An Essay on “The Micromanager”

The case study entitled â€Å"The Micromanager† was written by Bronwyn Fryer, Jim Goodnight, Mark Goulston, Craig Chappelow and Michael Lawrie for the Harvard Business Review journal last September 2004.The fictional story was about a CEO of Retronics Corporation, George Latour. George believes that he is an exceptional leader and has a command to increase the company’s profits with a goal of excellence towards the software-engineering firm. Instructed by the board chairman, George hired a new marketing director, Shelley Stern, who, according to the chairman, only needs a bit of training in the software-engineering business. He does his best to bring Shelly up to date.George has her sit in on developer meetings, forced her to do client calls, and even has the finance office explain the company's financial affairs on her. George has tendencies to be meticulous, interfering with Shelly’s work, suppressing her creativity and suggesting his own â€Å"better† i deas. George also gives blind comments like when he said â€Å"Thanks, Shel. You're the best† although Shelly felt down that time when George repelled her creativity. Doing all this made Shelley unhappy and never seems to show interest. In truth, she sees George's management style as oppressive, making her awfully depressed. In the end, Shelly rebelled and accused George as a â€Å"micromanager†, while leaving George taken aback and could never believe what he heard.Both parties, George and Shelly, have some problems in terms of belief and character. As CEO of the company, George carries a lot of pressure on his shoulders that is why he tries his best to excel the demands of the firm since the company is not in a good shape. He overexerts himself by interfering with the work of his subordinates. Clearly, he lacks some sensitivity and trust to his underlings and makes the work done by doing it himself. George is uncomfortable with his job and thinks that the blame could only point at him that’s why he is afraid to accept radical ideas from his underlings.Shelly, on the other hand, is quite new to the business. Although she has the qualifications for the job, she still needs a lot to learn and needs to adjust spontaneously according to the demands of the firm and her boss. Shelly believes that she has good qualities and gives overconfidence on her work. She also thinks that her ideas are excellent and needs to be praised not criticized, as done casually by George. As a newly hired employee, she is pressured to show her good qualities to her co-workers and leave a good impression as a marketing director. Shelly trusts herself and believes that she can stand on her own without the help or intervention of her superiors.According to the U.S. Army Handbook of 1973, there are three general types of leadership. They are: (1) Authoritarian or autocratic style; (2) Participative or democratic style, and; (3) Delegative or free reign style. Authoritar ian or autocratic style is basically used when the boss tells his subordinates what he wants done and how he wants the job done without getting the advice or opinion of his subordinates. An appropriate condition to use this style is when all the information to solve the problem is provided, there is time pressure, and the subordinates are well motivated to accept hasty commands.Some narrow minded people think of this style as an excuse for yelling, using humiliating language, leading to threats and abuse of power. This is not the authoritarian style but rather an abusive, unethical style called â€Å"bossing people around†. Authoritarian style is normally used on rare situations when necessary. Participative or democratic style of leadership is preferred if time is more available and the leader wants to gain more commitment and motivation from the subordinates. This style includes the employees in on the decision making processes. However, knowledgeable and skillful employees should take part in the process and the leader affirms the final decision as a sign of authority.Using this style does not show weakness of the leader but rather a sign of strength and trust that the employees will respect. In delegative or free reign style, the boss allows the employees to make their own decision. This style is used when employees are able fully capable of analyzing the situation and can determine what needs to be done to solve a certain problem. Although the employees had the power to make decisions, the responsibility and final decision always lie on the leader himself.For a good leader to become more effective he should be able to use all three styles depending on the situation and the forces involved between him and his subordinates. The leader should know when and how to adjust to meet the demands of the firm as well as to maintain a good image to his employees. As for George Latour, he should improve on becoming a leader by listening more to develop more pro ductive ideas and to have a mutual relationship to his followers. He should not concentrate himself on how his employee sees him but focus on maximizing the available resources to have better and productive planning.The biggest problem for Shelly and George would be the lack of efficient communication. Most of the problems and conflicts that occur in a firm or organization are the direct result failure to communicate and misunderstanding. Faulty communication leads to confusion and can cause good plans to be unsuccessful. Communication is said to be the exchange of information or ideas from a sender to a receiver. (Communication and Leadership) Efficient communication happens if the receiver comprehends the information that the sender wanted to address. Open mindedness also plays a big part in communication. It sharpens the ability of the receiver to understand what the sender is saying thus making the communication process more efficient.Good communication is also hard to attain es pecially when there are some barriers that prevent the sender and receiver to understand each other. Some of these said barriers of communication are: culture, beliefs, noise, physical and mental stresses, past experiences, and environmental factors such as bright lights, unnatural sights, unattractive person or any stimuli that can cause distraction. (Communication and Leadership)For a good communication process to happen, both parties should overcome these barriers to have a more productive relationship with each other. In the case of George and Shelly, they must relieve themselves of the stresses that they carry so that they can communicate effectively. Shelly should exert herself on listening to suggestions and combining it with her creative ideas while George must also try to become more sensitive and to give more trust to his employees.References:Bronwyn Fryer, J. G. (Sep 2004). The Micromanager. Harvard Business Review 8p, 2c, 4bw , p31-40, 8p, 2c, 4bw.Communication and Leade rship. (n.d.). Retrieved August 27, 2007, from The Skagit Watershed Council Website: http://www.skagitwatershed.org/~donclark/leader/leadcom.htmlLeadership Styles. (n.d.). Retrieved August 27, 2007, from The Skagit Watershed Council Website : http://www.skagitwatershed.org/~donclark/leader/leadstl.htmlUnited States Army Handbook. (1973).

