Work-related stress amongst employees

Work-related stress amongst employees In the main, business managers are failing to deal with the problem of work-related stress amongst employees. Work-related stress is a common problem of modern lifestyle which has spread all over the world and touched almost all vocations (Life, nd, p.1). Job stress is a chronic disease caused by condition in the workplace that negatively affects an individuals performance and/or overall well-being of his body and mind (Life, nd, p.1). Sources of work-related stress include high demand of performance, family pressure, poor interpersonal relationships and career concerns. The consequence of the stress will lead to less self-confidence, worse performance and even suicide. As the stress which detrimental to peoples health has become more and more severely, how to cope with the situation is attracting increasing peoples attention. This essay focuses on problems of athletes stress and submits some solutions to the problems for sports managers. The natures of the stress can be split into two parts: physical symptoms and behavioral symptoms (speaking book, 2008). The physical symptoms include: tiredness, nausea, headaches, muscle tension, nervous twitches and altered sleep patterns. Aggression, anxiety, poor decision-making, inability to prioritize, mood changes, difficulty in concentrating, feelings of failure and isolation are belonging to behavioral symptoms (speaking book, 2008, p.95). All of these symptoms can reflect the athletes work-related stress. The causes of the athletes job stress are intricate and complex. They can be mostly divided into 4 parts-environmental issues, personal issues, leadership issues and team issues respectively. Firstly, environmental issues, which include selection, finance, and training environment, is a factor that contributes to the stress (Tim Lew, 2001). Selection is consisted of late selection, a lengthy selection process and unfair selection system. Some athletes illustrate that they feel nervous and tense if they do not know whether they will be chosen for competition. They fear that they will not have enough time to prepare the competition which lead to the stress. And some unfair selection also causes the stress of athletes as they can not obtain the chance of equal competition (Tim Lew, 2001). Finances play an important role in stress. It includes not having enough funding money and differential financial support. Athletes spend most of time on training so that they do not have extra time for earning money. Therefore, they have to obtain the funding from sport organization, sponsorship or family. If the financial support is not enough or is poorly managed, athletes will feel depressive and anxiety (Tim Lew, 2001). Training environment may be being able to lead to the athletes stress if athletes exist in the two opposite environments at the same time. The incompatible environment will make athletes feel uncomfortable. The second part which is the most important one is personal issues. Personal issues contain nutrition, career concern, interpersonal relationship, injury and external distractions (Tom, et al 2000; Tim Lew, 2001). Poor provision of food and disorder eating habit will lead to innutrition or obesity which will influence the athletes performance (Tim Lew, 2001). A female athlete says that diet is her worst puzzle, which will lead to stress (Tim Lew, 2001). A study shows that external distractions (23%) and career concern (19%) are the two major causes for stress (Pensgaard, 1998). Roberston Cooper(1983) believe that career stagnation, high expectation from other people and unrealistic goals, which are the main components of career concern, may give rise to stress if athletes fail to achieve the expectation and goals (Tom, et al 2000). At the same time, external influence also brings stress to athletes. The press, media, spectators and family make athletes distract from their work wh ich consequently influence their performance (Pensgaard, 1998). For example, David Beckham, who is a talented football player, fell out with his coach because the coach thought that David paid more attention on entertainment area than on training. Such action had impeded his development of football skill. At that time, David also had to face a big stress from his wife, who was his manager for planning the commercial activities. Poor interpersonal relationships in a team are another factor of stress. There are three important sets of relationships-relationships with sports managers, with coaches and with teammates. Low interpersonal support from sports managers, coaches and teammates will be linked with high anxiety, tension and low performance satisfaction which increase the risk