The Question of Female Citizenship

The Question of Female Citizenship Catherine Tupper In the early 1800’s a young man by the name of James Martin was denied by the lower court when he claimed that his deceased mother’s property in the United States was confiscated from his family. After being denied for an appeal in the lower court, James appealed his decision to the Supreme Judicial Court. The problem at conflict in this case was whether or not James mother, Anna, was defined as a feme-covert or as a citizen of The United States. This court case was called Martin v. Massachusetts.According to the Source, in eighteenth-century Anglo-America a married women, by law, was known as a feme-covert. A woman considered a feme-covert was completely covered by her husband and had no recognized legal identity. She had no right to buy, sell or own property independently of her husband. In the case of Martin v. Massachusetts, the plaintiff James Martin presented the fact that his late mother left the United States b ecause his father did. In other words, Anna had no choice due to the feme-covert law which states that the man speaks and acts for the wife.The argument made by the ter-tenants was that Anna had the right to stay and claim citizenship due to the fact that all of the land owned by her husband was indeed hers because it was passed down by her father. In the end, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts ruled that Anna Martin was bound by her marriage vows and had to follow her husband to England. The court reversed the confiscation and the land was returned to the Martin family. Due to the fact that the confiscation of Anna Martin’s property was reversed, the justices stated that women could not act independently of her husband in political or economic matters.

History and Literature V.S. Science and Mathematics Essay

Nowadays, students have the rights to choose different subjects they would like to study at university. Some like science subjects can register to study science and mathematics; meanwhile, some will prefer to study about history and literature. Personally, I think that it is more important for every student to take part in history and literature class since these subjects will educate students about the past of history and give them rich sources of culture values. Most importantly, history is all records of the past about our country. Learning this subject, students will know about the historical development process of country, such as, when our country established, how our ancients had defended the enemy bravely. All of those like real evidences to tell us again about their sacrifices for the country’s independence and freedom for the next generations. Knowing thoroughly about history teaches us about the loyalty, and how great the deaths of the last generations are. Today, we do not have to go to battle to fight again the enemy, but it is very important to help country become powerful on the economic battle after long time our country underwent the severe war. If every student understands history of their country, they will recognize the importance of their roles in the common development process of country by studying well and become successful people in the future. That will be grateful awards for those who have commit themselves for country’s liberty in the past. Besides that, literature is also important to learn at university since it is the great cultural materials from the past to now. Unlike history teaches us historical stories, literature educates us about cultural values. Through great verses, or poses, we learn about the beauties around our life, our family, such as the motherhood, neighborhood, and couple love†¦. Whenever I read a nice verse about homeland, I feel very exciting and become loving my homeland more and more. All of them are really the vital â€Å"food† for our mental life which cannot obtain by simply studying equations or algorithms in mathematics. In conclusion, I think history and literature would be put in the curriculum in university since it is very necessary for all of us to know about history of country. Moreover, they also teach us valuable lessons about culture values in life which I sure that if our study is without literature; our culture must be very different and boring.

Final Projects - PSY 2012 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Final Projects - PSY 2012 - Essay Example She is enrolled by her guidance counselor in an alternative educational program where Ms. Rain (Paula Patton), her literacy teacher, takes a special interest in Precious, as does Mrs. Weiss (Mariah Carey), her social worker. The film chronicles Precious' evolution from an obviously dissociative, uninvolved, inarticulate victim of domestic violence to an independent individual, able to communicate about herself and her life and hopeful about her own future prospects as well as those of her children. Precious stresses not only the critical need for intervention on behalf of victims of child sexual abuse, but also for continuing social and psychological support if interventions are to have any lasting positive effects. It is very difficult to say with any certainty just how many children in the US experience incestuous abuse due to extreme shame on the part of victims and the occult nature of the crime. Incest is usually defined as sexual contact between individuals too closely related to legally marry, but many critics have called that definition too broad, particularly where children are concerned. A more comprehensive definition says that â€Å"[Incest] is a violation of the child where he or she lives -- literally and metaphorically. A child molested by a stranger can run home for help and comfort. A victim of incest cannot." (Vanderbilt, 1992, p. 51) Though it is widely considered to be the most common form of child sexual abuse, it is also one of the most under-reported crimes against children. According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) only 7% of children who were victims of substantiated sexual abuse reports were the victims of strangers (RAINN, 2009). It is estimated that up to 1/3 of all American children are sexually abused before they turn 18 (Bogorad, 1999). Sexual assault of children can be very difficult to detect because it occurs in private, and because perpetrators do not always leave any evidence of their attacks. Even in ca ses like that of Precious, who had two children and a sexually transmitted disease as evidence of the sexual abuse she endured at the hands of her father, most sexual abuse of children is not reported to police or dealt with in a criminal setting at all. The justice system is primarily involved in cases where children are attacked or abused by strangers, while poorly-equipped social service agencies handle intrafamilial violence. Although most social service workers are legally required to report cases of child abuse to the police, individuals who commit incest are unlikely to ever spend time in jail for their crimes, even if they do leave incontrovertible evidence of their crimes. Precious portrays incest and other forms of child abuse within the context of an extremely marginalized minority-- impoverished, urban African-Americans-- but in fact the sexual abuse of children is an act which spans socio-economic, racial and ethnic boundaries. Even the most severe abuse may occur in an y family regardless of race, color, creed or financial status. The statistics surrounding child sexual abuse are shocking and horrifying, particularly in light of the fact that most such abuse goes unreported and most perpetrators are never formally accused. Estimates of PTSD cases

