Ethics and Moral Theory Essay

The words â€Å"moral† and â€Å"ethics† (and cognates) are often used interchangeably. However, it is useful to make the following distinction: Morality is the system through which we determine right and wrong conduct — i.e., the guide to good or right conduct. Ethics is the philosophical study of Morality. What, then, is a moral theory? A theory is a structured set of statements used to explain (or predict) a set of facts or concepts.à  A moral theory, then, explains why a certain action is wrong — or why we ought to act in certain ways.à Ãƒ  In short, it is a theory of how we determine right and wrong conduct.à  Also, moral theories provide the framework upon which we think and discuss in a reasoned way, and so evaluate, specific moral issues. Seen in this light, it becomes clear that we cannot draw a sharp divide between moral theory and applied ethics (e.g., medical or business ethics). For instance, in order to critically evaluate the moral issue of affirmative action, we must not attempt to evaluate what actions or policies are right (or wrong) independent of what we take to determine right and wrong conduct. You will see, as we proceed, that we do not do ethics without at least some moral theory.à  When evaluating the merits of some decision regarding a case, we will always (or at least ought to always) find ourselves thinking about how right and wrong is determined in general, and then apply that to the case at hand.à  Note, though, that sound moral thinking does not simply involve going one way — from theory to applied issue.à  Sometimes a case may suggest that we need to change or adjust our thinking about what moral theory we think is the best, or perhaps it might lead us to think that a preferred theory needs modification. Another important distinction: Are moral theories descriptive or prescriptive ? In presenting a moral theory, are we merely describing how people, in their everyday ‘doings’ and ‘thinkings,’ form a judgement about what is right and wrong, or are we prescribing how people ought to make these judgements? Most take moral theories to be prescriptive. The descriptive accounts of what people do is left to sociologists and anthropologists.à  Philosophers, then, when they study morality, want to know what is the proper way of determining right and wrong. There have been many different proposals.à  Here is a brief summary. Theories of Morality (1) Moral Subjectivism Right and wrong is determined by what you — the subject — just happens to think (or ‘feel’) is right or wrong. In its common form, Moral Subjectivism amounts to the denial of moral principles of any significant kind, and the possibility of moral criticism and argumentation.à  In essence, ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ lose their meaning because so long as someone thinks or feels that some action is ‘right’, there are no grounds for criticism.à  If you are a moral subjectivist, you cannot object to anyone’s behaviour (assuming people are in fact acting in accordance with what they think or feel is right).à  This shows the key flaw in moral subjectivism — probably nearly everyone thinks that it is legitimate to object, on moral grounds, to at least some peoples’ actions.à  That is, it is possible to disagree about moral issues. à  (2) Cultural Relativism Right and wrong is determined by the particular set of principles or rules the relevant culture just happens to hold at the time. Cultural Relativism is closely linked to Moral Subjectivism.à  It implies that we cannot criticize the actions of those in cultures other than our own.à  And again, it amounts to the denial of universal moral principles.à  Also, it implies that a culture cannot be mistaken about what is right and wrong (which seems not to be true), and so it denies the possibility of moral advancement (which also seems not to be true). à  (3) Ethical Egoism Right and wrong is determined by what is in your self-interest.à  Or, it is immoral to act contrary to your self-interest. Ethical Egoism is usually based upon Psychological Egoism — that we, by nature, act selfishly.à  Ethical egoism does not imply hedonism or that we ought to aim for at least some ‘higher’ goods (e.g., wisdom, political success), but rather that we will (ideally) act so as to maximize our self interest.à  This may require that we forgo some immediate pleasures for the sake of achieving some long term goals.à  Also, ethical egoism does not exclude helping others.à  However, egoists will help others only if this will further their own interests.à  An ethical egoist will claim that the altruist helps others only because they want to (perhaps because they derive pleasure out of helping others) or because they think there will be some personal advantage in doing so.à  That is, they deny the possibility of genuine altruism (because they think we are all by nature selfish).à  This leads us to the key implausibility of Ethical Egoism — that the person who helps others at the expense of their self-interest is actually acting immorally.à  Many think that the ethical egoist has misunderstood the concept of morality — i.e., morality is the system of practical reasoning through which we are guided to constrain our self-interest, not further it.à  Also, thatà  genuine altruism is indeed possible, and relatively commonly exhibited. à  (4) Divine Command Theory Many claim that there is a necessary connection between morality and religion, such that, without religion (in particular, without God or gods) there is no morality, i.e., no right and wrong behaviour.à  Although there are related claims that religion is necessary to motivate and guide people to behave in morally good way, most take the claim of the necessary connection between morality and religion to mean that right and wrong come from the commands of God (or the gods).à  This view of morality is known as Divine Command Theory.à  The upshot is that an action is right — or obligatory — if God command we do it, wrong if God commands we refrain from doing it, and morally permissible if God does not command that it not be done. Divine Command Theory is widely held to have several serious flaws.à  First, it presupposes that God or gods exist.à  Second, even if we assume that God does exist, it presupposes that we can know what God commandsà  But even if we accept theism, it looks like even theists should reject the theory.à  Plato raised the relevant objection 2500 years ago.à  He asked: Is something right (or wrong) because the gods command it, or do the gods command it because it is right? If the latter, then right and wrong are independent of the gods’ commands — Divine Command Theory is false.à  If the former, then right and wrong are just a matter of the arbitrary will of the gods (i.e., they might have willed some other, contradictory commands). Most think that right and wrong are not arbitrary — that is, some action is wrong, say, for a reason.à  Moreover, that if God commands us not to do an action, He does so because of this reason, not simply because He arbitrarily commands it.à  What makes the action wrong, then, is not God’s commanding it, but the reason.à  Divine Command Theory is false again. à  (5) Virtue Ethics Right and wrong are characterized in terms of acting in accordance with the traditional virtues — making the good person. The most widely discussed is Aristotle’s account.à  For Aristotle, the central concern is â€Å"Ethica† = things to do with character.à  Of particular concern are excellences of character — i.e., the moral virtues. Aristotle, and most of the ancient Greeks really had nothing to say about moral duty, i.e., modern day moral concepts.à  Rather, they were concerned with what makes human beings truly ‘happy’.à  True ‘happiness’ is calledEudaimonia (flourishing / well- being / fulfilment / self- actualization).à  Like Plato, Aristotle wants to show that there are objective reasons for living in accordance with the traditional virtues (wisdom, courage, justice and temperance).à  For Aristotle, this comes from a particular account of human nature — i.e., the virtuous life is the â⠂¬Ëœhappiest’ (most fulfilling) life.

