Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Capital Punishment Essay - 1405 Words

Capital Punishment nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Many positions can be defended when debating the issue of capital punishment. In Jonathan Glovers essay quot;Executions,quot; he maintains that there are three views that a person may have in regard to capital punishment: the retributivist, the absolutist, and the utilitarian. Although Glover recognizes that both statistical and intuitive evidence cannot validate the benefits of capital punishment, he can be considered a utilitarian because he believes that social usefulness is the only way to justify it. Martin Perlmutter on the other hand, maintains the retributivist view of capital punishment, which states that a murderer deserves to be punished because of a conscious decision to†¦show more content†¦It is difficult to determine whether alterations in the murder rates and the presence of capital punishment have a causal relationship. The only other method of justifying the deterring ability of the death penalty is through an intuitive argument. Hy pothetically, if a person knows that murdering another will result in their own execution, he or she will not commit the crime. The intuitive argument fails however, because murderers do not face certain death when they go to trial. The long-term effects of murder seem so distant that capital punishment may fail to act as a deterrent at all. Such is the case with cigarette smokers. Any educated person knows that cigarette smoking can cause lung cancer and many other fatal health problems. The negative results of this activity are so distant though, that people believe that quot;it will not happen to me.quot; Another failure in the intuitive argument defending the deterring ability of the death penalty is whether it actually serves as a greater deterrence than life imprisonment. Bodily mutilation may deter many people from committing a multitude of crimes, however this sort of punishment is inconceivable in American society. Glover does not believe that the argument of deterrence can be effectivelyShow MoreRelated Capital Punishment1099 Words   |  5 Pages Capital Punishment Murder, a common occurrence in American society, is thought of as a horrible, reprehensible atrocity. Why then, is it thought of differently when the state government arranges and executes a human being, the very definition of premeditated murder? Capital punishment has been reviewed and studied for many years, exposing several inequities and weaknesses, showing the need for the death penalty to be abolished. Upon examination, one finds capital punishment to be economically weakRead MoreCapital Punishment1137 Words   |  5 Pagescorresponding punishments. Among all penalties, capital punishment is considered to be the most severe and cruelest one which takes away criminal’s most valuable right in the world, that is, right to live. It is a heated debate for centuries whether capital punishment should be completely abolished world widely. The world seems to have mixed opinion regarding this issue. According to Amnesty International (2010), currently, 97 countries in the world have already abolished capital punishment while onlyRead MoreCapital Punishment1786 Words   |  8 PagesCapital Punishment Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty, is the toughest form of punishment enforced today in the United States. According to the online Webster dictionary, capital punishment is defined as â€Å"the judicially ordered execution of a prisoner as a punishment for a serious crime, often called a capital offence or a capital crime† (1). In those jurisdictions that practice capital punishment, its use is usually restricted to a small number of criminal offences, principallyRead More Capital Punishment1898 Words   |  8 PagesCapital Punishment Imagine your heart suddenly beginning to race as you hear a judge give you a death sentence and then you’re quickly carried away in chains as your family sobs as they realize that they will no longer be able to see you. As you sit in your cell you begin to look back at your life and try to see where you went wrong to end up in jail waiting to carry out a death sentence, and at the same time know that you are an innocent waiting to be heard. This same scenario repeatsRead MoreCapital Punishment1276 Words   |  6 Pagesbroken to get the death penalty, increased murder rates and wrongful accusations. There are many different views of the death penalty. Many different religions have their own views of the death penalty. In Hinduism, if the king does not inflict punishment on those worthy to be punished the stronger would roast the weaker like fish on a spit. In the religion of Jainism, mostly all of their followers are abolitionists of the death penalty which means that they oppose of it. Infact, this religionRead More Capital Punishment Essay: Retain Capital Punishment?696 Words   |  3 PagesCapital Punishment - Retain or Not?      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This essay tangles with the question of whether or not we should retain the death penalty within the American code of penal law.    There is a feeling of frustration and horror that we experience at the senseless and brutal crimes that too frequently disrupt the harmony of society. There is pain which accompanies the heartfelt sympathy that we extend to the victims families who, in their time of suffering, are in need of the support and compassionRead MoreCapital Punishment2506 Words   |  11 PagesCapital Punishment and the Death Penalty Capital punishment exist in today’s society as citizens of the United States should we have the right to take an individual life. As illustrated throughout numerous of studies the death penalty is an unfair process seven out of ten deaths handed down by the state courts from 1973 to 1995 were overturned when appeal and the seven percent were later found to be innocent. Such as the Dobie Williams case which took place July 8, 1984. DobieRead MoreCapital Punishment Is A Legal Punishment1116 Words   |  5 Pageswhat the big deal about Capital Punishment is? According to free dictionary, Capital Punishment is to put to death as a legal punishment (Farlax). Capital Punishment is used worldwide, and is guaranteed to prevent future crime. Capital Punishment is a large controversy in the U.S. but before a personal opinion can be formed, some facts need to be known, such as what it is, where it is used and why it could be good or bad. Well, what is Capital Punishment? Capital Punishment is where a person is executedRead MoreCapital Punishment Is The Ultimate Punishment1704 Words   |  7 Pageswhat would you want from the government if he had killed someone you know? He should receive the capital punishment. The capital punishment is the ultimate punishment given to the precarious crimes. It is the last stage of capital punishment. There are different methods of like hanging, electric chair, lethal injection, firing squad, gas chamber. Murderers and rapist should be given extreme punishment, and they have to pay for their wrongdoing. We can observe crime rates are accelerating day-by-dayRead MoreCapital Punishment And Juvenile Punishment1631 Words   |  7 Pages Capital punishment is the term used when an individual is put to death by the state or government for the commission of a crime. Until recently, juveniles were not exempt from this punishment, however they would generally need to commit a more serious offense compared to their adult counterpart. Then there was the decision ruling the execution of mentally handicapped individuals was unconstitutional, using the 8th amendment as their authority, while taking into account the diminished capacity of

