Psychologists & prejudice Essay

According to Dollards et al (1939) frustration-aggression hypothesis aggression that cannot be expressed directly at the source of frustration can be displaced unto a ‘representation’ of the source (scapegoat), leading to bias and prejudice. Unlike the previous cases which have their origins in social learning or social identity this form of prejudice is borne out of the frictional component of social interaction. A ‘solution’ is therefore to reduce this friction as much as possible. The apartheid era in South Africa did recognise the problem of ‘cultural friction’ and sought to address it by separating black from white. However, the separation was not fair favouring white (supremacy) over black. This in effect only amounted to replacing one source of friction and frustration with another. Typically, social frustrations are linked to exogenous economic conditions where the contrast between the rich and poor is clearly sharpened. The challenge for any government to implement a solution to such frustrations may be simply be too difficult, or not at all practical. Germany in the late 1930’s and early forties provides a good example of national frustration followed by an explosion of national prejudice and aggression. The application of the ‘solution’ shaped the history of the 20th century. By understanding the origin and causes of prejudice, psychologists are able to propose methods and conditions that can lead to a reduction of prejudice. However, economic factors, social learning, and identity beliefs based on religion or culture may mean that any attempt to remove prejudice from ‘free’ society will be met with limited success.

Maintaining Job Descriptions

Writing and updating Job Descriptions is very important for the employer and the candidate. It allows the candidate to decide if the skills they have match the position they are contemplating on applying for. For the employer it helps them to get a clear picture of the ideal candidate and give their expectations for the candidate they are searching for. Companies undergo expansion, restructuring, downsizing and relocating, those things cause changes within the company such as departments and teams changing and business priorities. The reason we update and rewrite job descriptions is so that employees do not assume what to do on the job but know what to do. The employer needs for the job description to specifically state what is expected, such as travel, management, full time, part time and shift work. A Job description also helps the employer determine who can follow directions, and they also aid in evaluations, raises and promotions. Job descriptions are also an important part of the Benefits Specialist’s Job. They are also very essential in the development and implementation of Human Resource programs. When applying for a job always remember that a Job Description is a legal binding document and can be used as evidence in hiring disputes and labor negotiations. (Subramaniam, 2009) Whenever the job functions of an employee changes it is very important that their job description changes also. (Subramaniam, 2009) You cannot successfully manage performance by the use of outdated job descriptions that do not list the real functions of the job. Subramaniam, 2009) Many organizations in the past overlooked the importance of updating Job Descriptions but after several lawsuits I believe that a lot of companies today are a lot more careful in not just updating but in writing them and having them looked at and handled by qualified Human Resource personnel. Outline a process that will yield a set of thorough, current job descriptions. The process that I think will yield a set of thorough, current job descriptions would to first determine the needs of the company. This may ean getting with the decision makers to compare the responsibilities of current staff and to compare the responsibilities and competencies of current staff against all existing and possible needs. By doing this you can identify the gaps and consider looking at current employees who can be moved into need roles in place of looking to hire. (Developing a Roadmap for the Hiring Process) Gather information from your staff to help in the process ask them what they think you should be looking for or asking. The second step would be to start writing your Job Description and Job Posting. The job description document will list the responsibilities and qualification of the job. This will be used by the hiring managers to evaluate the candidates and by the position manager to set expectations for the new hire and for the evaluations and performance reviews. (Developing a Roadmap for the Hiring Process) Next would be to develop a recruitment plan, you can first start by Internal Distribution: this will allow current employee the opportunity to apply for the position if interested. And second they are the key source of referrals for any new positions. Next would be Distribution by net working this would be to send the announcement to friends, peer groups community partners etc. This will help in spreading the work of the position. Last would be External Posting, this would be online adds, news papers and even just posting the job on boards in different businesses like grocery chains. Your final stage would be setting up a screening process to view each applicant and make a decision. Be sure that everyone who is making a hiring decision is on the same page. You can start by deciding what information you want to view and how you want to obtain the information you are looking for. Three common stages of a screening process are Resume Screening, Phone Screening and Interviews. Before you view any resume decide what information you want to know from the resume and look at your job description and come up with a list of criteria, This will aide you in coming up with a Resume Screening Worksheet. Next would be a phone screening, sometimes it is hard to decide from a resume so you can come up with a few questions and do a phone interview. If after doing a Resume Screen and a Phone Screen your are still not satisfied then you can do an Interview. The in person interview allows you to fish for information that you did not gather during the resume and phone screen. Recommend a process to be used in the future for periodically reviewing and updating the new job descriptions. The process that I recommend be followed in keeping your job descriptions updated is to first let your employees know that their positions descriptions are subject to changes and that they know the difference between job description and position description. Because with is not in your job description could be in your position description. When discussing performance appraisals review your employee’s job description and discuss it with them to make sure that they haven’t acquired some extra duty that needs to be placed in their job description. You can also make sure to review the job descriptions once someone has left that position then before you rush to place an announcement for the position review the job description and make any changes need. Works Cited Developing a Roadmap for the Hiring Process. (n.d.). Retrieved April 25, 2011, from Common Good Careers: www.cgcareers.org Subramaniam, S. A.-M. (2009). A Review of the Need for Writing and Updating Job Descriptions for 21st Century Organizations. Retrieved April 25, 2011, from European Journal of Social Sciences-Volume 12, Number 2 (2009): www.eurojournals.com/ejss

New York Experience Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

New York Experience - Essay Example Starting with the sounds and smells that are a hallmark of summer vacations, the author moves on to the activities and experiences that can be expected to be a part of the summer vacation experiences in a big city. The friendliness and the bonhomie during vacation time are brought out well by the author. It is in its simplicity and the totality of the picture it presents that lie its strengths. These are very plausible experiences that children go through during summer vacations and it is these simple things that linger in the minds, even with the passage of time. It is easy for the reader to become a part of the article, as it contains experiences that are similar to what a reader would have had during the summer vacations as a child. One criticism that could be targeted at the article is the position of the third paragraph, which provides the details of the delights of hot dogs and ice creams consumed during vacation time. At the start of the article the author opens the door to the summer vacation experiences through the sounds and smells of foods that bring joy in summer, but then in the second paragraph digresses to frolic with icy cool water in summer. In the third paragraph, the author returns to food joys of summer. By interchanging the positions of the second and third paragraphs, the criticism of digressing in the article can be removed. The article is simple and there is clarity in what the author wishes to express. There are some places, where better use of English would have helped in making for easier understanding.

Exam Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Exam - Case Study Example From this belief, they are able to cope with their social identity as perceived by other people. On the other hand, people with discreditable stigma assume that they stigma is not known and cannot be directly identified (Shana & Collete 63). They are able to protect their stigma from their normal social identity. This allows them to decrease their stigma. The self-fulfilling prophecy enable people with different behavior create their preferred societal perception. Enacting the prophecy and responding to societal influence enables people with different behavior to increase a normal society perception on them (Leflot, Onghena & Colpin 390) People with physical disabilities are able to see that they are different and not normal as compared to other people. Cox et.al is of the assumption that this perception develops a negative self-concept (430). The individual view themselves as less effective and social fit. Learning process as directly linked with the abilities of a person to child to fit in a specific environment. For instance, a child with autism may be placed in a different classroom environment from normal children (Keller 98). In addition, a person from a poor background may not be enrolled in educational institutions that provide top quality learning experiences. A self-advocacy framework may improve the abilities of people with disabilities to become significant members of the society. Through the framework, people with disabilities should be provided with self-knowledge abilities, knowledge of rights, communication and leadership skills (Marsh & Martin 60). This skills increase the effectiveness of people with disabilities to take part in professional practices. Fatness should not be perceived as a disability. In an argument by Keller being overweight cannot be perceived as a disability since it may be caused by a lifestyle that can be avoided (56). In addition, most cases of disabilities like autism require special medical attention and

Issues in Money, Banking & Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Issues in Money, Banking & Finance - Essay Example Some of the treatments that Japan has attempted in combating deflation are fiscal expansion, reduction of interest rates, depreciating the Yen, bank restructuring, two rounds of quantitative easing, and Abenomics. However, with the exception of the last measure whose effect is yet unclear, the situation has not changed much with a continuous economic recession reflected by its balance sheet (Botman et al, 2015: p32). This paper will explore the reasons why monetary and fiscal policy measures, as well as economic restructuring measures by Japan, have failed to end the deflationary pressures on its economy. As Japan’s consumption rate tax increased in 1997 followed by an economic recession and a deflationary spiral, Krugman (1999b: p1) stated that Japan had entered into a liquidity trap, in which the demand for currency was increasing dramatically, while resulting increases in the supply of currency failed to effect any changes in interest rates. This assertion was an extension of liquidity trap theory advanced by Keynes, where an economy’s general demand continues to decline despite a reduction of nominal interest rates to zero with production capability being higher than the general demand. Therefore, this definition would attribute Japan’s deflationary spiral to inadequate effective demand in relation to consumption and investment. Although Japan kept its interest rates low, this was still not enough to stimulate consumption and investment, while expansion of currency supply by the Bank of Japan was equally ineffective (Murota & Ono, 2012: p344). Krugman (1999c: p1) attributes this phenomenon to the fact that the Japanese public was more likely to save due to uncertainty about the country’s economic future, as well as fears that their income would reduce, despite having stable liquidity preference at the interest rates critical point. Therefore, the underlying factor driving this

