Evaluation methods for the proposed IAMS framework, model, and system Thesis

Evaluation methods for the proposed IAMS framework, model, and system - Thesis Example What the Evaluation Methods Should Achieve The appropriate evaluation method should reveal the most appropriate elements that would provide user opinions for an acceptable integration model for the physical and virtual identity management systems. In addition, the evaluation method should elucidate the most comprehensive and efficient IAMS framework for the integration of physical and virtual IAMS. Finally, the evaluation methods should have the capacity to test the components that constitute the conceptual model, so that the final model merges seamlessly with user expectations and usability preferences. Background to Evaluation Methods Good theoretical frameworks offer practicality in a wide range of situations, and therefore their importance in evaluation of IAMS frameworks cannot be overemphasized (Alkin, 2004). According to Alkin (2004), evaluations stem from social responsibility, monetary considerations, and social inquiry. In explaining the evaluation methodology, Alkin (2004) uses a comprehensive categorization based on use, methods, and value of the evaluation components. In this paper, three distinct evaluations are necessary to achieve the objectives of this research: expert evaluation, user evaluation, and evaluation through comparison with existing IAMS frameworks. Methods of Evaluating Expert and User Opinions Empowerment Evaluation Method An empowerment evaluation method would focus on helping a particular group of stakeholders, either clients seeking service through the IAMS or providers of the IAMS services. In addition, empowerment method takes into consideration feedback from different stakeholders (Fetterman and Wandersman, 2007). Expert evaluation with empowerment method therefore gives evaluators more... Evaluation methods for the proposed IAMS framework, model, and system Good theoretical frameworks offer practicality in a wide range of situations, and therefore their importance in evaluation of IAMS frameworks cannot be overemphasized (Alkin, 2004). According to Alkin (2004), evaluations stem from social responsibility, monetary considerations, and social inquiry. In explaining the evaluation methodology, Alkin (2004) uses a comprehensive categorization based on use, methods, and value of the evaluation components. In this paper, three distinct evaluations are necessary to achieve the objectives of this research: expert evaluation, user evaluation, and evaluation through comparison with existing IAMS frameworks. An empowerment evaluation method would focus on helping a particular group of stakeholders, either clients seeking service through the IAMS or providers of the IAMS services. In addition, empowerment method takes into consideration feedback from different stakeholders (Fetterman and Wandersman, 2007). Expert evaluation with empowerment method therefore gives evaluators more responsibility in a supervisory role than in an expert role. Methods that can use of empowerment evaluation include analysis of expert questionnaires, such as those collected for the purpose of this research (Fetterman, 2007). The overriding premise of empowerment evaluation is to help people contribute to what helps them carry out their roles (Sherriff & Porter, 2010).

Content Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Content Analysis - Essay Example The employees who had worked for more than five years were pretty satisfied with the hospital as a workplace. However, the young and ambitious crowd, which had been there for a short period was not very happy with the workplace, and hardly found it exciting. Unanimously, the answer was the cleanliness in the hospital and the professional attitude of everyone around. Some respondents from housekeeping said they liked the work because unlike hotels, where guests could check in and check out at any time of the day, there were not many patients checking out at odd hours in this workplace. Instead, most of them checked out in the late mornings. A few were happy about the pay, while a few part-timers were not so happy with it. The majority felt that there was inflexibility in the job roles and they should be given a chance to rotate and have a stint in other departments too. The distance between the carpark and the building was another grouse. Most of them felt that the parking should have been closer to the place of work. Some felt that the doctors were high handed in their behaviour towards them. Most of them felt that they would have been able to perform better if they had been able to interact with the higher management and not just their immediate seniors. A few new comers (most probably the younger lot) seemed not to be able to fit in their roles and were complaining about their colleagues and superiors. Most of them spoke about the sad atmosphere and the dull environment in the canteen. Q4. If you were the boss, what would you change to make it better Each had a different answer to this question. While one wanted to have better tools and equipment for working, another one wanted to raise the pay for evening shift workers. A few wanted to sack their bosses, while one wanted a four-day week. Another suggestion was of a rotation of jobs. Someone suggested brighter colours for the canteen furniture and also provision for playing music. Another respondent wanted to change the colour of the uniforms. Some wanted to give the employees a choice for the shifts, if they were the boss. One of the respondents wanted to keep training programmes for fresh recruits. Q5. Do you have anything else to say None of them had anything much to say. Only one respondent said that he wished he had a complete day off and not be called on weekends too sometimes. Findings and Conclusions Going through the transcript, one can make out that while each of the employees, past and present, appreciated the cleanliness and professionalism in the hospital, not many of them were actually motivated to continue working there. The attitude of their superiors, the sad atmosphere around the place, the cold furniture in the canteen and the distance from the parking lot put them off. It seems many of them wanted to have more flexibility in their roles and

