General ethics in film making

General ethics in film making Introduction Should the moral and ethical guidelines of documentary and mockumentary filmmaking be strictly adhered to if they impede on the overall artistic vision and message of the film? For the bases of this thesis I have chosen to answer this question through a discussion of the ethics of cinema vrit and the documentary/mockumentary style genre. In particular, I have chosen to focus my study on one film of this style of filmmaking. The 2006 film Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, often referred to simply as Borat! (Borat the character and Borat! the movie (hereafter Borat!), is a mockumentary comedy film directed by American filmmaker Larry Charles and distributed by 20th Century Fox. (1) It was written, produced by, and stars the English comedian Sacha Baron Cohen in the title role of a fictitious Kazakh journalist traveling through the United States, recording real-life interactions with Americans. The character of Borat himself is distingu ished by exaggeratedly strong misogyny, anti-Semitism and antiziganism (racism against Romani people or gypsies), which is depicted as, apparently, the norm in his homeland of Kazakhstan. The character of Borat was originally created by Sacha Baron Cohen. He was used as a character for Da Ali G Show, a related satirical TV series starring Baron Cohen and featuring amongst others the title character Ali G and Borat. The first series of Da Ali G Show originally aired on Channel 4 in the UK in 2000. In the series, Baron Cohen carries out ridiculous interviews with unsuspecting people (including celebrities and high- ranking officials). (2.) This film Borat!, is shot in mockumentary style using handheld and often hidden cameras. A mockumentary is essentially a mock documentary, a parody of the earnest nature of the documentary genre (3). As a medium, it is most successful when the traditional documentary structure is maintained or exaggerated. Mockumentary filmmaking is made under much of the same genre rules as that of Cinema Vrit. Interviews in a mockumentary are deliberately tiresome, with the interviewers reaction shots obviously edited at a later date for either comic effect (4). Often, even the shooting and editing of a mockumentary compared to a genuine documentary is different. The sincere documentarian, such as Werner Herzog in Grizzly Man (2005) will edit any embarrassing, non-plot relevant or self-indulgent interviews before the point that the audience will laugh at the character. Grizzly Man documents Timothy Treadwells infantile affection for bears, his anger at society, his raging narcissism, his paranoia and finally the tragic deaths of Treadwell and his girlfriend (still .01) in October 2003. (.5) (still .01) Outtakes from Timothy Treadwells original video footage were later screened for the first time as part of the exclusive companion film. In order to put Treadwells experience into context.(6.) Whereas, the mockumentary filmmaker will intentionally leave these embarrassing edits in the finished film for comic effect. In doing so, the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by professional documentarians are, for the purpose of the film, overlooked so as to get the best result, joke, outrageous comment, or sound bite in most cases. An example of this is Michael Moores Roger and Me (1989) when Bob Eubank (still .02) host of US game-show The Newlywed Game is shown telling an off-color joke: Why do Jewish women never get AIDS? They only marry a**holes, they dont screw em. Eubanks claims that he only told the joke because he thought the camera was off. (7.) (still .02) Borat is part of a cinematic tradition of using mockery to diminish the power of political, social and cultural oppressors.(8.) This is done by exposing the absurdity of their control, much like past great films such as Charlie Chaplins The Dictator (1940) and Stanley Kubricks Dr.Strangelove (1964 ) Within the first chapter of this thesis, I define and address the core elements of cinema vrit and compare and contrast it to that of Direct Cinema and sincere documentary filmmaking. The moral code of ethics that filmmakers use as guidelines when first approaching the public as subjects for their films will also be addressed. For the basis of my second and third chapters, I take the case study of Borat! and form an argument around the mockumentary genre in relation to ethical dilemmas. In Chapter Two, I addres s the ethical oversights on the part of the filmmakers and the careless treatment of their subjects. I isolate and identify scenes and cases within the Borat! film as examples of how the filmmakers fail to respect the moral and ethical guidelines that inform other documentaries. By relating film practice to this established codes of ethics I show how the filmmakers jeopardized the rights of the people used in the film, such as the fraternity brothers and the residents of the village of Glod. I show one side of the argument in the second chapter. This argument explains with the use of examples, how the filmmaker has taken advantage of the subjects or in some cases used their likeness without proper informed consent(9.) in order to stay true to the artistic vision of the film. I look to detail the actions of both the subject and the filmmakers as well as the anatomy of the scene and the level of interaction and knowledge that the filmmakers offered the subject before participating in the project, if any. I also address the resulting effect on the subject. In doing so, I show that the filmmakers artistic vision and message, no matter how great or relevant, can have a long lasting negative effect on the subjects and participants of the film when they are duped into being pawns and unsuspecting foils to the main comedic actor playing a part with a hidden camera. The third chapter of the thesis, however, I show how the artistic vision was sincere and that the right to public freedom of speech was fairly used for the greater message and intent of the film. My goal is ultimately to present both sides of the same argument and through doing so, construct a complete and informed judgment on the moral and social goals of the film, as a satire, which I will present in my conclusion. This will prove that the actions of the filmmakers, although morally unethical, were still legal and artistically relevant. Borat! aims to set an important precedent that the artistic vision and the use of comedy or social satire are crucial to the success of the mockumentary genre of filmmaking. In the context of Borat! I choose specific examples, to address the intention behind the filmmakers conduct towards