Thursday, October 31, 2019

The role of employee engagement in the delivery of enhanced Assignment

The role of employee engagement in the delivery of enhanced organizational performance - Assignment Example The psychological contract has been further explained in the light of the managerial roles. The managers expect that their subordinates will seek out for new challenges and foster loyalty towards the organization, at the same time the employees also expect that the organization will offer them sufficient work flexibility and growth opportunities. An employee will increase their individual output and responsibility if the organization gives more priority towards its staffs and offers them with perks and rewards. Thus it has been clearly stated that a proper leadership style along with a proper organizational culture will lead to increased employee engagement which as a result will improve the overall organizational performance. This report is a part of the unit assignment for the full time students of the Manchester Metropolitan University. The report contains the discussion over the work engagement of an employee in his organization and how it has been affected by the organizational behaviour. It highlights the relationship between the organizational output and the employee engagement. The role of managers and supervisors has also been discussed, which acts as a major factor in improving the organizational output by increasing employee engagement. This report has been backed up by several relevant articles and theories in order to justify the findings. This paper will help managers to identify the organizational behaviour responsible for higher employee engagement and increased organizational output. The managers will be able to relate their organization to this study and make necessary amendments in the firm policies which will eventually lead to voluntary employee commitment. This business report has been prepared on secondary data collected from various journal articles and theories from relevant organizational management books. Several real life examples which are cited in the paper have been collected from

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Do adult students on full-time courses suffer from stress Hypothesis Essay

Do adult students on full-time courses suffer from stress Hypothesis - Essay Example ss† (from the Latin dis = bad, as in dissonance, disagreement), and â€Å"eustress† (from the Greek eu =good, as in euphonia, euphoria)†¦However, the fact that eustress causes much less damage than distress graphically demonstrates that it is â€Å"how you take it† that determines ultimately, whether one can adapt successfully to change.(p.6) Thus, stress may affect an individual positively or negatively. It depends on one’s outlook of the situation. Do adult students on full-time courses suffer from stress? Based on Seyle’s definition, the answer would have to be in the affirmative. Firstly, the adult student would experience distress because as an adult one has several responsibilities namely, children, family, work, or one may even be in the process of fostering a social relationship which will require quality time. As Seyle implied distress or eustress is determined by the individual’s perception of the circumstances. Consequently, an individual who has family responsibilities and is also a full-time student may view the course as a distressing factor because the time lost in attending these courses may have been used to obtain a job that would provide income to attend to the needs of the family. This individual may experience and perceive this lost time as depressing and as a result may respond negatively to the conditions , thus worsening his/her mental and physical well-being. Contrastingly, the same individual could decide to take a different perspective and recognize the value of this time as an investment into procuring a job with better-quality remuneration that could not otherwise be acquired. This student, then by changing his/her viewpoint can reduce the stress level from a high threshold to a low level. Moreover, the acquisition of skills and knowledge allows one to obtain increased earnings. The National Center for Education Statistics purports that the median earnings of males with a college degree in 1993 were $33,000 which was

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Understanding Special Needs Children And Young People Essay

Understanding Special Needs Children And Young People Essay In this assignment I hope to highlight the ADHD Disorder also show what treatments and supports are available for this special need. I hope to find some local support groups for this condition and also detail what legislation is in place to deal with special needs. I hope by the end of this assignment I will be after highlighting enough about how difficult families and teachers find it to cope and live with children who suffer from ADHD. Rational for the Project Plan of Work For this assignment I will look over the notes Christina Meyler has given me so far. I will also look up the ADHD disorder on the internet. I will also go through the book Assisting Children with Special Needs by Ellis Flood. I hope to get a lot of the assignment done during the mid-term in November and then get some feedback on