Management Practive in Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Management Practive in Business - Essay Example The planning process focuses on the realistic view of the business expectation. The presence of proper planning process in an organization helps the management of the organization in maintaining a focus towards the overall growth and development of the business. The planning process also helps the organization in providing a framework for the business and provides the organization with a benchmark for measuring the performance of the organization (Reilly, Minnick & Baack, 2011). Considering the importance of planning in the business organization, the planning process in Liberty mutual insurance is being analyzed critically. The first step maintained by Liberty Mutual insurance in their planning process is in setting the basic target of the organization which includes clarification of the vision, mission and goals of the organization. The vision of Liberty mutual insurance involves providing every one with the same amount of opportunity to live their dreams. The mission of the organiz ation states that the organization is in the process of value creation for the citizens with the help of the effective and profitable life insurance plans. The goals of the organization are also made clear and it aims at becoming a leading provider of life insurance services in the global market by focusing attention towards the customer satisfaction. The organization also aims at enhancing the value of stakeholders by achieving reputations in the market through the business practices. In matters of implementation of any strategic decision in the organization; the mission, vision and goals are kept in mind. Before planning for any changes in the organization, careful market research is conducted and due importance is provided to the needs of the customers. During the decision making process ideas are taken from all levels of the management and clear analysis of the views of the employees are done. The various departments within the organization are assigned with the responsibility o f managing their own department and integration within different department is maintained. As the goals of the organization, includes the creation of values to the customers, careful steps are being adopted to make the products of the organization popular among the customers by addressing their needs in a proper manner. The management also is looking for expansion in the international markets, by conducting studies regarding the market feasibility of various economies. Leading: Leadership is one of the important attribute of good managers and the process of overall leading of the employees to attain their goals and objectives often determines the success of an organization. The process of leading the employees in the organization starts after the goals are set by the management (Canada, 2009, p.22). In Liberty mutual Insurance, the workings of the organization is strengthened by the presence of effective leadership quality of the key personnel who constantly dedicates their best in helping the employees to attain their goals set by the organizations. One important characteristic of the leaders in the organizat

Project Management 3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Project Management 3 - Essay Example On this note, this paper will mainly focus on the impact of project managers introducing social media into healthcare and how it can be added in various healthcare projects. In this day and age, the use of social media in health is becoming more popular day in, day out. For instance, around 60% of internet users in US access health information online. Over the years, social media has provided an online platform intended for mass collaboration but with the current technology, social media can be added as a tool in various healthcare projects. For instance, medical device manufacturers, through the social media have been able to facilities projects such as body weight management and diabetes management (HIMSS Social Media Work Group, 2012). Driven by the tremendous development in technology and access to technological devices, in 2009, a company came up with Wi-Fi body scale app for those will to lose weight. Through social media such as Tweeter and Facebook, about 40% of internet users had attempted using the app. Secondly, inspired by the numerous numbers of people posting their blood sugar levels on the international diabetes foundation twits, doctors from university introduced an app know as Bant. Bant incorporated wireless digital glucometers to measure blood glucose levels. In the same year, a 49% increase on blood glucose measurement in US alone was recorded (HIMSS Social Media Work Group, 2012). In conclusion, it is clear that social media has not only succeeded as a platform for exchange of information but it has also brought change in healthcare projects. Thanks to social media, it is easy, cheaper and time saving to manage ones health. An individual can receive treatment from his or her house with the help of apps, blogs and websites accessible in the social media. HIMSS Social Media Work Group. 2012. Healthcare â€Å"Friending† Social Media: What Is It, How Is It Used, and What Should I Do? Healthcare

The two approaches of accounting research

The two approaches of accounting research The positivist approach and the critical approach are the two approaches of accounting research. This article explains the concepts of positivist approach and critical approach, and then explains some of the problems of these two approaches. This article discusses the inter-relationship between accounting research, accounting standards and accounting practice. Through the research findings, this article use the case of intangible assets to illustrates how accounting research impact on accounting standards. Secondly, this article shows how accounting standards effects accounting practice. Thirdly, this article explains the inter-relationship between accounting research and accounting practice. Introduction The positivist approach and the critical approach are the two methodologies of accounting research. Hooper, Davey, Liyanarachchi and Prescott (2008, p20) described that the positivist approach is generally considered to be a combination of induction and deduction. The traditional view for the positive approach to research is to understanding and solving problems. The traditional characteristics of the positive approach are empiricism, logic and causality. These characteristics are often referred to as ontological, epistemological and methodological characteristics of a research paradigm. Positive accounting research experiments to describe what is without making any value judgments as to how things should be. The positive approach has been important in recent years. The critical approach to accounting research does not provide a particular method or methodology for research but rather a dialectic and Socratic approach to the evaluation of knowledge claims (Hooper et al, 2008, p33). T he critical research focus on the accounting theory that is concerned with resolving conflicts between the corporation and general public. The only ideology is the belief in humanness and the concomitant and emancipation of humankind. Critical theory offers processes for the consideration and evaluation of knowledge claims without providing a single way forward for the researcher. These two accounting research approaches are not mutually exclusive but are complementary. Hooper et al (2008) states that the positive approach has a number of problems, such as lack of agreement on what the positive approach actually is; appeals to the authority of science but focuses on behavior and so on. The critical approach also has some problems, such as the critical research cannot generalize findings; critical research cannot predict or replicate studies. Both of these two theories have its own advantages and disadvantages, it is necessary to combine the two methodologies in actual accounting practice environment. Accounting research helps accounting standards setters and others understand the economic world, but accounting research does not seek prescriptions of techniques to make the world better. However, knowing what works and what does not work can help corporations or standard setters choose techniques that have the best chance of working in as yet untested situations. Accounting standards have been categorized on the basis of their nature into two categories: principal-based standards and rule-based standards. Hooper et al (2008) states that accounting standards are based on a set of principals and concepts. Intangible assets defined as non-physical and non-monetary sources of probable future economic profits accruing to the firm as a result of past events or transaction (Canibano et al, 2000). Intangible assets should be accounted and reported in the financial statement. Maines,  Bartov, Fairfield, and Hirst (2003) states that for pragmatic reasons, most research on intangible assets focuses on those intangibles, intangible assets generated by RD expenditures. RD expenditures data are widely available because RD expenditures must be disclosed separately under FASB No. 2, Accounting for Research and Development Costs. Because there is no such requirement for other types of intangibles assets. Canibano et al (2000) describes that control of the probable future benefits arising from the intangible investment is considered by most accounting standards setting bodies as a basic requisite for recognition. Lev and Zarowin (1999) suggest that intangible assets should be accounted for following the same methods applied for tangible assets, but at the same time some argument arise that there are significant differences between tangible and intangible assets which make it necessary to apply different criteria for the recognition and valuation of the latter (Hendriksen, 1982). According to the SFAC6, paragraph 25, the FASB (1985a) considers the ownership or control of the future benefits as the main requisite for the recognition of intangibles. If it is focus on the ownership of the benefits, then intangible assets such as human resource could be recognized. There is a new trend in accounting research, which seems to be providing strong support to reporting intangibles (Canibano et al, 2000). Accounting research suggests to use disclosures on intangibles assets and those intangibles expenditures have future much benefits, but that these future benefits are more like uncertain than those associated with conventionally recognized assets. Thus, there is some empirical support for the capitalization of estimated RD intangibles. Given research results, Maines et al (2003) makes the following recommendations: first, support the FASBs decision to add another project which considers the disclosure and recognition of information related to intangibles assets. Second, believe that the FASB needs to consider recognition of internally generated intangibles asset s, because current accounting standards require capitalization economic similar as intangibles assets acquired externally. Third, Despite our support for intangible assetss disclosures related to and possible recognition , we encourage the FASB to proceed carefully on disclosures and recognition information on intangibles, given significant uncertainties related to accounting research in this paticular area. Concerns related to this research include the following. Finally, while research documents associations between intangibles information and designs make causal inference difficult. All of the accounting research in this area is based on RD expenditures for data availability reasons. It is not clear how easily these accounting research results generalize to other types of intangibles assets. Accounting Standards play an important role in accounting practice. McCombie and Deo (2005) state that accounting standards provide the accountant with a guideline to reports economic transactions and events for an organization. The accounting standards are also described as a piece of delegated legislationparliament has given the power of making accounting standards to a body that has experts on it rather than developing the documents itself as a body of legislators (Ravlic, 2003). The number of companies that have to apply standards in preparing financial reports is therefore quite important. Macve (2010) states that audited accounts are part of an organization that defines the economic environment in a country, or across countries, and enables investors to have confidence in the system as a whole as one to which to entrust their money. This was justified by Edwards (1938) in his call for a revolutionary reform of UK accounting practice. It still seems as true today. In the view of the US SEC it is the overall regime of standards of corporate governance, accounting, auditing and enforcement in a country that lowers the cost of capital to firms in that economy and thereby stimulates investment and economic growth. This effect is probably greater than what any individual firm can achieve by improving its own accounting and disclosures (cf. Botosan, 2006). The accelerating growth of accounting practices over the years has changed the format of corporate annual reports. International Accounting Standards (IASs) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), along with other statutory requirements, have changed the way in which financial statements are reported (Gouws and Cronjà ©, 2008). All the information is generated by a diversity of accounting practices, all of which are therefore worth researching. Accounting research leads to an enhanced understanding of the fact that these practices are driven by two systems that provide the information included in corporate annual reports. This shows that practices peripheral to traditional accounting practices also have an important role to play, both for educational institutions and accounting. Accounting practices should not be seen in isolation (that is, only from an accounting perspective), as they are multidisciplinary in nature. Environmental practices and information, social practices and information, ethical practices and information, as well as management accounting practices and information, together with financial accounting practices and information, form the context within which reporting in corporate annual reports takes place ( Gouws and Cronjà ©, 2008). Accounting Research have made Accounting Practice more efficient and effective, but Accounting research and accounting practice are not always seemed to be synchrony. One of the great attractions of conducting applied accounting research in accounting practice is that the research topics extend beyond the normal boundaries. It brings worldviews into conflict, improves accounting practice, and raises doubts about professional social and values (Schiehll, Borba, Murcia, 2007). HENDRIKSEN (1982) corroborates this argument, adding that accounting theory may be defined as logical reasoning in the form of two principles that: (1) accounting research provide a general frame of reference by which accounting practice can be evaluated, and (2) accounting research guide the development of new accounting practices and procedures. However, some of the research shows results of accounting research have not led to changes in accounting practice; this may be caused by practitioners not accepting the research findings or a lag in putting new accounting theory into accounting practi ce. This has been an over-emphasis on a theory and the research results in some cases, and it is correct that standard-setters and practitioners have not accepted or have been cautious in using the accounting research results as a basis for new accounting rules and practices, such as market efficiency research. However, in other cases research appears to be quite useful to standard setters as they establish new rules and practices, such as earnings management research. Llewellyn and Sue (1996) states that theories for practice would place more emphasis on theory as a map or recipe or instructions manual which provide means by which we can do things in the world or cope with events. Auditing Practice, Research, and Education, A Productive Collaboration, published in 1995 through a joint effort of the American Accounting Association and the AICPA, set the goal of preparing a monograph documenting the successes of prior, less-harried times when collaborative efforts produced significan t insights and often solutions to challenging auditing problems (Bell and Wright, pg 178). They explain the rich heritage of practitioner or academician collaboration in addressing auditing challenges. The authors indicate the importance of a periodic review of academic research for use of those in practice. The monograph also calls for increased interaction with practitioners, the use of academic research fellows in practice, and integration of the research process into audit education (Anderson et al, 2003). Accounting practice depends on accounting research, and accounting research guide the development for accounting practice. Conclusion Both of the positivist approach and the critical approach has its own advantages and disadvantages, the best way to use accounting research is to combine the two methodologies in actual accounting practice environment. The inter-relationships between accounting research, accounting standards and accounting practice are Accounting research helps accounting standards setters and others understand the economic world, accounting research have made accounting Practice more efficient and effective, but accounting research and accounting practice are not always seem to be synchrony. Accounting standards provide the accountant with a guideline to reports economic transactions and events for an organization.

