Thursday, December 26, 2019

Theory of Consumers Planned Behaviour, the Hierarchy of Affects Free Essay Example, 1250 words

In general, it is quite essential to state that in fact, consumers may act based on standard learning, low-involvement, and experiential hierarchy, which means they respond to product or service based on the problem-solving manner, limited knowledge, or on the basis of emotion (Philips, 1997, p. 111). However, in a certain study, it was revealed that due to the advancement of technology, primarily in the onset of the Internet, consumers have momentarily grown their power and empowerment (Labrecque et al. , 2013, p. 257). This means that the consumers potential to respond to product or service may not only be limited to the hierarchy of effects but above anything else, on the prevailing innovations or trends. The onset of social media networks allows customers to become more sophisticated. This is something that was hardly predicted by consumer behavior theory in the past, particularly in the case of the hierarchy of effects. Taking the case of theory of reasoned action as a consume r behaviour theory, it is assumed that social pressures could lead to the actual act of buying (Peter and Olson, 2007, p. 152; Kardes et al. , 2014, p. 205). We will write a custom essay sample on Theory of Consumers Planned Behaviour, the Hierarchy of Affects or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Ancient Architecture Ancient And Medieval Architecture

Religion’s Architecture Ancient and Medieval Architecture spans from the meaningful Zygurats in Mesopotamia to the elaborate Gothic Churches in France. Architecture has been influenced by many factors like environment, politics, and culture. However, the greater factor that influenced Ancient and Medieval Architecture is religion. Religion, Gods, and the heavens where the key factors in creating Mesopotamian Ziggurats, Egyptian Pyramids, Greek Temples, Christian Basilicas, Islamic Mosques, and Romanesque and Gothic churches. The Deir el-Bahri and the Mortuary temples of Queen Hatshepsut are influenced by nature, since the temples lay adjacent to the Nile River. The Deir el-Bahri was located further to avoid flooding, local materials also influenced how architecture was made in all non-trading civilizations. In the Roman Empire, politics were the reason architecture was being made; emperors commissioned the structures. An example of architecture influence by culture are Minoan and Mycenaean architecture. Architecture in Knossos symbolized the lenient and easy going culture in the Minoan civilization. In contrast, Architecture in Mycenae symbolized the militaristic and war-centered culture of the Mycenaean culture. Even though environment, politics, and culture had a significant role in Ancient and Medieval Architecture, religion was the most influential factor in Ancient and Medieval architecture. In Mesopotamia, the region in-between current day Iran, Iraq,Show MoreRelatedRenaissance Architecture Vs Gothic Architecture1390 Words   |  6 PagesRenaissance architecture is the European architecture of the period between the early 14th and early 17th centuries in different regions, demonstrating a conscious revival and development of certain elements of ancient Greek and Roman thought and material culture. Stylistically, Renaissance architecture followed Gothic architecture and was succeeded by Baroque architecture. Developed first in Florence, with Filippo Brunelleschi as one of its innovators, the Renaissance style quickly spread to otherRead MoreArt and Architecture in the Middle Ages and Renaissance Essay949 Words   |  4 Pagesmost visible through art and architecture, demonstrated specifically through an emphasis on religion or classical antiquity, and humanity. During the Middle Ages, art was more religious because it had a very religious influence from the church ha ving such great power in the community. When the Renaissance started, art became more focused on ancient Greece. The Greek influence was because scholars were broadly studying the revival of classical antiquity. The architecture was affected in the same wayRead MoreArchitecture: Classical Greek vs. Medieval Gothic Essays996 Words   |  4 PagesArchitecture: Classical Greek vs. Medieval Gothic Wendy DeLisio HUM_266 September 24, 2012 Taniya Hossain Architecture: Classical Greek vs. Medieval Gothic Looking at the design of different structures throughout the world, one may not realize the beauty of the art in each of them or the ideals on which they were constructed. For example the classical Greek era, 480 BCE – 330 BCE that held the ideals ofRead MoreThe Colosseum : Cultural And Cultural Values1305 Words   |  6 Pagesthe building is able to develop a language of classical architecture in Rome. The thesis statement of the present essay can be stated as ‘The extent to which the architectural building of ‘The Colosseum’ in Rome depicts the cultural and societal values and principles practiced in Ancient Roman Society’. Critical Analysis of the architectural building ‘The Colosseum’ ‘The Colosseum’ is regarded as one of the best work of the Rome architecture and engineering. It is situated in the centre of the cityRead MoreThe Importance Of Neoclassical Architecture In Europe1077 Words   |  5 Pagesprogressed throughout the Renaissance was architecture. In particular, the neoclassical architecture and the architects and building structures they applied to mark a rebirth of classical culture, using many ancient Roman forums. Another advance was the scientific progression of medicine, and how legalising human dissections, improved the understanding of human anatomy which then enhanced health of the population. The advancement of neoclassical architecture during the Renaissance benefit the developmentRead MoreMost Memorable Works Of Architecture971 Words   |  4 PagesThere have been many memorable works of architecture in ancient history. So many, in fact, that it can sometimes be pretty overwhelming. It is always interesting to think about how much these individuals of the ancient world built given how behind they were compared to our lives today. In the big scheme of things, they were actually probably better off than we are today. One of the most admired and intricate works of architecture from the medieval French era is known as the Chartres Cathedral (AKARead MoreThe Renaissance And The Medieval Period1658 Words   |  7 Pages1. What is new about the Renaissance, compared to the medieval period that we studied in the last unit? The word Renaissance means revival or rebirth. This word comes from the European civilizations that follows behind the Middle Ages. It was held to characterize an interest in classical learning and values. The Renaissance dealt with the discovery and exploration of new continents, a decline in the growth of commerce and feudal systems. This new birth of resurrection is considered to have begunRead MoreThe Dark Ages1025 Words   |  5 Pagesscience, Carolingian Renaissance, Byzantine Golden Age, Islamic Golden Age, Commercial Revolution, mathematics, art, architecture, improved weather conditions, improvement upon laws, agricultural boom, the printing press (a fundamental part of journalism today), theater, Islam, and impressive leaders. The Dark Ages were not as dark as they are generally made out to be, for the art/architecture, agriculture, and the sciences/mathematics of that time, awe and impact today’s world. There were three stylesRead MoreComparison Between Roman And Roman Civilization1622 Words   |  7 Pagesimplied that the event occurred at Rome, perhaps to evoke more strong memories of Roman civilization. The event marked the end of the Hunnic invasion, and represented one of the last moments of pride in ancient Roman civilization (Priore 171). The premise of the entire fresco was based off of an ancient Roman event, following the ever present Renaissance trend of going back to the classics. However, a twist within the painting was the presence of St. Peter and St. Paul, as angelic beings floating withRead MoreGreek and Roman Architectural Influences in Modern Society Essay1335 Words   |  6 PagesThere are many imitations, and reproductions of Greek and Roman forms in the modern society of today. Even though the times of the great Ancient Greek and Roman Empires have passed, people of today are still able to honor their legacy with their long-lasting influences on modern societ y today, especially in architecture. If one just looks at today’s style of buildings, they can see the similarities between the two different time spans. Back in the golden days of Greece, one of the top priorities

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Macbeth The theme that is brought up early in this play is fate and predestination Essay Example For Students