their subjects. Chapter One The Theory Of General Ethics Relating To cinema vrit And Direct Cinema In Modern Film Making. In this chapter I define the theory of ethics in relation to professional and employee ethics, in the relevant context of filmmaking. Because this thesis is about mockumentary filmmaking it will first help to establish the ethical foundations for the circles of filmmakers and other professionals working in this genre. When dealing with the subject genre of documentary and/or mockumentary filmmaking, it is first crucial is define a difference between the two. The word documentary was coined by Scottish documentarian John Grierson (10.) Griersons principles of documentary were that cinemas potential for observing life could be exploited in a new art form and that the original actor or subject and original scene are better guides than their fiction counterparts to interpreting the modern world. A mockumentary is essentially a parody of the documentary nature of filmmaking and is successful when the structure of a traditional documentary is exaggerated. These films are not unlike the cinema vrit filmmaking style, was most prolific in 1960/70s French filmmaking and/or Direct Cinema films. Although the terms are often used interchangeably, cinema vrit and Direct Cinema are two distinct documentary film sub-genres. Direct Cinema rose from the French film movement of the 1960s that strove for candid realism by showing people in everyday situations with authentic dialogue (11.) Influenced by documentary filmmaking and Italian Neorealism, the method produced examples such as Jean Rouchs Chronicle of a Summer (1961) (12.) and Chris Markers Joli Mai (1962). (13.) A similar movement in the U.S, captured the reality of a person or an event by using a handheld camera to record action without narration, as in Frederick Wisemans Titicut Follies (1967) (14.) and the Maysles brothers Salesman (1969) (still .03)(15.) (still .03) There are subtle yet important differences among the terms Direct Cinema and cinema vrit. Direct Cinema is largely concerned with the recording of events in which the subject and audience become unaware of the cameras presence. Direct Cinema is essentially what is now called a fly on the wall documentary. Originating in the late 1950s, Direct Cinema was made possible by the advent of lighter, more portable cameras, which could be hand-held and operated with a very small crew.(16.) This lean shooting style allowed filmmakers to change locations and camera angles easily and spontaneously, which resulted in a degree of intimacy never before seen on screen to date. The Direct Cinema filmmakers role involves not attempting to change the outcome of the events. He or she is filming in an observational context and ideally should not use the film to advance any type of political or social agenda. Direct Cinema filmmakers are generally interested in accurate reporting, regardless of the outcome. Cinma vrit, which means Truthful Cinema, combines naturalistic techniques with stylized editing and camerawork. Scenes are sometimes staged and the camera is used to provoke subjects. (17.) It is also known for taking a provocative stance toward its topics. 13 Cinema vrit filmmakers, while still interested in the recording of true events, typically have an agenda in their work, which sets them apart from Direct Cinema. Michael Moores documentaries Roger and Me (1989) (still .05) and Bowling For Columbine (2002) are examples of modern cinema vrit. (still .04) (still .05) In recent years, these types of movies have often featured the filmmaker himself, as in the case of Borat! (still .04), taking part in the action onscreen. Cinma vrit involves stylized set-ups and interactions between the filmmakers and their subjects, even to the point of provocation, which in the case of Borat! will become apparent. The presence of the filmmaker and camera is used as a tool in a way to reveal the truth from the subject. The camera is obviously apparent and always acknowledged. It performs the raw act of filming real people and events in a confrontational and sometimes absurd way. This raises interesting questions about the illusion of cinema, while faced with these styles of filmmaking, the audience is forced to confront the paradox of the truth claim in documentary cinema by mixing direct documentation 14 (fact direct cinema) and reenactment with characters playing themselves (fiction cinema vrit) in order to suggest that perhaps they are one in the same. The cinema vrit filmmaker acts as the catalyst of the situation. A much discussed example of cinema vrit would be the film that will become the topic of discussion throughout the course of this thesis Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006) directed by Larry Charles and starring Sacha Baron Cohen. It is hardly surprising that documentary and mockumentary films present ethical problems, in relation to the royalty to the original artistic concept and vision of the filmmakers, to the audience as a willing participant and, of course, the filmed subject as the focus basis of the film. In order to regulate all parties, production companies operate from a code of ethics rather then a strict legal binding. Ethics are important, because they give people a shared basis of understanding in rela tion to the concepts of right and wrong. When the public is involved, it helps the filmmakers to have a ready understanding of how to react to a certain situation if some dilemma should arise. A Code Of Ethics is essentially a set of guidelines that are designed to set out acceptable behaviours for members of a particular group, in this case filmmakers. Generally, production companies and film crews govern themselves with a code of ethics, especially when they handle sensitive issues like likeness rights, taking the subjects life situation into the equation and interactions with other cultures. In addition to setting a professional standard, a code of ethics can also increase confidence in an organization by showing outsiders that, members of the organization are committed to following basic ethical guidelines in the course of doing their work.(18.) 15 The Code primarily consists of four overall ethical principles, Respect, Competence, Responsibility and Integrity. In relation to the respect for the rights and dignity of the person, this principle requires of filmmakers treat their clients as persons of intrinsic worth with a right to determine their own priorities, that they respect clients dignity and give due regard to their moral and cultural values(19.) Film makers should take care not to intrude inappropriately on clients privacy and as far as possible, they shall ensure that clients understand and consent to whatever professional action they propose. The second point is that of competence. Filmmakers must constantly maintain and update their professional skills and ethical awareness.