Case Study Write Up

Alin NIRAMORN Case Study Methods Lori Ostlund 09/019/2012 Case Write-Up Summary of Case Situation In the case, Raleigh & Rosse, Simons and Mahoney (2011) report that in the beginning of year 2010, R&R is being sued by its sales associates. The Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) states that R&R has continued breaking the state law by encouraging employee to work â€Å"off the clock†. R&R is a U. S. luxury good retailer run by family member.The company mission is to serve their costumers with outstanding service. R&R Sale associates are expected to serve their costumer †off the floor† as a part of â€Å"Ownership Culture†. Linda Watkins, a CEO of R&R who was recruited by Brian Rosse, has admitted that at first Bill Schwartz, a Senior Vice President for Human Resource had been questioning in some aspects of the Ownership Culture and particularly Sales Per Hours (SPH) program. He also suggests Linda to apply different approach instance.However, Rosse believ es that Ownership Culture and SPH is the core of the company to success. Moreover, the economic downturn in years 2008 and 2009 has affected to luxury goods industry. R&R were also impacted by the economic crisis; the revenue continue dropped down rapidly. Central Issue How Raleigh & Rosse need to handle with sales associates who sued the company. Recommended Course of Action Linda should make a decision how to respond to the lawsuit by paying back damages to all employees. Basis for RecommendationR&R should set up an amount for one-time payment system because it can help the company safe money and it is fair for every employee. The case R&R (Simons and Mahoney, 2011) states that the employee who is the plaintiff in the lawsuit is asking the company to pay back twin amount of â€Å"non selling† hourly wages. The count judgment the company to pay in total of $200 million; consequently, this amount will affect the company financial. Therefore, R&R should offer an amount for pay back the claims, and make an agreement with all employees.For example, in the case of Nightmare at Nordstrom (Solmon, 1990), Nordstrom had set up ranged of amount for each claims; and sent out the claim sheet to all employees. The employee has to fill-in the detailed to verify the amount of â€Å"non-selling† hours they worked. As a result, Nordstrom paid less than $3 millions for the claims. In other word, there is high possibility for R&R to lose $200 million for the judgments, thus settlement for payment would be cheaper for the company.Moreover, an Ownership Culture program was introduced in 1992, which means there were a current employee and the old employee. Thus, retroactive compensation is considered as a big factor for the company. Indeed, the amount for pay back claims should be different between the old and new employee. For example, according to Solmon (1990) states that Nordstrom has sent out a letter to sales associates by offering to pay back the damage from $ 250 up to $1,000, depending on how long their worked for the company.To put that differently, it is fair for all employees, which is the current sales associates who is seeking for damage, and the old employee who should be paid for their royalties. In conclusion, the huge amount that R&R need to pay for the court it might affect the company financial statues. Thus, by offering the amount for pay back the claims would help the company safe the money. In additional, the ranged of amount that arranged for pay back the current and claims is reasonable for all employees.

Homers The Odyssey Essay

Homer’s The Odyssey is one of the most valued and highly regarded classic stories in the world of literature. Coming from the grandiose and mysterious world and era of the Greek mythology, The Odyssey has been seen to be one of the greatest stories that dealt about heroes, tragedies, gods and goddesses and adventurous journeys. Over the years, this work of the great writer Homer has also been regarded to be one of the most significant works the world has ever had (â€Å"The Odyssey† n. p. ). The Odyssey, because of its undeniable value and significance in the world of literature has been one of the most studied classic stories in the academe. Its characters as well are some of the most admired and explored personalities in the world of literature. And one of these great and gallant characters is the chief Odysseus himself. Odysseus was depicted in the story as a great man who led a group of warriors and voyagers in the great feat to the sea which was popularly called the Odyssey. He was presented in the story to be the brain and the great decision maker of the group. If there is one thing remarkable in the story when it comes to its intellectual aspect, it would be more on Odysseus analytical and very intelligent abilities. Throughout the entire adventure of the troupe, several challenges and trials were put to them at sea. During these times, Odysseus could be seen to be an indestructible hero of his team who never did back out and give up. He would analyze situations very deeply and carefully, and he would device solutions and remedies right then and there depending on his radical and objective observations (Woodnutt 1). Thus aside from being a chief and a captain, Odysseus was also portrayed as the total representation of intelligent and just decisions that are solely based on radical observations and not on mere judgments and biases. But aside from this portrayal of Odysseus, an impeccable intellectual content can also be observable on how Homer created such terrible disasters that appeared inescapable to men, yet he was also able to device impeccable solutions to it. On the other hand, when it comes to the aesthetic appeal, The Odyssey also did not fall short. This work by Homer has been highly acclaimed by critics because of the grandiose and spectacular mixture of being poems, prose and hymns. It has also been commendable through time because of the sample of poetry found in its text that leads its readers to a peak of aesthetic experience paving the way for more insightful thoughts (Chessik n. p. ). The narration was impeccable as it exposed the secrets and the wonders behind each characters and events. The characters and the command of language also played an important part as they were so strong that the characters of this classic have been etched in the minds of readers for years. Also, Homer’s use of metaphors and his choice of tone and rhythm were also impeccable. His ability to mold an amazing story was undeniable throughout the entire story. But most especially, this classic by Homer also did not fall short of relevant morals and lessons that can be valued for generations. Above everything else, The Odyssey is a story of heroes and heroic acts. It reflects the value of authority and respect for authority as something close to how people regard their gods (Johnston n. p. ). Also, The Odyssey also holds that particular magnificence as it celebrated history and the arts that it also teaches people how significant history and the arts are for their lives. It also talks about inferno, its realities and nature; that if only people would try to veer away from bad things and believe that they can be good and straight people, then they can escape this miserable place after death and enjoy a feast and a banquet with gods in Olympus instead (Johnston n. p. ).

Business Survival in a Recession Essay

The key to business survival in recession is leadership† To what extent do you agree with this view? There are many different ways in which a business can use techniques to survive in a recession and here leadership is the key focus. To explain fully I will be focusing upon such ideas as the type of leadership management used, motivational effects where a business motivates the demoting factors such as ‘cuts’, for example sack employees to reduce costs that may viable save a business, the role of leaders in setting about change and management in bringing about the idea of change/ new instructions. Yet as well as the positives there are the negatives to a leadership styles and how its managed within a recession, so such factors as limited resources from change, an example being the reduction in the workforce size, the role of stake holders that ask the questions whether one leader is enough in a recession in comparison yet the leadership throughout the whole organisation. Particular business example such as ‘British Airways’ and ‘Sainsbury’ case studies and finally the external factors that inhibit a business chances for survival in a recession. Most certainly one of the most relevant points to make about a business trying to survive in a recession is the type of leadership management that is in place. For a success full leader and many styles can be used in times of desperate measures; here I would suggest during a recession that an Autocratic style of leadership needs to be followed, clear expectations for what needs to be done, when it should be done, and how it should be done. Although for the short term this aggressive direct approach needs to be considered to get a business through the hard times it had to face. For example with Margret Thatcher who was in power during the last recession in the 1990’s had to use this style of leadership to get the country out of the problem, yet left certain problems in doing so. If this is not to be the most productive method of leadership during a recession managers may adopt the Democratic leadership style where leaders offer guidance to group members, but they also participate in the group and allow input from other group members. Although the type of leadership is successful in producing high quality it is less productive than that of an Autocratic leadership style. Motivational factors are essential for a business survival in a recession whether it’s for the employees/ staff or the customers who have the purchasing power. Both these groups need to be aimed at by the higher authorities of a business to allow for a good circular flow of income to keep the business stable in hard times such as the recession. Although this motivation may comes in many different ways some being bad and the others being good, for a business such motivational factors as making ‘cuts’ and redundancies of employees to allow for a business to keep up with costs will see demotivation amongst labour workers but may see improvement in the costs in which they have to pay. Reduction of stock and capacity utilisation will see a lower work ethos, as less produce will be produced. By not overstocking and hoping that it will sell a business may have to adopt a ‘JIT’ or just in time method of production to satisfy orders the have at present rather than in the future. So here leaders/ managers must make the decisions to implement whether to make the changes needed to allow the business to survive for the time of the recession or maintain their current workforce and level of stock and hope the business is successful and can still sell their products. The introduction and bringing around of change is in some cases problematic for a business in terms of the employees views of change and valid in times where its essential to keep the business floating. Such examples as General motor’s, IBM, and Sears are ones that need pushing for organizational improvement, whether they are external members of the board, major investors, or top executives; they must deal with cultural and behavioral obstacles to change. Specifically, attempts at organizational change must consider three key features of organizational life: the firm’s culture, the leadership of the change effort, and the existing network of power. Company culture is important because it can make or break a company. Companies with an adaptive culture that is aligned to their business goals routinely outperform their competitors. Company cultures evolve and they change over time. As employee leave the company and replacements are hired the company culture will change. If it is a strong culture, it may not change much. However, since each new employee brings their own values and practices to the group the culture will change, and with this could include different motivational factors and views of other workers; so its vital for a business to include employees and workers in the changes a manager/ leader may wish to implement so such things as strikes and revolts do not occur. The roll of stakeholders in a business is essential as they can decide where a business should go and what should be done during times of recession. Here employees, investors, sharholders, customers and suppliers are all stakeholders that need to be satisfied in order for them to continue to invest within the business to keep it running. Employees should all see where the business is heading, and where it is heading towards otherwise they might see little point in changes in changes that have been made and may become suspicious. It is very important that the changes are explained clearly to employees and that any fear they may have are properly addressed. Investors are important because the business relies on their investment to finance the decisions that it takes. They may become worried that the business has no overall direction and look for other places to put their money. If they are unhappy this could leave the business weakened and prone to take-over. Shareholders are interested in any decision that effects the dividends that they receive is their share of profits. Any decision that will reduce profits, even for a short while, will not be popular with the shareholders. So here the managers of the business would want to avoid this in such poor economic times, so they would have to consider how shareholders will feel about the decisions made. Customers will be concerned if the decisions affect the price, quality, or service of the product they may change their buying habits if the product does not meet their requirements. Suppliers will want to get regular orders with prompt payment, these may be effected by the decisions made by the business. To conclude I do feel that the key to business survival in recession is leadership. For example a business that had a bad leadership style during the recession was British Airways where Willie Walsh’s decisions where poor communication amongst the companies stake holders saw strikes and grounded airlines. With the limited flights due to the poor leadership the business has lost a large amount of profits and the costs the company has to pay in order to compensate customers; the company now and is still in problematic times to regain the motivation and reassurance of the customers.

