Law - Tort of Negligence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Law - Tort of Negligence - Essay Example Before then, the courts studied the circumstances of the case and so if there was precedent and decided, based on all these, if the plaintiff was entitled to redress. Tort of negligence There was no set rule defining what negligence was. It was in the case of Donoghue vs. Stevenson where negligence as a rule first arose (Oliphant,2005. P. 325). In this case the plaintiff’s friend offered her a ginger beer that was manufactured by the defendants. The drink was contained in an opaque bottle. She poured some of the beer and drank it. When she poured some more, she discovered that the drink had contained a decomposed snail. She then became sick because of the disgust from the thought that she had been drinking the remains of the decomposed snail. She sued the manufacturers. The defendants argued that if they had a contract, it was between them and the plaintiff’s friend, who was in fact the one who bought the drink. They therefore didn’t have a contract with the plai ntiff and didn’t even know her. So they had no liability. From the courts arguments in this case, three major points came out- Contract fallacy: The court agreed that one doesn’t need to have contractual relations with someone else in order to be liable to that person. This point shot down the defendants’ argument. ... who are in my contemplation when I am directing my mind to the acts or omissions in question.† This point showed that the defendant did indeed owe the plaintiff a duty of care. The principle of product liability: This principle states that the manufacturer of a defective product is liable to the ultimate consumer who receives that product. This principle has since then evolved and gone on to serve new purposes. This case went up to the House of Lords and they agreed that the defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care. The factors of whether there was a breach of that duty and whether damage occurred were not brought up in this case because the defendants feared the bad publicity that the case had brought and decided to settle it with the plaintiff outside the court. The court decided that there were three main ingredients to the tort of negligence: The defendant must owe a duty of care to the plaintiff there must be a breach of that duty, and the breach must result in damage. Breach of duty to take care Thus the first thing that the cricket club ought to ask itself was whether the Brunel owed it a duty of care. From there the cricket club must establish whether Brunel breached the duty of care. This comes about where the defendant failed to take reasonable care. Reasonableness may vary with circumstances e.g. if someone is handling a box of sweets, the reasonable care required may be much less than that which is required while handling a box of explosives. The case of Blyth vs. Birmingham Waterworks Co. further expounded on this Alderson B. in this case described negligence as â€Å"omission to do something which a reasonable man, guided upon those considerations which generally or ordinarily regulate human affairs will do, or doing something which a reasonable man

Design of Concrete Frame based on Iranian Code (2800) and Eurocode (EC Literature review

Design of Concrete Frame based on Iranian Code (2800) and Eurocode (EC 8) for Resistance to Earthquake - Literature review Example Another incident claimed 1000 people in 1981 in Kerman while 40,000 faced the same in Gilan, a province in Northern Iran. The Ritcher scale reading struck 7.2. An earthquake that occurred in Bam in December 2003 is numbered among the 130 major earthquakes in Iranian history with estimated casualty cases of 30-50 thousand (Iranian Studies Group, 2004, p.2). The foundation of assessment of seismic hazard in Iran is on the frequency of seismicity in relation to time and space. In the assessment of seismic hazards, seismotectonic sources are considered. The success of this study relies on regional and local knowledge on geology, seismicity and tectonics. The core sources of seismotectonic forces are; †¢ Fault sources and †¢ Area sources (Takavoli, B., and Ghafory, M., 1999, P.1013). Research conducted by different firms like Wilson (1930), Niazi (1968) and many others reveal that seismicity in Iran is linked to local surface geology and tectonics (1014). Iranian plateau is characterized by active faults, active volcanoes with an Alpine earthquake belt that is elongated and of high surface. Active earthquake activities are found along Zagros fold thrust belt thus making most parts of Iran vulnerable to earthquakes (Takavoli, B., and Ghafory, M., 1999, P.1014).... This allows the required dissipation energy. Capacity design protocols, parameters and fashion designs assist greatly in obtaining of design standards followed in design procedure. Seismic design codes vary from country to country due to various factors which include: The desire for seismic design codes of high quality The impact created on previous earthquakes relying on provision s indicated on the codes Research conducted at academic institutions on seismic designs and The period taken in the implementation of policies and legislative laws. Iran being an earthquake prone area has developed its own codes to be implemented in construction of structures. Reinforced Concrete Frame Buildings Reinforced concrete is composed of horizontal elements called beams and vertical elements called columns. These two components are joined together with rigid joints. The beams and columns are cast together to form a monolithic structure. Reinforced concrete frames offer resistance to gravitational and lateral loads by bending that occurs in beams and columns. Some of the subtypes of reinforced concrete frame construction are: Nonductile reinforced concrete frames with or without infill walls, Nonductile reinforced concrete frames with reinforced infill walls, Ductile reinforced concrete frames with or without infill walls. Tremendous changes have been made to design and details of reinforced concrete frame structures in seismic zones. Earlier building codes focused on requirements needed strength of a structure. The structural members were to provide resistance to lateral seismic loads. From various researches conducted about earthquakes, building codes shifted focus to sectioning and detailing of beams, columns and joints. The aim

The Portrayal Of Women In Horror Films

The Portrayal Of Women In Horror Films This dissertation will consider the roles of women in the horror film genre and will deconstruct the way in which the conventions of the horror film prescribe such roles. Despite continued criticism for presenting women in a negative manner, many of the films explored here appear to suggest strong female representation so it will possible to investigate the position of the female from a number of different angles allowing a fluid discussion and counter argument. The passive female roles will be studied from the perspective of the male gaze and abjection, whilst active female roles will be explored from the role of the mother and the outcome of The Final Girl. As it would be impossible to discuss the entire history of the horror genre and womans relationship to it within the space available, so three chosen films will support the discussion. In all cases these films are regarded as classic horror films and, importantly, landmark and watershed moments in the horror genre. Psycho (1960), The Exorcist (1973), and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) all represent meta statements in the history of the genre and provide essential examples of the arguments discussed here. It should also be noted that all three films contain also ambiguous female characters for example; Mrs Bates in Psycho, the cross dressing Leatherface in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and the possessed Regan in The Exorcist who will all be debated. Significantly the films were produced and released during periods of change for womens rights, including the beginnings of the womens liberation movement in the early sixties though to the publishing of The Female Eunuch by Germaine Greer, and Spare Rib magazine in the seventies. This help to fuel the debate more significantly as the selected films span a time when women in the real world (as opposed to the constructed world of the cinema) had made great steps toward equality through the feminist movement. Horror films are told as stories of good versus evil. The drama of their narratives tends to derive from the clash between a monster and an innocent, So I want to understand why so many gratuitous, unjustified acts of violence towards woman could be justified on screen. I will consider the following aspects: male gaze, abjection, family structure, and the outcome of the final girl in the context of horror film genre. These are four common tendencies embedded within the literature of women and horror film and the background to these discussions will be framed within the context of the chosen films. This writing will deconstruct and examine the structure of those films, the motives behind their structure, and will consider their target audience. It will examine the symbolism that is used to express the plots and sub-plots and, most importantly, consider the roles of the female characters in those films. I will employ psychoanalytic and feminist theory to explore the female roles and will interpret commentary on Freudian and Lacanian theory, including castration anxiety and the role of the subconscious and apply them to horror film. Semiotic and populist perspective will also be considered to set out this debate. Much has been written on the subject and over twenty books have been researched to discuss this consideration of women and horror film in detail. Key texts include: Ways of Seeing (1972) by John Berger, Men, Women and Chain Saws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film (1992) by Carol J. Clover, The Monstrous-Feminine: Film, Feminism, Psychoanalysis (1993) by Barbara Creed and Powers of Horror (1982) by Julia Kristeva. The texts outline the intellectual context into which this dissertation enters. People assume that horror film exclusively represent women in a reactionary fashion, but further analysis has suggested that female characters are not as weak and vulnerable as they first may appear. For example The Final Girls last moments have been radically written and rewritten across the remakes and sequels to give new meaning. Analytical and theoretical analysis has been informed by the writing of Laura Mulvey and in particular her discussions of the male gaze. Mulvey argues in her polemic essay Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema that cinema was primarily created for the male spectator exploiting women as objects of desire. Julia Kristevas essay The Powers of Horror provides essential understanding on the position of abjection in the context of horror and mortality. All of the above writers discuss theoretical studies and theories of Dr Sigmund Freud and Jacques Lacan who are both indirectly referenced throughout this dissertation. Barbara Creeds The Monstrous-Feminine and Carol Clovers book Men, Women, and Chainsaws will inform debate around the matriarchal figures in Psycho and the outcome of the final girl in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. CHAPTER 1 Gendered Spectatorship The male gaze is made explicit in the horror genre, and this is inscribed in both the aesthetics of the films and its exhibition context. One of the most important essays about women in cinema is Laura Mulveys theory on the male gaze. As Mulvey states: The cinema offers a number of possible pleasures. One is scopophilia (pleasure in looking). There are circumstances in which looking itself is a source of pleasure (1989, p16). (do I reference?) If scopophilia can be defined as love of looking or deriving pleasure from looking, then this can be a definition of the cinema experience. Cinema is, after all, a form of visual entertainment. It involves the individual singularly engaging with the screen and its projections as a form of escapism and even relaxation, and can be comfortably achieved alone as it involves very few social skills, since the viewers only commitment to the process is to look. However, once we question how the film is viewed and who views the film, the relationship becomes more complex. The purpose of this essay is to question how the female is viewed from the perspective of the spectator; to question how women are portrayed in horror films, and how they are looked at. It will explore the argument that cinematic looking comes from a male perspective and will question what kind of pleasure is obtained from looking at horror films from this perspective. As Mulvey explains: The cinema satisfies a primordial wish for pleasurable looking (1989, p17). It allows the spectator the opportunity to observe in an entirely passive role while the action takes place. The experience of cinema is a one-sided arrangement between the film itself and its viewer. However, as Mulvey discusses regarding Dr Sigmund Freud, it also goes further, developing scopophilia in its narcissistic aspect (1989, p17). Scopophilia can also suggest that sexual pleasure can be derived from looking at objects; that how they are interpolated can make them erotic, and while they are not erotic in their own right through their relationship with the spectator they can become sexually objectified. The celebrated psychologist Dr Sigmund Freud isolated scopophilia as one of the component instincts of sexuality which exist as drives independently of the erotogenic zones. At this point he associated scopophilia with taking other people as objects, subjecting them to a controlling and curious gaze (Mulvey,1989, p16). The history of art emphasises this aspect of scopophilia. Throughout art history, painters have been commissioned to paint female models as objects of desire that have been and still are masquerading as works of art more closely related with pornography than with the great masterpieces. Moving forward, Clover debates that the cinematic gaze, we are told, is male, and just as that gaze knows how to fetishize the female form in pornography it also, she suggests (going on to relate this to cinematography), knows how to follow a female character as she moves through a forbidding house, and scrutinise her face for signs of fear in a way that it does not do with male characters, since: a set of conventions we now take for granted simply sees males and females differently. (1992 p50-51). This suggests that the ownership in the context of cinema is the cause of the effect that the viewer, by objectifying the figure on screen, gives it new meaning, a new social place. By simply being viewed, new rules apply. To place this into the context of women within horror, the male can now view the woman and the conditions and events around her in a newly detached manner and freely let the actions against her take place on the screen. In psychoanalytic terms, the female figure poses a deeper problem. She also connotes something that the look continually circles around but disavows, claims Mulvey (1989, p21). This could be suggesting that as the spectator is assumed to be male, the appearance of a female (ie non-male) form creates an anxiety around the potential for castration and an un-penised body à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦hence unpleasure. Mulvey argues in Lacan: and Post feminism by Elizabeth Wright (2000, p45-46) that the look is linked to the discovery of sexual difference, and that the lack of a penis must be filled by multiple images of glamourised women as a substitute for the imaginary phallus. Mulvey writes that cinema, and in particular horror cinema, is inclined to focus attention on the human form (1989, p17). The human form and the human condition are key aspects in the horror genre, especially the female body. Horror displays visceral and exaggerated versions of our basic desires and a strong and aggressive version of body lust. The horror film in particular relies on the physical human form and hostility towards the body to carry its plots and storylines in the most extreme sense. This is clearly not a natural state of being: to be seated in a darkened room, with a huge rectangular screen in view and surround sound at high volume. But this is the environment of the cinema, where the viewer is asked to focus on exaggerated and extreme events far beyond the realms of real life in the name of entertainment. Here, not unlike in other places in the media, the female form is prevalent, to be exhibited again for entertainment and it is the female characters in the horror fi lm genre that appear to command most of the attention on the cinema screen. Mulvey suggests that, since the world displays such disparities between the genders, with the masculine nearly always holding the reins of power: Do I reference here as well? pleasure in looking has been split between active/male and passive/female. The determining male gaze projects its fantasy onto the female figure, which is styled accordingly (1989, p19). So since society isnt equal in terms of who holds the power, either sexually or otherwise, women act a certain way because they are aware of how men expect them to be that is, passive and sexualised. Mulvey states this as a symbolic equation, woman = sexuality. (1989, p35). John Berger differentiates men from women as he describes a mans presence as being defined by what he is capable of doing to you or for youà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦but the pretence is always towards a power which he exercises on others. (1972, p39-40) Expand Mulveys view is that narrative cinema positions its spectators as male, catering only for male fantasies and pleasures (p39 Feminist Film Theorists). This suggests that women are objectified in film in general (and for the purposes of this argument, substantially in horror films). Mulvey also claims that the spectator/viewer/audience is said to be a man; cinema almost expects its viewers to be male and therefore creates characters and plots to fulfil a mans gaze. So prevalent is this notion that Mulvey claims narrative cinema does not offer a place for female spectators'(p40 Feminist Film Theorists); that cinema essentially isolates the female as a serious viewer: As the spectator identifies with the main male protagonist, he projects his look onto that of his like, his screen surrogate, so that the power of the male protagonist as he controls events coincides with the active power of the erotic look, both giving a satisfying sense of omnipotence. (Mulvey, 1989, p20). Shorten Clearly men can easily identify with the male protagonist but the female audiences have to distance themselves from their femininity in order to participate in the cinematic experience; critics refer to this as gender confusion. Freud would argue that to share these experiences, woman would have to revert back to her pre-Oedipal phallic phase. It might now be relevant to explore the male gaze specifically functions in the context of the horror genre. Looking back at the history and evolution of the horror film, the cinemas flourished at a time when there was less available to the public and strong moral codes and rules about relationships were in place. The clichà ©d idea of horror films was being scripted and edited to fulfil the role of the dating couple on a Saturday night. (pg 61 Horror: The Film Reader Edited by Mark Jancovich (different authors per chapter) The cinema was a place where young couples could escape family life for the few hours of a date. It allowed them space to be alone together at a time, before the sexual revolution, when men were expected to be chivalrous and protect and provide support for their female companion, as Mark Jancovich explains: Women cover their eyes or hide behind