Btc Pipeline: Turkish Delight or Russian Roulette?

INTRODUCTION Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline is an oil pipeline that transports crude oil Caspian Sea to the Turkish coast, over three countries. BTC Company is a joint venture company responsible for the construction and operation of the whole $4bn pipeline, led by BP as majority shareholder. Spread across Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey largest cross-border infrastructure construction project in the world dubbed the â€Å"contract of the century†. Financing was agreed after over two years of appraisal of the potential environmental and social impacts relating to the project.An underlying strategy is to reduce dependency on OPEC oil producers in the turbulent Middle East and to avoid Russia seen by America as a resurgent superpower. Aside from indirect benefits; Georgia and Turkey gain financial benefits through transit fees and Azerbaijan through the royalties and tax revenues, However, BTC co. encountered several social and environmental issues during the construction of the 1768km pipeline. Limited routing options meant encountering geo-hazard risks, potential harm and disturbance of communities and natural habitat, temporary land acquisition, revenue management and a volatile political environment.Thus this project received intense scrutiny by stakeholders and press for its lack in humility and effectiveness in resolving political, social, developmental and security concerns. THE OBJECTIVE/GOALS Stakeholder map. A visual mapping of parties that affect or about affected by an organization, strategy and in this case a project. Helps us identify the expectations and power of different stakeholders, this understand what ethical issues dilemmas are to be understood and resolved. METHOD / FRAMEWORK FOR ANALYSIS We have chosen a normative approach (what should be done) for our analysis as opposed to a descriptive approach (how it is done).Generate solutions that enforce behaviorally standards; as we already have detailed evidence showing how it is done. Moral absolutism will be used by clearing stating what is right and wrong; which be rationally determined in order to come up with a universal applicable solution. This helps us come up with an objective stand-point on the subject. There will be examination of traditional ethical theories such as consequentialist and non-consequentialist approaches and stakeholder theories and new age concepts namely, corporate citizenship to help us justify our absolute perspective in solving the ethical dilemmas.THE MAIN ISSUES AND DILEMMAS BP FACE IN THIS CASE Political instability Pipeline Security Human Right Abuses Corruption Poor governance High expectations from local community Environmental Risks and Risk Assessment Intense scrutiny by pressure groups and media Land Acquisition and Land Compensation HOW WOULD YOU EVALUATE BP’S APPROACH TO SOCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF THE PROJECT FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY? BP set up a Regional Sustainability Development program (RSDP) t o proactively address issues. Social 1) Community Investment Program ($20m addressed to social issues)-in Azerbaijan set with largely international groups-in Turkey with local Turkish organizationswith universities and private consultants firmsBP set up a monitoring and complaints procedure | Economical 1) Regional Development Initiative ($25m designed to accompany over 10yrs after opening) 2) Set up of local coordinators and in consultation with local community. ) Focus was improvement of local infrastructure in road and civil construction 4) Projects aimed at agriculture and skill development| Environmental 1) Environmental Investment Program (to ecological issues)| CEO Lord Browne appointed a Caspian Development Advisory Panel, which provided recommendations such as assembly of an external body to conduct periodic reviews.ASSESS THE APPROACH FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF UTILIARIANISM AND DEONTOLOGY? According to utilitarianism,an action is morally right if it results in the greatest amo unt of good for the greatest number of people affected by the action Based on cost? benefit analysis Rule utilitarianism * looks at classes of action and ask whether the underlying principles of an action produce more pleasure than pain for society in the long runStakeholder| Cost| Benefit| BP and BTC & co| * $25m +$20m programs * Opportunity cost * Failure of local actors * Subjected to a corrupt environment * Misuse of revenue * Complaints from locals| * Good Reputation * Helping society * Compliance| Financiers| % of investments go to CSR| * Mitigation of social development risks that would result to additional costs| Communities| Unfair treatmentHuman right abusesIssue of compensationLocal political divisions- 1 blood feud| * Financial investment in society and development projects * Structure in place for communication * First commercial strawberry farm| Government| External involvement of governance| * Investment for national development * Availability of resources| Pressure G roups| Alleged TortureHuman rights abuses| * Raised awareness of internal politics| Employees and Contractors| Unfair treatment| * Job Opportunities * Economic support| Environment| Destruction and disturbance of the environment| * Structure of a program to address issues| Agencies and NGO’s| Lack of credibility Public scrutiny | * Displayed support from BP * Increased involvement | Work from a German philosopher Immanuel Kant who development a theoretical framework called â€Å"categorical imperative†. This meant that this framework applied to every moral issue regardless of who is involved. It is made out of three maxims; which are: 1) Consistency throughout any situation ) Treat humanity always as an end and never as a means. 3) Universally acceptable These two theories introduce the issue of subjectivity due to intellectual scrutiny. ASSESSMENT FROM RIGHTS AND JUSTICE. HOW DOES IT DIFFER? Rights and justice is â€Å"based on a consensus about nature of human digni ty†. It is objective in that it conceptualized on natural rights that â€Å"certain basic, important, unalienable entitlements that should be respected and protected in every single action. † In addition Ethics of justices means fair procedures and fair outcomes. A violation of these rights means the approach is seen as unethical. BP’s poor social and environmental assessment led to a display of lack of humility.SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR MNC OPERATING IN ENVIRONMENTS OF CORRUPTION AND POOR GOVERNANCE. How far should BP made be responsible? Arguments against The corporation should solely be accountable to its shareholders in order to protect investments. In support of this argument, Milton Friedman published an article titled, â€Å" The social responsibility of business is to increase its profits. † Stating only humans have moral responsibilities, managers should act in interests of its shareholders and social issues and problems are for governments to h andle. Another perspective is that of Archie Carroll’s four-part model of CSR. Stating that CSR can be met by going through each level consecutively. Arguments forCSR seems to be widely accepted because of enlightened self-interests. However, corporations are now perceived assume a social actors, not only because of legislation but companies rely on the contribution of other parties. It now exists in a society. Thus, the introduction of corporate citizenship, in which the company acknowledges an extended political role. Obtaining citizenship means entitlement of civil, social and political rights; which are attached to responsibilities. Social rights (i. e. freedom to participate in society): BP provider / ignorer Civil rights (i. e. freedom from abuses): BP disabler/ enabler Political righs (i. e. right to participate in process of governance): BP chanelling / blockingTransparency International Corruption Perception Index| Year| Turkey| Azerbaijan| Georgia| 2002| 64| 95| 85| 2003| 77| 124| 124| 2006| 60| 130| 99| It can be argued that BP has fuelled the level of corruption as seen in the figures above. Therefore have to commit them to solving this social problem. What is the appropriate way for BP to respond to its on-going criticism? Virtue ethics Transparency Expose finding Protection Acts Auditing Body Discourse ethics Dialogue and Stakeholder Engagement Effective Complaint Procedure – eg. Response period Right to Information Systems in Place Land Ownership options Introduce this all over Azerbaijan not only Baku

Speech of oath Ceremony

Especially to those dew drops who have made their presence in the lawns of this college for the first time, I called the Dew drops yes they are because we believe that they are as pure as the purity in the drops of dew we observe on the grass early in the morning. And now is the time to impel along with that purity in them the moral values so that they will shine in heights of the sky this also is a fact that they also have entered this premises with an aim to groom their life. Which implies that they have entered the college life where from they will come out to be the future of tomorrow’s society.The author of Re imagine Mr. Tom Peters has assessed the colleges as, â€Å"I imagine a college system that recognizes learning is natural, that a love of learning is normal, and that real learning is passionate learning. A college curriculum that values questions above answer†¦.. creativity above fact regurgitation†¦. individuality above conformity.. and excellence above standardized performance†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ And we must reject all notice of reform` that serve up more of the same: more testing, more `standards`, more uniformity, more conformity, more bureaucracy.In context to these words of Tom Peter I assure all the parents and the students sitting in front that we all under this roof are determined to inculcate good moral values among the children who enter the premises of this college because they are supposed to be the future of tomorrow, As we are all carriers of our own stories. We have never trusted our own voices. Reforms came, but we don’t make them. They were presented by people removed from colleges, by ‘experts’ such changes bi passes college.College by college changes, however slow, could make a powerful difference. Which implies that good colleges are still possible. With these lines of ‘Deborah Meier’ I conclude my words and whole heartedly welcome the new comers here in our family Sai Pariwar. Now to start off with the official part of the welcome ceremony I request the chairman of shri Sai Baba Aadarsh mahavidyalaya, along with the secretary SSBAM, the principal of the college and the Department heads from all the faculties to come ahead for the lightening of the lamp.