Security Contemporary Issues Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Security Contemporary Issues - Research Paper Example The paper will then explore how the issues affect security operations, make proposals for solving the identified issues, and provide necessary measures for successful implementation. Identified issues One of the major issues that face and threaten organizations’ security is the presence of hackers into private information systems. Hackers can be individuals or groups of people who illegally gain access to organizations’ systems with the ill will of extracting information. Technological revolution that has led to overreliance on technology to process and store information enhances the risk because large volumes of information are electronically compressed and stored in centralized locations in easily portable capacity. This makes it even easier for hackers, if they succeed in gaining access to the source of information, to obtain large volumes of information. Even though access to information can be gained by physically breaking into an organization’s information centre, electronic information, and communication system that is globally linked, only requires security access checks before data can be accessed from any location. Threat to information security by hackers is therefore a major problem that has been facing ever organization (Armonk, 2012). Poor technology for ensuring security against external attacks on an organization’s security is another major issue. Though major security threats have always been known to organization, the major problem has been how to tackle the threats. IBM, a security firm, identifies the use of inappropriate technology as a barrier to controlling security breaches. Either organizations lack the capacity to acquire protective technologies or they do not have the capacity to integrate available technologies to maximize security levels (Armonk, 2012). How the issues relate to and affect security operations The issues have direct relations to security operations. Since the major role of the security depa rtment is to ensure that an organization’s assets are protected, a failure in this role implies failure by the department to meet its responsibilities. While the whole organization bears the loss due to the breach, the security department is the one that is directly held accountable. Consequently, any security breach has great impacts in the operations of the security department in an organization. An immediate impact of a security breach on security operations is an induced need to respond to the breach. This is normally aimed at either stopping the breach, if it is still in progress or developing strategies for identification and elimination of vulnerabilities in the security department (Cisco, 2001). A security breach will also result into launched investigation over the nature and extent of damage caused by the breach. The department must also review the situation for measures of preventing further attacks. Another impact of security beach on the operations of the securit y department is the intrusion into the department’s activities by ‘outsiders’. The information technology department will for instance be involved in security operations. The department, especially after an electronic breach, will have to be invited to make new installations and improvements on technology systems. Law enforcement agencies will similarly be involved in the department’s operations for criminal investigations. Security breaches therefore imply induced

Police Administration Structures in America Essay

Police Administration Structures in America - Essay Example The principle divergence is in the professional ethos. The early reformers had rallied around the military analogy of conducting a "war on crime." Adoption of the new model of administration structure is viewed as a means of improving the image of police officers and carried with it the more "modest" aim of controlling or preventing rather than defeating crime. The police administration structure is old fashioned based on bureaucratic principles and norms. The pervasive effect of task complexity on structure is highlighted by Newborn (2003). The task is viewed as so complex and variable as to require highly skilled professionals who are able to exercise discretion and interact in a collegial manner and collaborate on solutions. The administration structure that prescribe is spatially differentiated to allow informed neighborhood-level problem identification, and hierarchically undifferentiated to facilitate collegial, participative staff interaction, and has little or no structural specialization (either occupational or functional) in police operations so as to further encourage professional responsibility (Riener, 2000). Span of control, for example, ranges from wide to narrow; number of levels of authority ranges from few to many; degree of centralization in decision-making from low to high; and so on, depending on where the organization is on the organic-mechanistic continuum (Newborn, 2003). These organizational structures are more or less appropriate, depending on the nature of the task and the nature of the community. Mechanistic organizations are better suited to routine tasks performed in stable environments, and that organic organizations are more appropriate when the tasks are less routine and the environments less stable (Riener, 2000). First is the view that the bureaucratic model is presently the dominant form or that police administration organizations tend to be too far out on the bureaucratic end of the continuum.

Nuclear Power Plant Safety System Research Paper

Nuclear Power Plant Safety System - Research Paper Example It is for this reason that extreme safety measures are normally adopted in nuclear power plants. The safety measures are normally taken to prevent any leak of the radioactive materials into the environment as a result of accident, breakdown and/or waste (INSAG). This paper therefore, aims at discussing the safety systems present in nuclear power plants’ reactors. The heart of a nuclear power plant is a nuclear reactor. It is in the reactor that those nuclear reactions (nuclear fusion or fission reaction) that produce heat energy (heat energy used to heat steam) take place. Therefore, all nuclear radiations are produced in the reactors as either leaks or wastes. It is for this reason that extreme systems are incorporated in these nuclear reactors. The objectives of nuclear reactor safety systems include: The above objectives of nuclear reactor safety systems are usually accomplished by use of a variety of equipment and machinery. These different equipment and machinery usually perform different specific roles in relation to nuclear power plant (reactor) safety (Nuclear Energy Agency). The safety systems and equipment that are usually available in all nuclear power plants include but not limited to following. In case nuclear reaction in the reactors is needed to be stopped urgently (as in the case of an accident) safety injection system can be used to bring the reaction to a halt. This is usually done by injecting a fluid (liquid) directly into the core of the reactor that usually absorbs the neutrons (INSAG). Basically, for boiling water nuclear reactors, the injecting liquid is usually a boron based solution, for instance boric acid. The boric acid (or any other boron associated liquid) is injected so as to displace water that is in the reactor core.

Utilization Management and Models of Care Research Paper

Utilization Management and Models of Care - Research Paper Example It is also a whole person centered approach that offers a comprehensive care strategies for chronic, acute and end of life care. Finally, the PCHM facilitates the integration and coordination of care thus ensuring that the patients receive the best care and services from their medical neighborhood thus improving quality and safety of the services. Health care facilities that have employed the Chronic Care Model have also been able to achieve their quality and safety goals due to the various beneficial elements inherent in the model. Glasgow, Orleans & Wagner (2001) informs that one of the key ways through which the Chronic Care Model facilitates the achievement of quality and safety goals by coordinating the care delivery process and offering clinical decision support. The model coordinated coordinates decisions and actions of different care givers leading to glycemic control, health care utilization and patient satisfaction. Evidence based decision making is vital in the achievement of safety and quality goals (Coleman, Austin, Brach & Wagner, 2009). The model facilitates the incorporation of evidence based practices into various registries and patient assessment tools thus improving the quality of care offered by the care givers. Shojania, K., Kathryn, M., Grimshaw, J., Sundaram, V., Rushakoff, R. (2006). Effects of quality improvement strategies for type 2 diabetes on glycemic control: a meta-regression analysis.  Journal of the American Medical Association  296(4), 427–440.

The Rise of Venice during the Renaissance because of Trade and Essay

The Rise of Venice during the Renaissance because of Trade and Shipping - Essay Example (Bernstein, 1998, p. 11) The rise of Venice started with the advent of using land route to Northern Europe, when Venetians started to make money by selling salt, which they used to get by dried seawater and fish for their livelihood. This livelihood gradually took the form of profession when by using trading savvy they began trading up the rivers. "With the rise of Byzantium, east-west trade expanded. With this expansion Venetians promoted as middlemen, selling goods from the East to consumers in the West and ultimately appeared as Merchants. Merchants then ran a profitable triangle by exporting timber from Venice to Egypt, then from Egypt they used to export gold to Byzantium and finally bring luxury goods to Venice. As this went round and round, Venice amassed capital and its mercantile fleet grew to be the biggest in the Mediterranean". (Steves Rick) Most of the Venetians who later engaged in trading or shipping were the citizens of those little cities, which were located on the coast of northwestern Europe. The mediaeval shipmen were not permitted to eat any kind of meat except fish. "For those shipmen who lived away from the coast and from the rivers, this meant a diet of eggs or nothing at all. A new discovery was made when early in the thirteenth century a Dutch fisherman explored a way of catching 'herring', a fish that could be transported to distant points. This created another difficulty for those who tried to earn their livelihood this way as that fish could only be caught during a few months each year so, the ships would have been idle during the rest of the time unless they had found another occupation. They were then used to carry the wheat of northern and central Russia to southern and western Europe. On the return voyage they used to bring spices from India, silks, carpets and Oriental rugs from Venice and Genoa to Bruges and Hamburg and Bremen". (2006c) Venetians started their careers as salt-boilers and fishermen, and were dependent on the mainland for the materials of life. There was no seaport in the neighbourhood to send its vessels for the salt which they prepared: they were forced to fetch everything that they required for themselves. They became seamen by necessity: they almost lived upon the water. As their means improved, and as their wants expanded, they bought fields and pastures on the mainland; they extended their commerce, and made long voyages. They learnt in the dock-yards of Constantinople the art of building tall ships; they conquered the pirates of the Adriatic Sea along with the merchants of Syria, Egypt, Barbary, and Spain. Venice Shipbuilding It was in 1320 that the Arsenal became Venice's premier shipbuilding facility at a time when most of Europe had no manufacturing more efficient than the guild system, the slow and tradition-bound way craftsmen had of passing on skills to their sons or apprentices while monopolizing production and sale of craft pieces in a given region. Arsenal at that time served as the shipbuilding centre as a munitions-making industrial powerhouse that allowed the state of Venice to be a world power