The computer and artificial intelligence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The computer and artificial intelligence - Essay Example Since the age of technology donned, humans have been very concerned with regards to the prospect of artificial intelligence. At the current rate of development and the manner in which technology continues to evolve, it is not exceptional to envision a world in which computers will not only be able to think that will be able to react and learn. Moreover, reaching back into history, it can clearly be seen that human technology has almost always been used as a means of developing an advantage over another individual, markets, people group, or entire society. This fear is understandable. This is partly due to the fact that because humans are distinguished among other creatures by the ability to think, the line of separation between human and machine could effectively be blurred by a machine that is able to both think and react. What has thus far been described, and what is partially described by the authors in question, is a level of discomfort and anxiety that humans are beginning to fe el with respect to the ability that machines will soon have to replace them.If a person has a business and uses the results of the work of others he/she anyway does huge intellectual work in order to keep the competitive advantage, keep good workers, work out new plans and so on. However, if machines start to think it would be the real catastrophe as people will become lazy because machines will do everything instead of them. The authors state: â€Å"Such questions invite real, no longer speculative answers†.

Thomas Cook Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Thomas Cook - Essay Example These come because of a number of reasons including the failure of a leader to accomplish his/her missions within the period he/she expected (Casserly 2013). For example, Harriet Green had expected to revive Thomas Cook within a short time and move to another organisation with similar problems (Wadlow 2014). However, despite the various achievements and success in rescuing the company from collapse, the company was still experiencing problems after two years of her service. In addition, frustrations may also emerge when a leader faces new problems than those he/she expected before joining the organisation (Andersen 2012). Most probably, the rapid changes in the nature operations of the travel industry posed problems that were beyond Green’s experience leading to frustrations. Under these conditions, a leader may decide to pave the way for another person with the characteristics required to deal with the situation. The stock exchange worth of Thomas Cook was slightly below  £2 billion throughout Harriet inexperienced time of departure compared to  £148 million once she rose to power in July 2012 (Press Association 2014). The success of Peter Fankhauser can show from his ability to additional maintain and increase the stock worth by a lot of or similar quantity among a shorter or equal length as inexperienced. Green’s quest for continued success to succeeding section of the companys development is additionally a transparent challenge to the new leader as his success and failure within the next year can base on his ability to make and maintain a powerful team. Thomas shares slided by the maximum amount as two hundredth after Ms Greens declaration and a corporate notice that growth within the current year can moderate because of harder mercantilism conditions that have notably influenced European markets (Wadlow 2014). The success and failure of Peter Fankhauser within the next year can show from his ability to

Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 4

Economics - Essay Example He displayed both mathematical dexterity and wide literary grace. As a good economist, Keynes took keen interest in statistical methods of solving economic problems and maintained strong vigilance on the activities that took place in the economy. He mastered the way of observing the particular details that occurred in an economy and then used these details to develop general economic theories. As a person, Keynes demonstrated a dazzling intellect and an arrogance which, to some appeared to be the result of dismissive elitism of the Victorian era. Three elements guided the thoughts and writings of Keynes. These three elements were his presumptuous egotism, his strong identification with the elite class to which he was born and his despise for the values held by the bourgeoisie class (Rothbard, â€Å"Keynes, the Man†). Keynes overweening egotism allowed him to get the confidence that he was capable of handling the intellectual problems that arose during the contemporary period a nd solving them with precision. He scorned at the general principles that went against his ego. This man strongly believed that he was destined to become the leader of the ruling elite class of Great Britain. Keynes dealt with the issues that arose in Britain with a sense of perceived self confidence. He occupied a â€Å"position of power and dominance† (Rothbard, â€Å"Keynes, the Man†). Besides, the deep hatred of the values held in the bourgeoisie way of leading life made Keynes rebel against the institutions and establishments of family life, that supported the notions of savings and prudence. He led the life that was characterized by â€Å"social intellectual rebellion† (Rothbard, â€Å"Keynes, the Man†), the life of an aesthete and a bohemian. Major contributions in the field of economics Keynes’s elucidated the causes of rampant unemployment that affected major economies around the world. In most of the countries, unemployment rates soared h igh and all efforts to reduce inflation rate failed to bring the desired result. Keynes was able to realize the looming shadow of depression that was going to envelop the world economy and argued that monetary policies would not be sufficient enough to combat the effects of depression (Snowdon and Vane 34). He suggested the policy measures, which would help in increasing the aggregate demand and reduce unemployment. Despite the optimism of the time during his youth, Keynes intellectual career started with his thoughts about recession that was about to hit the world economy after a period of economic boom. The Great Depression actually arrived in the mid 1930s, towards the end of Keynes life span. During his life, Keynes had made significant efforts â€Å"to make sense of the disruptions and crises that began with the First World War and continued through the Great Depression† (â€Å"John Maynard Keynes†). His theories made profound impact in the macroeconomic field of study. Microeconomics Micro economics deals with the theories of demand and supply in the market at the firm level. According to most economic thoughts, there is a departure between micro and macro points of view of the world and the market. There is a distinction between the way in which the

