Bunn Brewer Technicalities for Coffee Lovers

Ever wonder how the Bunn coffee maker brews coffee in three minutes?  Here's how.

How the Bunn Velocity Brew BX Brews Coffee in Three Minutes

Introduction

The Bunn Velocity Brew BX brewer is a coffee pot that brews up to 10 cups of great tasting coffee or tea in three minutes through the use of an internal hot water tank.  The intended audience for this paper is those who brew coffee, tea or both on a daily basis and have never used the Bunn Velocity Brew BX brewer, but are interested in learning more about how it brews coffee so quickly.

The internal hot water tank keeps the water about 200 degrees F at all times, so coffee or tea is ready in three minutes without tasting bitter (Bunn, n.d.).

The steps to brewing hot coffee or tea in three minutes listed below are (1) filling the internal hot water tank and turning it on, (2) using the funnel, and (3) making coffee or tea.

The Process

Filling the internal hot water tank.  After unboxing the BX brewer and removing all packaging, rinse the coffee pot with soap and water, then fill the pot with fresh water and pour into the tank by opening the lid on top of the brewer.  It will take a couple of pots of water to fill the tank.  Once filled, plug the brewer into the power outlet and turn on the hot water tank by the switch on the bottom left side of the brewer.  As the stainless steel hot water tanks get hot, you will hear the sound of water being heated.  Once the water reaches 200 degrees F, the sound will stop and the hot water heater will maintain the temperature of the water.

Using the funnel.  Place a coffee filter inside the funnel and fill it with the desired amount of coffee.  If making tea, just place the desired number of tea bags inside the funnel.  Then, slide the funnel into the track located just below the brewer’s on/off switch on the top front stainless steel panel.

Making the coffee or tea.  Fill the coffee pot with water to the desired number of cups.  Pour the water into the top of the brewer as when filling the hot water tank.  Close the lid and immediately place the coffee pot onto the pot warmer underneath the funnel.  The brewer immediately begins to draw hot water from the hot water tank equal to the amount of water that was just poured into it, and it flows through the funnel into the coffee pot, providing freshly brewed coffee or tea within three minutes.  Turn the warmer on with the on/off switch located on the stainless steel panel on the front of the brewer.  The water that was just poured into the tank is then heated to 200 degrees F and remains in the tank until another pot of coffee or tea is made.

Summary

The water that is poured into the internal hot water heater first is the water that is used to make hot coffee or tea.  As fresh water is poured into the internal hot water tank, the Velocity Brew BX has to make room for it, so it releases hot water into the funnel, making freshly brewed coffee or tea within three minutes.

References:

Velocity Brew Bx. (n.d.). Bunn. Retrieved on July 17, 2011 from http://www.bunnathome.com/products/velocity-brew/velocity-brew-bx

What Makes A Good Blog?

The communication era in which we find ourselves has completely revolutionized the many ways in which we communicate on a daily basis.  A blog, which is likened to an “online personal essay” (Marsh, Guth & Short, 2009, p.108), has become a widely used media that people can use personally or professionally to build a network of followers with which to communicate and collaborate.  “Blogs are informal, informative and often entertaining” (Marsh, Guth & Short, 2009, p.108).  The goal is to create an effective blog, which is one that will capture the viewer’s attention, keep them coming back, and motivate them to join in on the dialogue, all of which requires meaningful content and visual appeal.

If the blog design is visually unappealing, the likelihood that the viewer will stay long enough to read the content is pretty remote.  Michael Martin, founder of Pro Blog Design, states that there are seven elements to making a blog look good: structure, balance, color, small details, clarity and emphasis, remarkability, and functionality.  According to Martin, the blog design should be easy for the viewer to follow with a color scheme and enough white space to make it easy to read; emphasis should be placed on the most important elements; and it should be functional (Martin, June 26^th).  A blog that is visually cluttered with irrelevant material will quickly lose the viewer’s interest.  The viewer will leave the site and remember it no more, which is not the goal of a successful blog.  “Design is not important solely when the visitor is on the site, but also when they have left it” (Martin, Sept. 24^th).  Ultimately, the blog needs to be authentic and memorable.