Nazi Germany Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Nazi Germany - Research Paper Example In Hitler’s opinion, German culture was superior to other cultures in the world and therefore they have the right to rule the world. Hitler in a speech in 1928 argued that brutality rather than humanity is the basis of life! Man has become master of the world through conflict and continual struggle†¦ But mankind is not a uniform and equal mass. There are differences between races. The Earth has received its culture from elite peoples; what we see today is ultimately the result of the activity and the achievements of the Aryans (Kitson, p.1925) In fact, Hitler did succeed in conquering substantial portions of the world through WW2. Westerners initially tried to conduct negotiations with Hitler or Nazi Germany instead of uniting against the common enemy. All these developments motivated Hitler further and he started to expand his wings further and further. Many people believe that Hitler or Nazi Germany committed a tactical blunder which finally cost them victory in WW2. Na zi Germany was not much interested in attacking Soviet Union initially even though communism was indigestible to Hitler. Hitler and Joseph Stalin actually signed an agreement; not to attack each other at the time of WW2. However, the above agreement caused problems later for Hitler and finally resulted in the downfall of Nazi Germany and Hitler. This paper analyses what would have happened if Hitler attacked Soviet Union at the beginning of WW2. In 1938 an international crisis developed around Czechoslovakia, populated mostly by ethnic Germans known as Sudetenland, has started to shake the global peace and Hitler has threatened to go to war with Czechoslovakia unless so-called Sudetenland was immediately ceded to Germany. The British Prime Minister Chamberlain flew to Germany in order to avoid a possible Second World War which resulted in the Munich Peace of 1938 (Zuljan). Hitler started his effort to conquer the world with the help of Sudetenland issue. In fact Hitler’s majo r aim for raising this issue was to study the responses of other global powers. Instead of responding aggressively to Hitler’s claims, global powers like Britain and France tried settle the issue with the help of negotiations. The dialogues between Hitler, Chamberlain and Daladier (the French prime minister) with the help of Mussolini as mediator settled the issue amicably. At least the European thought that the issue was over. However, it was the beginning of other major problems. Hitler started to make more claims up on more areas in Europe after tasting victory in the Sudetenland issue. He has realized that majority of the Europeans countries were afraid of German power and therefore he can expand German territories to more areas. â€Å"At dawn on September 1, 1939, the German army launched a ferocious assault across the Polish border. By October 6, it was all over. Poland ceased to exist as a country. World War II had begun† (The Nazi Occupation of Poland). The inv asion of Poland was quiet unexpected to countries such as France, Britain, Australia etc. In fact this attack served as eye opener to European countries and they started realize the threat from Nazi Germans for their sovereignty. Making all Hitler’s calculation wrong, Britain, France, Australia and New Zealand declared war against Germany as Germany rejected the call for immediate withdrawal from Poland. The declaration of war by Britain, France,

Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 10

Education - Essay Example nd distracted; such classroom behaviour4 was not an encouraging response, so I discarded the initial lecture I had planned and started showing them pictures of Degas’ paintings, to stimulate their interest in the world of Degas’ art and human figures.5 After listening to the tape, I feel that my soft voice and formal approach at the beginning of the lesson was not helpful in gaining the attention of the students, because they could not connect with me. I should have started off trying to engage their interest and stimulate their curiosity since children learn best within a positive environment where they are actively engaged.6 What I was doing was lecturing instead, talking down to them - so they were switching off rather than engaging. I had to adapt my instruction, because what I was using was not working, so I decided that it would be better to adopt a more informal and interactive approach, since children love to ask questions. I was tense and holding myself too stiffly, perhaps the children sensed it too. So I relaxed and held out my hands to invite them to draw closer to me to look at Degas’ pictures and start painting them. I was pleased to note that my ability to realize when one method was not working, in order to switch to another was one of my strong points in the lesson, because my inviting tone and gesture worked very well; the restless children who felt bound by their desks were able to loosen up and I also relaxed when I didn’t feel like I was on the spot, standing up in front of the class, as the teacher. I didn’t have to shout so loud either. I invited their participation by asking them questions like, â€Å"Do you think this painting is good?† and â€Å"What do you like about it?† I wanted to see what the first impressions of the children would be – what would they notice, what would they wonder about? I was delighted to find that they were astute enough to notice that the painting was a set of lots of dots, because they were viewing

Saudi Arabia - Trade Elasticity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Saudi Arabia - Trade Elasticity - Essay Example Frequently, trade elasticities are needed for answering policy questions regarding a country and for making judgments regarding a country’s real exchange rate (Billmeier & Hakura, 2008). It should be noted that, trade elasticities need to be estimated with respect to foreign, domestic demand and the real exchange rate and factors such as energy prices across the world. When estimating trade elasticities, several choices must be made including long-term factors that drive export and import demand. Secondly, it is important to ascertain how the recent global trade flows are dominant in these estimates. Additionally, trade elasticities are also depended on relative prices, demand, and natural resource endowment, particularly, energy such as oil (Billmeier & Hakura, 2008). In Saudi Arabia, the elasticity of export and import demand changes with variations in foreign and domestic demand. Imports, in particular, appear to be more inelastic with regards to domestic demand. This is because demand is mostly geared towards goods that are domestically produced. Interestingly, Saudi Arabian imports are, to a much larger extent, dominated by energy imports, particularly oil. Imp orts increase by 2.2 percent when the real price of oil increases by 10 percent (Billmeier & Hakura, 2008). However, both exports and imports react in the same way to foreign demand and domestic demand, respectively. To calculate import and export elasticities for Saudi Arabia, this paper will utilize results from the production theory. Using Hotelling’s lemma, the general-equilibrium supply function can be obtained from a derivative of a country’s GDP function with regard to output prices. Demand function for inputs can also be obtained in this similar way, and as such, import elasticity can be estimated. Saudi Arabian import elasticity according to (Billmeier & Hakura, 2008) is -1.915553. This is a negative and is assumed to be with the wrong sign

The Organization System - Organizational Change and Stress Management Term Paper

The Organization System - Organizational Change and Stress Management - Term Paper Example Many times the change agents may lack the skills, competencies and the ability necessary for the change process. Under the circumstances, they shift the responsibility for resistance to the characteristics and attributes of change recipients (Ford, Ford, & D’Ameliao, 2008). Change agents could also incite resistance by breaking their agreements both before and during the change process leading to loss of trust. People tend to resist when they experience betrayal or injustice. This can result in negative behaviours such as stealing, lower productivity, lower quality and lack of cooperation. Change agents may fail to recognize that adjustment to change takes time. This lack of knowledge among the change agents would make them push the employees to change which can lead to frustration and resistance. Change agents may fail to involve certain people that are essential for change (Kee & Newcomer, 2008). Change agents nay fail to legitimize change; they may not be able to represent the chances of success of the change process, thereby causing resistance. However, all these factors fall under lack of change management skills and ability. Nevertheless, change agents contribute to resistance through their own shortcomings. Resistance to change can be used as change agent Resistance to change has always been criticized for hindering growth and development of an organization but Ford, Ford and D’Amelio (2008) highlight that resistance to change can be used as strengths of change. Fear is a great source of resistance as people are hesitant to change the established patterns. They believe that new patters have value but unfamiliarity causes resistance. Conversation is an important part of the change process and resistance helps keep the conversation in existence, contend Ford et al. The discussions may be negative and full of complaints but it helps keep the subject alive. This in fact is focusing on the issue of change. It helps the change agents to understan d the concerns of the recipients and also gives them an opportunity to create translations which could contribute to the expansion of change. Resistance is a form of engagement with change. When high levels of information processing goes on it can lead to scrutiny and counter arguments. These thoughtful discussions represent a significant win for the change agents as it can provide the change agents with motivated partners for change. When change recipients feel threatened by the change as they fear losing something of value in the organization, they may express their concerns. Such concerns come from those who are high in organizational identity and psychological ownership.  

Professional Skills Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Professional Skills - Assignment Example The paper under consideration will focus on the professional skills for the career development of a new graduate job applicant. The author will touch upon employment criteria expected in first job, small medium enterprises (SME) and its employment potential. Also the writer will discuss the ethical duties and responsibilities of a computer professional, investigate the hard and soft skills best to offer to the employer. Team skill was given a special attention in this paper, and the writer presents his personal experience and ability in team skill. The reference list includes both online and written sources. Introduction. Working in different job environment and acquiring new information and knowledge about particular profession enhance the professional skill of an individual. In order to acquire perfect professional skill an extensive knowledge in current technology is also essential. Since the world is progressing at a staggering rate, the demands of employers and customers are getting high. The public is highly knowledgeable and sophisticated and hence demands high care and service from the professionals. Even organizations which are modern require professionals who are qualified and exceptionally skilled. They want their employees to be extremely good at communication and interpersonal skills and offer quality service to the organization. If the professionals are less competent they can lag behind in their profession .It is also essential for the professional t o learn continually when they are at work. Professional skills can vary in every individual as it is depended upon the personality and training received by a person. People who understand and assess their own skill have a better opportunity to grow in a professional environment Employment Criteria Expected in First Job As a graduate in Business computing, certain employment criteria’s are looked in for when joining a new Job. Since I have just finished the education, the anticipation is to join a company which can give me maximum professional knowledge relating to my fieild.The employment offer should be from a multinational company as it can increase my exposure to outside world and also deliver maximum opportunity to understand more intense technical skills. The company should be efficient in providing training to enhance my professional skills so that I can deliver maximum service to the company. I want to join a company who values my ability and have trust and faith in me. As per Wise Geek(2011)â€Å" To employees, faith and trust in an employer are extremely important. These two components will go a long way in earning an employee's respect, but there are a number of other factors to consider†. I must feel that the employer understand my professional skills and knowledge and put enough trust in me to do justice to my position in the new job. The employment also should offer a reasonable remuneration to me which I consider is compatible with my qualification and technical knowledge. The environment of the work place should also be safe, comfortable and friendly so that less discomfort is experienced while working. The work timings should not be too constraint as it can develop stress and pressure in personal life. Being a new professional, the credibility of the

