Why is technology such an important part of academic life Essay

Why is technology such an important part of academic life - Essay Example Companies and individuals apply technology in the daily life to achieve certain goals and objectives since technology has the capacity to enhance effectiveness, efficiency, improved performance, and ease of doing work. The academic sector is one of the sectors that rely on technology to achieve certain goals. Notably, technology is very significant to the students as it helps them in learning, research, interacting among other functions. It is thus clear that nowadays technology has become a very important thing in our daily and academic life, because it makes it faster and easier, useful for students, and tutors to be successful in the education sector. Body Numerous benefits make technology an important part of academic life in the modern world and thus we cannot ignore the significance of technology in this sector. The internet is part of the technologies that we experience in academic life where it acts as a great source of information. The technological networks help in passing academic information between students across the globe. Indeed, because of the internet and the presence of technological networks, the academic can now adopt online education where students in very remote areas can access high quality education across the internet (Williams 1). Through online learning, students can acquire online degrees and training courses, which enhance the rise of literacy levels and professionalism in the world. Online learning allows for a flexible acquisition of education, as students are free to learn when they want while they engage in other endeavors. Because of the World Wide Web, academic information can now reach a wide range of academicians through the computer networks. Moreover, the use of technology has made teaching and learning interesting and thus enhancing overall academic performance. Technology derives flexibility in the academic sector where students and tutors can retrieve entertaining information from the internet with little effort. Such information is equally easy to understand thus motivating students to perform better. Technology, which encompasses computers, has the capacity to store and present information that makes the learning process much easier and more effective (Williams 1). This may come inform of lecture notes, educational CDs, PDFs, and various literatures, which reside on certain websites making the access and sharing of academic information more efficient. Additionally, technology improves learning and academic success among rural, urban, and students of all backgrounds and abilities thus helping them to meet their academic goals (Jobe 1). Technology helps new and potential teachers to research on their subjects of concern thus leading to highly qualified tutors who enhance overall academic performance. In fact, technology helps teachers to upgrade their knowledge, skills, and credentials in core academic subjects (Jobe 1).Technology is also significant to school administrators as it helps them to c ollect and store relevant academic data, which consequently helps them to make decisions and implement educational policies (Jobe 1). Technology also enhances online research which promotes analytical and problem solving skills as students work individually and collectively to gather information and draw relevant conclusions. It also encourages the development of learning skills, such as interpersonal, writing, thinking, reading and math skills, information and communication skills (Jobe 1). Technology contributes to the decline in the number of school dropouts, improves student attendance, and motivates students to learning since it makes the process of learning very entertaining and less challenging. More so, technology allows students in their higher education to establish a