Macbeth: The theme that is brought up early in this play is fate and predestination Essay The theme that is brought up early in this play is fate and predestination. This was very much part of the Protestant belief at the time of Macbeth. Ones future was mapped out to a certain extent ultimately leading to salvation or damnation. In Macbeths case it was damnation and failure. This theme was displayed early in the play. Macbeth and Banquo have recently been in a tough battle with rebels and have won the victory for Scotland. Duncan rewards Macbeth for his courage by giving him the title Thane of Cawdor. This title previously belonged to one who was a most disloyal traitor so it seems Macbeth was destined to become one himself. But Duncan himself does not tell Macbeth. He is told by three witches he meets on the lonely moor. Macbeth is surprised to be told by the witches but even more so when they proclaim he will be King: Act 1 Scene 3 First Witch All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis Second Witch All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor Third Witch All hail Macbeth, that shall be King here after. However, certain issues must be raised. The question has to be asked à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" Are the witches predicting his future or are they trying to manipulate him into doing something he would regret? The witches may have been told by someone about Macbeth receiving the honour of being Thane of Cawdor before the information got to him. Macbeth was destined to fail as soon as he thought about being King. Thinking about being would have made him exercise thoughts about killing Duncan in order to be King more quickly. In those days it was believed that the Monarch was appointed by God and therefore any attempt to usurp the Monarch was sacrilegious. This is made clear to us when Duncans sons discover their father dead. McDuff says: Act 2 Scene 3 Confusion now hath made his masterpiece Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope The Lords appointed temple and stole thence The life othbuilding. McDuff says that the life of the Lords anointed temple has been stolen. He means that Duncan was the life of God and this life was stolen because he is dead. This shows a strong belief that Kings were appointed by God. This belief is called The Divine Rights of Monarchs and once again shows that Macbeth was destined to fail when he killed Duncan. Macbeths moral dilemma when considering murdering Duncan, and the religious terminology he uses illustrates how he knows that the act he is considering is immoral and that he will be punished accordingly. However he is still seduced by offers of greatness. He says: Act 1 Scene 7 But in these cases We still have judgement here that we but teach Bloody instructions, which being taught, return To plague thinventor Even  though he will receive greatness for murdering Duncan, it will come back to haunt him or he might even be killed himself. This once again shows that Macbeth was destined to fail. It is obvious to us that Macbeth is attracted to the idea of murdering Duncan but he knows it is an evil act: Act 2 Scene 1 Nature seems deadà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ wicked dreamsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Witchcraft celebrates Pale Hecates offringà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Withered murderà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ wolfà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ howlsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Tarquins Ravishing stridesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ ghost All of these things represent evil and it shows what was going through Macbeths mind. Even still he contemplated murdering Duncan. This shows that he was once again destined to fail. .ucc9e68f2e9ea3771a98117ae26ac3038 , .ucc9e68f2e9ea3771a98117ae26ac3038 .postImageUrl , .ucc9e68f2e9ea3771a98117ae26ac3038 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ucc9e68f2e9ea3771a98117ae26ac3038 , .ucc9e68f2e9ea3771a98117ae26ac3038:hover , .ucc9e68f2e9ea3771a98117ae26ac3038:visited , .ucc9e68f2e9ea3771a98117ae26ac3038:active { border:0!important; } .ucc9e68f2e9ea3771a98117ae26ac3038 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ucc9e68f2e9ea3771a98117ae26ac3038 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ucc9e68f2e9ea3771a98117ae26ac3038:active , .ucc9e68f2e9ea3771a98117ae26ac3038:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ucc9e68f2e9ea3771a98117ae26ac3038 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ucc9e68f2e9ea3771a98117ae26ac3038 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ucc9e68f2e9ea3771a98117ae26ac3038 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ucc9e68f2e9ea3771a98117ae26ac3038 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ucc9e68f2e9ea3771a98117ae26ac3038:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ucc9e68f2e9ea3771a98117ae26ac3038 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ucc9e68f2e9ea3771a98117ae26ac3038 .ucc9e68f2e9ea3771a98117ae26ac3038-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ucc9e68f2e9ea3771a98117ae26ac3038:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: There are two different parts to this play one is EssayThe murder of Duncan and the upsetting of the pre-ordained order is illustrated symbolically by the in incident with the owl and the falcon: Act 2 Scene 4 old man Tis unnatural, Even like the deed thats done on Tuesday last At a falcon tow ring in her pride of place Was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed This is showing that the less powerful and important is killing the more powerful and important. It is a parallel to Macbeth killing Duncan. Macbeth usurped Duncans position and this is unnatural or wrong occurrence. Macbeth is defying the natural order and therefore defying God therefore he will be punished and this punishment will be failure. This manifestation of Gods will was central to the belief system of Low Church Christians in the early 17th Century, of which James I was one. This play serves as a warning to those wanting to kill the monarch at the time of the play. The Gunpowder Plot is referred to at the beginning of Act 2 Scene 3: Knock, knock. Whos there in thother devils name? Faith, heres an equivocator that could swear in both the Scales against either scale, who committed treason Enough for Gods sake, yet could not equivocate to Heaven. O, come in, equivocator. The Porter seems to be referring to the Jesuit father Garnet, who tried to save his life with his specious arguments but who was executed in 1606 for complicity in the Gunpowder Plot. He especially refers to the Jesuit priests equivocal oaths when he says for Gods sake. The plotters were condemned and this is parallel to Macbeth being condemned à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" his madness and suffering along with that of his wife are symbolic of the punishment awaiting the traitors. His punishment comes in several ways. Firstly he cannot sleep at night, secondly he keeps visualising the ghost of Banquo and thirdly and ultimately he himself is killed. James I defeating the plotters and Malcom and McDuff defeating Macbeth are examples of the theme good versus evil. If good were not to prevail then the whole socio-cultural fabric that underpinned 17th Century life would be destroyed making society unstable. This is proved in the years following  the death of James I. His successor Charles I was impeached and he was eventually executed after the Civil War. Also the governments of the Interregnum and the Protectorate had failed.

Monday, December 2, 2019

Separate Peace Essays (539 words) - Phillips Exeter Academy

Separate Peace It was a hot and humid summer, while World War Two was in progress. The summer holidays was the time when all the friends were together at the Devon School. The students at this school were enjoying themselves either studying, doing leisure activities or just relaxing under the hot sun. One special group of friends usually played lacrosse throughout the summer but this activity became obsolete with newer things. Phineas the daring athlete told his group of friends to follow him. He led them to a tall tree by the river. Phineas slowly climbed up the tree, not thinking about the height or the danger of falling from the tree. As Phineas stood on the branch, he jumped cautiously making a sharp dive into the muddy river. He encouraged the others to jump too, but everyone refused from great freight. Then Phineas really pressured Gene a lonely intellectual into jumping off the tree. Gene tried to refuse but he wasn't strong enough. Gene felt like he had no choice, so he climbed the tree and slowly jumped into the river once he was at the top. As he landed, he smiled and enjoyed the thrill of that experience. After Gene came out of the river he was praised by everyone around because of his bravery. Phineas and Gene were room mates at this all male school and their relationship as friends was getting stronger each day because Gene admired Phineas for his bravery and Phineas admired Gene because he listened to him. Phineas decided to make a club called the Super Suicide Society of the Summer Session. Every night these members of the club met in a private area and they talked about the next day, sports, but mostly about the war. Further on during the novel Gene became more like Phineas. Phineas was always late for classes and never serious which meant trouble. Phineas was against the fighting that was occurring over seas because many young men were dying. Finny a friend to Phineas and Gene was an excellent skier. The Army needed people like Finny, so Finny considered joining the war. This upset Phineas because he didn't want his friends or anyone to join the bloody war. One day Gene and Phineas went to the tree again. As the two stood at the top of the tree, Gene pushed Phineas into the river. Instead of falling into the river, Phineas fell on the muddy ground beside the river. The next week Gene went to visit Phineas at the hospital. Phineas didn't feel that Gene was responsible for the fall that he had but Gene felt that he was. Almost a month went by and Phineas came back to school. All his friends welcomed his return. That night the friends talked about the war, and Phineas couldn't take the opinions the others had about the war. He angrily stormed off with his crutches. As Phineas was going down the stairs, he fell and hurt his leg again. Phineas was taken to the hospital. This time the Doctors had to amputate his leg. As the operation was under going Phineas' heart stopped because he had too much morphine for his pains. At Phineas' funeral Gene felt like he was responsible for Phineas' death. Days had gone by and Gene wanted to get away from the Devon School, since it brought far too many bad memories. He enlisted into the army to join Finny and many other's.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Rural Cellular essays

Rural Cellular essays Making its home in Minnesota and owning and operating cellular and digital phone service companies in thirteen states, the Rural Cellular Corporation is quickly making a name for itself. Sense its inception in 1990 Rural Cellular Corporation, or RCC, has become the ninth largest rural cellular company in the country. A rural cellular company is exactly what it sounds like. It has no holdings or contracts in major metropolitan areas, but instead it groups together small rural cellular carriers and providers into one large corporation. By starting in their home state of Minnesota, they have branched out to all sectors of the country, including Washington, Oregon, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Mississippi, Alabama, New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Maine. By gathering up small cellular companies in these areas, RCC has given itself a foothold in fast growing areas of the country. As they have grown in location, so have they grown in service and product they offer. They have just recently begun to offer digital phone service in some of their areas, while at the same time they have implemented paging and phone service packages. By packaging these together they offer the convenience of a mobile phone with the practicality of a pager. Something that will benefit both the businessman and the family man. Just by taking a quick look at the RCC annual report, you may see a company that is in excellent condition, and is on a sure footing for the future. However, certain aspects of this company are raising my suspicions of a short-lived existence. The annual report I received and analyzed is from 1999. When I requested the most current report, the 2000 was unavailable. Therefore, the numbers I relied on and cite throughout this analysis are one year old. As a whole, the annual report is very easy to follow and understand. The first twenty pages are charts, graphs, time-lines...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

