Rationale Paper

Rationale Paper

                Purpose: The purpose of my blog page is to show the skill I have learned in the technical field of communication. Part of the purpose of this blog is convey information of what I have learned in this class and discusses thought and research of different information. My blog give my instructor some insight of thing I learned and need to work on to better my page. I get a chance to show my opinion on my classmate on their opinion and thought as to how they write their blog page. Some of my classmates have some great opinion and views on situations at hand. It is also used for a person that is interested in communication to view different types of thoughts of others in the field. O what I love t

                Design: My design is one that I tried to show some of my picture as to what I love to do in my free time. I wish I could have found a way to show the background as it was taken. Photography is what I love; I also have my own business and its call Anderson One Shot Photo, the shot of life at a reasonable price. I’m still learning how to blog just being honest, if it was Photoshop I would be okay.

                Content: My content is base on class work only; this information on my page was for the purpose of conveying class work. The information that is on my page was posted for academic purposes to discuss and give opinion, feedback to help each other in class. The content is from this class and other classes in the communication field and the purpose is giving other a chance to give their opinion on all of your post from different class.  My content is somewhat cut and dry and I am a down to earth type person, but the job has zero tolerance to a lot of thing and our job is base on productivity.

                Audience: Iam speaking to my classmates and instructor; this page is intended for class work of the Capstone class of communication. This is a page that others can look at that is interested blogging, communication technology students. I feel that my page is basic information for students. People that maybe looking for communication ideas can see the type




My Final Assignment: The URL for my page http://www.bigdex1.blogspot.com/

Good Blogging Elements

Good Blogging Elements

                I feel that a good blog must be appealing to a particular audience, with design, content, and purpose. I understand that blogs can have an informal, but informative, and enchanting arrangement. There are other elements of a good blog site that must be added to make your blog be successful blog.

                Blogging is another way of communications where you can convey information between friends, co-worker, and anyone that has a opinion about what’s being talk about of a particular topic.

                Reasons are purpose is an element that must be consider before starting a post or your opinion of something. I feel that what you are talking about or the topic will capture the particular audience that you targeted and they have the chance to respond with their thoughts. The blogger are writer is the one who convey the topic of choose and the writer can have the page where you can give feedback. In our class the topic is mainly about communication. Some blogs have merit and some don’t, because it depends on who’s the writer.

                I also think that design plays a big part in any type of web page, for me I see it first and if it grabs my attention I am stuck right there on that page. Color is another element that enhances your page site. I looked at Elisa page and the colors used are warm and pleasing to the sight. Elisa page was very informational and had all the gadgets needed to move around the page.

                I look at Todd Barraza page; his page was very clean and had plenty white space. When writing on that much white space everything looks clean and in order. I feel if Todd and more color to his page; I feel that it would grab the audience attention a lot faster. I understand that this maybe the first time for most of us, he did very well putting the page together.

                Patricia Fox page look more like a business page where business people might go to spend some time getting informative information that could help in a business matter. You got the information you need and also have designs to move around the page. Patricia page remind me of my own page you get the information for the purpose intended. Patricia page have the perfect color for business and it is not busy to those who are looking for that type info.

Elisa page to me is one of the best pages I have seen even on a professional level as well, for this to be new, Elisa done a great job.

                 Looking back on this assignment I have learn a lot about the creative part of my classmates, there is so many talents that people have and don’t know until you are put on the spot to use them. Blogging has never been a part of something I wanted to do, but now after this assignment the elements are nice to no. I feel that everyone done well kept up the good work.

Reference

Barraza T. Retrieved November 22, 2010, from http://toddbarraza.blogspot.com

Fox P. Retrieved November 22, 2010, from http://theresacommunication.blogspot.com

Overstake E. Retrieved November 22, 2010, from http://overstake.blogspot.com

Ban the Box for Felons Eng 325 Intermediate Composition

Ban the Box     1

Convicted Felon VS. Employment Stigma

Ban the Box for Felons

Dexter Anderson

Eng 325 Intermediate Composition

Instructor: Amy Hartmann

October 18, 2010

Ban the Box     2

                This paper is based on the stigma that employers have about employing a convicted felon in the work place. The discrimination and confusion that come with checking the box; that states have you been convicted of a felony. How long is long enough, so that the box does not matter, its own the way.