of obtaining pressure (Tom, et al 2000). In addition, injury, which is the worst thing for athletes, often results in pressure. Most of the athletes who get hurt will worry about their career as they fear that they can not get opportunities to go to the competition or they will lag behind because of less training (Tim Lew, 2001). The third part of the cause is leadership issues which focus on the aspect of coach. Coachs differential treatment of athletes, overbearing coach, coach very demanding and coach-athlete tension are the reasons of athletes pressure (Tim Lew, 2001). Coachs attitude influences athletes deeply because he plays a vital role in a team and has the right to decide which athlete will be chosen for competition. Most of athletes fear that they will be ignored by their coach and some athletes feel stress as they can not bear the workload (Tim Lew, 2001). Moreover, coaching style is another cause of athletes stress. Some athletes can not adapt to different coaching styles which may deter their development. The poor performance of an athlete results in a rise of the pressure (Tim Lew, 2001). Team issues, as the last part of the cause, can not be ignored. It main includes: team atmosphere, communication and support (Tim Lew, 2001).Team atmosphere is a main issue which relates to the tension between the athletes. A new team member, injured athletes and separate groups within team may lead to the poor team atmospheres which engender a tense situation in the team. The supports from teammates, coaches and sports managers are the mental underpinning of athletes which make them get rid of the negative mood. Without support, athletes may feel helpless and even stress (Tim Lew, 2001). Persistent stress may result in long term consequences which may alter the way the athletes feel, thinks and behaves, and may also change their physiological function (Stansfeld et al, 1999; SanterMurphy, 1995; Cincirpini et al, 1984; Stainbrak Green, 1983, cited in Tom, et al 2000). Effects of athletes stress may work on individuals and teams respectively. For individuals, effects of stress may include: sleep disturbances, headaches, gastrointestinal upset, cardiovascular disease, anxiety and depression, labile emotions, less of concentration, lack of motivation, substance misuse and poor performance (University of Cambridge, 2008). While for team, consequences of stress may mean low morale, increased athletes complaints, increased accidents, high absenteeism and poor performance which will influence the development of the team (University of Cambridge, 2008). Because of the high dangers of the athletes stress, how to tackle the problem has become the focus of sports managers. There are some solutions can be used to help sports managers cope with the stress of athletes. First of all, sports managers have to take responsibility for athletes diets and ensure athletes maintain good nutrition (Dean, 2007). Secondly, sports managers should prevent athletes from working overload. Therefore, they should give athletes manageable training schedule so that they will not feel too tired. Keep good relationship with athletes and manage the relationship between athletes are both important for sports managers. The supports from teammates, coaches and sports managers are the mental underpinning of athletes which can help them release from stress (Tim Lew, 2001). To athletes, stress is a persistent problem which often influences their performance and life. Although sports managers are trying to deal with the situation and some of them have been taken some solutions, athletes continue to be affected by stress problem (Pensgaard, 1998). The solution taken by sports managers, such as effective time management, health diet and keeping good relationship, are useful at the certain extent. However, some accidents which can not be predicted by sports managers would also result the stress. So, while deal with the existing stress is important, detecting the possible sources of stress for athletes may be is a more effective way to avoid the happening of pressure (Pensgaard, 1998). Bibliography Pensgaard AM, Ursin H. (1998). Stress, control, and coping in elite athletes in Scand J Med Sci Sports Journal Vol. 8 pp183-189 Tim, W. Lew. H. (2001). A case study of Organizational Stress in Elite Sportin APPLIED SPORT PSYCHOLOGY Journal Vol. 13 pp207-238 Tom. C et al. (2000) Research on Work-related Stress. Bilbao: European Agency for Safety and Health at work (see Epi) Life. Stress at work. Joan, M. Sebastian W. (2008) English for Academic Study: Speaking. England: Garnet Publishing Ltd Human Resources Division of Cambridge University. (2008) Effects of Work-Related Stress http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/hr/policy/stress/effects.html> [Accessed on 27/5/2008] Dean H. (2007) Stress and the Athlete http://coachdeanhebert.wordpress.com/2007/12/16/stress-and-the-athlete/> [Access on 16/12/2007]