What is the future of recruiting as a profession

What is the future of recruiting as a profession Attention recruiters- are you feeling a bit of existential despair when it comes to your profession? If so, you’re not alone. Most of us go through inflection periods at various points in our careers and begin to wonder if we’re stuck in a dead-end profession, merely punching a clock and wasting time that would be better spent doing something- anything- else.These moments of professional introspection can be scary but they can also be really beneficial- they can help you take stock of your current levels of career happiness and fulfillment, and possibly plan for a change if needed. Or, they can help you think through a potentially incomplete way of thinking and make you reappreciate your current field or position. Both of these can be positive and beneficial steps, despite the fact that they can feel overwhelming or scary in the moment.If you’re a recruiter and are starting to feel as if you’re in a dead end job, first acknowledge that it’s a questi on many of us ask about our careers these days, as technology and innovation rapidly change and reshape the ways in which we think, work, and live our lives in fundamental ways. In addition, the more time we spend doing a specific set of tasks, the more likely it is that fatigue will set in- which is perfectly normal. This fatigue might make it temporarily feel as if you’re in a dead-end job, or it might be an indication that you’re ready to consider the possibility of a career change. Before you make up your mind about whether or not being a recruiter is truly a â€Å"road to nowhere,† let’s dig a little deeper.How the role of recruiters is changing- and what it meansPerhaps you’ve reached the conclusion that being a recruiter is a dead-end job because of all the ways in which new technological advances, such as the rise of Artificial Intelligence,   are changing the industry, and are starting to wonder if it’s only a matter of time befor e human recruiters are no longer even needed. The following key aspects of the human recruitment process can indeed be replaced by automation including:Resume screening: Software is being utilized (and becoming more sophisticated) that can capably â€Å"learn† the requirements and skills needed for a particular job and identify qualified candidates accordingly. Increasingly sophisticated software is able to analyze historical performance data to determine those candidates who are most likely to be successful employees, using such information as experience, background, skills, and other qualifications to grade and rank potential candidates.Prequalification tasks: Automated processes can now streamline the â€Å"job candidate experience.† Everything from keeping candidates updated on the status of a position to answering questions, providing feedback, and offering helpful suggestions can help make potential candidates feel more connected during the job application proces s, a key benefit to attract top talent in today’s candidate-driven job market.Interviewing: AI and automated interviewing tools can make the interview process easier and more effective. Interviewing software is becoming so sophisticated that it can analyze a myriad of key factors- from facial expressions to speech patterns and word choices among others, alongside such metrics as job requirements and company culture- to determine potential quality of hire.Bottom line: Although technology is making certain facets of the recruitment process easier than ever before, rest assured that human recruiting is not dead! In fact, according to Digitalist Magazine, innovation will serve as tools to improve the performance of human recruiters, not eradicate it: â€Å"By streamlining some aspects of the recruiting workflow, experts predict recruitment automation will enhance a human recruiter’s capabilities†¦ Industry experts predict  that by reducing time to fill and improvin g quality of hire, technology will enable recruiters to become more strategic by spending more time on  proactive hiring and workplace planning.† So, if your fears about recruitment being a dead end were rooted in the thought that human recruiters were on their way towards becoming as extinct as dinosaurs, think again.hbspt.cta.load(2785852, '9e52c197-5b5b-45e6-af34-d56403f973c5', {});Why recruiters are vitalIt’s no secret in the professional world- regardless of industry- that securing top talent is a primary concern and key ingredient for a company’s success. According to  Auren Offman, SafeGraph, CEO and former LiveRamp CEO, â€Å"The best companies are obsessed with recruiting over almost everything else.  That means the CEO and the other leaders of the best companies are constantly thinking about recruiting all the time.  Usually it is because it is a real problem area.  Rarely have I ever heard a company say ‘we are meeting all our recruiti ng goals.’†¦ Because recruiting is so important, it gets the attention of the senior leaders of the company.  And if you are a star, you will quickly get noticed.†Kristina Martic, Head of Marketing and Employer Branding at TalentLyft, echoes the positive industry sentiments of Auren Offman: â€Å"†¦ recruiting is NOT a dead-end job! Recruiting and Talent Acquisition related positions are becoming the most important and most valuable positions in every firm. This is because talent has become so scarce and the  Ã¢â‚¬Å"War for talent†Ã‚  is getting more and more intense. Talented people have so many options to choose from, and if your firm is not able to attract them, you won’t be able to beat your competitors and survive. Talent is the biggest driver of every company’s success, and that makes recruiting one of the most important positions company can have.†A bridge to somewhereOne of the great parts about working as a recruiter is that it doesn’t have to be the final stop on your career path. In addition to the wealth of valuable transferrable skills that recruiters typically acquire during their tenures (management skills, organizational skills, people skills- the list is endless), there are options for next steps- if and when you’re ready to move on. Some options include moving from recruitment to HR, or moving from an agency to a position as an in-house recruiter for a specific company. You can also look to segue into management- as a recruiter you have picked up the traits necessary to lead a variety of personality types. Think outside the box, and use the skills you’ve gained so far in your career!Is recruiting a dead-end job? Ultimately, the answer to this question will be up to you, but clearly there are several folks in the know who feel strongly that this is not the case. As companies across industries increasingly recognize the importance of having the best candidates possible o n their teams, the more valued recruiters will be.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Poverty in the U.S Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Poverty in the U.S - Research Paper Example First of all, let us understand how poverty has risen in the U.S. and how it affects the poor. Seccombe (384-393) asserts that poverty can be defined as having an inadequate income that can make a family stay â€Å"below the poverty line†. In the United States, poverty is concretely defined in dollar figures by the Social Security Administration. By determining the amount of money needed to survive on food, and then multiplying that number by three, the Social Security Administration sets the poverty line. For example, if the SSA decided that the amount of money needed to sustain a survivable diet during a year was $4,000, then it would set the poverty line at $12,000. Thus, any individuals whose income was less than this amount for a year would be considered to be living in poverty. According to Flik and Praag (311-330), poverty line is essential for determining who receives welfare benefits in U.S. Poverty does not seem to be an evenly distributed social problem. In America, African Americans and Latinos have, by far, the largest poverty rate. Many factors such as poor wages for women and the increase of single-woman parented families have caused an increase in the percentage of women among the poor. elderly, however, fill a much smaller percentage as they receive benefits as social security. Macionis (216) concluded that in 2003, the government classified 12.5 percent of the U.S. population as poor, which makes 35.9 million of men, women and children. Research suggests that the home environment adds to poverty because most homes that look in disrepair mean that the family living inside might not have the income to fix things. When a family is in the poverty zone they feel bad and inadequate, which can make them unwilling to ask for help (Brooks-Gunn & Duncan). This can be harmful to children because they do not have a say when the adults need help. Poverty is an unkind and brutal way for children to live. It manifests in physical, emotional and social ways. Impoverished children have social, emotional and behavioral problems due to poor health and serious mental health problems stemming from the persistent poverty level in which they live. Serious health problems come with poverty, such as preventable diseases like Influenza, Measles, malnutrition and AIDS due to lack of proper health care. Public assistance offered in most states does not cover all that the poor children need to live a normal lifestyle. Now, we describe how poverty is beneficial for the rich of the society despite its negative outcomes related to the poor. According to the sociologist, Herbert Gans (20-24), occupations and professions like criminology, social work, journalism, and public health exist with the help of existence of poverty. Gans has listed manifold functions of poverty that are beneficial to the rich of the society. The dirty work in the society gets done with the help of the poor who work at low wages and indecent salaries. The poor help in subs idizing the economy because they pay taxes, buy cheap products and go for low-cost services that are just ignored by the wealthy community. The existence of poverty acts as a guarantee for the rich people’s status, because if there would be no poor, there would be no identification left for the rich. The rich people give charity to the poor

