2.     Gestures

Impossible to catalog them all.  But need to recognize: 1) incredible possibility and variety and 2) that an acceptable in one’s own culture may be offensive in another.  

Amount of gesturing varies from culture to culture.  Some cultures are animated; other restrained.  

Restrained cultures often feel animated cultures lack manners and overall restraint.  Animated cultures often feel restrained cultures lack emotion or interest.

Even simple things like using hands to point and count differ.

Pointing : US with index finger; Germany with little finger; Japanese with entire hand (in fact most Asians consider pointing with index finger to be rude)

Counting:  Thumb = 1 in Germany, 5 in Japan, middle finger for 1 in Indonesia.
 

3.     Facial Expressions

While some say that facial expressions are identical, meaning attached to them differs.  

Majority opinion is that these do have similar meanings world-wide with respect to smiling, crying, or showing anger, sorrow, or disgust.  

However, the intensity varies from culture to culture.  Note the following:

§  Many Asian cultures suppress facial expression as much as possible.

§  Many Mediterranean (Latino / Arabic) cultures exaggerate grief or sadness while most American men hide grief or sorrow.

§  Some see “animated” expressions as a sign of a lack of control.

§  Too much smiling is viewed in as a sign of shallowness.

§  Women smile more than men.

What is non-verbal communication?

“Non-verbal communication involves those nonverbal stimuli in a communication setting that are generated by both the source [speaker] and his or her use of the environment and that have potential message value for the source or receiver.  

It is both intentional and unintentional.  Most speakers / listeners are not conscious of this.   

Cultural Differences in Non-verbal Communication

1.                 General Appearance and Dress

• All cultures are concerned for how they look and make judgement based on looks and dress.  
• Americans, for instance, appear almost obsessed with dress and personal attractiveness.  
• Consider differing cultural standards on what is attractive in dress and on what constitutes modesty. 

23) Decision support system

                          

                         A Decision Support System (DSS) is a computer-based information system that supports business or organizational decision-making activities. 

                         DSSs serve the management, operations, and planning levels of an organization (usually mid and higher management) and help to make decisions, which may be rapidly changing and not easily specified in advance (Unstructured and Semi-Structured decision problems). 

                        Decision support systems can be either fully computerized, human or a combination of both.

                        DSS as a tool to support decision making process, DSS users see DSS as a tool to facilitate organizational processes.

 Defines DSS by its characteristics:

1. DSS tends to be aimed at the less well structured, under specified problem that upper level managers typically face;
2. DSS attempts to combine the use of models or analytic techniques with traditional data access and retrieval functions;
3. DSS specifically focuses on features which make them easy to use by non computer people in an interactive mode; and
4. DSS emphasizes flexibility and adaptability to accommodate changes in the environment and the decision making approach of the user.

Typical information that a decision support application might gather and present includes:

• inventories of information assets (including legacy and relational data sources, cubes, data warehouses, and data marts),
• comparative sales figures between one period and the next,
• projected revenue figures based on product sales assumptions.

REPORT WRTING-II

Results or findings

• Present your findings in as simple a way as possible.
• The more complicated the information looks, the more difficult it will be to interpret. There are a number of ways in which results can be presented.

Here are a few :

• Tables

• Graphs

• Pie charts

• Bar charts

• Diagrams

• Discussion

• Outline any problems encountered and try and present a balanced view.
• The information which you have collected, explaining its significance.

• Conclusion and recommendations

• This is the section of the report which draws together the main issues.
• It should be expressed clearly and should not present any new information.
• You may wish to list your recommendations in separate section or include them with the conclusions.

• References

It is important that you give precise details of all the work by other authors which has been referred to within the report.

Details should include :

• author’s name and initials

• date of publication

• title of the book, paper or journal

• publisher

• place of publication

• page numbers

• details of the journal volume in which the

article has appeared.

• Appendices

An appendix contains additional information related to the report but which is not essential to the main findings.

• Style of writing

Your tutor will be able to advise whether the report should be written in the ‘active’ or ‘passive’ voice.

