Popular Culture in Today’s Society

Reflections of Pop Culture on Society Popular culture, commonly referred to as â€Å"pop culture†, is constantly changing and heavily influencing people worldwide; one can hardly tell the history of the human race without some mention of pop culture. Pop culture molds and defines the beliefs and values, as well as, influences the actions of society. Social media, as well as the natural ache we all carry to fit in, pushes people to embrace and succumb to pop culture. Pop culture greatly influences what people choose to do, such as: where to eat, what to buy, where to go on vacation, or what music music to listen to.We have all heard an advertisement on the radio for the local restaurants or heard our favorite musician telling us which radio station we should listen to. What about our favorite celebrity boasting about which store they buy their clothes from? We see these people being adored by the public and want to be like them. So we head out to the nearest department store an d buy the same brand of jeans or sneakers. When we see celebrities we want to ne like them, be adored like them. In his poem â€Å"Emily Dickinson and Elvis Presley in Heaven,† Hans Ostrom says that Dickinson â€Å"sports Levis and western blouses with rhinestones† andPresley â€Å"wears baggy trousers and T-shirts, a letterman's jacket from Tupelo High† (759). Ostrom is making reference to how Emily Dicksinson and Elvis Presley are even following current trends in Heaven. Pop culture has a considerable influence on the way we, society, view ourselves and each other. When we look at the covers of magazines and see the thin women and the buff men, we think that is the acceptable way to look and work to make ourselves look that way. We see that as the only way to be considered attractive and acceptable. As people, ant to be like the things we see around us.We yearn to be accepted and have found that submitting to the current fads gains us the popularity and accept ance we ache for. In the essay â€Å"Corn-Pone Opinions† it was said that â€Å"We are creatures of outside influence; as a rule we do not think, we only imitate†(Twain 717). If someone hears that a specific movie receiving good reviews from the people in their neighborhood, they will go see that movie to fit in, whether it seems like something that would interest them or not. Someone will spend their whole life going to see the movies or eating at the restaurants that veryone else likes or other such things because â€Å"the outside influences are always pouring in upon us, and we are always obeying their orders and accepting their verdicts†(Twain 719). Pop culture is often used as a means to reflect someone's views, which are then accepted into the minds of society. An example of this is the 1954 hit, Godzilla. This movie was released with the intent of spreading the political views of the director, Ishiro Honda. However, the version of the movie that became p opular worldwide was â€Å"stripped of the political subtext- and the anti-American, antinuclear messages†(Staples 23). Americans would not want to watch a movie that was dripping in disdain towards the American government's decision to use nuclear weapons. Had Godzilla been shown as more than a â€Å"conventional monster-on-the-loose movie†, it probably would not have been as popular in the United States (Staples 723). Even today people are using social networking sites such as youtube, facebook, and twitter to express their opinions about what is going on in the world (i. e. Kony 2012). Society is also reflected in popular movies and books. Most teen movies follow the same simliar plots with similiar characters.They have a tall, slim female who rules the school with her jock boyfriend. Nowadays the enemy is no longer authority, it is â€Å"other teens and the social system that they impose on one another†(Denby 709). These movies have an outcast who, in the en d, always triumphs and, somehow, overrun the social system. These movies are so popular and successful because it is what the audience wants to see. People can relate to â€Å"the kids who cannot be the beautiful ones, or makeout with them, or avoid being insulted by them†(Denby 709). We view these people as heroes because we, urselves, want to be like them and triumph. Even books are written in a way that makes them more entertaining for their audience. As a child, you read picture books â€Å"using words and images interchangably†(McCloud 738). Then you progressed to chapter books, which had less pictures, but still used both pictures and words to tell the story, and then novels that do not contain pictures. However, today people have begun to lose an interest in reading. We would rather see pictures telling the story because â€Å"words and pictures have great powers to tell stories when creators fully exploit them both†(McCloud 738).Pop culture has a way of forming itself to fit what society is interested in. Pop culture is one of the biggest contributing factors to the way our society works. It works towards forming our opinions and beliefs and even contributes to what we decide to do, buy, eat, etc,†¦ The things we hear about on the radio, the people we see on television and in movies are all parts of pop culture, working its way into our lives and molding our society. In conclusion, the extent of pop culture's relfection on society is a major one; I personally believe that it is nothing but a reflection of our society.

Falconi removals business Essay

Falconi removals business I will choose for them location in my area Harehills road because is good busy place. Is good connection to big local stores as continental, electrical superstores. Falconi business is depending now much works them received from customers. I think Harehills area will give those lots local customers who moving the houses or being stuff from shop. Falconi can find unemployed people and give them job. Harrehills area is more cheap then for example city centre and they can safe more money from renting office or buy cheaper place for business in this area. The most important point to make Falconis business is not more removal company there. They will not have concurrency in business. Economies of scale- are the cost advantages that a firm obtains due to expansion. Diseconomies of scale are the opposite. Economies of scale may be utilized by any size firm expanding its scale of operation. The common ones are purchasing managerial, financial and marketing. Each of these factors reduces the long average cost (LRAC) of production by shifting the short-run average total cost curve down and to the right. The local labour force- The labor force is the number of people employed and unemployed. Participation rate is the ratio between the labor force and the overall size of their cohort. In the West during the latter half of the 20th century, the labor force participation rate increased significantly, largely due to the increasing number of women entering the workplace. Local employment levels- local unemployment rate may play a part in the decision where to locate. Uk currently has one of the lowest unemployment rates in Europe. However, unemployment is not evenly spread and some parts of the country have high levels of unemployment like Northern Ireland, parts of west Cornwell and the north-east of England. Wage and salary levels- for some firms wages account for a significant proportion of their total cost so a business may decide to locate in an area of relatively low wages, Wage in south-east of England tend to be higher then in south Wales. These areas tend also to be areas of above average unemployment as workers are keen to find work and are prepared to accept lower wages. Nearness to customers- There are a limit to how far customers will travel to buy fish and chips even if they are excellent quality. Fish and chip shops will need to be situated in area where plenty of local customers are. Debenhams will only consider locating a new store in an area of relatively high population. Nearness to suppliers- for some businesses near suppliers of key raw materials and components may be the main factory where to locate. Over the years a wide range of suppliers have grown up in area such as companies supplying electrical fittings and other important components. Up until 1979 the uk imported all of its crude oil. Historical reasons for location- In an area a business may be reluctant to reluctant to relocate, with all the expense and upheaval that this involves. During the 18th and 19th centuries a large number of pottery and earthenware business set up in the area because of the availability of suitable fireclay. Demographic change- Over the thirty years some parts of the country have experienced increases in population as people move into the area in search of work. These demographic changes will have a significant impact on local the business.

