Logistics & Supply Chain Management NSW

Question: Discuss about the Logistics Supply Chain Managementfor NSW. Answer: Introduction Logistics management is the part of supply chain management (Farahani, Shabnam Rezapour Kardar, 2011). It refers to the effective and efficient working of the process of the point of origin on the manufacturers part and point of consumption on the customers part in order to meet out the demands of the customers. This involves all the information, storage, inflow and outflow of goods and services. It is important because it manages the overall functions of the organization and not just parts of it. It adds value to the goodwill of the company. The current report is on the Qube Holdings of Australia which is in Sydney, NSW. It was founded in 2010 and it deals in logistics and infrastructure (Qube, 2017). The report will discuss the problems that are faced by the organization occurring in the current logistics network of NSW, the solution to resolve the problem and the role of NSW government in resolving the problems. Apart from this, it will also discuss the logistics strategies to re solve the problem and recommendations. Problems Faced by the Company in Current Logistics Network in NSW When it comes to logistics the first word coming to the mind is transportation but it is more than that because it involves various other important activities also (Zezzatti Ochoa, 2012). The problems/challenges that are faced by the organization in the current scenario are of various types: Geographical, legislative, environmental, technological, demographical and other challenges (Stewart, 2011). These are needed to be taken care of in order to have a systematic functioning of the whole of the organization. Geographical Problems It can be further divided into two which are regional and urban problems. These are related to the natural or man-made structures of the Earth. Urban Problems The urban problems that the logistics organization faces are the toll roads, traffic jams and changes in the roads. These problems affect the proper transportation of goods and services and therefore, the working of the organization (Fernie Sparks, 2014). Traffic congestion is a daily challenge for the company especially during the peak hours which affects the smooth functioning of the organization. Road changes are another big task for the logistics company in order to meet out the day to day functions. There is one-ways on roads which many a times increases the travel time of the drivers. Roads which have hospitals and schools usually prohibit the entry of heavy vehicles. Free and motorways are constructed in order to avoid the problems of traffic jams but these have toll roads which incurs cost to the companies. In relation to this the companies are required to keep aside the toll expenses for the smooth functioning and to keep the process going. This will also enable the compani es have a regular and efficient route. Regional Problems They are related to the conditions and network of roads present across the country. In respect to this company face problems of the poor conditions of the roads which increases the travel time and also the chances of mishappening during the transit. It also deals with the problems of the non-connectivity of the roads with the parts of the city. Less number of the petrol pumps on highways and freeways is also another big problem. Animals are one of a great threat while travelling as they come in between the roads. Hence, they are a threat to not only the goods rather also the people. Legislative Problems They are those which are related to the national regulations which are imposed on transportation of goods and services. The funds provided by the government are withdrawn because of their strict budget. Railways and roads inaccessibility is also a hurdle for the logistics. Inspections on the export and import of the goods will involve time and therefore, will lead to loss of business to the company. Environmental Problems The above challenge has evolved over the period of time in order to encourage companies to go green and protect the environment around them. This involves the problems related to the awareness of the climate conditions. One of the big problems is to operate by reducing the waste of the companies in order to promote the company towards the sustainable working. Natural calamities are also one of the obstacles which can affect the logistics management. Technological Problems These problems are associated with the risks which are involved with the technological up gradation which results into huge costs. Another problem is the extreme dependence on the technology as most of the information is saved in the systems. Installation of new systems is another problem as employees need time to cope with them. This involves training cost and time required to update the information in the new systems. Demographical Problems Demographic factors like age are a barrier as the older people who work even after their retirement age in order to have money for their future life. They act as a barrier as they have occupied the opportunities of the young people. They are very much rigid to changes and new advancements taking place and it is also very difficult to train them in comparison to the old people. Physically also they are weaker as compared to the young ones. Other Problems Some of the other challenges are the threat to market entrants, increase in the prices of fuel, safety of the goods and maintenance. Threat of new entry will reduce the market share of the company. Increase in the fuel prices will increase the overall cost which will therefore, pass the burden of the cost to the ultimate consumers by rise in the prices. Maintenance and safety of inventory and goods in transit involves costs to the company. Resolution of Problem For resolving the problems in logistics companies should follow the logistics process which is divided into four steps: acquisition, distribution, sustainment and disposition. The problems discussed above