what I will have done to then. I aim to have it finished and handed up by the 30th November 2012. Case Study Brian is an 11 year old boy who has been diagnosed with ADHD. Brian is a bright boy, who is very creative, he has average marks in school. But he sufferes from severe distractibility and a lack of organisational skills, all of which affects his school work. Brian would often lie about his school work and this would cause problems at home with his family. The school contacted a therapist and they saw Brian on a regular basis for four months and also held sessions with Brians parents. The therapist along with Brians parents and his teachers at school developed a checklist of acceptable behaviour programme for Brian. His parents and teachers had to learn proper responses to Brians frequent oppositional behaviour. By doing this Brians behaviour became more manageable for his parents and his teachers, Brians behaviour has become a bit calmer because of this also. Brian now also gets on better at home with his family. He will still have his outbursts but they are not as frequent as they once was the ADHD has become more manageable. Causes of ADHD The causes of ADHD are not really known at the moment, but there is research been carried out to try and find out what causes it. Some children in America with ADHD have undergone an MRI Scan and the prefrontal cortex and the basal ganglia were found to be smaller than in children who havent ADHD this would indicate that neurophysiological could be the cause of the disorder'(www.casestudies-ADHD-children) Also it is believed that children with parents that have ADHD are more likely to develop it so there for ADHD could be hereditary. Diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) ADHD is usually diagnosed by a qualified psychologist, generally the psychologist will obtain information regarding the childs behaviour from the childs parents and teachers at their school. The psychologist will observe the child and give them various tasks to complete, closely observing the childs attention span, activity level and impulse control with regard to their age. In order to diagnosis ADHD the child must have a sufficient number of difficulties with concentration, activity levels and impulse control. These behaviours must be present in at least two settings usually in the home and at school. The evaluation process will also determine the type of ADHD a child has, the psychologist evaluating the child would have to have extensive knowledge and experience of children with the condition. Treatment of ADHD ADHD is usually treated using a combination of stimulant medication and behavioural therapy. Medication Several stimulant mediations are available which help to calm the child down allowing them to bring their behaviour under control. Many people are surprised to learn that stimulants are given to children with ADHD as these children seem to be over stimulated already but they do work. Ritalin is perhaps the best known ADHD medication, it has been widely used since its release in 1954. Other medications used are Adderall, Dexedrine and Metadata. Stimulants work by increasing dopamine levels in the brain, the parts whose function is to control attention, motivation, pleasure and movement. By regulating the dopamine levels doctors can regulate the attention spans and energy levels of the children they are treating. Some children are not able to take stimulation medication because of side effects, there are non-stimulant medications available such as Stiattera, there are not many children on this medication. Behavioural Therapy Behavioural Therapy can be used alone or with medication as described above. Behavioural Therapy is designed to train children to control their hyperactivity and lack of attention. Based on the work of B.F. Skinner desirable behaviour is rewarded but undesirable behaviour is not. An example of this is when a child is asked to do a task, when that task is carried out the child then gets a reward for doing the task, but if they dont complete the task they are not rewarded. Prognosis There is no cure for ADHD and children with the disorder seldom grow out of it. However many find ways to cope with and adapt to their ADHD as they get older and become adults. Many adults have ADHD and dont even know they have it, it is believed that mand of our prisoners suffer with ADHD. Many adults with ADHD have poor time keeping, they have difficulty completing a task, they would also find it hard to maintain a personal relationship. Others become unemployed and have a higher than average incidence of drug and alcohol abuse. In the past in Ireland very few children were diagnosed with ADHD, if they played up they were just expelled from school. Now in the schools if there is a problem the teacher and principle will try to find the underlying cause for the childs behaviour. This will mean that in future many more children will be diagnosed early and measures will be put in place quicker to help them manage their condition in order to reach their true potential. . Support Groups for ADHD Springborad Family Support programme operated by Youth New Ross Ltd. They hold meetings in my local area for parents with children who suffer from ADHD. The group meets every four to five weeks to share their