Invisible Man By Ralph Ellison - 1277 Words

Invisible Man, by Ralph Ellison, is a story about a young African American man whose color renders him invisible. The theme of racism as a hurdle to individual identity is present throughout the story in a variety of examples. From the beginning of the novel the theme of identity is evident as the narrator states, â€Å"All my life I had been looking for something, and everywhere I turned someone tried to tell me what I was† (Ellison, p. 1254). In the midst of living in a racist American society the speakers is struggling with his own identity because he is labeled by the color of his skin and therefore is invisible to the narrow minds of others. The narrator struggles with his own social identity because he is influenced by the outside world that is telling him who he is and his place in society. During this time period African Americans had no rights or privileges and therefore were cast out of society to fiends for themselves. Therefore, the speaker views himself as less t han white people because they are powerful and have identified him as worthless. This is evident when the white men degrade him while making him fight with other black boys and stating, â€Å"Slug him, black boy! Knock his guts out†(Ellison, p. 1258). The men have placed the narrator in a category, which depicts him as animalistic and a symbol of comedic entertainment. It is clear that a large part of the narrators identify is formed by others views of him because without these narrowed perceptions he does notShow MoreRelatedInvisible Man By Ralph Ellison1366 Words   |  6 Pagesfighter left standing, amidst unbridled carnage. The titular narrator of Ralph Ellison s novel Invisible Man, is no stranger to those experiences. In the beginning, he is forced to fight several other black boxers for the amusement of many heckling, white spectators. Through the imaginative use of objects, symbols, allusions, and the actions, thoughts, and purposes of the spectators, pugilists and risquà © entertainment, Ellison seeks to express a powerful image of American race relations and womenRead MoreInvisible, Invisible Man, By Ralph Ellison1994 Words   |  8 PagesInvisible Race and Gender in Invisible Man, by Ralph Ellison In Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, the unnamed narrator shows us through the use motifs and symbols how racism and sexism negatively affect the social class and individual identity of the oppressed people. Throughout the novel, the African American narrator tells us the story of his journey to find success in life which is sabotaged by the white-dominated society in which he lives in. Along his journey, we are also shown how the patriarchyRead MoreInvisible Man By Ralph Ellison1246 Words   |  5 Pagesauthor of Invisible Man, Ralph Ellison, was born March 1st, 1914, and died April 16, 1994. He was born in Oklahoma City and named after Ralph Waldo Emerson, a famous journalist and poet. When Ellison was 3, his father died of a work-related accident, leaving his mother to care for him and his younger brother. As a young boy, he always wanted to major in music, and he went to Tuskegee University to become a composer and performer of music. The summer before his senior year in college, Ellison went toRead MoreThe Invisible Man By Ralph Ellison Essay2164 Words   |  9 Pagestrying to rebel against the status quo. Protest literature emerged from the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920’s to 1930’s. Protest literature is used to address real socio-political issues and express objections against them. In his novel, The Invisible Man, Ralph Ellison exposes the racism in society by focusing on the culture, in regards to the expected assimilation of African Americans and how the time period largely influenced the mistreatment of the African American population. He also uses symbolsRead MoreInvisible Man By Ralph Ellison909 Words   |  4 PagesInvisible Man by Ralph Ellison is a novel which embodies the universal theme of self-discovery, of the search to figure out who one truly is in life which we all are embarked upon. Throughout the text, the narrator is constantly wondering about who he really is, and evaluating the different identities which he assumes fo r himself. He progresses from being a hopeful student with a bright future to being just another poor black laborer in New Your City to being a fairly well off spokesperson for aRead MoreThe Invisible Man By Ralph Ellison977 Words   |  4 PagesBook Review: Invisible Man Invisible Man is an American Literature novel published by Ralph Ellison in 1952. The novel traces the experiences of a young college black man growing up in Harlem, New York. Attempting to succeed in a predominantly white society, the narrator encounters shocks and disillusionments from being expelled from college to hiding in an underground hole to protect himself from the people above. He lives a repressed life as an â€Å"Invisible Man† for he believes that society ignoresRead MoreInvisible Man By Ralph Ellison1032 Words   |  5 Pageslike modern society some people leads, and others will follow. Subjects will conditionally generate their own ideas and realize these ideas rather than just be assigned tasks that question their beliefs. The author Ralph Ellison illustrates it best. Ellison’s realistic fiction Invisible Man perpetuates the manifestation of manipulation over the minorities in this society. As the narrator embraces every identity he has been given, h e starts to become more independent, and a leader in his community. Read MoreThe Invisible Man By Ralph Ellison3051 Words   |  13 Pagesportrayed through the narrator’s, the invisible man, journey through life. The problems with society are foreshadowed by the racism and the symbols of the color white presented in the paint plant. â€Å"The Invisible Man† by Ralph Ellison depicts the African Americans struggle to be viewed as an equal member of society through the narrators struggles through life to discover his individuality or place in society while the white man or the community conspires to â€Å"keep the black man down†. The story follows theRead MoreInvisible Man By Ralph Ellison1481 Words   |  6 PagesInvisible Man is a novel by Ralph Ellison, published in 1952. It addresses many of the social and intellectual issues facing African-Americans in the early twentieth century. This includes black nationalism, the relationship between black identity a nd Marxism, and the reformist racial policies of Booker T. Washington, as well as issues of individuality and personal identity. The grandson of slaves, Ralph Ellison was born in 1914 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and was raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. HisRead MoreThe Invisible Man By Ralph Ellison917 Words   |  4 PagesRalph Ellison’s Invisible Man is a story about a young African American man who struggles to break free from the black stereotype that white society has forced upon him. As Ellison’s views on the detrimental effects of stereotyping minorities become apparent throughout his novel, some readers would argue that his depictions of female characters seem to be slightly hypocritical—but in actuality, the narrator’s encounters with the female characters ultimately help him accept his invisibility, develop

The Rebellion Of The White Authorities Essay - 881 Words

The possibility of manumission is believed to have been a factor in the failure of several slave rebellions/uprisings. There were slaves who undoubtedly thought they would be assured their freedom by revealing information of rebellion to the white authorities. Some well-known revolts were: Gabriel Prosser (1776 – October 10, 1800), was a literate enslaved blacksmith who masterminded a slave rebellion in the Richmond, Virginia area in the summer of 1800. The plans of the rebellion are said to have been told to some white men before it could be carried out. Gabriel and twenty-five followers were captured and. The reaction of Virginia and other state legislatures was to pass laws restricting the movement and all aspects of life of free blacks; this included prohibiting the education, assembly, and hiring out of slaves. This was an effort to restrict their chances of learning and planning future rebellions. The revolt was planned during the spring and summer of 1800. GabrielÃ¢â‚¬Ë œs plans were to lead slaves into Richmond on August 30, 1800, but was delayed because of rain. There were slave owners who had suspicion of the uprising, because two slaves told their owner, Mosby Sheppard, about the plans, and he informed Governor, James Monroe, who called out the state militia. Gabriel escaped to Norfolk, but he was seen and betrayed by another slave for the reward offered by the state. That slave did not receive the full reward. The historian Douglas Egerton offered a new perspectiveShow MoreRelatedStylistic Descriptions of Psyciatric Institutions of the 1960s in Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and the film Girl, Interrupted1031 Words   |  4 PagesAmerican psychiatric institutions of the 1960s and explore the idea that hospitals act as a microcosm for