needs to be solved as the company should pay more attention in planning and implementation of the logistics because the whole organization depends on it. Coordination among the factors improves the working of the organization (Christopher, 2016). The managers should organize meetings with the workers and the drivers because they are the key people who will execute the task planned by the mangers. Mangers will have to make them understand the problems which might occur in the execution and the ways through which they can get rid of it. Training should be given to the people involved in the logistics management regarding the material handling, order fulfilment, customer service, warehousing, transportation management and inventory and freight management. Route planning is very much important as far as the transportation of goods is concerned. Driver training is very important for the fuel efficiency. The company should recruit those who have experience and knowledge of routes and the ability to deal with problems that might occur during transit. The pricing of the transportation must be commodity based and the mode of transportation can also shift to a cheap mode in order to make the organization competitive in the market. Reduction in the costs of freight will therefore, lead to the cheap transportation and finally, decrease in the prices of the product (QUBE, 2013). The company should select the mode of transport with proper analysis so that unwanted expenses incurred while choosing an expensive mode can be reduced. The company should make an on-going effort for improving the production methods in order to reduce the amount of wastes. They should also use advanced green technologies in their warehouses like solar plants to save the electricity and reduce their costs. Employee satisfaction is also very important factor for the management of inventory as the more they will be satisfied with their job the more they will be productive. This can be done by reducing their pressure by allowing them to take breaks in their work to relax and release stress. Proper cooling stations should be present in warehouses in order to get rid of the heat. Company should also go for job rotation for the employees who are older so that younger people can come forward and perform. The older ones should be given training and support for their new roles. Quotas should be framed in the company policy for the people working above the age of retirement. The company execute the logistics strategies into steps to ensure smooth functioning and enable corrective options to be taken then and there. Restrictions related to the import and exports should be strictly followed so that the company do not enter into any violation of the rules. Moreover, if they follow proper guidelines they will make plans for future. Role of NSW Government in the Resolution of Problems In any economy, the role of the government is very much important in order to control the market functioning. The government formulate rules and regulations for the export and import policies of the country (Decker, 2014). They formulate and implement tariff and non-tariff barriers on the movement of goods and services in order to control the in and out activities of companies dealing in logistics of goods and services. The current company works under the NSW government, Australia. Therefore, the government also plays a vital role in solving the problems of logistics and supply chain management of company across the country. The role of NSW in the resolution of problems can be that the government will have to work on the improvement in the road conditions because it is a continuous process. With respect to this it the responsibility of the government to manage and take care of the infrastructure and development of the country. Government should also take initiatives as far as the gre en technologies are concerned because with their help only the wind and solar plants can be evolved. Better roads will ensure better travel i.e. roads with warning signs, directions and proper road lights will help less of mishappening and smooth functioning. Regular monitoring and improvement of the early roads should be done by the government. All the freeways, motorways and toll roads should have feedback and grievance cell so that travellers can communicate their problems and suggestions to the development department. This will ensure the growth of country as well as the companies. In relation to this revenues of the companies will increase the per capita and national income of the country. Government should improve the public transport facilities so that transporting of heavy loads can be done through them. Like, railways can be better option for heavy loads and it is also cheap in comparison to other means of transport. Government can also provide land space to the owners of t he warehouses away from the city area in order to ensure smooth functioning entire day. Specific timings can be set for the heavy vehicles especially timings other than the office timings. In addition to this, it will benefit them as this will reduce the travel time because of less rush on roads. Modification of roads is also a big need in order to provide good experience to the drivers as this will give them satisfaction and motivate them to take trips for any of the areas and not be specific for routes. Hence, the government is one of the important factors in dealing with the logistics and supply chain management across the country in respect to the study of problems and their resolution. Conclusion The current report concludes that the company working in the logistics and supply chain management has to take care of various problems and challenges that come in between their processes. Analysis of such problems and their corrective solutions are required from their part. This step will ensure the process as completed when they will deliver the right goods and services at the right place and on the right time. The role of the NSW government is very important as they will