(20.) They should recognize that the knowledge of their own expertise and capacity for work are limited, and take care not to exceed the limits. The third point is responsibility. In their professional activities, filmmakers are required to act i n a trustworthy, reputable and accountable manner towards clients (subjects) and the community. They shall avoid doing harm to clients and research participants, and act to prevent harm caused by others. (21.) They should act positively to resolve ethical dilemmas and they should also ensure that those whom they supervise act ethically. Finally the fourth point is integrity. Filmmakers are obliged to be honest and accurate about their intentions, the effectiveness of the services that they offer, and their research findings. They are expected to treat their subjects in a fair, open and straightforward manner, honour professional commitments, and act to clarify any confusion about the subjects role or responsibilities. Where possible, they shall avoid the use of deception with research participants. They shall not use the professional relationship to exploit clients, sexually or otherwise, and they shall deal 16 actively with conflicts of interest. They shall take action against harmful or unethical behaviour in colleagues or members of other professions.(22.) When considering the production of either a Cinema Vrit or Direct Cinema film, it is important to weight in the moral and ethical dilemmas that the filmmakers must deal with in relation to the subjects of the proposed film. Whereas the Code Of Ethics serves to provide civic guidelines, the consent form acts as the legally binding part of the agreement. A consent form is A document explaining all relevant study information to assist the study volunteer (subject) in understanding the expectations and requirements of participation in a (filming) clinical trial. This document is presented to and signed by the study subject. (23.) A consent form is only relevant when signed under informed consent by the subject. Informed Consent is typically a medico-legal term when referring to medical practice, it is a form signed by the patient (or in th is case: subject) for the benefit of the surgeon (filmmaker) to perform treatment (filming). By signing a consent agreement to filming, the subject is stating that he or she is fully aware of his or her condition and understand the reasons why filmmaking is taking place and that he or she has agreed to that being carried out. The opposite of informed consent is informed refusal, in which like the consent acceptance, the subject in this case may also choose to refuse. Another aspect of the ethical guidebook be to considered with in the role of cinema vrit or Direct Cinema filmmaking is the maxim known as The Golden Rule or Ethic Of Reciprocity that essentially states that One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself (24.) OR one should not treat others in ways that one would not like to be treated (negative form which is also called The Silver Rule.) 17 The Golden Rule is arguably the most essential basis for the modern concept of human rights, in which each individual has a right to just treatment, and a reciprocal responsibility to ensure justice for others. A key element of the Golden Rule in relation to documentary filmmaking is that the filmmaker, while attempting to film ethically treats their subjects with consideration, not just members of their crew. The Golden Rule is a moral and ethical guide; it is important to note that it is not strict legal merit. An objection to the Golden Rule is highlighted by Paul Treanor on his website, as he implies That I should transfer my perspective to the person affected, the one standing in front of me who will be affected by my action. But behind them may be another, who is affected by the person standing in front of me. (25.) These points have been highlighted in this chapter to give a wider insight into the ethical minefield that is taken on when entering into any practice with others f rom a professional and personal standpoint. As previously stated, these ethical codes have no legal bearing, but are relevant to all filmmakers when they engage with social actors for the purpose of making a cinema vrit or Direct Cinema film. It is the responsibility of all involved in the project to present a truthful and sincere front from the start. In the case of Borat!, the disagreements before and after filming from unwilling participants will highlight the misuse of these ethical codes and the results, both positive and negative. Chapter Two Subject Vs Artistic Vision The Ethical Responsibilities Of Borat! In Relation To Acquiring Consent From The Subject Within the context of mockumentary filmmaking, much like that of sincere documentaranians, the public are treated as social actors rather then fiction film performers. These subjects remain culturally relevent players. Their value as players resides not in the way they play a part but in a way their everyday behavior serves the needs of the filmmaker. But the question of garnering consent whether it be informed consent or consent defence, is an ethical maelstrom and this point is proven by the film Borat!. A film which managed simultaneously to offend Kazakhs, frighten Jewish Anti-Defamation Groups, annoy hypocritically thin-skinned Americans and spark off wide debate about its meaning and interpretation. Each filmmaker, production company and subject relationship works according to personal guidelines established either face-to-face or pre-organised and with mutual consent from each party. Precedents of ethical guidelines can only work to persuade the actions, so that each party is fully informed of the subject matter, representation and potential response of the subjects actions within the documentary which is done by acquiring informed consent. In the case of Borat! a variety of SLAPP cases have been brought against the filmmakers. The term Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, known by the acronym SLAPP applies to a variety of different types of lawsuits, including those claiming libel, defamation, business interference, or conspiracy.