The importance of HBCUs in the modern world Research Paper

The importance of HBCUs in the modern world - Research Paper Example Equality was often the cry. Nowadays, when people think they have achieved the desires of their old folks, social issues such as discrimination or racism are seriously examined on every corner of the world. With the acceptance of the merging of different races towards a global goal, it is being considered if racism has indeed been eradicated or if there is still the scars of racism that show that in the modern world, racism still exists. One of the things being closely examined in relation to this issue is the existence of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) in a world wherein such racist impositions are greatly criticized. In this paper, it will be studied if the HBCUs are still relevant or if they should be dissolved just as slavery has been dissolved in order to get rid not only of the pains of racism but also its memories and scars. In order to consider well the different angles of the HBCUs, it is important to learn about the history of the colleges and universit ies. According to the title III of the Higher Education Act of 1965, an HBCU is a school of higher learning whose principal mission was and is the education of African Americans accredited and established before 1964 (thurgoodmarshallfund.net). The Higher Education Center on the other hand specifically mentions that it is any historically black college or university (higheredcenter.org) and continues with the definition mentioned earlier. The first HBCU was established in 1837, twenty six years before the end of slavery (Coleman), in Pennsylvania and named Cheney University. The school catered to African Americans who have just earned their freedom from their slavery, who wanted to earn an education which they believed would grant them better lives. It was birthed by a Quaker who was also known to be a philanthropist, who yearned to educate and train free Blacks to become teachers (Coleman). For years, HBCUs stood for the educational rights of African American citizens and provided them with quality education that helped them actively participate in their communities. Among them are Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University organized in 1875 through the efforts of a former slave, William Hooper Council; Bowie State University which boasts of its dedication to the advancement of knowledge through teaching, research and service; and Lincoln University, known as the oldest historically black university founded in 1854 (thurgoodmarshallfund.net). The Historically Black Colleges and Universities boast of quality education that made way for a lot of African Americans and other cultures alike to succeed in the educational arena not only for undergraduates but also for graduate studies. It is claimed that nine out of ten of those who earn doctoral degrees are from HBCUs. Moreover, the HBCUs also boast about the high percentage of practicing professionals to be their graduates and African American Medical school applicants from HBCUs to have outnumbered the applic ants from Johns Hopkins, Harvard and the University of Maryland, combined (thinkhbcu.org). Among others that make HBCUs proud about their achievements are the significant number of their African American degree holders and doctorate degrees awarded for communications. HBCUs also boast that they are excellent institutions falling in line with the top ten colleges and universities for African American, even placing in the top six

People Resourcing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

People Resourcing - Essay Example Planning and better management of human resources is an issue that cannot be ignored in a country’s development strategies. Human resource planning is the critical evaluation as well as identification of labor requirements for planed projects to meet the social and economic targets in the society. The most efficient approach to good human resource planning starts with attaining information on a particular human resource function, the selection or recruitment of workers, training, motivations, work place diversity, and compensations when need rise. Human resource planning is indicated by sufficient man power, comprising of all categories of workers and diverse skill and talents. The workers should be available in specific locations and perform their duties when required. This discourse is about the importance of attaining labor market prevailing conditions before human resource planning. There is need to observe the labor market trends to correct the in balance between its dema nd and supply. Labor market can be categorized as either internal or external. Internal labor market refers to a pool of workers within a certain organization. It could also mean a mechanism through which employees are assigned to certain roles within the organization. The number of employees is determined by the human resource policy put in place like job security, investment levels, sophistication levels in the organization departments, and the business approach adopted. Available internal labor market information can assist the human resource planning team in greater ways (Pilbeam, 2010). Prior to annual recruitments, the company may decide to retain the existing workers and offer trainings to meet the current demands. The retained employees can be motivated further by developments, creation of better employment terms, and salary reviews. This would increase their productivity hence increase turn over to the company. This would be cheaper than hiring new employees who may require time to adjust to the company’s environment and working policies. Classical model of internal labor market is associated with sophisticated and structured pool of workers. Such employees have established experiences and complex technological skills that are ideal to the daily operations of a certain organizations’ department. Such pool of workers have limited interactions with the out side stake holders due to fears that they could be lured to join other organizations at higher salary hence they are motivated by annual incentives, job promotions, and securities so that they stick to their companies. Having full knowledge of such workers is a great deal to the human resource planning team to assist in their retention within the company. Having full knowledge of existing employees may determine who to be out sourced to external companies and generate more income to the company. A company may cut the annual expenses by reducing the existing labor. It will be wise for the human resource planning team to evaluate the existing employees before the retrenchment operations. It would be a great loss to the company to lose a vital team member due lack of internal labor market information. Internal labor market information is much easier and cheaper to be obtained than the external labor pool. External labor market represents the pool of workers available outside (externally) a certain organizations. The type of workers required by a firm is determined by