help in the effective running of the companies because government intervention is essential with respect to the setting of policies which will encourage the businesses to earn and therefore, the better income of the country. Recommendations On the basis of the above report this can be recommended that the company should introduce new ERP systems so that this will help in multiple tasks like providing real time data, tool for the employees, each department will be connected, increase the transparency and decrease in their miscommunication. Internal training should be given to the employees of the whole process and understanding of the supply chain management process. Apart from this, there must be backup plans ready for any failure or risks which might occur anytime. An efficient logistics coordinator should be appointed who must have real time experience in the same field and the ability to coordinate among different people and centres like manufacturing plant, suppliers, distribution centres, assembly plant, dock, carrier, freight forwarder and customer. The right candidate should also have a team of people to manage all the above responsibilities. Management of costs is also a great concern for the company as the high logistics and supply costs will increase the price of goods and services and the consumers expectations are low with respect to the price of the product. Therefore, costs are needed to be managed. Strong supply chain network is also advisable to the company in order to avoid the unnecessary delays in dispatch and deliveries. The network will deal with all the activities of demand, supply, manufacturing, transportation (international and domestic), inventory and distribution (scdigest, 2012). References Christopher, M., 2016, Logistics supply chain management, Pearson, UK. Decker, M., 2014, Last Mile Logistics for Disaster Relief Supply Chain Management: Challenges and Opportunities for Humanitarian Aid and Emergency Relief, Anchor Academic Publishing, Deutschland. Farahani, R, Rezapour, S Kardar, L., 2011, Logistics Operations and Management: Concepts and Models, Elsevier, Walthman, USA. Fernie, J. Sparks, L., 2014, Logistics and retail management: emerging issues and new challenges in the retail supply chain. Kogan Page Publishers. QUBE, 2013, Submission to the review of NSW rail access regime, viewed 20 January 2017, from https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/b2b/freight/rail-access-review-qube-logistics.pdf. Qube, 2017, viewed 20 January 2017, from https://www.qube.com.au/about/history. Scdigest, 2012, Recommendations for supply chain visibility success, viewed 21 January 2017, from https://www.scdigest.com/ASSETS/ON_TARGET/12-05-01-1.php. Stewart, N, 2011, Australian logistics challenges and solutions to overcome them, viewed 20 January 2017, from https://www.theseus.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/35105/Stewart_Neil.pdf?sequence=1 Zezzatti, O Ochoa, C, A., 2012, Logistics Management and Optimization through Hybrid Artificial Intelligence Systems, IGI Global, USA.

Turtle Essays (517 words) - Sea Turtles, Turtle, Conservation

Turtle Turtles are one of nature's most amazing animals. Now, they may not seem as fast as a cheetah, or as graceful as an eagle, but what is truly remarkable is their nonstop will to survive. This may seem like a natural instinct of all animals, but the turtle's will to survive is one of the world's strongest. They have survived through two mass extinctions, one wiping out 80% of the past world's species and the other wiping out 76%. To say that a species has survived two mass extinctions is pretty amazing already, but to outlive the dinosaurs, the greatest monsters to walk on earth is just extraordinary.Imagine living in the seas 65 million years ago. Just like the terrifying creatures on land, the creatures in the seas were equally enormous and deadly. Take the Megalodon shark. This monstrous size predator could grow up to 65 feet, with teeth the size of a human hand. Surviving in these kinds of hostile waters took a lot of skill and a strong will to survive. Admittedly, the prehistor ic turtles were a lot bigger and even had some spikes to defend itself, but spikes don't do much against a predator that is six times bigger than you.Even today, modern turtles that are no bigger than three feet, face predators much bigger than themselves. They also face a predator that would have made their giant ancestors shudder with fear: humans. There are currently about 100,000,000 tons of plastic trash drifting around in the ocean. Thousands of turtles ingest this trash and die. In addition, turtles face the threat of being accidentally caught in fishing nets and drowning. Also, sometimes they are caught on purpose. Hawksbill sea turtles, highly coveted for their unique shell color, are illegally poached and made into objects for people to use. In addition, in certain countries, turtles are viewed as delicacies, and the government makes no move to protect them. However, what really makes the turtle a true survivor is its life story, specifically when it is bornWhen baby turtl es are born at night, they usually all make it to the sea, no problem. Being hatched in broad daylight is an entirely different situation. The turtles are no bigger than baseballs, and are favorite prey for birds, crabs, and other predators. The turtles, not being able to move very fast on land, struggle helplessly as thousands of their siblings are eaten. What is amazing is that in an average hatching, 1 out of 1000 hatchlings will reach the sea. And 1 out of 10,000 will grow old enough to lay eggs and start the cycle again. And yet they have survived on this very shaky method for 220,000,000 years.In conclusion, turtles are nature's true survivors. This is because of their remarkable skills to survive, and to be able to adapt to any environment that they are put in. In addition, we must make a greater effort on protecting these wonderful creatures to ensure that they will be on Earth for a very long time to come.

