Abstract This paper discusses how good communication skills are critical to effective job performance, career advancement and organizational success. It shows how communication skills in the workplace help to enhance the interpersonal communication, giving and receiving criticism and dealing with different personalities and behavior types. It evaluates how an understanding of the communication process allows managers to implement better policies and creates a more harmonious work environment.
From the Paper "Effective communication involves using a wide range of skills, which like most other skills requires constant work and improvement. Communication skills incorporate a variety of techniques of written, oral and non-verbal forms and cover a range of areas, such as providing information, giving advice, resolving conflict, writing reports and letters, meetings and giving seminars. The importance of the communication skills is necessary for each of us to overcome difficult situations and improve our daily affairs and interactions with people, so that we are able to do best at our working environment. "
Abstract This paper discusses how we are constantly communicating and how silence and other methods of non-verbal communication are no more random than words. It analyzes how these are systematic expressions of meaning, which are often quite unconsciously used, in interpersonal contacts and how relationships in business and in social situations can be made and broken simply by the non verbals. It illustrates through a literaure review and various diagrams, how the effective reading of body language can do much to avoid or defuse conflict situation and provides strategies which can assist in resolving these conflicts.
From the Paper "Good communication requires that the communicators spend special or quality time together. Quality time involves that there is no time crunch and there is no crush of a crowd around you. In quality time we can search for just the right words that express what we are thinking and feeling. (Powell: 1987, 344). It follows also that in such ideal situations the non-verbal aspects of the communication will also be positive. A common attitude about silence or the absence of verbalised communication is that communication can be turned on and off, when we talk and when we do not. The reality is that we are constantly communicating, silence and other methods of non-verbal communication are no more random than words. These are systematic expressions of meaning, which are often quite unconsciously used, in interpersonal contacts (Myers: 1985, 217). Relationships in business and in social situations can be made and broken simply by the non verbals."
Abstract Discusses problems of thinking and problem solving. Basic methods of thinking (logical, analytical, scientific, ratiocinative, emotive, intuitive). Major forms of thinking processes. The logical thinker. The critical thinker. The counterfactual thinker. Barriers to achieving high levels of critical thinking skills. How people acquire, structure and process information.
From the Paper "Critical Thinking Styles and Forms of Influence
Introduction
"An excellent thinker is a person who can approach an analysis with an open mind; one who can digest the information presented, separate the relevant from the irrelevant, and come to logical conclusions regardless of any prior knowledge about a situation or any perceptions, pet ideas, or biases" (Altier, 1999). This quote from William Altier,in his book, The Thinking Manager's Toolbox, defines the challenge of providing a concise guide to the problems of thinking and problem solving.
There are, says Altier, as many ways of thinking and analyzing problems as there are people. Some of the basic methods of thinking are logical, analytical, scientific, ratiocinative, emotive, intuitive, and so on. However, there are certain ..."
Abstract "Couch potato (cp)" behavior is operationally defined as sitting and watching TV. The goal of the program presented in this paper is to modify this behavior towards participation in an exercise program. A self-observation log demonstrates "couch potato" behavioral antecedents, an operational definition of the target behavior and behavioral consequences. Cognitive-behavioral modification is discussed and the program is stated. Effectiveness of the intervention is then discussed.
From the Paper "Week one would consist of new thoughts such as "TV is not the only way to relax, this is a lie, the truth is that TV is contributing to my fatigue." Positive affirmations were to be employed as immediate and continuous reinforcements, such as "I'm feeling better each day with my new activities. I'm doing a great job." TV watching was to be cut down to half hour periods per week day and two hour periods for weekend days. Stimulus control was employed and junk foods were to be removed from the premises to avoid visual cues leading to poor eating behaviors. New foods were to be purchased, such as fruit juice in place of alcoholic beverages, nuts and fruits in place of chips; actual changes in meals would be dealt with later. Lifestyle changes for the first week would include using the stairs at work and school instead of the elevator, since walking up stairs is found to burn twice the calories of jogging behavior and it would serve as an aerobic exercise activity."
Abstract Based on a substantial amount of empirical research conducted on second language acquisition, it has been theorized that learners are best able to achieve the critical skill of learning a second language at some point fairly early in their maturational development. This claim is known as the "critical period hypothesis," which postulates that there is some maturational period for language learning that maximizes one's degree of proficiency in the language beyond that of other maturational periods. This study examines whether the critical period during which children are best able to learn English as a second language is before six years or age. To this end, the study compares the English proficiency levels of two groups of eighth grade ESL learners, a group that had begun to learn English before they were six years of age and a group that had begun to learn English after six years of age. Because the nature of language required in school is complex, a fairly complex assessment was made of English proficiency, namely English proficiency was assessed using the Quick-Start in English Written Language Assessment (QSE). The study shows that there are higher proficiency levels for those children who learned English before six than for those children who learned it after six years of age.