society, where characters are used as symbols to represent aspects of society. The settings represent conformity and rebellion, prejudice against minorities and authority figures rulin g absolutely. Both authors use stylistic features to position the audience to respond to ideas common in both texts. Within a society, non-conformity and individualism are conveyed in a negative light, which isRead MoreButch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid1190 Words   |  5 Pagessuperhuman posse is the timeless struggle between rebellion and authority. This revised western turns the outlaws into heros, Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid are the embodiment of a rebellious youth. The plot in traditional westerns depicts the basic themes of good vs. evil and black vs. white, but in this film, all of that is brought into question when the writer, William Goldman turns everything upside down changing black to white and white to black. To the generation that was coming of ageRead MoreThe Rebellion Of The Gabriel Rebellion1255 Words   |  6 Pages The Gabriel Rebellion was a revolt organized in the summer of 1800 by a man whom many call Gabriel Prosser. His last name was derived from his master, Thomas Prosser. The main objective of the revolt was to fight for the freedom of black slaves held within the state of Virginia. However, the revolt did not materialize because word spread around before the plan could be executed. Immediately after the governor got wind of the revolt, security was beefed up around Richmond where the uprising hadRead MoreWomen and Rebellion in Graphic Novels1478 Words   |  6 Pagesthe midst of rebellion and repression and matures into an independent and empowered woman who thinks for herself. The protagonist of Fables may be slightly more fa-miliar to the reader, but this time she’s not eating any poisoned apples. Snow White is the no-nonsense deputy mayor and power behind the throne of Fabletown. She especially comes into her own as a strong, independent leader in volume two of Fables, â₠¬Å"Animal Farm.† One of the major similarities between Marjane and Snow White is that theyRead MoreCauses Of The Boxer Rebellion881 Words   |  4 PagesThe Boxer Rebellion was a renowned uprising that occurred in China from 1899-1901, however there have been many debates between historians surrounding the possible causes that fuelled the rebellion. There were three major causes that may have encouraged the rebellion, these include anti-foreign, anti-Christian and anti-Qing sentiment present within in the Chinese communities where Boxers originated from, such as Shandong. Historians often question the different impacts and used a series of extendedRead MoreRebellion as It Really Is1105 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Rebellion cannot exist without the feeling that somewhere, in some way, you are justified† (Albert Camus). â€Å"Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed†. (Declaration of Independence) Therefore, should people who feel oppressed retaliate against their government? Governments are to have certain checks and balances to ensure that one government or power does not become prodigiously in control, that one government does not establish dominance andRead MoreStono- Rebellion797 Words   |  4 PagesStone rebellion in South Carolina Claiming roughly eighty black and white lives and involving as many as one hundred slaves and perhaps as many whites, the Stono Rebellion of September 1739 was one of the most significant and violent slave uprisings in colonial America. Although the rebels failed in their attempt to reach St. Augustine and claim freedom under Spanish rule, the revolt shaped South Carolina slave society in some important ways and its legacy lingered for years after the event. Read MoreThe Southern Colony Of Virginia974 Words   |  4 Pagesand liberty, they ironically had 40% of the population in Virginia enslaved. The idea of equality became apparent for only those of white descent, and people of color were oppressed in order to achieve this â€Å"equality† among the white classes. The events in the 16th and 17th century Virginia that lead to equality among white men consisted of the relationship of white and Native Americans in both colonial and revolutionary America, the transition from indentured servants to slavery, oppressing theRead MoreNat Turner : A Unique Child893 Words   |  4 Pagesdestined to become a leader.† ( Oates 12). Hearing these things growing up led him to spend most of his time praying and fasting. Turner made claims that God gave him signs and visions. In 1825 he had a vision of a bloody conflict between black and white spirit. Three years later he had another vision he believed was from God. In one of his confession he explained the Spirit instantly appeared to me and said the Serpent was loosened, and Christ had laid down the yoke he had borne for the sins of menRead MoreHistory Of Tobacco During The Colonial Period1505 Words   |  7 Pagessocial ladder, below the landless, unemployed white men who were previously the lowest class. The slave society also formed their own culture with their own language and kinship. The demand for tobacco, led to the demand of labor, which shaped the social structure of the southern colonies. 3. (a). In 1676, Nathaniel Bacon led a group on an unauthorized attack on the natives which became a military defiance of the colonial government. Pre-rebellion there was a lot of political turmoil and

The Theory Of Self Awareness - 1428 Words

It has been said by many that self-awareness is a defining characteristic of humankind, something only a few other living things on this planet may possess and none to the degree of humans. The British Dictionary defines self-aware as being conscious of one s own feelings, character, etc. However one must ask them self what is self-awareness and in asking what is self-awareness and the important questions of self-awareness such as what are we and who are we? While these questions seems like fairly simple questions to answer at first. We know that we are made up of skin and organs and blood and bone but is that really what we are? Are we the consciousness or are we the body or are we a combination of both and if so it what correlation are subject, mind to body or body to mind? For generations many philosophers have sought out to answer this question. The dualist Descartes would argue that all we can know for sure is that we are here and that the mind is real but everything else can be brought into question as to whether it is real or not, even our own bodies. Materialism on the other hand would argue that we are nothing more than a body and the mind is nothing more than another physical thing or the product of such a thing. Descartes, a 17th century French philosopher, is credited with being the father of modern philosophy. He set out to separate himself from his predecessors and would enter into several states of meditation and try to separate his mind and himself fromShow MoreRelatedPersonhood Refereed As Self Awareness Theory872 Words   |  4 PagesPersonhood refereed as self-awareness theory was developed by a philosopher, DeGrazia, in his book of Great Apes. The theory explains two concepts that define who a human is. The first concept is intentional doing; if a person is able to do things internationally then he or she qualifies to be a human according to the theory. The founder of this theory states that this is the main reason why chimpanzees are not categorized as human beings (DeGrazia 38). Applying it in the book, Kathy was makingRead MoreSelf Awareness Theory Is Defined By Duval And Wickland876 Words   |  4 Pagesworld, film has also been proven to manipulate individual’s person al self- awareness. Self-awareness theory is defined by Duval and Wickland (1972) as self-focused attention that leads people to compare their behavior to internal standards. Film is so important in our society that it can alter a person’s perspectives and narratives. In society, film is used as a communicator to express ideas and generally brings forth awareness to some topics. 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As we will explore in the section about the advantages and disadvantages of the theory, the lack of proper theory or model is sometimes criticised. But the core ideas of authentic leadership have evolved and academics are continuously researching the theory and its validity further. The emphasis of the theory is on the leader’s legitimacyRead MoreA Nursing Philosophy Coincides With Self Awareness1452 Words   |  6 Pagescoincides with self-awareness. Nursing philosophies are developed by each individual nurse regarding the nursing practice and are important in understanding what is fundamentally important to each nurse, along with their values and beliefs. Self-awareness, in short, is knowledge of one s self, feelings, motives, and desires. In order for nurses to develop their own nursing philosophy they must first have a good sense of self-awareness. 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A Review of Qualitative Research on Teenage Smoking Habits Free Essays

