Mr Kiana Essay Example

Mr Kiana Essay Unit one stories of heroes Lesson 6 the death or Arthur How does Mordred manage to have himself crowned the king of England? Answer) He lies and says Arthur is dead. (Sir Mordred tells the public that Arthur has died while fighting Sir Lancelot in France Why is the treaty between Arthur and sir Mordred broken so quickly? Answer) A snake bites a knight; and the knight draws his sword to kill the snake, which sparks the battle (such unfortunate twists of fate are common in medieval legends. What qualities does Sir Bedivere display the first two times Arthur dispatches him to throw Excalibur into the water? Answer) Selfishness and greed(The first two times Arthur dispatches him to throw Excalibur back into the water, sir bedievere convets the sword and tries to disobey Arthur and keep it for himself As he is being rowed away by the four queens, Arthur tells sir Bedivere to Answer) take care of himself, for the king is too weak to lead anymore. (Arthur is reminding his knight to be self-sufficient and strong. When Arthur dies, sir Bedivere behaves in ways that show him to be Answer) loyal and honorable (sir Bedivere fasts and prays with the hermit after Arthur’s death, thus displaying his continuing loyally to his fallen leader. Special Qualities Arthur’s Qualities At several points in the story, Arthur displays an uncommon capacity for forgiveness and wisdom, he sets aside his dispute with Lancelot to ask for his help in defeating Sir Mordred, then, he agrees to a treaty with the traitorous Sir Mordred. We will write a custom essay sample on Mr Kiana specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Mr Kiana specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Mr Kiana specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Finally, he forgives sir Bedivere after Bedivere fails to throw the sword in the water at his request Challenges Throughout his life. Arthur relies on the code of chivalry as he faces and overcomes significant challenges. Yet, forgetting the code, he fails at the critical moment; he lets anger govern his behavior in the battle with Sir Mordred, attacking his son despite dire warnings not to engage the battle. Through Arthur survives the encounter with mordred, his is mortally wounded and has had to slay his son. The young man who should have been his heir. Faith and ideals Even though Arthur is punished for his anger, he remains an exceptional individual who embodies the faith and ideals of his culture. The beginning of his reign shows that he still enjoys this favor. He is carried away in a boat to the vale of Avalon, a mythical island paradise, and is tended by black-clad queens with magical powers. Arthur receives exceptional and supernatural assistance in life and in death. Arthur’s judgment Arthur’s demonstrates intelligence and good judgment in his decision to set aside his dispute with Sir Lancelot and ask the knight to help him defeat sir Morderd. Arthur’s strength Mordred tried to keep Arthur’s army from landing at dover, but Arthur’s returning army was able to sweep the traitor from the beaches. Arthur also shows strength and courage in the battle against Sir Morderd, where the rode through the battle many times, in great danger that day Arthur’s Piety Arthurs’ piety and devotion to God are revealed when he listens to the warning from sir Gawain in his dream and asks to make a treaty with Sir Mordred, in spite of all the Mordred has done. Sir Gawain says that God has sent his special grace to Arthur to warn him against fighting Sire Mordred Arthur’s devotion Arthur’s devotion to womanhood is honored by the four queens who tend to him after his grievous journey. Arthur’s virtues Arthur’s generosity is demonstrated when he allows Sir Mordred to rule Cornwall and Kent while Arthur lived. He also shows his love of and service to others, as well as his courtesy and pity in his handling of Sir Bedivere’s betrayal Arthur is struck and gravely injured as a result of his decision to attack sir Mordred. What does Arthur’s fate suggest about failing to behave selflessly and honorably? Answer) Arthurs’ fate suggests that giving in to anger and seeking vengeance are selfish and dishonorable behaviors. Behaving in this way is not heroic, as punishment for his serious injury can be understood as punishment for his failure to act according to the chivalric ode. Special qualities Lacking Mordred greed Sir Mordred’s demands show that he is not only deceitful, envious, and untrustworthy, but also greedy and selfish; he demands rights and rule that is not rightfully his. Such qualities fly in the face of the selflessness and service demanded by the chivalric code Mordred Challenges Mordred’s main purpose is to serve as a villain in the story. Though he does face trail in battle, Mordred’s main challenge is internal. An ambitious young man, he distrusts his father’s nobility. He wants power for himself and is not willing to wait for his father’s authority and judgement to receive it Mordred, impatient and disrespectful, opely defies the chivalric virtueof loyalty and right treatment of those above him in rank Mordred Faithless Before agreeing to the treaty, sir mordred demands to be recongnized as the ruler of the regions Cornwall and Kent while Arthur lives and to be named sovereign ofall England after Arthur’sdeath. His greedy insistence on these demands violates the right relationship of a knight to hislord, of a son to his father, and of a prince to the kingdom that he is supposed to serve.

