Cultural Relativism: A Way of Life Essay

â€Å"If you are my baby, it don’t matter if you’re black or white.† These words reverberate in my mind as I heard the news about Michael Jackson’s death. His song, Black or White is one of my favorites because it talks about a father’s acceptance of his child despite the baby’s color. Later, when I encountered the term cultural relativism in school, I understood better what the song wants to promote, and how this can be accomplished. Cultural relativism is commonly known as the practice of accepting and living harmoniously with people of different cultures. If we observe our society today, we will notice different kinds of people—Africans, Caucasians, Asians, Latinos, and a lot of mixtures coexist. Cultural relativism is what allows them to live in peace with each other, to accept and respect other cultures like they do their own. Considering the present scenario, we may say that cultural relativism is not just a practice or aspect of life, it is already a way of life, a must for every person to live and prosper. Ideally, a society that adheres to cultural relativism allows the existence and exchange of different cultures. Although this has not been fully realized in many places, we can guarantee that it is already a common aspect of the learning environment. In school, students get the chance to interact with others, and discover aspects of different cultures. Everyday interaction with Asians, African-Americans, and Latin Americans allows us to see that after all, it is not difficult to coexist with different people. Often, all we need is to provide opportunities for interaction and sharing. Specifically, in my dealings with different cultures, I learned to appreciate the hard work of the Chinese, the ingenuity of the Japanese, the friendliness of Filipinos, the family values of the Latinos, and the cool attitude of the African-Americans. Cultural relativism has helped me appreciate different cultures, and allowed me to grow more maturely. To practice cultural relativism, I personally follow three steps. First, I try to analyze why people are behaving the way they do. I rely on my background knowledge to analyze the situation. Next, I observe and see the positive effects of their practice, and third, I try to find more information about the practice by inquiring from the person or researching online. For example, seeing the Chinese sip the soup out of the bowl without using spoon initially made me felt indifferent. However, in applying cultural relativism, I tried to analyze why they do this instead of using a spoon. Then, I realized that the Chinese use chopsticks instead of spoon, making it impossible to have the soup without sipping it directly from the bowl. Also, one time I encountered a Japanese documentary showing a man perfecting a sword. He seemed mindless of the fire he used to shape the sword, and from there I wondered why the Japanese give such importance to swords when guns are more reliable for protection. Due to this, I searched the Internet for answers, and found out that perfecting swords is part of the Japanese Samurai culture, the military men in the history of Japan. I learned that the Samurais treat swords as their companion in battle, and swords serve as representations of them. Therefore, a Samurai’s sword should be well-kept at all times because it is a family inheritance and symbol of honor. Knowledge of others’ culture definitely helps us understand and appreciate them. However, there are also practices which I believe I cannot accept even though I already have a good grasp of cultural relativism. One of these is the suicide killing done by 9/11 hijackers. Unlike the Japanese version of suicide which hopes to express a person’s regret for a mistake committed, suicide killing among the Muslims intends to kill non-Muslims on the bases of religious and political conflicts. What makes it truly wrong is killing innocent people for some selfish intent. Considering this, cultural relativism becomes a difficult aspect of reality, similar to pushing a child to swallow a whole fresh egg straight to the stomach.

Assess the social implications of business ethics Essay

Environment- the environment can affect the human activity. So for example; global warming which is the warming of the planet’s surface that is caused by carbon dioxide. In order to run a business efficiently they would need to make sure that their customers are aware of all the environmentally friendly activities that they do and that they are not harming the environment in anyway as some customers do take keeping environment healthy seriously. Sainsbury’s is really cautious about caring about the environmental and being eco-friendly and making sure that they are not causing any damage to the areas around them. They take the climate change seriously. They are concerned about the impact that they have on the environment. Their aim is to reduce the carbon footprint, reduce packaging and reducing waste. Sainsbury’s are concerned about the impact that they have on the environment, also with the career bags they give they make sure that they only take out the amount of bags that they need so that the bags are wasted. They want to make sure that they are making a continuous improvement with the environment so that it is not harming anyone. Sainsbury’s do not want to harm the industrial areas in anyway, and that is why wherever they are located is always safe where it would not cause any damage to the people or the planet. They want the climate to be good and they know what ways it could affect it and what they need to do in order to prevent causing damage and staying away from trouble. In order to improve this Sainsbury’s can make sure that anything that they do does not affect the environment and maybe before making any major changes they take advices from their local areas in what they think and how and what could be done to improve it. They could also charge for the bags so that the customers do not start asking for more bags then they already need. Sainsbury’s could also keep publishing information on environmental performance so everyone realises how important it is to look after the environment. Trading fairly- these are the rules the businesses need to follow which include; the business needs to run in an open manner, competition can only happen in between companies that belong to equal parties and making sure their customers are satisfied and are feeling secured with the business’s products and the quality of the products. All usinesses need to make sure that they are honest to their customers and are describing their products as it is to their customers so that they do not get angry by getting the wrong information. Sainsbury’s use many products that are organic and make many fair-trade products such as; fresh fruits. They need to make sure all their products are traded fairly and are pay ing their suppliers and employees fairly and make sure they are now paying them below the national minimum wage. They cannot cheat on their employee by providing them with the wrong information about the product or charge their customers extra for the product. All businesses need to follow all the rules and regulations in order to run ethically. Legal and regulatory compliance- all businesses must follow all the laws and regulations that have been set because if they do not agree to following the rules they would not be running the business ethically. Every organisation must be truthful to their customers and provide them with the correct information about the product and also not overcharge them for any of their goods and services. Sainsbury’s need to make sure that they are following the legislations and regulations so that they are not doing that is against the law. They want their business to be running with health and safety so that no one is harmed by it. They try recruiting staff as possible so that they are not the cause of unemployment, they plan their business properly so that they do not have to face any trouble in the long term and they have been doing that quite well as this is the reason why they are running successfully, they care about the environment and do not want to cause pollution that is why they produce sustainable products. They treat their workers right and follow the rules of not making them work more than they are supposed to, take disadvantage of them, they keep record of all workers and makes sure it’s available for authorities. They make sure they are treating their customers with respect and are not letting them down in any way. Bribery- this is when a business uses money to sort out the behaviour of the receiver. Sainsbury’s have always stuck to the laws so they haven’t really been through bribery or in other words ‘corruption. They are always assuring of their plans that they make. They would not do anything that would be illegal. They would not take any actions that would later on make a negative impact on the industry although they could bribe the local government by giving them extra money so that they government would let them do things that they wouldn’t let other businesses do. In order to improve their performance Sainsbury’s could measure their l evel of corruption and identify their weaknesses. This would help them to improve ways to meet the standards of their customers and all the other people who are a part of their business and figure out how to improve and resolve any other problems that could occur in the future. Animal testing- this is used to figure out whether a product is safe and effective. The production of goods can lead to ethical issues, which Sainsbury’s are against. Almost all businesses test their products on animals before selling it in the market. However Sainsbury’s do not approve of this as they believe that animals should be treated fairly and with respect so they are constantly working to raise welfare standards. From giving pigs happier lives through improved farming methods, to ensure that their own-label cosmetics meet the Humane Cosmetics Standard and increasing their range of freedom food products, which meet strict RSPCA guidelines. They offer wide ranges of higher welfare foods and cosmetics at any UK retailer but all Sainsbury’s products are free from animal testing.

Answer the question Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

Answer the question - Essay Example 151). In bureaucratic structures, organizational strategy decisions are organized and controlled by the top management level thus being able to rationalize the entire decision making process (Cunliffe, 2008, p. 78-81). Additionally strategic decision making process is fast since there are few people involved in the process (Luhman & Cunliffe, 2013, p. 83-88). The scientific management theory holds that the most efficient technique of accomplishing an assignment and the selection, motivation and development of workers can be scientifically determined. The employees are not allowed to choose their tasks. On the other hand, the human relations theory focuses on the welfare of the employees, their values and contributions (Luhman & Cunliffe, 2013, p. 140-44). The left wing ideologies are the progressive views that look to the future and purpose to assist those who cannot aid themselves and believe in equality. Left wing supports corporation and inheritance taxes and the redistribution of wealth. The right wing ideologies are that the more productive people should not subsidize the less productive people in the nation. The right wing people believe that they should not pay for other people’s health service or education. They advocate for abolition of inheritance tax. Industrial capitalism implies a social and economic system where industry, capital and trade are privately operated and controlled for profits (Luhman & Cunliffe, 2013, p. 96). It is typified by increase in the use of machinery to sustain economic stability through its production process, routine work assignments and multifaceted separation of tasks between and within the work progression (Cunliffe, 2008, p. 92). Over the past few years, aspects such as increasing size of business units, increasing competition and the split-up of ownership from management have resulted to an augmentation in the need  for professional managers. The role and functions of a manager have presently been

