Book Review of Triangle The Fire That Changed America

Triangle: The Fire That Changed America New York: First Grove Press David Von Drehle 2003 Book Review 1. Did the author make a complete and honest analysis of the topic? This book is about the fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City in March, 1911. The factory claimed the lives of 146 women and men, mostly young women, during the 30 minutes that the fire blazed. It is still the largest industrial disaster that has ever happened in New York City. The author of the book writes more as a novelist than as a historian because he seems to want to draw his audience into the different scenes of the book. He begins by describing a section of sidewalk popularly termed Misery Lane (Drehle, 3). He follows the actions of one young man and his aunt who are looking at coffins trying to determine if any of the young women represented there are among the three relatives that he lost. He is walking with his aunt Rosa who suggests that a young woman is one of the girls, but they later determine that it is not. The story continues like this, giving personal accounts as nearly as the aut hor could, which makes it seem more like a story than an actual historical event. The author starts with Misery Lane, where the bodies were taken, but he quickly moves through the years preceding the fire, and then he talks about the aftermath of the blaze. The author describes the building in which the fire took place and the workers who waited outside on the fateful day to gainShow MoreRelatedBOOK REVIEW ON Emergence of a new nation In a multipolar world: Bangladesh2796 Words   |  12 Pagesï » ¿ BOOK REVIEW ON Emergence of a new nation In a multipolar world: Bangladesh Written by Dr. Mizanur Rahman Shelly Cover Page: The Book at a Glance: Title: Emergence of a new nation in a multipolar world: Bangladesh Edition: 4th Expanded Edition, April’2007. Published by: Academic Press Publishers Library. Cover Design by: Golam Kabir Price: TK 375.00 ISBN:984-08-0147-3 All Pages are offset. Dedication: To his wife and beloved sons. About the Author: Read MoreReview Of The Hauntings Of Williamsburg, Yorktown, And Jamestown Essay2530 Words   |  11 Pagesactivity in fact does exist, or whether it is just a hallucination of the mind. Although, this may be a controversial topic, countless individuals can swear that they have witnessed a spirit with their own eyes, as others couldn’t disagree more. In the book, The Hauntings of Williamsburg, Yorktown, and Jamestown, the author uses personal encounters of witnesses to justify the presence of a spirit in a historical location. The tales the author includes pertains to people from all different classes andRead MorePrinciples of Information Security, 4th Ed. - Michael E. Whitman Chap 0118683 Words   |  75 Pagesyour local college store or at our preferred online store www.cengagebrain.com. Printed in the United States of America 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 14 13 12 11 10 Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s). Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage LearningRead More1000 Word Essay85965 Words   |  344 Pageslimits of the laws of localities, states, and host nations. 2. Create and sustain effective units by eliminating discriminatory behaviors or practices that undermine teamwork, mutual respect, loyalty, and shared sacrifice of the men and women of America s Army. (AR 600-20 June 2006 / 6-1 / PDF 56) What are the three policies each commander is required to publish and post on equal opportunity? Written command policy statements for EO Prevention of Sexual Harassment Equal Opportunity ComplaintRead MoreInternational Management67196 Words   |  269 PagesLuthans University of Nebraska–Lincoln Jonathan P. Doh Villanova University INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT: CULTURE, STRATEGY, AND BEHAVIOR, EIGHTH EDITION Published by McGraw-Hill, a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020. Copyright  © 2012 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Previous editions  © 2009, 2006, and 2003. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a databaseRead MoreMr Zhang42340 Words   |  170 Pagessolutions manual does not try to give exact answers to these questions. Rather, we intend to give some ideas for classroom discussion, and to help with student research on these questions. Fraud questions are now specifically identified with a fraud triangle The introduction of Sarbanes-Oxley issues has been accomplished in two ways. First, case content has been altered to include Lakeside’s consideration of financing expansion through an initial public offering, and the resulting impact such a decisionRead MoreThe Five Dysfunctions of a Team a Leadership Fable46009 Words   |  185 Pages201-748-6008, or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions. Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales representatives or written sales materialsRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesTiffany Ruby Patterson, Zora Neale Hurston and a History of Southern Life Lisa M. Fine, The Story of Reo Joe: Work, Kin, and Community in Autotown, U.S.A. Van Gosse and Richard Moser, eds., The World the Sixties Made: Politics and Culture in Recent America Joanne Meyerowitz, ed., History and September 11th John McMillian and Paul Buhle, eds., The New Left Revisited David M. Scobey, Empire City: The Making and Meaning of the New York City Landscape Gerda Lerner, Fireweed: A Political Autobiography Read MoreAccounting Information System Chapter 1137115 Words   |  549 Pagesvarious external parties. Identify the external parties, and specify the information received from and sent to each of them. The author turns this question into an in-class group activity. Students are divided up in groups, told to close their books, and given 15 minutes to: a. Think through the business processes, key decisions, and information needs issues in their group. b. Identify the external users of information and specify the information received from and sent to each of them. OneRead MoreThe Ballad of the Sad Cafe46714 Words   |  187 Pagesshe was only twenty-three her first novel, The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter, created a literary sensation. She is very special, one of America s superlative writers who conjures up a vision of existence as terrible as it is real, who takes us on shattering voyages into the depths of the spiritual isolation that underlies the human condition. A grotesque human triangle in a primitive Southern town. . . A young boy learning the difficult lessons of manhood. . . A fateful encounter with his native land

Sports-Cultural Comparison Free Essays

string(233) " change is sure to arise from technological advances, introduction of new techniques, strategies, rules, and from the improvement of shot-making ability of individual players who strive for perfection in their chosen game \(Cowan\)\." | | |Sports | |Cultural Comparison | | | |Lisa Bowling Today, as Americans, we are surrounded by an increasing number of very different cultures, and along with that we are surrounded by numerous cultural differences. These differences between our culture and the cultures surrounding us deal with every aspect of life, from clothing to food to music, even our recreational activities, like sports. In our American culture we are flooded by mainstream sports such as basketball, football, and of course baseball, our â€Å"national pastime†. We will write a custom essay sample on Sports-Cultural Comparison or any similar topic only for you Order Now With the huge amount of coverage those main sports receive, Americans are sometimes unaware of what other cultures have to offer. Whether they are being played, watched, read about, or dreamed about, sports are everywhere, as are the cultural differences within them. A brief look at five different sports will reveal just a few of these differences, ranging from variations in rules to sports that are beginning to gain popularity to sports that are almost completely unknown in the United States, as well as show the effects that differences have on our own culture. Korfball First we will introduce you to the sport of Korfball, which was founded in Holland by an Amsterdam teacher, Nico Broekhuijsen in 1903. Nico once attended a physical education workshop in Sweden. He observed a game called ringball with men and women playing together. He liked the coeducational part of the game, so he rewrote the game, refined the rules and changed the ring goal to a basket. This basket is called de korf, which is Dutch, thus the name of the game. He wanted to have all his students be involved in a game, regardless of their gender. It is one of the few sports that involve men and women on the team. As a demonstration sport, it was introduced to the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp, and then again in 1928 in Amsterdam. In 1933, the International Korfball Federation was founded in Belgium, but it asn’t until 1985 that the sport was recognized by the International Olympic Committee and also the World Games. Every four years the International Korfball Federation now holds the Korfball World Championships. Out of all the teams competing for the chance to have the championship, only two teams get to compete. Korfball is gaining popularity by many countries like Canada, Australia, England, Germany, Belgium, and South Africa. The object of the game is to shoot the ball with two hands through a cylindrical shaped basket. It is similar to basketball, yet a little harder considering the basket is twelve feet high, attached to a single wooden post, and located in the middle of the attack zone. This differs from basketball, where the baskets are only ten feet high and are located on each end of the court. The court is about 44 yards by 99 yards that is marked by white tape. As stated before the baskets are approximately twelve feet high and are placed eleven yards from the end line. The ball itself resembles a soccer ball and is a tad bit smaller than a basketball (whether it is for men or women). Its circumference is 27 inches, unlike the basketball that is 30 inches for men and 29 inches for women. Since Korfball is a team sport, individual excellence is critical importance, but is only when it is passed through team work. The team consists of four men and four women. Typically the women would defend the women and the men would defend the men. Korfball players catch, throw and run with the ball. It is considered a non-contact, non-collision sport. Each player has their own zone to cover and may not move from it. Each team has four players in each of the three zones. The ball in play is moved only by hand movements. Unlike basketball, there is no dribbling, no backboards, physical contact is not allowed, slam dunks are prohibited (unlikely though since the basket is much higher), and it is a violation of rules to shoot the ball if you are guarded. Height and size of the player is not important since scoring is when the players are constantly moving, running, and perfectly passing the ball to each other. A game lasts about 90 minutes with the object of scoring de korf. Curling Next we will take a look at the up and coming sport of curling. You may have never heard of curling until its recent emergence in the last two Winter Olympics. It is not one of the most traditional sports and there are no monstrosities of men and women participating. It is a sport known more for its grace, skill, and the ability to think through any situation that may be thrown your way. Curling has just begun to gain popularity here in the States, however it originated long ago in Scotland. The first documented games of curling were in Scotland and Holland. The Scots develop the game and formalized rules by 1807. Scottish emigres eventually brought curling to Canada, New Zealand and the United States later in the 1800s (USA Curling), and along with that came many different variations of the game. Canada and Scotland quickly became the two powerhouses of the sport, with Canada revolutionizing the way the game was played, leaving Scotland stuck in the past. Popularity of the sport rose around the world, as the newcomers from Canada took on Scotland in the Scotch Cup matches in 1959. Controversy quickly arose from the â€Å"new style† of curling Canada was playing, as the vanquished the best Scotland had to offer. The old met the new in the first Scotch Cup series of matches in 1959. Controversy there was aplenty in Scotland, as the Canadians of the new game vanquished the best Scotland had to offer. The International Curling Federation is now in place to provide the sport with firm guidelines and internationally accepted rules of play. The federation does leave room for change and improvement, however, as change is sure to arise from technological advances, introduction of new techniques, strategies, rules, and from the improvement of shot-making ability of individual players who strive for perfection in their chosen game (Cowan). You read "Sports-Cultural Comparison" in category "Papers" Now that you have a slight background on the sport of Curling, we will take a look at curling in the United States. The United States Men’s Curling Association was founded in 1958 and later renamed in United States Curling Association due to gender equality, USCA for short. The sport saw its largest growth in 1998, when curling made its full medal debut at the Nagano Olympics (Karuizawa venue). In the 2002 Olympics held in Salt Lake City, (Ogden venue) curling emerged as a surprise television hit. Later, in 2006 in Torino, U. S. curlers won their first-ever Olympic medal (USA Curling). This sport is obviously on the rise in the American culture and maybe one day will be more widespread in the States. It will probably never be on the same level as basketball, football or baseball. But every sport has to start somewhere. Hockey When it comes to hockey, in order to discuss the cultural differences between the US and other countries, you need not look any further than to our friends up north in Canada. While we as Americans probably view our hockey league as the fourth most important sports league behind baseball, football, and basketball (those being in no particular order), Canadians cherish the sport. It is actually the country’s official winter sport. There is no doubt that hockey has been played in Canada for centuries, still there is no definitive origin of when it was officially established. (Hockey Canada) We do know, however, that â€Å"the first organization actually dealing with the administration and development of the sport was the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada (AHAC), which was organized on the 8th of December, 1886. † (Hockey Canada) In comparison, the National Hockey League (NHL), which is the American hockey league in existence today, did not form until 1917. Even then, the league struggled to field more than a few teams its first couple of decades. In America over the past couple weeks, hockey has been gaining more coverage because of the Olympics, and the United States’ team’s success. The gold medal game against Canada was the most watched hockey game in history in our country, beating out our own league’s championship series. This statistic still pales in comparison to the fact that the preliminary round game against the US was one of the most viewed sporting events on in Canada’s history. Even better, the gold medal game drew an even bigger audience and, in fact, became the most watched sporting event ever in the country. â€Å"Nearly half the Canadian population watched the entire game on average, while 80 percent of Canadians watched some part of the game (26. 5 million). † (Vancouver Sun) As you can see, there is a huge difference in the way the sport is viewed in our two cultures. Lacrosse Another sport that is just beginning to gain more popularity in our country, and culture, is the sport of lacrosse. Again, we don’t have to look far to find where this sport is a large part of a culture. While hockey is Canada’s official winter sport, lacrosse is the country’s official summer sport. Much like the history of hockey, the date in which the sport was invented is not certain, but it is thought to date back to the 12th century. Lacrosse, which was originally played between Native Americans in the US and Canada, flourished in the 19th century in Canada as, â€Å"the National Lacrosse Association became the first national sport governing body in North America. † (Canadian Lacrosse Association) The sport is played both indoors and out, with leagues consisting of both types existing in Canada as well as the US. The National Lacrosse League (NLL) was started in 1987 and is played indoors, while Major League Lacrosse (MLL) was founded in 1999 and is the outdoor version. Although these leagues have both been in existence for at least a decade, the NLL consists of only 11 teams, while MLL is made up of a meager six teams. While the number of teams in the professional ranks, and the leagues in general, are often overshadowed by the major sports in our country, the sport is the fastest growing sport in our country. â€Å"National lacrosse participation increased 8. percent in 2009, according to research by US Lacrosse for its annual participation report. There were 568,021 lacrosse players that were members of organized teams across the country in 2009, from the youth level all the way on up through the professional ranks. † (US Lacrosse) It is estimated that participation in lacrosse in the US will double in the next ten years, and as it continues to grow in will continue to become a grea ter part of our culture. Football Somewhere in America a man, who is referred to as the quarterback, is standing on a field of fake grass made of astro-turf. He is covered almost head-to-toe in enough protective padding that could possibly protect him from a car running into him. He is hurling a cow hide covered prolate spheroid through the air. He is hoping that his teammate will catch this ball without being tackled by someone from the opposing team. His goal is to run with this ball to the opposite end of the field into the opposing team’s end zone to score points. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins. This sport is known as football. The history of American football goes back to the first half of the 19th century and its origins can be traced back to the game of rugby, which is primarily played in the UK. Walter Camp took the game of rugby and converted many of its rules into the American football we know today. Walter Camp is hailed as the â€Å"Father of American Football†. Football can be played at the high school, college, and professional level, and all levels are governed by nationally accredited associations. The Ohio League was the first professional league formed in 1903, and then in 1920 the American Professional Football Association was formed. The first game was played in Dayton, Ohio. Many places around the world also share in playing the sport of football. They include, but are not limited to; Japan, the UK, Germany, England, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico. While these countries participate in playing the game, there are many variations in how they play the game. Australia, England, and New Zealand for example play the game of rugby. The ball is slightly larger and heavier than its American counterpart, and requires virtually no physical protective equipment. Consequently, Rugby has been called the toughest and most demanding sport in the world. Canada, the UK, Germany and Japan have very similar football leagues compared to the US, with their rules only varying slightly. Football is one of America’s most played sports and greatest pastimes. It is as much a part of our culture as peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. College football in the state of Ohio however has its own culture, and it is huge! ESPN recently ranked Ohio State football #3 in all of the college football programs dating back to 1936. You can walk in almost any grocery store or department store and find Ohio State football accessories. Buckeye necklaces, jerseys, hats and coats are just some of the long list of items you can purchase and wear to support your team. If its game weekend, most work places not only allow but encourage you to wear something to support the team. There is even enough stuff out there to decorate the inside of your entire house. We even have our own candy! The delicious Buckeyes are the official sweet treat at any football party. Every weekend of the football playing season you can find men, women and children of all ages dressed up in their scarlet and grey huddled in front of their televisions cheering for their team. There is nothing that can bring together or separate the tightest of friends and family than an Ohio State game. The line of loyalty to their favorite team runs deep, especially when it comes to the all-so-famous Ohio State-Michigan game. If you are brave enough to declare your loyalty to Michigan, you better get ready for some opposition from someone with scarlet and grey. Ohio State also has the best damn band in the land and Brutus the mascot to add to its long list of signature cultural items. The pay scale for football players even surpasses the salary of the President of the United States. Sources â€Å"2009 Participation Survey. † US Lacrosse. 01 Jan 2010. US Lacrosse, Web. 4 Mar 2010. . A Short History of Lacrosse in Canada. Canadian Lacrosse Association, 13 Jan. 2010. Web. 4 Mar. 2010. . Canada-U. S. Olympic Hockey Final Gold for TV Ratings. Vancouver Sun, 1 Mar. 2010. Web. 4 Mar. 2010. . History of Hockey Canada. Hockey Canada, 2010. Web. 3 Mar. 2010. . International Korfball Federation. International Korfball Federation, 1 Jan. 2010. Web. 2 Mar. 2010. . Korfball. Wikipedia, 26 Feb. 2010. Web. 2 Mar. 2010. . How to cite Sports-Cultural Comparison, Papers