Free Essays on Homber

â€Å"How To Tell A True War Story† had quite an impact on me. My father served in Vietnam, and I realized while reading this that he never told my family about the time he served there. That’s when I realized that the most powerful war stories are probably never told. I remember when I was young, around eight or nine years old, I was helping my father and his carpenter friend put a new roof on our house. My brother and I spent most of the day picking up scrap pieces of our old roof, sorting out what could be burned safely, and throwing the rest of the trash in a dumpster. It was getting late in the day and my father and his friend decided to call it quits. I was in our back yard burning up the scrap lumber we had accumulated throughout the day. My father walked over and started breaking up the larger pieces of wood. We eventually got to talking, and somehow we got on the subject of when he served in the Army. I asked him what it was like to be a soldier. He didn’t have much to say about it, he just said that after he finished college he had a hard time finding a job, and so he joined up because it seemed like a good opportunity. I remember clearly that the sun was starting to set, and the pink and purple hues were filling the evening sky. The fire was dying down, so I started to rebuild it. I probably should have stopped with the questions at that point, but I was young and curiosity got the best of me. So, I asked him what it was like to go to war. Children have misconceptions of war being an act of heroism; a grand event where good conquers evil and everyone lives happily there after. They are ignorant of the futility of war, and the ways in which it scars the people who participate. Again, he didn’t have much to say. He told me that he watched a lot of good people die, and he hoped that I never had to experience anything like it in my lifetime. He told me that many of his friends turned to heroin to deal ... Free Essays on Homber Free Essays on Homber â€Å"How To Tell A True War Story† had quite an impact on me. My father served in Vietnam, and I realized while reading this that he never told my family about the time he served there. That’s when I realized that the most powerful war stories are probably never told. I remember when I was young, around eight or nine years old, I was helping my father and his carpenter friend put a new roof on our house. My brother and I spent most of the day picking up scrap pieces of our old roof, sorting out what could be burned safely, and throwing the rest of the trash in a dumpster. It was getting late in the day and my father and his friend decided to call it quits. I was in our back yard burning up the scrap lumber we had accumulated throughout the day. My father walked over and started breaking up the larger pieces of wood. We eventually got to talking, and somehow we got on the subject of when he served in the Army. I asked him what it was like to be a soldier. He didn’t have much to say about it, he just said that after he finished college he had a hard time finding a job, and so he joined up because it seemed like a good opportunity. I remember clearly that the sun was starting to set, and the pink and purple hues were filling the evening sky. The fire was dying down, so I started to rebuild it. I probably should have stopped with the questions at that point, but I was young and curiosity got the best of me. So, I asked him what it was like to go to war. Children have misconceptions of war being an act of heroism; a grand event where good conquers evil and everyone lives happily there after. They are ignorant of the futility of war, and the ways in which it scars the people who participate. Again, he didn’t have much to say. He told me that he watched a lot of good people die, and he hoped that I never had to experience anything like it in my lifetime. He told me that many of his friends turned to heroin to deal ...

Marketing Essentials For Kleenex Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Marketing Essentials For Kleenex - Essay Example The Kimberly-Clark Corporation was founded in 1872 initially as a paper mill running business and has risen to become a top universal competitor in the market of paper goods. The company deals mainly with customer products which are paper based under a variety of brands such as Depend, Huggies, Scott, Kotex, Pull-Ups and Kleenex. The corporation has also extended into a worldwide Health and Hygiene market and provides a range of tissue and personal care products, and has also obtained a significantly profitable market share strongly attributed to their customer loyalty and strong trademark acknowledgment. In the year 2009, the corporation incurred a total of 19 billion dollars income. Furthermore, it is responsible for 3.3% of special paper products market only coming as a second in the world market. The mission of the company clearly states that it is focused on offering its customers with varieties of quality tissue and personal care products at affordable prices while also offering several career opportunities for workers and maintainable increase and profits to shareholders (Kimberly-Clark Reviews 2010). The company also recognizes the trip sized paper products sector as a good market which is deficient of distinct competitors. The Kleenex Germ Away is a product which market strategies will be analyzed accordingly in the paper and how to maximize the sales in the sector. Introduction Kimberly-Clark Company is a company which deals with the production of personal products. During the early days of its establishment, it manufactured a broad range of paper goods from wrapping paper, magazine grades, and books to newsprint. As the century progressed, the company had implemented conventional but dependable investment plans which had turned it into the biggest Midwestern paper company Current Company Situation The organization has been able to achieve a desirable but exceptional accomplishment in marketing through creating the trademarked brand identity names tantamount with the household goods in the minds of clients. Kleenex is one of the products which were made for consumers and the company uses catchy advertisements to target a large client base. Needing to blow or clean one’s nose, a customer could request for Kleenex tissues and safely anticipate to be given a disposable handkerchief. The company also produces other products apart from Kleenex such as Kotex and huggies (Heinrich & Batchelor 2004). Growth Outcomes The main