Babylon Essay Research Paper In what today

Babylon Essay, Research Paper In what today is Iraq, there one time was a great civilisation known as Babylon, which at one clip could hold ruled the universe and was home to the 2nd admiration of the universe, the Hanging Gardens. Babylon was located in an ancient part surrounded by the Tigris and Euphrates River called the Mesopotamia country ( now southern Iraq near the terminal of the Fertile Crescent ) . This great civilisation foremost initiated around 3500 BC and began to crumple after the twelvemonth 323 BC. The Babylon civilization was successful because of the advanced citizens, cultural metropoliss, their engineering, and both political and legal systems. The capital of the Babylon Empire was a big metropolis in Babylon, which were place to 10,000 to 40,000 Sumerians and Semites ( names of Babylonians ) . The metropolis was discreet by a big wall to guard off any aggressors. Inside the walls there were several brilliant castles and temples utilized for mundane worship. The remainder of the metropolis had typical houses that had a cardinal courtyard established in every room. Narrow and writhing streets outside the wall at gaps located the houses where open-air markets at the bizarre took topographic point. Many people arising from two major civilisations populated Babylon: the mobile Sumerians and the cryptic Semitic. The Sumerians were the first people to settle in Babylon, after go forthing their fatherland in Sumeria, but bit by bit united with the Semitic. The Sumerians made the land into a great country to farm, rise farm animal, construct swamps, and irrigate canals. These lessons taught by the Sumerians instituted themselves in to Babylonian life. The Babylonians understood the proficient accomplishments of the Sumerians in irrigation and agribusiness. Keeping the system of canals butchs, weirs, and reservoirs exercised by their predecessors required considerable technology cognition and accomplishment. All of the tools and readyings the Sumerians used were inaugurated into Babylonian history. Due to Babylon? s location, agriculture was a methodical business necessitating great foresight, diligence, and skill. As in The Ancient Babylonian ( Davis: 4 ) , a papers written in Sumerian, but used as a text edition in the Babylon schools is a regular husbandman # 8217 ; s farmers calendar. It records a series of instructions and waies to steer farm activities from the lacrimation of the Fieldss, to the sifting of the harvested harvests. Babylon? s civilization is rather amazing. Law and justness were indispensable constructs in the Babylon manner of life. At the caput of the political construction was the male monarch, a more or less absolute sovereign who exercised legislative and judicial every bit good as executive powers. Justice was upheld by the tribunals, each of which consisted of from one to four Judgess. Often the seniors of a town constituted a court. The Judgess could non change by reversal their determinations for any ground, but entreaties from their finding of facts could be made to the male monarch. Evidence! either of statements from informants or of written paperss. Babylonian legal constructs have been inherited, in one signifier or another, by many civilisations around the universe. Babylonian art and arch itecture continues to astonish modern-day historiographers. To guarantee that their legal, administrative, and economic establishments operated efficaciously, the Babylonns used the cuneiform system of composing developed by their Sumerian predecessors. To develop their Scribes, secretaries, archivists, and other administrative forces, they used the Sumerian system of formal instruction, under which secular schools employed as the cultural centres of the land. Throughout Babylon? s history, it stayed as an independent state. However, near its terminal, others began to occupy and suppress this great civilisation. Babylon was portion of the Persian imperium from 539 B.C. until 331 B.C. when Alexander the Great took over the imperium. Alexander the Great loved Babylon so much he was able to do Babylon the capital of his imperium, but he? expired? in 323 BC and after that point the Babylon imperium began to crumple everlastingly. For case, Babylonian influence is permeant throughout the Bible and in the plants of such Grecian poets as Homer and Hesiod, in the geometry of the Grecian mathematician Euclid, in uranology, in star divination, and in heraldry. More than 1200 old ages had elapsed from the glorious reign of Hammurabi to the subjection of Babylonia by the Persians. During this long span of clip the Babylonian societal construction, economic organisation, humanistic disciplines and trades, scientific discipline and literature, judicial system, and spiritual beliefs underwent considerable alteration, but by and large merely in inside informations, non in kernel. Grounded about entirely on the civilization of Sumer, Babylonian cultural accomplishments left a deep feeling on the full antediluvian universe, and peculiarly on the Hebrews and the Greeks. Even contemporary civilisation is indebted culturally to Babylonian civilisation to some extent. On the other manus the Babylonn imperium has left us with many great promotion in many Fieldss and besides made their imperium sucessful. In decision the Babylonn imperium was one of the greatest civilisations of all time on this planet. 1.Breasted, James 1959 Development of Religion and Thought in Ancient Babylon Harper and Row, New York 2.Budge, E.A. Wallis 1973 Babylon Civilization Dover Publications, Inc. , New York 3.Budge, E.A. Wallis 1976 Babylonian Ideas of the Future Life Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner A ; Co. , London 4.Davis, A. Rosalie 1982 The Ancient Babylonian Routledge A ; Kegan Paul, London 5.Davis, Charles H.S. 1894 The Babylonian G.P. Putnam? s Sons, New York 6.Jaynes, Julian 1976 The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston 7.Wenke, Robert J. 1990 Patterns in Prehistory Oxford University Press, New York 8.Jantzen, Steven L. and Kringer and Neill. 1990. World History: Positions of the Past Houghton Mifflin Company, Canada. 9.Boersma, Jay 1998 Exploring Ancient World Cultures hypertext transfer protocol: //www.watson.org/rivendell/historyBabylon.html 10.Michael Smith and Sandeep Aggarwal, 1993 Ancient Civilizations hypertext transfer protocol: //home.echo-on.net/~smithda/

Introduction to the research process Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Introduction to the research process - Essay Example These purposes give a clear notion about the hypotheses the study is built on, although no formulation can be found in the text. Firstly, the authors believe that both groups (diabetic patients and health practitioners) tend to demonstrate certain level of coincidence in perception of the issues that affect efficiency of the management of type 2 diabetes. Secondly, Pooley et al assume that the nature of the respondents' views coupled with the level of coincidence between the views of professionals may elucidate the major characteristics of a highly effective patient empowerment approach. The authors provide a good synthesis of relevant information on the previous studies thus linking potential findings of their study to a wider framework of theoretical knowledge on the management of chronic conditions similar to diabetes. They also identify gaps in the existing body of knowledge thus fully justifying the need for their own research being performed. Methodological framework employed by the authors for their study deserves particular attention. Specific nature of the formulated research purposes raised a set of strict requirements to be addressed within a certain methodological framework. It might be misleading to discuss appropriateness of the methodology used in the study without mapping the basic characteristics of qualitative and quantitative techniques utilised by the researchers. Discussion Quantitative methodology employs methods historically applied in the natural (physical) sciences. The primary task of quantitative research is to ensure validity and reliability of results (Dingwall et al, 1998). The concept of reliability as applied in quantitative research can be defined as: "The extent to which results are consistent over time and an accurate representation of the total population under study is referred to as reliability and if the results of a study can be reproduced under a similar methodology, then the research instrument is considered to be reliable" (Golafshani, 2003: 598). Quantitative research implies standardized questionnaires and methods of data analysis, specific position of the researcher whom is considered external to the research he carries out, replicability of the results regardless of the context, etc (Wainer & Braun, 1998). While reliability and validity are the most often cited strengths of the quantitative methodology, poor applicability of this methodology to studying a phenomenon difficult or impossible to quantify is considered a serious weakness. The main drawback that limits applicability of quantitative paradigm in health research is the so-called 'decontextualization': models built using data obtained through quantitative methods do not take into account certain variables that act in the real world context (Patton, 1987). Qualitative methodology represents a distinct research paradigm that ensures the researcher' immersion in the context of his study, makes him an active participant of the study. Qualitative framework utilizes a naturalistic approach seeking to understand phenomena in a specific context, such as "real world setting [where] the researcher does not attempt to manipulate

To what extent is our nation one that is unsettled in its sense of Essay

To what extent is our nation one that is unsettled in its sense of history and culture Is that something to fear, or is this no - Essay Example The typical American is an individualist. Because of this, it would be difficult to come to a precise definition of Americans as a people, aside from the fact that they live in the same country under the same government. In this regard, it is clear that America is still unsettled in its sense of history and culture, two things that are supposed to unite a people and provide them with a common identity. However, this is not something to be feared or loathed. In fact, this is what makes America grow continuously and, with such evolution; this is also what makes Americans achieve progress that will distinguish them from other peoples. Lewis Lapham’s Who and What is American is an article that points out the various theories raised regarding the American character. Lapham manages to accurately identify the misconceptions according to the subjective views of those who wish to come up with a definition of the American character but he does not go to the extent of actually pointing o ut his own alternative concept. Jack Hitt’s Dinosaur Dreams, on the other hand, may discuss about the America’s fascination about the extinct gigantic reptile but it points out the tendency of the American individual to adapt to the situations that surround him in order to seize opportunities that will work to his advantage. Wedded to an Illusion by Fenton Johnson explains, however, that although the nation’s culture can indeed change, the process can be long and tedious considering that there are also powerful forces that will arise as obstacles to such transformation. Despite the fact that the United States has been a country for about four centuries already, it is very obvious that it still does not really have culture that is really commonly practiced by its people and one that it truly American. Nevertheless, certain influential sectors who wish to address the people tend to emphasize on general traits in order to connect with the majority. In so doing thou gh, they also create the misimpression that Americans have really settled with a common cultural characteristic. Lapham explains that Americans â€Å"were always about becoming not, being; about the prospects for the future, not about the inheritance of the past.† (Who and What is American) Through this statement, Lapham puts emphasis on the notion that it is not correct to conclude that the American people can already boast of having a culture that transcends races, genders, ethnicity, classes, or religions. This is because there is even no common history to speak of. American society is becoming more and more multiracial. Even those who may consider themselves genuinely Americans could not come to agree in their interpretation of history due to the fact that they are influenced by prejudice based on their own political, ethnic, class, or religious background. Because Americans are about becoming, to state that they already have a common culture and understanding of history now is a fallacy. Hitt, on the other hand, raises a point that may be considered as supportive to Lapham’s premise. Hitt writes that through the fascination with dinosaurs as seen in the popular culture, â€Å"we sculpt their meaning; like outsized Schrodinger's cats, their existence depends on whether or not we have decided to look at them.†

Customer Strategy Plan of FedEx Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Customer Strategy Plan of FedEx - Assignment Example FedEx main metrics to retain the company’s most valued customers starts with examining potential avenues that could lead to loss of customers. The company will work to develop different ways to build value and strengthen its commercial relationship. There are four pivotal strategies FedEx can apply to win the client’s loyalty. The first is customer segmentation which involves the process of grouping the clients into segments based on their needs and preferences (Beck, 2010). Segmentation will allow FedEx to outline the major clienteles persona based on past relationship with the company. The main aim of this process is to identify what clients are committed to FedEx, up to what level they are loyal and what category do they fall under. Loyalty according to Beck (2010) is a result of customer orientation, brands in the market, the business transaction model and the client’s decision making. This will assist FedEx to determine what segments provide better opportunities so that the company can focus its resources, beneficial clients. The second strategy is to prioritize the customer needs using innovative means to offer tailor-made services. After realizing the customer’s realities FedEx intends to rise to the challenge by delivering the best value revising its service, price, and marketing strategy to boost the customer’s loyalty. FedEx seeks to elevate its staff skills to enable them to identify the customer’s specific need so as to provide them with the best solution to their need. Improving the employee’ skills according to Kumar and Reinartz (2012) allow the prospective customers receive personalized service. FedEx will revisit its pricing strategies to ensure that certain clien ts enjoy special annual discounts without sacrificing profit margins.  

