Workplace Communication And Challenges †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Workplace Communication And Challenges. Answer: Introduction The process in which the information is exchanged in an organization is termed as workplace communication. It could be both verbal and non-verbal. Sharing information may take place within as well as outside of an organization for commercial benefits to serve (Bull Brown, 2012). An organization consisted of diverse employees from different language group and cultural background has necessity to communicate in a way that both the sender and the receiver are able to understand the meaning of a massage, thus able to fulfill the companys objective. The effective workplace communication ensures this (Ulmer, Sellnow Seeger, 2013). Communication challenges may occur in a workplace when there are some barriers for effective communication (Modaff, Butler DeWine, 2016). In a multinational organization of manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipments, has eight thousand employees in total and operates in various counties of the world is facing number of communication challenges. However, it has both local and international clients. The communication challenges include lack of timely communication, communication breakdown from top management to stuffs and vice-versa, ineffective communication due to local languages and cross-cultural issues, limited development in digital literacy. The purpose of this report is to investigate the above-mentioned challenges faced by this multinational company in the context of workplace communication and develop strategies to overcome such barriers, aiming on the strategies developed by other organizations to face similar challenges and improve workplace communication. This report will be presented to the manager of the company and helpful for developing an effective communication system at all level within the organization. Discussion: communication on time Efficient communication on time from the managers to staffs and clients in a workplace helps to increase the productivity of the organization. It influences directly the behavioral patterns of the staffs and clients and in return, the overall benefits of the organization will be increased (Williams, 2013). Efficient communication does not only include the clear instruction or proper explanation of the massage. Rather, if the massage is not delivered on time, the issue will directly reflect on the cooperative systems of the organization. In fact, it could create mess and inefficient productivity rate. Any organization works well with employees in a structure of mutual relation and cooperation. The information not only should pass through genuinely to all its employees, but it should be sent and received on time. The manager of any organization should take responsibility to deliver it in the hierarchical order and observe weather it has been delivered on time (Robles, 2012). Due to lack of on time communication to all its stuffs and clients in the organization of agricultural equipments manufacturer and distributor, the organization is facing communication challenges. This organization has local and international clients and various offices in different parts of the world. However, the information in this case, should be delivered when exact time has arrived as different parts of the world bears different time zones. For example, it has offices in both India and Australia. India is four hours and thirty minutes behind Australia. However, the information delivery time in this case automatically will be different. The leaders or managers of the organization should consider precise timely communication at all level in the organization. Otherwise, if the employees and clients do not get information, where and when they need it; the decision-making procedure will be slowing down. It will directly affect the productivity of the organization, as projects will n ot be completed on time due to delay of information provided. Successful organizations have challenged this problem by providing clear, honest and timely communication to all its stuffs and clients, keeping in mind the time zones and location (ARVANITIS SAKELLARIOU, 2014). Even, the managers should ensure that if an employee is not present in the place and time of delivery, he is getting the massage later. In this situation, the information should always be available to all their employees and clients through emails (Cummings Worley, 2014). The multinational company in the case study should take strategies like what other successful organization have taken to overcome such problem. It is suggested to connect with all the stuffs and clients by emails all the time and management should strict about timely delivery of information. Communication breakdown from top management to staffs and vice-versa Effective and clear communication with the employees from top management and vice-versa is one of the most important things that engage employees and management to work together for higher production. This is a part of internal workforce communication system in an organization (Lockwood, 2015). The more the rate of internal communication is higher, the more productivity is obtaining (Alexander, 2013). In situation when the information is not received given by top management system to all its employees and top management also not in a position of getting the feedback of the information given by the employees can be described as a horrible situation of communication breakdown in an organization. However, it is the responsibility of the management department to check whether the information is clearly reached with accuracy (Blyton et al., 2017). Any changes in plan or idea taken by the management should be communicated to all its employees and provided with upward communication system w here employees have opportunities to share their thoughts to the management. The good leaders in organizations plan for both ways communication that is effective in nature (Eunson, 2012). High-performing multinational companies like Philips used some strategies to overcome internal communication breakdown. The leaders in the company always use simple languages clearly and avoid ambiguous words. The management should ensure that the massage is understood with the same intention the speaker is indented for. It could be done by asking questions or active listening. Another way to overcome communication breakdown is keeping the organizational structure as simple as possible (Blyton et al., 2017). The optimum level of number of hierarchies in an organization, the