The School Nurse Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The School Nurse - Essay Example However, in today's world the school nurse position is not given the resources necessary to accomplish this goal and the role has become so unmanageable and the task so encompassing it may be placing education and students at risk. The number of students taking Ritalin has doubled since 1990 and now exceeds 3 million students (Goldberg, 1). The over worked nurses must medicate these students to insure the proper dose to the correct student. The pervasiveness of lunchtime medication has become so involved and lines of children outside nurses' offices so prevalent, that in Boston, schools are now facing a challenging dilemma; Who should have responsibility for the medicating According to Carey Goldberg, reporter for the New York Times, "...school officials have proposed that individual nurses be given permission to delegate the distribution of their ''meds'' to handpicked, supervised staff members". Many nurses who advocate the addition of higher paid nurses as a solution rather than reducing their roles have discredited the plan as unsafe. However, school officials see it as a reasonable cost cutting measure in this New World of psychoactive drugs. Untrained personnel handing out sensitive and dangerous drugs a re certainly placing the students at an increased risk. School nurses are called upon to walk obese students, insert catheters, and administer diabetic insulin. These are disciplines that call on the highest order of medical training. Food poisoning, infectious diseases, sexually transmitted diseases, and injuries from student violence complicate these situations. The nurse is required to perform the duties of a general practitioner while having the training of a nurse and the attendant pay scale. Still, school systems balk at the possibility of adding more nurses to the staff due to cost considerations. While the National Association of School Nurses recommends that a school system have one nurse per 750 students, the national average is one nurse per 1350 students (Vail). Attending to the students medical needs should be a priority to assure that the system is promoting adequate and fair education, but staffing at a 50% level can not guarantee success of the health of the student body. Obesity is running rampant through the school corridors and nutrition and healthy food have come into the spotlight. Once again, the school nurse is called on to make recommendations and plans to provide a healthy diet and reduce the problem of overweight children. Nutrition is a special discipline and often runs counter to the school's agenda of providing vending machines and a junk food cafeteria. There is more profit in a McDonald's station than there is in a healthy dietary offering. The American Medical Association advocates a proactive approach based on food types and amounts that are to be offered through school lunches ("Expert Committee Recommendations", 8). Dedicated school nurses can not be expected to protect the health of children in the existing political and economical climate of many school boards. They are not trained as nutritionists and do nor serve the political function of being socially

ISLAMIC JIHAD UNION (IJU)---Terrorist Group Research Paper

ISLAMIC JIHAD UNION (IJU)---Terrorist Group - Research Paper Example This Uzbeki based organization is thus now acclaimed as a banned organization by the UK, US and some other nations, also actively condemned on the UN forum. Introduction Islamic Jihadi Union (IJU), which was previously known as the Islamic Jihad Group, is an organized terrorist group which has often seen conducting attacks on Uzbekistan and even Germany. Being one of the most widely studied terrorist organizations; it is also referred to as Jamiyat, Jamaay Mojahidin, Islomi Jihad and the Kazakh Jammat. The organization was founded in 2002, and the origin of Islamic Jihadi Union stems from Pakistan. Analyzing the ethnic origins of the organization, most of the members have Uzbek ethnicity, while Tajik, Kyrgyz and Turks are also found amongst the ethnic group members. Since the basis of the organization is religious in nature, it is also significant to identify the religious roots of IJU, and thus, IJU has a Sunni Muslim inclination (Asal 2007). The organization includes about 100-150 people as active participants who incorporate the main body of the organization. Though Uzbekistan is the sole focus of IJU, it is also found executing activities in other states like Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Also, the organization doesn’t entirely base its operations in isolation, rather it has also found to have associations with IMU, Al-Qaeda, the Haqqani Network and the Uighur and the Chechen Groups. Ideology of IJU Mainly implementing the true Islamic Ideology and executing the fundamental Islamic principles as interpreted by the founding fathers of IJU comprises the philosophical basis of the organization. However, strategically speaking, the main goal of the organization was the overthrow the Uzbek government in favor of IJU governing body. However, as the organization gained momentum, and also, the organizational setup matured in 2007, IJU`s mission became global in nature. The transnational agenda of IJU is similar to that of Al-Qaeda, w hich includes the advocacy for a free Palestine and supporting the coalition forces in Afghanistan. In 2009, IJU was focused upon the goal of overthrowing Karimov from power in Uzbekistan. (Inbar and Frisch 2008) Background IMU (Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan) is the parent organization of IJU; however a group of militants split apart from the organization in 2002, and this group of organization is what now comprises Islamic Jihadi Union. Amongst the most massive attacks accredited to IJI was the bombing executed in Tashkent in April 2004. This was a suicide attack executed in a crowded market, and though the intelligence agencies were initially putting the blame on other terrorist organizations, IJU claimed responsibility for the attacks. Another attack which was executed targeted Uzbeki Prosecutor General`s Office alongside the Israeli Embassy and the US Embassy. This attack, held in June 2004, was quite a sophisticated one, which indicated the maturity of the organization over ti me. Another attack held in October 2004, which is also accredited to the IJU is the attack in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Also, further attacks were executed in 2007 to support the Al-Qaeda and the Taliban factions of Afghanistan. Major Tactics Like other terrorist organizations of similar nature, IJU uses a variety of tactics to execute its mission plans and leave an impact on the intended actors. Small arms

The Economic Effects of Immigration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

The Economic Effects of Immigration - Essay Example For example, LPRs may live and work permanently anywhere in the United States, own property, and attend public schools, colleges, and universities. They may also join certain branches of the Armed Forces, and apply to become U.S. citizens if they meet certain eligibility requirements (Monger & Rytina, 2009). It is due to the number of benefits associated with the idea of becoming legal permanent residents that in 2008, a total of 1,107,126 persons became LPRs of the United States (see Table 1 and Figure 1). The majority of new LPRs (58 percent) already lived in the United States when they were granted lawful permanent residence. Nearly 65 percent were granted permanent residence based on a family relationship with a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident of the United States. The leading countries of birth of new LPRs were Mexico (17 percent), China (7 percent), and India (6 percent) (Monger & Rytina, 2009). This graph makes it pretty clear that LPR flow to America has always been moving up and down but a considerable number of people have already attained the status of LPR in this country, making it one of the most favorite countries for immigration. Following figures will also give you an idea about this particular fact. This table shows a 5% increase in the total number of immigrants from 2007 to 2008. But, it also shows a greater increase (8%) in the number of newly entered legal immigrant as compared to those with change of status (3%). This is a considerable amount of people coming to US and a further increase in these numbers is expected. Actually, people migrate to other countries because of a plethora of reasons. Generally though, people do so to raise their financial status and that's the reason why most people come to America from certain Asian and African countries. Since America and UK are the countries where people can find better job opportunities with enhanced security, they prefer leaving their homeland. But, there can also be some other motives for immigration. For instance, during 1890-1924, the reason for Jews immigrants to come to America was the religious freedom, Asians and Italians were in search of work and Russian wanted to escape persecution. But, it is a fact that the increase in number of immigrants has a great impact on the economies of these so-called "immigrant friendly" countries. Obviously, it is not easy for a country to accommodate and provide all essential facilities to millions of people who actually don't belong to that country. This essay is all about delving more into the details pert aining to the economic effects of immigration on all those countries. Economic Effects of Immigration: As mentioned, America has always been known as a nation of immigrants but it is true that the nation has faced various types of problems and negative impacts due to the increase in the number of immigrants coming from Europe, Asia and Latin America. Immigration can create some sort of an impact on different economical aspects but its impact on labour market is more crucial. The increase in the number of immigrant has power to influence the labour market but the impact can be different in different areas and states. It is so because these immigrants are not evenly distributed in all part of America. Hence a different kind of influence can be seen on local and regional labour markets. In 2003,

A Catholic Life Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

A Catholic Life - Essay Example This can be considered as heady years when anything was deemed possible. His schooling was marked by periods of hardship and deprivation. This was clearly in his case a time of intense personal trials as he went to college as a working student to support his studies. There was a time he suffered some form of bullying by his richer classmates and they made fun of his â€Å"nice clothes† which greatly embarrassed him. While still a small boy, he had a different concept of God who is strict and very demanding in terms of penance. But he had taken comfort that he belonged to the most important royal family – that of the Catholics (Wilkes 21). He even aspired to sainthood in the innocence of his childhood (ibid. 23). His high school years saw him earn decent grades since he seemed to have the gifts of an intellectual who can breeze through school without much effort. His faith in his religion is not to be tested yet since he lived sort of a secure life, surrounded by the fam iliar and not yet exposed to the outside world in which new and even rebellious ideas are in ferment. Changes started to occur in his personal life and consequently in his views and outlook in life during the time he started his college days. It was a period of great financial difficulties. Catholicism as a religion emphasizes both suffering and deprivation as a noble act (ibid. 26) and further ingrained with a dictum of living a life for others. Whether intentional or not, this constant barrage of feeling guilty ends up making some people a bit neurotic as in the case of Paul Wilkes. Despite his professional success, his search for God soon brought him to the extreme decision to follow the way of Christ and abandon all his material belongings. Paul’s... A Catholic Life Every person goes through life's incredible journey in his or her own unique ways. It is sometimes called in religious philosophy as the â€Å"process of becoming† for which nobody can know how the end will come about. No one can likewise anticipate the high and low points in this journey of a lifetime. This was what the author Paul Wilkes underwent during challenging times in his life and career. Every person also feels a bit empty, at some point in their lives. In his case, Mr. Wilkes suffered what is called a mid-life crisis so early in his married life when he was still in his mid-thirties, when other people suffer the same crisis at a much later age. A person is shaped by both his environment and by his basic temperament. Mr. Wilkes can be considered as just like any other person, an average person with the usual dreams and ambitions in life. What was a bit different about him was his tenacity in the face of adversity. This was amply demonstrated in his being the runt of the litter, growing up in a poor home, a constant struggle while in school (from elementary up to his college days) and achieved some measure of professional success. If we really contemplate on the real purpose of life, either we go off the edge or end up finding something really meaningful. Some call this process as a catharsis or a conversion, or as an epiphany of sorts like what Saul of Tarsius experienced while he was on his way.

