Free Essays on Their Loss Of Illusion Critical Essay

Their Loss of Illusion The two stories â€Å"Araby† by James Joyce and â€Å"Jasmine† by Bharati Mukherjee are the two accounts of youth and lost blamelessness. These two stories have various settings, various characters, they were even composed at various occasions. One of them is the tale of a kid and the other of a young lady; be that as it may, the essential idea is as yet the equivalent. Both of the creators through their accounts lead the path for their characters and their last bafflement. In his brief yet complex story â€Å"Araby†, James Joyce focuses altogether on his character, a little fellow who lived in Dublin when the new century rolled over. This is an anecdote about a boy’s journey, yet despite the fact that the mission finishes in disappointment, it brings about his enlivening and his initial step into masculinity. Toward the start of the story he is forlorn and detached, yet creative. He is uninformed and subsequently honest, and comes up short on the full comprehension of his general surroundings. This all progressions rapidly after he ends up in affection with a wonderful little youngster. He consents to go to Araby to get her a blessing; be that as it may, when he shows up there it is past the point of no return. â€Å"Gazing up into the murkiness I considered myself to be an animal driven and criticized by vanity, and my eyes ignited with anguish and anger.† I accept that this dimness is utilized as an image. As of now he likely understands that thing youngster was just utilizing him, and the obscurity represents his unexpected mindfulness and frustration as he discovers his dreams broke. Muhkerjee’s â€Å"Jasmine† has similitudes, yet then again it is exceedingly unique in relation to â€Å"Araby†. As the story starts the primary character is as of now a young lady. The peruser would expect that she is in her mid twenties, being that she previously had gone to school for a long time and was utilized. She was not a young lady looking for adoration like in â€Å"Araby†, she was a youthful woma... Free Essays on Their Loss Of Illusion Critical Essay Free Essays on Their Loss Of Illusion Critical Essay Their Loss of Illusion The two stories â€Å"Araby† by James Joyce and â€Å"Jasmine† by Bharati Mukherjee are the two accounts of youth and lost blamelessness. These two stories have various settings, various characters, they were even composed at various occasions. One of them is the account of a kid and the other of a young lady; notwithstanding, the essential idea is as yet the equivalent. Both of the creators through their accounts lead the route for their characters and their last dissatisfaction. In his brief yet complex story â€Å"Araby†, James Joyce focuses altogether on his character, a little fellow who lived in Dublin when the new century rolled over. This is an anecdote about a boy’s mission, however despite the fact that the journey finishes in disappointment, it brings about his enlivening and his initial step into masculinity. Toward the start of the story he is forlorn and confined, yet innovative. He is uninformed and in this way blameless, and comes up short on the full comprehension of his general surroundings. This all progressions rapidly after he ends up in affection with a lovely little youngster. He consents to go to Araby to get her a blessing; be that as it may, when he shows up there it is past the point of no return. â€Å"Gazing up into the haziness I considered myself to be an animal driven and mocked by vanity, and my eyes ignited with anguish and anger.† I accept that this obscurity is utilized as an image. Right now he likely understands that thing youngster was just utilizing him, and the murkiness represents his unexpected mindfulness and dissatisfaction as he discovers his dreams broke. Muhkerjee’s â€Å"Jasmine† has similitudes, yet then again it is exceedingly not quite the same as â€Å"Araby†. As the story starts the principle character is as of now a young lady. The peruser would accept that she is in her mid twenties, being that she previously had gone to school for a long time and was utilized. She was not a young lady looking for adoration like in â€Å"Araby†, she was a youthful woma...

Annotated Bibliography Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 2

Commented on Bibliography Example The writer, Raymond Boudon is a University Professor and he has distributed various books comprehensive of article in scholastic Journals. Mulling over of the distinction that qualities have from culture to culture and century to century, the creator presents an exact, information based investigation of the directly existing speculations about qualities as he discloses why individuals will in general acknowledge or negligence esteem explanations. The creator likewise groups profoundly the fundamental speculations of significant worth that were unequivocally founded on a conviction, social, organic factors together those dependent on discerning or utilitarian perspectives. His work has the same number of similitudes as there are contrasts in contrast with Li (2013) particularly in regards to his way to deal with esteem explanation, the source of qualities and his proposed reasons concerning why individuals will in general either acknowledge or dismiss esteem articulation Evaluation: This book by Boudon Raymond is useful in clarifying the starting point, worth, pertinence and hugeness of incentive to a specific network. This book is instrumental in the use of significant worth hypotheses to policy driven issues and social issues, for example, in cases, for example, communitarianism or capital punishment, and so forth. This is a philosophical book by William James DeAngelis, which is at present two years of age since its distribution. The decision of this book is basically founded on its important and unequivocal clarification of a social viewpoint from the philosophical perspective of Wittgenstein who is known to have handled the current topic culture and incentive to some length. William James DeAngelis is a partner Professor of Philosophy and has distributed various philosophical talks in different scholastic Journals and Papers. DeAngelis has explore enthusiasm for different themes that incorporate among others Theory of Mind, Self-Deception, Descartes, Wittgenstein particularly Wittgenstein’s

Gluten and Schizophrenia Connection

Gluten and Schizophrenia Connection Schizophrenia Print Gluten and Schizophrenia Connection By Jane Anderson facebook twitter Jane Anderson is a medical journalist and an expert in celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, and the gluten-free diet. Learn about our editorial policy Jane Anderson Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Emmy Ludwig, MD on August 05, 2016 Emmy Ludwig, MD, is board-certified in gastroenterology and hepatology. She practices at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Learn about our Medical Review Board Emmy Ludwig, MD Updated on February 03, 2020 Schizophrenia Overview Symptoms & Diagnosis Causes & Risk Factors Treatment Living With In Children  Wavebreakmedia / Getty Images Psychiatrists have speculated about a potential link between gluten and schizophrenia for more than three decades. In fact, the term bread madness was coined half-a-century ago to describe schizophreniaâ€"there were reports of mental patients recovering spontaneously when bread products (i.e., the bulk of gluten-containing foods in their diets) werent available. Although there have been some case reports of patients with schizophrenia improving with a gluten-free diet, even researchers in the field speculate that only a very small percentage of schizophrenics may ultimately benefit from dietary interventions such as a gluten-free diet. Its also important to recognize that there are no currently accepted dietary recommendations regarding gluten and schizophrenia. Still, researchers are beginning to look at the complex connections that may exist in the immunology of celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, and schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Is a Severe Mental Disorder Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe and potentially disabling brain disorder. It affects about 1% of the overall population. People with schizophrenia suffer from a variety of different symptoms, but may hear voices (hallucinations) or believe people are controlling them or plotting against them (delusions). To control schizophrenia, physicians generally prescribe antipsychotic medication. Support from a psychiatric team is often an essential component of care. Although in some people the disease can be controlled enough for them to be productive members of society, others with schizophrenia are