Free Speech on college campuses Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Free Speech on college campuses - Essay Example said in his essay On Liberty in Utilitarianism Etc, people, in this case, students should be given the "fullest liberty of professing and discussing, as a matter of ethical conviction, any doctrine, however immoral it might be considered." (Mill, John Stuart, 1910) Voltaire was even more specific on the issue of freedom of speech when he said "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it" (Voltaire 1906). The freedom of speech takes on a more urgent and important role inside the school campus. First, it serves as medium for sharing of ideas and knowledge, second, it facilitates decision-making, and third, it clarifies issues and helps facilitate changes for the better. When students are allowed to freely express themselves, the learning process becomes more dynamic and pro-active. Since everyone is free to present their ideas and challenge the ideas of others, academic discussions become more interesting and liberating. On the other hand, controlling and curtailing the freedom of speech in the campus tends to stifle and kill the natural creativity of the students. Who would want to present their ideas if these ideas will only be subjected to censorship? Yes, it is true that the freedom of speech inside the campus requires a lot of tolerance to nonsense, idiosyncrasy and bad taste but these are just small prices that we all have to pay to make the learning process more dynamic. Beside s, according to the Court in the case of Roth v US 354 US 476 (1957), any person who feels that he or she is maligned by the obscenities uttered by another person has the right to go to Court for redress. When it comes to decision-making, freedom of speech is very important. Note that a decision made in the campus without proper consultation among the concerned students can lead to a lot of protests. A school that makes decisions without really knowing what the students want is putting itself in a very compromising position. If we recall the

How Can the Study of Management Help Students in Their Future Essay

How Can the Study of Management Help Students in Their Future Professional Career - Essay Example agement is undergoing numerous changes, therefore the older principles are being changed with the newer ones and thus nothing tends to remain permanent in the field of the management. The management principles need to be applied according to the requirement of the organisation since they tend to be relative concepts. It is worthy of mentioning that each of the organisation tends to be different in comparison to other because of the timing, place as well as the socio-cultural factors. However, the individuals working in a same organisation may also differ. Therefore, it is vital to apply a particular management principle according to the prevailing condition and context. There has been disagreement regarding whether the management is science or art. It can be stated that management is both science as well as art (Covey, n.d.). Historical and Socio-Cultural Perspectives It is worthy of discussing the ways through which the needs of the management development are being met with the assi stance of the historical views of management. It has been a well known fact that the management institutes that exist today were not in existence until the 1920s and the Second World War. Therefore, it can be understood that the management institutes tend to be at the early stages of development. The establishment of the management schools in the developing countries is a recent phenomenon. In adherence to the well known fact that management is a profession, it was realised that the skills, the knowledge and the capabilities can be gained by a person systematically. However, before realising this fact, on-the-job management was learned. The process of learning was referred to as school of hard knocks. There was a belief that the managers are born and not made. This was evident from the fact... As the essay stresses the management principles need to be applied according to the requirement of the organisation since they tend to be relative concepts. It is worthy of mentioning that each of the organisation tends to be different in comparison to other because of the timing, place as well as the socio-cultural factors. The individuals working in a same organisation may also differ. It is vital to apply a particular management principle according to the prevailing condition and context. From the report it is clear the education for the managers of the future took numerous forms, thus making the system of education complex. After a short period, the emergence of entrepreneurs because of their innovative ideas and efforts were sought. They learnt to manage because of necessity. The approach was suitable and satisfactory in those times. Since the product, market as well as the geography started to grow and diversify, the old ways of recruiting the managers became outdated and thus new ways were stimulated. The best way to recruit the top management was to put them at specialised task a step down, so that they can get an overall knowledge regarding the management. A person may be skilled at one job, however may be weak at others. After a certain period of time the diversification of the businesses gave rise to the new channels of the on-the-job development for managers since the companies were split into divisions.

Sociology and Biological Determinism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Sociology and Biological Determinism - Essay Example Before the hormones were found in the early 1920s, scientists believed that sex differences arose from physiologically active substances - the talented women had high level of masculine genes. If the early 20th century such assumptions were logical, today biological determinism fails both in terms of sociology and biology. Contemporary neuroendocrinologists disagree with the key assumptions of biological determinism and point out that the idea of sex hormones is completely misleading (Miller 2000). The characteristics the society attributed to masculinity and femininity are not reflections of biological processes. Gould noted that the critique of biological determinism is timeless and timely at the same time. It is timeless because biological determinism is based on deep errors. It is timely because the same arguments about biological determinism arise at all times (Gould 1999). The first problem with biological determinism as the explanation of social factors (in particular, differentiating between masculine and feminine features) is the misleading name. Biological concept can refer either to evolutionary psychology (brain being not the learning machine shaped by culture, but having the innate skills and predispositions endowed by natural selection. Further, biological determinism is focused on the large group of people (differences between men and women or between the races). Finally, biological determinism fails to address the question of individual genetic destiny - how much of intelligence are heritable and how much of phobias are shaped by the culture and experiences (Johnson 2002). The idea that we are a mix of nature and nurture would seem to be common sense by now. Beyond the basic support systems - breathing, excreting - human personalities are the product of social existence, arriving courtesy of parents, teachers, peer groups, media, dominant id eologies and cultural norms: the product, in other words, of history, both personal and public. Biological determinism limits the human mind purely to abstract learning machines. Sure, all people share the same body plan and probably might have similar DNA to chimpanzee, however, the human brain is another matter. "Natural selection works to homogenize a species into a standard overall design by concentrating the effective genes--the ones that build well-functioning organs--and winnowing out the ineffective ones. Just as we all have the same physical organs, we have the same mental organs" (Johnson 2002, p. 12). This is most obvious in the case of language, where every neurologically intact child is equipped to acquire any human language; but it is true of other parts of the mind as well. Discarding the blank slate has thrown far more light on the psychological unity of humankind than on any differences. Of course, some of the assumptions underlining the biological determinism theory can be referred to as logical. In particular, men might prove to be on average better mathematician than women, while women prove to be more accomplished at the social interactions. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that biological determinism is based on average assumptions: men on average are more prone to violence than women, but any given woman might well be more violent

How is Global Warming Effecting Hurricanes Essay Example for Free

How is Global Warming Effecting Hurricanes Essay As we all know oceans cover about 70% of the Earths surface and typically the principle component of hydrosphere and contain roughly 97% of the Earths water supply. It plays very important role in the Earths climate by transferring warm as well as cold air and precipitation to coastal regions, where they may be carried inland by winds. The winds give energy to the sea surface that result in ocean currents. The currents carry heat from one location to another, changing the Earths surface temperature patterns and bring in changes in the atmosphere. Hence, ocean has a tremendous affect on climates and visa-versa. The thermohaline circulation of the ocean distributes heat energy between the equatorial and Polar Regions of the earth while other ocean currents do the same between land and water. However, today with the increase in the emissions of greenhouse gases, scientists and environmentalists are equally concerned that the polar ice caps could probably melt and contribute to the increase in ocean level. In recent years global warming is linked by many to the strength and number of hurricane. This is a research paper on a â€Å"CASE ANALYSIS† of a crisis we are facing with global warming and how it is affecting hurricanes. There are several studies that show that in the past years temperature has risen on the globe including the ocean temperature. Incidentally, during these years the number of hurricanes has also risen. This is the basic reason that scientists began to think if the increase in temperature is causing the disaster of hurricanes which need warm water to thrive. A few scientists also think that the temperature increase could also cause a super-hurricanes or the ultimate hurricanes in the U. S. east coast shores. It is predicted that these hurricanes will be more powerful than the once experienced till now (personal. psu. edu, N. D. ). Before we get into the details of how global warming can result in stronger and increasing number of hurricanes, it is important to understand what is global warming. Global Warming Global Warming as the word suggest is an increase of the global average temperature and is also termed as Greenhouse Effect. In general, the greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxides which are responsible to trap heat that has been reflected from the earths surface. Scientific studies provide enough proof that on an average, the global temperature has increased 0. 5 °C over the last 100 years. However, there was a rapid increase in temperature only in the past 10-15 years and has resulted in climate changes (personal. psu. edu, N. D. ). The sea interacts with the atmosphere in two different methods, physically and chemically. The physical way is through the exchange of heat, water, and momentum. More than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by ocean and contains about 97 percent of its surface water and stores huge amounts of energy in the form of heat. Besides, the sea has comparatively large temperature resistance to change. Today, it is understood that the biological and physical performance of the ocean can change rapidly over minute and large areas. It usually decides the timing and models of climate change. When the heat increases over the ocean it escapes to warm the atmosphere and creates temperature variation in the atmosphere which in turn causes winds. As a result, winds move horizontally over the sea surface to drive ocean motion patterns. The variations in temperature and salinity cause vertical ocean currents which makes the warmer, fresher waters flow upwards as colder, denser or saltier water tends to move down. Eventually, a complex flow pattern is created through which the warm surface waters move pole ward where heat escapes fast to outer space, as cold, deep currents are established in the sea depths. Because of this complex ocean circulation movement system, the oceans and atmosphere get together to distribute heat and control climate. As this movement conveys huge amounts of heat and as a result more moderate climates on land areas that are nearer the ocean. It is not surprising to note that man’s increasing needs have simultaneously increased the load of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The burning of fossil fuels releases many harmful pollutants particularly the greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and contributes global warming. Increases of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increases the earth’s temperature and results in malting of glaciers and ice sheets (Meehl, et al. 2005).