Strategic mgt. process applied to project managemt Dissertation

Strategic mgt. process applied to project managemt - Dissertation Example The Execution Premium Process or XPP is a comprehensive and integrated management system which combines strategy formulation, planning, and operational execution (Kaplan and Norton, 2008). Program management on the other hand refers to the coordinated management of a selection of projects in order to attain benefits which are deemed strategically important for an organisation (Reiss, 2006). XPP is comprised of six stages: (1) strategy development; (2) strategy planning; (3) organization alignment; (4) operations planning; (5) monitoring and learning; and (6) strategy testing and adaptation. This system was developed due to a need for a framework to which various strategy and operational management tools could be utilized (Kaplan & Norton 2008; Shelldrake, 2011). Strategy development involves the formulation of organizational strategies by addressing three crucial factors: (1) mission, values, and vision; (2) key issues; and (3) the strategy itself. Organizations need to be clear with regards to their purpose, the principles by which everyone is guided in their actions, and future aspirations. An organization needs to reaffirm their mission, values, and vision as an initial step in strategy development (Kaplan & Norton 2008). ...   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The next step involves a review of the organization’s competitive and operating environment. Managers need to utilize three sources for the review: (1) the external environment; (2) the internal environment; and (3) the status of the current strategy. Issues concerning the external environment may be identified through the use of the PESTEL tool which stands for political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal. Meanwhile, issues pertaining to the internal environment include human capital, innovation, operations, and technology deployment (Kaplan & Norton 2008). Another tool used is the SWOT which is described as a table wherein the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to the organization are laid out for review. Information gathered at his point will be utilized to develop a strategic change agenda which rationalizes the need to identify and address challenges. Meanwhile, the third step of this stage involves the de velopment of a new strategy based on the information collected from the previous steps. Factors such as the market niche, customer value proposition, key processes, human capital, and technology are likewise involved (Kaplan & Norton 2008). The second stage of XPP involves creating a strategy plan through the development of guidelines for strategic objectives, measures, targets, initiatives and budgets. Likewise, this stage determines how resources are allocated for each component of the plan. This stage is comprised of five components: (1) creation of strategy maps; (2) identification of measures and targets; (3) selection of strategic initiatives; (4) allocation of funds and resources; and (5) establishment of theme teams (Kaplan & Norton 2008). Strategy

The Face of American Poverty Essay Example for Free

The Face of American Poverty Essay Poverty is a social ill that is affecting most developing countries in the world, if not all. This is evidenced by the peoples lack of access to basic commodities such as food, clothing and shelter due to insufficiency of foods to purchase these needs. More often than not, this kind of situation is associated to third world countries like the Philippines and Vietnam and less identified with industrialized countries because people in the latter have more access to a better life and an abundance of job opportunities. United States is a country that could be least likely identified with poverty, however, statistics revealed there are millions of people in America who are living a poor life. This hidden problem of America was magnified to the whole world when hurricane Katrina destroyed properties in southern United States, specially New Orleans. A BusinessWeek article (Farell 2005) reported that the disaster reminded every American of the big class divide in the country. The whites who had more means were able to find a safer place to stay as the disaster hit their homes while the blakcs who have just enough or not even, were left on their rooftops crying for help. They barely had enough to save themselves from the brutal effects of the hurricane. Based on the latest statistics that the bureau released (Current Population Report 20), America, an industrialized country and one of the most powerful countries in the world houses 36. 5 million people, 24. 3 percent of which are Blacks, 10. 3 percent are Asians and 8. percent are non-Hispanic whites. Poverty in the United States is measured by the Bureau of Census using the money income earned by the family members. If the total income of the family is below the familys threshold, every individual in the family is considered as among those people suffering in poverty. There are 48 possible poverty thresholds that may be assigned to each family. These thresholds vary according to family size and ages of th e members of the family. The thresholds are annually updated in consideration of the inflation and other factors. These thresholds in a way reflect the family needs and serve as statistical yardsticks; however, these statistics alone do not provide a comprehensive description of what a family needs to live decently. The measurement, which the bureau uses, was derived from the Office of Management and Budgets Statistical Policy Directive 14. The thresholds that are being utilized to measure poverty were formulated in 1963 by the U. S. Department of Agriculture food budgets initially for families who are under economic stress (U. S. Bureau of Census 20) According to the Current Population Report of the U. S.  Bureau of Census (20), Table 3, People and Families in Poverty by Selected Characteristics: 2005 and 2006, South America has the highest number of people who are living in poverty, it reaches about 14 million and constitutes almost 14 percent of poor Americans. The other regions only registered an average of 11 percent each of the table listing the American people who are living in poverty. Aside from this, the statistics also show that majority of the Americans who are poor are native born. Those who are foreign born and naturalized citizens only comprised a small percentage of Americans living poverty. The bulk of these poor people range from the age bracket of 18 to 64 years oldthe working age. However, the poverty that America defines is a lot different from the definition of poverty in developing countries. As indicated in the research, Understanding Poverty in America, by Robert Rector and Johnson Johnson (n. pag. ), the poor in America are better off compared to those who are considered poor in developing countries. The research revealed that a poor American has a car, a house in good repair and has air-conditioning, clothes washer and cable television among others. According to Results. org (n. pag. ), the face of a poor person in America is a single parent working full time but still has no sufficient funds to pay for their food needs, rent, medical bills and car costs for travel. Results. org (n. pag. ) also revealed that an American who experiences hunger is in a better state than those who are in really poor countries because unlike the latter who really have nothing, Americans still have food to eat the only problem is that the food that they eat is not sufficient to meet a nutritious diet. According to the organization report (n. pag. ), the face of hunger in America is a malnourished child whose parents are not earning enough to purchase healthy and nutritious food and sometimes has to skip meals. The research conducted by Rector and Johnson (n. pag. ) showed that one of the problems of poor Americans is malnutrition, however, this malnourishment that poor Americans face is not under nutrition but obesity. Their findings show that most of the adult Americans are obese because their diets compose mostly of foods that are high in fat. They consume this kind of food more often due to lack of money to purchase food that could provide a better diet. Based on the findings of Rector and Johnson (n. pag. ), poverty is caused by two main factors: the absence of the father in the house and the fact that parents only spend less time at work. The research show that poor families are only supported by 800 work hours per year or 16 hours per week on the average. If the parents spend longer hours at work, then they could earn more and there is a greater possibility that the family would not fall among the list of poor families. In addition to this, the researchers also found out that the absence of a father in the house is also a great factor in the rise of poverty in the United States. Out-of-wedlock pregnancies are becoming more prevalent in the American society and this causes a surge in the number of single parents that are supporting their children. More often than not, the income that these single parents are generating is not enough to sustain their family’s needs thus; they fall within the poverty line. If there were two parents that are earning for the family then there would be more funds to buy the family the needs. Aside from these factors, Isabel Sawhill (n. pag. ) also cited other reasons for the emergence of poverty in the United States. One the reasons that she gave is the lack of employment opportunities among the poor people. This unemployment is actually caused by several reasons such as the mismatch between the required skills of employers and those that are offered by employees. Another reason is the fact that American workers need to compete with cheaper foreign labor. Their competition forces the need for Americans to accept lower wages in order to earn a living and supply the needs of their family. If they do not lower their salary expectations then it is more likely that foreign labor will prevail and complete the job. Another factor that affects unemployment in the United States is racial discrimination. There are employers who prefer to accept white Americans for better paying jobs as compared to the Blacks, Hispanics or Asians. Some American corporations continue to underestimate the capabilities of colored Americans and perceive that the whites are still superior and perform better than any other race. This type of discrimination is one of the reasons why America remains to be a divided nation. Moreover, the geographical location also plays as a factor because there are states that offer more job opportunities compared to other states which only offer a few. More often than not, those states which have more resources geographically and industrially offer more job opportunities as compared to those states which only have a few resources to develop and few corporations to run. Based on the data released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (n. pag. ), the region which has the highest unemployment rate are Midwest and West regions registering 5. percent each while the region which has the lowest unemployment rate is Southern United States at 4. 7 percent. Among the states, Texas has the highest employment rate followed by Nevada and Minnesota. In addition to the causes of poverty, researchers (Sawhill n. pag. ) are also blaming the income policy transfers of the government such as the food stamps, Medicaid, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families for the prevalence of poverty in the United States. The food stamp program aims to alleviate hunger and malnutrition in the country by providing qualified low-income families with food stamps that can be utilized to purchase food items to complete a nutritious diet. According to the U. S. Department of Agriculture, the average benefit that can be derived from the program per individual is $1 per meal. In order to qualify, a household should have a gross income that falls below 130 percent of the poverty line and do not own assets that are more than $2,000 in value (results. org n. pag. ). The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children aims to provide pregnant women who have low incomes, new mothers, infants and children that are facing nutritional risks with healthy food, education on nutrition and health care access. Unlike the food stamp program, which provides monetary assistance to families, this government program gives food packages to the concerned individuals to meet their dietary needs (results. org n. pag. ). The Temporary Assistance to Needy Families is the welfare program replacement of the Aid to Families with Dependent Children. This program was created to fight the dependency of the recipient families to the welfare programs of the government. Unlike the other welfare programs which only require that the family’s income fall within the poverty line, this type of government program requires the recipients to work before receiving any assistance and limits the period wherein they can receive assistance from the welfare program. This policy of the government somehow lessens the sense of dependency to welfare programs by the recipients and gives them motivation to work and lift their families out of the poverty line. It has been observed by researchers (Sawhill n. pag. ) that recipients of welfare assistance from the government become so dependent that they no longer have the drive to work harder or worse, no dot exert any effort to support their needs. This kind of dependency was staged in the movie, Million Dollar Baby. In this movie, the mother of Maggie Fitzgerald, the female boxer played by Hillary Swank, got mad when Maggie bought her a house because this would drive them out of the welfare system. Owning the property will force them to find a job that will support their daily needs and take them out of their comfort zone. The family does not want this to happen because they have become so dependent with the welfare system that they cannot seem to live without it anymore. This is the kind of dependency that the government is trying to avoid because not only does this foster indolence it also takes away from the government funds that could be used for other projects that would better benefit the community. It would be better to teach a person how to fish and find provision for his personal needs rather than simply providing the fish to a person who never dare to exert an effort. Having too many children is also a factor in the surge of poverty in the United States because the more children there are, the more dependents the parents have and the more mouths to feed. If a family has fewer children then it would be easier for the family to get by because there are only a few needs to provide for and compete over the family income. There are various ways wherein sociologists try to explain poverty and one of them is using the structural approach which is influenced by Marxists and Functionalists perspectives (School-Portal n. pag. ). In the Marxist perspective, it can be gleaned that poverty is the direct result of the capitalist system. Through capitalism, people are forced to enter into a competition to survive and this competition is affected primarily by education and skills that an individual possesses. People try to attain higher education and learn new skills to have a better standing in a capitalistic world and a better fare at the competition. Employers prefer to hire an applicant who attained a higher level of learning and who has better skills compared to ordinary individuals, as this will foster better company performance and more earnings. Employees work hard to receive higher and more promising salaries. The discrepancy in earnings, ownership of properties and the creation of the social strata causes poverty exist. If people are not driven by competition and the dire to strive for more as compared to the others, there would be no discrepancy and all will just be equal—no rich and no poor. However, this will also advocate laziness among the people and lack of improvement in ones way of living. With regard to the functionalist perspective, everything is seen to be working for the whole and everything has a purpose. In consideration of this ideology, poverty is seen both in the positive and negative light. In its negative aspect, poverty is seen as a warning, something that people should avoid due to its adverse effects such as lack of sufficient food to eat, absence of enough funds to purchase basic needs and wants. On the contrary, poverty is also seen in the positive side, a feel good factor. When one sees he is faring better than the others, it creates a sense of thinking that all the efforts that he has exerted are all worth it. It somehow creates an appreciation of the hardships that he had to go through to achieve the position he is occupying. Another approach that sociologists utilize to explain poverty is the cultural approach. This type of explanation was elaborated by sociologist, Oscar Lewis. According to Lewis, poverty is transferred from generation to generation because the values of the parents toward poverty are passed on to their children. Lewis explained that people experience poverty because of the different cultural values that they have developed through time. These values include resignation and fatalism. People who are resigned feel that there is nothing much that they can do about their situation so they no longer bother to change it or even exert the slightest effort to lift their families out of the impoverished state their they are in. People, who adhere to fatalism, perceive that they are meant to be poor so there is no reason of fighting it. They believe that suffering an impecunious life is their purpose in this world and no matter what they do they will not be able to escape it. Trying to pull ones self out of the hole of poverty will only be a futile undertaking. These kinds of ideologies of the parents foster somehow affects how their children see poverty. Without even realizing it, these principles that they adhere to, is already burying their children to the pit of poverty even at a tender age. Once the minds of their children are shaped with these principles, they will carry this one as they age and like their parents, will be left suffering an impoverished life. The cultural explanation of poverty explains why there are many who continue to depend on the welfare system even if they have the capacity to get out of it. They have been so used to thinking that they are poor and cannot do anything about it that is why they no longer strive to make their lives more bearable. What these people fail to realize are the benefits that can be gained from getting out of the cage of the government welfare system. They has lost their sense of achievement and being able to contribute something fruitful to the country rather than just waiting for the assistance that the government will provide.