                I am taking the position as an arbitrator, between convicted felon and employers. The problem that is at hand is, that convicted felon applying for employment, and having to check the boxes that states have you been convicted of a felony. In the past felony conviction has hinder many of people from getting jobs or interviews. I understand that this problem is larger than just employment, thing like racism, discrimination and stereotyping. These things happen all behind the box that’s on the application that asks “have you ever been convicted of a felony? A convicted felon that checks the box has almost no chance of gaining employment. I see that in many cases where former prisoners find their way back into the system. In a article “Ban the box, hire Fairly” from the Ann Arbor Chronicle “In 2008, approximately 12,500 citizens returned from prison to the communities of Michigan. Within two years nearly half of them return to prison” according to (Jason Smith) of the chronicle. Law makers feel that by having convicted felon to check the box of have you been convicted of a felony, that they can the threat of any criminal activity. (Jason Smith) states and “research by the Justice Policy Center at the Urban Institute has shown that a principal factor in such high recidivism is a lack of employment opportunities. It is not a lack of adequate qualifications, but rather the social stigma surrounding a felony conviction that prevents many ex-prisoners from landing a job and the lack of a job that leads them to offend again”. We have different programs from social service that can assist ex-offenders in finding housing, accessing mental/ physical health treatment, and job readiness training. The matter is that “employers must ultimately step up and give all qualified individuals a fair opportunity for jobs if ex- prisoners are to have a fair chance to become stable providers for themselves and their families.

                Ban the Box     3

                There are some things that’s being done in some states. In the state of Michigan “the city of Battle Creek adopted an ordinance in June 2008 that banned the box for its own hiring procedures. Battle Creek’s ordinance also requires a similar hiring practice of vendors who have contracts with the city. In the month of January 2010 the city of Kalamazoo announced that it would no longer ask about prior criminal history on its applications for employment.

                Another article in the state of Minnesota the first state to press the bill to ban the box on job applications, “State Representative Bobby Champion’s bill addressing employment barriers to people who have criminal records was signed into law Monday, May 11, by Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty.  One of the provisions require all Minnesota public employers to wait until a job applicant has been selected for an interview before asking about  criminal records or conducting a criminal record check, except for positions that already require a background check.

                Since the passing of the Bill in Minnesota, Connecticut has become the fourth state to pass this Bill into law.  Also 21 other cities including Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, New Haven, and Hartford in Connecticut have banned the conviction question.

                I feel that with that type of question box employment is very hard for convicted felons.  This box cause more problems than not getting jobs.  Others are unemployment rates going up, employment rates are down, and the ultimate crime rates are off the charts. “The cost for housing a felon is $32,000 a year to house an inmate”.  Quoted by the State Attorney’s Offices in Panama City, Florida.  There are over 80 million convicted felons in this country, that’s sad to say. Why convicted felon has to be discriminated upon, because of their past. 

               

Ban the Box     4

On the flip side of allowing felons to not check the box most employers feel that once you have been convicted you will always be a criminal and you never change your ways.  I personally feel if God would have held that type of feeling about Paul and David.  But, God used bad boys to do a great work for mankind

                I look at the state that I live in which is Florida, we have 69 counties in this state but we have over 600 State Facilities to house felons.  We are talking 9 facilities per county that is unheard of in most states.

                Back to banning the box, I feel in most states there will be a ban on the box bill, it will help the country unemployment problem and the economy will profit from the money that would have to be paid to all new employees.  It has been proven that if convicted felons get the chance to work most of them are working to take care of families.

                In closing, I take the position as arbitrator in the views of convicted felons versus Employment stigma, by banning the box that stares have asking if you have been convicted of a felony.  It is time for a change a right for felons.