Mona Lisa By Leonardo Da Vinci English Literature Essay

Mona Lisa By Leonardo Da Vinci English Literature Essay This essay is devoted to a masterpiece by the hand of one of the greatest artist this world has seen, The Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci. The intent is to address the story behind this painting, trying to unveil some of the mysteries that lie behind her smile or at least the reason of the commission to begin with. The artistic methods and especially the more specific description of the uniqueness of the Mona Lisa will be a focal point of the text. The portrait was painted in a theme, well known in the early sixteenth century, the differences however, both prominent and subtle; make this artwork, in the opinion of many, the Magnum Opus of Leonardo Da Vinci. My choice of subject lies in my personal encounter with her when visiting Paris, France. The expectations I had were of course very high, la piece du resistance of the Louvre must have something very special to offer. Still I told myself that the hype around this painting must have been more important in reaching her current status than the actual beauty of the painting. To my great astonishing I must confess that even from the distance visitors have to keep from the painting, she was amazing. It is difficult to imagine that such an ordinary portrait to the lay mans eye, can still captivate and inspire it. After about ten minutes of staring at the painting, being surrounded by Japanese tourists, I left inebriated with the Mona Lisa and finally understood the publicity surrounding her. Therefore I have written this essay. b) Context In first appearance it seems quite remarkable and perhaps even odd, that Leonardo Da Vinci did not want to work for the margravine of Mantua, even though he was allowed to choose the setting in which the portrait would take place, as well as the delivery date. Apparently Leonardo lived off of the savings he had transferred to his account in Florence before leaving Milan. He seemed to prefer the scientific studies that did not generate any income and which were frowned upon by the people who lived in his age. In the light of this event it is even more remarkable that Leonardo decided to work per order of Francesco Del Giocondo (1460-1539) in the spring of 1503, to make a portrait of his wife Lisa Gherardini (1479-after 1551?). This portrait would later be known by the name of the Mona Lisa. The reason for this remarkable decision by Leonardo could be that he had a personal relationship with the Giocondo family. The family Giocondo belonged to the same social class as Leonardo and his father Ser Piero. Da Vinci knew people who had close relationships with Francesco Del Giocondo. Even more so, was the family-chapel of the Giocondo family located in the SS. Annunziata in Florence, the church for which Leonardo started with his cardboard with the Annaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ The circumstances in which the Mona Lisa was created are relatively well known. Lisa del Giocondo was born in 1479 as the daughter of Antonmaria Gherardini and was married on the fifth of march 1495to Francesco Del Giocondo, born in 1460 and a son of the prospering Florentine family of silk merchants. It is safe to assume that this man, in contradiction to the margavine of Matua, not ordered this painting in the spur of the moment if you will, but usually had clear motives to make such an investment. This also holds for the Mona Lisa. Francesco Del Giocondo had bought a new home for its young family, in the spring of 1503. Lisa had given birth to her second son Andrea only several months before that, this was considered a good reason to order a portrait in the Florence of the fifteenth and sixteenth century A.D., even more so because the birth of their son Andrea must have had a very important significance, since the child mortality rates were frighteningly high in that period. Lisa Gherardini was the third woman to be wedded to Francesco Del Giocondo, after the tragic deaths of both his first and second wife. Both losses were due to child birth, either during the delivery itself or shortly after. Lisa had given birth to their son Piero in 1496, and apparently she got through pregnancy and births relatively care free. The unfortunate event of losing a daughter during birth in 1499 caused a major blow to the Giocondo family. It is therefore understandable that Francesco had even more motivation to eternalize his spouse than the average well off business man, when taking his previous experiences into account that caused a lot of hardship. The peculiar fact of the matter is