Symbolism In The Great Gatsby Essay Example for Free

Symbolism In The Great Gatsby Essay Prompt: Examine Fitzgerald’s use of symbolism in the novel. Be sure to define symbolism, examine at least 3 different symbols, and tell how each symbol is significant or important to the narrative. Finally, explain how each contributes to a theme in the novel. Be sure to directly state each theme in a complete general sentence. Use textual evidence (exact quotes from the novel). â€Å"Possibly is had occurred to him that the colossal significance of that light had now vanished forever. Compared to the great distance that had separated him from Daisy it had seemed very near to her, almost touching her. It had seemed as close as a star to the moon. Now it was again a green light on a dock. His count of enchanted objects had diminished by one.†( pg. 93) The green light is one of the most predominant symbols F. Scott Fitzgerald uses in his novel The Great Gatsby. Symbolism is when a writer uses an object or idea to stand for something else; the bigger picture, or theme of the book. Three of the utmost crucial symbols in The Great Gatsby are the green light, the disintegrating letter, and the mantelpiece clock. First, The green light represents Gatsby’s hopes and dreams for the future. Gatsby affiliates the light with Daisy, and Fitzgerald first introduces the reader to this in Chapter One when Nick sees Gatsby reaching out towards it at the end of his dock, â€Å"-he stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and, far as a I was from him, I could have sworn he was trembling. In voluntarily I glanced seaward-and distinguished nothing except a single green light†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (pg. 20-21) The green light is the idea that you should keep chasing your dreams no matter how far away they seem. Fitzgerald shows this through Gatsby chasing Daisy although she is married and has a child, he never gives up on his hopes to be with her. Fitzgerald additionally portrays this through Gatsby by showing that he was poor but did everything he could to become rich because that was his dream. Other characters such as Myrtle show this theme. Myrtle wants to be rich like Gatsby and Tom so she keeps pretending to be rich and tries to fit that stereotype in any way that she can because she dreams of being rich one day. In chapter five, Daisy and Gatsby are seeing each other again for the first time in years. Their reconnecting occurs at Nicks house and this is when the reader is introduced to the mantelpiece clock. When Fitzgerald writes â€Å"Luckily the clock took this moment to tilt dangerously at the pressure of his head, whereupon he turned and caught it with trembling fingers and set it back into place†¦I think we all believed that for a moment that it had smashed in pieces on the floor.†(pg. 86-87) the reader sees that Gatsby wants to get back together with Daisy or â€Å"turn back time† in a sense. Fitzgerald is telling the reader that time is unstoppable and unrestrainable through Gatsby and Daisy’s actions because even though Gatsby does everything in his power to see her again and win her over he never does because time has moved on and so has Daisy. Next, the reader sees that time has moved on long before Gatsby had even come back from the army. The reader sees Daisy’s actual moving on and marrying Tom in chapter four when Jordan tells about the night before Daisy’s wedding, â€Å"I came into her room half an hour before the bridal dinner, and found herdrunk as a monkey. She had a bottle of Sauterne in one hand and a letter in the other†¦we locked the door and got her in a cold baht. She wouldn’t let go of the letter. She took it into the tub with her and squeezed it up into a wet ball, and only let me leave it in the soap-dish when she saw it was coming to pieces like snow.†(pg.76) the reader assumes this letter in from Gatsby because Jordan earlier in this passage explained how Daisy and Gatsby were in love and how during Daisy’s drunken state she tells Jordan to give Tom back the pearls that he bought he because, â€Å"Daisy’s change’ her mine!† (Pg. 76) Yet she still marries Tom the next day. This shows her realizing that she can’t wait forever and must marry Tom, therefore leaving behind her past with Gatsby and moving on. What Gatsby has yet to see it that all good things come to and end, and this is what Fitzgerald was portraying through the disintegrating letter and the end of Daisy and Gatsby’s relationship. As many can see, F. Scott Fitzgerald is one of the finest writers because he uses personal experiences to influence his writing. His use of symbolism is astounding and it makes people want to decipher his words. In The Great Gatsby he shows the reader the meaning of life, time, and hope through a light, a letter, and a clock; but most importantly through his main character Gatsby, who is connected to all of the symbols in this novel. Fitzgerald also does a first-class job of connecting the overall theme of the novel, which is the decline of the American dream in the 1920’s; how little by little it started to disappear until nobody believed in it any more; to Gatsby and how his count of enchanted objects keep diminishing one by one until there is nothing left but lost and broken dreams.