string(89) " selecting a wider group with random geographic location and equal gender participation\." A Review of Qualitative Research on Teenage Smoking Habits Grand Canyon University: NRS-433V-O103 Introduction to Nursing Research September 20, 2012 Introduction The purpose of this document is to summarize the contents of the research article, explain the research methods implemented, and offer insight on how the findings contribute to nursing practice. Second, there will be an explanation of ethical considerations associated with the conduct of nursing research. Finally, the source document, â€Å"What Determines Teenagers’ Smoking Behaviour? : A Qualitative Study† will be attached for review. We will write a custom essay sample on A Review of Qualitative Research on Teenage Smoking Habits or any similar topic only for you Order Now Summary The articles purpose was to study smoking behavior among Malaysian teens. The specific areas of interest included: smoking initiation, cigarette consumption, intention to stop smoking, and attempts to stop smoking. The first stage of teen smoking behavior begins with casual experimentation and is followed by the maintenance phase when everyday ritual smoking is present. The future dependence on smoking can be predicted by the individual’s actions during experimentation with cigarettes. Curiosity, peer pressure, and parental smoking were all reported reasons that teens decided to try cigarettes. In children less than thirteen year old, it was concluded that parental smoking played the largest role in behavior choices. This finding suggests that children are modeling the parents’ smoking behavior. However, older teens in secondary school reported peer pressure to be the reason for choices regarding cigarettes. Seventy-four percent of the participants reported that they smoked less than five cigarettes daily. This same portion or participants admitted that they smoked because they experienced physical symptoms of nicotine withdraw when they didn’t smoke daily. Consumption of cigarettes in this group was reported as a social activity among friends but mostly in secluded areas, to avoid getting caught. Most all adolescents that were active in this study reported that they had intended to quit smoking in the future. The majority of participants had no clear plan on how they were going to stop and most had admitted to several failed attempts to stop smoking without help. Aspects to consider: relationships, athletic involvement, health concerns, lack of finances, and parental concern are all reasons that would cause a teen smoker to consider quitting. The participants that were able to stop smoking had a plan and picked a specific quit date. Methods of Study This information was collected and processed through a qualitative study. Specifically, it involved twenty-six teens from three public schools. Twenty-thee members of this sample group were smokers while three of the members had stopped smoking. Information was gathered through three focus group interviews, three in-depth interviews over twenty months, and questionnaires. The questions were asked in a non-formal conversational manner with important points or answers recorded on a document designed to evaluate and sort information (site). The Social Cognitive Theory was used to organize collection of information and analysis. This theoretical framework was chosen based on the need for an explanation of teen smoking related to individuals, heath behaviors, and environments. The expectation is that Social Cognitive Theory would offer more insight on how these three elements would interact with each other simultaneously. Contribution to Nursing Smoking tobacco continues to be one of the top causes of preventable causes for death in America. There are 430,000 deaths, one point five million years of potential life lost, and fifty billion of lost medical debt related to tobacco use (Hollis, J. , Pollen, N,†¦ 2005). Nurses that identify younger clients at risk for tobacco can contribute to decline in morbidity related to smoking and assist in the decrease of medical debt. â€Å"The younger that youth are when they start using tobacco, the more likely they’ll be addicted (CDC, 20012). The study offers insight to nursing practice for specific tailoring of a care plan for teens who smoke, parents who smoke, and how to target the education for quitting. The areas that affected teen’s interest in quitting included: athletic improvement, parents disapproval, health concerns, and lack of finances. Nurses can use the information from this study to reinforce the health promotion and benefits o f being a non-smoker. The recognition of how parents affect smoking behaviors will aid the nurse in preparing education that is directed at the entire family to deter childhood and teen smoking. The contribution to patient care can be seen with health promotion assessment use. The conclusions were clear about teens needing a plan to quit after they reached the maintenance phase of smoking. This result alerts nurses to assess smoking in younger adolescence and offer assistance with smoking cessation. Ethical Issues First, The Research and Ethic Committee of University Kebangsaan Malaysia gave approval before the study was started. Second, The Ministry of Education Malaysia offered authorization for interviews in the school system for children who were not involved in some type of major examination. Third, all of the teens along with parents provided a written and signed consent for participation. The confidentiality of current smoking status was kept intact and privacy was maintained. Lastly, at the conclusions of each interview the teens were offered smoking cession counseling at a doctor’s clinic. To ensure reliability of the study, several schools were used and different types of data collection utilized. There was self-reflexivity in minimizing opinions of the researchers. Validation was offered by minimal prompting, statement clarification, and rephrasing of questions. Conclusion The study identified factors like nicotine addiction, personal, and environmental issues that influence of smoking behaviors in teens. These areas should be of great priority when developing smoking cessation programs for teens. The Social Cognitive Theory utilized in this study is an aid that helps nurses to understand smoking behaviors in teens and how to address barriers to break those influential factors. Since this study was done in one region of Malaysia, it may not apply to all areas outside of it. This was a very small study that cannot be applied to all cultures, geographic locations, and race. A better perspective would have been attained by selecting a wider group with random geographic location and equal gender participation. You read "A Review of Qualitative Research on Teenage Smoking Habits" in category "Essay examples" The male to female ratio for the study was unequal and this causes a shift in the standard deviation when scrutinizing the study from a statistical view. Having unequal gender numbers could cause a type I or II error which makes the information not entirely reliable (Grove, S. , 2012). References Center for Disease Control. (2012, January). We can make the next generation tobacco-free. Retrieved from http://www. cdc. gov/Features/YouthTobaccoUse/ Grove, Susan K. (2012). Statistics for Health Care Research: A Practical Workbook [1] (VitalSource Bookshelf), Retrieved from http://pageburstls. elsevier. com/books/978-1- 4160-0226-0/outline/11 Hollis, J. , Polen, M. , Whitlock, E. , Lichtenstein, E. , Mullooly, J. , Velicer, W. , Redding, C. (2005). Teen Reach: outcomes from a randomized, controlled trial of a tobacco reduction program for teens seen in primary medical care. Pediatrics, 115(4 Part 1), 981-989. Tohid, H. , Ishak, N. d. , Muhammad, N. , Hassan, H. , Omar, K. (2011). What determines teenagers’ smoking behavior? : A qualitative study. International Medical Journal, 18(3), 194-198. 