the shoulders of their dates. (pg 61 Horror: The Film Reader Edited by Mark Jancovich (different authors per chapter). This then created an opportunity for the male viewer to comfort his date as she squirmed and shrieked at the on-screen horror. He could become closer and more intimate as she was lured into vulnerability by the action projected in front of her. Mulvey highlights this dominant order: As an advanced representation system, the cinema poses questions about the ways the unconscious (formed by the dominant order) structures ways of seeing and pleasure in looking. (1989, p15) Paraphrase or include in text. Given this climate, the notion of the girl as victim was allowed to evolve. A connection could then be made between the female viewer and her on-screen female counterpart, in that the spectator cannot bear to look on helplessly as her cinematic alter ego that is, a close representation of herself suffers the horrors of rape, mutilation and murder. Mulvey argues that women have had two different functions within cinema: as erotic objects for the characters within the screen story, and as erotic objects for the spectator within the auditorium. (1989, p19) There is clear evidence of this in Tobe Hoopers The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It follows the story of a group of young Americans as they venture into the countryside and meet their fate in the shape of a disturbed and hostile cannibalistic family whose weapons of choice are butchers tools and chainsaws. The three young men meet their deaths quickly, paving the way for the females more drawn-out and gratuitous torture. While one of the women meets her slow, lingering fate via a meat hook and deep freezer, the other is chased and tortured repeatedly across the final third of the film. Female characters in horror films are generally young and attractive. They maintain a key role in the film; examples of this would be Laurie in Halloween and Marion in Alfred Hitchcocks infamous Psycho. When Michael Myers pretty sister meets her fate in the opening scene of Halloween, she is pursued by (and through the eyes of) her killer; indeed, throughout Halloween the story is often seen/told through the eyes of the killer, a technique referred to as the POV (point-of-view) shot. But before the murder takes place, the audience are offered a completely superfluous view of her naked body, seen through the male gaze as she brushes her hair. It could be argued that the female characters occupy many on-screen hours and appear to dominate the films, yet on closer inspection the real lead role is saved for the star psychopath, who is almost always male. It could be debated that male spectators are therefore being asked to identify with the killer. With respect to Halloween there are a number of shots explicitly from Myers physical point-of-view with an acoustic close-up of his monstrous heavy breathing (Isabel Pinedo 1997, p52). It cannot be proven that the whole audience identifies with him but they are forced to see through his murderous gaze, which almost compels a form of affinity. Horror genre is traditionally thought of as low culture. It has a casual tone and audiences have grown to expect violence, nudity and cheap thrills. This position in low culture appears to grant a licence to horror films to get away with more than high art cinema, and horror is rarely studied for meaning or metaphor to the same extent. But because of these lower expectations, the reality can be stretched (not unlike in cartoons), leading to irrational storylines with horror far more extreme than could be expected in real life. Therefore, it could be argued that horror films make explicit the assumption of a male spectator which is, according to Mulvey, only implicit in all popular cinema. Other films, under the pressure of higher expectation, have to keep such a misogynist perspective more contained, but horror can afford to make it overt. Clearly all normal rules do not apply. So, once reality is dropped in favour of visual pleasure, why do we ask audiences to witness hostility and brutality against women? Brian De Palma assesses the motives behind this argument. It is, he suggests, not that women are presented for male pleasure but that they provide a greater capacity for terror in the audience: If you have a haunted house and you have a woman walking around with a candelabra, you fear more for her than you would for a husky man. (Clover, 1992, p42). This provides a greater margin for a violent death. But why is this? Why would a woman be more vulnerable than a man in this age of equality? The answer to this lies far deeper than in the relatively trivial world of the slasher movie or psychological thriller. This genre is simply a form of entertainment and perhaps not the place for intellectual analysis, as John Carpenter hinted when he was challenged with the notion that he is responsible for the tasteless massacre of sexually active women. He claimed that, although the victims in his (and so many other) horror films are indeed the more sexually active characters, to insist that this is why they die is to miss the essential pointThey get killed because they are not paying attention. How do I reference Carpenter? And it could be argued that academics were reading a little too much into Halloween, since a male character is also murdered straight after sex with his girlfriend. One could even claim that this balances the plot and clears the director of the accusation that he is somehow guilty of misogyny. However à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦argues that: His death is usually only a device to remove protection from the now vulnerable female. (pg 165 Bitches, Bimbosà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦). This suggests that the male character is now secondary and his death is insignificant by comparison to the murder of the female. It could also be argued that Carpenter and other celebrated film makers just want to make entertaining horror and dont intend to make hateful statements against women, or objectify them for the male gaze, but that this is simply what people find exciting and why they fill up cinemas. Irrespective of Carpenters intentions, the standards of what is considered entertainment tell us a great deal about our views towards women in horror cinema and perhaps in society as a whole. CHAPTER 2 The Abject Feminine The ultimate figure of abjection is the corpse. As the horror genre is ultimately obsessed with death one could suggest that horror fetishizes the abject. It has been suggested that the horror film attempts to bring about confrontation with the abject. (p4 Horror Film and Psychoanalysis: Freuds Worst Nightmare.) Creed refers to Kristevas notion of the border: When we say such-and-such a horror film made me sick or scared the shit out of me we are actually foregrounding that specific horror film as a work of abjection or abjection at work almost in a literal sense. (1993, p10) By the presentation of repulsion one knows what is not repulsive; to understand abjection one must understand boundaries. As we grow up we stop playing in dirt and become more dignified; this is something we learn from society as well as from our mothers teaching us how to be clean and proper. This notion references Lacans concept of the mirror stage, Kristeva supports: It is thus not lack of cleanliness or health that causes abjection but what disturbs identity, system, order. What does not respect borders, positions, rules. (1982, p4). Woman and abjection The horror genre has a historical tendency to represent the female form as abject. In Kristevas view, woman is specifically related to polluting objects, which fall into two categories: excremental and menstrual. This in turn gives woman a special relationship to the abject. (1982, p10) What we are scared of is not the matter that we expel but what it signifies loss of identity, loss of control, death and the unknown. Nor is it the end of a natural life that contributes to the tension of horror cinema, but an endless list of horrific deaths that we could possibly encounter. Paul Wells backs this notion with his comments on the forbidden facets of the human body its propensity to foul secretions and physical corrosion which are linked to our relentless descent towards death, and which are reflected in images of abjection in the horror film (2000, p16). IS THIS 2ND PERSON? When we are children our parents encourage us to respect boundaries about cleanliness and behaviour, and we reject the abject. But in the context of the horror film there is perverse pleasure that allows us to explore our curiosity about the abject. The abject confronts the repressed/un-civilized side of the ego and allows us to investigate the other. The horror film makes good use of the abject. Julia Kristeva uses her experience with milk as a child in an attempt to explain the idea of abjection: Food loathing is perhaps the most elementary and most archaic form of abjection. When the eyes see or the lips touch that skin on the surface of milkà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦I experience a gagging sensation and, still farther down, spasms in the stomach, the belly: and all the organs shrivel up the body, provoke tears and bile, increase heartbeat, cause forehead and hands to perspire. Along with sight-clouding dizziness, nausea makes me balk at that milk cream, separates me from the mother and father who proffer it. (p23 Powers of Horror: An Essay on Abjection by Julia Kristeva). Does this need to be cut? This could suggest that when a skin forms on top of milk, it is crossing over a border or breaking a rule regarding what is acceptable as good food, and so the milk is no longer pure. The milk has perhaps split into two; milk being the acceptable form and its solidified state being the abject. Hence it fulfils a similar role in our imagination as a corpse does over a living, breathing body. We will no longer accept/drink the milk as it has turned