Cultural Differences Can Be Difficult To Manage, Even if Anticipated Essay

Cultural Differences Can Be Difficult To Manage, Even if Anticipated - Essay Example Resource management, specifically, human resource (HR) management, can encompass a multitude of different tasks, depending on the needs of the company. International human resource management (IHRM) is usually a little more complex than resource management, as it deals with many different issues from taxation, government, culture, money, workplace values to customs and other such problems specifically geared to happen more within the framework of an international business climate than a domestic business climate. This means that a myriad of cultures, as they relate to international human resource management, are bound to either clash or conjoin. ... As P. Dowling states, "Once-safe markets are now fierce battlegrounds where firms aggressively fight for market share against foreignand domestic competitors." (Dowling,et al 1999.) In summary, according to the book, IHRM, (International Human Resource Management by Dowling, et al 1999), with current 21st century trends in place, a continued globalization effort in regard to the international marketplace is expected to keep growing to accommodate the diverse international marketplace. The Evolving Global Marketplace The 21st century international globalization effort is forcing IHR management to observe, familiarize themselves with, and provide custom solutions for similar upcoming issues for their own market sector. As this process matures over the next few decades, these companies will face many similar issues that other cross culture businesses have faced within their own corporate market. What used to be called 'communication and assertiveness' within the static bounded corporation has to now adjust to, and create clear communication across integrated supply chains, and a multinational work force, all of which can be working simultaneously on the same project. Successfully managing IHRM will give companies a strategic advantage. Companies who do not master this dynamic new facet of the global marketplace can, and will likely suffer equally dismal failure. For example, the world watched in awe, and then in disdain just a few years ago as the US space agency NASA attempted to land an explorato ry probe on the surface of mars. The multibillion dollar spacecraft crashed to the surface on Dec 3, 1999, and although NASA was slow to release details, information finally

Association of Women Police Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Association of Women Police - Essay Example In order to safeguard the interests of the police women in the various police departments present in the different regions across the globe, the Women Police association was primarily setup. The Women Police Association had its origins in the year 1915, which was just a blue print and remained in paper. The Association was setup in Washington DC after about one year in 1916. (www.bookrags.com) When one looks back at the history of the United States of America, one can very well see that women had been in the police department’s right from the year 1845. It was in the year 1893 that a women by name Mrs. Mari Owens was inducted into the Chicago Department of Police and was been given the Policeman rank, which entitled her to the power of arrest. It was only in the year 1910, which another woman by name Mrs. Alice Stebbins Wells was named as the Policewoman. (www.bookrags.com) The modern society by then had very well looked into the benefits of the introduction of the women in th e police force and has rightly acknowledged the need for women police officers, to deal with crimes related to women and children in particular. Indeed the main aim that was behind the creation of the Woman Police Association, was to take preventive actions against the occurrence of the various kinds of problems and harassments, which were being created for policewomen in their workplace. The areas that were also looked into by the Women Police Association, mainly included places of public interest like the dance halls, movies, arcades, shopping malls and all other places of recreational interest for women and children which could also turn out to be problem spots. It can very well be said that it is this Women Police Association, which has really become a force to reckon with and has straight away empowered the women police officers in the law enforcement department. (www.bookrags.com) In fact women and more particularly the police women have always felt very insecure, without such an Association and this could have in turn drastically affected their freedom and their rights in the society and at their workplace. Hence it can be said that, the formation of the Women Police Association has been a blessing for the police women. The women Police Association has grown so much in strength all across the world that, it today has got so many branches across the world. The present Women Police Associations across the world is present in approximately 14 regions. This can be very well attributed to the fact that, most of the governments all across the world have found it important to form such an association, that would be entrusted with the duty of safeguarding the rights of the policewomen at their workplaces, which would enable them to rightly enforce crime detection and prevention activities. (www.bookrags.com) But with the increasing concern regarding the safety and security of the women and children across many countries, there is certainly scope for growth for more such women police force and their respective Women Police Associations. Thus due to the Women Police Association’s efficiency in prevention of harassments against police women, the association has grown tremendously in strength during the recent years. As a part of the annual activities this Association conducts training programs as well as conferences which

Ethical Egoism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Ethical Egoism - Essay Example Though ethical egoism has a particular plea, the concept has been virtually collectively forbidden as a satisfactory ethical idea. Ideally, one of the greatest straightforward condemnations is that ethical egoists characteristically pervert altruism, the guideline that opposes ethical egoism and foundation ethics on a concern for other people’s welfares (Rachels & Rachels, 2010, 2011). Conversely, a conclusive opposition to ethical egoism comes from the author Rachels. From his point of view, He parallels ethical egoism with bias in terms of its theoretical structure. Racists split all individuals into clusters and treat persons contrarily based on the feature of one’s race but have no defense for closing that their own race is any superior to others, therefore rendering discrimination a random policy (Rachels & Rachels, 2010, 2011). Likewise, ethical egoists claim that people divide the entire world into two groups of individuals and that we repute the welfares of those in the first collection as more vital than the interests of those in the subsequent group. The egoist may offer no defense for the difference between the two sets. Therefore, Rachels completes that ethical egoism is a subjective principle and that others must be given the identical ethical reflection as us because their qualities and requirements are similar to our own (Rachels & Rachels, 2010, 2011). Altruism is a feature of ethical thinking in which it is claimed that ethical verdicts must be based upon the welfares or well-being of other individuals instead of self-interest. On the other hand, Ethical egoism is considered to believe that a person must do what is in his/her own self-interest. Generally, what is in a persons’ self-interest might parenthetically be harmful to others, advantageous to others, or unbiased in its influence. This implies that altruistic actions are not the result of ethical egoism (Rachels & Rachels, 2010, 2011).  

Construction Safety Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 6

Construction Safety - Assignment Example The main objective of an emergency action plan is to consider safety requirements with special importance given to mis-haps like â€Å"fall, struck by, caught between and electrical hazards† (CPWR, 2010), and etcetera. The plan focuses on guarding labor in vehicle traffic, providing secure working zone for cranes, maintaining a secure heavy-duty route, allowing safe carriage of construction material, diminishing noise exposure by correctly locating heavy machinery, checking carbon monoxide discharge, preventing risks of fire, maintaining sanitation and drinking water system for workers, and making emergency transport easily available. Hazards that are addressed are traffic security, floods, harsh weather irregularities, quakes, facility blackout, illness, electrical protection, material management, collisions, fire safety, and trapped in vulnerabilities while working on site. The major components of an emergency plan involve measures regarding personal injury; methods for repo rting construction disasters; policies and procedures for project evacuation; procedures for emergency escape; assignment of routes for escape like floor plans, maps and refuge areas; procedures for fire extinguishers; rescue plan; and, procedures to handle employees after