own stories and discuss the problems they come up against on a day to day basis, they also give each other advice on how they deal with the problems they come up against. Waterford ADHD Support, 74 Farren Park, Upper Grange, Waterford. (051) 852171 Kilkenny ADHD Support, Jerpoint Abbey, Thomastown, Co.Kilkenny 056) 7754954 These are local support groups in my local area that I sourced from the internet. Current Legislation THE EDUCATIONAL ACT 1998 This was the first piece of legislation passed since the foundation of the state that outlines the governments legal obligations regarding education. The act provided the first legal definition of disability The act provides the first legal definition of Special educational Needs The act defines what it means by support services. The function of the Minister for education was also defined under this act. THE EDUCATION WELFARE ACT 2000 This act ensures all children have a right to attend a regonised school even children with special needs.This act also helped in the creation of the Educational Welfare Board THE EDUCATION FOR PERSONS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS ACT 2004 This is the most significant piece of legislation relating to special needs in education. The act is extensive and covers the following general areas The issue of inclusion with regards to children with special needs in mainstream settings. Preparation of individual educational plans for children with special needs. Assessment of special needs. Service provision for children with special educational needs. Appeals. (Ellis Flood 2010 :10-17) The Practical and Emotional impact of having a child with ADHD Most parents of children with ADHD face a daily challenge of managing their childs behaviour. Within the home most children with ADHD who are hyperactive have difficulty complying with parental instructions. They get frustrated quickly, interrupt conversations and have a tendency to get into fights with their siblings. Their demanding tendencies can cause problems with their friends who will regard them as been bossy and quick tempered, they can also get violent with their families. Children with ADHD who are not hyperactive and impulsive can drive their parents crazy not so much with what they do but more what they dont do. In this case parents struggle with unfinished homework and major disorganization. They are often described as being passive and shy in relationships. Conclusions and Recommendations While carrying out this assignment, I did not realise how having a child with ADHD could affect the family home, I also didnt realise how many children suffer with attention deficit hyperactivity Disorder it is getting fairly common among children. I think this is mainly due to more doctors and teachers been more aware of the condition, so therefore it is getting diagnosed quicker. This is a good thing because more people will be made aware of the condition and therefore will learn how to deal with it and more supports will be put in place quicker. I feel I have done the best of my ability in carrying out this assignment, and I am pleased with what I have accomplished.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Stress And Its Influence On The Mortality Rate in Eastern Europe :: Society Eastern Europe Death Rate Essays Papers

Stress And Its Influence On The Mortality Rate in Eastern Europe Death rates are associated with many complex, multifaceted issues in every society. The world is rapidly changing politically, socially and environmentally. With the fall of communism and the subsequent, dramatic social and political changes no other region in the world exemplifies global change like Eastern Europe. Specifically, the death rates of Eastern Europe countries have been increasingly fluctuating away from the norm. This has been caused by a wide array of interesting, sometimes obscure factors. Stress is a major factor, however, it is not the primary cause, as has been argued, of the increased mortality rates in Eastern Europe. Globally, death rates have been drastically decreasing. People are living much longer with the advent of better health care and improved nutrition. The lowest morality rates are all in well-developed, industrialized countries. The Soviet Union was formally one of the most powerful and industrialized countries. It held vast resources and enormous political power. Health care and nutrition in the Soviet Union was very good as is typical of a developed, industrial nation. Further, The Soviet Union possessed so much power and influence it supported many Communist, Eastern European countries. With the fall of the Soviet Union the region underwent an extremely dramatic change. Surprisingly, the birth rate in the Eastern Europe began to fall and the death rate began to steadily increase. Stone states: Soon after the former Eastern Block nations tossed off communist rule in the late 1980s and the Soviet Union imploded, people throughout Eastern Europe began dying in droves. Life expectancy plummeted. By 1994, for example, reaching the age of 57 was enough to put Russian men on the right side of the Bell curve (2001, 1). This is truly an alarming figure. There are many explanations for these changes. By understanding the multiple explanations and factors one can begin to better comprehend the problems affecting mortality. Stress, and its subsequent effects, has been found to be one of the most lethal killers of Eastern European men. Obviously, in a region where conditions are generally poor, stress is very high. After the Soviet Union collapsed most industry and leadership in subsequent Eastern European countries collapsed, leading to these poor conditions. "On one level, the main culprit is clear: coronary heart disease" Stone 2001, 1). Many societies exhibit high degrees of stress, so why are the effects in Eastern Europe so morbid? Many people believe that Eastern European citizens feel dejected and condemned to a poor life.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Kinds of influences that affect children and young persons’ development including