Last

Last-chance dance Essay Teetering on the edge of the world, the dancers twirl, swirl, shimmy and shake. They tango, fox-trot and two-step while the hours mount into the hundreds. Blisters explode, feet bleed and the band forever plays on. The roaring audience places its bets on which dancers will drop first. Marathon dancing was the sadistic spectator sport of the Depression-wracked 1930s. Those awful thrills are now being recreated for Denver audiences in They Shoot Horses, Dont They?, a new musical written by Nagle Jackson and Robert Sprayberry. With a cast of 27 led by Jeff McCarthy as the grifter who runs the frenetic freak-show, Kathy Morath as the doomed wannabe movie star Gloria, and Thomas Nahrwold as her hapless partner, They Shoot Horses runs through June 28 as the centerpiece of Denver Center Theatre Companys 1992 U.S. West TheatreFest. While a mirror ball shards the light in the sleazy Surfside Ballroom, and as the wearying couples droop and sway in their desperate battle against the clock, the song Weve Got to Keep Dancing underscores the theme of the musical. Former McCarter Theatre artistic director Nagle Jackson, who wrote the book and lyrics based on Horace McCoys out-of-print novel, sees the song as a metaphor for the Depression generation and possibly our own troubled times. Its about going through the motions in order to stay alive, Jackson explains. Those who keep dancing will make it. They Shoot Horses is set in 1934, during the last gap of marathon dancing, says Jackson, noting that by that time, marathons had been outlawed in many Eastern states. But not in California, where the playwrights dazed contestants pound the floor in a hall poised upon an amusement-park pier over the Pacific. All the people are from somewhere else, Jackson observes. Theyve all gone out West. Gone as far as they can go. They have no choice left theyre either going to make it, or theyre going to drop off the end of the world. In addition to Gloria, Paul and Rocky, who were played by Jane Fonda, Michael Sarrazin and Gig Young in the famous 1969 film (which Jackson says he never saw), other character also emerge from the swirling crowd. Theres aloof Alison Cartwright, a bankrupt debutante; there are two hayseed Tennessee kids, James and Ruby, who try to conceal her growing pregnancy; vicious Rollo, the roller-skating enforcer of contest rules; and Big Stan and Big Bertha, the killer champs of the last Chicago marathon. All victims of economic devastation, they allow themselves to be victimized further by desperately dancing for the dollars promised to the last couple left on their feet. Suffering to sweet melodies People flocked to see those marathons, notes Jackson. It made them feel better to see others suffer. Shrinking away from the cheering, leering throng of spectators around them, one of the dancers remarks, Its sort of like ancient Rome. Or, Like Southern California, wise-cracks Gloria. Wry remarks and Robert Sprayberrys 1930s-sounding tunes brighten up the dark story. The Main in the Moon shimmers with romance; Just Keep Your Motor Running is a vaudeville-like bouncer; and Sunday Morning, an intricate integration of text and song, eventually erupts into a full-out revival rouser. Throughout, other nameless but sweet melodies propel the couples around the floor. Jackson estimates that the show is about 40 percent music and 60 percent text, but so much of the dialogue is underscored by music that the ratio seems closer to 80/20, Director Alan Bailey says that his greatest challenge has been to keep the multi-peopled story focused on Gloria and Paul. Every element has to help tell their story, he asserts. Simple blocking has been complicated by the fact that the dancing couples are, of course, clutched in each others arms. And Bailey has had to weave gritty realism with dance-maddened elements of fantasy, as when movie-loving Paul drifts into a hallucinatory number, Im in Love with Louise Brooks. .uae68dafccd04b425afbae37669f4f9ed , .uae68dafccd04b425afbae37669f4f9ed .postImageUrl , .uae68dafccd04b425afbae37669f4f9ed .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uae68dafccd04b425afbae37669f4f9ed , .uae68dafccd04b425afbae37669f4f9ed:hover , .uae68dafccd04b425afbae37669f4f9ed:visited , .uae68dafccd04b425afbae37669f4f9ed:active { border:0!important; } .uae68dafccd04b425afbae37669f4f9ed .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uae68dafccd04b425afbae37669f4f9ed { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uae68dafccd04b425afbae37669f4f9ed:active , .uae68dafccd04b425afbae37669f4f9ed:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uae68dafccd04b425afbae37669f4f9ed .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uae68dafccd04b425afbae37669f4f9ed .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uae68dafccd04b425afbae37669f4f9ed .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uae68dafccd04b425afbae37669f4f9ed .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uae68dafccd04b425afbae37669f4f9ed:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uae68dafccd04b425afbae37669f4f9ed .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uae68dafccd04b425afbae37669f4f9ed .uae68dafccd04b425afbae37669f4f9ed-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uae68dafccd04b425afbae37669f4f9ed:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Ian McKellen: poised between exhibitionism and greatness EssayThe creators have had a year to solve these problems since he shows staged reading at Denver Center last June. With funding from U.S. West Airlines, the musical and seven other scripts were rehearsed and then read before the public and an invited group six critics; along with Denver Center artistic director Donovan Marley, the critics later met with the authors, directors and dramaturgs to discuss the works-in-progress informally. Also up and running Now They Shoot Horses and two of those plays are enjoying complete productions. We are not developing new works in a vacuum, asserts Denver Center dramaturg Tom Szentgyorgyi. We commit to the most promising ones right through to production. Up and running alongside the musical right now are Evil Little Thoughts, Mark D. Kaufmanns smart comedy about a Trump-ish tycoon, and Uncertainty, Garrison Essts wild Stoppard-like mating of bedroom farce and higher physics. (A fourth play, Elizabeth Egloffs Wolf-Man, was developed independently). From June 2-5, while the main stage shows are still playing, eight more new works will premiere in staged readings, including specially commissioned projects from Darrah Cloud (The Sirens, about domestic violence), and Jeffrey Hatcher (a reworking of Noel Cowards 1961 shipboard musical, Sail Away). Authors invited to Denver for first hearings of their new plays are Anthony Clarvoe, Eugene Lion, Phil Bosakowski, Lydia Stryk, Heather McCutchen and Silas Jones. Their scripts have been culled for development from over a thousand submissions. For this years reading series, however, Denver Center is making do without outside dramaturgs and guest critics. The money which would have paid for that has been used, instead, to fund the two commissioned plays, and to provide longer residencies for the six other selected playwrights. I scraped money from everywhere I could, says Szentgyorgyi, curiously echoing the theme of this years headline musical. In these tough times, theatres everywhere like the characters in They Shoot Horses are dancing as fast as they can.

The Edmund Fitzgerald Essay Research Paper One free essay sample

The Edmund Fitzgerald Essay, Research Paper One of the greatest ships to sail the Great Lakes was the Edmund Fitzgerald. The Edmund Fitzgerald had sailed for many old ages until it sank in 1975. The Edmund Fitzgerald was built in 1958 ; it was 729 pess long and weighed 13,632 dozenss ( Stonehouse 13 ) . This was the largest ship to sail the Great Lakes until 1971 ( Stonehouse 13 ) . The Edmund Fitzgerald had a sister ship called the Arthur B. Homer, which was the 2nd biggest ship on the great lakes ( Stonehouse 13 ) . The Edmund Fitzgerald had a 7,000 HP steam turbine engine that could force the ship at around 16 stat mis an hr ( Stonehouse 13 ) . Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company of Milwaukee owned the ship. Aboard the ship there were 29 crew members, the captain, 3 licensed deck officers, a main applied scientist, 4 licensed technology officers, and 20 unaccredited forces ( U.S. Marine Reports ) . The ships captain was Ernest Mcsorley who was a maestro of the Great Lakes and had 44 old ages sailing them ( Stonehouse 25 ) . We will write a custom essay sample on The Edmund Fitzgerald Essay Research Paper One or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The ship had sailed the great lakes for many old ages until that twenty-four hours in 1975 when it was neer seen once more. The Edmund Fitzgerald had left a port in Superior, Wis. At around 2:15 autopsy on November 09, 1975 ( Stonehouse 24 ) . The ship was to the full fueled and loaded for its trip to Detroit Michigan. The boat had traveled approximately two hours across lake higher-up when it became in sight of another boat, the Arthur M. Anderson. Around 7:00 Pm the Edmund Fitzgerald started to come across bad conditions conditions and had to alter its class. The Fitzgerald and the Anderson both changed class and started heading to the lakes more northern Waterss, which was called the autumn north path ( Stonehouse 25 ) . The two ships had traveled along the same class for many hours and the storm was still really strong. The two ships were combating moving ridges of 10-12 pess, air currents of up to fifty knots, and even snow ( Stonehouse 26 ) . The Anderson was about 16 stat mis off from the Fitzgerald when the watcher lost sight of it due to heavy snow ( Stonehouse 27 ) . That was the last clip anyone had of all time seen the Edmund Fitzgerald afloat. The two ships had traveled along, now merely with radio detection and ranging and wireless contact. The storm started to decline. Now with air currents at 43 knots and moving ridges of 12 to 16 pess, the ship was taking on H2O ( Stonehouse 27 ) . The Fitzgerald had radioed to the Anderson that they had a rail down and some blowholes were damaged ( Stonehouse 27 ) . Minutess after the wireless contact between the Anderson and the Fitzgerald, the Anderson had received an exigency broadcast from the seashore guard saying T hat all ships were to happen safe anchorage ( Stonehouse 28 ) . At this clip the Soo locks and the Mackinaw Bridge were closed down due to air currents of up to 96 stat mis per hr ( Stonehouse 28 ) . The Fitzgerald had lost both of its radio detection and rangings and had to keep wireless contact with the Anderson ( Stonehouse 28 ) . During this contact the first mate of the Anderson asked the Fitzgerald: Buckeye state by the manner, how are you doing out with your job? the answer from the Fitzgerald was We are keeping our ain ( Stonehouse 29 ) . Those words were the last words of all time heard from the Fitzgerald, which shortly disappeared off radio detection and ranging ( Stonehouse 30 ) . At 9:25 autopsy the call was made from the seashore guard to get down a hunt for the losing Fitzgerald ( Stonehouse 32 ) . The hunt for the Fitzgerald went on for 5 yearss. They had many ships and aircraft from all around the part including Canada. On the 2nd twenty-four hours of the hunt they had found two of the lifeboats from the Fitzgerald really nigh to the Anderson, which was off from Coppermine Point ( Stonehouse 43 ) . On the 5th twenty-four hours they eventually discovered a hint of the whereabouts of the losing ship. The find was made by a Navy aircraft, which was equipped with a magnetic sensing device ( Stonehouse 42 ) . The first frogman hunt was conducted from November 14 through the 16, but there was no fortune on positively placing the wreckage ( Stonehouse 43 ) . A 2nd effort to place the wreckage was conducted from November 22 through the 25, and successfully identified it as the Edmund Fitzgerald ( Stonehouse 43 ) . The Edmund Fitzgerald is located 17 stat mis north-west of Whitefish point and is in approximately 530 pess of H2O ( Stonehouse 44 ) . The ship lies in two pieces, a bow subdivision and a austere subdivision ( Stonehouse 44 ) . Out of the 29 riders aboard there are no known subsisters to this twenty-four hours. The cause of the sinking of the ship is still ill-defined, but they believe it is from monolithic implosion therapy of the tunnel, ballast armored combat vehicle, and chiefly the lading clasp due to the prostration of hatch screens ( U.S. Marine Reports ) . At the clip of the ships droping moving ridges were recorded of up to 25 pess which exceeded the ships zero freeboard which means the hatch covers can non manage the force per unit area of the H2O ( U.S. Marine Reports ) . It was besides believed that there might hold even been a foundation ( U.S. Marine Reports ) . The sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald has been an of import portion of Michigan s history. There is a vocal written by Gordon Lightfoot about the sinking of the ship, Which is called the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. There is besides a drama written by Shelley Russell named Holdin our ain: the Wreck of Edmund Fitzgerald.