significantly disabled. Although most people with schizophrenia arent violent toward others, approximately 10% ultimately commit suicide. An Overview of Schizophrenia Wheat Gluten as a Possible Schizophrenia Factor Back in 1976, researchers published a study in Science speculating that the gluten protein in wheat caused or promoted schizophrenia. Schizophrenics maintained on a cereal grain-free and milk-free diet and receiving optimal treatment with neuroleptics [i.e., antipsychotic drugs] showed an interruption or reversal of their therapeutic progress during a period of blind wheat gluten challenge, the scientists wrote. After termination of the gluten challenge, the course of improvement was reinstated. The observed effects seemed to be due to a primary schizophrenia-promoting effect of wheat gluten. As the years passed, more studies chimed in on the potential effects of gluten in schizophrenia, with mixed results. A study published in 1981 kept eight chronic schizophrenia patients on a gluten-free, milk-free diet and then challenged them with wheat gluten for five weeks. The study found no difference in their schizophrenia symptoms when they were consuming gluten. However, in a 1986 study, researchers studied 24 patients, primarily people with schizophrenia, on a gluten-free diet, and found that two of those people improved during the gluten-free period and relapsed when the gluten-containing diet was reintroduced. More recent research has noted this effect of the gluten-free diet in a small subset of patients with schizophrenia  and has recommended large-scale epidemiological studies and clinical trials to determine why this happens and which schizophrenia patients might benefit. A comprehensive review of the medical literature on gluten-related illnesses and severe mental disorders reports that people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity could have a slightly higher risk of schizophrenia and mood disorders. Gluten Antibodies Involved People who have untreated celiac disease (i.e., those who are eating a conventional diet with gluten-containing foods) show high levels of specific antibodies, including the tTG-IgA and EMA-IgA antibodies, when celiac blood tests are performed. These tests are specific to the intestinal damage found due to gluten in celiac disease. Some people with schizophrenia, meanwhile, show high levels of other antibodies to glutenâ€"notably the AGA-IgG and the AGA-IgA antibodies. For example, one study that looked at 1,401 schizophrenia patients found 23% of them had moderate to high levels of AGA-IgA. The AGA-IgA and AGA-IgG antibodies are considered less specific to celiac diseaseâ€"they indicate an immune system reaction to gluten is going on, but not the specific villous atrophy found in celiac disease. Indeed, a study that looked at people with celiac disease and people with schizophrenia separately found the two groups seemed to be reacting to different parts of the gluten protein, indicating that any immune system response to gluten in schizophrenia is different from that of celiac disease, and is independent of any potential intestinal damage. Those with schizophrenia whose blood test results showed antibodies to gluten did not necessarily have the celiac disease genes, the researchers concluded, adding, our results reveal an immunologic response to gluten in individuals with schizophrenia that is clearly different from that in celiac disease. A Word From Verywell Although its not generally accepted in the mental health field, University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research director Dr. Alessio Fasano says that an as-yet undefined subset of people with certain mental disorders, including schizophrenia and also autism, seem to improve or even recover on a gluten-free diet, even if they dont have celiac disease. However, theres currently no accepted way to test for gluten sensitivity. Theres also no accepted way to determine whether a schizophrenia patient would benefit from the gluten-free diet; the AGA-IgA and AGA-IgG tests dont seem to pick up everyone with the condition. Researchers currently are working to identify a specific biomarker that could lead to a medical test that will identify most or all people with gluten sensitivity, including those with schizophrenia. Until more research has been done, medical professionals dont recommend going gluten-free in an effort to help schizophrenia.

Essay on The Global Ethical Perspective of Peer-to-peer...

The Global Ethical Perspective of Peer-to-peer File-sharing Introduction This paper is an analytical essay on global ethical issues on peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing. A history and background of peer-to-peer file-sharing will be given, as well as how it became an issue. This paper will explore what aspects of file-sharing are ethical and at what point it becomes unethical. An explanation of the laws will be described and whether the laws different from region-to-region around the world. The paper will include personal experiences with file sharing, as well as an in-depth analysis on the topic with high-quality industry and academic references to defend a particular moral/ethical position. Background The Internet is a shared†¦show more content†¦Not everyone thought this was such a great idea, however. Some objections cite legal or moral concerns. Other problems were technical. Many network providers, having set up their systems with the idea that users would spend most of their time downloading data from central servers, have economic objections to peer-to-peer models. A long-established fixture of computer networking that includes important peer-to-peer components is Usenet, which has been around since 1979. Usenet news implements a decentralized model of control that in some ways is the grandfather of today’s new peer-to-peer applications such as Gnutella* and Freenet*. Fundamentally, Usenet is a system that, using no central control, copies files between computers. So the bottom-line is that file-sharing has been around for a long time now and that its decentralized nature makes is hard to control besides holding each individual sharing files accountable. Peer -to-peer systems go hand-in-hand with decentralized systems. In a fully decentralized system, not only is every host an equal participant, but there are no hosts with special facilitating or administrative roles. In practice, building fully decentralized systems can be difficult, and many peer-to-peer applications take hybrid approaches to solving problems. [1] Laws and Issues Associated with File-sharing File-sharing in itself is not an issue untilShow MoreRelatedFile Sharing And The Internet Piracy1468 Words   |  6 Pagespiracy or file sharing of copyrighted material has gained much popularity. It is a topic that has incessantly sparked debate and has even received global attention. Although on the surface the act of file sharing may seem harmless, it is far from it. Each year, film and record production companies as well as software and video game development companies suffer from billions of dollars in lost profits. This loss comes as a direct result of internet piracy. Many agree that file sharing is unethicalRead MoreThe Era of Internet Piracy1787 Words   |  8 Pagescompanies and record labels are making a great deal of money in today’s society; but with unauthorized peer-to-peer systems illegally downloading music and movies, there is a dramatic change in the potential profit for these industries. The RIAA claims (Recording Industry Association) â€Å"that m ore than 2.6 billion files of music were illegally downloaded every month on unauthorized peer-to-peer (P2P) systems (Roda, 2003). Companies are trying to protect copyright infringement by implementing digitalRead MoreAn Empirical Association Between Dependent And Independent Variables1123 Words   |  5 Pagesresearch. In the survey questions, I shall avoid double negatives and double-barreled questions as these factors may confuse the participate. The surveys will allow for uncertainties because some human trafficking victims might be comfortable with sharing certain types of information with me. 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Islamic And Conventional Banking And Customer Satisfaction - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 16 Words: 4679 Downloads: 2 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Finance Essay Type Research paper Did you like this example? Customer satisfaction is a business term which measure that how products and services supplied by a company or business organisation meet or fulfil customer expectations. Customer satisfaction is believed a very important and key performance indicator within a business. In a competitive marketplace where businesses compete for customers, customer satisfaction is a key differentiator and has become a very important element of business strategy. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Islamic And Conventional Banking And Customer Satisfaction" essay for you Create order Banking is a customer oriented services industry, therefore, the customer is the focus and customer service is the differentiating factors. When the banks are offering almost the similar products and services with some principal differences. It is the customer satisfaction that can influence the performance and determine the competitiveness and success of either an Islamic or Conventional bank. Banks deal with thousands of customers everyday and render different types of services to them. It is a well known reality and fact that no business can exist and grow without customers. And the satisfaction of these customers is as important as the customers itself are important for any business. Satisfied customers are central to optimal performance and financial returns. Better understanding of customerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s perceptions is important for a Bank to determine the actions required to meet the customers needs. Banks can identify their own strengths and weaknesses, where th ey stand in comparison to their competitors, chart out path future progress and improvement. Customer satisfaction measurement helps to promote an increased focus on customer outcomes and stimulate improvements in the work practices and processes used within the company. 1.2 Research Objectives The main aim of this study is to:- Review and analyse the literature available on both Islamic and Conventional bank with special reference to Pakistan. Examine and evaluate the performance of the Islamic and conventional banks in Pakistan. Find out the level of Customerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s knowledge about the products and services provided by their banks. Find out the factors of customerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s dissatisfaction from the products and services of their bank. Find out the main factors of motivation for a customer to deal with either an Islamic or a conventional bank. Find out that to what extent customers are satisfied with their banks. 1.3 Research Questions The research is target to examine the Islamic and conventional banking in Pakistan in relation to product analysis and customer satisfaction. This research will be helpful to answer the following questions:- Performance of which form of banking is better than the other and why? What are the main differences between the products offered by the Islamic and Conventional banks in Pakistan? What is the customerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s satisfaction level with both forms of banking? What are the factors of motivation for a customer to deal with a bank? What are the main factors of customerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s dissatisfaction from a bank? Which form of banking is more rewarding and reliable in Pakistan? What are the suggestions and recommendation to improve the services and operations of both Islamic and Conventional banks? 1.4 Research Rational The Researcher worked in a conventional bank for about 1 year, at the time when there was no Islamic bank in Pakistan. But there seemed to be a demand in the customer for such kind of banks at that time. Researcher is keen to start his career in the banking sector of Pakistan. At the moment there are about 35 banks working in Pakistan out of which 6 of them are registered as Islamic banks, but majority of the Islamic banks started their operations very recently. But if we compare them with conventional banks in Pakistan conventional banks are much older and larger then these Islamic banks. The Researcher is committed to investigate the principal difference between the both conventional and Islamic banks, their products, their reliability and the factors encouraging the customers to invest their money in any of these two forms of banking. The researcher will also analyse the key factors which play their role in either the satisfaction or dissatisfaction of the customer of thes e banks and which form of banking is more successful in relation to customer Satisfaction and why? The researcher will also come out with the suggestions to improve the service of the banks to satisfy their customer. 1.5 Research Context Banks are performing various functions to provide variety of products and services for different sectors of the economy. Pakistan came into being in 1947; the first Pakistani bank started its operations the same year in the month of September. Since that time Pakistani banking sector is experiencing difficulties due to unpractical policies and uncertainty. Private Sector banks strongly dominated during the first almost 20 years but all the banks were nationalized in 1974, which proved disastrous move for the banking sector of Pakistan. Nationalization of private banks badly affected the performance of these banks. So, these banks were privatized again in 1992. Pakistanà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s banking sector consists of Scheduled commercial banks, which include nationalized, foreign and private banks. Pakistanà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s banking sector has been going through a comprehensive but complex and very painful process of restructuring since 1997. It is aimed at making these institutions financially sound and forging their links firmly with the real sector for promotion of savings, investment and growth. A complete turnaround in this sector will not be possible and is not expected as well but signs of improvement can be seen. Islamic banking was started in the late 70à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s in Pakistan, but it was initially introduced in the conventional banks. The first Islamic banking license was issued in 2002 to the Meezan Bank Ltd; this bank started its operations in Pakistan in the year 2003. The Islamic banking has gained momentum worldwide. There are more than 185 Islamic banks and financial institutions operating in the world. The popularity of Islamic banking in not limited to Islamic banks only. A large number of conventional banks in Pakistan and all over the world are showing increasing interest in the Islamic banking system as well. The consequence of this is that Islamic banks operating in Islamic countries are faced with strong competition not only fr om Islamic banks but also from non-Islamic rivals Habib Bank Ltd Habib Banks Ltd. was the first commercial bank to be established in Pakistan in 1947. Over the years, HBL has grown its branch network and become the largest private sector bank with over 1,450 branches across the country and a customer base exceeding five million relationships. The Government of Pakistan privatized HBL in 2004 through which AKFED acquired 51% of the bankà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s shareholding and management control. HBL is majority owned (51%) by the Aga Khan Fund of Economic Development, 42.5% of the shareholding is retained by the Government of Pakistan (GOP), whilst 7.5% is owned by the general public i.e. over 170,000 shareholders following the public listing that took place in July 2007. Nepal, Nigeria, Kenya and Kyrgyzstan and rep offices in Iran and China, HBL is also the largest domestic multinational. The bank is expanding its presence in principal international markets including the UK, UAE, South and Central Asia, Africa and the Far East. Key areas of op erations encompass product offering and services in retail and consumer banking. HBL has the largest corporate Banking portfolio in the country with an active investment banking arm. SME and Agriculture lending programmes and banking services are offered in urban and rural centres. HBL is currently rated AA (Long term) and A-1+ (Short term) and has a balance sheet size over USD 11 billion. It is the first Pakistani bank to raise Tier II Capital from external sources. Meezan Bank Ltd. Meezan Bank Limited, a publicly listed company, was incorporated on January 27, 1997 and started operations as an investment bank in August that year. In January, 2002 in a historic initiative, Meezan Bank was granted the nationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s first full-fledged commercial banking license as a dedicated Islamic Bank, by the State Bank of Pakistan. Meezan Bank has clearly established itself as the largest Islamic Bank in Pakistan with the largest Islamic Banking branch network in the country. The banking sector is showing a significant paradigm shift away from traditional means of business and is catering to an