challenge which was facing the company during its earlier yeas of founding was how to sustain a competitive advantage. The company devoted a total of $400 million in equipment, other programs and plants during this period. The company has managed to be the envy of other companies since the performance increased to that of a financially desirable business. Financial analysis K-C is a universal hygiene and health company providing special care and customer tissue products such as Scott, Kotex, Depend, Pull-ups, Huggies, Scott and Kleenex. In the financial year of 2010, it recorded income of $19,746 million which was a growth of 3.3% from the previous financial year 2009 (Lindsay, Perkins, & Karanjikar 2009). Income growth is credited to a boost in the volume of sales, improvement in product combination and net selling prices. In the financial year of 2010, the company’s operating profit was $2,773 which had decreased by 1.8% when matched up with 2009. However, in the same financial year, it had a net profit of $1,843 which, when matched up against the year 2009, was a 2.2% decline. Figure 1: Graph showing the recent performance of K-C (Dylan 2011) Mission Statement K-C has held fast to a set of uncomplicated yet insightful principles implemented by the founders- service, fair dealing and quality. These three are the regulations of achievement by which the employees and leadership are deliberated. In my opinion, these principles have aided to

How did the British Empire Understand and Try to Combat Violent Literature review

How did the British Empire Understand and Try to Combat Violent Nationalism - Literature review Example It is a trusteeship under what Lord Lugard has strikingly called a "dual mandate" in colonial government (Williams, Gwyn A., 1980). For it entails not only a compulsion to develop the territory in the interests of a world economy but the fortification of the native inhabitants from the too atrocious impact of contact with extremely geared industrial civilizations. An analysis into the success of the British Empire in dealing with this most annoying problem has astonishing interest to all colonizing powers. The consideration of the world has been focused on atypical intensity for that reason on the East Coast of Africa, now almost completely British, either through direct control or under League Mandate. There the white settlement, from which West Africa has been secured by its climate, is probably in the high uplands of Kenya, in parts of Tanganyika and Nyasaland, and perhaps on down to the Union of South Africa, on the island peaks of high plateau country such as an increase as one goes south through the Rhodesias. Over the entire area, Cecil Rhodes' dream of a white African empire for England is being fought out between the Colonial Office's policy of constraint and the stubborn nationalism of the Union of South Africa.   it settlements of the Rhodesias and of Kenya, though the latter is still sparingly settled protectorates or crown colonies, in the case of Kenya without accountable government. The shibboleth that divides men about native policy in Africa is the "dominant" interest of the natives (D. C. Dorward, 1986, pp. 399-459).The concern of this African struggle and of the other troubles of an empire can only be astutely foreseen after a study of each discretely, focusing attention first on the British Commonwealth of equivalent nations and weighing centrifugal and centripetal pulls from race, religion, class, chronological ties, and economic interests.British foreign policy compounded and compromised into an incorporated system out of the pull of these various interests, with other centers of economic and political gravitation pulling at its component members from both North and South America, and Europe (Philip Foster, 1965). Nor can one overlook that Russia is potentially threatening to the structure of that capitalist world economy in which the City in London shares with New York the ruling position. As long as capitalist nations evade war the threat is slight (G. O. Olusanya, 1973).

The Health Benefits of Transcendental Meditation Essay

The Health Benefits of Transcendental Meditation - Essay Example Because of its association with yoga and other Eastern philosophic belief systems and, later, with the New Age movements of alternative religious practices, meditation has often been dismissed in the West as something less than real. â€Å"Until recently the very word meditation tended to evoke raised eyebrows and thoughts about mysticism and hocus-pocus in many people. In part, that was because people did not understand that meditation is really about paying attention† (Kabat-Zin, 1990: 21). In particular, it is about paying attention to the moment as it is passing. This moves beyond the concept of living in the moment to being intimately aware of the moment even as it passes and becomes nothing more than memory. This transcendental explanation is easier defined than accomplished. The tendency of the mind is to take the opportunity of the ‘autopilot’ initiative to reflect upon the past or to make plans for the future. For those caught in desperate situations, thi s can lead to a destructive cycle of thinking that leaves little room for improvement while allowing them to miss out on the joys or triumphs of the present. One way in which people can help themselves break this cycle is through the process of meditation, which, it turns out, brings about some significant benefits including the benefit of clearer thinking, more enjoyed moments and an inner peace. It also offers numerous measurable physical benefits including reduced blood pressure, reduced stress, more restful sleep and lowered cholesterol. While there are many different forms of meditation, several of which require lengthy study, practice and training to accomplish, transcendental meditation was designed to be accessible to the layperson with a minimum of training for nearly instant benefit. Transcendental meditation can have numerous physical benefits as the result of the deep breathing and relaxation exercises that paradoxically bring

Importance of Communication in Daily Life