The Great Dangers of Civil Disobedience

Van Dudes explicitly refutes the concepts of Thoreau suggesting that they, as the title of his work suggests, destroy democracy. Van Dudes feels that when man disobeys the law and separates from the democratic society he feels has failed, he simply pushes democracy further towards failure. While the ends laid out by Thoreau in Walden and Civil Disobedience, and Martin Luther King Jar. In Letter From Birmingham Jail, may be completely valid, the mean by which they chose to try and attain them, civil disobedience, is acted upon without true understanding of its detrimental impact to democratic society according to Lewis H.Van Dudes. While Henry David Thoreau seems to feel he is presenting the ideals for how one should live their life and how government should function, In reality he Is conveying an impractical message with detrimental effects. In his work Walden, Thoreau outlines the basic ideas of transcendentalism and keeps an account of his time spent living in the Walden woods. It is in the Walden woods that Thoreau concludes, â€Å"If we do not†¦ Forge rails, and devote days and nights to the work, but go to tinkering upon our lives o improve them, who will build railroads?†¦ Ho will want Thoreau Is conveying the message that within American society man has becomes so consumed with his own life that he has forgotten about striving towards progression. Thoreau feels that If every man spends his time concerned with minor detail, and the material things society has defined as symbols of success. Man will not advance, he will simply live a cyclical life during which nothing of meaning occurs. While Thoreau presents his ideas with great confidence he soon finds that man inherently can't abandon all outing and ritual, thus making his concept of transcendence impractical.More Important than the Impracticality of transcendentalism Is Thoreau Interpretation of what he is presenting. Thoreau feels he is providing the example of a man who transcends societal constraints and living his life to the fullest. In reality Thoreau is very much avoiding society entirely by taking up this supposed transcendent lifestyle. Lewis H. Van Dudes presents the Idea that call disobedience Is very much a self- fulfilling prophecy. In going to the woods Thoreau doesn't â€Å"build railroads† but instead leaves them to be built by the world which he has lost faith in.By leaving the building of railroads, essentially the directing of society, to a society he feels is very limited due to deeply Ingrained routine and ritual, Thoreau removes the Influence he may have potentially had. This removal of Influence doesn't lead the railroads to taking the shape Thoreau wished for but instead lets a society he already doesn't 1 OFF nave Tall n In create teen In any way teen please. When man elects to transcend, en really avoids society and does not build railroads but instead runs from them. Henry David Thoreau presents his ideas for achieving better governmen t in his work Civil Disobedience.As the title of his work suggests, Thoreau felt civil disobedience, a form of non-violent protest of laws, was the key to ensuring a government doesn't over extend its control over its people. In Civil Disobedience Thoreau states, â€Å"The only obligation which I have a right to assume is to do at any time what I think is right†(l). Thoreau seems to suggest that governmental laws constrain people. He feels as if man can't truly live within a society led by a government that â€Å"restricts† him by imposing laws and expecting adherence to them.While Thoreau feels that a government that didn't impose itself upon him would best allow man to flourish, it is Thoreau very belief that he should be able to do what he feels is right that could potentially create anarchy. Van Dudes argues that to break the law is to consider oneself above the law, and if everyone feels they are above the law society can't function. If no one pays taxes or suppor ts government society doesn't flourish instead it perishes. While an organized effort against government could potentially lead to unofficial results, when all people rebel against the laws currently in place the results are not necessarily ideal.Simply because many people disagree with the law doesn't mean they have the same opinions on what the proper laws are. Abandonment of laws would possibly, and likely result in the development of factions and these divided factions could result in the development of a state of anarchy. While Thoreau felt he was conveying the basis for