that the portrait actually never reached its destination, since several years later around 1510, Leonardo Da Vinci was no longer residing in the city of Firenze as the Italians call it. c) Content Leonardo based his formal composition of the portrait of Lisa Giocondo in first instance on the examples of Florentine portraits of the late fourteen hundreds. The woman is pictured turning her upper body for approximately two-third to the spectator. Another feature often recognizable for portraits of this region and period are the pillars between the back-country is visible which creates a greater sense of depth and distance; this however is not used by Leonardo Da Vinci in this particular painting. The figure portrayed in the Mona Lisa is positioned more to the front of the frame than Flemish examples of the same period. The smaller distance between the viewer and the woman portrayed creates an intensified impression, while the landscape on the background creates a large sense of depth, the lack of pillars or a window through which the spectator looks seems a daring decision of Leonardo, the result simply astonishing. Below an example illustrates the difference between a portrait of the same period and the different style that is recognizable in Da Vincis work. Rafaà «l Leonardo Da Vincihttp://www.timealone.com/webstuff/CWIA/the-women-thumbnails/raphael/files/blocks_image_4_1.pnghttp://bartoszweglarczyk.blox.pl/resource/monalisa.jpg Lady with a unicorn Mona Lisa 1504 1503 Mountains and canyons fade away as they get closer to the horizon into a blue-green sky. In the pale landscape there is a road on the left and a dried-up riverbed on the right can be detected once observing closely. The water reserve or lake on the left side of the painting, around the height of her chin does not seem to be connected to the riverbed, one would expect there to be some sort of dried up reserve on the upper right beyond the limits of the painting. The separate elements of the dry landscape can be traced back to the religious paintings often portraying the Virgin Mary, the similarities between those pieces of art and the Mona Lisa are striking in several ways, most likely intentional. It was common in for woman of good descent to be depicted as a virtuous and beautiful, what better way than to depict one in a similar matter as the most virtuous and beautiful of all. The positioning of the hands are a symbol of a virtuous and morally upright lifestyle, such as described i n books written in that period. This message hidden in the details by the artist does not end here: a very delicate veil covers the loosely draped hair; the dark dress is enriched by the embroideries and vertical folds in the fabric; the dark yellow colored sleeves have a light glistening quality makes it look more beautiful, these details enrich the delicate character of the painting, associated with the example of a virtues woman. The face and hands in particular are made more tangible by the use of lighting and shades, the light that shines from the back onto the woman makes her stand out even more. d) Artistic nature http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=4112dict=CALDtopic=the-visual-arts-in-general The first tread towards the disclosure of the artistic nature of the Mona Lisa, the careful analysis of the noun art should be conducted in order to elucidate the basis of the argumentation. The Cambridge dictionary defines art as The making of objects, images, etc. that are beautiful or that express feelings. The immediate hurdle one finds when analyzing this sentence is the fundamental question which is: what is beauty?Before stepping foot in this exceptionally complicated matter I will take into account a number of theories that have been formulated on the matter. Marie-Henri Beyle was a writer who lived in nineteenth century France, he is better known by his pseudonym Stendhal. The following translated quotation taken from his work De LAmour of 1822 gives an interesting take on the matter of beauty: Beauty is nothing other than the promise of happiness. The French original states: La beautà © nest que la promesse du Bonheur. (De LAmour, 1822, pg. 34) The context in which this sentence is placed is important in order to fully appreciate the message of Stendhal, for he mentions the differences in the standards different nationals have, concerning attractiveness of woman, therefore beauty. The words by Marie-Henri Beyle could make a person wonder whether a certain work of art indeed promises happiness of some kind, for instance the Mona Lisa. The fascination people have for this painting, mere observers and even her