(26.) Within the context of the film, the titular character Borat Sagdiyev is said to be from Kazakhstan. The Kazakhstan used in the film is a heavily fictionalized and satirized depiction of the former Soviet state. However, as it states in the (SLAPP) Defendants special motion to strike complaint record. Alarmed by the reportage of its fictitious reporter, the government of Kazakhstan launched a massive public relations an d diplomatic offensive, emphasizing its commitment to human rights and gender and 20 equality (27.) going so far as to release a four-page advertisement within the pages of The New York Times and to set-up presidential visits to the White House and 10 Downing Street. (still .06) Upon the release of the film the foreign ministry spokesman, Yerzhan Ashykbayev, told a news conference We view Mr. Cohens behaviour as utterly unacceptable, being a concoction of bad taste and ill manners which is completely incompatible with the ethics and civilized behavior of Kazakhstan people. (28.) Shortly before the release of the film too, the right to use the domain name www.borat.kz was suspended, and the site attached was closed down due to the site being hosted outside Kazakhstan and hosting false names.(29.) Kazakhstan was never actually filmed for the purpose of Borat! but rather used solely in namesake. Nicolae Todorache and Spiridom Ciorebea, residents of Glod, Romania, the village actually used to depict the satirized Kazakhstan (still .06), sued the filmmakers for 21 $30 million claiming they were misled into thinking they were participating in a documentary about the villages poverty and the rich heritage and belief system upheld by the inhabitants. Alan Rosenthal author of New Challenges In Documentary (1988) writes Consent is flawed when obtained by the omission of any fact that might influence the giving or withholding of permission. (30.) However, it is important to also state that the subject must not have been put under any pressure (coercion) to sway their decision, and that they reached a decision based on their full comprehension of the situation. So provided that those being filmed give their consent, where is the unethical behaviour? The morality lies in how the subjects are represented. The villagers in the town of Glod feel they were specifically targeted and portrayed in a negative manner and the lawsuit was filed on behalf of their entire village and Mr. Todorache, a one-armed man, who was seen wearing a sex toy attached to his st ump at the filmmakers request.(31.) The method of obtaining consent is stacked in the filmmakers favour. Rosenthal adds The ethical problem raised by such approaches is that they give the potential subject no real choice; the initiative and momentum of the situation favour the filmmaker. The presence of the film crew with official sanction is subtly coercive(32.). The film crew and equipment are all intimidating to be faced with for the person who has approached for the comment. The notion of consent defence, is another popular argument raised by Brian Winston in Lies, Damn Lies And Documentaries. He states, any measure of dubious or even unethical behaviour is justified after the event by the existence of the contract signed by the participant, the release form (33.). These agreements are in defiance of those who take the BSC Codes view (The BSC Code helps by providing a 22 framework of guidance into which, particular needs can be fitted,(34.) The guidance is for the general use of the professional consent defence for people (except minors or the mentally incapacitated) do know what they are doing. Coercion outside the law has expanded its meaning to embrace the idea of compulsion without physical treat. Often the consent defiance could be defended where the subject was uncomplaining or even benefited from their experience. But as Richard Andrew Hall states Did Baron Cohen really have to cross the pond to find such disturbing stereotypes?(35.) Surely, it would not be hard for him to find typical examples of racism in any other major ethnicly shared cities anywhere else in the world. So too, the film depiction of its anti-Semitism has also come into great debate amongst critics, audiences, the media and especially the Anti-Defamation League of America (ADL). The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the worlds leading organization fighting anti-Sem itism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry towards Jewish people (36.). In one particular scene from Borat!, we see the titular character at a rodeo in Texas, performing a song directed towards Jewish people entitled In my country there is a problem that called on people to throw the Jew down the well, warning the public you must be careful of his teeth and that you must grab him by his horns to the delight of some members of the audience (still .07). 23 (still .07) While the ADL openly acknowledges that the film is a satirized and farcical characterization, they do state in a formal letter of warning to the filmmakers We are concerned that one serious pitfall is that the audience may not always be sophisticated enough to get the joke, and that some may even find it reinforcing their bigotry. (37.) Richard Andrew Hall states Baron Cohen heavily concentrated on the genuinely powerful, whether celebrities or those with money and power, but in Borat! he clearly started sliding towards pulling the piss out of more average citizens. Perhaps this is where he crossed the line. (38.) In 2005, a lawsuit was filed against the makers of the film and 20th Century Fox on behalf of two unsuspecting fraternity boys who claim they were duped into appearing in the spoof documentary. (39.) They were identified in the movie as fraternity members from a South Carolina University, and appeared drunk as they made insulting comments about women and minori ties to Cohens character. 24 The SLAPP lawsuit claims that in October 2005, a production crew took the students to a bar to drink and loosen up before participating in what they were told would be a documentary to be shown outside the United States. They were induced to agree to participate and were told the name of the fraternity and the name of their school wouldnt be used. After a bout of heavy drinking, the plaintiffs signed a release form they were told had something to do with reliability issues with being in the RV, their lawyer Oliver Taillieu states. (40.) The film made plaintiffs the object of ridicule, humiliation, mental anguish and emotional and physical distress, loss of reputation, goodwill and standing in the community. (41.) Although legally the participants have agreed to signing the consent, under the plaintiffs testimonies, it would appear that the filmmakers had intentionally duped the college students into appearing in the film with full, informed consent and it is impossible to defend the subject matter and opinions that the subjects raised while drunk, however, the filmmakers should be held accountable for putting the fraturnity boys in that situation and for provoking the racist and sexist responses they got. The filmmakers had knowingly overlooked the ramifications of the subjects actions on their lives after the films release and are guilty of negligent infliction of emotional distress. If the participant is fully aware of possible consequences and sees co-operation as a coherent political strategy, then the burden of the ethical dilemma has been lifted from the film-maker by the participant for his or her own ideological reasons. (42.) The Polish author of the blog Beatroot captured this well in a post on the Movania guidebook entitled Why is it that the only people liberals think its OK to laugh at these days are the white working class and Central and Eastern Europeans?