Author: chris

Each stakeholder in the selection process – line managers, coworkers, and applicants – has distinctly different needs, desires, and goals for selection.  Discuss whether each stakeholder’s needs, desires, and goals for selection should be equally weighted.  Explain why or why not giving specific examples to support your response. Refer to Chapter 3 for information on the selection process.

The use of technology is increasing in all health care settings.

• How does technology affect patient outcomes?
• Identify two (2) advantages and two (2) disadvantages of technology as they apply to the perinatal setting. Explain your answer.
• Discuss strategies the Registered Nurse can employ to reverse the two identified technology disadvantages. Provide a rationale for each strategy indicating how it results in the provision of safe, quality care in the perinatal setting. Include a reference from the literature to support the information provided.

This is part one of a two part assignment starting with an introductory look at process design and supply chains.

 

Identify a company with which you are familiar.  This could be your place of employment, a car wash, a yard service company, and so forth.

Create an MS PowerPoint Presentation in which you describe the current state of your selected company’s supply chain and an identified process.

Required Elements:

• Describe the company’s supply chain
• Identify a process internal to the company that you wish to analyze.
• Describe the process internal to the company that you wish to analyze.
• Identify an appropriate design approach for the process you have chosen.
• Create a high-level AS IS process flow chart using an appropriate tool.
• Identify at least one metric to measure the process and its application (how, what, when, and who).
• Use an appropriate tool to collect data for each step of the process.
• PowerPoint includes 4-5 slides with detailed speaker notes.

Click the Assignment Files tab to submit your assignment.

Review the diagnostic criteria on pgs. 99-100; 160-161; 561-562

A counselor’s own perception of psychopathology is extremely important in the diagnostic process.

Using the case study of “Tina” in the topic one lecture, write a 500-750word essay in which you examine your thought process about her presenting issues. Include the following in your paper:

1. Discuss the historic and cross-cultural perspectives of psychopathology that could potential impact the diagnosis and treatment of Tina.
2. After reviewing the several diagnoses that could pertain to Tina from the DSM-5, what is your diagnostic impression?
3. Substantiate your diagnostic impression with appropriate criteria from the DSM-5.

Discuss how historic misconceptions of psychopathology could potentially impact the treatment of this client. As part of this discussion, you may include a diagnosis, any referrals that you would make, and a general course of treatment.

Include at least five scholarly references in addition to the textbook in your paper.

APA format is required for essays only. Solid academic writing is always expected. For all assignment delivery options, documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.

 

Primary Task Response: Within the Discussion Board area, write 150-200 words that respond to the following questions with your thoughts, ideas, and comments. This will be the foundation for future discussions by your classmates. Be substantive and clear, and use examples to reinforce your ideas:

• • Explain how and why communication can be affected by the following:
    • Culture
    • Relationships
    • The use of technology (virtual communication)

 

 

Assignment Details

Written Assignment 2: Biology and Technology in the Real World

 

 

 Background:  This assignment will give you the opportunity to participate in ongoing scientific research.  For the past several years, I have been involved in ecological research in old-growth forests in Wisconsin.  In many areas the forest floor is dominated by a grasslike species, Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica).  The sedge may exclude other ground species by interspecific competition, which may decrease the number of species in an area, which is a main component of biodiversity.  The Penn sedge “lawns” are probably caused by selective herbivory by an abundance of white-tailed deer. The deer do not like the sedge but consume most other ground plants.

Another problem in the forests is that dominant trees, such as white pine and sugar maple, do not show successful reproduction to replace the old pines and maples that die, which leads to the question – does Pennsylvania sedge decrease the establishment of tree seedlings?  With support from a UMUC Faculty Research Grant to create this assignment, I collected data last summer that you can use to test three hypotheses-

 Hypotheses

A.  Pennsylvania sedge inhibits regeneration of white pine

B.  Pennsylvania sedge inhibits regeneration of sugar maple

C.  Pennsylvania sedge decreases biodiversity

Choice of Study Site – Practice with Google Earth:  Most, if not all, students are familiar with the use of GPS (Global Positioning System) to navigate.  I assume that many of you are also familiar with Google Earth, an interactive aerial map of the globe.  It is a very useful tool.  When we lived in Okinawa, we chose a home to rent before our 2011 move to Rhode Island by investigating the property and its environs on Google Earth, and are very happy with our choice.  Google Earth can be downloaded free at earth.google.com

I also make use of Google Earth in choosing study sites for my research, especially when I was searching for remaining old-growth white pine forests in Upper Michigan. For practice with this relatively-new technology, I have included an exercise involving Google Earth with this assignment (under “Report” below).