The United States Public Defender System Research Paper

The United States Public Defender System - Research Paper Example Different prerogative jurisdictions practice dissimilar methodologies in providing lawful guidelines intended for criminal defendants who cannot pay for sequestered attorneys. Underneath the federal structure the foremost common practice amongst the states stands over and done with a publicly subsidized public defender bureau. Stereotypically, these workplaces role as per an organization of the federal, state or local government in addition, these attorneys are remunerated as compensated government employees. This method delivers a considerable mainstream of the impoverished criminal defense exemplification in the United States. In count to government-based headquarters, there are also a reduced but noteworthy amount of nonprofit organizations, frequently denoted to as a "Defender Service", or Legal Aid Societies that arrange for destitute felonious justification facilities. These bodies have a habit of depending profoundly on ancillary causes, community funding, and charitable aids to encounter their operational expenses. Yet a new, although progressively not as much of a common method to employ counsel aimed at impoverished criminal defendants stands by mode of an ostensible "panel" of private attorneys who arrive at arrangements through the government to button such cases. Beneath this classification lawyers usually function as self-governing service providers and remain remunerated at a stable rate for the case or occasionally by the hour. The revolutionary case in the United States that facilitated and helped surface the system for all defendants to be guaranteed an attorney in felonious chronicles was Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335 (1963). Gideon was a middle-aged Florida fellow who stood accused with breaking into a bar and thieving money and beer. He reasoned at his prosecution that he possibly will not sufficiently support himself; in addition to that an arrangement that places an unqualified individual compared to a trained attorney is profoundly discriminating. On petition, the Supreme Court of the United States approved. Even though there had been some requirements for unrestricted attorneys proceeding to Gideon, it assisted as the facilitator for a trend of modification. Subsequent the breakthrough 1963 results, the 1960s observed the formation of platforms transversely across the nation to brand this right accessible to most individuals accused with delinquencies who could not pay for an attorney to exemplify them. The first soul to suggest the formation of a public defender's office was California's paramount female attorney, Clara Shortridge Foltz. In a stage afore there were communal public defenders, fresh, untested lawyers were frequently ordered by courts to defend indigents pro bono, and in that aptitude, Foltz saw immediate the discriminatory consequences of that system. As an outcome of Foltz's animated petitioning, Los Angeles County hired Walton J. Wood to head the first public defender's office in the United States in January 1914. In 1921, the California Administration protracted the public defender system to all state courts. Public defender agencies of all types are reinforced by communal

Role and Functions in Law Essay Example for Free

Role and Functions in Law Essay What is law? Law is a system of guidelines and rules that have been set in place to maintain order and conduct. In order to be successful in society or a business the Law plays a significant role in regulating behavior whether in school, home or work. This paper will discuss the functions and role of law in society as well as business, along with the functions and role of law in the Healthcare industry of which I’ve been a part of thru employment for the past 23 years. Functions and Role of Law in Business and Society Whether in Business or Society, the functions and role of law, serves the same purpose, to peacefully resolve disputes, maintain control over a situation, as well as to protect. In businesses, whether corporate America or a family owned business the employees consist of a diverse group of people from different backgrounds and cultures with their own cultural beliefs. With Such a diverse group of individuals there is bound to be conflict not just with the employees but management as well. In businesses there are unethical acts that take place, however, some rules are violated unknowingly, not because the individual is unethical, it is simply because they did not know what the rules were. One way to make sure the Laws are enforced, and the business is in compliance is for Management to go thru training not only to learn the law which are known as policy and procedures and to teach the law but also to be able to handle certain situations that could possibly create a lawsuit such as sexual harassment issues, inappropriate language, misuse of the company’s equipment and/or confidential information Functions and Role of Law Healthcare Being in healthcare for over twenty three years, there are many laws that exist, one that stands out is the Health Insurance Portability Act of 1996 (HIPPA). HIPPA protects patient confidentiality and their privacy which allows the provider to be cautious as to how they share as well as with whom they share patient information with. HIPPA is divided into five rules or standards: The HIPPA Privacy Rule which mandates the privacy and protection of health information, The HIPPA Security Rule mandates the security of electronic medical records, The Transactions and Code Set Rule addresses the use of codes, The HIPPA Unique Identifiers Rule identifiers are used for covered entities to promote efficiency, standardization and consistency and finally The HIPPA Enforcement Rule increase the penalties for HIPPA violation. Diagnosis, treatment, medical records and payments are some of the things that are considered private information. In order for one to be HIPPA compliant the law is broke even if the patient is a family member because at this point, they are a patient. There are penalties for breaching the HIPPA laws, the penalties range from $50,000.00 to one year in jail to $250,000.00 and 10 years in jail along with not ever being able to work in the healthcare industry again. For example, there was a young lady who handled posting patient payments whether it was check, cash or credit cards. While working, The FBI showed up and was taking pictures then seized everything that was on her desk. Come to find out she was a part of a huge identity theft ring and was stealing patient’s credit card information and ordering online as well as using their credit to create other lines of credit. She violated over 200 patients. She now is awaiting trial due to the fact the hospital pressed charges as well as the patients and they are seeking the maximum sentence. Conclusion In conclusion without any type of laws, rules, or policy and procedures in place, there would be no type of order in society as well as at work. True enough, there are those that break the law some by choice and some not but the fact remains, you break the law, you pay the price. References Bagley, C. E., Clarkson, G., Power, R. M. (2010). DEEP LINKS: DOES KNOWLEDGE OF THE LAW CHANGE MANAGERS PERCEPTIONS OF THE ROLE OF LAW AND ETHICS IN BUSINESS? Houston Law Review, 47(2), 259-295 Anderson, W. L. (2010). The HIPPA Example of How Privacy Laws Should Work. Business Journal for Entrepreneurs, 2010(4), 35. Benefield, H., Ashkanazi, G., Rozensky, R. H. (2006). Communication and records: Hippa issues when working in health care settings. Professional Psychology: Research And Practice, 37(3), 273-277. doi:10.1037/0735-7028.37.3.273

Alzheimer’s Disease Research Paper Essay Example for Free

Alzheimer’s Disease Research Paper Essay Abstract: Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia in elderly individuals. Currently, 4.5 million people in the United States approximately have Alzheimer’s disease. (Burns) Alzheimer’s disease presents the victim with a sharp decline in memory, language, visuospatial perception, executive functioning and decision-making. Because this disease is so harsh on people’s personality, behavioral and psychiatric symptoms are frequently present in Alzheimer’s disease. The impact Alzheimer’s disease has on health care is significant and estimated to cost $100 billion dollars per year and predicted to rise as it is a demand to find new medication and the number of Alzheimer’s disease individual rise. (Burns) There is medication available, however there is currently no cure, the medications that are given have symptoms that do not alter the negative progression of the disease. Alzheimer’s disease is defined as progressive, degenerative disorder that attacks the brain’s nerve cells and neurons resulting in a loss of memory, thinking, language skills, and behavioral changes. (Burns) Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by cognitive dysfunction, psychiatric symptoms, behavioral disturbances, and difficulty performing daily activities. Alzheimer’s disease is currently the 6th leading cause of death in the United States and presently 4.5 million Americans are living with it. Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of dementia in elder individuals. (Burns) Even though there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, the health care costs are extremely high, being just over 100 billion dollars per year. The hopefulness of the development of a cure or new therapies becomes more desperate every year for new advances in the future. (Burns) The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease in every individual vary; the disease can be extremely severe and other times slightly mild. Because Alzheimer’s disease is progressive it advances as time goes on, it starts off as the individual becomes forgetful and looses a small amount of memory and continues to severe dementia and loosing memory completely. The cognitive dysfunction of a person with Alzheimer’s disease includes memory loss, language difficulties, and executive dysfunction, which consists of a loss of higher level planning and intellectual coordination skills. (Burns) The psychiatric symptoms and behavioral disturbances can be anything from depression and agitation to hallucinations. The psychiatric symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease can also be collectively termed as non-cognitive symptoms. (Burns) The general symptoms of memory loss is always the first symptom of a majority of the cases of Alzheimer’s disease. The gradual onset of memory loss has the same symptoms as normal aging, because ageing shows symptoms of some dementia as well, this can understandably become confusing to diagnose, and however Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging. (Burns) The onset of Alzheimer’s disease is sly and emerges with a mild loss of memory and continues on with difficulty in finding the right word to go along with sentences. A diagnoses occurs only when the symptoms interfere significantly with everyday life such as social and work functions. Personal and emotional changes within the individual are very common for people who have Alzheimer’s disease. Major depressive disorder occurs in 20-35% of cases, while anxiety reaches 15-25% of people who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. (Burns) Every 67 seconds someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s disease. Women seem to get his the hardest with this disease. In a women’s 60’s, the estimated risk for developing Alzheimer’s is 1 in 6 and two thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s disease are women. (Burns) Not only are women more likely to have Alzheimer’s, women are also more likely to be caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease leads to nerve cell death and tissue loss throughout the brain. Over time, the brain shrinks dramatically because of this, affecting nearly all of its functions, especially the memory. The cortex of the brain  shrivels up and damages areas involved in thinking, planning, and remembering. (Fackelmann) Shrinkage is especially threatening in the hippocampus, which is the area that forms new memories. The ventricles, which are the fluid-filled spaces within the brain, grow larger to fill in the places that have shriveled up. The tissue within an Alzheimer’s patient has fewer nerve cells and synapses than a healthy brain. Nerve cells and synapses are what carry messages throughout the brain they are crucial to the biological computations that make up perception and thought. The dead nerve cells contain tangles, which are made up of twisted strands of another protein. The small clumps can clock the synapse and can activate the immune system to trigger inflammation. (Fackelmann) The plaques and tangles spread throughout the cortex in a predictable pattern as Alzheimer’s disease progresses. The rate of the progression of the tangles and plaques within the brain varies significantly. (Fackelmann) People with Alzheimer’s disease live an average of 8 years, but some individuals can survive up to 20 years. In a severely advanced Alzheimer’s disease most of the cortex is severely damaged. (Fackelmann) This is where the brain had shrunk dramatically because of widespread cell death. In this stage, individuals lose their ability to communicate, recognize their family and loved ones, and to care for themselves in their daily activities. The cause of Alzheimer’s disease is unknown, however researchers have linked several risk factors with Alzheimer’s disease such as an increasing age, family history, head injury (anti-inflammatory drugs have been associated as a reduction of risk), depression, hypertension, high cholesterol, low physical and cognitive activity, diabetes, diseases that cause mutations of chromosomes 1, 14, and 21, ApoE genotype, and individuals diagnosed with down syndrome eventually develops the neurological symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. (Fackelmann) The genetic contribution to Alzheimer’s disease is a risk. The risk for the first degree of relatives of people with the disease is estimated at 10-40% higher than unrelated people. (Whalley) The fact that monozygotic twins (twins who share 100% of their genetic material) have a higher concordance rate than dizygotic twins indicates that there is a significant genetic  component to Alzheimer’s disease. (Whalley) Because of the risks stated above, researches suggest that environmental factors are also a contribution to the diagnoses of Alzheimer’s disease. Environmental factors is confirmed by the fact that the strongest association is not true across all races; 50% of white patients with Alzheimer’s disease do not carry an e4 allele (ApoE genotype), which is a significant risk in getting Alzheimer’s disease. (Whalley) The cure for Alzheimer’s disease is uncertain and is mainly focused on therapeutic treatments that help some dementia and other symptoms associated with it. For clinical reasons, non-drug interventions should be used initially, especially if the symptoms are not causing stress or placing the individual at risk to themselves or to others. If non-drug remedial interventions have no effect, cholinesterase inhibitors are the conventional drug treatment of choice for Alzheimer’s disease. Cholinesterase inhibitors have a moderate beneficial symptoms associated with the drug. The drug modifies symptoms in the minority of people with Alzheimer’s disease because it is nicely tolerated in the majority of individuals. Memantine is a drug that is a glutamatergic antagonist that trials have found effective in individuals that have severe dementia, however it is restricted to those in clinical trials. Cholinesterare inhibitors and memantine are known to produce little identifiable improvements in the activities of daily life. Non-drug approaches are not effective in helping memory loss, even though there are therapeutic techniques that help retain memory and can offer support for people with mild dementia. Sources Burns, A. Alzheimers Disease. British Medical Journal, 338, 467-471. Retrieved June 2, 2014 Fackelmann, K. Forcasting Alzheimers Disease. Science News, 149, 312-313. Retrieved June 2, 2014 Whalley, L. Genetics of Alzheimers Disease. British Medical Journal (clinical research edition), 1556. Retrieved June 2, 2014