Poverty and Voting in America Essay -- American United States Politics

Review of the Literature: For my topic of research, the dynamics of poverty and voting in America, I used a vast number of sources in an attempt to produce the most accurate and broad discussion possible. The sources I believe to be the most reliable were: 1) the scholarly works (Friedman; Raskin), which were purely scientific and did not include political biases, but rather examined the facts from as neutral a point of view as possible; 2) the government reports (DeNavas-Walt; Dept. of Commerce; Dept. of Labor, McNeil), which also appeared to be politically neutral and created in a scientific fashion. These two types of sources mainly provided statistics on voting and poverty numbers through charts and graphs. The next set of sources came from less reliable media (â€Å"Election†; Loughlin; Wetherell), but still were purely observational and not opinionated. They came from online news sites, so they cannot be considered as academic as the first set, but the type of articles they are leaves little for the author’s own opinion. They also weren’t intentionally targeting a specific political party or ideology. The following set of sources hint of bias in the way they present their information, but the information itself seems scientific (Cervantes; Drum; Piven). These sources integrate some liberal opinions of the information into the material; however, they give seemingly accurate facts. â€Å"America,† James, and Wicker make up the next group of sources, which aren’t necessarily biased, but are more opinionated than factual. Facts are provided, but the authors’ ideas play a large part in these works. They are fairly neutral politically, however, and look at government more as a whole; both political parties are criticize... ...rg. 2005. Center for Community Change. 1 March 2006 . ProjectVote.org. 2004. Project Vote. 1 March 2006 . Raskin, Jamin B. â€Å"Race, Poverty and the ‘Wealth Primary.’† Poverty & Race. 6.2 (1997): 1-5. Shipler, David K. The Working Poor: Invisible in America. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2004. Sood, Suemedha. â€Å"You don’t need a home to vote.† Alternet.com. 26 August 2004. Independent Media Institute. 1 March 2006 . Wetherell, Derrick. â€Å"The Bush 100: Center Releases Report on Bush’s Top Appointees.† Publicintegrity.org. 14 January 2002. The Center for Public Integrity. 12 February 2006 . Wicker, Tom. â€Å"Delivering the Vote.† New York Times. 15 August 1971, E15 (1 page).

Michael Moore Sicko

1.Michael Moore’s movie Sicko is so controversial because it makes people think. He went to Cuba and showed it, not as this horrible place that we’ve all be told but as a caring country willing to help our citizens. This movie proving that Universal Healthcare works in other countries makes people wonder why it has to be so difficult to have it here. The Unites States is suppose to be the most powerful country and yet so many Americans feel powerless when it comes to healthcare. 2.Some pros for Universal Healthcare are everyone would be covered. People would be healthier and live longer. Our poverty rate wouldn’t be as high because people wouldn’t be losing their homes because of medical bills. It would make businesses more productive because they wouldn’t have to carry insurance. Some cons for Universal healthcare are higher taxes. There is a longer wait for surgeries. All the people that work for the insurance companies would lose their jobs. 3.Some relative changes in healthcare because of the Universal Healthcare Bill are not having to wait or being denied because of a pre-existing condition. You will no longer have a higher rate because of your health status. Insurance companies wouldn’t be able to cancel your policy due to an adverse health condition. Children will be covered under their parents insurance policies until they are 27. New plans must cover check ups and preventative care with out co-pays. 4.Most Americans are concerned about the new law requiring almost everyone to have insurance. A lot of people simply can’t afford it although the new law is suppose to make it more affordable. Another concern is wait time to see a doctor. With more people seeing doctors there will be a longer wait time to get in and the less time the doctor has to spend with you in the room.

Discuss the whether you believe that the reading on the passive-aggression organization has implications in the UAE

Yes! I should say that passive-aggression organization has implication in the UAE because as Gary Neilson, Bruce Pasternack, and Karen Van Nuys pointed out, no company that has never suffered such syndrome. The passive-aggression organization syndrome is a general situation that has been experienced by business organizations not only in many parts of America, but also in Europe.As Neilson, Pasternack, and Van Nuys stated, problems develop gradually as company grows through a series of â€Å"well-intended but badly implemented organizational changes†¦,† I believe that passive-aggression organization has implication in the UAE because controlling and delegating authority by those at the top often creates problems and complexities that can result to this problem. The survey that was conducted by Booz Allen Hamilton reveals that one in five of about 30,000 respondents to a global online survey admitted they suffered this syndrome.In my view, it is reasonable to say that passi ve-aggression has implications in the UAE. Provide a workplace example from your own experience where you have observed attribution theory occurring. Attribution theory occurs perhaps in every work place where there are both a sound leadership and performance failures. In the banking sector where performance required among employees were customer relations and number skills, occurrence of attribution theory is often seen in this context. Poor performance outcomes are blamed on someone’s customer relation’s skills.Bank employees are paid not only to cater to the need of the clientele; they are also paid to show customer care which mat require skills. Employees often attribute their failures to their lack of skills in customer relations skills. Discuss what you believe is the most important factor to be managed when implementing a change program in the workplace. I believed that the most important factor to be managed when implementing change program in the work place is the change process itself as this could be easily misunderstood by the employees.There are some aspect that needs to be considering when implanting this change such as the behavior of the individual in the organizational settings and the consequences of this change in the employee performance. In the organizational setting, Vecchio stressed that organizational culture provides influences among the employees that could motivate them to bring out their best. Thus, when implementing a change program in the work place, it is important to consider how the change process will have impact on the organizational setting.