One of the easiest ways to authenticate a blog is to add personal photographs or other images. The use of images can break up the text, making it easier for readers to continue reading the content.  A recent study conducted with EyeTrackShop on the way social media users view profiles revealed that users focus on images and the text nearby, which indicates that the use of multiple images can help guide readers down the page (Clay, 2011, para. 5).  But, personal photos and other images alone are not enough to attract returning viewers to a blog.

Blog content is a vital part of creating an effective blog.  Blog posts need to be informative, yet interesting enough to hold the reader’s attention.  People want to be entertained, and if they can simultaneously learn something new, or be brought up-to-date on a particular topic of interest, the odds of their returning to the blog significantly increase.  Incorporating humor and sharing real life stories are great ways to entertain and inform viewers.  The abundance of reality television programs is proof positive that people enjoy peering into the lives of complete strangers.  Jenny Seeby with Ezinearticles.com writes, “People love real life experiences.  What about the things that have gone wrong?  Gone right?  It only has to be vaguely related to your topic – as long as you can find some link with it, you’re fine” (Seeby, n.d., para. 6).  Nevertheless, blog content needs to be current in order to maintain relevance.

No one wants to read the same material over and over; therefore, blogs need to be updated frequently.  “You must post regularly to keep people coming back and in order for them to regard it as a useful source of information” (Seeby, n.d., para. 7).  We live in a world in which there is nothing as constant as change, and viewers want to read fresh and new blog posts when visiting a site.  A blog that is not updated on a consistent basis communicates to the viewer that the author is passive about the subject matter, and the blog will not be viewed as a credible source.  However, updating a blog does not have to become a full-time job.  Simplify the process by sharing the material of others sometimes and be sure to give credit where credit is due.

People blog because they have something to say; therefore, they will be glad to have their blogs cited, provided they are given attribution.  Likewise, posting outgoing links to other sites may inspire them to return the favor and generate incoming links back, which can help earn a blog a higher rank in search results (Clay, 2011, para. 7).  Additionally, sharing information from other sources is a quick and easy way to bring fresh content to blog viewers.  In today’s fast paced lifestyles, people place a high priority on convenience.  Having access to multiple sources through their favorite blog is convenient, similar to Walmart’s Supercenter concept of one stop shopping.  This type of blog management helps to build relationships with blog viewers, which will likely encourage them to engage in conversation through posting their comments.

According to Seeby, “The best blogs get lots of comments” (Seeby, n.d., para. 10).  “Blogs actively invite written responses, offering a Comments link to allow readers to agree, disagree or extend the discussion” (Marsh, Guth & Short, 2009, p.108).  Blogs with lots of comments are a testament to the richness of the information being exchanged.  The comments, along with the other elements previously described, are things for which to be on the lookout when reading and evaluating a blog.

Learning to create an effective blog is a process that takes practice.  It involves reading lots of blogs and taking note of what works and what does not work on each one, then applying the learning to my own blog.  Just like any writer, I have something to say and my goal is to write something that others desire to read.

References:

Clay, K. (2011, December 1). Five critical components of a blog post. Lockergnome. Retrieved on December 4, 2011 from http://www.lockergnome.com/social/2011/12/01/five-critical-components-of-a-blog-post/

Marsh, C., Guth, D., & Short, B. (2009). Strategic Writing: Multimedia writing for public relations, advertising and more (2^nd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Martin, M. (June 26^th). 7 elements to make your blog look great. Pro Blog Design. Retrieved on December 4, 2011 from http://www.problogdesign.com/design/7-elements-to-make-your-blog-look-great/

Seeby, J. (n.d.). What makes a good blog? Ezinearticles. Retrieved on December 4, 2011 from http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Makes-a-Good-Blog?&id=5035914

The Power of Nonverbal Communication

I wanted to share a couple of my favorite quotes involving nonverbal communication, because I believe we all have a responsibility to be aware of the message we are communicating to the world.  What message are you communicating?  Is it the message that you want the world to hear?

Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.