Stakeholder Analysis Is Important For Toyota Marketing Essay

Stakeholder Analysis Is Important For Toyota Marketing Essay 2.0 INTRODUCTION Business organisations have to take their stakeholders into account in order to succeed in attaining its business goals. The participations and supports from stakeholders are essential to ensure that business operations run smoothly. Stakeholder is any person, group or organisation that will be affected by the business activities and have something to earn or lose with the changes of business operations. Stakeholders include customers, suppliers, distributors, public, community, media, government, etc. 2.1 NEW STRATEGIES FOR TOYOTA According to the case study, Toyota was forced to recall its cars from the US market last year due to faulty brakes. This has affected Toyotas image in the minds of stakeholders. In order to change stakeholders attitude towards Toyota, it has plan on implementing an effective advertising campaign as its new strategy. 2.1.2 ADVERTISING According to wordnetweb.princeton.edu, advertising is defined as a public promotion of some product or service. In other words, advertising is an activity of presenting a product or service to induce people to purchase of it. Advertising is one of marketing tool that is used to sell and promote the products or services of business organisations. Toyota can use advertising campaign to persuade potential customers to purchase the cars produced by its company. Advertising agency can be hired to over view their new product and advertise it to attract the customers. The roles and function of advertising in the communication industry include firstly, to acquire enhanced volumes of sales of products and services. For example, advertising can help Toyota to increase the sales volume of their product by giving pamphlets and brochures to the customers, media advertisement and etc. Secondly, advertising can generate awareness about offerings. For instance, the advertisement in billboards, flyers and media advertisement on Toyota is to attract customers attention and inform customers on the latest promotion. For instance, to introduce a new car model produced by the company. Thirdly, advertising induce trial of a new product and services offered. For example, Toyota Aygo is targeted to the younger generation. Therefore, through its advertisement, it can attract the attention of the youth to purchase and use the car. Fourthly, advertising can also change perception and create reassurance. For example, a good advertisement will make customers feel that t he cars produced by Toyota provides better quality and value compared to the cars which are produced by other companies. Besides that, advertising can also support sales promotional sponsorships and public relations activity, make announcements in public interest, and also motivate and impress trade channels. Advertising is a paid, non personal promotion of a product or service by an advertising agency to inform or persuade a particular target audience. Advertising has evolved to take a variety of forms and has permeated nearly every aspect of modern society. Advertising can take a number of forms, including advocacy, comparative, cooperative, and direct-mail, informational, institutional, outdoor, persuasive, product, reminder, point-of-purchase, and specialty advertising. For instance, Toyota can use the various delivery mechanisms for advertising include banners at sporting events, billboards, Internet Web sites, logos on clothing, magazines, newspapers, radio spots, and television commercials. Through advertising in newspaper and television, Toyota can provide informations to the customer on the models of cars which they offer. This method of advertising can attract large number of people as they are using mass media communication. For example, in newspapers, we can generally see and read the Toyota advertisement regarding the models of cars offered by Toyota and its specifications. Toyota offer quality products at an affordable price. In addition to that, Toyotas television advertising which promotes Toyotas cars that are synonym with quality and sophistication will attract customers to purchase its products. Besides that, Toyota can also use outdoor advertising such as billboards and messages painted on the side of buildings. These are common forms of outdoor advertising, which is often used when quick, simple ideas are being promoted. Since repetition is the key to successful promotion, outdoor advertising is most effective when located along heavily travelled city streets and when the product being promoted can be purchased locally. The advantage of advertising is that it gives the organization total control of the message that will be presented to the audience. 2.2 IMPORTANCE OF STAKEHOLDER ANALYSIS Stakeholder analysis is important for Toyota as it helps the organisation to analyse and investigate the interests of stakeholders that might be affected by the companys policy and business operations. Besides that, through the implementation of stakeholder analysis, the potential conflicts and risks that would jeopardise the business operations of the organisation can be identified. In addition to that, a stakeholder analysis assist Toyota in identifying the opportunities and relationships that can be built on between the organisation and its stakeholders during the implementation stage. Furthermore, Toyota can identify the groups that should be supported to take part in the various different stages of the business activities. Moreover, stakeholder analysis aids Toyota in developing appropriate strategies for stakeholder engagement activity by communicating with its stakeholders. Lastly, stakeholder analysis help Toyota in analysing on methods to decrease the negative impacts on vul nerable groups. 2.3 CONCLUSION Stakeholder analysis serves as an important tool to identify and analyse the relationships between several different stakeholders, besides gaining an understanding on their perceptions on key issues. Stakeholders participation is important for the sustainability of an organisation. This is because, the policy and activities of the organisation will be affected if the stakeholders support or oppose to the companys policy. In the case of Toyota USA, its image in the stakeholders minds has dropped due to the recall of its cars from the market. Toyota realised that it has to change the stakeholders attitude and perception of its company, therefore Toyota developed an advertising campaign which serves as its new strategy in order to gain back the shareholders trust of its organisation as one of the market leader in car manufacturing.

Pro-Choice vs. Pro-Life: No Correct Answer Essay -- Abortion, Argument

Abortion is the ending of a pregnancy before birth; it causes the termination of the embryo or fetus inside the women. There are two different types of abortion, a spontaneous abortion, which is also known as a miscarriage, and an induced abortion, where the embryo or fetus is purposely removed from the women’s body. The topic of induced abortion has been widely debated for hundreds of years. The issue of abortion was argued way back in the time of the ancient Hebrews. In the United States it became illegal around the mid 1800’s and not until the 1960’s was the argument for the right to abort brought back to the table. In 1973, the Supreme Court case â€Å"Roe vs. Wade† made abortion legal. The case stated that abortion was legal in the first trimester (three months) of pregnancy (O’Brien par. 17). Since that day over 30 years ago, there have been many cases in which abortion has been disputed. Congress has passed many laws restricting abort ion rights, including in cases such as Webster vs. Reproductive Health Services and Stenberg v. Carhart (O’Brien par. 18). There are many other cases like these and each time is seems more likely that a woman’s right to choose could be overturned (â€Å"Reproductive Rights† 26). There are many different ranges of beliefs about the morality of abortion, whether or not one should have an abortion, and under what conditions the termination of pregnancy is acceptable. Many argue at what point in the process of pregnancy a human person comes into existence. People disagree about whether anything from an ovum to a fetus is a form of human life. No person knows this information, but it is debated among the two major sides on this issue. The first side are those that believe abortion should be forb... ...e right path to choose, if in fact I would become pregnant at this age. I feel that I should have the right to decide freely and responsibly when and whether I have a child. I feel very strongly about this issue, and because of that I am very biased to the arguments that the pro-life groups make. Neither argument is right or wrong, but I feel that the pro-choice side presents their arguments in a better manner. The pro-choice gives arguments such as legal abortion eliminates many of the illegal abortions that used to take place, where pro-life presents arguments like, abortion is murder. They don’t give examples of how abortion is harming the world, other than reasons of value. They also present less arguments than the pro-choice groups do. Abortion is an issue that lacks objectivity and is more of a decision of ethics. There is no right or wrong answer.

Afghanistan :: Essays Papers

Afghanistan International students travel all over the world to study different lands education systems. Many of them come here to the United States of America, the land of opportunity. Many of them believe that if they come here they will have a better chance of doing what they have always wanted to do. I was given an assignment by my teacher to interview an international student I got their input on what it is like to be an international student here in the United States of America. I met Sameer, my international student, through some high school friends that go to the same college as him in Tennessee. He was more then happy to tell me about what he is going through as a student in the United States. Not only did I learn about him, but his country as well. We will get to know more about Sameer and the country of Afghanistan. Focusing on the Economy of Afghanistan and how it has changed since the September 11, 2001 tragedy. â€Å"Afghanistan too many Americans is a threat to them. People think that because of what some of the people did their all of Afghanistan is to blame. I am ashamed to see what some of the people from my country have done, but I am not ashamed to say that Afghanistan is my home country† Sameer tells me in my personal interview with him. â€Å"Alliance Doesn’t want to shift focus to Iraq†¦Bush Administration understood the alliance’s preoccupied with Afghanistan† (Slavin 10A). â€Å"You read it all over the news how bad Afghanistan has been since September 11, 2001† he adds. Sameer grow-up with his mother and father, and older brother. They all moved to the United States of America when Sameer was 10 years old. His father wanted his children to have the opportunity to get rich and be able to support their families. When they got here they quickly learned it was a lot harder for them to live and work in the land of opportunity. Sameerâ⠂¬â„¢s father had a hard time finding a job, but finally just took a job as a cashier at a local store. They lived in a small apartment until Sameer was 14 years old. This is when his father got the break they needed. He started to run and operate his own gasoline station in the town of Brentwood, Tennessee.

Perspective on Customer Service Today

Providing excellent, and memorable, client support is important for client retention. Without exceptional support, your clients will not return. Average or mediocre support won't keep your customers either, and bad customer service will simply drive them away. As a business owner or manager, you need to ensure that your business is focused on understanding â€Å"what is good customer service† and how to define customer service. With that understanding in place, you can work on building and maintaining great customer service, and high customer satisfaction levels. If a customer is satisfied that means that a product of service has met his expectations and that he was not dissatisfied by it. Customer satisfaction is doubtlessly very important, and it is the precondition for repeat purchases and it prevents the customer from telling others about his disappointing experiences. A loyal customer, however, is more than a customer who frequently purchases from a company. Any serious effort to manage customer perceptions starts with a good measurement system. Companies must be truly willing to look at the whole process of interaction through the customers eyes. An upset customer calls, using profane language on the phone. The man indicates your business can never do anything right, and it is difficult to maintain your temper and a positive attitude when an irate customer directs their anger and frustration at you. Most people take the experience personally and immediately become defensive, and often this only exasperates a difficult situation and makes it worse. CVS â€Å"Samaritan Vans† Did you know that CVS has been patrolling the streets and highways for the past 30 years, looking to help stranded motorists? The Consumerist has a story of a woman stranded on a busy highway with a flat tire, and a CVS Good Samaritan van rolled up five minutes later and helped change her tire, and the cost for the service was only her sending in a comment card to CVS. Make it easy and convenient for customers and employees to offer feedback. I think that the best management information comes from the point of experience, where your customers and employees do their thing. For me this is where your company lives yet it’s something too many managers never see or hear or feel, I think. Capture this priceless information by creating easy and quick ways for your staff and customers to give you feedback, and then acknowledge the feedback you receive, appreciate it and do something with it or they’ll stop sending it your way. Feedback is priceless!