Cultural Diversity in Criminal Justice Paper Essays

Cultural Diversity in Criminal Justice Paper Essays Cultural Diversity in Criminal Justice Paper Essay Cultural Diversity in Criminal Justice Paper Essay Cultural Diversity in Criminal Justice Paper Joseph Merritt CJA344 July 10,2011 Melba Ferlow- Herrington Cultural Diversity in Criminal Justice Paper This paper will primarily focus on racial disparity in sentencing. While studying the different problems associated with racial disparity we will also look at why racial disparity exsist within sentencing. In society today there are a diversity of citizens, offenders, and leaders within the court system. However, race still plays a big role in the criminal justice system especially during the sentencing portion of a trial or hearing. Although racial dynamics may have changed over time, race still exerts an undeniable presence in the sentencing process. â€Å" This ranges from desperate traffic stops due to racial profiling to imposition of the death penalty based on the race of the victim and / or the offender† ( The Sentencing Project,2007). Here in the United States, African American criminal are over represented compared to this number in the general population. According to (Calderon, 2006) â€Å" The idea of a racially discriminatory process violates the ideals of equal treatment under law as well as under the constitution that these laws were based upon. Racial discrimination within sentencing is often a complex process in total connection with other factors which produce racially discriminatory outcomes in certain situations. Racial discrimination has been a big part of this country for a long time. And just because things have started to change does not mean that perception of the people have chan ged. The sad thing is people who are in a position to initiate a sentence may still believe this way today. The true analogy is the world may change but not all people want to change. Many blacks and Spanish descendants who do not work regular jobs may have this type of information used against them quite often at no fault of their own , but, as some folks say â€Å" Never judge a book by its cover. † According to (Burnham,Sen, 2005) â€Å" The compact for racial justice is a proactive agenda for fairness and unity in our communities, politics, the economy, and the law. It offers a concrete strategy and purpose to reverse racial disparities and move our societies toward full equity, cultural diversity, inclusion, and dignity for all people. Having fairness and unity in our communities would be very good because people of all nationalities would begin to be treated with some form of equity. People in our society need to come to the realization that color is a skin complexion. Whether you are white, black, purple or green, color has not committed any crime but, in the eye sight of people how we look at people and their color will continue to make a problem f or all in years, centuries, and decades to come. There are four reasons as to why racial disparity continues to climb in todays’ society they are Prosecutorial Discretion, Ineffective Assistance of Council, and Procedural Bars, venue and jury selection and racism by jurors. According to (Tabak,1999) â€Å" these reasons apply in cases in which the death penalty may be sought. † When illustrating the use of prosecutorial discretion two crime types come to mind that can be compared they include white collar crimes and city crimes. When white collar crimes are committed the sentencing imposed are normally lesser than of those who commit a city crime. Some of the sentences handed down are unfair. An example of this is a person who are not honest about their taxes will make an agreement with the IRS who know they have committed the crime, and they will not spend any time in jail. Whereas, a person who were caught by law enforcement officers for carrying or selling a small amount of drugs would receive five years in prison. The crimes are both bad crimes and should carry the same type of sentence but, amazingly the two crimes do not carry the same sentence but, if brought before a jury both the crimes would probably get dismissed depending on the number of times the crimes were committed by the persons. Why do people who commit city crimes seem to be punished more harshly than of those who commit crimes that are equally as bad such as fraud, and as a result the crime may never step foot into a court room? There are several other reasons why these problems still exist. Racial Disparity is present within sentencing because of the way ineffective assistance of counsel and the procedural bars. The problem lies within the fact that â€Å"proving ineffective assistance of counsel is structured in a way that is extremely difficult to show that a lawyer is ineffectual†(Tabak,1999). A good example of this case where the defendant Johnny Lee Gates, the defendant lived in a black community all of his life. The defendant was accused of raping a white women, and the jurors listening to the case were all white. In this particular case the lawyer for the defendant should have objected to the jury that was selected for this case, nor should have allowed for the client to be tried by an all-white jury. When looking at the case more closely it was clearly shown that the lawyer did not care nor did the lawyer show any interest in his client’s case. In retrospect, the lawyer of the defendant had already agreed with the prosecutor that his client was already guilty. The next reason why we see Racial Disparity in sentencing is caused by venue and jury selection. The phrase† location is everything† can prove to be a very painful truth for those who are punished for being placed on trial in the wrong area. † It is not uncommon for prosecutors to choose venues for the defendants which result in all-white juries†(Tabak,1999). The second problem of selecting a jury especially in cases involving Afro-Americans defendants is caused by the lack of questioning of jurors. Jurors normally give a correct answer when they are being questioned to show that they are neutral about the case when in fact they have very strong racial feelings concerning the case. The thing that hurt most African-American potiential jurors is the fact that those who would never be willing to impose the death penalty and in cases of capital conviction would vote against the death penalty can be automatically excluded from the jury. † A large percentage of African- Americans are opposed to the death penalty, this is in comparison to the general public†(Tabak,1999). Discriminating against black American’s is not uncommon for prosecutors during their discretionary challenges. The power to use discretion can be blatantly abused by prosecutors. In the case of Albert Jefferson, of Alabama, the prosecutor in the case, used his discretion to oppose 24 of the 26 potential black jurors, which is wrong based on the fact that we as Americans are allowed to have a trial by a jury of our peers. The exclusion of all minorities in juries is a violation against a fair trial for the defendant. When a prosecutor use their discretion to oppose a black juror the burden of proving they discriminated against the black juror is left up to the defendant to prove. Since black potential jurors cannot be excluded from the jury because of their race, they can be dismissed because of their views of the death penalty. Racial disparity in sentencing is caused by racist jurors. Their was a case where the defendant was a black man by the name of William Hance. In his case their was only one black woman juror selected for his case. The woman was against the death penalty however, when the head juror read the decision he left out the black juror vote. Because the woman juror was afraid to say anything the defendant was executed before she spoke out about it. Racial disparity does exist during sentencing of defendants. † It is said that nationwide 90% of those who are convicted for crack cocaine violations are black† (Kennedy,1996). By punishing everybody the same way the racial disparity may subside . our society thrives on the sterotype that this should also be taken into consideration when discussing racial disparity. Society have made a prison or jail stay almost like an† obligatory stage in the life of a young black men† (Mauer,2005). This shows further proof that we â€Å" choose to respond to criminal problems because we are racially determined. â€Å" many people view crime in society as a black problem† (Mauer, 2005). Crime is not just a black problem but, is a problem that everyone must deal with. All of the areas discussed should be paid closer attention in hopes to help others in the future do away with racial and cultural problems in the future. Kennedy, R. (2009). Everything is Race. White Plains, IL: McGraw -Hill. Master, G. (2006). Racial Disparity in Sentencing. Jackson, MS: Thomsom Co.. Mauer, M. (2004). Race, Class, and the Development of criminal justice policy review of policy research. Melborne, FL: McGraw-Hill. Tabak, R. (2009). Racial Discrimination in implementing the Death Penalty. New York,city, NY: thompson publishing co.. www. associated content. com. (may,2008). www. associated content. com. Retrieved from http://associated content. org

Deserted Soldiers in Mexican-American War essays

Deserted Soldiers in Mexican-American War essays Saint Patricks Battalion, a unit of hundred immigrants of European descents, joined Mexican Army and fought against United States in Mexican-American War from 1846 to 1848. Why did those immigrant soldiers desert U.S. and assist their enemies? The success of United States invasion and control of vast territories of Mexico must rely on soldiers unity. However, the desertion of immigrant soldiers revealed some sharp conflicts among U.S. Army. U.S. Armys prejudice to those immigrant soldiers pushed them to desert. Soldiers desertion was very rare in the war history; thus, the main reason of religious discrimination, poor living condition and inhuman treatment by U.S. Army and temptation by Mexican government will be explored in this paper to explain why those immigrant deserters gave up United States and changed their side in Mexican-American War. Many immigrant soldiers, especially Irish, deserted because they experienced harsh religious discrimination in the United States. Because of the difficult condition of famine in Ireland, many Irish immigrants went to United States. Thousands of them joined U.S. Army for the U.S. Citizenship and money. However, the tension rose between Army and Irish due to the religion. Most of Irish were Catholic and U.S. Army was very intolerant towards both Irish and Catholics at that time. In Peter F. Stevenss A Perilous Journey and Six Irish Rebels' Escape to Freedom, he wrote the prejudices towards Irish in the U.S. Army, Irish were seen as lazy and ignorant, while Catholics were considered fools who were easily distracted by pageantry and led by a faraway pope(Stevens). In the army, other soldiers believed that the Irish were inferior soldiers and gave them dirty jobs. They had no chance to be promoted. Punishments such as negligence of duty were often severe. Even worse, conditions were har sh for other Catholic immigrant soldiers such as the German...

Assess the View That Cults and Sects Are Only Fringe Organisations That Are Inevitably Short Lived and of Little Influence in Contemporary Society Essay Example for Free (#2)