Importance of Communication in Daily Life To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others. Anthony Robbins Communication Is Integral To Human Life Communication is deeply intertwined with the human existence. It is an integral part of it. One cannot think of human life without communication. Can you imagine what would happen if you are not allowed to talk for a long time? You would feel suffocated. In personal life, we need to communicate to deal with various concerns and problems of daily life. In professional life also, it is communication that helps us to build healthy relations and credibility with co-workers. Only speaking/talking is not communication. Communication can take place in many forms. Sometimes, we communicate by talking about our ideas, thoughts or emotions; at other times, we may wish to communicate through the written word or even non-verbally. Whatever form we choose, getting the message across is what communication is all about. Communication is a process that is dynamic, continuous, and irreversible but at the same time, it is reciprocal in nature. It is an ongoing process. Roughly, we can define communication as a shared meaning between two or more individuals. The shared meaning arises out of the individuals experiences, background, education and training. Similarity in experiences, background, training, etc. makes communication successful between individuals. Communication helps us to understand others. The inability to communicate can lead to a lot of problems both personally and professionally. Imagine a day without communicating! We can instantly feel the void it would create. Can we ever forget that it is our ability to communicate verbally that distinguishes us from animals? Communication helps form a powerful bond among people and makes us social beings. Besides, knowledge is not the sole requirement for the achievement of success. A person may possess good knowledge, but his/her performance will be evaluated largely on the basis of his/her ability to communicate. Therefore, if you are a good communicator, you have better chances of success in life and in business. 1.2 COMMUNICATION FOR BUSINESS Communication has become indispensable today. Human activity will come to a standstill if there is no communication. All human transactions become possible only through communication. It is the life-blood of every business organization. Especially in todays globalized market economy, effective communication is vital to the success and survival of any organization. Businesses need people with good communication skills because communication is an essential part of the kind of work that is done in business organizations. It extends across all areas of business, including managerial, technical, clerical and social positions. In present times, several factors have contributed to the significance of communication. They are- faster means of communication because of scientific and technological advancements shrinking geographical boundaries because of the availability of faster means of transport growth of the multinational companies that has resulted in the creation of a globalized market economy generation of highly advanced management techniques as a result of the growing importance of professionalism in the management of business the information revolution that has brought with it highly sophisticated networking technologies multiplication of systems of communication at all levels of organization because of specialized knowledge that has lead to departmentalization advancements in the field of social sciences such as in psychology and in sociology that have created an awareness about the human mind and behaviour and how they influence communication Communication undertaken by a business organization with the purpose of achieving certain specific goals is known as business communication. In fact, business communication is a special type of communication undertaken to meet the needs of the organization. Powerful concepts in modern management like participation, motivation, involvement revolve around communication. According to R. Ludlow, Business communication is a process of transfer of information and understanding between different parts and people of a business organization. It consists of various modes and media involved in communication interchanges. Effective communication is needed for growth and development of any organization. H.G. Hicks has rightly pointed out- Communication is basic to an organizations existence from birth of the organization; when communication stops, organized activity ceases to exist. Improving communication skills improves the chances for success of a business. Effective communication brings progress and prosperity to it. Moreover, in this age of specialization, planning, production, sales, advertising, finance, welfare, etc. are handled by different departments. In absence of effective communication, there would be a serious problem of co-ordination among these departments and there would only be chaos and confusion in the organization. Communication is also quite significant keeping in mind the growing importance of human relations and human resource management in todays world. Communication helps a manager in developing meaningful relationships with the subordinates, changing their attitudes, boosting their morale and soliciting their cooperation. Communication links people together to achieve common goals. It is also required to maintain good public relations. Thus, executives are often expected to give speeches and interviews to the media in order to project a favourable image of the organization. Effective communication is required to handle various crises and conflicts of interests in an organization. It is also needed in order to impart adequate training to the employees in handling latest technology. Subordinates often resent the introduction of changes in the methods of working. This poses a challenge to the management to educate the employees so that they can smoothly adapt to the dynamic character of the organization. They also have to work at alleviating the fear that these changes are likely to generate unemployment. Thus, effective communication can help in changing the negative attitude of the employees towards technological advancement. It facilitates meetings which play an important role in the functioning of an organization. Effective business communication depends not only on the skills of the sender of the message but also on the skills of the one who receives that message. Thus, one may say that communication is not an end in itself; rather, it is a means to achieve an end. 1.3 PRE-REQUISITES OF COMMUNICATION Now the question is- What is communication and how it can be accomplished? What do we require to carry out communication? Hence, prior to looking at the meaning of communication, it would be helpful to know how we prepare for