsequently, for the appropriate consequence at a ulterior phase, the employee must be ready and convey enthusiasm to make the work and most significantly he/she should be ever motivated in some manner to set about the undertakings which will lend a great trade. Academic staffs should at all times have the resource ability to be motivated for accomplishing rapid alterations in instruction in order to stand out with the transformational public presentation in demand. Reasonably, conventional direction necessitate much contemplation to understand what makes people do things so that they can carry the employees to exercise towards the aims of the constitution. Management demand to be cognizant that the things that motivate them may non automatically typify the same driving force of the employee ‘s.As such, it is indispensable to set into consequence specific motive strategies with the purpose of carry throughing a common and better public presentation assessment in relation to a just wage system. Performance assessment is one of the most valuable instruments in the director ‘s tool chest, as no other direction procedure has every bit much influence over person ‘s callings and work lives ( Allen, 2003 ) . Performance Appraisal & A ; Pay P.A is an of import procedure of the direction which preponderantly helps to find the wage related facets such as publicity, transportation and equal wages. Based on this facet, competent officers in a contributing clime at work enact a inclination towards the application of freshly acquired accomplishments and circulate cognition to their immediate schoolroom state of affairs since employee wages provides a major chance to better 1s aptitude and therefore be performance-centre oriented. The 2nd activity is for development and preparation intent that is formulated to do out jobs confronting by employees, known from collected public presentation informations or corporate feedback. The primary used appraisal standards are founded on employees ‘ work results, traits and behaviors. Most normally, P.A is designed to supply valid information of staff work consequences to pay merit compensation. Further, it is compulsory to let the steady flow of the processs for utile and self-assert ing parts that hold no other option for the employers to promote and be big plenty to recognize the worth of the least attempt of employees. In order to prolong coveted degree of wage in return of services offered, some organisations started maintaining aloof from fixed fiscal wage, relatively on the application of wage other than rewards and revolutionise towards the execution of flexible systems that finetune the compensation at single degree. In derivation of this guideline, some administrations found it necessary to continuously supervise all procedures geared at both organizational and personal ends to be executed in the best possible ways. For utile and accurate P.A information, the processs must be able to systematically bring forth dependable and valid consequences in determining the civilization of the running disposal. Besides, if we do non allow justified compensation on public presentation, the employees would develop a inclination of incorrect sort of work behaviors that would ensue in frequent waste of their on the job clip instead than bettering on work results. PA has late taken much consideration in European educational establishments where studies and research development say that public establishments have undergone drastic decrease in the figure of pupils. This is because of the fact that private establishments more and more common and competitory in the market are guaranting a better topographic point which is accordant with learnability in all characteristics doing market force per unit areas. As a consequence of this menace, public establishments in United Kingdom ( UK ) started with grassroot alterations in their operation and emphasized on formalistic staff assessment systems in the eightiess with a vision to maintain a sound gait on the inventions to run into the latest demands of educational construction. The alteration was viewed taking topographic point since if could it give staff to acquire involved deeply in ego betterment in the geographic expedition of country involvement, survey and therefore promote possible public prese ntation. This alteration resulted in public presentation related wage in the UK university system as a whole, covering everyone from support staff to senior professors ( Richbell and Wu, 2006 ) . Mauritius, backing significantly the valued stairss of UK private acquisition establishments since seemingly perceived for its quality in instruction, is determined to provide quality demands and services which are considered established by PA processs to analyze the duty and to size up competition. The sole ground for Mauritius behind this pacemaker is that PA is the key to happen out whether staffs public presentation is in line with the aims of the institute. Gone are the yearss when employees particularly instructors merely kept on steping on beaten paths with whatever limited competency or accomplishment or wish and willingness to better and maintain abreast with updated instruction AIDSs and updated accomplishments. The 21st century is the epoch of flawlessness in all Fieldss. Not merely research in all Fieldss particularly in teaching method is undergoing springs and bounds but all accomplishments are being rationalized where limited cognition is reviewed and even questioned. Every instructor is expected to build up himself merely like the solder on Himalayan boundary lines without the least pretext so as non merely to be the best performing artist with limitless cognition but besides be the extremely dependable resource individual. It is to be noted that in modern times the whole instruction sector is viewed from a position. However, it is besides to be highlighted that despite their functions as role-models and besides facilitators in modern teaching method, instructors have to be of all time equipped with equal cognition of the capable affair in order to truly command their â€Å" stand † vis-a-vis their pupils. The amateur or seasonal instructor has no topographic point in today ‘s schools for today instructors are non judged and accredited merely for their being & lt ; good & gt ; ( Bon Monsieur / Bon Madame ) but for their command of the topic taught, the techniques used or even exploited side by side with the instruction AIDSs and follow up actions including appraisals and remedial exercisings. On the other manus, the stakeholders excessively are in outlook of the best from them. Gone are yearss when the owners/ directors of private secondary schools were self-satisfied with a state of affairs with ‘good ‘ and ‘less good ‘ instructors. Adieu amateurism! This is their common armor. ‘We need the best and merely the best ‘ is the modern call. This is how and to what extent the PA hails as the existent beacon, for now through this device it is a piddling undertaking or activity to place the ‘good ‘ and ‘bad performing artists ‘ . Acerate leaf to state that at that place may, by bad fortune be some ‘unlucky ‘ 1s who are hit by error. But no system is 100 % perfect. So, in this instance excessively there is some grade of possibility that the PA has certain â€Å" victims † . But we have to rest assured that no unfairness is done to anyone for the truth is that although these schools owners/ directors do hold high expected marks despite they themselves being of small or no academic making, by dint of larning from observation for several decennaries at a stretch they are today really much in a place to make up one's mind which is which for the enthusiastic child with good grade classs from a celebrated university where he may be merely holding theoretical cognition while these old and cunning knuckleboness have acquired meaningful experience after larning through observation twelvemonth after twelvemonth. The challenge of every private secondary pedagogue non merely lies in run intoing the instruction and larning facet but rests on the list of chief responsibilities which are as follows: program of work to adhere to, learning followed by changeless advice to pupils for betterment, rectification and recording of assignments, behavior audiovisuals, built-in usage of learning AIDSs, remedial action for the benefit of the pupils, form maestro ‘s work, staff direction, instructors morale, parent ‘s conference with answerability and connate responsibilities. In the exercising of the above mentioned responsibilities with work undertakings to be regular, there are improbable tonss of much concern to be aroused although accomplishing high quality of work in conservative private secondary schools in Mauritius. On this footing, it is non ever possible to find the single work consequences and compare them. Therefore, the direction should invariably actuate staff members more expeditiously instead than forbearing from allowing some staffs ‘ increases, based on junior-grade defects like a few latenesses, in certain private establishments. Then once more, direction prolonging others to mount the stepss particularly to those hold given rise to favoritism or to those with greater consideration. P.A is really pulling much attending in attached educational establishments, such as Ecole Du Nord et al although majorly funded by pupils themselves where the figure of pupils has quickly increased due to low market force per unit area and cost effectual installations ensuing in betterment on quality of instruction every bit good as overall staff public presentation. Consequently exposing new subdivision school system as a whole with the building of Northfields in the North of the island. P.A is utile as it enables us to obtain reappraisal and place mistakes on whether worker ‘s public presentation is clearly aligned with the aims set.MethodologyExplicating a research designThis research is the survey of the trouble of emerging public presentation assessment system in a private instruction sector where the work loads continually change due to the singing attitudes of pupils and rotational nature of the work. It will travel through the dangers and chances to set up the personal work consequences and compare them to make direction sight. From this information, the survey will understand the available manner to be followed and the surrogate protection it will necessitate.The Research QuestionSing the above job country and research aims, the research inquiry would be formulated as follows.â€Å" Is public presentation assessment system doing usage of the proper tools and procedures to be comprehensive and to the intent so as to place itself on a balance which shoul d be homogeneously linked to direct wage? †The Research DesignTo continue, a systematic method is adopted. After specifying the job, formulating and developing hypothesis, a research design must be established. Our research design will dwell of the steps necessary for obtaining the information needed to work out the research job: SAMPLE UNIVERSE Sampling Unit of measurement Sampling Technique SAMPLE SIZESample UniverseThe full private secondary schools in the North of Mauritius are our sample existence. The common feature of this population being that every establishment is governed by the same regulations and ordinances of PSSA but each employer with his ain manner of operation.Sampling Unit of measurementThe trying unit will sort the schools into separate organic structures, i.e. each school with the existent population along the work load of each and every staff.Sampling TechniqueFor the intent of our research, we can either do usage of simple chance sample which gives every person an equal chance of being selected in the sample or non-probability convenience sample which is helpful. But I strongly fear of if there is a clip restraint.Sample SizeWe are taking a representative sample of 50 staffs to be questioned for the intent of the research.The Research ApproachA combination of both qualitative and quantitative dominated research methods to measure PA system will be worked on.The Qualitative Research MethodIn order to understand the kernel of the system and invent possible solutions, five semi-structured interviews inclusive of single interviews and group interviews will be carried out.The Quantitative Research MethodTo back up the quantitative research method, questionnaire study will be used to obtain both descriptive and analytical information. It will analyze officers ‘ existent perceptual experience and flexibleness with respects to aptitudes.The Questionnaire StructureThe questionnaires will be composed of three types of inquiry design: Simple closed ended inquiries ( Yes & A ; No replies ) Multiple Choice inquiries ( Choose any 1 reply from following options ) Simple open-ended inquiries, which will supply a qualitative penetration into our research.The Pilot SurveyA first bill of exchange will be pre-tested with five individuals – that would non organize portion of the sample – so as to gauge the population ‘s ability to understand the questionnaire and therefore enable to do any necessary alterations beforehand.Datas AnalysisDiagrams, graphs, charts and statistical methods from SPSS would be used for informations analysis.Restriction of surveyWhile working on the research, there might be some restrictions which will act upon our research, such as: The research will be carried out in a limited country. Time will be a major impeding factor. Sample may non be exact representative of the whole population and as such non give better consequences. The possibility of prejudice responses ca n't be ruled out. Lack of handiness of full information. Respondents might non be willing to make full in the questionnaires.Data CollectionThe research instrument is a self-administered questionnaire which included unfastened ended, dichotomous and offered multiple picks inquiries. Data is the representation of basic information. The chief beginning of information is as follows: Primary informations Primary informations can be obtained by interviews or merely by communicating or by observation, whereas secondary informations are readily available to the school as they may hold been collected antecedently for other intents. For the interest of the survey, primary informations shall dwell of information gathered from the study and interviews performed. The information collected would be based on respondents ‘ replies and feedbacks with the aid of structured questionnaires and concentrate interviews. Following the completion of informations aggregation, the informations will so be tabulated prior to analysis.