Assess the View That Cults and Sects Are Only Fringe Organisations That Are Inevitably Short Lived and of Little Influence in Contemporary Society Essay Contemporary society (12) , Cult (8) company About StudyMoose Contact Careers Help Center Donate a Paper Legal Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Complaints It can be argued that cults and sects are only fringe organisations that are inevitably short lived and of little influence in contemporary society, however some may have views to contrast this idea. A sect is an organization, which usually breaks off from an established religion, which finds itself in disagreement with beliefs and values of wider society and refuses to tolerate the beliefs of others. Although the desire to be a member is voluntary, as oppose to being born into, like religion, sects are rejected by society and claim strong obligation and commitment by its members. A sect is an extremely narrow-minded organisation, which is often led by a charismatic leader. Whereas, in contrast, a cult does not progress from a mainstream religion and does not reject or challenge societal norms. However, as tolerant of other beliefs as they are, they still attract a great deal of negative press, for example brainwashing. Members in a cult are usually more like customers than followers. An example of a cult is Heavens gate, which is a destructive doomsday cult, centered in California. There is a mass of supporting evidence that cults and sects are short lived and insignificant to wider society. Nevertheless, it must be maintained that the matter is complex as there are many sects and cults, which identify themselves differently. There is evidence to support this view of a short-lived nature of sects. This is due to many reasons. World rejecting sects, due to their nature and succeeding societal rejection and stigma of bad press, must be able to compromise with society and becoming a denomination and therefore cease to be a sect, if this is not done then the sect will die out. There is also an argument that sects cannot have a great deal of affect upon society over a long term period as they cannot survive past the charismatic leader’s lifetime and therefore sustain themselves over more than one generation. The American theologian Niebuhr theorises that another reason for transience of sects is that they rarely live past the 1st generation because the 2nd generation usually lacks the belief of the 1st. In this way, their membership dwindles as the 2nd generation chooses to leave the sect and hold other views in wider society. However Wilson disagrees with Neibuhrs view and says that he overates his case and chooses to not pay attention to groups who did preserve a ‘ distinct sectarian stance’. Similarly, evidence proves to discredit the belief that a sect fails to live on past their leader’s death. For example, The Mormons have continued for many generations and also the Amish- however this could be attributed to the protective ‘isolation-like’ in which they live. There is also a possibility that the Moonies surviving is due to the leader preparing for his son to take over his position as the charismatic leader after his death, however this is yet to be seen. Cults have seen a large incline in their number recently and because they are more accepting of wider society and despite receiving bad press, offer a practical solution to peoples’ issues and wishes, seem less likely to die out due to refusal and disapproval. They are also financially rather stable, the Church of Scientology for example has an estimated income of over  £200m per year. This is down to the consumer attitude of cults. There is also a mass of evidence for their importance in society in a sense that audience cults have a mass market of ‘self help therapy’ there are many books available for example, tarot reading, crystals and reflexology regularly appear on the best seller list and often more room is devoted to these books rather than Christianity books themselves. The view that cults are fringe movements is less supported than that for sects. Sects very infrequently continue on as sects but cults such as scientology are not only prosperous but also have a huge celebrity following trend; admired by the public for example Tom Cruise. There is also evidence that sects and cults can be of great influence to society – though it is debatable as to whether or not that is possible today in a society as apparently secular as ours. Weber suggests in his Theodicy of Disprivilege that because they offer a solution to problems: justification and explanation for life and its problems, to marginalised groups such as dropouts or ethnic minorities, world rejecting sects that offer status appeal to people. An example of this is Liberation Theology which was for the poorer people which had great influence upon the priorities of the Catholic Church in Latin America (though it has become more conservative, it continues to represent human rights and democracy). Bruce argues that it is not a religion and is instead a shallow, meaningless thing. Due to the elements of choice it offers, the choice about which bits to believe and whether to take its readings into account, it does not require commitment. This he argues prevents it having religious status. Post Modernists see it as being spiritual shopping: it is part of a consumerist culture. Despite not necessarily being a religion, there is lots of evidence to show that it has influenced society as a whole and, some sociologists would claim, aided secularisation. There is also evidence to show that it is unlikely to be particularly short lived as it fits in so well with our Capitalist, consumerist society and our individualistic values and is so profitable. Therefore, though there is strong evidence to show that sects and cults are ‘fringe organisations’, there is sufficient evidence to suggest that neither are short lived in themselves either through the Sectarian cycle or demand and supply (though sects tend to become denominations) and also to suggest that the influence of sects and cults on society is greater than expected; though the influence of sects and cults is exemplified by older examples and so one cannot be sure as to how successful they will be in today’s society, except in regards to specific sects and cults. In conclusion, the view that cults, sects are fringe organisations that are inevitably short-lived and of little influence in modern-day society, is on the whole not wholly correct but has some strength in that the permanency of all is arguable as is their status as fringe organisations. Assess the View That Cults and Sects Are Only Fringe Organisations That Are Inevitably Short Lived and of Little Influence in Contemporary Society. (2016, Mar 30). We have essays on the following topics that may be of interest to you

What is a Tradition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

What is a Tradition - Essay Example Traditions are usually instilled in us from a very young age. These traditions may be in the form of a Christmas morning, a Thanksgiving dinner, or simply just a family tradition that is unique to that specific family. All these events connect with something inside of us that make us look back fondly on them when we are older. Traditions define who we are and help to form our likes and dislikes, personal preferences, and characteristics. All of these traits are formed by the cultural traditions that we have been brought up in. The people who are closest to us generally shape our traditions because they have the greatest influence over our lives. The other thing about traditions is that they are highly memorable. This is because of the young age that we experience them and also because of the people who help to form them. These people are usually our family members because they are all that we have when we are young. Memorable traditions can be either good or bad; some traditions cause us to react negatively whenever we come across something similar in the future. The negative experience of a tradition may cause us to shy away from it in the future. For example, going to church is a strong tradition in some families. If we had a bad experience of attending church when we were younger, then we are more likely to react negatively to the idea of attending church once we are adults. Finally, traditions are ideally shared with those who we love because it reaffirms the importance and significance of them. If we participate in traditions with our loved ones, then we are more likely to feel comfortable while doing them. This will ultimately lead to the continuation of a tradition even once we are no longer with those who we love most. An example of this could be a yearly reunion between two older parents and their adult kids.  

Evaluation report Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Evaluation report - Personal Statement Example The coordination role involved communicating with the facilitators and the entire relevant department in immersion programs. After development of immersion programs such as the dual immersion program, monitoring and evaluation of the program effectiveness are carried out. Monitoring involves the evaluation of student participation in the programs and individual achievement of the students (Baker 23). Participatory evaluation was conducted by the use of team activities and personal reflections on every task undertaken. As a coordinator, I evaluated individual student participation through roll call and attendance registers. The evaluation of effectiveness was done in cooperation with the facilitators. The monitoring process was successful, and the program recorded an improvement in language proficiency of the learners. In terms of offering logistical support, the purchases of relevant materials have been done on time with the focus being on effective administration of the designed program. The inclusion of immersion outreach programs and visitation to other ISO immersion centers. Additionally, the designing of the programs and plans was undertaken after serious consultation with all stakeholders. The logistical challenges associated with immersion programs have been considerably reduced through interactive program development. The development of the isolation immersion program facilitates simulation of the real life activities with the language learnt. The program takes up to three days and involves the use of one language strictly. As a coordinator, the development of plans and participation in the Isolation immersion program with the students is vital. The designing of isolation immersion program entails designing planning and execution of the set plan (Baker 121). As coordinator, I organized a number of three day immersion events for students

Hinduism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 8

Hinduism - Essay Example Although I have always been interested in this subject but never had the time to learn more about it from books. This visit gave me a short course on the history of Hinduism. My expectations were met, and I had a fun learning time. I want to find out more through this interactive way about every topic. I took notes while I was there. They will surely help me in my studies. The hierarchical structure of Hindu Gods surprised me. I was aware that there are many Gods in Hinduism, but ranks and power structures came to me as a surprise. In addition, I was also interested in the use of colors in pictures and statues of Hindu Gods. For instance, blue color is extensively used. Hindus paint their idols (statues) blue or make their paintings and images. Their Gods also transform into other creatures or appear in some other manner than the regular ones. For instance, the Eugene Fuller Memorial Collection has a painting by Catherine Roche (see figure 1) where Vishnu, is painted blue, in the form of a boar and holding Lakshmi on his tusks. The sounds of temple bells and chanting of religious heads were the most prominent sounds. The mood of the gathering was very serious. Some people seemed to be meditating while some were whispering prayers. It was clearly visible how much they believed that their Gods were listening to their prayers. It was evident to see that their religion meant so much to them. They seemed to find comfort in their chanting. My personal reaction to Hindu practices and rituals is very objective. Religions, belief systems, self-esteem, and opinions are very sensitive subjects. They hold very high values for their followers. I observed Hindu practices and paintings as if I am discovering a new culture. Their philosophy of life and their Gods stand different from the Greek mythology. For instance, Hindus worship many idols. There are Gods with different powers and appearances but in the end they are all part

Research and Practice Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Research and Practice - Assignment Example From the above explanations, it is clear that research and practice revolves around adult learning. The basics adult learning and research rely on four major areas, which include experiential learning, self-directed learning, learning to learn, and critical reflection (Brookfield, 1995). On a personal point of view, reflective teaching and action research will greatly improve personal skills in teaching. This will in turn improve development students through effective teaching in class leading improved overall performance for both the teacher and the students. Teacher research will unite the practical and theory that is mostly associated with the practice of teaching. Action research involves five major steps, which as a practicing teacher prove to be very helpful. These steps involve planning, then taking into action, carrying out observation, reflecting on the outcome and finally re-planning on a more effective strategy (Kemmis & McTaggart, 1990). It is common for teachers involved in carrying out action research frequently raise their issues and observations reflecting their teaching and their students’ progress. Research therefore enables teachers and educators have an overview of problems and issues affecting their collective areas of interest. Action research therefore, helps teachers be in tune with their students prompting for improved classroom engagement between teacher and