Home care division at unilever

Home care division at unilever This report tries to analyse a very important situation the Home Care Division at Unilever found itself during the late 1990s in Brazil. Unilever, with an 81% market share is the market leader in the detergent powder business. This report is based on the findings of project Everyman a market research carried out in Brazil in order to understand the regional divide in terms of the income, culture, consumption pattern or usage of detergent powder between the consumers of North East and the South East areas of the country. The research also takes into account the competitors of Unilever in Brazil and also its sales and performance in the detergent market. And finally a recommendation is made on what would be the best marketing strategy which the company should adopt to penetrate into the largely unexplored low-income consumer segment in the Fabric wash business thereby expanding its market share and also increasing the profitability for the company. The economic recovery of 1995-1996 was beneficial for the low-income consumers, which meant that the purchasing power of the poorest 10% of the population grew by 27% per year during the period. Our main focus remains on the two main regions of Brazil, the Northeast and the Southwest, especially the lower income consumers of Northeast of Brazil. Consumer behaviour is the process individuals or groups go through to select, purchase, use and dispose of goods, services, ideas or experience to satisfy their needs and desires. (Solomon, Marshall, Stuart, Barnes, Mitchell, 2009). The Decision to buy the detergent for a consumer in both the regions NE and SE is Habitual and hence lacks complexity. It is seen that the level of involvement of the consumer in the decision making process is very low. Also, the consumer is well aware of various brands of detergent or laundry soap which are on offer in the market. Moreover, considering the fact that the risk associated with the purchase of the detergent or laundry soap is minimal, the consumer spends lesser time in evaluating or deciding the brand of purchase. There are various influences which affect the ultimate choice of a consumer. In this case, the various categories of influences which are affecting the consumers choice while buying the detergent powder or laundry soap are shown in Figure 1: There are various different ways in which a consumer tends to internalise any available information to make an informed decision. The key internal influences which are affecting the decision making of the consumers are: Perception: It can be defined as the process of selection, organising and interpreting any information in form of sensation. The consumers perceive Omo as an ideal detergent having all the qualities required to fulfil their washing needs. According to the consumers as given in Exhibit 5, an ideal detergent should demonstrate the following qualities or aspects: Power of the detergent (its ability to clean and whiten the clothes with small quantity of product). Smell/Fragrance (Strong, pleasant smell associated with softening power and gentleness to fabric and hands). Ability to remove stains without laundry soap or bleach The ease with which the powder dissolves and absence of residue (consistency and granularity of the powder). Interestingly, the perception regarding the usage of bleach also differs between the women of the Recife Northeast, where majority of the women prefers using bleach after washing clothes to remove tough stains, whereas only 18% of the women in Sao Paulo Southeast prefer doing so. Learning: It can be defined as the change in buyer behaviour caused due to available information or experience. The consumers in general are well aware of the various brands of washing detergents and soaps available in the market. From the data given regarding Brand Knowledge, market penetration and Top of the mind awareness in Exhibit 8 it is evident that the consumer across regions in Brazil have either the knowledge or have seen or used one or all washing products at some point in time. Lifestyle: Reflects the value, tastes and preferences of people depending on their pattern of living which is determined by how they choose to spend their money, time and energy. The way the clothes are washed differs in both regions since the women in NE attach great value and take pride in keeping themselves and their families spotlessly clean whereas the women in SE consider it as daily chores, less important for self-esteem and social status. Another factor influencing the choice of detergent or soap is the number of households which owns washing machine 28% in Northeast and 73% in Southeast. Social Class: The rank or the status of the people or group in the society can be defined as a Social Class. People are considered to be in the same class who either work in same occupations, having similar level of incomes, or share similar tastes. Exhibit 2 highlights the social class composition in the Southeast and the Northeast of Brazil. The divide is evident with more than 45% of the population in Southeast forming the top 3 Tiers (A, B, C) as compared to the Northeast where more than 53% of the total population form the bottom 2 Tiers (E+ E-). This is one of the major reasons for the difference in the consumption pattern of the detergent powder and laundry soaps in both the regions, although the penetration of both detergent powder and the laundry soap is almost the same. Majority of the population in the north-eastern region use a lot more soap and less detergent as compared to their counterparts in the southeast. Another very interesting fact to note is the frequency at which the clothes are being washed in both the regions. The washing of clothes in the Northeast happens more frequently as compared to the Southeast since the low income group of Northeast have fewer clothes to wear. In the year 1996, the detergent powder and the washing soap market in the Northeast of Brazil was worth a whopping $208 million and growing. As shown in Figure 2 there are 3 key players in the fabric wash market in Brazil with Unilever, the market leader with an 81% market share, close behind is PG with a 15% share in the market and the remaining 4% of the market is captured by local Brazilian companies. The market can be broadly classified based on the type of washing products offered. The detergent powder industry which sells around 42,000 tons of washing powder in the Northeast is growing at an exceptional rate of 17% per annum. And the dominance of major multinationals like Unilever and PG has been because of the capital intensive nature of the of the manufacturing process requiring massive manufacturing and RD costs. Following are some of the key players in the market. Unilever: Unilever has been a dominant force in the detergent powder market in the Northeast with a 75% market share. With a 52 % market share Omo is the most popular and the most dominant brand of detergent powder in the Unilever stable. Minerva is the only brand offered by Unilever in both the detergent powder and the laundry soap with a market share of 17% and 19.1% respectively. And finally Campeiro holds 6% of the total detergent powder market. PG: Although PG entered the Brazilian market in 1988, it has come a long way in becoming the second most successful manufacturer with a 15% share in the detergent powder market. The primary reason for this success can be given to the large amount spend on making manufacturing improvements in the businesses acquired by PG to develop better products for the Brazilian market and the RD and marketing expertise is a direct threat to Unilever. Ace is its the flagship brand which has 11% market share, a direct competitor of Omo with features like superior whiteness, dirt removing capability and fabric protection is priced at 2.35/Kg. Followed by the other brands offered by PG viz. Bold competing against Minerva and with focus on softness sells at 2.50/Kg and Pop is an alternative for Campeiro selling at 1.70/Kg together occupies 6% of the detergent powder market. Others: Invicto owned by local Brazilian company ASA with 5% share of the market which competes against Campeiro is sold at 1.70/Kg. The remaining 3 % of the detergent powder market is currently being held by local Brazilian companies. The Laundry soap market in the Northeast of Brazil is equally big as compared to the detergent powder industry with revenues of $ 102 million, selling around 8,125 tons per year; however its growth rate at just 6% is far slower than its rival. Unlike the detergent powder market where Unilever and PG were the dominant forces, this market is being dominated by brands manufactured by local Brazilian companies; surprisingly PG offers no products in this segment. As shown in Exhibit 7 the local companies hold a major chunk 69.6% of the market share (including others and Flora). Bem-te-vi is extremely popular and is positioned with emphasis on traditional and regional values targeting the low income consumers of Northeast holding 11.3% of the market. Minerva which is the only Unilever brand is considered to be one of the best laundry soaps with an impressive total share of 19.1%. Marketing Mix Strategies help in identifying how a companys marketing would accomplish the objectives by using the following factors; It is a strategic planning method used in evaluating the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats involved in a business. The details of the SWOT analysis for Unilever are evident in Figure 4. 5.1 Growth Strategy Unilever fabric wash products enjoy immense respect and recognition across different regions of Brazil due to its diverse range of products, dependable in-house marketing capabilities and excellent advertising campaigns. However, the ignorance and indecisiveness in adopting a strategy to tap in the huge potential of the low income group of Northeast has been an area of concern for the company. The Product-market Growth Matrix in Figure 5 helps us analyse various growth strategies and identify the most suitable strategy the company should follow to expand their current market. New Products Existing Products Product Emphasis New Markets Existing Markets MKT Emphasis Extension of the current entry level brand Campeiro is the most ideal strategy and hence we need to adopt the Product development strategy model. The new product would be rightly called Campeiro Dazzle. We will further analyse and discuss the targeting, segmentation and positioning strategy which Unilever should follow to achieve its goals. The STP strategy in Northeast for Campeiro Dazzle would be influenced by the following variables: Segmentation: Demographic: More than 53% of the population, approximately 26 million in the Northeast lives on less than two minimum wages. Illiteracy rate at 40% is very high. Psychographic: Bleach is very important to remove fat stains. Washing clothes has a symbolic value for the women and they take pride in keeping their family clean. Considered to be one of the pleasurable activities of the week, hence washing in public laundry, river or pond is considered to be an opportunity to meet and chat with friends. Behavioural: Clothes are washed frequently (5 times a week in Recife). Target marketing strategy: Since Omo and Minerva is already targeted towards the High and middle income group respectively, the new Campeiro Dazzle will be focusing on the low income consumer segment in the Northeast using Differentiated targeting strategy. Positioning: Success of Target marketing strategy is contingent on the identification and selection of most appropriate market segment. Keeping the current positioning of the 3 detergents (Omo, Minerva and Campeiro) unchanged; our primary focus would be to strategically position the new Campeiro Dazzle. The ideal positioning of Camperio Dazzle should be such that it falls between Minerva and Campeiro which fits it in the top left quadrant above the perceived Quality and Price index 100. Unilever can establish Campeiro Dazzle as one of its most sought after and affordable BRAND of CHOICE for the low income consumers by developing a Marketing Mix as mentioned below; The most important concern internally at Unilever Brazil is the issue of cannibalisation of existing premium brands like Omo or Minerva due to shift in strategy following the introduction of the new brand extension Campeiro Dazzle. The concern I believe is a legitimate one and if things do go wrong as feared by many, the results could be devastating for Unilever and could tarnish its image as being the best and most dependable, inviting competitors like PG to take maximum advantage of the situation and eat into Unilevers market share across regions in Brazil. The level of income, however, is the key factor which would avoid any such adverse situation since our new brand is targeted at the low income consumers of the northeast and is not positioned to compete against Omo and Minerva which is targeted at the high income and middle income consumers respectively. Extension of the entry level brand Campeiro is justifiable considering the time and cost constraints faced by Unilever. The process of creating and introducing a new brand involves immense RD, marketing advertising and distribution costs and will also take a long time to develop and Unilever cannot afford at this point in time since its main rival PG has the potential and the expertise to capture the massive detergent low income consumer market by either extending or repositioning one of its own existing products. Based on the Segmentation, target marketing, positioning and marketing mix strategies discussed earlier, it is strongly recommended that Unilever follows a quick growth strategy (3 year) to capture maximum market share of the low income consumers in the northeast by getting them to use Campeiro Dazzle. The Bottom-up budgeting technique would be most helpful since the new strategy requires Unilever to spend more on the promotion of Campeiro Dazzle Push strategy in the first 3 years of its introduction. This would be gradually reduced in the fourth and fifth year once the product eats into the market share of the competitors and demand for product increases Pull Strategy. Æ’Â   Push strategy: Unilever can follow the same 70/30 ratio for ATL BTL communication which it does currently. Emphasis should be more on ATL because of its high reach and low cost-per-contact especially TV advertisements hoardings (Knowledge about the availability of the new product). On the other hand BTL techniques like in-store promotions and improved visibility of the product in the small stores. The biggest factor that can contribute to an instant success of Campeiro Dazzle is if Unilever builds confidence in its secondary, small local wholesalers and specialized distributors by running a high incentive/commission through sales programme. This is one primary reason why 0.50 cents/k.g has been earmarked towards promotional cost. Resulting in our products reaching 75,000 small outlets where most of the low income consumers shop. Æ’Å ¸ Pull Strategy: Promotion is one of the most important and inseparable part of the marketing mix. However for Unilever, assuming the success and the overwhelming acceptance of Campeiro Dazzle over the first three years by the low income consumers the promotion strategy would then have to shift to improve the profit margin. This would be a challenge considering the fact that reversal of the distribution channels is difficult. However, increasing demand for Campeiro Dazzle amongst low income consumers due to effectiveness, high brand value and recognition (thanks to a new TV promotion/advertisement by a well known celebrity or a popular music band which would act as a stimulant) will force the retailers to respond to this demand by stocking more Campeiro Dazzle in their stores. Conclusion: The aforementioned analysis clearly indicates that the existing detergent products and the strategy adopted by Unilever to capture the market share and satisfy the needs of the low income consumers hasnt been very successful. Project Everyman, however, has come as a ray of hope for the company helping it understand the enormous potential of this group of consumers. The implementation of the new strategies mentioned in this report would certainly help Unilever to expand its market share and profitability and most importantly help them implement this business model to gain success in other developing economies of the world and immense respect in the industry.

