Literary criticism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Artistic analysis - Essay Example In spite of the fact that this appears to convolute the issue superfluously, it appears to be important that he clarify first why the play is such a universal most loved in the event that it has the sort of profound defects that he censures it for. As per Cardullo, what helps the play through its imperfections is the quality of its thoughts. Its attention on the idea of the quintessential American sales rep who doesn't sell items however rather sells himself, who doesn't possess things yet buys them and who doesn't fight against an adversary yet battles against an unprejudiced framework ailing in comprehension and empathy is a solid thought that interests to numerous inside a free enterprise framework. In the wake of recognizing the play’s quality, the creator at that point proceeds onward to his analysis, beginning with the stray pieces of the play. The main component he condemns is the style Miller places in the mouths of his characters. Despite the fact that they are lower working class and ought to talk with a notable style, they every now and again break out of anticipated jargon for this class in startling, and regularly excessively extravagant, ways. This had never especially struck me as an issue in the play, however as Cardullo cited a portion of the explanations that are made, it sounds bogus originating from these characters. Their jargon is excessively extravagant and their sentence structure is excessively right for their degree of training, their class of life, their living condition and their expert position. Another zone wherein Cardullo disapproves with the play is in the topical turn of events. A lot of the play lays on the possibility that Willy’s life is finishing in a general absence of accomplishment because of a bombed business framework and a slipping psyche. In any case, as Cardullo brings up, there are various irregularities appeared all through the flashbacks that Willy’s mind has been slipping for quite a while, maybe never having been completely proficient. This point is demonstrated as Cardullo follows

Marketing communications plan

Patterns in the bar business The British bar industry incorporates roughly 60,000 bars that fall into three classes: oversaw (worked by a supervisor), rented/rented, and individual (worked by the proprietor) bars (Mitchells and Butlers, 2005).  The British Beer and Pub Association reports that â€Å"in the most recent 10 years food deals in Britain's 30,000 oversaw bars have ascended by 165%†, with littler increments posted by the littler 30,000 bars (Bowers, 2005). The British bar has customarily satisfied an assortment of jobs, serving both as a point for casual correspondence, a social setting for watching sporting events or playing indoor games, or even a family get-together. Albeit ongoing embarrassments concerning â€Å"binge drinking and town focus raucousness in 2004† pulled in the regard for the bar as a wellspring of such withdrawn conduct, its job in British society has generally been a lot more extensive (Mintel, 2004). Regardless, presentation of bars to negative exposure has prompted fortifying of legislative guidelines concerning the division. The present battle in the bar business is against â€Å"the government's wellbeing bill excluding non-food bars from a proposed smoking ban† (Bowers, 2005). This as far as anyone knows makes a lopsided playing field for bars that serve food since they need to limit smoking on their premises. Simultaneously, the extent of bars offering food administration rose from about half during the 1990s to generally 80% (Bowers, 2005). Proprietors and administrators of bars subject to the smoke boycott point to the way that it will weakness food-serving bars, since the extent of smokers among bar guests is assessed by the British Beer and Pub Association to be in the scope of 40-half †about â€Å"twice the national average† (Bowers, 2005). The monetary scene in the UK is positive for spending since shoppers feel trust in the economy. Simultaneously, bars can be influenced by the developing prevalence of solid ways of life that incorporates a more noteworthy number of individuals â€Å"who essentially need a calm (or energetic) drink in the agreeable, benevolent sort of bar that is for all time alluring for outside visitors too the British themselves† (Mintel, 2004). An ever increasing number of individuals will treat bars not just as settings for drinking; despite what might be expected, they need to have dinners there. Bars start to separate with unruliness that corrupted their picture and rise as sound eating foundations can be credited to the industry’s endeavors to speak to a more extensive area of the market because of rivalry from general stores, government guideline and cultural changes including a more wellbeing cognizant shopper. Brilliant, open insides and smoke free conditions make them additionally speaking to such customers and the female crowd. Notwithstanding, liquor deals remain the main impetus of gainfulness in bars. Around there, buyers currently look for a greater encounter. One of the patterns is increment in wine deals, inferable partially to the straightforward expansion of ice to the beverage (Solley, 2005). As per the National Office of Statistics, champagne is currently one of the most standard buys in the UK, especially non-vintage and rosã © lines. The development has been ascribed to more youthful consumers who treat champagne as less a beverage exclusively for exceptional events (Bill, 2006). In any case, the British Beer and Pub Association (2003) reports that â€Å"in the UK 28 million pints of lager are devoured each day, which likens to 100 liters for each head every year †contrasted with 20 liters of wine for each head†. Situating †A bar with a distinction The proposed bar on Lisburn Road will try to separate itself from different bars in the city by offeringâ a top notch client experience took into account the flavors of an increasingly selective customer base. The upper hand of the office will be the arrangement of astounding assistance and unrivaled food and drink not accessible in different foundations; concentrating on these highlights, the bar won't take part in value rivalry. The wide collection of customary beverages will be supplemented by a carefully chosen wine list including champagne assortments, privately created juice and brew and a determination of less regular malt bourbons. Clients will be educated regarding the wide assortment of beverages through wine and bourbon tasting advancements. The bar will interest wellbeing cognizant shoppers with by offering minimal effort suppers from a standard menu arranged with the best privately sourced fixings. The accentuation on social experience, quality food, and huge selection of beverages will be unmistakable highlights of the new bar. Division The new bar will focus on the accompanying gatherings in the objective market: Experts coming in after work to have a couple of beverages and visit with associates following a long working day Couples searching for a wonderful social encounter, supper and some of the time a container of wine Understudies possessing the bar in the day-time and at night to partake in a social gathering and examine class assignments WOOFS (wealthy more seasoned people) making the most of their post-retirement life and investing a portion of their energy in neighborhood bars to have a wonderful supper DINKS †couples without youngsters however with a high pay that grants them to allot an enormous bit of their pay to feasting. Generally, the intended interest group will incorporate people with high discretionary cashflow, elevated requirements of administration, food quality and drink assortment, and inclination for foundations with style. References Groves, S. (2005, October 28). Smoking boycott is unworkable, says bar industry. Watchman. Recovered April 29, 2006, from http://society.guardian.co.uk/wellbeing/news/0,,1602801,00.html English Beer and Pub Association (2003). Lager and Pub Facts. Recovered April 29, 2006, from http://www.beerandpub.com/content.asp?id_Content=704 Mintel International Group Ltd. (2004, August 1). Bar Visiting †UK. Recovered April 29, 2006, from http://www.marketresearch.com/item/display.asp?productid=1037778&g=1 Mitchells and Butlers. (2005). Bar Operating Models. Recovered April 29, 2006, from http://www.mbplc.com/index.asp?pageid=425

Joseph Conrad Essay

Joseph Conrad was conceived Joseph Teodor Konrad Korzenioski in 1857 in Berdichev, Ukraine. He authoritatively changed his name to Joseph Conrad in 1886, when he turned into a British resident (Liukkonen). In spite of the fact that Conrad disheartened individuals from deciphering his writing through investigation his life, his life shaped his composition. Quite a bit of his enemy of imperialistic perspectives could have grown in adolescence, when he was under the standard of Russians the Ukraine. His dad Apollo Korzeniowski was captured for dubious inclusion in progressive exercises (online-writing). Apollo invested a lot of energy composing plays and social parodies. In spite of the fact that his works were not notable, they gave Joseph an early gratefulness for writing. Apollo kicked the bucket of tuberculosis in 1869; four years a similar infection asserted his significant other, Conrad’s mother. Joseph, just 11, was sent to live with his uncle in Switzerland (online-writin g). He went to class for a couple of years before persuading his uncle to release him to the ocean in the mid 1870’s. In that decade he made three outings toward the West Indies as an understudy on a French vendor transport. He proceeded with his profession for a long time on British boats, gradually ascending in rank from normal sailor to initially mate. By 1886 Conrad held the order of his own boat, Otago. Heart of Darkness depends on his multi month venture through the Congo in 1890 (Liukkonen). Long stretches of work adrift gave him back issues from which he never recuperated, and a one of a kind, assuming monstrous, perspective on the world. In a 1897 letter he clarified his view: â€Å"What makes humanity appalling isn't that they are survivors of nature, it is that they are aware of it. To be a piece of the collective of animals under the states of this world is very well †yet when you are aware of your servitude, the torment, the annoyance, the conflict, the disaster starts (Liukkonen).† In 1894, at 36 years old, Conrad surrendered the ocean life to concentrate on composing. He had begun to think progressively about composing five years sooner, and conveyed a diary on his excursion into the Congo which filled in as motivation for Heart of Darkness (great notes). At the point when his uncle kicked the bucket, he left Joseph with enough cash to live serenely while he began in writing. His first novel, Almayer’s Folly, was distributed in 1895. Charlie Marlow, the hero in Heart of Darkness initially shows up in Lord Jim, as the storyteller. The epic depends freely on the genuine story of a British steamship which, in the wake of getting a hole, was deserted by her group, leaving Muslim travelers on board (Liukkonen). The hero, Jim, is one of the British officials who relinquished the boat. Conrad wedded an Englishwoman named Jessie George in 1896 and moved to Ashford, Kent, where he lived until he kicked the bucket of a coronary episode in 1924. He was a compelling, yet humble English creator. He declined privileged degrees from five colleges, and in the blink of an eye before his demise he rejected a proposal of knighthood (Liukkonen) . Joseph Conrad’s works were distributed a very long time after his passing. In 1983 an assortment of letters and a journal of his involvement with the Congo was distributed in five volumes. Conrad’s impact is found in a variety of acclaimed writing, including crafted by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and T.S. Eliot (online-writing).