Problem Solving ; Critical Thinking - Hdlt Essay Example for Free

Problem Solving ; Critical Thinking Hdlt Essay This adaptation is tested through fresh, innovative learning environments and higher expectations. Let us first determine critical thinking and problem solving and see how are these phenomenon interrelated with each other and the role both these skills play in our lives. Critical thinking (CT) is defined as â€Å" intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing and /or evaluating information gathered from or generated by observations, experiences, reflections, reasoning or communication as a guide to belief and action. Scriven Paul, 2007, P 1). Thus simply put, CT is metacognition or thinking about thinking. Problem-solving (PS) is a mental process that involves ascertaining, investigating and solving problems. The eventual objective of problem-solving is to overcome hindrances and find a solution that best resolves the issue. These problems could range from simply crossing the road and reaching safely on the other side without getting hurt by the oncoming vehicles or solving a Sudoku puzzle or figure out a estimated expenses of a trip or in case of a child, solving a multiplication sum given in the class. The term problem solving ( P S) in educational settings would involve solving well-structured text book problems which are poles apart from ill structured problems which are encountered in everyday life. Thus we can see that in order to effectively solve a problem, one may require to engage with it and critically think about it to find the best solution. Let us now look at certain important broad themes and specific problem solving processes used by children Broad themes 1. Task analysis – details of steps taken to actually solve problems. For example a child adds 2 multi digit numbers, the actual process starting with adding the numbers in the right most column, writing ones digit as a part of the answer, carrying over the tens digit ( if it is so ) †¦ so on and so forth. Task analysis helps in identifying the exact places where child might be encountering difficulty in solving the problem, the nature of the difficulty. Thus it gives an insight into the manner in which the child solves problems; and thus provides scope for rectification. 2. Means – End analysis Using this methodology, one solves a problem by considering the obstacles that stand between the initial problem state and the goal state. The path to reaching the goal can be achieved by accomplishing smaller sub goals. When all of the sub goals have been achieved – when all of the obstacles are out of the way – then the main goal of interest has been achieved. Thus, means-ends analysis can be seen as a search strategy in which the long-range goal is always kept in mind to guide problem solving. 3. Encoding – this literally means identifying critical information in order to build internal representations. Thus it is very important to train the child to filter out the relevant data from the all the available information. Many children fail because they are not thought how to encode critical information and utilize it. Important processes of Problem Solving- 1. Planning this is future directed PS, most often used in difficult and new situations. But most often the novelty of the situation also ensures that children often forget to plan. 2. Route Planning this is done in order to select a most efficient route in order to reach a destination. Children as early as one year of age start showing the development of this ability. Example – an adult figuring out his way in order to reach a new destination; after looking at various maps. The route is figured out post route planning. 3. Causal Inference many a times problem solving is an attempt to understand the cause of a phenomenon. Humans are curious by nature. A two year old will constantly be in the endeavor to know â€Å"why things happen†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ why do birds fly, whereas animals don’t? so on and so forth. 4. Analogical Reasoning In problem solving this is predominantly concerned with systemic correspondences, where a solution to a known problem may be applied to solving a structurally similar problem. Analogical reasoning improves with maturation and increase in content knowledge. According to Piaget’s stages of development analogical reasoning only starts developing in the pre operational stage ( ages 2 -7) and gets occasional limited success in concrete operational stage(7-11) and becomes fully developed by formal operational stage (age 11 through adulthood) Stage I (Preoperational) egocentric responses using idiosyncratic relations. IA children were unable to form lower-order relations IB some children able to form lower-order relations, but unable to form analogies Stage II (concrete operational) occasional, limited success IIA trial-and-error success on analogies, inability to resist false counter-suggestions IIB consistent success on analogies, but inconsistent ability to resist false counter-suggestions Stage III (formal operational) Success on all aspects of the tasks. Criticism of Piaget – Goswami Brown reasoned that children might fail Piagets tasks because they lack knowledge of the relations entailed. On this view, children ought to be able to solve classical analogy problems provided the analogies are based on familiar relations. Practice in analogical reasoning improved young children’s spontaneous formation of analogies. 5. Scientific reasoning: Children question everything as a basic premise,they want to know the why , how of everything; but they are also hugely influenced by the beliefs that they see are carried around them. Whenever they actually do something on their own, they do develop an understanding and rationality regarding the same phenomenon. For example a child understands that sugar takes less time to dissolve in hot milk rather than cold milk. Thus, when they indulge in activities, experiment they develop scientific and logical reasoning. 6. Logical reasoning It is when a child can apply logical rules in order to solve problems. Logical reasoning requires the child to link each alternative to the main problem by strong reasoning. They may also require using logical structure If , Then . for example if a child has to climb up two floors, he could either use the lift or the stairs. If the escalator lift for some reason is not working, then either the child could wait till the lifet starts working or take the stairs. The choices have to be logically reasoned out. Both analogical and logical reasoning develop gradually over early and middle childhood whereas scientific reasoning does take more time to develop and take shape as it is much enhanced by experience. Along with certain important processes used in PS some of the others are – Symbolic representation as tools Rule based problem solving etc. Above we have also looked at Piagetian perspective on PS. Let us also look at the Vyogotsky’s perspective on the same. Lev Vygotsky gave some novel ideas regarding childrens learning and their problem solving abilities. 1. Zone of Proximal development (ZPD) This is the zone where learning takes place. This zone represents the difference the between what the child can achieve on its own and what it can achieve with the help of others. In order, for learning to occur, the elder or peer must provide a challenge that is beyond the child’s own capabilities and yet be assisted. Thus assisted learning or peer learning is an important aspect of children developing the PS abilities. If children have done a task with an adult or under the guidance of an adult (ZPD) they tend to show improvement whilst performing as opposed to those who were attempting it for the first time ( Piaget’s discovery learning ). Vyogotsky also pointed towards the importance of private speech in children, whenever confronted with a novel problem. This speech could be their method of engaging with the problem. As children grow up and get better at symbolic interpretation, this private speech diminishes. Now let us look at how a constructivist classroom helps children in enhancing their PS abilities. Constructivist approaches to learning attempt to generate environments where learners are actively engaged in their surroundings and environments that help them to construct and develop their own understanding, reasoning and knowledge, rather than the teacher interpreting their world for them. The learners interaction with the environment and with the subject matter at hand results them in having their own view about the subject. Thus we can see that collaborative learning is the hallmark of a constructivist classroom. For example – group of students in a chemistry class are learning about properties of organic salts. Instead of directly stating the properties, the teacher will devise questions which will engage the students in challenging their previous knowledge, link it to the other phenomenon that they have already been studying and generate a new level of understanding regarding the topic. During the discussions and promptings, when one student comes with the relevant concept, the teacher would cash on it and hint to the group to further explore this concept. Late, she would sum up ay concluding what the class has learnt, what helped and what did not help them in constructing new knowledge. Question – The biggest question for me is the teaching methodology. In most of the schools, that me and my colleagues have visited during our practicum, we inevitably noticed that instead of focusing on teaching the students how to think, rationalize, develop an understanding. The focus is on what they should think? Conclusion By providing them everything like â€Å"ready to eat meals†, we seal them from developing their own understanding. In a class room setting children, still encounter structured problems, in real life settings children will be coming across many ill structured problems. The aim of education must be to prepare them for encountering the challenges that they would face everyday. They have to be trained to adequately use their problem solving abilities within the classroom as well as outside it. References – Taylor, L, (2005). Introducing cognitive development. Taylor and Francis: Psychology Press. (Chapter: Thinking and reasoning). Siegler ; Alibali (2005). Chapter 10: Problem-Solving (pp 341-380). Synder L. ; Synder J. Teaching critical thinking and Problem solving skills, The Delta Pi Epsilon Journal, Volume L, No. 2, Spring/Summer, 2008

