Literature Changes During the Civil War Essay Example for Free

Literature Changes During the Civil War Essay When the country was still quite young and change was ever-imminent, our great America wasn’t always so great. This budding country lacked its own culture, and every single work produced by its inhabitants was rooted to an earlier version from its mother Britain. Much of our nation was devoid of literary culture and education. We were often looked down upon by other countries flourishing with their own trademark foods, goods, and customs. Very few prominent writers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson were able to create a base example of what an American literature might actually look like. Prior to the Civil War, there were almost no published American authors, as the United States was more inclined toward English texts, which were less expensive. Reading and writing had just begun to trickle down to the middle class, making literature much more popular among the common man, as rates of literacy rose tremendously. The multitude of uses for literature once the Civil War began caused an even larger development. During a time of great change and conflict, America began a period of immense literary thirst. Before the Civil War started, literature had only recently become a more regular piece of daily life. At first only the wealthiest could be expected to know how to read and write. However, as the nation approached the time of the Civil War, the lower classes were also expanding their education by becoming literate. The common man started to take more of an interest and a stand in the goings on of the country- for the most part, learning how to read allowed them to keep up with the happenings from around the nation. Literature was also serving a more entertaining purpose. Fiction grew in popularity, but infamy too. â€Å"American statesmen and leaders were fearful of fiction. They accurately understood its subversive power: fiction empowered individuals; it catered to peoples passions, fancies, and whims, which threatened republican ideas of order and rationality,† (Stauffer 237). As this quote explains, many politicians believed that fiction would lead to chaos and revolution. Literature has always had the power to plant a seed in our minds, and this was no different during the time of the Civil War. Still, these opinions did not keep novels from finding a place in most households. Mostly middle- and upper-class women were the audience for this type of reading material. Fiction, spreading rapidly, became one of the most popular types of literature in this era. Literature before the Civil War was mainly centered on functionality. Literacy had just begun to grow, so the people who learned to read had to have a reason for it. The most common reading material of the time included religious reading, instructive reading, newspapers and magazines, and â€Å"reading for escape† (Salisbury). The best method of escaping for bored housewives or even the common man was a novel. As previously stated, these fictional stories had just begun to boom in popularity. Religious reading mostly included bible study, common for the average Christian household. Newspapers and magazines were crucial for spreading news, and when the nation found an efficient way to broadcast information, people snatched them up. During a time when you couldn’t turn on your flat screen television or pull out your iPad for news updates, newspapers were essential to society. Finally, guides were another usual form of reading material. Stay-at-home wives collected cookbooks and mothering manuals by the shelf-full. All these types of reading provided some function to those who read them, which displays how the country used literature in a very confined manner. The Civil War had a big impact on literature, but literature also had a large impact on the Civil War. For example, the movement against slavery was intensified by passionate works of literature such as Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. These novels helped to spark an interest in the subject for many more people, particularly those of a higher class, who then began to encourage the movement. Literature needed to change in numerous ways. When the war began, letters would be used to keep families in touch with soldiers. News would become more biased and exaggerated depending on its origin (North vs. South). Many children created care packages and wrote letters to soldiers, which gave the men at war some hope and knowledge of the outside world. In 1864, Harper’s Weekly published a story about a young girl named Lula who wished to write a letter to a soldier. That letter wound up in the hands of Daniel P. Fleming- a man who had no family to write to. â€Å"Lula’s letter came when he felt forsaken—desperate—and saved him† (Diffley). Their correspondence created a magnificent bond that carried Fleming throughout the war, and impacted both he and Lula for the remainder of their lives. Literature served a great purpose in the Civil War, and its growth did not stop there. When literature grew in popularity, it had a plethora of effects. It both helped and hurt our country. On one hand, it led to the letters that kept the spirits of our soldiers high. On the other, it produced media that exaggerated truths and spread lies. Since the North and South had greatly varying opinions at the time, their news sources also greatly varied. Each would produce its own version of the truth, and neither would be completely honest. This sensationalism only continued to spread, which became its worst in the 20th century. Not all of the effects of literature’s changes were completely bad, though. Novels allowed people to escape the awful experiences they were going through, if only for a little while. Writers became more successful and American authors had more of a chance as American writing took over the aforementioned British literature. Essays and stories meant to rally the nation during war kept each side unified, even as the country itself split in half. Literature was, perhaps, a great factor in keeping the United States from permanently disbanding. Literature impacts a lot in our lives today: it is a tell-tale sign of the amount of education one receives, it determines a lot of our viewpoints on many issues, and it can even affect the choices you make. This was true during the Civil War era as well, but this took off mostly at the time of the Civil War itself. Before the war, literature had only just begun to spread. It was quite obviously linked to social class as well, as the upper classes were known to have a much higher percentage of literacy than the lower classes. Also, British works became less popular, while American authors prospered. With novels on the rise with the common woman, literature asserted itself as an everyday piece of life. This was reinforced by the use of newspapers, magazines, and books that provided instruction and recipes. Literature took off right before the start of the Civil War, in part causing it. Certain literary works had a strong impact on society, creating controversy and drawing the boundary between the North and the South. Literature also played a huge role in the lives of many soldiers during the war itself. It not only kept the soldiers motivated by giving them something to look forward too, but it also connected them to the outside world and reminded them of all the people they were fighting for. Literature helped to both keep this country together and tear it apart. While the printed media was not always as honest as it should’ve been, and the letters did not always keep the soldiers motivated, it is impossible to argue that literature went through an incredible change during the Civil War. Literature will always be a part of our lives, and this rang especially true during this time of struggle, which unlocked an appetite for literature that our country had never known before.