Monday, December 23, 2019

Accounting System And The Roman Empire - 1409 Words

Another Society with their own intricate accounting system was the Roman Empire. This comes as no surprise because of the scope and size of the Roman Empire; accounting was once again a necessity to a well-maintained society. There is evidence of comprehensive financial statements in the rule of Emperor Augustus circa 63 BC-14 AD. These statements included information on expenses on â€Å"statistics concerning the provinces and dependent kingdoms; direct and indirect taxation; as well as recurrent expenditures and gifts†, as well as, â€Å"the amounts of cash in the Aerarium†¦and in the hands of the publicani† (Oldroyd, â€Å"The Role†¦Ã¢â‚¬ , 1995). The Aerarium was the treasury, and the publicani was the public. These are similar to what the Chinese had because they were used by the government to go about completing the financing and running of the empire. These figures could be used to make it easier to track all the expenses and revenues of the governme nt. The government was not the only ones to keep accounting records in the Roman Empire either. Account books were kept by those look to maintain and achieve citizenship. It is believed that â€Å"men of property at Rome often did write up their permanent account-books about every month.† They were required to do this to maintain their citizenship because citizenship was tied to the amount of property owned and this meant a need to keep records of it. (Oldroyd, â€Å"The Role†¦Ã¢â‚¬ , 1995). As well as citizens, accounting was a necessity for the soldier ofShow MoreRelatedThe Fall Of The Western Roman Empire1352 Words   |  6 PagesAfter the fall of the Western Roman empire in 476 CE the European continent found itself dragged into a very chaotic period. This period known as the dark ages would see numerous kingdoms rise and fall. The constant shifting of territories and fealties made it very difficult for the culture and technologies of the roman age to remain intac t. During this period survival of body over ruled the survival of the mind. In 742 CE a boy was born into the Frank kingdom located in what would become modernRead MoreRoman Empire And The Han Dynasty Contrast912 Words   |  4 PagesRoman Empire and the Han Dynasty Contrast Rise of the Roman Empire The Roman Empire is still known today as one of history’s most powerful period. Rome government had stick rules and policies. The Roman government at this point was known as the Roman Republic. The Roman Republic was controlled by the roar Rome. Bureaucracy was ran throughout the region, but Rome did not want this nor could they afford it. However, they did allow small cities to run a lower level of government. The exerciseRead MoreEssay on His 112/ the Crisis of the Third Century1314 Words   |  6 Pages His/112 September 2 2011 The Crisis of the Third Century The Crisis of the Third Century was the era in which the Roman Empire almost collapsed under the many myriad of pressures including economic depression, civil war, plague and invasion. Because war was expensive, the Roman Empire had to increase taxes and this caused for many of the Romans to be upset and for the economy to be in a crisis. Revolts were also started because many of the civilians retaliated back because ofRead MoreThe Failure of Rome’s Economy and the Fall of the Roman Empire995 Words   |  4 Pageseconomy contributed majorly to the fall of Rome. The Roman Economy during the late Republic and Early Empire was based heavily on Agriculture and Commerce. Agriculture in ancient Rome was not only a necessity, but was idealized among the social elite as a way of life. Cicero had considered agriculture to be the best of all Roman Occupations (Sarudy). There had been a lot of trading between the provinces of the empire, and all regions of the empire were largel y economically interdependent. Egypt wasRead MoreThe World Of Antiquity, The Roman Empire Essay1678 Words   |  7 PagesIn the world of antiquity, the Roman Empire (A.D. 117) was one of the roots of medieval Europe, where romans were at the top. They ruled this enormous amount of lands, the center being the city of Rome and the leader being the roman emperor. The empire’s extensive political, economic and social structure became vital to the heritage of the Ancient Civilization. The emergence of sustainable agriculture, primitive technology, scholarly writing and reading, and metalworking had developed stability,Read MoreThe Importance of Numeration and the Application of Counting Throughouth History875 Words   |  3 Pagesparties, which is why accounting came to be. Accounting is universally known as â€Å"the language of business†; in the modern business world accounting revolves around four main financial statements. These statements are known as: the balance s heet, the income statement, the statement of retained earnings and the statement of cash flow. This however, is modern accounting, it has evolved significantly since it first commenced in ancient civilizations. Its hard to say when accounting exactly began, dueRead MoreEvolution of Management1083 Words   |  5 Pageswho used hierarchy management to build the pyramids, Moses leading the Israelites through the desert to the promised land and King David when he was in charge of the kingdom of Israel. In Ancient civilizations, the Roman Empire made use of devolved government to manage the vast empires resources. This was done through governors’ who were in charge of certain areas as we see in the bible during the birth of Jesus Christ. We can find artifacts that in old cities such as Jerusalem where we find aqueductsRead MoreThe Islamic Culture Mirrors Of The Roman Empire1202 Words   |  5 Pages It is said that the Islamic culture mirrors that of the Roman Empire in terms of expansion and longevity. The now widely practiced faith began in an area called Arabia, which neither Rome nor Persia dared conquer. From its creation, it contributed several important things to Medieval Europe and the World as a whole. It conquered a large region and gained thousands of followers. Islam began, as stated, in the desert land of Arabia. Due to the Arabs’ tribal nature, they were skilled at navigationRead MoreOrigin of Accounting3836 Words   |  16 PagesAccounting historians have attempted to relate their knowledge of the variety of accounting practices at various points of time, and in various places. It is to wider questions of the role of accounting in reflecting and shaping not only business and management practice, but also economic and social organization more generally. Finleys classic  ¡Ã‚ §The Ancient Economy ¡Ã‚ ¨ , which analyzed the embedded-ness of ancient economic activity in the social structure, and in the status concerns of the free citizensRead MoreA Public Administrator s Biggest Concern1504 Words   |  7 Pagespeople. The Romans also had a system like this, but it was much more complex. This system was under their empire. They also had an administrative structure created by the Roman Catholic Church. This structure was comprised of the entire empire, with a hierarchy of officers. Everyone also had to report back to the emperor. This soon disappeared after the fall of the Roman Empire in Western Europe in the 5th century. Surprisingly, most of its practices continued in the Byzantine Empire in the East

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Motivation and Job Satisfaction Free Essays