Corporate Social Responsibility Essay

Business and society are interdependent. The wellbeing of one depends on the wellbeing on the other. Companies engaged in CSR are reporting benefits to their reputation and their bottom line. We cannot build the case for CSR solely because of its economic benefits – an ethical case must be made for companies taking responsibility for the impact of their relations with society and the environment, otherwise the foundations of CSR will be far too narrow. However, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is becoming an increasingly significant category by which a company’s reputation is evaluated. A variety of social and environmental issues across a broad spectrum of industries have recently been covered in the media – all of which directly affect a company’s reputation and all of which can be considered part of the larger CSR equation. Whether CSR is considered merely the latest trend in business management or whether it is laying the foundation for a newly advanced way of doing business, a brief overview of recent business news and corporate communications shows that CSR is certainly a relevant factor for how a company positions itself in the marketplace. CSR There is no universally agreed statement of just what CSR means and implies, and ideas on the subject are still developing. All the same, a common body of policy has now taken shape and won general approval among those who favors the approach. According to this way of thinking, a combination of recent changes on the world scene and pressures from public opinion now requires businesses to take on a new role, a newly defined mission. They should play a leading part in achieving the shared objectives of public policy and making the world a better place. In doing so, they should embrace the notion of ‘corporate citizenship’. They should run their affairs, in close conjunction with a group of different ‘stakeholders’, to pursue the common goal of ‘sustainable development’. Sustainable development is said to have three dimensions-‘economic’, ‘environmental’ and ‘social’. Hence, companies should set objectives, measure their performance, and have that performance independently audited, in relation to all three. They should aim to meet the ‘triple bottom line’, rather than focusing narrowly on profitability and shareholder value. All this applies to privately owned businesses in general and in particular to large multinational enterprises. Only by acting in this way can companies respond to ‘society’s expectations’. Making such a positive response is presented as the key to long-run commercial success for individual corporations in today’s world. This is because profits depend on reputation, which in turn depends increasingly on being seen to act in a socially responsible way. Thus taking the path of CSR will in fact be good for enterprise profitability: it will bring and sustain support and custom from outside the firm, and make for greater loyalty and keenness from its employees. To embrace corporate citizenship represents enlightened self-interest on the part of business. There is also a wider dimension, going beyond the individual corporation. The adoption of CSR by businesses generally is seen as necessary to ensure continuing public support for the private enterprise system as a whole. Corporate social responsibility Corporate social responsibility is necessarily an evolving term that does not have a standard definition or a fully recognized set of specific criteria. With the understanding that businesses play a key role on job and wealth creation in society, CSR is generally understood to be the way a company achieves a balance or integration of economic, environmental and social imperatives while at the same time addressing shareholder and stakeholder expectations. CSR is generally accepted as applying to firms wherever they operate in the domestic and global economy. The way businesses engage/involve the shareholders, employees, customers, suppliers, governments, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, and other stakeholders is usually a key feature of the concept. While business compliance with laws and regulations on social, environmental and economic objectives set the official level of CSR performance, CSR is often understood as involving the private sector commitments and activities that extend beyond this foundation of compliance with laws. From a progressive business perspective, CSR usually involves focusing on new opportunities as a way to respond to interrelated economic, societal and environmental demands in the marketplace. Many firms believe that this focus provides a clear competitive advantage and stimulates corporate innovation. CSR is generally seen as the business contribution to sustainable development, which has been defined as â€Å"development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs†, and is generally understood as focusing on how to achieve the integration of economic, environmental, and social imperatives. CSR also overlaps and often is synonymous with many features of other related concepts such as corporate sustainability, corporate accountability, corporate responsibility, corporate citizenship, corporate stewardship, etc. CSR commitments and activities typically address aspects of a firm’s behavior (including its policies and practices) with respect to such key elements as; health and safety, environmental protection, human rights, human resource management practices, corporate governance, community development, and consumer protection, labor protection, supplier relations, business ethics, and stakeholder rights. Corporations are motivated to involve stakeholders in their decision-making and to address societal challenges because today’s stakeholders are increasingly aware of the importance and impact of corporate decisions upon society and the environment. The stakeholders can reward or punish corporations. Corporations can be motivated to change their corporate behavior in response to the business case, which a CSR approach potentially promises. This includes: 1)Stronger financial performance and profitability (e. g. hrough eco- efficiency), 2)Improved accountability to and assessments from the investment community, 3)Enhanced employee commitment, 4)Decreased vulnerability through stronger relationships with communities, 5)Improved reputation and branding. Historical context The view that a business can have obligations that extend beyond economic roles is not new in many respects. Throughout recorded history, the roles of organizations producing goods and services for the marketplace were frequently linked with and include political, social, and/or military roles. For example, throughout the early evolutionary stages of company development in England (where organizations such as the Hudson Bay Company and the East India Company received broad mandates), there was a public policy understanding that corporations were to help achieve societal objectives such as the exploration of colonial territory, setting up settlements, providing transportation services, developing bank and financial services, etc.. During the nineteenth century, the corporation as a business form of organization evolved rapidly in the US. It took on a commercial form that spelled out responsibilities of the board of directors and management to shareholders (i. e. fiduciary duty). In this later evolutionary form, public policy frequently addressed specific social domains such as health and safety for workers, consumer protection, labour practices, environmental protection, etc. Thus, corporations responded to social responsibilities because they were obligated to comply with the law and public policy. They also responded voluntarily to market demands that reflected consumer morals and social tastes. By the mid-point of the twentieth century, business management experts such as Peter Drucker and being considered in business literature were discussing corporate social responsibility in the US. In 1970, economist Milton Friedmann outlined his view that the social responsibility of corporations is to make profits within the boundaries of societal morals and laws (but cautioned that socially responsible initiatives by corporations could lead to unfocused management directions, misallocations of resources, and reduced market competition, opportunity and choice). CSR emerged and continues to be a key business management, marketing, and accounting concern in the US, Europe, Canada, and other nations. In the last decade, CSR and related concepts such as corporate citizenship and corporate sustainability have expanded. This has perhaps occurred in response to new challenges such as those emanating from increased globalization on the agenda of business managers as well as for related stakeholder communities. It is now more a part of both the vocabulary and agenda of academics, professionals, non-governmental organizations, consumer groups, employees, suppliers, shareholders, and nvestors. Diversity of Perspectives The following summaries of perspectives of different organizations serve to indicate the diversity of views on CSR that exist in Canada and around the world. They reflect the challenges and opportunities for both the public and private sectors to effectively operationalize and align CSR between domestic, continental and international levels. They also indicate the challenges and opportunities to develop the most appropriate relationships between shareholders and other stakeholders as well as to use the optimal policy mix of legislative and voluntary instruments.

International Human Resource Management - cultural management and Essay

International Human Resource Management - cultural management and diversity - Essay Example Research Topic The research topic that has been proposed by the author is "the importance of culture in the practice of international human resources management in the hospitality industry." This research will be carried out in the following manner. The author will first gain an in-depth understanding of the culture and the role it plays in any organisation. Next the author will study the practice of international human resources management in the hospitality industry. Finally the author will then study the impact of culture in international human resources management in the hospitality industry. Resources In this section the author will give a detailed description of all the different resources that she believes she would need to carry out the stated research study. In order to carry out this research the author will need access to an online library or for the secondary data that would be necessary for the literature review. Access to many different organisations in the hospitality industry. Since the author would like to be very specific in this study, the author will study four different international hotel chains such as The Sheraton hotels, The Hilton hotels, The Westin hotels and The Royal York Hotels. Ability to interview and survey mid level managers in the local and international locations of the named hotel chains. Ability to interview and survey human resources personnel in the local and international locations of the named hotel chains. Access to sufficient numbers of employees at human resources and mid level management in the hotels to the extent that the sample group will be demographically representative of the wider population. Resources such as stationary, availability to long distance phone services, email. Adequate time to carry...Research objectives are important because they will help keep the research on track and the author can use the set objectives and their achievement as a yardstick to measure the success of the research study To understand the best possible methods that can be employed by the management and the human resources personnel in an organisation and to make recommendations, suggestions and a framework of best practices that can be used in the organisation. Access to many different organisations in the hospitality industry. Since the author would like to be very specific in this study, the author will study four different international hotel chains such as The Sheraton hotels, The Hilton hotels, The Westin hotels and The Royal York Hotels. According to Porter's cultural determinants model, international organisations will be well off if they understand the social structure, religion, language, political philosophy, economic philosophy and education levels of the employees that they manage. The type of social structure that is seen consistently in a county or a region is very important to a business organization. This is because some social structures give priority to individualism, while others give priority to groups.

Conferance Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Conferance Paper - Essay Example Creative problem solving is a core component in finding solutions to the vast wastes by human growth and development that are compatible with the environment. Half of the current world population lives in urban centres and the rapid urbanisation has been a major challenge to scientists on how to maintain this population’s health without affecting the environment (Morrison & Rauch 2007). In a forum for research on the management and the effect that transportation has on the environment, some of the issues addressed included the traffic management, treatment, sustainable transport strategies, and increase on vehicle emissions, reduced air quality, and the quality of water (Morrison & Rauch 2007). 1. Introduction Environmental engineering is defined as the consolidation of engineering and science principles to better the natural environment with the aim of decontaminating polluted sites, and providing a comfortable habitation by all live organisms with clean healthy air, water an d land. It is a vast field with many obligations in the society. It is concerned with finding solutions for public health cases, implementing law, promoting sufficient sanitation in rural, urban and recreational centres, management of waste water, control of air pollution, proper disposal of wastes, recycling of materials and protection from radiation, industrial hygiene, and sustainability of the environment among other fields of application. Aside from this, environmental engineering is involved with public health issues and involves the understanding of environmental engineering law as well as the effect that proposed construction projects have on the environment. In the past, environmental engineering was considered a branch of civil engineering and was called sanitary engineering, but it has spawned from a component based on the development of processes and structures that addressed pollution and waste into a multi-disciplinary science that strikes a balance between different n eeds. Creative ways of solving problems are employed in the everyday activities of reducing the amount of waste and pollution in the environment without affecting the environment. For example, the creation of fish ladders in dams that allows fish such as salmon to migrate upstream for breeding purposes whose route is blocked by a human-made barrier such as a dam. As an environmental engineer, there is a task and an obligation to study the impact that advances in technology have on the environment by conducting studies on the management of hazardous waste material. These studies are aimed at determining the implications of these hazards, to give advice to relevant bodies on treatment and containment of the hazard and to develop rules to ensure safety of the public. Environment engineers are responsible for the design of municipal water supply and the system management of waste water in industries. Environment issues at both local and international levels such as global warming, the e ffects of acid rain, ozone depletion, water pollution and air pollution from industrial sources and automobile exhausts (Beychok 2005). Environment engineers work with various environment protection agencies around the world that serve to protect and better the quality of water, air and the environment as a whole in order to prevent or reduce the effects of hazardous wastes on the

The Columbia History of American Television Assignment

The Columbia History of American Television - Assignment Example The silent generation children grew in complex situations caused by wars and economic hard ups. America suffered the most during the economic crisis in 1929 to 1939 called the great depression. Many American nationals lost their property and possessions starving on the streets as the employment rates reduced by 24 percent being unemployed (Gary 208). Popular culture allows people with different opinions styles to relate and identify homogenously and collectively. It serves a critical role in the society as it unites groups on ideas of acceptable forms of behavior. Popular culture comes from the developments of range activities such as modern music, cyberculture, print, entertainment, advertising, and television. Video and television popular culture influence the advancement of the silent generation Era in different perspectives. The increase of the middle class and urbanization is the foundation of the famous culture leading to the industrial revolution. The baby boomers are the initiators of the generational evolution by their arrival leading to the demands for housing, cars, and roads mostly aged between 47 to 65years. The Generation X years range from 31 to 46 and is an in-between generation consisting of the first-generation dual income families. They experience the impacts of the end of the cold war, the fall of the Communism and the dismantling of the Berlin wall. The development of the MTV and rise of the internet, technology enlightened them to be tech savvy and entrepreneurs. The current generation is the millennial generation with ages from 18 to 30 who have grown in an environment of unrest and increased security after post-September 11 world. Social and political trends promote the age differences in political attitudes and voting choices in the election cycles.  