Baroque Agead

Tu se’ morta is a piece sung by Orpheus accompanied by a basso continuo after he is told of Eurydice’s death. Orpheus wants to bring her back from Hell as he offers a distressed goodbye to the earth, sky and sun. The style of singing is simple and intended to bring a dramatic delivery to the audience. The vocal line is rhythmically free and the phrases are more irregular. The song is flexible because it is suggesting a sad and passionate farewell to the person he loves. To express this farewell, the song reaches the climax several different times and then drops away.Dido’s Lament is also accompanied by a basso continuo and has a mournful setting as well. The song opens with a descending chromatic line, the ground bass, which is repeated eleven different times throughout the piece. Dido repeats â€Å"Remember Me† several times as well also reaches the highest note of the aria. The dynamics were constant and not notated and the tempi were slow and constant. The woman who sang the song portrays a haunting and sorrowful mood for the listener. The song comes to a conclusion with a descending violin melody which expresses the tragedy.There are several similarities in these pieces. One of the main similarities is that both songs give the listener a haunting, sorrowful, distressed and sad feeling. Although one song is expressing the sorrow of a loved one’s death and the other is expressing the tragedy of one’s fate; they both put off a sad vibe. They both at one point or another reach a climax and then drop, which keeps the listener entertained and interested in the song. Tu se’ morta and Dido’s Lament are both accompanied by a basso continuo.Last but not least, the texture of both of these pieces is homophonic. The main difference, in my opinion, is how different they sound from one another because one is sung by a female and the other by a male. The deep, powerful voice of Orpheus as he sung Tu se’ morta compared to the high, thrill voice of the female who sung Dido’s Lament puts a whole new outlook on the songs. Even though both songs give a haunting feeling to the listener just the fact that one is a female and the other is male changed the mood slightly.In my opinion, it is hard to point out many differences. All in all, both pieces were interesting. The intensity of both Tu Se’ Morta and Dido’s Lament were compelling and put the listener in the exact mood that they were portraying. Haunting, sorrowful, sad and depressed was the mood I felt after listening to both. Personally, Dido’s Lament was my favorite out of the two. Her chromatic notes which created tension and stress kept the song fascinating and the want to hear more. In conclusion, both pieces were wonderful, but Dido’ Lament was absolutely amazing to the ears!

Analysis and Recommendations for the Resolution of Operational Essay - 2

Analysis and Recommendations for the Resolution of Operational Problems at EMPLOI - Essay Example EMPLOI or Employment Opportunities, Inc. is a staffing service provider established 13 years ago. Upon inception, it specialized in providing temporary staff for office related positions such as office clerks, data encoders, and administrative personnel. Three years ago, the company was sold to its new owners. Although EMPLOI has been operating with sufficient profits to sustain operations for the last 3 years, the new owners have not yet been able to recover their initial investment when they acquired the company. The current CEO believes that strategic actions need to be undertaken to solve operational problems in order to increase revenues thereby increasing profits from operations so that the owner’s initial investments can slowly be recovered. Moreover, aside from deployment of office staff, the CEO believes that diversifying into the blue collar worker market is an opportunity that EMPLOI should explore as there is the huge demand for this type of workers. This paper tak es a look at the operations of EMPLOI, identifies problems and recommends solutions to those problems. Because of her Marketing background, the Admin & Operations Manager is also the Marketing Section Head. She is responsible for the day-to-day operations of EMPLOI as well as prospecting for new clients together with the Business Development Officer. The HR & Admin Section Head is responsible for recruitment of personnel for the company’s manpower pool as well as for deployment to client companies. She is also responsible for internal HR & administrative functions for the EMPLOI office. The Accounting Section Head is responsible for payroll for all deployed personnel as well as the company’s business accounting requirements.