– St. Francis of Assisi

Excuse me your actions are screaming so loudly I can’t hear a word you’re saying.                                                           – Unknown


Leadership is practiced not so much in words as in attitude and in actions.
                                                                       - Harold S. Geneen

Deafness and Nonverbal Communication

As a hearing person, it is virtually impossible for me to imagine what it is like to be deaf in a hearing world.  There are so many wonderful sounds that hearing people take for granted that the deaf never have the pleasure of hearing.  Sounds like the wind blowing through the trees, birds singing on a beautiful spring day, the ocean’s waves crashing against the shore, or a warm cozy fire crackling in a fireplace, just to name a few.  When I consider the deaf, I think about how they do not ever experience the joy of singing along to their favorite song and imagining that they are as gifted vocally as the person who recorded it.  They also do not get to experience the emotions that different types of music can stir within the heart of a person.  The beauty of hearing is lost to the deaf, which can leave them feeling isolated and alone.

Imagine for a moment, if you will, that you are a deaf pastor, and you have been invited to a meeting with the head pastor and all the leadership of the church.  When you arrive, there is no interpreter, so there is no way for you to really contribute to the meeting, or understand what is being discussed.  Towards the end of the meeting, someone says, “Let’s pray,” which is the customary way to adjourn a church meeting, and all heads bow while someone prays, leaving you not only unable to hear what is being said, but also unable to see anyone’s lips moving.  It is easy to understand how, after experiences such as this, the deaf feel so isolated and alone and even carry intense anger and hostility toward hearing people.

As I listened to this true life experience recently, my heart broke for the deaf person.  I saw this situation as a form of nonverbal communication with a devastating impact.  Those men were not trying to be rude or alienate their deaf pastor.  In fact, they probably thought they had shown respect by inviting him to the meeting.  They were simply doing what hearing people do—having conversation.  However, their oblivion to their insensitivity was shocking to me, and I recognized even more the necessity for people to be cognizant of their impact on the lives of the people around them. 

As I pondered the situation, it occurred to me that when hearing people walk into a room filled with deaf people who are signing, they assuredly must feel the same type of isolation if they do not know how to sign.  However, I am inclined to think that the deaf may be more apt to do whatever they can to help hearing people feel more included in the group.  I do not know this to be true, but I am inclined in this way because the deaf live with the scars of isolation on a daily basis, making them less likely to want to create isolation for others.  Nevertheless, considering the fact that there are far more hearing people in the world than there are deaf people, I believe that the onus is on the part of the hearing to do more to try and relate to the deaf.  I think the best place to start is to develop empathy for the deaf, which requires learning something about their world view, just as you would when visiting a foreign country.  The video and link below are some resources that speak to the communication challenges for the deaf.

Deaf People Become Hidden in Full View

Virtual Worlds & Intercultural Communication

One of the barriers to effective communication is the propensity toward tunnel vision and failing to truly acknowledge that everyone does not see life through the same lens.  Developing an understanding of the perspective of others breaks down communication barriers that hinder or even prohibit meaningful relationship.  Understanding and empathy are vital elements for effectively communicating with people from different cultures.  Virtual worlds have become a modern day venue through which understanding and empathy toward other cultures can be broadened so that barriers to intercultural communication can be removed.  By leveling the playing field, virtual worlds make it possible to explore different cultures without risking physical safety or judgment and alienation.  However, this growing phenomenon is not without its limitations.

Physical safety would certainly be a concern when visiting countries like Israel, Iran, Iraq and others due to the possibility of terrorist attacks and suicide bombers.  For many, visiting such countries is simply not an option, even though they might possibly like to know and understand more about the various regions.  Still others may be willing to go in spite of the potential dangers to their physical safety, but it is cost prohibitive.  Through virtual worlds and the use of avatars, people can enter into games where they have the opportunity to meet people from different parts of the world and learn more about their beliefs and their culture.  Virtual worlds are rife with interaction that enables people to create communities comprised of self-built worlds and avatars centered around common interests, learning or socialization in order to promote information exchange (Harris & Rae, 2009).  Through these self-built worlds, people can virtually experience things that they will likely never experience in real life for fear of losing an arm, a leg, their life, or simply because they cannot financially afford it.