The Pitfall of Writing a Profile Essay on Someone Dead

The Pitfall of Writing a Profile Essay on Someone Dead The Writing a Profile Essay on Someone Dead Chronicles Whoever has written a cover letter knows that it may be difficult to know what things to say. Be certain to always provide attribution for those quotes you do use as the reader shouldn't need to ever wonder who's talking. Put simply, you can't just jump from 1 topic to another. Don't make the error of writing all of the info you know regarding a specific topic. The Little-Known Secrets to Writing a Profile Essay on Someone Dead Luckily essay writing is one particular location where you can. Reading many profile essays will provide you with an insight of what it is you are predicted to do. A great essay is one which leaves an enduring impression. The term essay ways to try. It is crucial to keep in mind an essay is not only your opinion. It's simple to point out an essay that's been written solely for the interest of it. If your essay is all about a historical figure, you'll need to use formal language. A biography essay is an essay in which you tell the story of an individual's life. For instance, your essay could be significant to a specific group of people, a different era or a geographical site. Look at 99% of women's profiles on Match, and you are certain to find some type of the phrase I really like to laugh. Men and women tend to pick a variety of themes of who they are and attempt to describe all of them. Well, it's not quite as straightforward as it sounds. Your outline will allow you to organize the info you gathered during your research while you think which ideas to include in each individual paragraph. So, it's a remarkable foundation for assorted epic stories! A biography can be short in the event of few sentences biography, and in addition, it can be long enough to fill a whole book. A superb reporter also spends plenty of time taking a look at the topic along with the subject's surroundings. Do not become stuck with material possessions and what you've achieved in life. You can't compose a character sketch about anyone that you do not know intimately. Make certain you learn about your subject's individual and professional life. Writing a Profile Essay on Someone Dead Fundamentals Explained Although the two sorts of paper do have some similarities, in addition, there are quite a few differences that set them apart. Prior to beginning writing your work, you might want to find good high quality samples of descriptive essays, in order to offer you a better knowledge of the way to complete the job. There are a lot of important capabilities. Simply producing a page totally free of grammatical errors is insufficient. The Writing a Profile Essay on Someone Dead Chronicles When you have something dow n on paper it is significantly simpler to restructure it and flesh out areas that aren't as strong as others. My objective is to help you with your studies at no charge. If you're discussing a theory or research study make sure that you cite the origin of the info. Before conducting an interview you ought to have a list of objectives you want to accomplish. Many poorly crafted essays are produced on account of a scarcity of preparation and confidence. Very good profiles get in the center of the man or woman and learn what makes them tick. Still, it's important to bear in mind that your goal isn't just to present some factual and informative overview of someone's character except to offer your own evaluation also. Thus, attempt to allow it to be interesting and compelling. Writing a Profile Essay on Someone Dead for Dummies If you're writing your essay about a historical figure, you are going to have to have a visit to the library and possibly do some on-line research too. Often there are two major characters in the book. You should be ready to rewrite your essay a few times to get it just perfect. If you've visited the place before you might have more insight to add to earn your paper standout. What You Need to Know About Writing a Profile Essay on Someone Dead Whenever you don't have a whole novel to gradually offer a physical description, you've got to find creative with the manner in which you do it. Choosing somebody you know and can properly describe would be a far greater choice. A profile is a kind of feature story and usually focuses on an individual and what's important or interesting about that person at the present time. A great profile offers you something that you can't get elsewhere to truly become familiar with the individual. In reality, a number of the best articles concentrate on the everyday stories of regular individuals. The practice of producing a describing text is beneficial in the academic writing since it helps stu dents and other folks to learn to describe something without feelings. Quote at least two other men and women who know the topic of your story well. One of the most usual reasons people search for assistance with essay writing is they realize they're running out of time. Don't forget to begin your essay strongit should have the capability to spark the interests of your readers. If you get a one of a kind or rare writing need which might not be listed below, please get in touch with us we know we can assist you. Writing at HubPages is a superb experience and builds a passive income with time. Most students make the error of writing an excessive amount of knowledge and inadequate evaluation (which is the tough bit). The War Against Writing a Profile Essay on Someone Dead If you don't are writing about a dead individual, an interview is an important step in writing a thriving profile essay. Writing a profile essay becomes a very simple task whenever you're prepared. A profil e essay on a place is a good chance to utilize your imagination. Sure, you'll be reading profile essays of famous individuals, and it's quite possible your own story will be very much different.

What Is Familiar Tone in Writing Essay?

What Is Familiar Tone in Writing Essay?Writing your essay is a very demanding task but it can also be a daunting task if you don't know what is familiar tone in writing the essay. If you do not have an idea of what is familiar tone in writing an essay, you must learn from this and apply it into your essay writing.In general, the style of writing is the way of speaking or the verbal communication that is developed through verbal skills, knowledge and experience, including literature, languages, philosophy, public speaking, books, education, journals, etc. In writing the essay, the most basic of these types of communication is known as the familiar tone. You can use familiar tone in writing an essay to express your thoughts, ideas, views, opinions, or conclusions while expressing them in writing.Your audience will certainly appreciate and respect your opinion, thoughts, or words while writing your essay and they will have an easier time understanding your essay if you use the familiar tone. This is indeed one of the important tips that can help you improve the flow of your essay.So what is familiar tone in writing an essay? When you want to express a message, thought, idea, or argument, the use of familiar tone is what you should do. This is the standard manner of writing and reading that people usually use.For instance, the writer may talk or write about his or her views, beliefs, ideas, or opinions using the familiar tone. Your audience will find this familiar tone more easy to read and understand because this type of writing is becoming popular nowadays.The writer who uses the familiar tone also has to concentrate on the content of the essay because the reader needs to be focused on what he or she is reading or listening to. To add this, the writer also need to learn and understand the rules of the grammar sothat he or she can convert his or her thoughts or opinions into clear and concise sentences.Learning how to make use of the familiar tone in writing an es say is one of the most important tips that you must know. One thing you need to remember is that the familiar tone can be a different form of writing that is not suitable for writing essays. It is better for you to know these types of styles so that you can make the best choice in the essay writing project.Remember, this is the method that is being used by most writers today and you should be able to apply it easily in essay writing. Your audience will surely appreciate your thoughts and ideas especially if you use the familiar tone.