Two Cross-National Lessons for Pontevedro

Two Cross-National Lessons for Pontevedro 1. Introduction This report implements cross-national lesson drawing in order to suggest two lessons for the improvement of Pontevedro’s planning system. For these two lessons to be successfully transferred they must be ideas that fulfil Pontevedro’s needs, and how a policy works in the ‘exporter jurisdiction’ must be understood (Rose 1991). A lesson is then created, but importantly, one has to understand if the conditions that make the lesson ‘work’ in the ‘exporter jurisdiction’ also exist in the ‘importer jurisdiction’ (Rose 1991). The first lesson for transfer comes from France and its policy on regions and the second from Vancouver and its policy on zoning. These two, I believe, would do the most to improve Pontevedros planning system. However, the report will remain realistic and critical about the scope for transfer. 2. A regional policy lesson 2.1 Pontevedro in context Currently Pontevedro has a population around 78,100 with a quarter to a half of the island’s people living in the capital Letinje. Pontevedro is divided into communes of different sizes, from the smallest, Govenska parish with a population of only 356, to the largest, Letinje City Council (Cowell 2013). These communes administer their own budget and are economically independent. Each commune imposes their own local taxation, with no support from central finances (Cowell 2013). Consequently, there is a big gap in financial proficiency between the various authorities (Cowell 2013). Moreover, there are issues with the allocation of resources due to the communes being wholly responsible for service provisions such as transport infrastructure modernisation, waste collection and waste disposal (Cowell 2013). Thus a lot of the smaller communes are forced to contract these jobs out to private enterprises. For instance, waste disposal and water sanitisation in the south side of the isl and are carried out by ‘Merdeaway’, a French water company (Cowell 2013). This disposal process is considered uneconomical, rudimentary and could be organised and executed much more efficiently. 2.2 The French regional system In order to combat these concerns with resources, lessons can be drawn from the French planning system. The French system was always strongly based at national level; this means that like Pontevedro there have been issues with fragmentation (Booth et al. 2007). This problem was handled by the creation of various modifications that have altered the allocation of planning powers. It is an amalgamation of two of these modifications which would provide a useful and successful ‘policy transfer’ (Rose 1993) for Pontevedro’s planning system. The first modification affected the regional level of hierarchy due to changes in centralisation which led to the formation of a new level of government (Newman and Thornley 1996). This new level of legislation saw twenty-two new planning regions established in 1964, each of which revolved around the recognised administrative boundaries (Newman and Thornley 1996). This new successful regional level was created mainly for economic planning reasons and since the 1960s the involvement of the state at this new level has progressively increased (Newman and Thornley 1996). Furthermore, all twenty-two regions possess the ability to produce strategic regional plans as well as economic development controls. The second relevant modification affected the communal level of government and was known as the ‘syndicat de communes’ (Booth 1993). Communes that were not self-sufficient in terms of efficiently providing services were encouraged to forge partnerships with each other. Thus by sharing resources the communes could provide better services (Booth 1993). These modifications of the French system assisted in the resolving of the significant problems with fragmentation of a heavily centralised government and has meant that planning responsibilities have been redistributed to where they are more successfully controlled (Booth et al. 2007). 2.3 The application of the lesson As was the case in France, the smaller communes in Pontevedro find it hard to provide particular services effectively, such as road maintenance (Cowell 2013). Therefore, as was done in France, the creation of partnerships between communes in order to provide better services would be an effective way of tackling this issue. In addition, rather than simply forming collaborations between communes it is suggested that this be combined with the creation of a new level of government where particular planning abilities and service provision are operated. This would mean certain powers and duties would be shifted from the communes to this new level and would generate a four regions structure. In all four regions there would be sufficient resources in terms of finance and workers that could address the problems effectively. The four regions would also construct regional plans which would take care of development in the area. This four regions policy would be successful as the regions would be able to amalgamate all the resources from the communes of which they consist, and provide quality services for each commune irrespective of resources or size. 2.4 The issues with decentralisation There are, however, some underlying issues with decentralisation and the creation of a regional level. De Mello and Barenstein (2001) argue that decentralisation can cause irresponsible spending and corruption as well as creating a strain on state budgets, as an increase in regional staff may not be matched by a cutback at the central level. Mello and Barenstein (2001) also highlight that central and regional government need equal attention with a suitable balance of centralisation and decentralisation. This is particularly important in issues such as the unequal geographic distribution of resources, people and poverty, which requires redistribution policies that only the central government can guarantee. Finally, one of the reasons for the decentralisation of France was because it is a large country of around 547,030 km2 (Encyclopedia of the Nations 2013) making it difficult to effectively manage all areas of the country (Treisman 2006). In contrast Pontevedro is only around 1, 144 km2 (Cowell 2013) thus the geographical size of the island could also play a factor. 3. A zoning policy lesson 3.1 Pontevedro in context Since Pontevedro has a constitutional system (Cowell 2013), there appears to be one clear mechanism for determining where development will take place in these regions. Through cross-national lesson drawing one can observe that all countries that have their basis in Roman law control development through the mechanism of zoning. As Pontevedro is based on Roman law (Cowell 2013), zoning would seem the best system to employ. Nonetheless, as to which country inspiration should be drawn from still needs to be resolved. 3.2 The Vancouver zoning system The zoning system from which ‘policy transfer’ (Rose 1993) appears to be most successful for Pontevedro is that of the city of Vancouver. The Vancouver zoning mechanism has developed to incorporate a discretionary component (Leary and McCarthy 2013). This innovative element tackles the problems in the majority of modern day zoning systems (Punter 2002). This notion of discretionary controls combined with zoning is present in a number of Canadian cities; however Vancouver possesses an international status as a city with high quality design (Punter 2003) and is known as one of the top destinations to live in the world (Punter 2002). It must be noted that the notion of discretion and zoning can be identified as contradictory, as discretion infers an aspect of leniency, and zoning is perceived as an inherently fixed concept (Cullingworth 1993). However, Booth (1996, p.110) states that, â€Å"Discretion is rarely absolute, but must operate within limits.† This illustrates that zoning can contain a discretionary element within its regulatory restrictions. This has been accomplished in Vancouver because of its advanced planning system and urban design policies, as well as refined guidelines, processes and procedures (Punter 2002). This sophisticated system came into being due to the natural geography of the city, the concept of good design and the high emphasis on aesthetic quality (Leary and McCarthy 2013). Furthermore, the Vancouver Charter, passed in 1953, permitted the creation of individual administrative systems detached from provincial controls (Brunet-Jailly 2008). This meant that there was significant delegation of planning powers to the Directors of Planning, in order to prevent the interference of councillors in permit processing affairs; therefore skilled development planners had the top control posts (Punter 2002). The primary discretionary feature of Vancouver’s successful zoning system is one where zoning has become design-led (Punter 2003). In Vancouver, the development plan procedure is operated by the zoning bylaws; these convert general planning ideologies and design ideologies into regulations (Punter 2003). These regulations control building heights, floor space and land use. They then correspond with the discretionary components, in this instance, design guidelines (Punter 2003). What makes Vancouver stand out from other zoning systems is its policy to give incentives for good design (Punter 2003). If the applicant obeys the design standards, then that applicant will receive an incentive of additional floor space, thus raising the profit potential available to them from that development. As a result, the fundamental negative control system of zoning has a positive element and encourages good design (Punter 2003). 3.3 The application of the lesson When applying the Vancouver system, an element of design quality can be integrated into new development within Pontevedro, this would subsequently respect and enrich the island’s built environment. Therefore Vancouver’s system is applicable to Pontevedro, especially given Pontevedro’s desire to preserve their culture and heritage, as witnessed with the displeasure at the demolition of the Gavno landmark (Pontevedro Sun-Herald 2007). Additionally, the Vancouver system will succeed with the constitution in place in Pontevedro because Vancouver shares the same constitution. One of the issues with the current system is that there is a problem with sporadic development of houses along segments of the coastline, ribbon development near main roads and demand for new housing. Drawing influence from Vancouver’s zoning policy should be beneficial in the struggle with these problems; however at the same time there are issues when implementing this policy. 3.4 The issues with zoning Zoning can cause concerns due to the fact it does not include every aspect of development. For instance, zoning can be inclined to concentrate on individual lots instead of focusing on the impacts of development in general (Cullingworth 1993). This is a result of two ideas. Firstly, zoning seldom is concerned with timing or the presence of infrastructure (Cullingworth 1993). Essentially, a development project can be proposed, which although complies with the zoning regulations, is isolated in terms of infrastructure, amenities and other developments. Secondly, the usual opinion of municipalities is that they support development (Cullingworth 1993). Cullingworth (1993, p.167) highlights this development-led idea when he observes: Instead of asking â€Å"is the proposed development desirable in the public interest at this place at this point in time?† The typical municipality starts from the presumption that any development is good and, in any case, it is unfair to penalise a particular owner with a refusal. Consequently it is difficult for zoning to be consistent with other planning matters. Therefore it is important that the Pontevedro government consider the application of mechanisms to control urban growth, as well as reflecting on development on a larger scale. According to Cullingworth (1993), there are several ways this can be done, such as zone regulations, urban growth limits, restricted subdivision, phasing development as well as infrastructure provision and land preservation for particular use, such as protecting farmland. Moreover, zoning is characterised by inflexibility and rigidity in terms of apportionment of land for development. Therefore, it can be flawed when there are changing conditions, such as the requirement for a new type of development (as seen with Pontevedro’s flourishing financial sector) or for controlling aspects such as traffic infrastructure (also seen in Pontevedro), and the aesthetics and design of development (Cullingworth 1993). Additionally, zoning can be vulnerable to corruption and favouritism (Cullingworth 1993). Even though this is the case in many systems that utilise zoning as a device to control development, there are places that overcome these problems (Cullingworth 1993). 4. Conclusion This report has outlined two of the policy transfers for the creation of a new Pontevedro planning system. Even though these lessons deal with some of the major issues they do not provide a comprehensive planning system by themselves. However, the chosen lessons do constitute what is essentially the basis of the new planning system, focusing on the planning structure and procedure for delivering and regulating development. The creation of regions by the merging of communes, as done in France, will deal with the issue of service provision and will generate a more effective system to the pre-existing one. Zoning, although it has its limitations, was suggested as an instrument for development control because Pontevedro is a constitutional state. Vancouver provides a useful policy transfer that handles issues existing in most zoning systems, implants a level of design quality and improves the island’s built environment; as well as providing a starting point for the preservation of cultural. Both of these policies can be transferred to Pontevedro’s new proposed planning system because they have succeeded in their own and other countries, they solve certain issues found in Pontevedro and due to some similarities between the two countries the policies can be applied to Pontevedro. 5. Bibliography Booth, P. 1993. The cultural dimension in comparative research: making sense of development control in France. European Planning studies 7 (1), pp.1-26. Booth, P. 1996. Controlling Development: Certainty, Discretion And Accountability. London: Routledge. Booth, P., Breuillard, M., Fraser, C. and Paris, D. 2007. Spatial Planning Systems of Britain and France: A Comparative Analysis. London: Taylor and Francis. Brunet-Jailly, E. 2008. Vancouver: A Sustainable City. Journal of Urban Affairs 30 (4), pp. 375-388. Cowell, R. 2013. Pontevedro: General Description. Available at: https://learningcentral.cf.ac.uk/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1url=/webapps/blackboard/execute/launcher?type=Courseid=_331353_1url= [Accessed: 10 December 2013] Cullingworth, J. 1993. The political culture of planning: American land use planning in comparative perspective. New York: Routledge. De Mello, L. and Barenstein, M. 2001. Fiscal Decentralization and Governance: A Cross-country Analysis. IMF Working Paper 01/71. Washington DC: International Monetary Fund. Encyclopedia of the Nations. 2013. France – Location, Size, and Extent. Available at: http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Europe/France-LOCATION-SIZE-AND-EXTENT.html [Accessed: 17 December 2013] Leary, M. and McCarthy, J. 2013. The Routledge Companion to Urban Regeneration. London: Routledge. Newman, P. and Thornley, A. 1996. Urban Planning in Europe: International Competition, National Systems and Planning Projects. London: Routledge. Pontevedro Sun-Herald. 2007. ‘Demolition of Well Known Gavno Landmark’. Pontevedro Sun-Herald. 6 October, pp.1-3. Punter, J. 2002. Urban Design as Public Policy: Evaluating the Design Dimension of Vancouvers Planning System. International Planning Studies 7 (4), pp. 265-282. Punter, J. 2003. The Vancouver Achievement: Urban Planning and Design. Vancouver: UBC press. Rose, R. 1991. What is lesson drawing? Journal of Public Policy 11 (3), pp.1-30. Rose, R. 1993. Lesson-Drawing in Public Policy. Chatham, NJ: Chatham House Publishers. Triesman, D. 2006. Explaining fiscal decentralisation: geography, colonial history, economic development, and political institutions. Journal of Commonwealth and Comparative Politics 44 (3), pp. 283-288. Word count: 1, 992 1 | Page