Southwest Airlines: Culture and Structure

Southwest Airlines: Culture and Structure This report gives a brief summary of the strategic control systems within south-west airlines. The report reveals that the company has been able to uphold their culture and structure through the use of mission, vision and objectives. It is these that have helped it in their strategic planes, competitive advantage, corporate strategic and operational strategies. The same goals have also guided how the company is able to uphold and motivate their employees in order to realize productivity and give quality service to their customers. Strategic management entails the management of resources through the use of tools like mission, vision, goals, values, roles, objectives, based on a timeline and responsibilities. Strategy in an organization is achieved through organization structure, culture, people and control systems Buller Schuler. (2006). Therefore, in looking at the strategic management design of Southwest airlines, this paper shall detail its organization structure, culture, people and control systems. The airline has managed to keep its head above waters despite the crisis like terrorism, recession and high fuel prices that have locked the airline industry. This has been associated to several advantages and strengths the company has been able to enjoy over the years as compared to their competitors Southwest airlines (2010). This airlines culture revolves around the welfare of their employees base on their principle employees are first and customers are second. This reflects the managements belief in the delivery of excellent service to the employees and the provision of job security. It is this culture that led them to cut back on flights rather than lay off employees during the recession and global economic crisis. This is the management principle that has been upheld by the company for many years, so that the company and the employees are able to prosper in bad times. The airline has been trying to uphold the principle of low operational cost, low borrowing, and a high cash flows Southwest airlines (2010). The company is able to value the employees such that they offer them compensation and benefits from profits and surpluses. This is seen as a means to encourage employees to perform and increase their production. The corporate culture of employee motivation, compensation and assurance of job security is the guiding principle that ha enabled the employees of southwest airlines to have high job performance. At the same time, these employees are encouraged to value their work and the airline as a whole. This aspect has been associated to the contribution of stability and security in the work in the company. therefore, the implementation of a no lay off policy in this company has been the main reason the airline has been able to maintain high rates of employee retention. Buller Schuler (2006) postulate that another corporate culture that guides the company, is their ability to encourage union members and negotiator to conduct employees surveys, before they commence any contract negotiation. This aspect has helped the company to focus on the issues that concern the company and the employees. It is this concern that is associated with the promotion and encouragement of employees and the creation of an employee friendly environment. The airline has been able to effectively use team work and tam building actitivities to motivate and guide the performance of their teams and workplace. The creation of teams and the provision of skills in team resolution, team work and team harmony is another corporate culture that guides the workplace of southwest airlines (Southwest airlines, 2010). This is seen as the airlines most important function used in the management of their teams. The management of such teams involves conflict resolution awareness where they have an overview of the resolutions. The teams are also stimulated scenarios, coaching, training, learning and human resources development programs which they use in the workplace. When discussing strategic management, it is vital that strategy formulation is also incorporated (Buller Schuler, 2006). This is because through strategy formulation one is ale to realize how effective an organization is able to effectively meet their missions, visions, goals and objects as well as manage their resources. Strategic formulation entails three processes, these are diagnosis; is the formulation of a situational analysis of the internal condition of the organization. Looking at the corporate structure of southwest airlines, we find that they are able to make use of their situational analysis where management is involved in the identification of the organizations objectives, the current projects, any current strategies, plus the strengths and weaknesses of the organization. The airline has been able to identify projects, plan and lay down strategies that will help their teams to achieve the project goals. The management of the airline has the sole responsibility of guiding and training staff and employees on strategy formulation. This is also seen as very vital in the creation of a competitive advantage within their industry. The company has been able to critically identify their organizational environment and identify their opportunities in the market that give them an advantage over their competition. Strategy formulation should also help guide the company towards the creation and achievement of their mission, vision, goals and objectives. The mission of Southwest airlines focuses on their employees and customers (Southwest airlines, 2010). The airline has gained and kept their customers by giving exceptional customer service which has provided for by the employees who are seen as the cornerstone of the company. This mission therefore, sets southwest airlines apart from other airlines since they are able to treat their customers like they are all in first class. These first class services can only be seen as being provided for to first class customers in other airlines. Therefore by having mission statement that directs their strategies and goals towards the provision of first class service to its customers makes southwest airlines have a unique relationship with the customers. This is the same mission that also guides the employees, and the workplace performance. Looking at the case of Southwest airlines their mission has enabled them to develop their corporate level strategies. This is due to their strategic portion which is at all levels of Southwests business, and which starts with its workforce, this implies that they carefully select and train their employees to show and depict the image of the company. in addition, those who apply to work in Southwest are put through a selection process, which is strenuous since the company is aimed on getting people who have the right attitudes to the company. Additionally, the company invests heavily in treating its employees well. For example, southwest airlines are able to practice profit sharing with the employees. This is very vital since they encourage employees to personally have a vested interest in the company. This has created a room for salary negotiations. They also give their employees good medical and dental benefits that are important in this age of rising healthcare costs. Moreover, the y have good salaries, profit sharing, health care programs which are tools southwest airlines uses to retain the valuable employees. A view at their missions and objectives reveals that have influenced their operational strategies and competitive strategies. This is seen where they assign their staff roles through informal job descriptions which are concerned with customer service. Their mission, vision and objectives have also affected their corporate governance that is both the mechanistic model and organic model. This is because, at the flight crew level and corporate level, the mechanistic model is used, whilst at the lower structural levels, where there is no use for safety and time, the organic model is used. The airline also fore went the functional structure which was common with its competitors, they decided to have a positive equalitarian culture that created the positive equity based culture seen today. It is this cultural approach that contributed significantly to Southwest airline having the lowest employee turnover, and the highest level of consumer satisfaction. In conclusion we have seen that the airline has been able to effectively make use of their corporate mission, vision, objectives and goals to direct their management, culture, structure and the resources.