Steps to Essay Writing For 3rd Grade

Steps to Essay Writing For 3rd GradeThere are a few steps to essay writing for 3rd grade. They usually include gathering the facts, analyzing the information and writing an essay. Each of these can be done individually or in a group setting, but you may want to start with this basic outline.In the first step you will need to gather the principal information. This includes the topic and the major points you want to make. For example, if your topic is 'A Summer Holiday' then you would need to write about what you did on your vacation. If your topic is 'Games For Children', then you should consider other types of games for children. This is where you will also gather the information and include it in your essay.In the second step you will need to think of the types of essays you can complete. It is important to consider these types of essays so that you know how to create the best essay. Some of the most common essay topics are essays that deal with character, history, philosophy, relig ion, literature and science. The first thing you need to do is find out what these types of essays are. Research your topic and determine whether it fits into one of these categories.After you have identified the type of essay you want to complete, you will need to identify the main point. As you may already know, there are three different types of essays that you can complete. These are narrative, research and personal essays. The major point you need to focus on for each type of essay is the main point, but remember to take other factors into consideration as well.In the third step you will need to research the main point. This is where you get a variety of ideas and write them down. You can do this research either by yourself or with a group of students.The fourth step is to write the essay. This means that you need to go back and review the facts you wrote in the first step and to integrate your main point. However, there is one way that you can improve your essay writing: use a n outline. An outline can help you organize your thoughts, thereby making your work more orderly.The fifth step is to proofread and edit your essay. Make sure you have checked all the grammar and spelling mistakes, and that you can change any words in the document without causing unnecessary problems. After all, the last thing you want is to have your work rejected due to mistakes.The final step is to deliver your work to the class and have it reviewed. The grades will reflect your abilities, so you should not fail to make the necessary effort to succeed. The last thing you want is to worry about your grade when you could have used the time to develop your skills as a writer.

Essay Writing Services - Get What You Want With The Best Ones

Essay Writing Services - Get What You Want With The Best OnesUsing a trusted essay writing service to assist you with your writing has become the best way to go. The internet has made it easier for people to access so many different services, and once they have used a few of them, many turn to the trusted essay writing service.There are thousands of online service providers available. They each promise various benefits. The most important benefit of using a trusted essay writing service is that you can get a discount on the total amount charged if you use their service and they will return the services to you in full when you have finished your assignment.If you have been writing essays for a long time now, it is a good idea to look into a company that has been in the industry for many years. This gives you an idea of how reliable they are and how well the quality of their work is. A reliable service is not one that gets up and move to the next place to get a job, but one that use ol d strategies to get new ones.What should you look for in a service? Any service should be able to stand up to an impartial review, not just one that can serve a slanted agenda. Look for a service that:Has a good reputation and is well known in the community, but above all, one that is independent. Service providers who feel they have a vested interest in appearing on the website will not have an impartial review, and this will make it hard for you to get a fair evaluation.Not all essay writing services will meet all of these requirements. Only those that do are safe to use. Choose a trusted essay writing service that does not allow for bias and information is provided from a neutral source.Choosing an affordable essay writing service is a step in the right direction for those with minimal writing skills. If you want to make sure you are getting a good product, use the tips we have given you to help you get the best essay writing service out there.

