Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Analysis Of Thomas Hobbes Leviathan - 1008 Words

English philosopher, Thomas Hobbes’, leviathan consists of three parts. The second part, titled â€Å"Of Commonwealth†, describes a government Hobbes refers to as the â€Å"leviathan†; which is simply defined as â€Å"something that is very large and powerful†. Biblically, â€Å"leviathan† is defined negatively, as a devilish sea monster. On the contrary, Hobbes uses the term to portray his version of the ideal government. Hobbes emphasizes the concept of human nature. He explains that there are both negative and positive natures. People crave power and wealth by nature; but, if people are free to act on these desires, a state can never acquire the protection necessary for peace. Peace, is a positive nature that encourages social contracts. These contracts will inevitably be breached if a government enables its citizens to act on their negative desires. The most essential right of nature is that of self-preservation. Self-preservation, or the abilit y for one to survive, is the core of human nature. Hobbes refers to self-preservation as a natural law that cannot be broken. It is detrimental for one to break this natural law. Hobbes uses this reasoning to describe the structure of leviathan: the artificial body that functions to govern a state. The leviathan’s body is ruled by a sovereign. The sovereign’s purpose is to protect the people from themselves. He enforces the social contract—keeping the peace—by suppressing his subjects’ natural desire for power. The Sovereign uses all the powerShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Thomas Hobbes s Leviathan 1087 Words   |  5 PagesThomas Hobbes (1588 - 1679) is one of the most important philosophers of the modern age. He was associated with the most advanced thinkers of his time, Galileo, Gassendi, and Descartes. He was the first thinker of modernity that, from a psychological and anthropological analysis, attempts to establish the need for the civil state (Collins 2013). This is the subject of his most famous political work Leviathan, which is a compendium of all his philosophical thoughts (Collins 2013). Hobbes makes observationsRead MoreAnalysis Of Thomas Hobbes s The Leviathan Essay1171 Words   |  5 Pagesused natural law to explain the aspects of humanity, it was these men’s ideas who were key to the era of Enlightenment and life beyond it. Born on April 5 1588, Thomas Hobbes came to be known as one of the greatest philosophers in the world. In his most famous work, the Leviathan, he sets forth his ideas on government and law. Thomas Hobbes believed that all humans were born with sin. He believed that all humans were evil, cruel, greedy, and selfish. Even though he thought we were naturally evil,Read MoreAnalysis Of Thomas Hobbes s Leviathan 2457 Words   |  10 Pages Laviathan, Thomas Hobbes most important work and one of the most substantial philosophical texts of the Seventeenth century, was written largely as a response to the political violence and turmoil of England’s civil wars. In Leviathan, Hobbes, using science and reason as a foundation, attempts to create a concrete and methodological solution for peace and political stability. In the context of a historically violent and fear stricken period in which Leviathan was written, it is logicalRead MoreAnalysis Of Thomas Hobbes s Leviathan 1268 Words   |  6 Pagesinterests under a common power. In Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury writes profoundly on the arrangement of legitimate government and the structure of society by calling to attention the constant vying for â€Å"power after power that ceaseth only in death† (Hobbes, 56). Through his depiction of human interactions, Hobbes claims that there is a perpetual longing for ease and protection, knowledge, and fame (Hobbes, 56-57). When desires are conflicting, Hobbes claims that there is fierce competitionRead MoreAnalysis Of Thomas Hobbes s Levia than 1622 Words   |  7 PagesIt could be argued that Thomas Hobbes’s claim in Leviathan that a person has no right to challenge his sovereign’s law or decision is flawed because such judgements should serve public good. Since the sovereign power’s authority to make laws or decisions has its source in its subjects, these judgements should reflect what subjects think to be good or evil, instead of prescribing how people should think. However, this argument does not take into account that although there are cases where people canRead MoreAnalysis Of Thomas Hobbes s Leviathan 1891 Words   |  8 PagesIn his book, Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes writes that human beings’ state of nature is one of constant war. He claims that man’s fundamental natural instinct is that of self-preservation, and that this leads to a violent, â€Å"every man for himself† sort of world in which there are no rules, no morals, and all persons have the freedom to do as th ey please. In other words: our state of nature is anarchy, rampant with chaos and conflict. The only viable alternative to this, Hobbes argues, is voluntary subjectionRead MoreSelf-Interest By Thomas Hobbes Leviathan Analysis1058 Words   |  5 Pagesthey should be. The chapter titled â€Å"Self-Interest† from Thomas Hobbes’ Leviathan is an evaluation of how man is given a problem with a solution connected to the creation of a civil society. He paints a chaotic, undesirable picture of what man’s natural state is before any type of government. This â€Å"state of nature† is described as â€Å"poor, nasty, brutish, and short†(Hobbes 143). It is how man is before any sovereign power is put in place. Hobbes offers a way to save man from this horrific war torn timeRead MoreAnalysis Of Thomas Hobbes s The Book Leviathan 1957 Words   |  8 PagesThomas Hobbes was a 17th century philosopher, who argued that human beings are fundamentally equal by nature, and we infer that humans live under the rule of absolute sovereign. â€Å"From that law of nature by which we are obliged to transfer to another such rights as, being retained, hinder the peace of mankind, there followeth a third, which is this that men perform their covenants made†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Hobbes 89). Hobbes tries to hold back peace, in order to make it seem like everyone is equal. This can createRead MoreAnalysis Of Thomas Hobbes Leviathan And Adam Smith s The Wealth Of Nations1852 Words   |  8 Pages Most important among the many big ideas in Thomas Hobbes’ Leviathan and Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations are those that deal with human nature and how to create and maintain social order. In this paper, I will argue Hobbes’ lack of optimism, and Smith’s lack of pessimism in their theories of human nature, and will also discuss how our idea of social order changes once these aspects are taken into consideration. Hobbes’ theory of human nature begins with the statement that all men are createdRead MoreDo Metaphors Really Matter?1208 Words   |  5 PagesDo metaphors really matter? : An analysis of the use of metaphors in rhetoric Introduction Josà © Ortega y Gasset, a renowned philosopher once wrote: â€Å"The metaphor is probably the most fertile power possessed by man†. Metaphors form a pervasive part of rhetoric, because they have a great influence of our cognitive process. (Pauley, 2014) The use of metaphors in rhetoric is very common; as metaphors have the power to make people act despite the ideologies that are being put forth. In this essay, the

Monday, December 23, 2019

Religious Freedom in the Workplace - 640 Words

The United States is one of the most culturally and religiously diverse countries in the world. The founding fathers of the United States wanted to ensure that its people would have the ability to practice their religion with no threat of persecution. In order to accomplish the goal of religious freedom and continue to ensure that all people of any religion would be free to practice their religion, the United States passed Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that prohibits an employer from discriminating based on the religious views of its employees. As the citizens of the United States spend a large amount of time in their places of employment, religious practices that these employees feel are necessary for the true observance of their religion must be accommodated by the employers. This law contends that in cases where the accommodation of religious practices of its employees does not create undue hardships, an employer must make reasonable accommodations for employees to p ractices the beliefs of their religion. As the demographics of the United States continues to change with more religiously diverse people immigrating to the country, employers are coming under more pressure to ensure they are taking all possible precautions to accommodate the religious practices of its employees. These precautions are important as the once an employee has established a bona fide complaint of religious discrimination, the burden of proof then falls on the employer to prove theyShow MoreRelatedReligious Freedom in the Workplace Essay669 Words   |  3 PagesAtheism is not considered a religion, but a religious belief. One could argue in the workplace that you are not breaking any boundaries. However, if you are forcing religion on someone then a line has been crossed. According to Brierton (1992) he states that, â€Å"the owners of Townley Engineering required all employees to attend weekly nondenominational devotional services. Employees were paid to attend and we re required to sign a statement agreeing to follow all employee handbook policies of whichRead MoreEthics And Ethics Of Religion1574 Words   |  7 PagesIf you pick up a paper or magazine today most of the articles contain topics involving religion in the workplace or religion in the US military. It is hard for any Air Force member to go throughout their career without having to deal with religion in the workplace as a trending topic. â€Å"After entering the 21st century religion in the workplace has impacted not only schools, most major cooperation’s† (Ludolph, R. C., Wolfe, A. A. (2013) , but the United States military across all the branches ofRead MoreMidterm 1 Sample Multiple Choice Questions Essay1260 Words   |  6 Pagesreverse discrimination; d) Women and visible minorities are given equal opportunity in the workplace through programs designed to increase diversity; e) Both (a) and (d); 2. Which of the following protections under the Quebec Charter could be used to argue that Capital punishment (the death penalty) should be declared illegal: a) Every person has the right to life; b) Every person has the right to freedom; c) It is not a reasonable limit on our rights in a free and democratic society; d) We areRead MoreThe Civil Rights Act Of 19641581 Words   |  7 Pages state laws vary greatly in terms of accommodations in the workplace and the protection they provide to employees. These laws may vary greatly from state to state and many extend similar protections to groups that are not covered by federal laws. These rules place significant regulations on how employers can make decisions on hiring and other terms of employment but many factors affect this complex issue. Nepotism occurs in the workplace when employers make decisions based on familial relation andRead MoreThe Rights Of Transgender Teenagers1667 Words   |  7 Pagesmental state it puts teens in (â€Å"#BornPerfect†). This can become a huge problem for teens trying to discover who they are when their parents are against them and openly choose to try and change their children. Many members of the population find religious views on transgenderism to be old fashioned and out of date. Many religions feel that transgenderism is sinful and is the reason for many of the world problems including storms, earthquakes and other disasters (Hall). How do you even reason withRead MoreThe Workplace And The Ethical Issues Of The Civil Rights Act Of 1964 Essay1504 Words   |  7 PagesReligion in the workplace can introduce some of the most challenging concerns employers have to tackle. Solving these issues involves an understanding of the law as well as attempting to balance the business s needs with an employee s desire to practice his or her religion. One of the most controversial conflicts when dealing with religion in the workplace is between an employee s desire to take time off to acknowledge religious days or holidays and the potential reduction in productivity andRead MoreEmployment Law Case Studies968 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Employment Law 1. Human resource dilemma number three regarding Hillsdale bank represents a classic example of religious discrimination. According to the official website of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), religious discrimination involves treating someone unfairly as a result of their religious practices (eeoc.gov/laws). In this example, however, there is a clear religious intolerance present, as clearly Hillsdale bank had no problem representing both Christianity and Judaism byRead MoreThe Act Of Treating Or Considering Or Making A Difference1486 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"all aspect of religious observance and practice, as well as belief, unless an employer demonstrates that he is unable to reasonably accommodate to an employee’s or prospective employee’s religious observance or practice without undue hardship on the conduct of the employer’s business*†. The definition is the guideline to state that employer is prohibited to use religious observ ance or practices against them and they should reasonably accommodate the employee because of the religious practices, withoutRead MoreEssay about The Equal Opportunity Employer Law and Discrimination1511 Words   |  7 Pageswho happened to be Islamic. In that case it is unfair, because not all Islamic religions support killing, and suicide bombing. The first amendment gives everyone the freedom of religion, expression, and speech. However, many individuals are discriminated against in the workplace because of their religious beliefs. If a persons religious beliefs has nothing to do with their work ethic, why is it considered an issue? During, and after 9/11 Muslims became the butt end of all jokes on tonight shows, andRead MoreReligion in the Workplace Essay578 Words   |  3 Pages2013 Week 3 Assignment Rough Draft Religion in the Workplace When one begins to talk about religion, everyone tends to be quite. Religion has and will always be a controversial subject to address. In society today with so many different religions available to practice one should not be attacked or treated differently for their religious beliefs when they enter the workforce. Under the First Amendment, Americans enjoy two freedoms with respect to religion: the right to be free

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Sex’ vs ‘Sexuality Free Essays