Surviving a JCAHO Audit Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Surviving a JCAHO Audit - Essay Example One of the most important of those regulatory bodies is the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). JCAHO is a not-for-profit organization operating with the preliminary purpose of providing voluntary accreditation to healthcare organizations. Over the course of eighty-eight (88) years, it has evolved from its humble beginnings when the first hospital inspections were performed by a single body, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) in 1918. The ACS utilized a very rudimentary system for inspecting hospitals whereby minimal standards were utilized as a means of setting the standards for accreditation. The ACS served as a solitary regulatory board from 1918 until 1951 when the ACS joined forces with the American College of Physicians, the American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association, and the Canadian Medical Association to establish what was known as the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals (JCAH). The JCAH soon replaced the ACS as the organization responsible for setting the standards for the delivery of safe and appropriate care for patients within t hose organizations. This commission was responsible for the publication of the first Standards for Hospital Accreditation (AORN Journal, 2002). In 1965, under the leadership of President Lyndon B. Johnson, the Medicare Act of 1965 was passed. This meant a drastic shift in the role of JCAH. For the first time, JCAH became closely aligned with the federal government and facilitated an inalienable relationship with governmental funding and JCAH accreditation. For the first time, the law made provisions for hospitals which were accredited by JCAH wherein those hospitals were automatically viewed as being in compliance with most of the provisions of the Medicare program and were eligible to participate in the Medicare program. As such, the accredited hospitals were able to reap the monetary rewards of being active Medicare participation (AORN Journal, 2002). In 1975, JCAH expanded its scope by becoming the main accrediting body for ambulatory health care facilities. This expansion was facilitated by an involvement with Accreditation Council for Ambulatory Health Care. Over the next decade, JACH established a series of committees which were known as the Professional and Technical Advisory Committees (PTAC) for each program it was responsible for accrediting. Finally, in 1987, JCAH changed its name to the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations as a means of reiterating its large range of accreditation activities. To date, JCAHO has established a large board of commissioners which includes a nursing representative who provides input with regards to nursing policy (AORN Journal, 2002). Functions of JCAHO JCAHO is responsible for evaluating and accrediting over 15,000 healthcare institutions and individual programs throughout the U.S. In so doing it provides services to the following general class of organizations: Hospitals [including general medical, psychiatric and pediatric hospitals as well as rehabilitation hospitals]. Nursing homes Hospices Home care organizations Addiction services Laboratories Rehabilitation centers Ambulatory care providers Independent laboratories Group practices In addition to accrediting the aforementioned organizations, JACHO also awards certification to health plans, hospitals and other institutions which provide disease management services as well as

Professional Nursing Concepts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

Professional Nursing Concepts - Essay Example The profession also entails the advocacy in the care of persons, families, and communities at large, in terms of healthcare services. Â  The nursing profession is one among the most important components of the medical world. This is because; it enables the training of highly qualified personnel who assist individuals to perform activities, which collectively help to improve the healthcare operations, enhance faster recovery of the patients, and facilitate peaceful death when one has to die. Furthermore, the nursing profession plays a pivotal role in nurturing healthcare practitioners who strive to ensure the best quality of lives possible among patients who suffer from diverse ailments or disabilities. The professionals in nursing have a wide range of medical knowledge with which they use to achieve their objectives, which are essential, to prevent illnesses and injuries as well as advocating in healthcare for the entire society. Â  The nursing practitioners, who are qualified and registered healthcare providers, perform medical operations to patients at all stages of human life, right from the new-borns to the elderly. The professionals in this medical field to perform a number of important functions including conducting a well-detailed and focused physical examination to patients; diagnosing and treating common and acute illnesses as well as injuries and providing the appropriate immunizations to the populations. In addition, the Nursing Practitioners have the responsibility to manage various human healthcare complications among them high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, and many other health problems that are chronic. (Basford and Slevin 67) Â  

Theories and Models of Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Theories and Models of Communication - Essay Example The hypothesis of communication assists individuals in comprehending this phrase, since communication involves analysis of facts to deduce the meaning. Failure to evaluate these facts of information might lead to failing to deduce the correct interpretation. This way this hypothesis assists in analyzing information. For instance, it is easy to discern someone’s intentions; by the way, they speak. Lack of these visible signs might imply otherwise (Griffith, p.10). Mass media describe all media technologies utilized to reach an enormous audience through mass communication. Mass media also describes the institutions which manage these technologies, for instance, television stations, as well as publishing companies. An exemplar of mass media includes broadcast media, which describes the electronic transmission of information via television, radio, as well as CDs and DVDs. In addition, broadcast media involves other devices such as cameras, as well as video consoles. Another exemplar is print media, which involves utilization of a physical object as a way of transferring information. Other print media include brochures and pamphlets among others (Igor, p.10). The mass medium is an extremely powerful tool which significantly influences peoples’ ways of existence. It is extremely influential in that the images or information media displays have the capacity to foster stereotypes, products, alter cultures among others. For instance, in many countries, the dress code displayed by media is usually adopted by the youngsters. Media particularly Internet media is also readily available and affords a massive outreach. It can be utilized in varied parts of the globe concurrently and cost-effectively. This portrays the influence of media. 4 Semiotics involves the study of symbols, as well as sign systems. Semiotics also entails indication, description, metaphor, similarity among others. The fundamental component of meaning is the symbol. It is anything that can characterize an idea. It also includes studying the organization and meaning of lingo. The significant elements of any semiotic include content, as well as expression (Littlejohn and Foss, p. 23). Rhetorical evaluation assists in looking into

Write a restaurant proposal Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Write a restaurant - Research Proposal Example Therefore, the Thai restaurant seeks to apply a marketing strategy that is directly opposite to the other restaurants in the neighborhood, where only 30 clients will be served at a time. The Thai restaurant will precisely be located in a busy street location, on 95st and Lexington Ave on Upper East Side, New York City. The choice of the location is based on the fact that; it is a booming and rapidly expanding business area, with exquisite infrastructure and facilities that will complement the services offered by the restaurant. The restaurant will be offering the clients healthy and delicious Thai foods in a modern, casual, and relaxing atmosphere, but with a special touch of Asian cuisines to cater for the diversity of the restaurant products. Thai food and cuisines are recognized worldwide, and it is difficult to lack one or more restaurants serving Thai Foods and Cuisines in most of the renowned Western Countries cities, due to the popularity of the food, which is based on the harmony associated with it (Wiens, 2010). Thai foods have a combination of South East Asia cuisines and some from the western cultures, which are then blended to ensure that such cuisines form a characteristic food combination and diversity of its own (Olmsted, 2013). The idea of establish a Thai restaurant was motivated by other investors who have similar businesses interests, and with a relatively long period of experience in the business. In addition, the proposed restaurant has secured the services of a well experienced chief chef, who has over 10 years of experience in creating and preparing different blended Thai cuisines. From the many years of experience in this field, the investors are confident that the combination of a good location and the offer of authentic Thai cuisines will be a success factor for the business. Further, the business