Analysis of the Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe Essay

Analysis of the Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe - Essay Example The story is depicted in first person narration. The writer makes use of simple diction and weaves the web of words in a manner that keeps the readers enthralled and forces them to read till the end in order to determine the whole story in other words the story catches and holds of the readers’ interest. The plot of the story gradually develops. The story reaches at its climax when it is stated, ‘In niche, and finding an instant he had reached the extremity of the niche, and finding his progress arrested by the rock, stood stupidly bewildered. A moment more and I had fettered him to the granite. In its surface were two iron staples, distant from each other about two feet, horizontally.’ This climax is also the point where Montresor’s intentions and manner in which he will kill Fortunato is revealed to the readers. The author also makes use of irony and foreshadowing which is a technique that further heightens the anticipation of readers to know the upcoming action taking place in the story. As mentioned, ‘the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are imbedded in the heel.’ This phrase foreshadows the approaching Montresor’s betrayal of Fortunato’s trust. Moreover it is ironic when Montresor says, ‘And I to your long life’ because even when he says so he was plotting Fortunato’s murder.... I continued, as was my wont to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my smile  now  was at the thought of his immolation’. Symbolism is another stylistic technique that is used by the author. The whole prose is a metaphorical representation of degeneration and desolation of man. The brutal treatment of Montresor is symbolic of the animalistic side of human beings and reiterates the fact that man has turned in to a monster disguised in the body of a human being. He is a self indulgent and selfish creature as his only priority in life is himself as it is also apparent from the beginning lines of the story where it is stated, ‘THE THOUSAND INJURIES of  Fortunato  I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature of my soul†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ This further illustrates the fact that Montresor keeps grudges in his heart and the intensity of his hatred knows no bounds of rationality and sensibility. Chai ns are also symbolic of the shackles of insincerity and selfishness that hold human beings in a death grip hence resulting in a lack of sense of responsibility and sensitivity to others. This degeneration is also demonstrated by the heap of bones that were their in the catacombs. As also stated in the text, ‘From the fourth side the bones had been thrown down, and lay promiscuously upon the earth, forming at one point a mound of some size. Within the wall thus exposed by the displacing of the bones†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Moreover the clothing of Fortunato is also symbolic of his being a fool since he is attired as a clown or a costume of a fool as mentioned in the story, ‘ The man wore

Managing Time As An Adult Learner Research Paper

Managing Time As An Adult Learner - Research Paper Example Poor time management may result in poor academic performance, poor work performance or deterioration of familial relations. In such a case, many adult learners opt to drop out of college because their family and their work have the highest priority to them in the short run (MacCann, Fogarty & Roberts, 2012). However, it is possible to prevent matters from deteriorating to that level. Dropping out of college should not be the preferred option because a college degree is of vital importance in this age. Higher academic qualifications provide individuals with a strong framework to advance their careers, and the family also benefits tremendously from this advancement. Effective time management makes it possible for adult learners to register exemplary performance in both their studies and their work, and still find enough time for their families. The following tips make it possible for adult learners to manage their time effectively (Van Der Meer, Jansen & Torenbeek, 2010). Create a Time Schedule – The adult learner should create a time schedule of the tasks he intends to undertake every day in the morning before setting out on the day’s activities. Reminders increase the chances of getting planned activities carried out. Checking things off as they get done provides a feeling of accomplishment which provides motivation for undertaking the next task. Avoid interruptions – Frequent interruptions can eat excessively into study time and reduce the level of concentration. The adult learner can avoid interruptions by studying at a place that has the minimum possibility of presenting interruptions. In addition, he can make it known to roommates, friends, or family that he wishes not to be disturbed when studying. Phones can be put on voice mail, and unexpected visitors can be requested to return when the studying to done (Siebert & Karr, 2008). Use a

Movie Paper on Mommie Dearest Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Movie Paper on Mommie Dearest - Essay Example This could greatly be accounted by the wrong and sometimes grotesque perceptions of the illness in the media and their depictions in films. Although some of these portrayals are realistic and accurate, some are more likely sensationalized. Media and films are powerful mediums of information. They can either justify the truth or bend the truth to both positive and negative extremities. With this in hand, this paper then is perusal of a film's characterization of a person with mental disorder. The film studied is the biographic movie of Joan Crawford's life entitled "Mommie Dearest" which was based on the book written by her adopted daughter Christina after her death. In the film, Yablans and Perry (1981) focused the story on the relationship between the movie legend Joan Crawford and her adoptive daughter Christina. The movie starts with then single and divorced Joan Crawford; determined to adopt children to fill the void that was missing in her life. Joan first adopted a baby girl and called her Christina. She later adopted another baby boy and called him Christopher. The film depicts the children's lives under the renowned Hollywood star, who behind curtains was an abusive and violent parent. Her obsessive want of excellence as a famous actress and a parent topped with the pressure of being in show business and an abusive attitude towards alcohol was a repeating theme throughout the movie. Yablans and Perry(1981) concentrated the film on Joan Crawford's bouts of obsessive madness where the burden was inflicted on her children. Christina's struggle as a child and later on adulthood to be an actress to satisfy her mother was also conveyed. There were only several small indications of her marriages during the film. No doubt, Joan Crawford's supposed reputation as a renowned actress was ruined by the exposure of her other life. Although Joan Crawford was not formally diagnosed, she was suspected to have an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). According to resources of MentalHelp.net (n.d.), "OCD is an anxiety disorder where a person has recurrent and unwanted ideas or impulses (called obsessions)" and these obsessions are coupled with the constant "urge or compulsion" to satisfy the "discomfort caused by the obsession". These obsessions could vary, from simple things such as hygiene to more complex things such as religion. When the compulsions to satisfy his obsession are disgruntled, anxiety attacks follow. MentalHelp.net (n.d.) further adds that a person with OCD have thoughts and behaviors that are often "senseless, repetitive, distressing, and sometimes harmful, but they are also difficult to overcome". The behavior of a person with OCD was more or less depicted by Joan Crawford's characterization in the film. First was her obsession to be seen as a good role model of a parent. She insisted on adopting children although she was advised by her friend who is an attorney to not adopt because it was not advisable for her to adopt children given her single and divorced status. When advised, she retaliates "Bend the law!" (Yablans and Perry, 1981). In another instance, the two children were made to recite which were obviously practiced answers to the radio staff that came to interview the Crawford family on how they spend their Christmas. Joan Crawford was watchful of their answers and it

Biomedical Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

Biomedical Ethics - Essay Example Each person has different perspectives on what their life should be. Each person has their own sense of moral responsibility. However, most of society generally does not condone the taking of another’s life. In conclusion, I will discuss the reasons why society should also consider the effects of Euthanasia or PAS on both the patient and those requested to help out before making a response to such requests. In laymen’s terms, Euthanasia is mercy killing; that is, a person, usually a physician, lets or causes a patient to die as a sign of mercy. Euthanasia can be passive, if no act was done since death is inevitable, or active, if an act was done to cause death. It can also be voluntary or involuntary, depending on the patient’s cognitive & decision-making skills. Physician Assisted Suicide, on the other hand, is different since the patient does the act, not the physician. The latter just supplies the patient with what he needs for the deed. In all cases, there are always 2 major roles – the one who is killed & the one who does the killing. Pro-life advocates look down on euthanasia, saying it is morally wrong for a physician to kill or let people die if saving them can be done. Supporters of Euthanasia say that it would be morally wrong not to do it since it is just right to grant a person his death if he so wishes. How can we tell if an ailing person’s life needs to end? Does it suffice when the patient says he doesn’t consider his life worth living; that for him death is a better alternative to living? A key component of the debate on euthanasia is the patient’s ability for self-determination. As Callahan (2002) puts it, â€Å"the self-determination in that case can only be effected by the moral and physical assistance of another. Euthanasia is thus no longer a matter only of self-determination†¦Ã¢â‚¬  There is something morally wrong in allowing one person to decide another’s fate. It also seems immoral for a person to be that

Nurse-to-Patient Ratio Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Nurse-to-Patient Ratio - Research Proposal Example However, this factor is never considered when nurses are assigned to care for a selected number of patients. Quoting Barbara Blakeney, President, American Nurses Association (ANA), the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) endorses the fact that inadequate nurse staffing is the primary concern for the nurses and that â€Å"when RN care is insufficient, patient safety is compromised and the risk of death is increased† (Nurse-to-Patient Ratios, 2007). Shortage of nurses places extra onus on the available staff and hence seasoned nurses are matriculating away from bedside nursing. This happens primarily because the added tasks needed to be performed are not directly related to patient care. This can be evidenced in the case of Cameroon Diva, a BSN, who states that she wants to quit bedside nursing because in the hospital where she has worked, they had â€Å"extreme staff shortage and not enough nursing assistance on the floor† (Diva, 1996). Besides, the frequ ent changes in computerized charting require nurses to remain near their computers and take their time away from the primary task of patient care. It is a matter of common knowledge that higher patient-to-nurse ratios cause significant physical and mental exhaustion and result in greater job dissatisfaction among nurses. Patient well-being directly correlates to the amount of nursing care a patient receives daily. Therefore, in order to achieve the objective of providing quality patient care, administrators and managers need to ensure that healthcare institutions attain an appropriate level of patient-nurse ratio. Problem Statement: Current policy on Medical-Surgical nursing units across America’s hospitals require that Registered Nurses care for five to six (average of â€Å"5.25†) acutely and chronically ill patients in a 12 hour shift (Welton, 2007). Licensed practical nurses also care for 6 to 7 patients during a 12 hour shift. Nurses feel that added tasks take awa y a considerable portion of their time, which otherwise can be spent on patient care. The diversification in the roles of nurses today, through deployment on other tasks, calls for a closer examination of the need to change the policy pertaining to nurse–to-patient ratios. In this context, the findings of Aiken et al can be perceived as the â€Å"primary arguments for setting specific nurse-to-patient staffing ratios† (Welton, 2007). There is a definitive discrepancy between what healthcare administrators believe to be adequate the level of nurse-patient ratio and actual number of patients a nurse is required to care for. This creates impediments in administering proper care to the needy patients, which, in turn, impacts patient mortality rates. Besides, the shortage in staffing also adversely affects the job satisfaction of nurses and, as a consequence, their rate of burnout increases. Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this study is to determine whether there exist s a correlation between nurse-to-patient ratios and patient mortality. The number of patients cared for by a single nurse may have better outcomes in terms of length of hospital stay and fewer complications. Additionally, nurses who derive satisfaction from their jobs are less likely to leave their jobs. The study will also investigate the increasing trend of nurse burnout and find