Social Awareness Essays

Social Awareness Essays Social Awareness Essay Social Awareness Essay Through Interactions with Diverse Peers by Shirley R. Greene Mark Kamimura University of Michigan Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association for the Study of Higher Education Portland, Oregon, November 12-15, 2003 The work reported herein is supported under the National Institute for Student Achievement, Curriculum and Assessment program, agreement number R305T990402-00, CFDA/Subprogram No. :84. 305T, as administered by the Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI), U. S.Department of Education. The findings and opinions expressed in this report do not reflect6 the position and policies of OERI or the U. S. Department of Education. Social Awareness INTRODUCTION Social awareness has it roots in the second wave of the feminist movement (Bickford Reynolds, 2002). It is viewed as one of the key components of consciousness-raising, the other being social action. For many researchers, awareness about issues affecting the community or raising social consciousness has always been a precursor to social movement(Steinem, 1983; Swift, 1990).The internal and external survival of organizations, particularly higher education institutions, requires that they engage their members and encourage them to develop a social awareness that will enable them to reach out to the broader community on these issues. More recent research conducted by Astin (1998), revealed a decline in the percentage of first-year students who voted in a student election and expressed interest in participating in a community action program, promoting racial understanding, and becoming involved with programs to clean up the environment (p. 32) Many traditional college-aged students lack the social awareness that leads to social change (Bickford Reynolds, 2002). Although they can easily identify the icons of social movements, such as the civil rights movement, they seldom appreciate the needs, impetus, and historical specificity that drives social change movements. Furthermore, they fail to understand how a democracy works and exhibit little interest in the U. S. political system (Giroux, 1987; Hepburn, 1985).Reformers view students who lack this type of knowledge, understanding and interest as lacking sensitivity to the needs of others and a willingness to be active citizens (Swift, 1990). 2 From a research perspective, social awareness is an important facet of student development to understand because of the recognized links between social awareness and social change, as well as the development of critical thinking skills (Tsui, 2000). From a practice perspective, higherSocial Awareness education institutions are being called upon to create an informed citizenry capable of understanding and addressing a myriad of social issues. 3 Steinem (1983) defines the social change process as follows: naming the problem; speaking out, consciousness raising, and researching; creating alternate structures to deal with it; and beginning to create or change society’s laws and structures to solve the problem for the majority. This paper focuses solely on those aspects related to increased awareness, specifically naming the problem, speaking out, consciousness raising, and researching (Ibid). We define social awareness in terms of the importance that students attribute to: 1) speaking up against social injustice; 2) creating awareness of how people affect the environment; 3) promoting racial tolerance and respect; and 4) making consumer decisions based on a company’s ethics. These dimensions constitute the type of social awareness that students need to develop during their college years, in order to function well in a complex and diverse society.REVIEW OF LITERATURE The relevance of exploring the development of social awareness among college students is supported by several theoretical and empirically-based studies. First, we examine literature linking social awareness development to student attitudes and cognitive development (Piaget, 1975; Tsui, 2000; Perry, 1970). Second, we review literature that discusses the influence of interaction with diverse peers on student awareness, growth, and development.Linking Social Awareness, Attitudes and Cognitive Development Students tend to develop their social and cognitive skills through social interaction with others. When interacting with diverse peers, students are able to engage in debates and actively confront the differences between their own point of view and that of others (Piaget, 1975). In addition, they develop the ability to manage the strong emotions that conflict can engender. Social Awareness These cognitive and affective processes are relevant to the development of the dimensions associated with our social awareness measurement.Tsui (2000) posits that social awareness and consciousness, along with political awareness, directly influences college students’ development of critical thinking skills. This researcher concluded awareness of political and social affairs may be relevant to critical thinking development because discussion about such topics tend to elicit more interest and participation among students (p. 432). Other research suggests that students who possess critical thinking skills demonstrate a greater degree of social and political consciousness.These students demonstrate a political awareness or concern for general social issues rather than a concern with 4 their own world and immediate social group (Enright, Lapsley, and Shukla, 1979; Hurtado et al. , 2002). During their college career, students are exposed to various social, political, and personal experiences that challenge their current view of the world. When students confront the dissonance between views presented to them and their own perspective, they move from being dualistic to more complex thinkers (Perry, 1970).In turn, they are able to accomplish the following: demonstrate perspective-taking skills, exhibit sociocentric behaviors, construct reflective judgment skills and broaden their perspectives concerning social issues (Selman, 1980; Perry, 1970). Other scholars similarly note how interaction across difference can be linked with cognitive growth in multiple dimensions. King and her collaborators discuss a theoretical connection between cognitive development and multicultural thinking (King Baxter Magolda, 1996; King Shuford, 1996).Adding further support for the exploration of cognitive, affective and attitudinal variables in our model, several studies utilizing national longitudinal data show