The Communist Manifesto Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Communist Manifesto - Term Paper Example â€Å"The socialist and communist systems, properly so called†¦spring into existence in the early undeveloped period, described above, of the struggle between proletariat and bourgeoisie†(Marx and Engels, p.28). As pointed out in ‘The Communist Manifesto,’ the class struggle can be observed in the early epochs of human history. â€Å"Freeman and Slave, Patrician and Plebeian, lord and serf, guildmaster and journeyman† (Marx and Engels, p.3). These two classes were always facing each other in a feat that is characterized as oppressor and oppressed. The opening of the new market as America, The East-Indian and China gave rise to the bourgeoisie. Then, the old feudal system was not able to satisfy these markets, causing the manufacturing system to take place. Given the rise of the middle class, the bourgeoisie had turned every occupation into a wage-worker relationship and had constantly revolutionized production and expanding market causes the destructio n of local markets in old established nations. By demanding large quantity of raw materials and forcing nations to become bourgeoisie themselves and calling into existence the working class: The Proletariat(Marx and Engels, p.34). ... Under communism, all classes will disappear in the face of socialism. The proletarian in England, France and America had lost traces of national character and the bourgeois law, morality and religion had lost its appeal. The idea pertains to the destruction of all concept of individual property. This becomes a national struggle guided by the communist party. Eventually civil war is followed by a full blown revolution and the overthrow of the bourgeoisie is inevitable. Historically the serf, while serving, can rise above and become part of the commune as a small bourgeois under feudal society was able to develop into a bourgeois. As for the modern worker, instead of trying to keep up with the progress of the industry, this will only sink him deeper into poverty. Poverty can be seen to advance much faster than population and wealth. â€Å"The proletariat of each country must of course, first of all settle matters with their own bourgeoisie† (Marx and Engels, p.12). This is the m ain natural law that makes the bourgeoisie unfitted to be able to be the ruling class in a society. The bourgeoisie now may not take care of the wage-worker since it depends on the wage-worker to support it. This causes the elimination of the bourgeoisie by nature as it will not be able to define itself in the society. â€Å"The socialistic bourgeois want all the advantages of modern social conditions without the struggles and dangers necessarily resulting therefrom† (ibid, 27). The creation and augmentation of capital is at the heart of the condition for the existence of the bourgeoisie. The wage-worker is essential to create capital. It rests exclusively on competition for wage-worker. The

Ronald Reagan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Ronald Reagan - Essay Example Franklin Delano Roosevelt's populist rhetoric attracted Reagan to him and later influenced Reagan's speaking style† (Reagan 2020). During the early stages of his career, he landed a job as radio sports sportscaster, â€Å"first at WOC in Davenport, IA, later a full time staff announcer at WHO in Des Moines† (United States. Presidents p. vii). â€Å"However, his biggest break came in the year 1937, when he joined a screen test and succeeded him a contract in Hollywood. Reagan was a famous movie actor during the next two decades and he graced in a total of 53 films† (The White House). â€Å"Account of his personal life included a first marriage to actress Jane Wyman while filming the movie Brother Rat. His first child Maureen was born and Michael Reagan was adopted before their divorce in 1949† (United States Presidents viii). â€Å"In 2001, his first child Maureen passed away†( The White House). â€Å"In 1952, he remarried to a fellow actress in the person of Nancy Davis, with whom had two children, Patricia Ann and Ronald Prescott† (The White House). â€Å"Reagan and Davis appeared only in one film entitled Hell Cats of the Navy which was filmed in 1957. In 2002, they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary†. ... â€Å"In 1952, he campaigned as a Democrat for Eisenhower. Reagan accepted a job as spokesman for the General Electric Company† (Reagan 2020) which allowed him to â€Å"tour the country by giving speeches as General Electric’s spokes person† (United States President p. viii). He became an advocate for conservatism as this was evident during his speeches. â€Å"In 1960 Reagan joined the campaign of Richard Nixon when he ran for Presidency. In 1962, he officially made a swing to another party which is Republican. It was during his speech in the year 1964, where he appeared on a television address for Goldwater, A Time for Choosing, which officiated his bid to enter a political career. There were several groups who supported his political career, particularly, the group of California businessmen who placed him in his gubernatorial bid. His first autobiography entitled Where's the Rest of Me?  was published in 1965† (Reagan 2020). â€Å"Reagan was elected G overnor of California in 1966 by a margin of a million votes† (The White House). It was during this time when he conquered the incumbent governor then, Edmund G. Brown by a landslide of over a million votes. His success in the election as governor prepared him to become a leading contender for the Republican Presidential race in 1968 (Reagan 2020)†. â€Å"In the same year of 1968, he made a tentative run for the presidency, while waiting until the Republican National Convention to announce his candidacy† (Reagan 2020). He gave his support to Richard Nixon as he joined his massive supporters. â€Å"He sought for re-election as governor and won in 1970† (The White House). â€Å"In the year 1974, months after the expiration of his term as Governor, he began to write for a syndicated

The Communist Manifesto Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Communist Manifesto - Term Paper Example â€Å"The socialist and communist systems, properly so called†¦spring into existence in the early undeveloped period, described above, of the struggle between proletariat and bourgeoisie†(Marx and Engels, p.28). As pointed out in ‘The Communist Manifesto,’ the class struggle can be observed in the early epochs of human history. â€Å"Freeman and Slave, Patrician and Plebeian, lord and serf, guildmaster and journeyman† (Marx and Engels, p.3). These two classes were always facing each other in a feat that is characterized as oppressor and oppressed. The opening of the new market as America, The East-Indian and China gave rise to the bourgeoisie. Then, the old feudal system was not able to satisfy these markets, causing the manufacturing system to take place. Given the rise of the middle class, the bourgeoisie had turned every occupation into a wage-worker relationship and had constantly revolutionized production and expanding market causes the destructio n of local markets in old established nations. By demanding large quantity of raw materials and forcing nations to become bourgeoisie themselves and calling into existence the working class: The Proletariat(Marx and Engels, p.34). ... Under communism, all classes will disappear in the face of socialism. The proletarian in England, France and America had lost traces of national character and the bourgeois law, morality and religion had lost its appeal. The idea pertains to the destruction of all concept of individual property. This becomes a national struggle guided by the communist party. Eventually civil war is followed by a full blown revolution and the overthrow of the bourgeoisie is inevitable. Historically the serf, while serving, can rise above and become part of the commune as a small bourgeois under feudal society was able to develop into a bourgeois. As for the modern worker, instead of trying to keep up with the progress of the industry, this will only sink him deeper into poverty. Poverty can be seen to advance much faster than population and wealth. â€Å"The proletariat of each country must of course, first of all settle matters with their own bourgeoisie† (Marx and Engels, p.12). This is the m ain natural law that makes the bourgeoisie unfitted to be able to be the ruling class in a society. The bourgeoisie now may not take care of the wage-worker since it depends on the wage-worker to support it. This causes the elimination of the bourgeoisie by nature as it will not be able to define itself in the society. â€Å"The socialistic bourgeois want all the advantages of modern social conditions without the struggles and dangers necessarily resulting therefrom† (ibid, 27). The creation and augmentation of capital is at the heart of the condition for the existence of the bourgeoisie. The wage-worker is essential to create capital. It rests exclusively on competition for wage-worker. The

The Apartheid government Essay Example for Free

The Apartheid government Essay The Apartheid government was able to remain in power for 50 years because it ensured that strong opposition was unable to grow against it and had the means to suppress it by force when necessary.  When a society feels that its demands are being met, and that state action during crises is in its interest, it will feel authoritarian regime to abide to Locke’s social contract (Spragens, 1997: 34 ) and thus have the right to rule, even without democracy (Levi, 1988; McGuire Olson, 1996 as cited in Ghandi Przeworski, 2007: 1281). An authoritarian regime requires a overwhelming monopoly of force( Ghandi Przeworski, 2007).. It is however when states fail to economically grow or resolve crises, that authoritarian regime does collapse. Once the regime can no longer provide for society, citizens lose obligation to follow its rule and the regime can face overthrow. This is also true if it lacks military capabilities to protect society and thus ensure stability( Ghandi Przeworski, 2007). Authoritarian regime is furthermore at risk of collapse when relative deprivation occurs in society (Breslin, Hague Harrop, 1992). Board opposition coalescence combines efforts aimed at a superior regime alternative. It delegitimises standing authoritarian regimes as does international dimension factors, seeing as when one’s surrounding nations democratise, one’s own society will wish to democratise too. The apartheid government’s authoritarian rule survived for 50 year because of the initial lack of afore mentioned challenges. Before the country was excluded from the international community, the apartheid regime had command over the economy and satisfied the demands of white citizens, thus securing their legitimacy. Its initial financial support from abroad and surrounding nations’ late liberalisation, also buffered it from facing overthrow. By ensuring Black’s poverty, illiteracy and discrimination, the Apartheid regime further ensured their survival. It crushed revolts from the oppressed Black majority through military force. It furthermore enforced Bantu education, providing Black kids with inferior schooling, and the colour bar, limiting job availability and salary due to one’s race.  Blacks’ focus was moulded to be that of making a living, at the expense of their vote for half a decade.