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Waste Elimination Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Waste Elimination - Coursework Example The system uses a two-way approach focusing and driving both customers, internal as well as external. The basic purpose of Lean Manufacturing is to eliminate waste at all levels of production including the product design, factory management, supplier networks and customer relations. Its basic aim is to reduce the overall human effort, reduce the inventory storage, taking less production time and less space to become responsive to customer demands while also producing high quality products in the most economic and efficient manner. In this context waste is defined as anything that customer is not willing to pay for (Ramnath, et al., 2010). In the current environment, no company in production or engineering can achieve success without the incorporating the lean production methods in their systems. The Lean production methods or the TPS system given by TaiichiOhno serves as a strong base for competitive, successful and modern flow of materials. (Berlec & Starbek, 2009) In the manufactur ing process any activity that doesn’t add value to the product is considered to be waste. Hence it is important for the company to identify the waste in the processes and to find out ways that can be used to eliminate these wastes in order to achieve success and to remain competitive. The seven types of wastes include(Hutchins, n.d.): 1. Overproduction - Producing more than the customer requires 2. Waiting - Excessive machine time/downtime, or waiting for upstream information/advice 3. Transport – transportation of goods over long distances 4. Over processing – producing more than what is required by the customer 5. Inventory – Parts or stock which are not currently being worked on and are stored 6. Motion – the search for tools and other accessories 7. Defects – working out the defects In addition to these other categories have also been added to this which includes: Raw material and energy Damage to the environment Background Honda motor c ompany was established in 1948 by Soichiro Honda with its core emphasis on competing in the Japanese motorcycle industry. However in the year 1962, Honda manufactured its first car and by the year 1995 the Honda group was manufacturing, selling, and repairing motorcycles and cars as well as other power products. Honda was the first Japanese company to establish its operations in US. Its first plant for producing motorcycles was in America, outside Marysville, Ohio in 1979. The company expanded its Marysville facility so as to gain localization which included: Production, products, profit and management. (Maxwell, et al., 1998) Environmental Policy and Management In the early 1990’s political pressure was built up concerning the environmental issue therefore to address these Honda strengthen its commitment to environment and its protection by adopting a Global Environmental Declaration and also by addressing the environmental issues on a global level. The Global Environmental Declaration dictated how each Honda company should strive to evaluate the impact of their activities to the environment, and to design the products in such a way that can reduce the impact of use and disposal, can help in recycling and conservation of energy and resources and to promote awareness in the employees and society. Honda adopted a policy that emphasized on the responsibility of

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Working Capital Management Essay Example for Free

Working Capital Management Essay Steel comprises one of the most important inputs in all sectors of economy. Economy of any country depends on the strong base of the iron and steel industry. Steel is versatile material with multitude of useful properties,  making it indispensable for furthering and achieving continuing growth of the economy-be it construction, manufacturing, infrastructure or consumables. The level of steel consumption has long been regarded as an index of industrialization and economic maturity attained by country. Keeping in view the important of steel, the integrated steel plants with foreign collaborations were set up in the public sector in the post- independence era. Capital is essential for setting up and smooth running of any business. Investments made on fixed assets will yield excess each cash inflows apart from the pay back amount and is spread over a longer period of time. Hence the cash inflows (or) benefits associated are not immediate but are expected in the future. Cash inflows outflows occur on a continuous basis in case of current assets. Credit forms an essential feature in the business (credit given to customers 7 credit from liabilities, suppliers). Since there is some time log from the mine of sales sales realization current assets current which together constitute the net working capital, supports the business in its normal of operations. This calls for an efficient management of working capital. The policies, procedures and measures taken for managing capital again further importance in an organization like RINL where the working capital requirements runs in crores or rupees. Any mismanagement on the part of authority will not just cause loss but may even impair business operations. It is in this context working capital has gained importance. The growth of any organization depends on the overall performance such as production, marketing, human resource and financial performance of the organization. The financial performance of the any organization reflects the strength, weakness, opportunities and threads of the organization with respect to profits earned, investments, sales realization, turnover, return on investment, net worth of capital. Efficient management of financial resources and deliberate analysis financial results are pre requisite for success of an enterprise. In that working capital management is one of the major and important areas of financial management. Managing of working capital implies managing of current assets of the company like cash, inventory, accounts receivable, loans an advance, bank balances and current liabilities like sundry creditors interest payments and provision. Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited is a multi-product steel-manufacturing unit with varying  cycle time for each product. The capital required by each department in a large organization like RINL depends on the product target for that. Particular year, invites the need for an effective working capital management. Monitoring the duration of the operation cycle is an important aspect of working capital management and control for an Effective management. RINL is now on its turn round path and needs to cut cost and increase its revenue its revenue therefore it must have to keep close check on the day to day expenses and to get a maximum utilization out of it. Some prominent issues should always be taken into account like: The duration of raw material stage depends on the regularity of supply, transactions time, degree of perish ability, price ability, price fluctuations, and economics of bulk purchases. The duration of the work in progress stage depends of Length of the manufacturing cycle, consistency in capacity utilization Different stages and efficient coordination of various inputs. The duration at debtors’ stage depends on the credit period Granted, discount offered for prompt payments and efficiency and r igor of collection efforts. Thus a detailed study regarding the working capital management in RINL is to be done to consider the effectiveness of working capital management, identify the shortcoming in management and to suggest for improvement in working capital management. â€Å"Working Capital is the Life-Blood and Controlling Nerve Center of a business† Working capital management is concerned with the problems that arise in attempting to manage the current assets, the current liabilities and the inter relationship that exists between them .The term current assets refer to those assets which in the ordinary course of business can be, or will be, converted into cash within one year without undergoing a diminution in value and without disrupting the operations of firm. The major current assets are cash, marketable securities, accounts receivable and inventory. Current liabilities are those liabilities which are intended, at their inception, to be paid in the ordinary course of business, within a year, out of the current assets or earning of the concern. The basic current liabilities are account payable, bills payable; bank over draft, and outstanding expenses, the goal of working capital management is to manage the firm’s current assets and liabilities in such way that a satisfactory level of working capital is maintained.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

A Victory For Clinton :: essays research papers

A Victory For Clinton   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another four years, another new president? The election of 1996 for president moves closer everyday as the republican Robert Dole, and the president Bill Clinton fight it out. Far behind and by all means out of the race is Ross Perot. The polls show Dole-Kemp behind Clinton-Gore, and the results will stay this way for several key reasons. Clinton will serve another four years as president since Americans know what to expect from him as president. On several key issues, such as the budget, Dole has provided the voters with vague ideas on how he will tackle his promises. As three key issues are examined we find Dole to make claims that can easily be doubted. Clinton's claims and views are backed up with four years of experience. Clinton's four years as president has seen a stable economy, and he will try to keep this up for another four years. The balancing of the budget proves to stand as one of the largest issues going into the election.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Dole has talked about putting up 23% of federal spending up for cuts. Dole has also said he will not touch the areas of social security, defense, interest on the debt, Medicare, Medicaid, veterans benefits, military pensions, and the Energy Department research labs with cuts. This means under Dole we would be likely to see cuts in national parks with the number of rangers, the Border Patrol with fewer agents, the Bureau of Prisons with fewer prison spaces, NASA with fewer space shuttle flights, the FBI with fewer agents, drug interdiction with 2,960 fewer DEA agents, and education with fewer students in Head Start. On the record Dole has suggested cuts in the Energy Department, and the possibility of also eliminating the Commerce Department. These cuts alone would not achieve the goal of eliminating the budget deficit by 2002 which shows why Dole's ideas are too vague. In the reality for a balanced budget Transportation and the FBI could face cuts of up to 40%. Clinton, on the other hand, focuses his cuts on other areas in order to meet the seven years standard on balancing the budget. Clinton would plan to make the majority of his cuts on Medicare, Medicaid, and welfare. Clinton has already started dipping into these areas by passing the welfare reform act. The president's ideas are more focused on these specifics of balancing the budget which is why he will most likely be re-elected. Another decisive area in the 1996 elections exists in the area of taxes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Taxes, always a big issue to voters, will be another key to winning the

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

What Motor Is More Reliable?

The survey found that the Japanese brands Yamaha,Honda are more reliable brands. But to me Honda is more reliable to me because its cheaper to fix if it breaks and Yamaha has more hp and tuqort and is faster. Honda is just a all around good atv, dirt bikes because you have your 400ex and you crf250f. Yamaha is good for speed and racing atvs, and dirt bikes like your 400 bashanee and your yz450f.Honda is made in the US so everything is cheaper for parts and take less time to get to your destination. The next year, Honda marketed the handling-friendly ATC200X to beginners. honda's first introduced the KLT200 – a three-wheeled atv – into the market in 1981. The company's first four-wheeler in 1985 and was called the Bayou 185. The Bayou 300 4Ãâ€"4, honda first atv 4-wheel drive atv.Yamaha is made in japan and the parts cost so much because they have to ship cost The YZ250X is optimized for the unique demands of Hare Scrambles and GNCC ® racing. The YPVSâ„ ¢-equipped 249cc two-stroke engine is combined with a wide-ratio five-speed transmission for the ultimate cross-country power plant.Yamaha .com TOKYO, Japan, October 5, 2016 – Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. today announced that the two companies have begun discussions toward a possible business alliance in the Japanese market in the â€Å"Class-1 category*† which include scooters with a 50 cc engine or emy community does atv poker runs at least once a year to raise money for charity, i've seen almost every brand of atv and i will address them all, for the record out biggest ride was about 300 bikes Honda: their not the most powerful or fastest but their quality is by far the best, i've seen one break down Polaris: laughing stock, i don't even know why people buy them, they do have power, but in a few years you will rebuild the whole bike Yamaha: a close second, they have very few problems, but its probably because most people don't keep them stock and try to modify them to much Kawasaki: i don't see many of them, but what i do see are impressive, a tie for second Can-am: i've only seen a few and they may beat honda on quality , but the price for a decent bike is ridiculous, their to pricey, but seeing less than a dozen, i can't saylectric motor. Debate honda is the best .com . Some people like other atv brands that's their opinion.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