194 PSYCHIATRY Article Ititernational Medical Joumal. Vol. 18, No. 3, pp. 194 – 198 , September 2011 What Determines Teenagers’ Smoking Behaviour? : A Qualitative Study Hizlinda Tohid†, Noriah Mohd. Ishak^’, Noor Azimah Muhammad†, Hasliza Abu Hassan^’, Farah Naaz Momtaz Ahmad†, Khairani Omar’* ABSTRACT Objective: The study aimed to explore smoking behaviour among Malaysian teenagers that were related to their smoking initiation, cigarette consumption, quit intention, and quit attempts. Methods: It was a qualitative study that used multiple case study design, involving 26 teenagers (23 smokers and three former smokers) from three public schools. Data was collected via questionnaires, three focus group interviews and three in-depth interviews over 20 months, A standardised semi-structured interview protocol was utilised. Results: Among the participants, 74% of them started smoking after the age of 12 years old. The majority (20/23) of the teenage smokers admitted to smoking every day and 74% of them smoked not more than 5 cigarettes a day. All of the smokers had the intention to quit but only 22 out of the 23 teenage smokers had attempted quitting. Sixty percent of these teenagers had more than three quit attempts. In general, this study captured the complexity of the teenagers’ smoking behaviour that could be influenced by multiple factors, including behavioural (e,g, nicotine addiction), personal (e,g, conception of smoking and quitting, curiosity, sensation seeking, knowledge about smoking cessation, stress, maintaining athletic performance, and finance,) and environmental (e,g, socialisation, peer pressure, parental smoking, parental disapproval, and boy- or girlfriend aversion) factors. Conclusions: This study described the complex and multidimensional nature of teenage smoking behaviour. The findings also correspondingly matched the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), therefore suggesting the theory’s suitability in elucidating smoking behaviour among the Malaysian teenagers, KEY WORDS smoking, teenagers, smoking initiation, cigarette consumption, quit smoking INTRODUCTION Adolescence is a crucial time in which a relatively dependent child transforms into a relatively independent adult. During this transitional period, many teenagers often experiment risky behaviours as a proclamation of their autonomy. This risky behaviour includes cigarette smoking, using illicit drugs and cirinking alcohol. (Epps, Manley, Glynn, 1995; Kulig, American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Substance Abuse, 2005) Experimenting with cigarette smoking is an initial stage of teenagers’ smoking behaviour before it becomes established. (Nichter, Vuckovic, Quintero, Ritenbaugh, 1997; Seguire, Chalmers, 2000; Curry, Mermelstein, Sporer, 2009) This smoking initiation predicts their long-term tobacco use and heavier levels of dependence. (Breslau, Peterson, 1996; Escobedo, Marcus, Holtzman, Giovino, 1993; Chen, Millar, 1998) Their experimenting behaviour may be influenced by various factors including curiosity, peer pressure, parental smoking, sensation seeking, social norms for smoking, and misconception of smoking (e. g. belief that smoking provides benefits, such as coping, sense of belonging, style, relaxation, and coolness). (Dijk, de Nooijer, Heinrich, de Vries, 2007; Naing et at. , 2004; Khairani, Norazua, Zaiton, 2004; Vuckovic, Polen, Hollis, 2003; Nichter, Vuckovic, Quintero, Ritenbaugh, 1997) These factors could cause teenagers to continue smoking. Teenage smoking maintenance is also influenced by nicotine addiction. It has been shown to be substantially significant among teenagers even with low cigarette consumption. (The National Health and Morbidity Survey, 2009; Hammond et al. , 2008; Khairani, Norazua, Zaiton, 2004; Naing et al. , 2004; DiFranza et at. , 2007; Balch et al. , 2004; Amos, Wiltshire, Haw, McNeill, 2006) This may be due to a very rapid loss of autonomy over tobacco even with minimal exposure to nicotine in adolescents, as demonstrated by the DANDY study. (DiFranza et al. , 2007; DiFranza et al. , 2002) Consequently, majority of teenage smokers struggle to quit smoking. (Balch et at. , 2004; McVea, Miller, Creswell, McEntarrfer, Coleman, 2009; Amos, Wiltshire, Haw, MeNeill, 2006; Seguire, Chalmers, 2000) Thus, smoking behaviour among teenagers is a complex phenomenon, since it is influenced by multiple factors. This complexity requires great understanding of the behaviour from those who are involved in the care of these teenagers. This comprehension would certainly help the care providers to curb teenage smoking, which is a dangerous, addictive and destructive behaviour. US Department of Health and Human Services, 2004) Therefore, many studies have Received on Augtist 28, 2010 and accepted on November 29, 2010 1) Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lutnpur, Malaysia 2) Pusat PERMATApintar Negara, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Bangl, 43600 Selangor, Malaysia 3) Setapak Health Clinic, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Correspondence to: Hizlinda Tohid (e-mails; hizlinda2202@gmail. com) 2011 Japan International Cultural Exchange Foundation Japan Health Sciences University TobitJ H, et al. 195 Table 1. Participants’ gender, status of smoking and types of interviews TYPES OF SCHOOL MALE GENDER FcEeM. . AALIEE SMOKERS STATUS OF SMOKING NON SMOKERS FOCUS GROUP INTERVIEW TYPES OF INTERVIEWS IN DEPTH INTERVIEW SCHOOL 1 URBAN 9 3 9 3 1 3 SCHOOL 2 SEMI-URBAN 7 7 1 SCHOOL 3 RURAL 7 7 1 TOTAL 3 23 3 23 3 3 3 been carried out to examine the phenomenon of teenage smoking. In Malaysia, majority of such studies were quantitative studies. (Naing et al. , 2004; Hoi, Hong, 2000; Khairani, Norazua, Zaiton, 2004; Zulkifli, Rogayah, Razian, Nyi Nyi, 2001) Nevertheless, studies that qualitatively describe Malaysian teenagers’ smoking behaviour are still lacking. This deficiency may affect our understanding of the matter in great depth and holistically. Thus, this study aimed to explore smoking behaviour among Malaysian teenagers related to their smoking initiation, cigarette consumption, quit intention, and quit attempts. This information could provide us with better conception about their smoking behaviour, and subse-‘ quently eould help us to identify areas for improvement. METHODS This study used a multiple case study design, involving 26 teenagers (23 smokers and three former smokers) from three public schools (urban, semi-urban and rural). Data was collected via selfadministered questionnaires, focus group interviews (FGI) and indepth interviews (IDI) over a period of 20 months, between 2008 until 2010. Theoretical framework This study utilised the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) to guide the researchers in data collection and analysis. The SCT was also used for ‘analytieal generalisation’ in which findings of the study were mapped against the theory. It was chosen as the study’s theoretical framework due to its appropriateness and comprehensiveness in capturing a complex phenomenon of eigarette smoking that is influenced by multiple factors. (Baranowski, Perry, Parcel, 2002) The SCT describes how individuals, environments and health behaviour interact with each other simultaneously (reciprocal determinism). (Baranowski, Perry, Pareel, 2002) Study population Twenty six teenagers (23 boys and three girls, as shown in Table I) were selected via purposive and snowballing sampling, based on predetermined criteria. The teenage smokers and former smokers were sampled because their experience in cigarette smoking and smoking cessation was crucial for this study. These teenagers were 16 years old Malays, recruited from three different (urban, semiurban and rural) public schools from 2 states in Malaysia. Recruitment of teenagers Teenagers were recruited with the assistance from school counsellors from eaeh sehool. An agreement for no disciplinary action against teenagers who were willing to participate in this study was made with the counsellors prior to the recruitment. The students’ smoking status was also eoneealed from other school staff to avoid stigmatisation. Twelve teenagers who were selected from one of the schools were introdueed to the main researcher during an informal meeting for study briefing (refer to Table 1). The teenagers were invited to participate and were given parental packages, which comprised of an acknowledgement letter to parents, the study’s information sheet, and a parental consent form. Subsequently, dates for tbe FGI and IDI were set. The completed parental eonsents forms were eolleeted prior the interviews by the school counsellor. The other 14 teenagers (7 students from each remaining school, as shown in Table 1) were reeruited by sehools’ counsellors, who had training in qualitative research and were well informed about the study. Similar method of obtaining eonsent from their parents was carried out by these counsellors. Data collection Three in-depth interviews and three focus-group interviews were carried out (refer to Table 1). Prior to the interviews, all participants were given a brief overview of the study and the process of the interviews. Written eonsents from eaeh partieipant were also obtained. They were then required to answer a brief self-administered questionnaire on their socio-demography, smoking status and smoking behaviour (age of initiation, cigarette consumption, quit intention and quit attempts). The interviews were conducted in Malay language and eaeh interview lasted less than two hours. A semi-structured interview protocol was used to guide interviewers in questioning the participants. Anti-smoking posters and pamphlets were also used to facilitate discussion. Data analysis During eaeh interview, the conversation was recorded using digital voice recorders. The voice recording was subsequently transeribed into text by using Microsoft Office Word 2007. The transcribed text was reviewed against the audio-recordings for several times until the accuracy of the transcripts was ensured. Any uncertainty during the transcription, assistance from other researehers was sought to ascertain its accuracy and reliability. (Yin, 2003; Yin, 1994) The transcribed text was then imported into NVIVO 7. The main researcher then analysed the data to identify themes and categories (‘thematie analysis’) that would explain patterns of pereeption related to teenagers’ smoking behaviour. In order to ensure high reliability of the eoding proeess, tbe coded data was eross-checked by two experts in adolescence health. Kappa was calculated by using the Cohen kappa formula to determine the reliability index, which was maintained above 0. 