Why The Argentine Government Was Experiencing A New Economic Crisis - 550 Words

Why The Argentine Government Was Experiencing A New Economic Crisis? (Essay Sample) Content: Why Argentina Experiencing A New Economic Crisis Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation Why Argentina Experiencing a New Economic Crisis The economic crisis is a situation in which there is a sudden shutdown of major economic activities of a country as a result of a financial crisis. This crisis is characterized by a decline in the country’s GDP, an increase of prices and drying up of liquidity and amount of money available for investment. The new economy of Argentina looks to be headed for another economic storm as the prices of most products are rising rapidly, whereas, there is a significant drop in the Argentina peso. Further, there is overvalued currency in Argentina and debts are primarily denominated in dollar. As such, this paper highlights the causes of the new economic crisis in Argentina. Primarily, an economic crisis is caused by loss of business and consumer confidence. Argentina's new economy is headed towards another economic storm as characterized by irrational exuberance of its business cycle. There is high-interest rates among the majority of Argentina's financial institutions and credit lending facilities limiting the amount of money available for investment CITATION Chr16 \l 1033 (Daseking Ghosh, 2016). For instance, a 40 percent hike of Argentina’s central bank has dried up the liquidity of the country and lowered the purchasing power of the Argentines. Currency fluctuations is another critical factor regarding Argentina's new economic crisis. There is a significant fluctuation of Argentine peso when compared to other currencies in the global environment, and this creates more economic issues. For instance, the value of the peso has declined by more than 20 percent against the U.S dollar CITATION Pad15 \l 1033 (Desai, 2015). This is due to the current economic and monetary policies of Argentina as well as hyperinflation making the peso lose its value. Consequently, majority of foreign investors, local companies, and residents have converted their savings into foreign currencies such as the U.S dollar and the euro. In addition, stock market issues and foreign debts is another factor crippling the new economy of Argentina. A crush on the nation's stock market has resulted in the loss of confidence of local companies, residents and foreign companies in investing, and this has drained a lot of capital out of businesses. Similarly, foreign debts of Argentina are worrying and presently it’s government is burdened by a foreign debt of US$ 252.9 billion, translating to close to 70 percent of its GDP CITATION Pad15 \l 1033 (Desai, 2015). On the other hand, the fiscal deficit of Argentina has exceeded 5 percent of the Gross Domestic Product. Lack of sufficient economic reforms has also played a role in worsening the global corporate environment for Argentina complicating the economic issues of the country. For instance, fiscal reforms of Argentina were over-dependent on access to external financing CITATION Vit18 \l 1033 (Tanzi, 2018). However, in an environment where there the value of the US dollar is strong with tighter global liquidity, the assurance of external financing is limited. As such, the solid value of the dollar over the last weeks has negatively affected emerging markets in Argentina. This is because the value of Argentina peso is not competitive enough resulting in the debt pile. Finally, the overreliance of Argentina on agriculture has worsened trade deficits of the country resu...

Using Sinatra in Ruby - Introduction

In the previous article in this series of articles, we talked about what Sinatra is. In this article, well look at some real functional Sinatra code, touching on a few Sinatra features, all of which will be explored in depth in upcoming articles in this series. Before you get started, youll have to go ahead and install Sinatra. Installing Sinatra is as easy as any other gem. Sinatra does have a few dependencies, but nothing major and you shouldnt have any problems installing it on any platform. $ gem install sinatra Hello, World! The Sinatra Hello world application is shockingly simple. Not including the require lines, shebang and whitespace, its just three lines. This is not just some small part of your application, like a controller in a Rails application, this is the entire thing. Another thing you may notice is that you didnt need to run anything like the Rails generator to generate an application. Just paste the following code into a new Ruby file and youre done. #!/usr/bin/env rubyrequire rubygemsrequire sinatraget / doHello, world!end Of course this isnt a very useful program, its just Hello world, but even more useful applications in Sinatra arent much larger. So, how do you run this tiny Web application? Some kind of complex script/server command? Nope, just run the file. Its just a Ruby program, run it! inatra$ ./hello.rb Sinatra/0.9.4 has taken the stage on 4567 for development with backup from Mongrel Not very exciting yet. Its started the server and bound to port 4567, so go ahead and point your Web browser to http://localhost:4567/. Theres your Hello world message. Web applications have never been so easy in Ruby before. Using Parameters So lets look at something a little more interesting. Lets make an application that greets you by name. To do this, well need to use a parameter. Parameters in Sinatra are like everything else--simple and straightforward. #!/usr/bin/env rubyrequire rubygemsrequire sinatraget /hello/:name doHello #{params[:name]}!end Once youve made this change, youll need to restart the Sinatra application. Kill it with Ctrl-C and run it again. (Theres a way around this, but well look at that in a future article.) Now, the parameters are straightforward. Weve made an action called /hello/:name. This syntax is imitating what the URLs will look like, so go to http://localhost:4567/hello/Your Name to see it in action. The /hello portion matches that portion of the URL from the reqest you made, and :name will absorb any other text you give it and put it in the params hash under the key :name. Parameters are just that easy. There is of course much more you can do with these, including regexp-based parameters, but this is all youll need in almost every case. Adding HTML Finally, lets spiff this application up with a little bit of HTML. Sinatra will return whatever it gets from your URL handler to the web browser. So far, weve just been returning a string of text, but we can add some HTML in there with no problem. Well use ERB here, just like is used in Rails. There are other (arguably better) options, but this is perhaps the most familiar, as it comes with Ruby, and will do fine here. First, Sinatra will render a view called layout if one exists. This layout view should have a yield statement. This yield statement will capture the output of the specific view being rendered. This allows you to create layouts very simply. Finally, we have a hello view, which generates the actual hello message. This is the view that was rendered using the erb :hello method call. Youll notice that there are no seperate view files. There can be, but for such a small application, its best to keep all the code in a single file. Though the views are sepeated at the end of the file. #!/usr/bin/env rubyrequire rubygemsrequire sinatraget /hello/:name doname params[:name]erb :helloend__END__ layouthtmlbody% yield %/body/html helloh3Hello % name %!/h3 And there you have it. We have a complete, functional hello world application in about 15 lines of code including the views. The following articles, well take a closer look at the routes, how you can store and retrieve data, and how to do better views with HAML.

Presentation of Marlene, Top Girls in Comparison to the...

The main themes in both Top Girls and The Handmaid’s Tale are feminism, politics and women’s role in society. Top Girls is based on social realism and political drama. Churchill once said â€Å"Playwrights don’t give answers, they ask questions†.[1] It could be said that Churchill is asking the audience to acknowledge how much a woman has to sacrifice in order to succeed in the stereotypically male dominant workplace. However, it could also be said that she could be asking the audience to acknowledge how career power is perceived as a male trait and therefore successful career women have to adopt male attitudes. The Handmaid’s Tale, however, is a dystopian novel. Ostensibly it is a critique of a patriarchal society or it could also be said to†¦show more content†¦Serena Joy’s character in ‘The Handmaids Tale’ is also a very strong woman and fights for what she believes in – being an anti-feminist – and uses her success to persuade others to believe in what she believes in. However, where Marlene’s character and her feminist views believe women do not need men and their place in society should be equal to men, Serena’s character’s anti feminist views encourage her to encourage others to return into a patriarchal society where a woman’s place is in the home caring for the children, completing household chores and tending to the husbands needs and maintains that the woman’s role is to say in the house. Marlene and Serena Joy are both often seen to be victims of their own success. By this it is meant that they sacrificed certain aspects of their lives in order to achieve in another. For Marlene, this meant her sacrificing her family and intimate relationships. The audience may be shocked that Marlene could be ruthless enough to give up the child she carried and brought into the world, because Churchill does not allow Marlene to demonstrate sentimentality in respect of Angie. Motherhood seems to be a commodity and it is not until near the end of the play in a conversation with her sister, it almost seems that Marlene regrets putting her child into her sister’s care. This is shown when she says, â€Å"you couldn’t have one so you took mine†. This could be interpreted that Marlene resents Joyce for sticking by Angie and

Trust No One free essay sample

My eyes opened wide as I jumped out of bed onto the gray, stained carpet. What the hell is happening? My dad’s shaky voice confused me; my head spun. I couldn’t make out what he was yelling to my mother, but he was concerned or scared. I really couldn’t tell. My clammy hands shook and struggled to open the door. As I yanked it open, the ebony hardwood floors in the hallway beneath my father’s heavy footsteps screeched. By instinct, I quickly found myself running behind him not knowing the end destination. He went out the back door. I followed. He ran past the side of the house. I was with him. He stopped in the backyard. I stopped too, giving him a dirty, confused look. â€Å"What just happened?!† No answer. It was dead silent except for my heavy breathing. The night sky was pitch black—almost like a never ending hole that my head was quickly spinning through. We will write a custom essay sample on Trust No One or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page What. The. Hell. Happened. â€Å"Dad! Why did we run out here?†, I shouted. His eyes, darker than night, stared at me. â€Å"Somebody was back here.† * * * The occurrence was almost forgotten; nearly a distant memory in my family’s minds.If the topic was brought up, which rarely happened, the conversation had no serious tone to it. My concerns drifted away, out of my head, once I was given assurance that it wasn’t a big deal. Others’ thoughts seemed to take similar action because, after a few weeks, neighbors and friends spoke of nothing remotely close to it. Everybody, including myself, overlooked the seriousness of the situation. Days, weeks, months went by with no return from the mysterious person in my backyard. Life for my family and I changed the slightest bit from the incident. It was a fluke, never to happen again. My optimistic mindset jarred reality and how in danger my family really was. * * * My mother tiptoed through the jungle of my sister’s dirty clothes. Picking each item up one by one, she was finally making a dent in getting the room clean. Hours later, my mother finished; an accomplishment that she would cherish for the week to come until the room was filthy again. She decided to take one more lap around to make sure she hadn’t missed something. As she looked on the ledge, something caught her eye. A camera. Surprised, my mother asked my sister, â€Å"Is this yours?† My sister shook her head. â€Å"What the heck?†, My mother shouted erratically. After a quick judgement, she lurched for the phone and dialed 911 as soon as her shaking hands got a hold of it. Dark ebony flooring squeaked beneath her as she sprinted into the nearest bedroom; the phone pressed against her right ear. No words could be heard from outside of the door as my family anticipated her return. The door soon flew open; she swiftly pulled my dad to the side, gave us a long, hard look, and ran for the back door with my dad trailing. They didn’t have to say where they were going because there was only one place they would go, the police station. * * * The concerns that had drifted out of my mind dove right back in. The confusion I faced for the foreseen future was immeasurable. My parents refused to tell me all of what happened, saying it wasn’t my business. Left in the dark, I was unaware of the situation unraveling. Even then I waited, patiently, for information regarding the camera. Time stood still as we all desperately wanted to get a call back from the police. But weeks went by with no call. Maybe they forgot about it. That’s dumb. The police wouldn’t forget, right? Right. The phone finally rang. My father happened to be the one who picked it up off of the counter. What seemed to be a reoccurring event, my parents told my sister to get ready and left soon after. My brother and I, puzzled, sat at home speculating what could be happening. Oblivious to the intent of that camera, we were shocked when my parents arrived at home. My sister’s life shattered in front of my innocent eyes as I stood in the doorway. No words were exchanged, but they didn’t need to be. I realized the camera wasn’t hers, thus changing her life for the worst. Her privacy that she held so near and dear to her heart was broken. Not by just anybody, though. Our neighbor, my dad’s best friend, had ruined my sister’s life. Because of this, she was too scared to sleep in her own bedroom. She couldn’t sleep anywhere, knowing that somebody could be watching at any time of the day. Her senior year, a time that’s supposed to be fun, was filled with fear, hatred, and skepticism. My sister’s attitude shifted from a vibrant, open-minded person to a more cautious and enclosed person. Not only did she change, but as a result, I also changed. I came to a realization that would be tough for anybody, let alone an ignorant fourteen-year-old. My sister’s life crumble to pieces right in front of me, and all from the action of one person. â€Å"Why would somebody hurt another person for their own benefit?†, Played on repeat throughout my head. An answer never arose, though. This led to my realization that the world is just not what it seemed to be as a child. It isn’t great. Everybody isn’t your friend. And last but not least, you can’t trust anybody. Looking back, this change in my mindset transitioned me from childhood into adulthood.