Explore the benifits and chalenges o conducting multi-paradiam Essay

Explore the benifits and chalenges o conducting multi-paradiam research - Essay Example Thomas Kuhn, who is known for the discussing of meaning ‘paradigm’ in his famous book  The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, characterized paradigm as â€Å"an integrated cluster of substantive concepts, variables and problems attached with corresponding methodological approaches and tools†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Ã‚  (p.43).  Kuhn also specified the questions, which should be clarified within a paradigm to consider it as a valid base for a scientific research. A paradigm has to define what should be studied, what question and how should be asked, and also, which rules the researcher should follow to interpret obtained results. The notion of paradigm considers as the broadest unit of consensus, which serves to differentiate one scientific community from another. It appears to be a set of principles and axioms that relates to research process on the stage of assessment of a problem up to its solution.  Paradigms define and correlate theories, methods and instruments, accept ed within a scientific research. Analyzing the main paradigms, dominating in modern science, such as positivism, post positivism, critical theory, and constructivism, Guba and Lincoln (1994), represented their opinion about the role of paradigms, their assumptions, and the implications of those assumptions for research. â€Å"Paradigms define for the [researcher] what it is they are about, and what falls within and outside the limits of legitimate [research]† (Guba and Lincoln, 1994, p. 108). The authors states that the basic beliefs that define a particular research paradigm may be summarized by the responses given to three fundamental questions: the ontological question (what is the form and nature of reality), the epistemological question (what is the nature of the relationship between a researcher and the object of research), and the methodological question (how can the inquirer go about finding out whatever he/ she believes can be known)  (pp. 105-117). From this aspec t, we will analyze some of the well- known paradigms such as positivism and critical theory. Positivism. French philosopher August Comte (1798–1857) was the initiator of positivist paradigm, based on the philosophical ideas of observation and reasoning as the main ways of understanding reality and human behavior. According to August Comte, true knowledge is based on experience of senses and can be obtained by observation and experiment. Positivistic thinkers adopted his scientific method for knowledge generation. The main postulates of the positivist paradigm consist in understanding of nature as an objective, true reality, which is governed by unchangeable natural laws. Nature has its stable, pre-existing patterns and order that can be discovered. Positivism considers human nature to be described from the behaviorist approach, asserting the external factors play the main role in the formation of the similar specific behavior of everyone, who has been influenced the same obje ctive factors. Accurate and certain, knowledge should be described in a systematic way, and verify hypotheses that can be regarded as facts or laws. The role of research is uncovering the natural laws of reality, scientifically explaining, predicting and controlling phenomena. A researcher have to be objective, independent from influencing the subject of research, and eliminate any bias or subjective values within research. The main methods of research are empirical and experimental, structured observation, quantification or measurement. The results of research consider true, if

Boston tea party Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Boston tea party - Research Paper Example Protests may be successful because it awakens the government to revise its rule, as in Congress can amend legislations. In the history, Americans found their protests for exorbitant taxes for tea effective. Their protest actions led to recall of the 25% tax on tea leaves by the parliament. Finding that a protest is a significant weapon, nationalism among the Americans became a widespread action that eventually led to a revolt for a cry of independence. How this transpired will be the topic of this paper. The Boston Tea Party The love for tea of the Europeans started importation, competition and monopoly. Since the tea leaves are not grown in the West, Europeans had to import it from the East Indies.1 Seeing fortune opportunities, many companies sought to compete and started importing tea leaves to the West. The costly war between France and India was just over and British storehouses were nearly empty. In subsequent events, the action of King George III was a fiscal monetary policy, because he imposed taxes to the American colonies. He had two economic visions at that time. One was to regain money lost, and the other is to reinstate their authority to the American colonies which they have neglected because of war.2 Taxes and monopoly When the monarchy started to tax products sold to America, people began to despise the rule. People became angrier when the royalty declared the tea a monopoly of the East India Company. And this was seen by historians as the biggest mistake of the King because this sparked nationalism that started the revolution. As a protest, the Boston Tea Party began. It was not really a party in the real sense, but a nomenclature given to protests to the levy imposition. On December 16, 1773, the first protest was done by a group of Boston patriots who posed themselves as Indians to gain access to the three English ships that held tea cargoes3. Protesters split open every chest and dumped its contents to the sea. Overall, the protesters in the first Boston Tea Party threw to the sea, three hundred fort-two chests of tea4. Similar protest actions followed in several seaports. On the Second tea party, done on March 7, 1774, 16 chests of tea were again thrown off to the sea. Of course, throwing of the tea into the sea is a only symbolic gesture that is a lead up to revolt for independence and a sign of protest. Shown below is a manifesto urging the citizens to protest, posted all over Boston on November 29, 1773, shortly after the arrival of 3 ships carrying tea owned by the East India Company5 Since tea has grown to be of much importance to the Americans and they found English tea to be very expensive because of taxes, Bostonians looked for alternatives such as smuggling. They found cheaper source from Holland thus evading the 25% tax slapped on them. Smuggling resulted to about half a million pounds and reduction of the English’ income6 This loss resulted to another economic policy from the parliament. To address t hese losses another fiscal policy repealed the 25% tax imposition on tea thus making the Dutch leaves much affordable.7 The Act further strengthened campaign for anti-smuggling. Seeing that Tea Law aroused more protests and was not very effective, The Stamp Act of was put into effect on March 22, 1765. This required every Americans to â€Å"pay a tax on every piece of printed paper they used. Ship's papers, legal documents, licenses, newspapers, other publications, and even playing cards were taxed. The money collected by the

Law, Globalisation & Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Law, Globalisation & Ethics - Essay Example With the world becoming a global village and globalisation is a common phenomenon, there is a complete need for the strengthening of the law and order in the society and also the society becoming ethical in its approach. With the increase of globalisation the rate of natural calamities on the world has also increased, and it has become a tremendous problem for the sustenance of mankind. It has even a long term effect on those who have survived from such deadly event. It is almost impossible to prevent such happenings but what can be possible is to soothe the life of the victims who have been affected by such events. This can only be done through the constant effort of the law and ethical orientation of the society. And it has to take place not only from the affected place but also from the entire world, which is actually the true meaning of globalisation (Sayles, 2008). UK’s International Search and Rescue Team is a special team which has been successful in many life saving operations throughout the world. It is been operating since the year 1967. To undertake rescue missions both in United Kingdom a well as abroad, it is registered under the British Government, the United Nations Secretariat (INSARAG) and even with the International Civil Defence Organisation. In all major events ranging from floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, war and missile attacks, the team has been constantly beside the victims. The teams have supported such victims in all possible way they could have done. They have saved thousands of life in such misfortune events. With the growing dangers even there is a growing need of such volunteers to be part of the international rescue missions. But it should also be checked that the law and the ethical conditions permit to such situations (British Civil Defence, n.d.). The fire department is one such department that has been one of the most valiant departments fighting with all odds to save the life of several people

Brice Family Essay Example for Free

Brice Family Essay The Brice family consisted of a family unit of five. The father Davie a lawyer, the mother Caroline, their teenage daughter Claudia, the younger daughter Laura and younger son Don. The family was referred by a psychiatrist who had been seeing Claudia, but felt the whole family needed to be in therapy. The first session was a challenge, the family agreed to go in all together only for the initial session and they were not very comfortable to begin with. The mother Caroline felt the problem that should be address was the issues their teen daughter was having and she did not believe the entire family should be there. Both the mother and daughter came in angry to the therapy session and there was a lot of tension in the room. The father was respectful and stated he was happy to be there, but his body language told the therapist he has not comfortable being there. The youngest daughter Laura seemed to be in a cheerful mood with high energy. The youngest son Don did not show up for the first session. During the session there was an argument that broke out between mother and daughter, Carolyn seems to think they are in therapy to resolve the daughter’s issues that is affecting the entire family, but she does not feel the family as a unit has a problem. Both therapists agreed that it would not be ideal to start the family session without the youngest son Don who did not show up. David and Carolyn did not seem happy with this choice and felt the longer they waited  for their daughter to get help the worst it would get. Carl explain the dynamics of the family and how important it was to have Don at the initiation of the family session, and asked the family to think if they wanted to be a part of the family they are in, and if they did to call and set up a time for the next session with Don include. Dave did not hesitate and agreed to set up an appointment then and there; he looked over at his wife and asked he if she agreed. Carolyn agreed and towards the end of the session Carl connected with Laura the youngest daughter by engaging her in dialog and asking what she thought about everything that was going on in the family. By doing this Carl was able to show the family how every member of the family has a valuable place in therapy, and it is not just about one person. Second Session The second session with the Brice family was as intense as the first one. Don the younger brother did attend the second session. He came in with a sloppy walk. Don has long blond hair and dressed in body shirt jeans and sandals. He introduced himself to Carl and seemed confident. Once the family was settle and the session started the focus of the session would always seem to try and come back to Claudia. Both parents think that Claudia is the cause of the family dysfunction and their marriage is in trouble because of her. Carl did a great job by taking the focus away from Claudia and putting it back on both parents. He was able to have them see that there were other issues that stemmed with them as a couple, and the structure of the family unit. David over working and not being a part of the family and Carolyn being over involved with her mother and her needs. Whitaker and Napier conceptualized the family’s difficulties as a whole problem. They did not see it stem form one family member. They felt the family all had some issues as individuals and as a couple for the parents that were not address when they should have been. Because the issues were set aside they resurfaced and intensified along with Claudia’s changing attitude and miss behavior. This is one of the reasons both parents seem to focus on Claudia and identified her as the main cause of the family’s problems. When using individual understanding of a family’s problem each family member is seen separate. The family is not taken in as a unit, but instead they work on the individual to be able to create harmony in the family. Each member issue are addressed  individually and worked on without the rest of the family having a part. When looked at as individual there is a targeted behavior the individual is seeing as the problem not the family unit as a whole. Carl used the systemic family approach with the Brice family, both therapist looked at the circular interaction of the family problem, the family role of each family member and how they fit in to contributing to the family dysfunction and made sure the entire family was present for the first intervention. Both therapist looked for positive contributions to the social organization of the family that they could look back on to start working with the family as one unit and not focus on one member of the family to be the problem. One of the interventions came by the simple sitting arrangement the family had. The family in the beginning of the session unconsciously sat according to the family structure and how they felt it was. By having the therapist change the seating arrangements was a symbolic change and shift in the family structure to what it should be. Systematic therapy seems to be the best time of therapy for the Brice family. In this paper I have talked about the first two sessions of the Brice family, I have included Whitaker’s and Napier’s conceptualization of the families difficulties and described ho this differs from individual understanding. I also talked about specific interventions used with the family.