8. The process of transcription and analysis was repeated for every interview and ‘cross-case conclusion’ was drawn between the analyses of eases. Findings of the study were also mapped against the SCT for ‘analytical generalisation’. Ettiical issues, reliability and validity Approval from the Research and Ethic Committee of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia was obtained prior to the study. Authorisation for interviewing teenagers from the schools was also acquired from the Ministry of Education Malaysia that limited interviewing students who were not sitting for any major examination (i. e. exeept students aged 15 and 17 years old). Apart from these, all of these teenagers and their parents were required to provide written eonsents for their participation. The confidentiality of the participants, e. g. obscuring teenagers’ status of smoking from the knowledge of their parents and other sehool staffs, was also guaranteed throughout the study. Finally, medical responsibility of the main researcher in preventing smoking-related illnesses, as she was also a medieal doctor, was realised by offering teenagers consultation for smoking eessation at her clinic. This was done at the end of each interview to prevent any biased answers from the partieipants. Validity and reliability of the study were ensured via a number of methods, ineluding; (1) triangulation of sourees of data (teenagers from three different sehools), as well as methods of data collection 196 What Determines Teenagers’ Smokitig Behaviour? Table 2. Smoking behaviour of the teenagers who smoked TEENAGERS WHO SMOKED (N = 23) AGE OF INITIATION (YEARS) NUMBER OF CIGARRETTES SMOKED/DAY STAGE OF CHANGE NUMBER OF QUIT ATTEMPTS FGD(n = 21) IDl(n = 2) TOTAL 12 5 1 6 13 16 1 17 20 2 1 3 PRE COMTEMPLATION 5 1 7 CONTEMPLATION 4 4 PLANNING II 12 0 1 1 1-3 7 1 8 S4 13 1 14 (questionnaire, three FGI and three IDI), (2) self reflexivity in minimising biases that the researchers may bring into the study due to our previous involvement in managing problematic teenagers and chronic smokers, (3) ‘procedural validity’ via rephrasing of questions, elarifying of statement and minimal prompting as ecessary,(Fliek, 2009) and (4) inter-coder agreement or reliability index of above 0. 8. RESULTS Twenty three boys and three girls were interviewed (referred to Table 1), in which two of the boys and one of the girls were former smokers. The remaining 23 teenagers were smokers at the time of the interviews. These teenagers’ smoking behaviour (age of smoking initiation, cigarette co nsumption, intention to quit and history of quit attempts) is summarised in Table 2. Age and reasons of smoking initiation Six of the 23 (26%) teenage smokers in this study started smoking during primary school (before the age of 13). The youngest age of smoking initiation was 10 years old. Nevertheless, 74% of these teenage smokers started smoking when they were in the secondary school. Most of the teenagers admitted that curiosity [â€Å"Felt curious to try (smoking)†], sensation seeking [â€Å"Just for fun†], parental modelling of smoking [â€Å"Sinee my father smokes†¦ I always watch him smoking. When he smokes, it looks pleasurable†¦ gratifying†], peer pressure [â€Å"Peer influence†], and misconception of smoking [â€Å"Style (because of smoking). Siyle†] were common factors for them to experiment with smoking. The teenagers who started smoking before the age of 13 claimed that curiosity and smoking modelling by parents were their main reasons for experimenting with smoking. This is contrary to those who started smoking at the age of 13 years or older. These teenagers admitted that peer pressure was the major factor for them to start smoking. Cigarette consumption Majority (20/23) of the teenage smokers in this study admitted to smoking every day and 74% of these teenagers smoked not more than 5 cigarettes a day. The teenagers believed that their daily smoking behaviour was mainly due to nicotine addiction in which they described substantial physical (e. g. tiredness, lethargy, flu-like symptoms) and psychological (e. g. slow thinking, depressed, craving) withdrawal symptoms that they experienced during smoking abstinence [â€Å"My brain feels slow†; â€Å"(If I stop smoking) I feel restless. â€Å"]. The daily smokers also admitted to smoking when they were with their friends. They claimed this behaviour could be due to a number of reasons: a) sharing the cost of cigarettes with their friends, thus tend to smoke together, as explained by a teenager: Between 14 of us. we shared RMI per person, we can get 2 big boxes of cigarettes. † b) socialisation, as one teenager noted: â€Å"When we hang around (with friends), we smoke, sis† c) peer pressure, as a teenager claimed: â€Å"When we see our friends smoked, the desire to smoke is too intense. † d) sense of belongin g, for example: â€Å"We all belong to a gang who shared our cigarettes together† However, three of the current smokers admitted to smoking only once a week. They stated that they particularly smoked during stressful period [â€Å"Especially when I am doing something. When it’s hard then I’ll smoke. ]. A few of the teenagers reported that the national anti-tobacco policy, as well as the school regulations had restricted their smoking behaviour. These teenagers admitted to commonly smoke in secluded areas outside of public view, such as in school toilets and stairways of shopping malls. The restrictive environment for public smoking was believed to influence tbeir cigarette consumption. Intention to quit All teenage smokers in this study had the intention to quit smoking. However, 7 of them (30%) did not plan to quit within the next 6 months (in the pre-contemplation stage). Twelve of them (52%) were in the planning stage, but none had set their quit dates. The smokers diselosed that a number of factors could influence tbeir desire to quit, which included: a) impaired athletic performance, as one of the teenagers claimed: â€Å"When (I) sprint†¦ I will hecome breathless† b) boy- or girlfriend aversion, for example: â€Å"Maybe (I get the desire to stop smoking) from my girlfriend. If she said â€Å"If you do not stop smoking, we should break-up†. Huh. (I feel like to quit smoking)† c) parental disapproval, as noted by one boy: If mother scolded me for smoking, until she cried.. I would feel ? ike I want to quit, but it was temporary only. Afterwards.. I continue smoking† d) concern about health, shown by one of the teenagers’ excerpt: â€Å"Smoking can make me feel breathless, sis (that’s why I feel like to quit)† e) finaneial problems, as a teenager stated: â€Å"(I) think about my parents, sis. My m other and my father are not wealthy, (when I) think about that, it could (trigger my desire to quit)† Similar motivating factors were also reported by former smokers in this study prior to their successful smoking cessation. Nevertheless, these former smokers admitted that only personalised motivating factors could render them to quit successfully. Their personalised motivators were parental disapproval [â€Å"(Parental disapproval) effective, it’s effective. I’ve stopped smoking. â€Å"], maintaining athletic performance [â€Å"(I) stopped smoking (for athletic performance). I got selected (to play football for my district) afterwards†]. and saving money /†/ stopped (smoking) to save money to buy a motorbike†]. Previous quit attempts Almost all (22/23) teenage smokers in this study had attempted smoking cessation prior to the interviews. The teenagers deseribed that quitting was very difficult because of withdrawal symptoms that they experienced during the quit attempts [â€Å"(If I stop smoking) I feel restless†]. Sixty percent of the teenage smokers had actually attempted to quit four times or more. All of the teenagers claimed that they never reeeived any professional helps when they made their attempts to quit in the past. Majority of them declared that they sought their friends’ advice on how to quit and among the common methods that they had tried were drinking a lot of water, chewing gums and taking sweets, as one of the teenagers said: Tohid H. et al. 197 â€Å"Usuatty (I) asked my friends how to quit. They advised me to drink a tot of minerat water. † DISCUSSION In Malaysia, the mean age of smoking initiation among teenage smokers is between 12-14 years old, (The National Health and Morbidity Survey, 2009; Hammond et at. , 2008; Khairani, Norazua, Zaiton, 2004; Naing et at. , 2004) whieh is concurrent with the findings of this study. The common reasons for smoking initiation, such as curiosity, peer pressure, and parental smoking, reported by tbe participants in tbis study were similar to otber studies. (Naing et at. 2004; Kbairani, Norazua, Zaiton, 2004) This study also suggested that curiosity and parental modelling of smoking bebaviour could be teenagers’ main reasons