The Changing Nature Of The Employment Relationship Business Essay

The Changing Nature Of The Employment Relationship Business Essay Problems faced by mangers. Business environment is changing drastically in todays corporate world. In early years of current management era manager were suppose to work exclusively with equipments, data and systems; performing traditional tasks. But scenario of management responsibilities has been changed significantly and todays manger faces issues like cross training, personnel management , interdepartmental communication and widening job scope. Globalization is shaping and re-shaping business environment, resulting in increase of competitors, demand of new sourcing strategies and facing new markets with new demands. Irregular flow of information often subject to quantitatively strong fluctuations, controlling the flow of information is necessary otherwise these fluctuations can become detrimental. Information controlling is the analysis, evaluation and importance attached to the data that collected and provided with the data under various criteria. Because day by day managerial job is becoming more and more hectic manager needs to continuously look for new ways to improve speed and quality along with reduction in rising cost. Rising costs is another problem for the managers. Rising in the cost of services and wages is becoming more and more troublesome for managers. In current environment there is no guarantee of the employees being loyal to company, then in that case, to get more money employees ask for higher wages. Also there is requirement to keep the cost of services, provided by company under constant watch. If company starts loosing because of rising service cost then mangers put attention to solve this issue. As complexity of electronic data processing increases, security often decreases. Not only does this pose problems in the form of breaches, it also has legal ramifications with regard to license. This problem especially faced in IT industries. IT companies buy very expensive software and after some months or years new version comes up, then again managers need to change their strategy along with change in technology. Customers may want to change or upgrade to new technology, then managers has to negotiate for the money and services, this may lead to unsatisfactory customer service. Mainly following are the main challenges faced by todays managers Responding to Globalization: Various forces of globalization are reshaping the business environment generating new competitors and demanding new sourcing strategies and market. In dynamic market situations its very hard for managers to predict any concrete goal and strategy for the business development. Short term strategy may work very well but for long term, goal setting is the problem. Again dynamic market conditions of global economy make the profit prediction shaky. No one is able to predict the variations in the profit and losses, business can make. Responding to globalization is becoming more and more important; this result in redefining business model. Today change is happening at a rate that does not afford organizations the luxury of managing one major change at a time. Today managers are facing two questions because of globalization, how does relentless change redefine the nature of management and the structure of an enterprise? And what role should management play in re-s haping the enterprise? Managing work force diversity: Because of globalization and open market system for business, management has to face diversity in work force. Now a days businesses are spread over different cities in various countries. Thus many times not only gender and age diversity, but cultural diversity becomes essential to manage work force. Basically heterogeneity of people becomes challenge for the managers because of variations in the ethics, motives and working culture. Improving quality and Productivity: Main problem for the management is to decide, what is to produce, how much is to produce and where is to be produce. Management has to decide either to produce different products or to emphasis on one product. Once deciding this, managers have to make sure that the quality of the product is good. It takes long time for the organization to create a market about the product; but if there is any lacuna in quality and productivity then because of high competition its become hard for the product to sustain in market. Improving customer service: Improving customer service is sometimes managers think they will get around to in time. But that time rarely comes. Changes in the requirements or changes in the taste of customers become hurdle in the improvement of customer service. To solve this issue many times managers try to set up scenarios that challenge employees and cover the full range of customer requests. At times management also keep two scenarios running parallel and asks employee to maintain balance. Along with above problems managing labor force is again a challenge for managers. Now days there is no unwritten contract of being loyal to an organization, because of this many employees seems to be fired from the organization or they leave the organization for getting good salary job. In the absence of contract between employee and organization, employee may decide to leave an organization in the middle of project work. This is very challenging situations for managers to deal with. To overcome these challenges managers have to modify the working culture. Managers need to be aware of the skills of their subordinates and people under them. Empowering of employees is the best way to get maximum output from them. People get bore because of routine work, then to get more output managers can make changes or innovations in the working style. Along with the challenges discussed above, managers have to make efforts to understand their employees. If managers are able to gel with their employees then only employee will be happy to work with the manager, and he/she will be ready to face or tackle the challenges faced by managers. By knowing employee managers will be in a position to understand the working capacity of employees and allocate the work accordingly. This will also help for the performance appraisal and to know liking of an employee about the job and the work allocated to him/her. Conclusion: Considering many changes in the working environment and globalization todays managers are facing many new challenges comparing to previous years. Todays managers are coming up with new ideas and theories about the challenges faced by them. Inflation and changing rates of foreign exchanges are also creating challenges to managements, to handle this managers have to come up with new innovative ideas. Introduction The shift from a manufacturing economy to a services economy from production of goods to production of ideas, and from the machine age to the information age has been accompanied by many transformations. Rather than producing goods, the service firms produce ideas. Organizations in the services era, such as software, financial services, and biotechnology firms, depend on intellectual capital. People create intellectual capital and are therefore, the most valuable asset of a firm. Even the environment within which firms conduct business today is very different and much more complex and dynamic when compared to the environment fifteen years ago. Firms no longer compete or operate nationally only. Organizations are no longer governed by the business, legal and political environment of their own nations only. As the world becomes one global playing field, the environmental changes in countries other than the home country of a firm affect business decision and the performance of firms. Se veral societal and global phenomena have challenged the management of human resources. Thus, changes in the economic, business, social and cultural environments have brought about a transformation in the HR function and the roles and responsibilities of HR professionals. Some of the significant environmental trends and changes faced by HR managers that pose major challenges are as follows: Trends in the business environment The changing nature of work Demographic, societal and work-force trends The changing nature of the employment relationship. Globalization of Business A major environmental change that has taken place in the last fifteen years is the globalization of business. The world has become a global village and business has become global in character. Organizations are venturing beyond national boundaries in the pursuit of business opportunities. Toyota Motor Corporation makes cars in USA and India, Mc Donalds sells burgers in India and hamburgers in China, and Marks and Spencers sells products in India. Every other product sold by Wal-Mart stores Inc. is made in India. This is the time when buildings are conceptualized in the US designed in India and built in China. Very recently, Ford Motor Co. (Ford) announced its plans to invest $ 1 billion in products and plants in the Asia-Pacific region in the next few years to maintain its presence in the fast-growing markets. Outsourcing has made India a Manufacturing hub, especially for the automobile sector; with cheap labour providing one of the competitive advantages. Government policy reforms and growth against an appreciating rupee have also facilitated this trend. Large numbers of manufacturing assembly jobs that require low skills have moved from the US and Western Europe to developing countries like China, Thailand, Malaysia, and India. Indias manufacturing and services companies invested $10 billion overseas in 2004. The top 15 Indian IT, software and related companies have invested mostly in developed countries. Like the IT and automobile industries, domestic hospital chains from India, such as Apollo Hospitals Group, Fortis Healthcare and Max Healthcare Institute Private Limited, also have ambitious expansion plans in markets as far away as the US, UK, Mauritius, and South-East Asia. Multinational corporations require employees who can adapt to different cultures, customs, social practices, values, economic and political systems and management approaches, who can work with other employees from differing backgrounds. This has caused new challenges for HR managers. The HRM function of a company must develop systems that will help individuals from different cultural backgrounds to work together. Human resource managers must ensure that employees with the requisite knowledge, skills, abilities, and cultural adaptability are available so that they may be successful in global assignments. Foreign investment is no longer something that flows only from a developed country to a developing one. Indian companies are on an expansion drive. Indian business houses, like the Tata Group and firms like Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited (Ranbaxy), Wipro Limited (Wipro), Sun pharmaceutical Industries Limited, Crompton Greaves Limited, Asian Paints, and Cognizant Technology Solutions, have struck merger and acquisition deals world wide to become global players. Acquisitions by Indian companies have now become strategic in nature, by which they have been able to take leadership positions in Asia. The table 1.1 depicts major Human Resource Challenges faced by modern businesses in the present scenario. Table 1.1 Environmental Trends and Human Resource Challenges Sr. No. Environmental Trends Human Resource Challenges 1. Business Environment Globalization and increased competition Managing a global workforce. Ensuring availability of employees who have the skills for global assignments. Focusing increasingly on employee productivity to ensure competitiveness. Ensuring legal compliance when conducting business abroad. Mergers and Acquisitions Managing employee insecurity. Ensuring continued employee productivity. Developing HR initiatives to manage employee morale. Downsizing Managing organizational relationship with survivors Managing morale and commitment of survivors Providing outplacement services or relocation for employees who lose jobs. Providing personal and family counseling to employees who lose their jobs. 2. Changing Nature of Work Industry and Occupational shifts Managing workforce with flexible working patterns. Focusing on competencies during hiring process. Designing incentive based compensation. Developing proactive employee development programmes. Technological Advancements Managing a virtual workforce. Managing employee alienation. Developing training modules and conducting programmes to provide employees with required skills. Retraining current employees to mange obsolescence. Providing work-life balance initiatives. Outsourcing Manage employee concerns about losing jobs due to outsourcing. Managing employee morale and productivity. Flexible Work Arrangements Managing the loss of organizational control over work. Developing programmes for motivating the flexible workforce. Developing ways of ensuring commitment of the flexible workforce to the firm. 3. Demographic, Societal, and Workforce Trends Workforce Diversity Workforce Composition Devising customized HR strategies for hiring, retaining, and motivating employees belonging to different generations. Developing life-style driven perks for the new generation employees. Developing work-life balance programmes. Workforce Availability Ensuring the availability of skilled talent to fulfill organizational needs. Ageing population and workforce Finding replacement for retirees. Managing the demand-supply gap for qualified managerial talent due to a large retiring workforce. Developing mentoring programmes to ensure the skills of experienced mangers are passed on to new managers. Obsolescence training and retaining of older employees. Managing retirement policies. Conducting programmes to retain experienced employees. Educated and knowledge workforce Ensuring the continued supply of trained manpower. Training new hires. Partnering with universities and developing academic initiatives to meet projected shortage of skilled manpower. Training employees in computer skills, communication skills, and customer handling skills. Emphasizing re-training and development activities. Women in workforce Strategizing to attract and retain educated and skilled women workers. Conducting programmes for women who opt for career breaks. Providing facilities such as crà ¨ches, flexible working hours, etc. Changing family structures Developing work-life balance programmes. Global Workforce Developing diversity training programmes. Developing HR initiatives directed to workforce diversity. Identifying and training expatriate managers for overseas assignments. Developing equitable pay plans for individuals working in