The Challenges Faced By Environmental Management Systems Business Essay

The Challenges Faced By Environmental Management Systems Business Essay This research is about the Environmental Management System (ISO 14001) and does the packaging companies adopted (ISO 14001) because as we know packaging industry is one of the industry that generate massive amount of waste. Thus this waste must be managed carefully to reduce the impact to the environment. Further investigation will be carry out into the role that the packaging companies played towards the current environmental issues. Basically an Environmental Management System is a management system that can helps an organization to manage its environmental impacts and also a way which can minimize such impacts effectively in the long run. The packaging industry is an industry that responsible to enclosing or protecting certain products for distribution, longer duration of storage and also for marketing purposes to attract consumers. The environmental issue has been always the world agenda since early of 1992 when a group of international organisations for examples the United Nations Conference in Environmental and Development, World Health Organization and also the Non- Governmental Organization setting standards to maintain sustainable environment. The term sustainable environment was used by the well known Brundtland Commission which is now widely been quoted as development that meets the needs of present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The Environmental Management System (ISO 14001) is one of the standards in the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) family tree and the British Standard BS 7750 was the first standard to be created at that time. According to Krut and Gleckman (1998): This international association of national standard- setting bodies was set up to facilitate international commerce by standardizing technical specifications. It works closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). In many areas, from ATM cards to telecommunication bandwidths to plumping supplies, business and the public experience significant advantages from ISO and IEC activity. (Kurt and Gleckman, 1998, pp.2). Although the issues of environmental being a great debate from different group of people especially the environmentalist but there is still lack of awareness among the public itself. This is also due to the lack of commitment from the local government to convey this important message to the public. This topic was chosen because the researcher took the subject of Environmental Issues in Business before and found that in order to sustain in a business first we have to understand well about what is the Sustainable Environment and how does it affect a business in the long run. Research Aims Objectives The aim of this research is to examine the Environmental Management System (ISO 14001) practices in packaging companies located in North East of England. This followed by 3 objectives to fit with the aim above and there are: to identify the reasons of the adoption of the Environmental Management System, to identify the problems companies faced when getting certified to ISO 14001, and lastly to examine the companys performance before and after adopting the Environmental Management System. Literature Review In this section will discuss about the previous research has been done to this topic and also demonstrate to the reader how well does the researcher knows about this particular topic of Environmental Management System (ISO 14001). Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2007, p.57) commented that reviewing the literature critically will provide the foundation on which your research is built and also the main purpose is to help the researcher to develop a good understanding and insight into relevant previous research and the trend that have emerged. There are plenty of books, journals and articles discussing about the environmental issues, how does the industrial sector can minimize their waste by adopting the Environmental Management System and also why businesses needs to play an important role towards the sustainability of the environment. No doubt all human being living in this world today does created much of their own waste (motor cars and the consumptions of CFCs in air conditioners or refrigerators) to the environment itself but the waste and pollutions created from the industrial sector are much more severe. According to Whitelaw (1997): If we look back to the to the Industrial Revolution, we might see this as the period when the inventiveness and innovation of human beings, and the resultant mechanization of manufacturing processes began to have negative impacts upon the environment. Prior to this period, any negative environmental impacts tended to be localized for example, forest were cut down without any future regard. (Whitelaw, 1997, pp. 2). Another author does agree with the same argument above and stated that: Businesses are the core of the environmental debate and are central both to the pollution problem and to the solutionthe activities of industry provide employment, and investments drive economic growth. However, in doing so, be it because of the resources that they consumer, the processes they apply or the products that they manufacture, business activities are a major contributor to environmental destruction. (Welford, 1994, pp. 3). One of the solutions for businesses to minimize their wastage is to implement the Environmental Management System (EMS) and getting certification of ISO 14001. Jorgensen (2000) defined the EMS: An EMS is part of the enterprises overall management system. It includes the organizational structure, planning activities, responsibilities, practices, procedures, processes and resources for implementing and maintaining environmental management. It includes those aspects of management that plan, develop, implement, achieve, review, maintain and improve the enterprises environmental policy, objectives and targets. (Jorgensen, 2000, pp.75). Implementing the EMS does not only helps businesses to reduce their wastage but also will improve the environmental performance and this can lead to a better corporate image of the businesses itself. According to Jorgensen (2000): EMS offers a structured and systematic method to incorporate environmental care in all aspects of business. The aim is not only to comply with environmental regulations and minimize the (financial) risks of liabilities and costs but to improve the environmental performance continuously and through this improve corporate image and gain competitive advantage. (Jorgensen, 2000, pp. 75). There are many large organizations for example BT Group in UK which takes the environmental management very seriously into their business. According to BT Group: In 1990 the BT Board made a commitment to optimise environmental management across the company. Since then, we have made real strides towards our goal of world class environmental management. Climate change is higher than ever on the agenda for government and business. BTs response to this is a new plan which takes some ambitious steps to cut our emissions of carbon dioxide. Having already reduced our carbon footprint by 58% in the UK, we have now set a target to achieve an 80% reduction in our carbon intensity worldwide by 2020. BT consumes 0.7% of the UKs entire electricity, so we think we can make an important difference. We have pledged to reduce the amount of carbon we emit as a business and help others to do the same. We are encouraging our suppliers, customers and employees to take action. We also believe that communications technology can be harnessed to help address climate change. (http://www.btplc.com/Societyandenvironment/Environmentandclimatechange/Environmentandclimatec hange.htm, no date). Further discussion of the objectives and more detailed literature review will be covered in the later part of this research project. Methodology Research Approach Strategy The research approach that will be use to apply in this topic is the Inductive Approach. Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2007, p. 118) commented that the purpose (Inductive Approach) here would be to get a feel of what was going on, so as to understand better the nature of the problem. This approach is best to be combining with the qualitative data and is being suggested to use different kind of methods to collect the data in order to get different point of view. (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2007, p.119). Since the environmental issues can be categorized under the real life context, the Case Study Strategy is more suitable to use in this research as the case study strategy is based on a real life context investigation. Types of information required Information that is required for this research is to find out how the environmental issues affect the business sector especially the packaging companies in the north east of England (regulations that needs to be follow, government, investor and also the public pressure), did the business owners take any initiative to protect the environment, some useful data from the Environment Agency in UK, why those companies choose to adopt the EMS or get certified for ISO 14001 (corporate image, attract more investors and consumers, able to help the companies in certain way or just for the seek for adopting it) and lastly to compare the performance before and after adopting the EMS and also to create awareness to the companies that the importance of sustainable environment/business. Data collection The main data collection for this research project will be from conducting an interview with around 8 packaging companies that are located in the North East of England. The length of each interview will be approximately 15-25 minutes. Voice recording, video recording and notes taking will be acquire to form a transcript at the later part for this research. Semi- structured interviews is the type of interview to be use in this research as questions from interview can be omit or vary according to the background of the company and also the background of the interviewee. Secondary Data The secondary data collection is also one of the ways to collect data for the research project. Secondary data consists of 3 types and there are Documentary Secondary Data, Multiple Source- Secondary Data and the Survey Secondary Data. In order to meet the objectives in this research project, reports and database from the potential companies are very valuable and in addition the journals, articles, newspaper and also books publication could also be sources for this research. Documentary Secondary Data and the Multiple Source- Secondary Data will be used in the research. Methods/Strategy linked to project objectives

Henrik Isbens A Dolls House :: A Dolls House Essays

Women Have Come A Long Way   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"A Doll House† is no more about women’s rights than Shakespeare’s Richard II is about the divine right of kings, or Ghosts about syphilis. . . . Its theme is the need of every individual to find out the kind of person he or she is and to strive to become that person.† (Bloom 28) Ibsen portays this behavior in A Doll House through one of the main characters, Nora Helmer, by setting the scene in Norway in 1872. In the late 1800s, women did not play an important role in society at all. Their job was mainly to cook, clean, sew, take care of the children, and keep the house in order. They were treated as a material possession rather than a human being that could think and act for themselves and looked upon as a decorative member of the household. Women were robbed of their true identity and at the end of the play, Nora leaves everything behind to go out into the world to seek her identity.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This behavior can be traced back to the beginning of time when women were to stay home and gather nuts and berries, while the men would go out and do the hunting and fishing. The male always dominated over the women and it was not viewed as â€Å"unfair.† Male children would go to school to get an education in history, mathematics, science, english/writing, while the female would go to school to learn how to cook, sew, clean, and do household chores. The male could then further advance his education by attending a college or university, whereas no college would accept a women student. â€Å"The history of mankind is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations on the part of men toward woman, having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over her.† (Declaration of Sentiments) It was believed that women were the inferior gender and had to have special attention given to them. This idea dates back to the Medieval Period in history and is where the whole idea of chivalry came about and men having to provide special care. One can see that the idea of male superiority can be referenced back to very early on in civilization to the day A Doll House was written. â€Å"Torvald: You stay right here and five me a reckoning. You understand what you’ve done?

Film Essays - Comparison of the Movie, Life is Beautiful and the Bible

A Comparison of the Film, Life is Beautiful and the Bible Many elements of the film Life is Beautiful can compare to the Bible. For example, Guido, the main character, acts as a Christ figure in that he saves his son, Joshua from the evils of the Holocaust. Another example that compares with the Bible is the tank that is promised to Joshua. Finally, Guido’s death eventually saves Joshua from his own death. Such examples in the movie are comparable to examples in the Bible. In the film, Guido is a Christ figure to his son. During their imprisonment in the concentration camp, Guido explains things to his son in a way that shelters his son from the reality of what is happening. Guido loves his son and he protects his son from being hurt, even if doing so involved breaking rules and getting in trouble himself. In such a way did Jesus Christ love his followers. Jesus suffered to protect His people. Jesus loved his followers and was not selfish toward them. He always did what was right for the well being of His people, even when it was considered wrong or unla...