(a)Personal factors (health), (2.1) (b)External factors (environment), (2.2)Answer:(a)Personal factors that influence/affect children and young person’s development (health)†¢Disabilities such as blindness, deafness, and other physical handicaps can cause learning loss as the child therefore is physically hindered and as we know all areas of development are interlinked, so the others will be affected causing delays and often full capability.†¢Illnesses; especially life threatening or disabling such as Polio or Cancer causes delays in all round development as these can affect muscle development; both major and fine motor, and often never fully develop due to the damaging effects of these diseases to their body. Also, long terms in Hospital or confinement in bed, frailty of body etc. prevent them from physical exertion such as running, skipping, etc. Long absences from school, family, as well as limited interaction socially and physically with other children their age, can in many cases also affect their other areas of development; such as their social, physical, cognitive/intellectual development.†¢Learning difficulties; ADHD, ADD, Autism, Down’s syndrome etc. all affect a child and young person’s ability to develop cognitively, therefore it inhibits the general pattern of development. For example, one of the symptoms of ADHD is low muscle tone which is due to abnormal chemical balances in the brain; â€Å"ADHD is caused by differences in neurotransmitter patterns in certain parts of the brain. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that make it possible for nerve impulses to travel from one nerve cell to another, and therefore play an essential role in the functioning of the  brain.The brain performs a vast range of tasks or functions, allowing us, for instance, to see, hear, think, speak and move. Each function is performed by a different part of the brain. In individuals with ADHD there are lower than normal levels of certain n eurotransmitters (especially dopamine) in the regions of the brain that are responsible for regulating behaviour and attention. Research also confirms that the Norepinephrine system is also involved in some patients.†Further Resources: (http://www.health24.com/Parenting/Child/First-year/Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity-Disorder-20120721)â€Å"Chemical imbalance: Children who have ADD may not make enough chemicals in key areas of the brain that are responsible for organizing thought.Experts believe an imbalance of the chemicals that helps nerve cells in the brain communicate with each other, called neurotransmitters, may be a factor in the development of ADD symptoms. Without enough of these chemicals, the organizing centers of the brain don't work well.†http://www.nativeremedies.com/ailment/child-add-symptoms-info.htmlExternal factors (environment), (2.2)†¢Family Environment or care status is a very important factor in a child/young person’s development; who cares for the child? Is it a ‘regular’ two parent family, a one parent family or a split family, with two sets of parents, or a large extended family living together in one home? These can all have differing; some positive and other situations often can have adverse affects.Is the care regular and consistent or is it irregular and so disruptive for the developing child? Culturally families differ and the child might not have their parents caring for them but instead elderly Grandparents and this can have an adverse affect on a child who is growing up in a nation that usually has western ideals in parenting; the Father and Mother are usually the direct caregivers.†¢Poverty is usually a negative factor in a child’s development and their environment as a whole. They usually live in small homes in unsafe areas, with high crime statistics, noise putting the child in constant threat of harm and a lack of a sense of peace and safety. Food is usually not as ample or nutritious as it is in a home with a better income, often the only income being benefits or maybe one salary from a single parent. Their health may be neglected due to lack of monies for good health care, especially in nations where it is not government sponsored.Children and young people, as a result of poverty, may be subjected to care givers or parents who may be substance abusers due to depression often due to having a poor income or lack thereof because of unemployment. This may result in neglect, abuse or in some cases even desertion. This then leads to the child being placed under the custody of other caregivers and often the state, so disrupting the child’s life. This often results in a lack of a sense of belonging and self worth in the child and can be carried with them into young adulthood.This can all add stress to a child and they may develop anger and feelings of resentment towards themselves, their family/care givers and society as a whole. As teenagers these c hildren can develop severe depression and this can lead to high mortality rates and low life expectancy in many impoverished communities.