Pre Marital Counselling Essay Example for Free

Pre Marital Counselling Essay Premarital Counselling is therapy with two people prior to their marriage, to help give them more realistic ideas of what to expect and how to cope with living with another person as a spouse; relating to each other as a committed pair. By taking the time to explore the reasons you came together, your similarities, your differences, your hopes and your dreams, as well as your expectations of one another, it is sometimes possible to avoid the disappointments that many couples face with the passage of time. Pre-marital counseling offers the opportunity to explore your differences in a relatively safe, supportive, constructive environment. And while some couples may choose to postpone their union until key differences can be resolved, most couples find that pre-marital counseling helps to prepare them for the kind of life they would like to build together. Premarital counseling can help ensure that you and your partner have a strong, healthy relationship — giving you a better chance for a stable and satisfying marriage. Premarital counseling can also help you identify weaknesses that could become bigger problems during marriage. Through premarital counseling, couples are encouraged to discuss a wide range of important and intimate topics related to marriage, such as: Finances, Communication Beliefs and values Roles in marriage Affection and sex Children amp; parenting Family relationships Decision making Dealing with anger Time spent together. The initial period of any relationship is called the honeymoon period; and after that fairytale, marriage can be a rude reality check. In most cases, quarrels over money, family and trust break a couple apart. A pre-marital session helps partners accept each other better and avoid future complications or conflict. Contrary to popular belief, pre marital counseling isn’t only for couples who are going in for an arranged marriage. It is also very important for couples who have had long courtships or have been living together. In arranged marriages, the people going to spend their life together are perpetual strangers, with no idea of what lies ahead of them. In India specifically, arranged marriages are sealed with just one word of advice for the bride â€Å"you HAVE to adjust, and you HAVE to compromise. Premarital Counselling ensures that the couple do not just â€Å"fulfill† the responsibilities of marriage for their family, but also participate in it wholly as individuals. In india marriages are seen as a ‘union of two families’ and the individuals who are supposed to spend the rest of their life together, they get lost in the entire plan. Pre Marital Counselling ensures that doesn’t happen. People who have had long courtships and have been living together, need it perhaps more than than people who’re going in on for arranged marriages . Why? Because once you’re living in with someone ,you think you know everything that there is to know about that person and marriage cant spring any surprises. But guess what? You WILL be surprised greatly by what surprises pre marital counseling will bring for you. Marriage changes the set of expectations two individuals have from each other. More issues have to be dealt with, like children, financial planning etc. Most couples spend more time planning their weddings than their marriages!. If you think about the amount of financial and emotional investment that goes into preparing for the wedding itself, doesn’t it make sense to invest a little in strengthening the relationship at the onset? Many couples preparing for marriage honestly believe they are strong going into the union – and they probably are in a lot of ways. Being caught up with all the loving feelings and other feel-good stuff going on ahead of nuptials, couples often don’t consider the potential pitfalls. Those â€Å"pitfalls† are often times what leads them into a therapist’s office some time down the line. Here six great reasons to get pre marriage counseling: 1) Strengthen Communication Skills:  Being able to effectively listen, truly hear and validate the other’s position is a skill that isn’t necessarily a â€Å"given† for many people. Couples that really communicate effectively can discuss and resolve issues when they arise more effectively. You can tune up your talking and listening skills. This is one of the most important aspects of emotional safety between couples. 2) Discuss Role Expectations:  It’s incredibly common for married couples to never really have discussed who will be doing what in the marriage. This can apply to job, finances, chores, sexual intimacy and more. Having an open and honest discussion about what each of you expect from the other in a variety of areas leads to fewer surprises and upsets down the line. 3) Learn Conflict Resolution Skills:  Nobody wants to think that they’ll have conflict in their marriage. The reality is that â€Å"conflict† can range from disagreements about who will take out the trash to emotionally charged arguments about serious issues – and this will probably be part of a couple’s story at one time or another. There are ways to effectively de-escalate conflict that are highly effective and can decrease the time spent engaged in the argument. John Gottman’s (www. gottman. com) research has shown that couples who can do this well are less likely to divorce in the end. 4) Explore Spiritual Beliefs:  For some this is not a big issue – but for others a serious one. Differing spiritual beliefs are not a problem as long as it’s been discussed and there is an understanding of how they will function in the marriage with regards to practice, beliefs, children, etc. ) Identify any Problematic Family of Origin Issues:  We learn so much of how to â€Å"be† from our parents, primary caregivers and other early influences. If one of the partners experienced a high conflict or unloving household, it can be helpful to explore that in regards to how it might play out in the marriage. Couples who have an understanding of the existence of any problematic conditioning around how relationships work are usually better at disrupting repetition of these learned behaviors. ) Develop Personal, Couple and Family Goals:  It amazes me how many married couples have never discussed their relationship goals – let alone personal or family. I honestly think it just doesn’t cross their minds! This is a long term investment together – why not put your heads together and look at how you’d like the future to look? Where do you want to be in five years? Approximately when would you like to have children? How many children? There are many areas that can be explored and it can be a fun exercise to do together. Pre marriage counseling doesn’t need to be a long process, especially if you feel you’re starting out with a very solid foundation and only need some clarifications and goal-setting. For some people who are poised to start out the marriage as a â€Å"higher conflict† couple or have deeper issues to contend with, the process could take a bit longer. Regardless, be sure to take the time to invest in your marriage as you might in the event itself. The return on your marriage investment has the potential to be life long What you can expect Premarital counseling typically includes five to seven meetings with a counselor. Often in premarital counseling, each partner is asked to separately answer a written questionnaire, known as a premarital assessment questionnaire. These questionnaires encourage partners to assess their perspectives of one another and their relationship. They can also help identify a couples strengths, weaknesses and potential problem areas. The aim is to foster awareness and discussion and encourage couples to address concerns proactively. Your counselor can help you interpret your results together, encourage you and your partner to discuss areas of common unhappiness or disagreement, and set goals to help you overcome challenges. Your counselor might also have you and your partner use a tool called a Couples Resource Map — a picture and scale of your perceived support from individual resources, relationship resources, and cultural and community resources. You and your partner will create separate maps at first. Following a discussion with your counselor about differences between the two maps, youll create one map as a couple. The purpose is to help you and your partner remember to use these resources to help manage your problems. In addition, your counselor might ask you and your partner questions to find out your unique visions for your marriage and clarify what you can do to make small, positive changes in your relationship. Keep in mind that you bring your own values, opinions and personal history into a relationship, and they might not always match your partners. In addition, many people go into marriage believing it will fulfill their social, financial, sexual and emotional needs — and thats not always the case. By discussing differences and expectations before marriage, you and your partner can better understand and support each other during marriage. Early intervention is important because the risk of divorce is highest early in marriage. In Pre marital counseling, as couples you become aware of so many issues that you never thought existed earlier between you two. Premarital counseling is a way to pull the darkness out from its hiding places so that you can turn it over in the light and see it for what it actually is. Remember, preparing for marriage involves more than choosing a wedding dress and throwing a party. Take the time to build a solid foundation for your relationship.