Determination of Gravitational Acceleration

Determination of Gravitational Acceleration Introduction Pendulums can be defined as a body suspended from a fixed support so that it swings freely back and forth under the influence of gravity, commonly used to regulate various devices, especially clocks. Worth (2008) states that pendulums have been used for thousands of years. The ancient Chinese used the pendulum principle to try and help predict earthquakes. Hundreds years ago the famous Italian scientist Galileo was the first European to really study pendulums and he discovered that their regularity could be used for keeping time, leading to the first clocks. Worth (2008) goes on to explain that in 1656, the Dutch inventor and mathematician, Huygens, was the first man to successfully build an accurate clock. It was the first time pendulums were used for humans everyday life. There are four basic laws of a pendulum: Van Albert (1995) explain that firstly the time it takes for a pendulum to complete a swing is related to the square root of the length of string of the pendulum. Secondly the time it takes for the pendulum to swing is related to the square root of the gravitational acceleration. Gravitational acceleration can be defined as the force that attracts objects in space towards each other, and that on the earth pulls them towards the centre of the planet, so that things fall to the ground when they are dropped (Wikipedia 2010). Thirdly the time it takes for the pendulum to swing is not related to the mass and material of the small ball at the end of the pendulum. Finally the time is independent of the greatest distance that a wave provided the greatest distance that a wave is small. The principles of a pendulum can be proven. This experiment is going to show the effect changing gravitational acceleration has on a pendulum, and will determine gravitational acceleration using a simple pendulum Methods Equipment of determination of gravitational acceleration using a simple pendulum A long piece of string A wooden block A small ball A one meter long ruler A protractor Vernier caliper A stop-watch This experiment is talking about determination of gravitational acceleration using a simple pendulum fig 1 was showed that the simple pendulum was used in this experiment. Procedure The long piece of string and the small ball were connected. The small ball was suspended from the wooden block with the long piece of stringÃÆ' ¯Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¼Ãƒâ€¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢such as in figure 1 The length of the long piece of string L was measured using the ruler. Then the diameter of the small ball was measured using the vernier caliper. The long piece of string was not stretched. It was measured to the centre of the small ball. The small ball was raised up about 15 degrees using the protractor, and then released so that oscillations were executed. The time it took for the pendulum to complete a swing T was measured using the stop-watch to time 50 oscillations. Steps 1 to 5 were repeated for five more values of L, and each part was done twice to verify the correct answer. Experiment 1 the length of the long piece of string was measured to 0.4 m Experiment 2 the length of the long piece of string was measured to 0.6 m Experiment 3 the length of the long piece of string was measured to 0.8 m Experiment 4 the length of the long piece of string was measured to 1.0 m Experiment 5 the length of the long piece of string was measured to 1.2 m. Result Calculation Below is a table to show the results recorded from trails 1 to 5. Experiment of determination of gravitational acceleration using a simple pendulum Trail one Trail two The time taken t for 50 oscillation The square of period T The time taken t for 50 oscillation The square of period T Experiment 1 length of string 0.4 m; 64 s 1.64 65 s 1.69 Experiment 2 length of string 0.6 m; 78.6 s 2.47 78.4 s 2.46 Experiment 3 length of string 0.8 m; 90.8 s 3.30 91 s 3.31 Experiment 4 length of string 1.0 m; 101.25 s 4.10 101.2 s 4.09 Experiment 5 length of string 1.2 m 110.7 s 4.90 110.8 s 4.91 The average time was calculated using the formula The square of period T was calculated using T times T. The information in this table can be plotted in a line graph see graph 1. The vertical axis shows that the time takenthe square of period T for 50 oscillation. The horizontal axis shows that the different lengths of the piece of string. The gradient of the line shows the gravitational acceleration. Discussion In this experiment there were controlled variables. Controlled variable can be defined as one which is not allowed to change unpredictably during an experiment Answers Corporation (2010). The first controlled variable was the number of swings. Second was the angle of the swing. The last one is mass of the bob, we all kept their same. In addition, there was one experimental variable. The experimental variable can be defined as some values in experiment we change on purpose. In my experiment, the experimental variable was the length of swings. Error is an experiment word means that mistake, especially one that causes problems or affects the result of some thing. The error can be caused when the small ball was not raised up about 15 degrees, location, the total number of oscillation are not 50. I compared with the data of my classmate, the square period T was proportional to the length of string s. All the points of the graph lie on a straight line so the conclusion is very reliable over this range. It seems likely that the same trend would continue if the string was made longer. I solve the equation and get the acceleration of gravity is 9.78m/s, its not really correct. I think the biggest problem was that the small ball was not raised up about 15 degrees; location and the total number of oscillation are not 50 Conclusion This experiment is talking about determination of gravitational acceleration using a simple pendulum. Firstly I used five steps to finish this experiment first I connected the long piece of string and the small ball. Second I Suspended The small ball from the wooden block with the long piece of stringÃÆ' ¯Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¼Ãƒâ€¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢such as in figure 1. Third I measured the length of the long piece of string L using the ruler and measured the diameter of the small ball using the vernier caliper. Forth I raised up the small ball about 15 degrees using the protractor. Fifth I unclasped the small and using the stop-watch to measure the time it took for the pendulum to complete a swing T. Secondly I made a graph to show my data about this experiment. Thirdly I used these data to calculate the value of gravitational acceleration. Finally I compared my result with my classmate to find mistake In my results, the first two purposes were proving. I measured that the gravitational acceleration is 9.78m/s, it smaller than 9.8m/s. I think one of the most important problem is the total number of oscillation are not 50. Measuring the total number of oscillation about 1.20m is easier than short lengths. Because of the speed of the length is 1.2m is lower than the speed of the length is 0.4m In addition, I think my experiment is good even have some mistake. I will carefully to measure total number of oscillation I am going to try my best to let my data much exact.