Paleontology free essay sample

The ground is steaming and boiling under my knees. I have been here for three hours swashing down  ­water like a camel. Dust is forming little clouds around my fingers as I work. The shadow of my hat is my only protection against the blazing sun. This quarry in the Mongolian desert must be the inferno  ­described in Scriptures. I am obsessed. Brush in hand, I stroke the exposed bone protruding from the ground. Dust swishes into the air, sending puffs of ancient minerals to my nostrils. I need to dig deeper. I grab a pick and stab at the rock. Aha! A piece of shoulder bone, which looks to be around 60 million years old. It is just a fragment to the naked eye, but to me it is much more. This is it. This is where I’ve always wanted to be. This moment in time is what I dreamed about since I was a child. We will write a custom essay sample on Paleontology or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Yet it took so much to get here. It began with four long years of school with thousands of other students and hours of seminars. Each one I attended cheerfully like a child dancing in a park. But I would not be here now with just that. I spent two more years working on a massive paper, revising it again and again to absolute perfection. I defended it to the best of my ability, and it was accepted. It was worth having all those professors critique me, just to see my name published on the cover. Secretly I loved it. And now I am in school again with more pressure and more details. But it is different now. I not only understand the lecture, I am the lecture and the lecturer. I have all the experience and more to become the most educated professional of my time. But what is all this for? So I can dig around in the sand for old bones? No, I am doing so much more than that. I am discovering history, new life, and adventure. I am uncovering a creature that has not seen the light of day for millions of years. Better still, I am discovering information for the ages, for people, for life. This is what I am meant to do. Back to the fossil beneath me. I will have to foil and plaster it for presentation in front of millions of people in a national museum. No, in front of the world! My discovery will be the highlight of paleontology as we know it. My name will appear in every textbook in every classroom! I can feel the sun cooking my skin. But wait – what is this? A tooth imbedded into the shoulder blade? It cannot be. But it is. Yellow and tarnished from millions of years, it is the two-inch canine of a raptor. So this is not a raptor after all but its leftovers. That changes everything. I didn’t come all this way to find the prey. But maybe there’s more. A sandstorm is coming hard and fast. I can feel the wind increase and batter my skin with grains of sand. I must retreat to my tent now, but  ­tomorrow I will continue my search. Paleontology is defined as the study of prehistoric life. To me paleontology is not just a definition; it is a better way of understanding the future, especially mine. I know I will be that paleontologist, frustra ­ted and digging hard in the blazing sun; the one who has had six years of schooling and is working on two more; the one who will appear in every science textbook around the world. My education and perseverance are my keys to this golden lock of a future and I will stop at nothing to achieve it.