bad and represents death, a state beyond living. The maternal body grows and delivers a living being but it is also the sister of the corpse so it can remind us of life but also death. If we confronted the abject in everyday life we would be constantly aware of our own mortality. Milk described in the context above provides an effective example of abjection, as it suggests the differential between acceptable breastfeeding as a child and unacceptable breast-feeding as an adult. The Exorcist was the first of many possession films. Its premise involves an innocent young girl named Regan McNeil who displays abnormal behaviour in the middle class American home she shares with her mother and house keeper. Throughout the film her father appears absent so it is her mother (Chris McNeil) who bears witness to the profound and hostile series of events and paranormal behaviour as the plot unfolds. Creed states that: The possessed or invaded being is a figure of abjection in that the boundary between self and other has been transgressed (1993, p32) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦by the devil himself, who appears to be the only male central figure in the film until the arrival of a psychiatrist and two Roman Catholic Priests. Within the plot of The Exorcist, Regans character is a vehicle that allows the portrayal of abjection to the mass audience. Had a young boy been cast in a similar role, the horror could have been undermined, but due to our own preconceptions of femininity and youth, the possession portrayed within this young girl only adds to the horrific events. Regan is the most passive of female victims, repeatedly switching from tearful little girl to demonic aggressor. She expels her bodily fluids, blood, vomit and urine; she is a playground for bodily wastes (1993, p40). Creed goes on to point out that the female body is more abject because its maternal functions acknowledge its debt to nature 1993, p11). She also points out that, as Regan cavorts and flaunts herself, we become all too aware of the forbidden fascination of the abject , as well as its horror, inherent in the fact that this young girl has overtly flouted her respectable feminine function, and has; put her unsocialized body on display. And to make matters worse, she has done all of this before the shocked eyes of two male clerics. (p 198 Post-Theory: Reconstructing Film Studies. edited by Bordwell, D and Carrol, N) Creed (1993, p37) puts forward: In Kristevas view the abject represents that which disturbs identity, system, order. Regans possessed soul projects this through levitation and deep spoken foul language. As the film continues, an exorcism takes place in the form of a battle between the Church and the Devil. If religion could be used to explore the abject, no film does it more tellingly than in The Exorcist. Creed puts forward, according to Kristeva: Kristeva argues that, historically, it has been the function of religion to purify the abject. (1993, p14) As the film comes to an end, Regan is saved by the church and restored to purity. She turns to hug the one person who saved her: a male Priest, or perhaps God himself? Spectator In the real world, when confronted with something genuinely repulsive, we reject that object of repulsion. But in the cinema it is not necessary to fully block what confronts us. The positioning of the spectator within the cinema experience must be recognized if abjection is going to be fully absorbed. The viewer happily sits as the spectacle of horror unfolds and is projected onto them. Though the viewer has no control over the events projected before them, the unpleasant acts witnessed by the spectator can comfortably be dismissed when the credits roll and the film is over. Viewing the horror film signifies a desire not only for perverse pleasure where boundaries are crossed, both attracting and repelling (confronting sickening, horrific images/being filled with terror/desire for the undifferentiated) but also a desire, once having been filled with perversity, taking pleasure in perversity, to throw up, throw out, eject the abject (from the safety of the spectators seat). CHAPTER 3 The Absent Mother Relationships in the maternal melodrama are almost always between mother and daughter; it is to the horror film we must turn for an exploration of mother-son relationships. The latter are usually represented in terms of repressed Oedipal desire, fear of the castrating mother and psychosis. Given the nature of the horror genre its preoccupation with monstrosity, abjection and horrific familial scenarios the issues surrounding the mother-child dyad are generally presented in a more extreme and terrifying manner. (Creed,1993, p139) Cut down One area of female representation that is more ambiguous is the figure of the Mother in the horror film genre. No longer could the killer be simply defined by gender. At the beginning of the 1960s audiences were subjected to a new kind of cinematic terror, as à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ explains in her essay: The monster was no longer out there; it was in here. The monster was the human mind. (Pg 160 Gary, J and Sheila, S (ed) Bitches, Bimbos and Virgins: Women in the Horror Film) As Hitchcocks psychological thriller Psycho was released The early sixties audience would be led to believe that the approachable Norman Bates (played by Antony Perkins) was simply a victim of his over-zealous mothers bullying. But as the plot unravelled, the film presented a deeply obsessive human mind as the real monster, as Steven Jay Schneider further explains: When used to shed light on horror cinema, psychoanalysis in its various forms has proven to be a frightful and provocative interpretive tool (Pg 187 Schneider, S. J. Horror Film and Psychoanalysis Freuds Worst Nightmare) The film follows its self-sufficient central female character, Marion Crane, jaded by her affair with a married man, as she embezzles a large amount of money from her male employer and leaves town in pursuit of a new life. On arrival at the infamous Bates Motel she meets the proprietor, the twitchy but approachable and, more importantly, passive Norman Bates, who is clearly attracted to Crane, something she comfortably takes in her stride, suggesting a non-passive female. However, on closer inspection, Marions actions throughout the first section of the film are defined by male characters she comes into contact with: her lover Sam, her male employer and the male client, the highway patrol officer and Norman Bates who all define her destiny with their attitudes towards her. Robert Kolker supports this theory: Psycho: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the mix of pleasure and pain common to all horror viewing, and aligned with a feminine subject position, is negotiated differently by men than by women. (p193 Alfred Hitchcocks Psycho: A Casebook edited by Robert Kolker) Throughout the first part of the film Marion is portrayed as feminine, attractive and defying the typical representation of women in horror films; however, from the perspective of the male gaze Bates watches Marion, unbeknown to her, through a hole in the wall as she undresses and prepares to shower. Normans eye is filmed in extreme close-up, drawing attention to the activity of the voyeurism. (1993, p145). As the camera lingers on her it is this scene that suggests that Hitchcock cannot break away fully from the traditions of the horror genre where the female becomes objectified and is observed from the gaze of the active male. Norman Bates mother is another female character significant to the plot, not seen but heard off-screen discouraging her son from having any social contact with the newly arrived female and, throughout most of the film, verbally abusing her son. Surrounded by stuffed birds, Bates even states a boys best friend is his mother. The viewer can assume that he is a loyal and reliable son. However, as Lacans theorys are refered : The baby is bound to its image by words and names, by linguistic representations. A mother who keeps telling her son What a bad boy you are! may end up with either a villain or a saint. (2010, p43) Norman Bates appears to be gentle and sensitiv

The Old Family Bank

The Old Family Bank I. Problems A. Macro 1. The lack of loyalty to the entire bank could affect the effectiveness (and profitability) of the bank. 2. The bank may have a poor process for setting pay policies. B. Micro 1. Though the personnel in the computer services department have a strong team, they are not loyal to the larger organization. 2. Computer services personnel believe that management does not appreciate them, their skills, and contributions. 3. Computer services personnel may be underpaid when compared to similar workers in other companies. II. Causes 1.The skilled workers in the computer services department do not recognize all of the factors that may affect pay and rewards. 2. The computer services personnel possibly have access to more company-wide information by virtue of the type of work their department does than do personnel in other departments. Consequently, they get a portion of the data without understanding how managers make decisions based upon that data. II I. Systems affected The attitudes of the computer services personnel to the bank likely affect the entire bank’s operations. IV. Alternatives 1. H. Day gathers more data to confirm/disprove initial diagnosis. . Use a diagnosis model such as force-field analysis to understand better the problem. Working through the model may bring to light ways to change the situation in the computer services department. 3. Day checks on regional employment data to determine if computer services personnel are being paid competitively with similar workers in other companies. Adjust pay if warranted by the data. 4. Meet with the department and explain the bank’s procedures and rationale for how pay levels are set. V. Recommendations All of the alternatives listed above can be undertaken by Day.