Signal Processing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Signal Processing - Research Paper Example One of these digital signal processing techniques is adaptive filtering. Adaptive Filters Haykin (2006) defines an adaptive filter as a system which is self-designing and reliant on a recursive algorithm for its operation. This feature enables an adaptive to satisfactorily perform in an environment where there is scarce or no knowledge of the applicable statistics. Diniz & Netto (2002) observe that an adaptive filter is used when either the fixed specifications are not known, or these specifications cannot be met by filters which are time-invariant. Adaptive filter’s characteristics depend on the input signal and such filters are time-varying because their parameters continually change so as to satisfy a performance requirement. The two main groups of adaptive filters are linear and nonlinear. According to Stearns & Widrow (1985), linear adaptive filters calculate an approximation of the desired response by utilizing a linear permutation of the available group of observables t hat are applied to the filter’s input. Nonlinear adaptive filters are those that depend on the input signal and their parameters change continually. Also, adaptive filters can be classified as supervised and unsupervised adaptive filters. Supervised adaptive filters apply the presence of a training series that gives different outputs of a desired ouput for a particular input signal. The response that is desired is compared against the real output due to the input signal, and the error signal that results is used in adjusting the filter’s free parameters. Unsupervised adaptive filters perform alterations of their free parameters without the requirement for a desired response. Such filters are designed with a group of rules that enable it to calculate the input-output mapping with particular desirable properties (Sayed, 2003). Adaptive Filtering System Configuration Drumright (1998) establishes 4 major types of adaptive filtering configurations. These include adaptive no ise cancellation, adaptive inverse system, adaptive system identification and adaptive linear prediction. Algorithm implementation in all these systems, but the configuration is different. They all have the same general characteristics which include: an input signal x(n), a desired result d(n), an output signal y(n), an adaptive transfer function w(n) and an error signal e(n). e(n)=d(n)-y(n) The adaptive system identification determines a discrete approximation of the transfer function for an unknown analog or digital system. A similar input x(n) is applied to both the unknown system and the adaptive filter and the outputs are compared. The y(n) of the adaptive filter is subtracted from that of the unknown resulting in an error signal e(n) which is used to manipulate the filter coefficients of the adaptive system. In the adaptive noise cancellation configuration, an input x(n) and a noise source N1(n) are compared with a desired signal d(n) which comprises of a signal s(n) corrupted by another noise N0(n). The adaptive filter coefficients adapt to cause the error signal to be a noiseless version of the signal s(n). The adaptive linear prediction configuration performs two operations; linear prediction and noise cancellation. Finally, the adaptive inverse system models the inverse of the unknown system u(n), an aspect which is useful in adaptive equalization (Drumright, 1998). Conclusion Just as discussed above, the classical applications of adaptive filt

Strategic management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Strategic management - Essay Example Organizations usually keep much attention in the maintenance of the strategic plans implemented for dealing with the crisis situation by providing the staff with regular training to acquaint them with essential skills to manage such situation. At often instances, engagement of a Crisis Management Team (CMT) for dealing with the situation is deemed beneficial and strategically effective. CMT’s primary responsibility is to resolve the obstructions of crisis completely and assist the organization to regain its previous smoothness in performing its operations (European Interagency Security Forum, â€Å"Crisis Management of Critical Incidents†). Notably, CMT does not follow the management structure of work. According to the strategic plan for the crisis situations, there exist three stages, which encompass before crisis, during crisis and after crisis situations. CMT, thus, assists with the development of various strategic plans to deal with these stages in the most effectiv e manner. In the first stage of crisis situation, i.e. before the crisis, the organizations try to identify the types of crisis that might occur at a given period of time and make plans accordingly. Similarly, during the crisis, the CMT looks after the specific organizational operations affected by the crisis. Also, the time required for the resolution of the crisis is kept in consideration by the CMT. Concerning the stage after crisis, CMT studies the causes responsible for the crisis and take precautionary measures so as to avoid similar circumstances in future (Boin and Lagadec185-191). Thesis Statement. This essay intends to discuss the role and the significance of strategic management in crisis situations and its implications on organizations. A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF PREVALENT CRISIS SITUATIONS IN ORGANIZATIONS Organizational crisis can be referred to particular situational obstacles, where the causes and consequences of organizational non-performances are unidentified at the initi al stage and are therefore, capable of imposing major threat to organizational performances even though the chances of a crisis occurrence are relatively lower. It has often been proclaimed that the remedies to the crisis must be made early in order to prevent any adverse consequence of it on the organization. It is worth mentioning that not all the crisis situations are preventable within the organizational context, such as the crisis arising from external environment. It thus, argued that organization should have the sufficient competency to proactively manage these non-preventable crisis situations. The objective of the crisis management does not end with the resolving of the problem but it also involves identifying measures so that such crisis would not occur again in the future. Thus, the best way of deal and manage the crisis situations is to believe that every crisis has a life cycle. This life cycle process is termed to be a vital approach for coping up with the organization al crisis. It means that the strategy of crisis management must be divided into various segments so that an effective approach can be formulated and implemented by the organization for its