different countries. Contingent Workforce/workforce flexibility Developing systems to motivate the temporary workforce and elicit commitment from them Helping the temporary employees to quickly adapt to the organization to reach their full potential 4. Changing Nature of Employment Relationship Offering challenging jobs to employees. Managing rewards for enhancing employee performance. Providing opportunities for enhancing skills through training, development, and educational programmes. Developing programmes for employee commitment. Understanding value differences across different employee groups and customizing HR programmes. Source: Agarwala, Tanuja, Strategic Human Resource Management, Oxford Publication, 2007. Another recent change faced by HRM in the present business scenario is that of Mergers and Acquisitions. Companies today need to be fast growing, efficient, profitable, flexible, adaptable, and future-ready and have a dominant market position. Without these qualities, firms believe that it is virtually impossible to be competitive in todays global economy. In order to gain access to new markets and fresh ideas, companies often choose to grow via Mergers Acquisitions (MA) rather than concentrating their efforts on their own business activities. Such inorganic growth is often viewed as a faster way to achieve growth for the company. Especially in technology driven industries, where growth is often accelerated through increased innovations, and one way for the firms to compete is to align themselves with those companies that are developing the innovative technology. Such alignment is achieved through MA activities. Successful manifestation of such activities involves complex procedures and processes in order to integrate both organizations and align them as per a common unified objective. It has created certain problems for an organization. One of the problems associated with MAs is the retrenchment of staff that becomes surplus due to rationalization of operations. For example, in the financial services sector, MA activity between 1996 and 2006 caused an aggregate employment decline. Due to MA, sector experts predicted a loss of more than 300,000jobs in the banking sector between 1999 and 2002. When negotiations for MA are on, employees of the concerned firms are subject to several rumours that cause insecurity about the future. Thus, HRM is faced with several challenges before, during, and after the MA decision. In the present era, the competitive advantage of organizations is linked to knowledge. There is a lot of emphasis placed upon dissemination of knowledge, and knowledge workers within organizations. Therefore, there is an increased focus on management of the knowledge resource in organization. Thus, in the 21st century, the HRM function has a key role to play in shaping the competitive position of the organization. To compete effectively in the knowledge economy, a firm must have what Ulrich calls organizational capabilities.HRM plays an important role in creating, developing, and managing the organizational capabilities that are necessary for competing in the knowledge economy. Human resource mangers have to create effective teams within a diverse workforce; tap talent throughout the organization by recruiting, retaining, and developing people at all levels; build and integrate cultures as mergers and acquisitions become common; and develop employee commitment toward organizational v ision. Human resource management is confronted with major challenges in the present knowledge economy. Thus, HRM is no longer simply focused on managing people or confined to traditional HR functions rather; it is now responsible for managing the capabilities within the organization. The Table 1.2 given below elaborates upon the challenges facing HRM in the knowledge economy. The four major HRM roles in the Knowledge economy are as:- Human Capital Steward Knowledge Facilitator Relationship Builder Rapid Deployment Specialist Technology has had a tremendous impact upon the global business environment. Communication, transportation and production efficiency are various areas of business which have been enhanced by the development and improvement of technology. As continual enhancements are made, the world continues to grow smaller and businesses have further reach than ever. Computers The most important technological development to impact the global business environment is the world of computers. There are various programs which help maintain records of inventories and shipments. Email allows for instantaneous communication almost anywhere in the world. Besides its speed, email is easily forwarded and retained. The communication in the global business environment is improved with the use of email. The impact of computers on the global business environment is wide-ranging and also includes the Internet, which is a useful tool for international companies. By using the Internet, companies across the world can perform research and learn more about partners and suppliers. Conference Calls and Video Conferencing Conference calls allow people in multiple locations to be involved in the same conversation. Video conferencing provides the same service, but with the added benefit of all parties being able to actually see each other. Both of these forms of communication have a definite impact on the global business environment. With either form of technology, a parent company in Norway can have a conversation with a raw material supplier in Brazil and a manufacturing plant in Taiwan. This improves communication on a global scale and enables all parties to understand specific plans and agreements. Sponsored Links Import export Find quality suppliers on 20-23 Apr Register for free trade admission! www.hktdc.com Transportation The shipment of raw materials and finished products is absolutely vital to any business, but particularly those with an international scope. Transportation technology enables a company on one continent to send its raw materials or products to another company in a different continent. Technological advancements in airplanes, cargo ships and railways allow for quicker, cheaper delivery, which impacts business by making global distribution more feasible. Manufacturing Technology Increased efficiency of manufacturing plants has a certain impact on the global business environment. By having the capacity to produce materials and products more quickly and efficiently, a company is able to produce quantities needed to supply global demand. Robotic technologies and factory lines have enhanced the speed at which materials and products are manufactured. For a company to be a player in the global business field, it must be able to keep up with demand. Shipment Tracking Corporations now have the ability to track shipments virtually anywhere across the world. Global Positioning Systems (GPS) allow accurate tracking. The implication of this technology on the global business environment is the ability to let customers know exactly where their shipments are at any given time. This technology creates secure relationships within the global business field. Competitors fill a need for business owners by keeping them on the cutting edge. Without competitors, a business would have no reason to keep prices in check. It would create a monopoly which is never good in any society. When two competitors compete for business, the market (customers) are the ones who decide who they will patronize with their dollars. Prices are usually the first element people choose when deciding which business or product to go with. Competitors drive innovation and keep new ideas and procedures moving forward. Imagine if McDonalds were the only fast food hamburger restaurant in the world. There would never be a Burger King to compete. All food would taste bland and boring. Everyone is always looking to build a better mousetrap Many consumers and social advocates believe that businesses should not make a profit but also consider the social implications of their activities. We define social responsibility as a businesss obligation to maximize its positive impact minimize its negative impact on society. Although many people use the terms social responsibility and ethics interchangeably, they do not mean the same thing. Business ethics relates to an individuals or a work groups decisions that society evaluates as right or wrong, whereas social responsibility is a broader concept that concerns the impact of the entire businesss activities on society. From an ethical perspective, for example, we may be concerned about a health care organization or practitioner over- charging the provincial government for medical services. From a social responsibility perspective, we might be concerned about the impact that this overcharging will have on the ability of the health care system to provide adequate services for all c itizens. The most basic ethical and social responsibility concerns have been codified as laws and regulations that encourage businesses to conform to societys standards, values, and attitudes. At a minimum, managers are expected to obey these laws and regula- tions. Most legal issues arise as choices that society deems unethical, irresponsible, or otherwise unacceptable. However, all actions deemed unethical by society are not nec- essarily illegal, and both legal and ethical concerns change over time. Business law refers to the laws and regulations that govern the conduct of business. Many problems and conflicts in business can be avoided if owners, managers, and employees know more about business law and the legal system. Business ethics, social responsibility, and laws together act as a compliance system requiring that businesses and employees act responsibly in society. Business ethics are moral principles that guide the way a business behaves. The same principles that determine an individuals actions also apply to business. Acting in an ethical way involves distinguishing between right and wrong and then making the right choice. It is relatively easy to identify unethical business practices. For example, companies should not use child labour. They should not unlawfully use copyrighted materials and processes. They should not engage in bribery. However, it is not always easy to create similar hard-and-fast definitions of good ethical practice. A company must make a competitive return for its shareholders and treat its employees fairly. A company also has wider responsibilities. It should minimise any harm to the environment and work in ways that do not damage the communities in which it operates. This is known as corporate social responsibility. Codes of behaviour The law is the key starting point for any business. Most leading businesses also have their own statement of Business Principles which set out their core values and standards. In Anglo Americans case, this is called Good Citizenship. A business should also follow relevant codes of practice that cover its sector. Many companies have created voluntary codes of practice that regulate practices in their industrial sector. These are often drawn up in consultation with governments, employees, local communities and other stakeholders. Anglo American has played an active part in initiatives such as the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, the United Nations Global Compact and the Global Reporting Initiative. Anglo American has also contributed to the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights. This code sets out principles and practices for ensuring that a companys need to ensure the security of its employees and operations in volatile countries does not adversely impact upon the local population. Thus the Principles provide guidance on how both private and public security forces assigned to protect a mining operation or an oil and gas facility should be vetted, trained in human rights, monitored and controlled. Anglo American also aims to ensure that it plays a role in protecting the human rights of its employees and local people in countries in which it operates. The company supports the principles set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. All companies need to make a profit. However, Anglo American recognises that this objective must take account of ethics as shown in its statement on corporate responsibility: Though providing strong returns for our shareholders remains our prime objective, we do not believe that these can or should be achieved at the expense of social, environmental and moral considerations. Indeed a long-term business such as ours will only thrive if it also takes into account the needs of other stakeholders such as governments, employees, suppliers, communities and customers. Stakeholders An important process used by Anglo American is that of stakeholder engagement. This enables it better to understand the perspectives and priorities of external groups that are affected by its activities and to factor them into its decision-making processes. To support this work at a local level, Anglo American has developed a Socio-Economic Assessment Toolbox or SEAT process. This toolbox helps managers to measure the impact of activities on the company and communities. It also helps to improve a mines contribution to development through, for example, using its supply chain needs to generate new businesses or to improve the water or electricity infrastructure. They use this toolbox to engage with stakeholders including community representatives. Sometimes communities have to be resettled, with government sanction, in order for important mineral deposits to be accessed. This can cause controversy and divisions in the communities concerned. International best practice sets out a number of key stages in such a process including the need for structured consultation, fair compensation and the importance of restoring and enhancing the livelihoods of people in their new locations. Recently Anglo American has had to undertake two such relocations in South Africa at the villages of Ga Pila and Motlhotlo. These were undertaken with the support of the provincial government and local tribal leadership and after consultation with local people lasting for several years leading to agreement with each householder. New villages have been built with better houses and infrastructure and more land for farming. The relocation programme was voluntary. The relocation programme at Motlhotlo is still under way but at Ga Pila 98% of those living in the old village took up the offer to move to the new village Read more: http://businesscasestudies.co.uk/anglo-american/business-ethics-and-corporate-social-responsibility/what-are-business-ethics.html#ixzz2K6s8ohJR Follow us: @Thetimes100 on Twitter | thetimes100casestudies on Facebook