student interaction with Social Awareness 5 diverse peers is linked with increases in cultural knowledge and commitment to promoting racial understanding (Antonio, 1998; Hurtado, 2001; Milem, 1994). In their work on intergroup contact theory, Stephan and Stephan (1996) discuss the effect that the mediators of contact- including cultural knowledge- have on interaction across differin g social identity groups (Cushner Brislin, 1996; Triandis, 1972).They also cite research on attitudes in their discussion of the mediators of intergroup contact and emphasize the importance of values in what they call personal factors within their model (Ashmore, 1970; Katz, Wackenhut, Hass, 1986; Stephan Rosenfield, 1978; Stephan Stephan, 1996; Wagner Schonbach, 1984; Weigel Howes, 1985). Social Awareness and Interaction with Diverse Peers More recent research has also explored the theoretical connections between interaction with diverse peers and dimensions of social awareness. Springer, et al. 1995) found that students who interacted with diverse peers reported more frequent discussion of complex social issues, including such things as the economy, peace, human rights equality, and justice. A few other works have addressed the impact of interacting with diverse others on racial understanding. Astin (1993), in a multi-dimensional study of college impact, found that socializi ng with someone from a different racial background caused increases in cultural awareness, commitment to racial understanding, and commitment to the environment.Later research by Chang (1996) confirmed the relationship between diversity and racial understanding. These studies indicate that students who interact with diverse peers also demonstrate beliefs (importance of speaking up against social injustice and creating awareness of how people affect the environment) and values (desire to promote racial tolerance and respect) consistent with the development of social awareness. Social Awareness A recent study of the University of Michigan and Harvard University law school students revealed that discussions with students from diverse backgrounds significantly influenced their views of the U.S. criminal justice system, as well as their views regarding civil rights and conditions within various social and economic institutions (Orfield and Whitla,, 2001). Fifty three percent of the stude nts also stated diversity in the classroom allowed students to confront stereotypes on social and political issues all or most of the time. Students who develop views and dispositions associated with social awareness are better prepared to take on social roles as decision-makers and agents of social change.METHODS Conceptual Framework Given that a theoretical framework for studying the development of social awareness has yet to be developed, we designed a conceptual model that would take into account varying sources of influence as suggested by Astin (1993), Chickering (1969), Chickering and Reisser (1993), and Tinto (1975). These sources include: (1) the preenrollment characteristics of students, (2) students’ academic experiences, and (3) students’ social or nonacademic experiences including interactions with major agents of socialization on campus (Chickering, 1969).As suggested by Astin (1993) and Chickering (1969), various pre-enrollment characteristics of studen ts must be considered when examining the impact of experience in college. In order to 6 clearly assess the impact of college interaction with diverse peers on social awareness, this study controls for several background characteristics including: precollege social awareness, academic ability, race/ethnicity, gender, and mother’s level of education. In addition to pre-college characteristics, Chickering (1969) emphasized assessing the impact of students’ academic and non-academic experiences, by examining not only the types ofSocial Awareness involvements but also the extent and nature of interactions within these experiences. Milem 7 (1994) has also suggested that certain classroom experiences, such as dialogue between students of different backgrounds and beliefs will encourage students to reflect more on issues of race and diversity. Hurtado et al. (1994) operationalized interactions with diverse peers as how frequently a student engages in activities with someone of a different race/ethnicity. The findings suggest that the more students interact with peers from different racial/ethnic backgrounds, the more open they are to diverse perspectives.We also utilized the research investigating how students learn and acquire skills and dispositions through interactions with others (Piaget, 1975; Selman, 1980). The model we developed was based on the items identified in the theoretical and empirical works discussed above. Additional items were added based upon their hypothesized significance to the model. In summary, we hypothesize that precollege level of social awareness, background characteristics, college experiences (i. e. academic, non-academic, and interaction with diverse peers), and attitudinal and cognitive growth measures influence the development of social awareness in college students. Data Source In an effort to better understand how colleges and universities are preparing students to participate successfully in an increasingly diverse so ciety, the Diverse Democracy Project, funded by the U. S. department of Education was launched in 1999. This multi-method study utilized a longitudinal survey, administered to students at the beginning of their first-year and at the end of the second year of college at ten public universities.The universities involved in the project were chosen based on the following criteria: (a) a strong commitment to diversity as evidenced by the university’s mission statement and the presence of a number of diversity Social Awareness initiatives on campus; (b) recent success in diversifying their student body; and (c) engagement in significant community-building activities with a diverse student body. 8 The current study seeks to increase our understanding of factors that influence students’ level of social awareness during the first two years of college.To accomplish this, we used data from the longitudinal survey that includes approximately 3,496 respondents from the Fall 2000 en tering classes at the nine participating institutions. These respondents were randomly selected to receive a survey either during summer orientation prior to starting college or via mail during their first semester of college. Respondents to the first survey were mailed a follow-up survey in the Winter of 2002. Both surveys were designed to elicit responses pertaining to constructs that measure cognitive, social-cognitive, and civic outcomes.Sample Participants in this study included 3,496 students who took the first-year and follow-up survey. White students comprised the largest group with 69. 