An Analysis of the Armful

An analysis of the poem â€Å"The Armful† by Robert Frost In Robert Frost’s â€Å"The Armful† the speaker in the poem is not defined, but that is of no consequence, as the feeling of frustration that is conveyed in the poem’s first four lines could have been expressed by either a man or a woman. The speaker is not speaking to anyone in particular in the poem but it can be inferred that he is speaking to the reader on a higher level as, speaking literally; everyone can empathize with the feelings of frustration a person struggling to carry and balance too many packages conveys.In the poem the speaker has gone for groceries, probably without help, over shopped and is having a difficult time with all the bags he must carry. The packages slip from the speaker’s hands and he tries to catch them with his knees all the while still trying balance the rest of the his packages. In the end the he is forced to drop the groceries and find a better way of packing them back in the bags. Although the tone from the onset is that of frustration by the end it changes to something more positive. It can then be inferred that the theme of this poem is one of hope.The poem creates an image of someone who is in need of help and is alone, not necessarily lonely as in need of social capital, but alone on the inside. The constant, repetitive use of the word ‘I’ supports the idea and feeling of isolation even though, as the reader, it is easy to put one’s self in that situation and to feel as if you were there watching. It has to be assumed that the author is not literally writing about someone’s troubles during a routine shopping trip. Take, for instance, lines three (3) and four (4) ‘And the whole pile is slipping, bottles, buns, Extremes too hard to comprehend at.Once’. One can connote that it has more to do with the abstract, inner most problems of the authors mind as opposed to actual contents of a brown paper bag. These Images are brought to life in this rhythmic poem by the use of figurative language, particularly through the use of metaphor and symbolism. The rhythmic patterns of the poem can be seen at the end of each line. Here are the first two lines of the poem as an example of the rhyme scheme ‘For every parcel I stoop down to seize I lose some other off my hands and knees’.An example of alliteration can be seen in the second line when the author writes ‘ And the whole pile slipping, bottles, buns’. The implied comparisons or metaphors are abundant in this short poem. In fact it can be said with certainty that the poem is one big metaphor. Robert Frost uses this poem to explore deep feelings within himself and within everyone. Once again using lines three (3) and four (4) as an example ‘And the whole pile slipping, bottles, buns, Extremes too hard to comprehend at once’ is a metaphor for the complexity of the mind.The author’s problem s are like a whirlwind that makes his mind slip. Whether the problem is heavy symbolized by the bottles or lighter symbolized by the buns they hold equal weight in the space of the mind, that to this date we barely understand the inner workings of. In the next two lines, ‘Yet nothing I should care to leave behind. With all I have to hold with hand and mind. ’ Foster is implying that his problems are so great and unmanageable that he cannot stop thinking about them.In the next two line, lines seven (7) and eight (8), he gives the reader a glimpse that his problems may be more than in his head. It reads ‘And heart, if need be, I will do my best. To keep their building balanced at my breast’. This infers that his problems may also be emotional and he is trying hard to balance the two. In the last four lines is where the theme of the poem starts to take shape and one can see that all is not lost. In lines nine (9) and ten (10) the speaker says ‘I crouch d own to prevent them all as they fall; then sit down in the middle of them all’.The speaker at this point realizes that he is carrying too much both mentally and emotionally and decides to stop and analyze what is happening to him, take it slow and figure something out. By the time line eleven (11) and twelve (12) come around one can surmise that the speaker has had enough of his problems and is actively looking for a way to fix things, a way to deal with his problems, as the speaker states ‘I had to drop the armful in the road and try to stack them in a better load’. In The Armful Robert Frost has written a piece that almost anyone can relate to.Everyone has had problems that seemed insurmountable but have mustered the courage and the will to supersede these hurdles and have gotten through them. In all, the author has used imagery, rhythmic sense, syntax that is not overly complicated and figurative language to forge a poem that can be considered a metaphor for l ife. Holding on to things can over complicate our lives and if one stops and thinks about what is really important ones loads will lightened. The poem is also symbolic of mans need to overcome adversity.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Free Essays on Union Sucession

The breakup of the Union was inevitable. The south was always going to secede; it was just a question of when. The southern and northern states varied on many issues. There were deep economic, social, and political differences between the north and the south. All of this was a different interpretation of the United States Constitution on both sides. In the end, all of these disagreements led to the Civil War. There were reasons other than slavery for the south’s secession. The south relied heavily on agriculture, as opposed to the north which was highly populated by factories. The south grew cotton, which was its main cash crop. Many southerners knew that heavy reliance on agriculture would hurt the south, but their warnings were not taken into serious consideration. Constitutionally the north favored a loose interpretation of the United States Constitution. They wanted to grant the federal government increased powers. The South wanted to reserve all undefined powers to the individual states. The south relied upon it for their economic well being. The north’s economy was not reliant on such labor. This issue overshadowed all others. Southerners compared slavery to the wage-slave system of the North. Southerners believed the slaves received better care than the northern factory workers did. Many southern preachers proclaimed that slavery was sanctioned in the Bible. Thomas Dew, a professor from William and Mary, said that all of the patriarchs of the bible were slaveholders. Abraham had more than three hundred. After the American Revolution slavery died in the North, just as it was becoming more popular in the South. By the time of 1804 seven of the northern most states had abolished slavery. During this time a surge of democratic reform swept the North and West. There were demands for political equality and economic and social advances. Northerners said that slavery revoked the human right of being a free person. When new te... Free Essays on Union Sucession Free Essays on Union Sucession The breakup of the Union was inevitable. The south was always going to secede; it was just a question of when. The southern and northern states varied on many issues. There were deep economic, social, and political differences between the north and the south. All of this was a different interpretation of the United States Constitution on both sides. In the end, all of these disagreements led to the Civil War. There were reasons other than slavery for the south’s secession. The south relied heavily on agriculture, as opposed to the north which was highly populated by factories. The south grew cotton, which was its main cash crop. Many southerners knew that heavy reliance on agriculture would hurt the south, but their warnings were not taken into serious consideration. Constitutionally the north favored a loose interpretation of the United States Constitution. They wanted to grant the federal government increased powers. The South wanted to reserve all undefined powers to the individual states. The south relied upon it for their economic well being. The north’s economy was not reliant on such labor. This issue overshadowed all others. Southerners compared slavery to the wage-slave system of the North. Southerners believed the slaves received better care than the northern factory workers did. Many southern preachers proclaimed that slavery was sanctioned in the Bible. Thomas Dew, a professor from William and Mary, said that all of the patriarchs of the bible were slaveholders. Abraham had more than three hundred. After the American Revolution slavery died in the North, just as it was becoming more popular in the South. By the time of 1804 seven of the northern most states had abolished slavery. During this time a surge of democratic reform swept the North and West. There were demands for political equality and economic and social advances. Northerners said that slavery revoked the human right of being a free person. When new te...

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Yoke and Yolk - Commonly Confused Words