†¢Education is an important factor in all round development, and whether the parent/care giver is able to spend time with the child, send them to early development classes such as nursery schools or Moms and Toddler workshops etc., where various methods of teaching and activities are centered around the expected pattern of development. Some parents prefer to Home School their children and this may hinder the child’s social, and often physical and cognitive development due to lack of interaction with other children their own age, as well as learning resources.Some children may be affected by being placed in school too early and therefore may appear to be behind in their learning and development. This may lead to the child struggling to keep up with their peers. Gender affects learning too as girls usually develop at a faster rate all rou nd, maturing earlier than boys.Siblings and other children can stimulate development as the child studies have shown that children usually learn through and imitate other children around them, and this can install a healthy sense of competitiveness. A hindrance may be cultural differences in education as well as language. If a child is learning in another language this may have an adverse affect on their learning and understanding. This can further influence their cognitive and social development as they are unable to think and communicate easily in an unfamiliar language, and this can cause embarrassment and frustration.All areas of development are interlinked and so when one is negatively affected so the rest are usually inhibited, therefore affecting the expected pattern and rate of development in a child and young person.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Banyan Tree Research Essay

1. Growth and development of Banyan Tree. Banyan Tree Holdings Limited is a leading, international hospitality brand that manages and develops premium resorts, hotels and spas. From a single boutique resort in Phuket in 1994, Banyan Tree has grown into a multi-business operator globally. Listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange since 2006, the group currently consists of 30 hotels and resorts, over 60 spas 80 retail galleries and two golf courses in 27 countries, with aggressive expansion plans for the future. Below shows the milestone of Banyan Tree Resort: Banyan Tree Group garnered some 117 international awards and accolades in 2010, bringing the total number of awards it has received close to 640 since the first Banyan Tree property opened in Phuket in 1994. In 2010, Banyan Tree Phuket and its Spa continue to be recognised by industry experts, having won 14 prestigious awards and accolades The Banyan Tree organization has seen very dynamic and expansive growth in the last few years. Banyan Tree attributes is success as a company to their strong brand recognition, command pricing, and superb management. Revenues increased from $187.3 (million) in 2005 to 335.3 (million) in 2006, which is an increase of 79%. In 2007, Revenue increased another 26% to $429, 859 (million). 2. Success factors of Banyan Tree Banyan Tree Capital has its own dedicated construction, project management and cost management capabilities, enabling it to fulfill the role of a developer and assume full ownership of any projects. * Brand Building Branding has started right from the locations of the Banyan Tree resorts and has been consistent through the designs, the facilities offered, and the ambience created in each of the resorts. In line with the â€Å"romantic escape for couples† theme, Banyan Tree has placed a strong emphasis on the locations as a key element of the brand identity. The company has chosen exotic locations with exclusive access to sun-bathed beaches, exciting environment around and a good transportation infrastructure to connect the resorts to the main destination highlights. * Company Growth and Health The Banyan Tree is a rapidly growing company with lots of investment all across the globe. Their expanding nature, coupled with a positive stock price, solid financial earnings, and continual success at all resort locations, is exceptional in the competitive hotel and resort industry. Not many hotel companies can brag about recent success like the Banyan Tree. * Good Brand communications Banyan Tree promotes their product through mass international media. They invite travel editors and writers who could potentially increase editorial coverage on Banyan Tree to use the service. This can make â€Å"Banyan Tree Experiences† distribute to people by word of mouth and it is more effective. It is also make brand awareness and brand value that generated largely through public relations and global marketing programs. * Being a socially responsible and environmentally sensitive organization Banyan Tree Exercise caution with respect to the environmental impacts of their operations, and taking an active role in the protection and remediation of our global ecosystem. * Creating a good culture By combining the Asian culture and heritage with world-class service and luxury, Banyan Tree has been able to build a brand that has appealed to people across countries in Asia and beyond, and successfully been capitalizing on the pan-Asian sentiment. 