Another risk with intercultural communication is judgment, not only from members of foreign cultures, but sometimes from one’s own friends and family.  Social norms are defined by the culture in which one resides.  It is from these social norms that one’s views and perceptions of other cultures are shaped and molded.  Intercultural communication barriers can arise from preconceived perceptions in the minds of all parties from the moment of introduction to someone from a different culture, particularly if those perceptions are less than favorable.  For example, Americans are considered to be infidels by many in the Middle East.  Conversely, many Americans today have a tendency to be suspicious of individuals from the Middle East because of the devastating events of September 11, 2011.  This mutually negative perception between Americans and Middle Eastern natives will naturally impact the flow of communication between the two.

In the presence of such opposing attitudes toward different cultures, friends and family may become uncomfortable or feel threatened should one of their own choose to befriend someone from a perceived unfavorable culture, which could cause them to judge and alienate their friend or family member.  The fear of judgment and alienation from friends and family can cause people to totally abandon any thoughts of trying to build a bridge between other cultures, which keeps the current system of “us and them” fully established.  Virtual worlds remove the fear of being shunned or ostracized.  Although each player enters the game with their own preconceived perceptions, they are free to ask questions and exchange information that can dispel those perceptions, thereby building a bridge for open dialogue between cultures.  “Some say they open up in ways they never would in face-to-face encounters in real support groups, therapy sessions, or even with family and close friends in their true lives” (Stein, 2007).

While virtual worlds have opened a door of almost limitless possibilities with regard to learning and information exchange, they do still have their limitations. In order for the exchange of information to successfully improve intercultural communication, the participants must be willing to actually relinquish preconceptions about other cultures and become open to a broader understanding, something that can only be controlled by the participants themselves.  No one can force another person to be open and allow their mind to be changed.

There is also the issue of cost for the implementation of virtual world applications as an educational tool.  With more and more businesses establishing offices overseas, the ability to teach intercultural communication through virtual worlds could prove to be very beneficial; however, the costs involved with upgrading computer systems, as well as the time and money required to train instructors on how to use the virtual world applications is currently a stumbling block.  “Virtual worlds have yet to reach their optimum usability, accessibility and richness of experience because of technological limitations and relatively high development costs” (Wortley, 2009).  The good news is these hurdles can be overcome with time, which makes the long-term future of virtual worlds very promising.

The starting point for effective communication is a greater understanding of the one with whom you are communicating, whether it is with an individual, a small group or a nation.  The advancement of computerized technology has in effect shrunk our world.  Never in the history of mankind has the need for effective intercultural communication been so great.  Virtual worlds, although still in their infancy stage, make it possible to go where those who have gone before us were unable to go.  Information can be exchanged, lives can be touched and bridges between cultures can be built in real time with the simple click of a mouse.  Virtual worlds may still have some limitations; however, the limitations pale in comparison to the benefits.

References:

Harris, A., & Rea, A. (2009). Web 2.0 and virtual world technologies: A growing impact on IS education. Journal of Information Systems Education, 20(2), 137-144.  Retrieved August 14, 2011, from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID: 1755224731).

Stein, R. (2007, October 6). Real hope in a virtual world: Online identities leave limitations behind. The Washington Post. Retrieved on August 14, 2011 from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2007/10/05/ST2007100502446.html?hpid=artslot

Wortley, D.  (2009, September). Virtual barriers will crumble. The Times Higher Education Supplement:THE, (1913), 28. Retrieved August 14, 2011, from ProQuest Newsstand. (Document ID: 2175206931).

Sadie Blue

In January of this year while taking English Composition, our very first paper was to write an autobiographical essay about ourselves or about a significant event in our lives.  I wrote my paper on the love of my life, Sadie Blue, so I thought I would share it.

Life as a single woman in my mid-forties in rural South Georgia is not exactly what I would describe as life in the fast lane.  The entire county in which I live only has a population of approximately 42,000 people, so it doesn’t offer any substantial hope of meeting my prince charming.  Many times over the past eight-and-a-half years I have wondered what planet I was on when I got the bright idea to move back to Moultrie from the beautiful, sunny beaches in Sarasota, Florida.  Talk about looking for love in all the wrong places.  The various country smells of freshly mowed grass, freshly plowed peanuts, woods burning and rain falling on a hot summer day is about the most pleasurable excitement I normally find throughout the year, and although those amazing aromas instantly take me back to my youth, they do nothing to satisfy the natural human desire for companionship.  My cat and two lovebirds filled that desire to a large degree for several years, but nothing has ever compared to the day I met my beautiful Sadie Blue.