Safety Health and Environmental Report Essay Example

Safety Health and Environmental Report Essay Example Safety Health and Environmental Report Essay Safety Health and Environmental Report Essay INDUSTRIAL ATTACHMENT REPORT By MAXWELL MASUNDA MIDLANDS STATE UNIVERSITY BSC HONOURS GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES Registration Number R102163M Period Jan-Dec 2012 Department Health Safety and Environment Endorsed By Work Related Learning Supervisor __________________________ Signature Student’s Name Masunda Maxwell Registration Number R102163m Student’s Signature ___________________________ Signature Company Stamp Period Jan – Dec 2012 Academic Supervisor Mr Mutekwa Table of contents Page Abstract Acknowledgements. 2 Abbreviations. 3 CHAPTER 1INTRODUCTION 1. 1Information about the organisation. Vision, Mission statement, Values and objectives of the organisation†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 1. 2Company’s organisational structure and the place of the particular department in which the student’s work was undertaken. 1. Communication and information systems 1. 4Principal Services and their characteristics†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 1. 5Main markets served and their characteristics†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 1. 6Sources of competition†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 1. 7Types of technology involved and their characteristics†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 1. 8Impact of Government measures and policies, the Economy and changing environment and social attitude†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ CHAPTER 2MANAGEMENT ISSUES 2. 1 Management style, values, priorities, responsiveness to external change and management success†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. . 2 Logistics, Production, Marketing and Management approaches to technological development†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ CHAPTER3 3. 1 Roles and responsibilities of the student during the work related learning period†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â ‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 3. 2 Performance criteria and targets†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 3. 3 Opportunities and problems encountered†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 3. 4 Theory studied and operational practises†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 3. 5 Means of monitoring performance during work placement period†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. CHAPTER 4EVALUATION 4. 1 Overall evaluation of the WRL period CHAPTER 5RECOMMENDATIONS 5. Recommendations to Midlands State University; Department of Geography and Environmental Studies and The Wattle Company 5. 2 Other issues learned CONLUSION REFERENCES ABSTRACT The author commenced Work Related Learning on the 23rd of January 2012 at The Wattle Company (Nyanga Pine Division) in Manicaland Province and is expected to complete in December 2012. This report saves to give an outline of the tasks and activities carried out by the student during the above mentioned period of WRL programme in pursuit of achieving the requirements of the Bachelor of Science Degree in Geography and Environmental Studies at Midlands State University. DEDICATION I give special dedication to my mother and brothers who made my education a success. Your stewardship and heroism are sufficient to me. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT My gratitude goes to the Midlands State University academic staff that has imparted their vast knowledge and has so much assisted me with words of wisdom, hope and courage during my industrial attachment. My appreciation goes to the management and the rest of staff at The Wattle Company for accepting me to be part of the Wattle family (Nyanga Pine Division). I also give gratitude to the unwavering support and guidance that l constantly got from my supervisor Mr. S Ziyambe (S. H. E Officer Nyanga Pine Division), throughout my industrial attachment period. My thanks also goes to the Human Resources Department specifically, Mrs S. Nyangairi(human resources administrator) and Miss Tsitsi ( H. R Departmental secretary) . Great thanks to Mr Mazungunye (Forest Resources manager-Nyanga Pine Division), Mr Kwenda (Plant Engineer) Mr Velani (forester Nyanga North), Mr Sigauke (Forester –Nyanga Pine Nursery), Mr. P. Chipango (Forestry Department Clerk), and all SHE Reps in all departments not forgetting all other employees and the external society for their professional guidance and supervision within their areas of specialisation together with all the support and ideas that were shared to me during the course of my industrial attachment. I give credit to the compilation of this report to all the above mentioned professionals for believing in me and their constant support during difficult times and period of my industrial attachment. I extend my gratitude to the department of Geography and environmental studies Mr Jerie and his colleagues for the knowledge acquired which made practical learning easier not forgetting my supervisor Mr Mutekwa who visited us during the course of the industrial attachment and boosted moral. My heartfelt appreciation to my family especially my mother Mrs B. Paradzai, my brothers ; Noah, Michael and Macdonald and my friend, Tinashe Munodawafa for their unmerited support (Economic, social, moral and otherwise) throughout my Industrial attachment. I give all the glory to the Lord Almighty for a year full of life and fun not forgetting how educating it was in every dimension. May the Lord God edify and bring continual success to you all. Abbreviations/Acronyms BBSBehaviour Based Safety BLRABaseline Risk Assessment EDEnvironmental Database EIAEnvironmental Impact Assessment ESREstate Stores Requisition HIRAHazard Identification Risk Assessment OHSOccupational Health Safety SHESafety Health Environment SHPSafety Health Procedure WRL Work Related Learning FRM Forest Resources Manager OHSE Occupational Health, Safety and Environment IBRA Issue Based Risk Assessment SWP Safe Work Procedure MP Management Procedure CAR Corrective Action Request LTI Lost Time Injury WMP Waste Management Plan EMP Environmental/Emergency Management Plan HOS Head of Section HOD Head of department CHAPTER ONE(1) 1. 0 Background of the Organisation The Wattle Company Limited was founded in 1945 in a bid to develop a wattle extract Industry in Zimbabwe. Land was purchased in the eastern districts of the Country and a central office was established in Mutare. The rationale for the development of wattle extract in Zimbabwe was twofold: There was a general prediction of growth in demand for leather products hence, by implication of growth in demand for tanning extract. There existed the perception of a permanent decline in supply of Quebracho extracts which, at the time, was the principal vegetable tanning extract in the world leather business. Wattle extract offered a profitable Substitute with a shorter-term investment horizon. These predictions were not fulfilled for the following reasons which also motivated the subsequent diversification into pine and eucalyptus; The rate of leather consumption was negatively affected by the subsequent development of synthetic non-leather shoe materials; The development of synthetic tanning materials (such as chrome salts) further reduced the demand for vegetable extracts; and Quebracho remained a strong competitor to wattle extract. At the peak of wattle development in approximately 1959, The Wattle Company Limited had a capacity from its plantations of approximately double its sales demand. Consequently, The Wattle Company Limited commenced a Programme of diversification into other plantation crops accompanied by a parallel disposal of surplus land holdings. The Memorandum and Articles of Association of The Wattle Company Limited permits it, generally, to own and operate forestry and agricultural estates, to produce, process and deal in forest and agricultural products. The Company now specifically manufactures wattle extract, pine sawn timber, treated gum poles, eucalyptus sawn board and a residual product, charcoal. The Registered office of The Wattle Company Limited is situated at No. Durban Road, Mutare. 1. 1 Vision Achieve World class excellence in forestry resources management. 1. 2 Mission We will sustainably manage forest plantations, manufacture and be the supplier of choice quality sawn timber, wattle extract, charcoal, poles and services to our customers in all our markets. We will build long term mutually beneficial relationships with all our customers, supp liers, employees, communities and shareholders. 1. 3 Values ?Integrity ?Quality ?Innovation ?Professionalism ?Transparency ?Teamwork ?Respect ?Empathy ?Passion 1. Company’s Organisation and the place of the particular department/ section in which the student’s work programme was undertaken The Wattle Company Limited is the main company the student was attached as a Senior Trainee SHE Officer. He was also attached in the SHEQ department at The Wattle Company, Nyanga Pine Division which is located 60 km out of Mutare. The department services(In SHEQ issues) other sister Estates such as Dunsinane Estate in Penhalonga, Nyakupinga, Mtarazi and Reneen Estates together with a Bush milling plant called Pine Products (Located in Mtarazi Estates) for Pine sawn timber production. 1. Communication and Information Systems The company uses a top to bottom approach. Group managers are responsible for the overall performance of the company as a whole, hence they oversee issues within all the three divisions of wattle but there are location managers and officers who are involved in the day to day running of the activities within their areas of jurisdiction. The company uses memorandums and Internet services which facilitates Emailing system as a means of information relay not forgetting to mention direct or peer to peer communication. The IT (Information Technology) at the head office is responsible for all machine ault repairs and controls the emailing system together with denying access/sharing of controlled documents with external sources. There is also a LAN (local area network) From Netone, Company Contract lines from Econet together with provision of monthly airtime for communication purposes to management reps . More so there is the use of GPS receivers, that is, Radios for all Foresters’ communication in the estates. All location managers and Officers report to a location/divisional General Manager which is the highest office at divisional level as illustarated in the organogram below. ORGANOGRAM Fig. 2. 1 1. 6 Principal Products / Services and characteristics Wattle Company’s business success is centres on sustainable management of its forestry resources and is dedicated towards sustainable environmental management. The Wattle Company has received a number of accolades for its outstanding performance in environmental and forestry management. The Company operates under three strategic Business Units, Namely, Nyanga Pine Division Wattle Mimosa Division Vumba Timbers Division It has four core businesses for production and marketing of Pine Sawn Timber and manure Wattle Extract Eucalyptus Poles Charcoal Fig 3. Wattle Company Divisions Fig. 4. Wattle Company Hectare all divisions inclusive. The student was based at the Nyanga Pine division. NYANGA PINE DIVISION Nyanga Pine Plantations are located at Nyanga and Dunsinane Estates, approximately 65 kilometers and 35 kilometers north of Mutare, respectively. Available Resource Nyanga has a sustainable resource of 15 0,000m3 saw logs per annum for the pine plantations. An additional resource base from Art Corporation plantation which has been secured by the company is 76,000m3. Acquisition of the rest of the Art Corporation plantations is also expected to yield an additional 31,600m3 per annum. Figure. 3. Part of the resources available in the Nyanga Pine Division. Land holding in this Division is 18 973 hectares. Logs from these plantations are managed on a 20 to 25 year rotation and 450 hectares are harvested annually producing 150 000m? of saw slogs. The timber is harvested and transported to the sawmill using specialized equipment. As illustrated in fig 4 below. Fig. 5. A forwarder transporting logs PINE SAWN TIMBER The Sawmill has a capacity of producing 72000cm3 of sawn timber per year and has 2 production lines. The frame saw line for big diameter logs and the multi-saw line which replaced the chipper canter line for small diameter and larger diameter logs. Fig 6 illustrates the frame saw line. Fig 6. 1 A log entering the frame saw line Fig 6. 2 A log out of the frame saw line The Wattle Company produces high quality sawn timber that has high demand both locally and internationally . Pine sawn timber is a soft wood. The pine sawn timber is kiln dried to standard moisture content of between 12 15%. This is achieved by adhering to stringent quality control measures starting from the source of our timber and in addition, our processes conform to the local Standards Association of Zimbabwe Board (SAZ) and South Africa Bureau of Standards ( SABS) yet also currently seeking ISO 9001 certification. The structural timber comes in solid form, finger jointed, planed all round and kiln dried. The lengths range from 0. 9 m to 6. 6 m. Fig. 7. Pine sawn timber stacked in the warehouse Structural timber is mainly used for construction, whilst Industrial grade timber is used for furniture and industrial purposes. These products are marketed and sold throughout the SADC region to different customers in their specific requirements. Bi- products – Crating, Pulpwood, and Pillar logs, Pine bark, Wood shavings and Saw dust are produced. The company also produces the industrial grade timber for the furniture manufacturers. Moreover the company also produces Manure from decomposing mixtures of sawdust and bark which is demanded locally, mainly by maize and cotton producers. Also the company offers other used products such as used tyres, used oil, scrap metal and old vehicles. Wood is another product produced for sale to outsiders with some provided to the general workers and the local communities who stay in electricity free houses. Principal services Wattle Company provides expertise to other fellow timber producing organisations, students in local high schools through conducting fire and tree planting campaigns together with students on industrial attachment in various departments found in the organisation. More so it offers health services such medical health care, HIV and AIDS counselling and testing and maternal care to employed/ non employees yet local people. It also offers employment to the local community and the country at large. The company is involved in the preservation of Natural resources such Fauna and flora, Historical cultural sites, such as Nyangani terraces and recreational areas such as Mtarazi Falls with help from its security. The Wattle Company, through its Nyanga Pine Division is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which is an international organization that provides accreditation of forest management practices. FSC establishes standards as well as monitor the chain of custody and labelling of wood products. . 7 Main markets served and their environmental characteristics The Wattle Company is currently supplying the following markets, ? Botswana 33%, ?South Africa 35% ?Zimbabwe 20% ?Namibia 6% ?Zambia 3% ?Mozambique 3% Fig. 8. Timber market sizes in % Timber products produced at Wattle Company have created demand through spiral, repeat and referral marketing. The Product is produced from a well managed res ource that adheres to specifications of international standards. The timber is mature and is suitable for major construction jobs which most construction companies prefer. The Wattle Company has created a competitive edge against its industry peers by upgrading its product through mouldering, as a differentiation strategy to its competitors who prefer to sell their timber as general grade. Wattle Company uses benchmarking as an analytical process through which the organization’s performance in the market is compared to the best in the country and the region. Positioned in a niche market it supplies 80% of its timber as structural which automatically means only those that are in the construction industry prefer the product. The company’s minimum order quantity is 48 cubes. The prices are factory that is they exclude freight cost since customer own transport is used. The Company’s Pine Sawn Timber is grouped and sold in two broad categories – Structural sawn timber for builders’ merchants and roof truss manufacturers. There is also the Industrial sawn timber for furniture and door manufacturers and pallet makers. Approximately 70% of the Pine Sawn Timber is exported while 30% is sold locally. All dispatches are made directly from Nyanga Pine Sawmill spearheaded by Wattle Company headquarters in Mutare where all payments are made. The Company is the third largest producer of Pine Sawn Timber in Zimbabwe and sells its product under the brand â€Å"NYANGA PINE†. Zimbabwean timber is proven by international test standard to be competitive in strength, workability and appearance with South African and European pine. 1. 8 Sources of Competition Competition in the region is not just coming from regional suppliers but also timber coming from as far as Chile, Brazil and Australia amidst softening demand in the market backyards. A case in point is the Namibian customer called the Mega build who is importing timber from as far as Australia; as a result, it creates pressure and price distortions and reduces the regional suppliers’ market share. The Zimbabwean primary wood processing industry is an oligopoly dominated by five players namely: Wattle Company, Border Timbers International, Allied Timbers, Mutare Board and Paper Mills, and Hunyani. Each of these companies has its own timber processing facilities and grows timber for own use. Three are major timber suppliers namely, The Wattle Company, Boarder Timbers and Allied Timbers, with the other two suppliers operating more than two sawmills each. The difference between The Wattle Company and its competitors has been the ability to stick to world class standards and pro efficiency. Border Timbers is now the second biggest player in the industry but of late experiencing problems of diminishing resources. Wattle Company, Forest Company of Zimbabwe, and Border Timbers produce about 89% of timber in Zimbabwe and 1% is from Bush Millers. Threat posed by forest fires locally affects output in terms of quality. Recent fires in South Africa had weakened output prices. Only Wattle Company and Boarder Timbers are Forest Standard Commission (FCZ) certified giving Forest Company of Zimbabwe a disadvantage on the international market. Wattle Company is currently the smallest player in the industry but the most efficient. The competition in Zimbabwe Timber Industry hinges more on volume capacity than other factors such as quality, lead time and turn around. The wattle Company has edged its competitors by sticking to high quality structural timber creating a name in the regional construction industry. Environmental Management The Wattle Company Limited is a recipient of Timber Producers Federation of Zimbabwe’s Environmental Awards and has a documented Environmental Management System in place. Special Management is applied to the conservation of water catchment areas, high altitude grasslands, main forest communities and archaeological heritage such as the remains of Nyanga Terrace Culture, pollution prevention of estate soils by machinery oils and proper disposal of waste (paper, wood, glue, metal and clinic wastes). 1. 