Assembling an Understanding of ‘Sex’ Verses ‘Sexuality’ â€Å"Biologists and psychologists who have accepted the doctrine that the only natural function of sex is reproduction have simply ignored the existence of sexual activity which is not reproductive† Alfred Kinsey (The Invention of Sexuality 40) The terms ‘sex’ and ‘sexuality’ have not always had a clear differentiation, but as the study of sexuality (sexology) has continued and become more commonly studied and recognized, these terms have adapted their own definitions. However, each does not have a perfect definition, because people will have their own opinions regarding the terms. The above quote by a historian of sex was interesting to me because it brings up the aspect of biology within the understanding of the terms ‘sex’ and ‘sexuality’. We will write a custom essay sample on Sex’ vs ‘Sexuality or any similar topic only for you Order Now My personal idea, or understanding, is that ‘sex’ constitutes the more biological side— ones physical features, gender, reproduction (‘sex’ is also the abbreviation for sexual intercourse); and the term ‘sexuality’ makes up everything else that surrounds an individual’s definition of their sexual identity, orientation, and feelings. When reading articles online, I came across this quote: â€Å"sexuality is about who or what you are attracted to, not where you put your dick† (bitheway), which I found to be a very blunt but interesting way to think about what constitutes ‘sexuality’. â€Å"Where you put your †¦Ã¢â‚¬  is your personal preference, but that preference is a compilation of the aspects of one’s personal world and how they have come to define and understand their individual inclination. All of the parts that are compiled in order to form ones individual definition are aspects of ‘sexuality’ within our culture. Another page online gives definitions for ‘sex’ and ‘sexuality’ that I have found to be the most clear and complete: Sex refers to whether or not a person is male or female, whether a person has a penis or vagina. Sexuality refers to the total expression of who you are as a human being, your femaleness or your maleness†¦ Your sexuality is an interplay between body image, gender identity, gender role, sexual orientation, eroticism, genitals, intimacy, relationships, and love and affection†¦ includes his or her attitudes, values, knowledge and behaviors. How people express their sexuality is influenced by their families, culture, society, faith and beliefs. (Sex and Sexuality: Understanding the Differences) The influence from all aspects of our lives that guide us to define our sexuality is a major component in sexology. The italicized words in the definition above are some I think are very significant in understanding what constitutes ‘sexuality’. Since the study of sex started to dramatically change, there has been more understanding within so many topics of sexuality, such as gender (roles and variance), marriage and the family, homosexuality, heterosexuality, bisexuality, intersex, trans-gender/sex/vestite, evolution of sexual identities, legal and medical regulation, religious roles/codes, phallocentricism, women’s bodies and health, illegitimacy, â€Å"and the importance of social networks and oppositional sexualities† (The Invention of Sexuality 39). This is only the first week that I have studied sexuality and culture in an educational environment, and after enjoying many sources of new material I have begun to compile my own understanding of ‘sex’ and ‘sexuality’, which is just the beginning of my learning on the subject. One of the most important aspects to take away from these introductory lessons is how grand of a role society and culture have on sexuality. It is so important to be aware of and take into account culture’s influence on sexuality now and within the history of sex. In our US society (and this is a generalization) some vital influences are class, race/ethnicity, gender, age, family history and how one was raised, physical ability, religion and region. Now that I have collected a better understanding of ‘sex’ and ‘sexuality’ as educational terms, I can further my knowledge of everything that makes up sexuality within cultures around the world. Bitheway. Sex Verses Sexuality. Bi The Way: An exploration of Male Bisexuality. 6 May 2008. http://www. bitheway. co. uk/2008/05/06/sex-versus-sexuality/. Sex and Sexuality: Understanding the Differences (Learning Activity). RECAPP 2007-2009. http://www. etr. org/recapp/index. cfm? fuseaction=pages. LearningActivitiesDeta ilPageID=167 The Invention of Sexuality. Sexual Lives: A Reader on the Theories and Realities of Human Sexualities. McGraw-Hill, 2003. How to cite Sex’ vs ‘Sexuality, Essay examples

Friday, December 6, 2019

The New F-Word free essay sample

Pink is for girls; blue is for boys. Dolls and tea sets are for girls. Toy soldiers and sports are for boys. Girls can believe in unicorns and in rainbows—and that one day they themselves will be princesses like in the fairy tales. But can a boy believe any thing alike? No. He can’t believe the same thing. If a girl fiddles with a boy’s plaything, she’s generalized as a tomboy; but a boy who plays with a girl’s toy or dreams the fantasies she believes as realties is a homo. The word itself is so cold†¦hollow†¦and damning that is seems to send you straight to Hell once the word attaches itself to you. Anyone outside the â€Å"norm† is victimized with the word, gays and non-gays alike. When I was younger, I loved playing outside with all the neighborhood boys: playing soccer, laughing, running, riding our bikes. We will write a custom essay sample on The New F-Word or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page But I was never any good at any sport; yet no one seemed to mind. When we’d laugh, we’d laugh together; never at each other. That is until one boy started pointing out my flaws: my clothes, my high-pitched voice, my stupid hairstyle, my stance—my hands almost always on my hips—and my thoughts and ideas. I didn’t mind it at all, at first; until every thing I would do was â€Å"so gay† to him and everyone else that I was always self-conscious around them any time I did any thing or ever spoke. And I’d think at night, restless, am I gay because he said so? Or am I gay because I’m not like all the other boys? Eventually, he called me homo any time we were around each other, and no one bothered to stop him; instead, they’d all laugh even harder than the previous times. It hurt knowing that I once was someone else to these boys that I loved being around; then one word, uttered too easily by any lips, made me a pariah. I was an outcast among my own kind, all because one person decided I wasn’t similar to everyone else enough for his own taste. To them, I wasn’t a homo because I did or did not like boys; I was a homo because I was slightly different—and because he knew well in his mind and heart that â€Å"you’re such a fag† wounds much more than â€Å"you’re so gay†. To society, fags aren’t solely gays; fags encompass a group of people outside the â€Å"norm,† regardless to what degree. I shut all of those boys out of my life. Nonetheless, their ridicule rattles me at times, even though it was years ago since we last hung out together. I’ll admit: I’m scared that I’m a homo not because of who I like, but I’m a fag based on how I look and behave. As for â€Å"happily ever afters†, I dare to dream them, but, I know, some kid somewhere else doesn’t believe in them lest he be labeled a homo.

Friday, November 29, 2019

Anthopleura Essays - Actiniidae, Sea Anemone, Aggregating Anemone

Anthopleura Elegantissima The sea anemones that were collected for the "Clone Specific Segregation in the Sea Anemone Anthopleura elegantissima" experiment were collected by Lisbeth Francis in Pacific Grove, California (Biological Bulletin 1973, 144; 64-72). The topic of Francis's report is the particularity of the constant anemone-free areas dividing contiguous accumulations of these anemones and the connection of these areas to the dispersion and manner of these anemones. In her report Francis describes how she did her experiment and the result of each step. Francis also includes a discussion section where she discusses advantages versus disadvantages of segregated aggregations and organisms that are similar to these sea anemones. Francis first explains the materials and methods. One of the first steps in this section is collecting the anemones. Slowly sliding a spatula under the sea anemones, Francis dislodged them from the immense rocks to which they were attached. At the laboratory they were kept in glass bowls containing water from the sea and were fed periodically, exclusive of experimentation time. In case of any impairments from the collection process, the anemones were kept in these bowls for a few weeks before any of the experiments started. Only the most healthy anemones were used in the experiment. To free the anemones, Francis hit the bowl against a solid surface. To determine the sex of the anemones, they were severed and inspected for sex organs. When their sex organs are fully grown the female's are brownish-pink and they male's are yellowish-white. The anemones that contain one or more sex organs including oocytes or spermatocytes were recorded as having developed sex organs. The anemones were then placed in a drying oven for approximately 18 to 24 hours, so they could be dried to a constant weight. The anemones living in clusters isolated from other clusters were inspected to ascertain whether or not the anemones from each cluster were different. The anemones living in the same cluster, Francis noticed, had identical color patterns. There were other color patterns observed, but they always occurred when the cluster was separated by an anemone-free area. In each of the aggregations observed, Francis noticed that the sex of the anemones was the same. There were either all males living together or all females. None of the aggregations were integrated. Francis's conclusion from this is that since they "reproduce asexually by longitudinal fission" (403), each cluster is a clone and the anemone-free areas divide contiguous clones. From studying how size is related to sexual maturity in sea anemones, Francis drew another conclusion. She states that the more the anemones weigh, the more likely they are to be sexually developed. Francis's next experiment was to try to figure out if the anemones could place themselves into segregated groups. She collected anemones from two clones living beside each other and attached them to a plastic ball with a lead weight inside an aquarium. They were crammed together in five horizontal lines with four animals in each line. The anemones were arranged so that they were all mixed together heterogeneously instead of separated into their two separate groups. Three days later the anemones looked as if they were fairly attached to the ball so Francis removed the pins to let them move around so she could observe what kind of groups they formed. Thirteen days later, four of them had fallen off the ball and the other sixteen had organized themselves back into their segregated groups. They moved around some more after thirteen days, but there was not any connection between the two groups. Francis concluded from this experiment that segregation between clones can be established by the anemones themselves. The next experiment Francis conducted was to discover if the anemones would create anemone-free zones in-between clonal groups if there are no other species of animals and no waves. In this experiment the anemones were collected from two different clones but they were not side-by-side. Francis also kept them in the laboratory for an extended period of time (up to a year). A baking dish was lined with foam plastic and on one side, one clone of anemones was attached with insect pins and the other clone was attached to the other side. Microscope slides were lined up and taped together to prevent any contact between the two clones. Sea water was running into one side of the dish. The flow of the water was changed periodically because the anemones are inclined to move upstream and Francis didn't want the flow of the water to affect her experiment. The insect pins and the microscope slides were