less the number of communication breakdown occurs. The managers also should select proper medium of communication. Simple information should be given orally otherwise, memos, notice, emails or other written means of communication could be used. Internal communication from management to employees and vice-versa in top ranking companies helps to both parties to understand its business, its culture and values, progre ss towards the goals and the way in which employees can improve their performances. The multinational company in the case study is facing problems related to internal communication breakdown. It is suggested to the leaders to use simple and clear languages in case of communication and they have to sure about a fact that the meaning of the massage is communicated precisely and timely. Getting feedbacks from clients Feedback is the basic and spontaneous response of the receiver. It informs the sender about how the communication is accepted. Feedback from clients about a product is taken as valuable information as important decisions in the organization could take place based upon feedback. Effective feedback helps the giver, receiver and the organization (Quintanilla Wahl 2015). In this case study, communication challenges occur for receiving feedbacks from clients regarding improvement in product quality and service delivery. The clients are local and international and their feedback plays an important role to ensure improvement. Their valuable outcomes about a product contribute in making the most important decisions and changes within an organization. Due to diversification in clients, it is important to understand the communication languages the clients are delivering (Blyton et al., 2017). Email could be the best method of receiving feedback in this scenario. It is suggested to improve the technological structure and routes of the company for getting feedback at right time. Top-ranking multinational companies impose great importance about clients feedback. They maintain a kind of open communication system where the organization is selling the product and in response, the clients are giving feedbacks about the product. It is the responsibility of the company to provide a clear system of open communication to ensure the clients feedback is received on time (Modaff, Butler DeWine, 2016). The feedback about the product quality and service delivery of an organization plays a crucial role to ensure improvement and progression of that organization. The organization with lack of this facility has chance to lose its important clients and clients will be offensive as they are unable to communicate what they want. Communication barrier due to local languages In an organization, employees come from different language group. Not every employee in the organization can be comfortable about what the other person is saying in native languages (Tenzer, Pudelko Harzing, 2014). Language can be acted as a barrier in effective communication in an organization. In this case, as the organization consisted of almost eight thousand employees in five countries worldwide including India, Nigeria, Oman the language difference exists within the organization. However, as the different countries have different languages it is the responsibility of the management to provide instructions according to the specific languages of a country (Rana, 2013). The top ranking companies use different strategies to overcome language barriers within the organization. It is not even always possible to provide trainings to overcome language barriers to the local employees. It is the responsibility of the manager to determine whether the language differences will be accommodated in a workplace or not rather, it is a common problem in an multicultural organization to have employees of different languages group (Klitmller Lauring, 2013). The company could do number of things for the employees who are not interested to pick up dominant languages in the workplace. The managers could translate all the relevant documents into a language of the employee (Jandt, 2012). The manager could use interpreter when he gives instruction or receives feedback. Even some of the company provides basic language classes to their employees to fulfill their business requirement. Sometimes companies use strategies such as providing crash course to all its employees in the primary language of the workplace. The managers try to use simple words with less syllable and repetition method in the communication in a diversified working culture (Barner-Rasmussen et al., 2014). It is suggested to the company portrayed in the case study to follow any one or two strategies like, translation and interpretation or training method to overcome local language barriers in the workplace. The managers of this company should be sure about the understanding is correct what the employees have after any method of communication. The managers could ask for the demonstration from its employees ensuring the communication occurred effectively. Cross-cultural issues In an organization, employees work from different cultural background and shares different values and believe within the organization. The organization holds them together in spite of diversity in culture. However, this cultural diversity could work as a barrier in effective communication in workplace. The problem occurs in case of massage transmission in a diversified cultural workplace (Moran, Abramson Moran, 2014). When the values and believes of a employee can be coordinated with the similar value system of another there is absolutely no problem. When there is a difference in cultural systems, the meaning and interpretation of the massage could be different as different cultures carry different expectation for behavior (Kawar, 2012). Cultural barriers could be resolved by developing cultural sensitivity in an organization, careful encoding and decoding of massages and building relationships among employees of different culture (Deresky, 2017). Top organization such as MacDonald adapts co-cultural theory to erase the cultural barriers. In this theory, communication involves the different people of diverse group with difference in color, gender, sexual orientation and sexual abilities. Mark P. Orbe developed this theory, which is now followed by different multinational organizations. It seems that with the help of this strategy, different cultural groups are able to communicate with each other effectively and efficiently (Conrad, 2014). In this multinational company, as the cultural barrier exists in different level such as intercultural