In today’s hyper-competitive marketplace, understanding what fosters and forwards employee motivation—and, thus, organizational performance—is critical. Based on theories, studies, best practices, case studies and resources about motivation, this solutions-focused research article presents valuable information for the senior HR leader seeking competitive advantage. Introduction In today’s marketplace, where companies seek a competitive edge, motivation is key for talent retention and performance. We will write a custom essay sample on Motivation and Job Satisfaction or any similar topic only for you Order Now No matter the economic environment, the goal is to create a workplace that is engaging and motivating, where employees want to stay, grow and contribute their knowledge, experience and expertise. Motivation is generally defined as the psychological forces that determine the direction of a person’s level of effort, as well as a person’s persistence in the face of obstacles. The direction of a person’s behavior refers to the many possible actions that a person could engage in, while persistence refers to whether, when faced with roadblocks and obstacles, an individual keeps trying or gives up. The responsibility for motivation is three-fold: it falls on the senior leadership, the direct manager and the employee. Numerous factors are involved, from trust, engagement and values (individual and organizational) to job satisfaction, achievement, acknowledgement and rewards. Motivation is essential for working autonomously, as well as for collaboration and effective teamwork. The ultimate focus of the organization is to successfully retain talent, meet goals and go beyond expectations. It is the role of HR and organizational leaders to foster an environment for excellence. Through a foundation of research, theory, studies and practical examples, this article addresses the questions of what motivates employees, what managers need to do, and what supports motivation and, thus, performance. What Influences Motivation? Motivating employees for better performance encompasses these critical factors: employee engagement, Organizational vision and values, management acknowledgment and appreciation of work well done, and overall authenticity of leadership. Chana Anderson, CCP, SPHR-CA, director of HR and a member of the SHRM Employee Relations Special Expertise Panel, says that motivation is influenced equally by the employee and the company: â€Å"Motivation and engagement is truly a 50-50 relationship between the employee and employer. Employees are expected to come to the workplace with the intrinsic motivation and desire to be successful, be value-added and contribute to the obtainment of an employer’s vision. Conversely, it is incumbent upon the employer to provide resources, opportunities, recognition and a cohesive work environment for employees to be successful. Employee Engagement Engagement influences motivation. It is reflected in the extent to which employees commit, how hard they work and how long they stay. People join organizations for different reasons, motivated by intrinsic and extrinsic rewards. Intrinsic rewards are reflected in actions believed to be important. Examples include an employee who wants to help people by providing excellent customer service or a senior manager who gains a sense of accomplishment from overseeing a large corporation. Intrinsic outcomes include responsibility, autonomy, feelings of accomplishment and the pleasure of doing interesting work. Extrinsic-motivated behavior includes actions performed with the goal to have material or social rewards, with outcomes such as job security, benefits, vacation time and public recognition. It is the responsibility of managers to motivate employees, with the goal for employees to contribute to the organization. Managers can best motivate employees by offering rewards that are meaningful to them. Vision and Values Employees are often motivated differently. To develop a work environment that promotes motivation, organizations need to know what is important to their employees and then to emphasize these factors. In fact, some companies and researchers are beginning to look at â€Å"work spirituality†Ã¢â‚¬â€not in a religious sense, but in a sense that what an employee does aligns with his or her greater sense of life and purpose. Aside from monetary gain, work provides people with fulfillment on various levels, from earning a living and â€Å"doing good work† to aspiring to a vision and ultimately having an impact on the quality of life. These reasons can change over time in response to changes in people’s home life and responsibilities. Further, in response to drastic economic changes and natural disasters, companies can change over time as well. Management Acknowledgment and Appreciation How employees are treated is a strong determinant of employee motivation and performance. Edward E. Lawler III, author and consultant for human resource management, emphasizes that â€Å"treating people right is fundamental to creating organizational effectiveness and success. It is also easier said than done. † According to Lawler, this includes â€Å"a highly complex set of actions on the part of both organizations and employees. Organizations must develop ways to treat their employees so that they are motivated and satisfied; employees must behave in ways to help their organizations become effective and high-performing. † This winning combination for performance requires a partnership between the organization and the employees. Lawler states: â€Å"One can’t succeed without the other. To provide people with meaningful work and rewards, organizations need to be successful. And to be successful, organizations need high-performing individuals. The challenge is to design organizations that perform at high levels and treat people in ways that are rewarding and satisfying. To describe this mutually beneficial relationship, Lawler uses the term virtuous spiral, a relationship that occurs when the organization values its employees, and in return, workers are committed to high performance. Leadership and Making a Difference In today’s pressure-cooker environment, performance is carefully noted at all levels of the organization. No matter an individual’s title, everyone has the opportunity to lead in some capacity and have a positive impact on performance. Understanding the value that can be achieved through different roles is one way of providing motivation, performance and thus leadership skills. A recent article published on Knowledge@Wharton, titled â€Å"Putting a Face to a Name: The Art of Motivating Employees,† emphasizes that workers have better results when they can identify with those they serve. Specifically, face-to-face interactions and task significance (â€Å"what I do makes a difference†) are key drivers for motivation and performance. Research by Adam Grant, Ph. D. , a Wharton management professor, indicates that making human connections is critical for motivation, leadership and high job performance. He found that face-to-face interactions—no matter how superficial—can lead to significant improvements in performance, and that motivation and performance increase simply by an employee’s awareness of the impact of his or her job on others. Dr. Grant has observed this result through studies of all types of jobs and roles in the workplace, from customer service representatives, managers, nurses, doctors and medical technicians to security guards, engineers, salespeople, police officers and fire fighters—based on when people can directly see the impact of their efforts. Mini Case Study In a study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, Dr. Grant found that lifeguards at a community recreation center who read about how their ability to avoid fatalities made a difference were stronger leaders/performers. Their work improved by 40% in contrast to lifeguards who merely learned that lifeguarding can be personally enriching. Grant points out that in today’s economy, where work is often virtual without the end user physically present, â€Å"it is important for employers to build in systems that reinforce employees’ awareness of whom they are helping. 6 As HR leaders work on processes and systems designed to improve motivation and performance, it is important to be cognizant of the issue of technology and how it can create distance between employees and the end users of their work. Dr. Grant suggests that focus on the mission of the organization is one way to overcome the challenge of a virtual workplace and lack of direct interaction and is a successful strategy for creating the energy for motivation necessary to achieve high performance and quality of service. Leadership for Motivation To reach the hearts and minds of employees, leaders need to be authentic with an impelling vision. It is exceedingly important for a leader of any organization to communicate his or her vision constantly to ensure that there is no doubt about the direction a team is heading,† says Ken Blanchard, world-renowned management coach. He emphasizes: â€Å"One of the most destructive traits a leader can have today is arrogance—acting like you’ve got it together all the time. On the other hand, one of the most endearing qualities a leader can have is to be in touch with his or her vulnerability. It’s that side of a leader that keeps the vision from crumbling under the pressure of circumstance. 7 In addition, leaders need to connect the organization’s vision and values to the employees’ day-to-day work and help them see how the work they do every day connects to the bigger picture. The 2009 study Best Companies for Leadership conducted by Bloomberg BusinessWeek. com and the Hay Group reveals that leading companies were focused on leadership even during the recent economic downtown. This annual study ranks the best companies for leadership and examines how they develop leaders. The 2009 study found a shift in what the top 20 leading organizations value regarding leadership. Specifically, the most valued qualities in leaders are strategic thinking and inspiring leadership. In a press release, John Larrere, national director of Hay Group’s Leadership and Talent Practice, and co-leader of the Best Companies for Leadership Study, stated: â€Å"For organizations to succeed, they will need to understand what key leadership elements are paramount in driving their organizations toward growth. It’s more than just getting people to produce the right outcomes. It’s about getting them to be passionate about their work and grooming them to handle the challenges ahead. The Best Companies for Leadership have figured this out. According to this study, companies are now focusing their efforts on positioning for the future. To do so, 94% of the best companies have leadership development programs to enable employees to deliver on goals/strategies, 90% provide all employees with the opportunity to develop and practice the capabilities needed to lead others, and 87% have a sufficient number of internal candidates ready to assume open leadership positions. In fact, 94% of the best companies actively manage a pool of successors for mission-critical roles, 83% invest a great deal in their people, and 80% promote growth opportunities. In addition, 95% use corporate social responsibility to recruit employees, 66% have a high proportion of women in senior leadership, 91% make it easy for people to work from home, and 91% have an appreciation of global issues as a key job requirement. Finally, the best companies for leadership focus on employee engagement through commitment and discretionary effort and on employee enablement, with optimized roles and a supportive environment, leading to financial success, customer satisfaction and employee performance—all to drive organizational performance. In today’s economy, leaders need to be mindful of economic pressures when looking for ways to motivate employees. Some organizations find cost-effective ways to provide opportunities through â€Å"developmental assignments,† where people can grow their skills in other areas to be ready for promotions when they may occur. A good manager will take the time to consider ways to motivate employees, whether performance levels are good or need improvement. For the leader, it is beneficial to take a step back and consider, on a personal level, what is motivating oneself. Important questions to ask are: 1) what are your own values; 2) what keeps you motivated; 3) how are your own engagement levels; 4) are you committed to the values of your company; and 5) do you take pride in your work and in your organization? By taking the time to examine these questions and thoughtfully answer them, a leader can gain a refreshed and even enlightened viewpoint to perform better—both for him/herself and for his or her staff—and be able to better optimize for improvement. By identifying three areas that need most attention, for example, a leader can develop a plan and put it into action. Employees need to have acknowledgment and respect and know that their contributions are valued. It cannot be stressed enough how demotivating it can be when managers do not recognize, acknowledge or appreciate employees and their hard work. Two strategies that can help motivate employees are 1) to provide training (including current job, new technologies and the ability to keep up with changes in the employees’ areas of expertise) and 2) promotional opportunities (promote from within). Positive and supportive leadership clearly makes the difference for an engaged and motivated workforce. In an interview with Hospitals and Health Networks, Jo Manion, R. N. , Ph. D. , points to the bottom line for hospital and patient care, as outlined in her book, The Engaged Workforce: Proven Strategies to Build a Positive Health Care Workforce. 12 Since excellent health care is critical for everyone at different points in life, employee motivation that results in excellent patient care is one example of motivation that all can relate to on personal and professional levels. How to cite Motivation and Job Satisfaction, Essay examples