Features of a Professional Assessment

Features of a Professional Assessment This assignment will focus on addressing the distinctive features of a professional assessment in social work. It will look into the importance of assessment, the assessment process and law and policy which relates to assessment. Finally it will address assessment in practice with regards to two service user groups namely older people and mental health. Assessment is part of the foundation of social work practice, the better the quality of assessment the more effective it would be (McDonald, 2006). Coulshed (1991) describes assessment as analysing process of selecting, organising and synthesising information. McDonald (2006) describes it as an intellectual process, it is a tool used to make sense of information relevant to issues examined. Assessment is used in many different forms and with different service user groups, some forms of assessment include; risk assessment, the single assessment processes and mental health assessments. Assessment is essentially identifying the needs and risks in an individual situation to judge which intervention, services and resources would be most appropriate (Adams, Dominelli and Payne, 2009). The 1990 National Health Service and Community Care Act placed the assessment of community care services as statutory work. This enabled social workers to justifiably claim to be doing statutory work, which n eeded extensive knowledge and to be done quickly (McDonald, 2006). Community care assessment can be a gateway to other services, depending on the level of the patients need. The assessment process varies between social workers because of their social work experience, theoretical orientation of the social worker, the social workers values and the relationship between service user and social worker (McDonald, 2006). Social workers also need certain skills to be able to achieve an effective assessment these include listening and communicating skills, being able to counsel and understand a service users problem, have an insight of other services available to the service user and be able to weigh the risks the service user may face daily against the resources that may be available to the service user (McDonald, 2010) (Harding and Beresford, 1996). The Victoria Climbà © inquiry stressed the importance of assessment (Laming, 2003). If assessment is done properly and as a cycle constantly evaluating Laming (2003) predicts that social work practice and the help given to the family would be more effective. Parker and Bradley (2005) understand that assessment is a continual process and use the ASPIRE model to show how assessment should work. The ASPIRE model stands for assessment, planning, intervention and review and evaluation (Sutton, 1999). This model shows assessment as a process that never stops because service users situations change over time, reviewing and evaluating the situation and continually reassessing helps to discover if the approach taken is effective or if the service user needs a different one in place. Milner and OByrne (2002) have similar recommendations to Laming (2003) they conclude that intervention is more likely to succeed when assessment is effective (Parker and Bradley, 2005). Within any setting assessment involves a number of features according to Milner and OByrne (2002) these include preparation, planning and engagement. The first step involves identifying the main people surrounding the case and then establishing a deadline under which information has to be collected. The next step involves the collection of information. This includes what the individual wants, their problems and information from other sources for example professional statements. The next part of the assessment process involves looking at the data and assessing their needs, by taking into account how they are currently functioning and weighing the risks. The last step involves producing an action plan. This concludes what help is needed, what resources are available and when reviews will take place (Milner et al, 2002). There are a number of policies and guidance which highlight the importance of assessment and the need for them to be used by social workers. The National Health Service Community Care Act, 1990 section 47: Assessment of Needs for Community Care Services is an essential part of the legislation when assessing an individuals needs. Under this section when it appears that any persons for whom the local authority may provide community care or services or may be in need of any other such services the local authority should carry out an assessment of their needs for those services. Upon receiving assessment results the local authority can then decide whether their needs are great enough to be given provision of services. Fair Access to Care Services (2003) guidance understands that consistent access to services should be across the country but provision is prioritised into set criteria according to risk and independence. All local authorities have the same eligibility criteria. However they can come to different decisions. This is guidance not law, so any local authority can decide on the scale the individual would be on before services can be given (Clements, 2004). Features of assessment in relation to older people The NHS plan (Department of Health, 2000) and the National Service Framework for Older people (2001) introduced the single assessment process (SAP). The aim of this process is to provide person centred care to service users and also their carers. Parker and Bradley (2003) concluded that the government produced this new process because historically there were a number of criticisms involving team working within different disciplines. The SAP was produced to prevent questions being needlessly duplicated by different disciplines and to share the information between all and to ensure person centred care. The National Service Framework for Older People was the first wide-ranging strategy that focused on fair, quality health and social care for older people (National Service Framework for Older People, 2001). The aim of person centred care is to ensure all older people are treated individually, that they receive care appropriate to them. Social workers must also take into account anti disc riminatory practice when involved in assessing any individual, the service users decisions must lead the process. Social workers will have previous experience of the assessment process, and possibly of older people in similar situations, its imperative that the service user is safeguarded against direction from the social worker to ensure that the social worker does not lead the assessment. The process must focus on the service users views and perspectives throughout. The SAP involves three broad levels (McDonald, 2010). Contact assessment, which includes individuals who may need support from different services. Overview assessment involves mental, physical and social needs including the impact of their needs on the family and carers this level supports multi disciplinary teams. The last level is a specialist assessment, taken when more understanding is needed regarding an individuals need and how they can meet it. Another assessment available is a comprehensive assessment. This is offered when the older person needs intensive and long term treatment. A comprehensive assessment involves basic details, the category of need, the support network the individual has, current problems, carers views, a risk assessment of their current lifestyle, the individuals current strengths, social network and living situation as well as more extensive information. Assessment uses theory and practice to understand the situations of an older person. It involves problems, risks, needs and resources of the older person. It requires professional judgement to take into account all information to give an opinion, whether the older person needs services and resources to be available for them (McDonald, 2010). When processing an assessment with older people there are key elements the professional must consider. McDonald (2010) suggests that good quality assessments of older people involve specific components. These include using a strengths perspective, the older person still has the ability to know where their problems lie and how they would deal with them using this throughout the assessment identifies their strengths. Another component includes coping skills, as they grow older they focus more on what they can do and less on what they have difficulties with. Focusing on their strengths rather than problems ensures a positive approach to the assessment process. Social workers must ensure anti discriminatory practice takes place, an important component of this is citizenship, it involves the service user participating in decision making. When moving to a care home for example the older persons care plan should involve advocacy so they can continue to make decisions regarding their health and social care, societal changes and their living environment within the care home. Respecting their decisions is a value social workers should have in practice. Social workers need to understand that family and carers needs may be different to that of the older person and these may need to be a priority. The social worker must also tell the older person about the assessment process giving information about why its being conducted and what the aim of the process is. Although the SAP was produced to bring all information together there were criticisms of working with different disciplines. A literature review by Challis, Clarkson, Williamson, Venables, Hughes, Burns and Weinburg (2004) found that there was a lack of trust between disciplines when implementing the SAP. The SAP is a long process and each level takes time that some professionals dont have. Also if the older person is having difficulty they may need to make provisions to enable them to continue with tasks they find difficult until a decision is made regarding resources available to them. However they may not be given the amount of resources and services that the service user expects. Those who are not eligible have needs but are concluded to have not sufficient needs to receive help. These older people are expected to use provisions around them, for example family and friends to help with the problems they face (Henwood and Hudson, 2008). Henwood and Hudson (2008) found that those ol der people who had sufficient money to fund their services felt that they had to discover their own way to find the right services available, having not received the advice and information that other older people going through the assessment process would get. Following from the assessment process the older person then receives an individual care plan. This care plan shows the objectives and outcomes from the support provided. The individual care plan builds on the older persons strengths, how they can address their needs, the older person should also agree to the care plan being implemented. Personalisation is now being introduced in the UK. This new method of assessment involves a self assessment of needs. A Personal budget questionnaire is then completed. This questionnaire is simple and designed to help the older person give information about their needs. The social worker will complete it with the service user and family member. The decision of eligibility is then decided. If they are eligible they will be allocated a sum of money through a personal budget, further assessments would be completed to calculate how much the service user would have to contribute. Once the budget is agreed upon the service user can plan where they want to spend their allocated money on the support they want. Features of assessment in relation to mental health There are a number of different assessments which are involved in the mental health services. Depending upon the individuals circumstances specific assessments would take place. Section 47 of the National Health and Community Care Act (1990) states that any individual who has needs of services under a local authority the local authority must carry out an assessment. A decision then follows this assessment. Depending on the mental health of an individual the assessment would focus on their problems and needs and how they could achieve the best outcomes. Standard 2 of the National Service Framework for Mental Health (1999) specifies that any service user that has contacted their primary health care team with a common mental health problem should have their needs identified and assessed. Previously the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Common law of necessity have been used to assess the needs of individual with mental health problems. Recently the common law has been replaced by the Mental Capacity Act. Assessors within this service now use a broader approach to include the criteria of both the Mental Health Act, 1983 and the Mental Capacity Act, 2005 (Barber, Brown and Martin, 2009). Mental health assessment involves a broad scope of information to collect. The Mental Health Act considers the mental disorder, the nature of the disorder, whether the person or others are at risk, the type of treatment necessary for example if the individual needs hospitalisation or if its possible to use community based mental health services and if its possible to give services without the individual being hospitalised (Barber et al, 2009). Its much less intrusive to the individual if it is appropriate for them to receive care in their community rather than going into hospital and because of the stigma attached to using a section 2 or 3 of the Mental Health Act any social worker or professional in this setting would chose community care if they could. Assessment with regard to the Mental Capacity Act draws upon information involving the impairment of the individual, the age of the individual, the individuals capacity of making decisions and if the care they would receive would be a deprivation of liberty (Barber et al, 2009). An assessment under the Mental Health Act can be done compulsorily when there is a mental disorder, or if it is in the patients safety or health and to protect others. Before the assessment takes place the social worker should look into previous history and liaise with other professionals involved in the case. Depending on whether you use a section 2 which last 28 days or a section 3 which lasts up to 6 months a team is needed to admit the individual. When assessing under these sections the social worker must ask questions regarding evidence of mental illness and the risk towards the individual or others, if the patient consents to informal admission or if there are alternatives to hospitalisation. A Care programme approach assessment may be offered when an individual leaves an inpatient psychiatric unit or uses a community mental health team. This assessment is encouraged as all aspects of care are co-ordinated by one person. The assessment involves personal history, social situation, description of the illness and symptoms and length of treatment and what the individuals needs are. The care programme approach incorporates four specific elements, as defined in Building Bridges: a guide to arrangements for inter-agency working for the care and protection of severely mentally ill people (DOH, 1995). These elements include the assessment of health care and social needs. The formed care plan, the appointment of a key worker who has a responsibility to monitor the care of the service user and the last element includes regular reviews of the care given and if needed how to adapt the care because of changes of need. Mental health assessments are complicated because of individuals complex situations assessing risk and needs as well as resources available. Social work practice must encompass a number of strategies when undertaking assessment for it to be effective. The care programme approach enables social workers to focus on the individual directing through all aspects of care and co-ordinating their care when the assessment process is finished. The social worker is constantly receiving information including guidance from governments, evidence from research and literature. There is only vague guidance on how to undertake the assessment of the individual, even though assessment is so important because the results will undeniably affect the individuals life for the upcoming future for a substantial amount of time. Social workers must balance risk, resources and the individuals needs whilst undertaking the assessment, a process which can be very intricate and complicated when an individual has diverse needs and their risks are so great. However as social workers reflect on their previous assessments they will take away a strong idea of what works and this over time will help make assessments more effective. Assessment is vital within social work and the features of assessment differ depending on the type of service the social worker is within. However within any service the assessment process still requires similar techniques including individualisation and citizenship and being open and honest. Many reports and papers have shown that when assessment is done correctly and uses an ecological approach which covers society and familial relationships as well as at an individual level then the assessment process will be more effective.

A Sense of Proportion Essay -- British Empire, Conflict, War

More English soldiers died in the Great War than in any other British Empire conflict. Under the best of circumstances, this would have been a difficult burden to bear. Moreover, the manner of fighting shattered all romantic notions of noble and gallant warfare - there is nothing noble or gallant about trench warfare or poison gas. Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway is a novel that speaks to belated trauma and the cruelty of failing to face its realities. Much of this sentiment is expressed by the futile struggles of Septimus Smith, a psychologically maimed soldier who has returned from the Western Front. And, while feeling incapable of love contributes to Septimus’s demise, the immediate cause is the intensely evil conduct demonstrated by his doctor, Sir William Bradshaw. Septimus suffers from both a frozen heart and a stricken soul. Since his return from the war , now married for five years to Rezia from Milan, his life has been increasingly drab and unfulfilling, struggling as always to make sense of things, but without real success, except for some sporadic moments of clarity and self understanding. His mind and heart remain captives of his war sufferings, which he never really rises above. His affliction is ever-present and all encompassing regardless of where he happens to be or what he happens to be doing. Even his relationship with his wife appears to be null and non-existent, content as he is, he appears: â€Å"to talk to himself, to talk to a dead man, on the seat over there† (65). Septimus’s shell-shocked condition deteriorates so much in his postwar setting: â€Å"he descends another step into the pit†¦he dropped his head on his hands. Now he had surrendered; now other people must help him† (90). Dr. Holmes, a kindly, amia... ... gone to Sir William for a consultation. Her earlier experience with Sir William now connects her to Septimus and also validates the Smith’s fears in dealing with Sir William. Sir William, for Clarissa, is a messenger of terrible news. â€Å"Oh! Thought Clarissa, in the middle of my party, here’s death, she thought† (183). Sir William is for her a sinister and menacing force, and the sight of him â€Å"curls her up† (182). She recognizes him as an â€Å"extraordinary able† (183) doctor, but â€Å"yet to her obscurely evil, without sex or lust, extremely polite to women, but capable of some indescribable outrage – forcing your soul, that was it†(184). In Septimus, Clarissa not only sees her own mortality, but also feels a fleeting and fragile human existence which questions sin, guilt, evil, death, and redemption. Sir William is clearly the novel’s metaphor for evil par excellence.