for experimenting smoking at younger age (less tban 13 years old). In contrary, peer pressure was found to be a major factor for teenagers wbo started smoking at seeondary sehools. However, the significance of tbese associations sh ould be confirmed by future quantitative studies. Cigarette consumption reported by teenagers in this study was found to be lesser tban tbose of Malaysian adults, who averagely smoke between 11 to 14 cigarettes per day. World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, 2010) Tbis may be due to a number of factors as suggested by tbese teenagers, such as; (a) insufficient fund to purchase cigarettes, (b) ‘occasional’ smoking, and (c) restrictive environment for smoking. Nevertheless, underreporting of smoking behaviour by these teenagers may also explain the lower estimated number of cigarettes smoked by them. Tbis is because teenagers have a tendency to report socially desirable behaviour and attitudes. (Hammond et at. , 2008; Klein, Havens, Carlson, 2005) Insufficient fund to purebase cigarettes were described by some of the teenagers in this study, who claimed that they had to share their pocket money with their peers to buy cigarettes. Tbis is to ensure their continuous supply of cigarettes and to develop bonding among tbe peers. (Vuckovic, Polen, Hollis, 2003; Amos, Wiltsbire, Haw, McNeill, 2006; Niehter, Vuckovic, Quintero, Ritenbaugh, 1997; Seguire, Cbalmers, 2000) Tbis practice in turn increases tbe level of acceptance by peers and promote sense of belonging tbat is pertinent to teenagers’ psychosocial development. Mermelstein, 2003; Vuckovic, Polen, Hollis, 2003; McVea, Miller, Creswell, McEntarrfer, Coleman, 2009; Nicbter, Vuckovic, Quintero, Ritenbaugh, 1997; Seguire, c Chalmers, 2000) However, some teenagers in this study, who had no financial constraint because they had personal income (e. g. from part-time job or significant allowance from parents), admitted to smoke only wben socialising and facing adversiti es (e. g. relation problems, inability to cope witb academic or part-time job). (Vuekovic, Polen, Hollis, 2003; Balch et at. , 2004; Amos, Wiltshire, Haw, McNeill, 2006; Hoi, 8L Hong, 2000; Khairani, Norazua, Zaiton, 2004; Niehter, Vuckovic, Quintero, Ritenbaugh, 1997; Seguire, Chalmers, 2000) These teenagers can be defined as occasional smokers, whose smoking was apparently influenced by peer pressure and tbeir inability to control themselves over smoking or to cope with stress. (Vuckovic, Polen, Hollis, 2003; Seguire, Chalmers, 2000; Patten et al. , 2003; Niehter, Vuckovic, Quintero, Ritenbaugh, 1997; Mermelstein, 2003; McVea, Miller, Creswell, McEntarrfer, Coleman, 2009; Khairani, Norazua, Zaiton, 2004; Balch et at. , 2004; Amos, Wiltshire, Haw, McNeill, 2006; Hoi, Hong, 2000) Teenagers’ smoking in esponse to hardship shows that smoking is their way of coping since it calms them through nicotine effects on the central nervous system. (Niebter, Vuckovic, Quintero, Ritenbaugh, 1997; Curry, Mermelstein, Sporer, 2009) In addition, smoking creates a social space in which they can calm down and relieve tension. (Niehter, Vuckovic, Quintero, Ritenbaugh, 1997; Curry, Mermelstein, Sporer, 2009) Apart from financial constraint and occasional smoking, restrietive environment for public smoking was also found to be responsible for tbe partieipants’ low cigarette consumption in this study. Therefore, these teenagers commonly smoked in secluded areas outside of public view, sucb as scbool toilets and stairways of shopping malls. These findings are consistent with a number of other studies that have found restrictive environment to be effective in reducing teenage smoking. (Wakefield ct at. , 2000; Lipperman-Kreda, Grube, 2009; Crawford, Balcb, Mermelstein, Tobacco Control Network Writing Group, 2002) Majority of teenage smokers bave intention to quit. (Khairani, Norazua, Zaiton, 2004; Krishnan M, 2003; Mermelstein, 2003; Naing ct at. 2004; The National Health and Morbidity Survey, 2009) Tbis was also found by tbis study, in wbich almost all teenagers who smoked eonsidered to quit smoking sometime in the future. They admitted that a number of factors could trigger tbeir quit intention, wbich include; (a) athletic performance, (b) boy- or girlfriend aversion, (c) parental disapproval, (d) concern about bealtb, and (e) money saving. Tbese faetors were similarly found to motivate teenagers to eease smoking by previous studies. (Vuckovic, Polen, Hollis, 2003; Mermelstein, 2003; McVea, Miller, Creswell, McEntarrfer, Coleman, 2009; Balcb ct al. , 2004) However, tbe teenagers reported tbat these extrinsie motivations were insufficient to keep them from total smoking abstinence. Nevertbeless, excerpts made by tbe former smokers in this study suggested that teenagers would only stop smoking when they are desperate to change due to compelling personal reasons. This finding is supported by McVea et al who found only ’emotionally compelling and inescapable quit reasons’ were the most motivating reasons for teenagers to stop smoking. (McVea, Miller, Creswell, McEntarrfer, Coleman, 2009) Even though majority of tbe teenagers in this study had intention to quit smoking, they did not have any quitting plans, not even setting their quit dates. These findings are similar to those reported by Mermestein. (Mermelstein, 2003) It is possible tbat the teenagers were; (a) not ready to quit (Balch ct al. , 2004) (e. g. some of the teenagers in the eurrent study would only quit when they experience major life transition, such as after graduation and tnarriage), (b) ambivalent about quitting (MeVea, Miller, Creswell, McEntarrfer, Coleman, 2009; Patten et al. 2003) (e. g. a number of teenagers repetitively answered, â€Å"I am not sure† when they were asked about tbeir plan to quit smoking), and (c) very confident that they could control themselves over smoking (Niehter, Vuckovic, Quintero, Ritenbaugb, 1997; Amos, Wiltshire, Haw, McNeill, 2006) (e. g. a teenager assertively admitted that he could stop stroking on his own without relying on helps from other). The later se ems to be related to teenagers’ belief tbat ‘quitting is just a matter of will power’. (Amos, Wiltsbire, Haw, McNeill, 2006; Balcb el at. 2004) After all, these teenagers’ ehanees for successful quit attempts would be reduced if they did not have strategic quitting plans. Multiple unsuccessful quit attempts were also reported by many teenagers in tbis study, in which the findings were concurrent with other studies. (World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, 2010; The National Health and Morbidity Survey, 2009; Klein, Havens, Carlson, 2005; Balch ct at. , 2004) This could be due to several reasons which can be summarised into three categories; (1) nicotine addiction,(Amos, Wiltsbire, Haw, McNeill, 2006; Balch et al. , 2004; DiFranza et at. , 2007; DiFranza ct at. , 2007) (2) factors related to environment and situation which could promote teenage smoking (e. g. strong peer pressure, poor support from friends, smoking tnodelling by family members, stress etc, as higbligbted by tbe current study), (Balch et at. , 2004; Crawford, Balch, Mermelstein, Tobacco Control Network Writing Group, 2002; McVea, Miller, Creswell, McEntarrfer, Coleman, 2009; Nicbter, Vuckovic, Quintero, Ritenbaugb, 1997) and (3) personal factors (e. g. oor risk assessment, poor knowledge, poor self efficacy and control, mi,sconception about smoking and quitting, strong belief in unassisted quit attempts etc, as found by this study) (Niehter, Vuckovic, Quintero, Ritenbaugb, 1997; Balcb ct at. , 2004). These tbree categories appear to matcb tbe model of the Social Cognitive Theory. Overall, this study provides beneficial information for future development of interventions of smokin g cessation for teenagers. Nevertheless, appropriate eontext which is similar to tbose of this study should be taken into consideration before applying such information since this is a ease study. Interviewing only teenagers aged 16 years old also limits the findings of this study. This is because teenagers at different stages of adolescence (early, middle and late) may bave different developmental characteristics which may influence their pereeption and attitude towards cigarette smoking. Teenagers from different stages of adolescence should then be included in future studies as differences in tbeir perception, attitude and bebaviour could be explored. CONCLUSION This study bad captured tbe complexity of tbe teenagers’ smoking bebaviour that could be influenced by multiple factors. Tbese faetors included behavioural (e. g. nicotine addiction), personal and environmental factors matched the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT). These 198 What Determines Teenagers’ Smoking Behaviour? multiple factors should be considered in developing interventions for smoking cessation suited for teenagers. The corresponding mapping of the findings against the SCT also supports the use of the SCT in helping us to comprehensively understand teenage smoking behaviour and to overcome the influential factors. FUNDING This work was funded by the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia UKM-GUP-TKS-07-12-097 and FF-127-2008). DECLARATION OF INTERESTS All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interests. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors would also like to express gratitude to the Ministry of Education Malaysia, the Ministry of Health Malaysia and the school counsellors who had helped us throughout the study. REFERENCES Amos A. Wiltshire S, Haw S. McNeill A. (2006). 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J Am Med Assoc, 269, 1391-1395. Retrieved from http://jama. ama-assn. org/cgi/reprint/ 269/11/1391 Flick U. Ed. ). (2009). An tntroduction to Quatitative Researcti. Sage Publications Ltd. Hammond D, Kin F. Prohmmo A, Kungskulniti N, Lian TY, Sharma SK. et at. (2008). Patterns of smoking among adolescents in Malaysia and Thailand: findings from the International Tobaeco Control Southeast Asia survey. Asia-Pacific J Public Healtti, 20. 193-203. doi:IO. 1177/1010539508317572 Hoi T. Hong L. (2000). Smoking among students in a rural secondary s chool. J Univ Mataya Med Cent. 5, 85-88. Retrieved from tutp:lltnyais. fst(ttn. um. edu. myl603HI t/Teti_Kot How to cite A Review of Qualitative Research on Teenage Smoking Habits, Essays