Gender And Emotion Essay Example for Free

Gender And Emotion Essay Since time immemorial, emotions have always been a fundamental constituent of human beings. However, not all humans attach or detach the same emotions towards things; different people feel differently about varied things and that is why we are all termed as being unique. It is based on this difference in emotions that a lot of debates and researches have been going around in trying to establish whether the emotions we have affect the brain or conversely, whether the brain affects the emotions. Other researchers have-on the other hand- been looking at the subject of emotions differently by opinionating that it varies from one culture to another, one gender to another or even differing based on varied contexts. It is therefore important to circumspectly look at all the angles that have been propagated by different people if an inclusive and satisfactory answer is to be found for the above questions. Many of the studies that have been conducted by researchers highly suggest that the brain largely determines what we feel about different things. Researches by Norman (2003) support this argument by saying that human attributions for different things result from the brain which in effect dictates human behavior. He further says that humans have large brains than other animals and that is why they are able to act more maturely when expressing their emotions. Elder (1996) gives an example by saying that if we feel fear (which is an emotion), then it is based on the fact that we believe (a signal from the brain) something is threatening to us. According to her, Critical thinking precedes and emotional reaction. However, both of these are equally important and signals them should be treated with equal importance. Waxler (2004) also sentiments that â€Å"Our thoughts have profound effect on our emotions, and by learning how to think in our own best interest, we improve our emotional condition. † He proceeds and says that since it is easy to review our thoughts and even control them, then it becomes even easier for us to control our emotions and feel things that are appropriate for us. However, this capacity of the brain to control things has been subject to misuse by some people. Elder (1996) says that â€Å"As we mature, we learn multiple ways to manipulate others, to influence or control others to get what we want. We even learn how to deceive ourselves as to the egocentrism of our behavior. † this is sometimes even taken to the extent of faking feelings like, empathy, generosity, kindness when in real sense, we mean the exact opposite. So the next time you see someone acting â€Å"all good,† be careful because you may just and read between the lines; you may be happy when all that is being done for you is getting fed on lies. On the other hand, other researches purport that emotions affect how we think. An example is the finals of the 2008 FIFA world cup of where Zinedine Zidane, a renowned footballer of France, head-butted Matterazi (an Italian player) after the Italian allegedly made some abusive remarks to him. Speaking after the Interview, Zidane said that he was overwhelmed by emotions and all he could think of at that particular time was t o harm Matterazi. Matsumoto (n. d. ) furthers this argument by saying that â€Å"It is by controlling their emotions that athletes are capable of maintaining high levels of critical thinking and focus, regardless of what sport they are in. † He goes ahead and opinionates that whenever we are emotional, the capacity to think critically is reduced. As a result, athletes who are normally emotional have the tendency of easily losing focus. Tarleton (n. d. ) similarly support this idea by saying that â€Å"Emotions influence how we perceive and react to life, which in turn, determines how content and/or successful we are. The conceptualization or perception of something-according to them-results from feelings that are harbored in our emotions. So if we are able to control our emotions, then it becomes very easy for someone not to think-and consequently-act irrationally. Elder (1996) reports Goleman’s assertion that sometimes feelings come before thought. According to Goleman, â€Å"the emotional mind is far quicker that the rational mind, springing into action without pausing even a moment to consider what it is doing. † This is relatively dangerous as one may act in a way that is not appropriate and consequently end in problems. On the other hand, it may come in handy more so in situations where a person is in a dilemma and is lost for choice yet needs to act aptly. In addition, there is also a group of researchers who hang in the middle of this debatable subject by saying that both the brain and emotions mutually affect one another. In explaining this symbiotic relationship, Tarleton. edu (n. d) say that â€Å"Our thoughts influence how we feel. How we feel influences how we think. These connections are bi-directional and complex. † They go ahead and explicate this by saying that thinking about something good improves our mood while thinking negatively destroys it. Recent studies by some scholars have fundamentally brought an interestingly fresh dimension to this debate of the brain versus emotions. These scholars argue that gender orientation plays a vital role in how one thinks or feels. In spite of being given much emphasis in the recent times, the issue of gender influencing how a person thinks or feels is not a new concept. Even in the pre-modern times, men and women were expected to think and feel in a specific way based on the stereotypes of that time (Sungur and Tekkaya, 2005). Currently, men are debatably depicted in most areas as being strong and dominant while the women being second. Brescoll and Uhlmann (2007) in their work cite Heilman (2001) and Rudman (1998) articulate that women are should be kinder than men, and they induce negative responses from others when they fail to act according to the premeditated ways expected of them. They expound on this concept by writing that men are believed to be strong and should not show weakly emotions like crying just in the same way, women should not show anger. This has however not augured well with most women-especially the elitists and feminists- who see themselves as being able to â€Å"do better what men can do. † To them, both men and women are equal and none should be given a higher status than the other. When using the gender aspect in depicting intelligence or the capacity to think, the same argument used in emotions is used. Men are disputably depicted as having an upper hand than women. In their defense, they state the numerous organizations that are chaired by them and the many critical positions they hold in the annals of history. Of course this has faced much criticism from the women who consider themselves brighter. However, Pin-pointing who is above the other is not our main concern, what stands out to be counted is the fact that both men and women have made invaluable contributions in various aspects. In addition, their differences and unique qualities make them blend even better in their various roles and thus being to the overall good for both of them. References Tarleton. (n. d. ). Emotions and learning (Mini-mester). Retrieved May 3rd, 2010, from http://webcache. googleusercontent. com/custom? q=cache:m7MMnYFicw8J:www. tarleton. edu/~sanderson/Emotions%2520and%2520Learning(mini-mester). Matsumoto, S. (n. d). Do emotions affect critical thinking? Retrieved May 3rd, 2010, from Retrieved May 3rd, 2010, from http://www. humintell. com/2009/08/do-emotions-affect-critical-thinking/ Waxler, J. (2004) Self-talk: How thoughts affect feelings. Retrieved May 3rd, 2010, from http://www. mental-health-survival-guide. com/cognitive-therapy. htm Lmez. A. Y. Sungur, S. Tekkaya, C. (2005). Investigating students’ logical thinking abilities: the effects of gender and grade level.