Game Changer

Game-changer essay EDD8102–Foundations of Leadership and Management II Introduction Establishing a disciplined, repeatable, and scalable innovation process, creating organizational and funding mechanisms that support innovation, and demonstrating the kind of leadership necessary for profitable top-line growth as well as cost reduction is essential for sustainability. Whether in the business arena or the world of education, life as an organization depends on the people that are served by the organization.Teachers need to be providing each individual student with opportunities for relevant and rigorous academic growth based on their abilities–this is why the student is boss. A students needs, abilities, and prior knowledge will dictate to a dedicated teacher how and what they need to teach. Administrators are there to ensure teachers have the resources they need, but also to pacify unsatisfied or belligerent parents. The P & G principle of â€Å"Customer is Boss† G one are the days of selling by yelling and distraction over attraction. The challenge of today’s organization is to be connecting and be connected with emotion.It’s not enough to embrace or touch – that’s a one way street. An organization has to cross the center line now and go deep. One will have to live with consumers. At P&G, â€Å"Making the consumer the boss is a promise to identify with her, to respect and serve her, and to take her needs and wants seriously. † (Charan, R. , & Lafley, A. G. 2008) At P&G they are not just conducting â€Å"bubble in the circle that best reflects how you feel† surveys. The folks at Proctor and Gamble are stepping outside of their lives and comfort zone to experience the reality of their consumer.Often times, this means going to a different part town or of the world and going into a lower socioeconomic class to discover the consumers wants and needs. Advertising is a small part of schematic—making t he product appealing to the consumer is important, but P&G is moving beyond that to create new products especially for the needs of the consumer. This concept of molding to the needs of the consumer, is what effective teaching with differentiating strategies is all about. â€Å"Customer is Boss† in an educational settingTeachers have a professional responsibility to identify their learners' needs and develop appropriate pedagogical responses. Pedagogical responsibilities require teachers to have the necessary professional knowledge and skills, and teachers are also accountable to their students. That accountability is inherent in the teacher/student relationship. Some teachers are, no doubt, unskilled and uninformed. Some may abuse their power; however, that is not because they have students and not clients. Calling students â€Å"clients† will not change in any way the relationship they have with their teachers.Teachers have power. How they wield it has nothing to do with the label attached to all those faces in front of them. Teachers must insist on learner-centeredness. The educational organization must insist on qualified and effective instructors using current methods and materials. Regular monitoring of learner progress and regular feedback to learners on their progress is essential to growth and serving the student. The public school as an organization takes learners the community, and does not make decisions on the basis of their ability to pay. Nor can they â€Å"cream† and select only the best students.Challenges and risks If the â€Å"Consumer is the Boss† is really an organization’s mantra, how can they be challenged to think ahead? Breakthrough innovation would not happen. Customers, and students, are thinking about â€Å"now†Ã¢â‚¬â€œthe problems they are experiencing on a day to day basis. Indeed that is important for companies and teachers to think about, however the â€Å"Change the World† opport unity of breakthrough innovation stems from idealizing customers and envisioning problems and better solutions. Place the customer center stage, but stretch your imagination about making them stars.The â€Å"school grade† method of accountability has led to increasing commercialization of the educational undertaking which is also reflected in the culture at large. Allowing parents to remove a student from their designated school because of a low school grade and enroll them into another was supposed to be a way to motivate teachers and administrators into doing a â€Å"better† job. Instead, this competitive component has added a level of paperwork, stress, and mandatory extracurricular for instructors handed down by stressed out administrators that do know how to solve the problem.In most contexts, the learners lack power, because of age or socioeconomic status. In state or private educational institutions, parents pay the state (through taxation) or the private school , which then pays the teachers – making it difficult to connect learners with the pay check. The state system in particular creates the illusion of free education – which takes even the parents out of the financial-transaction picture. Because of this, teachers may feel that they are answerable only to the school or the educational system, and in some cases they may even feel free to pursue their own personal version of ‘education'.In the same contexts, teachers have the power to award grades, write reports and pass/fail students. The view of learners as clients radically re-adjusts the balance of power. For those who have had freelance experience and have taught professionals, either one-to-one or in-company, this view is self-evident. For those with school-type experience, the shift in balance may come as a shock. The potential risk arises, just as some teachers have abused their power, so will some learner-clients.But this doesn't change the fact that teachers provide a paid service, which makes the recipients of this service, and their ‘sponsors', clients. The way to go about it is for some sort of contract to be drawn, so that both sides can assume their responsibilities and exercise their rights. Opportunities and rewards At P&G, employees take the opportunity to live with the consumer. From an educational point of view, knowing your customer intimately is essential to classroom success and can assist a teacher with creating an appropriate, holistic academic plan for each student.Effective teachers scaffold students reading and writing (Tompkins, 2010) comes from the idea there are different support levels that teachers offer to students. This support is based on the individual student’s zone of proximal development. In interactive writing, the teacher helps groups of students compose and write text together. With guidance from the teacher, individual students take turns writing, as classmates offer ideas and suggestions. Students practice writing strategies and skills modeled by the teacher, including letter formation, phonemic awareness and phonics, and concepts about print.One reward of creating a differentiated academic plan based on student need is watching their growth and success rates accelerate as they can handle more challenging content without getting frustrated. Another reward of having intimate knowledge of a student’s life is knowing how to help them. Is there violence at home? Is the student responsible for taking care of younger siblings? Is English the primary language spoken at home? Does the student have access to homework/study help?Also, there is a difference in the teacher that is a parent who has lived through homework on the same night at the kids’ ballet or baseball practice than the teacher who is single and wondering why Wednesday night’s homework was not done and the student is sleepy at school on Thursday. Letting the student’s abilities and p rior knowledge guide how and what you teach them, will reduce a lot of frustration for both the student and teacher. Giving a student work that is too challenging or beyond them will create tension and feelings incompetency. Keeping a student appropriately engaged and challenged will allow them the most success.Conclusion Self-Assessment I am the first teacher that students meet when they are ushered into the public school system. I personally feel that it is my job to catch the lower students and close the achievement gap before it becomes an overwhelming problem in later years. Purpose and Rationale As a new teacher, I would like to take this opportunity to research different teaching methods and techniques and the impact on my students. This is a great time to conduct such research because I will have a fresh batch of students waiting for me to excite and inspire them.I will collect data such as a beginning assessment and monitor progress, keeping a log of how students respond to different interventions. Part of the process will be to research what interventions are available to me. References Charan, R. , & Lafley, A. G. (2008). The customer is boss. Tn The Game-changer: How you can drive revenue and profit growth with innovation (pp. 33-68). New York, NY: Crown Books. ISBN: 9780307381736. Tompkins, G. E. (2010). Literacy for the 21st century: A balanced approach (5th ed. ). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Negative Effects Of Social Media - 1743 Words

Next time you are out in public, notice how many people are immersed in their cellular devices. I bet you will see a lot, and most likely these people are on their social media accounts. According to Brooke Lusk, the database and media manager for the Prevention Researcher, social media can be defined as, â€Å"an aspect of the internet which allows individuals and groups to create and publish online content, share the content, and interact about it.