Monday, November 25, 2019

How enzyme ripeness in pineapple affects the setting of gelatine Essays

How enzyme ripeness in pineapple affects the setting of gelatine Essays How enzyme ripeness in pineapple affects the setting of gelatine Paper How enzyme ripeness in pineapple affects the setting of gelatine Paper Gelatine, more commonly known as Jelly, is a substance that consists mainly of collagen, a protein found in animal tendons and skin. The gelatine used for cooking purposes is usually in the form of granules. These granules swell when they are re-hydrated in water, but only fully dissolve in hot water. As this solution cools it sets to a moisture holding gel. This gel forms due to the proteins in gelatine joining to form a web like structure. In Module 1 A-level Biology, we learn about the structure of a protein molecule. A protein molecule is formed when amino acids join together by condensation, forming a peptide bond and water as a bi-product. A chain of many amino acids is known as a polypeptide and a protein can consist of one or more of these. The opposite of condensation is hydrolysis. When hydrolysis occurs a peptide bond is broken and water is used up in the reaction. There are specific enzymes called proteases (Module 2), which can be found in fruits such as pineapple, that speed up the hydrolysis reaction that breaks down protein molecules. From research I have found that it is a protease called bromelain found in pineapple, which in the scenario is preventing the gelatine from setting by breaking up the proteins forming the web like structure. It is also in Module 1 that we learn how enzymes perform such tasks, and the conditions that best suit them. Enzymes are proteins which act as catalysts. They have a tertiary structure that provides them with an active site; a groove in the enzyme surface that combines precisely with a substrate of a specific shape and charge. The lock and key hypothesis states that the substrate binds to the active site to form an enzyme substrate complex. The substrate is then altered to form the product of the reaction and is released from the active site. The induced fit hypothesis is a more recent theory which suggests that the active site actually changes shape to mould itself to the substrate. The tertiary structure of enzymes also causes them to be sensitive to temperature and pH, and an enzyme will denature in extremes of these conditions. When an enzyme denatures it is no longer functional because the active site has changed shape and consequently the substrate molecule will not be able to combine with the enzyme. Increasing the temperature gives molecules more kinetic energy, so they collide more frequently and the rate increases. This is also true for enzymes up to a certain point: the optimum temperature. Above this temperature, enzymes vibrate so much that their structure is damaged and the active site altered. A change in pH disrupts the charges; consequently the active site cannot bind to the substrate. Plants produce fruit to acts as a delivery system for seeds. Fruit consist of carbohydrates that make them taste sweet (Module 1), providing attractive food for animals, which will help aid the dispersion of the seeds. Ageing of fruit is known as ripening, and this process is designed to stop animals from eating the fruit before the seeds are fully developed. When under-ripe, pineapples would not be appealing to animals because they are green in colour, tough to eat and acidic. There are enzymes responsible for the ripening of fruit which break down the starch content to produce more sweet sugars and make the fruit softer, making it more edible. Therefore, altering the conditions which effect enzyme rate of reaction, will effect how quickly a pineapple will ripen. Other enzyme activity increases in the fruit during ripening, due to certain hormones (such as ethylene). Applying this rule to pineapple: the bromelain enzyme activity will increase as the pineapple ripens. If I were to put a pineapple in cold conditions, this would slow down the ripening process because the enzymes responsible would have less kinetic energy, and I am therefore indirectly reducing the activity of bromelain. In this investigation scenario, when under-ripe pineapple was used in jelly, it set better than when ripe pineapple was used. Taking in to consideration the information I have found out above, I propose that this could have occurred due to a protease enzyme that breaks down the protein in the jelly, which is more active in the ripe pineapple than the under ripe pineapple. I will now plan a full investigation to prove my proposal by testing pineapples at different stages of ripeness. I will place one pineapple (A) in a freezer for two weeks to stop the ripening process. Another pineapple (B) will be placed in a freezer for one week and kept at room temperature for the second week. The third pineapple (C) will be kept at room temperature for two weeks. I will make sure that any pineapples kept at room temperature will not be placed near a window or radiator where the temperature may fluctuate. The pineapples in the freezer will be kept on the same shelf as each other. I will take the pineapples out of the freezer and place the in the fridge 24 hours before the experiment, to make sure they are all the same temperature at the start. Method I will prepare the jelly, according to instructions on the packet. I will then pour it in to four petri dishes and put it in the fridge to set. Before pouring the jelly in to the dish, I will measure 3/4 of the way up of the dish and make a mark. This mark is where I will pour the jelly up to to make sure that there is the same amount of jelly, which reaches the same height in each dish. To prepare the pineapple, I will remove the top and bottom, stand vertically and remove the skin, cut in to quarters and remove the core. I will not use the core because this is not usually eaten so does not apply to the scenario where the pineapple was being used in food. I will be as consistent as possible with each pineapple to make sure that I am using the same type of tissue. I will then place the quarters in the blender for ten seconds and place in a labelled beaker (labelled A, B or C). Blending the pineapple will break walls of the pineapple tissue, meaning that the enzymes will be more exposed and take effect more quickly than if the pineapple had not been blended. (To take place as soon as possible after step 2) I will take the petri dishes out of the fridge and with a borer make three holes, as far away from each other as possible in the jelly of each of the dishes. I will label the dishes A, B, and C, and measure the diameter of each of the holes made by the borer with a ruler. I will number each of the holes by writing the number on the lid and placing it underneath the dish with numbers in the same place as the corresponding hole. I will use a pipette to place the pineapple pulp in to the holes. Each type of pineapple will be in its own, labelled petri dish. One of the petri dishes will not have any pineapple put in it, and will be used as a control. I will then put the petri dishes back in the fridge and leave them there for seven days. This is enough time for the enzyme, of even the ripest pineapple to take effect. Any longer than this, and the liquefied gel from each hole may join up, making it difficult to take measurements. Putting the dishes back in the fridge will prevent any bacteria or foreign bodies attaching to the jelly which could effect the results. I will start the timer the minute that I have placed the pineapple into the holes, and have a different timer for each petri dish so I know they have had exactly the same amount of time in the fridge. After every 24 hours, I will remove them from the fridge again. From research I have done, I have found that enzymes in the pineapple will turn the gelatine from a gel to a liquid. I will measure the diameter of the area that is liquid and record my results in a table as below.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Leadership and Supervision Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Leadership and Supervision - Research Paper Example From the discussion it is clear that the University of Houston tailored the course under the name Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership and Supervision (OLS) but the University of South Carolina offers the course under the name Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership.   In the University of the South Carolina (USC), the course markets itself in the community as basing on the Human side of commerce management process. It provides Organizational leadership for people in various industries focusing on encouraging and motivating employees in execution and implementation of the organizational change. These two courses are vital in the development of the management personnel in the in the oil and gas industry thus enhancing profitability, maximizing outputs and creating standard operational mechanisms.This paper highlights that  the USC leadership degree aims at enhancing human leadership through motivation of the employees and facilitation of organizational change. In contrast, HUOLS aims at availing trainees or students with a competitive edge while undertaking leadership and enhanced supervisory responsibilities, especially in technology grounded  Ã‚   organizations. The HUOLS degree deals with the consistently growing and changing complex of engaged leadership in various organizations that mostly base on relying on technology on the daily basis. HUOLS degree is characterized by the provision of empowering approach to the practice to leaders in various firms.  Ã‚  

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Competition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Competition - Essay Example Competition can serve as a driving force that motivates children to work harder. In a school setting, competition can be a driving force towards better performance. When children recognize that they have rivals at a similar level, they face the compulsion of moving beyond their comfort zone. If there were no rivals, children would remain in their comfort zone without any additional efforts. For this reason, teachers should promote healthy competition within the school setting. In sports, competition can help children improve their talent and become more successful. When children are aware that there is always a winner in sports, they are more likely to nurture their talent. In addition, competition in sports makes children more excited a factor that makes them look forward to participating. Many children who have won in sports recognize the value of hard work and are willing to exert more efforts in other sectors of their lives. In different games, children require competition so that they may find the find the games exciting. Competition in games introduces children to the realities of life, which is defined by different levels of competition. Games that do not encourage competition are less thrilling for children. Many children prefer games that have a winner so that they can have more fun. Introducing children to competition helps them learn how to address losing, which is a common aspect of life. For this reason, healthy competition should be promoted in different aspects of children’s

Monday, November 18, 2019

Making reference to appropriate theories and using examples from Essay

Making reference to appropriate theories and using examples from organisation(s) of your choice, evaluate on the role of the HR - Essay Example The HR function is therefore mandatory to have because this shall makes the lives of the employees easier and they would know who to contact in case of a problem or query that arises within their realms. This paper shall discuss the basis of the HR function and how this helps shape up the line managers within an organization in this day and age. Moving ahead with the discussion, the organization’s HR department has a huge role to play whilst dictating the organizational culture to the employees, both old and new. It makes new laws and amends the old ones in order to have uniformity within the norms and procedures that are applicable at the workplace domains (Taylor, 1999). It is important to ascertain the exact gravity of these procedures in order to have a complete mesh between the already accepted norms and behaviors coming directly under the aegis of the HR department, as well as the ones which are being chalked up by the HR department for the sake of the entire organizatio n (Boddy, 2005). It is quintessential that the organization’s HR department clearly understands its role because then only would it be able to decipher the purpose of having a sound organizational culture. ... Furthermore, it is important that the HR department inculcates feelings of oneness and understanding within the contexts of the organization itself. What is needed now is a good measure on the part of the employees to have a proper feel of the cultural manifestations and representations at the workplace. Without this, there could be serious issues arising every now and then (Lee, 2004). An adequately sound organizational culture will bring out sound results on the part of the organization as the employees would very easily relate with the actions and behaviors that are asked of them by the organization courtesy the HR department. Also the HR department could issue circulars and conduct training sessions and seminars in order to properly detail the employees as to how they would go about doing their respective work regimes, keeping in line with the prevalent organizational culture, the values that are taught and the different representations which are usually practiced from time to ti me (Egan, 2001). The HR department within Wal-Mart makes sure that its employees develop an organizational culture where feelings and sentiments could be shared about in a mutual manner. This is the reason why Wal-Mart is renowned for its sophisticated organizational culture developed from the HR domains, all over the world. There is a very significant need to be on board as far as the understanding of the organizational values and principles is concerned. The organizational culture takes all these elements in due consideration and thus provides for a more advanced understanding of all such facets. It is the duty of the HR department to be

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Leadership Performance Of Marks and Spencer And Tesco

Leadership Performance Of Marks and Spencer And Tesco Leadership is the process of influencing other people to accomplish an objective and direct them, as individual or as a group, which makes it more cohesive and coherent. Kurt Lewin (1939) led a group of researchers to identify different styles of leadership. Authoritarian or Autocratic This management style is used when manager or leader sets objectives and tells employees what to be done, how it is to be accomplished without getting any advice or feedback from them and strongly encourages obedience. In this case the group becomes dependent on the leader which often leads to frustration with the management often resulting in high supervision, micro-management, and loss of cohesion. This style should be used only on rare occasions like on a new employee who has just started the job. A dynamic leader would prefer this style of management when he has all the information to deal with the problems, he is running short of time and his employers are well motivated. Illustration by Author Participative or Democratic As the name suggests this style encourages the participation of staff and employees in the decision making process. Being asked for their ideas makes employees feel they are important part of the organisation and encourages them to put in extra effort. The final decision of making authority rests with the leader. This style of management is a positive sign of strength and trust which will make employees respect you. Dynamic leader will use this management style when he only has part of information and needs input from his employees. Leader might know more than most of his employees but still he does not know everything and that is the reason for employing experienced and skilful people to help him. Delegative or Laissez-faire In this management style the leader allows employees to make the decisions freely within broad limits. This results in relaxed atmosphere as there are very few guidelines to adhere to which may lead to lack of motivation and low productivity. This style is to be used when the employees are capable of analysing the problems and are experienced enough to know what is to be done and how. This style should not be used as a tool to blame others when things go wrong. The best leader is the one who does not follow one particular style but tries to achieve a balance between these three styles depending upon the situation. Leadership And Change Management The most important factor during the process of change is the ability, competence and skill of leader to manage the whole process. Kurt Lewin identified stages of change viz. unfreeze, transition, and refreeze (Strategies for managing change). Refreeze Transition Unfreeze Illustration by Author Unfreeze or Preparation For The Change What we mean by preparing for change is creating the right environment, preparing resources and processes that might take place in future. Just like a healthy individual is more capable of coping with diseases and infections similarly a well prepared organisation is in better position to cope with effects of changes. The leadership will play an important role by means of sensible planning and decision making abilities. Transition or Implementation Process This is the middle period from the announcement of the change complete to the successful installation of the change. This is the most critical point during the change process marked by the instability, lack of direction and low motivation of employees due to fear of their instable future. An effective leadership during this period will be focused on helping employees understand the future direction of the organisation after change and secondly by making the change meaningful. People will go to extraordinary length for causes they believe in and a powerful leader will convince the employees on the importance of change to get maximum out of them. Refreeze Or Conclusion Of The Change Process This is the period that comes after the initial phases of instability and insecurity, which has now subsided and due to effective role of leadership the employees have become more focused towards the new direction of the organisation. An efficient leadership will during this process work towards improving the work life of the employees and assuring them about the positive direction that the organisation is moving in. Strategies And Policies At MS And Tesco The major general strategy available to leaders of all major organisation including Tesco and MS is that they either choose to be the lowest cost retailer and become market leader or differentiate products and services so that it is valued by customers to the extent that they are willing to pay a premium price. When it comes to MS in their core products (food and clothing), they attempt to achieve differentiation from others. Tesco on the other hand has focused to attract more customers by being low cost retailer. Both Tesco and MS are most successful organisation in UK and both of them consider training and development of their employees as very crucial for their business. Training and development forms important part of organisational strategy of Tesco and MS mostly because their success has been characterised by their expansion. Moreover to ensure that they remain ahead of competition they place high importance on training and development. Management realized that there is no better way to achieve this rather than through the use of training and development. (Paisley, 1999). The initiative of Lead to succeed by the MS leadership is an example of the importance they attach to identify and train future leaders. This programme is being heralded as the flagship development programme and is considered to be a key component in its future people strategy. (Verity Gough, training zone,08/11/2010) Tescos slogan every little helps which shows their commitment to reduce prices and increase customer service is now used in their staff training as well. Tescos leadership believes that any intervention by them will lead to an increase in the knowledge and expertise of their workforce. In 2007 when Sir Stuart Rose, was leading MS he announced a policy document to strengthen the green credentials of MS. According to the policy document presented by Sir Stuart Rose MS would commit to a range of actions at the cost of  £200 million over the period of next five years. The aim of this hundred-point five year plan was to reengineer the companys activities to meet a range of socially responsible goals including ethical trading, health promotion products, sustainable sourcing, and carbon neutrality thus making MS green leader in retail market. This initiative by Sir Stuart Rose was widely seen as an example of creative leadership skill. (Leaders We Deserve,2008). Again in April 2007 there was an episode which presented a leadership dilemma for Sir Stuart Rose. Bryan Ferry who was at that time modelling clothes for MS was embroiled in a controversy regarding his admiration for Nazi iconography. Following Ferrys apology over the matter MS distanced itself from singer and officially released a statement that it did not give its opinions on views that were expressed by people in other situations and refused to comment further on this issue. (Leaders We Deserve,2007). Present chief executive of MS is Marc Bolland. He served as chief executive of supermarket chain Wm Morrison and beat MSs internal candidates to bag this post in 2009. In November 2010, he announced a large number of changes to the policy and strategies followed by his predecessor Sir Stuart Rose by stating that MSs goal is now to become an international retailer. In a multibillion pound revamp he announced scaling back of his predecessor plans of retailing various branded groceries like Marmite and Coca Cola and also axing portfolio fashion-for-fifty somethings. He also planned to open more simply food stores less than two years after Sir Stuart close 25 of them, scrapping retailing of household gadgets like TVs and iPods. He also announced plans to spend  £300 million a year for next three years on revamping UK stores which recently under Sir Stuart had  £3bn makeover. Bolland used expertise of management consultants from McKinsey to come up with this grand plan. His research picked that among other things the customers struggled to navigate MS stores( he tested 30 colleagues to find five items in one hour, only eight succeeded), customer had problems understanding in-house brands like Per Una, Limited and Autograph, and that only one in five shopped in homewares department -thereby making sales improvement in that area key focus. During this analysis he also talked to surviving members of the founding families of MS and concluded that MS should do things that other brands dont do. In 2008 MS annual profits reached a  £1bn but due to recession it was down to  £700m. New leadership has not made any promises but Mr. Bolland is confident of his plans. (guardian.co.uk, 2010). Tesco, before Sir Terry Leahy took control, was just a market follower with the strategy catch-up. It was Sir Terry Leahy who directed Tesco towards leading through market knowledge and in process making it largest in the UK. He transformed Tesco into a customer-centric organisation. His strategies including diversification into non-food retail moves into clothing, banking, and its international expansion helped Tesco become the biggest and most profitable in the UK. He was responsible for the Tesco Clubcard. It was because of his successful strategies and policies that he was voted most admired leader eight times in the past decade. Recent announcement that Sir Terry Leahy will step down saw Tesco shares drop by 2.4% this gives an idea of importance of Sir Terry Leahy to Tesco as an organisation. He will be succeeded by Philip Clarke who will be brining his own brand of leadership. In case of Tesco this change may have various implications as at the end of such a long and successful tenure of Sir Terry Leahy its not just the investors who are liable to anxiety. He was strongly associated with Tesco brand so effective succession planning will be critical and its going to be tricky for his successor. Board members who missed this top position will be major problem for Philip.( Personneltoday, Beth Holmes, June 2010). There are various situations where the leadership skills of Tescos management have played a significant role in overcoming hurdles. One such incident can be recalled in their joint venture case in 1999. At that same time the French hypermarket named Carrefour had tried to enter Korean markets but it failed miserably. However, in the same year Tesco entered into a joint venture with Samsung under the name of Samsung Tesco Homeplus. The Korean population have preference for local supermarkets chains. This fact was ignored by Carrefour but Tescos management took this localization factor seriously and tried to give this joint venture a local outlook resulting in its success. This joint venture faced difficulty in 1999 just after the merger. The main reason behind this was the low morale of the employees because of various cultural differences arising out of the merger. However to avoid the mistakes which resulted in Carrefours failure and to tackle this issue the leaders at Tescos and Sa msung started the Shinbaration task force initiative. This initiative went a long way in balancing out the major differences between the work forces of these two organisations. As a result of this positive approach of Tesco leadership it was able to get a strong foothold in Korean markets and had recently announced it expansion plans by opening eight additional outlets in the country (ISN, March 2010). CONCLUSION Thus we note that the tremendous success of both MS and Tesco can be to a large extent attributed to the effective and competent leadership skills demonstrated by their leaders whether be it in terms of dealing with their competitor, changing business environments, or internal troubles. The new leadership of both these organisations has so far been able to cope well with the handover process.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Credit and Collection Corporation :: essays research papers