creator himself, shows the level of interest or even intoxication the painting has on people. If the human kind is constantly trying to improve its life, in other words; trying to find happiness, than the fascination so many people have for the Mona Lisa should be counted as evidence of her beauty. Therefore the sentence Beauty is nothing other than the promise of happiness seems applicable to the Mona Lisa. The Analysis of Beauty by William Hogarth draws different conclusions concerning beauty than Beyle; the scientific approach used by the former is especially significant, because it is the first scientific and empirical research on the subject of beauty. The subtitle describes the aim of the author With a view of fixing the fluctuating ideas of taste. William Hogarth used the picture portrayed below and asked his subjects to tell him which corset of one up to and including seven, they perceived as the most beautiful corset. Before conducting the research he states that he is sure that most of the subjects will choose one of the middle three corsets, his personal favorite is number four, the one in the middle. The reason he gives is that the numbers higher than four are too curved and the numbers lower are too rigid or straight. Similar questions are asked when using different examples such as noses and even table legs. The results show that indeed the middle option is chosen most often by his subjects, confirming his earlier belief. The reason why one chooses for the middle option, according to Hogarth, is that the most beautiful picture in all cases consists of light curved lines. These lines can be found in nature, for instance if one would take a ribbon and start from the back of a womans neck and end at the lowest part of the corset, the fabric would draw a light curved line. The more this perfect line is approached in curviness the more beautiful it becomes, the farther away from it she goes, the l ess beautiful it becomes. His theory as to why this phenomenon occurs is psychological; he believed that the human mind has developed in such a way that it likes variation. Human beings like change because it stimulates them, too much or too rapid change however is confusing and exhausting. As a reaction to this, people look for regularity as a form of relief, but too much uniformity becomes tiresome an obnoxious. That is the reason why most pleasant things both reward our longing for variation and our need for uniformity, the beauty is in the balance. The curved line drawn on the cover of his book is exactly that balance, according to Hogarth. The line that has the perfect variety, as portrayed above inside of the pyramid, has been implemented by me in order to see whether or not the Mona Lisa of Leonardo Da Vinci has the perfect curve that would explain the beauty of the painting, or vice versa; prove the painting to be beautiful according to Hogarth. The line starts at her right wrist, following the natural position f her arm. The slight curve starts a bit above her elbow and it straightens out, near the ending of her right breast, seeing as one follows the red line from bottom to top. The second curve is inspired by the shadow that the artist has added to her face, serving as a boundary if you will. The cheekbone is quite prominent at the left side of her face, therefore strengthening the motive to draw the line there. The last part simply follows the shape of her head, of course taking into account that her hair increases the volume quite a bit. http://www.cichw.net/monananch/analysish.JPG The making of objects, images, music, etc. that are beautiful or that express feelings, The activity of painting, drawing and making sculpture, Paintings, drawings and sculptures, An activity through which people express particular ideas. It might seem like an odd way of determining the artistic nature of a painting: using the formal definition of the word art as a starting point. Nevertheless, in order to establish a solid argumentation I find it of vital importance to use an unyielding basis to reflect on such an elusive subject. The painting of Lisa Giocondo is, by definition, art. The most important issue that needs to be addressed however is not whether or not this painting can be defined in such a way. This piece of art is such a global icon, for in some, perhaps indescribable manner, it inspires and captivates people. When one thinks of art, an image that is not unlikely to appear is that of this very woman, therefore the following bold statement could be made that: the Mona Lisa is not only a magnificent piece of art, or can be defined in such a way: it has defined art itself.