The Theme of Alienation in Mar essays

The Theme of Alienation in Mar essays Mary Shelleys Frankenstein develops the theme of alienation and isolation and its consequent increase of hostility through various characters throughout the novel. The theme may have originated from various elements, including Mary Shelleys father, William Godwin, who felt that the isolated individual would become vicious. This idea was shared by Shelley and manifested in the characters, Victor Frankenstein and his monster (What is, 7). These creatures were not born hostile, however, driven to their hostile actions to force the acknowledgement of their existence (Thematic Analysis, 1). There were various elements that attributed to the creation of the theme in Shelleys Frankenstein. Throughout the story, Shelley emphasizes the Faust legend that one must conquer the unknown at the cost of ones humanity. This legend was used in the society of English Romantic Poets, who believed that with alienation and solitude they could produce their greatest poetry (Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, 188). This is conveyed in Frankenstein with his self-imposed secret experiment and isolation, which produces his obsessive drive to devise the creature. (Literary Sources, 4). This isolation only leads to desperation (Frankenstein by Mary, 188). John Miltons ideas in Paradise Lost are also conveyed in the theme of Shelleys Frankenstein. In the book, Frankenstein refers to the monster in terms used in this novel; the fiend, the demon, the devil, and adversary. Both master and creature are torn by their internal conflicts from misapplied knowledge and their sense of isolation (Lite rary Sources, 5). The final thematic element is her life experiences. Through her fathers belief that isolation would make an individual vicious, her own idea for the theme of Frankenstein arose. Shelley, however, added to her fathers proposition that the viciousness is a product of parental neglect (What is, 2). Franke...

Truck Driver Training Take No Shortcuts!

Truck Driver Training Take No Shortcuts! The greatest threat to the trucking industry today isn’t automation or poorly maintained roads- it’s the devaluing of quality driver training by trucking companies. Smart-Tucking.com highlights this disturbing trend, and what can be done to reverse it. It’s a sad truth- some trucking companies would rather spend their money on the latest technological bells and whistles to avoid expensive accidents than invest in qualified, well-trained drivers. Sure, crash warning alert systems, anti-rollover systems, and speed limiting and monitoring technologies are great steps toward an accident-free highway, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of forgetting the fundamentals- great drivers.Truckers are more than just â€Å"warm bodies† behind the wheel- they are skilled professionals that are tasked with making key decisions on the road, ensuring that precious cargo arrives on time and in tact. Many smaller companies are more apt to recognize the value of drive r training, which might be why their accident rates are often far lower than the big companies!Bottom line: Poorly trained drivers are a bad investment. Sure, it may be a quick way for companies to divert their cash into other areas, but anything that puts the safety of truckers- and their fellow drivers on the road- at risk is a bad idea. Proper training will help save lives and make the roads safer for everyone. What’s more important and valuable than that?

BHS 400 STRESS MANAGEMENT (Module 5 SLP) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

BHS 400 STRESS MANAGEMENT (Module 5 SLP) - Essay Example Good psychological adjustment to the situation and realization of inner capabilities would help to develop stress resistance. The diverse approaches of effective coping and stress management can be broadly classified into three Categories: Cognitive (Thought) Or Re-Framing Strategies and Emotion-Based Strategies (Feeling) are palliative tactics which are conceptualized to control emotional disturbances and distress. Action-Based Strategies falls under the Instrumental or problem focused approaches. Action-Based Strategies are directed towards changing stressed environment or adapt oneself to the situation to avoid the stress effectively (Koslowsky, Kluger, & Reich, 1995, p. 129, 130). The person starts blaming himself/herself for the negative consequence. The illogical thinking includes catastrophizing (exaggeration of harmful effect), personalizing (holding responsible for negative outcome), all-or-nothing thinking (feeling of losing always), overgeneralizing (fixing oneself to unpleasant endless pattern), and mental filtering (ignoring good part). (Tuller, Jan 22, 2002). Cognitive strategy is basically dealing with alteration of a thought process. Person is made to rethink the perception about the situation that made him upset. Basic assumptions about certain event is strategically changed or reframed to reduce negative outcome of the event. This might involve restructuring of words to change their meanings about worrisome event. The bothersome unnecessary thoughts are displaced by good and pleasing thoughts. This optimistic interpretation would help to sound and feel more pleasant about the same situation. The stressed individual should edit the situation by d eleting the undesirable aspects in mental process, and make the condition more favorable (Pargman, 2006, p. 145). Reducing of thought errors is a difficult,

Economics history Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Economics history - Assignment Example She explains this revolution to be a ‘quit revolution’ which she asserts as a slow and gradual process which didn’t jump by the steps but gradually changed the norms of market economy as well as the social norms and concerns about position of women in economy. As she describes, this change has not been only a part of economical circle instead it has changed the social norms too. However, she mainly focuses on the requirement of elastic labour and availability of various positions that women can easily fulfil. Also, she goes back in history to explore the roots of this revolution in three evolutionary phases which she relates and manifests as the backdraft of revolutionary change. Although, the overall process seems more like a reform, Goldin asserts the final uplifts and change in women employment, education and family as revolutionary. There are number of reasons she sees behind this revolution but mainly the difference of treatment and returns in labour market. The overall change of patterns she sees in the three evolutionary phases which brought women in a position from where increased participation in labour market came to appear as obvious. The deepest root for revolution she find in first quarter of twentieth century where woman played important roles in some limited jobs and tasks. Although, those women were poorly educated and had a very low relative income, yet they became a part of labour market generating considerable returns. Also this phase consisted most number of single woman participating in labour market. Social stigma regarding married woman also paid much to limiting the number of married women in labour market. Goldin explains this period to be the first evolutionary phase: Substantial social stigma regarding the work of wives outside the home existed due in large measure to the nature of the work. Jobs were often dirty, dangerous, repetitive, and long in hours per day and days per week (Goldin). Such situation diminished in

Food, Nutrition and Some Controversies About Mcdonalds Essay Example for Free

Food, Nutrition and Some Controversies About Mcdonalds Essay As you know Mc Donald’s is a chain of fast food restaurants. In Mc Donald’s you could find a variety of food for every part of the day. At the morning you will find some breakfast based on eggs, savory sausage and hot cakes. You could also drink some coffee a latte, a cappuccino or maybe a caramel frappe. If you go for lunch you will find the principal menu based on a sandwich and French fries. There are a lot of types of sandwiches: the chicken one, a sandwich made with fish, the variety of hamburgers and also the nuggets. If you want something sweet there are some desserts and many types of ice creams like Mc flurry, sundae or the basic one. In these time most of people want to be fit so they want to eat healthy food and this restaurant offered a menu for these public this menu is based on salad with chicken or a fruit salad. There are a lot of problems related with fast food because of the saturated fat and the low-nutrient that contributes to the body. That’s why fast food is also known as junk food. To reduce these problems Mc Donald’s use now the Canola oil to fry the hamburgers and the French fries. These problems are also why many people prefer to eat the vegetable or fruit salad. In 2004 Morgan Spurlock, an American producer and filmmaker, directed Super Size Me, a movie about a man who ate only McDonald’s during a whole month. After watching this film people start thinking about how unhealthy fast food is.

Use of Symbolism in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Essay -- Samuel Ta

Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s use of symbolism in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner lends the work to adults as a complex web of representation, rather than a simple story about a sailor. The author uses the story of a sailor and his adventures to reveal aspects of life. This tale follows the Mariner and his crew as they travel between the equator and the South Pole, and then back to England. Without the symbols, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner would be simply a poem about an old mariner who is telling a story about killing a bird to a guest at a wedding. Of course, anyone who reads the poem can see that there is more to it than just a simple telling of a story. The first symbol in the poem is the wedding that the guest and the Mariner are at. This is a highly significant detail, because Coleridge could have made the story telling take place at any setting, but he chose a wedding. The reason for this was because a wedding is a very religious and very happy occasion. Weddings symbolize new beginnings and happiness. The reason that Coleridge decided to have this horrid tale told at a wedding could be for any number of reasons. I feel that the setting was chosen because of the new beginnings implied. As the Mariner tells his tale, the guest is held captive and when the story is done, the guest becomes essentially a new man and goes off to live the rest of his life. Had the tale taken place at a funeral, the heavy feeling of ending would have destroyed the symbolism of new beginnings. It could have been an ending for life, for happiness, and for everything else. If this had happened, then the fact that he rose the next day would not have been as significant. Therefore, the wedding is a very important symbol for this poem. Another significant symbol throughout the poem is the albatross. It first appears in the first section and it is a symbol of good omen for the sailors. The albatross is a white bird, which is probably the reason why many Christians of the time saw it as a holy symbol. Because it was a white bird, which was a sign of righteousness, it therefore was considered a good omen. In this poem, the albatross symbolizes good fortune. When the Mariner kills the albatross, for absolutely no reason, the good fortune that has come upon the ship leaves. Symbolically, the Mariner did not kill a simple seabird, but instead an omen of good fortune, which is why... ...riner took a gamble with his religion, and now the pair is taking a gamble for his life. Life-In-Death ultimately wins over Death in the game, and the Mariner’s shipmates die at his feet, yet he lives on. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is a highly significant poem of a complex web of representation that is very dependent on symbolism. The symbols of the wedding, the albatross, the blood that the Mariner sucks in order to announce the ship and the game between Death and Life-In-Death are only a few of the symbols that add meaning and depth to the poem. If it were not for the symbols, the poem would simply be the story of a Mariner telling his tale to a wedding guest, and then the poem would have no meaning to anyone. When reading this poem, the reader can feel much like the wedding guest, entranced and hypnotized by the storyteller. This is because of the symbolism exhibited through the poem. Even if the reader of the poem does not fully understand the symbols in the verse, the intuitive mind will catch them and understand the detailed meaning. The symbols themselves in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner are therefore the part of the poem that makes it so intense and interesting.

Learning Programs in the American Express Learning Network

Background American Express is very large, world-wide company, which originally started as freight forwarding and delivery services. Now with the main focus being on financial services they want to train their employees with the knowledge to be efficient, knowledgeable, with good listening and speaking skills. Jeanette Harrison, a vice president at American Express, feels that compliance and control should be very important for customer care. Today American Express is the largest card issuer by purchase volume. Issued AddressedAmerican Express developed American Express Learning Network (AELN), whose main purpose is to address the performance capabilities of their employees. With a mission statement of â€Å"ready all those who serve† the company AmEx’s main goal is to teach with their employees effective jobs skills with the best possible learning method. There were three learning techniques the company tried. The first being a completely online based, the second being classroom, & the third a â€Å"blended† technique which was a combination of the first two.Janette’s personal learning theory and goal-setting theory is â€Å"learning literally changes lives†. She feels that education is the key to success and that if would help not only in work place but at home and in the community. Analysis of Issues Everyone has there on learning styles. So, it is no surprise that technique number three, â€Å"blended† learning, worked the best overall. It gave the most diverse style of learning. There was not one main style. The classroom style was incorporated with the encouragement of question asking and brainstorming and also online tools were also used to help teach as well.With all the different types of learning utilized the employees will get to see the information in many different ways and would most likely have a higher attention rate. The three styles were evaluated at six different levels to see which was most effective . The first level testing reaction from the learner, the second was the retention of the knowledge, the third was the behavior towards improved learning skills, the fourth was how it impacted the company, the fifth was the cost effectiveness of the learning style, and the sixth the application of the information into the actual job.Conclusions The â€Å"blended learning† I feel is the best method. And it holds strong to Jeanettes learning and goal-setting theories. When the results came in on the three techniques the third scored or rated the best hands down. The company feels it has the upper hand in the leadership development program. The blue box values set by the company are a true testament to what the company wanted to achieve with the AELN program: customer commitment, quality, integrity, teamwork, respect for people, good citizenship, a will to win, and personal accountability.The three operating principals also hold strong to the values Jeanette believes in and wante d to achieve with the American Express Learning Network program. One the principals being to offer superior propositions to all of their customers, another being to operate with best in class economics, and last to be support American Express brand. References http://about. americanexpress. com/oc/whoweare/