Change Management and Communication Plan Essay

Introduction It has been decided that Riordan Manufacturing will implement an official customer management system. This system will be used by everyone in the organization. The main goal of the team is to help with the planning and implementation of the new system in order for a smooth transition. Current Formal and Informal Structure Riordan Manufacturing has a current formal power structure of clearly lay out chain of command that is broken down into specialize departments such as V.P. Operations, Dir. Plant Ops., Pontiac, Dir. Plant Ops.: Albany and V.P. International. Riordan’s organizational charts show how the structure of the organization is broken down by department and who reports to whom. The current informal structure is Employee files. These file are kept by individual managers because there is no centralize location to file them. Managers at Riordan are also responsible for tracking FMLA absences and any requests for accommodation under the ADA whereas usually this is ran out of the human resource departments. To facilitate coordination, each managerial position is given a place in the chain of command, and each manager is given a degree of authority in order to meet his or her responsibilities (Robbins & Judge, , 2011). For example, under the executive chart the President/CEO has an assistant and two others that report to him; Senior VP-R&D, Kenneth Collins and the Chief Operating Officer, Huge McCauley. The Senior VP directs the R&D departments; Materials Engineers, Packaging Engineers, Development Engineers, Administrative Assistants, and Research Program Managers. Huge McCauley directs departments heads such as V.P. Transportation, V.P. Sales & Marketing, Chief Financial Officer, Dir. of Acct. & Finance and Dir. of HR. These departments then report their developments within their own department to the Senior VP-R&D or to Chief Operating Officer who then gives a report back to the CEO. This is the formal structure of Riordan’s Chain of Command which each employee must follow to ensure an effective organization. The current formal power structure will help Riordan with accomplishing their planned changes. Any new information about the change plan would flow down to the employees by their operating manager. Appropriate Organizational Structure for Change The power or political structure of Riordan can affect employee behavior in positive or negative ways. Constructive power within businesses involves encouraging efficiency. This incorporates giving staff the authority to make decisions as well as rewarding employees for outstanding performance by appointing them to supervising roles. When department heads do not have high esteem of the employees under them, this is considered negative power. This style of leadership stimulates employees to perform by intimidating them with losing their jobs and other repercussions. Employees who are trained to pilot the government of an organization tend to be dynamic than the ones who are kept out of the loop. To promote efficiency, organizations must cultivate a political structure that is easy for employees to understand. Instituting clear chains of command and policies can makes it simpler for staff to find needed answers and consequently spend more time on quality work. Businesses that develop environments of unconstructiveness and inconsistency suffer as a result. If employees are allowed to take part in unethical or dishonest conduct to get ahead and preferential treatment trumps the value of hard work, an organization may face decreases in efficiency which will result in a higher turnover rates. Potential Effects of Structure on Employee Behavior A clear and concise chain of command is important in any business. This structure will allow the employees of the organization to maintain an understanding and appreciation for the chain of command, the structure of the system, as well as the organization. Without the chain of command, the system would fail. Judging from the employee consensus, the team has managed to hold a sense of interest from the employee basis. They also believe that  the team is sincere in its concern for the employees of the business. A negative reaction in the population of employees was that there was a definite lack of communication. Due to the fact that the employees are also affected by the changes occurring with the implementation of this system, communication will be a crucial point between leaders, managers, and team members. We have also decided that another crucial key point will be the opinion and feedback of the employee population. In order to implement this system with the highest success rate possible, we need to know from an outside view, how it is working before there are issues with the customers. This will also make the employees feel as though they have a meaningful contribution to the task. Characteristics and Potential Influence on Employee Behavior Team orientation and culture are the bases of the cultural characteristics in regards to Riordan Manufacturing. These characteristics consist of the idea that work functions around team. This is a strong asset in a business. Individual mind-sets will only slow the business down. Team orientation is necessary because each team member represents a small portion of a larger picture. Each of them attains a common knowledge of the task and goals that need to be achieved. Another strong point of a team base is the fact that they can rely on each other for help, both with the system implementation and other issues. A potential breakthrough for the organization could be a stronger ability to use the employees by embracing them and their core values. We could gain an appreciation for their hard work and dedication to the company. Pay raises could compensate the employees for this dedication, along with bonuses and incentives. Incentives, whatever they may be, are a good way to celebrate the way that culture can influence employees so that they may embrace its importance and meaning. Potential Sources of Resistance and Strategies to Manage Effectively Resistance to change is an expected reaction of human nature. We are not accustomed to change, as it is possible to lead to failure; however, there are also ways to manage the resistance within the company. Individually, selective information processing has a high potential for resistance. Despite the fact that most bases will be covered in the way of information  distribution throughout the employees, managers, and leaders, it is highly likely that there will be confusion and a lack of communication. This has brought about the decision to make any distributed information passed along on a selective basis. Rules have been made and guidelines have been set in order to maintain order throughout the business; however, the employees have grown accustomed to these rules and guidelines. Changes on a grand scale will likely have an adverse effect on the employees. It will challenge their normal activity and behavior causing the employees to react in a way that takes away from the severity of the changes. To simplify the consequences of this scenario, employees will adopt the popular selective hearing. They will hear what they want to hear and react in such a way that makes sense to them in regards to the â€Å"old norm†. Organizationally, the biggest threat will possibly be structural inertia. Due to the fact that the business has set a plan and method of conducting business successfully, the organization is likely to attain an attitude that constitutes the saying, â€Å"if it is not broken, do not fix it†. This would obviously be reasoning for resistance to change. Change Implementation Strategy As far as the implementation of the new system goes, the next 12 months will be crucial. A plan will help to dictate the direction in which the plan will take the business. Providing a detailed step-by-step instruction manual, so to speak, will be the best chance for the success of the implementation. It may take a bit longer, but implementing the plan only one step at a time will make for a smoother transaction from one norm to the next. This will also allow for feedback of the employees without aggravation, which will also allow time for necessary adjustments. Evaluate the Success or Failure of the Change At first, the employees will likely be confused by the change. It will take time to adjust to the new norm before an evaluation of the success can be determined. Training will be of great importance. Having a pre-knowledge of the upcoming events will prepare the employees for the inevitable. We know that the change is coming and so should they. The customer base is the best way to know for sure if the plan is effective. Most businesses only exist as a service to a customer; therefore, training the employees on the right and  wrong reactions to the customers and the service that they receive will be the primary goal for Riordan Manufacturing. This will give the customers a sense that the company is making the necessary changes to better serve them. Communication Plan There are a few different channels that can be used to communicate the change. The most important channel is through face to face interaction. It is the best way to be able to see if a person understands what you are telling them. It also gives them an opportunity to ask questions if they don’t understand. By doing face to face interaction, it gives us an opportunity to read their body language and comprehend if they are on the same page as we are. Another good channel to use to communicate is email. It is a good way to send out a message to all the appropriate people at one time. While it doesn’t allow us to be able to see people’s reactions, it does allow them to read it and print it out so that they can remember it easier. Putting up flyers around the building is another way to get people informed in case that they don’t see their emails or someone forgets to tell them. On the flyers it is imperative to put on them to come see the managers with any ques tions. This is the least personal way to communicate this but still an effective way to communicate our message. There are potential barriers that could cause our message not to get relayed. We could forget to tell some people about the change that is occurring. A way to make sure we do this is to come up with a checklist to acknowledge every time that we tell someone to ensure that the message is delivered. Another barrier would be that the email does not get sent through. Sometimes computers do not work properly so there is always potential for a failure of the email being sent. One thing that we can do is to make sure that we copy the email to ourselves so that we know that the email is sent out. Also we need to make sure that we read over the email to ensure that everything was worded properly and the email is easy to understand. The final barrier that could be encountered is to make sure that we do not put too much information in our message so that there is an overload. We need to be clear and concise and be to point. Our message needs to be as efficient as it possibly can be so that our readers or hearers understand it completely. The Message Expressly, change agents bear the significant responsibility of managing change activities within the organization. Furthermore, change agents are visionaries, which identify early on that modifications to the organization are necessary to strengthen the organization, subsequently allowing the organization to remain relevant in terms of commerce generation. What is more is change agents can be internal (employees) or external (out-side consultants), managers, or non-managers. Though change agents play a critical role within the organization, organizational members do not always embrace them. Indeed, organizational change is met with individual sources (routine, security, financial factors, fear of the unknown, and discriminating information processing). In addition, the following organizational sources (structural inactivity, regulated focus of change, group inactivity, threat of proficiency, and threat to establish influential relationships). Clearly, change within the organization is a delicate endeavor. As a result, the selection of the best communication channel becomes underscored. Though the use of electronic mail has been in operation for decades the ability of Email allows for clear, well thought out directives in writing which means the message should not be convoluted. The message sender must consider his or her audience carefully. According to â€Å"Mind Tools† (2012), â€Å"your message is delivered to individual members of your audience. No doubt, you have in mind the actions or reactions you hope your message will get from this audience. Keep in mind, though, that each of these individuals enters into the communication process with ideas and feelings that will undoubtedly influence their understanding of your message, and their response,† (Introduction to Communication Skills). For example, an Email message regarding changes within an organization, To the following essential groups/teams Organizational Shareholders, Human Resources, Accounting & Finance, Research & Development, Customer Service, Manufacturing, and finally our Sales Force. Specifically for our organization to sustain the success, which we have become accustomed to the following universal changes within the organization, are schedule to take affect shortly. Furthermore, all aforementioned groups and teams will benefit from these critical modifications. Since consumer markets have become global, the outsourcing of certain manufacturing responsibilities will allow our organization to increase profits while at the same time  realign teams by promoting selected manufacturing team members to the research and development department. Moreover, this revision promises to increase organizational profits. In addition, the intention to recruit members of our sales force as permanent in-house consultants offers an optimistic outlook, as they are extremely knowledgeable regarding customer needs. Though these planned adjustments will certainly change, the way we run our organization let us embrace these challenges, and respond expeditiously to hit the ground in a full sprint. Indeed an optimistic response will help us maintain profitability and navigate the ever-changing global market place. References Robbins, S. P., & Judge, T. A. (2011). Organizational Behavior (12th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall. University of Phoenix. (2012). Riordan Manufacturing. Retrieved from http://ecampus.phoenix.edu/secure/aapd/CIST/VOP/Business/Riordan/index.asp