3. Marketing Strategies * Collaboration with marketing agencies Banyan Tree Holdings appointed a few key wholesalers in each targeted market and worked closely with them to promote sales. Rather than selling through wholesale and retail agents that catered to the general market, they chose to work only with agents specializing in exclusive luxury holidays targeted at wealthy customers. Global exposure was also achieved through Banyan Tree’s membership in the Small Luxury Hotels and Leading Hotels of the World. Targeting high-end consumers, they represent various independent exclusive hotels and have sales offices in major cities around the world. * Winning awards Banyan Tree resort management believe that to publicize their properties, word of mouth is more important than advertisement. Therefore, one of the marketing strategies they adopting is to win awards. Banyan Tree sought recognition in service, innovation and, more importantly, its environmental efforts. To date, it has won more than 570 awards, with two given last week for its excellence in social and environmental responsibility. * Expanding Brand portfolio Banyan Tree to come out with a brand extension in the form of Angsana Resorts (launched in 2000), targeted towards young families and at different price points – typically 20-30% lower than Banyan Tree resorts themselves. It also operates stand-alone Angsana Spas. These measures not only allow Banyan Tree to increase its awareness in new markets and gain international momentum, but also create a strong platform for a portfolio of sub-brands that can be a source of long-term revenue generation. * Online marketing Banyan Tree sets up company website to conveniently update latest information and offers for customers. In additional, the online website allows customers to do bookings for their holidays. Online bookings rapidly increase over the year and it definitely generated more revenue. 4. Future Challenges * Competition There is only one other resort that is comparable to the Banyan Tree: Amanpulo. Amanpulo is situated on a private island in Palawan. The island boasts white sand, crystal clear water and tropical vegetation. They, too, respond to a leisurely lifestyle for the affluent and rich worldwide. In addition, Amanpulo is just as concerned as we are in building environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing resorts. * Copycats The market is crowded with many entrants running similar branded resorts in the upper-end. Particularly in Asia Pacific, where Banyan Tree has its stronghold and traditional base, new entrants are facing only small barriers-of-entry other than huge capital requirements and availability of good locations. A new entrant can always try to copy the â€Å"romance-intimacy-rejuvenation† theme and replicate the serene locations with beautiful villas providing it at lower prices to gain foothold in the market. * Natural Hazards The Philippines sits astride the typhoon belt, which means it’s prone to be struck by dangerous storms. In addition, the country is known to be home of active volcanoes. Other natural hazards known to occur are landslides, earthquakes and tsunamis. * Environmental Issues Existing issues that the Philippines are dealing with, and trying to combat, are uncontrolled deforestation, soil erosion, air and water pollution, coral reef degradation and increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

How to Get Into Business School

How to Get Into Business School Not everyone gets accepted into their business school of choice. This is especially true of individuals who apply to top business schools. A top business school, sometimes known as a first tier business school, is a school that is highly ranked among other business schools by multiple organizations. On average, fewer than 12 out of every 100 people who apply to a top business school will receive an acceptance letter. The higher ranked a school is, the more selective they tend to be. For example, Harvard Business School, one of the best-ranked schools in the world, rejects thousands of MBA applicants each year. These facts are not meant to discourage you from applying to business school - you cant be  accepted if you dont apply - but they are meant to help you understand that getting into business school is a challenge. You will have to work hard at it and take the  time to prepare your MBA application and improve your candidacy if you want to increase your chances of getting accepted to your school of choice.    