or external barrier, it is recommended to remove such barriers ensuring all the information is transmitted thoroughly and clearly in all the members and clients of the organization (Patrick Kumar, 2012). The organization has clients from different parts of the world and share different cultural views. However, if the company accepts the co-cultural theory model, accommodating all the culturally diversified members of the organization under a securing umbrella provided by the organization the barriers could be removed. Low accessibility of digital and social media In modern technological world, digital and social media could be used as a tool to facilitate the communication within the workplace (Leonardi, Huysman Steinfield, 2013). Digital media includes email, blogs, quick delivery massage system and social media incorporates different social media sites such as twitter, facebook and even instagram (Bucher, Fieseler Suphan, 2013). Using digital platform helps to send massage as quick as possible but the responsibility of the company does not end in sending the massage. It is also the part of responsibility of the company to ensure whether the data has been received and understood properly (Williams et al., 2012). The organization in the case study is facing challenges regarding low literacy rate in digital media in some countries. The company is also looking for the ways in which social media platform could be incorporated to overcome communication challenges. As the company has different branches in different countries and the digital media literacy rate varies from country to country, it is suggested to train the employees, which are less known about digital media. The training program could help the employees to learn new and modern things as well as it would contribute to the nation. The training program could be based on basic of computer training and internet using (Chaffey Ellis-Chadwick, 2012). The social media is as important part of communication even with an organization (Couldry, 2012). Overcoming the barriers in social media communication, employees knowledgeable of digital media marketing could be engaged. Top-ranking companies use social media plat form to communicate with diverse clients around the world. They have employees who are accustomed in social media marketing (Varnelis, 2012). Conclusion: It can be concluded by analyzing different types of communication barriers in a company that if communication problem occurs at any level within the organization, it will decrease the productivity rate of that organization. In effect to that, the overall business goal and profits will be diminished. It is suggested to improve the communication system in an organization and remove the barriers as soon as possible. In the above-mentioned case study, the multinational organization is facing various types of communication challenges, which include internal, external, local language, cultural and social media communication. The challenges should be removed bench marking the similar challenges faced by other top-ranking companies. It is recommended to follow those examples and way outs of the top-ranking company, which are successful in removing communication challenges. The recommendation also includes the removal of any types of communication challenges in this multinational company. The managers as well as the leaders of this company should be careful and aware about the communication barriers and the ways in which it could be removed. References Alexander, K. (Ed.). (2013).Facilities management: theory and practice. Routledge. Arvanitis, E., Sakellariou, M. (2014). Pedagogy and Curriculum. Barner-Rasmussen, W., Ehrnrooth, M., Koveshnikov, A., Mkel, K. (2014). Cultural and language skills as resources for boundary spanning within the MNC.Journal of International Business Studies,45(7), 886-905. Blyton, P., Hassard, J., Hill, S., Starkey, K. (2017).Time, work and organization. Taylor Francis. Bull, M., Brown, T. (2012). Change communication: the impact on satisfaction with alternative workplace strategies.Facilities,30(3/4), 135-151. Chaffey, D., Ellis-Chadwick, F. (2012). Digital marketing. Pearson Higher Ed. Conrad, D. (2014). Workplace communication problems: Inquiries by employees and applicable solutions. Journal of business studies quarterly, 5(4), 105. Cummings, T. G., Worley, C. G. (2014).Organization development and change. Cengage learning. Deresky, H. (2017).International management: Managing across borders and cultures. Pearson Education India. Eunson, B. (2012). Communication in the Workplace. John Wiley Sons. Jandt, F. E. (2012).An introduction to intercultural communication: Identities in a global community. Sage Publications. Kawar, T. I. (2012). Cross-cultural differences in management.International Journal of Business and Social Science,3(6). Klitmller, A., Lauring, J. (2013). When global virtual teams share knowledge: Media richness, cultural difference and language commonality.Journal of World Business,48(3), 398-406. Leonardi, P. M., Huysman, M., Steinfield, C. (2013). Enterprise social media: Definition, history, and prospects for the study of social technologies in organizations. Journal of Computer?Mediated Communication, 19(1), 1-19. Lockwood, J. (2015). Virtual team management: what is causing communication breakdown?.Language and Intercultural Communication,15(1), 125-140. Modaff, D. P., Butler, J. A., DeWine, S. A. (2016). Organizational communication: Foundations, challenges, and misunderstandings. Pearson. Modaff, D. P., Butler, J. A., DeWine, S. A. (2016).Organizational communication: Foundations, challenges, and misunderstandings. Pearson. Moran, R. T., Abramson, N. R., Moran, S. V. (2014).Managing cultural differences. Routledge. Patrick, H. A., Kumar, V. R. (2012). Managing workplace diversity: Issues and challenges. Sage Open, 2(2), 2158244012444615. Quintanilla, K. M., Wahl, S. T. (2015). Business and professional communication: Keys for workplace excellence. Sage Publications. Rana, R. (2013). Effective Communication in a Diverse Workplace. Robles, M. M. (2012). Executive perceptions of the top 10 soft skills needed in todays workplace. Business Communication Quarterly, 75(4), 453-465. Tenzer, H., Pudelko, M., Harzing, A. W. (2014). The impact of language barriers on trust formation in multinational teams.Journal of International Business Studies,45(5), 508-535. Ulmer, R. R., Sellnow, T. L., Seeger, M. W. (2013).Effective crisis communication: Moving from crisis to opportunity. Sage Publications. Williams, C. (2013). Principles of management. South-Western Cengage Learning.