Trinidad and Tobago: Carnivals

Trinidad and Tobago: Carnivals Carnival, The Pulse of Trinidad Tobago Draft Trinidad Tobago is a twin-island republic, located on the southern fringe of the Caribbean Sea, approximately six miles off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. The economy of this tiny republic (with an area of 1,979 square miles and a population of approximately 1.3 million) is acknowledged as the most prosperous and sophisticated, in the island states of the Caribbean region. It is largely based on oil and natural gas, which it mainly exports to North America.[1] The islands offer contrasting experiences, Trinidad hosts the commercial, financial and industrial activity of the nation; while Tobago is the Tourism destination of foreign visitors, with its sandy beaches, coral reefs, sport fishing, and all-inclusive hotels. The social experience is also a significant attraction. The widely diverse cultural components of the island nation, makes for interesting customs, foods, and activities. The resulting easy-going, laughter-filled nature of the average Trinidadian and Tobagonian, makes for a great host, and memorable experiences. This unique potpourri of peoples with their contrasting cultures, blended gradually into the personae known as a â€Å"Trini†, is annually rejuvenated in that cauldron of harmony, known as Trinidad Carnival. Trinidad Carnival developed as part of the Roman Catholic observance of Lent, which mandates the abstinence from meat and pleasure (carni flesh and vale to say good bye to). Its pre-Lenten activity culminates in two days of explosive masquerading, leading up to Ash Wednesday, but the actual festivities start with the parties, competitions and shows that begin right after the Christmas season is over. Of, course the creative activity that results in the vistas of sight and sound on Carnival Days usually start shortly after the end of the previous Carnival. Brilliant costumes by the thousands are created and assembled at Mas Camps throughout the island, as early as September. Hundreds of pannists religiously practice their musical arrangements at the various panyards, in preparation for the musical competitions. Songs specially created for the festival are performed nightly at the Calypso Tents and blared with monotonous regularity from the many radio-stations, who promote their favorites for the various Calypso, Soca and Chutney competitions. At the fetes (day time or night time), tourists will look on in amazement at the throngs of people effortlessly jumping in time with the beat of the runaway harmony of calypso or soca music played by the steelband, brass band, or the ubiquitous fete DJ. These parties are so infectious, that it impossible to be a spectator for long, and one by one, the non-participants fall prey to the music and energy, and shuffle or sway as best they can to the beat. These parties also present an opportunity to experience the aromas and tastes of many local dishes, generally, flavorful and spicy: corn soup, pelau, roti, doubles truly, finger-licking, delicious! The weekend before Ash Wednesday, hosts the finals of most of the major competitions of the Festival. On Saturday night, the Panorama competition final is the big event with remaining 16 bands competing for the highly coveted title of â€Å"Panorama Champion† and significant prize-money, in two categories large band and medium band. This event is the ultimate challenge, the moment for which all the participating pannists have so diligently practiced over the past several months. Emotions are so charged at the venue The Big Yard at The Queens Park Savannah from players and spectators alike, that the electrical energy could probably light up the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center. The musical harmony can be heard from afar, sweet and euphoric to the connoisseur. In the wee hours of Sunday morning, the judges scores produce emotional highs for the winners and their supporters, lows for the disappointed, and fuel for lively debate until the next Panorama. On Sunday night, all look forward to experiencing the breathtaking spectacle of sound and color of the grand finale of all Competitions â€Å"Dimanche Gras†, so named because all the major finals took place at this event (until the Panorama Final was relegated to Saturday because of the significant logistics involved). The crowning of; the Calypso Monarch, the National King and Queen of the Bands can be enjoyed live, at the Queens Park Savannah, for an entry fee amounting to the cost of a ticket to a Broadway Show, or in the home, for free on National Television. Before the break of dawn on Monday morning precisely at four a.m. the Street Parades are officially launched with the Jouvert celebrations. This phase signifies the opening of festivities and is characterized by the portrayal of characters and ‘mas forms intrinsic to the development of Trinidad Carnival. One popular portrayal is the commentary on social and political events, through the satirical use of placards, costume and pantomime once the essence of the early Carnival art form. Several Bands parade in costume, but the theme and content are subdued and remind of the somber costuming of Halloween. Much like the grey of dawn, before the beauty of tropical sunshine. Monday evening breaks the exhausted sleep of revelers, who are part of the Big Parade, for the prelude to the big day, Carnival Tuesday. All registered bands parade in the streets in all the towns of the twin island nation, but the major spectacle occurs on the streets of the capital, Port of Spain. Costumes are elaborately made with beads, plumes, brocades, sequins, lots of color and style. To participate in the parade (‘play mas), apart from purchasing a costume from the â€Å"Mas Camp† which can now be done from overseas via the Internet you must be physically fit; for the process of jumping and dancing on the asphalt, in 97 ° F + temperatures, is no picnic! As a result, from the month of December, gyms and parks are invaded by intended masqueraders, sweating and jiggling, in the hope of miraculously looking like Brad Pitt, Barry Bonds or Halle Berry in their precious little costumes. On these Parade days, the crowds on the streets would rival those of New O rleans Mardi Gras. There are specific parade routes for the bands to use in order to access the three main judging venues in the capital city. The most popular venue with spectators and masqueraders alike, the Queens Park Savannah, is the place to be when the color and glitter of the sea of swaying costumes are caught in the splendor of the setting sun! The magic of Carnival is not just in the audio-visual spectacle, but for the islanders, it is a time when the soul of the Trinidadian regenerates itself, while achieving the goal of the religious of observance of Lent. The nation experiences lower crime rates, while social and class differences are set aside. It is as though the soul of the Trinidadian recognizes that the time has come for the annual leveling of the human playing field, which is necessary for peoples of a diverse ethnic heritage, to coexist in harmony and to foster the cross-fertilization of cultures, critical to the identity of a unique Trinidadian. At this time, the superficial world of commerce is placed on the back burner. Carnival is a time to enjoy the art, music, friendships, and simply to relax. So significant an event is Carnival to the Trinidadian, that those, who found it difficult to return to the motherland every year to be part of the renewal, have began to introduce the process to their adopted countries and cities: New York, Boston, Miami, Toronto and Notting Hill (England). However, as any Trini will own, it is not the same. Carnival in Trinidad Tobago, once truly experienced cannot be forgotten, and the attraction to return is difficult to resist. Source Out of an annual US import of 631 million cu ft of LNG, 439 million cu ft originated in Trinidad Tobago Energy Information Administration; US Natural Gas Imports by Country (Annual)

The BMW Corporate Culture Essay example -- Business Analysis

When asked to describe the culture at BMW, to do that one must first give a few definitions of the word culture that would give the most accurate description. First would be â€Å"The sum of attitudes, customs, and beliefs that distinguishes one group of people from another. Culture is transmitted, through language, material objects, rituals institutions which can be connected to motivation, and art, from one generation to the next.† Motivated employees that show commitment to their tasks has proven to be a crucial factors that help to motivate employees to work in line with the goals and aspirations of the company. Secondly we would use â€Å"Intellectual and artistic activity and the works produced by it.† Thirdly one would use â€Å"The behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group.† At the German BMW Plant, employees there have the perception that their culture is quite unique because the atmosphere is very cheerful and friendly which allow everyone to be at ease with their work. The employees take pride in having the opportunity to express their opinions as well as their likes and dislike in their departmental meetings. BMW has proven to be a huge competitor in the auto industry with more than $60 billion dollars in sales, which is still much smaller than its American rivals. There are few companies that have been as consistent as BMW in integrating and producing its ever-changing product line, with its luxurious features and its unmistakable quality. Much of BMW’s highly rated success stems from an entrepreneurial culture that is rare in most corporations but is common in the ideology that the Germanys believe in. With diversity being a priority for the BMW Company still over three quart... ... one can be and making those around them be the best they can be as well. Also when one has a product that is second to none and one can be a part of a team that done so will give one a since of proud as that the BMW founders have in themselves and what they are able to build. Working in such an environment where diversity is what shows the people who they are and what they have done to make their product on the cutting edge of technology and performance will be an identity that one will be able to walk with your head held high knowing that they are the best. Works Cited Alvesson Mats & Berg Per Olof(1992). Corporate Culture and Organizational Symbolism. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter& Co Bang Henning(1999). Organisationskultur. Lund Studentlitteratur Hofsted, Geert(1991). Cultures and Organizations Software of the mind. McGraw Hill International UK

Monetary Policy During The Great Depression Essay -- Economics Economy

Monetary Policy During The Great Depression One of the most important aspects of the Great Depression that stands out in economists’ minds is the surge of bank panics and failures during the depression’s onset (1930-1933). However, an institution created with the intention of preventing such a string of disasters failed to fulfill its obligation as a â€Å"lender of last resort.† This is the Fed, and its failure to prevent the early bank panics of the Great Depression is a very interesting economic issue. So why did the Fed fail to fulfill its duty? The reason for the Fed’s actions (or lack thereof) was a combination of the strict elitist leadership in the Fed and the results of adaptive expectations on immature monetary policy. The Fed had only been created in 1913, and while there were previous experiences with bank panics (1907), the consequences were much less drastic, and so the elitists were unable to foresee the heavy blow to the money supply that would result from the failure of so many small banks. In 1907 the money stock fell by 5% due to bank panics; the Fed had no idea that bank panics would strongly contribute to the 31% decrease in the money supply by 1933(Friedman 156). While it may seem obvious that this might occur when 10,000 banks close, most of the banks that closed were non-members, and since these banks felt the opportunity cost of keeping reserves with the Fed was too great, the Fed returned the sentiment by denying them aid when they closed. Also, many of these banks were very small, and the Fed did not expect these small banks to have such a large effect on the money supply (Friedman). All this is supported by the writings of Milton Friedman, Charles W. Calomaris and Richard H. Timberlak... ...ey were its responsibility. According to Friedman, they saw panics as a result, and not a cause of the depression. The Fed did not know what its responsibilities were, and as a result failed to see the connection between the public’s confidence, banks and the money supply. While the Fed’s monetary policies blew up in their face, it did present them with the undeniable need for deposit insurance. Ultimately the Great Depression shocked the Fed into reality, and because of this future depressions will be averted. Works Cited: Calomiris, Charles W. â€Å"Runs on Banks and the Lessons of the Great Depression† Regulation 22.1: 4-7 Friedman, Milton, and Schwartz, Anna. A Monetary History of the United States 1867-1960. Princeton , N.J.: Princeton University Press. 1963 Timberlake, Richard H. â€Å"The Roots of the Great Depression.† (Interview) Navigator. (2001).