Arab and Israel Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Arab and Israel - Essay Example They way Israel reacts to these challenges will affect how western world perceives it and may determine whether peace in the Middle East will ever be a reachable goal. Tensions in the region have been high for decades but the Arab uprisings in the spring of 2011 have given cause for heightened concerns for Israel. Many countries in the Middle East such Tunisia, Libya and Egypt have dethroned their leaders and replaced them by democratic process. Syria has been in turmoil for over a year with no end to the bloody conflict expected soon. Egypt was an American ally and has honored its 1979 peace treaty with Israel but what the election of Mohamed Morsi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, will mean to peace is uncertain. Some fear the uprisings may encourage groups such as Hezbollah to the north, Fatah on the west and Hamas to the south to rise up against what they identify as their oppressor, Israel. The combination of recent and distant history may be putting the Israeli government on edge, so much so it’s possible they are overreacting to the latest events in Gaza. Arabs will tell you Israel has been in the habit of overreacting for a long time and present grim evidence in the form of body counts. It has been said that a two-state (Palestinian/Israeli) solution could have produced an enduring peace but no more. Israel has played the bully on the block for too long and no solution will likely ever be viable. A generation of Arabs, along with Persians in Iran and Muslims of all ethnic backgrounds, has witnessed Israel’s encroachment on lands and suppression of Arabs. They have grown up hating Zionists, not necessarily Jews in Israel. Zionist means to support the Jewish state of Israel. The actions and vitriolic words of the war-hawkish Netanyahu have only furthered the Arab mistrust of Israel. He is opposed to a Palestinian state, continues to expand Israeli borders by authorizing the building of

The Second World War Essay Example for Free

The Second World War Essay Priestlys main aim in An Inspector Calls is to draw attention to the roles and consequences of capitalism in society and he achieves this successfully. As he managed to shock audiences of the earlier decades and through the play capitalist attitudes are portrayed as immoral and hypocritical to a modern audience we can see that the play has been successful to a certain extent. J. B. Priestly was born in 1894 and lived through the war. This is important as he witnessed changes in peoples attitudes before and after the year. In order to answer the question, the text must be explored, as must the historical context. It is found that the members of the older generation remain set in their ways and are stubborn. Although the younger generation has been brought up by the older generation, they are generally open to change, but some cannot change because they have been strongly affected by the existing society and are now set in their ways, for example Gerald Croft. Some may see why people are changing but may be afraid to change as their families and friends may turn away and then they would be alone. Businesses and reputations would also be at stake. By conveying this through a family, it becomes easier for the audience to absorb small details that together convey Priestlys view to the audience. An Inspector Calls was written in 1945 (at the end of the Second World War) and was first produced in the same year, although it is set in 1912 before the First World War. This is a key factor in determining the impact of the play. In one of Mr. Birlings speeches at the beginning of the play, he mentions that the Titanic is unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable. This is ironic as the modern audience know that the Titanic did sink, and the earlier audiences would also have known about this [and they may have been close to someone who had died in the event]. This would increase the audiences hatred of capitalists and their views and therefore draws attention to Priestlys main aim. An even more powerful example is the section of the speech referring to war. Just because the Kaiser makes a speech or two, or a few German officers begin talking nonsense, Mr. Birling assumes that there is no chance of a war. However, the audience would certainly know that war was inevitable, a claim to which Mr. Birling exclaims fiddlesticks! Mr. Birling tells everyone that he is a hard-headed, practical man of business and that he says there isnt a chance of war. His arrogance prompts the audience to dislike him immensely, as everyone knows that there was a terrible war. He also mentions that Capitalists cannot let these Bernard Shaws and H. G. Wellses do all the talking. This is also ironic as these two people are still powerful influences and socialist figures, and are recognised widely today whereas very few capitalist figures, if indeed any are recognised today for the better. Mr. Birling clearly represents capitalism within the play and we can see that this is true by looking at his speech and at the manner in which he speaks. A powerful example of this is when he talks about duty. The Inspector says that it is his duty to ask questions. Mr. Birling then says that it his duty to keep labour costs down. He then justifies what he believes to be a perfectly acceptable claim. However, we know that he really means that it is his duty to himself and capitalist society. Therefore he does not have a concept of duty. When the Inspector talks about duty, he uses the word as a moral term; duty to the girl, to society, to truth and to what is right. This is clearly the better use of the word, and demonstrates that Socialist ideas are better than Capitalist ideas. When Eric challenges his fathers action of dismissing Eva Smith, Mr. Birling angrily tells him that its about time [he] learnt to face a few responsibilities. This is ironic as Mr. Birling himself clearly needs to face responsibilities and is telling his son to do this when actually Mr. Birling has no concept of the term responsibility. Therefore, another example of the Capitalist attitude is portrayed to the audience. Such attitudes demonstrate to the audience that the world needs to change and helps them to accept the ideas of socialism. Mr. Birling abuses his power as he uses his status to dismiss Eva Smith from the works. As shed had a lot to say far too much, she had to go. He clearly feels that this justifies his actions and is surprised when both Eric and the Inspector are critical of them. This again shows the upper classes capitalist views and Priestly is attacking them through the Inspectors character.