9 Types of technology involved and their characteristics There is a lot of modern machinery used for Pine sawn timber production from planting to marketing of the finished product. The information above is the general information of the whole Wattle Co divisions. However the growing of pine trees at Nyanga Pine division is for sawn timber. Nyanga Pine plantings are largely restricted to Pinus patula, but include P. taeda; P. elliottii, P. kesiya; P. tecunumannii and P. maximinoii and some of these species are being carefully considered now (Wattle Co Management Plan of the Pine Estates 2012). There is the use of Diesel powered chain saws an earth moving machinery for cutting or bringing down the trees respectively, followed by choking –which involves bringing the logs close to the road (for sorting according to diameters and loading using the telelogger) using tractors; cattle; the skidder and cable yarders (from inaccessible areas like in valley bottoms). More so haulage trucks are then used to transport logs from the harvesting sites to the Sawmill for processing. At the Sawmill, teleloggers are used to offload trucks and sorting is done as well. Cane hooks are then used to roll logs onto electric powered hauling chains (the process is highly mechanised)which feed the de-barkerfor bark removal before proceeding to the frame Saw and Multi-saw lines for cutting to size. Conveyer belts carry the timber to the green chain section where manual loading of the Boogies is done followed by Kiln drying using The Ballman and Tekma Kilns which are Electric and Fire powered respectively. Traverses then carry the dried timber to the Dry mill section for cutting to size and packaging. Side loaders then load the timber as per orders before loading to trucks for departure to their respective destinations. Fig. 9. Process flow diagram of timber from harvesting to warehouse 1. 10 Impact of government Measures and policies, the economy and changing environment and social attitudes Government legislative bodies such as NSSA, EMA and SAZ have positively impacted on the organisation to be a workable environment through its NSSA compensation scheme in case of injuries. Subscribing to EMA and SAZ has coerced the organisation to improve its environmental management climate, market improvement and improved OHSE standards respectively. On the other hand through the Recruitment and Selection Policy, which requires locals to be considered first when employing people, inexperienced people have been assimilated which greatly affect the quality of workforce available. The economic climate currently has improved performance of the organisation where a monthly profit of US$23000- US$30000 is obtained hence it has resulted in improvement in the salary scales. The favourable climate has also increased the market size by attracting more foreign customers aided by SAZ certification. Cash flow problems/Global liquidity shortages have negatively impacted the organisation forcing it to sell on credit thereby resulting in late payments of salaries and wages. Increasing mechanisation levels have also resulted in high job losses Changing educational environment has resulted in most locals shunning the lowly paid jobs in the forestry industry. More so qualified personnel is also leaving the organisation for greener pastures with even students are now shunning being attached there because of absence of any allowance. CHAPTER TWO(2) 2. 1. 0 Management style –Values and priorities, responsiveness to external change and management 2. 1. 1 Management style It is a top to bottom approach. The divisional activities are run from the headquarters by group managers. On site there is the GM, FRM, TLM, Accountant, HR assistant and SHE Officer. These HODs are the policy makers assisted by HOS who do the day to day running of the various departments reporting to the GM. The organisation has 6 departments namely: Clinic, HR, Forestry, Harvesting, Administration and SHE. HODs report also to group managers who directly report to the COO, who is the overall head of the company who delegates tasks to top management. A weekly progress meeting is conducted by top management and chaired by the COO. 2. 1. 2 Values and priorities Values and priorities of the organisation are set by the management team since there is a top to bottom approach to management of issues at the organisation. The organisational Policy is followed but it is mainly if not only effective upon the general hand wage earner and few lower grade staff workers. 2. 1. 3Management succession Workers rotate departments depending on performance and not specialisation, for instance from HR to Production. Succession is handled by HR but that of management is handled at group level by group managers. There is also rotation of employees around the three divisions especially management/staff workers. 2. 1. 4 Responsiveness to external change Marketing surveys are done every month to determine market prices. Prices are then either lowered or increased depending on periodic reviews. Weekly performance meetings are conducted on site chaired by the COO, where supplies are usually stopped wherever late payments are observed. Also the increased competition on the market has forced the organisation to seek ISO9001 certification and implementation of BBS in a bid to lure the market by showing their concern to Quality and OHS issues respectively. Production of products as per customer requirements and specifications in terms of width and thickness has also come as a response to external market changes in the timber industry. Also selling more and preferably to cash buyers has been effected to reduce the impact of cash flow shortages in the economy. The organisation also subscribes to the government gazette for updates on any changes in terms of legislations and other legal requirements. 2. 2. 0Logistics, production, marketing and management approaches to staffing and technological development. There is a silviculture department and a Forestry Resources Manager who is in charge of all the estates/ in charge of all the forest resources. This is the department which ensures sustainability and to ensure sustainability this department is responsible for all the plantings which include the harvested land or compartments as well as the burnt land. For example last year during the fire season about 900 ha were lost to forest fires but there is reestablishment of these compartments as well as the harvested compartments. Since the rainy season began about 800 ha were planted so far and if rain falls the company intends to finish planting all the palatable land. Planting back is a serious issue which is monitored at top management level as well as the Timber Producers Federation (TPF) which the company is part of. So the issue of sustainability is unquestionable at Nyanga pine division as illustrated above. As for harvesting there is a harvesting department headed by the Harvesting and Transport logistics Manager. When the compartment is ready for harvesting which is usually after 25 years the silviculture department hands over the compartment to the harvesting department with the forest planning department being involved as well. Usually every year the silviculture department hands over all compartments ready for harvesting then the harvesting department do APOs (Annual Plan of Operations) using the information provided. This is the first step done by the harvesting forester and authorised by the Harvesting and Planning managers. Harvesting then commences following a harvesting procedure. When the compartment is finished it is handed over to planning for fibre waste assessment then back to silviculture for plantings. This is the cycle in short. The planning cycle is there for the sustainable management of the forest resources. Management is striving to cut costs through the acquisition of highly mechanised equipment like the Multi saw line which only requires 12 workers along the whole line as opposed to more than 30 workers on previous lines (chipper canter line). More so some departments are operating with one person with the aid of students on industrial attachment whom are not a cost since they are not paid, for instance, one SHE officer for Reneen, Nyakupinga, Nyanga Pine, Mtarazi and Dunsinane Estates and the Sawmill. Seasonal employees are temporarily employed especially during the planting and fire seasons for preparation of fireguards and ring weeding respectively. Marketing is done throughout the marketing manager who is based at the head office in Mutare. Sales are also facilitated through that same location. No marketing rep on site since it is only a production site since collections are done using receipts and with the aid of phone calls. A larger percentage of the product is sold internationally. 2. 1. 3 Management Issues and their relationship to environmental issues and performance of the organisation. Management is more concerned with production hence environmental issues are not of much concern or they are not given much attention since they are not funded for instance all industrial hygiene surveys were last done in 2009 and 2010 respectively. More over foresters also claim to be masters in SHE issues hence it brings friction between the different departments. The SHE department is only involved in voluntary compliance to standards such as ISO14001and ISO9001 among others since it is only SAZ certified. There is generally lack of management commitment to SHE issues hence little is being done in terms of environmental management though there is vast knowledge inhibited within the site SHE Officer which remains an untapped resource though beneficial to tudents on work related learning to whom it is relayed. CHAPTER THREE(3) 3. 0 Activities carried out and Initiatives made by the student After a month in the industry the most tasks were delegated to the student for learning process, development of a world class/competent SHE practitioner and for monitoring progress during the course of the industrial attachment period. Only decision making opportunities in sensitive issues were not tasked to the student. 3. 1. Safety health a nd environment (S. H. E) induction of newly recruited employees This process involves safety induction of new employees and visitors so that they practise safety every time and everywhere. It also shows the level of commitment of the organisation to SHE issues. After a month the student was given the role of conducting all inductions in the absence/presence of the supervisor. This further boosted confidence to speak amongst a group of people since it was going to be a routine task to train groups of workers. 3. 2. Land farming project This is a project for treatment of oil contaminated soils to normal or near normal state which emanates from unsurfaced parking bays like the telelogger bay in the Sawmill, garage and management parking bays. The project was to remain an ever running project since soil is continuously being polluted. The student developed the land farming project together with preparing the project budget, documentation and description, assigning responsibilities, training of the people involved, monitoring, and preparation of continuous improvement documents together with monitoring of progress. 3. 3. Environmental Inspections, audits and on job observations This facilitated compliance to SHE standards, compliance levels to management procedures and task procedures, noting of at risk behaviour and conditions, Fire extinguishers, first Aid boxes and areas in dire need for improvement or meriting immediate attention. These aspects allowed us to police compliance to SHE standards and punishing of those who breach the laws using the code of conduct. The student was also part of the panel conducting all internal audits in other divisions of Wattle Company like the second quarter audit at Silver Streams in Chimanimani. More so the student conducted routine morning on job observations and inspections in the Sawmill and conducted monthly inspections by way of a checklist before surrendering the audit results to the supervisor for analysis and drawing of CARs. 3. 4. Conducting safety health and environment educational and legislative training programmes for 1200 employees (high and middle level management and shop floor workers) The student with the help from fellow student developed and prepared the inspections and audit checklists for use internally and for use by all Wattle divisions. Since most trainings at the organisation are handled by the SHE department hence the student through the knowledge disseminated to him by the work supervisor, spearheaded trainings on BBS, MPs, chemical handling and other safety environmental and health related issues brought to his attention by external professionals, for instance, trainings on circumcision, diseases control, general hygiene and Training SHE Reps on how they were to conduct Observations. More so the student conducted Fire and environmental awareness to students in local schools. Also the student trained management and the shop floor workers on how to conduct safety talks together with highlighting their relevance. The student also had passion to disseminate knowledge acquired at college through training the fellow workmates on Safety, Health and Environmental Legislative requirements the organisation had to subscribe to. In addition the student conducted refresher trainings on the SHE Policy, harvesting procedures and accident reporting. These were assisted by mock drills to monitor for instance mock drills. The student was part of the panel which spearheaded these together with assessing the level of preparedness the Company assumed in case an emergency occurred. The student also assisted in developing innovative procedures in the improvement of available sanitation practices to meet targets set by the SHE department in its SHE manual. 3. 5. Compile monthly SHE reports and Weekly progress reports These reports showed progress and company performance on SHE issues together with activities and challenges being faced in handling SHE issues. It was the duty of the student to prepare monthly reports using available statistics and information gathered. This is also a way of communication with top management on Departmental performance. More so weekly and monthly reports were prepared by the student to show the level of progress and material covered during the course of the work related learning process. 3. 6. Compliance promotion and enforcement of occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental laws. Besides conducting trainings on legislations, the student also made follow ups on progress in issues discussed or trained on as part of policing compliance to CARs, set targets and expectations. Those found not complying with these were warned and the CARs were not closed until progress was noticed, with others being warned or called for hearings since at Wattle Company, it is a dismissible offence to disobey any safety regulation or set standard. 3. 7. Accident/Incident investigations, identifying route causes and providing recommendations to prevent recurrence of incidents. Accident investigations are a requirement by law and are also of importance so as to know the causes of accidents together with identification of problem areas. The student conducted incident investigations so as to determine the latent failures and conditions contributing to the occurrence of the accident so as to learn and avoid the occurrence of the same kind of incident through the provision of suitable recommendations and action plans. This further enhanced the level of scrutiny by the student in any issue. . 8 Preparation of the BLR Assessment Database/Register and the Environmental Database The student together with another fellow student prepared the BLRA for evaluating risks and exposure of workers to these risks per department. These were to be used as a basis for training during trainings on accident prevention, refresher training courses, and drawing of action plans together with noting down any new types of incidents developing together with taking note of their inherent causes or accelerators. The student also was part of the team that prepared the environmental database which was to be useful in Natural Resources management since it allowed the student to quantify the amount of water, fuel, electricity and Wood fuel consumed per month together with calculating the amount atmospheric pollutants the company was contributing through its use of oils, burning of waste in the incinerators and the use of diesel fuelled vehicles and machines. More so knowledge about the amount of water, electricity and wood allowed future planning for sustainable resource use to be done. 3. Training of SHE Representatives SHE Reps are the eye of any SHE department hence much of the trainings done were to equip them with the necessary skills to foster safe working in their fellow workmates. The student hence trained SHE reps on accident reporting procedure, conducting and completion of BBS observation checklists, conducting of safety talks just to mention a few. This was done since they were the o nes constantly on the ground and also it was discovered to be easier to spread knowledge on SHE using people at the same level since they understand each other better. 3. 0 Conducting the HIRA process and taking down all potential hazardous tasks and related risks The student also conducted the HIRAs for all departments which was also useful in the preparation of the BLRA database. HIRA involves identification of hazards and estimating the risks thereby allowing the development of action plans to manage those risks before they occur 3. 11 Conducting of internal EIAs for small internal projects. The student conducted an internal EIA for Pine Products which is a sister company of Wattle (Nyanga Pine Division) specialising in the production of pine sawn timber as well. Here the student used acquired knowledge at college together with additional guidelines from an internal EIA checklist to assess the environmental, social, health and pollution (from waste generation and disposal) related impacts of the already running bush mill/Plant. This was also a form of compliance to national legislative requirements from EMA Act chapter 20:27. 3. 12 Conduct occupational and health campaigns The student conducted campaigns on male circumcision together with liaising with the clinic on the behalf of PSI so as to provide a venue and set actual dates for the surgeries. More so the student conducted further training on Cancer, HIV and AIDS respectively since they were also part of the reasons why circumcision was being promoted to be done. 3. 13 Accident Register Updating The student also prepared the Accident Register for the years 2011 and 2012. Also weekly updating of the register was done by the student together with Trend analysis of accidents between current and previous years. This register assisted in noting any major changes in accident rates together with the reasons why that was happening. It allowed review of Policies and performance wherever there was need. 3. 14 Taking tours with new employees during inductions and or visitors around the plant or estates to view operations. The student also after inducting new employees took them for a tour around the plant and estates to familiarise them with SHE issues involved within those areas. Besides SHE issues the student was also knowledgeable about the product process flow since it was part of the reasons for the tour hence he had to share it with the visitor or new employee. 3. 5 Reviewing EMPs, WMPs, EMPs etc Besides preparing new documents the student was also involved in reviewing and updating of all obsolete documents. This was done according to the set review periods and was also auditable both externally and internally. 3. 16 Conducting Pre-shift talks. Also the student conducted Pre-shift talks to management and the shop floor workers as a way of enhancing safe working together with notifying on previous weekâ€⠄¢s incidents to all workers and training workers on prevention of the same incidents from repeating themselves. The student therefore developed and prepared the SHE Talk Calendar for the year 2012 as a guideline on weekly discussions in every department and section. More so the student policed whether these pre-shift talks were being conducted since some people had a tendency of ignoring or not attending hence the provision of Pre-shift talk registers. 3. 17 Completion and submission of NSSA WCIF 14 forms The student also completed the above mentioned forms for any LTI or accidents meriting a claim from NSSA, since every worker was insured to NSSA in case an accident would occur. The student and travelled weekly to Mutare for submission and collection of claims cards for use in treatment or receiving a claim from the bank. 3. 