Case Study: Credit and Collection Corporation Credit and Collection Corporation (CCC) is looking to offer stocks to a group of private investors. CCC manages and collects accounts receivables for three different types of customers. CCC uses a local CPA firm to prepare and given an opinion on its financial statements. To improve the favorability of the equity offer CCC has determined it needs an opinion on its financial statements from one of the Big Six CPA firms. The first type of accounts receivable CCC purchases are delinquent accounts. CCC reviews a company’s delinquent accounts receivables, removes problem and bankrupt accounts from the list and then assumes collection responsibility for the collection for a management fee of 30 percent. The second type of accounts receivables are current and delinquent accounts receivable. CCC reviews a company’s accounts receivables then pays the company 95 percent of the value of the receivables selected. Any uncollectible accounts are exchanged with the company for new receivables or are purchased back from CCC by the company. The third type of account receivables are payments due to hospitals, clinics and doctors from third party payers. CCC reviews the accounts receivables to determine the amount that the third party payer will actually be paying. The provider is then paid 95 percent of the determined value and CCC collects from the third party payor. For each type of accounts receivab le CCC generates dun letters and does follow-up collection calls. The first Big Six CPA firm spend several days interviewing CCC personnel and studying the financial data. The CPA firm determined they has serious reservations about revenue recognition. The CPA firm stated CCC was in the collections business and should recognize revenue only after accounts had been collected. The firm based its findings on concept statement number 5. Concept statement number 5 states an item must meet the definition of a financial statement element, the item must have a relevant attribute measurable with sufficient reliability, the item must contain information capable of marking a difference in user decisions, and the information must be verifiable, representationally faithful and neutral. Therefore, revenue should be recognized when realizable and earned. The firm compared CCC’s business to â€Å"real estate accounting rules required the deferral of revenue from a real estate sale, so long as the seller had any continuing involvement with the development o f the property sold.†(Corporate, 99) The firm did not think CCC earned its revenue until after it had sent out the dun letters, made the follow up calls and collected on the account.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Klemens Von Metternich