Violent Video Games Affect on Youth Today Essay -- essays research pap

In the more recent times it seems as if America’s youth is becoming more violent. Concern for those aspects in our society which influence violent acts has become an issue since the tragedy at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. Many feel one aspect of today’s society affecting our nation’s youth in a negative manner is video games. Is this form of entertainment really a factor in teen violence? I think not. We should blame the parents for teen violence, not video games.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  John Holts article, â€Å"Kinds of Discipline† states that the youth watch very carefully what people around them are doing and want to do the same. The example of these grownups is contagious (490). Now days the media makes it seem like it’s alright for the youth to be watching these violent movies and playing these violent video games as long as they have their parents permission.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For some reason, though, video games are approached differently. Joshua Quittner, author of â€Å"Are Video Games Really so Bad?† states the idea of one’s child controlling an electronic character whose main objective is to steal cars and kill police officers is socially dangerous. Studies have shown that kids do not actually have illusions of doing these things (52). Kids do know that killing is bad. We all have morals implanted genetically; they just need to be strengthened through parental guidance.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Royal Van horn showed in his 1999 article, â€Å"Violence and Video Games,† a large stance on the issue is not one of influencing kids actions. David Grossman, a retired Lieutenant Colonel for the U.S. Army and former professor of psychology at West Point believes it is the desensitization parents should be concerned with. It is not in human nature to kill one another and for this reason soldiers must be trained to shoot on instinct (173). In fact, only one-fifth of all American soldiers in WWII never fired their rifle (Quittner 52). For that reason, simulators similar to video games such as Doom and Quake have been used to train soldiers how to kill without thinking. This may be true, but the simulators used show real soldiers in enemy uniforms, and users are told to take a single head shot at all enemies in the room. Games like Quake and Doom however similar require numerous shots to kill an enemy and do not distinguish between wher... ...g up playing these types of Video games, I have come to realize how much it makes me pay attention to the little details, and work things out quicker.. These types of games can be very helpful for the future generations to use as a learning tool. I believe it is a benefit to our society if we have a generation of youths that are quick problem solvers and have increased hand-eye coordination in this computer based age we are living in now. children sense around them this culture, this network of agreements, customs, habits, and rules binding adults together. They want to understand it and be a part of it (Holt, 490). In conclusion, stop blaming the video games and do something about it. Set a good example for your kids. Works Cited Cesarone, Bernard. â€Å"Video Games and Children.† Emergency Librarian. 22.3: 31-32 Schroeder, Ken. â€Å"Halving Fun.† Education Digest. 63.1: 73-74 Van Horn, Royal. â€Å"Violence and Video Games.† Phi Delta Kappa. 81.2: 173-174 Enders, Deborah. â€Å"Video Violence: Where does the Buck Stop.† Amusement Business. 107.22 (March 20, 1995): 27-28 Quittner, Joshua, and Maryanne Murray Buechner. â€Å"Are Video Games Really so Bad?† Time South Pacific 19. (May 10, 1999): 50-55 Violent Video Games Affect on Youth Today Essay -- essays research pap In the more recent times it seems as if America’s youth is becoming more violent. Concern for those aspects in our society which influence violent acts has become an issue since the tragedy at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. Many feel one aspect of today’s society affecting our nation’s youth in a negative manner is video games. Is this form of entertainment really a factor in teen violence? I think not. We should blame the parents for teen violence, not video games.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  John Holts article, â€Å"Kinds of Discipline† states that the youth watch very carefully what people around them are doing and want to do the same. The example of these grownups is contagious (490). Now days the media makes it seem like it’s alright for the youth to be watching these violent movies and playing these violent video games as long as they have their parents permission.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For some reason, though, video games are approached differently. Joshua Quittner, author of â€Å"Are Video Games Really so Bad?† states the idea of one’s child controlling an electronic character whose main objective is to steal cars and kill police officers is socially dangerous. Studies have shown that kids do not actually have illusions of doing these things (52). Kids do know that killing is bad. We all have morals implanted genetically; they just need to be strengthened through parental guidance.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Royal Van horn showed in his 1999 article, â€Å"Violence and Video Games,† a large stance on the issue is not one of influencing kids actions. David Grossman, a retired Lieutenant Colonel for the U.S. Army and former professor of psychology at West Point believes it is the desensitization parents should be concerned with. It is not in human nature to kill one another and for this reason soldiers must be trained to shoot on instinct (173). In fact, only one-fifth of all American soldiers in WWII never fired their rifle (Quittner 52). For that reason, simulators similar to video games such as Doom and Quake have been used to train soldiers how to kill without thinking. This may be true, but the simulators used show real soldiers in enemy uniforms, and users are told to take a single head shot at all enemies in the room. Games like Quake and Doom however similar require numerous shots to kill an enemy and do not distinguish between wher... ...g up playing these types of Video games, I have come to realize how much it makes me pay attention to the little details, and work things out quicker.. These types of games can be very helpful for the future generations to use as a learning tool. I believe it is a benefit to our society if we have a generation of youths that are quick problem solvers and have increased hand-eye coordination in this computer based age we are living in now. children sense around them this culture, this network of agreements, customs, habits, and rules binding adults together. They want to understand it and be a part of it (Holt, 490). In conclusion, stop blaming the video games and do something about it. Set a good example for your kids. Works Cited Cesarone, Bernard. â€Å"Video Games and Children.† Emergency Librarian. 22.3: 31-32 Schroeder, Ken. â€Å"Halving Fun.† Education Digest. 63.1: 73-74 Van Horn, Royal. â€Å"Violence and Video Games.† Phi Delta Kappa. 81.2: 173-174 Enders, Deborah. â€Å"Video Violence: Where does the Buck Stop.† Amusement Business. 107.22 (March 20, 1995): 27-28 Quittner, Joshua, and Maryanne Murray Buechner. â€Å"Are Video Games Really so Bad?† Time South Pacific 19. (May 10, 1999): 50-55

Exposing Truth in Arthur Millers, Death of a Salesman and Henry David Thoreaus, Walden Pond :: Death Salesman essays

Exposing Truth in Arthur Miller's, Death of a Salesman and Henry David Thoreau's, Walden Pond Poor Willy, the reader bemoans, he just couldn't get his act together. Willy Loman, Death of a Salesman's central character, is one of Arthur Miller's most intriguing personalities. He spends the whole play vacillating between two dreams: his idealistic wish for success and worldly gain, and his unconscious desire for a simple life in the country. This internal conflict results in the destruction of this most unheroic of heros. Miller demonstrates the advantages of simplicity over complex and competitive success. In an earlier era, Henry David Thoreau treated this same theme in his opus work Walden, which recounts his life in the woods. The moral of both works is the same -- how we can transcend mere existence and really live -- but they teach this lesson in very different ways: Walden is an experiment in successful living, whereas Death of a Salesman is an example of living a failure. Examining how Thoreau independently viewed life's meaning in a manner synergetic to Miller's illumi nates the truths that Miller presents in his play. In this process Willy's deterioration transforms into the embodiment of Thoreau's warnings. With beautiful mornings, stunning scenery, and revelry in the simple and exotic banalities of life, Walden is an experience in living. Thoreau's purpose for writing Walden is clearly stated: "As I have said, I do not propose to write an ode to dejection, but to brag as lustily as chanticleer in the morning, standing on his roost, if only to wake my neighbors up" (Thoreau 168). Its purpose is to help us to realize what we are missing in our everyday existence, and rise to our potential. Walden provides an ideal for true and simple living that can be juxtaposed against Willy's artificial and common city life. This contrasting pedagogy is immediately apparent in the settings of the books. Both stories occur in New England, yet in drastically different localities. Walden Pond is a sheltered, wooded chunk of paradise where a philosopher can do his business. Willy's Brooklyn, with its growing population, seems to tighten a choke hold on him as his dreams evaporate. When Willy started raisi ng his family, their spacious home and garden was on the edge of a city full of opportunities, yet as his crisis approached he found that his city was crushing him. The gradual change is a reflection of Willy's choices and their effects.