An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Psychology Essay

An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Psychology Essay Organisations are struggling in the current competitive economic climate. Ensuring organizational survival may ultimately come down to attracting and recruiting skilled employees (Barber Roehling, 1993). Terpstra (1994) identified recruitment as an essential strategy for organisations to prosper and survive in the global economy, suggesting the initial attraction and selection of candidates may be the most important foundation for organisational performance. As the realisation of the link between human-capital and financial growth is now a shared knowledge across sectors, the crucial importance an employee holds is broader acknowledged (Gardner, 2002). Recruitment is a fundamental organisational activity defining who will constitute the organisation (Turban Cable, 2003). The difference between a mediocre and exceptional hire could mean momentous differences for organisational profit (Wicklund-Hansen Weyergang-Nielsen, 2007). Thus the benefits of efficient and successful recruiting are increasingly recognized in research and literature (Barber, 1998; Billsberry, 2007; Breaugh, 2008). Recognising the importance of employees, individually and as a whole, organisations are increasing their recruitment investments. Ralston Brady (1994) modestly suggested the average cost of recruiting and selecting to be over $2000 per individual. Given such large amounts are spent, there is both an expectation and a demand for recruitment to be of organisational benefit. The study by Terjesen, Vinnicombe and Freeman (2007) addresses the need for adapting recruitment practices to up-and-coming graduates, soon to constitute the labour force of the 21st century. Research findings by Ryan, Sacco, McFarland and Kriska (2000) emphasize also the importance of recognising the individual applicants choice in the recruitment process. However, Ryan and Tippins (2004) argue there are still large gaps between research and practice in this area. Recruitment in the current labour market Recruitment takes place in a wider societal context and shifts in the labour market will subsequently affect recruitment activities. In tighter markets potential candidates are likely to be less critical of the process as they are in desperate need for a job (Cable Judge, 1996). Contrary, in a flourishing economy where organisations are in demand of multiple hires, the on-going competition leads to a lack of high-quality candidates. Fernà ¡ndez-Arà ¡oz, Groysberg and Nohria (2009) claim organisations will face challenges when recruiting to replace the plentiful baby boomers. Some business sectors are especially prone to this and hence compete for the best candidates, also known as the war for talent (Ferris, Berkson Harris, 2002; Hiltrop; 1999). In contrast to much of Europe, Norway is a country where the economy is boosting (Takla, 2012). With an unemployment rate of 2.7% and increasing growth in the industry, Norway finds itself in a position where some occupations actually lack qualified workforce. Low unemployment rates will naturally increase competition for the best people (Ferris, Berkson Harris, 2002), but in Norway this is also combined with a strong economy and growing companies. Recent figures from the Norwegian labour and welfare administration revealed a need for 16.000 engineers in the imminent future (Kaspersen, 2012) The numbers are consistent with research predicting technical and engineering skills of particular shortage in the years to come (Dohm, 2000). Businesses in unrelenting demand of talent are consequently competing, all depending on qualified employers to survive (Tulgan, 2001). How recruitment is managed should be of essential value especially for organisations in such a position. A recent survey showed that 92% of organisations within the oil- and gas sector in Norway were in demand for graduate engineers (Vartdal Riise, 2012). One of the largest technical universities in Norway plans to expand their capacity for engineers by several hundred (Amelie, 2012a). An emerging job market consisting of desperate organisations and cohorts of new graduates triggers the need for further insight into attraction and recruitment. Defining recruitment Recruitment literature stretches over a wide spectre, thus claiming necessity to clarify a definition for the thesis at hand. Also, it must be distinguished between the two organisational activities recruitment and selection, tightly linked and often occurring simultaneously. Recruitment can be viewed as the initial and sustained attraction of candidates, whereas selection is the process of selecting among potential employees (Rynes Boudreau, 1986). Research on recruitment has often been subject to critique of having a static view of a process that is rather quite dynamic (Barber, 1998). In response this thesis views recruitment as an on-going process consisting of several stages (Saks Uggerslev, 2010) and will apply the following definition for recruitment: (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) the actions organizations take to generate applicant pools, maintain viable applicants, and encourage desired candidates to join those organizations (Dineen Soltis, 2011, p.43). This definition differs from B arbers (1998), critiqued for only focusing on attraction of candidates. Hence, it is desirable utilizing a definition that acknowledges the ultimate outcome of recruitment, namely a candidate ´s job offer acceptance (Ferris, Berkson Harris, 2002). Five dimensions of recruitment As the area of recruitment research is versatile, Barber ´s (1998) distinction between five dimensions of recruitment will be applied in the following paragraph. This serves as both a framework for organising a wide research area, as well as discussing previous work with its inevitable strengths and limitations. Clearly illustrated by these examples are how the dimensions are inextricably linked, underlining recruitment as dynamic and complex (Boswell, Roehling, LePine Moynihan, 2003). Context Rynes (1991) highlights the obvious fact that recruitment occurs in a wider contextual setting. The economic climate, labour market, organisational size and business-sector are all potentially influencing factors (Rynes, 1991; Rynes, Heneman Schwab, 1980; Taylor Bergmann, 1987; Turban, Campion Eyring, 1995). As the experience of recruitment inevitably will vary, it can be of value to have more specific recruitment research related to a given context (Derous Schreurs, 2009). Moreover, the need to recognise context as a variable in concrete research is much needed, as a great deal of recruitment studies is done in experimental settings. For example, Rynes and Miller (1983) manipulated recruiter knowledge, recruiter affect, and job attributes to measure effects of recruiter influence. Goltz and Giannantonio (1995) manipulated recruiter friendliness in an experimental video-condition study. Both studies found recruitment activities to have an effect on candidates, confirming the cont ributing value of experimental studies in the development of recruitment research (Chapman, Uggerslev, Carroll, Piasentin Jones, 2005). However, suggestions