August 9, 2008 started out as just another typical summer Saturday morning.  I got up early and went to play a few sets of ladies doubles tennis at the city courts, my favorite sport, followed by a nice, hot round of mowing my lawn, and then finally finding my way to my friend Leslee’s house for a few hours of swimming and sunbathing by her pool.  Leslee had recently welcomed a new addition into her life: the most beautiful blue Weimaraner puppy I had ever seen.  In fact, it was the first blue Weimaraner I had ever seen, and the color of her coat was almost mesmerizing.  As we swam that afternoon and played with this irresistible and playful puppy, I began to ponder the possibility of getting one for myself. 


Leslee and her husband own a local mercantile store that sells pet supplies, so I began to question Leslee about what items I would need in order to own a dog and their cost.  Without skipping a beat, Leslee looks at me with a gleam in her eyes and says, “We can ride out to the breeder’s and look at them if you want.”  I knew immediately that if we did that, I was in trouble and by sundown I would be the proud new owner of my very own blue Weimaraner.  Needless to say, temptation got the best of me and sure enough, what began as just another ordinary day in the life of Sheila Doyle became a life changing day within the very short amount of time that it took for me to write and sign the check.  It is a day that I shall never forget because I had no idea during those brief moments, as I closely watched a litter of 13 puppies, little bundles of explosive energy running and playing as free as the wind, how significantly my life was about to change, or how deeply my heart was about to be touched. 

Suffice it to say that the first week was like stepping into some sort of twilight zone.  To say that I had stress would be a gross understatement.  Owning a dog was a lot more responsibility and required a lot more of my time when I was home.  The biggest challenges I had with my cat and two lovebirds were scooping the litter box a couple of times per day, removing cat hair from my clothes now and then, sweeping around the bird cage a couple of times per week and making sure they were all fed every day.  Looking back, they required very little time and effort from me at all.  Having Sadie in my life required me to be more strategic.  She had to have a place to stay during the day while I go to work, which meant purchasing a pen, a dog house, and pavers to make a floor so that she could not dig out of the pen.  I wanted her in the house with me when I was home so that I could spend time with her.  After all, I was seeking more companionship.  Little did I know that my very calm and predictable existence at home was about to be transformed into a massive whirlwind of chaos by this absolutely adorable 11 pound, gun metal gray, four-legged maniac that was making a race track out of my entire home.  

Sadie ran everywhere she went.  I have a long, ranch style home and she ran up and down the hall from the bedroom to the family room, around the ottoman, down the hall to the bathroom, back up the hall through the family room into the kitchen and back down the hall again over and over, her paws, still oversized for her tiny little legs, pounding the wood laminate flooring, on which she could not get much traction.   She chewed or ate everything on which she could clamp her teeth, including the baseboards in the bathroom, and she would drop her little bottom and relieve herself in the blink of an eye with no warning whatsoever.  I could not leave her alone for a second, which completely consumed all of my time, making it impossible for me to get anything done in the house.  This was not the type of companionship I had in mind.

Sleep during that first week was not an option.  It was like having a baby, literally.  Sadie was only eight weeks old and her life had been turned upside down just as much as mine.  She was accustomed to the smell of her brothers and sisters all snuggled as close as they could get to each other, and to their mother, while sleeping.  So close that they could feel each other’s heart beats and hear each other breathing.  Of course, I did not have that understanding during the first week, and when I placed her inside her brand new, huge, black metal kennel with a couple of toys and turned out the lights to go to bed, you can believe that the whole neighborhood heard her discontent.  The first night, I ended up sleeping with her on the sofa.  The second night I put her in my bed, and on the third night, she decided to wet the bed around 4:00 a.m.  At this point, I was convinced that I had made the worst mistake of my life, and I remember thinking, “Now I know why I don’t have children!”

The following Saturday, Sadie was due for her second round of shots.  I’m sure the veterinarian, Dr. Anthony Matthews, must have thought I had just flown in on my broom, not only because of my tattered appearance, but because of my demeanor.  Fortunately, Dr. Matthews is a very understanding man and he said, “You’ve just got a little buyer’s remorse, that’s all.”  To which I retorted, “A little?”  He said, “You’re probably going to have buyer’s remorse for a few months, but if you can just get through this, you’re going to have a great dog.”