Chief Justice Earl Warren

In the Brown vs Board of Education, the United States Supreme Court ruled against segregation in public schools. According to a unanimous decision which was delivered by Chief Justice Earl Warren himself, the â€Å"separate but equal† principle which had been adopted in connection with Plessy v. Fergusson could not be applied to public education (Brown v. Board of Education). Immediately after the decision was handed down, people for and against the ruling reacted accordingly. Newspapers not only published articles which either hailed or supported the court decision but resorted to cartoons as well.The message of the first cartoon is very clear: the United States Supreme Court, the highest court of the land, declares to all and sundry that according to its interpretation of the constitution of the country, specifically the Fourteenth Amendment, there should be no segregation in education. This was reminiscent of the reaction published in the Times of New York on May 18, 1954 e ntitled â€Å"All God’s Chillun† which said that Jefferson and company, in declaring the independence proclaimed â€Å"that all men were, and ought to be, equal before the law.If men are equal, children are equal, too. There is an even greater necessity in the case of children, whose opportunities to advance themselves and to be useful to the community may be lost if they do not have the right to be educated† (Brown v. Board of Education). In the second cartoon, the slow reaction towards racial integration in the southern states is depicted. It was meant to show that after the decision on Brown v.Board of Education, desegregation in education was not being implemented in the south fast enough, the reason why a man garbed in a graduation gown and cap is offering the use of a race horse so that the plow could be pulled much faster, thereby desegregating public schools more rapidly. It should be remembered that the people in the south did not openly welcome the des egregation ruling of the Supreme Court. As pointed out by a May 18, 1954 article in the University of Virginia’s Cavalier Daily, â€Å"To many people this decision is contrary to a way of life and violates the way in which they have thought since 1619† (Brown v.Board of Education). The third cartoon shows the use of an anvil, hammer and chisel to cut the chain that had manacled public education to racial segregation. It was a sort of a euphoric celebration resulting from the Supreme Court decision. In a way, it showed the power of the Supreme Court in dealing with basic human rights issues such as the education segregation. â€Å"Equality Redefined,† a May 18, 1954 report published in the Boston Herald, hailed the ruling and stated that it was a healthy sign that the country’s Constitution was alive and serving its intended purpose, saying that desegregation was an expediency of the time (Brown v. Board of Education).Finally, the fourth and last cartoon p roclaimed that the Supreme Court decision desegregating the public schools proved to be a very potent weapon for democracy that dealt a crushing blow to racial segregation. The cartoon was a fitting illustration of a reaction printed in the May 18, 1954 issue of the Chicago Defender which said that â€Å"Neither the atom bomb nor the hydrogen bomb will ever be as meaningful to our democracy as the unanimous decision of the Supreme Court of the United States that racial segregation violates the spirit and letter of our Constitution† (Brown v. Board of Education).Cartoons are a powerful form of political commentary even today. While it is undeniably true that printed words, in the hands of a wordsmith, acquire an overpowering effect toppling even feared dictators, cartoons have proven even more effective than any printed matter. Cliches and poetry have been used to compare the two. While it has been said that the â€Å"pen is mightier than the sword,† was it not also wri tten that â€Å"a picture paints a thousand words? †The four cartoons described above were no doubt effective relative to the period after the Supreme Court decision re Brown v. Board of Education because of the powerful message that they conveyed. For instance, the cartoon showing an exploding bomb accurately brings home the message that the desegregation of public schools was an overwhelming event, more powerful in its effect than the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima several years earlier. Work Cited â€Å"Brown v. Board of Education. † Landmark Supreme Court Cases. 2002. 11 September 2007. http://www. landmarkcases. org/brown/opinion1. html

Model Learning Environment essays

Model Learning Environment essays Although resources are not the most important part of education, there are several components that help to develop an environment in which music flourishes. Like any other classroom, a music classroom should be equipped with basics such as a chalkboard and desks. The best chalkboards include sections that are lined with the lines of a musical staff. It is also desirable to have a room large enough to allow activities that include movement. It is important that the teacher has access to instruments to be used in teaching. It is standard teaching procedure that general music students learn to play the recorder in the fourth grade. In order to complete this lesson, the teacher must be able to equip each student with a quality recorder to use for the duration of the lesson. It is not favorable to share instruments because valuable time is wasted in changing mouthpieces and sanitizing the recorder. Orff methodology, a popular technique for teaching music to children, is based on the use of Orff instruments. These instruments are typically types of barred percussion instruments like the xylophone. This methodology is highly effective because it produces quick results, but the classroom must be equipped with the appropriate Orff instruments in order for the exercises to be successful. In recent years, technological advances have made it easier for young music students to create their own compositions using Orff methodology and computer notation software such as Encore. With the resources provided by a classroom computer, students are able to create a melody using a MIDI keyboard and the notation software will translate the melody into sheet music. An ideal learning environment includes all of these elements. The spacious classroom pictured has a variety of instruments including a full family of recorders (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass) as well as a variety of Orff instruments. The classroom comp...

buy custom Cyber Security essay

buy custom Cyber Security essay Cyber security is concerned with stopping information from being stolen or tampered with. It also ensures that information gets to the intended users. An unauthorized person may tamper with private information, thus causing a lot of damage to institutions. Various security check mechanisms are applied to safeguard computers from hackers. The human factor is one of the key factors that make cyber security be enhanced. Being inquisitive by nature human beings cant help wanting to have access to all sorts of information. They alter systems for malicious purposes, thus causing others to suffer, or even tamper with information stored in criminal investigation departments. Many computer viruses are spread through the use of USB sticks. Once plugged in, they leave viruses which begin to multiply and attack other computers when files are sent over the Internet. It is wise to have programs that guide people on how to administer security systems on their computers which protect them from hackers. One of the ways to safeguard against an intrusion attempt is to use complex passwords and codes which should be kept secret. If possible, the codes should be changed regularly so that hackers ar kept from exercising their knowledge (Beck, 2002). It is imperative to consider the people who use the Internet-connected computers and the line of the users they share because it helps spotting risks that are associated with cyber crime. Some computers are vulnerable because their owners tend to be excessively gullible. Systems should be used to protect computers fully because when one is found hacking, he is answerable for breaching policies on configuration. Data segregation should be used because it helps privatize information. Good design of systems should be used because use of substandard experts only disguises you from accessing real systems. Topic 2 Security Misconception Many Internet users feel that simply because the websites they are using are secure, they are secure too. This is a misconception that endangers their work and makes them vulnerable to a hacker attack. It is imperative to personalize a computer by using security check systems that bar malicious entrants into your computer. Generation of codes and user names that are only known to the user is vital because it keeps off hackers. Firesheep is an extension to Firefox that allows cyber criminals to access other people information through the use of a Wi-Fi connection. It hijacks a persons identity from any insecure log-in attempt. This is an indication that one should not be gullible to feel that he or she is secure from hackers simply because he is using a public website. It is advisable to use an encrypted session if one is using a public network because it ensures a secure connection. In cyber crimes, key loggers are frequently used which capture every key stroke on your computer. This is also an indication that one needs to use a system that is capable of identifying and neutralizing a key logger before it captures ones passwords and user names. It is imperative to update signature date of the antivirus software installed on ones computer. Some antispyware can effectively counter key loggers, so it is vital to know the right one to use it for full protection. Users need to deploy additional layers of protection. This will helps them identify and remove threats in their computers before personal information is stolen. Buy custom Cyber Security essay