The active voice reads as follows:

‘I recommend ...’

The passive voice reads:

‘It is recommended that ...’

The active voice allows you to write short, punchy sentences.

The passive appears more formal and considered.

Be aware of these differences and avoid mixing the two voices.

Layout

Most reports have a progressive numbering system.

The most common system is the decimal notation system.

The main sections are given single arabic numbers -1, 2, 3 and so on.

Sub-sections are given a decimal number - 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and so on.

Sub-sections can be further divided into - 1.11, 1.12,1.13 and so on.

An example structure would look as follows;

1. Introduction

1.1 ———————-

1.11 ———————-

1.2 ———————-

1.21 ———————-

2. Methodology

2.1 ———————-

2.11 ———————-

2.12 ———————-

                                                  REPORT WRITING

Structuring your report

We discussed earlier that there are different types of report such as laboratory reports or reports on an industrial placement.

The following common elements can be found in many different reports:

   Title page

·         This should include the title of the report.

·         the author’s name, module, course and the date.

Acknowledgements

You should acknowledge any help you have received in collecting the information for the report.

This may be from librarians, technicians or computer centre staff, for example

• Contents

You should list all the main sections of the report in sequence with the page numbers they begin on.

If there are charts, diagrams or tables included in your report.

• Abstract or summary

This should be a short paragraph summarising the main contents of the report.

• Introduction

State your objectives clearly, define the limits of the report, outline the method of enquirer, give a brief general background to the subject of the report and indicate the proposed development.

general background to the subject of the report and indicate the proposed development.

• Methodology

In this section you should state how you carried out your enquiry.

What form did your enquiry take ?

Did you carry out interviews or questionnaires?

How did you collect your data ?

What measurements did you make ?

How did you choose the subjects for your interviews ? 

6)  Top 5 Characteristics of a Good Event Planner

1. Knowledge of the industry in which she works. A good event planner remains up-to-date with current trends, styles and themes. 

A good event planner will also have extensive knowledge of event venues that will work perfectly for your special occasion.

2. Experience better equips an event planner to handle every detail involved in planning a special event. 

From contract negotiations to locating the missing microphone, a good event planner has been there and done that, so she always knows what to do.

3. Timeliness/Organization. A good event planner makes it a priority to meet deadlines, arrive early for the event, and stay late to make sure everything is in order and flows smoothly.

4. Superb Communication Skills. A good planner listens attentively to the wants and needs of clients and acts on them. 

She expresses her expertise without being condescending, and when necessary, disagrees respectfully. 

A good planner also maintains ongoing contact with clients during the planning process to keep clients informed on progress.

5. A Positive Attitude creates an inviting atmosphere for both parties. Everything works better when everyone is happy.

5) Characteristics of events


The following are the characteristics of an event:

1. It is unique.
2. It is a once in a lifetime experience
3. It brings people together
4. It has a purpose
5. It is intangible
6. It requires careful attention on planning
7. It is often a lot of stake for those involved

Sub- fields of Specialization

Meeting – is a conference, workshop, seminar or other event designed to bring people together for the purpose of exchanging information.

Forms of Meetings

1. Clinic – a workshop type educational experience in w/c attendees learn by doing.
2. Forum – an assembly for the discussion of common interests

3. Seminar – a lecture & dialogue that allow participants to share experiences in a particular field.

4. Symposium – an event at w/c particular subject is discussed by experts & opinions are gathered.

5. Workshop – a training session in w/c participants develop skills & knowledge in a given field. Generally includes exercises to enhance skills or develp knowledge in a specific topic.

Convention – assemblage of delegates, members of an organization for a common purpose
Congress – the European term for convention

Exhibition 

It is an event designed to bring together providers of products, equipment & services in an environment in w/c they demonstrate their products & services to a group of participants
Also called as Exposition & Trade Show
• Exhibition was historically a European term but as we become global, Americans adopted the term to refer to traveling shows such as art exhibitions.
• Expositions are public shows
• Historically, trade shows are private w/c are open only to those involved in the industry. Although some trade open themselves to the public on their final days, majority are still private