KLEMENS VON METTERNICH Statesman; born at Coblenz, 15 May, 1773; died at Vienna, 11 June, 1859; son of Count Georg, Austrian envoy of the Court of Vienna at Coblenz, and Maria Beatrix, nee Countess von Kageneck. He studied philosophy at the University of Strasburg, and law and diplomacy at Mainz. A journey to England completed his education. Metternich began his public career in 1801 as Austrian ambassador to the Court of Dresden. Though he had for several years prepared himself for a diplomatic career, he was especially fortunate in being immediately appointed to so prominent a position.Only two years later he was made ambassador to Berlin. The emperor considered it very important to have a minister at Berlin who could gain the favour of the Court and the principal Prussian statesmen, and who knew how to combine â€Å"great powers of observation with a moderate and agreeable manner†. Metternich had already proved that he possessed these qualities. Napoleon was then emperor wi th the new empire at the zenith of its power. The Emperor Francis needed his ablest ambassador at Napoleon's Court, and in May, 1806, he sent Metternich to Paris.Metternich found himself in the difficult position of representing Austria in the face of the overweening threats and ambitious plans of Napoleon at the height of his power. He did so with dignity and firmness, as his report of his important audience with Napoleon on 15 August, 1808, shows. The year 1809 is marked by the great war between Austria and France. The German States were called upon to join her, but only the Tyrol responded. On 13 May Vienna was besieged by the French, but eight days later Napoleon was defeated by the Archduke Charles at Aspern.Metternich, treated as a prisoner of state by Napoleon, was finally released in July in exchange for members of the French embassy. After the battle of Wagram Austria's position was hopeless. Its army was cut off from Hungary and compelled to retreat to Moravia and Bohemia. A great statesman was needed to save the situation. On 4 August the Emperor Francis appointed Metternich as minister of state to confer with Napoleon, and on 8 October, minister of the imperial house and of foreign affairs.By the treaty of Schonbrunn (14 October), Austria was greatly reduced in size, and reached the greatest depths of its humiliation. But the moment of its degradation saw the beginning of its rise. The two-headed eagle soared to the loftiest heights, and it was Metternich who gave it the strength for its flight. For nearly forty years he directed Austria's policy. His first concern was to establish tolerable relations with the French Emperor. Napoleon desired by means of a new marriage to ally himself with one of the old European dynasties in the hope to raise himself and to provide an heir for the imperial throne.He obtained a divorce from Josephine Beauharnais, and through the mediation of Metternich married Maria Louise, daughter of the Emperor Frances of Austri a. Though at present it seems to become more and more probable that Napoleon's union with Josephine was a valid marriage, nevertheless it is certain that when Napoleon wedded Maria Louise (11 March, 1810) the Court of Vienna and the Papal Curia were absolutely convinced of the unlawfulness of Napoleon's first alliance. Napoleon's connexion with the imperial family of Austria had no influence on politics.Fate led the French Emperor, after ruining so many others, to ruin himself. At Schonbrunn he pronounced the temporal sovereignty of the Roman See to be at an end, and in reply to the pope's excommunication he remarked: â€Å"This will not cause the arms to drop from the hands of my grenadiers. † Although he imprisoned the pope, in the Russian campaign on the Beresina the arms did drop from the frozen hands of his grenadiers. As the crisis approached the decision lay with Austria. From a quarter past eleven in the morning until half past eight in the evening Metternich was clos eted with Napoleon (Dresden, 26 June, 1813). Our conference consisted of the strangest farrago of heterogeneous subjects, characterized now by extreme friendliness, now by the most violent outbursts of fury†. Napoleon raged, threatened, and leaped up like a chafed lion. Metternich remained calm. Napoleon let his hat, which he was holding under his arm, drop to the floor. Metternich did not stoop to pick it up. The emperor also tried persuasion. â€Å"Your sovereigns†, he said, â€Å"who were born to their thrones cannot comprehend the feelings that move me.To them it is nothing to return to their capitals defeated. But I am a soldier. I need honour and glory. I cannot reappear among my people devoid of prestige. I must remain great, admired, covered with glory. † For that reason, he said, he could not accept the proposed conditions of peace. Metternich replied, â€Å"But when will this condition of things cease, in which defeat and victory are alike reasons for continuing these dismal wars? If victorious, you insist upon the fruits of your victory; if defeated, you are determined to rise again. Napoleon made various offers for Austria's neutrality, but Metternich declined all bargaining, and Napoleon's oft-repeated threat, â€Å"We shall meet in Vienna†, was his farewell to Metternich. Metternich gave the signal for war, and Schwarzenberg led the decisive battle of Leipzig. The Emperor Francis raised his â€Å"beloved Count Metternich† to the rank of Austrian prince. â€Å"Your able efforts in conducting the department with which I entrusted you in difficult times are now, at a moment highly decisive in the world's destiny, happily crowned with success. Metternich reached the height of his power and renown at the Congress of Vienna (1814-1815). No idea can be had of the difficulty of the problems that were to be solved. The very first conference of the representatives of the powers previously allied against France (Austria, Prussia, Russia, and England), held on 19 September, 1814, at Metternich's villa on the Rennweg, ended in a discord over the Polish question. It constantly required all of Metternich's most brilliant qualities to preserve harmony. One of his favourite means was to provide festivities of all sorts.They have often been criticized as if they had been the object of the congress, and not a means to attain its ends. Metternich succeeded finally in bridging over every difficulty. The Emperor Francis expressed his satisfaction with Metternich's services in securing peace and order in Europe, and especially in restoring to Austria its ancient pre-eminence. The rearrangement of German and Italian affairs gave but little satisfaction to either side, but henceforth Metternich was the leading statesman of Europe.For the settlement of questions still pending and other difficulties that arose, the following congresses were held: Aix-la-Chapelle, 1818; Karlsbad (a conference of ministers), 1819; Vi enna, 1820; Troppau, 1820; Laibach, 1821; and Verona, 1822. The Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle, at which the monarchs of Austria, Prussia, and Russia were personally present, devoted its attention to the adjustment of the relations of the powers to France, though Metternich also emphasized the dangers arising from demagogic agitation, and expressed his suspicions that its focus was in Germany.When, not long after, the Russian councillor, Kotzebue, was assassinated by the student, Sand, Metternich in twenty-four conferences of German ministers at Karlsbad took measures to put an end to the political troubles in Germany. All publications of less than twenty folios were to be subject to censorship; government officers were to be placed at the universities to supervise them; in the several states the constitutions providing for diets in accordance with ancient usage were to be retained; representative constitutions were to be suppressed.Despite England's and Russia's resistance, Metternich at the two succeeding congresses successfully carried his proposition to intervene in behalf of the Italian states, which were threatened and hard pressed by the revolution. This measure brought upon Austria the hatred of the Italian people. Finally Austria and Russia split on the question of freeing Greece from the Turkish yoke, Austria showing herself to be a decided friend of the Turks. The result was a blow to Metternich's policy. He had dropped from the high-water mark of his influence.Thereafter Russia's influence increased. Since the death of Prince Kaunitz (1794) the position of house, court, and state chancellor had been vacant, but in 1821 Metternich was invested with that office. â€Å"Your deserts have been increased by the uninterrupted zeal, the ability and fearlessness with which, especially in the last two years, you devoted yourself to the preservation of general order and the triumph of law over the disorderly doings of disturbers of the peace in the states at ho me and abroad. Under the Emperor Ferdinand I after 1835, the direction of affairs, after the emperor himself, was in the hands of a council consisting of the Archduke Ludwig (uncle of the emperor), the state chancellor Metternich, and the court chancellor Kolowrat. Metternich's influence over Austria's internal affairs was less than is generally supposed. Count Hartig, who was well informed, declares (Geschichte der Revolution, p. 19): â€Å"In matters of internal administration the prince was seldom heard, and was purposely kept away from them. † In this department after 1826, it was the minister Count Kolowrat whose influence was decisive.Many envied Metternich his pre-eminence. The aristocracy always saw the foreigner in him, and others looked with resentment upon the preference shown foreigners in the state chancery (Friedrich Gentz, Adam Muller, Friedrich Schlegel, Jarke). Grillparzer, director of archives in the Hofkammer, expressed himself very harshly on that point in 1839, though it must be noted that Grillparzer had been highly incensed. In all these matters Kolowrat had the advantage of Metternich. He was even considered capable of granting, or, at least, of preparing a constitution, and was thought to be inclined to do so.As time passed â€Å"the Metternich system† came to be held more and more responsible for everything unpleasant, and its author to be hated and attacked. His own acts show the injustice done the prince in this regard. To quote from his â€Å"Political Testament†: â€Å"To me the word freedom has not the value of a starting-point, but of an actual goal to be striven for. The word order designates the starting-point. It is only on order that freedom can be based. Without order as a foundation the cry for freedom is nothing more than the endeavour of some party or other for an end it has in view.When actually carried out in practice, that cry for freedom will inevitably express itself in tyranny. At all times an d in all situations I was a man of order, yet my endeavour was always for true and not for pretended liberty. † These words are the key to the understanding and appreciation of Metternich's actions. Two more passages characteristic of the great statesman's temper of mind may be cited: â€Å"Admirers of the press honour it with the title, ‘representative of public opinion', though everything written in the papers is nothing but the expression of those who write.Will the value of being the expression of public opinion ever be attributed to the publications of a Government, even of a Republican Government? Surely not! Yet every obscure journalist claims this value for his own products. What a confusion of ideas! † No less just and important a remark is the following on state religion: â€Å"The downfall of empires always directly depends upon the spread of unbelief. For this very reason religious belief, the first of virtues, is the strongest power.It alone curbs at tack and makes resistance irresistible. Religion cannot decline in a nation without causing that nation's strength also to decline, and the fall of states does not proceed in arithmetical progression according to the law of falling bodies, but rapidly leads to destruction. † When on 13 March, 1848, the storm of the revolution raged in Vienna, the state chancellor, who preferred to sacrifice himself rather than others, immediately resigned his position. He went to England, Brussels, and Schloss Johannisberg.From the last place he returned to Vienna in 1851, and eight years later died in his palace on the Rennweg at the age of eighty-six. In Europe Napoleon, Metternich, and Bismarck set their stamp upon the nineteenth century. All three of them lived to see their own fall. Metternich remained the longest in the leading position of â€Å"coachman of Europe†. Nothing better characterizes the great statesman than what he repeatedly said, proud and aristocratic as always, to Baron A. von Hubner a few weeks before his death: â€Å"I was a rock of order† (un rocher d'ordre).Metternich married three times: in 1795 Maria Eleonora, granddaughter of Princess Kaunitz, by whom he had seven children; in 1827 Maria Antonia, Baroness von Leykam, by whom he had a son, Richard Klemens; and in 1831 Countess Melanie Zichy, by whom he had three children. What was the Metternich system? The Metternich system depended upon political and religious censorship, espionage, and the suppression of revolutionary and nationalist movements. His name became anathema to liberals, and the revolutions of 1848 (which forced him to seek refuge in England) were in part directed at his repressive system.Metternich returned to Austria in 1851. Prince metternich set out many different small fires of liberalising revolutions. The system depended upon political and religious censorship, and the suppression of revolutionary and nationalist movements.. This became held for everything un pleasant. Concert of Europe 1815: In the aftermath of Napoleon's defeat, the great powers of Europe came together to define the new political order. For fifteen years, the plans devised at the Congress of Vienna (1814-1815) succeeded in reinstating and maintaining Europe's monarchies, while suppressing the ambitions of liberals, nationalists, and workers.However, in 1830 and again in 1848 the aspirations of these groups exploded in revolutionary action. All of these would-be revolutions were eventually put down, but the message that an expansion of the political sphere was coming could not be denied. In fact, nationalism drove much of the political change in the two decades following the revolts of 1848. Austria-Hungary was reorganized to give special status to large minority groups. The states of Italy were brought together in a unified country in 1861.And finally, the German states were unifed under Prussian leadership in 1871. The unification of Italy and Germany were part of a l arger pattern. Throughout Europe, the power of the state increased at the same time as more and more people were brought into the political process. Between 1848 and 1914, France became a republic again, Britain moved closer to democracy, serfdom was abolished in Russia, and Spain and Portugal moved towards modernization of their governments. By 1914, almost all European men had the right to vote.

Friday, November 8, 2019

AFGANISTAN essays

AFGANISTAN essays Beginning on September 27, 1996, an extremist militia group known as the Taliban seized control of Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. Upon seizing control, the Taliban has instituted a system of gender apartheid, which has placed women into a state of virtual house arrest. Since that time the women and girls of Afghanistan have been stripped of all human rights including their voice, visibility and their mobility. The Campaign to stop Gender Apartheid, led by the Feminist Majority Foundation, has brought together numerous human right and womens organizations around the world to demand an end to the abuses of the women in Afghanistan. In the 1980s when the Soviet Union occupied Afghanistan, the United States gave billions of dollars, through a secret CIA operation, to revolutionary militia forces called the mujahideen (soldiers of God). Unfortunately, in 1989 when the Soviet Union pulled out, groups of the mujahideen entered into a civil war and in 1996 the Taliban emerged as the controlling force. The Taliban is actually made up of young men and boys who were raised in refugee camps and trained in ultraconservative religious schools in Pakistan. The primary support system of the Taliban is from Pakistan, they provide military aid and personnel, Saudi Arabia provides the financial support. In addition, Afghanistan is one of the worlds two largest producers of opium, which in turn makes it a huge drug-processing center. Finally, the biggest potential for financial support comes from the wealth of the petroleum industry. The Taliban claim to follow a pure, fundamental Islamic ideology, except the oppression they place upon women has no foundation in Islam. Within Islam, women can earn, control and spend their own money; they can also participate in public life. Both the Organizations of the Islamic Conference and the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt have refused to recognize the Taliban as an official governmen...

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Nationalism and its Negative Effects in the Modern World