Pepsi Marketing Mix Essays - Patent Medicines, Pepsi,

Pepsi Marketing Mix Contributing to this industrial revolution among other industries were Manufacturing, Agricultural, Automotive, Chemical, Hotel, Banking Business Services, Real estate, Tourism and information Technology to name a few. But on such industry that has been holding onto its share of the market since its inception note in the USA - its birthplace - but all across the globe as well as the Beverage Industry. It has introduced icons that very few are oblivious to. The industry and its role in the Pakistan economy, the conditions under which it is working and the effects it has on the consumers is to remain the concern of this study. According to Richard D. Brown and George J. Petrol (1986), the history of the Beverages industry start from 1886, when Atlanta chemist "Doe" Pemberton developed a reddish - brown syrup with a smidgen of cocaine (for medicinal purposes) to compete with the many patent medicines and cure - all elixirs of that time. His company recommended it for the relief of hangovers headaches, menstrual pains, and a host of other problem. One warm summer day Pemberton took some syrup down to will is venerable at Jacob's Drug Store in Atlanta. An ounce of the mixture was put into a glass, which was then filled with water and ice, creating the first Coca-Cola. The headquarters of Coca-Cola, now listed by fortune as one of the 50 top corporations in the United States, is still in Atlanta, Georgia. The actual sale and distribution of that magic elixir - which, needless to say, on longer contains cocaine - is handled largely by a number of independent bottlers. These bottlers buy syrup, mix it with carbonated water, and distribute it to retailers in their area. The number of retailers who sell Coke to the public almost exceeds counting. In this way a company with a magic formula but limited capital spread its name around the country and eventually around the globe. The organizational formula for merchandising apparently also had a bit of magic. But, of course, the product was one that people wanted, which is perhaps the first law of success in marketing. Coke had been successful in establishing a strong loyal consumer force, on whom it still relies to this very day. Dong business was no sweat once the industry had set itself for good and the consumer's tasted veered. Everything seemed to go smooth enough until hell finally broke loose. Trouble started creeping into the very foundations of coke who stated loosing a major share of its market. Thanks to Pepsi. With virtually the same history Pepsi started gaining ground and proved to be an excellent example of how razzle-dazzle advertising sharp marketing and an efficient distribution system can turn a loser in to a winner in a remarkably short period of time. Pakistan today has a very competitive beverages market. Opportunities for this industry to establish itself firmly in this country were grim at first because of the country's low per capita income and because of the business' status depending on consumer impetus. But much of it was more or less the same when the business took a start in the USA as well. The Beverage industry has undergone a revolutionary change during the last couple of decades. The form of processing and the machinery used these days has developed and is very sophisticated. Automatic and computerized plants have been installed in the industry thus making it an industry which is dealing in million of gallons of beverages yearly. Pakistan Beverages, the bottlers for Pepsi, and Coke bottlers National Beverages claim that their primary goal is not to undermine the competition but to expand the market as a whole. Market expansion, in fact, seems to be the buzzword these days in the beverage industry. Analysts believe the potential market in Pakistan is though to be enormous because the country's per capita consumption is as low as 14 bottles per year. Compare this with a 120 bottles per year in the Philippines, and the scope for expansion becomes more than obvious. HISTORY OF PEPSI COLA It starts with a small drug store in North Carolina. This little store belonged to young chemist by the name of "DOC" BROADHAM. He invented a drink that the customers called BROAD'S drink. In 1903, Bradham got its drink registered formally by the name of PEPSI COLA. He set his own company and kept its sales improving gradually. By 1909, more then 250 bottlers in different American states had been allowed to sell under the PEPSI COLA license. PEPSI

Attachment Theory

Attachment Theory Introduction This paper reports on the attachment theory and how life experience affects one’s emotional attachment to others. Attachment theory advanced by John Bowlby in the early 1950s, seeks to explain how early life relations affects an individual’s emotional bonding in future Hutchison (89). Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Attachment Theory specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The theory gives an understanding of the different personalities as relates to emotional relationships. The theory was first focused on the relationship between children and their parents, but was later expanded to look at the whole lifespan. The theory looks at ones attachment as being influenced by both psychological conditions and the social environment. The Attachment Theory and Life Experiences According to the proponents of the attachment theory, children develop a bond with their caregivers, which grow into an emotional bond. Further research on the theory indicates that life experiences in childhood direct the course of one’s personality as well as the social and emotional development throughout his or her life. Besides the explanation advanced by the theory regarding the connection between a baby and its mother or a care giver, the theory also seeks to explain the attachment between adults Hutchison (43). Among adults, an emotional attachment is felt more especially during bereavement or separation of spouses. Babies are born without the ability to move or feed themselves. They depend on care givers to for these needs; they however have pre-programmed set of behavior that comes into action due to the environmental stimuli. Environmental stimuli may trigger a sense of fear or distress in the baby making it cry for help from the mother or the care giver. The protection or comfort offered to the baby makes it develop a stronger emotional bond with the mother and others who are closer to it. Children grow to relate comfort from distress to the people who are close to them during their early stages of development. The nature of the environment a child grows in, together with the â€Å"psychological framework builds up a child’s internal working model† Hutchison (52). The internal working model comprises of the development of expectations that an individual perceives in social interactions. The theory explains the effect of challenging parenting such as; neglect or abuse. Parents and caregivers should endeavor to develop an environment that makes children feel secure and comfortable. Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The type of relationship parents establish with their children at their early stages of development determines the type of emotional attachment a child develops with them. A child who grows up in a loving and sensitive environment deve lops secure relationships in with others. Such a child grows to recognize others as being caring, loving and reliable. They also develop high self esteem and learn to deal with negative feelings. Research indicates that people who grow up in secure attachment relationships are able to demonstrate good social aptitude throughout their life. On the contrary, children brought up in unsecure environment develop an avoidant attachment. An unsecure environment to children is often characterized by fear, anxiety and rejection. This type of environment makes a child make children to downplay their emotional feelings. There is a group of children who grow up with care givers that are not consistent in responding to their emotional needs. Their care givers are sometimes sensitive, and sometimes insensitive to their feelings. Such children develop â€Å"an attachment seeking habit as they try to conquer the insensitivity of their caregivers† Hutchison (34). This sort of behavior by c hildren is referred to as ambivalent attachment, where the children seek to compensate for the inconsistent responsiveness by the caregiver. Such a child tries to manage other people’s attention through behavior sets such as; seduction, bullying rage and necessity. Hutchison, Elizabeth. Dimensions of human behavior: The changing life course. 4th Ed. Thousand oaks, CA: Sage publications, 2011. Print

Art Review - A Voluptuary Under the Horrors of Digestion essays

Art Review - A Voluptuary Under the Horrors of Digestion essays Art is subjective; everyone has different opinions on what constitutes a masterpiece. Some may find Van Gogh's "Starry Night" to be the epitome of a great artistic creation, while others may appreciate the innovative style of Picasso's "Guernica." No matter whether a person views art as garbage or as the holy grail, the purpose of art is to force people to become contemplative. Artists can bring out of people that which cannot be easily seen or felt. They can cause the observer to think about other people and their emotions, their environment, and the social issues that have arisen in the world. The most enduring issue of civilization is the unequal balance of power between the wealthy and the impoverished. The painting "A Voluptuary Under the Horrors of Digestion" serves as a satire on the upper class, displaying the contrast between French and British artists, exposing the faults of the nobility, and twisting public perception of the nobility. The greatest obstacle to art was censorship. The catastrophic nature of the French Revolution led to a wide-scale censorship of literature, art, and of the press in France. As another monarchist nation, Great Britain should have feared that the rebel attitude across the water would spread to its people. Despite their proximity to the French Revolution, the British maintained a system of free speech and free press. As a result, artists were free to say whatever they wanted in their works because there were no repercussions to fear. The artist behind "A Voluptuary Under the Horrors of Digestion" was clearly making a statement about the appalling nature of greedy nobles yet because of freedom of the press he is able to openly mock the nobility, showing the confidence of Britain as a nation. Faced with no restrictions to his work, the artist of the painting depicted a noble in an appalling manner. Earlier in history, the noble's portliness would have marked him as fashionable and of high soci...