(43.) In 25 the article he comments If this (sort of book) had been written about African people then, quite rightly, there would have been uproar and outrage. (44.) But it seems that Political Correctness extends to all groups these days except poor whites from urban, rural or semi-rural areas in America and Europe As Andrew Mueller notes in his review of the movie for Uncut MagazineWhat astonishes me about every Amercian he encounters is not their naivete, but their politeness, hospitality and the extraordinary degree to which Borat has to inflame situations to provoke reaction.(45.) Cynically, the consent form is simply a safeguard device or get-out-of-jail-free card, wheeled out by the filmmakers, against future lawsuits and liability. Production companies will claim that they ensure the participant is not being misled or manipulated by the filmmakers. Many times the consent form is a bureaucratic, legalistic detail, intent on absolving the production companies of responsibility. There to d issipate any whiff of coersion, it should not be used as a licence to knowingly take advantage of the everyday person. To weigh the ethical ramifications on a piece of paper is morally and ethically wrong.But they are also there to defend the filmmakers against the actions and reactions of the subjects and are predominantly responsible for some filmmakers avoiding litigation. The vast effects that the documentary could have on the lives of the subjects should be taken into account and not just betted against the contract. At the end of the film, it seems that in the case of Borat! that the usual disclaimer included at the end of the films credits states that before being considered for appearance in the film, all potential participants were required to sign long release forms, agreeing not to take legal action for any defamation of character or fraud 26 carried out during the films production. It states that all characters were fictitious, and also noted that no real person depicted or appearing in the film has sponsored or otherwise endorsed its contents. Before and following the universal release of the film in 2006, seven lawsuits had been filed against the production company, Baron Cohen and filmmakers for amongst others fraud, rescission of contract, common law false light invasion of privacy, statutory false light, appropriation of likeness and negligent infliction of emotional distress.(46.) 27 Chapter Three The Artistic Vision Vs The Subject In Reference to Borat! and The Use Of Humour to Expose Social Stereotypes and Bigotries. 28 As previously discussed in Chapter One, the Code Of Ethics acts as an ethical guideline for filmmakers, when it comes to such issues as garnering ethical consent or the valid use of likeness rights from a subject and the use of the public for the proposed project in a fair and informed manner. In this chapter I explore and reveal examples within the context of the film Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (hereafter Borat!) of intentionally overlooking these so-called guidelines for the sake of making a work with the artistic vision and integrity solely taking the forefront of the creative process. Despite a limited initial release in the United States, the satire was a critical and commercial success. Baron Cohen won the 2007 Golden Globe Award for Best Actor: Musical or Comedy, as Borat, while the film was nominated for Best Motion Picture in the same category. Borat! was also nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 79th Academy A wards. On its release, Borat! boasted the highest-grossing opening ever for a picture playing at less than 1,100 theaters.(47.) Firstly, it is important to realize that there is public global interest in speech and opinions (such as the afore mentioned examples, previously discussed in Chapter Two) about American cultural values and attitudes towards anti-semitism, racism and sexism. Borat! as being part of a tradition of exposing and critiquing these American bigotries through the use of humour, seeks to expose these attitudes in their most debased forms and present them to the world an

Credentialing System Implementation Essay

The previous two parts of this three-part assignment, the systems analysis and application architecture and process design aspect of the credentialing software project at TPI Health Systems (TPI) was explored. This last paper will explore the implementation stage of the systems development life cycle (SDLC) as it related to the credentialing project at TPI. There are six major steps to the implementation phase of the SDLC: (1) coding, (2) testing, (3) installation, (4) documentation, (5) training and (6) support. The text actually details five steps and breaks-out the last step, support, into its own phase (Satzinger, Jackson, & Burd, 2004, p. 626). The first phase, coding, is done in any of three development styles: (1) input, process, output, (2) top-down, (3) bottom up. The input, process, output (IPO) method is defined by first doing the activities that require external input followed by elements that process the input and concluded by programs that produce output (Zachman, 1987, p. 279). The IPO is effective in developing user interface first and simplifies testing. It does have a disadvantage of late output modules (Satzinger et al. p. 629). The top-down and bottom up methods produce the needed top or bottom modules, respectively. Top-down coding has the advantage of having a working version of the program. Poor utilization of programming personnel in the beginning of the project is disadvantage of the top-down development method. The bottom-up method puts programming personnel to work immediate, utilizing resources effectively. Unfortunately, this method also requires additional programming to test the modules, as well as an overall delay of testing by waiting for the