David Hume, John Locke and John Rawls on Property Essay

All the three philosophers, whose work I am going to scrutinize on, have very specific, yet in most cases common views on property. First of all, let me define what the term property means. Property, as I see it, is an object of legal rights that is possessed by an individual or a group of individuals who are directly responsible for this it. In his work Of Justice, David Hume puts great emphasis on distribution of property in society. Hume believes that only the conception of property gives society such social virtue as justice. Justice, according to Hume, is an important social virtue the sole purpose of which is public utility. To prove his point of view about how property distribution defines the existence of justice in society, David Hume gives several examples. Take an example of utopian society where nature supplies human beings with every convenience in great abundance. It is a state where everyone has anything he/she desires in great amounts. Consequently, there is no any conception of property, because there is no need for it ? you can have everything without putting labor on it. Of course, in such a state, Hume argues, every virtue will flourish, except justice. Why make separation of property, if everyone has more than enough; where there is no need to label objects â€Å"mine† or â€Å"yours†, because both of us can have these objects in great amount without any physical or mental exercise? Hume also gives real life examples, of water and air; because of their great amount, no one is trying to control over them, separate them. According to Hume, in such cases justice is no longer exists in the list of virtues. For property, Hume thinks, plays an essential role in making justice useful for people. OK ? but you quote yourself from a previous paper John Locke, in his work Second Treatise of Government, writes about his views on the conception of property. In the chapter which is titled â€Å"Of Property† Locke makes significant points about private property. He, first of all, tells how the right to private property originated. Being a true protestant, Locke believes that the right for the private property is given to human beings from God or as Locke himself writes â€Å"that God has given the earth to the children of men; given to mankind in common. † Since God gave earth (and creatures and plants living and growing on it) in common, there should be some regulations what exactly and when can be called someone’s private ownership. For instance, there is a great territory of uncultivated land. When can it (or part of it) be called one’s private property? When one comes and says the area is his/her, or when one draws borders and claims for ownership? Locke proposes the idea of labor. That only a labor puts a distinction between common and private. And he gives examples of apples picked up from the common apple tree. The apples become private right after they are picked up by their owner, because the owner put labor on making them private property. Then, very just question arises: what if others will not give their consent in making common resources private? Locke thinks that in this case mankind would starve despite the abundance of resources God gave them. OK There may be an objection to this that if putting labor is the only thing required turning common into private, why not people take advantage of it and put great efforts to gain more private ownership. The answer that Locke gives is very simple ? ?as much as one can make use of to any advantage of life before it spoils, so much he may by labor fix a property in: whatever is beyond this, is more than his share, and belongs to others. ‘ Therefore, the property is whatever one puts his/her labor in and can possess it for his/her convenience, but if some part of this property spoils or perishes, it is great injustice towards other members of society. Locke’s view on property very much resembles Hume’s thought of justice and property. Just like as Hume believes, Lock says that if there is a great deal of some natural resource, let it be land, the inhabitant of land do not value it. Hume would say that if certain convenience is given in abundance by nature, there is no property, hence no justice. Locke thinks the same that in such cases, the inhabitant do value the land until there is no room enough for them in that space ? problems with this sentence. Only in this case, people start, all in consent, distinguishing the property. So Locke says that one should not possess more than he can afford to possess, i. e. conveniences that will be enough for his comfort. And he says that if a person gains more, and as a consequence, some part of property perishes, then it is a crime towards others. It is very interesting that Locke says â€Å"perishes† or â€Å"spoils. † If it does not perish or spoil, then it is not a crime, as ? the exceeding of bounds of his just property not lying in the largeness of his possession, but the perishing of any thing uselessly in it. And then comes money, being the only mean by which a person can exceed property without spoiling it. Locke thinks that only money made it possible to a person to enlarge his/her possessions without hurting others. And only existence of money make people lust for more, as it was said, it never perishes. Locke makes a reader imagine of a place, where one has a big fertile land with a lot of conveniences. It is so big that it may perish as it is more than he/she needs. If there is no chance to sell it for money, this person goes back to the common law of nature that is using of conveniences what is enough for one. According to Locke, money, i. e. imperishable matter, is a key factor in peoples act for gaining private property. In explaining social order, John Rawls also gives special emphasis on property as being a part of economic arrangements. In his work Theory of Justice, Rawls says that everyone is equal in the politico-economic sphere of life. A right for private property is also included to this. Rawls justifies this right on the basis of individual autonomy and integrity, which are also basics of social justice. Rawls’s famous ? two principle of justice’ dictate that everyone must have an access to the basic liberties. Among basic liberties, Rawls include the right to hold personal liberty. He also argues about the economic inequality among those who possess private property. Rawls, in general, is against some kinds inequalities in possessing property. However, he writes that as long as such inequalities are mutually advantageous and do not exclude on party from benefits, then economic inequality is consistent to what he calls â€Å"justice as fairness. † Summing all the views on property and justice, which, as Hume writes, inseparably bound two each other, I would like to say that the fair distribution of wealth, which is justice, is very important in making the socio-economic life of a state healthy. Once there is no fair access to property, the society is apt to collapse, as it happened with socialist society of USSR, where all conveniences were common, even those on which a person put his/her labor. This, in contrast to capitalism, does not lead to competition or in other words ? to putting labor on objects to make them property. In such cases, there is no any justice, because those who work and input their labor and those who do not work get the welfare in the same quantities. The idea of property and justice, in general, is closely attached to the capitalist thought. Capitalism says that everyone has equal access to propertyopportunity? But not outcome?. It is fair to have property more than others if it doesn’t undermine others rights. However, unlike to other philosophers, Rawls in his works debates on capitalism. As an counter argument, he gives the idea of liberal democracy that seeks equality in the distribution of property-owning rights. The equal property distribution (by equal I mean what a person deserves), which is basis of democracy, is essential in building healthy society where all virtues, especially justice, will flourish. Property is what world progress. Hence, I think, the access to property and rights to equal distribution of property are essential in every society. References: 1. Reading materials of the course â€Å"Approaches and Issues in Political Theory† 2. http://www. bu. edu/wcp/Papers/Poli/PoliJung. htm 3. http://www. independent. org/pdf/tir/tir_08_3_taylor. pdf 4. http://links. jstor. org/sici? sici=0748-0814(1992)9%3A2%3C347%3AJLJATS%3E2. 0. CO%3B2-J 5. http://spectrum. troy. edu/~sltaylor/theory/hume-selection. html.

Mobile Phones Essay

Scheme 1: A payment of 15 per month for the line rental, plus 50p per minute for each call made Scheme 2: A payment of 24 per month for the line rental, plus 20p per minute for each call made Scheme 3: A payment of   31 per month for the line rental, plus 10p per minute for each call made. I am going to investigate which scheme is best for people using mobile phones. I will also vary the line rental, vary the cost of each call, make comparisons, and make generalisations. I will show graphs, tables and a conclusion to my investigation. Scheme 1: A payment of   15 per month for the line rental, plus 50p per minute for each call made. My conclusion to my investigation is that all 3 schemes are cheap in there own way. Scheme 1 is good for people who like to make the odd call for a very short period of time in a month. Scheme 2 is good for people who maybe are more likely to use there mobiles more often but not for long in a month. Scheme 3 is good for people who want to and need to use it frequently and make long periods of calls per month. So there is no real best scheme for people to use, it depends on who the person is and how often and long they will use the mobile phone in a month. The 3 schemes could be used for a family who has 4 members. Scheme 1 would be ideal for there kids who would just need it for the quick call to get picked up from school, scheme 2 would maybe suite the mother because she would want it to keep in contact with her kids and her husband, and scheme 3 mite benefit the husband who could use it for keeping in contact with his family and also to use it for clients at work.