Philosophies Of Socrates, Plato, And Aristotle :: essays research papers

Philosophies of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle The philosophies of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle had different points of-view but they were also similar in some ways. For example, all three philosophers had their own thoughts on the subject of justice and government. Socrates belief on this matter was that democracy was an unwise form of government. He thought that the electing of the people was unfair justice. Plato had some of the same beliefs. He believed that government should only have rulers who had the intelligence and education appropriate for the matter. His thoughts were that a job should be done only by those who are best suited for it. To him aristocracy was a perfect form of government. The point of Socrate's philosophies were to make people think about the questions he would often ask. The reason for these questions being asked were to have people to their own thoughts and opinions toward life. He did not think a person with the right mind should follow the steps of their ancestors. Instead of going around asking questions, Plato, another philosopher, would write his own conversations with imaginerary people. These conversations would cover much of the same topics that Socrates had tried to cover earlier. These topics mostly dealt with life such as government, opinions toward justice and how people really viewed education. Aristotle also had his own theories towards his belief of the "right government". He wanted his results to show happiness among the people. He'd mainly collect information from studying living creatures and observing their living habits. He would do this so that he could see what brought them happiness. His opinion toward life was that all people should live a fair and happy life. After many attempts of forming the perfect government , his facts allowed him to believe that a perfect government could be formed only by those who have a middle class. The middle class would consist of those who were not rich yet not poor. Both Aristotle and Plato had different thoughts on the division of the government. Aristotle claimed to believe that a government should consist of many classes for the protection of the people and the state.

Popper and Kuhn: Two Views of Science Essay example -- Science Scienti

Popper and Kuhn: Two Views of Science In this essay I attempt to answer the following two questions: What is Karl Popper’s view of science? Do I feel that Thomas Kuhn makes important points against it? The two articles that I make reference to are "Science: Conjectures and Refutations" by Karl Popper and "Logic of Discovery or Psychology of Research?" by Thomas Kuhn. In the article, "Science: Conjectures and Refutations", Karl Popper attempts to describe the criteria that a theory must meet for it to be considered scientific. He calls this puzzle the problem of demarcation. Popper summarizes his arguments by saying, "the criterion of the scientific status of a theory is its falsifiability, or refutability, or testability." Kuhn says that he and Popper often agree as to what constitutes science and non-science. He claims that he differs with Popper in the methods that he uses to arrive at his conclusions. Kuhn says that if a line of demarcation is to be sought between science and non-science, we shouldn’t look for a "sharp or decisive" one, because science is not objective, as Popper would have us believe, but subjective. Popper claims that the common answer to the problem of delineating between science and pseudo-science is that science uses an empirical method, deriving from observations and experiments. This explanation does not satisfy Popper. He has a gut feeling that areas of study like astrology are not science, and he attempts to come up with a theory to prove it. One of the problems I have with Popper is that instead of looking at a concrete problem and trying to come up with an explanation, Popper first made up his mind that astrology is not science, and then set out to prove it. By Popper’s own admissions, confirming evidence is everywhere, but means little. This could be applied all of Popper’s examples. Popper is "dissatisfied" with the Marxist theory of history, psychoanalysis, and individual psychology. He sets out to describe why his gut tells him that these are unscientific theories. He argues against theories that have explanatory power. Popper has a problem with Marxists because no matter what happens in the world, they can explain the event in light of their theory. When a person believes a theory to be true, everything that happens is a verification of the truthfulness of the theory. Popper’s example is how a Marxists can’t... ...ctly what it was besides an instinct that it was different from more traditional sciences like chemistry or physics. Why was he so determined to separate empirical science from pseudo-science? If I could talk to Popper, I would ask him, "why bother trying to draw a line at all?" It would be more fruitful to try and distinguish between what is or isn’t true and what is or isn’t significant. I have a tendency to lean towards Kuhn over Popper. It don’t think that Popper’s ideal of proper science is useful, and he seems to agree with me ("neither a problem of meaningfulness or significance, nor a problem of truth or acceptability.") Kuhn looks at how the world really works, a far more significant area of study. Popper thinks that he has all of the answers. I distrust people who think that they know everything. I agree with Socrates, who said something like, "The only true wisdom is knowing that you know nothing." Kuhn doesn’t make rules about how science should be done, he makes suggestions. Popper wants to draw a line down the middle between science and non-science. The more I look at the problem, the more it becomes obvious that the line is not sharp, if it can be drawn at all.