Methods of Data Collection

Data were collected during 2-4 August 2013 in a study plot within a forest dominated by trees of sugar maple, red oak, and red maple at Trout Lake Cathedral Point, Vilas County, Wisconsin (Figure 1).  All ground species were identified in 2- x 2-meter quadrats that were positioned as a strip of adjacent quadrats in transects of adjacent across the plot.  In ecology, a quadrat is defined as a sample area and a transect is a sample line.  Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the method of transects of continuous quadrats.  Within each of the sample quadrats, the percent cover of Penn sedge was estimated and all established tree seedlings (defined as > 20 cm in height and < 1 cm in diameter at breast height) were counted.  This site was chosen to test the hypotheses because patches of Penn sedge covered portions of the plots but was absent in other parts.

A total of 189 quadrats were sampled.  Seedlings of white pine were most abundant, with a total of 124 plants in the quadrats, even though trees of white pine were rare.  White pine, common in a stand adjacent to the study plot, has shown a recent burst of reproduction in the forest.  There were 95 sugar maple seedlings in the quadrats.  Other tree seedlings were few, so we will confine our analyses to white pine and sugar maple.

[Identification notes- Species on the forest floor can be identified from field guides, or more officially, from large books such Wisconsin Flora or the 3-volume Michigan Flora.  Specimens, plants that typify a species, are also deposited in an herbarium, where plants can be submitted for identification.  Nowadays, sites such as Wisflora from the Wisconsin State Herbarium (http://www.botany.wisc.edu/wisflora/) are available online.  Another new trick that I use is to enter the scientific names of species into “Google Images” and compare it to digital photos of the plant.  In the 189 Point quadrats, 20 herb species and 9 tree species as seedlings were identified. The most common herb was mayflower (Maianthemum canadense) in 89% of the quadrats. Three species, including eastern hemlock, were only in one quadrat. The hemlock seedling was quite a surprise as there are no hemlock trees in the vicinity.]

Figure 1. Trout Lake study area with patch of Pennsylvania sedge on the forest floor.  Fig1.JPG

Figure 2. Transect line entering “lawn” of Pennsylvania sedge, with scattered white pine seedlings. Fig2.JPG

Figure 3.  Quadrat of 2 x 2 meters created by centering two 2-meter sticks 2 meters apart on the transect tape. This quadrat on a sedge boundary contains small sugar maple and white pine seedlings. Fig3.JPG

Testing the Hypotheses – Data Analysis

The field data for you to use to test the hypotheses are given in an Excel spreadsheet with the file name “UMUCRiegeSedge.”  UMUCRiegeSedge.xls Listed for each quadrat are the percent cover of Pennsylvania sedge, the number of white pine seedlings, the number of sugar maple seedlings, and the number of species.

So, you ask, where can I start to make sense of this big spreadsheet full of numbers?  I would suggest one good way to begin is to tabulate the data by categories.  For example, you might classify the quadrats by percent Penn sedge, such as 0-25%, 26-50%, 51-75%, 76-100%.  Then you can average the number of seedlings or number of species per quadrat for each sedge category.  [Hint- be sure to use average numbers per quadrat and not total numbers within each category, as the Penn sedge categories will have different numbers of quadrats.]  If you look at scientific papers, you will see lots of tables and graphs, as these are excellent ways for the reader to understand the results.  When graphing data, the independent variable (cause) is on the x-axis and dependent variable (effect) is on the y-axis.  Our hypotheses have Penn sedge as the cause, hence percent sedge cover will be on the x-axis and the seedling/biodiversity data on the y-axis.  In your report, use graphs and/or tables, as well as a written summary, to present your analytical results.  [Although the data are presented in an Excel spreadsheet you are not required to use Excel for the report.  You can copy the spreadsheet into another program or analyze it manually with a calculator if you wish.]

 

REPORT

Your report should be organized under the following bold headings (or a similar format).

Background – Choice of Study Site

I use GPS readings of latitude and longitude for reports on my study sites, so others may be able to locate them.  The Trout Lake Point study plot for this Penn sedge project was approximately centered at 46^o 02′ 45.00″ N latitude and 89^o 40′ 07.25″ W longitude. It extended south to north about 43.0″ to 47.0″ and east to west about 6.0″ to 8.5″.