Life Poetry And Legacy Of Emily Dickinson English Literature Essay

Life Poetry And Legacy Of Emily Dickinson English Literature Essay Emily Dickinson is a monumental figure, a true icon, to the realm of poetry in the 19th century. A time when transcendentalism ruled upon the civilized world and when American poetry was masked by European influences, Emily Dickinson broke off of conventional norms and established her own style of poetry. Through her reclusive upbringings to her untimely death, Emily Dickinson has invoked her unique style and language into her poetry that has established herself into one of the founders of modern American poetry. Emily Dickinsons external and internal life was nothing less than unadventurous (Context 909). She read widely English literature and would often think deeply about what she read. She expressed a particular fondness for the poetry of John Keats and Robert Downing, the prose of John Ruskin and Sir Thomas Browne, and the novels of George Elliot and Charlotte and Emily Bronte. One of her most favorite books is the King James translation of the bible, which contained influences of both Walt Whitman and of her own. One of Dickinsons styles involves the influence of religion. Dickinsons adaptation of 2 hymn meter unifies with her adaptation of the traditional religious doctrines of orthodox Christianity. Although her poems reflect a Calvinist heritage particularly in their probing self-analysis she was not an orthodox Christian. (Context 911) Her religious views, like her life and poetry, were distinctive and individual. Even when her views tend toward orthodox teaching, as in her attitude toward immortality, her literary expression of such a belief is strikingly original. In addition, Dickinsons mischievous humor contrasts sharply with the menacing gravity characteristic of much Calvinist-inspired religious writing. Finally, her love for nature separates her Puritan precursors, allying her instead with such transcendentalist contemporaries as Emerson, Whitman, and Thoreau, though her vision of life is starker than theirs. One notable poem of Dickinsons is Success is Counted Sweetest. The speaker starts off by saying that those who neer succeed put the greatest rate on success: They count it sweetest. To comprehend the cost of a nectar, the speaker says, one has to sense a sorest need. (Dickinson 914) She says that the associates of the victorious army are not able to define triumph as well as the conquered, failing man who hears from a distance the melody of the victors. (Dickinson 914) Several of Emily Dickinsons most notable works seem to take the structure of brief ethical proverbs, which emerge as apparently straightforward, but in reality describes complicated moral and psychological truths. Success is counted sweetest is a fine example. Its first two verses convey its moralistic point in which success is counted sweetest by those who neer succeed; people tend to desire things in a greater aspect when they do not possess them. (Dickinson 914) The following lines then develop that manifest truth by submitting two pictures that illustrates it: the nectar is an emblem of conquest, and lavishness, and success can best be understood by someone who needs it. (Dickinson 914) The conquered, failing man comprehends triumph better than the victorious army does. The poem demonstrates Dickinsons 3 ardent consciousness of the complex facts of human desire, and it shows the beginnings of her abrupt, firm style, whereby intricate connotations are condensed into tremendously short expressions. (Dickinson 914) I taste a liquor never brewed is another such poem by Dickinson in which her views are vividly depicted. The speaker in Emily Dickinsons I taste a liquor never brewed is describing a spiritual state that she experiences through her soul awareness; the state is so overwhelmingly invigorating that she feels as if she had become intoxicated by drinking alcohol. However, there is vast difference between her spiritual intoxication and the literal, physical intoxication of drinking an inebriating beverage. The poem consists of quadruple four-line stanzas. The second and fourth lines in each stanza rhyme, with the first rhyme pair Pearl and Alcohol being seemingly a slant rhyme. (Dickinson 917) Emily Dickinsons style of writing contributes to the irony of her life; she uses dashes profusely throughout I taste a liquor never brewed. Dashes are meant for interruption; thus, she seems to be questioning herself as she writes the poem. There are many dashes in this poem, indicating many pauses throughout; this could be for added dramatic effect or simply for interruptions. Dashes allow the reader time to think and feel (as shown after the first line). The dashes create the impression of a struggling voice, as if a violent wind is carrying some of the words away from the reader. The dashes help to make the speakers voice in the poem seem distant, as if he or she is speaking from somewhere else, even another dimension away. She uses simple diction which creates a down to earth feeling of hope. Her verses are very short which can indicate her short life. As a young woman, Emily Dickinson was a very intelligent and conscientious. (Context 909) However, over time, she decided to secl ude herself from the rest of the world, only talking to certain family members. Her father was a very strict man whose heart was pure and terrible. Because of that, she became very shy and grew a discomfort in social 4 situations. She gradually became more and more self-conscious and decided to go out less and less. Eventually, she lived all alone in her familys house and would not leave to see anyone. However, she still managed to keep in touch with a few close acquaintances through letters. The only time she ever let anyone inside her room was when she became terminally ill and needed a doctor to come see her. Even so, she only allowed the doctor to examine her from a distance. I died for Beauty but was scarce truly portrays Dickinsons thoughts on life and death. The speaker says that she died for Beauty, but she was barely accustomed to her tomb before a man who died for Truth was placed in a tomb beside her. When the two gently told each other the reasons for their death, the man announced that Truth and Beauty are the same, and thus, he and the speaker were Brethren. The speaker says that they met at night, as Kinsmen, and conversed between their tombs until the moss arrive at their lips and enclosed the names on their tombstones. (Dickinson 926) The bizarre, allegorical death fantasy of I died for Beauty recalls Keats, but its approach of appearance belongs exclusively to Dickinson. In this brief lyric, she is able to invoke a feeling of the disturbing physicality of death, Until the Moss had reached our lips-, the great impracticality of martyrdom, I died for Beauty. . . One who died for Truth, a specific type of romantic nostalgia signified with the yearning for divine friendship, And so, as Kinsmen, met a Night-, and a cheerfulness about the hereafter with scarcely sublimated horror about the reality of loss: it would be pleasant to possess a companion with similar interests; it would be terrible to lie in the cemetery and talk through the walls of a grave. (Dickinson 926) As the poem progresses, the high impracticality and desire for friendship steadily surrender to silent, chilly death, as the moss sneaks up the speakers carcass and her headstone, demolishing both her ability to speak (covering her lips) and her identit y (covering her name). The definitive result of this poem is to portray that every feature of human life, whether it be ideas, feelings, or identity 5 itself, is ultimately obliterated by death. However, in the process of creating the obliteration steadily-something to be adjusted to in the tomb-and by depicting a speaker who is unaffected by her own bleak condition, Dickinson devises a picture that is bizarre, persuasive, terrifying, and at the same time, soothing. (Dickinson 926) This is one of her most extraordinary declarations about death; in addition to several of Dickinsons poems, it has no comparisons to the works of any other writer. A Bird came down the Walk is another one of Dickinsons poem for which she utilizes her style and language. The speaker witnesses a bird come down the walk, ignorant that it was being observed. The bird ate an angleworm, then drank a Dew from a convenient Grass-, then jumped sideways to let a beetle pass over. The birds anxious, round eyes looked in all directions. (Dickinson 921) Carefully, the speaker proposes to him a Crumb, but the bird unrolled his feathers and flew away-as though rowing in the water, but with a beauty more soothing than that of Oars divide the ocean or butterflies leap off Banks of Noon; the bird seemed to swim without splashing. (Dickinson 922) Emily Dickinsons life has shown that one does not need to travel throughout the world or live a full life in order to write great poetry. Living alone in Amherst, she considered her experience as fully as any poet who has ever lived. (Context 909) In this poem, the effortless practice of viewing a bird jump down a trail permits Dickinson to demonstrate her astonishing poetic power of surveillance and portrayal. Dickinson eagerly describes the bird as it is devouring a worm, jabs at the grass, skips by a beetle, and peeks around horrendously. As an ordinary being alarmed by the speaker into flying away, the bird becomes a symbol for the rapid, energetic, ungraspable untamed spirit that separates nature from the human beings who intend to cultivate it. However, the most outstanding aspect of this poem is the descriptions in the final stanza where Dickinson offers one 6 of the most spectacular images of flying in all of poetry. By merely offering two quick contrasts of flight and by using aquatic motion, she brings to mind the frailty and variability of moving through air. The picture of butterflies jumping off Banks of Noon, effortlessly swimming through the heavens, is one of the most unforgettable scenes in all Dickinsons works. (Dickinson 922) Dickinson pursues that knowledge wherever it is to be found, no matter how it makes her feel. She reports her pursuits with such great attention to her poetry that her works offer excitement, now matter how dismal the topic. (Critics 948) Emily Dickinson was brilliant, well educated, and confident in her use of conceptual, scientific, legal and linguistic terminology; however, the truly remarkable quality of her poetry illuminates from her refusal to separate mind from body and the emotions which are bound in it. She writes close to the traditions of post-Romantic poetry and womens poetry in that her poetry expresses strong emotion. She stands to the side of her poetry that seeks to ensure that knowledge dominates, and the matters of the heart and soul are seen as part of that knowledge, united as one. (Critics 948) Emily Dickinson is thought of as an influential and continual figure in American culture. Although much of the early reception centered on Dickinsons unconventional and secluded nature, she has become widely acknowledged as an original, pre-modernist poet. (Context 909) Critics have placed her alongside Walt Whitman, Robert Frost, and T. S. Eliot as a major American poet. Dickinsons poetry is difficult to comprehend because it is far-reaching and unique in its denunciation of most traditional nineteenth-century themes and techniques. (Context 910) Her poems demand vigorous awareness from the reader, because she seems to dismiss so much with her indirect style and remarkable contracting metaphors. Even so, these obvious openings are packed with connotations if we are susceptible to her use of devices such as personification, allusion, symbolism, syntax, and grammar. Because her use of dashes is at 7 times confusing, it aids read her poems out loud to hear how vigilantly the words are positioned. What might seem threatening on a simple piece of paper can shock the reader with meaning when heard. Dickinson was not always consistent in her views, as they can change from poem to poem depending upon how she felt at a given moment. (Critics 948) American poetry characteristically embodies acts of process: the Dickinsonian process is a passionate investigation. Her investigative process often implies narrative by taking speaker and reader through a sequence of rapidly changing images; even when all the action is interior. These investigations structure Dickinsons poetry; the flexibility of her investigative movement is the major reason why Dickinson generally was contented with common meter. She may even have enjoyed the way her condensed discoveries press against the limits of small form. (Critics 949) All and all, form and function, Emily Dickinson exerted an influence upon American poetry beyond measure during her time despite the fact that she lived a reclusive life: An irony indeed. 8