have been made that research designs using simulating job-applicants can lead to understated research claims (Rynes Miller, 1983; Uggerslev, Fassina Kraichy, 2012). Barber (1998) argues studies of experimental nature contribute to a simplification of the complexity the recruitment process holds. A simulated study does not necessarily capture the many variables and external occurrences that will influence a candidate in a real-world setting (Chapman, Uggerslev, Carroll, Piasentin Jones, 2005). Studies utilizing real job seekers in an actual recruitment setting might validate the strength of previous findings, if holding true to contexts where influence of a recruitment process truly has consequences both for candidate and organisation. On the other hand, manipulating variables in recruitment activities would be ethically challenging (Highhouse, Lievens Sinar, 2003). Therefore, studies done in a real-life setting must choose a method in line with strict ethical considerations. Players Naturally receiving most attention in recruitment research has been organisational representatives and candidates. Recognising both parties is the social process paradigm with a view of recruitment as a two-way, inter-subjective interaction (Herriot, 2002). This perspective has progressively earned respect as an alternative to the dominating psychometric paradigm by allowing for the candidate ´s voice to be heard (Billsberry, 2007). The development towards a social process rather than a one-sided organisational choice leads to interesting interactions between candidate and organisation in the current economic climate. A number of recent studies have attempted to determine the best strategy for attracting and convincing candidates to accept job offers in a competitive market (Ferris, Berkson Harris, 2002; Turban, Forret Hendrickson, 1998; reference possibly Boswell et al, if not finding any other more about a competitive market). Extensively debated is whether recruiter characteristics and behaviour actually have an influence on candidates. Alderfer and McCord (1970) were among the first to explore the possible effect of recruiter characteristics; a continuing topic of interest as recruitment research has evolved. The meta-analysis by Chapman, Uggerslev, Carroll, Piasentin and Jones (2005) concluded that recruiter behaviour such as being personable influenced candidate attraction to organisations. By applying signalling theory (Spence, 1973) to recruitment, research has demonstrated how candidates view recruiters in the recruitment process as signals of unknown organisational characteristics and attributes (Turban, Forret Hendrickson, 1998). Rynes, Bretz and Gerhart (1991) found recruiters to act as a symbol of interpersonal relations in the organisation, indicating candidates use recruiter behaviour as images of interpersonal work relations. Chapman and Webster (2006) later concluded recruiter influence app ears more complex than anticipated. However, Breaugh (2012) points out that less attention has been devoted to recruiter effects over the last few years. Also, a majority of recruiter-candidate interaction research is built on experimental designs, possibly ignoring effects from a real-life human interplay (reference). It is further suggested that qualitative research could prove value beyond the majority of existing quantitative research (Breaugh, 2012). Activities Organisations facilitate recruitment activities such as campus career fairs, employment interviews and site visits to attract candidates (Arvey Campion, 1982; Turban, Campion Eyring, 1995). The review by Rynes, Heneman and Schwab (1980) and more recent research by Collins and Stevens (2002) both state that recruitment activities have the potential to influence candidates, possibly by signals of wider organisational attributes (Turban, 2001). However, there is still a need for a better understanding of how recruitment activities affect a candidate (Turban, 2001). Breaugh (2008) highlights the site visit as a recruitment activity given undeservedly little attention. An exception is the study by Turban, Campion and Eyring (1995) extending preceding research by demonstrating just how influential the site visit can be on actual job acceptance decisions. Another interesting aspect of the site visit is the possibility to meet future colleagues beyond organisational representatives often sent from the human resource department. Consistent with the suggestion by Rynes and Miller (1983), Rynes, Bretz and Gerhart (1991) found that meetings with any given organisational representative is less influential than meeting someone from the same functional area as the candidate. The site visit typically consists of several activities and Turban, Campion Eyring (1995) suggest future research continuing to investigate how applicants interpret and make meaning of attending one. Saks and Uggerslev (2010) critiques existing research for an exaggerated focus on single activities. Consequentially some activities can come across as having a very small or large influence, possibly limited by research methodology. Those who ultimately accept a job offer will have been through a more extensive process, very likely consisting of several activities. Whereas initial stages are critical to determine candidate ´s further pursuit, later stages have a profound effect on the final job acceptance decision. Recruitment activities do not occur in a vacuum. The overall experience of a recruitment process based on combined effects of activities must be acknowledged (Saks Uggerslev, 2010). Phases Experimental studies often break the recruitment process down to smaller units for investigation. This approach ignores that going through a recruitment process is not likely to be experienced as single events with a separate effect on the candidate, but rather as a process consisting of phases (Boswell, Roehling, LePine and Moynihan, 2003). The early stages of recruitment have been suggested critical, because this can decide candidates willingness to proceed with a given organisation. Critical contact theory addresses how applicants are influenced in their first meeting with organisational representatives (Ralston Brady, 1994). Rynes, Bretz and Gerharts (1991) study demonstrated the possible detrimental effects of a single interaction, showing a number of candidates actually chose to withdraw from recruitment based on a negative first impression. Due to the stress job search can hold as well as anticipation of evaluation, it has been suggested job applicants enter the process with uncertainty as a salient emotion (Proost, Derous, Schreurs, Hagtvet De Witte, 2008; Rynes, 1991). Moreover, uncertainty is likely to persist as candidates are faced with consistently limited information (Barber Roehling, 1993). Assessing levels of uncertainty is difficult in a simulated setting, unfortunately undermining a great deal of existing research (Breaugh, 1992, as cited in Barber Roehling, 1993). Studies have demonstrated that candidates weigh various information and organisational features differently throughout the recruitment process (Carless, 2005; Jaidi, Van Hooft Arends, 2011). The elaboration likelihood model (ELM) suggests peripheral processing is superior to central processing