Friday, December 6, 2019

Strategic Management Theory Integrated Method

Question: Discuss about the Strategic Management for Theory Integrated Method. Answer: Introduction: From the provided case study, it has been identified that the global economic crisis of 2009 has resulted in a sharp decline in veneer and lumber sales in the Dubai market. The net profit for the organisation from the period 2005-2009 has been represented in the form of a graph as follows: The list of strategic alternatives, which could be used on the part of Chabros International Group to combat with the falling net margin of the organisation over the subsequent years, comprise of the following: Shutting down parts of the Serbian sawmill Expansion of business within the current operating markets Change in the product mix Market development in Morocco Evaluation of alternatives along with their pros and cons: The above-mentioned alternatives have been considered, in which the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative are briefly represented as follows: Chabros International Group by closing the Serbian sawmills would experience a reduction in employee base. As a result, it could be bale to save $40,000 each year in salaries. In this regard, Bergh et al. (2014) stated that such reduction would help in minimising excess capacity with greater focus on needed resources. The same number could be purchased from a low-priced supplier in Russia. However, the retrenchment of staffs might discourage the existing staffs associated with the organisation. Along with this, the investment of $10 million in sawmills would go in vain. Furthermore, Chabros International Group might lose competitive edge in the non-MENA areas and the potential Moroccan subsidiary. Expansion of business within the current operating markets: As the organisation operates in Dubai, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Serbia, Lebanon nd Egypt, the prevailing legislations are well known. Thus, the market experience is of immense value for penetration in methods that would work (Hill, Jones and Schilling 2014). In addition, the costs would be minimal, since profiles are already developed about the product needs. However, the falling demand in the existing markets and lack of acquisition of new knowledge are the major drawbacks of this alternative. In addition, the existing markets buy superior quality veneers; however, Chabros require the customers to purchase lumber manufactured in Serbia. Chabros could focus on lumber by selling the same to different European nations, since it is cheaper to acquire. In addition, sawmill of Serbia has the capacity to supply lumber, since it could be picked easily. However, this is not the business core, as Chabros bid against for large projects in veneer in the past. The profit would further be minimised with the increase in restructuring costs. Alternatively, Chabros could focus on veneer due to its adequate experience in the market. In addition, the MENA areas prefer veneer and diverse range of business operations are in the areas, as Dubai is one of the largest customers of the organisation. However, such mix would lose focus on the European nations and Morocco. In addition, veneer is not a commodity unlike lumber and it comes in various qualities at various costs. Chabros has developed a positive brand image due to high quality products in its operating markets. Thus, this strategy would help in taking its products to the new market (Hitt, Ireland and Hoskisson 2012). This cost-effective strategy would help Chabros to experience sales increase in Morocco. However, wrong marketing strategy or biasness in the same could increase the costs and eventual decline of the subsidiary. Recommendation: Based on the above alternatives, the most effective solution for Chabros is to initiate a Moroccan subsidiary. The organisation would enter the new market of Morocco, since it offers many new opportunities with low level of competition. The organisation could utilise the additional capacity of lumber from sawmills for selling the same to the Moroccans due to high demand in the market. Thus, it is the least costly with high potential for enhancing sales in the long-run. However, the other strategies are developed on short-term basis. Morocco has been the strategic choice of the organisation in the long-run. In the future, it could access the markets of the neighbouring nations, which include Algeria and Tunisia. In terms of culture, Morocco is identical to Lebanon (Keupp, Palmi and Gassmann 2012). Therefore, any cultural issues could be easily resolved. This decision would help Chabros in selling its additional lumber to maintain its competitive advantage. Implementation plan: The Ansoff matrix could be used to implement the strategy of initiating a subsidiary in Morocco: Market penetration would be made by offering lower prices to enhance the market share to combat with the rivals. The product development of lumber and veneer in Morocco would broaden the scope of Chabros to find new customers and hit new segments The market development strategy would be to use the brand reputation of Chabros, which is relatively less costly to guarantee higher sales. Entry into other markets like Algeria and Tunisia with development in Morocco through diversification strategy by spreading business risk is the final step in the proposed implementation plan. Risk and mitigation strategies: The following risks have been identified for the selected strategy along with strategies to mitigate them: There is political instability in Morocco, which might limit the operational procedures of Chabros in the market. In order to deal with the situation, the organisation needs to ascertain the overhead costs from legal conformity, reporting, tax and staff compensation. Recruiting skilled personnel is another risk, which might minimise the organisational productivity of Chabros. In order to manage this risk, Chabros needs to check the backgrounds of the potential staffs and previous work experience before appointing the personnel for the Moroccan subsidiary. References: Bergh, D.D., Connelly, B.L., Ketchen, D.J. and Shannon, L.M., 2014. Signalling theory and equilibrium in strategic management research: An assessment and a research agenda.Journal of Management Studies,51(8), pp.1334-1360. Hill, C.W., Jones, G.R. and Schilling, M.A., 2014.Strategic management: theory: an integrated approach. Cengage Learning. Hitt, M.A., Ireland, R.D. and Hoskisson, R.E., 2012.Strategic management cases: competitiveness and globalization. Cengage Learning. Keupp, M.M., Palmi, M. and Gassmann, O., 2012. The strategic management of innovation: A systematic review and paths for future research.International Journal of Management Reviews,14(4), pp.367-390. Mellahi, K. and Frynas, G., 2015.Global strategic management. Oxford University Press. Rothaermel, F.T., 2015.Strategic management. McGraw-Hill. Stacey, R. and Mowles, C., 2015. Strategic management and organisational dynamics: The challenge of complexity to ways of thinking about organisations. Vogel, R. and Gttel, W.H., 2013. The dynamic capability view in strategic management: a bibliometric review.International Journal of Management Reviews,15(4), pp.426-446.