I held onto his words over the coming months, but I must admit that I honestly did not see how this beautiful little puppy, that I truly loved, and I would ever be able to cohabitate together.  I recall one evening sitting down in exasperation in the middle of my kitchen floor with Sadie in my lap, sobbing my eyes out and telling her how much I wanted this to work, but I just didn’t see how it could.  That was over two years ago and much has changed since then.  All of the mischievous things she did as a puppy have actually endeared her to me more, and they have become some of many precious memories.  Each day during my drive home from work, I visualize her beautiful face as she patiently sits at the door of her pen waiting for me to come home and let her out.  I smile to myself as I look forward to her warm and happy greeting, in addition to the wonderful long walks we take through the neighborhood, not to mention the way she snuggles so close to me when we sleep.

My journey with Sadie has obviously not been without its challenges.  I learned a lot about myself, particularly the stress I experienced from having demands that I could not ignore made on my time.  I was convinced at one point that it would never work, but today I cannot imagine life without Sadie.  I love her as if I birthed her myself.  Not only has she taught me the true meaning of commitment and perseverance, she has also taught me why a dog is a man’s best friend.  I now understand clearly why man cherishes the love of his dog so deeply.  She is my best friend and my companion. 

The day I met Sadie definitely brought change into my life.  The change disguised as extreme stress and chaos actually held within its bosom a most fabulous gift that continues to bless me every moment that I get to spend with Sadie, and I would go through it all again.  I am so thankful that I did not give into the temptation to give up, because Dr. Matthews was right.  I have a great dog!

Delivering Bad News Tactfully and Effectively

As the department manager of a mid-sized company providing technology support services and overseeing ten employees, it is important that I understand that the performance of my employees is a direct reflection of my ability to manage and develop them into a cohesive team of colleagues working toward a unified goal.  The ability to build a team and develop a “teamwork culture” has become the focus of almost every organization today, so much so that teamwork skills have become a hard sought-after job candidate requirement.  This is particularly true for executive team leaders and managers because they are not only leading and influencing their team, but they are also role models (Bowes, 2011).  As a role model, my ability to not only instruct and coach my team, but to manage conflict and deliver bad news tactfully and effectively will ultimately have a direct impact on the success level of my team.

One of the first steps toward learning to effectively manage conflict is to understand that conflict is inevitable when dealing with multiple people, because conflict is a part of all relationships (Abigail & Cahn, 2011, p. 6).  Embracing conflict as a normal part of relationships, whether professional or personal, makes it easier for me to remain calm when conflict arises and not overreact to the situation.  By remaining calm, I can actively choose to apply the collaboration style of conflict management.

Collaboration is something in which two or more people engage with a common end goal.  It means “using integrative behaviors and developing mutually satisfying agreements to solve the problem once and for all” (Abigail & Cahn, 2011, p. 56).  Collaboration is the optimal style of conflict management because it holds the potential to provide a win-win result for all parties.  Therefore, it is the style I would use when faced with having to deliver the bad news to one of my employees that unless there is immediate improvement, dismissal is imminent due to two years of substandard performance, numerous complaints from customers and coworkers, and displays of confrontational behavior that has created a hostile work environment.

Through the collaboration process, I would carefully explain the expectations of the company, as well as my own expectations as the department manager, from the technology support team.  I would be sure to first highlight any positive aspects of the employee’s job performance, and then I would explain the areas in which the employee has failed to meet expectations.  Next, I would offer the employee the opportunity to explain the reasons for the substandard performance as well as the confrontational behavior.  In anticipation of defensiveness or denial of substandard performance on the part of the employee, I would be prepared to provide specific instances where the work quality was lacking, and I would share some of the complaints received from customers and coworkers.

After listening carefully to the employee’s response, I would explain that immediate improvement is needed in all the areas discussed, and I would set specific goals.  I would also give the employee the opportunity to assertively communicate how best to accomplish the specified goals, including any additional training or other resources the employee may need to do the job.  “Assertive communication behavior gives others a chance, which is a good idea when a relationship is important to you” (Abigail & Cahn, 2011, p. 57).