in the primary stages of a recruitment process (Larsen Phillips, 2002). The former type of information processing typically leads to a focus on environmental cues rather than relevant job characteristics. Saks and Uggerslevs (2010) study on college students found that rather focusing on the effect of a single activity or stage, the total combination of the whole recruitment process should be considered. Contrary, it has been suggested that various stages of the recruitment process in itself does not significantly influence a candidate final decision (Lawler, Kuleck, Rhode Sorensen, 1975; Powell Goulet, 1996). Findings from previous research thus prove conflicting; suggesting candidates may go through recruitment with or without a diverse range of perceptions, emotions and thoughts that influence their final decisions. Outcome For organisations to maximise utility, the ultimate end goal of a recruitment process is job offer acceptance from desirable candidates (Jackson Schuler, 1990). Nevertheless, much research has often studied candidate ´s reactions at a given point during the process. Attracting and maintaining candidates are obviously necessary requirements for a viable recruitment process. Yet, acknowledging the process inherent dynamic nature combined with the fact that organisations attempt to actively influence a potential candidate; the effects of this influence must be assessed. The study by Aiman-Smith, Bauer and Cable (2001) revealed that different factors lead to job attraction and actual job pursuit. An extensive amount of research measures only candidates attitudes, perceptions and impressions, rather than actual choice (Rynes, Bretz Gerhart, 1991). Many studies approach recruitment from the organisations view, attempting to establish how an applicant can be persuaded to accept a job of fer (Jaidi, Van Hooft Arends, 2011; reference). Such studies operate with the implicit assumption of a candidate actually making a choice (Boswell et al., 2003). However there is less knowledge of how the candidate perceives this choice or decision-making. The perspective of a candidate who has been through a full recruitment experience with the result of accepting a job offer is less investigated and will inevitably provide knowledge of important aspects of recruitment (Saks Uggerslev, 2010). Graduates A large part of an organisations recruitment activities revolve around new graduates, of interest for the new skills and updated education they contribute with (Turban, Forret Hendrickson, 1998; Wayne Casper, 2012). The recent years have witnessed changes in recruitment practices as competition for graduates tightens (Branine, 2008). However, recruitment literature and research has often been criticised for overly emphasizing college graduates (Breaugh, 2008; Rynes, Heneman III Schwab, 1980). Nevertheless, multiple interesting aspects serve justice to focusing on this particular group of job seekers. Career theory refers to the transition from student to employee as an important one, significantly affecting a person ´s life (Super, 1980). Previous research has found inexperienced job seekers to be more likely influenced by recruitment practices (Feldman Arnold, 1978; Larsen Phillips, 2002). Walker, Field, Giles and Bernerth (2008) demonstrated how candidates limited job experience and job search influenced their perception of recruitment activities. Seeking full-time employment for the very first time might be a particular meaningful event where one is exceptionally aware of recruitment practices because of their novelty. Graduate recruitment is both voluminous in size and investments( Rynes Boudreau, 1986). In addition, the study by Terjesen, Vinnicombe and Freeman (2007) suggested the coming workforce, generation Y (1977-1994) differs from previous generations. As organisations are increasingly acknowledging human capital as a competitive edge, the need for educated workforce is not likely to decrease. Liden and Parsons (1996) points out that educated candidates approach job-searching differently than candidates seeking lower level jobs, where the former is more discriminating in the process. Collectively, this demonstrates new graduates as a sample of interest for further investigation. Rather than attempting to generalise across all job seekers, clearly quite distinctive, this study recognises and appreciates graduates as a separate target group for research. Aim and research question In summary, Barbers dimensions call attention to recruitment research in the field, where context and realistic human interaction is acknowledged. There is a need to further investigate how recruitment activities and recruiter behaviour are elements of a whole recruitment experience leading to the ultimate outcome of a candidates job offer acceptance. The current economic climate holds exciting times for new graduates. Indeed, Celani and Singh (2011) highlight the competitive benefit an organisation could gain from enhanced understandings of candidate ´s reaction and appraisal of recruitment practices. By acknowledging the individual as the organisations most valuable asset, an expectation follows to consider the individual ´s perspective, also in recruitment. Breaugh (2012) highlighted the valuable in-depth insight to the candidate ´s perspective from the previous qualitative work of Rynes, Bretz and Gerhart (1991) and Boswell, Roehling, LePine Moynihan (2003). Based on a person-centric approach, Weiss Rupp (2011) suggest the human subjective experience should guide more research. Insight from candidates own words about recruitment experiences has been of inspiration (Billsberry, 2007). Therefore, the study employs a phenomenological approach to address the following research question: How does a recent graduate experience the recruitment process? A phenomenological approach Phenomenology is concerned with exploring the richness of a real, concrete, daily-lived phenomenon (Finlay, 2009). The transition from graduating student to working professional has been proven a major one, additionally supported by life-stages theory and career theory (Ng Feldman, 2007; Schein, 1978, Super; 1980). Billsberry (2007) argue job-related events such as obtaining or changing jobs are of significance, but they are also a natural experience in the inevitable progression of life. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) is an approach of exploration of a lived experience (Clarke, 2009). Interpretative phenomenological analysis is therefore suitable to explore how a new graduate experience a recruitment process. Something about why not other qualitative methods? However, merely stating that a study is of phenomenological nature is not sufficient for methodological rigour. Adopting a philosophical stance underpinning the method of choice should be done to uphold methodological clarity (Lowes Prowse, 2001). The transcendental phenomenology as described in the original work of Husserl request suspending all presuppositions of a phenomenon through bracketing (Smith, Flowers Larkin, 2009). This standpoint has been critiqued for not recognising the cognitive aspect of a human being situated in a contextual world (Wilding Whiteford, 2005). Furthermore, the researcher ´s seminal role in identifying, defining and formulating research is consistent with Smith ´s (2004) recommendation to avoid a superficial attempt of bracketing. The philosophical foundations underlying IPA is simply not compatible with complete bracketing, as the interpretative component inevitably acknowledges the researcher ´s role. Heidegger advocates a hermeneutic phenomenology with interpretation at its core (Smith, Flowers Larkin, 2009). Utilizing a double hermeneutic acknowledges the dual role of the researcher, where one tries to make sense of the participants experience after the experience has been subject to sense making from the participant itself (Smith Osborn, 2003 double check book Uni). Rather than shallow bracketing, not adequate to its true form as proposed by Husserl, reflexive bracketing was done in resonance with Ahern ´s recommendations (1999). As being reflexive involves more than having an awareness of one ´s standpoint, but should be consciously exercised throughout the research process, a full reflexive account is given in section x.x (Finlay, 2002). A main goal in phenomenology is being able to understand what a particular experience is like for someone else (Creswell, 2007). Rooted in the phenomenological approach is the recognition that an experience takes place in a specific context (Willig, 2009). The contextual setting of the study will subsequently be addressed in the following section. Context To advocate high-quality research, Stiles (1993) advise explicit awareness of the social and cultural context of the research (as cited in Elliott, Fischer Rennie, 1999). IPA recognises that the individual is positioned in a context, inevitably influencing the individual sense-making process (Clarke, 2009). Furthermore, the aspect of context has often been overlooked in recruitment research, pointed out by Rynes (1991) more than twenty years ago. Erhart and Zieger (2005) continuously emphasize researchers to render the environmental context where organisational recruitment takes place. Several authors have highlighted the important factor of the current labour market (Rynes, Heneman Schwab, 1980; Turban, Campion Eyring, 1995). In response and in the belief of context-depending findings, the following paragraph will give a brief description of the context where this study took place. The region of Western Norway thrives on the oil business and a majority of workplaces originates within this sector (Boe Hornbug, 2012). Stavanger, one of the largest cities in the region is often referred to as the oil capital of Norway. Several large international oil companies base their Norwegian head offices in this part of the country. Due to constant development over the last years and a forecast of continuous growth there is a pressing need for qualified engineers. The present study was conducted in an oil company employing 70.000 across the world, whereby 2000 of these work in Norway (Taraldsen, 2012). A recent survey completed by engineering students from the largest University in the area demonstrated the company ´s high status; the company was rated among the top five most popular employers (Hult, 2012). The company still emphasizes advertising their vacancies through the most popular job-search base in Norway. In general, job advertisements underline the companys attractiveness by emphasizing their abilities and position in the market. The adverts also encourage potential candidates to apply by embracing the uniqueness of each individual employee. During winter 2011/2012, the company carried out a recruitment process for their graduate programme, hiring 25 trainees after receiving several hundred applications. On the basis of their recent recruitment experience, a number of the newly hired trainees were asked to participate in this study. Acknowledging the criticism of recruitment research ´s large focus on graduate samples (Rynes, Orlitzky Bretz, Jr., 1997), nevertheless this was seen as a factor adding to the interest of this study. The social, the cultural and the heavy media focus on the oil business sector may lead to both expectations and pressure for a new graduate. A survey of the labour market during spring 2012 demonstrated that 82% of engineer graduates already have a contract signed by completion of their education (Amelie, 2012b). Organisations are ambitious in their search for talented candidates and as a result initiate recruitment at early stages (Gjerde, 2012; Halvorsen Ellingsen, 2011). While the offensive approach of competing organisations can contribute to an awareness of the attractiveness of engineers, it can simultaneously force feelings of pressure, rush and st ress to the process of securing a job. Method Design To explore new graduates experience of a recruitment process, a cross-sectional study of qualitative nature was conducted. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyse semi-structured interviews. Procedure The researcher made contact with the organisation through a personal acquaintance in February 2012. Being aware of possible challenges in regards to organisational access, the researcher took several steps to ensure a smooth process (Johl Renganthan, 2010). Through mutual agreement between the researcher ´s area of interest as well as the organisation ´s need, a suitable sample for research was identified. The sample was chosen purposively to ensure all the participants had experienced the phenomena of interest, necessary to give insight into a particular perspective of the experience (Smith, Flowers Larkin, 2009). Striving for a homogeneous sample, sample criteria were set to be recent graduated engineers who through the process of obtaining their first job naturally had been through a recruitment process. It was established prior to commencement of research that participants had been exposed to various recruitment activities. To increase credibility for the study the human resource senior manager of the organisation sent out the first informative e-mail, encouraging participation. This was also done to ensure the participants felt comfortable sharing their experience, given they were recently hired at the organisation. Further, the researcher established contact per e-mail with the individual with thorough information (Appendix X: Information sheet). E-mail contact is considered efficient for both parties in establishing contact and to make further arrangements for the interview (Seidman, 2006). Given practical considerations and various start-dates, 14 individuals were contacted. As IPA is concerned with the quality and not the quantity of accounts, the researcher searched for a smaller sample as 3-6 participants is recommended (Smith, Flowers Larkin, 2009). However it was found useful to initially contact a larger number, being aware that some participants may withdraw (Seidman, 2006). All but one were initially positive, however situational factors led to a final sample of 6 participants. The researcher found this sample to fulfil the requirement of both suitable size and saturation (Kvale, 2007). Participants The sample consisted of Norwegian citizens, 3 females and 3 males (6 in total) between the ages 22-28. All participants had experienced various recruitment processes, including a site visit arranged by the organisation