Yoke and Yolk - Commonly Confused Words The words yoke and yolk are homophones (or near-homophones): words that sound alike but have different meanings. Definitions The noun yoke refers to bondage, servitude, or something that binds or connects (people, animals, ideas, or things). As a verb, yoke means to join together. The noun yolk refers to the yellow part of an egg. Examples During the 1960s, many  territories in Africa and Asia emerged as new nations, freed from the  yoke of colonialism.Priam told his sons to yoke the mules to the wagon, while he went to the chamber paneled with fragrant cedar-wood.Joseph watched as bright yellow yolk dripped off the vibrant-pink processed meat product onto Wilsons T-shirt.(Mark Haskell Smith, Delicious. Atlantic Monthly Press, 2005)From the two gritty windows a listless whitish light fell upon the stained green wallpaper with its yolk-colored floral design.(Fred Chappell, Moments of Light. Boson, 1996) Practice (a) [T]he  lead boys ran to _____ the oxen in pairs and bring them in from the veld where they had been grazing. (Wilbur Smith, Blue Horizon. St. Martins Press, 2003) (b) The _____ contains most of the known vitamins, with the exception of vitamin C. (c) Dame Gillian Beer urged women writers to free themselves from the _____ of romantic obsession. Answers to Practice Questions (a) [T]he   lead boys ran to  yoke  the oxen in pairs and bring them in from the veld where they had been grazing. (Wilbur Smith,  Blue Horizon. St. Martins Press, 2003) (b) The  yolk  contains most of the known vitamins, with the exception of vitamin C. (c) Dame Gillian Beer urged women writers to free themselves from the  yoke  of romantic obsession.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Labor Economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Labor Economy - Essay Example The economic meltdown experienced in the US affected the labor market significantly leading to a notable change (Conrad, 2005). Therefore, economist should find ways to recover the affected labor market in their endeavors. Labor market in the US had somehow a balanced equilibrium in terms of employment before the crisis. Analysts in America noted a relatively low rate of unemployment at 3.9 percent in January 2001. Nevertheless, due to crisis and financial issues, unemployment lost dynamism and increased. The rate of layoff spiked with crisis while the rate of hiring fell down considerably. In March 2005, the official rate of unemployment in the US reached 5.2 percent. It represented 13.6 million people in America who were unemployed, part-time workers out of economic necessity, or had lost courage to look for jobs. This resulted due to recession and crisis surrounding September 11, 2001 (Conrad, 2005). The rate of labor force participation in United States exhibited a funny trend before and after the crisis. Before the crisis, the rate of labor force participation increased due to continuous entry of women into the labor market. After crisis, they contributed to 66 percent of labor force in 2005 while rate of labor force participation in men declined to 73 percent. Scholars argue that, rate of labor force participation increased due to high entry of women who had accurately planned their future and were able to venture and compete in the labor market (Jacobsen, 2004). Before the crisis, United States minimum wage remained constant at $ 5.35 per hour but this varied from one county to another. The Congress gave counties power to set minimum wage above federal level. As a result, the counties set an hourly minimum wage. During and after crisis, pursuant of fair labor standards broke the record when they set a constant minimum wage of $5.15 per hour (McDonald, 2007). Living standards in United States are high with high per capita income but less

Friday, November 1, 2019

Titus andronicus by william shakespeare Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Titus andronicus by william shakespeare - Essay Example In the first passage chosen for this paper, Titus Andronicus tells Saturninus that he in fact killed his two sons, and then proceeded to mix their flesh with pie, which their mother then unwittingly ate: â€Å"Why, there they are both, baked in that pie;/ Whereof their mother daintily hath fed,/ Eating the flesh that she herself hath bred. Tis true, tis true; witness my knifes sharp point. (Shakespeare). In this passage two things are worth noting. One is that Titus seemed to be proud of the fact that he had killed two people, and both of them the sons of the person he is addressing. If this were an act of revenge, or an act where a noble man kills men who were evil and had done some terrible wrong to others, then this boasting would have remained within the confines of sane narration. What makes this killing so monstrous is that Titus was not content with killing the two sons, but we read between the lines that he had prepared their flesh and mixed them with pie, precisely so he co uld feed the flesh of her dead sons to their mother. There is no sense to this, and no justification, other than to show that Titus lacked remorse. It was unnecessary to do things this way. The purpose of the monstrous in this case seems to be just to demonstrate how inhuman the whole cascade of events was. The killing and the subsequent baking and feeding of the pie to the mother was gratuitous, totally uncalled for by the turn of events. This aspect of the killing is what makes the act so monstrous and totally inhuman (Shakespeare). Elsewhere we see just how Titus killed the two sons. He did so with the help of Lavinia, who held the basin that caught the blood from the slit throats of the two brothers. We understand that Lavinia suffered much from the two, but the measure of her revenge seemed to go beyond the bounds of what is human too. She could have just had them killed, but she chose to see the killing, and she chose to do so

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Why is HIV-AIDs so prominent an issue in post-apartheid South Africa Essay

Why is HIV-AIDs so prominent an issue in post-apartheid South Africa Does religion offer solutions or exacerbate the problems - Essay Example However, the transition from apartheid to democracy was largely obscured by a HIV/AIDS crisis.1 A large number of the South African population have adopted traditionalists policies aimed at managing sexuality and thus controlling the spread of AIDS. These practices and policies are embedded in religious and ritualistic practices and beliefs that involve circumcising boys and testing girls for virginity prior to marriage.2 This research study analyses the traditionalist religious approach to controlling the spread of AIDS in post-apartheid South Africa and argues that rather than offer solutions, traditionalist religion exacerbates the problems. This research study is therefore divided into three main parts. The first part of the paper provides details of the HIV/AIDS crisis in post-apartheid South Africa and analyses why HIV/AIDS has reached epidemic proportions in post-apartheid South Africa. The second part of this research study defines and analyses traditionalist religion in post -apartheid South Africa. The third part of this paper analyses the role of religion, particularly the traditionalist religion in countering the HIV/AIDS crisis in South Africa. HIV/AIDS in Post-Apartheid South Africa HIV/AIDS ... On average life expectancy in South African fell from 64 years of age in 1994 to 49 years of age in 2001.5 The United Nations reported that the number of children orphaned as a result of AIDS in South Africa by 2001 was 700,000. In 2002, the number of orphans as a result of AIDS was 120,000 and 150,000 in 2003.6 USAID reports that as of 2011, South Africa has the largest number of HIV/AIDS infections worldwide With the first reported case in 1982, the disease has reached epidemic proportions with 5.6 million South Africans living with either HIV or full blown AIDS. Moreover, South Africa’s infant and maternal mortality rate has increased steadily since the 1990s with AIDS largely attributed to the cause of infant and maternal mortality. AIDS is responsible for 42.5 per cent of maternal mortality and 35 per cent of infant mortality cases. While South Africa only represents 0.7 per cent of the global population, it is responsible for 28 per cent of the global HIV population.7 UN ICEF’s report on HIV and AIDs in South Africa notes that â€Å"HIV infection rates† among adolescent girls are â€Å"on average five times higher† than â€Å"among boys†.8 According to UNICEF, â€Å"this is largely due to girls’ biological and social vulnerability†.9 For the most part women depend on men for economic support and usually do not have adequate education facilities and are therefore more prone to â€Å"poverty, sexual exploitation, coercion and rape† and are susceptible to work in the sex trade.10 Complicating matters for women, when they contract HIV or full blown AIDS they suffer heightened levels of gender discrimination. Women typically test

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Hindrance to organisational performance