Once a course of action was agreed upon, I would verify that the employee understands and agrees with the goals, and believes that they can be accomplished.  Taking a more direct approach, I would explain that if there were no immediate improvement, dismissal would be the end result.  I would then revert back to a collaborative approach and close the meeting on a positive note by stating that it is my desire, as well as that of the company, to see the employee succeed and enjoy coming to work every day.  Closing the meeting on a positive note sends a message of preserving the goodwill of the employee, which will help keep the employee favorably disposed toward me and the company (Roebuck, 2006, pg. 89).  The collaborative style of conflict management would enable the employee to leave the meeting feeling that the company and I care, and hopefully lead to a win-win outcome for everyone.

Abigail, R. A. and Cahn, D. D. (2011). Managing conflict through communication (Fourth Edition). Boston, MA: Pearson.

Bowes, Barbara/Working World.  (2011, October 15). Evaluate status, success of team you manage. Winnipeg Free Press, H.1.  Retrieved November 26, 2011, from Canadian Newsstand Complete. (Document ID: 2486952391).

Roebuck, D. (2006). Improving business communication skills (4^th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.

Media Technologies

Just as people change and evolve over time, so can the meaning of words.  The word “media” is one such word.  “Media” is the plural form of the word “medium,” and while it has a very broad definition, it is often identified with newspapers, magazines, and journalists.  However, the term media is no longer limited to newspapers and magazines.  Media technology encompasses any form of mass communication, e.g., brochures, newsletters, emails, texts, and many others.  Television and radio are still two of the most effective media technology, but blogs, podcasts and web advertisements have also become very powerful mediums through which to advertise, market, network and communicate a message.  I have included a brief summary of these media and how they are used below. 

I will start with the blog.  A blog, which is what you are currently reading, is short for Web log.  It is an online personal essay, which means it is informal, informative, and sometimes entertaining.  It may even resemble a newspaper column because, like a newspaper, a blog provides individual responses to current news stories as well as to other issues (Marsh, Guth & Short, 2009, p. 108).  Blogs can be used personally or professionally.  For example, as a communications major, I am tailoring my blog toward communications topics in the interest of attracting prospective employers.  Therefore, my blog would be classified as a professional blog. 

However, organizations also use blogs to give a human face to their organization, and to communicate with those who avoid traditional media and prefer more personal relationships.  Truly successful blogs can build personal relationships because they invite viewers to post their comments regarding blog posts (Marsh, Guth & Short, 2009, p. 108). These comments can sometimes turn into ongoing conversations between viewers, and violà, a relationship develops.  In addition, viewers are more apt to provide honest feedback to organizations regarding their blog posts, products and services by posting their comments.

Next is the podcast, which is an audio and/or video program distributed via a Web site, and is used by organizations to deliver information to individuals who initiate that delivery (Marsh, Guth & Short, 2009, p. 111).  In other words, a person has to actively choose to participate in a podcast, which often requires registering with the podcast host.  The participant is provided a link through which they can access the podcast, including a designated code if needed.  For example, stockholders, customers, government regulators, voters, or any public with an interest in an organization can elect to view or listen to a podcast from the host Web site, or download it to their computer or portable media player, like an MP3 player or an iPod.  Many people subscribe to an RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed to receive new podcasts from their favorite sources (Marsh, Guth & Short, 2009, p. 111). 

Having worked as a financial advisor for almost 12 years, I have participated in a number of podcasts for a variety of reasons.  For example, to acquire continuing education credits for my securities and insurance licenses; to learn about the features of a new product that I may want to consider for a client; to listen to the earnings announcement of a company in which many of my clients may be invested, like Flowers Foods (FLO); or to learn about a new software application that may help me to grow my client base.  It is almost like attending a class, but I never have to leave my office. 