Concepts and Theories of Entrepreneurship

Concepts and Theories of Entrepreneurship ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SMALL BUSINESS (OMAN) 1 Entrepreneur Entrepreneurship Definition of Entrepreneur: The term entrepreneur is derived from the French verb ‘enterprenedre. It means to undertake. In the early 16th century, the Frenchmen who organized and led military expeditions were referred to as entrepreneurs. Around 1700A.D, the term was used for architects and contractors of public works. An entrepreneur is a person who undertakes and operates anew enterprise or venture and assumes some accountability for the inherent risks. A female entrepreneur is sometimes referred to an â€Å"entrepreneuse†. Entrepreneur is a person who creates and manages change by the recognition of opportunities (needs, wants, problems, and challenges) and develops people and manages resources to take advantage of the opportunity and creates a venture. The term entrepreneur was applied to business initially by the French economist, Cantillon, in the 18th century, to designate a dealer who purchases the means of production form combining them into marketable products. Concept of Entrepreneurship: Entrepreneurship is a process undertaken by an entrepreneur to augment his business interest. It is an exercise involving innovation and creativity that will go towards establishing his/her enterprise. One of the qualities of entrepreneurship is the ability to discover an investment opportunity and to organize an enterprise, thereby contributing to discover an investment growth. It involves taking of risks and making the necessary investments under conditions of uncertainty and innovating, planning, and taking decisions so as to increase production in agriculture, business and industry etc. Entrepreneurship is the composite skill, the resultant of a mix of many qualities and traits these include tangible factors as imagination, readiness to take risks. Ability to bring together and put to use other factors of production, capital, labor, land, and also tangible factors such as the ability to mobilize scientific and technological advances. Intrapreneurs: Of late a new breed of corporate entrepreneurs has come to the force in large organizations are called as â€Å"intrapreneurs†. They are entrepreneurs who catch hold of a new idea for a product, service, or process and work to bring this idea to fruition within the framework of the organization. Intrapreneurs with their innovations and dedicated effort are perceived as a valuable asset by the organization, inspiring others. He serves as a champion to others in the organization. In America, a number of intrapreneurs are leaving their jobs to start their own ventures. It is found that many are exceedingly successful in their new ventures and they are causing threat to the companies they left a few years ago. Difference between Entrepreneur and Intrapreneur: Difference Entrepreneur Intrapreneur 1. Dependency An entrepreneur is independent He is dependent on the entrepreneur. i.e., owner 2. Raising of funds They can raise fund required for the enterprise Funds are not raised 3. Risk He/She bears the risk involved I the business An intrapreneur does not fully bear the risk 4. Operations He/She operates from outside He/She operates from within the organization itself Distinction between an Entrepreneur and a Manager Factors Entrepreneur Manager 1. Motive The main motive is to start a venture by setting up an enterprise. He understands the venture for his personal gratification. The main motive of a manager is to render his services in an enterprise already set up by someone else 2. Status He is the owner of enterprise A manger is the servant in the enterprise owned by the entrepreneur 3. Risk bearing He being the owner of the enterprise assumes all risks and uncertainty involved in running the enterprise A manager as a servant does not bear any risk involved in the enterprise 4. Rewards The reward that he gets for bearing risks involved in the enterprise is profit which is highly uncertain A manager gets salary as reward for the services rendered by him in the enterprise, which is fixed and certain 5. Innovation He himself thinks over what and how to produce goods to meet then changing demands of the customers. Hence, he acts as an innovator also called a change agent Manager simply executes the plan prepared by the entrepreneur and translates the entrepreneurs ideas into practice 6. Qualifications He needs to possess qualities and qualification like high achievement, motive, originality in thinking, foresight, risk bearing ability and so on. On the contrary, manager needs to possess distinct qualification in terms of sound knowledge in management theory and practice. Difference between Entrepreneur and Entrepreneurship: Entrepreneur Entrepreneurship Refers to a person Visualiser Creator Organizer Innovator Technician Initiator Decision maker Planner Leader Motivator Programmer Risk taker Communicator Administrator Refers to a process Vision Creation Organization Innovation Technology Initiative Decision Planning Leadership Motivation Action Risk taking Communication Administration Skills required for an Entrepreneur: 1. Technical skills: Written and oral communication Monitoring environment Technical Business Management Effective Interpersonal relationship Effective Listening Ability to organize Network Building Management Styles Coaching Being an effective team player 2. Business Management Skills Planning and goal setting Decision making Human Relations Marketing finance Accounting Management Control Negotiation Management growth 3. Personal entrepreneurial skills Self discipline Risk taking attitude Being creative Logical and analytical Persistent Visionary leader Ability to manage change Articulate Characteristics of an Entrepreneur: Mental ability consists of intelligence and creative thinking. An entrepreneur must be reasonably intelligent, and should have creative thinking and must be able to engage in the analysis of various problems and situations in order to deal with them. Clear Objectives: An entrepreneur should have clear objectives as to the exact nature of the goods to be produced and subsidiary activities to be undertaken. Business secrecy: An entrepreneur must be able to guard business secrets. Leakage of business secrets to trade competitors is a serious matter which should be carefully guarded against by an entrepreneur. Human relations ability: An entrepreneur must maintain good relations with his customers if he is to establish relations that will encourage them to continue to patronize his business. He must also maintain good relations with his employees if he is to motivate them to perform their jobs at a high level of efficiency. Communication ability: An entrepreneur who can effectively communicate with the customers, employees, suppliers and creditors will be more likely to succeed than the one who does not. Technical knowledge: An entrepreneur must have a reasonable level of technical knowledge. Other main characteristics Self confident and optimistic Able to take calculated risk Prepared to take risks Respond positively to challenges Flexible and able to adapt Knowledgeable of markets Versatile knowledge Able to get along well with others Independent minded Energetic and diligent Creative, need to achieve Dynamic leader Responsive to suggestions Take initiatives Resourceful and persevering Perceptive with foresight Responsive to criticism Ability to organize and administer efficiently Significance/importance of entrepreneurship: Economic Development: Entrepreneurship contributes to economic development of every country. It enables continual improvement of societies and their organizations entrepreneurship Developing personal relationships: Small businesses are well placed to build personal relationships with customers, employees and suppliers. Responding flexibility to problems and challenges Inventiveness and innovation: Small businesses are well positioned to introduce and develop new ideas. This is due to their owners not having to report or seek approval from anyone else. For Example, When Anitha Roddick set up The Body Shop; she developed a range of environmentally friendly cosmetics in unsophisticated packaging. Due to the innovation in the packaging style her products are considered to be No: 1 in terms of quality and package. It invigorates markets: The formation of new business leads to job creation and has a multiplying effect on the economy. It empowers citizens, generates innovation and changes mindsets. These changes have the potential to integrate developing countries into the global economy. Classification and Type of Entrepreneurs: 1. Innovative Entrepreneurs It is a type of entrepreneur, who launches new products, discovers new markets, establishes new methods of production and restructures the enterprise. He can work only when definite level of progress has been previously accomplished. They focus on revolutionalisation and development. It is characterized by aggressive assembling of information and the analysis of results derived from novel combination of factors. 2. Imitative Entrepreneurs: They adopt victorious innovations launched by the innovative entrepreneurs. They duplicate the technology and techniques innovated by others and they are suitable for underdeveloped countries. They are characterized by readiness to adopt successful innovations, by innovating entrepreneurs. They are adoptive and more flexible. 3. Fabian Entrepreneurs: They are exemplified by great caution and skepticism in experimenting any change in the organization. They imitate only in situations where it becomes necessary to do so. They imitate only in situations where it becomes necessary to do so. They are exhibited by precaution and skepticism in practicing any change they have neither the will to introduce new changes not any desire to adopt new methods, innovated by the most enterprising entrepreneurs. Dealings are determined by customs, religion, tradition and past practices. They are not much interested in taking risks or changes and they try to follow the beaten tack created by the footsteps of their predecessors. 4. Drone Entrepreneurs: They suffer losses, as they refuse to make any modifications in the existing production methods. They are exhibited by refusal to adopt and use opportunities to make changes in production. They are willing to suffer losses but they do not make changes in the production methods adopted by them. Also called as laggards because they continue in their traditional ways and in fields; their product loses its marketability soon. 5. Solo Entrepreneurs: They basically work alone and if required may recruit few people. 6. Active partners: They set up an enterprise as a joint venture and they actively take part in the activities of the organization. 7. Simply partners: They contribute funds, but are not involved in the operations of the enterprise. 8. Inventors: They are involved in the research and development and innovative activities. 9. Buyers: These entrepreneurs in order to reduce risk buy an already established and ongoing enterprise. 10. Life timers: They take business as primary part of their life. Family enterprise falls into this group of entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs according to the type of business: 1. Business Entrepreneur: They are the individuals who conceive an idea for a new product or service and then create a business to materialize their idea into reality. They tap both production and marketing resources in their search to develop a new business opportunity. 2. Trading Entrepreneur: They are the one who undertakes trading activities and is not concerned with the manufacturing work. He identifies potential markets, simulates demand for his product line and creates a desire and interest among buyers to go in for his product. He is engaged in both domestic and overseas trade. 3. Industrial Entrepreneur: It is essentially a manufacturer who identifies the potential needs of customers and tailors a product or service to meet the marketing needs. He is a product-oriented man who starts in an industrial unit because of the possibility of making some new product. The entrepreneur has the ability to convert economic resources and technology into a considerably profitable venture. E.g., Electronic industry, textile units, machine tools and the like. 4. Corporate Entrepreneur: It is a person who demonstrates his innovative skill in organizing and managing corporate undertaking. A corporate undertaking is a form of business organization which is registered under some statute or Act which gives it a separate legal entity. 