A Review of Tom Piazza’s City of Refuge Essay

It was mid-August on a hot summer day hurricane Katrina damaged a city, New Orleans, possibly for a lifetime. The novel: City of Refuge by Tom Piazza gives readers an omniscient point of view of two families lives during this tragic event. The Williams family from the Lower 9th Ward and the Donaldsons originally from the upper Midwest who had made their way to New Orleans share the same traumatic experience; in different ways of the levees breaking from hurricane Katrina changed both of their lives forever. On Friday morning Craig Donaldson saw on the news that Hurricane Katrina had moved into the Gulf, heading in their direction. Craig and Alice, his wife contemplated leaving the following day or the day after for Oxford, Mississippi. Saturday morning started out rocky. Malcolm, their son, woke up with a burning fever. With all of this going on Craig prepared for their evacuation by getting the house in order before Katrina hit on Sunday. Around mid-day they decided to get on the road; unfortunately, the highway was backed up. Craig then decided to take a different route on a two-lane highway; traffic flowed at first but that too got backed up. Due to the extensive amount of traffic and the effects of the storm, they stopped at a hotel. They had wanted to stay with Alice’s parents but there were too many complications of not having enough room space, so her mom says. They waited at the hotel until the weather was clear enough for them to continue driving. Alice’s mother insisted she call her Aunt Jean and Uncle Gus who lived in Chicago. After Alice made the phone call, they decided to make their journey back to the Midwest. When they arrived in Chicago her family presented them with great hospitality and said they could stay as long as they needed. Alice decided to enroll Annie their daughter into school. During this time Alice was still taking care of Malcolm and helping her aunt and uncle around the house. The hurricane took a toll on Craig. One particular day while at his favorite cafe shop called Blue Horizon he noticed everyone appeared to be in a â€Å"happy-go-lucky-mood,† and this began to irritate him. He became upset because everyone took their lives for granted; no one was experiencing what he was going through. Craig became depressed and easily irritated. There would be times where he would take a deep breath and tears would run down his face and he would not know why. He recognized these symptoms and labeled himself as having Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. He started to accept that his home in New Orleans would never be the same. Alice comforted him during this time, even though she was going through the same experience. After time went on, things started turning from bad to good. Craig received a phone call from his old college friend, Peter. Peter suggested that Craig write a column for the â€Å"CHI EYE†. They felt this would be a good way for Craig to vent and write about his evacuation experience as well as his experiences in Chicago. Peter told Craig he would receive $1000 a week for 1500 words. When Craig received his first check, he took Alice out on a romantic date. As weeks went by Alice settled in Chicago; she secretly started searching for apartments and houses. She looked at Chicago as the place where her growing family lived before they went to New Orleans. Alice enjoyed living back in the Midwest; she did not feel that the damaged city of New Orleans was a good place for her kids, and she did not want to live like an â€Å"urban pioneer† for the rest of her life. She was ready to settle down and New Orleans was not the place for her at the time. Alice brought to Craig’s attention that they could not live in her aunt and uncles attic any longer. She told Craig she was looking into their future by house hunting. Craig took the new information as a stab in the back. He felt hurt and betrayed by his wife because she did not want to move back to New Orleans. Craig felt that their family might not be able to make it during this rough time. He contemplated on whether he should leave and return back to what he called home (New Orleans) and break up the family or stay for the kids’ sake and feel like a disintegrate parent. Craig and Alice sat together and started expressing their feelings about how they felt on their current living situation. The heart to heart conversation made him realize he was making the wrong decision for his family. He was caught between starting a new life and returning to their old one. They both experienced self-knowledge during this time and achieved a new basis for themselves. They both realized that they were experiencing the same struggle, stress, and both wanted to be a happy. Although Alice had her opinion of New Orleans, she did miss the town but deep down Craig also wanted to start a new life. Craig has come to accept the idea of walking away from New Orleans; he saw how his friend, Bobby, experienced difficulty letting New Orleans go. Bobby and Jen, friends of the Donaldsons, became defensive when they heard Craig did not want to return to New Orleans because of Alice and their kids and also Alice’s concerns for the overall city. Craig tried to explain from Alice’s point of view why they should not return so that Bobby and Jen would understand. Craig and Bobby had different perspectives on the situation and completely different life styles. Bobby and Jen needed to realize that this was not a safe environment for Craig and Alice’s kids. They remained friends even with their new life differences. Craig returned to New Orleans acknowledging a new perspective; the importance of why he loved the city remained during Mardi Gras.

Memory for Designs Test

Memory for Designs Test Introduction The examination of the functioning of the memory of an individual cannot be limited to only one memory test, and as a result, there are a variety of assessments that target the various features of the memory. Memory test procedures take into consideration various attributes including features of the test instrument such as legitimacy and consistency of results.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Memory for Designs Test specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Tests should ideally sample a variety of non-related features of the memory to make sure that particular inadequacies in the memory can be identified. In addition to this, aspects of recall and recognition should be tested, as a way to monitor memory processes in relation to memory indicators (Dustman Beck, 1980). It has been observed that most of the memory encounters are incidental as opposed to premeditated. In view of this, one of the tests admin istered should be unexpected, to prevent rehearsal. Some tests are administered through visual aspects, ignoring auditory-verbal presentation modes as well as motor-retrieval response modes. To make certain that the results obtained are well- founded, the person administering the tests should sample an appropriately broad range of test behaviors. Computerized testing has a number of drawbacks including time consuming and high cost of setting up the system (Dustman Beck, 1980). Memory for designs test The Memory for designs test was designed by Graham and Kendall, in 1946. The test examines visual recall of an individual based on brain damage versus functional disorder versus normality. It is a popular test for the examination of brain damage in children and adults. The scoring system allows the accumulation of normative data (Graham Kendall, 1947). Administration of the test The test is administered by presenting a series of fifteen geometric designs of increasing difficulty on in dividual cards. The cards are nine by twelve inch pieces of paper, with all designs drawn on the same piece of paper. Each design is presented to the individual alone, in a prearranged sequence. The subject is supposed to view the design for five seconds before it is removed from his view. The tests duration is about five to ten minutes (Erickson Scott, 1977). Development of the test The memory test was intended to draw the line and distinguish between individuals who are organically impaired and those who are functionally impaired. The inability to reproduce geometric designs from immediate memory is related to organic impairment.Advertising Looking for research paper on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More After the test was introduced, forty designs were set and administered to a few individuals who had brain damage. The final set of tests included those designs that were found to be easiest to score as we ll as discriminate best between groups. The test has since been used with all age groups for both clinical and research purposes (Erickson Scott, 1977). Sample According to Graham and Kendell (1960), there were a variety of samples such as the original validation group and a cross-validation group. In the original group, there were 70 brain-disorder patients with mixed diagnoses and 70 controls. They were all matched for age, education and occupational status. The original group included an equal number of males and females, as well as African Americans. The age bracket of the subjects was 9 to 69 years, with an average age of 42 years. The average educational level was eighth grade. The latter group comprised 33 brain-disordered patients and 168 control patients. There were three times as many men as women, with an average age of 28 years for the controls and 37 years for the brain-disordered subjects. Both groups had an average education of ninth grade (Peterson Mangen, 1981). S coring, scale norms and distribution According to the criteria provided by Graham and Kendall (1960), each reproduction has a score of 0-3, whereby the highest score signifies the worst performance. There was no penalty due to incomplete or forgotten designs. This is because the variables did not distinguish brain damaged subjects from control subjects. Reliability tests According to Graham and Kendell (1960), the split half reliability was .92 for 140 brain-damaged patients. Test-retest correlations conducted in the same session or within a 24 hour period for other groups ranged between .81 and .90. The clinical usefulness of the test is based on the adequacy of its standardization for various age groups as well as a variety of non-brained-damaged, psychiatric individuals. The reliability of the scoring is suitable based on data provided in the test manual. In addition to this, new studies on the reliability have found it satisfactory. Qualitative scores are possible based on a mea sure of the tendency to rotate the designs, whereby the error can be reliably calculated (Graham Kendall, 1947). The age standardization for normal adults is adequate though the normative data that is available for different functional psychiatric groups is not. It has been observed that some functional psychiatric disorders produce lower scores on the MFD test, though there are no age norms for representative populations of functional psychiatric disorders.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Memory for Designs Test specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This poses a challenge in the omission of the presence of a specific functional psychiatric disorder as a substitute explanation of a poor score based on the presently available norms, unless the alternative was eliminated on a different basis (Peterson Mangen, 1981). Validity tests An analysis of a large number of tests conducted on a sample of a hundred people t o diagnose brain damage showed a +.597 for the memory for designs test on the first factor. This was interpreted as perceptual organization or the ability to integrate the relevant aspects of the perceptual field. Based on the perceptual organization factor, a memory aspect was observed from the tests, proving that perceptual organization was able to facilitate performance when memory was involved (Peterson Mangen, 1981). The MFD test has been proven to always differentiate between groups of patients known without any doubt to have brain damage, as well as to match groups of normal people and psychiatric patients thought not to be brain damaged. According to the definition of brain damage, that it is any amount of cell death in the cerebral cortex irrespective of the cause, every person aged above 30 years would be brain damaged. Some forms of birth trauma, childhood injuries and anoxia cause cell death in many normal children, though the damage is insignificant since it does not r esult in impairment (Richie Butler, 1964). Predictive validity According to data presented in the Graham and Kendall ( 1960) test manual, a significant mean score difference between a group of brain-damaged and normal individuals, at the 0.01 level. This indicated an overlap in the scores of the non-brain-damaged and brain damaged groups that caused difficulties in coming up with a decision on the performance of borderline people. An example was the cut-off point whereby 4% of the controls were diagnosed as having brain damage. Out of these, half of the brain-damaged subjects in one group and 48% in another group were designated with brain damage. The other cut-off point made for varied combinations of correct identifications, errors and false positives (Richie Butler, 1964). Convergent validity According to Warren and Mangen, the memory for designs test correlated .85 and .81 with scores on the Bender Gestalt test.Advertising Looking for research paper on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Usability on older populations The test is timed. In addition to this, manual coordination is required. The involvement of these factors implies that the aged may be handicapped. Sensitivity to age difference According to Peterson and Mangen, there was a significant correlation between performance and age, of 0.27. This implied that an increase in age of the subject corresponded to poorer performance of the subject. There was also a correlation of -.31 of the MFD test scores with intelligence. Assessment by the vocabulary score on the Wechsler-Bellevue showed a significant multiple correlation of .44 with age and intelligence (Peterson Mangen, 1981). According to a study conducted on psychiatric patients aged above 60 years, 36 brain damaged and 36 controls, there was a considerable difference in the mean scores, which was not as high as that between, brain-damaged and standardization groups of younger ages. The mean scores were 8.44 and 13.89, while the SD was 6.33 and 5.81 for th e controls and brain-damaged group respectively. There was a big difference between this age group and all younger control groups, though the difference with the scores of adults between the ages of 20 and 60 did not vary much. The confounding factor was that the controls over 60 years had a decline in vocabulary scores that was the same as that of the brain-damaged groups, which yielded negative results for the younger ages. This signified that the use of psychiatric controls for the older age-group would be unsuitable (Dustman Beck, 1980). According to another study conducted for subjects between the age of 20 and 80, with 50 men and 40 men in each constituent decade, the performance of older age groups on the MFD was observed to be stable until the age of fifty, after which there was a fast decline and increased variability in subjects’ performances (Peterson Mangen, 1981). Conclusion The test’s reliability and validity are good, since it discriminates in a ration al manner between groups with brain damage and normal groups. The test has limitations when conducted on aged subjects since it requires manual coordination. In addition to this, it is timed and the performance correlates with age and intelligence. Unusual scores signify damage in a specific cortical area, which in turn signifies a formerly particular dysfunction. It could be translated to mean a shortened life expectancy, though the MFD is hardly translated to imply such occurrences. Studies have shown an insignificant correlation between MFD score and a rating of severity of brain damage according to certain assessment criteria such as EFG (Peterson Mangen, 1981). Other studies have also shown a wide range of MFD scores when the test is administered to a psychiatric group whose brain damage status is uncertain, resulting in no conclusions from the features shown by the group. One practical consequence of an abnormal MFD score which has been demonstrated is that the patient is lik ely also to have abnormal scores on several other tests of brain damage such as the Bender Gestalt Test, and the Benton Visual Retention Test. An abnormal MFD score might enable the clinical psychologist to identify a previously unknown pattern of associated psychological abnormalities which might have implications for the adjustment of the patient. Another useful implication of an abnormal MFD score among children is that one might anticipate difficulties in learning to read, as suggested by several studies (Erickson Scott, 1977). References Dustman, R. E., Beck, E. C. (1980). Memory-For-Designs Test: comparison of performance of young and old adults. Journal of Clinical Psychology , 36(3), 770-774. Erickson, R. C., Scott, M. L. (1977). Clinical Memory Testing. Psychological Bulletin , 1130-1149. Graham, F., Kendall, B. (1947). Memory-For-Designs Test. Journal of Consulting Psychology , 11(6). Peterson, W. A., Mangen, D. J. (1981). Research Instruments in Social Gerontology: C linical and Social Psychology (Clinical Social Psychology). Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. Richie, J., Butler, A. (1964). Performance of retardates on the memory-for-designs test. Journal of Clinical Psychology , 20(1), 108-110.