Body as a form of capital

Body as a form of capital Baudrillard writes that Beauty is such an absolute imperative because its a form of capital (1998: 132). Analyze the role of the body as a form of capital (addressing the specific practices and implications) with reference to one particular form of body work (e.g. an occupation, a consumer practice e.t.c). This essay would focus on the body form of a bodybuilder as a form of capital. Bodybuilding being a form of capital is said to add value to an individuals body. This value could be economic, social, cultural and symbolic (Bourdieu 1986). Physical capital is most usually converted into economic capital (money, goods, services), cultural [for example] education and social capital (social networks which enable reciprocal calls to be made on the goods and services of its members) (Bourdieu 1978, 1984, 1986) in Shilling 2003, p. 111. Our conception of beauty is shaped by the media. Bourdieus analysis of the body involves an examination of the multiple ways in which the body has become commodified in modern societies in Shilling 2003, p. 111. This is why Bourdieus theory of social reproduction would be used intensively to explain why Baudrillard wrote that beauty is such an absolute imperative because its a form of capital (1998: 132). This would be done in relation to Bourdieus physical capital to the body. It was stated by Bourdieu that This refers not only to the bodys implication in the buying and selling of labour power but to the methods by which the body has become a more comprehensive form of body capital; a possessor of power, status, distinctive symbolic forms. (In Shilling 2003, p. 111). So in relation to bodybuilder the practices of the bodybuilder would be taken into account, e.g drug taking to enhance the muscles and the implications of such behavior. Beauty is an absolute essential in our society; it allows for individuals to feel really confident with themselves and hopefully in their endeavors to be able achieve success, as in our current environment greater emphasis is placed on peoples physical appearances. This could make a huge difference between failure and success. This aspect can be linked to Marchands parable of the first impression, which states first impressions brought about immediate success or failureà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ the reason one man gained a promotion or one woman suffered a social snub had become less explicable grounds of long-standing favoritism or family feuds (1985, p. 217). This could be related to bodybuilding as if one is not muscular enough; they might not enter for a show or competition. This idea of presenting ones self in an acceptable manner in a bodybuilding sector of society would have made individuals feel good and helped increase their self esteem amongst their peers thus ensuring happiness; this could hence be linked to the social capital as they would gain increased connections. The implication and practices of being a bodybuilder would most probably be the idea that they are trying to make themselves feel confident in the body they are in. The ideal of feeling confident could be said to be on a personal level, on an economic level for these bodybuilders, they would be able earn money, earn a living for what they do. And on a social capital level, they would be able to earn a status amongst their peers because according to Klein image is everything (1993, p. 3) and that the goals of competitive bodybuilders are not simply to be champions but to become Mr. Olympias and Mr. Universe (Ibid, p. 3). This could also link to the symbolic capital. Contributors to the recently established sociology of the body (e.g. Nettleton and Watson 1998, Shilling 1993) reference Giddens (1991) when contextualizing a burgeoning social scientific interest in bodily matter. According to Giddens, contemporary society (what he terms high or late modernity) is a post traditional order where the self, like the broader institutional context in which it exists, has to be reflexively made (1991: 3) in Monaghan 1993, p. 4. So in relation to the body builders it could be suggested to what Monaghan calls striving to create the perfect body (1999a in Monaghan 1999, p. 708). So in the case of the bodybuilders, they practice using body enhancement medication so that they could work and reach that potential. This can be illustrated again by Monaghan bodybuilding, a project like activity (Bloor et al 1998) adopted by the denizens of the late modernity, represents one choice (among many) for sustaining a coherent narrative of self (Giddens 1991). It can be a rgued that in a post traditional world there is confusion, as science has taken over traditional authority, so it can be argued that bodybuilders take risks. It was stated by Monaghan that bodybuilders who are steroid users, are engaging in chemical, not just social constructions (Bloor et al 1998: 41); hence the beneficial possibilities of science and technology become double edged, creating new parameters for risk (1999, p. 726). Advertising is said to have given rise to why so much importance is placed on the human body. It has always proposed the idea that it can fix any imperfection of the body and that such solutions are available to anyone who is ready. This can be related to Marchands Democracy of goods. Maguire Stanway stated images of ideal bodies seem to be very important in contemporary society (2008: 1). This is why Liess et al 1997: 7 argued that advertising is one of the great vehicles of social communication and Williams [1961] 1993:321 stated that advertising is an institutionalized system of commercial information and persuasion. This may be why it was suggested by Hitzler 1988 that the individual has to recognize and acknowledge the body and self as flawed, inadequate or at least incomplete, and identifying areas for transformation and the appropriate tools, practices and experts to perform that work. The self, in other words, becomes a do-it-yourself project (in Beck and Beck-Gernsheim, 200 2: 3). Consequently, the advertizing system dictates to society what the body should look like. The implication of a bodybuilder, it is the idea of the drug taking. They do not think of the negative consequences that these drugs would have overall on their wellbeing. That is why Giddens argues that the conditions of late modernity have important implication for psychic processes as well as the body. The reflexivity of the self extends to the body, where the body is part of an action system rather than merely a passive object (Giddens 1991: 77) For him the body is reflexively mobilised, available to be worked upon by the influences of high modernity (1991: 218) in Monaghan 1993, p. 5.The advertising system needs conforming/passive individuals so as to achieve their goals. They look for the weaknesses that individuals dread on and use that to their advantage, and those who conform not would most probably not achieve their potential goals. The advertising system makes it a norm that pe oples body is meant to look a certain way, and if you dont look that way that which the system proposes, then the individual would be picked on. With advertising practices constantly being portrayed to the public and the increasing idea given to the public that they can fix whatever faults they have on their body. The more likely individuals are exposed to these ideas, the more they are to succumb to this culture of paying so much attention on their body. Consequently be looked on as being self obsessed. Laschs book called The culture of narcissism describes the major changes that occurred in the 1970s explained by Cashmore 2006: 101, It describes the apotheosis of individualism, in which self centered feeling or conduct reached its highest state of development. After the turbulent 1960s in which people all over the world challenged and subverted traditional ideals, values, and norms [] Their rebellious efforts changed hearts and minds, but not the material facts. So, they retreated to purely personal pre-occupation, according to Lasch, getting in touch with their feeling, eating health food, taking lessons in ballet or belly dancing [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦]overcoming the fear of pleasure. (1980:4) Thus advertising and marketing would constantly be producing the tools for reshaping appearances (Maguire Stanway 2008: PAGE). In the context of bodybuilding, these tools could be the use of drugs/steroids to make their muscles bigger. Bloor et al. 1998 Bodybuilding, perhaps more so than others athletic pursuit, is a socio-cultural environment which normalises the instrumental use (as opposed to abuse) of steroids and accessory drugs (Monaghan 1999, p. 707). Moreover, the implication of bodybuilders would continually change their body so as to continually fit with what the bodybuilding system and advertising has in trend as a result fit in society and feel a sense of belonging. This can be further illustrated by Arnold and Price who stated that the second mode of self-making is the authoritative performance in which feeling of community, acceptance and belonging arise from shared participation or shared rituals (20 00: 155 cited in Maguire Stanway 2008, p. 9). This could be related to the related to the symbolic and the economic capital. The symbolic capital in the sense that society accepts bodybuilders using drug so, when these individuals achieve that body, they would be more likely to get jobs so, it works in a two way advantage, they get the job they want (economic capital) and the bodybuilding industry get the labour that they pay for. In contemporary society, greater emphasis has being placed on the body as well as beauty and being beautiful as its seen as part of forming ones identity. This can be illustrated by Shilling (2003) who argued that there is tendency for the body to become increasingly central to the modern persons sense of self-identity. People are starting to think more and be concerned of how others view and perceive them. This could be said that their body is for other to gaze at it, an example could be given from Pumping Iron 2: The women, the scene at 3 minutes 07 seconds where they all had to show off their body, to an admiring audience who were all applauding. This could be related to the narcissistic self as Cashmore stated the narcissist depends on others to validate his self esteem, observed Lasch. He cannot live without an admiring audience à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ for the narcissist, the world is a mirror (1980: 10 in Cashmore 2006, p. 102). This could be said to a certain extent that these bodybui lders need society to approve of their body. They want their body to be adored. The act of thinking of ones body on how people perceive them could be said to link to the other directed self. (WHICH LINKS TO PARABLE OF FIRST IMPRESSION (EWEN 1999, MARCHAND 1985) this could link to the body form of body builder in the sense that the first impression that one gets from them is that they are very strong. Woodward further stated that one only has to think of the rewards received by professional sports people across the world, to see how bodily performances can be exchanged for financial rewards. Nightclubs and discos frequently employ body-builders as bouncers, while prostitutes use their bodies to earn a living Woodward 1997: 88. It can be argued that different classes treat their bodies differently, as Shilling stated according to Bourdieu that the working class tend to develop an instrumental relation to their body as they have little time free from necessity. The body is a means to a n end à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ 2003, p. 114. It was also argued that workers who use their bodies all day in heavy manual labor tend to have little time for what they see as pretension of jogging and health and fitness centres [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] the working class are concerned to spend their efforts on weightlifting and activities directed towards strength, both field in which manual dominance can be asserted (ibid: 114). So in relation to the body form of a bodybuilder, according to Bourdieus theory, they would be classed as a working class, as they are only wanting to survive and strive through life with what their body can achieve for them financially. Whereas it can be said in relation to Bourdieus theory that the dominant class differ such gratification, the dominant class, used their body for cultural, social capital etc this can be illustrated by Shilling who stated that dominant classes have the time and resources to treat the body as a project with variants according to whether the e mphasis is placed on the intrinsic functioning of the body as an organism, which leads to the macrobiotic cult of health, or on the appearance as a perceptible configuration, the physique, i.e. the body for other (Bourdieu, 1978: 838; 1984: 212- 13). The dominant class tend not to be overly concerned with producing a large, strong body, but with a slim body better suited to the world in which economic practice is constituted more strongly by the presentation of self (Wilkes, 1990: 118) in Shilling, p. 114 The body is also said to have possessed power and freedom in our current society whereas in previous society (Traditional Society) there were restrictions and people did not have the choice to do what they wanted. The personality rather than character has come to be much more important in contemporary society which was stated by Warren 1979: 212-26 in Ewen 1999). Thus great power is placed on the individual, as a result, they are allowed to do what they want with that power, consequently, citizenship duty and work no longer seem to be important rather attractiveness, creativity and a fascinating personality is much more preferred in the society. As it was further argued by Shilling from Bourdieus angle that in traditional societies, power is exercised more directly by one embodied individual over another, whereas in contemporary society the modern body has a far more complex role in the exercise of power and the reproductions of social inequalities (2003). That power in relation to t he bodybuilder is the possession of medicine. Monaghan stated Empirical data on perceptions of the medical profession, risk, and bodybuilders various sources of ethno-scientific knowledge, suggest that medicine is simply one authority among many in the construction of the self and the body within late modernity'(1999: 707). This refers to the muscle enhancement drugs. Baudrillards point of view, he suggests that the body has today become an object of salvation (Baudrillard 1998). This further illustrates how the body is viewed in contemporary society and portrays the amount of freedom that individuals possess thus bodybuilder take pride in themselves and worship their body as they believe it is the way they would be able to achieve their goals. This can be related to the culture of narcissism based on the individuals point of view as Cashmore stated that there are two dimensions of the culture of narcissism: on one hand swatches of people abandoned their collective endeavours and co ntented themselves with individual quests for satisfaction and happiness: yet, on the other, they depend on each other for confirmation that they are looking and feeling good (2006: 102). This therefore means that, although they have this individual power, they still need other people to validate them. Baudrillard (1998), the body is no longer flesh [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] but is taken up again in its materiality as narcissistic cult object so in relation to body building, it could be seen that individuals who take part in these activities are vain and think too much about themselves. Cashmore in relation to the narcissistic self that these individuals are getting in touch with their primordial sense of self (2006) According to Shilling 1993 the idea of physical capital is easily grasped by thinking of ways in which sports men and women convert physical ability into income or the ways that models, or even prostitutes use their bodies for material gain (www.aare.edu.au.01pap/lig01450.htm). Of course the ways in which the opposing classes of our society use their body would be totally different. And it could be said they view beauty differently because of the way the body is treated, to illustrate this idea Shilling argued that bodies are also formed through the development of taste [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] preferences, lifestyles which are rooted in material constraints (2003: 113). Bourdieu also argued that the act of labour are required to turn bodies into social entities and that these act influences, people develop and hold the physical shape of their bodies and learn how to present their bodies through styles of walk, talk and dress in Shilling 2003: 112. Thus it can be argued that both types of b odies are a source of physical capital. Consequently, the body bears the indisputable imprint of an individuals social class (Bourdieu, 1984) in Shilling 2003, p. 112. Thus, people develop preferences for what is available to them Shilling 2003, p. 113 Lasch saw no harm in any of these pursuits in themselves, but he rued the break with history, the turning away from collective activity, and the switch from trying to change society to changing oneself. Personal well-being health, and psychic security became the motivating goal for the generation that had earlier wanted to change the world (Cashmore 2006: 102) From a theoretical stance one could posit that it is only within a deregulated and essentially postmodern world, where people have the freedom to explore the self and the body in new ways (Kelleher et al. 1994: xxii) that such activity is possible. An empirical illustration of the thesis that the body is less and less an intrinsic given, that we perceive them to be more pliable and are actively seeking to alter, improve and refine them (Giddens 1991, Nettleton and Watson 1998) in Monaghan 1999, p. 708 This is because an individuals body is never fully finished. While the body is implicated in society, it is constantly affected by social, cultural and economic processes (Bourdieu, 1985) in Shilling 2003, p. 116 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. With the resources, to treat the body as a lifelong project. 2003, p. 112 Bourdieu states bodies are involved in the creation and reproduction of social differences, more specially, they bear the imprint of social class because of three main factors: an individuals social location; their formation of their habitus; and the development of their taste in Woodward (1997). This can then be said as to why Bourdieu believe that the body is a bearer of value in contemporary society in Shilling 2003, p. 111. And that the body is in continuation of many changes this is why Bourdieu emphasized The body is an unfinished entity which develops in conjunction with various social forces and is integral to the maintenance of social inequalities à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ in Shilling 2003, p. 113 WORD COUNT 3,067