Distinguish between inculpatory and exculpatory evidence. What is the Essay

Distinguish between inculpatory and exculpatory evidence. What is the significance of each Include APA formatted in-text citations to document any sources quoted or paraphrased - Essay Example The knife can therefore be described as inculpatory evidence against the man (Sperry, 2006). Conversely, exculpatory evidence is evidence that favors the defendant in a criminal lawsuit (Sperry, 2006). It tends to absolve the defendant of any guilt that the case had placed on him or her. It is the direct opposite of the inculpatory type of evidence which tends to enhance the guilt of the defendant in a criminal case (Sperry, 2006). Many countries around the globe such as the United States of America, enforce policies that restrains the prosecutors in their courts from disclosing any of this type of evidence. This evidence is only released when the defendant in a criminal lawsuit makes a claim of being guilty or not being guilty (Sperry, 2006). A good example of such evidence exists where a witness comes up in a criminal lawsuit and absolves the accused person of all the blame in

Education For Life Essay Example for Free

Education For Life Essay Education For LifeThe basic purpose of a liberal arts education is to liberate the human being to exercise his or her potential to the fullest. Liberal arts plays an important role in developing individuals and the world. When students attend liberal art colleges, they will understand the essence of humanity and will learn to shape and develop personal values. For a person to develop, he needs to understand the essence of humanity. When you attend college, your view on the meaning of life changes. You live for your minds and spirits and not just for the security of material wealth (Urbanek). You start to do things related to your work as this is your interest. This will make you care less about material wealth and you will focus more on the benefit of the world than the benefit of yourself. Liberal arts means arts of freedom. People learn about things that interest them. This makes the experience of learning better. Students will recognize the value of material things for what they are (Urbanek). They will start challenging tasks of design where they would learn how to translate ideas into actions. They will get to know the depth, flexibility and openness of their thinking and will also be able to recognize the importance of their thinking. Taking these ideas into consideration, I can say that liberal arts teaches people global responsibility, social awareness and self development, which is the essence of humanity. Thus, when the essence of humanity is known, then only a person will be able to acquire personal values. The value of liberal arts was appreciated by the students in older times but contemporary students do not share the same sentiment. In 1900, 70 percent of college students in US attended liberal arts colleges but today fewer that 5 percent do. The idea has taken hold by educators that todays youth are more materialistic, less idealistic and more self interested than their predecessors (Richard). In 1997, Yankelovitch survey focused on high school students and their parents, found that 85 percent of the high school students and 74 percent of their parents stated that the goal of college is to get a practical education and to secure a job. Furthermore, only 14 percent of the students and 27percent of their parents were even familiar with what a liberal art education is. Todays students tend to be career oriented, impatient and focused in material rewards (Kahn). People do not know that liberal arts can offer a clearer understanding that work embodies the values of courage, honour and responsibility. Liberal art colleges expose you to a variety of academic disciplines and an excellent background for future work. The education gives you the ability to adapt to a changing environment, communicate effectively, think critically and solve complex problems, which can prove very useful in everyday lives. As you acquire personal values throughout your college years, it is important to learn how to shape these values. I believe that the central purpose of liberal arts education is to shape the values of people. The impact of liberal arts education on student value change is conclusive in determining whether higher education is effective in achieving this central purpose. According to a survey conducted at the University of California at Los Angeles, 8 out of 10 academics said they were spiritual, and 64 percent called themselves religious. More than half of the faculty members said that it was important to enhance undergraduates self-understanding and to develop their moral character and values. I think liberal arts is a great way to teach people their spiritual and moral responsibilities towards the community and world itself. Humanitarian values are defined by acceptance of value equivalency between ones own loyalties and those of all other individuals and groups, as well as respecting the rights of others to freely express similar claims and loyalties without infringement (Hollway). Values serve as guiding principles in the life of a person or other social entity and thus, it is important for people to learn how to shape these values. Values are described as serving the interests of some social entity, motivating action, giving direction, and having emotional intensity (Hollway). Therefore, these values are needed for the development of individuals. When individuals possess these values, they will be able to use them in their society. Employers around the world are looking for people who possess these values and have the ability to use them. Hence, liberal arts students will satisfy these employers. These students will also find opportunities to learn more as their primary goal is not material wealth. This will help countries to better their economy. These values will benefit the students themselves as well as the world. Once a person understands the essence of humanity and learns to shape and develop values, he will be able to make changes to the world. Liberal arts students have the skills to become valuable community members. They make decisions, solve problems and communicate the solutions to others. Liberal arts prepares these students to be successful throughout their life. WORKS CITEDUrbanek, Jennifer. The EBSCOhost. 28 Oct. 2007 Kahn, Beverly. Co-opting The Market Place. Journal of Higher Education: p. 19. EBSCOhost. 28 Oct. 2007 Richard, M. The Practical Path, Too, Can Be High-Minded. Chronicle of Higher Education: p. 11. EBSCOhost. 28 Oct. 2007 Hollway, Michael. A Comparison of the Impact of 2 Liberal Arts. Journal of General Education: p. 237. EBSCOhost. 28 Oct. 2007.