Friday, November 29, 2019

Analysis of Marks Spencers International Strategy The WritePass Journal

Analysis of Marks Spencers International Strategy Introduction Analysis of Marks Spencers International Strategy IntroductionBackground to the Marks SpencerPast issues related to MSCurrent business climateReviewing its current international strategyRecommendations BibliographyRelated Introduction This report looks at the current international strategy adopted by MS, what are the past issues of the company, what steps it took during the time of downfall and how did it overcome its mistakes to bounce back in the global market with its new marketing strategy. The report is a mix of the academic research and the case study materials provided from which the final conclusion can be drawn as to the organization should proceed to internationalization or not during current market situations. Background to the Marks Spencer MS as a business organization came into existence in 1884 when it was just a penny bazaar. Today after 125 glorious years of growth and expansion, the company is the biggest retailer in the UK. Its product ranges from clothing, food products and household accessories etc. It entered the international market by franchising in countries such as Canada, USA, France, Belgium, and Ireland etc. By the end of 19th century, the international market was on the verge of collapse due to improper management by the senior management of the company. Thus the company decided to withdraw its presence from the international market and instead concentrate only on the home market. (MS company history 2011) Past issues related to MS MS first entered the global market by targeting Hong Kong and South Africa by exporting its products to these countries under the brand name of St. Michaels. Eventually it terminated its contract with Do dwells, which in turn proved to be a disaster for the company as problems related to the local retailers and franchise did not allow the company to build a strong base in the Asian market. (Bevan 2001). MS targeted the Canadian market through family tie-ups and was successful in operating 275 stores across the country. By the end of the 80’s it entered the US market through purchasing a retail market chain named King’s supermarket and Brooks brothers. But eventually the North American market did not accept MS as a competitive brand due to lack of clear branding and positioning of its products. It was unable to satisfy the customer’s demand; also a large number of competitors did not give MS a chance to sustain itself in the market. (Sparks 2005). MS did not offshore its productions to a different country due to quality concerns. This lead to increase in the cost of production which in-turn lead to charging higher price from the customers. On the other hand, the customers did not find the product that appealing so as to pay a premium price for its products. Similarly MS entered the European market without any strategy to be adopted and mainly on the belief that its current business techniques would hold good in catering these market as well. It started expanding its operations in a haphazard situation without a rational strategic approach to it.   (Mellahi et al. 2002) Current business climate By 2001 the company withdrew all its overseas operations and started concentrating in the domestic market. It is a good decision that they took, as there were many flaws that would have taken a lot of time to rectify along with huge losses to bear. The global market has currently undergone a recession stage where MS was deeply affected by decreases in profit margins by 11% from the year 2005 to 2007. Only during the year 2009 it had performed a profitable business with 17% and 5% increase in profits and market share respectively. Its time when the company is recovering and finding new opportunities to enter the international market with a planned and structured system to target the global consumer retail market. The company has carefully analyzed its past mistakes and then has structured its plans for the future.   The next three years is to concentrate mainly in restoring its stability in the market by improving the marketing of their products into various segments and classifications. At the same time it will set foundation for the future expansion through mediums such as space grows, improving multi-channel retailing and to built its capability further to become an international company. (Cameron et al. 1988) Reviewing its current international strategy On the basis of the past issues within MS and the steps taken to cater the current business climate, we have seen the changes related to the target market, mode of entry in the new market, benefits to enter new market, rectification of past mistakes and setting clear objectives for internationalization etc. MS has decided to stabilize itself from the recession and build up its market share in the UK for the next three years; simultaneously working on rational international decisions. These measures show that the company is clear about its vision and mission related to its future. The following points discussed below prove to satisfy me to go forward with the current international strategy, as they have understood the demand in the international market and should implement its strategy accordingly. The current major steps taken by the company are: To enter large markets such as India, China and Europe etc where there is already a demand for this brand. Concentration in one particular market and finishing it first and then moving to another area proves better positioning and marketing for the product. MS can change its marketing style from product driven to market driven. This helps the company to understand the regional demand of their products and to cater it accordingly. (J MS results and multi year strategy 2010) Franchising is a great option rather than opening their own store. Choosing the appropriate franchisee will improve market capturing and sales in that particular country. E.g. to cater the Indian market MS has tied up with Reliance group. On the other hand, the franchising schemes cannot be same in all the countries due to political, economic and social factors. This could create operational problem for the company in the long run. (Quinn and Doherty 2000) Concentration on brand positioning and brand awareness is been done so that the market is aware of the different products and brands the company is offering. Thus there will be no confusing in the mind of the customers related to brands. There can be a possible threat of not accepting a product by different markets or there can be a very low demand for the same. Also MS overseas do not keep food items and accessories unlike UK. Thus it creates huge difference in the brand positioning between two or more countries. (Eyring et al. 2011) The company never grasped the advantage of patented USP such as storm ware clothing range in order to distinguish itself from other company. Today they are looking forward for such restructured range. E.g. fusing storm ware technology into jeans, t-shirts etc. (J MS results and multi year strategy 2010) Flagship stores are to be placed in each region along with supporting stores such as smaller outlets and Internet channels so that the customer can feel a heavy presence of this brand in the market. Amazon platform is currently reliable for the company. (J MS results and multi year strategy 2010) It is practically not possible for the company to perform as planned in its international strategy. There would be uncontrollable factors, which may lead to variations from its objective. The degree of variation can also determine the success and failure of the company. Adequate financial back up is needed for research and development in each particular market. Thus the risk is also high which the company is taking, if not successful in sustaining in the new market there would be huge loss for the company. Recommendations The company should offshore its manufacturing units to different geographic regions so they can cater different markets well. This will change the British brand image to global brand image. Example: Apple Inc is an American company, which contains the software made in Hyderabad, India and the product manufacturing is done in Taiwan. Thus it contains a global brand image. Adopt decentralization system in the organization so that delegation of work can be encouraged, thus involving the regional departments to participate in the major decisions to be taken. Example: Toyota involves every subordinate to participate in the decisions to be taken so that they can receive more opinions before taking any decisions. MS in an umbrella company which involves different products such as food, GM clothing and accessories etc, it has to carefully balance the brand image of all these products simultaneously. It will be a challenge to the company to maintain all the demand in all the countries. Therefore the company should segment and position its products to the lowest possible level before entering that particular market i.e. appropriate portfolio management. (Eyring et al. 2011) MS is always special by taking a step forward at maintaining a high quality that reflects its brand image, thus the company can strongly capitalize on this image for future growth. (Bolland presentation 2010) For every market there should be a particular marketing style in order to attract more customers. The marketing can be through different medium such as Internet, radio, television, banners hording etc.   The marketing should be done keeping in mind the culture, traditions and lifestyle of different regions. The company should adopt the characteristics of a multinational company where the revenue generated should be retained in that department instead of transferring it to the home country. The benefit is that the company does not have to manage the foreign exchange from around the world plus these funds can be capitalize for further growth and expansion within that region. Bibliography Marks and Spencer plc. 2011. Company history. Available at: http://corporate.marksandspencer.com/aboutus/ourhistory   [Accessed: 21st Mar 2011]. Bevan, J. 2001. The Rise and Fall of Marks and Spencer. Profile Books, London. Paul Jackson, Leigh Sparks, (2005) Retail internationalization: Marks and Spencer in Hong Kong, International Journal of Retail Distribution Management, Vol. 33 Issue: 10, pp.766 – 783 Mellahi, K, Cameron. et al. 2002. International Review Of Retail, Distribution and Consumer Research. 12(2), pp 191-219. Eyring, M.J. et al. 2011. New Business Models in Emerging Markets. Harvard Business Review. Vol. 89. 2011. Quinn and Doherty. (2000). Burt et al.: Retail internalization and retail failure.(3), 207. _J MS results and multi year strategy_(video recording) 2010,London,UK. BOLLAND, M and STEWART, A. (2010, November 5th). MS Corporate Strategy.   [PowerPoint slides]. Presented at a conference in London, UK. WORD COUNT: 1602

Monday, November 25, 2019

Discussion #1 Example

Discussion #1 Example Discussion #1 – Essay Example Historical and Philosophical Perspectives How Roles Have Changed Over Time Throughout history, schools, families, and the community have changed their roles in relation to each other. Families, for example, have changed how they execute their basic functions. A family’s role in reproduction, education, socialization, economic, and emotional support have undergone radical changes. The changes occur as the family attempts to adapt to macro-system influences resulting from economics, technology, and political ideologies (Scully et al. 2015). Before the 19th century, for example, families educated their children at home. The education comprised of training to work on farms, as well as, religious teachings. In mid-19th century, the education function shifted to schools because families could not mold children for an industrious role in the sophisticated U.S. economy. The children had to enroll for free public education in schools. By then schools could only teach basic writing, rea ding, and good habits. As of today, schools are mandated to teach topics such as substance abuse, sex education, and various aspects of technology and economy (Scully et al. 2015). The community has also undergone a paradigm shift. Over the last one century, social, cultural, economic, and technological changes have revolutionized the American community. Globalization and the information revolution have destroyed the bonds that defined neighborhoods and villages. In the past, for example, the native blacks lived in a society that observed strong communal ethics. Of late, the blacks are associated with drugs and other crimes. That, however, does not mean the change is all negative. The transformation that the community is going through is changing life for the better (Scully et al. 2015). Historical Event with the Greatest Impact Most of the historical events have had impacts on children’s education. The events witnessed in the 19th century, however, had an immense impact on t he children’s education sector. The establishment of the first mandatory school attendance law in Massachusetts had the greatest impact on children’s education. It set standards to regulate the attendance of school by children aged between eight and fourteen (Scully et al. 2015). ReferenceScully, P. A., Barbour, C., & Roberts-King, H. (2015),  Families, schools, and communities: Building partnerships for educating children. Boston: Pearson.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Task of a group leader Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Task of a group leader - Essay Example in accomplishing its objectives by correctly diagnosing how well the group is functioning as a problem solving or decision making entity and to as well intervening to alter the groups’ operating behaviour. Ideal leadership implies a forward motion of an organisation in the positive direction. The critical capabilities of an ideal leader include; having a vision, values that constitute his or her philosophy, wisdom and courage that compose the leader’s personal composition and as well should have the trust and voice that enable them to influence others. Some vital leadership conditions that are necessary for the ideal leadership capacities include a place where the leader can hold sway, a period that calls for their leadership, a position that conveys leadership authority and a people who are ready for leadership. It is important to note that failure in leadership is related to unfavourable conditions or inadequate capital. Ideal leadership implies a forward motion of an organisation in the positive direction. Confrontation in the course of operation is at times necessary and forms an appropriate administrative technique to ensure the safe and efficient operation of any department or group. Administrative confrontation refers to the encounter where the group leader encourages the members to acknowledge something that is painful or objectionable and if and when used appropriately, it is a powerful tool in facilitating the resolution of problematic behaviours. Confrontation must be mastered over time through careful attention to person-centred techniques and strategies. For example, the need for direct engagement and correction must be balanced with the support and consideration for how it will affect feelings and what it will do to the relationship between the leader and the member. The most effective confrontation strategy is the direct, assertive, angry confrontation where if something gets one angry, they first have to identify the exact cause of the anger,

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Overview of The Republican Theory Research Paper