Causes of the English Civil War :: essays research papers

The civil war broke out in 1642, and was a war that is within a country, it has many reasons for happening. This essay will explain and categorise the main cause’s fop the civil war. I will start by listing the genres of events. In the 1640’s power and politics were vital for social standard and anyone with power was important and respected so naturally and event such as the civil war would have had politics as one of the main issues for happening. Charles becoming king was obviously a cause because it was his decisions that influenced the war itself and him who raised the flag. Also in 1629 Charles decided to close down parliament because he felt they were exerting too much power than they should, also it almost seems as if Charles is afraid of parliament or jealous because he feels that he is entitled to the â€Å"divine right of kings† and seeing parliament using all this power made him feel as if he was less and not as important. This was then followed by the â€Å"eleven years of tyranny† which ended in 1640 when he recalled parliament due to shortage of money and mistakes he had made. An interesting decision Charles made was to marry Henrietta a foreign royal, some people would have said this was purely religiously influenced because she was a catholic and people feared he married her because his desire was to make England catholic. Others have said that it was a power driven choice because he wanted to unite the two countries and gain more power. There are other more religious based events such as when Charles ordered Henry Laud to make a new prayer book which was to be read around the England. This caused an outrage between his people who could now no longer trust him. As if this wasn’t enough he then ordered the book to be read in Scotland this was in 1637 and was possibly one of his worst choices, this was because at the time Scots were angry that Charles hadn’t turned protestant because he was raised as protestant and on top of that they were extremely insulted that Charles would even for a second believe that they would accept this book. This t hen resulted in rampage and violence so the book was taken away. The saying â€Å"money is the root of all evil† applies strongly in the making of the civil war.