Ban the Box     5

Reference Page

Smith, J.A. (2010) The Ann Arber Chronicle. Ban the Box, Hire Fairly. Retrieved October 18, 2010,

                From http://annarborchronicle.com/2010/01/27/column-ban-the-box-hire-fairly/

Champion, B.J. (Champion’s Ban the Box bill signed into law. Retrieved October 18, 2010, From

                http://insightnews.com/news/4361-champions-qban-the-boxq-bill -signed-into-law

Effective Decision Making for a Public Relation Class

Effective Decision Making     1

Effective Decision Making

Dexter Anderson            

Rational: The reason for this report is to allow employee the opportunity to make effective decision in an organizational business that would help the productivity of the job. The reason for management doing this is to give the employees a feel of belonging to a group that is responsible in their decision making. People who make decision are ones that are held accountable for their decision.

                Objectives: On a daily basis 95% of the employees that have been on the job for at least five years or more hate making decision that they will be held accountable for. In my finding people complain about making decision in their work places. I feel that no one wants to make decision and I understand their reason, because once you make a decision you are held responsible for whatever comes out of your decision. Some decisions that are made are not good for your career as a company wallow in the muck of indecision.

                Tom Peters (author of the book In Search of Excellence) states “the worst decision is the decision to not make a decision. The point here is that the decision to not make a decision is actually a decision in and of itself. This decision is to allow the organization to flounder without direction. This then is the worst decision a person can make. On the contrary should a person decide to make a decision, and it is the wrong decision, this will become obvious and a correction can be made. The result is that a poor decision will actually get you further ahead than making no decision at all.”

                 As being operation manager I make many decisions in the run of the day, some direction and decision good and bad, but I make them anyway. The largest decision I made 33 years age was to take on this job of getting up at 2am every morning to go to work. Once I made that decision it started my

Effective Decision Making     2

decision making days. Every decision I have made had to define the way the company planed. There are different ways to communicate a decision and that is to use a declaration. In operation the direction and decision are made by a clear documented declaration.

There are many facet decisions making and organizing is one of the main ones. Shockley- Zalabak described organizing “as bringing order out of chaos and organizations as the products of the organizing process.” It is also stated that decision making, or the process of choice from among uncertain alternatives, also is viewed as essentially a communication phenomenon and part of the organizing process” Karl Weick states in the book, The Social Psychology of Organizing (1979), “Weick proposes that organization as such do not exist, but rather are in the process of existing through ongoing human interaction”. He feels that there are no types of organization it is just the ongoing action interaction of human activities, these interaction shapes, and generate events. As we stated earlier all interaction of humans are consider communication of one form or another.

                Decision making is the organizing process of directing behaviors and resources toward organizational goals. When making decision in business the goal is to make a profit or to better the company business. There are many of ways to go about making sure that all of the employees get the training need in how to make effective decision and feeling comfortable about the decision. Responsibilities come with any job how you deal with them makes the difference.

                Choosing or making decision come from communication interaction with employees. The quality of the employee decision in the company will influence the quality of work produced. I understand that each employee brings in different abilities, experience, and expectations to the company. Most of the employees operate on the values and the things that they believe is true. The goals of the company are get everyone thinking the same way and on the same page. They want all employees to be able to make

Effective Decision Making     3

effective decision on most of the field calls. This way productivity is meat on the operation side of business. If you look at this as if you were in a group of decision makers any and everyone is capable of making decision. The people who are on the same page or likely to attempt a decision than those who have some fear of failing. People who make decision are the ones that put business in motion one way or the other. Good decision makers or people who set the tone for most company and organizations. They also have the most influence on others that are around.

                Some decision making steps on how to make good decision, and they are effective:

1.       Problem statement

2.       Specify your Goals and Objectives

3.       Develop Solutions or Evaluate Alternatives

4.       Make Decision

5.       Implement Your Decision

These steps are from Jim Vaughan on the topic It Organization Management.

One of the largest problems I see is that people want to wait in making a decision and then it is too late to do anything about it.

                 I feel that education is educating those who are in these positions of what to do in situation when they occur in the work place. Large companies have seminars to train employee on such. We need people who can make a strong decision. At Waste Management we have different seminars that brought in to help those who are seeking for a higher position in the company.

                 I believe those that make decision become good leader, manager, and organizers. When this happen company, move people around from the inside of the business.