Please use Google Earth to locate the study plot (coordinates of latitude and longitude should be in the lower right corner of the Google Earth screen).  The current aerial photograph on Google Earth was taken on May 9, 2013.  Note the ice on Trout Lake, as it was a late spring.  Note that the deciduous trees (maples, oaks, etc.) have yet to leaf, while the pines and other conifers are green.  Look over the study site and its surroundings by navigating with the GPS coordinates given above and describe (1) the forest of the peninsula in general from what you can see from the aerial perspective and (2) why you think the study plot was not extended farther south or farther north.

Hypotheses

Simply restate the 3 hypotheses here.

[Normally a scientific report would next have a section on methods, but you can skip this since I already stated the methods in the assignment.]

Results

Here, report on your analysis of the data.  Include tables and/or graphs and text to explain them.  [Graphing reminder – best to put independent variable on x-axis and dependent variable on y-axis.]

 

Conclusions & Discussion

Summarize your analyses by concluding whether the data support or disprove Hypotheses A, B, and C.  Then discuss how your conclusions might relate to the many factors that influence forest composition.  For example, one factor not measured that may affect our data is the amount of shade.  Although the study area had similar tree composition throughout, some areas contained thicker shade, which might decrease both sedge cover and species richness, thus obscuring any relationship between the two.  Ecology is very complex, that’s why it is so much fun (but it makes it very difficult to verify causes and effects).  Again, be creative in the discussion.  Shade is just one example of many factors that influence plant growth.

One experiment leads to another in the scientific method.  In your discussion, use your conclusions to generate at least one new hypothesis that could be tested to further add to our knowledge of the effects of Pennsylvania sedge.

Organizational symbols and culture reveal and communicate the attitudes, beliefs, and norms of what is acceptable behavior, what is valued, and, in general, how things are accomplished and work within the organization. Effective leaders and managers understand the importance of organizational culture and how it can lead to achieving goals. After thorough assessment, the organizational culture should be changed in terms of attitudes and beliefs that impede the organization from achieving its mission and strengthened or blended with new attitudes to build a more effective culture.

For this Assignment, you examine the culture of a selected organization and determine its strengths and weaknesses. Consider whether the following applies to the organization when doing your analysis:

• Symbols—graphics, myths, vision, values, heroes, heroines, stories, fairy tales, ritual, ceremony, metaphor, humor, play, any other aspects that you found in your reading not listed here
• Culture—induction as a member, diversity (or not), lead by command (or not), a specialized language unique to the organization, a particular metaphor in action (e.g., theater or as a temple), norms, attitudes and beliefs, or any other aspects that you found in your reading that are not listed here

The Assignment (5 pages):

Without using the name of the organization where you work or have worked (or, if none is available to you, use a company in the news or draw from a case study), answer the following.

• Describe the culture of the organization and how the symbols convey the culture.
• Describe the strengths and weaknesses of the organization from a cultural perspective.
• Explain what could be changed with the culture of the organization, pertaining to the weaknesses you identified and suggest ways of accomplishing the change. If the culture is one you would like sustained, what needs to be in place to assure its perpetuation even when top managers change?

Note: Include proper APA citations and 5 references.

5 pages or more on the story of the ramayana, analyze the hero cycl withn the story

Assignment One:  I have provided two prompt choices for this assignment:

1. Instructions for using The Monomyth, a.k.a. the hero cycle developed by Joseph Campbell, to analyze The Ramayana
2. Write and introduction paragraph and thesis.  The body must mirror the thesis.  The body can be either essay or outline in form, though all MLA rules apply. You must use material from the readings to justify and support your claims (provide context) while using citation (parenthetical documentation). Every one of these points will result in grade reduction or failure if ignored.  All steps must make a cohesive structure, leading logically together, when you analyze the myth.  You may not simply put a step and a quote without context.
3. You need to tell me why you choose the character, either Sita or Rama, in The Ramayana to be an example of the hero. Remember to use key ideas, like dharma, which is found in the introduction in the textbook.
4. You also should make mention this structure is known as the Monomyth and that this structure was developed by Joseph Campbell. You need to work this into your essay in order to give the appropriate credit to the idea.  I suggest you use material from the introduction and class presentations to strengthen this point. I further suggest you mention the book in which this theory was first revealed, which is the subject of Chapter 15 in your textbook.
5. You should decide how you will construct your thesis.  If you decide to use a three-prong thesis statement, which I highly recommend, then you could use Departure, Initiation, and Return as your three prongs, which you will then mirror in the body of the assignment.  You also must list the eight steps you are using in the order that you will discuss these steps in the body. Just list them, saving the detail for the body. I suggest that at the end of your three prong claim you place a colon (:) and then list the eight steps you will use in the correct order. This listing should be done at the end of your thesis.  AGAIN, Do not go into any detail until the body please.   This would mean that you have three parts of the cycle, each part being discussed in a different body paragraph or section.  In these paragraphs you will go into detail and discuss the particular steps that fall under that particular section.  If you choose the outline or bulleted structure, then the three divisions could act like outline section headings.
6. If you make a radical choice then you are required to produce radical proof. Failure to list these steps, or failure to list them in the correct order in which you discuss them is an automatic letter grade deduction.
7. In your essay you must use at least one quote from Chapter 15 in the main textbook, at least one idea from the introduction to The Ramayana (Chapter 18), as well as one quote or summarized and documented concept from first essay “The Impact of Science on Myth” as well as one quote or summarized concept from “The Emergence of Mankind” from the Joseph Campbell book Myths to Live By.  These are required to illustrate your ability to use material to justify and support your claims.  In the Body you must use cite ALL summary, not just the quote from the narrative by putting the page numbers from which the material comes.  No quotes should be more than three lines of text AT MOST.  When dealing with a long quote use ellipses (…).  Every point you make in the body should be coordinated to the page numbers from which you draw the material.  In dealing with quotes, summary, paraphrased material, etc., use MLA parenthetical documentation.
8. In-text citation (parenthetical documentation) must be used in accordance with MLA rules when summarizing or quoting.

 

1. I am also extending you the opportunity to do the above assignment using a narrative other than The Ramayana.  You may use The Ramayana and The Epic of Gilgamesh as points of comparison, along with the Monomyth as discussed in part I.   If you choose to analyze another narrative structure you may still abide by all the previous instructions, but you will be looking at the plot structure of your choice in relation to the other material in the class we have discussed so far.  This choice must be clearly explained in your introductory paragraph.  This choice does not change the basic rules of this assignment.

 

 

2. You must use at least eight steps. Use all steps and correctly argue for their placement or lose a letter grade (or more).
3. Of those eight you must use:  the call to adventure, 1^stcrossing the threshold (movement into the unknown zone), the axis/apotheosis, and the 2nd crossing the second threshold (moving back to the known world) simply as a matter of necessity.  You need to line your steps in the correct order, reflecting your character’s development through the cycle in a linear fashion, even if this linear structure is not a match for the plot development. Please do not confuse this for a plot summary; THIS ASSIGNMENT IS NOT A PLOT SUMMARY.  If, for example, if you find out the reason for the extraordinary birth in some part of the chapter or narrative, then you will place this step first, no matter where in the narrative or some other source it is found.  
4. Other steps you may consider:
5.  Extraordinary birth,
6. Divine or supernatural aid typically by wise guide (person, god, etc.),

                                                            iii.     Helpers (this step is mobile and can occur in more than one place.  You may only use it once.),

1.  Road of trials (there may be many versions of this in a myth, you can choose more than one, but it will still only be one step.),
2. Meeting with the goddess, meeting with temptress (the goddess and temptress may be the same entity in the story…also, if the hero is a female then this can then be male in gender.  Rather than temptress it may be tempter, rather than goddess it may be god),
3.  Atonement with the father (This step can occur right before the apotheosis, can be a product of the apotheosis, or itself can be apotheosis.  The nature of atonement with the father is typically ordered in a way that is in relation to the type of deed the hero is doing in relation to the society that produced the hero.),

                                                          vii.      The ultimate boon can also be known as the elixir theft (the theft or gain of a material object or a spiritual concept is typically what is referred to here.  This can sometimes be separated from the outcome of a particular boon or gift boon, as the ultimate boon is essentially a manifestation of the hero’s power or insight.  For instance, in Gilgamesh the boon is the plant of eternal life.  Utnapishtim, a father figure, allows Gilgamesh to find the plant, though Gilgamesh is fated to lose the plant.  The boon or elixir is the plant, but the “ultimate boon” is the realization that losing immortality brings about acceptance of mortality and responsible kingship, which is represented by the plants loss.),

                                                         viii.     The call to return,

1. Refusal to return,
2. Magical flight(often a way of return that literally in the story manifests as an unknown conveyance),
3.  Reign, exile, extraordinary death (or any of the other many steps.)  Sometime the hero’s story ends tragically despite their success or sometimes the king rules happily.  This idea of reign is a type of return, despite the variances one may find in different cultural traditions.