Cultural Awareness and Competence Essay

Cultural awareness and competence refers to the ability of an individual to postpone judgment and prejudice toward other people based on their religious background, race or ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender, age, and such, and also one’s capability of understanding, accepting, and even adapting to unfamiliar culture, points of view, beliefs, ideologies, traditions, etc. Raising one’s cultural awareness and competence requires allocating time and exerting effort in learning and understanding the concepts of multiculturalism or cultural diversity. For instance, developing specific learning goals and a plan of action is an excellent start to promoting cultural awareness. My desire to raise my cultural awareness of two specific groups, particularly homosexuals and individuals belonging to the black population, require that I set personal learning goals and a plan of action that will guide how I am going to go about the process of learning and understanding culture based on race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. For this particular case, I believe that two of my learning goals should include reviewing the history of the African-American people, particularly the reasons why they are being discriminated upon, as well as the unfamiliar cultural practices and traditions and the meaning and significance that deepens or intensify their culture, and understanding the personal sentiments and emotions of homosexuals in order for me to recognize where they are coming from and be able to empathize with them in the process regarding their unfortunate situation especially when it comes to being judged or discriminated because of their sexual orientation. In order for me to realize the aforementioned learning goals, I plan to conduct research by reading books, magazines, newspaper articles, journal publications, research studies, online articles, and such, about black people and homosexuality. Moreover, I feel that there is a need for me to socialize with individuals belonging to the African-American culture and homosexuals in order for me to obtain first-hand information about their sentiments, experiences, knowledge, and such. I believe that through my willingness and determination to immerse myself into the African-American culture and the world of homosexuality, I will be able to promote cultural awareness simply by being conscious of the issues that they burden themselves with. EXODUS International is an online website that discriminates against homosexuals. It is a religion-based organization that provides assistance for individuals who want to â€Å"leave homosexuality. † The organization subtly reiterates that homosexuality is against the will and the word of God and that â€Å"leaving homosexuality† is a way for individuals to live a better life according to what God wants for His children. Moreover, within the lines of EXODUS International’s mission and objectives, the organization clearly mentions that homosexuals will not be able to live a fulfilling and holy life. (EXODUS International, 2005) The blog â€Å"Stuff White People Like† is an online website that discriminates against African-Americans simply because the site is devoted to discuss issues that generalize on the likes and dislikes of white people. The website lists more than one hundred things that white people like. I believe generalizing and labeling things or situations as something that is true or amenable only for a certain race is close to prejudice and bias since one is limiting these things and situations to a particular race only despite the fact that other individuals from diverse racial backgrounds may share the likes and dislikes of white people. (Stuff White People Like, 2009) I can honestly say that I am non-judgmental or prejudice in any way against any group of people in society depending on their race, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender, and such. I am also proud to say that my parents raised me well. Although my family is American and adheres to Christianity as a religion, we do not judge other people from different racial backgrounds and religions. Because of my parents and family, I was able to understand that people are different from each other, and although we are different, I do not have the right to judge other people because of it. Moreover, I understand that people have different frames of mind or worldviews and we see things and situations differently. Handling the matter only requires respect and acceptance and the understanding of cultural diversity or multiculturalism. Judging from my self-assessment of my cultural awareness and competency, I believe I will be able to uphold moral and ethical principles in my profession, especially with issues that concern multiculturalism. Perhaps the only challenge that I would have to face is how I am going to develop and increase my cultural awareness to cope with multicultural trends and new information. References EXODUS International. (2005). Thinking of Leaving Homosexuality? Retrieved January 7, 2009, from Exodus International. Website: http://exodus. to/help/? option=com_content&task=view&id=327&Itemid=147 Harvey, C. & Alard, M. J. (2008). Understanding and Managing Diversity, 4th Ed. Prentice Hall. Stuff White People Like. (2009). Retrieved January 7, 2009, from Stuff White People Like. Website: http://stuffwhitepeoplelike. com/

College Case Essay

As I near the end of my senior year, I reflect on the events of my life that have molded me into the person I am today. In 2005 my parent’s divorced several weeks after their 13 year anniversary. Only 10 years old at the time, I understood that I had the responsibility to set the example as the eldest child of two younger brothers. Although this was a challenging time for my brothers, being so young and confused, the three of us overcame it together. For a year it was tough to grasp the thought of our parent’s divorce, but we managed to make the best of it from then on. I lived primarily with my mother because of the location and convenience of my school. My brothers lived with my father about 45 minutes away. In the beginning of my 8th grade year in 2008, my mother remarried to a man named Chance, who she had only known for two months. Living with her for 3 years prior, I continued to through her new marriage. My bed was now the living room couch, and privacy was no longer an option. My freshman year was great. I had amazing friends and my grades were exceptional. It was during my sophomore year that things slowly seemed to fall apart. My grades declined, school attendance was unsteady, and socially I drifted from friends and teachers. At times my classmates would wonder why I’d miss so much school or why I couldn’t seem to focus during class. â€Å"I’m just tired,† I always said. â€Å"Don’t worry about me.† On the night of February 12, 2011 I received a call from my mother while staying the weekend at my father’s home in south Kona. Her voice shaky, she stuttered to ask the question I dreaded for 3 years. â€Å"Did Chance ever hurt you?† I said no as she repeated the question once again. â€Å"No† I said. She asked again, except this time she asked, â€Å"Do you promise on your sister?† My sister died of turner syndrom e in 1999. â€Å"I can’t do that mom,† I said, anticipating the consequences of my confession. What happened after that phone call was heart breaking. My very own mother refused to believe what I had told her. She even had the audacity to tell my family there was no way her husband could have done such things and refused to divorce him. From that night forward I lived with my father permanently. Three months after the disclosure I met with a detective in Kona, whom would investigate my case closely. My junior year was beginning and school became an obvious challenge. I continued to stay out of contact with my mother and her husband Chance. I received the support of my family, as well as my school counselor, who became well aware of my situation. It was the end of my junior year now and my mother still did not believe me. August 13, 2012 was my trial date at the Kealakekua courthouse. To my surprise, my mother was in the waiting room. I was very nervous, but knew that sticking to the truth of my story was the right thing to do. My family waited as I entered the courthouse. My prosecuting attorney did her best to prepare me for this day, knowing the difficulty of the process. I did what I had to do, and my parents and nana watched wide eyed as I exited the room. They rushed to my attorney and I awaiting an answer, as she said â€Å"we did it, it’s a true bill.† I was overwhelmed with relief, as I looked to my crying mother. She hugged me, and said â€Å"I’m sorry† as we departed. I knew that wouldn’t be the end of it. There would be more upcoming court dates to settle the sentence during my senior year. For about 3 years a household member was silently abusing me, but I finally found the courage to say something. I found strength in sticking to the truth of my story and never letting disbelievers tell me there will be no justice. From that day forward I promised myself that I would continue to pick myself up, never soaking in self-pity, and achieving my goals. I look back on these events with gratitude, knowing that because of what has happened to me, I will be able to help young, victimized girls by reaching out with open arms and guiding them through their hardships. I am humbled by these experiences and know that I have a purpose in this world to provide support throughout the community. I strive to live life through these values, as my perspective on life has brought me to realize the utmost importance of doing what is right. Sexual, physical, verbal, and all other forms of abuse are unacceptable and inhumane; however there can be justice if one is willing to fight for it. I am Leila-Marie Wong, proof that through strength and perseverance all can be endured.