Analysis Report of Cango

Analysis Report of CanGo Veronica Perla BSN460ON Senior Project Dr. John Martin September 7, 2009 Overview CanGo is an Internet startup company that retails an exciting array of products and services, ranging from books and videos to online gaming, and prides itself on providing the best customer service in terms of product delivery and support. The company’s Web site is fun and easy to use; employing the latest technology in Web site development, product innovation, and services is how CanGo strives to provide their customers with the most exciting entertainment. The majority of CanGo’s customers are the Gen-Xers and the Gen-Yers, who enjoy the latest in online gaming and entertainment. Under age, consumers (under 18 years of age) are serviced responsibly by requiring adult permission for online purchases. CanGo strongly values its employees and customers. The company best serves its employees by involving them in decision-making, staff training, and development. CanGo believes that keeping their employees motivated and working at their full potential can translate into the best customer service possible. There is a growing trend that CanGo has identified within the gaming industry that will be utilized to bring the company added success. This growing trend is online gaming. CanGo wants to become a leader of the online gamming market. The hope of the company is to become a complete success story both as an online retailer and online gaming service. The company has recently been called a success story by the Hudson Valley Business Association. The CEO of CanGo, Elizabeth Bennet, has been named the Regions Business Leader of the year. Potential entrepreneurs want to know how and why CanGo became a success story. This leads to the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that this Internet Company has and faces in its entrepreneurial endeavors. S. W. O. T Analysis The information used to develop this analysis was taken from the visual analysis performed on recorded episodes depicting staff interaction and company dynamics. The observations will be separated into internal (Strengths and Weaknesses) and external (Opportunities and Threats) issues. Strengths CanGo has demonstrated a few strengths in these preliminary episodes. Elizabeth Bennet, CEO of CanGo, is the company’s greatest strength. Her vision of knowing what consumers want and how to get it to them at a lower cost is what has made CanGo a success story in Hudson Valley. This passion is carried through to the staff and is demonstrated by Andrew’s eagerness to take on the potentially lucrative market of online gaming. The CanGo staff is another one of the company’s strengths. Each staff member brings an additional resource to the company that can be utilized to improve productivity and development. For instance, Debbie has organizational skills and a teaching background that can be utilized for training purposes. Training and development are strengths that successful companies posses. Utilizing the skills that each staff member brings can help CanGo become a bigger success story across the country and not just in Hudson Valley. These strengths also lead to CanGo’s weaknesses as a company. Weaknesses These preliminary episodes also showed many of CanGo’s weaknesses. The most apparent weakness would be the lack of a vision statement, mission statement and strategic plan. These weaknesses were made apparent by Elizabeth Bennet’s frustration with the writing of the speech she was to give at the Chamber of Commerce meeting. She states that her success was pure luck and that all she did was begin a new business venture. A strategic plan is important to a successful company because it guides and focuses all staff members to specific goals and establishes a course of action to achieve them. Strategic planning also serves as a way to ensure that all departments within the organization share a common goal. Another important component to a successful business is the vision and mission statements. Vision statements are written for the organization and its employees. They are comprised of the dreams and inspirations of the organization and where it is headed. This statement also serves as the framework for the organization’s strategic plan. Mission statements are a representation of the organization’s purpose for existing. It should be derived from the vision statement and used as a guide when producing a strategic plan. These three articles would have helped Elizabeth write the Chamber of Commerce speech by providing her with the foundation necessary to provide the potential entrepreneurs attending this meeting the how and why of CanGo’s success. There are a few other internal issues that plague CanGo and may impede its success if not addressed. The lack of project implementation procedures, organizational skills, management involvement and skepticism can lead to poor performance, failed projects, and miscommunication. Implementing a project plan can help keep staff members on course and pinpoint areas that may need special attention. This plan also helps make sure that projects follow specific paths to guarantee timely results. Utilizing the resources that staff members bring to the company will ensure that everyone has the skills necessary to accomplish their objectives. For instance, Debbie Haynes was previously a teacher at the Drake School of Business; she possesses great organizational and teaching skills that can be utilized by CanGo to further develop the staff. Debbie can head a training seminar on the importance of organizing, prioritizing and scheduling impending projects using Gantt charts. These types of resources are abundant within any organization; all that is needed is to identify what kind of skill each particular staff member brings to the organization. The last major weakness is the lack of management involvement in the course of a project. This is made evident when Warren handed Nick the task of creating an implementation report for online gaming. Nick was left to figure it out on his own. Management should be involved in the planning and implementation of any project. For instance, CanGo could implement procedures like research deadlines, preliminary draft sign off requirements and senior staff team eetings to discuss the progress of the project. This will eliminate the chance for poor and costly errors. CanGo has the opportunity to take these weaknesses into consideration and make some changes that will improve the organization as a whole. This kind of improvement will prepare it to achieve external opportunities and deal with external threats as well. Opport unities CanGo not only has strengths and weaknesses but also opportunities. These potential opportunities are for company growth, increased capital, new market ventures, and expansion into other areas of e-commerce. There is a great opportunity for company growth both in regards to increase workforce and possible mergers with other startup Internet companies. As CanGo reaches higher sales volume it will be necessary to incorporate an automated storage and retrieval system. With the impending five-hundred percent increase in sales this coming holiday season; CanGo needs to make certain that their order fulfillment and processing center is equipped to handle this possible increase. Every company is looking for a way to increase its capital. CanGo has been preparing to go public which will increase its capital base. This kind of opportunity can also become a weakness due to the fickleness of the stock market. However, if CanGo can successfully handle its five-hundred percent sales increase during the holiday season, this opportunity can prove to be a very lucrative venture. CanGo’s greatest opportunity is to branch out into new markets. E-commerce is a very broad market that has plenty of opportunities for organizations such as CanGo. The CanGo team may decide to expand and include other items to their list of inventory. Elizabeth Bennet’s dream was to help consumers shop and find what they need easier and at a lower price. If she sticks to this philosophy she may take CanGo in the direction of Amazon. com or Overstock. com. The sky is the limit for these kinds of opportunities. New market ventures may be a great lucrative opportunity but it may also bring with it threats. Threats The CanGo organization faces a couple of threats like the possibility of failure, loss of capital, and takeovers. Failure is eminent for any organization but it is especially eminent for CanGo. The lack of a vision, mission statement and a strategic plan can lead to failure. Vision and mission statements are important for any organization because they not only provide a clear view of what the organization’s goals and intentions are but they also help give the staff a standard that should be met and maintained. Implementing a strategic plan is a vital part of any successful business and has been proved to help carry a business through tough economic climates. Loss of capital is also a viable threat. This may be caused by lawsuits, manufacturer or vendor bankruptcies and low sales. Keeping capital secure is sometimes a bit difficult to do. This may be accomplished by purchasing liability insurance and using a variety of manufacturers and vendors. Low sales are often directly linked to the economic forecast. This is sometimes hard to prepare for and should be observed by the accounting and finance department to ensure that the inventory purchased match the possible sales and future market forecast. Takeovers of successful companies are also threats that need to be watched for. CanGo’s success as a small Internet e-commerce company may make it a very enticing company to purchase. Competitors like Amazon. com and Overstock. com may feel that CanGo’s success is a force that needs to be control before it becomes an e-commerce giant that may affect their sales margins. The easiest way to obtain this company would be by force; which is why takeovers are a legitimate threat to CanGo. Recommendations CanGo’s greatest asset and strength is CEO, Bennet’s vision and passion for this company. Elizabeth Bennet is the only one who has a clear picture of what the company is about, what its intent in the market is and how to achieve it. There needs to be a vision statement and a mission statement prepared to let the entire company in on Elizabeth’s vision. Once these statements are in place and all of the CanGo staff has had a chance to look them over and jump on board, the executive team should convene to prepare a strategic plan based on both the vision and mission statements previously prepared. This strategic plan should include specific goals for the company to attain within the next five to ten years. This is the most important recommendation that can be offered at this particular time. There is another not so eminent recommendation that is being offered at this time. This is in regards to the utilization of staff resources. CanGo has a diverse quality of people with different academic backgrounds and skill sets. Utilizing these specific traits can enrich the company as a whole. As mentioned earlier utilizing Debbie Haynes’s teaching credentials and organizational skills to train the staff on the importance of Gantt Charts and prioritizing tasks for impending projects may help save time, otherwise spent on trying to figure out where to begin and what needs to be accomplished first. This would help the staff members reach deadlines and complete projects without the added stress of disorganization. These recommendations are meant to promote company growth and development. These two elements are necessary for a successful company to remain a success in their particular market. References Archives: Why a Strategic Plan is Important? (2006) Online Business Advisor. Retrieved September 9, 2009, form http://www. onlinebusadv. com/? PAGE=171 Business Resource Software: Mission Statement. (n. d. ) Center for Business Planning. Retrieved September 9, 2009, from http://www. businessplans. org/mission. html CanGo Intranet: Company Information. (n. d. ) Mastering Business. Retrieved September 4, 2009, from http://myphlip2. pearsoncmg. com/masteringbusiness/cango/companyinfo. html Definition: SWOT Analysis. (n. d. ) Answers. com. Retrieved September 9, 2009, from http://www. answers. com/topic/swot-analysis Definition: Vision Statement. (n. d. ) About. com. Retrieved September 9, 2009, from http://sbinfocanada. about. com/od/businessplanning/g/visionstatement. htm