English Parts of Speech Essay Example For Students

English Parts of Speech Essay The Simile A simile is an direct comparison that always contains the words as or like A simile compares one thing vivid another and in the process suggests some degree of similarly between things that are not the same. Example: The carpet felt like sandpaper under her feet (Here the carpet, Which is usually soft, is being compared to sandpaper, which suggests that either there is something wrong with this carpet or it is uncomfortable to walk on. Identifying the similarity and the reason the writer has created this comparison is what you are often asked to do in questions that require you to unpack or explain a figure of speech, like a simile. Writers uses similes to create an effect or impression of danger, you would compare the sea with something dangerous. Example: The Sea was crouching and fawning like a wolf It you wanted to give the impression of a calm and peaceful scene you might compare it to something motionless or harmless. Example: The Sea was like a flat, blue plate. The metaphor A metaphor is a comparison that does not use the words as or like A metaphor makes a comparison as a simile does. It makes a comparison but it does not use the words as or like The metaphor says something is something else, not like something else. Example: The Ocean was like a flat, blue plate (simile) The Ocean was a flat, blue plate (metaphor) Personification Personification gives human qualities to inanimate objects or abstract ideas. Personification and metaphors are Sarnia in that they bother indirect comparisons. We use personification when we want to give something not human a human quality. We give objects human qualities/emotions) Example: The moon gazed sadly on the cemetery (Emotions such as sadness are usually associated with humans, not inanimate objects like the moon) We give objects human body parts or actions. Example: The frog tip-toed around the town Alliteration Alliteration is the repletion of constant sounds at the beginning of the words, Example: The slippery, slosh and slide of slimy shimmering salmon Assonance Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds. The trick is not to think of it as the same letter, but the same sound. Example: The eagle swoops with a whoosh on an inspecting prey Onomatopoeia Onomatopoeia uses the words that imitate and reproduce real life sounds and actions Example: splash is supposed to capture the exact sound of something (also Boom, and crunch)

The Frequent Shopper Program Essay Example

The Frequent Shopper Program Paper The Frequent Shopper Program for Kudler fine foods has three last main projects to talk about. These subjects are Quality assurance process and procedures to ensure the functionality and performance requirements are met. Testing procedures to ensure the application is operational at all levels including program, network, systems, and interfaces. The last main project to talk about is Implementation steps and procedures necessary to achieve operational status. After these topics, this will conclude our session for the Frequent Shopper Program for Kudler Fine Foods. Quality Kudler Fine Foods has one important topic to talk about and this is Quality. Kudler Fine Foods initiating for the program in quality to track the shopping habits at the individual shopper’s level. Shopper purchase habits will help Kudler Fine Foods improve their processes. This will also help improve their offerings to best offer the values of all the valued shoppers. Most people are worried about price and not the quality. Price is not the primary differentiating factor for Kudler consumers; these consumers are focused on quality and finding specialized items. Therefore, rather than providing everyday discounts to the customers for their purchase frequency like lower end markets, Kudler has partnered with a loyalty points program to provide customers with points which can be redeemed for high end gift items, airline first-class upgrades, or other specialty foods (Kudler Fine Foods, 2010). Incentive is one of the two frequent shopper programs that Kudler evaluated as a partner for their new program. One of the most impressive features of this system was the software’s ability to create a personalized rewards certificate and provide the customer with a number of rewards choices. We will write a custom essay sample on The Frequent Shopper Program specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Frequent Shopper Program specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Frequent Shopper Program specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Testing Process The testing process that is already in place for the tracking of the cash register accounts, the Frequent Shopper Program for Kudler fine foods combined a couple of great solutions for the tracking system. Just by seeing how the Frequent Shopper Program for Kudler fine foods is combining all their customers’ personal records into just one area. This new software uses this function in a manner that is highly dependable, protected, and convenient. IT staff and any administration that has tasks with the organization must be familiar with the system of this version. This must be confirmed that each every single location is prepared with desktop computers using Windows OS and Internet Explorer with server components written in Java. After this preliminary coding procedure is one hundred percent, Kudler fine foods will perform an exact testing using actual company cards by operating these sales in all three locations. Points awarding will be logged and stored, and the process will be repeated as to establish frequent shoppers during test these phases. Two months of conscientious examination of cash incentives and redeemable store points offered based on test purchases should indicated if the program was a success. Once testing is complete and the numbers add up as intended, installation will be in progress and should only take a certain amount of time with successful tests. Each company will maintain whole documents regarding the system in only certain locations, preferably in computerized and hardcopy layouts. The cashiers will gather all this information, but as the system will be computerized there will not be a need for considerable training. Implementation During any system implementation, there are three features that continuously work in tandem with each other and which must be carefully measured and appraised at various stages of the development. These factors are cost, schedule, and performance for the Frequent Shopper Program for Kudler fine foods. Some of these factors may be worked on while the others may be adaptable. Usually at this same relationship described as cost, schedule, and quality is used instead of performance. If a project team changes any one of these factors, the other two will without doubt be affected as well. The common graphical description of this implementation Is a triangle where each side of the triangle represents one of these factors at each corner? Basically, this means if one corner is missing this wouldn’t form a triangle. Conclusion To conclude our session for the Frequent Shopper Program involved with Kudler Fine Foods, Quality, Testing Process, and Implementation are three major subjects discussed in our organization. References Apollo Group, Inc. (2010). BSA375CourseNotes. pdf. Retrieved March 1, 2010, from http://mycampus. hoenix. edu/secure/resources/resource. asp Apollo Group Inc. (2010). Kudler Fine Foods. Marketing Overview. Retrieved March 1, 2010. BSA/375 – Fundamentals of Business Systems Development. https://ecampus. phoenix. edu/secure/aapd/CIST/VOP/Business/Kudler/Sales/KudlerSM001. htm Apollo Group Inc. (2010). Kudler Fine Foods. Information Technology. March 1, 2010. BSA/375 – Fundamentals of Business Systems Development. https://ecampus. phoenix. edu/secure/aapd/CIST/VOP/Business/Kudler/IT/KudlerITDatabases001. htm