Introduction to Stress Management

Introduction to Stress Management Contents (Jump to): What Is Stress? Categories of Stress Organizational Stress Managing Stress Organizational Stress Management Critical Incident Stress Management The Godrej Case Modern Organizational Stress Management Techniques Conclusion Bibliography EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ONLY recently has stress been seen as a contributory factor to the productivity and health costs of companies and countries. As studies of stress-related illnesses and deaths show, stress imposes a high cost on individual health and well-being as well as organizational productivity. There are books now, which review the sources and outcomes of job-related stress, the methods used to assess levels and consequences of occupational stress and strategies to confront stress and its associated problems. A visit to Godrej Consumer Products Ltd. (Vikhroli) was of great help in my project. Godrej is one of the companies that are using various Stress Management methods in their organization. Here I met Mr. Sameer Bharoik, The Leadership and Organization Effectiveness Staff Consultant, HR Department, Godrej, who is one of the committee members of their very effective stress management system. He told me about the stress management system they were using in Godrej. I was also told about their need to adopt the modern day Stress Management methods rather than the old one, what are the advantages the disadvantages etc. A very friendly and helpful man by nature, Mr. Sameer helped me a lot to understand how the Stress Management methods are meant to work, what are the practical difficulties in the implementation and how they have managed to overcome these difficulties successfully. What is Stress? Stress is a complex phenomenon. It has been defined in many ways, but simply put; it is the wear and tear of everyday life. In everydays life people are subjected to a wide range of pressures. Similarly there are also a wide range of resources and strategies for coping with pressure. Sometimes people cope well and will not feel that the pressure is having any adverse effect upon them. At other times they will have difficulty in dealing with the situation and that is when we may use the term stress. In reality, any situation that puts pressure is technically stressful. Stress is not necessarily unpleasant or harmful. When people are able to cope satisfactorily with the stress and find it to be positive in its effect, they tend to use other words such as stimulation or challenge. In this regard a simple but accurate definition of stress is: Stress occurs when the pressure upon us exceeds our resources to cope up with the pressure Categories of Stress Stress can be broadly classified in the following categories: Acute stress is what most people identify as stress. It makes itself felt through tension headaches, emotional upsets, gastrointestinal disturbances, feelings of agitation and pressure. Its easily treatable and can be brought under control in six to eight weeks. Episodic acute stress is more serious and can lead to migraines, hypertension, stroke, heart attack, anxiety, depression, serious gastrointestinal distress. Its quite treatable, but it takes general life style readjustments, four to six months, and often requires professional help. Chronic stress is the most serious of all. Its the stress that never ends. It grinds us down until our resistance is gone. Serious systemic illness such as diabetes, decreased immunocompetence, perhaps cancer is its hallmark. It can be treated, even reversed, but it takes time sometimes two to three years-and often requires professional help. Traumatic stress is the result of massive acute stress, the effects of which can reverberate through our systems for years. Post traumatic stress disorder is treatable and reversible and usually requires professional aid. Certain Statistics that support common belief about stress: Statistics from a recent global stress research study show that increased stress is felt worldwide, and stress affects women differently than men: A recent Roper Starch Worldwide survey of 30,000 people between the ages of 13 and 65 in 30 countries showed: Women who work full-time and have children under the age of 13 report the greatest stress worldwide Nearly one in four mothers who work full-time and have children under 13 feel stress almost every day Globally, 23% of women executives and professionals, and 19% of their male peers, say they feel super-stressed At work, the following may be stressors. Needs not met. These could be needs for power, for fulfillment, for use of knowledge Not being included by others as part of a group you want to belong to Not being recognized or valued for ones competence Feeling that one is not adequate for the task, particularly when compared to some one else Being denied what is due (rewards, work) Monotony or boredom Not having enough freedom at work, being closely supervised Inequity in rewards, assignments Very little opportunity for growth Too much of work, overload Too little work, boredom Inadequate resources to do the assigned work, creating possibilities of failures Conflict in values at work, being required to do what one does not like to do Too many and conflicting demands at work from the role set Responsibilities not clear, ambiguity on what is expected Understanding, unpredictable, temperamental boss New unfamiliar work Being blamed On close analysis, it will be found that all of the above situations are, in some way or other, causing perceptions of possible failure at work or non-recognition and consequent loss of self-esteem. The Healthy Pattern recognizes that we can help our bodies to cope with the stress adjustment process by applying a positive strategy, such as leisure, relaxation, a vacation/trip, exercise and others. This restores a healthy stress level. The Crisis Pattern develops when we fail to recognize the signals that the body sends and therefore we continue to stress ourselves until eventually we drop and enter a deep negative state (crisis) and then physical and/or psychological breakdown ORGANISATIONAL STRESS There is a considerable cost to people, in both human and financial terms, in working in an unhealthy stressful environment. It is therefore in the interest of all leaders and managers to create healthy workplaces. What is commonly referred to as organizational stress may be said to be caused by a dysfunctional culture. Where members of an organization share a negative view of that organization, they are not likely to be motivated to perform well. On the contrary, they may feel that work is not worthwhile and that there is little point in pursuing personal or organizational objectives or desires. The result may be a serious loss of self-esteem and when this condition prevails this will be experienced as stress. Some of the consequences of stress have been identified as: Reduced productivity Lack of creativity Job dissatisfaction Increased sick leave Premature retirement Absenteeism Accidents Organizational breakdown There are many ways in which organizational culture will manifest itself in a dysfunctional way. For example, the unhelpful and dysfunctional division between us and them, which may be perpetuated, by both senior managers and those at other levels of an organization in a collusive manner. A division, which results in a lack of proper communication and a sort of blaming culture. Addressing these matters is difficult work, work that