† These days, people are very involved with the internet and social media. Some think this is a benefit while others think this is a detriment for many reasons. Social media allows people to stay connected and explore new things, but there are many negative aspects that can affect self esteem, cause†¦show more content†¦This means that the teenagers experienced satisfactory pleasure when their peers liked the pictures they posted on social media. Self esteem can also be affected by communication over social media because c omments up for interpretation. The lack of facial expressions and tones of voice can confuse kids by making them think a person is mad at them when they are not. Dr. Catherine Steiner- Adair, a clinical psychologist, states, â€Å"It’s not like it creates a nonverbal learning disability, but it puts everybody in a nonverbal disabled context, where body language, facial expression, and even the smallest kinds of vocal reactions are rendered invisible† (Ehmke). In other words, when people are communicating through social media, the meaning of their words can be left up to any interpretation. The self esteem of children and teenagers can be affected by the negative aspects of social media and the internet. It is important for parents to teach their kids how to cope with these effects at an early age. In addition to teaching kids how to manage self esteem, parents should instruct their kids how to find credible information on the internet, because most of the time kids come across false information. Teenagers spend hours looking through photos that other people post on social media, thinking that they have the perfect life. Often times, when social class is established amongst teenagers, they try to show each otherShow MoreRelatedThe Negative Effects Of Social Media1648 Words   |  7 Pages I’ve learned that everything that glitters ain’t gold. In my middle school days I’ve experienced the negative effects of social media, Now when I say social media, I’m referring to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat. By me being very active on social media I’ve been taunted, teased, threatened and harassed along with having low- self esteem and some suicidal thoughts . According to a recent study in the JAMA pediatrics, 23% of teens report they are or have been the target of cyberbullyingRead MoreNegative Effects Of Social Media1117 Words   |  5 PagesNegative impact of social media to the society. Addictiveness. Right off the bat, Teens are exceptionally subject to their gadgets in light of the fact that separated from schoolwork they are experts at spending the small hours of the night stuck to any electronic gadgets sharing, tuning in to music and different things youngsters are occupied with. Addiction usually refers to compulsive behavior that leads to negative effects. In most addictions, people feel compelled to do certain activities atRead MoreThe Negative Effects Of Social Media1509 Words   |  7 Pagesbeing millennials, social media is as natural to the people of today as breathing or drinking water. Social media is a â€Å"series of websites and applications that have been designed to allow people to share content and communicate with each other quickly and efficiently† (â€Å"What is Social Media, 2017). A few people have a more confined perspective of social media likening it to mean the same as interacting on sites like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and others. The p ower of social media is such that, theRead MoreNegative Effects Of Social Media1350 Words   |  6 Pagestoday’s society, social media is an important tool that many people use daily for various purposes. On social media, people share their opinions, events in their lives, and news. They also use social media as a tool for entertainment and as a way of keeping in touch with their friends. Because of its various uses, the use of social media increased very significantly over the years and it is no surprise that many scholars from different disciplines took an interest in the use of social media. These scholarsRead MoreNegative Effects Of Social Media1517 Words   |  7 Pages What is Social Media? As stated on Dictionary.com, social media is â€Å"websites and other online means of communication that are used by large groups of people to share information and to develop social and professional contacts†. There are a huge variety of social media sites such as, Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, Instagram, and YouTube. As our technology gets more and more advanced and new devices come out, social media itself is growing as well. Because of the growth of social media, our lives areRead MoreThe Negative Effects Of Social Media1212 Words   |  5 PagesThe Negative Effects of Social Media Introduction 1. Attention Getter: a. What is the first thing most people do in the morning? i. Brush teeth? ii. Go to the bathroom? iii. Feed your dog? iv. The correct answer is actually checking your phone. 1. According to a recent study by IDC Research, 80% of smartphone users check their phones within 15 minutes of waking up each morning. b. What on your phone is so important? i. Social media c. Social Media i. According to Dictionary.com, social media is consideredRead MoreNegative Effects Of Social Media1297 Words   |  6 PagesIn the twenty-first century, social media plays an extensive part in most people’s lives. Instagram, Twitter, and many other social networks can cause adverse psychological harm and even lead to physical harm. Although many may argue that social media pertains to be useful, there prove to be more harmful aspects rather than helpful aspects of these media sites. These effects are not only psychological, but they may also be physical. Not only do social networks cause depression, anxiety, and cyberbullyingRead MoreNegative Effects Of Social Media1716 Words   |  7 PagesTwitter, Instagram, and many other social media sites, these changed the way that we communicate with one another. Social platforms allow people to share events of their own lives, through posting photos, leaving comments, updating their status, and many others. For example, â€Å"As of today, there are a little over 322 million people that live in the United States, 64% of whom own a smartphone. This means that approximately 206 million people have access to social media, anywhere at any time. FurthermoreRead MoreNegative Effects Of Social Media1064 Words   |  5 PagesA Negative Collage of Social Media Today in everyday life we all have some sort of device. We all possess access to social media in some way, shape or form. Social media plays a huge part of everyone’s life. We constantly look at our phones on every beep. We read every post on Facebook. We never thought how that affects the youth and with them following us, who knows what they might find on the World Wide Web. Social media in the hands of the youth can have devastating effects, even adultsRead MoreThe Negative Effects Of Social Media770 Words   |  4 Pagesand more advanced, and as this virus is growing every day, more and more people are getting infected. There are numerous social media sites that are considered the â€Å"virus† such as Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Facebook, and so on. This is what turns people into zombies. These websites may seem harmless, but can be very unhealthy for mental, physical, and social health. Social media can affect people’s brains. Every time anyone is on it, it starts eating at their brain, infecting them with the virus

Democracy In South Africa Presaged The Transformation Agenda Business Essay - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 12 Words: 3632 Downloads: 2 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Politics Essay Type Analytical essay Tags: Africa Essay Did you like this example? Democracy in South Africa presaged the transformation agenda essential to the building of a just and equitable post-apartheid state, and it is safe to say that the concept of transformation has become the central reference point that provides the momentum for the rebuilding of the South African state from its apartheid ruins (Jammine, 2009). To this end the South African government had passed various laws to stimulate the diversification of the labour force (Commission for Employment Equity Report, 2010). Likewise, the South African labour market has increasingly integrated previously disadvantaged groups at all levels of the organisation. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Democracy In South Africa Presaged The Transformation Agenda Business Essay" essay for you Create order From what Dà ¼weke (2004) calls new racism the process of recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce is arduous as a result of this historical competition between the diverse groups (Kerr-Phillips Thomas, 2009). Background The transformation agenda of South Africa coincided with increasing globalisation that also counts up to the challenge of diversity management. For instance, due to the increase in trade between South Africans and Chinese, it has become essential for South African organisations to understand Chinese business negotiation styles and behaviours as well as determinants of cross-cultural negotiations (Horwitz, Hemmant, Rademeyer, 2008). South African companies do not only have to contend with the many cultures across national boundaries but also within their organisations (Nkosi, 2007 Nyama, 2009) mainly as a strategy to gain a competitive advantage (Farrer, 2004). For mergers and acquisition (MA) this necessitates the importance of retaining a diverse and competent workforce (Horwitz, et al, 2008; Palmer Varner, 2007). Business Case for Retaining Workplace Diversity Integrating the previously disadvantaged groups at all levels of the company and managing South Africas highly diverse workforce is not always easy. Zulu and Parumasur (2009) observes that more and more black talent is job-hopping as a direct result of culture clash, stifling corporate cultures and hostile working environments. To be successful the human resources strategy to recruit and retain a diverse and competent workforce must carefully address these factors. Marginalising the majority from key sectors of the economy, organisational and management control is both unjust and unsustainable. For instance, women account for 52% of the population, yet only 7% of South African directors are female, 3% of chairpersons of boards are female, and 2% of CEOs are female (Commission for Employment Equity Report, 2010). Monolithic companies are losing out from the business and organisational qualities and the innovation of these women and other marginalised groups (Zulu Parumasur, 2 009; Davidson, 2009). Levin and Matis (2007:60) building a business case for the inclusion of women list the following reasons: women constitute the largest segment of the increasingly diverse US labour pool; Women are a highly educated group from which corporate America will need to recruit and develop future leadership; women have had a leading edge role in transforming the American workplace; the lessons companies learn from managing gender diversity will serve them well in developing initiatives to manage other forms of diversity; and women continue to be the primary buyers of consumer products. Moreover, a more diverse workforce is likely to take advantage of the fact that there seems to be significant differences in how different racial groups perceive product and service value and quality (Terblanche Boshoff, 2010:6). Despite more and more South African companies beginning to see the value of gender equality and social justice 16 years into the countrys democracy has d one nothing to change the status quo. White men still monopolise top management positions, and are recruited, trained and promoted more than any other group (Employment Equality Commission Report, 2010). Mergers and acquisitions are in a good position to transform into a more diverse workplace (Kilfoil Groenewald, 2005). Diversity and legislation To democratise the workplace the South African government came with legislation such as the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995, the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 and the Promotion of Equality, Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act 5 of 2000 and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act 4 of 2000 (Employment Equity Report, 2001). Though these laws are clear in their intentions to encourage diversity in the workplace, business is still lagging behind in diversity management, and employees do not believe that their companies have done enough to employ and promote previously disadvantaged groups as envisaged in labour legislation indicating a serious need for managers to walk the talk (Zulu Parumasur, 2009). Duweke (2004) believes the implementation of employment equity is the key to turn this situation around. The views of white and black emigrants on the implementation of employment equity are dichotomous. For blacks the process is too slow while for whites it is hurried (K err-Phillips Thomas, 2009). Problem Statement There seems to be no clear understanding of the process of retaining a diverse and competent workforce before and during an MA. Purpose of the Study The main objective of the study is to unpack the nature of retaining a competent and diverse workforce before and during and MA. Retaining a competent workforce encompasses the whole human resources strategy. The focus will be on recruitment, selection, development, talent management and employer branding as a strategy to retain a diverse yet competent workforce. To accomplish this, a model will be suggested to outline the process for the retention of the diverse yet skilled personnel. 