increasingly astute and demanding financial consumer, who is also becoming keenly aware of Islamic Banking. Meezan Bank bears the critical responsibility of leading the way forward in establishing a stable and dynamic Islamic Banking system replete with dynamic and cutting-edge products and services. During the eight years of its operations as an Islamic commercial bank offering universal banking services to customers, Meezan Bank has been one of the fastest growing banks in the history of Pakistanà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s banking sector. Average growth in deposits has been 55% per annum during this period while the branch network grew from 4 to 201. The Bank has established a strong and credible management team comprised of experienced professionals, that have achieved a strong balance sheet with excellent operating profitability and strong ratios, which places the Bank at the top of the Islamic Banking industry. The Bank has been assigned a long-term entity rating of A+ with a à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"Stableà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ outlook and a short-term entity rating of A1. The Bankà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s main shareholders are leading financial institutions of the Region namely, Noor Financial Investment Company, Kuwait, a leading investment company based in Kuwait; Pak-Kuwait Investment Company, a AAA rated financial entity in the country and the Islamic De velopment Bank of Jeddah. The established position, reputation, strength and stability, of these institutions add significant value to the Bank through Board representation and applied synergies. The bank has developed an extraordinary research and development capability by combining investment bankers, commercial bankers, Shariah scholars and legal experts to develop innovative, viable, and competitive value propositions that not only meet the requirements of todayà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s complex financial world, but do so with world-class service excellence which our customers demand, all within the bounds of Shariah. Meezan Bank has a strong technology focus. It has invested heavily in state-of-the-art software applications à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" namely Temenos T-24 and Oracle. It has also recently upgraded its hardware platform and also has a à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"hotà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ disaster recovery site in place to cater to any unforeseen eventualities. By implementing robust and aggressive strategic and tactical initiatives on the side of consumer banking, Meezan Bank aims to fulfil its prime target of providing customers accessibility and convenience, within an atmosphere and culture of dedicated service and recognition of their needs. The Bank has a rapidly growing branch network across all major cities nation-wide. Meezan Bank, believe in adding value to its customersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ lives and businesses through dynamic and competitive products and services that fulfil their needs while conforming completely to the dictates of Shariah. At the same time, they endeavor to deliver competitive risk-adjusted returns to our stakeholders LITERATURE REVIEW Within the last few years, a number of studies have provided the discipline into the Practice of conventional and Islamic banking sector. An insight of related studies is as follows:- Islamic banks are striving to capture the maximum number of customers to compete with conventional banks by providing a large number of products as an alternative for interest based products. In Pakistan, banks are providing a wide range of products and services and facing intensive competition to attract potential customers. Persuraman et al. (1985, 1991b) devised SERVQUAL model and investigated the service quality. They explored ten dimensions of service quality and refined into five dimensions. It was documented that an increase in service quality and professional behaviour resulted a greater customer satisfaction and reduced customer erosion (Leeds, 1992). The relationship between service quality and Customer satisfaction is becoming crucial with the increased level of awareness among bank c ustomers (Sureshchander et al. 2002). The conventional banking theories assume that banks earn profits by purchasing deposits from the depositors at a low interest rate, then reselling those funds to the Borrowers at higher interest rate, based on its competitive advantage at gathering Information and underwriting risk (Santos, 2000). Therefore, conventional banks Make profits from the spread between the interest rate received from borrowers and the interest rate paid to depositors. Islamic banking is considered as a different banking stream as it prohibits interest and replaces with (a) profit share and (b) the profit share depends on the extent of the risk participation of the parties. The absence of pre-determined rewards is based on Quranic commands and as interpreted using Sharià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ah principles (Ariff, 2006). Islamic banks showed remarkable progress. It has captured a reasonable market share with excellent growth rate of 114% per annum. The i ncreasing number and size of Islamic banks is also a positive sign of development and success. There are six full-fledged Islamic banks working in different cities of Pakistan and 13 conventional banks have started partial Islamic banking practices by establishing a large number of branches exclusively engaged in Islamic banking practices (SBP, 2006). The prohibition of interest in Islam caused many writings to come forward with an idea to establish banks that do not work on interest basis. So the basic difference between Islamic banks and conventional banks is that Islamic banks are interest free banks whereas conventional banks are interest based banks. (Kahf 2006) Although interest and profit are very clear concepts but they are misunderstood by many people. Basic difference between interest and profit is that interest is the reward to money and profit is the reward to capital investment. In other words money produces interest and capital investment produces profits. (Toutounc hian 2004) Islamic finance has gripped the world with a strong commitment and passion. It has been depicted that interest in this segment has grown rapidly in almost 60 countries, not only in Islamic countries but in the leading global financial centers. Even United Kingdom has adopted an open door policy and provided a level playing field to Islamic finance and now Singapore is following its lead. (Dr.Shamshad 2007) Islamic banking has shown tremendous growth in the past 20 years, with estimated deposits surpassing $80 billion in more than 45 countries. Annual turnover is currently estimated at $70 billion and is projected to pass $100 billion by 2000. (Oà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢Sullivan 1994, p. 7) For the last 60 years, the mode of banking in Pakistan was totally of interest based but now there is a shift from western banking to Islamic banking in number of banks in Pakistan and also there are some new banks like Meezan bank which is totally based on Islamic banking. In 2007 Meeza n Bank creates a significant milestone in the history of Islamic Banking by opening its 100th branch in the city of Karachi. With 100 branches in 31 cities clearly positions the Bank as the leading Islamic Bank in Pakistan. Two new dedicated Islamic Banks start operations in Pakistan, namely Emirates Islamic Bank and Dawood Islamic Bank. (Meezan Bank 2007) Mishkin (2001) reported that banking and financial services are the integral part of services industry and its contribution is increasing with the passage of time. However, expansion of global and integrated banking sector has to face many challenges of legislation, technological and structural changes (Angur et al. 1999). The relationship between service quality and customer satisfaction is investigated by a number of researchers across the globe. It is concluded that there is strong association between dimensions of service quality and overall customer satisfaction (Anderson and Sullivan, 1993). It is found that the bankin g industry has a link between service quality and customer satisfaction (Avkiran, 1994). Islamic banking practices resulted into a notable increase in the supply of loans. It is found that government intervention played an important role to manage funds besides other economic factors in the economy (Makiyan, 2003). Levesque and McDougall (1996) investigated the influence of key determinants of service quality on customer satisfaction in financial