Hindrance to organisational performance 1 Introduction Ages ago, constant changes to an organisation was thought as a hindrance to organisational performance. However, now successful change is vital for every organisation. This change in thought is because of necessity of organisations to survive in highly competitive market and evolving environment (Todnem, 2005). Organisations should align their change programmes with management development to maintain their competitive edge. In contrast to abundance of academic literature on change models and framework showing the increase in business concern, it is reported that 70 per cent of change programme have failed (Burnes, 2003).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This report mentions about few theories on change implementation and issues arising while implementation. Furthermore, the report discusses about power as a tool in change process. Finally, the report concludes by analysing two case study: one with a change failure and another on successful change. 2 Organisational change Despite the vast academic research, empirical data shows that many organisations struggle to lead effective change projects and that problem arises in change implementation (Cicmil, 1999). Organisational change projects are continuous learning projects. Is continuous change a stable feature in organisation? Todnem (2005) mentions â€Å"Change cannot be relied upon to occur at a steady state, rather there are periods of incremental change sandwiched between more violent periods of change which have contributed to the illusion of stability once assumed to be the case.† Managing change has a six-stage approach: Envisioning, activating, supporting, implementation, ensuring and recognising (Hamlin, 2001). This report concentrates on change implementation phase. Implementation (also called ‘transition by some authors) is the process of making a design operational. Implementation involves planning, acquiring, installing equipment or technology, make employees change ready, schedule events for the new way of process to replace the old way. Basic elements of a change implementation plan are: Deliverables and its purpose, milestones to access progress, accountabilities, communication plan, measurement plan for accessing the consequences of the change. If change is large-scale, chances of failure in this phase is likely high (Martin, 1999).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Various change theories can be categorised based on their approach to implement change: planned, emergent and contingency approach (Todnem, 2005). 3 Theories of change 3.1 Planned approach According to Todnem (2005), planned approach to organisational change outlines the change process. It also reveals the different phases that an organisation will be dragged through while making the change to a desired state. Planned approach to change is highly effective but takes a long time. Lewins change model Lewins change model states three levels of organisational change: unfreezing present level, moving to the new level, refreezing the new level. In other words, the model requires to get rid of old behaviour, structures, processes or culture before making it to the new level (Todnem, 2005 and Brisson-Banks, 2010). This theory raises few critical questions by the author. Abruptly leaving old customs might trigger uncomfortable reactions from employees. Also, it might be ironical to have stabilisation of change at the third level, when change is a continuous or open-ended process. According to Todnem (2005), planned approach to change suffers from few drawbacks. Firstly, some of the triggers of change are frequently spaced in time that planned approach (identify, plan, execute) to change is practically not applicable. Secondly, it considers the environment, which organisations interact, is stable from the start till the end of change process. This lead way to emergent approach. 3.2 Emergent approach Since change is so fast paced, responsibility for change implementation has to be decentralized. It is concerned about change readiness and ease the change process. Kotters change model The change model that is followed by many organisational leaders for planning and implementing change successfully by doing eight things right and in the right order. Kotter asserts organisation does not instil urgency for change in managers or employees, leading to change failure (Brisson-Banks, 2010). The eight steps which makes change initiative successful and errors that might crop up at each stage is summarised in table 1. For large organisations, it might become practically complicated to communicate the vision and hence empowering employees becomes difficult as the vision is not drilled to grassroots of the organisation (Paton, 2008). Though Kotters change model is popular, the author notes that the model mentions on eliminating any resistance to change but is deficient in not providing the cause. It also does not take the human element into account. Furthermore, the above theories does not look at the scale of change for successful implementation. 3.3 Contingency approach According to Buchanan (2007), The Dunphy-Stace contingency approach recommends to use the one which might fit the context of change (Scale, time, support for change) for an organisation. For senior managers to bring about change (time to change is less), dictatorial approach is apt. But middle managers will find collaborative style useful (time to change is more). Critical change proposals have to be driven through coercive modes. For change to be introduced quickly, dictatorial transformation should be chosen. The mode used should be complementary to the change implementation (Buchanan, 2007).Theories of change simply state the rules of the road but it is up to the organisation to acquire necessary competencies, skills and resources to implement them (Burnes, 2003). 3.4 Project management approach Project management approach takes into account the scale of change and the human factor that impede successful change implementation. Cicmil (1999) states three approaches to change implementation: project management, participative management and contingency approach. Project management approach sees change as a series of projects. Cicmil (1999) also mentions that this approach is the most effective as it makes change focussed with measurable outcomes and feedback through learnings. Empirical evidence shows significant organisations rolled out change as a project. Her research investigation spotted three common sources of gap in change implementation: Why (the reason and purpose of change), What (Specified outcome) and How (implementation process). She also found that human impediments like slow learning, fast forgetting and organised resistance which are related to Why, how and why. Organised resistance arises out of lack of understanding of what, how or both of change implementation. Fast forgetting and slow learning are a ‘misfit of change in business strategy. The issues around change implementation can be eliminated by following a suitable leadership style or power acquired by position in organisation. 4 Power as a tool in steering change Power is entwined into social and organisational life. It has become a tool that can be used by organisation to be a driver for achieving organisational outcomes. Buchanan (1999) also mentions about the ways in which one can get power in an organisation: Position or rank, know allies and supporters and maintain relationship, access and control over information, strong communication network, resolving critical problems, to be irreplaceable and the importance of the business one is involved in. â€Å"Power is built by ensuring that you control as much territory as possible, and this control is obtained by placing your allies in key positions and by expanding the activities over which you have formal responsibility.† (Buchanan, 1999). This is further asserted by Machiavelli in his book recognising the significance of skilled staff surrounding a leader. A leader might be ridiculed of his/her choice of appointing incompetent followers (Mcguire, 2006). According to Mcguire (2006), power should be directed at achieving organisational goals. A leader is one who utilises power to make employees follow him/her and inspires followers. However, sharing power with followers is apt when leader cannot stand up to organisational demands alone, indicating the need for teams. At times the leader needs to relinquish some power to successfully empower followers using the tools of rewards during organisational change. It can also be functional when managers use it to achieve organisational goals but dysfunctional when misused to promote self-interest (Buchanan, 1999). A leader need not have positive personal attributes that followers will admire, but it is his/her ability to make them believe that he/she has it (Mcguire, 2006). Machiavelli states there are two â€Å"carrot and stick† approaches for a successful change implementation by using power. Firstly, by executing reward power. Secondly, using disciplines. He advocates using reward power first but when that is not convincing people about change and its values, or followers not showing loyalty to the leader, then disciplinary action is suggested. An effective leader is the one who makes a punishment look like a reward (Mcguire, 2006). 5 Analysis of two case studies This report analyses two companies ABC Engineering and XYZ construction, which was investigated by Burnes (2003), using Cicmil (1999) which is summarised in Table 2 model mentioned in 3.4. ABC Engineering The parent company of ABC Engineering purchased a similar product German manufacturer in order to merge the companies for market expansion. ABC, threatened by the merger, lead number of changes, to increase productivity, improve quality and reduce costs. Resistance and reduced morale were the general feeling and the change efforts were fuelling them. Meanwhile to make situations better, engineering director came up with ‘Lean production and ‘Kaizen concept which involved restructuring the organisation. ABCs senior management team (SMT) agreed to ‘lean concept without involving people, none challenged the concept. SMT sought expert advice to manage the change. External change agent undertook a change readiness audit identifying number of key problems. XYZ Constructions XYZ constructions, an organisation the same size as that of ABC Engineering, had SMT who were employees but not directors of the company. The company had a head office and various regional offices. The structure created problems such as hostility between the head office and regional offices and lack of communication within functional units of same office. The managing director realised to remove functional barriers and promote ‘Kaizen requiring complete reorganisation within the company and its structure. Due to lack of expertise in change management, external change agent was called. The change was humungous and deeply seated that the change implementation was rolled out in phases. 6 Conclusion Change is part of everyday business operation that drives the organisation into a better state. With higher number of change failure being reported, managing change has become a competency and corporations are increasingly aware of the need of an internal change management team. This report discusses on theories of change management and mentioned why change might fail. It also identifies that success rate revolves around the leader and influence of power, to make a change impact on the employees which was seen from the two case studies. In summary, different variables initiates change uniquely for an organisation and leaders decide on fate of change implementation. Every organisation should carefully look into the transition phase of change and not overlook the human element to make change successful for its organisational development. Change management is definitely a challenge but possible to make it happen by observing the various elements of the organisation including the employees and unsaid assumptions. Improved ways of change handling can be found by connecting solutions and maybe even for new ways yet to be discovered. 7 Bibliography Brisson-Banks V. Claire (2010), Managing change and transitions: a comparison of different models and their commonalities, Library Management, Volume 31, Issue 4/5, Pp 241-252 Brown D. Andrew (1992), Managing change in NHS: The resource Management initiative, Leadership Organization Development Journal, Volume 13, Issue 6, Pp 13-17 Buchanan A. David, Huczynski A. Andrzej (2007), Organizational behaviour: An introductory text, 6th edition, Prentice Hall, Financial Times, Pp 602-603 Buchanan Dave, Badham Richard (1999), Power, Politics and organizational change, 1st edition, Sage Publication, Pp 52-53 and 192-193 Burnes Bernard (2003), Managing change and changing managers from ABC to XYZ, Journal of Management Development, Volume 22, Issue 7, Pp 627-642 Chapman Ann Judith (2002), A framework for transformational change in organisations, Leadership Organization Development, Journal 23, Issue 1, Pp 16-25 Cicmil Svetlana (1999), An insight into management of organisational change projects, Journal of Workplace Learning, Volume 11, Issue 1, Pp 5-15 Collins David (1998), Organizational Change Sociological Perspectives, 1st Edition, TJ International Ltd. Cutcher Leanne (2009), Resisting change from within and without the organization, Journal of Organizational Change Management, Volume 22, Issue 3, Pp 275-289 Eriksen Matthew (2008), Leading adaptive organizational change: Self-reflexivity and self-transformation, Journal of Organizational Change management, Volume 21, Issue 5, Pp 622-640 Hamlin Bob, Keep Jane, Ash Ken (2001), Organizational change and development, 1st edition, Prentice Hall, Financial Times He Hongwei, Baruch Yehuda (2009), Transforming organizational identity under institutional change, Journal of Organizational change management, Volume 22, Issue 6, Pp 575-599 Jones Liz, Watson Bernadette, Hobman Elizabeth, Bordia Prashant, Gallois Cindy, Callan J. Victor (2008), Employee perceptions of organizational change: impact of hierarchical level, Leadership Organization Development Journal, Volume 29, Issue 4, Pp 294-316 Judge William, Douglas Thomas (2009), Organizational change capacity: the systematic development of a scale, Journal of Organizational change management, Volume 22, Issue 6, Pp 635-649 Kovoor-Misra Sarah (2009), Understanding perceived organizational identity during crisis and change: A threat/opportunity framework, Journal of Organizational Change management, Volume 22, Issue 5, Pp 494-510 Mcguire David, Hutchings Kate (2006), A Machiavellian analysis of organisational change, Journal of Organizational Change Management, Volume 19, Issue 2, Pp 192-209 McHugh Marie (1997), The stress factor: another item for the change management agenda?, Journal of Organizational change management, Volume 10, Issue 4, Pp 345-362 OConnor A. Carol (1993), The handbook for organizational change, 1st edition, McGraw Hill publication Paton A. Robert, McCalman James (2008), Change management: A guide to effective implementation, 3rd Edition, SAGE publications, Pp 261-266 Paton Barbara, Beranek Lea, Smith Ian (2008), The transit lounge: a view of organisational change from a point in the journey, Library Management, Volume 29, Issue 1/2 Smith E. Martin, Mourier Pierre (1999), Implementation: Key to organizational change, Strategy Leadership, Volume 27, Issue 6, Pp 37-41 Todnem By Rune (2005), Organisational change management: A critical review, Journal of Change Management, Volume 5, Issue 4, Pp 369-380 Young Mike (2009), A meta model of change, Journal of Organizational Change Management, Volume 22, Issue 5, Pp 524-548