Human Culture and its Effects on Technology Essay -- Technology Techno

Human Culture and its Effects on Technology A fluid border exists between the influences of culture and technology on the environment. Culture is generally defined as the predominating modes of thinking and behaving that characterize the workings of a group, while technology is the collection of knowledge available to a society that aids it in crafting tools, practicing arts and skills, and extracting or accumulating materials. In some instances, a people's culture drives its pursuit of more highly advanced technologies, while in other cases the implementation of newfound technology alters and shapes culture. These relationships are clearly visible throughout the course of human history. This paper focuses on the effects of early human culture on the progress of technological advances. Some cultural developments with significant impacts on human technology that are especially of note are religion, warfare, and the value system of wealth. George Basalla writes that "necessity spurs on inventive effort" (6). Humans develop technology to meet their perceived needs, though need is a relative term. Technology may serve entirely different purposes within various groups of people, which indicates that it obtains its importance within a specific cultural framework (Basalla 12). Some cultures developed religion and brought it into their lives, which in turn yielded new technological innovation. Great intellectual leaps are also considered technology, and religion encouraged one of the most important: a system of writing. Writing is believed to have developed alongside religious practices, due to the necessity of timing rituals. This need brought the calendar into the world, as well as a new system of communication (Ehrlich 224). Writ... ...an culture has proven itself to be highly influential in the progress of technology. From key aspects of early culture, including religion, war, and concepts of wealth, have stemmed great technological achievements that have forever altered the culture of today. Works Cited: Basalla, George. The Evolution of Technology. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1988. Chant, Colin. Pre-Industrial Cities and Technology. Routledge Press, 1999. Ehrlich, Paul. Human Natures: Genes, Cultures, and the Human Prospect. Island Press, 2000. Hirth, Kenneth. "Militarism and Social Organization at Xochicalco, Morelos." The Ancient Civilizations of Mesoamerica: A Reader, ed. Smith and Masso. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishers, 2000. Ponting, Clive. A Green History of the World: The Environment and the Collapse of Great Civilizations. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1991.

William the Conqueror :: essays research papers

He was the son of Robert, Duke of Normandy, his mother, Herleva, the daughter of a tanner of Falaise. In 1035 William’s father Robert, Duke of Normandy, went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, in which he died. Before starting the pilgrimage, he presented to the nobles his seven year old child demanding their allegiance. "He is little", the father said, "but he will grow, and, if God please, he will mend." William, after a period of anarchy, became the ruler of Normandy in his father's place at the age of nine. William had a youth of clean life and of much natural piety, while the years of storm and stress through which he passed gave him an endurance of character which lasted to his life's end. During the time of anarchy in Normandy he became a skilled military leader and defeated his enemies, uniting his duchy. Once he began fighting, rumor has it that he never lost a battle. In 1047 a serious rebellion of nobles occurred, and William with the aid of King Henry of France, gained a great victory at Val-à ¨s-Dunes, near Caen. Which led to the capture of the two strong castles of Alenà §on and Domfront. Using this as his base of operations, the young duke, in 1054 made himself master of the province of Maine and became the most powerful vassal of the French Crown, able on occasion to bid defiance to the king himself. William even married Matilda, the daughter of the Earl of Flanders, in 1053,in spite of the papal prohibition. In 1066 when his claim to the English throne was threatened by Harold Godwinson. Due to the fact that Harold Godwinson overlooked the dead king's wishes. Edward the Confessor, sworn his loyalty to William of Normandy when he died not to Harold. Harold Godwinson promptly had himself proclaimed king. It was only a matter of months before William, Duke of the large and powerful duchy of Normandy in France, paid Harold a visit to bring to his remembrance his own claim to the throne. William raised an army of Normans by promising them land and wealth when he came into his rightful kingship. October 14th 1066 he and William fought at the famous battle of Hastings. William and his army of Normans came, saw, and conquered. True to his promise to his fellow warriors, William systematically replaced the English nobility with Norman barons and noblemen who took control of the land, the people, and the government.

Evaluation for Firebirds Wood Fired Grill Essay

Eating out is a treat for me. I occasionally call up some family and/or friends and treat myself to a nice dinner. There are many restaurants in my hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina to choose from, but there is one in particular where I love to spend my hard earned money. Firebirds Wood Fired Grill located at Northlake Mall Dr. has become my new favorite place to dine for dinner on the weekends. Firebirds have the three qualities I look for when I visit a restaurant for the first time: great ambiance, excellent service and good food.The atmosphere of a restaurant sets the mood for any dining experience. Owner Dennis Thompson created a well-defined gap between casual and fine dining. The aura of Firebirds is meant to imitate that of a ski lodge in Aspen. Warm lighting, complimented by fire colored chandeliers, gives this restaurant a nice tone for an engaging conversation with your significant other or some good laughs with some friends or family. Firebirds, also has a separate lounge area for those who just want to go straight to happy hour after work. I call this area, â€Å"the kick back and let your hair down section†. The beautiful stone fireplace, the wall of 500 bottles of wine, and the beautiful bold color seating sets the mood for a great evening out with coworkers after work or a place to have a drink and appetizer after shopping in the mall. Valet, Hostesses and Servers are all apart of Firebirds seamless service. The Valet does a great job with promptly parking and retrieving my car. Hostesses are always in place as you walk in so that you won’t have that confused look wondering if you seat yourself or wait for assistance. The servers are very professional and polite. They are able to answer questions about menu items while waiting patiently for you to complete your order. I love the fact that they are prompt with getting your appetizers out to you well before my entrà ©e. They were also attentive to refilling my glass when it was getting low. Entrà ©es are prepared nicely and cooked to your liking. If you’re not satisfied the servers have no problem with taking it back immediately for correction. The cook and the manager come to your table and make sure your meal is superb.Based on the name, one might assume that Firebirds is a steakhouse concept, but steaks are only half of the menu. Firebirds menu have a good level of diversity. You can get anything from a big juicy burger to a lobster dinner. This upscale restaurant can be a little pricey compared to other bar and grill places, but it’s worth it. To start, I love to get the lobster queso dip and chips and their famous onion rings for my appetizers. Firebirds steaks are pretty good, but I prefer the salmon with light seasoning. My most favorite meal at Firebirds is a salad, yes a salad. The Strawberry and Shrimp salad is simply delicious, besides the obvious it has spiced pecans, goat cheese crumbs and jicama tossed in a homemade vinaigrette dressing. This salad packs a lot of flavor and is quite fulfilling. I may call up my girls on Friday and pay Firebirds a visit.Every dining experience I’ve had with Firebirds has been persistent. The complimentary valet parking is greatly appreciated especially since the restaurant is connected to North Lake Mall. The atmosphere in Firebirds is inviting, the service is great and the food is delicious. What more do you need in a restaurant? Perhaps live entertainment on Friday evenings wouldn’t be such a bad idea though.