Business leadership: Skills that Take to be a Good Leader

People often refer to leadership as a skill that a certain person has.   It is a kind of skill in which a particular person can make other people follow him without skepticism.   However, if leadership is â€Å"properly† defined, it is a process of accomplishing things through a person who influences people to work and deliver what it is that is to be delivered.   In addition, since not all goals that are set will be successful, leadership is an adventure.   In reaching goals, the person leading must think of various ways to accomplish all the things that they want to accomplish for there are times that they will fail due to an erroneous decision, or an error on the method or approach that they used.   When they fail, they are back to the starting point and will work on again by analyzing what went wrong and by formulating a new plan minus all the points that caused their failure on their first trial.Nowadays, people should be fully aware of the definition of leaders hip since this is particularly crucial and very prominent in every setting – from school, workplace, government, among others.   However, there are still people who are not familiar about what leadership really is; as said before, it is regarded as a skill that one possess that is why a particular person can make other people follow him of her. Moreover, it is assumed to be a quality or characteristic of a person.   Only a lesser portion of the population knows that leadership is a process that requires several skills and specific qualities from a certain person in order for him to be able to influence the people who works under him towards the achievement of a goal.Anyone can become a leader just as long as they develop the skills that are needed; moreover, anyone can lead even though they are not the president of the country, a coach of the team or a captain of a ship.   In other words, anyone can be a leader when the situation calls for him or her to lead others.   You do not need any badge or a prestigious office in order to be a leader.   However, if you are a leader you are not similar to a boss in every sense.   Bosses are usually known to be the people who always boss others and push people around. In contrast, if you are a good leader, you are not doing these things to the people under you.   Then again, a leader and boss may be synonymous if the latter does things by influencing empowered and effectual people.Leadership can take place anywhere and one particular venue is in the business sector.   In order for a certain business to work and succeed, there should be a number of people who will exert effort and do all the needed actions and tasks.   However, these people will not be able to work in a proper manner without someone who will lead them; otherwise, each would just do everything in his own way.   Business leaders or owner leaders should lead them on the right track on the way to success; he should provide everything that his team or employees will need, and also offer responsibility. The leader’s view of his employees will affect the decisions to be made throughout the process of accomplishing the goals, they should be aware of the responsibilities that they need to fulfill – the kind of responsibilities that employees are expecting to be fulfilled by their leader.A leader in a business establishment, like any other leader, has to deal with two things: the job at hand and the group he should lead.   These two aspects are essential in the process of leading a business entity; if there is a group but there is no job, a leader is not needed. The case is the same if there is a job but there is no group to carry it out.   The leader can also only tell if he led in a right way if they got the job done and, at the same time, the group is still held together.   If the job was done but the group was dissolved, the accomplishment and success are both useless because the leader who to ok charge of the job was not a good leader.   Any person who wants to be a good leader should know that getting the job done is not the only thing that matters.When it comes in being an effective leader in the business sector, one should have the important leadership skills, namely: honesty and integrity, competence and credibility, forward looking and visionary, inspiring and motivating, and good communication skills.   These five sets of skills are very significant in succeeding in any organization, wether the team is within the business arena or not.Honesty – meaning to be true and trustworthy – and integrity – which connotes acting in a just and honorable manner – are very essential skills in being a leader.   Your team should be able to trust you because without trust nothing will be accomplished.   Trust is the key to any effective employer-employee relationship.   In addition, all your actions must be logical and rational, not based on im pulse and sudden outburst of emotion but on the principles that you believe in.   Though being honest, most of the times, cause trials to the person who practices it, it is better to be truthful all the way so that your team will trust and follow you for they will believe that all you will say are true whether those words are positive or not.   For an instance, if an employee delivers an unsatisfactory job, you should tell him in all honesty that you are expecting or needing something more that what he had presented. While the employee may feel bad the criticism may help him do things better, and will contribute to having a quality result in the end.The next set of skills are competence and credibility; competence talks about being appropriate to a certain job or task while credibility refers to being reliable and trustworthy.   If a person wants to be a leader, he or she should be competent to lead other people; he or should have the capacity to influence and convince the tea m about the things to do and the decisions to be made.   Being a leader demands a lot of responsibility and comes with a lot of pressure, a person in order to lead must be able to keep his composure whenever the situation gets out of hand and stressful, otherwise, he, along with the team, will go downhill.In addition, this person should have all the abilities, experience and expertise to lead, these factors will lead to being trustworthy for when the people he or she will lead see that he or she knows what he or she is talking about and he or she has the full grasp of the goal and all the situations then they can trust him to lead them.   Just like when reading a book about new innovations in the medical world, people will only buy and believe it if the person who wrote it is an expert. In as similar vein, a leader should have enough background about the task at hand so that the people will see if he or she definitely knows what he or she is talking about as a subject matter exp ert.Thirdly, a leader should be forward-looking which means he or she should has his or her eyes on the things that might take place in the future, this is a necessity in order for the leader and the team to be prepared and alert of what is to come whenever they make a decision.   The leader should be the first to see the consequences of each of their actions and consequences in order to avoid mistakes and failures; he should evaluate and study every situation and option presented to him or her carefully before choosing and making a final decision.   Additionally, being a visionary is also important, with this characteristic, a leader has a specific and precise vision of what he wants in the future, it is here that the goal is formulated and this vision is what will keep them on track.   If the leader has a vision to have his company the leading business firm in the country, all of his actions, decisions and moves will all be towards this vision, without any kind of vision, th en there is no goal at hand to be achieve; thus, there is no reason to work at all.Subsequently, a leader should be inspiring and motivating.   Inspiration and motivation are two important factors in order to have a drive to work, a leader should inspire and motivate his team to work for the goal they want to achieve.   An effective leader should not only give his or her team the things they have to do but also the reason why they should do them, he or she should provide them the purpose of their tasks and, of course, their goal.   Inspiration and motivation are very important each and every one of us; an athlete cannot get himself to perform his best when he lost his motivation and a writer would not be able to write a bestselling novel without any inspiration.   As a leader, you should remind your team to believe in themselves, this also means that you must have the drive, determination and spirit for these are what you need to motivate them.Last but not the least is that a leader must have good communication skills.   In order to lead, a leader must communicate to his team for that is the only way for him or her to deliver them the instructions, to give them inspiration and motivation, to be honest to them, to convince them that he is credible to lead, and to share to them his vision.   Good communication skills and leadership go on together, if you can be a good communicator, you will be able to express yourself very well, both thoughts and feelings.   You have to establish good and effective communication with your team in order to convey not only words but also meanings.   In addition, if you become an effective communicator, you will be able to project a confident and sincere image that people likes to see in a leader.   You should maintain good communication with your team; otherwise, you and each of your employees will draw into isolation which will bring negative effects on the business because it can cause in making wrong decisions .In the next four or five years, I would want to develop these skills in order to contribute to my success, particularly, honesty and integrity, competence and credibility, and good communication skills.   These three set of skills are, in my opinion, the most essential in becoming an effective leader, for that reason, these are the skills that I will focus on developing in the next four to five years.   Honesty and integrity are very important because it is through these that trust can be build and establish.   Developing honesty is not easy because humans are subject to lie most of the time intentionally and unintentionally due to their nature.One particular reason why we lie is because we do not want others to be hurt that is why we resolve to saying â€Å"white lies†, however, in the business realm, these lies and other kind of lies should be avoided because covering negative things with such will affect the result of the job.   In order for me to develop honesty, I must learn to say truthful things and also learn the proper way to address them especially those negative matters so that people would not be hurt and for them to see for themselves the aspects that they could work on the aspects they should work on.   On the other hand, to develop integrity, I should learn to focus on my principles and be able to control myself in order to act rationally not based on my impulse and sudden emotional outburst.   Through this, I will be able to avoid acting unjust and harsh towards other people.The next competence I want to develop is competence and credibility.   To develop these two, I must gain a lot of experiences in order to expand my competencies and credibility.   I must learn to take responsibility for a lot of things, and to handle different kinds of situation and, as well as, pressure in order for me to be considered as competent.   In addition, I should acquire the necessary qualities and attributes such as charisma, communicat ion skills, confidence, and responsibility to be competent enough to be a leader.   On the contrary, in order to be credible, I need to study the things I need to learn regarding the task at hand, since I am planning to enter business, I must equip myself with the appropriate knowledge on how the business world works and about the certain business I would enter to so that my team will look at me in a way that I perfectly know what I am talking about and what I want to happen.  Lastly, I would want to develop my communication skills because I believe that communication is the most important thing between the relationship of an employer and an employee.   Without good communication skill, I would not be able to convince them to work for me, I would not be able to share them my vision and the plans that I have in order to achieve our goals, and I would not be able to tell them what I have in mind or if they are doing the right thing.   It is only through communication that will I be able to inspire and motivate them to do the things we have to do.   Most relationships fail due to lack of good communication, which is why for me this is the most essential skill in becoming an effective leader.My team should always hear me out in reminding them of our goals and in briefing our plans. Without communication, they would not do the things they have to do and worse, they will just move according to their own way.   If that happens, the job would not be accomplished and the group will not stay intact.   The process of leadership can only be considered a success if the job was done and the group still stays together as a cohesive team.Some of the most influential leaders in the history have all the five important leadership skills, especially the three that I have chosen.   Queen Elizabeth II of the Great Britain held the British monarchy and institution with a steady hand which is why they remained solid throughout the time she was placed in the throne, sh e understood the needs of reforms and even opened her accounts to the public in order for them to see that they are one with the people when it comes to decreasing the costs of their lifestyle.Then there is also Arnold Schwarzenegger who was elected as the governor of California, people may raise their eyebrows or have already raised them when he ran and won the election, but he is a visionary and this was evident on the economic policies that he have imposed on California in order to reduce the effects of global warming, he is also the one responsible in restoring the state’s environment – he have reduced the pollution in air and water, and even restored the habitats for the animals.   All these measures were done for his vision of making California acquire electricity on natural sources like wind, biomass and sun by the year 2020.Likewise is in the case of President Hu Jintao of China, who aims to get through the economic and social tensions rising in the country t hat was brought by the country’s growth for he wants to build a society living in harmony.   He was the one responsible of China’s rapid growth in the international world economically; he also radiates an aura of a knowledgeable, intelligent and confident leader.   Also, if there is anyone who had a lot of pressure and stress in leading, it could be Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City who needed to rebuild the city that never sleeps after the unforgettable nightmare of â€Å"9/11† – this is what competency is about.While in the world of business, Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft from the year 1975, dominated as the world’s most influential business leader.   He has the kind of determination that he used in his leadership that led to the change of the face of programming and information technology.   Dropping out of Harvard University did not seem to become a waste as he is now one of the world’s richest men.   And there is also Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, who is responsible for today’s most hyped gadgets.Being a leader is not impossible for anyone of us, we may be born with the potential leadership skills, and all we have to do is to develop them to become an effective leader. The five sets of skills I have discussed are really important to become an effectual leader.   Leaders should be honest to everyone including himself; he should have integrity, the competencies and credibility to become one. He should provide inspiration and motivation to give his followers the drive to work. He should be forward-looking and should be a visionary to be prepared and focus of the future. Lastly, he should be a good communicator to convey all of these to his team.   Being a political leader or a business leader necessitates all these skills; one may just need to adapt one’s focus as applicable in the setting where one is expected to lead.