18 Development and Implementation of BBS Social Soccer League The student developed the BBS League as part of entertainment to the workers. In addition the student went to purchase the balls and acted as management team’s coach cum player in preparation of the league games. The student also included safety statistics as part of points awarding system together with updating of the log standings every week. . 19 Filing of SHE documents After preparation of any document the student had a filing day every week for filing of each internally or externally prepared that was useful in future. The student prepared a SHE filing system in soft copy and saved the documents on the machine. Further still the student prepared hard copies of the same documents and filed them separately using a filing index and number. These documents were useful during Audits since they were a requirement especially during external audits by NSSA, EMA and SAZ. Filing thus made it easier for document access whenever requested for. 3. 20 Acting as Secretary during SHE meetings The student also acted as a departmental secretary during SHE Monthly meetings and during management BBS training meetings. More so the student recorded the minutes and typed them together with circulating them back to all departmental HODs. PERFOMANCE CRITERIA AND TARGETS SET FOR WORK PLACEMENT PROGRAMME Performance Criteria There are basically two types of approaches being used by Wattle namely; a. Logical framework approach Under this framework objectives are set on different programmes and strategies for implementation plans in place where objectives stated, compilation of data, SHE Policy commitment is key and is stated as well. The framework is implied in all significant issues, for instance, significant Safety or Health hazards and impacts are given set objectives and targets in a bid to reduce or eliminate their impact. The specialists in the field done the ground work and the affected groups only adopt prescribed approaches either pertaining to their safety or health. . Participatory approach This is used in managing key Environmental issues and System implementation and is mainly executed through a suggestion scheme, for instance, Zvandaona Nhasi Scheme in BBS implementation. It is open to everyone, that is, local heads and the community at large and is not selective in terms of gender of social class. The method involves listing down all suggestions of all participants. Management Objectively ve rifiable Suggestion indicators are enlisted using this approach. Community appreciation of projects like tree planting and wetlands management are used as a performance criteria tool. Usually the community or affected group are allowed to develop practical home grown solutions for verification and adoption by the organisation in spearheading issues to do with environmental pollution and its related impacts to their livelihood, animals and health. Targets Departmental SHE targets and management programmes are derived from significant hazards in that department. All significant hazards are then given key SHE commitment areas. Each department has its own hazard register rated differently as per frequency and exposure rates. Significant hazards are given objectives and targets, management programmes together with target completion dates. These hazards registers are reviewed every year. The SHE department inspects each department to verify the effectiveness and coverage these departmental hazards registers. EXPERIETIAL LEARNING GAINED FROM WRL PLACEMENT-OPPORTUNITIES AND PROBLEMS FACED AND MEANS ADOPTED TO EXPLORE AND OVERCOME THEM Experiential Leaning gains Exposure to real work environment and assuming the role of a full time employee allowed the student to swallow pride from the respect he got from fellow workers some of whom were elderly people, at the same time allowing him to know about work ethics and expected workplace manners. An Assessment of the working environment was done at arrival at Wattle to see how people conducted each other. Adopting to the way of life at the same place came second since it was a rural setup in which the student was not acquainted to. Adaptation to the internal environment followed where the environment in which the student was working proved so complex and ever dynamic such that being flexible was one quality that had to be borrowed so as to be able to adapt to occupational dynamics. Familiarising with the system allowed full and competent performance to be achieved. Required Adjustments to personal character were made to suit the colleagues around and the working environments together with challenges faced from time to time. Setting of chievable and realistic goals and the development of action plans in managing of problems and non conformities was a priority. Extreme pressure was experienced whenever there were recurrent incidents and during month ends when monthly reports had to be prepared. During such a period the student had to stay at work till late or attend a double shift of day and night. Collectively, experiential learning Boosted confidence of execution of duty as a competent SHE practitioner, a good communicator, a good listener and fast writer as required in capturing minutes in management meetings. Good communication skills were highlighted through the ability to handle conflicts among and between fellow workers and friends. The student also learned to be Punctual where there was an anomaly in which work started at 6:30 yet the student had to walk on foot for about 7km to work. The student never disappointed though at times he had to attend double shifts and leave work as late as 20:00 hrs in the evening. The student improved his personal skill and also acquired management skills especially in handling different tasks and attended to hearing panels. It also allowed the student to exercise power, delegated authority and to employ knowledge and skills gained at college. To this end, practical learning allowed the student to have practical exploration of work experience. It was also learnt that to succeed in any field, not only personal motivation but also the zeal to learn keeps you moving towards your aims and goals in life. Opportunities ?Prospects of employment since most of the SHE managers are nearing retiring ages, hence having been there gives me a comparative advantage. Business opportunities since there is vast arable land lying idle and the shops lack variety in terms of goods provided together with waste timber which can fetch a good market in the nearby town of Mutare. ?Linkages to various external stakeholders like EMA, NSSA and SAZ on a more personal note ? Freedom to pursue educational opportunities since the job of being a SHE officer gives you ample time to do other things since your duty is only to train and enfo rce. Problems faced and how the student adapted ?Work organisational politics was one major challenge which made other epartments hate SHE not knowing that there was no budget for the department and all its financial issues were handled by HR. The student never became part of the Trade unions in order to avoid being a victim. ?Other departments were unwilling to share information; hence the student went through his superiors in order to achieve his targets for the week. ?Working for nothing or without any motivation was also a challenge in which the student responded by developing the BBS Social Soccer League to forget about it. More so the student supplied some fruits from Honde and Mutare in order to make ends meet. ?There was no departmental transport for going on SHE inspections and trainings especially in far areas like the estates. Borrowing vehicles from other departments came as a solution. ?Fuel shortages for ambulance with reserves for production hence emergencies were attended to late. As the HODs of the clinic the students made a plan of keeping the tank full to its brim whenever the fuel was available. ?No SHE budget was available; hence the department was forced to rely on decisions by HR. The department relied on non cash strategies so as to perform his duties effectively. ?Distance from home to work was too long, that is about 7 km. The student resorted to walking as early as was possible to be at work in time since he was required to be there at 06:30hrs. ?Departmental integrity was also a challenge in cases where the foresters claimed to be masters in SHE issues but denying responsibility whenever an incident occurred. They also lacked knowledge as what a SHE department was for including their roles and responsibility. The student resorted to being calm and forced them to make arrangements so that SHE trainings and inspections were done even when they did not value them. IDENTIFICATION AND ANALYSIS OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEORY STUDIED AND OPERATIONAL PRACTISES Theory learned at college tends to follow clearly outlined syllabuses, procedures and steps and are simple to understand whereas operational practises bridge the gap between theory and reality being complex and achievable after continual repetition together with having no defined steps followed except in task procedures only. Shortcuts are very common in the operational practise where sometimes they are observed to be safer than the prescribed steps. Theory only gives a theoretical description of tasks with operational practises giving the exact execution of the task. Too shallow information is disseminated in specific areas/ there tends to be more generalisations in theories studied whereas operational practises bring about so much specific information and documentation. Theory deals with prediction of cases whilst in operational practises results are condition oriented though they differ with organisations. Not much or all of the material learned was usable during WRL since there is some specialisation in operational practises where one only works in one department doing the same specific tasks repeatedly. The operational practises proved to be more complex hence require rapid dynamism so as to adapt to the working environment which is politically, economically and socially demanding in nature. There were some slight similarities where issues learned like computing techniques in GES were usable in documents preparation, such as, Databases and PPE Matrices and trainings using Microsoft word, excel and slide show presentations. Communication skills (CS101) at college made proper communication affordable in the practical environment where training and interaction of diverse social groups was done from management to the shop floor worker. Basic theory however was vital since it made understanding and practical execution easier and faster. PERFORMAN MONITORING CRITERIA AND ASSSESSMENT OF DIRECTION AND SUPERVISION PROVIDED PLACE SUPERVISOR/MANAGEMENT TOGETHER WITH THE VISITING LECTURER’S ASSISSTANCE. The student was viewed as a full time employee by the WRL Organisation and was governed by the code of conduct which therefore forced him to perform to the required standards and expectations. Weekly and Monthly progress reports on issues covered were a mandatory from the student since they, together with tasks delegated were used to monitor progress of the student during attachment period. Weekly targets were also used which was based on a weekly plan. The student was also tasked to provide a personal file for assessment by Group HSE manger every month. The student was expected to complete all tasks planned for during that week with those unmet tasks forwarded to the following week. The supervisor’s mentorship approach was to make the student to accomplish certain tasks without his assistance and this was used as a means to monitor progress of the student in terms of speed of grasping and understanding of concepts together with skills development. More so the student also prepared a Log book as part of the progress monitoring aid. This was assessed and signed by the workplace supervisor assisted by the visiting lecturer who assessed the book during the period of visit . The visiting lecturer assisted in explaining what exactly the student was to learn about during the WRL period together with assessing the relevance of what had been covered. He also gave light on the position of the college in other related issues such as accommodation and salary issues . Also an assessment of issues learnt and their relationship to the modules covered was done. Also the student was expected to produce a WRL Report at the end of the WRL period as part of progress monitoring as well. CHAPTER FOUR (4) 4. 1 Evaluation of the Work Related Learning The full year of industrial attachment was a highly productive learning process that exposed the student to the real working environment where real safety, health and environmental situations that are often presented as theory at college were made real through this process. The working environment is never a student oriented environment so as to provide a growing environment for young, new and inexperienced personnel but it remains real with clear operational procedures and structures which gave the student the necessary practical experience required in developing future managers since the student was viewed as a full time employee. This was more than a just an academic fulfilment as the student was natured in his moral, social, observation and analytical skill together with improving his interpersonal communication skills. A greater percentage of the aims of the WRL were achieved as the student mastered most of the duties and roles to operate as a full time SHE Practitioner, though the student never had a chance to do some of the roles/activities due to cash flow problems which hindered activities such as industrial hygiene surveys (for air quality testing, Noise and Lung functioning tests) to be conducted in his presence. Some tasks took longer to be fully understood and readily practised than others. This was a result of other tasks being daily routines/generic issues for instance daily inspections and accident investigation with others being a once-off thing, for example, documents preparation like Databases preparation and preparation of other major documents like Waste Management Plan. Progress was mostly seen where the student initiated interest thus constantly researching and questioning the WRL mentor through his eagerness o learn, whereas in areas where the student showed little to interest no information was relayed since he always had work to do. The student’s expectations were to act as a student but realised that there are no students in the working environment where everyone is given equal opportunity and viewed at the same level, that is, all as adults and full time employees governed by a single company code of conduct. Most of the knowledge acquired at college was not usable in the working environment but rather new things which only took aboard a few of the theory learned at college were in operation. As a student I thought that my views were not considered in the decision making process but realised that some of my ideas and acquired knowledge saved a purpose especially where the student was consulted by top management on SHE issues in the absence of the supervisor. The Code of conduct makes the working environment Peaceful, workable and eliminates hostility and unsocial behaviour due to fear of dismissal. Colleagues in the SHE Department were so assisting and helpful in case of any problem be it social, economic or otherwise and made the student welcome by illustrating his importance to the organisation. On the other hand the student was not involved in decision making process of the whole organisation as some of the aspects remained a myth since the student was viewed partly as an outsider, hence confidential information remained inaccessible. 4. 2 Advantages and disadvantages to the Organisation brought by the student’s WRL experience Advantages ?The department could now function as a full department through increased manpower hence this made work easier through delegation of duties. ?Through the knowledge acquired and in the absence of the full time SHE Practitioner, the department could still run under the student’s influence. This also allowed the SHE Practitioner to go on leave since previously he could not be allowed for fear of lack of departmental functionality in his absence. ?It was also cost effective for the company to use the student since he was not paid anything though he was fully exploitable and competent. ?Also it was an advantage to the organisation having such a competent student on board since it would be easier to refer to/appoint him as SHE Practitioner in the near future since the field is a migratory field hence they faced a risk of losing current ones. ?The introduction of the BBS Social Soccer League by he student brought life and entertainment to the local community and workers at large. ?Most documents in us e were prepared by the student hence it was an advantage to the company. The student’s experience made enforcement of SHE standards and MPs easier hence assisting in lowering and elimination occupational injuries, diseases and negative environmental impacts. Disadvantag es ?Though the student’s competency proved to be an advantage is also became a disadvantage to the organisation since there was a reduction in manpower when the student was returning back to college. Most work that used to be handled smoothly was now loaded to one competent person. ?Development of Land farming and balls, kits and trophy for BBS Social Soccer League was an expense to the organisation since they were supposed to fund these for them to be a success. ?Nevertheless having experience is another thing but it remains the student’s choice to work for a company of his own choice hence the company can also be said to produce what does not benefit out of thereby making it a disadvantage as well. The time lost in training the student was a disadvantage to the organisation considering that they were not going to keep the student with them. Lunch out especially after management meetings was a cost to the organisation as well. CHAPTER FIVE (5) CONLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 5. 1 Conclusions The student’s period of attachment at The Wattle Company Limited was a valuable experience which has natured him into gaining skills technically, professional and socially. The student has been exposed to different aspects of the SAFETY HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT and has learnt a lot. The student’s Work Related Learning (WRL) period at The Wattle Company really transformed him into a responsible student who is capable of working competently in the industry. It really gave him hands on the real job experience and was able to familiarize himself with new ideas and aspects in the industry. He is now capable of carrying out his duties without constant supervision together with taking his responsibilities with caution and to his ability; hence has become self initiative in nature. 5. Recommendations to Midlands State University ?The university should develop cordial relations with companies so that there is general mutual understanding between the college and companies. This will assist both the students from the same institution having a comparative advantage on WRL Placement acquisition. ?The university must also reconsider on other external challenges away from work and increase the number of assessment visits to monitor conditions being lived under and chall enges students are facing. The university must continue with the attachment program, as it is vital for skills development and gives advantage to the student when seeking full time employment as it acts as experience and leverage. 5. 3 Recommendations to GES Department ?It is very critical for the university to complement theory with more practice. It will be advantageous to the student if the university introduces courses, which are on demand in the industry for example BBS. Field visits to Organisations should be increased before going for work related learning so that students will get to know and prepare for what they are going to be facing when they are out there. ?The university should seek attachment places for students to make it easier because students are ending up going for an attachment lat