stop the violence (SPAIN) Essay example -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Basta. Enough. This word exemplifies the growing attitude toward the violence in the Spanish nation caused by the cultural differences between its Spanish and Basque inhabitants. The 2.1 million people of Euskadi, the Basque area of Spain, speak a different language than typical Spaniards, have a separate culture and society from that of Spain; and have a history of their own. Throughout the decades, these major cultural differences contained within the borders of Spain have continued to cause conflict between the Spanish people and the people of the Basque area. Many within la comunidad autà ³noma del paà ­s vasco, the autonomous community of the Basque country, have long been seeking to free it from the confines of Spanish borders and have proceeded to do so in a terrorist fashion, although recently there have been attempts by the Basques nationalists to work towards more peaceful relations with the Spanish government.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ETA is a Basque separatist organization in Spain that has taken up many violent practices in its efforts to gain independence for the Basque state. Standing for Euzkadi Ta Azkatasuna, meaning â€Å"Basque Homeland and Liberty,† this group grew out of the Partido Nacionalista Vasco, also known as the Basque Nationalist Party or PNV. Since the PNV was outlawed by dictator Francisco Franco, ETA retained its headquarters secretly in Paris during his reign. For the past 31 years, it has been the origin of numerous terrorist attacks, bombings, protests, and murders. It is the key player in the violence that has plagued Spain and its Basque area.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Basque region of Spain jumped back into the world arena most recently beginning in late 1997. By this time, the regional government there had gained partial autonomy from Madrid. It had been permitted home rule by the Spanish Constitution and elected its own Parliament with taxing power and a 6,000 member regional police force. The elected Assembly and administration there controlled education, cultural affairs, social services, and created jobs for its people. It was in December of this year that the 23 leaders of Herri Batasuna (HB), the political voice of ETA, were arrested and sentenced to seven-year jail terms for making a video extolling the terrorist acts of the ETA. This decision by three Spanish judges marked t... ...The New York Times. 19 December 1998, p. A6. 7.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Goodman, Al. â€Å"Spain Making Contact With Basque Rebels.† The New York Times. 4 November 1998, p. A4. 8.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Goodman, Al. â€Å"Voting in Basque Region Helps Moderates, and Peace.† The New York   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Times. 26 October 1998, p A11. 9.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Now for votes: Spain and the Basques.† The Economist. 26 September 1998, p. 53. 10.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"The Peace Dividend of a More United Europe.† Business Week. 29 March 1999, p. 57. 11.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"SEVILLE.† Time International. 9 February 1998, p. 10. 12.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Spanish Basque Rebel Chief Seized in Paris With 5 Aides.† The New York Times. 10   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  March 1999, p. A8. 13.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Valls-Russell, Janice. â€Å"Reigning in Spain: a tribute to diversity.†The New Leader. 6 October 1997, p. 8-9. 14.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"What’s new? Spain and the Basques.† The Economist. 6 December 1997, p. 57. STOPPING THE VIOLENCE THE MOVE TOWARD PEACE IN SPAIN’S BASQUE REGION