Overview of The Republican Theory - Research Paper Example The Republican idea of freedom encompasses negative liberty, which in essence, roughly encompasses no interference by other individuals or even at least any interference that may be deemed to have been negligent, sufficiently intentional, indifferent or reckless to count as culpable or blameworthy. The notion of a republican liberty can thus be seen to be negative as is the case with the standard liberal idea. The way republicans perceive freedom has roots which can be traced back to the day of the Roman republic. According to the Romans, the simple fact of one not suffering any interference did not warrant to be considered as liberty, they argued that one could in effect be a slave without any master whatsoever, but still be viewed as not being free. According to the Romans, being free was to be of equal or even full party to the Roman law, a free person was an individual who happened to be protected in the same respect as all other persons by the Roman law and in effect was considered to be wholly incorporated as a citizen into the Roman body politic (Braithwaite & Pettit, 2002). Under the republican theory, a person could be considered to fully enjoy negative liberty if the person happens to be exempted from all the constraints that may happen to be imposed by the blameworthy or intentional actions of others in choosing specific given options. These options may include things such as hobbies which he is able to perform with his own intelligence and strength, in effect, these options are those things that the person is capable of doing without any benefit from any unique circumstances or from any of his colleagues. An individual may be said to enjoy full dominion if the person happens to enjoy the same prospects of liberty as all the other citizens, if it is common knowledge to all that the person enjoys this

Monday, November 18, 2019

Critical Literature Review (50%) - each student will choose a Essay

Critical Literature Review (50%) - each student will choose a particular International Marketing topic from the syllabus (severa - Essay Example The marketing mix commonly referred to as the 4Ps includes product, price, place, and promotion. It is noted that for a company to satisfy the needs of its customers, it must ensure that products of the right quality and quantity are developed, charged reasonable prices, found at the right place, as well as ensuring that the existence of the goods is made known to customers through promotion. This paper will discuss the marketing mix (4Ps) as well as the importance of the augmented product model with reference to the real world examples (Gitman and McDaniel 2008, p.13). Product The 4Ps of the marketing mix consist of the product, price, place, and promotion. The poduct is one of the most fundamental elements of the marketing mix that managers must take into consideration when making marketing decisions. The product in this case is the physical service or good that a company offers to customers. The basic elements of a product include function, packaging, appearance, and warranty amon g others. Therefore, the product that a company intends to deal with should satisfy the customer’s requirements in terms of quality, quantity, and appearance. Ensuring that these basic elements of a product are met will make a company competitive because of the fact that many customers will prefer the company’s products to those of other competitors in the market (Lamb, Hair, and MacDaniel 2008, p.56). Samsung is one of the electronic companies that operate in a very competitive environment. As such, the company understands that to remain competitive, it must offer products that compete favorable with other companies. To achieve this, Samsung has focused on manufacturing high quality products that satisfy the needs of its customers. Most of Samsung’s products are said to be of high quality with regards to proper functionality and appearance. In addition, the company provides a warranty of not less than one year for all its products. For example, one of the compa ny’s latest iPhone 5 is just amazing in terms of quality and functionally. The company reveals that the iPhone 5 started receiving orders even before its launch because of its quality and functionality (Page, 2013). General Motors is another company that performs very well in the automobile industry due to the high performance of its products. General Motors operates in a very competitive environment. As such, the only way to remain relevant is to concentrate on the manufacture of cars of high quality that satisfies the need of customers. According to Tehrani (2008 p. 8) a product is best described in three concentric circles namely the core product, augmented product and the Uber product. He observed that the core product is found at the center of the concentric circle and is meant to satisfy the pressing needs for which the product in developed. Then there is the augmented product consisting of the core product and other features that ensure that the product become more fun ctional. Finally, there is the Uber product, which consists of all other intangible features added to the product such as the brand promise. The concentric model of a product can be illustrated using the mobile phone marketing. In this regard, the mobile phone becomes the core product while the augmented products will include other features such as the product warranty and after sales services. The Uber product in this case could include the customization of the

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Social Responsibility And Performance Of Unilever Corporation Environmental Sciences Essay