“No damn cat, and no damn cradle”: Truth and Meaning in Cat’s Cradle Essay

In Kurt Vonnegut’s apocalyptic novel, Cat’s Cradle, the end of the world has been realized. Plant life crunches underfoot, as though it has undergone a deep freeze. The tropical seas surrounding the fictional island of San Lorenzo have solidified, assuming a dull, frosted appearance. Grand waterfalls flowing from the majestic peak of Mount McCabe become lifeless. The once-scenic island horizon is transformed into a pale, sickly yellow. The introduction of ice-nine into the environment leads to radical weather patterns and global chaos. Ice-nine is a crystal form of water, much like standard ice, but with a melting point of 114.4 degrees Fahrenheit. When the compound makes contact with water, the liquid instantly freezes solid, turning a frosted blue. The novel begins with a brief but telling preface: â€Å"Live by the foma* that make you brave and kind and happy and healthy† (Vonnegut VII). â€Å"Foma† are defined as â€Å"harmless untruths† (Vonneg ut VII). While this brisk preface may merely seem to be a comical play on the standard disclaimer found within most fictional novels and therefore hold little significance, it sheds considerable light on the murky relationships between truth and meaning, as well as science and religion. Each train of thought has its own way of understanding and explaining the jumbled universe humans inhabit, and each claims to possess a high degree of truth. It is in this vivid and terrifying landscape that Vonnegut conveys to the reader through humor and symbolism that pursuing truth, whether through religion, science, or other pathways, is not an inherently positive or beneficial and does not aid one in the search for meaning in life. For hundreds of years, science and religion have been at odds. From the execution of the Greek philosopher Socrates to the Renaissance in Europe to modern times, the two opposing forces have always had an abrasive relationship. The beginning of the Enlightenment movement in Europe in the early 17th century marked a turn toward science, knowledge, and reasoning. It is from this era that modern society derives the notion that truth, along with the quest for it, is intrinsically constructive for humanity, along with the belief that lies are detrimental to the cause. In Cat’s Cradle, this is shown not to be the case. At the General Forge and Foundry, scientists and researchers work tirelessly â€Å"‘†¦to increase knowledge, to  work toward no end but that’† (Vonnegut 41). It is here that Felix Hoenikker, the father of the atom bomb and of ice-nine and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize (a prime example of Vonnegut’s trademark humor), spends the final twenty-eight years of his life toiling away in the confines of his lab. Felix is a very childlike character, incapable of caring for himself and struggling with interpersonal interactions. Following the death of his wife Emily while in labor with Newt, his daughter Angela assumes the maternal position of the disjointed household due to Felix’s childlike nature. She forgoes any social interaction with peers in order to hold the family together. Frank Hoenikker, the middle child, follows suit, becoming an antisocial figure in the book. He becomes known as â€Å"secret agent X-9† on account of his perpetual business-like demeanor. Felix neglects his parental duties, opting instead to spend time on research and scientific pursuits. John Tomedi views the scientist symbolically: â€Å"Hoenikker serves as a symbol of scientific irresponsibility, a man so withdrawn from humanity and so focused on childish play with nature that he has no perspective on the effects of his crea tions and a total apathy for theirs uses† (Tomedi 41). As a direct result of Felix’s actions, his children suffer from the lack of true parental figures. The Hoenikker children can be considered casualties of science and truth. It is at the General Forge and Foundry that two major scientific advancements are made: the nuclear bomb and ice-nine. While both represent cutting-edge scientific knowledge, the culmination of countless hours of research and development, neither invention represents the progression of humanity. As Vonnegut himself says, â€Å"It’s a law of life that if you turn up something that can be used violently, it will be used violently† (Allen 97). The atom bomb leads to the death of tens of thousands in the events at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, while ice-nine leads to the destruction of the entire world. The destructive nature of ice-nine and the atom bomb, inventions that were fostered by science, is in direct contradiction to the concept that science and knowledge benefit humankind due purely to their foundation in truth. Following the ice-nine catastrophe, John, the narrator and protagonist, finds himself in an underground fallout shelter with another resident of the island. John offers to share with her â€Å"‘One of the secrets of life man was a  long time understanding: Animals breathe in what animals breathe out, and vice versa’† (Vonnegut 268). One with basic knowledge of science would immediately notice an error in the writing. The text should read something to the effect of â€Å"animals breathe in what plants breathe out.† This inconsequential error proves Vonnegut’s point: the truth is irrelevant. The misinformation changes nothing. This â€Å"factoid† proves useless, not due to its false nature, but rather to its real world application, or lack thereof. One Another parallel experience occurs at the bar in the town of Ilium. While John is enjoying a drink, he poses a question: â€Å"‘What is the secret of life?’ I asked. ‘I forge t,’ said Sandra. ‘Protein,’ the bartender declared. ‘They found out something about protein’† (Vonnegut 25). Again, this piece of information has little relevance in the real world. It is not going to improve humanity or save one’s life. It is merely a fact to satisfy one’s curiosity. Vonnegut also uses humor to prove his point: â€Å"How can anybody in his right mind be against science?’ asked Crosby. ‘I’d be dead right now if it wasn’t for penicillin,’ said Hazel. ‘And so would my mother.’ ‘How old is your mother?’ I inquired. ‘A hundred and six. Isn’t that wonderful?’ (Vonnegut 234). The use of the word â€Å"wonderful† is questionable. A long life does not equate to a quality one. Science, being founded on truth and knowledge, does not benefit humanity. On the tropical island of San Lorenzo, the denizens of the country would be faced with t he depressing truth if it were not for the deliberate lies of Bokononism. In 1922, two friends, Lionel Boyd Johnson and Earl McCabe, shipwreck on the island shortly after setting sail. The state of the nation is so poor, no one attempts to prevent the foreigners from taking power. Initially, the duo resorts to a form of communism. They amass the entire wealth of the nation and divide it equally among its many residents. Each islander’s share amounts to approximately six dollars. Realizing the futility of their efforts to advance the island economically, they turn to another solution: religion. Johnson devises his own religion, which becomes known as Bokononism. To add some zest to the monotonous life on the island, the partners develop roles to fulfill in a sort of play. Johnson becomes known as Bokonon, while McCabe becomes a violent dictator whose sole mission is to capture and kill Bokonon. This drama contributes greatly to the popularity of the religion, thus benefitting the island population. The islanders are subject to substandard  living conditions: poverty, pestilence, and famine are prevalent. The island lacks the necessary resources to develop. They face a bleak and hopeless future. Rather than facing the reality of day-to-day life, they adopt the fabricated religion of Bokononism: †¦when it became evident that no government or economic reform was going to make the people much less miserable, the religion became the one real instrument of hope. Truth was the enemy of the people, because the truth was so terrible, so Bokonon made it his business to provide the people with better and better lies. (Vonnegut 172) Following a similar form to the beginning of the actual novel, the Books of Bokonon, the religion’s equivalence to the Bible, warns the reader: â€Å"‘Don’t be a fool! Close this book at once! It is nothing but foma!’† (Vonnegut 265). This line establishes the illegitimate nature of the Books of Bokonon, and, subsequently, the religion of Bokononism in its entirety. The lack of truth is beneficial because â€Å"When people believe that they have the ‘Truth,’ they seek to impose their beliefs on others, and religious wars are the inevitable result. The highest truth in Bokonon’s religion is that all spiritual truths are actually useful fictions, creations of the imagination that do not exist outside of the human mind. The meaning of life is not something we can discover in the outside world. We must create it for ourselves† (Marvin 89). The religion is openly founded on falsehoods. In spite of this, the residents of San Lore nzo experience a real, tangible benefit. The stark reality of life on the barren island is too much to bear; therefore, Bokonon feeds the residents compounding lies. Bokononism proves more beneficial to the residents of San Lorenzo than the alternative: science. Though at its foundation Bokononism is series of untruths, that fact does not limit the religion in its ability to aid those in need. Vonnegut portrays all religions as unreliable texts despite claims to the contrary. The island’s dictatorial president, Papa Monzano, is dying a miserable death from cancer. As his death nears, Papa undergoes his last rites with the aid of a †¦Christian minister, who was ready to take care of â€Å"Papa’s† spiritual needs as they arose. He had a brass dinner bell and a hatbox with holes drilled in it, and a Bible, and a butcher knife- all laid out on the bench beside him. He told me there was a live chicken in the hatbox. The chicken was quiet, he said, because he had fed it  tranquilizers†¦ He turned out to be an intelligent man. His doctorate, which he invited me to examine, was awarded by the Western Hemisphere University of the Bible of Little Rock, Arkansas†¦ He had said that he had had to feel his way along with Christianity, since Catholicism and Protestantism had been outlawed along with Bokononism. â€Å"So, if I am to be a Christian un der those conditions, I have to make up a lot of new stuff.† (Vonnegut 214) Much like Bokonon, the Christian minister fabricates new aspects of the religion to suit his needs.   Daniel Minguez offers a thorough inspection: â€Å"This examination implies that one may rely upon an iteration of Christianity with the same confidence of its truth as one may rely upon their own guesswork at the workings of the universe†¦ It shows that Christianity is just as effective without the accepted dogma of the Catholic or Protestant church and renders the text as inconsequential to the enactment of Christianity itself†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Minguez 9) The Christian minister offers a distorted and absurd version of the religion. He makes additions to the religion with little regard for its supposed sanctity despite having been well educated. By doing so, he strips Christianity, in addition to all religion, of its credibility. Religion and science are used as vehicles to pursue a deeper question regarding humanity: what is the purpose of life? The world inhabited by humans is mysterious, unpredictable, and ultimately meaningless. The characters in Cat’s Cradle are in search of purpose and meaning. In an attempt to find such, they supplement religion and science for true understanding. Bokononism and science strive to create meaning and purpose for the lives their followers. Bokononists believe â€Å"†¦that humanity is organized into teams, teams that do God’s Will without ever discovering what they are doing. Such a team is called a karass†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Vonnegut 2). This is the stated purpose of Bokononism: to carry out God’s will. Though Bokononism does not explicitly condemn the attempt to understand God, it merely states that â€Å"such investigations are bound to be incomplete† (Vonnegut 4). One cannot understand or comprehend God: I once knew an Episcopalian lady in Newport, Rhode Island, who asked me to design and build a doghouse for her Great Dane. The lady claimed to understand God and His Ways of Working perfectly. She could not understand why anyone should be puzzled about what had been or about what was going to be. And yet, when I showed her a blueprint of the doghouse I proposed to build, she said to me,  Ã¢â‚¬Å"I’m sorry, but I never could read one of those things.† â€Å"Give it to your husband or your minister to pass it on to God,† I said, â€Å"and, when God finds a minute, I’m sure he’ll explain this doghouse of mine in a way that even you could understand.† She fired me. I shall never forget her. She believed that God liked people in sailboats much better than He liked people in motorboats. She could not bear to look at a worm. When she saw a worm, she screamed. She was a fool, and so am I, and so is anyone who thinks he sees what God is Doing. (Vonnegut 4) This does little to satisfy m an’s natural desire to know and understand his environment because â€Å"†¦any invented sense-making system is continually disproved by man’s immediate experience of the world, and the arbitrariness of events perpetually defeats any system of alleged causalities† (Bloom 91). Man must learn to accept such a situation: Tiger got to hunt, Bird got to fly; Man got to sit and wonder, â€Å"Why, why, why?† Tiger got to sleep, Bird got to land; Man got to tell himself he understand. (Vonnegut 182) In man’s attempt to create meaning, he may weave fiction to appease his desire for purpose, though such systems are deemed invalid. It is man’s responsibility to forge purpose and meaning for one’s existence. Vonnegut’s writings in Cat’s Cradle show that truth is not innately positive, and that lies are the opposite. Science, sharing an intimate relation to truth and knowledge, is the source of significant regression and damage to humanity in the form of the nuclear bomb and ice-nine. The atom bomb produces suffering, death, and environmental damage on an unprecedented scale, while ice-nine utterly annihilates all life on the planet. On the other hand, the fabricated religion of Bokononism, while founded on falsehoods, brings hope to the otherwise hopeless. It creates a veil to mask the otherwise unavoidable reality of life on the barren island of San Lorenzo. Bokononism and science are used by their followers to create meaning and purpose in their lives. This leads to the final conclusion that it is ultimately up to man to create meaning for an otherwise meaningless existence. Works Cited Allen, William R., ed. Conversations with Kurt Vonnegut. Jackson: University of Mississippi, 2001. Print. Bloom, Harold, ed. Modern Critical Interpretations: Kurt Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle. Broomall: Haights Cross Communications, 2002. Print. Marvin, Thomas F. Kurt Vonnegut: A Critical Companion. Westport: Greenwood, 2002. Print. Minguez, Daniel. â€Å"Cat’s Cradle: The Apocalypse of Human Thought.† OxyScholar. Occidental College, 1 Apr. 2009. Web. 13 Feb. 2013. Tomedi, John. Great Writers: Kurt Vonnegut. Philadelphia: Chelsea House, 2004. Print.