Effective Decision Making     4

Reference Page

Vaughan, J. (2009). Decision Making is Essential to Good Project Management. Retrieved September 13, 2010 from http;//advice.cio.com/jim

Weick, K. 1979. The social psychology of organizing.2^nd ed. Reading, MA: Addison- Wesley.

Shockley-Zalabak, P., and D.D. Morley. 1989. Adhering to organizational culture: What does it mean, why does it matter?

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Managing Conflict

As an operation manager on my job I have been in this position of dealing with complaints from customers and coworkers. I have had the customer complain about workers that was supposed to have delivered information back to the office for changes on their account, and they drop the ball. The customer’s account got cut off, which the customer got mad at the driver because he stated if the driver would have delivered the information his account, would have been good. I got the complaint from customer service, and as operation manager I call the customer and planed a visit to talk with him for information about the conflict. I also talk with my driver about his behavior and responsibility as to communicating with the office. I look in the driver records and found out that this wasn’t the first time that he didn’t pass on information to the office. After talking with him he did the same thing two weeks later. I approach him again to make sure we were on the same page. He got confrontational with me, I walk away from him, I told the District Manager about the confrontation, I stated to my DM I wanted him to be their when I give the driver the ultimatum in regard of the need to immediately improve or he will be dismissed. The DM calls the driver in to the office and then calls me in also; I told the driver that we have a crisis and a crisis of communication which is a major occurrence with a potentially negative outcome affecting the company, or industry, as well as its publics, products, services, or good name. At this time said that he didn’t understand the problem and the DM step in and said you were told about your technical communication skill and how important it is to use them. We came to an agreement that if the problem happens again he will be suspended for a week without pay, and if it accrues again you will be dismissed from the job. I ask do we agree and have a understanding between the three of us here in this office, he agree with the outcomes. I feel that I was proactive, and used crisis management to handle the conflict.

Summary of Media Technologies

Facebook has been one the fastest growing media technologies on the market. Facebook have a number of features that help the advancement of the media technologies of the world. One of the greatest features and calling cards is the API and I am not talking on the face of the surface. It has been said that the API gives some developers a very deep access to its structure that open the door to a third party applications. It also gives access to codes all around the Facebook structure.

I like Facebook because you can buy and sell your item within the Facebook group, and you can post events, and photo albums. Networking is one the largest thing that Facebook has to offer its users and the opportunity to convey more information to friends and family. People use Facebook mostly to share by posting just basic information to try and find people from the past just to say a few words of how thing are going on in their life. I use Facebook to post my photo from my photography business so that possible buyer can view the proofs. I also view video of wedding and other events which can help enhance my business. I feel that you have to be careful on any website because you putting your personal information on that site that anyone can use for their benefit and this info can hurt you if it gets in the wrong hands. Facebook is a user friendly site that most people can sign in on to meet old friends.

Smartphone is of the newest ways people can reach the people from all over the world. By having a smart phone it keep you from having to go to the office or home to use the computer you are carrying one on your side in a smart phone. Some of the benefits of the phone it is faster than most normal phones and gives you access to the internet in a hand held phone. Smart phone let you stay in contact with friends and co- worker even when you are on business trips. Having a smart phone is like having your lap-top everywhere you go, the apps that the phone has gives you so many options to search the at web. The phone includes note pad, calendar, address book, games, calculator, and emails. Then the Black Berry, and the Apple’s I Phone, which does the thing you need done on your computer for better communication with others.

I understand the cost of a smart phone is extremely high for the everyday person, but not anymore everyone are using a type of smart phone to communicate in so type of way. I feel that the phone is over price because these phones cost more than some computers on the market. I also think that there can be a better design of the tough screen type phone. Holding the phone to your face while sweating your phone can die or stop operating.

Video email has become one the most popular ways to do business when you can’t be there to be face to face with the sale person. Video email is so different from your traditional email it used by your webcam and the right software to film yourself as you are making a presentation of your prospect it is easy to use. A visual like power point can be sent just like you make a presentation you add your power point slides and send all of in a video. With video email you can view a video side by side and see both at the same time.