top modules to be developed. The credentialing project at TPI used a weak IPO method of coding. The major attention was placed on converting the data in the existing Visual Fox format to Microsoft SQL 2000 compatible data. The company, SyMed, made no provision for any user interface changes. The process of how a credentialing application flowed through the TPI credentialing process was observed in the analysis phase of the project and the project team had wanted some user interface changes to accommodate TPI processes. These changes did not fit into the SyMed project plan, so the TPI process was changed to accommodate the pre-written user interface of the SyMed system. Testing is the next phase of the implementation phase. A comprehensive testing program includes a stepwise process starting with unit testing, followed by testing of group components called integration testing and concluded with entire systems test (Satzinger et al. , 2004, p. 640). Individual units or modules are tested prior to integration with more advanced modules, using driver modules. Once a set of modules are put together, integration testing can take place. These test include checking for interface compatibility, run-time exceptions, parameter values and unexpected state interactions (Satzinger et al. , p. 644-645). Jeff Theobald suggests that an effort should be made to concentrate not on just errors in a single application or module, but also the system as a whole and between systems (Theobald, 2007). After these tests are completed, the project goes on to system testing. System testing often involves daily â€Å"build and smoke† tests, where the system is set to run and is observed for â€Å"smoke† or errors (McConnell, 1996). The TPI credentialing system was tested in this manner. The project made it through the first two testing phases (unit and integration), but never made it out of systems testing. It â€Å"smoked† and never stopped due to a basic inability of the data store to handle the TPI method of placing multiple doctors in multiple entities. The SyMed development team called in the architect of the system and a step back to the analysis phase was made. Their entire development team, along with the architect, made a trip from Nashville to Louisville to redo the initial analysis. The team went back to Nashville with the new data and called back to say they could not do the project. The end of the project consumed uncounted person-hours, 7 months on the calendar and about $25,000 dollars. The next part of the implementation phase is installation. This phase is accomplished by several methods. The first is direct installation. This is where the new system is installed and implemented and the old system is â€Å"turned off. † This is a simple but risky way for a new system to be deployed. The next possible method of installation is parallel. This method is demonstrated by keeping both systems going for an extended amount of time. This is a low risk but high cost implementation scenario. Phased installation is the last method and is characterized by multiple possible pathways to final installation. Phased installation is also low risk, but can become quite complex due to the multiple pathways (Satzinger et al. , 2004). The TPI credentialing system, had it made it to this phase, was to be a parallel installation. Documentation is the next phase of implementation and usually consists of user documentation and systems documentation. User documentation is descriptions to users on how to work together with the system. It is typically how to startup and shutdown the system, the keystrokes necessary to do specific tasks, functions necessary to perform a specific procedure and troubleshooting tips (Satzinger et al. , 2004). System documentation usually consists of information necessary to maintain and re-implement the system in the event of a disaster. System documentation includes maintenance and upgrade procedures, analysis methods and in some cases, the source code and testing data (Satzinger et al. ). The TPI credentialing program had available pre-printed manuals of SyMed’s existing user interface and command sequences. The SyMed systems documentation was never provided. The next phase of implementation is training. Training can consist of formalized classes or presentations; self paced learning or group training. This training should be hands-on and emphasize actual applications that the system was created to perform. Timing of training is important. Training can be performed too early in the implementation progress, leading to unnecessary training that may need to be un-learned. Training is often seen as a luxury by some companies and is sometime omitted. This can be a costly mistake (Satzinger et al. , 2004). The TPI credentialing system was scheduled to have two days of formalized onsite training. The final phase of the implementation phase is support. As mention earlier, this phase s sometimes broken-out as its own stage. It is also often rolled into the training phase. Support is usually considered some form of help desk for most software development, though some companies offer only online documentation and troubleshooting. For this premise to work, the documentation needs to be robust and thorough. The TPI credentialing system never got to this phases and was unable to utilize either system. The failure of the TPI credentialing system software project had many contributors. Poor analysis and implementation of the SDLC was paramount, as well as budgetary issues. To sum it up, the failure was mostly due to TPI not knowing exactly what they wanted and needing more abilities than they had resources for, coupled with SyMed’s inability to recognize their limitations. The failure outlined above could have been mitigated by the knowledge and utilization of the capability maturity module (CMM). The CMM is a matrix that defines an organizations maturity of software processes Anderson, 2001). CMM is a process identification whose goal is to use defined and repeatable processes in software development. TPI would have scored a one and SyMed may have scored a two. Figure 1 illustrates the five modules of the CMM. Figure 1. Capability maturity module. This tool can be utilized by both software clients and vendors to identify potential success in a given software project. Additionally, IBM has developed the Rational Unified Process (RUP) for the object-oriented approach of software development. RUP is designed to make designed and repeatable processes easier. There are individuals who disagree with contention of repeatability for both CMM and RUP, claiming that like movies, software development success is not always repeatable.