Battle of Port Hudson - Civil War Battle of Port Hudson

Battle of Port Hudson - Civil War Battle of Port Hudson The Battle of Port Hudson lasted from May 22 to July 9, 1863, during the American Civil War (1861-1865) and saw Union troops final take control of the entirety of the Mississippi River. Having captured New Orleans and Memphis in early 1862, Union forces sought to open the Mississippi River and split the Confederacy in two. In an effort to prevent this from occurring, Confederate troops fortified key locations at Vicksburg, MS and Port Hudson, LA. The capture of Vicksburg was tasked to Major General Ulysses S. Grant. Having already won victories at Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, and Shiloh, he began operations against Vicksburg in late 1862. A New Commander As Grant commenced his campaign against Vicksburg, the capture of Port Hudson was assigned to Major General Nathaniel Banks. The commander of the Department of the Gulf, Banks had taken command at New Orleans in December 1862 when he relieved Major General Benjamin Butler. Advancing in May 1863 in support of Grants effort, his principal command was the large Union XIX Corps. This was comprised of four divisions led by Brigadier General Cuvier Grover, Brigadier General W. H. Emory, Major General C. C. Augur, and Brigadier General Thomas W. Sherman. Port Hudson Prepares The idea for fortifying Port Hudson came from General P.G.T. Beauregard in early 1862. Assessing defenses along the Mississippi, he felt that the towns commanding heights which overlooked a hairpin turn in the river provided the ideal location for batteries. Additionally, the broken terrain outside of Port Hudson, which contained ravines, swamps, and woods, helped make the town extremely defensible. Design of Port Hudsons defenses was overseen by  Captain James Nocquet who served on the staff of Major General John C. Breckinridge. Construction was initially directed by Brigadier General Daniel Ruggles and continued by Brigadier General William Nelson Rector Beall. Work pressed on through the year though delays ensued as Port Hudson had no rail access. On December 27, Major General Franklin Gardner arrived to take command of the garrison. He quickly worked to enhance the fortifications and constructed roads to facilitate troop movement. Gardners efforts first paid dividends in March 1863 when the majority of Rear Admiral David G. Farraguts squadron was prevented from passing Port Hudson. In the fighting, USS Mississippi (10 guns) was lost.   Armies Commanders Union Major General Nathaniel Banks30,000 to 40,000 men Confederate Major General Franklin Gardneraround 7,500 men Initial Moves In approaching Port Hudson, Banks dispatched three divisions west with the goal of descending the Red River and cutting off the garrison from the north. To support this effort, two additional divisions would approach from the south and east. Landing at Bayou Sara on May 21, Augur advanced toward the junction of the Plains Store and Bayou Sara Roads. Encountering Confederate forces under Colonels Frank W. Powers and William R. Miles, Augur and Union cavalry led by Brigadier General Benjamin Grierson engaged. In the resulting Battle of Plains Store, Union troops succeeded in driving the enemy back to Port Hudson. Banks Attacks Landing on May 22, Banks and other elements from his command quickly advanced against Port Hudson and effectively had surrounded the town by that evening. Opposing Banks Army of the Gulf were around 7,500 men led by Major General Franklin Gardner. These were deployed in the extensive set of fortifications that ran for four and half miles around Port Hudson. On the night of May 26, Banks held a council of war to discuss an attack for the following day. Moving forward the next day, Union forces advanced over difficult terrain towards the Confederate lines. Beginning around dawn, Union guns opened on Gardners lines with additional fire coming from US Navy warships in the river. Through the day, Banks men conducted a series of uncoordinated assaults against the Confederate perimeter. These failed and his command sustained heavy losses. The fighting on May 27 saw the first combat for several African-American regiments in Banks army. Among those killed was Captain Andre Cailloux, a freed slave, who was serving with the 1st Louisiana Native Guards. Fighting continued until nightfall when efforts were made to retrieve the wounded. A Second Attempt The Confederate guns briefly opened fire the next morning until Banks raised a flag of truce and asked permission to remove his wounded from the field. This was granted and fighting resumed around 7:00 PM. Convinced that Port Hudson could only be taken by siege, Banks began constructing works around the Confederate lines. Digging through the first two weeks of June, his men slowly pushed their lines closer to the enemy tightening the ring around the city. Emplacing heavy guns, Union forces began a systematic bombardment of Gardners position. Seeking to end the siege, Banks began planning for another assault. On June 13, the Union guns opened with a heavy