cannot be adequately dealt with by managers or internal consultants because they are part of the culture; part of the hierarchy, and subject to the authority structure of the organization. However, this is not the total extent of the needs regarding organizational stress. There is also a need for a Stress Management Strategy that through various approaches will, in its entirety, provide for the needs of the organization. Such a strategy would address the following sort of issues: The first four actions are as essential as the last. Internal staff that has the knowledge, skills can develop all these and ability to ensure that what is provided is as good as anywhere else. There may be benefit from employing outside assistance to consult to the process but basically the experts in the field are in the organization. The real point is that this sort of strategy should be seen as a total package. Without addressing the issue of culture the organization will not achieve the desired effective activities in the areas identified at 1 4 above. Equally, it could be ensured that the organization had a wonderful culture but without the other activities there would be no service available to members of the organization. Short term stress Where stress is low, one may find that his/her performance is low because of boredom, lack concentration and motivation. Where stress is too high, the performance can suffer from all the symptoms of excessive short-term stress. In the middle, at a moderate level of stress, there is a zone of best performance. If one can keep oneself within this zone, then that person will be sufficiently aroused to perform well while not being over-stressed and unhappy. This graph, and this zone of optimum performance, is different shapes for different people. Some people may operate most effectively at a level of stress that would leave other people either bored or in pieces. It is possible that someone who functions superbly at a low level might experience difficulties at a high level. Alternatively someone who performs only moderately at low level might perform exceptionally under extreme pressure. The best way of finding your optimum level of stress is to keep a stress diary for a number of weeks. Long term stress The problems of long term, sustained stress are more associated with fatigue, morale and health than with short term adrenaline management. The graph shows stages that a person may go through in response to sustained levels of excessive stress: During the first phase a person will face challenges with plenty of energy. Ones response will probably be positive and effective. After a period of time one may begin to feel seriously tired. The person may start to feel anxious, frustrated and upset. The quality of ones work may begin to suffer. As high stress continues one may begin to feel a sense of failure and may be ill more frequently. A person may also begin to feel exploited by his/her organization. At this stage the person may start to distance himself/herself from the employer, perhaps starting to look for a new job. If high levels of stress continue without relief one may ultimately experience depression, burnout, nervous breakdown, or some other form of serious stress related illness. Managing Stress Stress cannot be avoided. It should not be avoided. Without stress, there will be no attempt to try the difficult. One will give up much too easily. One will not succeed in doing even what one is easily capable of, because even the normal faculties will not come into play like the goalkeeper, if he remained relaxed even at the last minute. There are two aspects to take care of in managing stress. One is that one should not develop stress to the point that one becomes non-functional like Arjuna laying down his arms. The second is to try to get back to normal as quickly as one can and not continue to be in a state of stress for too long. The former is achieved essentially by an attitude that is developed by rational thoughts. The first is to realize that ones perceptions often distort the reality. The situation may not be as bad as it may seem to be. The second is to understand that a failure is not an unmitigated disaster. It is not possible to succeed all the time. It is not even necessary to succeed all the time. One failed effort does not mean that the person is no good. Nobody has succeeded without many losses. Even World champions sometimes lose a first round match to an unseeded player. Marconi and Thomas Alva Edison succeeded in their inventions after many attempts that failed. They saw failures as opportunities to learn. The third is to recognize that worry and anxiety will not modify the situation, but will only disturb ones peace of mind and health. If one watches passengers at airports and railway stations, one will find how some of them remain quite relaxed and even sleeping while others are continuously making enquiries from officials about extent and causes of delays. Such constant enquiries only irritate, but do not expedite solutions. They add to stress of self and of others. As an organization as a whole Organizational Stress Auditing (organization) Before organizational stress is targeted, we need to know what is causing it. Workplace stressors should be identified and employees can guide with options to manage it. Stress Management Training (group or individual) Through a range of easily applied, practical courses underpinned by widely accepted Stress Management theory, groups and individuals can increase their understanding of the causes of stress and through this, learn techniques for reducing and dealing with stress. As the Manager As the boss, one can ensure that subordinates are not put to undue stress and also that they are helped to get out of stress situations as quickly as possible. The steps are Recognize the stress levels Show concern Encourage talking Listen Empathize Explain and show how it can be done Reassure Provide support Discuss and involve them in decisions Show respect to the individuals Avoid insult, denunciation, abuse, reprimand, particularly in public Avoid manipulation, coercion, blaming Avoid pressurizing too much Provide social support All the above, render support and help to reduce anxieties. It is not suggested that the demands on people should be lowered. People like challenges. They must be given challenging assignments. That is the only way to growth. But if there is a sensing of extreme stress, it should be managed through reassurance, not by withdrawing the assignment. Personality Types Studies on Stress have identified that Type A personalities tend to get stressed much faster than Type B personalities. The characteristics of a Type A personality are an intense urge to achieve, impatience and restlessness, always on the move, hurrying, doing more than one task at a time. He keeps a heavy and tight schedule and dislikes waiting and relaxing. The Type B is exactly the opposite, takes things easy, finds time to relax, is not impatient and is not obsessed with winning all the time. Instruments have been developed to identify the Type of any person. But no one is fully Type A or fully Type B. It is possible to move from one type to another. It is not as if Type B is the more desirable personality, because stress is not the only factor relevant for effectiveness. Achievement is equally important for effectiveness and there the Type A has a better chance to win. Time Management Inadequacy of resource is a common stressor. One needs resources to do a job