Handshakes and Personality - 2274 Words

Abstract Handshakes were rated on nine different aspects by examiners and then participants were given a personality test based on the Big Five Factor Model. The handshakes were then compared to the results from the personality tests and scored based on the most dominant features of personality. Those with firm handshakes and good eye contact were found to be more extroverted and more agreeable, were as those with weaker handshakes and less eye contact were more introverted and less open to new experience. The complete results are far more complex and more informative about many types of handshakes and the personalities that belong to the people giving them. The results show a considerable correlation between the handshake someone gives,†¦show more content†¦This study proved that in their demographic, a firm handshake and good eye contact lead to a greater chance of being hired, based on how the interviewers felt the participants performed (Stewart, Dustin, Darnold amp; Barrick, 200 8). The research supports that college students can make a good impression based on a handshake but leaves one to wonder if this research would apply to adults of older age. It does still posit that having a classically desired handshake still assists in strengthening business relationships. In the study The interaction between leader–member exchange and perceived job security in predicting employee altruism and work performance, It was found that The findings indicated that leader member exchange as a job resource becomes more impactful to altruistic performance when employees feel less secure at work (Raymond, Hang-Yue, Lingqing amp; Victor, 2011). This is a good indicator of how much value is placed human interactions. A good impression can create trust and we you are trusted; people will do anything to help. Research from the journal article Evaluating faces on trustworthiness after minimal time exposure findings suggest that people automatically make valence/trustworthiness judgments from facial appearance just from a short glace (Todorov, Pakrashi amp; Oosterhof, 2009). This clearly shows how fast people judge one another, supporting that the handshake may make or break a first impression; the handshake could be theShow MoreRelatedThe Relation Between Handshaking, Personality and First Impressions1036 Words   |  5 PagesHandshakes are so important to individuals in the business world that they devote entire classes on proper handshaking etiquette. This study offers a deeper look into how personality is demonstrated through handshaking. I choose this topic because I have always seen a positive correlation between someone’s personality and their handshake. I believe that you can learn a great deal about someone from how they shake your hand. This was not a true experiment in t he sense of manipulating variables, butRead MoreInterpretation and Analysis of â€Å"from W. S.† by L.P.Hartley748 Words   |  3 Pageswhole extract is devoted to the dwellings of the narrator (who is the main character at the same time) upon his possible insanity. That’s why there are many psychological terms used in the text, such as: â€Å"borderline case†, â€Å"megalomania†, â€Å"split personalities†, â€Å"lunatic†, â€Å"conscious mind†, â€Å"self-division†, â€Å"psychic†, â€Å"alienist† and etc. The method of characterization employed in the story is indirect. Its main advantage is that the author doesn’t impose the impression he wants readers to get fromRead MoreBusiness Practices And Culture The Same963 Words   |  4 Pagescontact. In addition, Spaniards analyze the true intentions of a company; does the company care or is it just a financial gain for them? People with a business proposal must schedule a time to meet Spaniards. Spaniards appreciate those with great personalities and make the effort to meet them. With that said, Spaniards expect businesspeople to build personal relationships with them. In fact, the first meeting is meant to get to know one another, create stable relationships as well as trust (Global RoadRead MoreBody Language: What Are You Really Saying Essay996 Words   |  4 Pagesthe listen has become bored. The handshake is a common way of starting of social interactions, and can tell a lot about us. A good handshake is solid but not harmful, both individuals’ palms are vertical. A weak or soft handshake can show a weak personality or lack of commitment. Everyone knows a guy who tries to crush your hand with a handshake. The overly aggressive as well as insecure people who don’t want to be dominated by others use this handshake. When you encounter a bone crusher it’sRead MoreAppearance Poor Fair Average Good Superior Essay1262 Words   |  6 PagesEye Contact X Firm handshake X Notes: Recommendations: Yasenia’s attire was considered professional, but it could’ve been better. She was groomed well and her body language was superior. She came off as confident and seemed that she was comfortable. I love how she gave eye contact with each group member and didn’t only focus on the person that was asking her questions. I think that her handshake was weak and she needs to improve the quality of it. †¢ Work on handshake Personable Poor FairRead MoreAn Interview Of A Job Position Essay1609 Words   |  7 Pagesfulfillment of everyone’s needs. The Myers-Briggs forms the basis for the analysis of all the candidates for every position. Myers-Briggs personality test The Myers-Briggs personality test has given its ranking as an Executive (ESTJ-A). The description is characterized by a person who is extraverted, always observant, thinking, judging and also assertive on his personality. The interaction with the environment is in a free manner where the direction of the mental energy is on the keen observations of whatRead MoreReflection On Time Management1300 Words   |  6 Pagesthem when I have nothing in quadrant 1 and not too much in quadrant 2. This information is valuable because it helps me save time and prevent stress in the future. Another piece of information I thought was valuable was the ‘Time Management by Personality’ section. Although I do not fit exactly into one category, I would classify myself as the Driver. This is because I rarely procrastinate and once I get started can usually complete a task pretty quickly. I also do not enjoy working in team settingsRead MoreActions Speak Louder than Words892 Words   |  4 Pagesconversation. All humans need personal space but at the same time, touching plays an important role in communication. Every country and culture differ in what sort of touching and proximity is appropriate for each situation based on social norms, personality, relationship, and level of familiarity. In Western society, there are four categories of distances, according to relationship of those involved. Each category has a close phase and a far phase. Violating an appropriate distance can make someoneRead MoreRuth And I Are More Similar Than Dissimilar957 Words   |  4 Pa ges(who is also from Ireland), and I decided to go for a afternoon hike one weekend. What made this an interesting cultural interaction was the greeting Ruth’s friend Julie and I shared upon first meeting. It started off with a friendly â€Å"hello†, and handshake. Which was not unlike most greetings I am used to sharing with new acquaintances. However, what made this greeting, unique was several other instances. The greeting quickly quickly turned into a friendly conversation about school, before we evenRead Moreï » ¿Verbal communication and nonverbal communication1374 Words   |  6 Pagesmake your signals match the level of formality necessitated by the situation. 9. Be Aware That Signals Can be Misread According to some, a firm handshake indicates a strong personality while a weak handshake is taken as a lack of fortitude. This example illustrates an important point about the possibility of misreading nonverbal signals. A limp handshake might actually indicate something else entirely, such as arthritis. Always remember to look for groups of behavior. A persons overall demeanor