Validity is important to the research process

Validity is important to the research process Sim and Wright, (2000:125) stated that, Validity relates to the truthfulness of data and requires independent knowledge of the true nature or magnitude of the entity. Clinical research scientists are much aware of the need for validity in their research. Validating the treatment is important to determine the efficacy of a treatment as well as effectiveness and the treatment provided and its outcome. It is learnt that in 1957, American Social Scientist Donald Campbell introduced the concepts of internal validity and external validity. The study has an internal validity, when the result of a study demonstrates the existence of a causal relationship between the independent and dependent variables. Campbell and Stanley, (1963) noted that the internal validity is the basic required accuracy for any experiment. On the other hand, the external validity refers to the extent to which the results of a study or the experiments are made applicable to the population from which the participant in the experiment is drawn. Similarly, as Thomas and Nelson, (1990) noted that the external validity is about the generalizability of the findings. The first part of this essay will discuss the concepts of internal validity and external validity, the causal effect of variables and extraneous variables with examples. In the second part, the essay will critically evaluate the implication of internal and external validity and their relationship. Due to word constraint this essay will focus only on the quantitative research. The experimental (explanatory) research concerned with cause and effect by its nature, internal validity can be discussed within the frame work of quantitative research. Furthermore, Thomas and Nelson, (1990) stated that the cause and effect can be determined by the use of good research knowledge to the experiment design. According to Judd, et al., (1991, cited in French, et al., 2001:16) the internal validity concerns the extent to which conclusions can be drawn about the casual effects of one variable on another. For example, the treatment or a cause (independent variable) such as moist heat which effectively relieves the symptoms of low back pain or an effect (dependent variable). Before establishing a cause-effect relationship, it is important to find the relationship between the treatment and the symptom. The argument is that when treatment is given, the relief in pain (outcome) is observed, but when no treatment is given no outcome is observed. This provides the evidence that, the treatment and the outcome are related. However, it does not provide the evidence that the particular treatment caused the outcome. Perhaps, it may be some other factor caused the outcome rather than the treatment. For example, if the subjects were on pain relieving medication and medication may be the confounding factor in relieving the symptoms of low back pain. If the pain relieving medication factors are not controlled, they will have a confounding influence on the independent variable which threatens the internal validity. However, sometimes it is important to emphasize that the confounding variables cannot be fully controlled. The researcher assumes that there is a casual relationship in the study and claims that, research findings have implication for other groups and individuals in other settings and time. These claims examine the external validity. Polit and Beck, (2008) stated that the external validity is a major concern in quantitative research where there is a diffic ulty in generalizing the result from controlled research settings to real clinical practice settings. For example, findings about a pain relieving treatment in a study of African women cannot be generalized to women in Australia. Finally, it is a researcher decision to design a study to enhance the external validity. The potential threats to the internal validity are history, maturation, testing, instrumentation, statistical regression, selection error and mortality. Threats to the external validity are, selection, setting and time. A few threats are discussed in the following example. A randomised control trial study was conducted by Deyle, et al., (2000), to evaluate the effectiveness of physical therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee. The study concluded that a combination of manual physical therapy and supervised exercise yields functional benefits for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee and may delay or prevent the need for surgical intervention. Even though confounding variables were controlled in this study by using randomisation, treatment and placebo groups, the researcher could not overcome with the threats like maturation and other extraneous variables. During the intervention patients were also on medication and exercises. They were asked to contact the researcher after one year of the intervention for the feedback. The researcher failed to explain whether intervention caused the effect or the medication or due to result of the passage of time. Simultaneously this study lacks the generalizability due to the fact that patients had to have sufficient English language skills and were required to live within a one hour drive from the clinics. Portney and Watkins, (2009:162) stated that, extraneous variables can be controlled by the experimenter by manipulating the independent variable, by random assignment of subjects to the groups and by using a control or comparison group within the design. Masking or blinding is also be used in many quantitative research studies to prevent the bias and to strengthen the internal validity. The external validity can be strengthened by selecting the sample which represents the population and there by applying the findings to a broader group. Similarly in the representative of clinical settings where the study takes place and th e findings can be applied to strengthen the other settings. It was stated by Polit and Beck, (2008) that multisite study results are confident enough in attaining the generalizability, if the results have been replicated in several sites where the study involves a heterogeneous sample. The relationship between the internal validity and external validity refers to the famous researchers Campbell and Stanley, (1963) statement that, often external validity sacrificed if the researcher concentrates on the internal validity. It is learnt from the literatures that, many researchers have given importance to the internal validity in their studies. However, in an applied area of clinical research, the purpose is to improve the health of the public and it is also important that the external validity be emphasized and strengthened. It is true that, the researcher implements more control measures to increase the internal validity, the experiment will become more artificial and thereby the external validity suffers or decreases. Cronbach, (1982) argued that, if a treatment is expected to be relevant to a broader context, the causal inference must go beyond the specific conditions. If the study lacks generalizability, then the so-called internally valid causal effect is useless to decision makers. Polit and Beck, (2008) noted that there are many differences between the countries in methods of diagnosis and management, as well as important racial differences in susceptibility to disease and natural history of the disease. Differences between health-care systems can affect the external validity. In an article, Efficacy and Effectiveness Trials (and Other Phases of Research) in the Development of Health Promotion Programs Flay, (1985) proposes a model that emphasizes the internal and external validity at different stages of the research process and that would lead to the translation of research to practice. In a controlled experiment like randomized control trials of public health interventions, efficacy trials have a high internal validity but often have the liability of low external validity. But, effectiveness trials have a high external validity. Historically, researchers have tended to focus on maximizing the internal validity. The idea is that the inter ventions should work under highly controlled conditions than its implication to the different population groups, organizations, or settings. Similarly, Polgar and Thomas, (2008) noted that funding organizations and journals have tended to be more concerned with the scientific rigor of intervention studies than with the generalizability of results. The consequence of this emphasis on internal validity led to lack of attention to and information about external validity, which has contributed to the researchers failure to translate the study into the general population. Thus, the progress from efficacy trials to effectiveness trials has not become a reality because of the time and cost involved in the process of research to practice. As a result of the failure of this model, practitioners are often unable to determine whether the given studys findings can apply to their local setting, population or resources. However, there are several reasons for the lack of information on external va lidity being an important contributor to the failure to translate research into public health practice. Policy and administrative decision-makers are unable to determine the generalizability or breadth of applicability of research findings. In addition Hamersley, (1991) criticised that the distinction between the internal and external validity is fundamentally misleading because it reflects a failure to distinguish relations between events and relations between variables. Polit and Beck, (2008) noted that in the recent studies researchers are interested in promoting designs that aim to achieve a balance between internal and external validity in a single intervention study. Such practical (or pragmatic) clinical trials or studies attempt to maximize external validity with the smallest possible negative effect of internal validity. For example, Thomas, et al., (2006) conducted a study on randomised control trial of short course of traditional acupuncture compared with usual care of pe rsistent non-specific low back pain. The study concluded that referral to a qualified traditional acupuncturist for a short course of treatment seems safe and acceptable to patients with low back pain. However, the generalizability of this study finding rests on the assumption that participating acupuncturists, general practitioners, and patients in York are similar to those found elsewhere. According to Polit and Beck (2008), in health care research RE-AIM framework has been formed by Russell. E. Glasgow in 2006 to design and to evaluate the intervention research. It involves a scrutiny of five aspects of study like, reach, efficacy, adoption, implementation and maintenance. It may help in improving the generalizability of the research study or enhance the external validity. An Importance of an internal validity or the external validity is a controversial topic in the research community. Campbell and Stanley, (1963) stated that, a good study should be strong in both types of validi ty. The internal validity is indispensable and essential while the question of external validity is never completely answerable. In other words, Campbell and Stanleys statement implies that the internal validity is more important than the external validity. However a study with no external validity still found true relationship for the sample that was studied. For example, if the researcher conducts a study on Bangladeshi farmers in the Afghan region, the findings of the study cannot be generalize to the Chinese horticulturist in the Malaya region. But researcher still knows more about the Bangladeshi farmers. In conclusion, it is understood that, the internal validity and the external validity plays an important role in the scientific research. The internal validity establishes the truth about inferences regarding cause-effect or causal relationship. The external validity establishes the truth of conclusion that involve generalisation. As internal and external validity are fundamental to any experimental research, the researcher should aware of threatening factors. In quantitative research, the use of randomisation and the control groups reduces the threats to internal validity. Meanwhile, sample selection and settings in the research helps in controlling the threats to external validity. The strength of internal and the external validity of a study can help researchers to evaluate the relative importance of that study in an overall program of research. To balance the validity, researcher should conduct a study that emphasizes the internal validity (efficacy studies) and undertake effecti veness studies that emphasize the external validity. The internal validity and the external validity are important to building an evidence based study in the clinical research. A clear definition of concepts involved in the experiment not only ensures its validity, but also increases the chances that it could be used by other researchers wishing to carry out a follow-up or similar investigation.

Defining Identity Essay -- Personal Narrative, Identity Essays

There are millions of words across the globe that are used to describe people and uncover their identity, but what is identity? How can you begin to describe something that varies so greatly from one human being to another? Can you create a universal meaning for a word describing human concepts that people often fail to define for themselves? Of course there isn't one definition to define such a word. It is an intricate aspect of human nature, and it has a definition just as complex. Webster's dictionary describes identity as sameness of essential character, individuality, or the fact of being the same person as one claims to be. So your identity can include your name, your age, your job title, or simply characteristics of your body. These things are facts, facts you don't care to share with the world. Just as the word suggests your identity is something by which you can be identified. These are things that describe a person in terms a stranger would understand. This area of identity is proof of who you are. However, your identity is also composed of what you are. They mark your role in society. Who you are and what you do make up your identity. This is essential in the human life span because people are always searching to find where they truly belong in the world. Obviously a word that has such a deep meaning can?t have a shallow definition. The other component of identity is one?s personality. Your thoughts, emotions, and attitudes also have a huge impact on your identity. This part is not something the world can hold to be true, but something you know to be true. This portion of your identity is not something that you have passively acquired, it is something you have experienced and built upon through... ...can go through an entire lifetime and not really know how to define their own identity. In many cases people suffer through a great crisis to discover who they really are. If someone doesn?t know the meaning of their own identity, how can society apply a definition to the word? It leaves people to ponder whether or not there are some feelings and parts of life that simply cannot be explained. When defining the word identity scholars and common men alike must agree to disagree. It is a word so diverse in context that it is seemingly impossible to take it down to a simplified definition. There are some things in life that just aren?t meant to be completely understood, and one?s identity is among these things. Not until a person has a lived out their live could they sit down and tell you how their adventure has shaped them into the person they became in the end.

Television and Media Essay - Four Arguments for the Elimination of TV

Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television Television technology has been a controversial issue since its debut in the early 1940s. In order to fully understand any controversial issue, one must be presented with both the pro and the con sides of the issue. One must understand and be able to argue both sides of the issue in order to become a successful and well-educated person. Being a member of the pro-technological society, one is well educated on the pro side of this issue. That is, the positive effects that television technology has on society: Television's entertainment value, the ability to get "up to the minute" news coverage from around the world, and the uses of television as an educational tool. In order to understand the con side of this issue, one can look at the work Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television, by Jerry Mander. This work provides four strong arguments against the television technology and gives reasons why the technology should be eradicated. Through the study of this work, one c an become better equipped to argue the con side of the issue, thus becoming a well-educated member of society, conscious of the effects that television has on him/her. Mander was a poor child growing up in the Lower East Side of New York City. His parents were immigrants who had escaped from pogroms in Eastern Europe. His father did many odd jobs during their initial years in America. He worked hard at anything in order to keep life together. His father's success came to him during World War II. He was beyond the draft age, and so he was able to do successful trade business in manufacturing uniforms for the military. When it was time for Mander to pick a career... ...make lots of money. As a consequence, television must present its information in the least amount of time as possible. Thus, information must be edited and re-edited until this condition is met. The quality of the information suffers because of this. As one can see, the argument against television is as strong, if not stronger, then the arguments for television. As a result, one can now better understand both sides of this controversial issue and make an informed argument for or against television. At this point, one is conscious to the many manipulations of television, advertising, and corporations. Being aware of these factors, one is now equipped to ask themselves "why do I do the things I do?". The answer being: Television. Works Cited Mander, Jerry. Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television. New York: Quill, 1978.