and if the resource is not available, there could be stress. One important resource is Time. Many people find that they do not have enough time to do a job. Deadlines seem to be difficult to meet. This is true of individuals as well as of collectives. We read of committees asking for extension of time to do their jobs; of projects not being completed on time. Unfortunately, time is such a resource that nobody can give more or take away. Everybody has a definite amount of time available. Studies show that people are poor planners in terms of usage of time as a resource. Time is wasted in a number of ways. Therefore, if one learns ways to manage ones time better, there could be a better control on stress. Time is wasted because of Non-productive work like searching for files, papers and references. Available information being inadequate or incomplete Meetings and lengthy reports Indecisiveness, unable to make up ones mind Correcting errors in instructions, assignments Clarifying goals and roles Too much routine, paperwork Lack of prioritization Once the cause is known, the remedy should be obvious. The best way to know the cause is to keep a detailed log of how one is using his time over a period of a week or so. Some of the remedies will be in the nature of readjustments of personal habits, like planning on priorities, avoiding drift in meetings, not insisting on perfectionism etc. Some remedies will be in the nature of reorganizing work systems in the office so that search and corrections are made minimal. Some will be in the nature of training others for better work practices, so that supervision can be less. Indecisiveness has been mentioned as a time waster. This may happen because of lack of clarity on objectives or because of fatigue and the mind not being able to concentrate. Both are avoidable. Indecisiveness can also happen because of lack of knowledge on the subject. The time one takes to study a matter depends on ones skill. Experienced people run through a 100 page file, without reading every page, but picking up the important and relevant matter, while another may have to spend double the time reading every paper to determine its relevance. Thus, one way to manage time better is to improve ones skills at work Stress is the wear and tear our bodies experience as we adjust to our continually changing environment; it has physical and emotional effects on us and can create positive or negative feelings. As a positive influence, stress can help compel us to action; it can result in a new awareness and an exciting new perspective. As a negative influence, it can result in feelings of distrust, rejection, anger, and depression, which in turn can lead to health problems such as headaches, upset stomach, rashes, insomnia, ulcers, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. With the death of a loved one, the birth of a child, a job promotion, or a new relationship, we experience stress as we readjust our lives. In so adjusting to different circumstances, stress will help or hinder us depending on how we react to it. Presentation Idea: Schedule a stress busting experiential activity to help deal with particularly stressful times in life. Examples could include bringing in a massage therapist to share techniques with the chapter, scheduling regular physical activities or having an individual lead the chapter through a meditation/imagery exercise. For exercise examples, feel free to contact the Coordinator of Resource Development at Executive Offices. More and more employees are experiencing stress at work. They may be coping with too much pressure, long hours or rapid change. The nature of employment has now changed and the idea of a job for life has been replaced by an emphasis on performance. Stress is now recognized as a valid health and safety issue at work. Litigation is on the increase and there have been successful claims for compensation for work-related stress. More and more employers are turning to Stress Management to tackle these problems. Stress Management can enable people to improve their own response to stress and enable the organization to reduce workplace stressors. Our Training Package addresses the problems of work-place stress with the twofold approach of Stress Auditing and Stress Management Training. The Stress Audit for the Organization We provide the information and materials to enable you to carry out a Stress Audit for your organization. The findings of the audit can be addressed in the Stress Management Training sessions. Master copies of all Stress Audit forms and questionnaires are provided in order for you to carry out regular audits. Organizational Stress Management Organizational Stress Management aims at preventing and reducing stress for both the individual employee and the organization or company. The Training Package offers you eight detailed sessions for stress management training groups in your workplace. These include eight relaxation exercises on audio cassette tapes, together with training in relaxation, breathing and cognitive-behavioral techniques. We also provide practical training in the management of many workplace stressors. The Stress Management sessions provide employees with the opportunity to tackle major stressors using techniques from Problem Solving Therapy. We also provide research notes with each session giving you in-depth background information on the problems of work-pace stress, together with step-by-step presentations of related therapies of particular value in the treatment of stress at work. Case studies Fortune 50 company installs Stress Navigator on corporate intranet as in-house stress control program; prior to program rollout, the site attracts 7,000 employees ready to reduce stress The Situation: This Fortune 50 Company, like many others, realized that stress was a significant problem, a major burden in both economic and human terms for company and employees alike. They had tried various stress management programs before, but with little success employees werent utilizing the programs. When they first saw the Stress Navigator Workshop, the company realized that this program was different. When used as a portal to the Human Resources, it could directly link employees to appropriate corporate benefits and programs. The Stress Navigator Workshop: This Company put the Workshop on their corporate intranet as part of a pilot program for executives. The executives had such a positive experience with it that they mentioned it to their co-workers and others. Word of mouth spread, and before they knew it, more than 10% percent of their 70,000 employees with access to the corporate intranet had taken the workshop online. And this was before it was general knowledge that the program was available. Stress Directions and the Stress Navigator Workshop answered a need the company knew they had, but didnt know how to resolve. Employees recognized the opportunity immediately and got the help they needed. The Resolution: When presented with a system that made sense, the organization and individuals chose to take action towards health. Its too soon to measure the impact of Stress Directions on their bottom-line, but after a year on their intranet, much of this companys workforce has gone through the online program. The company has settled on the Stress Navigator Workshop as their stress control strategy and plans to keep it available for their employees indefinitely. Personal products company struggles to maintain global market share, restructures product delivery