Music in My Life

Music in my life Can you think of a day without music? We can hear music everywhere: in the streets and at home, over the radio and on TV, in the shops and in the parks. People all over the world are fond of music. They listen to music, they dance to music, they learn to play musical instruments. But what is music? Specialists explain that music isn't only a combination of pleasant sounds. There are a lot of different kinds of music. Some of them appeared long ago, and some are modern. For example, folk music appeared long ago, but it is still alive. There are many local performers, choirs and folk groups in Russia; but perhaps the most famous singer is Nadezhda Babkina. Folk songs are very tuneful and pleasant to listen to. Classical music is often associated with the music of the past. However, this style also includes music being written now, and we may speak of modern classical music. Rap is a modern musical style where the singer speaks or shouts the words in time to music with a steady beat. Such artist as Eminem or group House of Pain are leaders in this style. Tastes differ. So people's musical interests range from pop and rock music, which are extremely popular nowadays, especially among young people, to classical music and opera. When I have free time I listen to their records. I also like having background music while I am working. It's a pity that many young people like to listen only to modern music. As for me, I also enjoy listening to classical music. Classical music is always a complex of emotions. It gives me delight, pleasure and a sense of happiness. Not long ago I listened to the Polonez – Goodbye to the nature land, composed by Oginsky. This music is sad, but I like sad music too. The music I hate is heavy metal. I find it noisy and dreadful. Though some young people are fond of this style of music, it is not to everyone's taste. To my mind, music too loud can destroy our ears. I am indifferent to other styles of music. For example, I don't mind listening to jazz. Each generation has its own tastes. Music in My Life Music in my life Can you think of a day without music? We can hear music everywhere: in the streets and at home, over the radio and on TV, in the shops and in the parks. People all over the world are fond of music. They listen to music, they dance to music, they learn to play musical instruments. But what is music? Specialists explain that music isn't only a combination of pleasant sounds. There are a lot of different kinds of music. Some of them appeared long ago, and some are modern. For example, folk music appeared long ago, but it is still alive. There are many local performers, choirs and folk groups in Russia; but perhaps the most famous singer is Nadezhda Babkina. Folk songs are very tuneful and pleasant to listen to. Classical music is often associated with the music of the past. However, this style also includes music being written now, and we may speak of modern classical music. Rap is a modern musical style where the singer speaks or shouts the words in time to music with a steady beat. Such artist as Eminem or group House of Pain are leaders in this style. Tastes differ. So people's musical interests range from pop and rock music, which are extremely popular nowadays, especially among young people, to classical music and opera. When I have free time I listen to their records. I also like having background music while I am working. It's a pity that many young people like to listen only to modern music. As for me, I also enjoy listening to classical music. Classical music is always a complex of emotions. It gives me delight, pleasure and a sense of happiness. Not long ago I listened to the Polonez – Goodbye to the nature land, composed by Oginsky. This music is sad, but I like sad music too. The music I hate is heavy metal. I find it noisy and dreadful. Though some young people are fond of this style of music, it is not to everyone's taste. To my mind, music too loud can destroy our ears. I am indifferent to other styles of music. For example, I don't mind listening to jazz. Each generation has its own tastes.

Police Subculture Essay

I will be writing my research paper on police subculture and how the affects of police subculture impact the body of the law and how it relates to crime. Police subculture is an array of standard procedures and values that rule law enforcers activates in relation to their contractual responsibilities. Police officers were ranked the fifth most stressful job in the world. Since police work is very stressful, police officers have to deal with many hostile individuals in the public and therefore they need to defined styles to handle these unique scenarios. What I will be talking about in my paper is since police subculture is so different such as their values, and beliefs police share which sets them apart from other members of society. Overall I will be talking about the beliefs of police subculture psychological cause of police subculture, changing police subculture and how police subculture affects our society. Police officers are people the society normally looks up to as epitomes of discipline and protectors of law and order; however police behavior in recent years has been anything but flawless with that being said there is a rise in the resentment and distrust in the public. The public no longer trusts or respects police officers imposing all sorts of changes against them. Police behavior is indeed hateful in some cases especially where minorities or women are concerned. When we dig deeper into the anthropological and psychological cause of this kind of behavior, we notice that police are influenced by a flawed subculture that profound affects the attitude and behavior of most police officers. With that being said this subculture teaches them certain values and beliefs and on the other, it turns the entire police community into a cohesive group meaning causing cohesion that is essentially alienated from the general public. According to Adler, Mueller, and Laufer (1994) police subculture is a â€Å"set of norms and values that govern police behavior, brought about by stressful working conditions plus daily interaction with an often hostile public.† Police subculture is responsible for giving offers a unique working attitude and mindset. Their character and personality is profoundly altered by the vies and values that they learn from existing in this subculture. The one most important thing we notice about this subculture is the idea of insiders and outsiders that lies at the core of all its values. Police officers are constantly reminded of their role as protectors of peace and order which turns them against the general public as they view everyone outside the police department as a potential criminal or suspect. Police subculture is also essentially characterized by violence as researched indicates that, â€Å"Many officers are exposed to a subculture of violence in which they encounter death almost daily. The average citizen generally does not witness in a lifetime the amount of death and violence a police officer experiences in one month.† (violanti,1995) Dr. James Fyfe, a very well known figure in the world of law education and law enforcement indentified some key issues regarding police sudbulture during a police conference in April 1992. He believed that â€Å" characteristics of the police subculture may be responsible for some of the apparent increase in the frequency of police compkaints. He stated that many police officers feel they are soldiers in the war on crime. Fyfe said that this is a war they cannot win, and the realization of this leads to frustration and anger. â€Å"(Eric Jackso,1992) Police officers are severely affected by the values that this subculture promotes and endorses. For instance, police officers are usually alienated from the general society which puts them at a greater risk of being vulnerable to police subculture. This is because they are regularly reminded of the insider/outsider principle meaning giving rise to certain degree of separation from the public. This separation starts expanding with the passage of time until police officers cannot longer relate to the common society this results in deeper association with police subculture, which ultimately shapes their perspective on others. Another reason they cannot relate to the public is because of the accusations that are imposed against them. The public usually treats then with disgust and disrespect, holding them responsible for corruption and plagues police departments and for  general lawlessness in the society. Fr this reason, police officers seeks validation from other police personnel, wh ich makes the inner subculture more effective and powerful. (Christopher Cooper,2000) Violanti(1995) explains: â€Å" The roots of frustration emanate from the central irony of American policing: Society charges police officers with the task of regulation a public that does not want to be regulated. For individual officers, the resulting frustration is exacerbated by a largely unsympathetic press, a lack of community support, and a criminal justice system that values equity over expediency. A sense of societal isolation often ensues, compelling officers to together in a defensive stance.† While this occupational subculture should have been a source of inspiration, it is actually despised by many including some police officers themselves alter they realize how it damaged their vision and personality. Most police officers are racial biased as recent incidents of police brutality indicate. This is because of women and minorities are seen as weaker groups and when they refused to obey police commands, police officers see it as a direct attack on their authority. This attitude has given rise to some serious cause of police brutality against citizens and one such case was that of Thomas Jones of Philadelphia. Commenting on this case, a former U.S Marine and police officer Christopher Cooper (2000) linked these kind of cases to police subculture saying â€Å"Sadly, in our early tenure as cops, we instructed on the â€Å"code† of the police subculture. These are norms that are almost always perverse. Two such norms were operable in the Jones mob attack. The first was if a citizen runs from one of us, we are to beat him severely. Another is that if a citizen physically hurts one of use, we are to hurt that citizen even more before we bring him to the station. And if that citizen has killed a cop, he shouldn’t make it to the station alive.† The marcho-ism that characterizes police culture is also responsible for cases of domestic violence where police officers were charged for hitting their wives and using force to extract obedience. This is indeed a highly disturbing situation, ehich is posing serious threat that happiness of households where one spouse is in the police department. It has been noticed  that when many police officers are domestic abusers even though they may not define their behavior in these terms. Apart from women and minorities, gay men also face serious prejudice especially if they join the police force. Kirschman(1997) writes: As with women, gay men are presumed to lack such manlu attributes as courage, bravery, and loyalty. And like women, when they demonstrate courage and competence, they threaten the notion that only â€Å"manly† men can do police work.

Executive Summary on Purell

Purell Instant Hand Sanitizer is a portable hand washing solution that cleanses hands without the need for soap and water. India currently has a problem with pollution in its water; we see this as an opportunity to increase our profits while also providing benefits that will help the Indian population achieve one of its strategic goals. Extensive research provides evidence that marketing Purell Instant Hand Sanitizer in could increase our profit margin as a company and allow us to grow our business. With a population over 1. 1 billion and limited competition; this market potentially could give us 5-7% growth each year for the next 7 to 10 years. Being that we are one of the first to enter this market, we will enjoy the benefits of being a pioneer in this industry. With such a huge market, we are hoping to have a 40% to 50% market share before additional competition start focusing on India. The purpose of this report is to recommend marketing Clean Hands, Inc product, Purell Instant Hand Sanitizer, in India. Purell Instant Hand Sanitizer is a portable supplement to routine hand washing. This is helpful because of all the diseases that are found in the waters of India. It is reported that 80 percent of disease that currently affects the people of India, is caused by unsanitary water and the lack of people washing or keeping their hands clean. Purell kills 99. 9percent of most common germs. Therefore, Purell is and effective tool that promotes proper health and prevents the spread of disease. In the documents to follow we are going to discuss the international business plan, which includes our policy commitment statement, our background analysis, our market research summary along with our action steps. Than we are going to go into detail about our marketing plan, which explains our method of entry into the market, as well as issues we might encounter.