Piaget’s Theories Essay

The summary of Piaget’s theories includes stages of learning through cognitive development. The cognitive perspective was revolutionized by Jean Piaget, a Swiss psychologist. Piaget proposed â€Å"that all people pass in a fixed sequence through a series of universal stages of cognitive development†. (Feldman, 2008, p. 20) Piaget’s theory outlined four stages of development. Piaget’s Four Stages of Learning The four stages of learning are sensorimotor, birth to 2 years old, preoperational, ages 2 to 4, concrete operations, ages 7 to 11, and formal operations, ages 11 to 15. Campbell, 1976, p. 1) Piaget’s four stage learning model demonstrates how the mind processes new information encountered at different ages. The child does not move from one stage to the next until it has reached physical maturation and has experienced relevant situations. (Feldman, 2008, p. 151) In the sensorimotor stage the infant learns through interaction with the environment, which could include mouthing and touching items to build an understanding of oneself at this stage of cognitive development. The infant is unable to speak therefore learns through assimilation. (Campbell, 1976, p. 1) Catherine P. Cook-Cottone used Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development to analyze student counseling sessions. In her article â€Å"Using Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development to Understand the Construction of Healing Narratives† she identifies the stages of learning of students in sessions. Students in the sensorimotor stage â€Å"may enter the counseling situation with a very limited ability to conceptualize and describe their presenting problems†. Cook-Cottone, Fall 2004, Volume 7, p. 182) In the pre-operational stage conceptualizing abstractly is not possible. There needs to be concrete physical situations for the child to understand there is a difference. The child needs to see objects in simple ways with important features setting it apart from other objects. (Feldman, 2008, p. 151) In â€Å"Using Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development to Understand the Construction of Healing Narratives† there is a sequence of learning for the students in therapy who work through resolving their problems. Cook-Cottone, Fall 2004, Volume 7) In pre-operational stage students are able to label the areas of concerns. â€Å"As students gain therapueutic experience with concepts or issues, they begin to develop increasingly organized schemata for the problem-related experences†. (Cook-Cottone, Fall 2004, Volume 7, p. 182) Concrete operations stage the child begins to think abstractly and is able to conceptualize. (Feldman, 2008, p. 151) The child creates logical explanations for the physical experience it is relating to or sees. Catherine P.  Cook-Cotton states â€Å"Once labels are consistently used in the counseling situation, students narratives become increasing more focused on making many connections among experiences. (Cook-Cottone, Fall 2004, Volume 7, p. 183) The fourth and final learning stage is formal operations. This stage is the final learning phase for an individual. There is no longer a need for concrete objects to reason, and hypothesis begins. (Campbell, 1976) In â€Å"Using Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development to Understand the Construction of Healing Narratives† the students â€Å".. ave achieved a formal integration of the problem-specific content, they begin to make a sophisticated associations among more abstract ideas in addtion to being able to make associations amoung concrete experiences†. (Cook-Cottone, Fall 2004, Volume 7, p. 183) Piaget’s Theory vs. B. F. Skinner Operant Theory With â€Å"operant conditioning, formulated and championed by psychologist B. F. Skinner, individuals learn to act deliberately on their environments in order to bring about desired consequences†. (Feldman, 2008, p. 19) Cognitive Development operates on the individual assessing, learning and developing through inner self and their experience with the environment. With operant conditioning the individual learns by reinforcing a behavior through a series of rewards or consequences to avoid the behavior. In other words, positive or negative consequences determine the learning, and ultimate behavioral outcome. Conclusion Piaget’s theory of cognitive development revolutionized the way learning was observed. The focus turned to how an individual learns from within instead of observing the environment and what the individual learns from their surroundings.

Enterprise Architecture as Strategy Essay

Technology is shifting at a faster rate resulting in development of new methods that assist in completion of certain technological demand. This has given birth to different enterprise architecture frameworks that fulfill the requirements of day-to-day activities. Architecture is a framework of guidelines, principles, models, standards and strategies that directs, construction and development of business process, design and information and resources through enterprise. Hence, enterprise architecture is a blueprint, which defines the structure and operation of a given organization (Fowler & Rice 2003). Thus, a foundation in which an organization can determine how to achieve current and future aims. There are many types of EA frameworks with specified capabilities. Some of these frameworks include ToGAF, Zachman, FEAF, DoDAF and EAP. The aim of this paper is to analyze ToGAF, and analyze how it compares with other EA frameworks. The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF) is an enterprise architecture framework, which approaches the development of enterprise information architecture through design, planning, governance and implementation. This EA framework employs four pillars to achieve its goals: Application, Business, Technology and Data. Before the architect plans for current and future aims of the organization, they are provided with foundation architectures that form the basis that they will use for the new development. The four pillars play a crucial role in ensuring that the process is successful. Business architecture allows the definition of governance, business strategy, the organization and any other important processes of the given organization. Applications architecture allows the provision of the blueprint for the specific application to enable the interaction, deployment and create relationships between the important business processes of a given organization. Data architecture describes the structure of the given organization and defines physical and logical data assets that are in the given organization. Technical architecture defines the software, hardware and network infrastructure that is in place and the required technical resources to accomplish the mission in question. The original aim of the TOGAF was to design and develop technology architecture for a given business entity. However, the framework has evolved becoming a methodology that is used to analyze overall business architecture. This resulted into splitting of the enterprise methodology into two parts: Architecture Development Method (ADM) and Enterprise continuum. The ADM ensures that the enterprise architecture meets the requirements of the organization in terms of business needs and information technology needs. Its ability to be tailored ensures that organizational needs are factored in each of the different execution steps of the architecture planning process. The process is usually cyclic and iterative because the entire process is split into phases. The ADM supports nine phases; the first is the preliminary and the second to the ninth ranges from Phase A to Phase H. Each phase requirements are checked and ensured that it fulfills its basic needs. For example, Phase C combines Application and Data architecture and phase B and C ensure that the clarity of the information architecture is achieved (Lankhorst 2005). For the ADM to be successful, Enterprise Continuum comes handy. Generally, the Enterprise Continuum can be seen as a ‘virtual repository’ of all the assets of the architecture that is in an organization. These assets may include architectural patterns, architectural models, architecture descriptions and other important artifacts. Enterprise Continuum brings together Solutions and Architecture Continuum. The Architecture Continuum structures the re-usable architecture assets, which brings together representations, rules, relationships of information systems that are available to the enterprise. The Solutions Continuum defines the blocks that are used by the Architecture Continuum. This then allows the architectural building models and blocks that assists building the architecture design and eliminates ambiguity during analysis and implementation of the process. Usually there is a relationship between the different EA frameworks in terms of how it operates and ways that enables it to accomplish its duties. Zachman Framework and TOGAF ADM part share some common features. ADM mapping in relation to the Zachman Framework supports a correlation. The Zachman Framework has a well established and comprehensive taxonomy that supports various models, viewpoints and other important artifacts, which an enterprise may consider developing as a phase of the EA (White 2007). The Zachman Framework covers the 30 cells, but the TOGAF does not cover all the cells. However, it is possible for the TOGAF to develop viewpoints to accomplish aspects of Zachman Framework. Nevertheless, there are some viewpoints that are supported by TOGAF, which are not included in the Zachman Framework. For example, the missing viewpoints include manageability and security. The purpose of the architecture is to define viewpoints, an aspect that is supported by the TOGAF ADM but lacks in Zachman Framework. Zachman Framework vertical axis provides a source of potential viewpoints while the horizontal may provide generic taxonomy concerns. Thus, the Zachman Framework does not have means for processes for conformant views or developing viewpoints. Hence, it does not employ a perspective that is shown by TOGAF’s ADM. FEAF structure resembles with TOGAF because it is portioned into Data, Business, Technology and Applications Architectures. Thus, it contains guidance that is analogous to TOGAF architecture and its architectural viewpoints and perspectives. However, the rows that are in the FEAF matrix do not directly map to TOGAF structure. However, the mapping of ADM to Zachman Framework has some correlation between TOGAF and FEAF. Hence, the columns that are in the FEAF matrix correspond to the three architecture domains that are supported by TOGAF; the fourth TOGAF domain covers business architecture that lacks in the FEAF structure. Enterprise Architecture Planning (EAP) is a framework that brings together Applications, Information and Technology Architectures in fulfilling the requirements of architecture. Thus, it shares many concepts with TOGAF because the aim of EAP is to form blueprints for architectures to solve business problems. Moreover, EAP supports the nine phases that are supported by the TOGAF (White 2007). The first three phases in the EAP (Business Architecture) maps to the Phase B of TOGAF ADM. Baseline Description, which is the step 4 in EAP maps to Phases C and D of TOGAF ADM. These are some of the basic features that both frameworks share. However, EAP does not support taxonomy of various views and viewpoints when compared to the TOGAF architecture. Department of Defense Architecture Framework (DoDAF) defines the architecture systems into consistent and complementary views. It defines a structure and mechanisms that help in understanding, visualizing and assimilating the complexities and broad scope of a given architecture design through tabular, graphic and textual means. Thus, it shares minimal aspect with TOGAF. In fact, TOGAF focus on the methodology of architecture in terms of â€Å"how to† without bringing into consideration architecture description constructs. This perspective is different when it comes to the DODAF architecture. DoDAF main functionality focus on the architecture through a given set of views without any specified methodology, a perspective that is different from TOGAF, which has a specific methodology (Bernus & Fox 2005). ADM guides the way that TOGAF operates, an aspect that is less exhibited in the DoDAF. This is because the purpose of architecture determines description of use and supports a well tailored process to fulfill the requirements of the EA (McGovern & Ambler 2003). DODAF requires that all information, analysis and products to build should be put forefront before building the architecture. However, TOGAF specify certain requirements that should be in place and grouped into the four pillars. DoDAF supports three â€Å"views† System, Operational and Technical while the TOGAF support four views. However, â€Å"views† in DoDAF differs from the view that is seen in the TOGAF. Deliverables and artifacts that are defined in the DoDAF have no corresponding parts in the TOGAF ADM. This is because DoDAF goes deeper in determining details of the specific architecture. Thus, DoDAF are at the system design level rather than in TOGAF, which is in the architecture level. Nevertheless, the level of detail can be included in the ADM especially at Phase B, C and D of the TOGAF. Enterprise Architecture plays an important role in ensuring that the business strategy and the requirements of a certain process are achieved. TOGAF approach is useful in achieving a business-oriented process through a well defined methodology. TOGAF have common features and minor differences with other EA such as the Zachman, FEAF, DoDAF and EAP. The view and viewpoint that is incorporated by the TOGAF ensures that the requirements of the organization are achieved. Thus, TOGAF plays an important role, which is envisaged by other Enterprise Architecture Framework. It fulfills the requirements that it is assigned, however, fulfills it different from the other EA frameworks. References Bernus, P. & Fox, M. (2005). Knowledge Sharing in the Integrated Enterprise: Interoperability Strategies for the Enterprise Architect. London: Birkhauser. The book addresses Enterprise Architectures and Enterprise Integration in a way that makes it easy to utilize Enterprise Models and other Modeling Tools. It brings together the different models and forms of a framework into fulfilling a requirement. Thus, it develops interchange models between the given modeling tools, maintain its interdependencies and knowledge on the re-use of enterprise models. The authors also provide means towards the achievement of the ISO9001:2000. The book brings into consideration Design of Information Infrastructure Systems for Manufacturing (DIISM’04) and International Conference on Enterprise Integration and Modeling Technology (ICEIMT’04). Fowler, M. & Rice, D. (2003). Patterns of Enterprise Application Architecture. New York: Addison-Wesley Publishers. The book provides proven solutions to the problems that are experienced by information system developers. The book utilizes code example in terms of C+ and Java. The book turns the problems that are associated with enterprise applications developers into a new strategy that eliminates these problems and ensures that the developers are in an environment that they can easily embrace. The authors’ helps professionals to understand complex issues associated with architecture. The book shows that architecture is crucial in completion of application development and multi-user environment. In addition, the book provides patterns and context in EA that enables the reader to have proper means to make the right decisions. Lankhorst, M. (2005). Enterprise Architecture at Work: Modeling, Communication, and Analysis. New York: Springer. The authors bring clearly the complexities that are associated with architectural domains. It brings into consideration description of the enterprise architecture and fulfillment into an organization in terms of processes, structure, systems, applications and techniques. The book brings into consideration description of components and unambiguous specification to allow for a logical modeling language. They utilize their skills in ensuring that the architects have concrete skills that fulfill the architectural practice. It also gives means that allows communication between stakeholders that are involved in these architectures. The authors also provide means to assess both qualitative impact and quantitative aspects of the given architectures. Modeling language that is utilized has been used in real-life cases. McGovern, J. & Ambler, S. (2003). A practical Guide to Enterprise Architecture. New York: Prentice Hall PTR. The authors of the book have hands-on experience in solving real-world problems for major corporations. The book contains guidelines that assist the architects to make sense of the systems, data, services, software, methodologies, and product lines. The book also provides explanation of the theory and its application to the real world business needs. Perks, C. & Beveridge, T. (2003). Guide to Enterprise IT Architecture. New York: Springer Publishers. The book brings into consideration different Enterprise Architecture frameworks. The authors’ clearly explains development of a modeling concept through various technical architecture, e-business and gap analysis. Moreover, the book brings into consideration operating systems and software engineering principles. Moreover, the book relates EA with service instances, distributed computing, application software and enterprise application integration. Ross, J. & Weill, P. (2006). Enterprise Architecture as Strategy: Creating a Foundation for Business Execution. Chicago: Harvard Business Press. The aim of EA is to define the requirements of an organization in terms of job roles, standardized tasks, infrastructure, system and data. Moreover, the book also gives guidelines in the way that organizations will compete in a digitalized world providing managers with means to make decisions and realize visions that they had planned. Thus, the book explains EA vital role in fulfilling the execution of a given business strategy. The book provides thoughtful case examples, clear frameworks, and a proven and effective way of achieving EA. Scheer, A. & Kruppke, H. (2006). Agility by ARIS Business Process Management. New York: Springer Publishers. The authors’ brings into consideration the benefits that are associated with utilizing of varies EA frameworks. It brings into consideration the various differences that are seen in each EA framework. Moreover, the authors explores the benefits that will result if a given framework is utilized in a given business strategy. Thus, the book is business oriented with EA playing an important role. Schekkerman, J. (2003). How to Survive in the Jungle of Enterprise Architecture Frameworks, 2nd Ed. New York: Trafford Publishers. This book defines the role that is played by enterprise Architecture Frameworks bringing clearly the main difference between the common Enterprise Architecture Frameworks. This book provides the right procedures and means that can allow selection of the right Enterprise Architecture Framework. The book further gives the history and overview of various Enterprise Architecture Frameworks and the capabilities that the specified Enterprise Architecture. Some common features of EA that the book explores are principles, purpose, scope, structure, and compliance and guidance to ensure that the right EA is chosen. Wagter, R. & Steenbergen, M. (2005). Dynamic Enterprise Architecture: How to Make it work. New York: John Wiley and Sons Publications. The authors of the book present a way towards EA that enables organizations to achieve the objectives of their business. The book focuses on governance of the IT organization, advice and strategies provide tangible tools that assist in the achievement of the goals of the organization. If all the directives are followed the organization will achieve its goals at a faster speed. White, J. (2007). Managing Information in the Public Sector. New York: M. E. Sharpe. The book covers the basis of information technology, political and managerial issues that revolve the EA. This book is specifically written for the public and it covers all problems that are related to IT and the public.