Nationalism and its Negative Effects in the Modern World Introduction In the study entailing nationalism, one stumbles upon four major debates that scholars tend to engage in. The first one centers on how â€Å"nation† and â€Å"nationalism† should be defined. Secondly, there is a question of the time during which nations are thought to have first occurred.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Nationalism and its Negative Effects in the Modern World specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The third debate tends to explore how nations and nationalism actualized. Finally, most classic works emphasize on European nationalism raising a debate as to whether nationalism began in Europe and spread to other non-western parts of the world or whether it developed on its own in non-western countries (Eschenhagen 2 ). This work will not attempt to exhaust all these debates but will rather concentrate on the various definitions of nationalism and its negative effects in the modern wo rld. Definition of Nationalism Nationalism can be understood in diverse perspectives depending on the context. Sociologically, nationalism can first be understood from the word nation, from which it is derived. The nation is Latin in origin – nation whose meaning during the medieval era was devoid of any political connotation. It has a similar meaning with Greek word ethnos that stands for â€Å"people, nation, and country† (Norbu 25). It was until the Middle Ages that the nation began attaining a political interpretation, which was vividly outspoken especially in France and Germany. In these two places, the term nation was used to refer to the ruling cadre in contrast with the word volk, which is synonymous to the common people or populace (Norbu 25). In view of this meaning, the word nation and the nationality concept were closely attributed to both sovereignty and power to imply that this concept was only common among those who were in rulership. Rather than belong to the people who embody it, the word nation rather referred to those in political power that had more say over state related concerns and held the key to the means of production. During the absolute monarchy, the nation was closely associated with the monarch’s state. If for that matter political power’s place of residence is the epitome the nation, then the French revolution was a major protest against the aristocratic class. With the increase in social communication and mass awareness, the idea of nationalism ceased from being cocooned within the aristocrats. It spilled down to the common people as well.Advertising Looking for essay on ethnicity studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Rousseau (1770 -1850) who refused equating nation to the higher political class and instead equating it with the populace (Norbu 25) agitated for the new concept of the nation. The meaning of nationality and that of na tionalism are closely related in that they designate a people rather than a nation per se. Nationalism is therefore a unique type of politically motivated social awareness that is people-derived and people oriented (Norbu 25). Another perspective of understanding nationalism is to look at it from the different kinds of nationalism and then elucidating that one of them can be defended and the other kinds cannot. In this light, the western form of nationality can be contrasted against the eastern form (Miller, 1995). For instance, western nationalization has been perceived as perspicacious and favorable to progress or reform. On the other hand, eastern nationalization has been perceived as unprogressive and cryptic, based on a seeming tribal perspective of nationality (Kohn, 1944, cited in Miller 8). The second contrast suggests that western nationalism was for people with outstanding cultural marks, able to measure up with those of known nation states such as Germany and Italy during the nineteenth century. On the other hand, Eastern nationalism was for people whose ancient culture was primitive and hence they had to curve an identity for themselves to able to fit competently in the modern world (Arnold 1976, cited in Miller 8). Another difference suggests that in Eastern nationalism, people who within the same territory are governed by common laws and take part in similar civic culture while Eastern nationalism is genealogically- based suggesting the notion of individuals bound together by shared ancestry. In each case, the contrast is used to draw the fact that Western nationalism is friendly to a liberal state whereas eastern nationalism tends towards dictatorship and cultural constraint (Miller 9). Another way of understanding nationality is looking at it from the standpoint of political philosophy. This is the difference between a nationalism of a nation that interferes with the rights of other nations as it strives to uphold its own objectives and a natio nalism that is sensitive to the rights of other nations and aims at enhancing equality among all nations. For example, MacCormick differentiates between acknowledging moral tussles while striving for national concerns from an egocentric drive of desiring that one’s nation should outdo others (Nathanson, 1993, cited in Miller 9).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Nationalism and its Negative Effects in the Modern World specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Therefore, succinctly put, nationalism can be termed as opposition to foreign control, consciousness of being part of a certain nation and pride in the nation’s culture, norms, infrastructure, and achievements, awareness of shared political roles and a demand for self –motivated national governance (Okoth 1). How nationalism has been a negative force in our modern world The 1962 Indian border war Although the Indian border war in 1962 was not directly influenced by a western power, it elicited a rise in Chinese various nationalistic elements such as the sovereignty and legitimacy of China. When the raw over the border emerged within the mid nineteenth century, Apart from fear of losing its territorial loss, China hardened its position due to two other reasons. This was both the Tibet question and India’s non-negotiable attitude towards the borderline. Despite the known fact that Tibet has been within the Chinese territory since 1950, the Indian prime minister negated the fact that China had sovereignty over the territory. This really soured the relationship between India and China. China interpreted the Indian prime minister’s challenge of their own sovereignty over Tibet as purely imperialistic. China then resolved to respond to this through a strike of equal magnitude. The borderline war between India and China was not only fueled by India’s imperialistic approach, but also by India’s hard-line atti tude regarding the McMahon line. Due to collective opinion from the Chinese republic and Taiwanian support, China finally got victory. Although the Chinese government had achieved its objectives, the war tainted China’s international position and was a major cause of a deadlock in bilateral associations for many years thereafter (Eschenhagen 6). The eight islands dispute Besides the past borderline dispute between India and China, there is also a recent nationalistic dispute between Japan, China, and Taiwan regarding the ownership of eight islands found in the East Asia Sea. Although none of the three parties would like the issue to cripple their bilateral agreements, the conflict is motivated by both domestic and international politics. Although ownership of resources found in the islands is the major cause of dispute, nationalistic claims have blown out of proportion. Although conflict among the three parties was improbable, resolution and shared exploitation of the resourc es was also elusive (Huang, 1997, cited in Eschenhagen 6). A series of international conflicts then arose leading to protests from Chinese students. This was after a bomb attack in China that was thought to have been of western origin. The students’ protests led not only to the bombing of an American officer’s residents but also to the vandalism of other U.S related premises within the Chinese streets.Advertising Looking for essay on ethnicity studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The protests moved from street-based to online-based and with this, the Chinese national leadership had to intervene since the move would have jeopardized the relations between China and the U.S. The western world was greatly baffled by the protests and the U.S media apportioned blame to the Chinese government for fueling the mayhem by misleading the masses with incorrect nationalistic information (Eschenhagen 8). The U.S surveillance plane incident In a separate incidence, an American spy plane collided with a Chinese jet over the sea located in the southern part of China. This was after the American plane penetrating into the Chinese airspace without verbal clearance. This came at a time when other issues like human rights and support of Taiwan by the U.S had strained the relationship between Beijing and Washington. Although the U.S ambassador to China brought a message of apology to the Chinese people after a long impasse, the Chinese jet had been destroyed and its pilot killed i n the collision. Extreme Right wing voting The reasons behind the popularity of extreme right wing in some countries of the European Union and their absence and low influence in other parts have been of much debate (Gijsberts 157). However, they have been attributed to a diversity of country-specific features. Factors leading to these variances in the extreme rightwing voting are three-fold: sociological, economic, and political (Gijsberts 157). Sociologically, variances in the population of different countries affect the voter turnout in the extreme right wing voting. This is determined by both the public opinion and social structure of country. Economically, the economic doldrums and rivalry between the country’s main group and the immigrants could also explain the differences in extreme right wing voting. Politically, specific factors that characterize a party and the system of its operation influences voter turnout (Gijsberts 157). Nationalism as a cause of major world co nflicts and genocide Xenophobia and chauvinism are both regarded as products of extreme nationalism (Auer 19). This is perceived in the sense that xenophobic nationalism being the fear and rejection of a stranger is an extension of any aspect of national identity. Additionally, even though patriotism is closely related to nationalism, critics of nationalism find it quite detrimental in its extreme manifestation (Kegley 408). Extreme patriots tend to gauge their patriotism via the level of hatred and protest extended towards alien nations. Patriotism also makes them to blindly endorse all policies and practices of their own nation. In this vein, nationalism negates the aspect of universal values that elevates the values of all above those of individual nations. This is seen as an impediment to human rights and the harmony that exists among all nations in a world without borders. Nationalism further contradicts Christian, Islamic, and Judaistic teachings that love should be manifested even towards one’s enemies. Looked at from this perspective, nationalism is therefore perceived as a cause for armed world conflicts. Nationalism’s double-faced character is believed to be the main cause armed conflict. First, it is a common force that bonds nations with similar nationalities together and secondly, it does not only bring divisions among but it also divides nationalities and this is what justifies armed conflicts with other nations (Kegley 408). Genocide is normally explained as state organized killings that targets a given political, religious, national, or ethical group (Scherrer 69). The Bosnia genocide is believed to have its causes embedded in nationalism. Although the concentration camps were used to carry out genocidal activities, other acts entailed not just mass rape but also destruction of both Islamic and Croatian symbols (Delanty and Kumar 327). Such acts partly involve death but also involve annihilation either fully or partly, of a given national group. For instance, the mass rape psychologically torments and destroys the reproductive potential of all the groups (Delanty and Kumar 327). Apart from the Bosnia genocide, both world wars were direct full-scale genocides. For example during the Second World War, Hitler ordered mass murder against many ethnic groups such as the European Jews and Russians among others (Scherrer, p. 76). There were also organized killings against millions of prisoners and slave workers. The Nazi terror took away of 50 million the lives and Fascist Germany war eliminated the lives of millions of the Roma and Sinti, Russian civilians, Serbs among others (Scherrer 76). Conclusion Nationalism is the social consciousness of the people in a particular nation that causes them to protest alien control as they pride in their own national traditions, achievements and political rights. The extreme manifestations of nationalism have had negative impacts in the world especially manifested through armed conflicts and genocides. Auer, Stefan. Liberalism in Central Europe. London, Routledge. 2004. 21 October 2010. https://books.google.com/books?id=b2IRot3UaQ0Cpg=PA19dq=negative+effects+of+extreme+nationalismhl=enei=Fm3ATP_UGZ-V4gawiqTnCwsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=3ved=0CDUQ6AEwAg#v=onepageqf=false. Delanty, Gerard and Kumar, Krishan. The SAGE handbook of nations and nationalism. London, Routledge. 2006. 21 October 2010. https://books.google.com/books?id=3Y3zK_jyagQCpg=PA327dq=nationalism+as+the+cause+of+genocide+in+bosniahl=enei=ozXBTN2dGYaVswa74P2WCAsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=1ved=0CCcQ6AEwAA#v=onepageqf=false. Eschenhagen, Paul. Nationalism in China: Implications for Chinese International Relations. Norderstedt, GRIN Verlag. 2006. October 21, 2010. 21 October 2010. https://books.google.com/books?id=XxW92MeKABECpg=PA2dq=Definition+of+nationalismhl=enei=fALATOsSh_ngBrjCyLYMsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=4ved=0CDUQ6AEwAw#v=onepageq=Definition%20of%20nationalismf=true . Gijsberts, Merove I. Nationalism and exclusion of migrants: cross national comparisons. VT, Ashgate Publishing. 2004. 21 October 2010. https://books.google.com/books?id=6iW3lXAj5BQCpg=PA160dq=negative+effects+of+extreme+nationalismhl=enei=Fm3ATP_UGZ-V4gawiqTnCwsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=1ved=0CCkQ6AEwAA#v=onepageqf=false. Kegley, Charles. World Politics: Trend and Transformation. CA, Cengage Learning. 2009. 21 October 2010. https://books.google.com/books?id=JFVlaSN6CwsCpg=PA408dq=conflicts+resulting+from+extreme+nationalismhl=enei=GybBTNeNOYfEswab2pDSCAsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=10ved=0CFMQ6AEwCQ#v=onepageqf=true. Norbu, Dawa. Culture, and the Politics of Third World Nationalism. London, SAGE Publications Ltd. 1992. 21 October 2010. https://books.google.com/books?id=DhZk6aOAWbsCpg=PA25dq=Definition+of+nationalismhl=enei=fALATOsSh_ngBrjCyLYMsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=1ved=0CCcQ6AEwAA#v=onepageq=Definition%20of%20nationalismf=true. Okoth. Assa. A History of Afri ca. Kampala, East African Publishers Ltd. 2006. 21 October 2010. https://books.google.com/books?id=suMvEWjK-OcCpg=PA1dq=Definition+of+nationalismhl=enei=fALATOsSh_ngBrjCyLYMsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=2ved=0CCwQ6AEwAQ#v=onepageq=Definition%20of%20nationalismf=true. Scherrer, Christian. Ethnicity, nationalism, and violence. London, Ashgate Publishing Limited. 2003. 22 October 2010. https://books.google.com/books?id=6NnchlGT3nECpg=PA69dq=nationalism+as+a+cause+for+genocidehl=enei=GTzBTP7WM8_tsga__pXHCQsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=1ved=0CCcQ6AEwAA#v=onepageq=nationalism%20as%20a%20cause%20for%20genocidef=false.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Cultural report on workplace bullying in Israel Essay

Cultural report on workplace bullying in Israel - Essay Example The problem Ayoko et al (2003) states that lack of proper employee and multicultural management leads to workplace bullies. This is normally characterized by name-calling, taunting, teasing or even sexual harassment. The situation is much worse if the company or organization’s management is involved in the bullying of employees because the affected employees have no one to run to for help. It also reduces the chances of such a vice fading away. Such a case of management involvement in bullying employee has been reported in this textile company. Employees especially those of Australian origin have reported that they are being bullied by the company management. Some of the employees have reported that they have been called names while some of them have reported constant taunting and teasing. According to Brodsky (1976), bullying makes the workplace unbearable for bullied workers. It also impacts negatively on their productivity. This is to say that bullying kills their morale an d motivation. Bullying of employees by company management makes workers to develop a negative attitude towards the company and hence they put little or no efforts to see to it that its production levels increase. Wiedmer (2011) explains that when bullied, workers who are innovative in nature and those who are good at identifying new markets go mute. This means the company is directly loosing a lot as a result of its discriminative management. Apart from affecting employees, the negative culture has also impacts negatively on the management practice. For example, it makes the management to loose the respect of employees. This means that the rate of taking instructions reduces because the employees are no longer willing to co-operate with the management. Some could also be on a revenge mission to see to it that the company records poor performance so as to taint the image of the oppressive management. Bullying taints the credibility of the management. Crawford (1997) explains that emp loyees loose usually confidence in a management that participates in jokes that are racially and even sexually offensive. According to De Dreu (2007), bullying of employees by management can divide the management along racial lines. For example though this textile company is Australian based, not all its management is of Australian or Israeli origin. Some of its members therefore feel bad to see their fellow citizens being bullied or discriminated by a section of the management. Alternative Solutions Alternative solutions to bullying as an evil culture of bullying touch on the management as well as the employees. Such measures will ensure that the culture does not simply shift from the management to the employees or become a collaboration between sections of the two. First, the company should create a company culture that not only accepts but also appreciates the variations that every employee brings to the workplace. Ashforth (1994) states that the new culture should enable the man agement as well as the employees to recognize, appreciate and most importantly, to respect variations between cultures. The company should also develop an amalgamated culture from all the cultures represented in the company. Saam (2010) explains that such a unifying culture will form a common basis of conduct for all the employees irrespective of their cultural backgrounds. The company also should develop employment policies then