bombardment which was supported by Farraguts ships in the river. The next day, after Gardner refused a demand to surrender, Banks ordered his men forward. The Union plan called for troops under Grover to attack on the right, while Brigadier General William Dwight assaulted on the left. In both cases, the Union advance was repulsed with heavy losses. Two days later, Banks called for volunteers for a third assault, but was unable to obtain sufficient numbers. The Siege Continues After June 16, fighting around Port Hudson quieted as both sides worked to improve their lines and informal truces occurred between the opposing enlisted men. As time passed, Gardners supply situation became increasingly desperate. Union forces continued to slowly move their lines forward and sharpshooters fired on the unwary. In an effort to break the deadlock, Dwights engineering officer, Captain Joseph Bailey, oversaw the construction of a mine under a hill known as the Citadel. Another was begun on Grovers front extending under Priest Cap. The latter mine was completed on July 7 and it was filled with 1,200 pounds of black powder. With construction of the mines finished, it was Banks intention to detonate them on July 9. With the Confederate lines in a shambles, his men were to make another assault. This proved unnecessary as news reached his headquarters on July 7 that Vicksburg had surrendered three days earlier. With this change in the strategic situation, as well as with his supplies nearly exhausted and no hope of relief, Gardner dispatched a delegation to discuss Port Hudsons surrender the next day. An agreement was reached that afternoon and the garrison formally surrendered on July 9. Aftermath During the Siege of Port Hudson, Banks suffered around 5,000 killed and wounded while Gardners command incurred 7,208 (approx. 6,500 captured). The victory at Port Hudson opened the entire length of the Mississippi River to Union traffic and severed the western states of the Confederacy. With the capture of the Mississippi complete, Grant turned his focus east later that year to deal with the fallout from the defeat at Chickamauga. Arriving at Chattanooga, he succeeded in driving off Confederate forces that November at the Battle of Chattanooga.

25 Idiomatic Phrases That Include Single Initials

25 Idiomatic Phrases That Include Single Initials 25 Idiomatic Phrases That Include Single Initials 25 Idiomatic Phrases That Include Single Initials By Mark Nichol An initial letter, almost invariably capitalized, is often the first element in a two-word noun compound that constitutes an idiom. (Use of a connecting hyphen varies, and various sources may include or omit a hyphen.) Often, the letter stands for a word; occasionally, letters are used to assign priority (A and B, for example) or represent a shape. Here are common terms representing this form. 1. A side: a song released on a 45 rpm record, intended to become a hit single (see also â€Å"B side†) 2. A-bomb: a nuclear explosive device, from â€Å"atomic bomb† 3. A Level: a qualification for secondary school graduation originating in the United Kingdom and existing in other countries; the initial stands for advanced 4. A-game: used in the phrase â€Å"bring (one’s) A-game† to describe an A-player 5. A-player: an athlete- or, by extension, anyone else- who performs at a high level 6. B movie: originally, a low-budget movie that, with a more well-financed, well-publicized film, constitutes a double feature (a presentation of two movies at a movie theater); now, any low-budget commercial film 7. B side: originally, a song released on the flip side of a 45 rpm record opposite an intended hit single; such songs, either ones considered less likely to be popular or alternative versions of the A-side song, sometimes became hit singles in their own right (the term is now used to refer to a bonus track on a recording) 8. B-roll: supplemental film or video footage 9. C-section: a surgical incision to deliver a baby, from â€Å"caesarean section† 10. C-suite: collectively, the positions in a corporation constituting the highest level of management, from the first letter in the initials for â€Å"chief executive officer,† â€Å"chief operations officer,† â€Å"chief finance officer,† and so on 11. e-mail: a message delivered online from a digital device and accessed on another device, from â€Å"electronic mail† (recently supplanted by email in the Associated Press Style Book; formerly, E-mail); similar terms include e-business, e-commerce, and e-newsletter 12. F-hole: A sound hole in the surface of some stringed instruments, named for its shape (a stylized italic f); similar holes are designated C-holes and D-holes 13. f-stop: a value in optics of the ratio of a lens’s focal length to the diameter of the entrance pupil; the letter is an abbreviation of focal (alternative terms include f-ratio) 14. F-word: a euphemism for a specific form of profanity that begins with the letter f; the â€Å"[letter]-word† form is also used to refer to any serious or jocular vocabulary evasion, as in The L Word, the title of a television series about lesbians