Social Responsibility And Performance Of Unilever Corporation Environmental Sciences Essay Consumers today are progressively watchful and conscious of social performance undertaken by large corporations on how they conduct their business activities. As we all know, social performance of a corporation is heavily stressed upon and people in general have high expectations on of a companys corporate social performance (CSR) (Golob, Lah and Janccaroniccaron 2008). Lets not forget that whenever a business operates, it will somehow bring both positive and negative impact towards society. Unilever is an Anglo-Dutch multinational corporation that owns many of the worlds consumer products brands in foods, beverages, cleaning agents and personal care products also faces consequences for their business operation while portraying social performance in the society. This assignment will talk about the Corporate Social Responsibilities of Unilever towards the environment. Corporate social Responsibilities are the responsibilities of an organization toward the society to meet the standard of ethics towards investors, customers, employees, business partners, local communities, the environment and society at large. (Berkhout 2005) unilever-logo.jpg Unilever is the first Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) Company who adopts paper sourcing policy to meet sustainability goals. This means that the company is trying to source all its products, paper and board packaging from a sustainably managed forests or recycled material within a clearly time frame. (Anne Marie Mohan 2010) Sustainable paper and board packaging sourcing policy are one of the Unilevers dedications to double the size of the business in the mean time trying to reduce the environmental impact. The policy outlines the companys goal to work with its suppliers to source 75% of its paper and board packaging from sustainably managed forests or from recycled material by 2015, increasing to 100% by 2020. (Raz Godelnik 2010) For the companys requirements for paper from virgin sources, preference will be given to supplies delivered through the Forest Stewardship Council certification scheme. Unilever also accept other national schemes under the framework of international Forest Management Certification standards, provided they comply with the Policys Implementation Guidelines. The move means the logos of the acceptable forest management certification schemes will begin to appear on the packaging of Unilevers portfolio of brands as progress is made toward reaching the target, and in order to increase consumer awareness and promote the expansion of certified forests in the world. As such it is important that Unilever promote sustainable forestry practices and help combat deforestation and climate change through the responsible sourcing of these materials. (Anne Marie Mohan 2010) Another important part which Unilever practice to protect the environment is the Unilevers water approach Sustainable Water Integrated Catchment Management (SWIM) principles. The SWIM principles is developed with the help of UK sustainability organization forum for the future. Water is vital to all sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing and also human consumption. The SWIM principles include a useful approach to help Unilever and Unilevers partners to make sure that the community water partnerships they engage in are effective and successful. Unilever had adopted four villages along the Brantas River when the Clean Brantas Project was launched in July 2001. Unilever had work corporately with the NGOs and government agencies to improve the sanitation system recycling, tree replanting and environmental awareness. As a result of these initiatives, the river now can generates income for the villages through small-scale fish farming and cultivation of Java Noni fruit crops for export. (Catherine Dowdney n.d) An important part of Unilevers approach to water is our Sustainable Water Integrated Catchment Management (SWIM) principles, which were developed with the assistance of the UK sustainability organisation Forum for the Future. These recognise that competing demands for water for agriculture, manufacturing and human consumption and the need to sustain a healthy environment mean that society needs to adopt a more integrated approach to water management. The SWIM principles incorporate a practical approach to helping Unilever and our partners ensure that the community water partnerships we engage in are effective and successful. As part of the Clean Brantas Project launched in July 2001, Unilever Indonesia has adopted four villages along the Brantas River. The company works in partnership with these communities, a local university, NGOs and government agencies to improve environmental awareness, sanitation systems, waste management and recycling, tree planting and housing development along the riverbank. As a result of these initiatives, the river now generates income for the villages through small-scale fish farming and cultivation of Java Noni fruit crops for export. It is hoped that the Village Adoption Programme will be expanded by other local companies to include more villages along the river. (Catherine Dowdney n.d) A Unilever plant in Ontario, Canada, has an ongoing campaign to improve energy efficiency to help manage rising and unpredictable energy prices. This plant produces margarine and vegetable oils products which require high energy expenditure costs. In order to achieve a 6% reduction of energy consumption per year the plants energy team has implemented and invest in new technology called a reverse osmosis (RO) system that would enable an improvement in the efficiency of the steam plant operations. ((Cost savings and reduced environmental impact through lower energy and water consumption 2009) By converting to the RO system, the plant had consumed 13 million gallons less municipal water and 8% less natural gas. The plant also cut down 240,000 pound volume of chemicals into the sanitary sewer. As a result of consuming fewer chemicals, the environmental impact of producing and transporting them was reduced too. The RO system qualified the plant for a $50,000 incentive grant from the city of Toronto for decreased water consumption and a $14,000 incentive grant from the local gas utility. According to Unilever, the project has lead to the company reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 1.6 million tonnes as well as cutting other greenhouse gases. (Cost savings and reduced environmental impact through lower energy and water consumption 2009) Unilever factories in South Africa had been starting to divert food waste to make compost used in community and reducing waste sent to landfill. Food-grade waste that was once sent to landfill is now helping fertilize the vegetables and provide an income for poor communities in South Africa. Under project Triple R (reduce, reuse, and recycle) that was launched in 2005, Unilever Foods factories in Pietermaritzburg and Durban (Avenue East and Fountain Park) send all their waste food material to municipal composting facilities. Between 2004 and 2006, Pietermaritzburg and Avenue East halved the amount of food waste sent to landfill, cutting waste disposal costs by a third. (Composting waste material for community gardens 2010.) In a separate initiative, Unilever Brazil has committed to recycle laminated packaging material such as toothpaste tubes. It has been working with five small companies to collect and find a use for the material. When food and drink pouches, sachets and toothpaste tubes are manufactured, small amounts of plastic are cut off and discarded. The waste material is combined with laminated consumer waste. It is mixed and ground down before being heated and compressed in special ovens. The material can be shaped in special molds or, once cooled down, cut into different sizes. It is used to make furniture and building materials that can be sold by the recycling companies involved, generating income and jobs. The first products to be made were roof tiles. Since then, the material has been used to create products such floor tiles, tables and chairs, some of which have been used by Unilever Brazil to equip other community projects. The project depends on a readily available supply of laminate ma terial. Unilever has been encouraging consumers to recycle their laminated waste packaging at the community recycling stations. (Recycling consumer waste 2010) At February 10, 2010 the California Air Resources Board penalize Unilever $1.3 million last month for illegal consumer products sales between 2006 and 2008. Conopco, Unilevers parent company, sold, supplied and offered for sale in California more than 2.8 million units of deodorant body spray that failed to meet clean air standards for aerosol deodorants. The violations resulted in significant excess emissions from volatile organic compounds. These emissions contribute to ground-level ozone, or smog.   Exposure to ozone can cause lung inflammation, impaired breathing, coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and worsening of asthma symptoms.   Over 90 percent of Californians still breathe unhealthy air at some time during the year. Conopco cooperated in the investigation and will make two equal payments of $650,000 into the California Air Pollution Control Fund for projects and research to improve Californias air quality. (Dimitri Stanich 2010) Surprise spot checks by the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) found that multinational Unilever discharged waste containing banned chemical substances. Unilever s plan in Hefei (Anhui), which manufactures well-known household brands such as Dove, Lux, Kelloggs and Lipton, was fined 150,000 yuan and ordered to remedy the situation. The pipe suspected of carrying the substandard water was disabled, a chemical oxygen demand (COD) monitor was installed and water treatment facilities have been upgraded. The mainlands rapid industrialisation has been pressing on at a huge environmental cost, with up to 70 per cent of its waterways polluted and air quality in its biggest cities among the worlds worst. In March 2001, Greenpeace and Palni Hills Conservation Council reported that Hindustan Unilever (HUL), a subsidiary of Unilever, had allowed 7.4 tonnes of mercury contaminated glass waste from their thermometer factory to be dumped on a scrap yard about 3 km away from the factory. The exposure, which spurred 400 area residents as well as members of Greenpeace India to protest at the factory gates, marked the beginning of an ongoing saga of dishonesty and botched cover-up efforts by Unilever. They also warned that contaminated waste had been dumped behind the factory wall onto the slopes leading to Pambar Shola, an important and protected nature sanctuary. The factory was immediately shut down by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB). Data later provided by the company estimated that over 17 years a total of 1.3 tonnes of mercury had leaked into the Shola forest, a type of high-altitude stunted evergreen forest peculiar to the Western Ghats of South India. A further 366 kg wa s estimated to have contaminated the soil on the factory premises. (Indo-Asian News 2003) It is commonly known that as little as 1 gram of mercury deposited annually in a lake can, in the long term, contaminate a lake spread over 25 acres to the extent that fish from the lake are rendered unfit for human consumption. Mercury, which Unilever is accused of handling without taking environmental or worker safety precautions, is a toxic metal that converts to deadlier forms such as methyl mercury when released into the environment. Mercury accumulates in the liver, kidneys, brain and blood and can cause birth defects and serious disorders of the nervous system and kidneys. (Nityanand Jayaraman n.d.)

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Wolff’s View on Feminine Sexuality in Chopin’s The Awakening :: Chopin Awakening

Wolff’s View on Feminine Sexuality in Chopin’s The Awakening In her essay â€Å"Un-Utterable Longing: The Discourse of Feminine Sexuality in Kate Chopin’s The Awakening† Cynthia Griffin Wolff sees the lack of a language—for Edna Pontellier’s sexual desires in particular and female sexuality in general—as the main theme in Chopin’s novel. She particularly looks at how issues of sexuality remain unsaid in the novel, or how they are expressed in a different way, because of the lack of a language of feminine sexuality. As Ross C Murfin points out in his introduction to this essay, Wolff combines several theoretical perspectives such as feminism, gender studies, new historicism, psychoanalytic criticism, and deconstruction (376). Wolff introduces her thesis in her initial discussion of the opening passage of The Awakening stressing the fact that the parrot has no language of its own. She remarks that â€Å"there is a sense of enigma (or fraud) about this bird who seems able to communicate but is not† (376). Similarly the main character Edna Pontellier can’t communicate her needs. The first part of Wolff’s essay is a six-page assessment of the image of women current at the end of the nineteenth century showing the lack of a language for intimacy and sexuality. She looks specifically at the work of William Acton, an author widely read at the time. According to him women didn’t have sexual feelings of any kind; hence he saw no reason to talk about those issues. Wolff criticizes that this false image of women as a-sexual beings created by writers such as Acton also mislead the men of that time in their perception of women. Wolff argues that a â€Å"vernacular of ‘motherhood’† (386) replaced the missing language of intimacy and sexuality. In this context she refers to the passage when Là ©once comes home, Edna rejects his advances, and instead of reproaching her of neglecting her marital duties, he blames her for not taking care of the children. Là ©once turns the disappointment of the rejection into a reproach of neglected moth erly duties. According to Wolff, the true subject of Chopin’s novel, â€Å"may be less the particular dilemma of Mrs. Pontellier than the larger problems of female narrative that it reflects; and if Edna’s poignant fate is in part a reflection of her own habits, it is also, in equal part, a measure of society’s failure to allow its women a language of their own† (388).