Simple moving average for product 8 Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

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Principles and Policy by Baumol and Blinder - Term Paper Example The evidence is clear as penalties that imposed on high-risk borrowers of up to 2% of the mortgage amount have been diminished or eliminated. Evidently, Americans have witnessed the lowest rates in recent decades due to the fact that homeowners are in scurry to refinance. However, 25% of these homeowners cannot refinance since their mortgage exceeded the value of the home. Since the last crash, Fannie and Freddie were both under the control of the Federal government, a move that had to be conducted in order for the American economy to be stabilized. Currently, the program has not worked up to its potential as only 894,000 borrowers have conducted refinancing in their mortgages through agency. Although many factors affect the outcome, it is clear that Fannie and Freddie Mac are hindrance towards the market as they continue to enact hefty fees and conditions to their customers. It relates to macroeconomics due to the fact that housing bubble continues to grow out of hand. The housing m arket has been in such a turmoil that individuals can start owning homes for $50,000. This act is beneficial because it can lower the interest rates and allow people to pay their mortgages, which can increase the price of homes. Moreover, critics continue to question the effectiveness of the program as it strives to boost the economy since cash flow of borrowers will be induced by investors who possess these bad mortgages. Conducive research indicates that housing market directly impacts the American economy. Real estate economics dictate the economic strategies that are used in the market. The housing economic discusses the business and structural modifications that can potentially ruin the industry. In essence, there is no market equilibrium as the demand for houses has been high even though supply has diminished. This is mainly because of the low price that has continued to haunt the economy. BBC Newt Gingrich, Republican president, has defended the fact that he was never bribed by Fannie Mac. Gingrich was reacting to a report that he earned up to $1.8 million as the consultant from the leading mortgage lender. The former congressman continues to defend the fact that he never lobbied for Freddie Mac. Gingrich has been on the focal point since the elections have been heated up as he is the leader in the Republican polls. Since Freddie Mac is funded by the government, owns and continues to ensure half of US mortgages. This is critical to economics because Freddie Mac is already under strict scope of the government as it continues to struggle. If the accusations are indeed true, then both Freddie Mac and Gingrich can be in huge trouble considering the fact both are huge names in the industry. Gingrich insists that he was hired "strategic advice over a long period of time" to Freddie Mac, although he could not specify exactly how much he was paid. Yet, with the market on the verge of going chaotic, Gingrich is under the microscope for his actions. As mentioned above, Freddie Mac is still imposing high fees to its customers, something that Gingrich should acknowledge and address in his presidential debate. It will be interesting to see whether Gingrich’s reputation increases or decreases in polls. PBS Recently, a couple decided to buy a house which was worth only $1.