Three ways to tame an out-of-control sentence

Three ways to tame an out-of-control sentence Three ways to tame wild sentences You dont have to work in a zoo, the circus or pest control to come face to face with a wild beast at work. Sometimes theyre found lurking in our writing. Sounds strange? Well, an out-of-control sentence can be a terrifying thing. Take this monster, based on a real-life example: I have attached a document to this report – ‘Marketing budget for 2016’ – which explains at length our new strategy, including why we are reducing spending on broadcast advertising, and the process of selecting partner agencies to work with in consultation with the CEO, and specialists within the marketing department. If you find yourself writing a sentence like this, you might end up feeling like you’re being attacked by your own creation. It’s frighteningly easy to get tangled up – and to make grammar and punctuation errors – when a sentence is 50 words long. The reader has it even worse. Long, complicated sentences are hard to follow, because they force the reader to keep track of several ideas at the same time while they wait for the full picture to emerge. Luckily, there are several ways to tame sentences that are starting to run wild. Here are three simple techniques that will have even the least domesticated sentences purring in your lap in no time. One sentence, one idea A sentence works best when it contains one idea. This means your reader has to take in only one thing at a time, making it easier for them to follow what you are saying. You may fear that this approach will dumb down your style – but it actually does the opposite. By ensuring each sentence contains just a single idea, you free up your reader’s energy to focus on your point, rather than on trying to keep track of your thought process. This is crucial if what you’re communicating is complicated or technical (or, dare we say it, a bit dull). It also makes your writing more powerful. If you string together several ideas in one sentence, they may each have less impact than if they were presented on their own. Take this example, which is based on a real-life letter to a customer: We are very sorry for the mistake that happened as we have a number of new staff working in sales, and regrettably one of them misunderstood the information given to them about our prices, and advised that we were offering a universal 40 per cent discount, when in fact this was a time-limited offer for existing customers. If we break down this sprawling sentence, we can see it contains three distinct ideas. They are: 1) We apologise for the mistake. 2) The mistake was caused by new staff misunderstanding our pricing. 3) The discount did not apply in this case. Now let’s apply the one-sentence-one-idea model: We are very sorry for quoting you the wrong price. This was because one of our new members of staff had misunderstood our pricing system. The 40 per cent discount you were offered in fact applies only to existing customers. This is clearer and has more impact. It also feels less like a rather rambling excuse, and more like a genuine apology and explanation. If it gets listy, put some bullets in it If you find that you’re weighing down the tail of a sentence with several related ideas, a bulleted list may help. For example, instead of writing: This document includes instructions on the program’s system requirements, how to use the program complete with screenshots, how to access the help file, whom to contact for more information, and licensing terms and conditions. you can split it into bullet points: This document includes: the program’s system requirements how to use the program (with screenshots) how to access the help file whom to contact for more information licensing terms and conditions. (If youre unsure how to punctuate bulleted lists, watch our short video that explains all.) Full stop them in their tracks Sometimes the simplest remedy is the best. If you find yourself agonising over whether to use a comma or a full stop, go for the full stop. Stringing together lots of ideas using commas often makes a sentence harder to read. For example: Thomas Atkins is the CEO of ACME Ltd, having founded the company in 1999, after seeing the low quality of widgets available at the time, responding with improved quality while charging the low prices ACME Ltd is still known for today. Splitting the sentence in two makes its ideas much more definite. First, the reader learns who founded the company. Then, why he did so: Thomas Atkins is the CEO of ACME Ltd, having founded the company in 1999. Atkins saw the low quality of widgets available at the time and responded by improving quality while charging the low prices ACME Ltd is still known for today. Even now, the second sentence remains a bit unwieldy. In cases like this, consider splitting it into even smaller units. This allows you to elaborate on each idea independently, in a way that would be unreadable as a single sentence. Thomas Atkins is the CEO of ACME Ltd, having founded the company in Bristol in 1999. Atkins was dissatisfied with the low quality of widgets available at the time, which were prone to breaking after a year’s use. So he dedicated himself to designing and producing better quality widgets, while charging the low prices ACME Ltd is still known for today. One. Last. Thing. We’re not suggesting that you eradicate commas and longer sentences altogether. Too many short sentences can give your writing a juddering, stop-start rhythm, which can be distracting for the reader. We recommend a maximum length of about 35 words for sentences – but below that limit, don’t focus too much on length. Instead, focus on the idea you want each sentence to communicate to your reader. You’ll find it much easier to write, punctuate and edit – and you’ll avoid unleashing any wild beasts. Image credit: Eric Isselee / Shutterstock

The Implications of the Great Recession of 2008 on U.S. Unionization Essay

The Implications of the Great Recession of 2008 on U.S. Unionization - Essay Example In other words, banks issued too much loans directed in real estate and as a consequence, prices were pushed up. In addition, Hetzel (2012) notes that debts grew faster than income and in the long run more people were unable to service their loans. This followed a financial crisis as the situation pushed banks to near bankruptcy and closure. One of the areas in the economy greatly affected by the recession of 2008 was employment sector. In light of the fact that a huge percentage of workers is presented by unions, this discussion elucidates the implications of the great recession of 2008 on U.S. unionization. To understand the implications of the 2008 great recession on U.S. unionization, it would be of significance to first describe unionization prior to the recession. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the percentage of workers represented by unions was at the highest level in the 1950s at 35 percent of the entire workforce (Hetzel, 2010). In 1983, figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that 17.7 million workers were unionized (Hetzel, 2010). This figure represented 20.1 percent of the total workforce in the U.S. In 2009, Hetzel (2010) notes that the figure had dropped to 12.3 percent of the total workforce. Though the number of union members was reducing from the 1950s, the rate was stringent in 2009 and 2010 after the great recession of 2008. In 2010 for instance, approximately 612,000 union memberships were lost (Tilly, 2010). Before explicating the implications of the 2008 recession on U.S. unionization, it would also be important to demonstrate its impact on the rate of unemployment. Tilly (2010), in a documented material directed to the Global Labor University Conference in Berlin in 2010, asserted that the rate of unemployment peaked in the period following the great recession of 2008. In fact, Tilly (2010) notes that unemployment rate rose to

Respond to the discussion about Aristotle (for online Essay - 1

Respond to the discussion about Aristotle (for online class-introduction to Ethics) - Essay Example Two brothers who are given the same up-bringing turn out to be different in their personalities because of the difference of experiences that they go through. No one is born to act in a certain way, though the ups and downs of life do have a role in depicting an individual’s personality and attitude. However, I do not agree with you when you say that the vicious people can be changed. We can try to change them, but there are several controlling factors that are beyond our control. 2. You have made a good attempt to support your assertion with scientific discussion. However, you have mentioned partial agreement with Aristotle’s conception, approving which I have reservations. It is right that an individual’s characteristic traits are determined by his/her genes. But we should realize that anger is present in every human being to varying degrees. Similarly, kindness, gentleness, arrogance and such other traits are all existent in all of us and in fact, have a big r ole in making us act like humans. However, there are some that control their anger, and there are others who are controlled by their anger. What matters is, how much effort one puts into suppressing the negative feelings and promoting the positive ones. This is what virtuosity and viciousness is all about, and the environmental influence and an individual’s experiences play a decisive role in making him/her virtuous or vicious.

Extent to Which Social Network Network Affect Academic Perfomance Research Paper

Extent to Which Social Network Network Affect Academic Perfomance - Research Paper Example The majority of the sites assists strangers bond with others on the circumstances of common individual interests, political and economic opinions, or merely recreational activities. Many of the social sites hold distinct viewers, whereas others draw individuals on the basis of similarities, such as same languages or mutual racial, sexual, spiritual or the same nationality. Despite the advantages of social networks, they have contributed unconstructively to academic performance of students. Social network websites have the following effects to individuals: they create a public outline within a bordered system and provide a list of other people that they are able and willing to communicate with. They are able to see and go over their list of associations and those contributed by others inside the system. The nature and classification of these associations may differ from the social websites (Boyd). Social networking has turn out to be an accepted tool for communication globally and it is considered the best form of communication. People who join social networks may consider them as their first time of school where they do not know anybody. After spending some time in the social network individuals are able to engage with new friends, thus it becomes more interesting. The social websites are utilized by a vast populace and those from dissimilar races. Whereas the name social sites are taken to depict this incident, the word social networking site as well appears in public communication, and the two names are regularly used interchangeably. Networking insists relationship introduction, frequently linking strangers. Whereas networking is likely on these sites, it is not the major practice on many of them, nor is it what varies them from other types of computer mediated communication (CMC). Most of the big participants are not automatically networking or looking to get together with new populace; instead, they are mainly communicating with individuals who are a part of their extensive social network (Cross, Pg15). To stress this communicated social websites as a serious organizing characteristic of these websites, they are labeled as social network sites. Teenagers in the current generation have a face book account which they spend most times signing and chatting with friends (Cross Pg 55). Many students spend precious times in these social networks until they forget doing their assignments. Extensive research showed that many students prefer spending most of their time in social network sites than studying. Even with the advantages of social networks, they have affected the studies of students negatively. Most of the students have poor grades because of spending much time in social websites, thus they procrastinate their work (Cross Pg 67). On the issue of educational performance and merit, researchers suggested that, performance is used to note the apparent demonstration of knowledge, concepts, and understanding. Thus, performance is the use of learning results that at the end of the course ensures mastery. It is the attainment of specific grades on tests shows candidates’ capability, understanding of the content, and skills in using gained knowledge to specific situations (Turkle, Pg 40). A student’s achievement is mostly judged on tests performance. Success on tests and assessments is a major show that a learner has gained from a course of study. Many students tend to spend a lot of time in social ne