Monday, November 11, 2019

Playing games teaches us about life Essay

People find themselves playing games throughout their entire lives. Games are essential to both children and adults since they teach people about life in a variety of ways. By playing games we can set our future dreams, reflect on our personal traits, and learn life-long morals. First, children can determine their future goals through playing games. For instance, a girl with childhood memories of dressing up her dolls or designing doll clothes with paper may choose to become a fashion designer. Likewise, a soldier can state his reason for joining the army as the shooting games he played as a young child. In both cases, the role of games extends from mere entertainment to a major contributing factor of one’s future dreams. Second, while playing games, people are given the chance to reflect on their characteristics. To be more specific, one can evaluate their sportsmanship and teamwork while playing a soccer game, both of which play an important role in succeeding later in life. Moreover, games make it possible for others to comment on your personal traits, which can promote healthy and good behavior in your relationships with people. Last, games teach people life long morals. A simple board game can teach someone to gracefully accept defeat, learn that cheating should be avoided, and enjoy the taste of victory when won fair and square. All of these morals end up playing a significant role in how we think and act in society. In conclusion, playing games teaches us about life in various ways. Playing games provides guidance in setting our future goals, allows people to reflect on personal characteristics, and teach life long morals that contribute to a person’s success in society.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Brief Biography of Adolf Hitler essays

Brief Biography of Adolf Hitler essays Adolf Hitler was a brilliant man, but his twisted thoughts and hunger for power was the key to his downfall. Most people do not realize how intelligent he was. But how many people could turn a country like Germany, with its economy in ruins, into a great empire that would rival the rest of the world's super-powers such as the United States, Great Britain, and France. Hitler attained political power through his association with the Nazi party and his skillfulness as a politician. In 1930, Hitler moved to Munich, Germany. The Austrian Army called on him for a physical examination, but was found unfit for service. World War I began in August of 1914. Hitler immediately volunteered for service in the German Army and was accepted. He served bravely as a messenger on the Western Front for most of the war, taking part in some of the bloodiest battles. He was wounded and twice decorated for bravery. When Germany surrendered in 1918, he was in a military hospital recovering from temporary blindness that resulted from his exposure to mustard gas in an ill-planned mustard gas attack on the Americans. He was deeply shaken by news of the armistice. He believed that the unity of that German nation was threatened, and that he must attempt to save Germany. After World War I, Germany was forced to sign the Treaty of Versailles. The treaty held Germany responsible for the war. It stripped the nation of much territory and restricted the German Army to 100,000 men. The harshest part was the enormous payments for war damages. The demands were so great that the German government went deep into debt. This angered the German people, and Hitler as well. After healing from the mustard gas, he returned to Munich. Six months before leaving the army, Adolf began attending meetings of a small nationalist group called the German Worker's Party. Later this group becomes known as the Nazi Party. In March 1920 Adolf leaves the army. ...

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Free Essays on Population Problem

Two hundred years ago, Thomas Malthus, in An Essay on the Principle of Population, reached the conclusion that the number of people in the world will increase exponentially, while the ability to feed these people will only increase arithmetically (21). Current evidence shows that this theory may not be far from the truth. For example, between 1950 and 1984, the total amount of grain produced more than doubled, much more than the increase in population in those 34 years. More recently though, these statistics have become reversed. From 1950 to 1984, the amount of grain increased at 3 percent annually. Yet, from 1984 to 1993, grain production had grown at barely 1 percent per year, a decrease in grain production per person of 12 percent (Brown 31). Also strengthening to Malthus’ argument is the theory that the world population will increase to over 10 billion by 2050, two times what it was in 1990 (Bongaarts 36). Demographers predict that 2.8 billion people were added to the world population between 1950 and 1990, an average of 70,000 a year. Between 1990 and 2030, it is estimated that another 3.6 billion will be added, an average of 90,000 a year (Brown 31). Moreover, in the 18th century, the world population growth was 0.34%; it increased to 0.54% in the 19th century and in the first half of the 20th century to 0.84% (Weiskel 40). Neo-Malthusians base their arguments on the teachings of Thomas Malthus. Of the Neo-Malthusians, Garrett Hardin is one of the most prominent and controversial. Hardin’s essays discuss the problem of overpopulation and the effects it will have on the future. In Lifeboat Ethics, he concludes that continuous increases in population will have disastrous outcomes. Neo-Malthusian arguments come under much scrutiny by those who believe that the population explosion is only a myth. Those who hold these beliefs state that the evidence Neo-Malthusians use to justify their views is far from conclusive. Critics ... Free Essays on Population Problem Free Essays on Population Problem Two hundred years ago, Thomas Malthus, in An Essay on the Principle of Population, reached the conclusion that the number of people in the world will increase exponentially, while the ability to feed these people will only increase arithmetically (21). Current evidence shows that this theory may not be far from the truth. For example, between 1950 and 1984, the total amount of grain produced more than doubled, much more than the increase in population in those 34 years. More recently though, these statistics have become reversed. From 1950 to 1984, the amount of grain increased at 3 percent annually. Yet, from 1984 to 1993, grain production had grown at barely 1 percent per year, a decrease in grain production per person of 12 percent (Brown 31). Also strengthening to Malthus’ argument is the theory that the world population will increase to over 10 billion by 2050, two times what it was in 1990 (Bongaarts 36). Demographers predict that 2.8 billion people were added to the world population between 1950 and 1990, an average of 70,000 a year. Between 1990 and 2030, it is estimated that another 3.6 billion will be added, an average of 90,000 a year (Brown 31). Moreover, in the 18th century, the world population growth was 0.34%; it increased to 0.54% in the 19th century and in the first half of the 20th century to 0.84% (Weiskel 40). Neo-Malthusians base their arguments on the teachings of Thomas Malthus. Of the Neo-Malthusians, Garrett Hardin is one of the most prominent and controversial. Hardin’s essays discuss the problem of overpopulation and the effects it will have on the future. In Lifeboat Ethics, he concludes that continuous increases in population will have disastrous outcomes. Neo-Malthusian arguments come under much scrutiny by those who believe that the population explosion is only a myth. Those who hold these beliefs state that the evidence Neo-Malthusians use to justify their views is far from conclusive. Critics ...

Monday, November 4, 2019

What is the relationship between the median household income and Article

What is the relationship between the median household income and student scores - Article Example Also, the number of dropouts and ones with college degrees is also less. On the other hand, Hartford which has the lowest median household income ($38,711) has 46 percent of children in poverty the percentage of adults with college degrees is only 7 percent and many lack even a diploma from school. The data also states that the majority of the students from the Gull Lake are placed among the region’s top test scores while the students from Hartford struggle. This data implies that the better the median household income better will the academic performance of the students. Another important indicator of how a better median household income will lead to better scores is the effect of income on the SAT scores. Data from numerous attempts suggest that the students with a better family income get better scores. The reason behind this is that the students with better median household income get better access to various resources like books, tutorials, etc which helps them to get better scores when compared to those with low median household income who have limited access to such resources (Elert,

Saturday, November 2, 2019

D2 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

D2 - Assignment Example During his voyage he and his three ships stopped at a place called Ballast Point. Although the Spanish ships would frequently sail down the coast of California as they came from Philippines with treasure, it took them a period of approximately 200 years before they settled there. The reason why Spain decided to settle in California was that they saw Russia as a potential threat to them. This is because the Russian traders were moving down the coast from Bering Sea and had reached Farallon Islands by 1765 which were off of San Francisco. Spain planned on colonizing Alta California as a means of keeping the Russians away from it. The plan was drawn up by Inspector-General Josà © de Gà ¡lvez, the project was led by Don Gaspà ¡r de Portolà ¡ whereas Blessed Junipero Serra was the one in charge of the missionaries. In the year 1769 many expeditions were set out where 219 people made it. Junipero Serra also on that year raised the first cross on a mission site (Starr 49). Junipero Serra was a man who made a lot of significance in the California history. He was born in the year 1713 and grew up as an educated person. At 36 years old, he joined a group of missionaries who were going out to Mexico and in December 1745 he arrived there with his companions. He volunteered for 8 years to go to the mission field in northeastern Mexico where he established a successful mission system. From the year 1758 to 1767 he preached all over Mexico, served as a home missionary and was the commissioner of the Holy Office. In the year 1767 he became the leader of the Jesuit missions in California Baja. This was after he arrived in Loreto in the year 1968 and set out to improve and expand his mission establishment. After arriving in San Diego he built the first mission plant and from there on dedicated his time and energy in his mission. By the year 1782, nine missions were founded by him. He achieved the goal of converting the Native