Aspects and traits of different cultures and how they communicate Essay Example for Free

Aspects and traits of different cultures and how they communicate Essay Culture can be interpreted differently by different people but the general meaning of culture can be defined as people’s way of life which is passed from one generation to another and also shared among other different societies. The world has very many different societies and each of these societies have their own way of life, their beliefs and norms. The activities that people involve themselves in and the beliefs they hold is what normally forms their culture. These cultural beliefs are the ones that distinguish one society from other societies and therefore many societies hold their culture as a very important symbol of identification(Neil). This document discusses the general aspects and traits of different cultures. It also gives a detailed view of how this traits and aspects are communicated within the societies and also across to other societies The aspects of culture generally display the general way of life of most societies in the world. These aspects can be a useful base to compare how different societies in the world live. One of the most prominent aspects of culture is the government structure of the societies and the international relation ships of this society with the outside world. Government within any society refers to the way the people in any society will make their laws and how these laws are enforced to the society. It also brings out the issues of leadership and how it is passed on to others within the society. All the societies in the world have different types of governments and the way one government is run is certainly not the same as the other society. The way laws are made and enforced is also independent among the different societies. For example, the United States of America has its own way of making laws and enforcing them, which is different from the way the African countries or other European countries do it. The procedures that are followed in the US to elect a president are not the same as the procedures that will be followed in Australia, china, or any other country. The international relations between one country and other country are simply not the same. The way the government of UK relates with the government of Canada is not the same way it will relate to a country like Nigeria. The international relations ships are different between one society and other all over the world (Shapiro, p25) . Another important aspect of culture is the economies of the societies and the resources available to them. The resources that are available to one society may not be available to another society. This can be due to different geographical locations which may favor some societies with better resources than others. For example, some societies in the world have natural resources while others do not have any natural resources. The resources available define a society’s way of earning a living. For example some societies especially in the African continent have abundant natural resources and most of them may depend on agriculture for a living. Other countries such as Korea have to import the raw materials for their manufacturing industries. The resources available and the type of management will then define the type of economies the societies will have at the end of the day. The scarcity of resources within the different societies has for example brought about trade and this has formed a major characteristic of culture in the different societies(Benedict,p13). The societies have different spiritual believes and this forms the basis of religion in the different societies. People within the societies have their own believes about the supernatural powers and this has given the society a clear definition of what to worship. For example the different societies in the world have different religions. While some societies believe in Christianity, others believe in Islamic, Hindu, cults among other religions. These beliefs affect the society’s way of life very differently. The way the Islamic religion dictates life is not the same as the Christianity. Their practices and believes are different. The passing of these religions between the societies is also very different. While to some like Islam it is mandatory other societies find it a personal choice and therefore optional (Lull,p22) Literacy and technology is another aspect of culture. This aspect brings out the different ways in which different societies acquire education. For example how they attend school and the type of school curricula that is followed. The education system in most word societies are not the same. The kind of technology that is incorporated in the school programs is very different from one society to another. Some societies such as western societies have more advanced technology than societies in the African context. What is taught in the school curricula is also different from one society to another. This eventually affects the types of societies that are finally brought up in future. Some of the societies are more technologically advanced that other societies in the world(Shapiro, p27) . Community and family life forms another part of the cultural aspect. This gives an approach of how people live and how closely they are related to each other. This also defines the kind of housing that the individuals may live in. Different societies construct their houses differently according to their beliefs. While some societies believe in stone built houses, some societies may construct mud hoses thatched with grass. The shapes and finishing of the houses constructed by the different societies is also different owing to their beliefs. The way the societies are divided for example in terms of race, ethnicity, family among others is also very different. This clearly means that the defined relationships between the family members in the societies are different. For example the way the younger people relate to the elders within the society is different across the world societies. The occasions and how they are celebrated within the societies is also very unique. For example they way the Chinese embrace their culture is not the same as then Indian society(Benedict, p17). The cultural arts and crafts within the societies are diversified. The arts that you will find in America are not the same as the arts in Asia. All the societies in the world have their unique paintings, music, sculptures, and architecture. The way the societies make the pottery, carvings, baskets, mats and others is very different. The kind of music enjoyed by one culture is not the same as the other society. These cultural aspects are known to exist in every society. The only difference is that every society has a unique and independent way of approaching each aspect. Apart from the aspects of culture in the societies, another major characteristic of culture is its traits. All cultures across the different societies have common traits. One of the cultural traits in the society is that culture is learned. All of us are born and raised in different societies. One is not born with the culture of any specific society. Individuals learn the culture of the society they are born in. If a child is born in a different culture from his parents, the child is likely to learn the culture of the second society and not that of his /her parents. Another trait of culture is that it is transmitted from one generation to another. People do not form other cultures when they are born. Instead the older people normally pass the culture in their society to the younger generations within the same society(Neil). This reinforces and maintains culture within the societies. This is because, if a culture is not passed from one generation to the next, it is most likely that that culture will eventually die. The older people therefore normally hold the responsibility of teaching the younger people the beliefs , traditions, values and norms of the society. Culture is dependent on the world of symbols to communicate it from one generation to another. This means that the methods used to pass culture in one society are basically similar as methods used in another society. The symbols that are normally relied upon by the societies are the verbal and non-verbal symbols of communication. Other symbols that may be used to communicate culture include icons and images. Change is another important trait of culture. This means that there is no one culture that is not subject to change. The culture that used to be followed by our great grand parents is not the same culture that we follow today. As times change, people keep changing what they believe in and this eventually changes the culture of the society (Benedict, p18). Change of culture is normally subject to the various changes that occur in our daily lives. For example changes in the education systems, change in technological advancement of the society, discoveries and innovations that may occur as life progresses. All the societies have another important cultural trait of superiority over other cultures. This trait is referred to as ethnocentric. The societies believe that their norms, values and practices are superior and far much better than those of other societies. This trait is a major source of conflict between societies since none of the societies will accept to be put down by another society. This trait helps the individuals within any particular society to feel proud of themselves and portray the positive image of their society. The final cultural trait in the societies is the adaptive nature of culture. As the world advances the changes that come with it must readily be acceptable within the societies. For example most cultures in the past regarded women as a weaker sex and their role in the society was very minimal. As the technological advancement took ground, women have adapted different roles in the society and today they perform the roles that were previously referred as masculine roles. People keep adapting different styles of life as change is adapted within the cultural context of the societies (Neil). Culture is communicated using different methods within the society. Communication of culture is done through various methodologies of learning. Culture itself can be learnt consciously or unconscious. Unconscious methods include observation and practicing of what other people do within your culture. The younger people may for example start dressing, singing and behaving like other people do within their society by just observing and imitating them. The conscious methods include reading about the culture and being taught by the older generation about your culture (Benedict, p23) Culture is taught to the younger generation through proverbs, folktales, myths folklore, art, music, poetry and mass media. Many are the times when our grand parents would tell stories related to our culture. The younger generation is then expected to behave in a manner that suits the lessons they learn from the stories and legends they hear. Everything that we do in our lives, both in the verbal and non-verbal originates from what we learnt in our cultural back ground. Apart from the older generation, culture can also be learnt from other sources such as our families, teachers ,religious organizations and our peer groups. Within the family context, parents hold the sole responsibility of teaching their young ones how to behave in accordance to the society’s value and norms(Lull, p28). They introduce them to the religious education and also the formal education system. What a child starts learning from the beginning of child hood forms a big ground for the cultural beliefs. For example, a child introduced to Islamic faith when very young and has grown believing in it would be very difficult to change and start believing in other religions such as Hindu or Christianity. In the institutions that we grow in, peer groups are likely to result and this forms another source where culture is learnt within the society. One is eager to learn what the other knows that he/she does not know and in this way we find that culture quickly passes to other individuals (Lull, p33). Culture is not only passed within the societies but it is passed to other societies. This has become very common in today’s societies where we find that individuals do not strictly stick to the beliefs in their own society. This has resulted from the effects of globalization that takes place in the present world. Many societies today are very integrated in different aspects of life such as marriage, trade, education among others. With such integration we find that people start dressing like other societies, eating foods similar to other societies, appreciating arts and traditions of other societies among others. People learn about other cultures through adaptation of behaviors and norms of the society at interest. Trade, media, intermarriages and education have become the best mechanisms of passing the cultures from one society to another (Toomey, p10) . In conclusion culture has the same general aspects and traits within the different societies across the world. The only difference is how these characteristics are interpreted in the different world societies. Culture is no longer viewed the same as it used to be in the past. Many individuals today do not know about their culture due to the adaptation of other societal cultures which is often mixed with the native culture. This has given rise to societies with very diverse believes and many cultural conflicts within the society. Works cited Dennis ONeil. (2007). Characteristics of Culture. Available from: http://anthro. palomar. edu/culture/culture_2. htm Harry Lionel Shapir. Aspects of Culture. Ayer Publishing, 1970, p23-56 Lull, J. Media, Communication, Culture: A global approach. New York, Columbia University Press, 1995, p16-34 Ruth Benedict Patterns of Culture. Mariner Books, 2005,p13-44 Ting Toomey, S. Communicating across cultures. New York, Guilford, 1999, p4-18