5. Agricultural Entrepreneur: They are those who undertake agricultural activities as raising and marketing of crops, fertilizers and other inputs of agriculture. They are motivated to raise agricultural through mechanization, irrigation and application of technologies for dry and agriculture products. Entrepreneurs in Technology: (Refer the Book) Technical Entrepreneur Non technical entrepreneur Professional Entrepreneur Entrepreneurs and motivation: (Refer the Book) Pure entrepreneur Induced entrepreneur Motivated entrepreneur Spontaneous entrepreneur Growth and Entrepreneurs: (Refer the Book) Growth entrepreneur Super growth entrepreneur Entrepreneur and stages of development: (Refer the Book) First generation entrepreneur Modern Entrepreneur Classical entrepreneur Entrepreneurial competencies: The characteristics possessed by an entrepreneur which result in superior performance are called Entrepreneurial competencies or traits. Knowledge, skill and motive are the components of competencies. These competencies can be developed and sharpened. These can be injected in human beings through education and training. Practice helps develop competencies. Thus it is rightly said that Entrepreneurs are made and not born. Some of the major entrepreneurial competencies are : a) The individuals capacity for the pursuit of effective personal entrepreneurial behavior b) The way that they design the organization to maximize the potential for effective entrepreneurial behaviour by all staff c) The way that they design the organization to enable it respond to, and indeed shape, the dynamics of the task structure and interdependencies confronting it d) The way that the entrepreneur shapes the capacity of the business to develop and innovate over time. e) The degree to which the above are pursued in a socially responsible way thus laying the ground for wider acceptance of entrepreneurial ways of doing things in business and society. f) Initiative: acting out of choice rather than compulsion, taking the lead rather than waiting for others to start. g) Sees and acts on opportunities. A mindset where one is trained to look for business opportunities from everyday experiences. h) Persistence A never say die attitude, not giving up easily, striving information seeking continuously until success is achieved. i) Knowing: Knowing who knows, consulting experts, reading relevant material and an overall openness to ideas and information. j) Concern for High Quality of Work k) Commitment to work Contract: Taking personal pains to complete a task as scheduled. l) Efficiency Orientation: concern for conservation of time, money and effort. m) Systematic Planning n) Problem solving o) Self confidence p) Assertiveness q) Persuasion r) Use of Influence Strategies s) Monitoring t) Concern for Employee welfare Entrepreneurial Development is a key to achieve overall economic development through higher level of industrial activity. Many studies have shown that entrepreneurs are made. Entrepreneurial development is a process in which persons are injected with motivational drives of achievement and in sight to tackle uncertain and risky situations especially in business undertakings. The process of entrepreneurial development focuses on training, education, reorientation and creation of conducive and healthy environment for the growth of enterprises. Entrepreneurial competence makes all the different to the rate of economic growth this call for the entrepreneurs potential inputs to boost the economic development of a country Functions of Entrepreneur Idea generation and scanning of the best suitable idea Determination of the business objectives Product analysis and market research Determination of form of ownership/organization Completion of promotional formalities Raising necessary funds Procuring machine and material Recruitment of men Undertaking the business operations Arthur H. Cole has given the following functions of Entrepreneur: Determination of objectives and change of those objectives as conditions required or made advantageous Development of the organization, including efficient relations with subordinates and all employees Securing adequate finance resources and maintaining good relations with the existing and potential investors Requisition of efficient technological equipment Development of a market for the products Maintenance of good relations with the public authorities and society at large Major functions of Entrepreneur Innovation Doing new things or the doing of things that are already being done in a new way. It includes new processes of production, introduction of new products, relation of new markets, discovery of a new and better form of industrial organization Risk bearing Making provisions for capital in order to enable the entrepreneur to reduce uncertainty in his plan of investment and expansion of the enterprise Organization and management of business so as to have leadership and control over it. MODULE 2 ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT ____________________________________________________________________ (Entrepreneurial Process, Entrepreneurial Environment, Institutional Support for small business in Oman) _____________________________________________________________________ Entrepreneurial Process: The process of entrepreneurship involves both analytical and creative activities. According to Pierce and Dunham, the entrepreneurial process takes place in four sequential steps: Step 1: Solo Phase During this step, the typical entrepreneur works alone. The first task for the entrepreneur is to clearly identify the entrepreneurial idea. Then, the idea is developed and subjected to three feasibility tests. Will the idea provide clearly identifiable benefits for customer or clients? Is the idea compatible with the organizations resources and overall strategy? Are the idea and its potential implementation compatible with the entrepreneurs personal character and skills? Step 2: Network Phase During this step the entrepreneur shares the idea with o0ther organizational members, seeking feedback and suggestions for improvement of the idea. Step 3: Bootlegging Phase During this step, the entrepreneur begins to form a project team and some levels of product prototype development outside the normal operational mode of the company. Step 4: Formal Team Phase During this step, the idea becomes a formal organizational venture with formal organizational support. Entrepreneurial Environment: It refers to the various facets within which big, medium, and small enterprises and others have to operate. Entrepreneurial environment is broadly classified into six important segments, namely: 1) Political environment 2) Economic environment 3) Social environment 4) Technological environment 5) Legal environment 6) Cultural environment. 1) Political environment: It affects the entrepreneurial growth and accelerates the process of economic activity. Law and order is of high priority, followed by Government policies in regard to the promotion of entrepreneurship, followed by incentives, encouragement and right institutional structure will go a long way in fostering entrepreneurship. 2) Economic environment: It encompasses a wide spectrum of items, namely, land, availability of raw material, skilled labour, infrastructure, machinery, capital and so on. Shortage of raw materials, inferior quality, high price resulting in high cost of production are bringing had name to the small industry. Without raw materials, no industry can run and no entrepreneurship would come up. The benefits of an improved and healthy market conditions in the environment of entrepreneurial growth are self-explanatory. 3. Social environment: It strongly affects the entrepreneurial behaviour which contributes to entrepreneurial growth. The social factors can be family background, kith and kin (relatives, friends and teachers), religion, social status, social mobility and social marginality. 4. Technological environment: It represents the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes. The technological advancement has become a catalytic agent in the promotion of entrepreneurship growth of industrial and allied services and agriculture. Further, it brings cultural changes as well as the quality of life. The Knowledge Revolution has made it possible to routine processes a shift from the traditional manual control of conventional machinery for using the computer brain to operate the machinery. Computer software is an alternate way to reorganize traditional work processes, through application of overseeing knowledge aided by systematic, logical analysis. 5. Legal environment: Registration, licensing, pollution, location, acquisition, payment of wages and labour related laws, pollution and environmental rules, laws relating to organization, product, patent, resource and taxes. According to a recent study, there are over 150 legal requirements an entrepreneur has to take care off. 6. Cultural environment: Every organization has an invisible quality, certain style, and character, a way of doing things that may be more powerful than the dictates of any one person or a formal system. This invisible quality the corporate culture decides how effective the organization is in the marketplace. Max Weber emphasizes that cultural factors have a crippling effect on entrepreneurial growth. Culture consists of (i) tangible man made objects like furniture, buildings etc. (ii) intangible concepts like laws, morals, knowledge etc. (iii) values and behavior acceptable within the society. Institutional support for small businesses in Oman: Incentives: One of the incentives is the annual award of the Sultans Cup for Industry. In 1999, the five winners were the Oman Cement Company, Raysut Cement Company, Oman Flour Mills Company, in the top category, with Jotun Paints and Oman Filters Industry taking best factories awards in the second category. Certificates of Merit were awarded to Oman Cables Industry Company, Amiantit Oman and National Detergent Company from the first category, and Sadolin Paints and Al-Hassan Switchgear Factory from the second category. In 1998, the criteria for awarding His Majesty, the Sultans Cup were changed to take account of a companys Omanisation plan. Companies should not fall below the 35% target set for the industrial sector. Companies in the first category are those with over RO3 million invested. The Ministry evaluated 27 factories, taking into account a number of other criteria such as added value, the use of local raw material, percentage of exports, quality etc, as well as considering safety standards and environmental protection. Public /establishment for Industrial Estate (PEIE): In 1993 the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) was created by Royal Decree giving a significant boost to industry by developing additional industrial estates and encouraging the private sector to participate in the industrialization of Oman. There are five industrial estates at present namely Rusayl, Sohar, Raysut, Nizwa and al-Buraimi, Sur. but more are being planned all over the country in towns like Khasab and Qalhat. PEIE has commissioned a consultant to prepare a feasibility study for these three new industrial estates. In April 2000, the Ministry announced that a study had been carried out to privatize the industrial estates, transforming them into public companies, but for the time being, the Government will continue to develop them and has allocated around RO200 million for the purpose. Rusayl: Rusayl was the first industrial estate in Oman, established in 1983, and becoming operational in 1985. It is situated about 45 kms from the Capital Area and the port of Mina Sultan Qaboos. It is close to Seeb Airport and easily accessible from the main road network. Amongst the many other services provided, an important feature is the nearby housing complex for over 1000 workers, complete with shops, supermarket, cinema, mosque, leisure centre and football pitch. Separate accommodation was recently constructed within the estate for female workers. There are 107 industries in operation on the Rusayl Estate and five more under construction, with over 40 projects being evaluated. The factories in operation are producing chemicals, electrical and building materials, paints, textiles and garments, computer stationery, aluminum products, car batteries, steel assemblies and poly products, amongst others. Sohar: Sohar Industrial Estate is situated 220 kms from Muscat and 180 kms from Dubai, linked to both by an international highway. Thanks to its strategic location it is attractive to potential investors. Apart from the major projects now being implemented there are 28 industries in production, 18 under construction and 44 projects coming up in the near future. Industries on the Sohar estate produce a wide range of products, such as foodstuffs, detergents, leather goods, furniture, toothpaste, ice cream, resins, glass, steel bars and engine oil. Potential products may include jewellery, roof cladding, baby food, sweets, sports shoes and polythene bags. Raysut: Inaugurated in 1992, the Raysut industrial estate is situated in Dhofar, 15 kms from Salalah, close to the sea and the new container port. The border with Yemen is only 200 kms away and will be approached by a new tarmac road across from Thumrait to al-Mazyounah, which is under construction. Port Salalah is ideally situated on the sea lanes connecting Europe, East Africa, Yemen and the Far East. A free zone has been established at al-Mazyounah which will make Raysut even more attractive as an entrepot destination. The industrial estate has been divided into zones so that any chemical pollution is kept well away from cleaner industries. There are five factories in operation, manufacturing school stationery, box files, ice, fish processing, frozen chickens, PVC pipes and steel fabrication. Nizwa: Nizwa Industrial Estate was inaugurated in 1994. It is situated 180 kms from Muscat and only 15 kms from Nizwa itself. Being the latest estate to be established, there are five pre-fabricated buildings for ceramic tiles, paper products and foodstuffs manufacture. Nine applications have been made for a plot on the Estate and these are currently being evaluated. The Estate is to be enlarged over the next Five-Year Plan. Future projects may include leather goods, novelties, military badges, pharmaceuticals, surgical gloves, chemicals and disinfectants. Al-Buraimi: During the 29th National Celebrations, the al-Buraimi Industrial Estate was officially opened. The Estate is 325 kms from Muscat but conveniently situated for the Gulf markets. There are three factories in operation. Sur: In addition to the Oman LNG project, a fertilizer plant is to be built at Qalhat near Sur with a capacity to produce 1.65 million tonnes of urea and 250,000 tonnes of excess ammonia per annum from natural gas for export. The preliminary work on the project arrangements has been completed and the major activity is to secure the finance needed through lenders and export credit agencies to supplement the equity capital of the partners in the project. Around RO375 million will be invested in the project. It is estimated that one trillion cubic feet of gas will be required for the project over a 20 year period. The plant will employ some 450 staff of whom about half will be Omanis during the initial operating period. Al Mazunah: Al Mazunah Free Zone commenced operations in November 1999 and is located in Omans southern region of Dhofar, close to the Yemen border. The Free Zone is located 260 kilometers from Salalah, 245 kilometers from Al Gaydah and 500 kilometers from Sayun, the two closest Yemeni cities. Given the nature of the Free Zone it lays outside the lit of Omans tax boundaries, and as such, businesses are able to enter Al Mazunah without visa or completing border procedures between Oman and Yemen. Indeed, Al Mazunah offers excellent opportunities to those wishing to trade goods through Oman into Yemen, or locate warehouse facilities. The Free Zone occupies 450 hectares which is divided into 100 plots ranging in size from 2,000 to 16,000 square meters. To date, 21 businesses and an exhibition area are in operation on the Free Zone. Sanad Programme: With the kind directions of H.M. Sultan Qaboos Bin Said, for the great importance of enhancing the role of Omani manpower in the development of the country and for the purpose of creating business opportunities for Omanis who are able to take interest in work, Sanad programme is established to work under the supervision of the Ministry of Manpower and execute the following duties: Objectives OF SANAD: Contributing to the employment of the natio