Thirdly is radio and television.  These media are still the most effective and efficient methods to promote programming and establish brand image through on-air announcements, often referred to as promos.  Promos are meant to build and maintain a desired audience.  They are designed to attract an audience to a particular program or to nurture the relationship between the audience and the station or channel.  Therefore, the target audience drives the purpose of the promo.  Some programs are targeted toward men, and others are targeted toward women (Marsh, Guth & Short, 2009, p. 154).  For example, the Food Network is geared more toward women.  While there are lots of men out there who like to cook, the Food Network’s core audience is women (Downey, 2008, para. 9).  I love to cook and I am always on the hunt for new and wonderful recipes that I can share with my friends.  Giada De Laurentiis is one of my personal favorites on the Food Network.  Then there are image promos, which help create a desired brand image for an entire station, channel or network, and generally have a more diverse audience.  A good example of an image promo would be the evening news (Marsh, Guth & Short, 2009, p. 154).

 Finally, I will look at web advertisements, which have soared in popularity with the explosive growth in Internet usage.   Web advertisements are placed on the web, for a fee, by an identified sponsor.  However, the sponsor may not be identified in the ad because Web ads are “click-throughs,” which means they link to a different Web site belonging to that of the ad sponsor (Marsh, Guth & Short, 2009, p. 151).  I had a not so pleasant experience once from clicking on an advertisement that did not identify the sponsor.  It was an advertisement on how someone in my hometown found a really inexpensive way to get her teeth whiter.  I clicked on the link and it took me to the sponsor’s Web site, where I was given the option to receive a free 30-day supply of their remarkable teeth whitening gel.  However, what I did not know is that by placing that one order, the sponsor of the site automatically signed me up for automatic shipments for not only their whitening gel, but for shipments of several other products they offered.  Needless to say, I was quite shocked when I received my credit card bill the following month.  Therefore, I encourage viewers to read all of the fine print when visiting Web sites with which they are not familiar. 

Another thing about web advertisements is the target audience for a web ad is most often the audience of the Web site on which the ad appears (Marsh, Guth & Short, 2009, p. 151).  For example, msn.MONEY’s Investing home page currently has an advertisement sponsored by ING Direct, which is an insurance company that provides variable life and annuity products.  ING’s target audience includes not only financial advisors that ING would like marketing their products, but also consumers who follow the securities markets who may be interested in making a change in their investments.  ING’s hope is that the consumer will either contact ING directly, or ask their financial advisor about ING’s products.  Lastly, a good Web ad will be concise and attract enough attention to persuade the viewer to go to sponsor’s Web site (Marsh, Guth & Short, 2009, p. 151).  The teeth whitening web ad I mentioned was obviously very effective me.

Downey, K. (2008, April 24). For food network, adding to the stew: Network has pumped up prime time ratings with reality. Media Life. Retrieved on November 20, 2011 from http://www.medialifemagazine.com/artman2/publish/Cable_20/For_Food_Network_adding_to_the_stew.asp

Marsh, C., Guth, D. and Short, B. (2009). Strategic writing: Multimedia writing for public relations, advertising and more (2^nd edition). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Medium. (1993). American Heritage College Dictionary (3^rd ed., p. 846). Boston, MA: American Heritage.

Creating My Blog

This is my first experience with creating a blog and I must say it has been quite fascinating.  It has certainly been a trial and error type of experience simply deciding the background, font, color schemes, page design, etc.  It felt like a major accomplishment just to complete my profile.

Considering that this blog is to demonstrate my abilities and showcase my work to prospective employers, I felt it was important to pick a background that would reflect at least some of my personality, while maintaining a professional image.  There are still so many things that I do not yet know, but trust that I will learn about through the process.  For example, what is a gadget?   I watched the blogger tutorial a couple of times to help me with creating my blog, which I highly recommend.  I also recommend reading the 7 Elements To Make Your Blog Look Great.  It offers a lot of good and easy to understand tips.  However, I am still not certain on my blog design at this point.

I took a lot of time in picking my color scheme once I selected my background, because I found that the default settings for font colors did not work well with my new background.  I also was very careful in my font selection.  Arial was the default font, which is often the case, but it is rather boring.  I wanted a font that was pretty and still professional.

My blog is a literal work in progress, and I still do not really have a clue as to what I am doing.  It is a true journey of discovery, to which I look forward; while at the same have a little resistance, simply because I do not like not knowing what I am doing.  Nevertheless, I am making a choice to see this for exactly what it is: an opportunity to expand my knowledge.  It is my sincere hope that by the time my blog is complete I will be a whiz at blogging!