The Russians Renamed St. Petersburg Three Times in a Century

The Russians Renamed St. Petersburg Three Times in a Century St. Petersburg is Russias second-largest city after Moscow, and throughout history, it has been known by a few different names. In the more than 300 years since it was established, St. Petersburg has also been known as Petrograd and Leningrad, though its also known as Sankt-Peterburg (in Russian), Petersburg, and just plain Peter. The city has a population of about 5 million people. Visitors there take in the architecture, especially historic buildings along the Neva River and its canals and tributaries flowing in the city that connect Lake Ladoga to the Gulf of Finland. Being so far north, in the middle of summer, the citys daylight extends nearly 19 hours. Terrain includes coniferous forests, sand dunes, and beaches. Why all of the names for a single city? To understand the many aliases of St. Petersburg, look no further than the citys long, tumultuous history.   1703: St. Petersburg Peter the Great founded the port city of St. Petersburg on the very western edge of Russia in 1703 in a marshy floodplain. Located on the Baltic Sea, he desired to have the new city mirror the great Western cities of Europe, where he had traveled while studying in his youth. Amsterdam was one of the primary influences on the czar, and the name St. Petersburg has a distinctly  Dutch-German influence. 1914: Petrograd St. Petersburg saw its first name change in 1914 when World War I broke out. The Russians thought that the name sounded too German, and it was given a more Russian-sounding name. The Petro start of the name retains the history of honoring Peter the Great.The -grad  portion is a common suffix used in a number of Russian cities and localities. 1924: Leningrad It was only 10 years that St. Petersburg was known as Petrograd because in 1917 the Russian Revolution 503 changed everything for the country, including the citys name. At the beginning of the year, the Russian monarchy was overthrown, and by years end, the Bolsheviks had taken control. This led to the worlds first communist government. Vladimir Ilyich Lenin led the Bolsheviks, and in 1922 the Soviet Union was created. After Lenins death in 1924, Petrograd became known as Leningrad to honor the former leader. 1991: St. Petersburg Fast-forward through almost 70 years of the communist government to the fall of the USSR. In the years that followed, many places in the country were renamed, and Leningrad became St. Petersburg once again. Historical buildings saw renovation and rejuvenation. Changing the city name back to its original name did not come without controversy. In 1991, the citizens of Leningrad were given the opportunity to vote on the name change. As reported in the New York Times at the time, some people saw restoring the citys name to St. Petersburg as a way to forget the decades of turmoil during communist rule and an opportunity to reclaim its original Russian heritage. The Bolsheviks, on the other hand, saw the change as an insult to Lenin. In the end, St. Petersburg was returned to its original name, but you will still find some people who refer to the city as Leningrad.

Community development Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Community development - Research Paper Example Data collection methods will include questionnaires and interviews. It is hypothesized that there are visible community development projects in Bangladesh that can be credited to the efforts of Grameen Bank. Additionally, it is hypothesized that there are women who have improved their lives due to empowerment by Grameen Bank. The outcome of this study will have implications on community development workers and agencies (Osmani 695). Since its inception in 1983, Grameen Bank has used an unconventional mode of lending different from other banks by eliminating the need for collateral. The bank has replaced the need for collateral with accountability, mutual trust, supervision, creativity, and participation. The emphasis of the bank is on education and economic empowerment of the poor people who live in the rural areas of Bangladesh. The objective of this study is to document the experience of Grameen Bank in community development and women empowerment in Bangladesh (Mahmud 49). The problems of poverty and women oppression are concerns shared worldwide and different groups and institutions address them in unique ways. Grameen Bank approaches community development and women empowerment from the rural parts of Bangladesh using collateral-free lending. Studies have expressed their admiration for Grameen Bank’s approach to these two concerns. However, prior studies do not provide alternatives to how the bank can ensure that all women remain empowered and that they are not overshadowed by patriarchy and male domination and this is a gap that this study will seek to fill (Mahmud 48). Grammeen Bank started in 1983 from Professor Muhammad Yunus’ idea of providing capital to the poor in Jobra village in Bangladesh. The sight of the poor population of Bangladesh suffering triggered the idea especially in the incidence of the adverse weather conditions of the country (Osmani 696). Famine and poor housing were some

Post-operative pain management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Post-operative pain management - Essay Example This paper wills address the post operative management of pain for people who have undergone total knee replacement Surgery. The resultant physiotherapy and required exercises can result in patients experiencing substantial amounts of pain. Pain signifies trauma to the body and may be as result of tissue damage from injury, surgery, and diseases. Pain causes discomfort, immobility, and various biological responses that inhibit normal functioning of the body and its management becomes a necessary tool in nursing (Alfred, 2007). After total knee cap replacement surgery, effective pain relief measures are necessary for humane reasons and to facilitate an effective postoperative recovery, which necessitates intensive physiotherapy to reduce recovery time and facilitate mobility in most patients. Different people have different tolerances for pain and it is necessary to consider the individual patients before commencing on a post operation pain relief plan. Other important considerations that must be considered include clinical factors, patient related factors, and local factors. Post operative nursing care for patients who have undergone total knee replacement may include a combination of various procedures including education, assessment of pain, pharmacological, and non-pharmacological interventions.   Pain management is deeply integrated and ingrained in medicine and is especially invaluable in patients who have undergone major and minor surgeries. Total knee replacement surgery is done to alleviate pain in the knees and is highly successful in restoring mobility. Though expensive, it is economically justifiable due to increased mobility that reduces reliance on other members of the society. The procedure results in post operative pain, which if not well managed can lead to chronic pains and disability (Eccleston, 2011). Post operative pain management practices are often hindered by costs,

Geothermal Energy in Iceland Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Geothermal Energy in Iceland - Coursework Example The researcher states that despite the slow pace at which the researches are being conducted, mainstream awareness, as well as government pressures, are on the rise. Various energy technologies have been proposed as appropriate for generating both electricity and heat to address the growing energy demand. A good example of a country involved in harnessing and utilizing renewable energy sources by use of various technological developments in Iceland. Various research findings have outlined different sources of alternative energy. The sources include solar energy, which can be converted either for heating purposes or by use of complex conversion into electricity. Next is wind power that can be used either for generation of electricity or for pumping water. We also have biomass that is used for various purposes including production of heat for warmth and cooking and production of methane gas used in alcohol production for powering electric power plants and fueling automobile. The other source of renewable energy is geothermal power. It is a reservoir of hot water and steam beneath the earth’s surface and can be used for heating as well as the generation of electricity. In addition, we have tidal and wave energy is used for heating and generation of electricity. Of all the stated alternative sources of energy, geothermal energy is one of the energy sources that have gained relevance as green energy leading to its widespread exploitation. The main purpose of this report will be to demonstrate an understanding and ability to assess, generation and the use of, geothermal energy in Iceland with different forms of alternative technologies. As a result, the research process will involve Identification of the primary ways in which energy is being generated from an alternative source (geothermal) in Iceland for the generation of electricity, heat, and transport.