Concepts and Theories of Entrepreneurship Concepts and Theories of Entrepreneurship ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SMALL BUSINESS (OMAN) 1 Entrepreneur Entrepreneurship Definition of Entrepreneur: The term entrepreneur is derived from the French verb ‘enterprenedre. It means to undertake. In the early 16th century, the Frenchmen who organized and led military expeditions were referred to as entrepreneurs. Around 1700A.D, the term was used for architects and contractors of public works. An entrepreneur is a person who undertakes and operates anew enterprise or venture and assumes some accountability for the inherent risks. A female entrepreneur is sometimes referred to an â€Å"entrepreneuse†. Entrepreneur is a person who creates and manages change by the recognition of opportunities (needs, wants, problems, and challenges) and develops people and manages resources to take advantage of the opportunity and creates a venture. The term entrepreneur was applied to business initially by the French economist, Cantillon, in the 18th century, to designate a dealer who purchases the means of production form combining them into marketable products. Concept of Entrepreneurship: Entrepreneurship is a process undertaken by an entrepreneur to augment his business interest. It is an exercise involving innovation and creativity that will go towards establishing his/her enterprise. One of the qualities of entrepreneurship is the ability to discover an investment opportunity and to organize an enterprise, thereby contributing to discover an investment growth. It involves taking of risks and making the necessary investments under conditions of uncertainty and innovating, planning, and taking decisions so as to increase production in agriculture, business and industry etc. Entrepreneurship is the composite skill, the resultant of a mix of many qualities and traits these include tangible factors as imagination, readiness to take risks. Ability to bring together and put to use other factors of production, capital, labor, land, and also tangible factors such as the ability to mobilize scientific and technological advances. Intrapreneurs: Of late a new breed of corporate entrepreneurs has come to the force in large organizations are called as â€Å"intrapreneurs†. They are entrepreneurs who catch hold of a new idea for a product, service, or process and work to bring this idea to fruition within the framework of the organization. Intrapreneurs with their innovations and dedicated effort are perceived as a valuable asset by the organization, inspiring others. He serves as a champion to others in the organization. In America, a number of intrapreneurs are leaving their jobs to start their own ventures. It is found that many are exceedingly successful in their new ventures and they are causing threat to the companies they left a few years ago. Difference between Entrepreneur and Intrapreneur: Difference Entrepreneur Intrapreneur 1. Dependency An entrepreneur is independent He is dependent on the entrepreneur. i.e., owner 2. Raising of funds They can raise fund required for the enterprise Funds are not raised 3. Risk He/She bears the risk involved I the business An intrapreneur does not fully bear the risk 4. Operations He/She operates from outside He/She operates from within the organization itself Distinction between an Entrepreneur and a Manager Factors Entrepreneur Manager 1. Motive The main motive is to start a venture by setting up an enterprise. He understands the venture for his personal gratification. The main motive of a manager is to render his services in an enterprise already set up by someone else 2. Status He is the owner of enterprise A manger is the servant in the enterprise owned by the entrepreneur 3. Risk bearing He being the owner of the enterprise assumes all risks and uncertainty involved in running the enterprise A manager as a servant does not bear any risk involved in the enterprise 4. Rewards The reward that he gets for bearing risks involved in the enterprise is profit which is highly uncertain A manager gets salary as reward for the services rendered by him in the enterprise, which is fixed and certain 5. Innovation He himself thinks over what and how to produce goods to meet then changing demands of the customers. Hence, he acts as an innovator also called a change agent Manager simply executes the plan prepared by the entrepreneur and translates the entrepreneurs ideas into practice 6. Qualifications He needs to possess qualities and qualification like high achievement, motive, originality in thinking, foresight, risk bearing ability and so on. On the contrary, manager needs to possess distinct qualification in terms of sound knowledge in management theory and practice. Difference between Entrepreneur and Entrepreneurship: Entrepreneur Entrepreneurship Refers to a person Visualiser Creator Organizer Innovator Technician Initiator Decision maker Planner Leader Motivator Programmer Risk taker Communicator Administrator Refers to a process Vision Creation Organization Innovation Technology Initiative Decision Planning Leadership Motivation Action Risk taking Communication Administration Skills required for an Entrepreneur: 1. Technical skills: Written and oral communication Monitoring environment Technical Business Management Effective Interpersonal relationship Effective Listening Ability to organize Network Building Management Styles Coaching Being an effective team player 2. Business Management Skills Planning and goal setting Decision making Human Relations Marketing finance Accounting Management Control Negotiation Management growth 3. Personal entrepreneurial skills Self discipline Risk taking attitude Being creative Logical and analytical Persistent Visionary leader Ability to manage change Articulate Characteristics of an Entrepreneur: Mental ability consists of intelligence and creative thinking. An entrepreneur must be reasonably intelligent, and should have creative thinking and must be able to engage in the analysis of various problems and situations in order to deal with them. Clear Objectives: An entrepreneur should have clear objectives as to the exact nature of the goods to be produced and subsidiary activities to be undertaken. Business secrecy: An entrepreneur must be able to guard business secrets. Leakage of business secrets to trade competitors is a serious matter which should be carefully guarded against by an entrepreneur. Human relations ability: An entrepreneur must maintain good relations with his customers if he is to establish relations that will encourage them to continue to patronize his business. He must also maintain good relations with his employees if he is to motivate them to perform their jobs at a high level of efficiency. Communication ability: An entrepreneur who can effectively communicate with the customers, employees, suppliers and creditors will be more likely to succeed than the one who does not. Technical knowledge: An entrepreneur must have a reasonable level of technical knowledge. Other main characteristics Self confident and optimistic Able to take calculated risk Prepared to take risks Respond positively to challenges Flexible and able to adapt Knowledgeable of markets Versatile knowledge Able to get along well with others Independent minded Energetic and diligent Creative, need to achieve Dynamic leader Responsive to suggestions Take initiatives Resourceful and persevering Perceptive with foresight Responsive to criticism Ability to organize and administer efficiently Significance/importance of entrepreneurship: Economic Development: Entrepreneurship contributes to economic development of every country. It enables continual improvement of societies and their organizations entrepreneurship Developing personal relationships: Small businesses are well placed to build personal relationships with customers, employees and suppliers. Responding flexibility to problems and challenges Inventiveness and innovation: Small businesses are well positioned to introduce and develop new ideas. This is due to their owners not having to report or seek approval from anyone else. For Example, When Anitha Roddick set up The Body Shop; she developed a range of environmentally friendly cosmetics in unsophisticated packaging. Due to the innovation in the packaging style her products are considered to be No: 1 in terms of quality and package. It invigorates markets: The formation of new business leads to job creation and has a multiplying effect on the economy. It empowers citizens, generates innovation and changes mindsets. These changes have the potential to integrate developing countries into the global economy. Classification and Type of Entrepreneurs: 1. Innovative Entrepreneurs It is a type of entrepreneur, who launches new products, discovers new markets, establishes new methods of production and restructures the enterprise. He can work only when definite level of progress has been previously accomplished. They focus on revolutionalisation and development. It is characterized by aggressive assembling of information and the analysis of results derived from novel combination of factors. 2. Imitative Entrepreneurs: They adopt victorious innovations launched by the innovative entrepreneurs. They duplicate the technology and techniques innovated by others and they are suitable for underdeveloped countries. They are characterized by readiness to adopt successful innovations, by innovating entrepreneurs. They are adoptive and more flexible. 3. Fabian Entrepreneurs: They are exemplified by great caution and skepticism in experimenting any change in the organization. They imitate only in situations where it becomes necessary to do so. They imitate only in situations where it becomes necessary to do so. They are exhibited by precaution and skepticism in practicing any change they have neither the will to introduce new changes not any desire to adopt new methods, innovated by the most enterprising entrepreneurs. Dealings are determined by customs, religion, tradition and past practices. They are not much interested in taking risks or changes and they try to follow the beaten tack created by the footsteps of their predecessors. 4. Drone Entrepreneurs: They suffer losses, as they refuse to make any modifications in the existing production methods. They are exhibited by refusal to adopt and use opportunities to make changes in production. They are willing to suffer losses but they do not make changes in the production methods adopted by them. Also called as laggards because they continue in their traditional ways and in fields; their product loses its marketability soon. 5. Solo Entrepreneurs: They basically work alone and if required may recruit few people. 6. Active partners: They set up an enterprise as a joint venture and they actively take part in the activities of the organization. 7. Simply partners: They contribute funds, but are not involved in the operations of the enterprise. 8. Inventors: They are involved in the research and development and innovative activities. 9. Buyers: These entrepreneurs in order to reduce risk buy an already established and ongoing enterprise. 10. Life timers: They take business as primary part of their life. Family enterprise falls into this group of entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs according to the type of business: 1. Business Entrepreneur: They are the individuals who conceive an idea for a new product or service and then create a business to materialize their idea into reality. They tap both production and marketing resources in their search to develop a new business opportunity. 2. Trading Entrepreneur: They are the one who undertakes trading activities and is not concerned with the manufacturing work. He identifies potential markets, simulates demand for his product line and creates a desire and interest among buyers to go in for his product. He is engaged in both domestic and overseas trade. 3. Industrial Entrepreneur: It is essentially a manufacturer who identifies the potential needs of customers and tailors a product or service to meet the marketing needs. He is a product-oriented man who starts in an industrial unit because of the possibility of making some new product. The entrepreneur has the ability to convert economic resources and technology into a considerably profitable venture. E.g., Electronic industry, textile units, machine tools and the like. 4. Corporate Entrepreneur: It is a person who demonstrates his innovative skill in organizing and managing corporate undertaking. A corporate undertaking is a form of business organization which is registered under some statute or Act which gives it a separate legal entity. 