institutions. They found a substantial impact of service problems on customer satisfaction and their intensions to switch. It is suggested that service quality is an essential determinant of customer satisfaction (Yavas e t al., 1997). Islamic banks working in different parts of the world assessed their performance in reference to service quality and customers responses. An empirical study was conducted to measure customer awareness and satisfaction by using a sample of 206 respondents towards Islamic banking in Jordan. It is observed th at customers have awareness about products of Islamic bank but expressed a sense of dissatisfaction towards some of the services (Naseer, Jamal and Al-Khatib, 1999). Bahia and Nantel (2000) developed an alternative scale for measurement of service quality in retail banking. They developed BSQ and compared with SERVQUAL. They found that BSQ dimensions are more reliable than SERVQUAL dimensions. In another study SERVQUAL is compared with Technical/Functional quality of services in private banks. Results showed that Technical/Functional quality model is better (Lassar et.al, 2000). A survey of 801 customers indicated that customers perception of service quality differs in terms of demographic characteristics (gender, ethnicity, education and income) of the respondents (Urban and Pratt, 2000). The working of the customers mind is a mystery which is difficult to solve and understanding the nuances of what customer satisfaction is, a challenging task. This exercise in the context of the banking industry will give us an insight into the parameters of customer satisfaction and their measurement. This vital information will help us to build satisfaction amongst the customers and customer loyalty in the long run which is an integral part of any business. The customers requirements must be translated and quantified into measurable targets. This provides an easy way to monitor improvements, and deciding upon the attributes that need to be concentrated on in order to improve customer satisfaction. We can recognize where we need to make changes to create improvements and determine if these changes, after implemented, have led to increased customer satisfaction. If you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it. Lord William Thomson Kelvin (1824-1907). Oppewal and Vriens (2000) empirically investigated the relationship between service quality and customer satisfaction by using original SERVQUAL instrument with 10 dimensions as devised by Parasuraman et al. (1985). Th is study gave a direction to relate service quality and customer satisfaction. Service quality gained significance with the passage of time due to increased competition among service firms. It was examined that how customer satisfaction affects the customers behavioral consequences. The study found a strong impact of customer satisfaction on their decision to stay with the existing service provider; and restrain their negative behavioral intentions. (Athanassopoulos, Gounaris and Stathakopoulos, 2001). Kayis, Kim and Shin (2003) conducted a comparative analysis of Australian and Korean banks to find out the quality management practices and its outcomes. They found a meaningful relationship between perceived service quality and customer satisfaction. They suggest that organizations should focus on service quality as an input to customer satisfaction for long-term benefits and business success. Now banks have realized the importance of service quality for successful survival in todays global and highly competitive environment (Wang et al. 2003). Jamal (2004) investigated the customer behaviour in retail banking by considering service quality and its outcomes. It was observed that customers have varied experiences of satisfaction and dissatisfaction for utilization of self-service technologies. Financial sector is becoming more conscious about the performance evaluation regarding quality of products/services according to customersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ expectations. In another study, findings reveal a positive correlation between financial performance and customer service quality scores (Duncan and Elliott, 2004). Curry and Penman (2004) reported that service quality is inevitable for differentiation to compete in the banking sector. They suggested that the right service could retain the customers for long-term benefits. So, Banks should maintain the level of services by proper allocation of resources to meet customer requirements. Findings indicated that financia l institutions require reasonable procedures to evaluate the overall satisfaction of their customers. However, understanding of changing needs and expectations of customers is an essential prerequisite for the financial sector (Joseph et al. 2005). Jabnoun and Khalifa (2005) proposed and tested a measure of service quality to compare conventional and Islamic banks in UAE. The study found that four dimensions were significant in case of conventional banks. While only personal skill and values were crucial in determining service quality in Islamic banks. It is found that bank-customer relationship quality is evident between satisfied and dissatisfied customers. Both types of customers have clearly distinctive feelings regarding their service experience (Nelson and Chan, 2005). Al-Hawari and Ward (2006) found that customer satisfaction plays an inter-mediator role in the relationship between service quality and financial performance of the banks. In another study, overall custome r satisfaction was investigated in Malaysian banking industry by collecting data from 220 customers of 15 retail banks. It was found that overall customer satisfaction is one of the key determinants of relationship quality (Nelson, 2006). It is suggested that bank should start service quality improvement programs to enhance customer satisfaction and customer loyalty (Razak et al., 2007). On the basis of existing literature, this study examines the perception of bank customers regarding service quality and its impact on customer satisfaction in Pakistani banking sector, we test the following hypotheses. H1: There will be positive relationships between service quality and customer satisfaction regarding Islamic banks in Pakistan. H2: There will be positive relationships between service quality and customer satisfaction regarding Conventional banks in Pakistan. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY The main purpose of this research is to analyse the level of customer satisfaction about Meezan Bank Ltd and Habib Bank Ltd in Pakistan. Many authors and writers have defined research and research methodology, most of them if not completely contradictory with each other but are substantially different. Websterà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Collegiate Dictionary (1977) defines research as à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Studious inquiry or examination; esp. investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of facts, revision of accepted theories or laws in the light of new facts or practical application of such new or revised theories of lawsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬? Andrew and Hildebrand (1982, p. 3) define research as à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“The orderly procedure by which man increases his knowledgeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬? 3.1 RESEARCH PHILOSOPHY 3.2 RESEARCH APPROACH Research approach means the approach or the methodology that has been adopted to conduct the research. Research approach involves the selection of research questions, the conceptual framework that has to be adopted, the selection of appropriate research method such as primary research, secondary research etc. There are mainly two types of research approach:- Inductive approach Deductive approach Inductive Approach An inductive argument is one in which the premises are supposed to support the conclusion in such a way that if the premises are true, it is improbable that the conclusion would be false. Thus, the conclusion follows probably from the premises and inferences. Here is an example: 1. Socrates was Greek. (Premise) 2. Most Greeks eat fish. (Premise) 3. Socrates ate fish. (Conclusion) It may seem that inductive arguments are weaker than deductive arguments because there must always remain the possibility of their arriving at false conclusions, but that is not entirely true. With deductive arguments, our conclusions are already contained, even if implicitly, in our premises. This means that we dont arrive at new information à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬  at best; we are shown information which was obscured or unrecognized previously. Thus, the sure truth-preserving nature of deductive arguments comes at a cost. Inductive arguments, on the other hand, do provide us with new ideas and t hus may expand our knowledge about the world in a way that is impossible for deductive arguments to achieve. Thus, while deductive arguments may be used most often with mathematics, most other fields of research make extensive use of inductive arguments. Deductive Approach Deductive argument is one in which it is impossible for the premises to be true but the conclusion false. Thus, the conclusion follows necessarily from the premises and inferences. In this way, it is supposed to be a definitive proof of the truth of the claim (conclusion). Here is a classic example: 1. All men are mortal. (Premise) 2. Socrates was a man. (Premise) 3. Socrates was mortal. (Conclusion) As you can see, if the premises are true (and they are), then it simply isnt possible for the conclusion to be false. If you have a deductive argument and you accept the truth of the premises, then you must also accept the truth of the conclusion; if you reject it, then you are rejecting logic itself. 