Borjomi Mineral Water Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Borjomi Mineral Water - Research Paper Example Borjomi mineral water is a famous brand of naturally found mineral water in Central Georgia. Borjomi water is manufactured by IDS Borjomi Georgia, which is a part of the IDS Borjomi International. The carbonated mineral water is extracted from the springs of Borjomi Gorge, a resort town. Mineral water is the largest export industry of Georgia and Borjomi is the leading brand in this industry. IDS Borjomi is internationally recognized for their high-quality water products such as â€Å"Likani†, Bakuriani†, â€Å"Borjomi Springs† and â€Å"Borjomi†. The brand exports their products to more than thirty nations worldwide. IDS Borjomi is the largest mineral water manufacturing company amongst the Baltic and the CIS states. IDS Borjomi operated on the basis of four main principles. These are essential; indulging in continuous expansion, diversifying market and introduction of new products and conducting aggressive market campaigns. IDS Borjomi Georgia  is seen to conduct business on contractual as well as the corporate basis with Bottling Plant N1 and Bottling Plant N2. The company holds the license for extraction of water from the naturally existing springs of Borjomi Gorge. For doing so the company has its own extraction machines and infrastructural facilities. Broadly the company exports their products to various nations in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. The Switzerland supply chain of Borjomi is managed by the IDS Group itself. The representing firm of the company in Switzerland is Mounted Martigny. The current business plan analyses the prospects of exporting Borjomi to Switzerland. The objective of the paper is to analyze the mineral water industry and target market condition existing in Switzerland so that an efficient export and distribution channel can be set up in the nation for Borjomi.

Good Corporate Governance and Sustainability Research Paper

Good Corporate Governance and Sustainability - Research Paper Example Under the good corporate governance applied, Ford performed very well in business plan development and compensation, business plan review, special attention review and automotive strategy meeting, corporate policy letters and directives, management systems. That is the main reason why Ford is only one of the auto companies which kept performing during the 2008 global financial crisis in America. Mallin (23) asserts that the element of diversity in companies is one of the things that benefit from corporate governance. Corporate governance promotes diversity by, firstly, ensuring a board of governance or company leadership that respects diversity. Gender diversity in companies’ leadership is one of the crucial issues commentators of corporate governance have emphasized. In the past five years, seven countries have passed legislation mandating female board representation and eight have set non-mandatory targets. A study of Canadian companies showed that boards with three or more women performed much better in terms of governance than companies with all-male boards. The study also found that the more gender-diverse boards were more likely to focus on clear communication to employees, to prioritize customer satisfaction, and to consider diversity and corporate social responsibility. To illustrate the point above, McKinsey & Company, as the world’s leading consulting firm, is a great example in the real world. Mallin (24) attributes the improvement of a company’s economic and financial performance to the varying skills and abilities of diverse groups of people. He argues that the skills of people from different backgrounds outperform homogenous groups. In order for companies to uphold corporate governance to ensure diversity, they invite applications from the public. This helps companies to pool  a variety of skills and abilities from which they can appointable candidates. In addition, corporate leaders use mentorship to educate persons from lower levels with the skills required to handle senior positions.

Abu Dhabi Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Abu Dhabi - Essay Example Its economic strength supersedes the world-wide financial crisis that had unfavourable effects in other regions. Its demography is characterized by almost 8-10 million inhabitants and a portentously ethnologically diverse populace. Its populace consists of Americans, Arabians, and Asian nationals. In terms of governance, the emirate has maintained a hereditary form of governance since its inception. Its executive council that largely constitutes of the ruling family members is the main decision-making organ in Abu Dhabi. In the last 10 years, Abu Dhabi has had noteworthy infrastructure and erection of major attractions. This has had substantial changes in the performance of the economy in the last decade. For instance, the occupancy rate in Dubai and Abu Dhabi has increased noticeably and the tourism rate has steadily intensified (Algethami, 2013). Abu Dhabi demonstrates a spot-on characterisation of distinction bearing in mind its enthralling past. The past ten years have been characterized by a massive influx of expatriates because it is considered a tax-haven. All its recent projects are more awesome than the one previously built. Previously, the labour force was based on the oil-based segment and was relatively underdeveloped. The nature of professions available was not diversified and were limited to a specific sector. However, the recent developments by subsidiaries means that more jobs are obtainable and the economy is open (ADCED, 2012). Lesser taxes and attractive infrastructure encourage investments in other sectors that are not oil-related. Abu Dhabi has strict laws that guide the importation of specific goods. Importers should familiarize themselves with these laws. In 2013, the value of imports into Abu Dhabi increased by 42.5 percent (Pantin, 2009, p. 1). This increase was supported by increased shipments of building materials, industrial equipment and machinery (Oxford Business Group, 2010, p. 21). Abu Dhabi’s non-oil exports were worth AED

Good Corporate Governance and Sustainability Research Paper

Good Corporate Governance and Sustainability - Research Paper Example Under the good corporate governance applied, Ford performed very well in business plan development and compensation, business plan review, special attention review and automotive strategy meeting, corporate policy letters and directives, management systems. That is the main reason why Ford is only one of the auto companies which kept performing during the 2008 global financial crisis in America. Mallin (23) asserts that the element of diversity in companies is one of the things that benefit from corporate governance. Corporate governance promotes diversity by, firstly, ensuring a board of governance or company leadership that respects diversity. Gender diversity in companies’ leadership is one of the crucial issues commentators of corporate governance have emphasized. In the past five years, seven countries have passed legislation mandating female board representation and eight have set non-mandatory targets. A study of Canadian companies showed that boards with three or more women performed much better in terms of governance than companies with all-male boards. The study also found that the more gender-diverse boards were more likely to focus on clear communication to employees, to prioritize customer satisfaction, and to consider diversity and corporate social responsibility. To illustrate the point above, McKinsey & Company, as the world’s leading consulting firm, is a great example in the real world. Mallin (24) attributes the improvement of a company’s economic and financial performance to the varying skills and abilities of diverse groups of people. He argues that the skills of people from different backgrounds outperform homogenous groups. In order for companies to uphold corporate governance to ensure diversity, they invite applications from the public. This helps companies to pool  a variety of skills and abilities from which they can appointable candidates. In addition, corporate leaders use mentorship to educate persons from lower levels with the skills required to handle senior positions.

Using material from Item Essay Example for Free

Using material from Item Essay Religion can be powerful under the right certain circumstances for social change. However it can be argued that religion can be a conservative force. Weber argues that religious beliefs contributed to major social change- specifically the emergence of modern capitalism in Northern Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries. Modern capitalism differs from capitalism as it is based on systematic, efficient and a rational pursuit of profit and profit for its own sake rather than consumption. Weber calls this the spirit of capitalism. Calvinism is a form of protestant that was formed during the reformation. Weber argues that it is the Calvinist’s beliefs that helped bring about social change and modern capitalism. For example one of Calvinists beliefs is the idea of predestination; that God has predetermined which souls would be saved. The saved ones are called the elect and individuals could do nothing whatsoever to change whether they were part of the elect. Weber sees that this causes followers to have salvation panic; it was out of their control and knowledge whether they were saved or not, they could do nothing to earn their salvation. Another belief of Calvinists which they introduced is ‘other worldly asceticism’. The only thing Calvinist’s knew of God’s plan for humanity came from the Bible which revealed to them that they are on earth to glorify God’s name by working. Calvinists interpreted this as constant, methodical work in an occupation not in a monastery (other worldly asceticism). Due to Calvinist’s having a this worldly asceticism they worked hard long hours and practised rigorous self-discipline. This worked well as it rewarded them wealth and their success performed a psychological function for followers to cope with their salvation panic. Also due to their driven work force they accumulated wealth efficiently but did not allow themselves to spend it on luxuries. Instead they reinvested into their businesses which grew more and gained more profit which was again reinvested and so on. In Weber’s view this is the very spirit of modern capitalism – where the object is simply the acquisition of more and more money as an end in itself. Calvinism thus brought capitalism into the world. Weber claims that religion does contribute to social change and uses Calvinism as an example. In contrast Marx puts forward an argument that economic and material factors were the driving force of change, not religion. Kautsky, who is a Marxist, argues that Weber underestimates economic factors in bringing capitalism into being. He argues that in fact capitalism preceded rather than followed Calvinism. Similarly Tawney sees that technological change, not religious ideas, caused the birth of capitalism. It was only after capitalism that the bourgeoisie adopted Calvinist beliefs to legitimate their pursuit of economic gain. Furthermore Weber clearly points out that he doesn’t argue Calvinism were the cause of modern capitalism, but was one of its causes. A number of material and economic factors were necessary, such as natural resources, a money economy and a system of law. Weber also notes that other societies with higher level of economic development than Northern Europe had in the 16th and 17th century yet still failed to develop modern capitalism. For example China and India were materially more advanced than Europe but it didn’t take off, he argues that this is due to the lack of religious belief systems, such as Calvinism, that would of meant development occurred. Critics argue that capitalism did not develop in every country where there were Calvinists. For example in Scotland there was a large number of Calvinist followers yet was slow to develop capitalism. Weberians point out that this was due to the lack of investment capital and skilled labour- which supports Webers point that religion simply contributes to social change- does not entirely cause it. Moreover it must be noted that Weber uses secondary data for his argument as he was not alive in this period- this can make his argument invalid as it probably will differ in some way of the truth. Another example of religion being a force for change is the American civil rights movement. Bruce argues that religion was the back bone of this being a success, he believes this due to support that black clergy gave the people. For example the churches provided meeting places and a sanctuary from the threat of white violence, and rituals such as prayer meetings and hymn singing were a source of unity in the face of oppression. In this context Bruce sees religion as an ideological resource – it provided beliefs and practises that protestors could draw on for motivation or support. The civil rights movement becoming involved in secular struggle and helping to bring about change. It achieved this by taking the moral high ground by black clergy pointing out hypocrisy of white clergy who preached ‘love thy neighbour’ yet supported racial segregation. Also the movement had the moral majority which was beneficial as it was motivating for all followers. Bruce also points out an example of the new Christian right which is a protestant fundamentalist movement which aims were extremely ambitious seeking nothing less than to take America ‘back to God’. They wish to make abortion, divorce and homosexuality illegal. This movement was largely unsuccessful in achieving its aims. Bruce suggests this is because; the movement was never a majority (15% of the population at the most) meaning that it lacks widespread support and had strong opposition from groups who believed in freedom of choice. Critics can point out here that religion can fail to bring about social change. However Weber points out that religion can contribute to bring about social change but for change to occur other resources are needed, such as technology. To conclude, Marxists argue that religion is more of a conservative force rather than a contribution to social change. Marx argues that religion allows the bourgeoisie to maintain power over the proletariat in order for a capitalist society to be maintained.