In this article, were going to explore two things that you should be doing right now to prepare for the MBA application process as well as common mistakes that you should avoid in order to increase your chances of success. Find a Business School That Fits You There are many components that go into a business school application, but one of the most important things to focus on right from the start is targeting the right schools. Fit is essential if you want to get accepted into an MBA program. You can have outstanding test scores, glowing recommendation letters, and fantastic essays, but if you arent a good fit for the school you are applying to, you will most likely get turned away in favor of a candidate who is a good fit. Many MBA candidates start their search for the right school by looking at  business school rankings. Although rankings are important - they give you a great picture of the schools reputation - they are not the only thing that matters. To find a school that is a fit for your academic ability and career goals, you need to look beyond rankings and into the schools culture, people, and location. Culture: Business school culture is an important factor because it dictates the environment. Some schools have a close-knit, collaborative culture; others have a more competitive culture that encourages self-sufficiency. You need to ask yourself what kind of student you are and what type of environment you are most likely to thrive in.People: You will be spending a lot of time with the people in your incoming class. Would you prefer a large class or small intimate classes? And what about the professors? Do you want to be taught by people who value research or do you want professors who focus on application?Location: Cost of living, weather, proximity to family, networking opportunities, and internship availability are all affected by the location of your business school. A big city will likely come with more opportunities, but it may also be more expensive to study in this type of environment. A small college town or a rural setting could be more affordable, but may provide fewer opp ortunities for networking and culture. Find Out What the School Is Looking For Every business school will tell you that they work hard to build a diverse class and that they dont have a typical student. While that may be true on some level, every business school has an archetypical student. This student is almost always professional, business-minded, passionate, and willing to work hard to achieve their goals. Beyond that, every school is different, so you need to understand what the school is looking for to ensure that 1.) the school is a good fit for you 2.) you can deliver an application that fits their needs. You can get to know the school by visiting the campus, speaking to current students, reaching out to the alumni network, attending MBA fairs, and conducting good old-fashioned research. Seek out interviews that have been conducted with the schools admission officers, peruse the schools blog and other publications, and read everything you can about the school. Eventually, a picture will begin to form that shows you what the school is looking for. For example, the school may be looking for students who have leadership potential, strong technical abilities, the desire to collaborate, and an interest in social responsibility and global business. When you find that the school is looking for something you have, you need to let that piece of you shine in your  resume, essays, and recommendations. Avoid Common Mistakes Nobody is perfect. Mistakes happen. But you don’t want to make a silly mistake that makes you look bad to an admissions committee. There are a few common mistakes that applicants make time and time again. You might scoff at some of these and think that you would never be careless enough to make  that mistake, but keep in mind that the applicants who made these mistakes probably thought the same thing at one time. Recycling essays. If you are applying to multiple schools (and you should), it is important to write an original essay for each application. Dont recycle your MBA application essays. Admissions committees can spot this trick from a mile away. And if you do disregard this advice and decide to recycle the essay, remember to change the name of the school in the essay. Believe it or not, applicants make this mistake every year! If you submit an essay to Columbia explaining why you want to go to Harvard, the admissions committee will peg you as someone who doesn’t pay attention to detail - and theyll be right to do so.Not Sharing. Admissions committees look through a lot of essays every year. This can be extremely boring - especially when the essays are generic. The point of the essay is to help admissions committees get to know you, so let your personality shine. Demonstrate who you are. It will help your application.Skipping Optional Opportunities. Some business schools have opti onal essays or optional interviews. Dont make the mistake of skipping these optional opportunities. Show the school that you want to get in. Do the essay. Do the interview. And take advantage of every other opportunity that comes your way. Not Retaking the GMAT. GMAT scores are important to your application. If your scores arent falling in the range for the previous years entering class, you should retake the GMAT to get a better score. The Graduate Management Admission Council reports that approximately one-third of the people who take the GMAT take it at least twice, if not more. Most of these people increase their score the second time around. Be one of those people.