Food Critique History Essay

Food history is an interdisciplinary field that examines the history of food, and the cultural, economic, environmental, and sociological impacts of food. Food history is considered distinct from the more traditional field of culinary history, which focuses on the origin and recreation of specific recipes. Food historians look at food as one of the most important elements of cultures, reflecting the social and economic structure of society. Food history is a new discipline, considered until recently a fringe discipline. The first journal in the field, Petits Propos Culinaires was launched in 1979 and the first conference on the subject was the Food & History is a multilingual (French, English, German, Italian and Spanish) scientific journal that has been published since 2003. Food & History is the biannual scientific review of the European Institute for the History and Cultures of Food (IEHCA) based in Tours. It publishes papers about the history and culture of food. The review  Food & History is the biannual scientific review of the Institut Europeen d’Histoire et des Cultures de l’Alimentation / European Institute for the History and Culture of Food (IEHCA) in Tours, France. Founded in 2003, it is the first journal in Europe, both in its vocation and concept, specialised in the specific field of food history. Food & History aims at presenting, promoting and diffusing research that focuses on alimentation from an historical and/or cultural perspective. The journal studies food history (from prehistory to the present), food archaeology, and food culture from different points of view. It embraces social, economic, religious, political, agronomical, and cultural aspects of food and nutrition. It deals at the same time with questions of food consumption, production and distribution, with alimentation theories and practices (medical aspects included), with food-related paraphernalia and infrastructures, as well as with culinary practices, gastronomy, and restaurants. Being positioned at the cross-roads of the humanities and social sciences, the review deliberately promotes interdisciplinary research approaches. Although most contributions are concerned with European food history, the journal principally also welcomes articles on other food cultures. Food & History is a fully-fledged academic journal which applies the usual methodical instruments for assessing incoming articles, i. e. a double-blind reviewing process by external referees, recruited from a large and ever-growing intercontinental pool of experts in the field of social and cultural food studies. Food & History belongs to a decreasing spectrum of journals which openly expresses its European and international character by accepting manuscripts in five European languages (English, French, Spanish, Italian, and German). Food & History gains official recognition from the Institut des Sciences Humaines et Sociales of the CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) and is indexed by the European Reference Index for the Humanities (ERIH) of the European Science Foundation (History category B). Food & History can be published thanks to the financial support from the Ministere de l’Education nationale, Ministere de l’enseignement superieur et de la recherche, Universite Francois-Rabelais de Tours, and the Conseil Regional du Centre. [edit] History Food and History was created by a network of academic researchers and students, with the help of the French Ministry for National Education and the University of Tours. The journal is sustained by the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS)[1] and is cited by the European Science Foundation in its European Reference Index for the Humanities (ERIH)[2]. The launch of Food & History was on the one hand a logical fruit of the foundation of the European Institute for the History of Food in December 2000 in Strasbourg (redefined in 2005 as European Institute for the History and Culture of Food), and on the other hand a clear manifestation of the gradual breakthrough of social and cultural food studies as an independent field of research during the first decades of the 21st century. The emergence of this sub-discipline had, of course, been anticipated in an impressive record of food-related research, conducted by scholars from adjacent fields, such as e.g. economic history, agricultural history, history of the body etc. However, the scholars behind these pioneering works were generally operating on a rather individual base and they would not have defined themselves as food historians. It was only with the foundation of the journal Food and Foodways in 1986 and of the International Commission for Research into European Food History (ICFREH) by Hans-Jurgen Teuteberg in Munster 1989 that a first infrastructural framework for social and cultural  food studies was provided. In the decades around the turn of the century, a lot of new food-related research initiatives became visible, thus demonstrating the vitality of this research area. In 1997, the Department of History at the University of Adelaide established a Research Centre for the History of Food and Drink. In 2001, a new web-journal The Anthropology of Food was launched and in 2004 the American Association for the Study of Food and Society re-launched a journal, entitled Food, Culture and Society. Around the turn of the century, due to – amongst others – new appointments in the editorial board, the research interest of the journal Food and Foodways changed in a two-fold sense: on the one hand â€Å"it shifted away from familiar disciplines (history, sociology, ethnology) toward ‘unexpected’ones (communication sciences, linguistics, tourism)†, on the other hand it became increasingly dominated by Anglo-Saxon input, especially from scholars from the USA, whereas the influence of the traditional French research schools significantly diminished. Some scholars argue that this ‘exotic’ publication strategy of Food and Foodways may have led to the launch of the new food history journal Food & History. Be that as it may, it was from the very start of the European Institute for the History of Food obvious that this new Europe-wide food research initiative should be accordingly accompanied by the launch of a new publication platform. And so happened: three years after its foundation, the IEHA announced the introduction of a new journal, Food & History, which still appears under the aegis of IEHCA, represented by its director Francis Chevrier (series editor). It started with a 7-persons board, consisting of four historians, one sinologist, one sociologist and Secretary Christophe Marion. As from volume 4. 2 (publication year 2006), the editorial board was almost doubled, with the addition of a philologist, archaeologist, classicist, and three historians. After a transition period and the appointment of a new secretary in 2007, the journal has been increasingly professionalised, amongst others by the introduction of a new uniform style sheet (link) and by the application of a comprehensive peer reviewing system (starting with volume 5. 1). These assessments are usually carried out on an entirely honorary base. However, by way of acknowledgement, the names of external referees are regularly published, usually in the last issue of each volume. Another development that bears witness of the increasing professionalisation of the journal was the change in its direction. During the initial period, Massimo Montanari had served as editor in chief, but in 2008 the editorial board declared itself openly in favour of a new dual leading structure, which rotates among the board members, giving each tandem a triennial turn (which is once renewable for another turn of three years). During a transitional year (2009), Montanari was accompanied by Allen Grieco and Peter Scholliers, who in the subsequent year took over the torch of the journals direction. Yet another step towards further professionalisation was the introduction of a group of corresponding members as from 2010, with the aim to represent the journal’s interests in different world regions and to establish a permanent flow of food research related information between these regions and the journal’s â€Å"headquarters†.