Implications of Oklahoma House Bill 1341 of 2015

Implications of Oklahoma House Bill 1341 of 2015 Kesha Abbananto In looking over the multitude of bills being presented to the 2015 Regular Session of the Oklahoma State Legislature, many could be related to health. Health is affected by so many issues; one could ponder how an agricultural food labeling bill or a burn ban could potentially have negative consequence to one’s health. The amount of legislature presented in the 2015 session was a little daunting but quite educational. At this time, there is no shortage of health related bills in this state. One such piece of legislation introduced deals with an issue affecting children nationwide: smoking while a child is passenger in a motor vehicle. Second-hand smoke causes numerous complications to the health of non-smokers; most of which are completely preventable. Children are vulnerable to the dangers of second-hand smoke, such as: asthma, bronchitis and lung infections (Rees Connolly, 2006). Jarvie Malone (2008) state effects of second hand smoke on children are sudden infant death syndrome, respiratory issues, lung cancer, and heart disease, to name a few. The authors go on to say, although, the issue of an adult’s right to smoke threatens autonomy, the children’s health and well-being should be the primary focus (Jarvie Malone, 2008). Desapriya, Turcotte, Subzwari, Pike (2009) explain that toxin concentrations within a motor vehicle containing cigarette smoke is twenty-three times greater than that of a bar and they further point out that many public areas alr eady discourage or prohibit smoking due to the negative health effects of cigarette smoke. Murphy-Hoefer, Madden, Maines, Coles (2014) report the prevalence smoking in car and home were significantly decreased after Maine passed its smoke-free vehicle law. This result is supportive of the implementation of laws such as Oklahoma H.B. 1341 (2015). Issue Oklahoma House Bill No. 1341 was introduced to the Oklahoma House of Representatives on February 2, 2015, where it was read for the first time in the House. The second reading occurred on February 3, 2015 and it was then then forwarded to the House Alcohol, Tobacco, and Controlled Substances Committee, where it remains. The bill was authored and sponsored by Oklahoma Representative Jason Dunnington. It would act as a new law under Crimes and Punishments within Title 21 and under Public Health and Safety within Title 63 (Oklahoma H.B. 1341, 2015 The Oklahoma State Courts Network, 2014). Bill Summary Oklahoma House Bill 1341 (2015) deals with the subject of an act relating to tobacco use that makes smoking in a vehicle while a minor child is present, unlawful. Violation penalty, defining terms, and effects on driving record are disclosed as well. H.B. 1341 (2015) proposes that no person may smoke in a motor vehicle where a child is present. The result of this violation would be a fine of one hundred dollars. The bill defines a child as a person sixteen years old or younger and defines smoke as â€Å"the burning of, inhaling from, exhaling the smoke from or the possession of a lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe, or any other matter or substance which contains tobacco or any other matter that can be smoked† (Oklahoma H.B. 1341, 2015). The bill additionally states that the Department of Public Safety will not record points toward the driving record of a person when convicted of a violation of this law. The projected effective date of this bill is November 1, 2015. Policy Initiation The model design that would most effectively produce the desired results is the Kingdon model of agenda setting and policy formation. This model was developed in 1984 by Professor John Kingdon. He established three streams; problem, policy, and political that can facilitate government policy changes. When these three streams come together, a window of opportunity opens (Furlong, 2016). The identified problem is the harmful effect secondhand smoke has on children in motor vehicles. Children usually do not have a choice of who they ride with and whether someone in the car smokes, yet they are at a greater risk of second-hand smoke damage due to a faster breathing rate and immune systems that are less developed (Clinical Digest, 2012). Even when windows are roll down the car window, the levels of toxic matter exceed maximum limits set for safety. The policy stream is the proposed law of Oklahoma House Bill 1341 (2015). Research in the area of negative health effects of secondhand smoke to children support the need for mandates created for accountability of persons who smoke around children in the confines of a vehicle. Violation of this mandate should result in a fine. The political stream is supported by non-smoking laws already passed by legislatures such as: Oklahoma Statutes on Smoking in Public Places and Indoor Workplaces which includes childcare facilities, the focus on preventive health measures in Obamacare, and for growing concern for the health rights of those that do not have a say in their exposure. With the converging of these three streams, the window of opportunity for H.B. 1341 (2015) is open and it is likely public opinion on this subject will support change. Implementation This bill could potentially change and/or improve the health of children in Oklahoma. The long term effects of healthier children will be healthier adults, thus projecting a future decrease in health care cost would be acceptable. Passing this legislation will be a step forward in protecting the rights of those who do not have a say. H.B. 1341 (2015) is currently in the House Alcohol, Tobacco, and Controlled Substances Committee. At this stage in the process, there is still time for nurses to become politically involved in support of this bill. Lanier (2016) suggests strategies individuals can participate in advocacy of legislative change. Lobbying legislators by mail, social media, or personally are examples of advocacy. Since the bill has remained in the House Alcohol, Tobacco, and Controlled Substances Committee from February 3, 2015 to present, contact with this committee would be reasonable, followed by contact with your area Representatives. Tips for communication in writing to a legislator, if a nurse chooses, include professionally worded personal letters with professional credentials and contact information added. Research articles that support your position on the bill are encouraged attachments. Phone calls or email can be used when making initial contact or follow up (Lanier, 2016). Social media is an additional method of communication (Lanier, 2016). Organization online platforms, networking sites, blogs, and online media are great ways to draw support or attention to a topic and an efficient way to disperse information. Additionally, in-person meetings are effective and can make a lasting impact on legislators, staff, and professional and layperson alike. If an in-person meeting is scheduled, remember to include credentials when identifying one self, structure your time well, and do not assume the legislator understands technical medical jargon (Lanier, 2016). Lanier further recommends to providing a one page summary of key points and to send a thank you note or email after the meeting (Lanier, 2016). Education can and should be used in all of the above venues. Nurses can offer unique perspectives and insight to various topics due to the nature of their profession and all that nursing addresses when it comes to patient, community, and global issues. Nurses can also join professional peer committees and groups so one voice becomes many. The American Nurses Association is one such professional group that is politically active. The uniting of nurses to focus on specific issues is an effective way to support positive legislative change in healthcare. Implications Stakeholders in H.B. 1341 (2015) are in one of two groups; pro-tobacco stakeholders or anti-tobacco stakeholders. Both sides have interest in the outcome of this bill and those groups are listed below as identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (2008): Pro-tobacco stakeholders: Tobacco growers Tobacco processing companies Tobacco manufacturers Cigarette manufacturers Advertisers Smokers or right-to-smoke supporters Anti-tobacco stakeholders: Government agencies like public health departments and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention State tobacco control programs Health care insurance providers Local smoke-free programs and laws Smoke-free associations and supporters Healthcare professionals Child health protection groups and supporters Oklahoma H.B. 1341 (2015) would include anyone who smokes in a motor vehicle while a child is present, children that are in vehicles while someone smokes, the healthcare system, and any of the above listed groups. Excluded from this bill would be non-smokers, those that do not smoke while children are in the vehicle, children who do not ride in vehicles with a smoker, and those that do not care to get involved. Evaluation The evaluation of policy is a normal event in the political arena. Government funded programs, non-profit organizations, and many private foundations require regular evaluation of programs or policies to ensure programs are conducted properly, that set goals are being met, and that the outcomes are desirable (Sudduth, 2016). Advanced Practice Registered Nurses and nurses are accustomed to evaluation and have used this method to measure things such as programs, goals, self, clinical-based outcomes, and effectiveness of treatments. The evaluation of policy is a natural extension of this skill and one that comes in handy in politics. The evaluation of the bill presented in this paper, is listed below in five responses: The problem that needs to be addressed is children being exposed to second-hand smoke in motor vehicles, where they cannot get away from it. Although there aren’t effective tools for stopping this from happening at this time, laws have been made to limit or outlaw smoking in some public areas and facilities. Advantages of this bill are that it will not cost the state any additional funds to initiate and enforce this law and much of the public should accept this law due to the health risks to the child. Other positive outcomes are that fines from violations of the law should increase state funds and health risks from second-hand smoke should decrease as a result of this bill being signed into law. Disadvantages of H.B. 1341 (2015) are that some of the public may not support the law due to feelings of rights infringement and fines may prove too costly for some violators. The effectiveness of this law is only as good as the enforcement of said law, enforcement of not smoking in a vehicle with a child may be difficult to enforce. Also, police may be tied up ticketing this population, instead of fulfilling other lawful duties. Fines for smoking while a child is in the motor vehicle can be an effective tool in reducing this issue. However, law enforcement officer time directed toward upholding this law could leave other, more pressing matters unattended. Additionally, enforcement of this law may prove to be difficult, as smoking can be easily concealed. Conclusion During the course of this class and in writing this paper, I have realized how little I knew about politics and the amount of advocacy available for nurses to partake in. I have learned much but have volumes remaining to learn. The need for nurses to be advocates beyond the bedside is dire and educating nurses beyond nursing school of these opportunities are a must for effective healthcare changes to culminate from support and efforts of the profession. Participation in local or work-related political oriented events would be one way to increase knowledge, awareness, and empowerment of nurses. Issues like H.B. 1341 (2015) are easy to understand, easy to support, and the benefits to a child’s health is evident in research. These points make exposure to this piece of legislation the perfect starter for nurses that are new to politics. The issue of smoking in a motor vehicle while a child is present is an international issue. Although this bill will only be an enforceable law in the state of Oklahoma, similar laws have already been passed in other cities, states, and countries. With the educational information available concerning this subject, I’m hopeful the importance of this issue is noted so this law will find support by legislators. The confinement of a car combined with smoking produces increased health risks for children. With all of the potential dangers out there, passing H.B. 1341 (2015) can help in controlling preventable health issues children face when subjected to second-hand smoke in a motor vehicle. References Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2008). Evaluation toolkit for smoke-free policies. Retrieved May 16, 2015, from www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/secondhand_smoke/evaluation_toolkit/pdfs/evaluation_toolkit.pdf Clinical digest . (2012). Smoking in cars likely to be harmful to child passengers’ health. Nursing Standard, 27(11), 14. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.okbu.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=truedb=c8hAN=2011758286site=ehost-livescope=site Desapriya, E., Turcotte, K., Subzwari, S., Pike, I. (2009). Smoking inside vehicles should be banned globally. American Journal Of Public Health, 99(7), 1158-1159. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2009.160127 Furlong, E. A. (2016). The Impact of Social Media and the Internet on Healthcare Decisions. In J. Milstead (Ed.), Health policy and politics: A nurses guide (pp. 50-54). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning. Jarvie, J., Malone, R. (2008). Childrens secondhand smoke exposure in private homes and cars: an ethical analysis. American Journal Of Public Health, 98(12), 2140-2145. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2007.130856 Lanier, J. K. (2016). The Impact of Social Media and the Internet on Healthcare Decisions. In J. Milstead (Ed.), Health policy and politics: A nurses guide (pp. 87-90). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning. Murphy-Hoefer, R., Madden, P., Maines, D., Coles, C. (2014). Prevalence of smoke-free car and home rules in Maine before and after passage of a smoke-free vehicle law, 2007- 2010. Prevention of Chronic Disease, 11. 130-132. Retrieved from www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2014/pdf/13_0132.pdf Oklahoma H.B. 1341. (2015). Retrieved April 25, 2015 from http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=HB%201341 Rees, V.W., Connolly, G. (2006). Measuring air quality to protect children from secondhand smoke in cars. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 31(5), 363-368. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17046406?dopt=AbstractPlus Sudduth, A. (2016). The Impact of Social Media and the Internet on Healthcare Decisions. In J. Milstead (Ed.), Health policy and politics: A nurses guide (pp. 196-207). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning. The Oklahoma State Courts Network. (2014). Oklahoma Statutes Citationized. Retrieved May 16, 2015, from http://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/index.asp?ftdb=STOKSTlevel=1