Saturday, November 2, 2019

The War on Terror U.S. Invasion of Afghanistan Essay

The War on Terror U.S. Invasion of Afghanistan - Essay Example Thesis statement: The U.S. initiated War on Terror and invasion of Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom) is helpful to obstruct the rapid spread of terrorism, restoration of democracy in Afghanistan, and peace in the Middle East. The War on Terror The War on Terror, a military campaign initiated by the U.S. and its allied nations, primarily aims to resist rapid spread of terrorism, especially the terrorist plots like 9/11. Duffy (2005), an eminent human rights activist, writer, and the director of the International Centre for the Legal Protection of Human Rights points out that, â€Å"In the immediate wake of the attacks of 11 September 2001, the United States committed itself to a sustained ‘war on terror’, a significant component of which has involved the use of military force by the United States and its allies in several countries, notably Afghanistan and Iraq† (p.186). One can see that the origin of terrorist organizations like al-Qaeda and Taliban is inte rconnected with the growth of militant nationalism in the Middle East. On the other side, the War on Terror never hindered counter-terrorism measures adopted by the world nations. To be specific, the War on Terror aims to reduce the influence of terrorism among the world nations. ... The origin of the War on Terror is interconnected with the growth of al-Qaeda and Taliban in the Middle East. The end result of the creation of al-Qaeda by Osama bin Laden in 1980s was the rapid spread of terrorism and the origin of Taliban in Afghanistan. Gradually, Bin Laden began to control Afghani Taliban. This eventually led to the origin of terrorist networks in the Middle East and in the African continent. On the other side, the U.S. interest and influence among the oil rich Middle Eastern nations was an imminent threat to the terrorist networks. So, Bin Laden decided to intimidate the U.S. and other Western nations by attacking the officials and civilians. Soros (2007), who is the chief of the Soros Fund Management, supporter of open societies and an important critic on the War on Terror, opines that, â€Å"Bin Laden correctly identified the one aspect in which military Islam is superior to Western civilization: the fear of death† (p.108). The millennium attack in the year 2000 proves that Bin Laden was ready to challenge the U.S. and its allied nations. The immediate cause behind the War on Terrorism and the attack on al-Qaeda and Taliban is the 9/11 attack, formulated by Bin Laden. This attack infuriated the U.S. and it eventually led to the extension of the War on Terrorism to new levels. The War on Terrorism aimed to destroy the mastermind behind the rapid spread of terrorism. Soros (2007), opines that, â€Å"My emphasis on the role of the United States as the source of stability in the world and the protector of our civilization is somewhat exaggerated on account of personal considerations† (p.xviii). But, Bin Laden and other leaders of Al-Qaeda and Taliban like Abu Musab al-Zarqawi were in Afghanistan. So, the warfront gradually shifted to

Thursday, October 31, 2019

IPhone Product Sales Plan Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

IPhone Product Sales Plan - Research Paper Example With the said concept as the main weapon, optimization of the features of the product can be considered as the fundamental perspective. Prior to the development of the iPhone, the mobile industry had a rough journey in terms of sales. There is a clear dependence on the network providers. Mobile phones were even viewed then as a tool to achieve services from the said mobile network. In the said view, mobile phones were cheap and features were limited (Vogelstein, 1998). In 2006, there had been a rapid increase in the number of mobile users and subscribers estimated at 2 billion all over the world. Another trend that started in the same period is the sales of mobile phones based on the technology or the features which became the onset for the development of technologies related to mobile cameras, wireless capabilities, memory capacities and other concepts that became weapons of competitive advantage (Reed Electronics Research, 2002). Basically, the development of the iPhone took advantage of the said trends and developments in the mobile industry. The technology presented by the iPhone also considered by authorities as a wave that enabled the mobile phone companies to dictate sales on the basis of the product capabilities rather than the services that the mobile networks are offering (Vogelstein, 1998). B.Flagship products The product iPhone is from the Apple Inc., a company known for product innovation and product exclusiveness which enable the company to set a price different from competitors. Apple Inc. is recognized for products such as the Mac computer, iPod, iTunes and the latest innovation iPad (Apple Inc. Website, 2010).

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Mental Health Service User Case Study