3.3 Research Strategy Research Strategy basically refers to the method of data collection for the specified topic. The term Data can be divided into further 2 branches. Primary Data The primary data basically refers to data which is collected by the researcher for the purpose of answering the problem under discussion. Primary data will be collected through Secondary Data The Secondary data is being obtained by the literature study, journals and articles. Secondary data is normally used to understand the problem under discussion and its helps the Researcher to reach its conclusion. The Researcher will use a quantitative approach for this research study, developing and distributing a questionnaire to customers of Islamic and Conventional banks asking them about their experiences and attitudes in relation to their banks. The questionnaire will include three types of questions, 1) closed questions, requiring the respondent to answer yes or no, 2) open questions allowing the respondent to elaborate on their answers and 3) multiple choice questions, asking respondents to rate their responses on a scale. Primary data collection plan: quantitative or qualitative both methods have to be used appropriately in any research paradigm. The researcher will be using a quantitative approach. The survey strategy will be used to collect quantitative data whi ch is associated with deductive approach and philosophically positivist. The Researcher will distribute questionnaires to the customers from both Islamic and Conventional banks, asking them to complete and return them to the Researcher. 3.4 Research Sample In research terms a sample is a group of people, objects, or items that are taken from a larger population for measurement. The sample should be representative of the population to ensure that we can generalise the findings from the research sample to the population as a whole. Probability sampling means a method of sampling that utilizes random selection. In order to have a random selection method, you must set up some process or procedure that assures that the different units in your population have equal probabilities of being chosen. Humans have long practiced various forms of random selection, such as picking a name out of a hat, or choosing the short straw. These days, we tend to use computers as the mechanism for generating random numbers as the basis for random selection. Non probability sampling does not involve random selection but it does not mean that non probability samples arent representative of the population. But it does mean that non probability samples cann ot depend upon the rationale of probability theory. At least with a probabilistic sample, we know the odds or probability that we have represented the population well. We are able to estimate confidence intervals for the statistic. With non probability samples, we may or may not represent the population well, and it will often be hard for us to know how well weve done so. In general, researchers prefer probabilistic or random sampling methods over non probabilistic ones, and consider them to be more accurate and rigorous. The Researcher will be using Probability Sampling method for its Primary data collection. 3.5 Research Validity and Reliability The research is designed very carefully in order to maintain the level of validity and reliability. The study which is used is a test and re test approach in order to reduce unfairness and interviewee possible irritation. Both qualitative and quantitative research method are aimed to achieve high level of validity and reliability. Interviews are based on friendly manner to approach people have available time for interviews. Open ended and close ended questions along with some probe were going to be used during in-depth interview. The ethical principle of collecting data is to avoid subjective selectivity in what we record. Researchers needs to maintenance his objectivity by making sure he collects all data and fully (Saunder`s M. et al 2007). 3.6 Research Ethics The ethical principle of collecting data is to avoid subjective selectivity in what we record. Researcher needs to maintenance his objectivity by making sure he collects all data accurately and fully (Saunders, M. et al. 2007). Time Period and task to do March 2010 April 2010 May 2010 June 2010 July 2010 August 2010 Weeks, 17, Prepare dissertation proposal and submission before 29th April 2009. Continue searching the literature review and its submission to supervisor. .. . . Weeks, 18,19 .. Weeks, 20,21 Interviewing with participants, and analysing of data simultaneously, gathered from each participant. Revision of draft and supervisor`s comments. Meeting with supervisor, Initial start of contacting participants for data gathering, approaching participants for interview Weeks, 22,23,24 .. .. . . Weeks, 25,26,27,28,29 . .. Submission of (final) draft, revision and submission of dissertation Weeks, 30,31,32 . ..

Week 2 APA Paper Free Essays

The Industrial Revolution would usher in a new era type and publication, particular with Lord Stanhope†s invention of the all cast-iron printing press, doubling the usable paper size and drastically reducing the use of normal labor. In 1810 the halftone process was developed, allowing for the first photo to be printed on a range of full tones. This in turn introduced a wave of sensationalist tabloids and the launch of a new craze: celebrities. We will write a custom essay sample on Week 2 APA Paper or any similar topic only for you Order Now Tabloids like the New York Daily News and the New York Daily Mission prohibited photo spreads [sometimes real, sometimes manipulation] of stars like Rudolph Valentino with eminence success. One reason that it was so successful was that it reduced the manpower it took to run the press and all though movie stars sure loved those new presses. These days, our lives are much easier than before, from new inventions such as cell phones and ‘pods. But to answer this question I have to go to the books. As technology advanced and mass production flourished, cities in Europe and the United States grew rapidly as people sought employment in factories. Political power shifted from the aristocracy, to the capitalist manufactories, merchants, and the working class. The capitalist replaced the landowner as the most powerful force in the western world. Investing in machines for mass manufacturing became the basic for change and industry. As this supply and demand became the force behind the output. It was a time for optimism and wealth, but not without it’s social cost. Long thirteen-hour days, unsanitary and filthy living conditions, women and children among the workforce, overproduction, economic depression, and the loss of Jobs due to new improvement in technology took their tolls. Critics of this new industrial age declared that civilization was shifting from humanist values to a preoccupation with material goods. But with all this new technology, public education, literacy flourished nd the need for reading material became more important and widely available. Mass production of goods brought with it an overpowering need for mass communications. The nature of visual information was profoundly changed. A greater range of typographic sizes for broadsides and letterforms exploded. The nineteenth century was a prolific period for type face design and brought about such new classifications as egyption and sanserif, as well as outrageously decorative and novelty type faces. How to cite Week 2 APA Paper, Papers