it. For instance, you want to write a letter. What all do you need for it? A piece of paper. A pen. A desk for support. Is there anything else that you require besides these things? Certainly you do. You need to dwell on three important things- 1. Purpose 2. Content 3. Skills These three precede all speaking or writing. WHAT TO COMMUNICATE- CONTENT Information Observation/ Receive by Select/Reject Think and Understanding Attention listening or as per your evaluate results into by reading interest, need the information knowledge or expectation This is how information is processed in to being knowledge. Knowledge generates in you the confidence to communicate. If you are well prepared with the content, then half the work is done. It is the urge to express something that begins communication. It can be an idea, an emotion, an opinion or some information. Without this basic idea/need, there can be no communication. However, we do not communicate whatever comes to our mind immediately. There is a need to plan- what to communicate, how to communicate and whom to communicate it to. We do not communicate without a purpose; therefore, it is essential to answer these questions before actually communicating. This helps us to communicate effectively and to get a desirable response from the person with whom we are exchanging our ideas. WHY TO COMMUNICATE- PURPOSE Speakers/ will hear/see Purpose of Writers Listener/ Communication Expectation Reader will listen/read will understand will act/respond THE PURPOSE IS FULFILLED Purpose is the primary pre-requisite of all meaningful communication. The sender initiates communication with some purpose i.e. expectation. S/he expects the receiver to hear/see his message, to listen/read it attentively, to understand it and to act/respond to it. When the receiver gives feedback or performs the expected action, then communication is said to be successful. However, the response would depend on various factors like concentration, physical surroundings and psychological makeup of the receiver. The next question is- how do we communicate? Communication does not just mean speaking or writing. We are communicating even when we smile or shrug our shoulders. However, when we decide to communicate, we need some medium through which to transfer that idea to the other person. HOW TO COMMUNICATE- SKILLS You may possess good knowledge and may be ready to convey it but if you do not know how to do it, it would not be effective. Poor speaking or writing skills is a real hurdle in communication. Speaking Skills Read aloud: Take a small piece of writing from a newspaper, magazine or a book and read it out loud. This will help you to know how you speak- your voice tone, pitch, etc. Observe: Observe how people speak- their pronunciation, accent, intonation, stress, style, rhythm, etc. Try to emulate the speaking style of good speakers. This will help you to improve your own style of speaking. (For a detailed note on speaking skills, writing skills and non-verbal communication, refer Chapter 2 Types of Communication.) Just the idea/information that the communicator has, the media of transmission available and the presence of the receiver are not enough for communication to take place. We need a proper context and an atmosphere where there are no hindrances in the communication process. Does communication end after the idea is communicated? As stated earlier, we communicate with a purpose. Expression of the idea/information is half the work done. But communication is considered complete only when there is some response from the receiver. Only then we can say that the purpose of communication is fulfilled. Communication involves three basic activities on the part of both the participants i.e. the sender and the receiver. On the senders part, they are- Thinking to develop the content to form a message Speaking/Writing to convey the message to the other person Feeling to make the message persuasive On the receivers part, the activities include- Listening/Reading to absorb the idea/information contained in the message Interpreting to understand the meaning of the message Responding to convey the acceptance or the disagreement with the message Communication has always been an important part of human life. Language and the ability to express ourselves using that language come to us spontaneously. And the need to communicate is so inherent in human nature that we hardly realize that effective communication skills can be acquired and honed. There are four basic communication skills- speaking, writing, listening and reading. They always work in the following adjacency pairs- Speaking/writing is handled by the sender of the message and listening/reading by the receiver of the message. Mastering these four skills is very essential if one wants to become an effective communicator. As children, we learn to speak by listening first. Thus, listening is the first skill that we acquire as we develop the language instinct. Then follows the reading skills once we start schooling and lastly we learn the writing skills as a part of our formal education. Thus, learning language/s and the related communication skills follow a systematic process. It does not happen accidentally and instantaneously. Despite of this, people often turn out to be poor communicators as most of us tend to take its importance for granted. Most of the time, we fail to achieve our objective while we communicate. This happens because of our failure to convey our ideas in a precise and clearly understandable manner. There may be a lack either in the content of the message or in the way in which it is conveyed to the intended audience, or both. The point is we do not normally focus much on what to communicate, when to communicate and how to communicate. Also, we need to consider another equally important aspect why to communicate i.e. the purpose. Thus, it is very important for us to recognize and study the essential elements involved in the process of communication in order to become effective communicators. Every aspect of life, whether personal, social or professional, involves communication. The basic meaning of the word communication is- an exchange of thoughts, messages, or information, as by speech, signals, writing, or behaviour. The meaning of the word has not undergone much change. However, the ways and means of communication have changed greatly as a result of technological and other socio-cultural developments in recent times. Thus, these advancements have added numerous new dimensions to the communication process, which has become more complex over a period of time. It, thus, calls for a detailed study of the various components that are involved in it in order to be able to communicate effectively. 