prior to being hired. The participants were all recent graduated engineers with a BSc or an MSc degree within various fields of engineering. All participants had their education from Norwegian universities where recruitment activities arranged by several companies had taken place in various forms. All but one participant resided in the greater area of Stavanger. Fictitious names were given to each participant to ensure anonymity. Interviews Inviting to a rich, detailed and personal account of the individual ´s experience, semi-structured interviews were chosen as method for this study. This is the preferred method for IPA as its flexibility allows for the experience of interest to lead the interview, rather than fitting it into pre-determined categories of a structured interview (Smith, 1995). Two pilot interviews were conducted early in the process, as strongly advised by Seidman (2006). This familiarises the researcher with the complexities an interview may hold. Although not identical with the actual sample, the volunteers for pilot interviews were also recent graduates having undergone recruitment processes in their search for jobs in the past year. Hence pilot interviews were useful to provide insight into possible important aspects of a recruitment experience and also led to changes in the interview structure such as fewer and less non-directive questions. The pilot was also seen as valuable training in interview technique, which according to Kvale (2007) is mastered through extensive practice. The interview guide was developed after wide reading around the topic of interest as well as inspiration from the pilot. Advised by Smith, Flower and Larkin (2009) it was attempted to approach the area of interest sideways. Rather than asking direct questions, which may be leading the participant, the questions attempted to facilitate a discussion around the topic of interest. The interview commenced by the open-ended question Could you tell me about how you got this job? (Appendix X). For an open-mind in regards to the participant ´s experience, open-ended questions were asked, allowing the participant ´s answer to steer the direction of the interview (Smith, Flowers Larkin, 2009). Although having prepared possible follow-up questions, the researcher exercised flexibility throughout the interviews to fully be able to attend to the personal experience of the individual. Probes and prompts were used as suited. The interview session was rounded off asking each participant if they had anything further to add which had not been addressed in the interview, but that was seen as important in their recruitment experience (Kvale, 2007). Interviews were held in the workplace during week 26 and 27 at the participant ´s convenience. The researcher made sure to be allocated a room in sufficient distance from the participant ´s department, to s

Animal farm essay

Animal farm essay Animal Farm Essay Animal Farm by George Orwell is a compelling book that represents the Russian revolution. Although viewing through the eyes of animals may seem like a childish concept, George does well into making sure that the book carries out the message of revolution. I, t  believe that George showed that Animal Farm was influence of the Russian revolution by the naming of the naming of the three pigshe condition of the farm, and because of the storys plot. Many of the animals in Animal Farm show some sort of connection with the Russian revolution. Most animals either represent a group of people, or an in/famous person. As the story starts to evolve from the rebellion to the Battle for the Windmill, the reader notices how the animals start to change. When Mr. Jones gets expelled for the farm, 3 smart pigs take of the farm: Squealer, Snowball, and Napoleon. These three animals all represent dictators the had a part in the Russian revolution. The most significant part about the names given to the pigs is that they all symbolize the dictators perfectly. Napoleon was a tough, fierce looking boar but was not much of a talker. This would symbolize Vladimir Lenin., the man who took the place as dictator after Tsar Nikolas II stepped down. Squealers name was the identity of Joseph Stalin, the man who kept on stalling the people by giving quick, persuasive speeches on how Lenin was improving the country. Snowball is then given to Trotsky because like Snowball, Trotsky split up with Lenin. In Animal Farm, these three pigs basically reenact what took place during the Russian revolution: betrayal, propaganda, and communism. Perhaps the best device Orwell used here was how he portrayed the three dictators as pigs, which shows how the name and appearance of the characters in this book are significant and related to the revolution. A reason I believe Animal Farm is about the Russian Revolution, was the choice of naming for the pigs During the whole book, Animal Farm was in very poor condition. During the beginning, Manor farm was a horrid place to live: with little food and lots of work everyday, it portrayed what Russia looked like during the time of revolution. Only during the early stages of the revolution was the economy slightly better than once before. Each time that Orwell describes the farm, it is always in a different condition, one which usually matched the condition of Russia. When Napoleon was ruling, the farm was in great economic trouble: the animals were always hungry while the pigs and dogs had enough to eat. This shows that the economy did not actually improve the animals lives, but instead started to benefit the other, higher members of society which is exactly what the Russian revolution resulted in. The condition of the house was a symbol of Russias state which shows how Animal Farm is connected with the Russian revolution. The final way that Orwell connects both Animal Farm and the Russian revolution, was by the plot of the story. During the entire book, all of the events that took place had at least some little significance with the Russian revolution. When Napoleon oppressed the animals by killing them, it was portraying what was known as Bloody Sunday. At the beginning of the novel, when Old Major is giving the speech about rebellion, it was all inspired by the old man known as Karl Marx. Even the event in which Mollie leaves shows the connection between the two. The easiest event to determine the the two, was most likely the scene were Boxer is taking away. If you think back to the revolution and back to Boxers motto ( I will try harder), you can easily see the Boxer is representing Russias working class. Because Russias working class was so loyal to Napoleon, most of them ended up for worse then before, and even worse, is the fact that Napoleon tossed away these people as if they were tools. The e xact same can be said for the Russian revolution. Lenin abused his people and Orwell demonstrates it very clearly and profoundly. I believe that George showed that Animal Farm was influence of the Russian revolution by the naming of the naming of the three pigs, the condition of the farm, and because of the storys plot. By renaming and reassigning of few characters and events, George Orwell has described the revolution into a book that can is comprehensive to both little kids and young adults.