Corporate Finance Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Corporate Finance - Assignment Example According to the analysis made, the LCC project proves more viable considering its profitability index, which improves on the meaning of the net present value and the payback period. Under this project, the company waits for less than two years for the machine to start gathering revenue while the HCC machine takes up to three years. Considering possibilities of risk, the HCC machine takes even longer yet the LCC machine still maintains the payback period frame. It is recommendable for the company to invest in the LCC project machine. Based on the Net Present Value, Internal Rate of Return, Profitability Index and the Pay Back Period of the two projects considered separately, the project that utilizes the LCC machine is more appropriate. The criterion above aim at evaluating the aspects that relate to time value for money (Steve, Jenkins and Sawyers, 2008). Considering the fact that it has a more positive NPV and it has a shorter Pay Back Period makes it a more worth project compared to the one that uses the HCC. The difference in life spans of the project makes machine HCC look more appropriate but the fact that the machine is so expensive and yet the impact it has on the revenue is meager makes it an expensive machine for the company to aim for. Considering that, inflation is part of the value for money makes the machine attractive since the more the company uses it the more it earns back. Recommendation best for the company in relation to the table is for them to buy the LCC machine. The LCC machine has the company recover its money back in less than two years while the HCC gives the company 3 years for it to recover their money back. Once the life span of the LCC machine is used up, the salvage value is still attractive enough to help the company purchase another machine and proceed with the project. Considering aspects of interest and the loan used

Case Study Analysis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Analysis - Case Study Example At the end of the analysis, recommendations are provided as to how such types of situations can be avoided. Carl Robbins was a new employee in the organization with just six months of enrollment in the firm. According to my analysis, Carl Robbins had taken up a huge task that was not for him to be conducted at this early stage. He was new to the organization and therefore needed more time to get acquainted to the practices of the firm. Major and crucial tasks that should have been addressed earlier were neglected by Carl Robbins and were pondered upon at a later and late stage. Carl Robbins lacked time management skills, planning skills and proper organizing skills. Carl Robbins works for ABC Inc as a new recruitment officer of their campus. He is a new employee in this organization with just six months of work experience. In such a short work time duration, Carl conducted recruitment process and in April 15 trainees were recruited. Monica Carrolls is the Operations Supervisor of ABC Inc and she contacted Carl on 15th May about the briefings of the orientation sessions and also about the paper work issues. She wanted to ensure that all the documentation work of the new trainees such as drug tests, schedules, policy manual and other such documents were ready for the orientation session. When about two weeks were left for 15th June, Carl realized that many aspects were not completed. The manuals and policies were not prepared and also he found out at that time that the training room had been booked for computer trainings for the whole month of June. The new trainee orientation session planned by Carl would have to face delays due to his mismanagement of the event preparations. It was too early for Carl to take up such a project or task. Key problems were that the training schedule was not planned, the policy booklets and manuals should have been ready, Carl did not ensure about proper documentation

Current Evet to American Politics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Current Evet to American Politics - Essay Example However, neither Senator Clinton's association with a highly popular former president nor the ever-increasing unpopularity of the Republican Party, are sufficient guarantees of a Democratic victory. Indeed, as may be inferred from Healey's (2007) article, the complexities inherent in both the party primaries and the presidential elections are certain to make this a difficult race for Senator Clinton. The 2008 elections, whether for either party's nomination or the presidency, are largely complicated by the fact that they represent the first non-incumbent or open-seat race in exactly eight decades. As the American government and political science scholars, Petrocik and Desposato (2004) explain, party primaries and presidential elections usually feature an incumbent as a contender. Ever since 1928, sitting presidents or vice-presidents have joined the presidential race as candidates and, irrespective of whether they win or loose, often pose as extremely strong contenders. In the 2008 elections, no incumbents are running for the presidency or either the Democratic or Republican Primaries. To an extent, this may work in favor of Senator Clinton's race for her party's nomination and, if successful, for the presidency, insofar as she may be classified as a semi-incumbent.