Brennaz

I have chosen to investigate the question Which of the qualities shown by an entrepreneur has most contributed to the success of their business? An entrepreneur Is a person who sets up a business, taking on financial risks In the hope of profit. Entrepreneurs need a lot of qualities In order to succeed In a business. An entrepreneur needs to be determined, persuasive, he also needs to use his Annihilative, be a good leader, a good decision maker and a good risk taker. I chose to use ‘manmade newsagents' as the business I wanted to investigate. Manmade Newsagents is a successful corner shop in Compton, Plymouth.They make money through a variety of ways such as selling food and drink, but the main way they make money Is by selling newspapers. They hire 30 paper boys at a time, who Individually deliver an average of 45 papers every morning. The owner of this shop is Graham Lam, a willing worker who is always happy to lend a helping hand and to make quick decisions, the workers at the shop say he is always happy and keeps the mood upbeat by making cups of tea often for the workers and allowing workers to have free food from the shop on certain occasions such as birthdays.The different entrepreneurial skills a business owner such as Graham needs are as listed: Determination – http://tolerance. Reference. Com/browse/determination Leadership – http://hob. Org/2004/01/watchmakers-leader/AR/1 Risk Taker An individual or business that tends to behave in a way that can potentially cause physical harm or financial loss, but might also present an opportunity for a rewarding outcome. Most business types that thrive on innovation will encourage a risk taker mentality among management to help support the creative process in other staff members.Source: http://www. Objectifications. Com/definition/risk-taker. HTML) Graham Lam used great leadership skills in order to succeed in his business. He did this by motivating staff on a regular basis, often offering a free compliment to those workers who he felt had impressed him over the course of the week, this seemed to work so he carried on doing It. The commitment and enthusiasm of a business leader shapes the common goals of the organization which provides inspiration and motivation for people to perform at a high level.When I asked his kills; 87% said yes and the other 13% said it didn't help them at all. To succeed with a business you must be a good leader, this keeps the people working for you organized and in order. A good leader is one Who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way Noon C. Maxwell). In a competitive business environment, effective leadership is an essential requirement in order to achieve organizational goals. To do this, leaders must be able to provide inspiration, motivation and clear direction to their team.

Ethical Issues in International Business Essay

Tip usually refers to an offer made after services have been rendered. It is not of a legal concern. However, bribing is something of serious concern and it is questionable. Bribing to get a business contract is to secure favor against a party. However, when tip is offered in large amount in order to get a bigger table, it cannot be said as similar to bribing. But it has very little ethical concern compared to bribing for securing a business contract. Securing a better table is having a favor by offering a heavy tip but it does not stand equivalent to bribery. Bribing is more serious because it can affect business dealings and contract loss of the opposing party against which bribe is offered. For example, if two parties wanted to have same contract, but one of them bribed to gain the contract then the other party is a looser and lost their contract and business. So just securing a good table is not of very serious concern as compared to securing of business contract. Bribing is to harm others and gain favor when other party was strong enough to beat the competition. Securing a better table is much less serious issue and it does not involve any legal concerns and does not harm others. But though, it is just getting an advantage over others and getting better place than others. But now-a-days people have started offering heavy tips to have a better table. The moral here is this that thinking of oneself as more important than others. Though in both cases it somewhat looks the same that you’re offering money to get favor and advantage over others. But deeper consequences, legal issues and ethical issues are involved in case of bribing. Securing a table does not involve any legal issues or ethical issues of deeper concern. Tipping cannot be said compatible to bribing. Bribery is far more immoral attitude compared to securing a table. It involves breaking a deal with one party when it already had 90% chances to secure the deal before bribery. Hence, the company who actually deserved the right to have a contract looses it and the one who were not qualified get the deal by offering bribe. Thus, it is an immoral approach, promise breaking, and snatching of rights of other party. It may also involve some legal issues when damages incurred are severe because of bribe. Alienation of agency is one of the worst immoralities, and it happens when bribe-taker’s company breaks the deal or contract with another party after receiving the bribe. There are several other severe consequences of bribe apart from alienation of agency (Andrade, 1985). Therefore, it is understandable that bribe is totally an immoral act. And sometimes it becomes so necessary to bribe that in certain countries nothing gets done if you don’t give bribe (Koukl, 1996). Bribe also results in injustice and prevent justice among the parties. Securing a good table at restaurant, though, to seek a better place in restaurant and to have better service and favor over others is not a severe case as bribery is. Many restaurant owners admit that there is ‘little choice between the tables and only to make more money we reserve some fancy tables. ’ Our morals and ethical issues are not much of concern in having better table. But bribery has several and immoral consequences.

Language & Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Language & Culture - Essay Example As the essay stresses language diversity has always existed in America. It has never declared any national language in the last 200 years. Until two decades ago, Americans did not have to provide bilingual ballots, education, publications, and similar services at public expense. To manage diversity many nations had to declare an official language but America did not have to. In the 19th century state laws, constitution and legislative proceedings appeared in languages as diverse as Welsh, Norwegian, Czech, Spanish, French, and German. America has migrants from many countries of the world. Three US States are officially bilingual. Louisiana has English and French, New Mexico (English and Spanish), and Hawaii (English and Hawaiian). This discussion declares that it is impossible to generalize the meaning of an official language. If a small country like Iceland declares an official language it is workable but it is not practical for a country like Canada. Recently the colony of Puerto Rico ended its official bilingualism in favor of Spanish as its sole official language. Japan is not adopting English as the second official language and it fears that it would lose its leading position in the world. It fears losing its culture if English is added as the second official language. Canada is officially bilingual under the Official Languages Act and the Constitution of Canada that require the federal government to deliver services in both official languages, namely English and French. Approximately 25% of Canadians speak French.