Entangled and Entraped in Samuel Becketts Waiting for Godot :: Waiting for Godot Essays

Entangled and Entraped in Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot       Set against the barren dramatic landscape of Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot", humanity seems to exist with an interconnected, interdependent, and interchangeable set of relations. Early in the play Beckett introduces the tether as a central metaphor in order to explore the moral, social, and existential implications of this complex web of relations. Pozzo and Lucky are literally tied to one another. Though less tangible, Vladimir and Estragon are joined by an equally powerful emotional bond. Ultimately, even the relationship which defines the motion (or lack thereof) of the entire play, the connection between Godot and Vladimir and Estragon, is described as a form of bondage. Vladimir and Estragon admit that their fate is ultimately tied to the will of Godot.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     At first glance, the rope looped around Lucky's neck and held by Pozzo delineates a fairly clear relationship of power: Pozzo is dominant and Lucky is submissive. While Pozzo does seem to revel in his position of authority, it becomes apparent that the relationship is more involved than it seems. Pozzo tries to explain that Lucky "wants to mollify me so that I'll give up the idea of parting with him" (I, 21). By enslaving himself to Pozzo's wishes, Lucky hopes to ensure the continuation of their relationship. While Pozzo is aware that he is being manipulated, he also states, "You can't drive such creatures away. The best thing to do would be to kill them" (I, 21). Yet all Pozzo's efforts to sever their tie are unsuccessful. In fact, when they reappear in Act II, the rope between the two has shortened and Pozzo is now blind. In a very real, very substantial manner Pozzo has become more dependent on Lucky. Their bond is thus simultaneous ly strengthened and convoluted.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Though their connection might lack a tangible symbol, the link between Vladimir and Estragon is no less real or complex. Beckett is able to place both pairs under the common roof of humanity. Pozzo acknowledges that Vladimir and Estragon "are human beings none the less... of the same species as myself" (I, 15). Vladimir and Estragon seem to depend on one another at a more visceral and emotional level, however. There is both love and revulsion between them. Both realize that their relationship is an obstacle to individual happiness, and yet both become desperate at the thought of a solitary existence.

The World Trade Organization Where It’s Been and Where’s It’s Going? Es

The World Trade Organization Where It’s Been and Where’s It’s Going? Since the start of trade in the United States and around the world there has always been a need for rules and regulations. The GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) was the one for the past century that dealt with issues that would arise they wrote rules on things that were acceptable and not acceptable in the trade arena. Out of the GATT came the World Trade Organization (WTO) that was designed to take care of more issues than GATT. Although the WTO has only been around for almost a decade it has come under criticism from almost all arenas. They have had issues brought to their table that have been hard decisions and now have issues they must deal with that could affect the way free trade is in the future. Countries have battled amongst each other as how to solve a problem such as The Beef Hormone Case, The Shrimp Turtle case and the Caribbean Banana Case. These were case that will be discussed later, but have set a kind of foundation for the WTO as to where they will b e headed in the future. Agriculture has become a hot issue in the international market and the WTO is still trying to find ways to accommodate the developed countries and develop further growth in the developing nations. The World Trade Organization is also stepping into new territory and the future is no exception. The World Trade Organization The World Trade Organization was developed in 1995 out of what was known as the Uruguay Round. Although GATT set rules they mostly dealt with issues just involving simple trade of goods and the distribution of tariffs. The WTO has a more broad job than the GATT; â€Å"†¦it oversees multilateral agreements relating not just to good, but... ... the job that they were made to do under the GATT regulations. The future will tell a lot about the WTO and free trade because so many things are brought to the table that eventually the World Trade Organization is going to need some form of help to make adequate decisions for the world. BIBLIOGRAPHY Diao, Xinshen, Terry Roe and Agapi Somwaru. â€Å"Developing Country Interests in Agricultural Reforms Under the World Trade Organization.† American Journal of Economics v.84, n3 (August 2002): 782-90 Irwin, Douglas. Free Trade Under Fire. Princeton and Oxford: Princeton University Press, 2002. Josling, Tim. â€Å"Key Issues in the World Trade Organization Negotiations on Agriculture.† American Journal of Agricultural Economics v.85, n3 (August 2003): 663-667 Working Group on the WTO/MAI. â€Å"A Citizen’s Guide to the World Trade Organization† (July 1999): 1-28

American poet Jack Kerouac Essay

American poet Jack Kerouac has been classified as the originator of the Beat Generation. He is known for his spontaneous confessional style, as well as his connection to Buddhism, Allen Ginsberg, and American self actualization. His rejection of mainstream 1950’s society is his trademark, and the core ideal behind the beat-nick culture he helped spawn. Jack Kerouac was born Jean-Louis Lebris de Kerouac, to French-Canadian parents, in Lowell, Massachusetts. Kerouac was raised fluent in French, and didn’t start learning English until he was six years old. While attending Boston College and Columbia University, he demonstrated extraordinary athletic ability in the game of football, until he broke his leg. After losing his football scholarship, Keroauc moved to New York. There he met the makeup of the group that would later be known as The Beat Generation poets. This group consisted of: John Clellon Holmes, Allen Ginsberg, Neal Cassady, William S. Burroughs and Herbert Huncke. He left the company of these men to join the United States Navy in 1943, from which he was discharged during WWII, for the psychiatric measure of having an indifferent disposition. This is suspected by many to be the spark that inspired him to write his first work The Town and City, as well as On The Road. Many of Kerouac’s works were often rejected upon first submission to publishers. He was often overlooked, due to his experimental style, and socially conscious views. Not to forget, his excessive tendency towards drinking. This obsession with alcoholism is eventually the cause of his death in 1969, when he