Globalization And The Global Migration - 903 Words

Global migration can be defined as the movement of large groups of people from one area to another. There are two kinds of migration. There is internal migration and there is external migration. External migration is the movement of groups of people between different countries. The movement doesn’t occur within the country. Internal migration is the movement of groups of people from one part of an area to another. The movement occurs within the country. Globalization is the global economic integration of the global market. In recent time, there were many migrations because of the process of globalization. In order for us to understand the causes and the effects of these migrations, we need to understand the relationship between globalization and global migration. Globalization is the primary reason why global migration occurs. Globalization is the (process of integration and development in the global market.) Globalization is a major influence towards global migration. The general reasons why a global migration occurs are: poverty, social strife, political turmoil, and economic hardship. Poverty promotes migration because of how people are unable to find economic opportunities that will allow individuals to survive in the conditions of the country. The migration usually occurs when the poverty rate is growing rapidly (due to the decline of the economy). Social strife leads to migration due to the violent and conflict. Globalization led to the creation of NAFTA. NAFTA is theShow MoreRelatedThe Three Advancements of Globalization 1058 Words   |  5 PagesGlobalization and its Impact Globalization by definition means the tendency of business, technologies or philosophies to spread around the world, or the process of making this happened. Globalization depends on three keys of advancement, the role of human migration, international trade and rapid movements of capital. Globalization has many pros but yet also many cons that can have a deciding factor in an economy. Many people think globalization still favors the rich and it’s a detriment to countriesRead MoreGlobalization Is A For The Mass Movement Of Labor1417 Words   |  6 PagesGlobalization currently constitutes for the mass movement of labor especially from developing to developed nations. However, some aspects of globalization have resulted to the formation of structures that have resulted to exploitation and domination of labor force (Mohanty, 2013). Notably, when movement of labor is involved, issues about gender inequality arises and other aspects such as sexism, and racism as facets of coloni alism in the current global economic era. For instance, women from developingRead MoreGlobalization And The International Political Economy1530 Words   |  7 PagesGlobalization the International Political Economy Globalization is a major factor in our international political economy. Globalization comes in many forms, some of which will be explained herein in more detail. According to Kegley and Blanton (2014), due to globalization, the number of questions about how changes in one country s economics and politics influence trends in the word politics and the global economy (p. 328), has resulted in an area of scholarly study being coined, to wit: internationalRead MoreThe Effects of Cultural Intelligence on Leadership Effectiveness in Multinational Organizations1354 Words   |  5 Pagesgrow organically. At the same time, globalization of economies presents vast opportunities to organizations to expand their geographic boundaries globally. The need to interact and work with colleagues from across the world to complete a given job throws a lot of challenges on both the employees as well as the organizations. The challenges include factors such as language skills, leadership effectiveness, cultural intelligence, emotional intelligence, global mobility of human resource, employees’Read MoreGlobalization Is The Process Of International Integration1244 Words   |  5 PagesGlobalization is the process of international integration arising from the interchange of world views, products, ideas, and other aspects of culture. It approaches in transportation, telecommunication-internet, mobile phones which have been the key factor in globalization, producing further interconnection of economic and cultural activities. Economic globalization is the increasing economic interdependence of national economies across the world through a rapid increase in cross-border movement ofRead MoreGlobalization and Its Affect on Racism1528 Words   |  7 PagesGlobalization and its Effect on Racism Racism, in the Oxford English Dictionary, is defined as Prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior, and, The belief that all members of each race possess characteristics, abilities, or qualities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races. The essence of both definitions seems to be that specificRead MoreImmigration And Globalization1734 Words   |  7 Pagesto identify with a national identity, or a larger global identity? Does immigration, a component of globalization, impact one identity more than another? These questions are increasingly relevant with the well-documented rise of European nationalist parties, but there are still questions about whether these are empirically connected phenomena. Immigration, a facet of globalization, is widely discussed, as well as other impacts of globalization, confirming the importance of this trend (FerreiraRead MoreBook Report on Anthropology of Globalization by Lewellen1571 Words   |  7 PagesChapters 1-2 o Contemporary globalization is an on-going process of not just economic flows, but also cultural flows—the increasing flow of trade, finance, culture, ideas, and people brought about by the technology of communication and travel and by the worldwide spread of neoliberal capitalism†¦ (7). o Globalization is a reality, as well as regionalization and localization. Neoliberal capitalism has a global dominance; regionalism, localization, and globalization form a single, unified systemRead MoreAnalysis Of Saskia Sassen, A Leading Globalization Scholar1660 Words   |  7 Pagescontemporary globalization, it is crucial for an individual to examine how the historical assemblages of authority, territory and right have been remade and reworked on. (Sassen, 2006) The ideas of Saskia Sassen, a leading globalization scholar, are helpful in the analysis of the debate about the movement of refugees in the wake of the Paris attacks. Saskia stipulates that something really big is happening behind globalization. (Sassen, 2006) She is interested at the point where globalization gets messyRead MoreGlobalization Has A Strong Emotional Charge1497 Words   |  6 PagesGlobalization that offers great chances of achieving genuinely global development is progressing irregularly. Some countri es integrate into the global economy faster than others. In those that have been able to integrate, growth is stronger and poverty decreases. As a result of outward-looking policies, the East Asian countries, which were among the poorest in the world forty years ago, have for the most part become dynamic and prosperous. As the standard of living in these countries increased, they