Circuit City Stores Essay

Objectives: * achieve leading market share in each served market in order to benefit from ad and logistics synergies * resist take over attempt Current Business Strategy * In retail stores, they measure by per unit square foot to measure capacity( exhibit 3b) * They sell brand name product * Cut commissions * Customer survey to support customer satisfaction * Switched management teams. * Invested in the POS system * Store remodeling, ex. Expanding to Canada, with small stores Evaluate External analysis * Market: is massive, growing at 8 % a year forces: * Rivalry: – Cost circuit city more to get out of business – Number of the competitors; and revenue are big, these will intense the rivalry – Product mix: there is a lot of product differentiation, ability to differentiate, can focus on different target market. This makes the market rivalry less intense. – Customer services is declining, could lead to increasing? * Barrier to entry: – not hard to enter the market – not hard to open a specialty electronic store; no need to special skills, and no need for massive inventory Brand loyalty to the product not the store Substitute for electronic retail * Ebay, online ( not very competitive, not a strong force) * Customer * No brand loyalty, low switching cost * Purchase dispersed * Demand is not declining * Supplier * Specific supplier are required * Fast and efficient supply chain * Require good relationship with supplier is critical (ex DVD sales) * No shortage in supplier

Issues Relating Diverse and Cross Cultural Management Essay

The diverse workforce has become a reality today. The impact of cultural diversity varies with the type of environment and firm’s overall strategy. As more and more number of firms move from domestic, multidomestic, multinational strategies to operating as a truly global firm, the significance and impact of cultural diversity increase markedly. Management of cultural differences has become more important for creating advantages and getting competitive edge. Companies must also consider stakeholders as employees. The viewpoints of stakeholders such as shareholders, suppliers, public agencies, and government regulators should be considered in shaping the culture of performance and approaching the diverse markets. In number of situations employees, customers and other stakeholders in the service environment interact to produce the ultimate service outcome. To solve the problem of unfair, inequitable treatment of diverse people, both as employees and customers, managers must recognize that such treatment is bound with bureaucratic structure, subjectivity and irrationality, inappropriate policies and practices, ineffective implementation of human. Companies should completely reshape the working culture that make possible the integration of a broad range of viewpoints that leads to a redefinition of how work gets done and how diverse markets are approached and capitalized upon. All employees should be held accountable for their behaviors and human resources results. There are certain arguments for creating a diverse workforce, those are as follows: 1. As the number of women, minorities etc. in the workforce increase, so will their influence as consumers. Hiring women, minorities, disabled, etc. will help the organizations to tap these niche markets. . As all the segments of society have stake in the development and prosperity of the society as a whole, the creation of diverse workforce should be seen as a social and moral imperative. 3. Diversity enhances creativity and innovation and produces advantages. 4. Diversity helps organizations for entering the international arena. 5. Diverse teams make it possible to enhance flexibil ity and rapid response to change. Diversity also causes certain problems those are as follows: (i) Communication becomes more difficult. Employees from different cultures fail to understand one another. Firms operating in different language areas find difficulty in communicating with the local employees as local employees speak different language. (ii) Diversity increases ambiguity, complexity and confusion. (iii) Diversity also causes problems when managers and employees over generalize organizational policies, strategies, practices and procedures. (iv) Cultural diversity creates difficulties for an organization when it wants to reach on a single agreement. (v) Cultural diversity increases the complexity and problems in developing overall organizational procedures. A company with a diverse workforce can better serve and compete in diverse markets. Hiring a diverse workforce can be challenging but the greater challenge is to retain the diverse workforce. Exploring best HR practices helps in identifying the best tools for retaining a diverse workforce. These practices include establishing open communication, supporting ongoing training and mentoring programmes and linking pay to diversity goals. Ultimately, the key to create, develop, and retain diverse workforce is to find a way to make workforce to feel connected to their company Cultural Diversity and Management  The cultural impact on management is reflected by basic values, attitudes, beliefs and behavior of the people. Culture can affect technology transfer, managerial attitudes, managerial ideology and even government-business relationships. Moreover culture affects how people think and behave. In some societies important decisions are made by few top managers, while in others, these decisions are diffused throughout the enterprise. American society comes under the first case and Japanese comes under the latter case. American and other Western countries’ cultural norms require individual rewards that are not so in Japanese culture. In some societies, risk-taking is encouraged which is not so in others. People identify themselves very strongly with their company as in Japan against America where people identify themselves with their occupational group. Some societies encourage cooperation between people. Others encourage competition between people. The managers and employees vary on four primary cultural dimensions: * Individualism/collectivism * Power distance. * Uncertainty avoidance. * Masculinity/femininity (Career success/quality of life). Managing Cultural Diversity The five cultural dimensions highlight the important cultural differences in organizations. To manage effectively in a global or a domestic multicultural environment, we need to recognize the differences and learn to use them to our advantage, rather than either attempting to ignore differences or simply allowing differences to cause problems. Rather managers should be taught how to respect the differences at work and how to work with them to maximize the contribution of each employee. Strategies for managing cultural differences The extent to which managers and employees recognize cultural diversity and its potential advantages and disadvantages defines an organization’s approach (strategy) to manage cultural diversity. Ignore Cultural Differences – managers do not recognize cultural differences (diversity) or its impact on the organization. This strategy is very popular in parochial type of organizations. * Minimize Cultural Differences – managers do recognize cultural diversity but only as a source of problems. In an ethnocentric organization, managers believe that â€Å"our way is the best way† to organize and manage. * Manage Cultural Differences – The organizations which adopt the strategy of managing differences are synergistic organizations. These type of organizations recognize the impacts of cultural diversity that leads to both advantages and disadvantages. Synergistic Organizations Assume I. that groups within society differ across cultures and that each maintains its cultural distinctness. II. that the similarities and differences are of equal importance. III. that there are many culturally distinct ways to live, to work, and to reach a final goal. IV. that there are many different good ways to reach the final goal. The best way depends on the cultures of the people involved. Cross-cultural Training Cross-cultural training stresses on training employees about other cultures and sensitizing them to the discrimination and biases diverse employees feel. Cross-cultural training aims at helping employees live and work comfortably in another culture. Organizations can use two approaches of training that can play a big role in managing diversity. (i) First approach offers training to diverse groups of employees. People from diverse groups can be trained for an entry-level skill. (ii) Second approach is to provide training to managers and other employees who work with diverse employees. Many organizations impart practical, real-life training to teach employees how to handle situations those arise due to cultural differences. Environmental briefings: to provide information about history, geography, climate, schools, government, economy, etc. Orientation in culture: to familiarize the employees with value systems and culture of the host country. Cultural assimilator: is a programmed learning technique that is designed to expose employees of one culture to some of the attitudes, customs, etc. of another culture. Language training: to teach conversational language skills.

French Cinema

French Cinema Scene analysis The scene from the movie Rules of The Game by Jean Renoir shows many camera techniques and uses the camera to clench the true meaning of the screen. I will be discussing and analyzing the scene. The film beautifully demonstrates the use of precise shots and perfectly executed scenes. Throughout the scene of The Rules of the Game the camera is like another person in the room. It is invisible and wanders throughout the building almost like it is someone following what is happening.This makes for an interesting and new perception never seen before by film viewers. At one point in the scene the camera gets trapped and has to zoom out as though it is being caught. Along with the presence of the camera you can notice rack focusing, the lighting is obviously controlled. The scene begins with a near foreground and pans out to far background as they move throughout the building. One of the greatest aspects of the scene and the film is the incredibly long takes and long shots.This allowed us to be able to grasp whatever we wanted to see in every shot. Jean Renoir used montage editing; this gave the audience the freedom to choose what they wanted to see within the scene. The viewers are able to edit their own idea of the shot. As the scene progresses the camera moves weightlessly with the focus on the foreground while the two in the background escape through a door. The use of separation from the hallway to the main room acts as a sort of barrier between shots.Although on take it feels as though it is separated into two. The primary focus of this shot is to establish the idea that Schumacher is looking for Saint-Aubin. The concept is that the viewer needs to choose who to look at. It forces the viewer to be crossed between the main focus and the deep focus. There is no cut of the camera which would cause all prior viewer attention to be diminished. Because of the fluid camera movement it makes for a realization of what is going on in the backg round. The final concept is the montage that Jean Renoir uses.The faint light hearted piano music adds to an overall mood and feeling of the shot. For the most part the movie could be seen as dreary but this scene adds an almost lighthearted tone as they move from the conversation in the hallway to the bigger room. Overall the film scene is a masterpiece in that the camera moves in such a way that allows the viewer to feel like you are right in the action. With All the techniques put into this particular shot you can clearly see that this is one of the greatest films ever made.