Biography On Ross Perot Essay Research Paper

Biography On Ross Perot Essay, Research Paper Ross PerotBIOGRAPHYRoss Perot was born June 27, 1930, in Texarkana, Texas. He grew up in Texarkana where he attended public schools and Texarkana Junior College. Perot # 8217 ; s parents, Ross and Lulu May Perot, have been major influences in both his and his sister Bette # 8217 ; s lives. Although the household lived in modest fortunes, Perot has repeatedly stated that he was born rich because of his parents. Get downing at age seven, Perot worked at assorted occupations throughout his boyhood, including interrupting Equus caballuss, selling Christmas cards, magazines, and garden seeds, purchasing and selling bridles, saddles, Equus caballuss and calves, presenting newspapers, and roll uping for classified ads. He entered the United States Naval Academy in 1949 and graduated in 1953. While at the Naval Academy, he served as category president, president of the honor commission, and battalion commanding officer. After graduation, Perot served at sea for four old ages on a destroyer and an aircraft bearer. In 1956, he married Margot Birmingham from Greensburg, Pennsylvania, whom he met while a midshipman at the Naval Academy. Upon his honest discharge from the Navy in 1957, Ross and Margot settled in Dallas where he went to work for IBM # 8217 ; s informations treating division as a salesman. Margot taught school during the early old ages of their matrimony. In 1962, she loaned Perot $ 1,000 from her nest eggs account to get down a one-person information processing company. He named the company Electronic Data Systems. Today, EDS is a multi-billion dollar corporation using more than 70,000 people. Ross and Margot have been married for 40 old ages. They live in Dallas and have five kids # 8211 ; Ross, Jr. , Nancy, Suzanne, Carolyn, and Katherine. The Perots presently have nine grandchildren. In 1969, the U.S. authorities asked Perot to find what action might be taken to better the brutal intervention our POW # 8217 ; s were having in Southeast Asia. He worked on this undertaking for the following four old ages, puting himself and his household at considerable personal hazard, until the captives were released in 1972 at the terminal of the Vietnam War. In acknowledgment of his eff orts, Perot received the Medal for Distinguished Public Service, the highest civilian award presented by the Department of Defense. When two EDS employees were taken surety by the Persian authorities in 1979, Perot directed a successful deliverance mission composed of EDS employees and led by Colonel Arthur # 8216 ; Bull # 8217 ; Simons. Perot personally went into Iran and inside the prison where his associates were held. Noted writer, Ken Follett, compose a best merchandising novel, On Wingss of Eagles, about the deliverance. An NBC Television miniseries was subsequently made about this event. Subsequently that same twelvemonth, the governor of Texas requested Perot # 8217 ; s aid in covering with the turning job of the usage of illegal drugs in the province. Perot led the Texans # 8217 ; War on Drugs Committee that proposed five Torahs to do Texas the least desirable province for illegal drug operations. All five measures were passed by the legislative assembly and signed into jurisprudence. In 1982, another Texas governor asked for Perot # 8217 ; s aid to better a deteriorating state of affairs # 8212 ; the quality of public instruction in the province. Acknowledging that a excellent educational system is the foundation for economic betterment, Perot led the attempt to reform the school system. This plan resulted in major legislative alterations and betterments in Texas public schools. Perot accepted another challenge in 1984 when he sold EDS to General Motors for $ 2.5 billion. The ownership that he retained in the company made him GM # 8217 ; s largest single shareholder and a member of the board of managers. After major dissensions over the quality of GM cars, Perot resigned from the GM board in 1986. In 1988, he started a new computing machine service company, Perot Systems. Today that company operates in the United States and Europe. In 1984, Perot purchased the lone transcript of the Magna Carta that has been allowed to be taken out of Great Britain. It has been placed on loan to the National Archives in Washington, D.C. , where it is displayed alongside the U.S. Constitutio n and the Bill of Rights. The Perot household is actively involved in charitable and civic activities. They have given over $ 100 million to assorted causes.

Cog week10 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Cog week10 - Essay Example Furthermore the base rate and a proper way to reduce it mentioned in terms of simple, uninterrupted, intentional time which result in greater skill in understanding and deducing the information we need by assessing the risks and rewards accurately is the right fit considering the decision making error. " Assignment 3 †¢ A brief description of one failure of deductive reasoning that you observed or experienced in the past week or so, similar to those in the "Wason Selection Task" and "Typical Reasoning" experiments.   A recent example that I experienced was that when I was home alone and waiting for the cable repair guy. I was working in the kitchen so when I heard a knock I didn’t bother to look but jumped to the conclusion that it was cable guy. So without thinking I asked him to come in since the knock on the door coincided with my thought process and anticipation regarding the cable guy. So I failed to use valid deductive reasoning as I followed the situation incorre ctly( p then q), so I assumed q then p. Later I realized how wrong I was when I realized I had invited a complete stranger into the house by incorrectly assuming it was the cable guy, an encounter which gave me a start as I momentarily stared at the unknown individual in shock. †¢ Then, in the context of your examples, explain the impediments (e.g., heuristic, bias, etc.) to each process (deductive and inductive), and suggest methods or techniques for improving each process   Heuristic is what basically influenced by reasoning for the incorrect assumption that the knock on the door was the cable guy. In order to improve my thinking process in such incidents and situations it is imperative that I keep a alert mind and recognize fallacies that occur in deductive reasoning. I should evaluate my thinking and consider alternatives which overcome any biases that I might experience and lead me to confidently draw conclusions without really considering them. †¢ A brief descripti on of one failure of inductive reasoning that you observed or experienced in the past week or so, similar to those in the "Wason Selection Task" and "Typical Reasoning" experiments.   An example that I can relate to that of inductive reasoning was when I saw these two dogs fighting over what appeared to be a large bone which was buried not too deep in this pile of things. During this fight another dog came and joined in the fight and the three fought over the bone for a while. When the third dog had joined in through these observations I assumed that he was actually the one that was the owner of the bone and that he had hidden it in the pile of things. However, after a while when I had looked away and turned my attention back towards them I saw that a man way aggressively waving to get rid of these dogs and that I had wrongly induced to be a bone was actually a large packet of meat shaped like a bone. †¢ Then, in the context of your examples, explain the impediments (e.g., he uristic, bias, etc.) to each process (deductive and inductive), and suggest methods or techniques for improving each process   Confirmation bias is the key reasons that lead to my inaccurate assumptions. Turns out I was focusing on all the aspects that seemed to confirm what I had already

Research paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 9

Research Paper Example In most cases such individuals are forced to disregard issues like homosexuality and attraction to same sex due to stigmatization of such sexuality aspects by their societies (or parents) in their childhood. As a result, individuals who hold such socially unacceptable feelings will often tend to suppress them. In their research, Netta Weinstein and William S Ryan developed a hypothesis based on the idea that individuals who experienced low parental autonomy support had a higher discrepancy between implicit and explicit indicators of sexual orientation measured using reaction time (Netta et al, 2012). Furthermore, the research is based on the idea that such discrepancy may threaten an individual’s perception of his sexual orientation which may result to an individual developing defensive mechanism. For instance if an individual was brought up in an environment in which his parents who did not support autonomy and had strong negative perception on homosexuality, then the individual will experience strong discrepancy between implicit gay orientation and explicit gay orientation resulting to homophobia and negative perception of homosexuality without any solid reason for doing so (Grolnick, 2009). Based on the study, these ideas have been verified in the literature review since the research evaluates scientific papers that show similar results. For instance, the research paper identifies that the relationship between parents and their children lays a foundation for a child’s behavior; specifically, autonomy-supportive parents enables children to grow up into individuals who determine their own fate or opinion on social issues including sexuality. In this regard such individuals have personal opinions that are different from their parents and therefore have low discrepancy on implicit and explicit perspectives on sexual orientation (Netta et al, 2012). Furthermore, the research also considers two previously done studies on sexuality

Human Resource Development--Question Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Human Resource Development--Question - Assignment Example They would also need lesser time to prepare because they know the organization already. 2. Consider a training topic or module that interests you. Go to your assigned team area and work with your team to generate one or two questions that could be used to facilitate a group or classroom discussion. As a team evaluate the extent to which each question is likely to stimulate useful discussion. As a team select one or two questions to share with the rest of us by posting here. Personality development would be an interesting topic for me. This is a very skill set that is required not at work when working with people but could also be a useful skill outside of work. It is also a fun course to take because it deals with human interest of what makes us more interesting or amiable to work with. 3. Many organizations have been moving toward web training. An advantage is that employees can train at their leisure. That is, they can come home from work, eat dinner, relax, and then when everyone has gone to bed get on line and work their way through the training program. The advantage to the organization is that there is no opportunity lost, that is the employee is not using company time to train. Has your company moved to this training strategy? And if so, what are your thoughts on its success? If not, what are your thoughts on its advantages and disadvantages? Yes our company has already moved to that training strategy. But we have to limit that to only certain modules because of its limitations. In training core skills that is directly related to their jobs, we prefer to do it in a regular classroom than virtual training. First, we do not know if the employees taking it are taking it seriously. Second, we have very little control of their progress. Despite of this limitation, its advantages far outweighs its disadvantages. It is cost efficient, convenient, effective and can be delivered to a