1.3.5. Demarcation of the study Before delving into the model to retain a capable labour force within the MA, the next section will review the essential literature to slowly build a business case for the model. The main focus of the study, the retention model will/////// The essay will then make recommendations. This will be followed by the conclusion suggesting that/////// LITERATURE REVIEW Introduction An effective, competent and skilled workforce is pivotal for a companys success especially before and during an MA to retain the mergers competitive advantage. Nowadays such a workforce must be as diverse as possible not only to capture different types of markets but also to boost innovation (Roberge Van Dick, 2010). Diversity According to Fouche, De Jager and Crafford (2004:7) diversity is race, gender, age, language, physical characteristics, disability, sexual orientation, economic status, parental status, education, geographic origin, profession, lifestyle, religion, position in a company hierarchy, and any other differences Benefits of Workforce Diversity Typically the goal behind business strategy is to capture new technologies, increase market share, gain a competitive advantage, and ultimately optimise profits. Nyama (2009) reported that cultural diversity, as influenced by religion, race, gender, education, upbringing, and language, has a positive effect on the working relationship of various groups. Roberge and Van Dick (2010) note that the team members greater variety of perspectives improves creativity and innovation. Roberge and Van Dick (2010:300) further warn that diversity, if poorly managed, is likely to reduce intra-group cohesiveness leading to tensions and squabbles which, in turn, can lower employee satisfaction, citizenship behaviours and increase turnover. Che Rose, Kumar, Abdullah and Yeng Ling (2008:54) reveal that companies that know how to develop their cultures in an effective way most probably have the benefit of advancement in productivity and the quality of work life among the employees. Internationalisation and Global Diversity Global diversity in the workplace is a mix of people skills and cultures that enable a range of viewpoints to challenge traditional thinking (Palmer Varner, 2007). Though the composition of corporate boards of multinational giants has not kept up with the increased focus on global operations in the USA, they are beginning to value diversity (Palmer Varner, 2007). Diversity Management Diversity Management ensures that on the job processes and functions serve all the groups of employees effectively (Pitts, 2009). Pitts further argued that managing for diversity is managing for all differences, and regarding the MA Pitts (2009) suggests the effective management of the following seven aspects: Ensuring management accountability; examining organizational structure, culture and management systems; paying attention to representation; providing training; developing mentoring programmes; promoting internal advocacy groups; and emphasising shared values amongst employees. Multicultural understanding will be imperative for management to be able to deal with and oversee the work of the diverse employees from the merging companies. Discrimination must be avoided at all cost. Employee Development as a Retention Strategy For organisations embarking on a change process such as an MA, there is a need for a HR strategy that is aligned to the organisations business strategy with the intention of gaining a competitive advantage. To be effective the strategy must have measurable objectives that are specific, relevant, time bound and attainable (Henderson, 2008). According to Tsosa (2008) a business strategy is the commercial logic of the organisation defining the area of operational, rationale for such operations, the source of its competitive advantage and distinctive competences it is going to provide. Considerations Before the Merger The strategy even before the merger begins is embedded in a good communication strategy (Kilfoil Groenewald, 2005). Good communication (and lots of it) is the best way to prevent rumours, uncertainty and anxiety from becoming the most important source of information to employees. The time before the MA is the crucial stage for taking a close look at the cultures of the merging organisations to check differences in basic management styles and values which could prove problematic in the long run. MAs usually bring together not only diverse individuals but also diverse skills bases and competences needed by the new company (Kilfoil Groenewald, 2005). The HR strategy is an MA must, first, before the merger, look at the extent that the strategy aid in retaining personnel with the skills that are commensurate to help the organisation develop distinctive competencies in the market place. For an MA it is imperative to align the right kind of leadership and managers to emerging company s various teams in building the new culture even before they begin job evaluations, analysing and grading. Leadership theory suggests a positive relation between transformational/transactional leadership and other constructs such as organisational commitment, job involvement, job satisfaction and organisational citizenship behaviour. For instance, teams of transformational leaders tend to accept change as compared to laissez-faire and transactional (Mester, Visser, Roodt, Kellerman, 2003; Trott Windsor, 1999). Considerations During the Merger The next step, during the MA, is complex due to its attendant uncertainty and anxiety (Bosch, 2008; Kilfoil Groenewald, 2005). However, in this stage of implementation the human resources department needs to develop a coherent HR development strategy that is aligned with the new companys business strategy. The model (below) must outline learning interventions that will address employee developmental needs during a merger both within and outside the workplace. ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Secondment ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Acting position ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Job rotation ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Re deployment OFF THE JOB ON THE JOB FORMAL TUITION SELF PACED LEARNING SHORT PERIODS LONG PERIODS WITHIN PRESENT JOB OUTSIDE PRESENT JOB ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Professional membership ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Conference/seminars ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Personal growth experiences ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Degree/Diploma ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Post graduate studies ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Leadership/Management development Programmes ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Courses ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ In house short training programmes/ courses WITHOUT CHANGE TO JOB CONTENT WITH CHANGE TO JOB CONTENT ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Counseling ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Coaching ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Mentorship ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ New approaches ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Job enrichment ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Special projects ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Job role review THE BUSINESS STRATEGY ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Secondment ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Acting position ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Job rotation ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Re deployment OFF THE JOB ON THE JOB FORMAL TUITION SELF PACED LEARNING SHORT PERIODS LONG PERIODS WITHIN PRESENT JOB OUTSIDE PRESENT JOB ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Professional membership ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Conference/seminars ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Personal growth experiences ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Degree/Diploma ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Post graduate studies ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Leadership/Management development Programmes ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Courses ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ In house short training programmes/ courses WITHOUT CHANGE TO JOB CONTENT WITH CHANGE TO JOB CONTENT ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Counseling ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Coaching ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Mentorship ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ New approaches ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Job enrichment ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Special projects ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Job role review HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY As it is imperative to deal with uncertainty and anxiety during the merging stage (Bosch, 2008) and the fact that MAs inevitably lead to changes in a number of processes (Kilfoil Groenewald, 2005) the development strategy must not only focus on competent staff but also ensure that all employees are accustomed to what the company stands for and understand the role they have to play in achieving the set business goals. To minimize the fear of the unknown including the concern of capacity and competence, a training plan must be in place. The plan will only be implemented once all the employees are in their new structure and roles. Employees will then be trained based on the skills audit identifying relevant skills gap to be filled. Micro-factors in SA companies and Skills Retention Using the Psychological Career Resources Inventory and the Organisational Commitment Scale Ferreira, Basson and Coetzee (/////////////) report a strong link between the psychological career resources and