Organizations Management in Cross Cultural Context-Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Organizations and Management in Cross-Cultural Context. Answer: Active Listening in a Cross-Cultural Context According to Aycan, Kanungo Mendonca (2014: 112), active listening helps individuals in acknowledging their feelings, changing their behavior, and attitudes. The authors also note that active listening creates a supportive atmosphere and consequently reduces the need for individuals to defend themselves. In such an atmosphere, the uninhibited and open communication is defined by acceptance, understanding, and empathy. Besides, individuals involved in the communication process consider each other as crucial resources instead of a threat to assistance and information. Active listening in the context of cross-cultural communication entails listening with sensitivity and establishing an environment where acceptance, permissiveness, freedom, and warmth are respected and emphasized (Aycan, Kanungo Mendonca 2014: 113). Through active listening, an environment of trust is created with the primary objective of conveying the intended information and avoiding miscommunication. However, active listening significantly differs across cultures. For instance, depending on an individuals cultural background, active listening entails utilizing facial expressions, nodding ones head, maintaining eye contact, and utilizing open-ended questions (Aycan, Kanungo Mendonca 2014: 113). Unfortunately, these strategies are common in Individualistic cultures including European cultures and the North American continent and not in collectivist cultures such as in China or Japan. For instance, maintaining eye contact is considered aggressive or rude by individuals from Japanese culture. Nodding means that a person is attentive rather than agreeing in Japanese culture. For all these reasons, it is important to learn non-verbal and verbal communication cues used by individuals from distinct cross-cultural backgrounds to avoid miscommunication. Analysis of the Significance of Active Listening For Cross-Cultural Communication Gore (2013: 59) defines cross-cultural communication as an individual ability to effectively improve, foster, and form relationships with people from different cultural backgrounds. Cross-cultural communication is founded on various factors including social structures, manners, perceptions, cultural values, and decision-making practices. Likewise, it takes into consideration comprehending how people from distinct cultural backgrounds communicate in writing, in person, nonverbally, and verbally in both social and business contexts. Additionally, cross-cultural communication analyzes how individuals from distinct cultural backgrounds communicate among themselves and across cultures. Nonetheless, people from different cultures face communication barriers in their attempt to interact with one another. Overview of Barriers to Cross-Cultural Communication Gore (2013: 62) outlines six main obstacles to effective communication including gender barriers, language barriers, and cultural barriers. Other barriers include perceptual barriers, emotional barriers, and physical barriers. Physical Barriers The concept of the global village has brought individuals from different regions of the world together. In fact, the presence of mobiles, telephones, and the internet has enabled individuals from various parts of the globe to connect, share photos, and communicate with one another. However, physical barriers including workplace separation, marked territories, and geographical locations remains a significant barrier towards effective cross-cultural communication (Steers, Nardon Sanchez-Runde, 2013: 268). In some organizations, the departments, sections, and cabins reflect the different status of their employees. However, technology advancements are eliminating these physical barriers. If the technology is not used to convey the message as intended, it might result in miscommunication. Perceptual Barriers Communicating with individuals characterized by different temperament, disposition, mindset, and colors is quite challenging because they hold distinct views regarding the world and people around them. Emotional Barriers According to Gore (2013:64), individuals emotional behaviors and attitudes significantly differ when reacting to similar or different circumstances. Emotional behavior includes doubts, suspicion, fear, and mistrust. The author notes that emotional beliefs and disbeliefs are the main barrier to free and open communication. Individuals and students from different communities, societies, civilizations, cultures, and continents have distinct sets of emotional attachment which acts a barrier to effective cross-cultural communication. Cultural Barriers Failure to understand other peoples culture results in miscommunication, to be precise, the use of verbal and non-verbal communication. In some instances, positive message is taken negatively by a person coming from other civilization or culture (Gore, 2013: 65). For this reason, it is advisable for individuals working in a multi-cultural institution such as the University of Wollongong (UOW) to have a knowledge of their students and co-workers ideologies and cultures to enhance the communication process. Gender Barriers Gender consciousness is a significant barrier to effective communication. For instance, individuals of opposite sex find it difficult to express themselves freely during conversations. However, this problem is prevalent among Arabians and Asians. For instance, when conversing, a man from the Arabian culture does not maintain an eye contact with a woman because they consider it offensive, and it jeopardizes the effectiveness of the communication. Language Barrier Language is crucial in communication because it helps in conveying and describing what people wish to put across. Through language, individuals express their experiences, thoughts, ideas, emotions, and feelings (Thomas Peterson, 2015: 56). However, people make use of colloquial expressions, jargons, and buzz-words that make communication difficult; especially if they are not viewed in the same context as the sender. Equally, if people use unknown gestures, pronunciations, signs, imageries, symbols and words, miscommunication is bound to occur. Also, the use of body language, non-verbal communication, and similes jeopardizes communication effectiveness (Hofstede, Hofstede Minkov, 2010: 29). For all these reasons, active listening plays an essential role in cross-cultural communication. How Active Listening Eliminates Barriers to Effective Cross-Cultural Communication Fall et al. (2013: 413) consider active listening as an effective strategy in boosting cross-cultural communication. As a technique, active listening entails understanding what the other speaker is trying to put across and asking questions to clarify issues. Accordingly, Krizan et al.(2012: 401) argue that managing cross-cultural communications requires individuals to take into consideration non-verbal communication and listening. In various types of literature, employers consider active listening as one of the top skills in management because it boosts the relationship between employees and customers as well as between employees and the management (Hong, 2012: 125). Active listening eliminates barriers to effective cross-cultural communication because it is characterized by five crucial stages of communication including remembering, responding, interpreting, filtering and hearing (Kic-Drgas, 2015: 17). Being aware of these five processes makes the interaction between individual smoo ther because it focuses on the intention of the sent informational and the receivers attention. Four Key Strategies for Staffs to Advance Their Cross-Cultural Active Listening Skills When Dealing With Students from Other Cultures Staffs at the University of Wollongong (UOW) need skills in cross-cultural communication because they do interact with students and co-workers from distinct cultures and countries. Therefore, failure to recognize differences in verbal and non-verbal communication among different cultures might result in embarrassing mistakes. To avoid such errors, the staffs at the University of Wollongong should apply the following four strategies to enhance their cross-cultural active listening skills. Acquiring cultural competence by studying different cultures at the University The primary objective of the above strategy is to enhance communication skills across distinct cultures prevalent at the university. Through this strategy, the staff will shun behaviors that make their co-workers feel unwanted or excluded. Additionally, understanding other cultures is essential in preventing demeaning and stereotyping remarks or jokes (Guirdham, 2011:35). Knowing and having a deeper comprehension of the staffs language of context The above knowledge is crucial in