and bisexual women (similarly, some offensive terms that consist of compound words are disguised by eliding all but the first letter of the first element of the word and inserting a hyphen, as in a-hole) 15. G rated: a designation that represents evaluation of the content of a movie by the Motion Picture Association of America on the basis of its suitability for children; by extension, the phrase refers to family-friendly content or an inoffensive conversation or situation (associated terms are â€Å"R rated,† to refer to violent or sexually charged content and â€Å"X rated,† denoting obscene or sexually explicit content) 16. G-string: a garment, a type of thong, worn as underwear or in striptease, alternatively said to derive from girdle or groin; a similar item is called a V-string 17. H bomb: a nuclear explosive device, from â€Å"hydrogen bomb† 18. J-school: a journalism department or school at a university, from â€Å"journalism school† 19: O Level: a qualification for secondary school graduation originating but no longer widely used in the United Kingdom but extant in other countries; the initial stands for ordinary (the term in Scotland was â€Å"O Grade†) 20. S curve: a term used in engineering and mathematics to represent a function, or a term in fine art for a sinuous body position 21. T-bone: a cut of steak with a cross section of a bone that is shaped like the letter T 22. V-neck: a V-shaped cut in the neckline of a shirt or other garment 23. X-axis: a horizontal line in two-dimensional space, often used in charts and graphs 24. X-ray: a form of electromagnetic radiation 25. Y-axis: a vertical line in two-dimensional space, often used in charts and graphs Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Apply to, Apply for, and Apply withHow to Pronounce MobileJanuary 1 Doesn't Need an "st"

Change Experience Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Change Experience - Essay Example People are always ready to resist change as an effort to retain their well-known methods of operations. Resistance to change was the main challenge of the new information system in the pharmaceutical marketing. People offered both intentional and unintentional resistance to the new operating system in their operations. Intentional resistance involved avoiding using the system intentionally. This meant that people adopted the traditional method to obtain information about a certain product. In such cases, people were fully aware of the benefits of using the new system but they opted to bypass it. In the unintentional resistance, people developed a negative attitude toward the new system. The negative attitude was developed from consideration of the cost and the efficiency of the new system. Although the conventional method of prescription is efficient and fast it lacks accuracy. The new system, on the other hand, enhances accuracy but it is time-consuming and hence inefficient (Rokeac h, 1973). Learning new ideas is always a challenge to many people and, this had an effect on the new system. Although the system is user-friendly, most people working with the system were incompetent and, this contributed to their resistance. Having been trained using the traditional operation system meant that the new system was a challenge to both my career and industrial operation. Throughout our training, we had been taught how to have as much information as possible concerning a certain pharmaceutical product.... Learning new ideas is always a challenge to many people and, this had an effect with the new system. Although the system is user friendly, most people working with the system were incompetent and, this contributed to their resistance. Having been trained using the traditional operation system meant that the new system was a challenge to both my career and industrial operation. Throughout our training, we had been taught how to have as much information as possible concerning a certain pharmaceutical product (Borkowski, 2005). This meant that we had used all our resources, time learning, and memorizing information about pharmaceutical product. When I first encountered the new information system, I felt betrayed. This is because I considered my education system as a waste of time and resources. I considered the new system as nullification of our education and experience in the pharmaceutical industry. I also felt betrayed since any ordinary person could use the new information system to perform a similar task as that performed by a trained pharmacist. Revolutions resulting from adopting technology in various firms and industry are inevitable. This indicates that learning or adopting new technology is the best method of enhancing sustainability in the modern business world (Funigiello, 2005). This awareness challenged me to learn how to use the new information system. Despite the challenges and feelings of betrayal, I had to learn how to use the new information system in order to save my profession. Learning how to use the system involved substituting my ordinary knowledge about prescription with the working of the new system. The second action involved