organisational commitment making it important to have a model that looks at both the individual and organisational factors in retaining diverse and competent skills. More and more organisations are beginning to see the importance of organisational career-development support in quality human resource management (Baruch Quick, 2007). In South Africa the retainment of competent skills is invariably influenced by many factors including the post-apartheid culture, multicultural and ethnic differences in workplaces dominated by Eurocentric and hierarchical conglomerates (Thomas Jain, 2004, Walumbwa, 2004). Kerr-Phillips and Thomas (2009) report that job insecurity, competitive remuneration, organisational culture, uncertainty around transformation are mentioned as key factors in competent employees decision to leaving companies. These micro factors are, according to Kerr-Phillips and Thomas (2009), by the fact that not all groups in an organisation share a vision for the competitiveness that can be achieved from diversity and that knowledge sharing among diverse employees is difficult. Employer value proposition (EVP) Organisational career-development support is increasingly being recognised as a critical aspect of quality human resource management (Baruch Quick, 2007) but an investment in human resource practices is key in engendering a positive organisational commitment ( Terblanche, Boshoff, 2010). Regarding what attracts employees Kerr-Phillips and Thomas (2009) mention four common themes: Quality and depth of company leadership development programmes, including personal growth and development opportunities High-performance workplace cultures that offer challenging and stimulating work opportunities Attractive company brand and a culture that actively promotes people development and is ethical in its business Approach Competitive remuneration packages. Many workers are now attracted to organisations that promises higher EVP manifested in loyalty (Terblanche, Boshoff, 2010), job satisfaction, commitment and career satisfaction (Martin, 2007). This is essential in attracti ng and retaining competent and highly sought after skills. THE MODEL FOR THE RETENSION OF A COMPETENT STAFF AND DIVERSE For a model to retain competent and diverse workers, the process must be driven by an HR department well-versed on diversity, diversity related legislation and dealing with highly-skilled employees (Panaccio, 2010). They must also be sensitive to cultural differences and able to think strategically and within a people-centred framework (Shena, Chandaa, DNettob Monga, 2009). Figure 1 Model for the retention of a diverse yet competent workforce Evident on the model is that Human Resources Management (HRM) is a set of unique performances, tasks and procedures that are aimed recruitment and selection, training and development as well as management and retention of an organisations human resources (Henderson, 2008). Recruitment and Selection Legislation, human rights and the competitive advantages organisations stand to gain from maintaining a workforce that reflects local communities necessitates recruitment processes that will capture the most diverse yet competent workforce (Palmer Varner, 2007; Farrer, 2004). Shena and others (2009) note the importance of training the staff involved in the selection process on the diversity related legislation, human rights and the importance of workforce diversity. Panaccio (2010) advocates the formation of a representative diversity committee to drive the process. This mature awareness of the cultural differences and the best ways to handle those differences and the attendant stereotypes is crucial in ensuring that all groups feel comfortable with the selection process and their attraction to the organisation is augmented. Lamenting that some companies are either unwittingly reflecting an image of homogeneity or poorly perceived, Panaccio (2010) sees the role of the diversity committee as advertising in networks used by the minority and actively encouraging them to submit applications. Organisations must remodel both internal and external recruitment processes to appeal to minorities. Internally, the organisation can create an internal database/skills inventory to identify under-represented groups for promotion, ensure selection panels are representative, as well as redesigning the referral system to ensure it is not discriminatory; while the externally the organisation must analyze and improve the image of the company; adjust external advertising campaigns towards the targeted communities; and developing links with targeted communities (Panaccio, 2010:59). Training and Development It is crucial to integrate the diverse groups during the MA (Kilfoil Groenewald, 2005). An orientation strategy to familiarise workers to the ethos, values and mission of the new organisation must be developed. The programme should adopt a zero-tolerance to discriminatory tendencies and include company policies regarding diversity (Panaccio, 2010), effective diversity awareness training (Cavaleros, Van Vuuren and Visser, 2002) and the human rights of employees (Shen et al, 2009). Implementing a mentoring system that goes beyond the glass ceiling responsible for the discrimination of female employees (Shen et, al, 2009:241) is imperative to facilitate the integration and development of all groups (Panaccio, 2010). Performance Appraisal Performance appraisal is crucial in salary increases in a lot of companies, and the trend is to take diversity issues into account when dealing with assessments (Shen et, al, 2009). Panaccio (2010) observes that the biases that may influence yearly performance assessments are the same as those at work during the selection interviews, and must be attended as such. Salary In South Africa payment discrepancies among races elicit strong emotions (Zulu Parumasur, 2009) and it is a main cause of job dissatisfaction and poor performance (Pitts, 2009). Management must be aware of this HR hot potato as it may reverse the gains made in retaining a competent and diverse workforce. The merger must address equity and fairness when determining employee payment systems. Caruth and Handloglen (2001:2007) explain that effective compensation programmes utilize direct and indirect financial rewards as well as psychological rewards to attract, retain and motivate employees. Determination of rewards for employees of the merger will be perceived as fair if training programmes are perceived by employees as designed to boost their growth. Taiwo (2007) mentioned on the job training that equips staff with relevant skills, induction training enabling employees to meet the desired expectations, as well as an alignment of off the job training and on the job training. Link ing this to rewards means management can use the reward system to recognise the efforts of individuals and ensure recognition is given consistently and transparently. Develop a framework of retaining a diverse workforce Have developed clear and specific objectives that are measurable and time bound, management must establish a comprehensive model through HRM to retain diversity without compromising competency. The framework must nurture multiculturalism and inclusivity. According to Shen and others (2009) the structure must be aligned to the relevant laws and policies over and above monitoring progress. The model (see figure 2) suggests that the framework should encompass the HR strategy from recruitment to the payment of workers. Attraction and retention factors of competent employees include effective management of performance and diversity, learning pathways, management style, stretch assignments, work/ life balance, recognition, non-monetary rewards, high job involvement, job security and stability, physical working conditions, flexible pay and employment practices, autonomy, personal development, award schemes, and a caring workplace (Dà ¼weke, 2004; Palmer Varner, 2007; Farrer, 2004). T hese findings are in line with Kerr-Phillips and Thomas (2009) report that job insecurity, competitive remuneration, organisational culture, uncertainty around transformation mentioned as key factors in employees decision to leaving. Implementation of HR diversity policies Every plan will be a stillborn unless there is a clear implementation strategy (Henderson, 2008). To translate all the wonderful ethos, policies and diversity objectives into action the organisation must put together a budget and human resources to carry out these plans. Kilfoil and Groenewald (2005) also ropes in an implementation strategy steeped in dealing with resistance, anxiety and uncertainty through adequate communication. MAs are likely to arouse such feelings that will have a negative impact on performance in the short and long term which is a dynamic turmoil that calls for strong leadership. Communication Before and during the integration process the merger must ensure a good communication strategy is in place to support the merger process. The key messages regarding recruitment, training, rewards and performance management systems must be clear to all involved and deal with perceived increased burden, loss of benefits and deal with resistance. The HR managers must ensure communication deals with the uncertainty, anxiety and resistance that ensue as a result of some employees feeling sidelined. As suggested by Kilfoil and Gronewald (2005) the communication strategy must, inter alia: Answer the question: Whats in it for me? Anticipate and address conflicts openly, flexibly and promptly. Focus less on things and more on processes. Avoid creating losers from the change; work for win-win. Offer choices wherever possible to combat anxiety. Mergers inevitably lead to change in the type of work and skills demanded to perform certain tasks (Kilfoil and Groenewald, 2005) . There will be additional workload to some workers and this will affect the way they perceive rewards. HR managers, through internal communications, must design messages that are sensitive to cultural diversity and recognise the extra effort put in by individuals to individual support for the change. Monitoring and Evaluation A merger has direct impact on performance in a short and medium term therefore can be considered both a phenomenological and significant life changing event for both the organisation and its employees. Thus how people will cope with and respond to merger has direct impact on the institutional performance in a short and medium term. Monitoring and evaluation measures must be in place to ensure all involved work for the common organizational goals. Goldman (2007) asserts that the role of leadership in monitoring and evaluating the change process during merger is critical. The leadership must be sensitive to the personnel critics of deficiencies in leadership as appose to the efficiencies. Goldman further states that the transformation period affects the organisational identity and architecture, operating procedures and processes, individual behaviour and interaction as well as personal beliefs and attitudes. This will have an influence on performance management as well as motivati on and must be monitored.