obtaining significant insights regarding communication across cultures. For instance, staffs will understand unacceptable and acceptable verbal and non-verbal communications across cultures (Maude, 2011: 48). The author also notes that in high-context cultures such as Malaysia, Vietnam, Mexico, and China, nonverbal cues are also important in conveying meaning in the communication process. However, in low-context cultures such as the U.S. and Germany, communication is restricted to spoken or written word. Therefore, through this strategy, the staffs will understand which nonverbal cues to use to make the other party in the communication process know that he/she is actively listening to the conversation. Failure to understand these differences results in miscommunication. Taking part in teaching active listening To enhance effective communication across staffs from various cultural backgrounds at the University, it is important that they take part in educating students about active listening skills. In their teaching, they will comprehend the importance of listening not to judge individuals rather understand them. Through this strategy, staff will become sensitive to other peoples culture. For instance, they will channel their focus on understanding what other people from foreign cultures are attempting to say and how they will react to their responses with the aim of reducing misunderstanding (Bholanath, 2010: 11). Appreciating and Being Optimistic to cultural differences The above strategy enhances communication skills because it requires the staffs to talk less and listen more. The strategy also allows staffs to spend time together with the aim of improving their cultural awareness and being sensitive to other peoples perspective (Moran, Harris Moran, 2011: 93). Identifying Four Key Strategies for Students to Advance Their Cross-Cultural Active Listening Skills When Dealing With Students from Other Cultures Effective cross-cultural communication requires students to be sensitive to other peoples culture. Therefore, to enhance their communication with students from other cultures, the following strategies are crucial. Speaking Slowly Non-native students often find it difficult to figure out what native speakers are trying to put across because of the speed with which they communicate. Regardless, the student is an individual who has started learning English language or who comes from countries that speak English as their national language; it is important to moderate the speed which one communicate. However, speaking too slow might be considered insulting by students from foreign cultures. Sticking To Direct and Simple Explanations and Directions According to cross-cultural communication experts, a single conversation between two individuals contains lots of information. For this reason, they recommend the importance of reducing the amount of information that students attempt to pass across at a one time. Improving communication and reducing incidents of misunderstanding requires students to use simple words and avoid multi-part and complex sentences (Lee, Brown Yeung, 2012: 79). Understanding Distinct Cultural Assumptions Students from foreign cultures base their non-verbal and verbal communications on shared attitudes and beliefs. Therefore, students should understand non-verbal cues that students from other cultures consider to be offensive. Additionally, they should avoid using references, slang, or jokes that might be misleading or confusing to non-native students (Kothhoff Spencer-Oatey, 2010: 279). Practicing active listening Through this strategy, it is important to restate other speakers words with the aim of understanding what they intend to put across. It is also important to ask questions to ensure that significant information is captured during cross-cultural communication. Identifying Four Key Strategies That I Need To Personally Adopt To Enhance My Cross-Cultural Active Listening Skill When Dealing With Students and Staff from Other Cultures To enhance my cross-cultural active listening skills, I will adopt a wide range of strategies to avoid miscommunication and misunderstanding. First, I will channel my focus on understanding my fellow students and staff cultures by reading a wide range of literature. According to Velo (2012:13), literature mirrors a society beliefs, values, and views including their cultural, political, and social development. Through reading such literature, I will have an overview of the aspects of the different cultures at the University. The second strategy is maintaining courtesy and respect of individuals who come from distinct cultures. Through this strategy, I will be able to minimize the stress that individuals feel when attempting to comprehend what people from other cultures are attempting to put across. The third strategy is avoiding the use of slangs. The use of slang significantly differs between cultures and their interpretation is not always correct. Therefore, I will avoid using slang words that are unfamiliar to my audience. The last strategy is avoiding the use of humor because what might be funny in one culture might be insulting in another culture. Recommendation For the University to address the issue of cross-cultural communication, it is essential for both staffs and students at the University of Wollongong (UOW) to surf the internet and understand how people from different cultures use verbal and non-verbal cues. Understanding different cultures is crucial in enhancing communication and reducing misunderstandings. Conclusion In conclusion, the world is increasingly becoming a global village in that people from distinct countries and cultures interact on daily basis. For this reason, it is important for individuals to enhance their cross-cultural communication skills as well as active listening skills. For instance, they need to understand the use of verbal and nonverbal cues across cultures to avoid misunderstandings. For instance, maintaining eye contact is considered active listening in individualistic cultures such as Germany and the United States whereas in collectivist cultures such as Japan, it is considered rude. Equally, individuals need to avoid using slang because it might be interpreted wrong resulting in ineffective communication. Therefore, the key to enhancing active-listening in cross-cultural communication is knowledge. Having knowledge of the different cultures, people will find a way to behave appropriately and address issues associated with the cross-cultural communication. List of References Aycan, Z., Kanungo, R.N. Mendonca, M.(2014) Organizations and Management in Cross-Cultural Context, London: Sage Publications Ltd. Bholanath, D. (2010) Communication in cross-cultural context, ICFAI Journal of Soft Skills, vol.2, no.2, pp. 7-12. Fall, L.T, Kelly, S, MacDonald, P, Primm, C. Holmes, W. (2013) 'Intercultural Communication Apprehension and Emotional Intelligence in Higher Education: Preparing Business Students for Career Success', Business Communication Quarterly, vol. 76, no. 4, pp. 412-426. Gore, V.(2013) 'The Importance of Cross-Cultural Communication', IUP Journal of Soft Skills, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 59-65. Guirdham, M. (2011) Communicating across cultures at work, New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Hofstede, G., Hofstede, G.J., Minkov, M.(2010) Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind, New York: McGraw- Hill. Hong, W. (2012) 'New Perspective of Cross-Cultural Communications: Applications in China Marketing', Journal of Marketing Development Competitiveness, vol. 6, no. 5, pp. 123-130. Kic-Drgas, J.(2015)'Communication Conflicts in an International Environment', Global Management Journal, vol. 7, no. 1/2, pp. 73-80. Kothhoff, H., Spencer-Oatey, H.(2010) Handbook of Intercultural Communication, Berlin; NewYork: Mouton de Grutyer. Krizan, A.C., Merrier, P., Logan, J.P., Williams, K. S.(2012) Business Communication, Mason: South-Western Cengage Learning. Lee, CK, Brown, EL, Yeung, AS 2012, Communication and Language : Surmounting Barriers to Cross-cultural Understanding, Information Age Publishing, Charlotte, NC. Maude, B.(2011). Managing Cross-Cultural Communication: Principles and Practice, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Moran, R.T., Harris, P.R., Moran, S.V.(2011). Managing Cultural Differences: Global Leadership Strategies for Cross-Cultural Business Success, London: Routledge. Steers, R.M. Nardon, L., Sanchez-Runde, C.(2013). Management Across Cultures: Developing Global Competencies, Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press. Thomas, D. Peterson, M.(2015) Cross-Cultural Management: Essential Concepts, Sage: London Velo, V.(2012). Cross-Cultural Management, New York: Business Press