Table of Contents:
The Problem
Background
Problem Statement
Significance
Limitations
Null Hypothesis
Review of the Literature
Introduction
Critical Period Hypothesis and the Best Age of Second
Language Learning: The Pertinent Research
Conclusions
Subjects, Materials and Methods
The Setting
Subjects
Materials
Methods
Methods Used To Obtain Permission To Conduct Research
Data Gathering Methods
The Findings
Conclusions and Recommendations
References
Appendix A
Letter Mailed From Researcher to Supervisor
Appendix B
Letter From Supervisor
Appendix C
Letter Sent to Mark's Middle School Principal
Appendix D
Letter received from Mark's Middle School Principal
From the Paper "While many claims have been made as to what precise age/age group constitutes the critical period, some recent research conducted in Germany, Doll (1996) stated that this critical period takes place during kindergarten or first grade. In other words, the period occurs sometime before the child is six years of age. What is interesting about Doll's findings is that they are in conflict with the majority of the earlier research in the area; this research tending to show that the critical period for effectively learning a second language is between the ages of eight and ten years (Bialystok, 1997)."
Abstract The media, including television, magazines, radio, internet and billboards surround everyone daily, sending messages about what items to buy and why. While the effect is obvious among the adult population, the effect is even more profound on the teenage population. The present day media has established a target on adolescents, influencing them to smoke, drink, look a certain way and dress a certain way in order to be accepted by society. This paper focuses on the affect that television has on teenagers, showing that the average American teenager will view nearly 14,000 sexual remarks, sexual innuendos, and jokes per year. The paper details the negative effects on these youths, including an increase in violence, early sexual activity, substance abuse and eating disorders.
From the Paper "Studies have shown that young women subscribing at an early age to "teen" magazines such as "YM" or "Teen" have a much higher rate of eating disorders. According to the National Eating Disorders Association (2002), an increase in magazine viewing led to a 45% increase in lowered self esteem in young women age 12-15. Another study showed that 66% of young women believed that models in magazines were their "ideal" image, or what they were expected to look like (Irving, et al 1998). Actually, the average American woman is 5?4" tall and weighs 140 pounds. The average American model is 5?11" tall and weighs 117 pounds. Most fashion models are thinner than 98% of American women (NEAD, 2000)."
Abstract George Orwell's discourse on the political and social significance of the modern English writing is the primary theme shown in his essay, "Politics and the English Language," (1945). The paper shows that in this discourse, Orwell discusses the faults of modern English language regarding the gradual spread of vagueness and insincerity in the meaning of prose text. The paper shows Orwell's proposed solutions to this problem of vagueness in the English language, especially with regard to political writings. To convey Orwell's idea of poor English prose, this paper analyzes Abraham Lincoln's "The Gettysburg Address," delivered in 1863 as the President's reaction to the ongoing Civil War during that period.
From the Paper "For Orwell, thought must definitely determine language, and not the other way around. This means that there must first be clarity and sincerity of thought before effective writing will take place. This way, problems of vagueness will be avoided, an element of writing that results to insincerity. This means that the use of elaborate explanations to express a feeling or thought is an ineffective way of explaining and describing these thoughts, and Orwell suggests that long and elaborate sentences must be replaced with short, concise ones, where meaning will become clearer to the audience. While avoiding an imposition of definite rules in English writing and composition, Orwell enumerated and discussed the common mistakes and faults that prose writers commit in expressing their thoughts on important issues, especially those that are political and social in nature."
Abstract This paper details the various aspects of listening, the skills involved in listening, and the benefits derived from good listening, especially in management functions and business negotiations.
From the Paper "The first one is the "talker" and the one who receives the communication is the "listener". Often, one hears the term "lack of communication" when some misunderstanding occurs between these two parties, which most of the time implies that whoever delivering the message did not do an effective job. This may not always be true. Unfortunately, few know how to be good listeners. Statistics indicate that the normal, untrained listener is likely to understand and retain only about 50 percent of a conversation. One has to develop appropriate skills and techniques to be a good attentive listener during individual conversations and also during meetings and lectures. Strange as it may sound, there are courses and training sessions conducted to develop listening skills."
Abstract Discusses findings of several studies and articles regarding the accuracy of how the two genders communicate. Communication issues include women as instigators of discussion in relationship problems and the male tendency to close off discussion in intimate discussions.
From the Paper "Many studies indicate a difference in communication between men and women. Generally speaking, these findings depict women as the instigators of discussion when ..."
An assessment and description of the different aspects of the Peters' Chomsky's and Brown's theories in detail and opinions on which theory proves to be the most successful and credible based on research.