1.4 DEFINING COMMUNICATION In order to understand the term communication, it would be useful to have a look at some definitions given by the experts. The word communication is derived from the Latin word communis which means to transmit, to impart, to exchange, to share, or to convey. Communication means the imparting or exchanging of information by speaking, writing, or using some other medium. (Oxford English Dictionary) Communication is a two-way process of reaching mutual understanding, in which participants not only exchange (encode-decode) information but also create and share meaning. (Business Dictionary) According to Newman and Summer, Communication is an exchange of facts, ideas, opinions or emotions by two or more persons. Keith Davis states Communication is a process of passing information and understanding from one person to another. F.G. Meyer defines communication as the intercourse by words, letters or messages, the intercourse of thoughts or opinions. It is the act of making ones ideas and opinions known to others. In the words of Theo Haimann, Communication is the process of passing information and understanding from one person to anotherà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ it is the process of imparting ideas and making oneself understood by others. According to C.G. Brown, Communication has been defined as the transfer of information from one person to another, whether or not it elicits confidence or becomes an exchange or interchange. But the information transferred must be understandable to the receiver. William Scott defines communication as a process which involves the transmission and accurate replication of ideas ensured by feedback for the purpose of eliciting actions which will accomplish organizational goals. Louis A. Allen says, Communication is the sum of all the things which a person does when he wants to create understanding in the mind of another. It involves a systematic and continuous process of telling, listening, and understanding. According to McFarland, Communication may be broadly defined as the process of meaningful interaction among human beings. More specifically, it is a process by which meanings are perceived and understanding is reached among human beings. These definitions explain communication as a process of passing information and understanding (Keith Davis) a two-way process of reaching mutual understanding (Business Dictionary) the act of making ones ideas and opinions known to others (F.G. Meyer) the process of imparting ideas and making oneself understood by others (Theo Haimann) the transmission and accurate replication of ideas ensured by feedback for the purpose of eliciting actions (William Scott) a systematic and continuous process of telling, listening, and understanding (Louis A. Allen) a process by which meanings are perceived and understanding is reached among human beings (McFarland) Thus, these definitions adequately highlight and express in concise form the important features of the process of communication. In short, we can define communication as a process in which two or more elements of a system interact in order to achieve a desired outcome or goal. (Larry L. Barker and Deborah A. Gaut, Communication; 2001) 1.5 FEATURES OF COMMUNICATION On the basis of the above discussion, let us now discuss certain important features of the process of communication. 1. It is an exchange of ideas. Communication is the process through which an exchange of information takes place. It is the sharing of information, ideas, concepts and messages. 2. Two parties are involved in it. In communication, the exchange of information takes place between two or more persons. This implies that there are minimum two people involved in the communication process at any given time. The one who initiates the exchange is the sender of the message (speaker/writer) and the one who receives and interprets it is the receiver of the message (listener/reader). 3. It is a two-way process. Communication is a two-way process of exchanging ideas or information. One person alone cannot carry out communication. When you communicate, there has to be a receiver or an audience that would reciprocate. Then only your communication can be complete. Thus, communication is a process of transmitting and receiving verbal and non-verbal messages. It is considered effective only when it achieves the desired reaction or response from the receiver. The response may be positive or negative. In case of absence of any response, communication is incomplete. Thus, communication is effective only when a concise and clear message is delivered well, received successfully, understood fully, and responded to promptly. 1.6 OBJECTIVES OF COMMUNICATION There is no human action that is done without any purpose. Even the simplest and most natural action like breathing has a purpose- to stay alive. Communication is also always carried out with some purpose. (Refer 1.3 Pre-requisites of Communication) Communication begins with two-fold objectives or purposes that occupy the senders mind: Immediate or Primary to convey or to share Objectives information of Communication Ultimate or Secondary to convince or to persuade people To inform and to persuade are the two basic purposes (goals) that are ever present in the mind of a communicator. Sometimes, he seeks only to inform, as in scientific writings; sometimes, his goal is to persuade the reader, as in journalistic writings; and oftentimes, he wants both to inform and to persuade the reader, as in sales letters, advertisements, etc. Communication is vital to business. The communication activities of an organization fall into three broad categories: 1. Intra-organisational Communication FORMAL Business 2. Inter-organisational Communication Communication 3. Personal INFORMAL Communication 1. Intra-Organisational Communication It is communication within an organization. It is done to implement business plans. It takes many forms like orders, instructions, reports, emails, etc. 2. Inter-Organisational Communication It is communication that a business organization does with people outside the organization i.e. with other companies, customers, clients, general public, etc. It takes the form of planned publicity to improve its image and public relations with the help of business messages, advertising, displays, etc. The success of a business depends on its ability to fulfill the customers needs. Besides providing services, it must communicate effectively with outside people and groups for its success. 