The Relationship Between Richard II and The Myrroure for Magistrates Es

The Relationship Between Richard II and The Myrroure for Magistrates The relationship between Richard II and The Myrroure for Magistrates is considered here predominantly in the context of the differences between the two texts.[1] The function of each text is discussed initially, the didactic purpose of the Myrroure contrasted with the function of Shakespeare’s play as, primarily, theatrical entertainment. The conflicting accounts of certain events from Richard’s reign are looked at subsequently and the manner in which they reflect the different function of the texts. Finally, consideration is given to the different way in which the Myrroure and Richard II each reflect upon the theme of kingship through their portrayal of Richard’s reign. In relation to each of these points of discussion, it is argued that Richard II delivers a more complex, multi-dimensional portrayal of character, events and themes than the Myrroure. The Myrroure is imbued with moral didacticism and Richard II’s reign is employed to encourage rulers to govern virtuously and lawfully. Rulers must abide by ‘right’ and ‘lawe’ (l. 32), observe ‘faythful counsayle’ (ll. 35) and beware ‘false Flatterers’ (l. 33). Richard, however, is portrayed as a king who ‘ruled all by lust’ (l.31), ‘passing not a straw’ (l. 35) to those who sought to counsel him. He himself recounts how ‘I set my mind to feede, to spoyle’ (l. 37) and ‘my realme I polde’ (l.41), as a result of which he was ‘brought to care’ (l. 30). The form of the poem reinforces its didactic function. The use of a single voice results in a largely one-dimensional portrayal of Richard, no allowance made fo... ... Johnson (eds.), A Shakespeare Reader: Sources and Criticism, Macmillan Press Ltd., London: 2000, pp.7-9. Throughout this discussion the extract is referred to as ‘the Myrroure’. [2] ‘Telling’ refers to the technique of having a narrator telling what happens while ‘showing’ permits the reader to see the character act and speak. For a discussion of these two terms, applied in the context of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, see Pam Norris, ‘Reading Pride and Prejudice’, in Dennis Walder, The Realist Novel, Routledge, London: 1995, pp. 33-34. [3] See Margaret Healy, ‘Richard II’ in Kiernan Ryan (ed.), Shakespeare: Texts and Contexts, Macmillan Press Ltd., Basingstoke: 2000, p. 50. [4] Ibid., p. 53. [5] See Katherin Eisman Maus, ‘Richard II’ in The Norton Shakespeare, p. 948. [6] Ibid., p.943.

Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger Essay

There are many examples in the Catcher in the Rye, that show Holden’s hate toward the idea of losing innocence. Holden mentions a lot about children, his love for them and how he wants to save their innocence. He seems to relate more to people younger than him, whether they are male of female. He cares about them so much, becuase they haven’t lost their innocence, unlike adults who are all â€Å"phonies.† There are three main things he does and talks about, that shows his concern. His fascination to save innocence, erasing profanity, and Allie’s baseball glove. The first thing he constantly mentions is the loss of innocence. Holden seems to gravitate toward children; he shows them respect more then anyone else. He backs this up by mentioning how childrem are not phonies. Whenever he is around children he seems to curse less, and he has a nicer attitude toward them, rather than complaining. â€Å"Thousands of little kids and nobody’s around – nobody big, I mean except me. Ans what I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff. I’d just be the catcher in the rye and all† (Salinger 173) He is more worried about the children and their innocence, then worrying about himself and school. The second things hes does is erasing the profanity that was written in the school’s walls. He hated the ides of children seeing it and reading the swear words that were being written on the walls. He has a feeling that children would lose their innocence and more or less have the mentality of an adolescent and become â€Å"phonie.† â€Å"Somebody’d written â€Å"**** ***† on the wall. It drove me damn near crazy, I thought how Phoebe and all other little kids would see it, and how they’d wonder what the hell that meant, and then finally some dirty kids would tell them.† (Salinger 201) What ironic is, that even though he doens’t want the kids to know any profanity, he always swears, even when he is around Pheobe. The third thing is that he keeps talking about his borther Allie, his baseball glove, and his death. Holden has a really hard time dealing with the death of Allie. Reason being that he does not like to see a child lose his/her innocence. He hates the fact that innocence was lost, and he could not save it, because he is not the catcher in the rye. The glove is the only memory of Allie and his innocence. Another thing that pained him is that his brother did not lose his innocence from adulthood, but from life and his death. â€Å"He got leukaemian and died when we up in Maine, on July 18, 1946. You’ve liked him. He was two years younger than I was, but he was fifty times intelligent.† (Salinger 38) In conclusion, Holden’s fascination with children exceeds everything, even the respect for his parents. Children in a way do have an innocent aspect. Holden’s perception of innocence made the book very intriguing, because no one knos what he is going to do or say next. It is almost like he has a double personality, sometimes he is cruel to people and criticise them, and sometimes he is caring and looked everything in a nice way, especially  children.

Jekyll and Hyde Contrast

Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde consists of reputation, good vs. evil and damage control. In other words, Utterson tirelessly works to prevent his good friend Dr. Jekyll from being dragged into the horrid affairs of Mr. Hyde, and Dr. Jekyll goes to the greatest of lengths to prevent his Hyde identity from being discovered, in order to avoid anyone knowing of his somewhat questionable scientific work and morally despicable behavior. Much of the novel is based on the characters reputations and how they have to maintain a good public image, as they are upper class people.The novel takes place in Victorian England and the main characters are all male members of upper class London. Enfield, Utterson, Lanyon and Jekyll are all aware of social expectations and the importance of appearance, Jekyll and Hyde shows a contrast of public vs private. Even in the first chapter, Enfield is wary of sharing his story of the mysterious door because he loves gossip, as it destroys reputations. In kind, Utterson refrains from informing the police that Jekyll is a close friend of Hyde's following the murder of Sir Danvers Carew.Rather, to maintain his friend's reputation and protect his public image, Utterson goes to Jekyll directly to discuss the matter. This issue also arises in the matter of physical appearances, particularly architecture. In the first chapter, we learn that Hyde's mysterious dwelling is run down, neglected, and shabby. In contrast, Jekyll's home is extremely well kept, majestic, rich, and beautiful. Ironically, we eventually learn that the mysterious door is in fact connected to Jekyll's home, it is a back entrance rarely used. Dr. Jekyll and Mr.Hyde is an examination of the duality of human nature, this is shown through the fact that Mr. Hyde is in fact Dr. Jekyll; the difference is that Hyde is formed through all the evil characteristics of Jekyll. Utterson's discovery of Jekyll's astounding work occurs in the final chapter of the novel. We have already witnessed Hyde' s powerfully vicious violence and have seen the contrasting kind, gentle, and honorable Dr. Jekyll. In approaching the novel's mystery, Utterson never imagines that Hyde and Jekyll are the same man, as he finds it impossible to believe their extremely different behavior.In pursuing his scientific experiments and validating his work, Jekyll claims, â€Å"man is not truly one, but truly two. † So, in Jekyll's view, every soul contains elements of both good and evil, but one is always dominant. In Jekyll's case, his good side is dominant, but he knows there is evil inside of him, but at the end of the book his evil side becomes stronger and unstoppable. However, as a respectable member of society and an honorable Victorian gentleman, Jekyll cannot fulfill his evil desires. Thus, he works to develop a way to separate the two parts of his soul and free his evil characteristics.Unfortunately, rather than separating these forces of good and evil, Jekyll's potion only allows his pure ly evil side to gain strength. Jekyll is in fact a combination of good and evil, but Hyde is only pure evil, so there is never a way to strengthen or separate Jekyll's pure goodness. Without counterbalancing his evil identity, Jekyll allows Hyde to grow increasingly strong, and eventually take over entirely, perhaps entirely destroying all the pure goodness Jekyll ever had. The book portrays Hyde in like an animal; short, hairy, and like a troll with gnarled hands and a horrific face.In contrast, Jekyll is described in the most gentlemanly terms; tall, refined, polite and honorable, with long elegant fingers and a handsome appearance. So, perhaps Jekyll's experiment reduces his being to its most basic form, in which evil runs freely without his reputation as Jekyll being at risk. Jekyll and Hyde are not the only examples of duality in the novel. The city of London is also portrayed in contrasting terms, as both a foggy, dreary, nightmarish place, and a well kept, bustling center of commerce.Indeed, just as men have both positive and negative qualities, so does society. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde contains extremely violent scenes. In each instance, the culprit is Mr. Hyde, and the victim is an innocent. For example, in the first chapter we learn how Mr. Hyde literally trampled a young girl in the street and later on we learn that Hyde, unprovoked, mercilessly beat Sir Danvers Carew to death. Even worse, we find at the conclusion of the novel that Hyde thoroughly enjoyed committing this violence, and afterwards felt a rush of excitement and satisfaction.This shows the pure evil Hyde has that was mentioned before. Interestingly, Hyde's final victims, when he commits suicide just before Utterson and Poole break into his cabinet, are both himself and Jekyll. In this final act, neither victim is innocent. Clearly, Hyde is guilty of a great many crimes, and Jekyll is guilty as he created Hyde, let him run free, and inhabits the same body as the man. Perhaps in this conc lusion, Stevenson is suggesting that to those who promote and commit senseless violence, punishment will come.