2,706 words (approx. 10.8 pages), 8 sources, 1999, $ 81.95
From the Paper "How does a child begin to speak? Why? These are questions that many linguists set out to answer as they explore the world of language acquisition. Three credible linguists, Ann M. Peters, Noam Chomsky, and Roger Brown, all have different opinions and theories of language acquisition. All of them address influences, grammar, and patterns of speech in their theories, but in different contexts. Chomsky believes it is genetic, Peters believes it is totally up to the environment, and Brown believes it is due to positive reinforcement and trial and error. All three theories are credible and have provided great insight into the ways children do acquire language. Language acquisition is a widely researched topic, and will continue to have new theories evolve as long as children keep talking. This paper assesses and describes different aspects of each linguists? theory in detail and offers the author's opinion on which theory proves to be the most successful and credible based on reasearch."
A discussion about how the media is not only expected to keep an eye out for wrongdoing and to provide a conduit for candidates to convey their messages to the voters, but also plays a large part in guiding the voters' decisions.
1,469 words (approx. 5.9 pages), 2 sources, 2000, $ 48.95
From the Paper "Public Opinion is an elusive and highly changeable current that can veer abruptly. In the electronic republic, where decisions on major issues increasingly require direct public input and participation, the need to understand public opinion has become the central ingredient of politics. The United States is the only democracy that organizes its national election campaign around the television and news media. Once upon a time, the press occasionally played an important part in the nomination of presidential candidates. Now the news media do not entirely determine who will win the nomination, but no candidate can succeed without the press. The press is no longer asked only to keep an eye out for wrongdoing and to provide a conduit for candidates to convey their messages to the voters, but it is also expected to guide the voters' decisions. "
Abstract This paper looks at the Opens Systems Interconnection connecting open systems of communication. The author explains the structure and system of layers representing the packaging of information and its journey from one machine to another on a network.
From the Paper "Today's modern computer networks are designed in an extremely structured manner. To reduce their design complexity, most networks are organized in a series of layers. Each one of these layers is built upon the one that came before it. The OSI Reference Model is based on a proposal developed by the International Standards Organization (ISO). The model is called OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) Reference Model because it deals with connecting open systems - that is, systems that are open for communication with other systems."
Tags: cisco, layer, mcse, computer, network, system
Abstract This paper discusses the factors that contribute to an business' success and how they come together to create a profitable company and supportive environment ensuring success into the future.
From the Paper "While the profitability of corporations is typically measured in dollars, overall success can be measured in terms of profitability plus the attainment of organizational goals. This success derives from a synergy of inputs, including the work of employees who are dedicated, skilled and knowledgeable, and a management team that understands how to inspire competent and motivated performance through sensitive and responsive management of a continually changing workplace. The cost of socially-responsible management is an investment: the workplace environment directly impacts the motivation and productivity of the workforce. Simply put: happy, secure workers are productive workers."
Abstract This paper compares two different marketing strategies: humor and sex. The author discusses how comedy prevails over sexuality in advertisements because comedy is more memorable and generally more easily applies to the product. The paper is based on six advertisements, half comedy and half sexuality and spends a section discussing each and its pros and cons.
From the Paper "Both humorous and sexual themes are used in advertisements because marketing executives believe these to be the most direct way to sell a product. Marketing executives rely on comedy and sex to sell their products, but while interest may be generated for the ad itself using these methods, interest in the actual product can only be obtained if the comedy or sex is realistically applicable to the product itself. When comparing the two kinds of ads, comedy ads are generally much better at showing applicability than are sexual ads
An analysis of male and female conversational styles based on Deborah Tannen's "You Just Don't Understand," which discusses how men and women act substantially differently in a number of ways - including conversational style.
800 words (approx. 3.2 pages), 0 sources, 2001, $ 28.95
Abstract This paper analyzes the book "You Just Don't Understand by the linguist Deborah Tannen. The sees it as a work of popular psychology written with the intention of analyzing and explaining the different conversational and linguistic styles of men and women. The author cites Tannen's central thesis that some of the difficulties in communication between men and women in the workplace and at home are the result of the inherently different conversational styles of the sexes.
From the Paper "Some of Tannen's theories tend to support common preconceived notions of gender norms. For instance, women are thought to emphasize collaboration and consensus when coming to a group decision. Men tend to use confrontation, even when they are in some form of basic agreement with the individual with whom they are speaking. This male, confrontational style, even when done in a friendly manner, can be alienating to women. Women, in contrast, often use conversation not as a means of communicating information but as a way of reaffirming interpersonal connections. This is why men often think that women are talking about nothing. The purpose of such traditionally female speech is not the topic of conversation that is at hand, rather it is to say, "Yes we're friends", or Yes we're together", or simply "I am here for you." This is why women are often taken aback when, in trying to talk about their day, the man in their life tries to solve the problem their words have brought up, rather than simply listening to them and acknowledging and affirming "Yes, you did have a problem at work today."
Tags: gender, male, female, sexual identity, sex role stereotype