Friday, October 25, 2019

An Analysis of the Epic Poem, Beowulf - Fame, Kingship, Fate and God in Beowulf :: Epic Beowulf essays

Fame, Kingship, Fate and God in Beowulf The Anglo-Saxons were a people who lived in and ruled England from the fifth century AD until the Norman Conquest. They were a people who valued courage and leadership. They lived under kings who were "keepers of gold" and were guarded by their loyal thanes (knights). They were a Pagan culture until the Normandy conquistadors came. They believed in fate and believed the only way to live forever was if you had fame. In the Anglo-Saxon book, Beowulf, there was a combination of many different people. The characters in Beowulf are defined by their status. Their status was in form of their fame and accomplishments. Beowulf was a very famous warrior, who sails to the Danes to kill a monster who is murdering their people. Beowulf kills Grendal, Grendal's mother and a dragon throughout the entirety of the story. Every time he receives more fame and more glory. Beowulf became a king. He was a great king who received honor and loyalty from his men. Although, during the fight with t he dragon Beowulf's men run away and as a result Beowulf dies. The book claims that Beowulf had fate against him in his last battle against the dragon, but also says that Beowulf had Christian morals. By having two conflicting religions (paganism and Christianity) it makes the story more interesting. This book is composed of four main characteristics: fame, kingship, fate, and God, which play very important roles throughout the book. In Beowulf the Anglo-Saxons longed for fame. To them fame meant immortality. For example, the narrator says, "But Beowulf longing only for fame, leaped into battle" (Raffel 1529). To Beowulf the only reason to risk his life is a battle, is so he can have his moments of fame, hence immortality. Even if a character gains fame, they will always be fighting to receive more. After Beowulf becomes king one of his servants says, "Beloved Beowulf, remember how you boasted, once, that nothing in the world would ever destroy your fame: you fight to keep in now, be strong and brave, my noble king, protecting life and fame together" (2586). So even though Beowulf had fame, he had to keep fighting and being successful in order to protect and keep his fame.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Ethical behavior is legally governed rather volunteered by organizations

Corporate Organizations, in today’s cut- throat competition and globalized economy are forced to focus to improve their bottom line. Corporate governance or ethical practices are limited to a level which is mandatory as per laws. Genuine commitment to ethics is like a needle in haystack. There are various elements to ethical behavior expected from the organizations Accounting transparency: Enron and Worldcom are glaring examples where ethics were compromised to maintain profitable image of the organization.Accounting firm Arthur Anderson’s creative accounting and ulterior motives of management crippled investor’s confidence to the nadir, resulting in bankruptcy/ closure of all three organizations. Leading by example: As per data, US CEOs were paid 42 times the average worker's pay in 1980, to 85 in 1990, and then skyrocketed to 531 times by 2000. Leadership teams of organizations are paid everything to show healthy growth in turnover and profits, for shareholder to be exited at stock markets.No CEO is paid to exemplify ethical leadership at Wall Street. Child labor: Many corporate, primarily in apparel segment, overlook the extreme levels of child exploitation in third world countries. In absence of strict law or policy, child labor is another big area which is not effectively monitored and contained. Summary: Though state (U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission) try to put accounting and auditing system, Corporate Ethics remain an Oxymoron.Ethics, like democracy, is a lot easier in theory than in practice. It would be imperative on regulatory bodies and responsible corporations to take lead in showing value in becoming ethical organization. Moreover, shareholders also should reward organization which exhibit transparency and good quality corporate governance. References: Munzig P G, â€Å"Enron and Economics of Corporate Governance† Stanford University, (June 2003), (http://www-econ. stanford.edu/academics/honors_theses/theses_200 3/Munzig. pdf) Holmstrom, Bengt and Steven N. Kaplan, â€Å"The State of US Corporate Governance: What’s right and What’s wrong? † National Bureau of Economic Research: Working paper 9613, (2003) Jense, Michael and Kevin Murphy, 1990, â€Å"Performance Pay and Top Management Incentives†, Journal of Political Economy, (1990) September/October 1996 edition of At Work [email  protected] com, byBerrett-Koehler Publishers. Jon Entine is a writer and Emmy

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Many MNEs may want to start operations in some foreign country Essay

Establishment manner means that the MNE starts its operations from abrasion in the foreign state normally through a entirely owned subordinate where as in entry manner ; this can be accomplished by a subordinate or through partnership with a local party which involves shared ownership. In this survey the writers examine the consequence of same variables on both these picks available to a company. They do it through a series of hypotheses. The first hypothesis measures the positive consequence of greater institutional promotion on the pick that the company makes. Institutional promotion is defined in the survey as refering to alterations in formal establishments over a period of clip. It is argued that regulative forces are likely to be a large influence on a determination that an MNE makes with respect to its constitution or entry pick. Regulative forces or instead Regulative forces as described in the survey are non limited to Torahs and ordinances merely but besides include political and other societal factors. The writers conclude that institutional promotion has a positive consequence on the pick to set up a subordinate with shared ownership. The 2nd hypothesis postulated by the authors’ measures the chairing consequence of institutional promotion on the inclination of a technologically intense house to either travel for constitution manner or entry manner. It is argued that houses which are engineering intense should travel for constitution manner because their competitory advantages are embedded in their labour force accomplishments and organisational patterns so it is more efficient for them to get down from abrasion. They should engage and develop the local labour force. Furthermore in instance of a joint venture or portion ownership of the subordinate. protecting the rational rights can be an issue. Protection of such rights is dependent on the judicial system. In passage economic sciences where the bench is corrupt and rational belongings rights are non respected. an MNE would be loath to reassign its engineering. Therefore writers conclude that house with advanced proprietary engineering are likely to prefer establishment manner but degree of institutional promotion has a positive moderating consequence on such a house traveling for entry manner. The 3rd hypothesis measures the chairing consequence of institutional promotion on a multidomestic MNE to either travel for constitution of entry manner. Multidomestic houses are defined as those which pursue multidomestic scheme and want to set up a sustainable local market presence. For such MNEs geting a local company is a more attractive option because such acquisition can supply them with local trade names. market cognition. distribution channels and web relationships with the host country’s other concerns and authorities. How the restructuring and realignment of the acquired entity can be really ambitious. The houses in the host state are likely to be following a different paradigm. But on the other manus if an MNE goes for shared ownership or entry manner. it can carry through more without confronting these troubles. It is argues that a multidomestic MNE requires lesser control on the subordinate. If this is so so subordinates in the host state can hold considerable freedom and run on their ain to the full leveraging their local expertness. Hence it is concluded institutional promotion has a positive moderating consequence on a multidomestic MNE to travel for entry manner. Finally the writers have used an international study to garner the information to back up their findings. The study consists of a questionnaire with 33 unfastened and near complete inquiries. Furthermore the MNE’s latest constitution manner pick or entry manner pick has been taken as the dependant variable. Review This survey is no uncertainty a valuable plus for directors and pupils likewise in analyzing the behaviour of MNEs in doing their picks when it comes to Foreign Direct Investment but however it has a few defects and failings. But the biggest defect of this survey is the range. The writers have chiefly taken a sample of European MNEs. And the so called economic systems in passage are fundamentally east European states which were one time under the Fe drape. First we need to see the fact that Europeans MNEs may be really different from Nipponese or American MNEs and so forth. The constitution or entry manner pick for Nipponese houses may be dependent on or moderated by variables other than the 1s discussed here. Similarly an MNE whether European or Nipponese may make up one's mind to put in some state in Central Asia or North Africa or even South Asia. The market conditions in these states are really different from those of the passage economic systems discussed by the writers. This means that the findings in this survey are non universally applicable. Nevertheless it is a valuable add-on to our cognition sing MNE behaviour in doing Foreign Direct Investment determinations. But for any research worker seeking to confer with this survey. it is really of import to maintain the above mentioned restrictions in head.