“Many Scientists Have Concluded That Human Activities Are Acting to Raise Global Temperatures”

Introduction Climatologists (scientists who study climate) have analyzed the global warming that has occurred since the late 1800's. A majority of climatologists have concluded that human activities are responsible for most of the warming. Human activities are throwing our natural greenhouse gas effect out of balance (Norby & Luo, 2004:282). Basically, we are surrounded by a blanket of air called the atmosphere which has kept the temperature on earth just right for centuries (Climate and Society).Just as the glass in a greenhouse holds the suns warmth inside, so the atmosphere traps the suns heat near the earths surface and keeps the earth warm. We call this the natural greenhouse effect because it makes the earth a perfect planet for growing and living things. Because of this blanket, for hundreds of years the earths atmosphere has changed very little. It has kept the right temperature for plants, animal and humans to survive quite comfortably (Norby & Luo, 2004:282). Greenhouse gas ses are both natural and manmade. These gasses are Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) and Nitrous Oxide (Miller, 2005:475).This following essay will detail various human activities as well as other forces that are affecting the natural greenhouse gas effect. Furthermore, it will address the issue of global warming as well as outline some of the many consequences of global warming. Global Temperatures The main human activities that contribute to global warming are the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) and the clearing of land. Most of the burning occurs in automobiles, in factories, and in electric power plants that provide energy for houses and office buildings (Juery Rohrer, 2007).The burning of fossil fuels creates carbon dioxide, whose chemical formula is CO2. CO2 is a greenhouse gas that slows the escape of heat into space. Trees and other plants remove CO2 from the air during photosynthesis, the process they use to produce food(Miller , 2005:475). The clearing of land contributes to the build up of CO2 by reducing the rate at which the gas is removed from the atmosphere or by the decomposition of dead vegetation (Juery Rohrer, 2007) The emissions of CO2 have been dramatically increased within the last 50 years and are still increasing by almost 3% each year, see graph below:Graph 1 (Juery Rohrer, 2007) The carbon dioxide is released to the atmosphere where it remains for 100 to 200 years. This leads to an increasing concentration of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, which in turn causes the average temperature on Earth to rise (Miller, 2005:475) (see graph on next page). Graph 2 (Juery Rohrer, 2007) A small number of scientists argue that the increase in greenhouse gases has not made a measurable difference in the temperature. They say that natural processes could have caused global warming. Those processes include increases in the energy emitted by the sun (Norby & Luo, 2004:282).But the vast majority of climato logists believe that increases in the sun's energy have contributed only slightly to recent warming. Global Warming Continued global warming could have many damaging effects. It might harm plants and animals that live in the sea. It could also force animals and plants on land to move to new habitats (McCright & Dunlap, 2000:517). Weather patterns could change, causing flooding, drought, and an increase in damaging storms. Global warming could melt enough polar ice to raise the sea level. In certain parts of the world, human disease could spread, and crop yields could decline (McCright & Dunlap, 2000:517) .Some details of the damaging effects include: †¢Harm to ocean life Through global warming, the surface waters of the oceans could become warmer, increasing the stress on ocean ecosystems, such as coral reefs. High water temperatures can cause a damaging process called coral bleaching. When corals bleach, they expel the algae that give them their colour and nourishment. The cor als turn white and, unless the water temperature cools, they die. Added warmth also helps spread diseases that affect sea creatures. †¢Changes of habitat Widespread shifts might occur in the natural habitats of animals and plants.Many species would have difficulty surviving in the regions they now inhabit. For example, many flowering plants will not bloom without a sufficient period of winter cold. And human occupation has altered the landscape in ways that would make new habitats hard to reach or unavailable altogether. †¢Weather damage Extreme weather conditions might become more frequent and therefore more damaging. Changes in rainfall patterns could increase both flooding and drought in some areas. More hurricanes and other tropical storms might occur, and they could become more powerful. †¢Rising sea levelContinued global warming might, over centuries, melt large amounts of ice from a vast sheet that covers most of West Antarctica. As a result, the sea level woul d rise throughout the world. Many coastal areas would experience flooding, erosion, a loss of wetlands, and an entry of seawater into freshwater areas. High sea levels would submerge some coastal cities, small island nations, and other inhabited regions. †¢Threats to human health Tropical diseases, such as malaria and dengue, might spread to larger regions. Longer-lasting and more intense heat waves could cause more deaths and illnesses.Floods and droughts could increase hunger and malnutrition. Conclusion Human activity definitely have had a noticeable and documented effect on the steady rise in global temperatures, but there are also arguably other factors that contribute to overall global warming. Either way the argument should not be about who or what to blame for global warming but rather how to slow it down and repair the damage that is being done. Reference list Juery Rohrer. (2007). Time for change. Retrieved April 12 2010 from http://timeforchange. org/CO2-cause-of-glo bal-warmingMcCright, A,M. , & Dunlap, R,E. (2000). Challeging global warming as a social problem: An alalysis of the conservative movements counter-claim. Journal of Social Problems, 47(4), 500-522. Climate and Society. The earth institute. Retrieved April 12 2010 from http://www. earthinstitute. columbia. edu/about/about. html Miller, G,T,JR. (2005). Living in the Environment, 14th ed, Thomson Brooks/Cole. Norby,R,J. , & Luo, Y. (2004). Evaluating ecosystems responses to rising atmospheric CO2 and global warming in a multi-factor world. New Phytologist, 162(2), 281-293. â€Å"Many Scientists Have Concluded That Human Activities Are Acting to Raise Global Temperatures† Introduction Climatologists (scientists who study climate) have analyzed the global warming that has occurred since the late 1800's. A majority of climatologists have concluded that human activities are responsible for most of the warming. Human activities are throwing our natural greenhouse gas effect out of balance (Norby & Luo, 2004:282). Basically, we are surrounded by a blanket of air called the atmosphere which has kept the temperature on earth just right for centuries (Climate and Society).Just as the glass in a greenhouse holds the suns warmth inside, so the atmosphere traps the suns heat near the earths surface and keeps the earth warm. We call this the natural greenhouse effect because it makes the earth a perfect planet for growing and living things. Because of this blanket, for hundreds of years the earths atmosphere has changed very little. It has kept the right temperature for plants, animal and humans to survive quite comfortably (Norby & Luo, 2004:282). Greenhouse gas ses are both natural and manmade. These gasses are Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) and Nitrous Oxide (Miller, 2005:475).This following essay will detail various human activities as well as other forces that are affecting the natural greenhouse gas effect. Furthermore, it will address the issue of global warming as well as outline some of the many consequences of global warming. Global Temperatures The main human activities that contribute to global warming are the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) and the clearing of land. Most of the burning occurs in automobiles, in factories, and in electric power plants that provide energy for houses and office buildings (Juery Rohrer, 2007).The burning of fossil fuels creates carbon dioxide, whose chemical formula is CO2. CO2 is a greenhouse gas that slows the escape of heat into space. Trees and other plants remove CO2 from the air during photosynthesis, the process they use to produce food(Miller , 2005:475). The clearing of land contributes to the build up of CO2 by reducing the rate at which the gas is removed from the atmosphere or by the decomposition of dead vegetation (Juery Rohrer, 2007) The emissions of CO2 have been dramatically increased within the last 50 years and are still increasing by almost 3% each year, see graph below:Graph 1 (Juery Rohrer, 2007) The carbon dioxide is released to the atmosphere where it remains for 100 to 200 years. This leads to an increasing concentration of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, which in turn causes the average temperature on Earth to rise (Miller, 2005:475) (see graph on next page). Graph 2 (Juery Rohrer, 2007) A small number of scientists argue that the increase in greenhouse gases has not made a measurable difference in the temperature. They say that natural processes could have caused global warming. Those processes include increases in the energy emitted by the sun (Norby & Luo, 2004:282).But the vast majority of climato logists believe that increases in the sun's energy have contributed only slightly to recent warming. Global Warming Continued global warming could have many damaging effects. It might harm plants and animals that live in the sea. It could also force animals and plants on land to move to new habitats (McCright & Dunlap, 2000:517). Weather patterns could change, causing flooding, drought, and an increase in damaging storms. Global warming could melt enough polar ice to raise the sea level. In certain parts of the world, human disease could spread, and crop yields could decline (McCright & Dunlap, 2000:517) .Some details of the damaging effects include: †¢Harm to ocean life Through global warming, the surface waters of the oceans could become warmer, increasing the stress on ocean ecosystems, such as coral reefs. High water temperatures can cause a damaging process called coral bleaching. When corals bleach, they expel the algae that give them their colour and nourishment. The cor als turn white and, unless the water temperature cools, they die. Added warmth also helps spread diseases that affect sea creatures. †¢Changes of habitat Widespread shifts might occur in the natural habitats of animals and plants.Many species would have difficulty surviving in the regions they now inhabit. For example, many flowering plants will not bloom without a sufficient period of winter cold. And human occupation has altered the landscape in ways that would make new habitats hard to reach or unavailable altogether. †¢Weather damage Extreme weather conditions might become more frequent and therefore more damaging. Changes in rainfall patterns could increase both flooding and drought in some areas. More hurricanes and other tropical storms might occur, and they could become more powerful. †¢Rising sea levelContinued global warming might, over centuries, melt large amounts of ice from a vast sheet that covers most of West Antarctica. As a result, the sea level woul d rise throughout the world. Many coastal areas would experience flooding, erosion, a loss of wetlands, and an entry of seawater into freshwater areas. High sea levels would submerge some coastal cities, small island nations, and other inhabited regions. †¢Threats to human health Tropical diseases, such as malaria and dengue, might spread to larger regions. Longer-lasting and more intense heat waves could cause more deaths and illnesses.Floods and droughts could increase hunger and malnutrition. Conclusion Human activity definitely have had a noticeable and documented effect on the steady rise in global temperatures, but there are also arguably other factors that contribute to overall global warming. Either way the argument should not be about who or what to blame for global warming but rather how to slow it down and repair the damage that is being done. Reference list Juery Rohrer. (2007). Time for change. Retrieved April 12 2010 from http://timeforchange. org/CO2-cause-of-glo bal-warmingMcCright, A,M. , & Dunlap, R,E. (2000). Challeging global warming as a social problem: An alalysis of the conservative movements counter-claim. Journal of Social Problems, 47(4), 500-522. Climate and Society. The earth institute. Retrieved April 12 2010 from http://www. earthinstitute. columbia. edu/about/about. html Miller, G,T,JR. (2005). Living in the Environment, 14th ed, Thomson Brooks/Cole. Norby,R,J. , & Luo, Y. (2004). Evaluating ecosystems responses to rising atmospheric CO2 and global warming in a multi-factor world. New Phytologist, 162(2), 281-293.