‘Coming Home’ by Marjorie Waters Essay

‘Coming Home’ by Marjorie Waters is a personal essay which describes the author’s feelings upon returning home after a long time and how she recovers from her deep grief caused by losing a loved one to death. The author narrates how she walks around the house, pulling back the curtains, dusting the dirt off, making tea etc., doing chores that make her feel at home again. Simultaneously, she is opening the doors of her soul to freshen it with the feeling of ‘coming back to home’, to finally realise that the bad phase doesn’t last forever. The author begins by writing ‘After the cruelest of winters, the house still stood’. Literally, this line reflects the entire essence of this essay. She makes an analogy between coming home and the end of her grief. She writes about how surprised she is to see her house in a good condition in spite of the havoc wreaked upon it by the wilderness of the nature. Though there were a few breakages here and there, it still stood firmly. Similarly, there too had been a wild ‘winter’ in her life, the death of a beloved one that had broken her from the inside. Homecoming, after a long time, was the end of her grief. She goes in the rooms, pulls back the curtain so that the daylight drives away the long lingering darkness that there was, as the dust particles shimmer in the light and settle back again. During the night, she makes for herself a cup of tea, and reminisces about the sudden and tragic death of her beloved one, which had almost completely destroyed her zest for life. She thinks about what the passers-by, obviously the neighbours, would say when they look at the house, the windows of which now are open and the light in the rooms now illuminates the house. Her return to her place would be known. She reminisces about the dark time period in her life which had left her lurking in the past, which had cut her loose from everything that made her feel at home. She was caught in her ‘own cold storm’. When people came to offer her condolences, they would only talk about the burden of loss but actually, all she felt was ‘weightlessness’. She felt that the world had pushed her away, the distance she would never be able to cover. But the winter had passed and so had her grief. The author writes, ‘I had feared that, in my absence, the space that I had left behind would close over from misuse’. She implies that she had been afraid that this tragedy might cause such melancholy that she would never be able to come out of it, just like  she feared that the gruesome winters would destroy the house. But the house had survived and she too had managed to pull out the strength in her and face the reality. She revives with a new enigma of hope that life will get better, that the grief will not always let the sadness prevail. According to me, the title of the lesson is very much appropriate. She equates the harsh season of the winters to the tragedy that occurred in her life. By ‘coming home’, she hasn’t just come back to a place where she once lived, she has come back to herself, to realise that the ‘winter’ of her life is gone. The grief could no longer sustain, and she had come out if it. She had finally come home, and come back to herself.

International Students Essay

It is said that â€Å"challenges are the tools for bringing one’s inner strength out†. Being an International student I strongly believe in the above saying. Challenges faced by International students can be know well-before in the home country or most of the time the challenges are know after visiting the foreign country. Challenges faced by an international student can be compared to a young child going to the school for the first time. The only difference is that, the young child has to be convinced to go to school while, the International student has already made a decision to go to a foreign country. The young child is sent to school to learn new things which would help him/her in the future similarly international student moves out of his/her home country to learn new things by getting the international exposure. The young child, when he enters the school and his parents leave him alone for the school time, the child is nervous. Once the parents leave the child, he is in a new environment where he finds many children same as him and starts observing them. Teacher tries to create the type of environment which would make the children feel good; however the child does not like it-because humans do not like changes. For initial time period every day the child faces a challenge of going to school and then a day comes when he start adjusting himself to the school environment and then the things starts changing. Similar is the case of an international student, most of the international students face challenges in their initial time period usually first 30 to 60 days. When the international student leaves his home country he is nervous because he is going to a new country where things are going to be different and all new. He has lots of excitement of entering in a new country but is still a bit nervous until he starts observing new things. University in which the international student is going to study is the environment in which he is going to adjust. He has a challenge of adjusting himself to the new country, new accommodation, new system of education, new way of leaving, new climate and on top of all this adjusting with new people. As time passes he observes people, makes new friends, learns new things, starts enjoying his studies and learns to manage things on his own. With all the learning, International students do start missing, their family, their friends and all other loved ones back in their home country and sometimes feel like they should go back to their home country rather than staying here and this the most important challenge everyone faces and I am 110% sure each and every International student must have faced this strong challenge, but like that young child every international student convinces his mind and stays back to achieve their goal. Still International students have an ongoing challenge for their bright career. Being an international student, I would salute all international students for facing all the challenges boldly and strongly. I wish all of you Good Luck for future!!