dies of internal hemorrhaging due to cirrhosis. Jack Kerouac has a very distinct and original style. Upon first evaluation of his style, his work might be deemed as cliche, or showy self loathing libation; but it must be remembered that, Kerouac was one of the first to adopt his free flowing form of poetry. He is also noted for connecting his poetry to the beat-nick poets. Kerouac is most commonly referred to as the King of the Beats and the Father of the Hippies. This is largely due with the fact that his poetry is most immediately inspired by Jazz music, specifically bebop by Thelonius Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, and Charlie Parker. He compiled this Jazz influence with a love of Buddhist studies, specifically Gary Snyder. The name he dubbed his new found form is Spontaneous Prose. It is often compared to the literary technique known as stream of consciousness, which is often deemed as a literary mirror of a writer’s thought process. While writing, Kerouac took the first thought or line that came to his mind and went with it. This technique is most recognizable in his novels Visions of Cody, Big Sur, Visions of Gerard, On the Road, and The Subterraneans. The core concept this method revolved around is a breathing technique very similar to that of Jazz, or Buddhist meditation. It is most evidently represented by a dash mark in place of a period. The practice of improvising words based on implied or inherently inferred meanings was another aspect of Spontaneous Prose. . The core concept this method revolved around is a breathing technique very similar to that of Jazz, or Buddhist meditation. In his statement on Belief & Technique For Modern Prose, in his top five pieces of advice Kerouac says, 1. Scribble secret notebooks, and wild typewritten pages, for yr own joy 2. Submissive to everything, open, listening 3. Try never get drunk outside yr own house 4. Be in love with yr life 5. Something that you feel will find its own form (Kerouac) This is more the literary technique of an experimental thinker than actual literary scholar, or poet, during this era. Despite this, his style later becomes the format taught to most contemporary writers aspiring to be professional. Kerouac never really edited his poetry. In fact, the majority of his work was edited by fellow Beat Generation pioneer Donald Merriam Allen, who also served as an editor for Ginsberg. Acclaimed photographer Robert Frank made a short film personifying many Beat ideals called Pull My Daisy, in which Kerouac is scene reading his work in the films opening. The film itself is also based a play written by Kerouac. The Beat Generation is an uprising that formed mostly on some of America’s best-known college campuses in the mid to late 50’s. It influenced students in the early 60’s to seek hard hitting answers to some of the complex questions posed to their generation. Addressing ideas like the coexistence of wealth and poverty, along side with racial prejudice resulted in the beat-nicks forming what would be considered the American New Left. An example of this is the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS); which founded at the University of Michigan in 1960, it became one of the key organizations formed in reaction to Beat ideals. The core belief of this student body was that Americans should practice direct democracy as apposed to representative democracy. This stemmed largely from the strict nature of Universities during that time in which students felt they were just numbers in a system dictating their existence. These students were also known for being supporters of the Black Power movement. These groups are also historic for being the most visible resource for developing protests against the Vietnam War. This New Left was the child that the Beat Generation gave birth to, and its influence on American culture can be credited for many of the sociological changes in our society today. Jack Kerouac, along with the rest of the beat-nick poets, can be credited as well. They were the flame that sparked this generational chain reaction. In sum, when I read Kerouac’s work, I can’t help but notice that many ways his style has been adopted by American culture. The ideal of the creative minded young artist bathing in libation and pondering death and social inadequacies is the main image adopted by the majority of Rock n Roll groups today. The majority of these bands probably don’t even know of Jack Kerouac. I’m not saying he was the first poet, or artist, to get drunk and create; but, I do acknowledge the ability of his free will to inspire so many others around him to create the cause to social change. He is pioneer and a leader, because he is fallowed beyond the grave. Work Cited Anderson, James C. â€Å"Robert Frank. † Microsoft Encarta 2006 [CD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation, 2005. â€Å"Jack Kerouac. † Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 30 Jan 2007, 22:03 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 2 Feb 2007 http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jack_Kerouac&oldid=104426491

Li & Fung Core Strategies Essay

Li and Fung’s Core Strengths One of the core strengths of Li and Fung was acquisitions as they saw it as a means to sustain growth momentum. Most of the time they tried to â€Å"fill in the mosaic† by acquiring competitors in areas where they lacked positioning, expertise or talent. They just did not acquired companies they made them integrated with the old ones to make When they acquire companies Li & Fung’s strategy is to integrate incoming staff and streamline operations seamlessly within 100 days. Li & Fung works to a Three Year Plan that addresses strategies across the board and in recent years has set and met the goal of doubling its size with each plan. Li & Fung has achieved its milestones a lot faster, while keeping costs down by investing in new technology and software solutions. The company has set up the infrastructure for web conferencing between all of its offices. The company has improved IT software’s, particularly those relative to infrastructure that will offer improved collaboration, such as VOIP phones, WebEx, SharePoint for internal and customer collaboration, videoconferencing and EDI. This has allowed them to cut costs and increase productivity. Also Li & Fung centralized back-office systems contributed to improve the efficiency of acquisition. Li & Fung’s as a middleman provided a wide array of services that spanned the whole supply chain. In addition, they supplied both hard goods and soft goods from suppliers to different countries and territories. Acted as the middlemen, the company could reduce matching and credit risks. How do these core strengths make Li and Fung an attractive option for its customer? How do Li and Fung make the supply chain more responsive (i.e., fast and flexible? Do you think that other companies can replicate Li & Fung’s business model? Why or why not? Be brief.