Chronicle of a Death Foretold Essay -- Chronicle of a Death Foretold V

Chronicle of a Death Foretold The type of violence portrayed in Chronicle of a Death Foretold is more of an honor killing, in which two innocent young men feel pressured by society to become violent, instead of their own intentions. The standards and expectations of the society and their own mother who summoned them with the problem expected them to take care of the situation and regain their sister's honor. The kind of violence seen in Billy Budd differs in that it is a regulatory measure meant to keep order and obey the rules of a society and an institution. While both acts of violence are not the pure testosterone driven raging acts seen in modern day news broadcasts, they differ in that they also show a background of honest premeditation. Both were committed for very serious, purposeful reasons of which the murderers knew the full weight of their actions and that was exactly what they intended. In both novels, the murder committed took away a good person's life, while to many witnesses and accomp lices there was a shadow of doubt as to the good intentions and reasoning behind these deeds. The misguided intentions began in Marquez's novel witht he arrival and objectives of Bayardo San Roman. He thinks he deserves a "perfect" bride and has come to this small Caribbean town to find her. Based on looks he picks Angela Vicario, without even knowing her or spending time alone he wants to spend his life with her. This kind of egotism and obvious materialism demonstrates that Bayardo wants Angela based on her looks and "pure" reputation that there are "no better-reared daughters" than the Vicario ones (Marquez 31). She personally means nothing to him, and he wants her for all of the wrong reasons. He is able to... ...to happen, regardless of a moralist’s sense of justice and human rights. Their job was to serve Britain in her Navy during the time of Napoleon, regardless of the personal infringements on the liberties of the crew. Those were minor in comparison to the safety of Britain and her King. The sense of regret and shadow of doubt which lingers after each of these murders, Billy Budd’s execution and the murder of Santiago Nasar, indicates injustice of the system and special circumstances. If the Vicario brothers did not live in a time when all felt it was their â€Å"duty† to find Angela’s â€Å"seducer,† then they would not have been compelled to commit the act they did. If Billy Budd was not at sea during a time of serious mutinies and heightened rebellions worldwide, the same atmosphere would have allowed him more justice and time for a complete trial, perhaps on land.

Fast Food and Free Time Essay

MIt is common for university students to have a semester break in between each semester in a year. It usually lasts for about 3 to 4 months. Consequently, students will feel bored during the semester break because they have nothing to do. In my opinion, university students nowadays do spend their free time wisely because they will find some job to fulfil their semester break before starting their studies, doing a short semester and making small business to earn money for their expenses. Firstly, university students nowadays do spend their free time wisely because during semester break, they will find a job to fulfil their semester break before resuming their studies. Usually, their popular choice would be part time job in fast food outlets such as KFC, McDonald’s and Pizza Hut. By working, they learn the hardships of earning money and at the same time they are doing something beneficial. Besides, they can also use their salary to pay the fees for their next semester and thus they can reduce their parents’ burden. Secondly, university students nowadays do spend their free time wisely because some of students doing short semester for spend their free time in semester break especially for those repeaters, they can finish the repeat subject earlier and have no burden to take the subject again for the next semester. Beside that, repeater students will not taking a long time to finishing their studies and grading earlier. Lastly, university students nowadays do spend their free time wisely because most of them do a small business when semester break. For example they open a stall burger. They can help their family finance and also can pay for their expenses. Moreover they also can get more experience on how to make a business. At the same time, they also can spend some money for their personal saving. So, university students nowadays do spend their free time wisely.

The First Snowfall

The first snowfall always seems so magical to me. My first glimpse of glittering, white snowflakes brings an external burst of joy. Each tiny snowflake, from a distance, looks exactly the same. But up close, I am able to see each unique pattern these small wonders possess. They shimmer and reflect like tiny little diamonds underneath the glow of the street lamps. Floating ever so gently, down to the not-so-bare ground, a gentle breeze sends the snowflakes into a swirling dance before they resume their journey to the earth. In the distance, I can hear the shrieks and laughter of small children as they relish in pure and innocent wonder, the joys of the first snowfall. I can only imagine them grabbing up handfuls of paper-light snow and throwing it into the air, sticking their warm little tongues out to catch the frostiness of the flakes. I glance to the left of me and notice a cat huddled in the corner of a dimly lit doorway covered in a thin blanket of crystal snow, shivering miserably and letting out pathetic meows as he waits to be let into the warmth of his home. There is a cold kiss of wind against my flushed, red cheeks. And that chilly breeze sends a rushing sound through my bare, cherry-coloured ears. Tiny droplets of water, just moments ago were snowflakes, form on the base of my dark, auburn hair. I exhale sharply and watch as a brief mist forms from my warm breath, mixing with the frigid air. I hear the unmistakable piercing crunch of snow, as my boot hits the blanketed pavement. It is almost impossible to walk silently in the snow. I thoroughly enjoy the first snowfall. I stand outside and marvel at its beauty, as the earth is covered in the brightest, white blanket my eyes have ever perceived. I enjoy kicking up the lightness of the snow before it becomes heavy and hard with the burden of perpetual snowfall. I stand there and let the tiny, diamond like flakes cover me for just a moment, because I know that soon this mesmerizing snowfall will soon transform into a bitter, long, bone-chilling winter.