Barriers to Implementing an E-Learning System

Barriers to Implementing an E-Learning System General Introduction/Background In todays world of globalization, knowledge and learning is considered the most vital element for acquiring competitive advantage (Longworth and Davies, 1996). For gaining competitive advantage firms and institutions are becoming more knowledge intensive, therefore they concentrate more on managing and sharing knowledge to gain significant advantage of this knowledge (Hertog and Sluijs, 1995).Traditional education style has remained consistent without any changes been made to the system. This has enabled a large number of creative thinkers to ponder other possible educational approaches that could benefit the system (GÃÆ'Â ¼nes, 2008). On the other hand, technology is necessary in order to conquer, but it is also a necessity to remain in competition. All the sectors, whether it is primary, manufacturing or tertiary, all of them have been forced to accept technology to become innovative and efficient (GÃÆ'Â ¼nes, 2008). Technology has not only radically changed the ways and methods of our works but is now beginning to transform the education system (Webster and Murphy, 2008).With the use of internet technologies, firms and institutions have outstanding opportunities to deliver education and different training techniques through strategic use of internet technologies (Lee, 2006; Kaohsiung; Taiwan, 2006). The use of Internet technologies combined with suitable learning strategies assists to provide an open, flexible and dynamic learning environment. As a result many corporations, government agencies and academic institutions worldwide have increased the use of internet and educational technologies to deliver instructions and provide training. This innovative approach of delivering information and education is known as E-learning (Khan, 2008). E-learning can be simply defined as the way of learning which delivers its contents through World Wide Web (Gulatee and Combes, 2007). Sharifabadi defined E-lear ning as the term used to describe teaching and learning resources or experiences that is, in some way, delivered electronically. (Gulatee and Combes, 2007; Sharifabadi, 2006, p.391). E-learning is a way of interaction through electronic mediums, mainly computers, by using videos, photos, texts and sounds for different educational purposes (Gulatee and Combes, 2007). E-learning system creates a learning opportunity for the convenience of those who do not have the opportunity to be physically available, due to various reasons (Gulatee and Combes, 2007; Werry, 2002). Hence, during the late 1990s and early 2000 many online universities were established and more universities were offering online courses, but mixed results of the E-learning systems were encountered (Gulatee and Combes, 2007). Different researches have pointed out many barriers in E-learnings implementation, which lead to its failure. For example technological infrastructure, course content quality, financial support, learners computing skills, staff training, management support and organizations culture resistance (Romiszowski, 2003, Childs et al, 2005, Muilenburg and Berge, 2005). Organizations cultural resistance is considered as the most influential barrier in E-learnings implementation process. The cultures resistance or resistance from the potential users negatively affects the implementation process. Unwillingness of the employees can create major problems for the managers and can lead to the system failure (Shields and Young, 1989, p. 22). Employees resistance and avoiding of the use of required procedures and rules could lead the system to failure even if it has been developed perfectly and is ready to use (Malmi, 1997, p. 475). In this instant the managers cannot gain full benefits of the new system unless they can create a change in the employees attitude (Yates, 1997, p. 164). Cultural differences among peers could create many problems in implementation of E-learning system. Therefore, if the cultural issues are overlooked during implementation, their ignorance could act as a vital barrier in E-learnings success (AL-Hunaiyyan et al, 2008; Gujar and S onone, 2004). Problem statement There are different articles and books available in the market which mentioned about the usefulness and advantages of E-learning. Web-based learning is a new medium of information technology; researchers have mentioned many different factors which act as barriers towards implementing E-learning system (Ngai et al., 2007). There are different factors cited by various authors which exist in their research papers that can help us to identify critical barriers. In addition, we are interested in finding out, to which extent an organization is dependent on the role of its culture, and how culture can lead to success or failure of the E-learning system. It should be noted that culture has a great impact in organizations and are important when decision making is involved in IT management. In this regard, an organization is said to be confronted with stiff resistance, consequently making IT management a difficult task (Childs et al, 2005). To overcome the barriers for implementing E- learning , an organization should try and manage these barriers accordingly because they are critical to any organizations general business model and can equally affect the organizations decision making process. Research question What are the critical barriers of implementing E-learning system and what is the role of organizational culture in successful implementation of E-learning system? Objectives and Purpose of the Research The purpose of this research is to describe and analyze the critical factors which may affect the implementation of E-learning system. Investigating the barriers of implementing E-learning system would help to lower down the barriers in future implementation. Moreover by examining the cultural influence of an organization towards E-learning systems implementation process, it will be easier to identify a complete outline for organizations to implement E-Learning system and to make the system work efficiently and successfully. Thesis design The structure of the thesis is principally focused on six chapters which include Chapter 1: Introduction/Background The Introduction gives brief overview of the research topic, including the purpose and objectives, problems and research question. Chapter 2: Research Design/Methods This chapter deals with the choice of topic, research process which indicates how these datas will be analyzed, data collection, validity and reliability, and method critique. Chapter 3: Framework of reference This chapter discusses relevant theories to give the reader an understanding of the barriers which come across E-learning systems implementation processes cited by different authors. Chapter 4: Findings This chapter provides frequencies of different barriers for implementing E-learning system described by different authors. Chapter 5 Analysis This chapter will describe the analysis based on the findings. Chapter 6: Conclusions This section finally concludes the lessons drawn from the findings Research Design/Methods This chapter deals with the choice of topic, research process which indicates how these datas will be analyzed, data collection, validity and reliability, and method critique. Choice of Topic Fisher (2007, p.31-33) suggested that authors should choose research area according to their interests, so they remain motivated and committed to complete the project. The authors belong to Pakistan, where E-learning system is not much in practiced in organizations. While, E-learning system is already in use in Sweden, we found out that E-learning system is a proficient tool in learning process. Therefore, it was quite intriguing for us to explore this topic. In addition, we were interested in finding out the barriers for implementation of E-learning system and to investigate the role of organizations culture for successful implementation of E-learning system. Fisher (2007, p.31-33) urges that chosen topic should be accessible and it is necessary to make sure that quite literature is available for making detail analysis. We are certain that our topic is enough interesting, significant and demanding for all researchers, businesses managers and Information Technology Management student s. Research Process There are various methodological approaches to carry out research i.e. Realist research, exploratory research, critical realism, standpoint research, action research and phenomenology etc, Fisher (2007, p.15). In addition, Fisher (2007, p.153-155) mentioned two kinds of discoveries e.g. Explorers and Surveyors. A kind of research where an open approach is used with conceptual framework but the authors are not sure about outcomes and results of the work they do, is called exploratory research. On the other hand surveyors discovery approach is pre-structured where surveyors are already inform of the results and out come of their work. According to these concepts our research is exploratory as we are dependent on secondary data. Data Collection and source Fisher (2007, p.45) states that data could be collected from existing databases, through questionnaires, conducting fieldwork or performing case studies as it depends on the kind of research. In this research entire data has been collected from available databases as the research is entirely based on secondary data collection method. Secondary source has been used in this research. The data was extracted from articles, books and websites, magazines, journals and articles with focus on critical barriers to E-learning implementation. Fisher stated that (2007, P.158-161) data could be qualitative or quantitative depending on the method of research study. A quantitative approach has been used here in this research. No statistics has been used in this research and as all research has been analyzed by words not figures. Access of information Secondary data has extracted from different sources. The required literature has been acquired by searching MÃÆ'Â ¤lardalen Universitys library. Furthermore, we have used online library (ebrary) as well as other librarys database such as Elin, Emerald, Eric and EBSCO for articles and journals, which have helped us to answer our research query. Going through a wide-ranging literature review, twenty five articles were identified that give answer to the research question from distinct angles. To identify the barriers to Implementation of E-learning system, keyword search criteria based on title contained; ÃÆ'ËÅ" Barriers of E-learning system implementation, ÃÆ'ËÅ" Implications of E-learning system in organizations, ÃÆ'ËÅ" Implementation of E-learning system in large organization, ÃÆ'ËÅ" Challenges of E-learning Implementation, ÃÆ'ËÅ" Limitations of E-learning System, To describe and analyze the role of organizations culture for successful implementation of E-learning system in organization, keyword search criteria contained; ÃÆ'ËÅ" Cultural issues of E-leaning system, ÃÆ'ËÅ" Cultural Influence on online Learning, ÃÆ'ËÅ" Cultural influence on student learning, ÃÆ'ËÅ" Analyzing cultural Influences on E-learning Transactional Issue, ÃÆ'ËÅ" Cultural difference and influence on E-learning, ÃÆ'ËÅ" Social and cultural impact on E-learning Effectiveness, ÃÆ'ËÅ" A cultural Analysis of relearning for developed and developing countries, ÃÆ'ËÅ" Cross and Multicultural issues for E-learning success, ÃÆ'ËÅ" Influence of organizational cultural in E-learning, ÃÆ'ËÅ" Organizational resistance towards implementing E-learning system. Data Analysis According to Miles and Huberman (1994, p.10) data analysis consists of three parallel flows of activity: (1) Data reduction, (2) Data display, and (3) Conclusion drawing/verification. Furthermore they suggested that data analysis components could be successfully integrated during data analysis, as it is an iterative and continuous process (Miles and Huberman 1994). They have stated three components of activities that describe analysis which are; First is data reduction that is focused on selection, simplification and transformation of data (Miles and Huberman 1994). This process is applied in qualitative data. The objective of this is data is to help drawing final conclusion and verification. In this study data is taken from the studies where authors cited barriers to implement E-learning with focus on cultural resistance in an organization. Second is data display i.e. data reduced in data reduction needs to be organized that help to draw conclusion easily. In table mentioned below, different factors related to critical barriers to implementation of E-learning system and the role of organizations culture is given below along with the frequency of each factor. Third is the conclusion based on drawing/verifying; describes the possible explanations, causal flows and propositions to be made. Therefore based on the findings and discussed analysis, conclusions would be drawn to signify the influential role of organizations culture towards the implementation process. Validity and Reliability Validity is defined as the degree which researchers have measured what they have set out to measure (Kumar, 2005) whereas reliability means the extent to which another researcher can reach the same conclusion by following the same research process (Taylor et al., 2006). Several articles have been used to identify the barriers of implementing E-learning system and to analyze the role of organizational culture. Besides, frequencies of more influential barriers have been generated to validate the barriers and cultural role in implementation process. Method Critique Due to the time limitation, a limited number of articles have been used to formulate the frequency to identify the critical barriers. It could be better to use more articles to strengthen our research as a number of studies have already been done in this area. However this study will describe and analyze the critical barriers for the implementation of E-learning system related literature and to gain a theoretical background. It was also discovered during analysis of this study that most of the authors mentioned the critical factors with mere repetition with diverse definitions. Framework of Reference This chapter discusses relevant theories to give the reader an understanding of the barriers which come across E-learning systems implementation processes cited by different authors. E-learning What is E-learning? E-learning can be defined as learning and communication exercises across computers and networks or electronic sources. (Wong, 2007 ; Schank, 2002; Roffe, 2002 Tsai Machado, 2002; Sambrook, 2003; Fry; Wild, Grggs and Downing, 2002) have defined E-learning as delivery of training and education via networked interactivity and distribution technologies.According to Khan (2008), the word E-learning is used for an open, flexible, and diverse E-learning environment. E-learning can be analyzed as an inventive approach for delivering learner-centered, well designed, interactive, and facilitated learning environment to anyplace, anyone, anytime by utilizing the features and resources of different digital technologies along with other forms of learning materials suited for open, distributed, and flexible learning environment (Khan, 2008). In E-learning system Students are able to interact anytime from anywhere with different instructional material (text, sound, pictures, video and so on) through Internet. Furthermore, learners can even communicate with teachers and classmates both individually and as a group discussion with the use of message boards, instant message exchanges and video conferencing. (Al-Ammari and Hamad, 2008; Andersson, 2009; Zhang and Zhou, 2003). (Lee, 2006) Therefore, E-learning has been defined variously, learning system using different carrying technologies and techniques like Computer Based Training (CBT), Internet-based training (IBT), Web-based instruction (WBI), distributed learning (DL), advanced distributed learning (ADL), distance learning, online learning (OL), mobile learning (or m-learning) or remote learning and learning management systems (LMS) (Khan, 2008). For managing learning environment like, registration of learners, scheduling learning resources, controlling and guidance of learning processes and analyzing learners performance are all accomplish in Learning Management System (LMS) (Gulatee and Combes, 2007; Brown, 2006). In 1970s and 1980s distance learning started becoming popular and sued to conduct through postal mail but in 1990s the rise of World Wide Web changed the nature distance learning. With the use of this technology learners can get a number of resources from their teachers like discussion forums, multimedia, chat, video conferencing and electronic black boards. These changes which have been brought in distance education are an attempt to provide easier access to students who live very far from universities, who are working or have other reasons for not being able to attend in person. In the US in the academic year 2001-2, five million people took at least one course online, and three million were enrolled in online degree programs (Gulatee and Combes, 2007; Kazmer Haythornthwaite, 2005, p.7). It can be seen in these figures that distance education online has become a popular alternative to face-to-face instruction. Implementation of E-learning One of the following three approaches is necessary for the implementation of the E-learning system: To strengthen the traditional face-to-face courses with support of new communication technology, enhancement of experience with in traditional courses by integration of online activities and delivery of entirely online courses. In this implementation the readiness of some influential factors like budgeting, infrastructure planning, human resource development (experience, skills, knowledge and attitude of the end users) are most common. Uhomoibhi (2006) stated that E-learning initiators, institutions must use and prepare strategies for adoption, diffusion and implementation. For a successful implementation of online environment where learners can actively learn and get support from well-organized approach is mandatory. Processes of planning, designing, development and evaluation are all parts of a successful implementation that could help to lower down the barriers of implementation (Uhomoibhi, 2006). An E-learning system can only be successful if it is significant to all stakeholders e.g. instructors, learners; support services staff and the institutions itself. In order for learners to become quickly accustomed to E-learning, it must be made sure that it is easily accessible, efficient, well designed course, affordable, and has a facilitated learning environment. Instructors must feel a sense of accomplishment when learners meet the goals and objectives of the course in a successful way. Technical support staff should feel happy when learners receive reliable services without interruptions. One of the most important factors for institutions is the profit they earn as well as the satisfaction of the learner and a low rate of dropouts (Khan, 2005). A strong foundation is required in order to have an effective implementation of E-learning. Aligning and communication are two important factors in implementation of E-learning system. It is necessary to make sure the communication is in order. Involvement of key stakeholders at the decision making stage or any other early process is very important(Khan, 2005). Communication is also important for those who are directly responsible for the implementation; and professionals also suggest a horizontal leadership style so that everyone is responsible for their actions. This includes individuals who are critical to the implementations success which include line, functional and divisional leaders. There should be consistent scheduled meetings with these individuals to discuss the newly arising issues in the project to come up with a solution (Khan, 2005). Most of the pitfalls of E-learning are tied to technological issues so it is important to involve IT leadership throughout the project to mitigate the problems in implementation process. Creation of helpdesk for reporting of IT related issues is more important. While selecting the vendors it is important to make sure that the vendors have an outstanding and proven record. Strong communication and feedback from vendors is a necessary step for a successful implementation (Khan, 2005). An overview of the critical issues in E-learning implementation Worldwide, E-learning arises as a new paradigm of advance education with a growing rate of 36.5 percent in the market, but still failures exist (Sun et al., 2008). As many companies are moving very fast to the adoption of E-learning in order to reap its benefits but they are facing significant barriers in its implementation and adoption, which leads them to implementation failure (Mungania, 2003). Hence, to mitigate this failure we have to investigate key factors that encompass different dimensions of an