Neolithic Park :: Creative Writing Short Stories Hunting Essays

Neolithic Park   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  "Thanks for that update, Bob," said the aged anchor person. His voice was rough and deep, as though he had been to sea recently and had taken home a throat lined with thick salt water. He sounded too serious, but friendly enough to be a local newscaster for a maximum audience of perhaps 20,000 bored stiff eyes. "And now we have a related story about the new sporting goods store here in Sidney. Nan Johnstone is there live. Nan?"   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  "Yes, Phil. Thanks." Nan was an aged person as well, who doubled as the station's investigative reporter and local happening's person. Her voice was about as clear as Phil's. It sounded nasal and rusty, as though she had been talking her whole life and was about ready to give it up for good. "I'm here at what is now officially the largest hunting and fishing goods store in the world. Cabela's will be opening tomorrow afternoon at three o'clock, and the management is expecting nearly half the population of Sidney to show up for the grand opening event. In the past few nights, we have been bringing you related stories because of the incredible economic impact that Cabela's will have and already has had in our area. As you know, 2,000 people out of the Sidney area's 10,000 are already employed by Cabela's. That number is, of course, expected to rise in the months and years to come. The story we bring you tonight concerns the last step in completion of the 400 acre store and surrounding grounds. Today, over 700 stuffed animals arrived from an eminent taxidermist in northern California, and crews were immediately sent to work arranging 300 of the stuffed beasts in a brilliant display against the dividing wall in the center of the store. They let me take a sneak preview of the arrangement earlier, and it is incredible. Even if you're not planning to purchase anything tomorrow, the animals make it worth your trip. One may find the other 400 creatures on display throughout the store. They will be shown either one at a time with tape-recorded sounds of them and their habitat or they will be shown in groups. The main exhibit is arranged between the tents on display and the clothing section, and although pictures are not yet allowed from within the store, postcards will be available from any of the cash registers or from other points around Cabela's. We hope to see you all there tomorrow. Goodnight."   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  "Thank you, Nan. We'll be there. It looks like it is going to be a

The Liberal Arts and the End of Education Essay -- Philosophy Educatio

The Liberal Arts and the End of Education ABSTRACT: An international conference that takes Philosophy Educating Humanity as its theme does well to revisit the liberal arts tradition. Although the liberal arts are most often assimilated to studies brought together as the Humanities, the old usage included the arts which employed artificial languages in mathematics, music, and astronomy, as well as the literature and letters of the various natural languages. The current conflation of liberal education with the humanities does violence to the historical tradition in education, reducing it to fluff in the eyes of tough-minded scientists who know that only numbers deliver objectivity. The liberal arts of the traditional undergraduate curriculum provided the skills to liberate the student's linguistic powers so that he or she could read, speak, and understand natural language in all its functions. To educate human persons to master language is to encourage students to take possession of their natural powers so that they can expres s themselves, understand what others say, and reason together. The arts of natural language lead to mastery of the mathematical arts which use a language that is no one's mother tongue. Together, the seven arts rid students of the worst enemies of humankind: ignorance and prejudice. Since no one can be considered to have received a good education if he accepts uncritically the opinions of the educators of his own times, the student should encounter alternatives to these opinions. Samuel S. Kutler The past is always difficult to deal with. We are torn between the temptations of remaining within the comfort of a past we have become accustomed to and the equally dangerous alternative of fleeing an ... ...he arts of mathematical language teach us habits of rigorous, disinterested abstract thought. Post-moderns seem to be engaged in replacing philosophy, perhaps in the guise of logic, with rhetoric so that all becomes conversation or narrative, and privilege is problematic. Were we to resuscitate a version of the liberal arts tradition as pedagogy and a goal for our "post-modern" times, we would not be coaxing a dusty corpse of a bygone tradition back to life. Rather we would be putting our tradition into practice. The liberal arts live only in time, in some historical instantiation or another. Now may be the time to bring this curriculum back into our time. Rather than a person ill-equipped to do anything, the more traditionally educated liberal arts graduate could again be a person who is equipped by his skills to do anything. And, to evaluate what is worth doing.