All Rise

All Rise Essay All RiseJudge Watson scanned his courtroom with an eagle-like glare.The room was packed, Watson could smell the eager reporters outside.Damore versus State of Alabama was the biggest case his Honor had heard in years, God he needed a drink.Judge Watson blinked a long, tired blink, and swallowed hard in a vain attempt to soothe his bone dry throat.The old man called out in a loud voice, prosecution!Billy Parker stood deliberately and strutted to his podium.The DA unbuttoned his two thousand dollar Armenagildo Zenga suit coat, and began.Let me share with you all the sad story of a sweet, defenseless woman named Porphyria.It was a rainy dark night, and Porphyria desperately ached to see her lover.She trekked through the woods, braving the pneumonic weather, to the small cottage owned by one, Mort Damore.Porphyria entered the cottage dripping wet.Carefully she tended to the fire, so her lover wouldnt catch cold.Porphyria laid by Mr. Damore, wanting so badly to act out her love for him.So ftly she whispered his name, but Mr. Damore was busy faking sleep, concealing his murderous plan for now. Sweet Porphyria uttered I love you quietly to her love.Mr. Damore listened to this praise for a short while, but quickly grew impatient-the beast yearned to kill.Mr. Damore debated on which weapon to use. The Colt .45 lay loaded under his bed, but guns are loud!and messy. 2Then Porphyrias creamy, innocent neck and long hair caught Mr. Damores attention. Yes!, he thought, strangulation is much more thrilling than pulling a little old trigger.Brutally Mr. Damore grabbed Porphyria and began to cut off her air supply.Porphyria gasped for air, but moments later the beautiful body was lifeless.However, the abuse did not end with Porphyrias death.Mr. Damore decided the fun had ended too quickly, and maliciously proceeded to sexually abuse the corpse. This, your Honor, is the exact description of the premeditated, heinous murder committed by the defendant, Mort Damore.Mr. Damore waited for his beautiful love to visit, then faked sleep to lure Porphyria into his murderous trap.When the opportunity arose, Mr. Damore strangled Porphyria to death. After the slaughter, there was no guilt or remorse from Damore.God no!In fact, Mr. Damore sexually abused Porphyria, then opened her eyes and laid by the victim throughout the night.This animal is not even fit for a jail cell.Your honor, there is no option but to sentence Mr. Damore to death by electrocution. Judge Watson nodded, and turned to Troy Broussard.Defense!Troy Broussard remained seated, leaned back in his chair, and propped his feet upon the desk. Well well, he said in a high pitched voice, I really must applaud Mr. Parker for his wonderful story. The only problem with it.., is that it is a fictions story.Here is the truth.On that rainy night, Porphyria fled from her husband to visit Mr. 3Damore.In fact, she was downright in a hurry to reach the cottage, she couldnt wait to commit adultery. Barging into Mr. Damores domicile, Porphyria wasted no time in going after what she wanted, purely physical sex.The harlot undressed and tried to wake Mr. Damore, who was frozen with guilt and uncertainty.My client had been trying to dissolve the relationship since he first learned of Porphyrias husband, but the slut would not leave him alone.Porphyria frequently popped into Mr. Damores life to use him, then run back home to her husband.Determined to end the sick relationship that rainy night, Mr. Damore faked sleep so Porphyria might leave.But no, the adulteress persisted.She whispered the usual lies, I will get a divorce, Mort, but now isnt the time.I love you, please trust me.Mr. Damore looked into Porphyrias truth telling eyes, and deceit stared back at him.Mr. Damore debated how to react.His heart raced, he felt cheap and used, he felt hat!e.In a rage Mr. Damore painlessly strangled Porphyria out of love.In a fit of psychotic distress, Mr. Damore kissed Porphyria, a sign of his forgiveness.Then, like a cat who has accidentally killed a playful mouse, Mr. Damore, in total bewilderment, tried to bring her back to life.He laid with her the entire night. READ: Organizational behavior EssayMort Damore did not premeditate the murder, it was completely accidental.Induced by the pain of being lied to, used, and cheated on, Mr. Damore slipped into a period of insanity.My clients actions do not warrant the death penalty.Although 4absolutely unjustifiable, Mr. Damores actions are at worst still understandable.I ask you to place yourself in Mr. Damores position, try to imagine the torture.These are the facts of the case, and if there is any justice in the world, Mort Damore will spend the rest of his life in rehabilitation.Thank you. Two hours and forty-three minutes later, the honorable Judge Watson limped out from his chambers and drooped into his massive, black leather chair.The attorneys and Mort quickly rose.Mr. Damore, you strike me as an overly emotional man, probably unstable.Your actions were wrong, you know this, we all know this.However, I sense sincere regret.I dont perceive you as an animal, but as a mentally sick man.You need help, Mr. Damore, not death.For the murder of Porphyria, you have been found guilty, and are sentenced to two life imprisonments to be carried out back to back, without bail. Mort Damore wore a melancholy amazed expression, but laughed to himself as he was cuffed and escorted out of the chaotic courtroom.He wondered to himself, What are the odds of beating the system twice?

To introduce learners to the concept of business ethics and to examine Essay

To introduce learners to the concept of business ethics and to examine its relevance when considering business objectives and responsibilities - Essay Example The company wants to make itself an integrated global organisation. But for its business growth & achieving its objectives the company took some major wrong steps which involved the company into a scandal in1996. This affected the ethical issues of the company also. Pfizer introduced a drug named Trovan. At that time a large outbreak was spread in Nigeria and the company tested the drug on infected children under hasty concision. The company did not inform their parents about the experimental drugs. The adverse effect of this drug killed fifty children & disabled many children. This action affected the ethical issues of the company like individualism, Kantianism, utilitarianism. The company disobeyed the government laws & ethical standards to maximize its profit. Pfizer only considered its business growth without focusing on its customer happiness. The goodwill of the company was hampered as it only focused on money making and ignored the value of people life. The company neither exe cuted the trial for good cause nor did it create happiness. Without evaluation the problems associated with the results of the trial Pfizer implemented it and ended with lawsuits. Pfizer did not respect its customers and took irrational actions (Altier 64-67). The company behaved in an inhuman way with the Nigerians and produced fake letter. As a results of this ethical issues Pfizer was deceitful to the US as the company did not informed the country about this incident for a long time. The company showed its coward nature by not admitting the facts that unethical standard was followed during the time of its medicine testing. It did not consider about the correct ethical guideline which should be followed. This is how the business objectives of Pfizer affected the ethical considerations (Baier 88-89). A person who invests in the company is known as stakeholder. They contribute a

SUCCESSFUL INDIVIDUALS WITH HIGH LEVELS OF JOB SATISFACTION Essay

SUCCESSFUL INDIVIDUALS WITH HIGH LEVELS OF JOB SATISFACTION - Essay Example A relatively trend in these studies and literature works however is that not much has been studied into finding factors that bring about job satisfaction, but the gutters have been jumped into discussing the impact of job satisfaction on growth and development. In this essay therefore, the existing gap is closed by critically outlining key factors that must be put in place within various types of organisations to ensure that there is job satisfaction (Yi and Gong, 2008). This is done from the perspective of four individuals, whose stories are used as a case study. Job Design and Job Satisfaction Job satisfaction is a very qualitative and subjective labour principle, as different people seek different opportunities and factors within their work structure to make them satisfied (Yoo, 2002). But as varying and different as job satisfaction may be to different people, one fact remains that job satisfaction comes from within the job that one does and this is where characteristics of the j ob comes to play. Depending on the characteristics of a given job, employees may be more comfortable working in the premise of that job. Yoo (2002) identified two of these characteristics as autonomy and variety, all of which are exhibited in the stories of the successful people presented. Yoo (2002) was however quick to add that there is always the need to ensure that the job characteristics that prevails is defined by the job design in place for workers. These job designs include are nature of job, employee engagement, and business success. Wofford and Liska (2003) has explained that one crucial characteristic of job is variety. By this, meaning is given to the need for the workplace to present the employee with non-static but differential task scope that ensures that employees always have something new to explore at the workplace. This means that the variety of job that a person does go a long way to determine and influence the level of job satisfaction that will be recorded. Cle arly, each of these people works in top enviable organizations that have many different departments and units that offer variety and challenge to exploring new opportunities for every up and coming young executive. As stated by Clark, there are numerous people looking for the kind of job that he does. The same can be said for Kurtz and Bishop, whose jobs take them to various places of the world and makes them enjoy the luxury of travelling from one airplane to the other. Clearly, when the characteristic of the job of a person puts him or her in such a position where there is internal satisfaction as to the variety of work that is done, such person is likely to gain job satisfaction. What is more, there are very high levels of autonomy for each of these workers. The question of ‘when and how tasks are done’ have been said to be very instrumental in job design (Ramsey and Sohi, 1997). Generally, autonomy comes to play when employees are given sufficient room to operate an d manipulate the movement and direction of their jobs (Netemeyer et al, 2007). Once this is done job satisfaction can be said to be guaranteed because it makes employees feel useful of themselves and evidentially become intrinsically motivated. Meanwhile, for all four individual read about, even though they are not the owners of the business they work for, they have very high levels of autonomy and are instrumental in the way and manner the businesses should move. A typical example of this is Clark who has the pleasure of promoting MTV all across the globe. Finally, as recommended by Yoo (2002), there is evidence from the story that the characteristics of job in place have been directly linked with job design. It would be noted that job