5. Agricultural Entrepreneur: They are those who undertake agricultural activities as raising and marketing of crops, fertilizers and other inputs of agriculture. They are motivated to raise agricultural through mechanization, irrigation and application of technologies for dry and agriculture products. Entrepreneurs in Technology: (Refer the Book) Technical Entrepreneur Non technical entrepreneur Professional Entrepreneur Entrepreneurs and motivation: (Refer the Book) Pure entrepreneur Induced entrepreneur Motivated entrepreneur Spontaneous entrepreneur Growth and Entrepreneurs: (Refer the Book) Growth entrepreneur Super growth entrepreneur Entrepreneur and stages of development: (Refer the Book) First generation entrepreneur Modern Entrepreneur Classical entrepreneur Entrepreneurial competencies: The characteristics possessed by an entrepreneur which result in superior performance are called Entrepreneurial competencies or traits. Knowledge, skill and motive are the components of competencies. These competencies can be developed and sharpened. These can be injected in human beings through education and training. Practice helps develop competencies. Thus it is rightly said that Entrepreneurs are made and not born. Some of the major entrepreneurial competencies are : a) The individuals capacity for the pursuit of effective personal entrepreneurial behavior b) The way that they design the organization to maximize the potential for effective entrepreneurial behaviour by all staff c) The way that they design the organization to enable it respond to, and indeed shape, the dynamics of the task structure and interdependencies confronting it d) The way that the entrepreneur shapes the capacity of the business to develop and innovate over time. e) The degree to which the above are pursued in a socially responsible way thus laying the ground for wider acceptance of entrepreneurial ways of doing things in business and society. f) Initiative: acting out of choice rather than compulsion, taking the lead rather than waiting for others to start. g) Sees and acts on opportunities. A mindset where one is trained to look for business opportunities from everyday experiences. h) Persistence A never say die attitude, not giving up easily, striving information seeking continuously until success is achieved. i) Knowing: Knowing who knows, consulting experts, reading relevant material and an overall openness to ideas and information. j) Concern for High Quality of Work k) Commitment to work Contract: Taking personal pains to complete a task as scheduled. l) Efficiency Orientation: concern for conservation of time, money and effort. m) Systematic Planning n) Problem solving o) Self confidence p) Assertiveness q) Persuasion r) Use of Influence Strategies s) Monitoring t) Concern for Employee welfare Entrepreneurial Development is a key to achieve overall economic development through higher level of industrial activity. Many studies have shown that entrepreneurs are made. Entrepreneurial development is a process in which persons are injected with motivational drives of achievement and in sight to tackle uncertain and risky situations especially in business undertakings. The process of entrepreneurial development focuses on training, education, reorientation and creation of conducive and healthy environment for the growth of enterprises. Entrepreneurial competence makes all the different to the rate of economic growth this call for the entrepreneurs potential inputs to boost the economic development of a country Functions of Entrepreneur Idea generation and scanning of the best suitable idea Determination of the business objectives Product analysis and market research Determination of form of ownership/organization Completion of promotional formalities Raising necessary funds Procuring machine and material Recruitment of men Undertaking the business operations Arthur H. Cole has given the following functions of Entrepreneur: Determination of objectives and change of those objectives as conditions required or made advantageous Development of the organization, including efficient relations with subordinates and all employees Securing adequate finance resources and maintaining good relations with the existing and potential investors Requisition of efficient technological equipment Development of a market for the products Maintenance of good relations with the public authorities and society at large Major functions of Entrepreneur Innovation Doing new things or the doing of things that are already being done in a new way. It includes new processes of production, introduction of new products, relation of new markets, discovery of a new and better form of industrial organization Risk bearing Making provisions for capital in order to enable the entrepreneur to reduce uncertainty in his plan of investment and expansion of the enterprise Organization and management of business so as to have leadership and control over it. MODULE 2 ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT ____________________________________________________________________ (Entrepreneurial Process, Entrepreneurial Environment, Institutional Support for small business in Oman) _____________________________________________________________________ Entrepreneurial Process: The process of entrepreneurship involves both analytical and creative activities. According to Pierce and Dunham, the entrepreneurial process takes place in four sequential steps: Step 1: Solo Phase During this step, the typical entrepreneur works alone. The first task for the entrepreneur is to clearly identify the entrepreneurial idea. Then, the idea is developed and subjected to three feasibility tests. Will the idea provide clearly identifiable benefits for customer or clients? Is the idea compatible with the organizations resources and overall strategy? Are the idea and its potential implementation compatible with the entrepreneurs personal character and skills? Step 2: Network Phase During this step the entrepreneur shares the idea with o0ther organizational members, seeking feedback and suggestions for improvement of the idea. Step 3: Bootlegging Phase During this step, the entrepreneur begins to form a project team and some levels of product prototype development outside the normal operational mode of the company. Step 4: Formal Team Phase During this step, the idea becomes a formal organizational venture with formal organizational support. Entrepreneurial Environment: It refers to the various facets within which big, medium, and small enterprises and others have to operate. Entrepreneurial environment is broadly classified into six important segments, namely: 1) Political environment 2) Economic environment 3) Social environment 4) Technological environment 5) Legal environment 6) Cultural environment. 1) Political environment: It affects the entrepreneurial growth and accelerates the process of economic activity. Law and order is of high priority, followed by Government policies in regard to the promotion of entrepreneurship, followed by incentives, encouragement and right institutional structure will go a long way in fostering entrepreneurship. 2) Economic environment: It encompasses a wide spectrum of items, namely, land, availability of raw material, skilled labour, infrastructure, machinery, capital and so on. Shortage of raw materials, inferior quality, high price resulting in high cost of production are bringing had name to the small industry. Without raw materials, no industry can run and no entrepreneurship would come up. The benefits of an improved and healthy market conditions in the environment of entrepreneurial growth are self-explanatory. 3. Social environment: It strongly affects the entrepreneurial behaviour which contributes to entrepreneurial growth. The social factors can be family background, kith and kin (relatives, friends and teachers), religion, social status, social mobility and social marginality. 4. Technological environment: It represents the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes. The technological advancement has become a catalytic agent in the promotion of entrepreneurship growth of industrial and allied services and agriculture. Further, it brings cultural changes as well as the quality of life. The Knowledge Revolution has made it possible to routine processes a shift from the traditional manual control of conventional machinery for using the computer brain to operate the machinery. Computer software is an alternate way to reorganize traditional work processes, through application of overseeing knowledge aided by systematic, logical analysis. 5. Legal environment: Registration, licensing, pollution, location, acquisition, payment of wages and labour related laws, pollution and environmental rules, laws relating to organization, product, patent, resource and taxes. According to a recent study, there are over 150 legal requirements an entrepreneur has to take care off. 6. Cultural environment: Every organization has an invisible quality, certain style, and character, a way of doing things that may be more powerful than the dictates of any one person or a formal system. This invisible quality the corporate culture decides how effective the organization is in the marketplace. Max Weber emphasizes that cultural factors have a crippling effect on entrepreneurial growth. Culture consists of (i) tangible man made objects like furniture, buildings etc. (ii) intangible concepts like laws, morals, knowledge etc. (iii) values and behavior acceptable within the society. Institutional support for small businesses in Oman: Incentives: One of the incentives is the annual award of the Sultans Cup for Industry. In 1999, the five winners were the Oman Cement Company, Raysut Cement Company, Oman Flour Mills Company, in the top category, with Jotun Paints and Oman Filters Industry taking best factories awards in the second category. Certificates of Merit were awarded to Oman Cables Industry Company, Amiantit Oman and National Detergent Company from the first category, and Sadolin Paints and Al-Hassan Switchgear Factory from the second category. In 1998, the criteria for awarding His Majesty, the Sultans Cup were changed to take account of a companys Omanisation plan. Companies should not fall below the 35% target set for the industrial sector. Companies in the first category are those with over RO3 million invested. The Ministry evaluated 27 factories, taking into account a number of other criteria such as added value, the use of local raw material, percentage of exports, quality etc, as well as considering safety standards and environmental protection. Public /establishment for Industrial Estate (PEIE): In 1993 the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) was created by Royal Decree giving a significant boost to industry by developing additional industrial estates and encouraging the private sector to participate in the industrialization of Oman. There are five industrial estates at present namely Rusayl, Sohar, Raysut, Nizwa and al-Buraimi, Sur. but more are being planned all over the country in towns like Khasab and Qalhat. PEIE has commissioned a consultant to prepare a feasibility study for these three new industrial estates. In April 2000, the Ministry announced that a study had been carried out to privatize the industrial estates, transforming them into public companies, but for the time being, the Government will continue to develop them and has allocated around RO200 million for the purpose. Rusayl: Rusayl was the first industrial estate in Oman, established in 1983, and becoming operational in 1985. It is situated about 45 kms from the Capital Area and the port of Mina Sultan Qaboos. It is close to Seeb Airport and easily accessible from the main road network. Amongst the many other services provided, an important feature is the nearby housing complex for over 1000 workers, complete with shops, supermarket, cinema, mosque, leisure centre and football pitch. Separate accommodation was recently constructed within the estate for female workers. There are 107 industries in operation on the Rusayl Estate and five more under construction, with over 40 projects being evaluated. The factories in operation are producing chemicals, electrical and building materials, paints, textiles and garments, computer stationery, aluminum products, car batteries, steel assemblies and poly products, amongst others. Sohar: Sohar Industrial Estate is situated 220 kms from Muscat and 180 kms from Dubai, linked to both by an international highway. Thanks to its strategic location it is attractive to potential investors. Apart from the major projects now being implemented there are 28 industries in production, 18 under construction and 44 projects coming up in the near future. Industries on the Sohar estate produce a wide range of products, such as foodstuffs, detergents, leather goods, furniture, toothpaste, ice cream, resins, glass, steel bars and engine oil. Potential products may include jewellery, roof cladding, baby food, sweets, sports shoes and polythene bags. Raysut: Inaugurated in 1992, the Raysut industrial estate is situated in Dhofar, 15 kms from Salalah, close to the sea and the new container port. The border with Yemen is only 200 kms away and will be approached by a new tarmac road across from Thumrait to al-Mazyounah, which is under construction. Port Salalah is ideally situated on the sea lanes connecting Europe, East Africa, Yemen and the Far East. A free zone has been established at al-Mazyounah which will make Raysut even more attractive as an entrepot destination. The industrial estate has been divided into zones so that any chemical pollution is kept well away from cleaner industries. There are five factories in operation, manufacturing school stationery, box files, ice, fish processing, frozen chickens, PVC pipes and steel fabrication. Nizwa: Nizwa Industrial Estate was inaugurated in 1994. It is situated 180 kms from Muscat and only 15 kms from Nizwa itself. Being the latest estate to be established, there are five pre-fabricated buildings for ceramic tiles, paper products and foodstuffs manufacture. Nine applications have been made for a plot on the Estate and these are currently being evaluated. The Estate is to be enlarged over the next Five-Year Plan. Future projects may include leather goods, novelties, military badges, pharmaceuticals, surgical gloves, chemicals and disinfectants. Al-Buraimi: During the 29th National Celebrations, the al-Buraimi Industrial Estate was officially opened. The Estate is 325 kms from Muscat but conveniently situated for the Gulf markets. There are three factories in operation. Sur: In addition to the Oman LNG project, a fertilizer plant is to be built at Qalhat near Sur with a capacity to produce 1.65 million tonnes of urea and 250,000 tonnes of excess ammonia per annum from natural gas for export. The preliminary work on the project arrangements has been completed and the major activity is to secure the finance needed through lenders and export credit agencies to supplement the equity capital of the partners in the project. Around RO375 million will be invested in the project. It is estimated that one trillion cubic feet of gas will be required for the project over a 20 year period. The plant will employ some 450 staff of whom about half will be Omanis during the initial operating period. Al Mazunah: Al Mazunah Free Zone commenced operations in November 1999 and is located in Omans southern region of Dhofar, close to the Yemen border. The Free Zone is located 260 kilometers from Salalah, 245 kilometers from Al Gaydah and 500 kilometers from Sayun, the two closest Yemeni cities. Given the nature of the Free Zone it lays outside the lit of Omans tax boundaries, and as such, businesses are able to enter Al Mazunah without visa or completing border procedures between Oman and Yemen. Indeed, Al Mazunah offers excellent opportunities to those wishing to trade goods through Oman into Yemen, or locate warehouse facilities. The Free Zone occupies 450 hectares which is divided into 100 plots ranging in size from 2,000 to 16,000 square meters. To date, 21 businesses and an exhibition area are in operation on the Free Zone. Sanad Programme: With the kind directions of H.M. Sultan Qaboos Bin Said, for the great importance of enhancing the role of Omani manpower in the development of the country and for the purpose of creating business opportunities for Omanis who are able to take interest in work, Sanad programme is established to work under the supervision of the Ministry of Manpower and execute the following duties: Objectives OF SANAD: Contributing to the employment of the natio