Some of these steps can be flexible within reason, like helpers, the nature of apotheosis (whether the apotheosis leads to the ultimate boon or is in some sense the ultimate boon), etc.  It is ultimately important how you analyze using this material you have.  It is also important to note that the order of these steps has a built in requirement that comes along with the Monomyth mirroring the many processes of development Campbell used in formulating his structure (anthropological, psychological, etc.) Among these the three most important would be the process of individuation, the initiation ritual, and the biological process of life.  In philosophy it can be said this structure takes into account both being and becoming.  I have spent a fair amount of time going over the significance of this, so if you do not show an understanding of this fundamental aspect of the analysis (or at least an attempt to try to understand), you will lose a letter grade.

1. Every step is not just a matter of plot.  This essay is not about plot summary.  Each step is about analysis; therefore you must justify your steps in a coherent manner.  Why does the choice you make for the call to adventure make sense considering the Axis or Apotheosis? All the steps must make a coherent analysis….AGAIN; this is not about giving me a plot summary and then labelling that part of the plot.  Each part of the narrative must make sense when discussed as part of a coherent analysis.  What does the plot mean?  You are limited by your knowledge at this point, so use the book and what little you may know of the culture to ascertain how to best read the metaphors in a myth as they relate to values and meanings.  This is the essential step in analysis.

 

III.              The body can be in outline form, bulleted, numbered, or in traditional essay form.

1. If you would like to follow the five paragraph essay structure you must identify the steps you choose within the context of the three divisions of the cycle: departure, initiation and return for example.  These three divisions would then constitute the three body paragraphs…this is a matter of your personal taste.
2. In the body, however you construct it you must go through each step in the order mentioned in your thesis statement, put in the appropriate order and section of the cycle.  You must tell me the step, or in other words you must name it, and then explain how the part of the story fits the profile of this step, using a short quote if you want, but not required.   Keep any summary to a minimum, and then put the page number(s) that corresponds to the section to which you refer. Obviously if you use a direct quote you have to cite that immediately after the quote. The page number is not optional. Not using page numbers is an automatic grade reduction. Rather than plot summary what I want you to focus on is your justification for a particular step occurring at a particular time in the plot. It is up to you to make your justification coherent.  AGAIN…If you merely do plot summary you will lose a letter grade, as plot summary is not critical thinking. 

 

1. You will then need a conclusion.  This is both a reflection of what you have done with your thesis and support as well as a meaningful conclusion about what is implied if your argument is true. You have done it, “so what?” What does it matter? Do you remember why it matters to Campbell?

 

 

 

General instructions

I do require MLA documentation for this assignment. There is to be no external research, but you will use your books and classroom notes. MLA is not optional.  You must not use material and then not cite it.  If you do not remember parenthetical documentation I suggest you look it up and refresh your memory.  I WILL take off if you do not parenthetically document your resources. That will fail you for the assignment and perhaps the class if you use someone else’s work and do not acknowledge that use. If you need to meet me we can come to some arrangement.  I understand academic struggles, but all forms of plagiarism will fail you for this assignment and potentially for the course.

 

5 pages, Typed, double-spaced, 12 sized font, times-roman or font of some clear design…no funny stuff.  Neither the MLA citation page, nor the class information is part of this length. The maximum length of this assignment is ten pages.  Keep in mind that a quick stripped down cycle that merely identifies a plot and a step without analysis does not meet the minimum requirement.  You must try to analyze to fully be engaged with this assignment.  I do not expect you to be experts, but I do expect you to do the best you can.  If you do a short sloppy paper, expect your grade to reflect that effort.

 

You need class info…the class and personal info as well as the title cannot be considered part of the length, so adjust accordingly.  The title should not be The Ramayana, since I know you didn’t write the epic.   I do not require a title page, and please do not use a folder….just a staple is fine….but there better be a staple.  The length should be a minimum of 5 pages…if you  do not meet the minimum requirement, you will not have the option to rewrite the paper in the event you want to make a better grade; not meeting the minimum requirement will also result in grade deduction of at least a letter grade.

I need a six page paper that explains the below

what is exemplary leadership as presented by Kouzes and Posner

what are the five dimensions of authentic leadership

The importance of emotional intelligence to leadership effectiveness

Assess effective team conflict management

Decision Making, Collaboration, and Conflict

Assess how mission, vision, and strategy coordinate to create an effective organization