open, flexible and advanced distributed learning environment for diverse learners (Khan, 2005). Literature has mentioned a wide range of factors that can influence the successful implementation of E-learning e.g. some talks about pedagogical issues, faculty issues and organizational issues while some may have discussed about personal issues, cultural issues and some other issues. A broad range of factors that can influence the success of E-learning environments has been mentioned in the literature. However, there is no organized work to characterize collective group of most influential issues or factors, which could be seen as barriers Wong (2007). Distinct authors consider different barriers as most influential in implementation of E-learning Wong (2007). Wong (2007) has categorized E-learning limitations in three main areas; technological limitations, personal issues and other limitations. The lack of hardware, limited Internet coverage and low bandwidth are all consider as technological barriers in implementation of E- learning (Hiltz, 1997; Kathawala, Abdou, Elmulti, 2002; Wong, 2007). Kember et al., 2001; Dearnley, 2003) stated that personal issues are mostly related to learners and teachers. Teachers should give a complete guidance to the learners about this new and non-traditional system to prepare new learners psychologically (Wong, 2007 ; Kember et al., 2001; Dearnley, 2003). For learners the use of new technologies could be a disadvantage or barrier in E- learning. So the lack information, communication and technological skills might be barriers to E-learning because learners could get frustrated from this unconventional learning environment. (Wong, 2007 ; Carr, 1999; Hamid, 2002; Angelina, 2002a, p.12) The freedom provided by E-learning could be a disadvantage for the learners as internal motivation and self discipline is required at its maximum which learners may find hard to achieve in order to complete their studies or assignments in time. As (Wong, 2007 ; Kearsley, 2000) Schott et al., 2003; Rivera and Rice, 2002; Abouchedid and Eid, 2004).In E-learning environment students are usually supposed to communicate in a text based environment so learners poor writing ÂÂ ¨skills might be a disadvantage in E- learning. Therefore, the inability of communicating efficiently of learners could create misunderstandings (Wong, 2007; Smith Rupp, 2004). Others limitations: E-learning provides 247 access. This infinite work might be a disadvantage for learners and particularly for teachers. This unlimited work could over stress teachers, resulting in a low quality services from instructors. (Abdou Elmulti, 2002;. Dringus, 2003; Newton, 2003; Kathawala, Schifter, 2004).Poor course design could appear a major barrier in implementation of E-learning as it could frustrate the learners and teachers. (Young and Bal, 2003; Smulders, 2003; Howell, Williams Lindsay 2003; Gordon, Young Bal, 2003; Svensson, 2004; Ivergard Hunt, 2005 ;). Cronje (2009) sees some influential barriers such as student barriers are related to lack of financial support from their families and cooperation among peers and from teachers (Cronje, 2009; Galusha, 1997). Faculty barriers the lack of funds is the most important one. Institutes attitude towards the lecturers that some time seems less prominent among their peers is considered another important barrier in successful E-learning (Cronje, 2009; Galusha, 1997). Organizational barriers poor funding for three major costs areas are considered more crucial barriers e.g. Initial costs of the implementation process, maintenance and up gradation. Course barriers course design is regarded as most important one. Poor course design is one of reasons of inferiority of Distance learning. Conversion of teaching context in to electronic shape could not add any value to E-learning (Cronje, 2009; Galusha, 1997) Boondao et al. (2008) mentioned, It is not possible, in the view of some scholars, to create a model of the good teacher without taking issues of culture and context into account. The influence of culture cannot be ignored in successful implementation of E-learning. Considering learners from different culture e.g. east and west, learners from both cultures have particular approaches and styles of learning. Therefore, lack of consideration of cultural issues during designing could prove as a barrier in successful implementation of E-learning (Boondao et al, 2008). Discussing the different critical barriers Nowadays an escalating amount of companies are implementing E-learning System (Mungania, 2003). But as these companies try to take advantages of E-learning to gain strategic and competitive advantages in absolute urgency, there are significant number of barriers to the implementation of E-learning come across to halt them (Simmons, 2002, p.19 and Mungania, (2003). As E-learning barriers are diverse and can be classified as personal, organizational, situational, instructional and technological. (Mungania, 2003) Moreover Khans E-learning framework provides details on critical issues which may come across E-learning implementation process. Khans E-learning framework composed of eight dimensions: institutional, management, pedagogical, technological, interface design, ethical, evaluation, and resource support. Institutional Issues Institutions need to build a complete plan for the successful implementation of E learning system (Khan 2005, p.23). Moreover Childs et al (2005) stated that institution should focus on cultural aspects for the implementation process of E learning system which have a significant effect upon the success of E-learning process (Cronje, 2009).E-learning needs to be integrated to all departments of the institution therefore a strong commitment is needed from the institution and the trainers Childs et al (2005). Moreover, E-learning implementation plan must be fully aligned with the institutions ambitions and strategic plans (Galusha, 1997; Belanger and Jordan, 2000). Therefore E-learning implementation process is paradigm shift for the institution as a whole which includes learners, instructors, administrators, technical and other support services staff (Romiszowski, 2004). To support institutions in strategic planning, change management and process development which are necessary to highlight their embedding process and issues which may occur in their organization (Childs et al (2005) and Khan 2005,p.23). Khan has divided institution issue into three parts administrative affairs, academic affairs and student services (Khan 2005, p. 24). Administrative affairs which includes organization and change (implementation of E-learning system), budgeting and return on investment, course information catalog, financial aid, course schedule, tuition fees, registration and payment, information technology services, instructional design, whereas academic affairs issues such as policies, instructional quality, faculty and staff support, intellectual property rights and so on (Khan 2005, p. 24 ). Moreover Student services deals with student support services for E-learning effectiveness. Management issues Magalhaes (2008) stated that lack of management support is number one barrier towards successful implementation of E-learning system in institution. Management issues of E-learning in organization refers to various phases of administration such as scheduling, design, construction, assessment, delivery, and maintenance (Romiszowski 2003 and Parkham et al, 2004). Managing issues in organizations depend upon various elements including content delivery, and technology Trentin (2003). Khan (2005) also stated that for the success of E learning system institution must focus on three key areas people, process, and products involved in E-learning projects which depends upon integrated team approach (Jung, 2003).Critical management factors categorized by Khan (2005) are mentioned below: Technological Issues Technological limitations are among the major barriers for the success of E-learning system (Wong, 2007).Technological limitations of E-learning system relates to computer hardware, software and relevant resources (Wong, 2007).Connectivity problems, lack of training, navigation issues, limitations of 24/7 technical support, loss of data and incapability to save or transfer data are the most common technological limitations (Mungania, 2003). Usually small and medium enterprises fail to implement E-learning system due to lack of support in hardware and software (Sambrook, 2003;Wong, 2007).The technological issues can be divided into three parts infrastructure planning, hardware, and software (Kearsley, 2000; Rumble, 2000). Success of E learming system in organizations depends upon infrastructure planning which includes a well documented strategy, focusing on infrastructure. (McGraw, 2001; Romiszowski, 2004).As E-learning environment depends on digital infrastructure, there for institutions should have consistent and well-organized networks to support E-learning (khan 2005, p.154). Moreover institutions should develop policies and guidelines to cater various issues of hardware, software, and networks as institutions involved in implementation of E-learning may suffer. (Wong, 2007, Romiszowski, 2004) Learners require basic hardware for E-learning such as desktop or notebook computers and printers (Kathawala, Abdou, Elmulti, 2002;Hiltz, 1997, Wong, 2007). Therefore, one of the major technological limitations of E-learning is the availability of computer hardware (wong,2007). Major hardware limitations of E-learning system is the necessity of relevant resources which includes servers, modems, microphones, wireless devices, printers, scanners, computers, networking devices, cameras storage devices and other equipments. (Wong, 2007, Khan 2005, p.159) Institution experience similar problems such as software costs as well as software support cost, particularly for software licenses which acts as a significant barrier (khan 2005, p.159). Software includes word processors, databases, e-mail, presentation programs, reader software, browsers and plug-ins, spreadsheets, learning management systems (LMS), authoring tools and enterprise software and so on (LytasPauloudi,2001 and Khan 2005, p.159-160) Pedagogical Issues Success of E-learning systems implementation depends on the adherence to underlay pedagogical principles that are entrenched in the E-learning (Uhomoibhi, 2006). Pedagogical issues in E-learning are major challenges in distance education therefore a strong need of resources for development of the course material arises Barriers to Implementing an E-Learning System Barriers to Implementing an E-Learning System General Introduction/Background In todays world of globalization, knowledge and learning is considered the most vital element for acquiring competitive advantage (Longworth and Davies, 1996). For gaining competitive advantage firms and institutions are becoming more knowledge intensive, therefore they concentrate more on managing and sharing knowledge to gain significant advantage of this knowledge (Hertog and Sluijs, 1995).Traditional education style has remained consistent without any changes been made to the system. This has enabled a large number of creative thinkers to ponder other possible educational approaches that could benefit the system (GÃÆ'Â ¼nes, 2008). On the other hand, technology is necessary in order to conquer, but it is also a necessity to remain in competition. All the sectors, whether it is primary, manufacturing or tertiary, all of them have been forced to accept technology to become innovative and efficient (GÃÆ'Â ¼nes, 2008). Technology has not only radically changed the ways and methods of our works but is now beginning to transform the education system (Webster and Murphy, 2008).With the use of internet technologies, firms and institutions have outstanding opportunities to deliver education and different training techniques through strategic use of internet technologies (Lee, 2006; Kaohsiung; Taiwan, 2006). The use of Internet technologies combined with suitable learning strategies assists to provide an open, flexible and dynamic learning environment. As a result many corporations, government agencies and academic institutions worldwide have increased the use of internet and educational technologies to deliver instructions and provide training. This innovative approach of delivering information and education is known as E-learning (Khan, 2008). E-learning can be simply defined as the way of learning which delivers its contents through World Wide Web (Gulatee and Combes, 2007). Sharifabadi defined E-lear ning as the term used to describe teaching and learning resources or experiences that is, in some way, delivered electronically. (Gulatee and Combes, 2007; Sharifabadi, 2006, p.391). E-learning is a way of interaction through electronic mediums, mainly computers, by using videos, photos, texts and sounds for different educational purposes (Gulatee and Combes, 2007). E-learning system creates a learning opportunity for the convenience of those who do not have the opportunity to be physically available, due to various reasons (Gulatee and Combes, 2007; Werry, 2002). Hence, during the late 1990s and early 2000 many online universities were established and more universities were offering online courses, but mixed results of the E-learning systems were encountered (Gulatee and Combes, 2007). Different researches have pointed out many barriers in E-learnings implementation, which lead to its failure. For example technological infrastructure, course content quality, financial support, learners computing skills, staff training, management support and organizations culture resistance (Romiszowski, 2003, Childs et al, 2005, Muilenburg and Berge, 2005). Organizations cultural resistance is considered as the most influential barrier in E-learnings implementation process. The cultures resistance or resistance from the potential users negatively affects the implementation process. Unwillingness of the employees can create major problems for the managers and can lead to the system failure (Shields and Young, 1989, p. 22). Employees resistance and avoiding of the use of required procedures and rules could lead the system to failure even if it has been developed perfectly and is ready to use (Malmi, 1997, p. 475). In this instant the managers cannot gain full benefits of the new system unless they can create a change in the employees attitude (Yates, 1997, p. 164). Cultural differences among peers could create many problems in implementation of E-learning system. Therefore, if the cultural issues are overlooked during implementation, their ignorance could act as a vital barrier in E-learnings success (AL-Hunaiyyan et al, 2008; Gujar and S onone, 2004). Problem statement There are different articles and books available in the market which mentioned about the usefulness and advantages of E-learning. Web-based learning is a new medium of information technology; researchers have mentioned many different factors which act as barriers towards implementing E-learning system (Ngai et al., 2007). There are different factors cited by various authors which exist in their research papers that can help us to identify critical barriers. In addition, we are interested in finding out, to which extent an organization is dependent on the role of its culture, and how culture can lead to success or failure of the E-learning system. It should be noted that culture has a great impact in organizations and are important when decision making is involved in IT management. In this regard, an organization is said to be confronted with stiff resistance, consequently making IT management a difficult task (Childs et al, 2005). To overcome the barriers for implementing E- learning , an organization should try and manage these barriers accordingly because they are critical to any organizations general business model and can equally affect the organizations decision making process. Research question What are the critical barriers of implementing E-learning system and what is the role of organizational culture in successful implementation of E-learning system? Objectives and Purpose of the Research The purpose of this research is to describe and analyze the critical factors which may affect the implementation of E-learning system. Investigating the barriers of implementing E-learning system would help to lower down the barriers in future implementation. Moreover by examining the cultural influence of an organization towards E-learning systems implementation process, it will be easier to identify a complete outline for organizations to implement E-Learning system and to make the system work efficiently and successfully. Thesis design The structure of the thesis is principally focused on six chapters which include Chapter 1: Introduction/Background The Introduction gives brief overview of the research topic, including the purpose and objectives, problems and research question. Chapter 2: Research Design/Methods This chapter deals with the choice of topic, research process which indicates how these datas will be analyzed, data collection, validity and reliability, and method critique. Chapter 3: Framework of reference This chapter discusses relevant theories to give the reader an understanding of the barriers which come across E-learning systems implementation processes cited by different authors. Chapter 4: Findings This chapter provides frequencies of different barriers for implementing E-learning system described by different authors. Chapter 5 Analysis This chapter will describe the analysis based on the findings. Chapter 6: Conclusions This section finally concludes the lessons drawn from the findings Research Design/Methods This chapter deals with the choice of topic, research process which indicates how these datas will be analyzed, data collection, validity and reliability, and method critique. Choice of Topic Fisher (2007, p.31-33) suggested that authors should choose research area according to their interests, so they remain motivated and committed to complete the project. The authors belong to Pakistan, where E-learning system is not much in practiced in organizations. While, E-learning system is already in use in Sweden, we found out that E-learning system is a proficient tool in learning process. Therefore, it was quite intriguing for us to explore this topic. In addition, we were interested in finding out the barriers for implementation of E-learning system and to investigate the role of organizations culture for successful implementation of E-learning system. Fisher (2007, p.31-33) urges that chosen topic should be accessible and it is necessary to make sure that quite literature is available for making detail analysis. We are certain that our topic is enough interesting, significant and demanding for all researchers, businesses managers and Information Technology Management student s. Research Process There are various methodological approaches to carry out research i.e. Realist research, exploratory research, critical realism, standpoint research, action research and phenomenology etc, Fisher (2007, p.15). In addition, Fisher (2007, p.153-155) mentioned two kinds of discoveries e.g. Explorers and Surveyors. A kind of research where an open approach is used with conceptual framework but the authors are not sure about outcomes and results of the work they do, is called exploratory research. On the other hand surveyors discovery approach is pre-structured where surveyors are already inform of the results and out come of their work. According to these concepts our research is exploratory as we are dependent on secondary data. Data Collection and source Fisher (2007, p.45) states that data could be collected from existing databases, through questionnaires, conducting fieldwork or performing case studies as it depends on the kind of research. In this research entire data has been collected from available databases as the research is entirely based on secondary data collection method. Secondary source has been used in this research. The data was extracted from articles, books and websites, magazines, journals and articles with focus on critical barriers to E-learning implementation. Fisher stated that (2007, P.158-161) data could be qualitative or quantitative depending on the method of research study. A quantitative approach has been used here in this research. No statistics has been used in this research and as all research has been analyzed by words not figures. Access of information Secondary data has extracted from different sources. The required literature has been acquired by searching MÃÆ'Â ¤lardalen Universitys library. Furthermore, we have used online library (ebrary) as well as other librarys database such as Elin, Emerald, Eric and EBSCO for articles and journals, which have helped us to answer our research query. Going through a wide-ranging literature review, twenty five articles were identified that give answer to the research question from distinct angles. To identify the barriers to Implementation of E-learning system, keyword search