Mental Health Service User Case Study 1.1 Decision making by nurses is now firmly established in practice, policy and educational agendas. New constantly evolving, roles, and a policy context that is challenging traditional professional boundaries mean that, more than ever, nurses are being given autonomy and power to be able to exercise their decision choices (Thompson, 2001). 1.2 Clinical decision making may be defined as having a variety of options and choices and a process that nurses undertake during their everyday activities whilst caring for service users. It usually involves nurses making judgements about the care that they provide to service users (Thompson et al, 2002). Similarly ONeill et al (2005) argues that clinical decision making is a complex activity that requires nurses and other health professionals to be knowledgeable in relevant aspects of nursing, to have access to reliable sources of information and to work in a supportive environment. 1.3 Shared decision-making on the other hand is an interactive collaborative process that occurs between the nurse and the service user that is used to make health care decisions. Adams and Drake (2006) note that in shared decision-making the nurse becomes a consultant to the service user, helping to provide information, to discuss options, to clarify values and preferences and to support the service users autonomy (p.88). 1.4 Policy changes and trends in professional development within the last decade have reiterated the importance that nurses and other relevant health professionals need to recognise that the decisions they make have a direct impact on health care outcomes and service users experiences (DH, 2000). 1.5 Decisions can be easily examined in the form of decision trees which provide a highly effective structure within which many different options can be explored (Goetz, 2010). Goetz (2010) further argues that the decision tree encourages people to think through their options, to act consciously and with consideration. It has also been suggested by Corcoran (1986, cited in Bonner, 2001, p.350) that the decision tree is able to provide a clear structure which helps to assess a range of actions that health professionals may choose when making decisions regarding the care and treatment of a service user. 1.6 In contrast, Bonner (2001) argues that the decision tree is under researched within the scope of mental health practice. He does acknowledge that the use of the decision tree in practice allows nurses to examine the options available to them in more detail, whilst also considering the complex variables that influence the decision-making process. 1.7 It would be expected that the decision tree is hierarchically structured and spans a specific period of time which will be determined within the Justifications section of this report. 2. Methodology 2.1 The purpose of this report is to identify a service user with whom one was currently working with in practice. Using a decision tree, the service users journey will be detailed from their current health needs from the point of referral to mental health services to the current point in time. Once the decision tree is formed, it will then be essential to identify up to three critical decision points and analyse the decision making process for each decision chosen. 2.2 The information required to form the decision tree is to be gathered during a 60-minute unstructured interview with the service user, which can be thought of as a guided conversation. The reason that this type of methodology will be utilised is because unstructured interviews allow a particular focus on specific areas through asking open-ended questions but also allow for probes and follow-up questions to be used in order to effectively obtain more information to construct the decision tree as accurately as possible (Streubert Carpenter, 1999). 2.3 In order to ensure that the information gathered is accurate, it will be beneficial to form a lifeline with the service user, looking at major life events and decisions that have been made. This lifeline can be found in Appendix 1. 2.4 It will also be essential to explore the service users medical notes (with their consent) in order to gain a clearer idea of events that have occurred, the vital decision points and whether service user involvement was evident throughout. 2.5 The decision tree that was formed can be found in Appendix 2. 3. Justification 3.1 The service user that will provide the focus of this report will be referred to as Sarah (a false name in order to maintain confidentiality). 3.2 Sarah is a 43-year old lady who has a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. She has had multiple admissions to psychiatric units including admissions under the Mental Health Act (See Appendix 3 for supporting information). 3.3 Sarah was chosen because it was felt that the she would be able to provide a good history and account of events that have occurred in her past in relation to the care and treatment that she has received. Sarah was also deemed to have capacity and was therefore suitable to take part within this piece of work. 3.4 The timescale that the decision tree covers will focus upon a 6-year history whereby Sarah began her first contact with adult acute mental health services. This will be explored up to the current point in time. 3.5 During the gathering of information, both primary and secondary sources were used. Primary sources refer to first-hand accounts of events that have occurred (i.e. interview with service user). In comparison, secondary sources refer to information that has already been documented from the past (i.e. medical/nursing notes). It was decided to use both sources as they would provide information richer in validity and ensure the reliability of the findings. 3.6 The report will cross the boundaries between in-patient care and community services within the North of England. The key decision points that have been chosen for analysis within this report were chosen because it was evident that some decisions had a certain degree of service user involvement in comparison with others whereby service user involvement did not seem to be present. This does however introduce a debate in regards to service user involvement because those decisions that did not involve Sarah and that were made on her behalf, can be argued were made in the best interests of the individual i.e. admission to hospital to ensure Sarahs safety and well-being. 3.7 Each of the decisions will now be individually analysed with a specific focus upon the decision itself, the issues that they may involve and the concepts that they may introduce. 4. Referred and taken onto caseload with a Community Mental Health Team following gate-keeping assessment (See Appendix 4) 4.1 Sarah was referred to her local community mental health team following a visit to her General Practitioner (GP) whom was worried about the self-harming thoughts that Sarah was currently experiencing. The General Practitioner was very concerned about Sarahs apparent deterioration in her mental health, therefore he felt that it was necessary to refer her to the community mental health team who would then be able to offer assessment and work from that point onwards. The GP discussed this with Sarah who did admit to being a little apprehensive beforehand however after a short period whereby she was able to reflect on her current circumstances, Sarah was agreeable to this. 4.2 Borg et al (2009) argues that service user involvement has a crucial significance especially for individuals that work within a community mental health setting as this involves accessing patients in their own homes (p.285). Sarah did feel that she had developed a good rapport with her community psychiatric nurse because Sarah was always offered choices in terms of her care and treatment and she felt actively involved in the decisions that were made. The therapeutic relationship that was developed between Sarah and her community psychiatric nurse also played a vital role in Sarahs care as Reynolds and Scott (2000) argue that it is through this therapeutic relationship that we can assess the needs of the patients that we work with and then plan future care to assist in their recovery. 4.3 An important consideration is the potential risk involved in maintaining Sarahs mental health in the community. This was clearly documented within Sarahs treatment plan with specific actions outlined and crisis contact numbers provided to both Sarah and her Husband. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (2009) provides guidance on risk assessment in patients with a diagnosis of emotionally unstable personality disorder. It informs that the risk assessment should take place as part of a full assessment of the patients needs and this is exactly what occurred due to the high level of risk involved and potential self-harm of Sarah within the community. 4.4 The main influences behind the decision to make a referral to the local community mental health team was Sarahs safety and how able she was to maintain this. Also if the GP felt that Sarah required a hospital admission and there were no hospital beds available, then a referral to the community mental health team or crisis resolution would be necessary. This therefore would indicate that care and treatment is dependent upon what resources are available at that specific time. 4.5 In order to ensure that the correct decisions are made, the specific team must have an effective leadership style and a variety of skills amongst team members. The New Ways of Working practice implementation guide (DH, 2007) outlines how a team can effectively achieve their maximum potential. In order for this to be achieved, a number of measures must be addressed which include; Focusing upon skills and matching these to the needs of service users; Distributing responsibility fairly amongst the team rather than delegating; Focusing on ability and competence of team members rather than role. 4.6 The policy discussed in section 4.5 appears to be utilised well within this team because Sarah was allocated to a senior care coordinator that had a large amount of experience of working with individuals with a diagnosis of personality disorder. The health professional was also able to engage and was competent in carrying out Dialectical Behavioural Therapy with Sarah which is a specialised treatment suitable for those with a diagnosis of personality disorder (Comtois et al, 2007). 4.7 There are many alternate decisions that the General Practitioner could have made in order to ensure that Sarah received the treatment that she required to meet her needs. A referral to the local crisis resolution home treatment team could have been made who would offer assessment and then decide a plan of action. Brimblecombe (2001) argues that a team such as this could have the potential to reduce the number of hospital admissions, therefore utilising resources and funding more effectively but at a cheaper cost. 4.8 Another possible course of action could have been to make a referral to the acute community day services (day hospital) who would be able to provide care throughout the day for Sarah if she required support. This would be a less restrictive alternative than hospital admission and Sarah may be more likely to engage with this service based in the community. 4.9 Alternatively, the GP could have chose to not do anything except review Sarah after a few weeks to assess whether her mental health was still deteriorating however this may be seen as unethical especially if Sarah was suffering due to her experiences and self harming thoughts, which ideally should be resolved as soon as possible. 5. Voluntary (informal) admission to acute psychiatric hospital following presentation in Emergency Department (See Appendix 5) 5.1 When Sarah becomes acutely unwell, the most common course of action is to admit her to hospital for her own safety and well-being but also the safety of others. This particular hospital admission was informal which therefore indicates that Sarah was willing and agreed to go into hospital, having been assessed by a team which specialises in self-harming behaviour. 5.2 The Mental Health Act (2007) refers to informal patients as those that accept and agree to go to hospital without the use of compulsory powers. Sarah was not detained therefore she was permitted to have leave from the ward to spend at home with family. This was Sarahs choice and was discussed in collaboration with the Consultant Psychiatrist until an agreement was made. 5.3 The decisions to admit Sarah to hospital was made by a health professional that assessed Sarah in the Emergency Department following an incident of self-harm. Sarah did feel that she was fully involved within the decision because alternatives to hospital admission were discussed with Sarah however she felt that hospital admission was the most appropriate action to ensure her safety at that specific time. Furthermore the Nursing and Midwifery Council code states that as a professional, nurses are personally accountable for actions and omissions in their practice and must always be able to justify their decisions (NMC, 2008). 5.4 The main influences behind this decision were the levels of risk involved due to an escalation in Sarahs self harming behaviours within the community. The Ten Essential Shared Capabilities (DH, 2004) aimed to set out the shared capabilities that all staff working in mental health services should achieve. Promoting safety and positive risk taking is one of the major points within the document with the hope of empowering individuals to determine the level of risk that they are prepared to take with their health and safety. Ideally this includes working with the tension between promoting the individuals safety and positive risk taking which should be detailed within the individuals care plan. 5.5 Positive risk taking and risk management has been largely debated within the scope of mental health nursing. Parsons (2008) argues that people learn through a process known as trial and error. This therefore suggests that if Sarah self-harmed so significantly that her life was endangered then she would not carry out this behaviour again. This theory however can be largely critiqued in regards to Sarahs case because the self-harming behaviour is a regular occurrence with Sarah in full knowledge of the consequences that this may have. 5.6 A study carried out by Bowers et al (2005) examined the purpose of acute psychiatric hospital wards and they concluded that in most circumstances, patients are admitted because the possibility of harming themselves or others had increased significantly. They also found that when an individual is experiencing a severe mental illness whereby their behaviour is unmanageable in the community, this provides the requirements for a hospital admission. 5.7 In contrast, the quality of care on acute psychiatric hospital wards has largely been questioned in regards to the usefulness that hospital admission can actually have upon a person (Quirk Lelliott, 2004). In some circumstances, many individuals will receive high-quality care whilst in hospital however recent studies have suggested that for some individuals, the experience of hospital admission was rather negative (Baker, 2000; Glasby Lester 2005). 5.8 The Royal College of Nursing (2008) acknowledges that every nursing decision made has an ethical dimension and furthermore that ethics and ethical decision making abilities are applicable to every aspect of nursing practice. The decision to admit Sarah to an acute psychiatric hospital ward does introduce ethical dilemmas because it can be argued that it is unethical to admit a person to a locked ward and therefore restricting their freedom. 5.9 Beauchamp and Childress (2001) developed a framework which consists of four main principles. The first principle outlines the respect for an individuals autonomy i.e. respecting the decisions that they make and the reasons for making a particular decision. Sarah was given a choice in regards to hospital admission because she could have been detained under the Mental Health Act (2007) however she agreed to hospital admission and was therefore admitted as an informal patient. 5.10 The second principle is that of Beneficence which examines the benefits of having a particular treatment against the risks involved. This was discussed with Sarah and the reasons for hospital admission were fully explained which were to ensure Sarahs safety. Sarah understood the health professionals concerns and worries and did accept hospital admission therefore the health professional was acting upon beneficence. 5.11 The third principle is Non-Maleficence which refers to the avoidance of causing harm to an individual. It can be argued that any treatment can have to potential to cause harm however the benefits of the treatment must exceed this which in this case, the benefit plays much more of a vital role. 5.12 The final principle within the framework is Justice which examines the distribution of benefits, risks and costs equally. It therefore indicates that individuals should be treated fairly in similar circumstances and offered the same intervention/ treatment. In terms of hospital admission, the choice would be to go in as an informal patient or be detained under the Mental Health Act using compulsory powers. This decision would be given to most individuals however when capacity becomes a concern then detention may be required. 5.13 There are many alternate decisions to a psychiatric hospital admission which may have been decided. Sarah may have been referred to an acute community day service (day hospital) which offers assessment and treatment for working age adults that are experiencing acute mental health difficulties. A systematic review of randomised controlled trials of day hospitals within the United Kingdom, concluded that day hospital treatment is generally cheaper, the outcomes are greater and that there was greater satisfaction with treatment compared with in-patient care (Marshall et al, 2001). 5.14 Another alternative decision to hospital admission may be a referral to a crisis resolution home treatment team that would be able to provide 24-hour care. The Mental Health Policy Implementation Guide (DH, 2001) informs that the crisis resolution team is for adults between the ages of 16-65 with a severe mental illness or experiencing an acute crisis that without the involvement of a crisis resolution home treatment team, hospital admission would be necessary to ensure the safety of the individual. This however had been attempted in the past and Sarah did not feel that she benefitted greatly from the service because although they provide a 24-hour service, they cannot offer the same kind of interventions that a hospital ward could offer. 6. Diagnosed with Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (See Appendix 6) 6.1 Sarah was diagnosed with Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder whilst an in-patient on an acute psychiatric ward. The decision to change Sarahs primary diagnosis of deep depression with psychotic episodes was made by the Consultant Psychiatrist that was involved in Sarahs care and treatment. 6.2 The National Institute of Mental Health (2001) describes emotionally unstable personality disorder as a serious mental health illness that is characterised by a pervasive instability in moods, interpersonal relationships, self-image and behaviour. The symptoms of emotionally unstable personality disorder are maladaptive behaviour learnt to make sense of the world and to manage the constant negative messages experienced (Eastwick Grant, 2005). It is important to note that Sarah did experience sexual and psychological abuse from an outsider of the family during her childhood which she did not disclose to her family until she was an adult. Sarah recognised that this was a major factor in the way that she perceived the world and was directly linked to her self-harming tendencies. 6.3 During this period of time, Sarahs behaviour became increasingly unsafe to manage in the community therefore warranting a hospital admission. Her self-harming tendencies had increased and there was a great concern for her safety mainly expressed by her family who were worried about Sarahs deterioration in her mental health. 6.4 When Sarah was given the diagnosis, she was unhappy due to the non-apparent involvement within the decision as she was not consulted in regards to the diagnosis or asked about her thoughts and feelings. Bray (2003) argues that decision making and service user involvement cannot always occur with individuals that have a diagnosis of emotionally unstable personality disorder due to the varying symptoms that they may experience i.e. impulsive behaviour which can diminish responsibility. 6.5 Once the diagnosis was made, Sarah felt that peoples opinions and attitudes had changed towards her including ward staff. According to Nehls (1999) individuals with a diagnosis of emotionally unstable personality disorder have described health professionals as being unhelpful, displaying negativity and generally being unhelpful. 6.6 A consultation document known as New Horizons (DH, 2009) outlines a cross Government vision in the hope of eradicating the stigma that surrounds mental health and improving the quality and accessibility of services, ensuring that services are service user friendly. The document stresses the importance of mental health and encourages individuals to understand that mental health problems should be equally as important as physical health conditions. 6.7 Services that are provided by the National Health Service (NHS) are commonly built upon effective partnerships between those providing care and those accessing care. The Department of Health (2004) informs that better healthcare outcomes are achieved when the partnership between health professional and service user is at its strongest. Within this particular decision, there was no partnership as Sarah was not involved in the decision making process in regards to her care and treatment and decision to make a diagnosis without consultation with Sarah. 6.8 An important consideration is that of power because the Consultant Psychiatrist that made the decision, created a position of power over the service user through expertise and knowledge. Pyne (1994) argues that knowledge is a form of power, therefore if we share this knowledge with the patients that we work alongside, then this can promote the process of empowerment in patients. The author then progresses to a stage whereby he questions why nurses do not always demonstrate this behaviour in practice. In comparison, McQueen (2000, cited in Henderson, 2002, p. 502) argues that power associated with special knowledge, that created a barrier between health professionals and patients is slowly diminishing. Furthermore, McQueen believes that both nurses and patients need to be seen as respected autonomous individuals with something to contribute towards an agreed goal. 6.9 There are alternate decisions that could have been undertaken rather than making a diagnosis of emotionally unstable personality disorder. The Consultant Psychiatrist may have decided to not make a formal diagnosis however this could therefore have an effect on Sarahs care and treatment as she would not receive the correct care and treatment to meet her needs. Sarahs previous diagnosis of deep depression with psychotic episodes may have remained the same however it cannot be determined how long this would have lasted due to the frequency of self-harming behaviours and multiple hospitals admissions due to an increased concern for Sarahs safety. 7. Comparisons 7.1 It has become evident that the three chosen decisions for analysis had common themes running through each decision. Power has become an important consideration because although Sarah had a degree of power within each decision, the overall decision was made by those within higher positions i.e. hospital managers and leaders. This can therefore provide the service user with a false misinterpretation of the power that they actually withhold as it is clear that the final decision is not made by the service user and instead it is those with more power i.e. the GP making the referral to the community mental health team and the Consultant Psychiatrist changing Sarahs diagnosis to emotionally unstable personality disorder without consulting Sarah beforehand. 7.2 Leadership has been defined many ways in the literature reviewed, however several features are common to most definitions of leadership and the forms that it can take. Faugier Woolnough (2002) argue that leadership is a process which usually involves a certain degree of influence, but also with a focus upon the attainment of goals .The leadership style mostly present within each of the key decisions is that of a democratic style because there was a degree of consultation with staff on proposed actions before an actual decision was made. 7.3 The care and treatment provided to Sarah was driven by resource availability and this was clearly evident within each decision. If resources are not available, this would impact on the decision whether to allow Sarah to have the treatment. The admission to an acute psychiatric hospital for example would be dependent upon the capacity of that specific organisation because if there was not a bed available for Sarah then other alternatives would have been considered. Fortunately there were resources available for Sarah, however the outcomes may have been different if this was not the case. 7.4 Sarah had also had a large amount of input from a number of services and there was a large amount of movement through mental health services. It can be argued that this is not beneficial towards service users as they are not able to sustain good therapeutic relationships with health professionals which can often be a reason as to why an individual may relapse. 8. Conclusion 8.1 Decision-making within practice takes place in many ways i.e. often the service user is consulted throughout their care and treatment however in some circumstances the service user can be made a recipient of their care and treatment which is not good practice. This report has identified a patient that one is currently working with and using a decision tree, their journey through mental health service was detailed. Three decisions were chosen for analysis and provided the basis of this report, considering factors that influence the decision-making process and also the alternatives that could have occurred. 8.2 Barker et al (2000) argues that the experience of being mentally unwell can be a disempowering period of time because choices can be taken away due to a number of reasons and the patient may feel a recipient of their care and treatment, rather than actively involved in the decision making process. 8.3 Defining decisions as good or bad is problematic, mainly because nurses operate in an environment that is characterised by uncertainty (Buckingham et al, 2000). Baron (2000) further suggests that the best decisions are those that produce the best outcomes for achieving a patients goals and wishes. 8.4 Sarah did feel the majority of time that she was involved in her care and treatment, including reviews and meetings held about her care and treatment whilst an in-patient and within the community. There were times however when Sarah did not feel involved in the decision making process i.e. when her diagnosis was changed without any consultation or discussion. 8.5 Clancy (2003) argues that there is a great tendency in decision-making to bypass a thorough analysis and jump too quickly into solutions. This seems to be evident at times within the chosen decisions for analysis because some decisions were made on behalf of Sarah and there was no consultation or service user involvement. 8.6 Throughout this report, the main aim was to analyse the decision-making process of three key decisions, taking into consideration concepts such as; autonomy, power, leadership and empowerment. It became apparent that they key to successful decision-making was to involve the service user and carers within the decision-making process, listening to their thoughts and opinions and respecting their right to choose between different alternatives. 8.7 It has also become apparent that those within higher positions and those that uphold a certain degree of power were leading the decision-making in Sarahs care. This is obviously not the way that things should work as the service user should be actively involved in all aspects of their care and treatment including decisions that are made. 8.8 Overall I feel that the whole process was an enjoyable one and I feel that I worked well in collaboration with the service user throughout. Collating the decision tree was a rather time-consuming activity, however I understand the importance that they hold and the benefits they possess. I have also become more aware and gained a greater understanding of how the decision-making process can impact on the lives of service user and carers, especially when service user involvement is not evident. 9. Recommendations 9.1 There should be a greater focus upon the decision-making process and how it can affect the service user. Decisions should be decided in collaboration with the service user to promote the nurse-patient relationship and allow good rapports to establish. Service user and carers should be actively involved in the decision making process. Decision making should be an identified topic for pre-registration nursing students to equip them with the desired skills. Decisions are to be based on the best available evidence and regularly discussed with users and carers ensuring that an understanding has been reached. Service users thoughts, feelings and opinions to be clearly documented to inform future nursing practice in regards to decision-making.