great improvement in society, should his intellectual ideas be taken to fruition the possibility of anarchy could be ever present. Martin Luther King Jar. Arguably one of the most influential Americans of all time, relied upon civil disobedience as a method of attaining his ultimate goal, the elimination of segregation. During one of his nonviolent protests King was arrested and placed in a Birmingham Jail. Aft er being condemned by the clergymen of Birmingham King wrote his Letter From Birmingham Jail. Within this letter King attempts to Justify the need for his acts of civil disobedience. King claims there is a necessity for civil disobedience to bring about change.King's goal was, without a doubt, Just and necessary however his methods for attaining his goal were not. In his letter King stated, â€Å"One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey Just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. I would agree with SST. Augustine that ‘an unjust law is no law at par 12). King takes a very similar position to Thoreau in deciding that it is man's responsibility to disobey laws he finds unjust. King is suggesting that to think a law is unjust but do nothing is Just s bad as blindly following the law in the first place.King is convinced that only civil disobedience could bring the results he desired. While King's goal to end the segregation of African Americans and whites in America was obviously one of great importance, his methods were not as ideal. Van Dudes would argue that by insisting on disobeying laws, Martin Luther King was demanding African Americans and others to pull away from the potential answer to their problem. King was essentially giving up on the democracy that he felt oppressed him. While democracy is inherently flawed it still allows for all who patiently adhere to it can have an influence.King doesn't patiently wait for the processes of democracy to get his point across. Instead , Klan puts enamels above democracy Ana requests toners ay ten same. Only in abandoning democracy does it truly fail, not due to its own inherent faults, but due to the assumption of failure by those who abandon it. Lewis H. Van Dudes, in his Civil Disobedience: Destroyer of Democracy, attempts to refute the beliefs of all those who favor civil disobedience. Van Dudes directly interdicts Thoreau in saying, â€Å"Thoreau posit ion is not only morally irresponsible but politically reprehensible.When citizens in a democracy are called on to make a profession of faith, the civil disobedient offer only a confession of failure. † Van Dudes is conveying the idea that Thoreau beliefs are unacceptable because what he feels to be an inspiring message for further progress, is simply a foreboding message of unavoidable failure. Thoreau sees civil disobedience as the expression of a higher man who is unwilling to stand for moral injustices. On the other hand, Van Dudes argues that Thoreau ideas suggest to man that he should give up on his effort to make change.By stepping away from American democracy and society the natural born right to try and direct democracy in the ways you wish is lost. Van Dudes also contradicts the idea that man should, at any time, disregard the law when he states, â€Å"There is no man who is above the law, and there is no man who has a right to break the law. Civil disobedience is no t above the law, but against the law. † Van Dudes is making it clear that are only two types of citizens, those who obey the law ND those who disobey the law. Civil disobedience is not a loophole or gray area it is simply a glorified Justification for breaking the law.Simply because such a glorified explanation is presented doesn't mean one should latch onto it. Man within a democracy should support it in hopes of making it better, not ignore it because he doesn't approve of it in its current state. Lewis H. Van Disuse's argument brings to light the potential dangers of the seemingly Justified argument for civil disobedience. Lewis H. Van Dudes refutes both Henry David Thoreau and Martin Luther King's arguments in favor of civil disobedience. Thoreau believed in a policy of civil disobedience in trying to prevent democratic government from oppressing its people.King felt that civil disobedience was a necessary measure in bringing an end to segregation. Van Dudes makes evident the potential dangers of both men's ideas. Van Dudes brings to the forefront the potential for political turmoil should the message of either King or Thoreau be put into practice. While King and Thoreau both feel they are presenting the method by which society can better itself, Van Dudes sakes it clear that their ideas imply people should give up on a government that doesn't comply exactly with their beliefs.