protocol to increase health and productivity, and decrease costs The Situation: The Situation: The most recent product development cycle of this global manufacturing company provides a prime example of how stress can cost even the most successful organizations. In the rush to stay competitive, what had been a five-year development cycle was cut to three years. Because of the push to get the new product on the market, design and engineering specs were less firm than they should have been, and decision-makers continued to tinker with basic design after manufacturing machinery was under construction. The machinery had to be redesigned and rebuilt several times. Machinists were assigned back-breaking amounts of overtime to stay on schedule. The ripple effects of the overtime made the situation stressful for families as well as employees. With no time to rest, machinists made mistakes that had to be corrected, which called for more overtime. The entire development team felt tremendous stress and, sadly, three suicides occurred among them during a 13-month time period. The Organization Stress Profile: The 850-member development team took the Stress Navigator Workshop either online or in the paper and pencil format in a corporate effort to address wellness issues and retain the entire corporations competitive market position. In the workshops, employees cited overwork as their number one stress concern. The Resolution: The division head in charge of the development team implemented mandatory stress management programs and put a cap on overtime. In the end, the incidence of errors dropped significantly and employees were able to accomplish more work of higher quality in fewer hours. Federal agency cuts turnover rate from 40% to 15% in three years by identifying stress patterns and changing hiring philosophy The Situation: This 47-person government agency had a 40% turnover rate and was experiencing deep problems with employee moral and stress. A manufacturing section within the agency was particularly hard-hit and had fallen far behind schedule. Management was quickly reaching a dead-end in their search for solutions, and job security was on the line. The agency perceived high stress in the manufacturing section to be the likely cause of its problems. The Organization Stress Profile: All agency employees were administered the Stress Navigator Questionnaire to determine whether the turnover rate was indeed related to job stress. Grouped results did show the manufacturing group to be higher in susceptibility to stress, sources of stress, and symptoms of stress. But they also differed demographically from their peers in many significant respects. For example, their average age was five to ten years younger than workers in the other two sections of the agency, and this job typically represented their first foray into the labor market. Further analysis revealed that the workers in manufacturing had several likely causes for higher stress and job dissatisfaction. Compared to co-workers in nearby regulation and communication sections, they had less seniority (it was the entry-level section of the organization), earned lower pay, were more vulnerable to seasonal layoffs, were restricted to their work stations, and had no access to phones. In addition, they were isolated from the other sections by a wall with a single door that remained open so they were constantly aware of the contrast in working conditions between their section and the others. In other words, manufacturing still scored highest in all stress categories, but not for the reasons that had been assumed. In-depth analysis made it evident much of the workplace stress stemmed from the fact that the employees were young and financially insecure. The turnover had as much to do with conditions outside of the agency, such as career level, maturity and financial security, as it did with the conditions of the workplace. Resolution: Based on the information gleaned from the Stress Navigator Workshops and the advice of stress consultants, the agency corrected many of the internal conditions cited above, implemented appropriate stress management training for supervisors, and changed their hiring patterns to select stable, more mature workers who would not be looking at the job as a career opportunity. Turnover rates were cut from 40% to 15% in just under three years. Critical Incident Stress Management Critical incidents do occur In the workplace: Accidents on the work sight A sudden unexpected death of a coworker Workplace violence Critical Incident stress is a normal response to an abnormal situation. Left untreated, critical Incident stress could lead to lower production, increased absenteeism, Increased substance abuse, and increased use of health care benefits. The stress reactions experienced by those who have been exposed to a critical Incident may appear immediately or surface hours or days after the event: Survivor guilt, Flashbacks, Confusion Poor concentration, Distressing dreams Fatigue, Grief, Fear Anger, Chills, Diarrhoea, Nausea These are only a few examples of what individuals report after experiencing a critical Incident. Sometimes the critical Incident Is so painful professional assistance from a specially trained Individual becomes necessary. WORKPLACE RESOURCES has professionals with more than ten years experience in the area of critical Incident stress. We can provide: pre-planning: to help you design a plan of action to assist your company be better prepared If and when your workplace experiences a critical incident post-accident: We will provide a team to help assess the situation and guide you through the recovery phase. THE GODREJ CASE About Godrej Everyday, every Indian encounters the Godrej name sometime somewhere. A person may begin the day bathing with a Godrej soap, shaving with a Godrej shaving cream, storing clothes in a Godrej Storewell cupboard, cooking food in a Godrej cooking oil and preserving it in a Godrej refrigerator. Money and valuables are kept in a Godrej safe, work is done on a Godrej computer or typewriter while sitting on a Godrej chair and drinking a Godrej fruit drink. Yet few know about the indomitable spirit of the man responsible for making Godrej a household name Ardeshir Godrej., a pioneer who produced quality products and captured markets. Innovation has been the key. It is this spirit that has built Godrej and carried it for a hundred years. Taking it into diverse industries ranging from cupboards to soaps, hair dyes to edible oils, and packaged foods to refrigerators. In recent years several partnerships have been formed with international giants like General Electric, Pillsbury, Fiskars and Sara Lee, bringing Godrej membership in the Global village that will carry it forward into the 21st century. Godrej has always been a crusader for a better world with programs that benefit endangered forests, wild life and mangroves. Every year the Pirojsha Godrej Foundation dedicates funds towards promoting education, housing, social upliftment, conservation, population management and relief of natural calamities. Godrej Consumer Products Ltd.(GCPL) is a major player in the Indian FMCG market with leadership in personal, hair, household and fabric care segments. The company employs 950 people and has three state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities at Malanpur (M.P.) Guwahati (Assam) and Silvassa (U.T.). Their main focus is on providing their customers with innovative, value for money solutions for meeting their da