criteria based on title contained; ÃÆ'ËÅ" Barriers of E-learning system implementation, ÃÆ'ËÅ" Implications of E-learning system in organizations, ÃÆ'ËÅ" Implementation of E-learning system in large organization, ÃÆ'ËÅ" Challenges of E-learning Implementation, ÃÆ'ËÅ" Limitations of E-learning System, To describe and analyze the role of organizations culture for successful implementation of E-learning system in organization, keyword search criteria contained; ÃÆ'ËÅ" Cultural issues of E-leaning system, ÃÆ'ËÅ" Cultural Influence on online Learning, ÃÆ'ËÅ" Cultural influence on student learning, ÃÆ'ËÅ" Analyzing cultural Influences on E-learning Transactional Issue, ÃÆ'ËÅ" Cultural difference and influence on E-learning, ÃÆ'ËÅ" Social and cultural impact on E-learning Effectiveness, ÃÆ'ËÅ" A cultural Analysis of relearning for developed and developing countries, ÃÆ'ËÅ" Cross and Multicultural issues for E-learning success, ÃÆ'ËÅ" Influence of organizational cultural in E-learning, ÃÆ'ËÅ" Organizational resistance towards implementing E-learning system. Data Analysis According to Miles and Huberman (1994, p.10) data analysis consists of three parallel flows of activity: (1) Data reduction, (2) Data display, and (3) Conclusion drawing/verification. Furthermore they suggested that data analysis components could be successfully integrated during data analysis, as it is an iterative and continuous process (Miles and Huberman 1994). They have stated three components of activities that describe analysis which are; First is data reduction that is focused on selection, simplification and transformation of data (Miles and Huberman 1994). This process is applied in qualitative data. The objective of this is data is to help drawing final conclusion and verification. In this study data is taken from the studies where authors cited barriers to implement E-learning with focus on cultural resistance in an organization. Second is data display i.e. data reduced in data reduction needs to be organized that help to draw conclusion easily. In table mentioned below, different factors related to critical barriers to implementation of E-learning system and the role of organizations culture is given below along with the frequency of each factor. Third is the conclusion based on drawing/verifying; describes the possible explanations, causal flows and propositions to be made. Therefore based on the findings and discussed analysis, conclusions would be drawn to signify the influential role of organizations culture towards the implementation process. Validity and Reliability Validity is defined as the degree which researchers have measured what they have set out to measure (Kumar, 2005) whereas reliability means the extent to which another researcher can reach the same conclusion by following the same research process (Taylor et al., 2006). Several articles have been used to identify the barriers of implementing E-learning system and to analyze the role of organizational culture. Besides, frequencies of more influential barriers have been generated to validate the barriers and cultural role in implementation process. Method Critique Due to the time limitation, a limited number of articles have been used to formulate the frequency to identify the critical barriers. It could be better to use more articles to strengthen our research as a number of studies have already been done in this area. However this study will describe and analyze the critical barriers for the implementation of E-learning system related literature and to gain a theoretical background. It was also discovered during analysis of this study that most of the authors mentioned the critical factors with mere repetition with diverse definitions. Framework of Reference This chapter discusses relevant theories to give the reader an understanding of the barriers which come across E-learning systems implementation processes cited by different authors. E-learning What is E-learning? E-learning can be defined as learning and communication exercises across computers and networks or electronic sources. (Wong, 2007 ; Schank, 2002; Roffe, 2002 Tsai Machado, 2002; Sambrook, 2003; Fry; Wild, Grggs and Downing, 2002) have defined E-learning as delivery of training and education via networked interactivity and distribution technologies.According to Khan (2008), the word E-learning is used for an open, flexible, and diverse E-learning environment. E-learning can be analyzed as an inventive approach for delivering learner-centered, well designed, interactive, and facilitated learning environment to anyplace, anyone, anytime by utilizing the features and resources of different digital technologies along with other forms of learning materials suited for open, distributed, and flexible learning environment (Khan, 2008). In E-learning system Students are able to interact anytime from anywhere with different instructional material (text, sound, pictures, video and so on) through Internet. Furthermore, learners can even communicate with teachers and classmates both individually and as a group discussion with the use of message boards, instant message exchanges and video conferencing. (Al-Ammari and Hamad, 2008; Andersson, 2009; Zhang and Zhou, 2003). (Lee, 2006) Therefore, E-learning has been defined variously, learning system using different carrying technologies and techniques like Computer Based Training (CBT), Internet-based training (IBT), Web-based instruction (WBI), distributed learning (DL), advanced distributed learning (ADL), distance learning, online learning (OL), mobile learning (or m-learning) or remote learning and learning management systems (LMS) (Khan, 2008). For managing learning environment like, registration of learners, scheduling learning resources, controlling and guidance of learning processes and analyzing learners performance are all accomplish in Learning Management System (LMS) (Gulatee and Combes, 2007; Brown, 2006). In 1970s and 1980s distance learning started becoming popular and sued to conduct through postal mail but in 1990s the rise of World Wide Web changed the nature distance learning. With the use of this technology learners can get a number of resources from their teachers like discussion forums, multimedia, chat, video conferencing and electronic black boards. These changes which have been brought in distance education are an attempt to provide easier access to students who live very far from universities, who are working or have other reasons for not being able to attend in person. In the US in the academic year 2001-2, five million people took at least one course online, and three million were enrolled in online degree programs (Gulatee and Combes, 2007; Kazmer Haythornthwaite, 2005, p.7). It can be seen in these figures that distance education online has become a popular alternative to face-to-face instruction. Implementation of E-learning One of the following three approaches is necessary for the implementation of the E-learning system: To strengthen the traditional face-to-face courses with support of new communication technology, enhancement of experience with in traditional courses by integration of online activities and delivery of entirely online courses. In this implementation the readiness of some influential factors like budgeting, infrastructure planning, human resource development (experience, skills, knowledge and attitude of the end users) are most common. Uhomoibhi (2006) stated that E-learning initiators, institutions must use and prepare strategies for adoption, diffusion and implementation. For a successful implementation of online environment where learners can actively learn and get support from well-organized approach is mandatory. Processes of planning, designing, development and evaluation are all parts of a successful implementation that could help to lower down the barriers of implementation (Uhomoibhi, 2006). An E-learning system can only be successful if it is significant to all stakeholders e.g. instructors, learners; support services staff and the institutions itself. In order for learners to become quickly accustomed to E-learning, it must be made sure that it is easily accessible, efficient, well designed course, affordable, and has a facilitated learning environment. Instructors must feel a sense of accomplishment when learners meet the goals and objectives of the course in a successful way. Technical support staff should feel happy when learners receive reliable services without interruptions. One of the most important factors for institutions is the profit they earn as well as the satisfaction of the learner and a low rate of dropouts (Khan, 2005). A strong foundation is required in order to have an effective implementation of E-learning. Aligning and communication are two important factors in implementation of E-learning system. It is necessary to make sure the communication is in order. Involvement of key stakeholders at the decision making stage or any other early process is very important(Khan, 2005). Communication is also important for those who are directly responsible for the implementation; and professionals also suggest a horizontal leadership style so that everyone is responsible for their actions. This includes individuals who are critical to the implementations success which include line, functional and divisional leaders. There should be consistent scheduled meetings with these individuals to discuss the newly arising issues in the project to come up with a solution (Khan, 2005). Most of the pitfalls of E-learning are tied to technological issues so it is important to involve IT leadership throughout the project to mitigate the problems in implementation process. Creation of helpdesk for reporting of IT related issues is more important. While selecting the vendors it is important to make sure that the vendors have an outstanding and proven record. Strong communication and feedback from vendors is a necessary step for a successful implementation (Khan, 2005). An overview of the critical issues in E-learning implementation Worldwide, E-learning arises as a new paradigm of advance education with a growing rate of 36.5 percent in the market, but still failures exist (Sun et al., 2008). As many companies are moving very fast to the adoption of E-learning in order to reap its benefits but they are facing significant barriers in its implementation and adoption, which leads them to implementation failure (Mungania, 2003). Hence, to mitigate this failure we have to investigate key factors that encompass different dimensions of an open, flexible and advanced distributed learning environment for diverse learners (Khan, 2005). Literature has mentioned a wide range of factors that can influence the successful implementation of E-learning e.g. some talks about pedagogical issues, faculty issues and organizational issues while some may have discussed about personal issues, cultural issues and some other issues. A broad range of factors that can influence the success of E-learning environments has been mentioned in the literature. However, there is no organized work to characterize collective group of most influential issues or factors, which could be seen as barriers Wong (2007). Distinct authors consider different barriers as most influential in implementation of E-learning Wong (2007). Wong (2007) has categorized E-learning limitations in three main areas; technological limitations, personal issues and other limitations. The lack of hardware, limited Internet coverage and low bandwidth are all consider as technological barriers in implementation of E- learning (Hiltz, 1997; Kathawala, Abdou, Elmulti, 2002; Wong, 2007). Kember et al., 2001; Dearnley, 2003) stated that personal issues are mostly related to learners and teachers. Teachers should give a complete guidance to the learners about this new and non-traditional system to prepare new learners psychologically (Wong, 2007 ; Kember et al., 2001; Dearnley, 2003). For learners the use of new technologies could be a disadvantage or barrier in E- learning. So the lack information, communication and technological skills might be barriers to E-learning because learners could get frustrated from this unconventional learning environment. (Wong, 2007 ; Carr, 1999; Hamid, 2002; Angelina, 2002a, p.12) The freedom provided by E-learning could be a disadvantage for the learners as internal motivation and self discipline is required at its maximum which learners may find hard to achieve in order to complete their studies or assignments in time. As (Wong, 2007 ; Kearsley, 2000) Schott et al., 2003; Rivera and Rice, 2002; Abouchedid and Eid, 2004).In E-learning environment students are usually supposed to communicate in a text based environment so learners poor writing ÂÂ ¨skills might be a disadvantage in E- learning. Therefore, the inability of communicating efficiently of learners could create misunderstandings (Wong, 2007; Smith Rupp, 2004). Others limitations: E-learning provides 247 access. This infinite work might be a disadvantage for learners and particularly for teachers. This unlimited work could over stress teachers, resulting in a low quality services from instructors. (Abdou Elmulti, 2002;. Dringus, 2003; Newton, 2003; Kathawala, Schifter, 2004).Poor course design could appear a major barrier in implementation of E-learning as it could frustrate the learners and teachers. (Young and Bal, 2003; Smulders, 2003; Howell, Williams Lindsay 2003; Gordon, Young Bal, 2003; Svensson, 2004; Ivergard Hunt, 2005 ;). Cronje (2009) sees some influential barriers such as student barriers are related to lack of financial support from their families and cooperation among peers and from teachers (Cronje, 2009; Galusha, 1997). Faculty barriers the lack of funds is the most important one. Institutes attitude towards the lecturers that some time seems less prominent among their peers is considered another important barrier in successful E-learning (Cronje, 2009; Galusha, 1997). Organizational barriers poor funding for three major costs areas are considered more crucial barriers e.g. Initial costs of the implementation process, maintenance and up gradation. Course barriers course design is regarded as most important one. Poor course design is one of reasons of inferiority of Distance learning. Conversion of teaching context in to electronic shape could not add any value to E-learning (Cronje, 2009; Galusha, 1997) Boondao et al. (2008) mentioned, It is not possible, in the view of some scholars, to create a model of the good teacher without taking issues of culture and context into account. The influence of culture cannot be ignored in successful implementation of E-learning. Considering learners from different culture e.g. east and west, learners from both cultures have particular approaches and styles of learning. Therefore, lack of consideration of cultural issues during designing could prove as a barrier in successful implementation of E-learning (Boondao et al, 2008). Discussing the different critical barriers Nowadays an escalating amount of companies are implementing E-learning System (Mungania, 2003). But as these companies try to take advantages of E-learning to gain strategic and competitive advantages in absolute urgency, there are significant number of barriers to the implementation of E-learning come across to halt them (Simmons, 2002, p.19 and Mungania, (2003). As E-learning barriers are diverse and can be classified as personal, organizational, situational, instructional and technological. (Mungania, 2003) Moreover Khans E-learning framework provides details on critical issues which may come across E-learning implementation process. Khans E-learning framework composed of eight dimensions: institutional, management, pedagogical, technological, interface design, ethical, evaluation, and resource support. Institutional Issues Institutions need to build a complete plan for the successful implementation of E learning system (Khan 2005, p.23). Moreover Childs et al (2005) stated that institution should focus on cultural aspects for the implementation process of E learning system which have a significant effect upon the success of E-learning process (Cronje, 2009).E-learning needs to be integrated to all departments of the institution therefore a strong commitment is needed from the institution and the trainers Childs et al (2005). Moreover, E-learning implementation plan must be fully aligned with the institutions ambitions and strategic plans (Galusha, 1997; Belanger and Jordan, 2000). Therefore E-learning implementation process is paradigm shift for the institution as a whole which includes learners, instructors, administrators, technical and other support services staff (Romiszowski, 2004). To support institutions in strategic planning, change management and process development which are necessary to highlight their embedding process and issues which may occur in their organization (Childs et al (2005) and Khan 2005,p.23). Khan has divided institution issue into three parts administrative affairs, academic affairs and student services (Khan 2005, p. 24). Administrative affairs which includes organization and change (implementation of E-learning system), budgeting and return on investment, course information catalog, financial aid, course schedule, tuition fees, registration and payment, information technology services, instructional design, whereas academic affairs issues such as policies, instructional quality, faculty and staff support, intellectual property rights and so on (Khan 2005, p. 24 ). Moreover Student services deals with student support services for E-learning effectiveness. Management issues Magalhaes (2008) stated that lack of management support is number one barrier towards successful implementation of E-learning system in institution. Management issues of E-learning in organization refers to various phases of administration such as scheduling, design, construction, assessment, delivery, and maintenance (Romiszowski 2003 and Parkham et al, 2004). Managing issues in organizations depend upon various elements including content delivery, and technology Trentin (2003). Khan (2005) also stated that for the success of E learning system institution must focus on three key areas people, process, and products involved in E-learning projects which depends upon integrated team approach (Jung, 2003).Critical management factors categorized by Khan (2005) are mentioned below: Technological Issues Technological limitations are among the major barriers for the success of E-learning system (Wong, 2007).Technological limitations of E-learning system relates to computer hardware, software and relevant resources (Wong, 2007).Connectivity problems, lack of training, navigation issues, limitations of 24/7 technical support, loss of data and incapability to save or transfer data are the most common technological limitations (Mungania, 2003). Usually small and medium enterprises fail to implement E-learning system due to lack of support in hardware and software (Sambrook, 2003;Wong, 2007).The technological issues can be divided into three parts infrastructure planning, hardware, and software (Kearsley, 2000; Rumble, 2000). Success of E learming system in organizations depends upon infrastructure planning which includes a well documented strategy, focusing on infrastructure. (McGraw, 2001; Romiszowski, 2004).As E-learning environment depends on digital infrastructure, there for institutions should have consistent and well-organized networks to support E-learning (khan 2005, p.154). Moreover institutions should develop policies and guidelines to cater various issues of hardware, software, and networks as institutions involved in implementation of E-learning may suffer. (Wong, 2007, Romiszowski, 2004) Learners require basic hardware for E-learning such as desktop or notebook computers and printers (Kathawala, Abdou, Elmulti, 2002;Hiltz, 1997, Wong, 2007). Therefore, one of the major technological limitations of E-learning is the availability of computer hardware (wong,2007). Major hardware limitations of E-learning system is the necessity of relevant resources which includes servers, modems, microphones, wireless devices, printers, scanners, computers, networking devices, cameras storage devices and other equipments. (Wong, 2007, Khan 2005, p.159) Institution experience similar problems such as software costs as well as software support cost, particularly for software licenses which acts as a significant barrier (khan 2005, p.159). Software includes word processors, databases, e-mail, presentation programs, reader software, browsers and plug-ins, spreadsheets, learning management systems (LMS), authoring tools and enterprise software and so on (LytasPauloudi,2001 and Khan 2005, p.159-160) Pedagogical Issues Success of E-learning systems implementation depends on the adherence to underlay pedagogical principles that are entrenched in the E-learning (Uhomoibhi, 2006). Pedagogical issues in E-learning are major challenges in distance education therefore a strong need of resources for development of the course material arises