1% of the students, followed by Asian American students (15. 8%), African-American students (4. 8%), Latino students (9. 1%), and Native American students (1. 2%). Female responses were higher than their male counterparts (61%). Mother’s educational level for respondents was high school (19. 3%), college (38. 9%) and graduate school (52. 1%). In this sample, the mean SAT score was 1169 . 7 (400-1600 scale) and standard deviation of this score was 164. 9.The SAT score includes the combined math and verbal SAT scores and ACT scores, which were converted into a comparable SAT score. Measures The names, types, and scales for each of the variables used in the model are identified in Table 1. The outcome variable in this analysis, social awareness, was derived from the follow- Social Awareness up survey. This variable represents a scaled index of multiple items (i. e. , speaking up against social injustice, creating awareness of how people affect the environment, promoting racial tolerance and respect, and making consumer decisions based on an company’s ethics).The social awareness variable had an alpha reliability of . 72. The remaining items in the model and their scale reliabilities are shown in Table 3. The model estimated in this study included five different variable sets: (1) students’ level of precollege social awareness, (2) background characteris tics of students, (3) attitudinal dispositions, (4) cognitive indicators, and (5) students’ college experiences (academic and nonacademic) including interactions with major agents of socialization on campus (Chickering, 1969).After entering the pre-college social awareness control variable, the second block of independent variables to be entered into the model was student background measures, including gender, race/ethnicity, mother’s level of education and SAT scores. This information was derived from institutional data provided by each of the ten schools participating in the study. Another background measures included a variable representing mother’s level of education. This variable was dummy coded so that graduate school completion served as the reference group. Attitudinal dispositions were measured by two scaled index items including identity awareness (? . 72) and tolerance of lesbian, gay and bisexual persons (? = . 76). Cognitive indicators were measure d by three scaled index items representing cultural awareness (? = . 70), interest in social issues (? = . 67), and Fletcher’s measure of attributional complexity (? = . 87). The final block of independent variables recognizes the relationship between student outcomes and student-student interaction (Astin, 1984; Weidman, 1989). Three variables were included in this block labeled college experiences (i. e. , classroom experiences, informal 9 Social Awareness 10 interactions (? = . 76), and interaction with diverse peers).Drawing from Astin (1993), Milem (1994), Springer et al. (1996), and Pascarella et al. (1996), we chose to incorporate frequency of interactions with diverse others into the model because of the hypothesized relationship with the outcome variable. The academic experiences of students were incorporated through a classroom experience variable that measured the number of diversity courses taken by respondents. Students’ social or nonacademic experiences w ere measured by a variable representing informal interactions. Analytic Procedures/Analysis Data analysis for this study required two steps.First, exploratory factor analyses were conducted on all items within various constructs of the survey instruments. By using principal axis factoring and orthogonal rotation methods, we were able to reduce the number of measured variables for analyses. When necessary, survey items were reversed coded. A reliability analysis using Cronbach’s alpha was conducted for each factor. Six of the factor-derived variables were included in our regression analyses (see Table 3). Factor loadings that contained a score of at least . 422 or higher were retained in the development of subsequent summated rating scales (i. . , pre-college social awareness, college social awareness, social identity awareness, cultural awareness, and interest in social issues, Fletcher’s attributional complexity, tolerance for lesbian, gay, and bisexual persons, and i nteractions in an informal context). Second, multiple regression analyses were employed to estimate the coefficients of the model. Independent variables reflecting precollege social awareness, student background characteristics, student acquired characteristics, academic experiences, and social experiences were entered in five blocks.Social awareness prior to college, gender, race/ethnicity, academic ability, and Social Awareness 11 mother’s level of education were used as control variables. Utilizing this approach, the relative contribution for each of the five blocks of independent variables could be examined. RESULTS The standardized beta coefficients for each independent variable are presented in Table 4. These standardized beta coefficients (regression weights) may be interpreted as direct effects of individual independent variables on the dependent variable, holding all other independent variables constant.Table 4 also presents each block of variables including the unst andardized beta coefficients of variables not yet added to the model. Examining the final regression model indicates that the model fits the data well, accounting for 41. 8% of the variance in social awareness. The results presented below are organized according to the five blocks of predictor variables in the model, including precollege social awareness, students background characteristics, attitudinal dispositions, cognitive indicators, academic and non-academic college experiences.Students’ Background Characteristics When entered in the equation, the precollege variables explained 28. 5% of the variance in social awareness. As shown in Table 4, pre-college social awareness and students who identified themselves as Asian American were the only two significant predictors of social awareness in terms of precollege characteristics. As expected, the level of social awareness prior to college was the strongest significant predictor in the model, accounting for 27. 8% of the vari ance (p