3. Personal Communication It is communication without a specific business objective i.e. without an ulterior motive or purpose. Man is a social animal, therefore we have a compulsive need to communicate even when we have nothing substantial to convey. Such communication also occurs in the workplace. For example, personal conversations, gossip, Grapevine phenomenon, etc. If one is not allowed to engage in such casual communication, it may lead to frustration and other such psychological problems. (For a more detailed discussion on corporate communication, refer Chapter 7 Formal and Informal Networks of Communication.) The primary objective of communication is to convey or share information. Business organizations have to deal with a large and varied amount of information on a daily basis in order to conduct various business activities. Thus, proper flow of information helps them to make right decisions. Another equally important objective of communication is to persuade people to accept a point of view or to change their attitude and accept a new or modified attitude. Persuasion is achieved through logical arguments or an emotional appeal to accept the change. Advertisements are an apt example of the persuasive nature of communication. Essentially, all communication is a deliberate and intentional act of persuasion. A communicator wants the reader not only to understand the message but also to be influenced as intended by him. (For a detailed discussion, refer 10.6 Persuasive Communication, Chapter 10 Nature of Attitude and its Influence on Communication) Communication helps to convey information from experts to trainees in an organization for the purpose of educating or training them to handle new technology or to adapt to the changes in the work environment. Communication is an effective tool in the hands of the managers to motivate and to boost the morale of the employees. This enables the organization to achieve higher productivity. Through advice and counseling, the management can help the employees in dealing with their emotional problems as well as problems pertaining to maladjustment and also to give career guidance. By means of letters of appreciation, special mention in reports, minutes of meetings, etc., the management can appreciate the work of the employees. In case of strikes, lockouts, and dismissal of individual employees or disciplinary action against them, the management uses communication channels to issue warnings. Communication also helps in co-ordination of intra-organisational activities, inter-organisational transactions, business transactions, and commercial transactions by means of conferences, meetings, advertisements, requests, suggestions, reviews, and discussions. Without communication, coordinating the activities of different persons engaged in running a business is a remote possibility. The management and the subordinates come closer through communication. Communication promotes cooperation and good industrial relations as it conveys feelings, ideas, opinions, and viewpoints of one party to the other party. The policies and programs formulated by the organization to guide the workforce have to be conveyed to those who are responsible for the execution of work to achieve the organizational objectives. Only effective communication can translate the plans into actions. It aids teamwork by enabling people to work together. It helps perform basic management functions like instructing, coordinating, staffing, planning, etc. Thus, these are the few important objectives of communication in the context of business organizations. So far, we have discussed what comprises communication and the significance of communication in our personal, social as well professional life. We have also highlighted some of the fundamentals of communication. Let us now analyse the process of communication and see how it is accomplished. 1.7 PROCESS OF COMMUNICATION Process is a series of things done to achieve something. Communication also follows a process. Communication begins when the sender/encoder identifies the need to communicate some idea/concept/information. He then encodes/formulates it into a message using a medium which can be understood by the receiver/decoder of the message who in turn processes it in his mind and responds to it. When the decoder understands the message completely, fidelity of communication is said to be 100% and the communication process is said to be complete. (Refer David Berlos Model of Communication) Thus, communication is a two-way process. Fidelity of Communication Idea Idea Concept Encoder Medium Decoder Concept Message Message Information Information Fidelity of Communication David Berlos Model of Communication If necessary, the receiver may send a reply or may respond or react to the message. This response or reaction is also known as feedback. But sometimes, there may be no response at all from the receiver even if it is required. Absence of feedback can be attributed to either of the following reasons- a) the message does not reach the receiver or b) the receiver fails to understand the message. Such situations may arise due to the presence of some factor/s that can- a) obstruct the message from being transmitted or b) distort the meaning of the message. The factors that hamper the flow of communication are known as barriers to communication. (Refer Chapter 4 Resolving Barriers to Communication) Communication occurs in five phases and it consists of the following eight components which are inter-related: Idea Sender/Encoder (Speaker/Writer) Encoding Message Channel and Medium Receiver/Decoder (Reader/Listener) Decoding Feedback Let us now discuss in detail the various stages and elements involved in the communication process. PHASE I- IDEATING: 1) Idea Every message whether oral or written has its origin in an idea that germinates in the mind of the sender of the message. Every idea refers to some context. Context is a common frame of reference within which the sender and the receiver communicate with each other. Thus, the idea or information that the sender wants to convey to the receiver is the source of the message in the communication process. 