TWC and Miramax

ETC creates and distributes entertainment throughout the world. Miramar Is part of the conglomerate, Colony Capital and Qatar Holding, which creates movies, among other products. By virtue of a contract, ETC has exclusive rights to distribute Miramar movies in the U. S. , the largest market (in terms of revenue). ETC uses its monopoly power to pay a lower price for Miramar movies than do other distributors. Is this sufficient justification for Colony Capital and Qatar Holding to buy out ETC?Expiate. (1 point) This is not sufficient justification. It certainly is an avenue to consider, however, the only way to truly Justify purchasing ETC is to weigh the other option available which is to start their own distribution company. If the cost of starting their own distribution company teamed with a higher cost to distribute the movies brings In a higher revenue than the cost of purchasing ETC teamed with distributing the movies at a lower cost than It would be better to start their own dis tribution company and vice versa. . In each of the following situations, why are firms likely to benefit from vertical integration? (1 point each) a. A grain elevator is located at the terminus off rail line. Owning grain elevator(s) is beneficial to the rail line because it allows the rail line more control over the grain elevator which in turn allows for more efficient planning and stream lined logistics as oppose to attempting to plan along with a separate company. B.A manufacturer of a product with a national brand-name reputation uses distributors that arrange for advertising and promotional activities In local markets. Vertical integration in this respect can allow the company to gain valuable insight onto the markets and in learning what they want through advertising and promoting can turn around and update their product or create new products to meet the various market needs. C. A biotech firm develops a new product that will be produced, tested, and distributed by an establ ished pharmaceutical company.The vertical Integration of a biotech firm owning a pharmaceutical company Is similar to the grain elevator and rail line In that communication, planning and logistics becomes easier and possibly more cost effective by owning the established pharmaceutical company. ND delivering each episode of the 1st season of the new series based on â€Å"Shakespeare in Love. † Suppose further that the contract included certain script requirements for background music decided upon by Miramar, and ETC spent an additional $20,000 per episode to meet those requirements.Then suppose that after pre-screening 3 episodes, Miramar claimed that Tic's efforts failed to live up to their contractual agreements. (2 points each: 1 for explaining the concept, and 1 for applying it correctly) a. Was either party earning rent? What assumptions do you have to make to assert this? ETC would be earning the rent. Their rent would be the profit ($20 million less the cost of producin g the episodes, including the additional cost per episode to meet the musical requirement. ) b.Was either party earning quasi-rent? What assumptions do you have to make to assert this? ETC would be earning quasi-rent assuming that they are able to see the episodes to another company or if they are able to come to an agreement with Miramar at a lower price than the original $20 million that they originally agreed upon. Their quasi-rent would be the difference between their rent (question a) and their new mount of revenue. C. Could ETC have held up Miramar? And/or could Miramar have held up ETC?Explain. ETC could definitely hold up Miramar by turning around and refusing to provide them with the episodes at the agreed upon price. This leaves Miramar to consider the costs and time involved with getting another affiliate to complete the Job or paying ETC the requested amount. Miramar can likewise hold up ETC through refusing to pay the agreed upon price. This leads ETC to choosing betwee n providing the episodes at a lower price or seeking another buyer who may not pay as much as they hoped.

Helpling With Organization Skills in LD Students

Helping students with the organization is important. Organization skills are worthwhile life-long skills. Some people have a knack for great organization skills and some dont. Students with learning disabilities can benefit from the following strategies to help with organization. Helping the child to develop a routine will ultimately lead to organization success. The goal of the organization is to eliminate tardiness, forgetfulness, lack of preparedness and procrastination. These habits need to be eliminated and replaced with strategies to ensure the student is utilizing good organization skills. Once again, a consistent approach that is reinforced on a regular basis will be a tremendous help. A daily agenda or timetable should be with the student at all times during the school day and every effort should be in place to ensure that its used regularly.If you have extra texts, it would benefit the student to have a copy at home.Checklists to ensure that all steps or procedures are followed should be plain view.Give the student organizers - graphic organizers, checklists, subtitles, outlines etc. that assist with written work and assignments. Sample Agenda Type List PDFBreak down all items that are to be included in assignments and provide goals to be reached and ensure that checkpoints are in place.Teach the child how to highlight pertinent information and take notes that are meaningful.Communicate regularly about progress and strategies for improvement.Make sure that you have a positive home-school connection with the support needed to ensure success.Provide verbal prompts and cues to ensure the student is prepared. For example, ask the student what needs to be done on the given night. If he answers math, ask what is needed to complete the math. Help with verbal cues often which will eventually lead to the student reflecting back on whats needed.Sometimes a checklist stating what needs to be done and whats needed to do it is very helpful. At the end of each day, the child will ensure that both are complete.Some children have great organizational skills, however, many dont. Children need to be taught that everything has a place. Organization starts at home and there are many opportunities that parents can seize to help keep a child organized. Be sure that the child knows where his belongings go. Have a spot for books, toys, writing tools, collections etc. Remind the child where things go and how to create a home for belongings that dont yet have that special place.