2) Sender/Encoder The person who initiates the communication process is referred to as the encoder. The process of communication begins with the sender who identifies the need to communicate. He may want to inform or to persuade or to influence or to make the receiver take a particular course of action. The sender must have a clear picture in his mind about what he wants to communicate and should accordingly select symbols, words, images, etc. that would best convey his ideas to the receiver. He must identify his audience and formulate the message in such a way that the receiver understands fully what he intends to convey and interprets it within the same context. PHASE II- ENCODING: 3) Encoding Encoding takes place when the sender formulates his idea into a message to be transmitted to the receiver, using a series of symbols- verbal and/or non-verbal, written or oral. The sender should encode his message keeping in mind the purpose of communication and he should select words or symbols so as to make the receiver understand the communication correctly and to achieve the expected feedback. The sender as well as the receiver should attach the same meaning to the symbols or words, otherwise communication would fail. Thus, proper encoding is essential for successful communication. 4) Message That which is encoded, i.e. the idea/concept/information, is the message. Message is an idea transformed into words. It can be expressed in different ways depending on the subject-matter, purpose, audience, personal style and cultural background of the sender. It can be transmitted effectively only when it is well-formulated, clear, and complete in itself. PHASE III- TRANSMITTING: 5) Channel and Medium An appropriate medium chosen to send the message is known as channel. It is the vehicle which facilitates the sender to convey the message to the receiver. Channel is the system used to transmit a message, whereas medium is one of the forms or types used under that system. For example, oral communication is a channel and telephone conversation (a form of oral communication) is a medium. There are three broad channels of communication and there are several media under each- Channel Medium 1. Oral face-to-face conversation, telephone conversation, audio-tapes, voice mail, etc. 2. Written letters, memos, reports, manuals, notices, circulars, questionnaires, minutes, email, fax, etc. 3. Audio-visual cinema, television, video-tapes, video conferences, video chat, etc. Thus, there is a difference between medium and channel. The sender should decide the best possible channel and medium to transmit the message. The selection of an appropriate channel/medium would be influenced by the following factors- a) the nature of the message, b) the urgency of the message, c) the number of receivers, d) the cost factor, and e) the relationship between the sender and the receiver. PHASE IV- RECEIVING: 6) Receiver/Decoder The person who receives the encoded message is referred to as the decoder. He is the intended audience of the message. The receiver may be an individual or a group of individuals. As communication is a two-way process, the receiver is as important as the sender of the message. Communication will not be complete in the following situations- a) in the absence of the receiver, b) if the message does not reach the right/intended receiver, and c) if the receiver does not understand the message. A receiver may be a listener or a reader or a viewer of the message. He not only receives the message but also tries to understand, interpret, and perceive the total meaning of the message, as was intended by the sender, and gives necessary feedback. 7) Decoding It is a process by which the receiver interprets the message and translates it into meaningful information. The meaning of the message is the sum total of the meanings of the words (symbols) together with the tone and the attitude of the sender as reflected by his choice of w

Its because they are human beings Essay -- Racial Relations, African-

Sitting down at Barnes and Noble, or Starbucks, with a coffee and a tasty blueberry muffin, doesn’t seem so complicated. A problem that might arise, is there an electrical plug nearby to plug in the lab top just in case the battery gets low on power? Simple enough, the coffee is just right and the internet is up and running. What better morning could there be? Such simple freedoms everyone takes for granted, never a second thought to whether this is allowed? Who can purchase food and drink here? Is the color of my skin the right color? Stopping to consider what are my civil rights? How did we get here, a point in time where an individual has civil rights? Looking back do we realize the hard work of those who stood up to injustice was for a reason? So, the future generations could enjoy their lives, families and their right to be treated as human beings. Now try to fit into the mindset of the 50’s and 60’s. Up to this time the African-American’s personal rights were different that the white people around them. They were expected to do everything separately from white people, including dining out, going to the restroom and sitting at the back of the bus. Up until this time, the majority of the black Americans’ kept in their place, not liking it, and not knowing how to change the status quo. In the beginning it took personal courage for the individuals who started the movement to civil rights. This courage was shown on February 1, 1960 when four students from a local college in Greensboro, Alabama went into the Woolworth and sat at the lunch counter and waited to be served. They were refused service, which began the sit-ins, sparking the beginning movement to their human rights. Historically, the African-Americans ... ... helped King produce the â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail†, which was the African-American’s answer to the â€Å"Statement by Alabama Clergymen†. King spoke for all who sought equal rights, he spoke for the young, the elderly, the men and women of African blood who now were citizens of the United States, but were still considered non-human. King was the right man, at the right time, which made all the difference. In the present, where are we at now? Although civil rights exists, the United States still has issues of equal rights. We now have not only the black Americans, but the Asian Americans, the Mexican Americans, and of course the Native Americans. As the minority slow becomes the majority, the white contingency now expresses their issues of equal rights or the lack there of. Can there be a definitive answer that solves the equal rights issue? No, there is not.